Stories by WTTW News

We have your thoughts on the high rate of absenteeism by some members of Chicago's City Council in tonight's Viewer Mail.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Joel Weisman and his panel critique Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s oratory skills and continue their conversation about his budget plan in our web extra video.

Maps from our partners at the PBS NewsHour, with a breakdown of Illinois unemployment, diversity, and more. 

Democratic: Bobby Rush; Republican: Donald E. Peloquin

Democratic: Jesse Jackson, Jr.; Republican: Brian Woodworth; Independant: Marcus Lewis

Democratic: Daniel Lipinski; Republican: Richard L. Grabowski

Democratic: Luis V. Gutierrez; Republican: Hector Concepcion

Democratic: Mike Quigley; Republican: Dan Schmitt; Green: Nancy Wade

Democratic: Leslie Coolidge; Republican: Peter J. Roskam

Democratic: Danny K. Davis; Republican: Rita Zak; Independent: John H. Monaghan

Democratic: Tammy Duckworth; Republican: Joe Walsh

Democratic: Jan Schakowsky; Republican: Timothy C. Wolfe

Democratic: Brad Schneider; Republican: Robert Dold

Democratic: Bill Foster; Republican: Judy Biggert

Democratic: Dennis Anderson; Republican: Randy M. Hultgren

Democrat: Wanda Rohl; Republican: Adam Kinzinger

A debate that might have been little more than a side note has now taken on greater significance. We preview tonight's face-off between Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan.

Public lawyers or private lawyers? Who can save the city more money when it comes to settling workers' disability claims? Paris Schutz has the details.

Bollywood megastar Aamir Khan is in Chicago shooting a big budget action film. We bring you Ash-har Quraishi's exclusive conversation with the actor about filmmaking and his provocative talk show.

African elephants could be extinct in the wild within eight years. Learn about the world's largest land mammal, and what research the Chicago Zoological Society is funding to help save them.

A Pakistani journalist is spending a month with us at Chicago Tonight as part of an international exchange program. Mansoor Ali Khan tells us what he's learning about America, and what Americans should know about Pakistan.

We hear some of your thoughts about Mayor Rahm Emanuel's appearance on our program last night when we read some of your viewer mail.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2013 budget signals relative calm before a coming fiscal storm. The mayor joins Carol Marin for a one-on-one conversation.

The S&P 500 closes down for the fourth day in a row as the third quarter earnings season begins, and the Fed releases its latest economic data. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has those stories, and more top business headlines.

The director of one of next year's biggest Indian films discusses why he decided to film in Chicago.