Stories by Kristen Thometz

The state’s capital was filled today with advocates rallying against charter school bills under consideration. President of Chicago International Charter Schools David Chizewer and Legislation Coordinator for the Chicago Teachers Union Stacy Davis Gates join us with details. Read an article.

The Chicago City Council has ordered the Chicago Fire Department to investigate an apparent shortage of ambulances and paramedics. We talk with former Chicago firefighter Ald. Nick Sposato (36th) about the order. Read an interview with Better Government Association investigative reporter Patrick Rehkamp about the implications of fewer ambulances in the city.

Like the name suggests, zombie properties are often abandoned homes with no one living in them. Banks have foreclosed on them, but didn’t follow through with completion. Brandis Friedman takes a look at why that happens, the impact on the community, and what can be done. Read an article, watch a web extra video, and view a map of zombie properties in Chicago.

An organization that helps low-income Chicago area residents with free tax return preparation offers some important tips. View a map of tax prep centers.

The construction of Northeastern Illinois University’s El Centro satellite campus is gaining momentum and attention for its design. The color-changing building will be along the Kennedy Expressway between Addison and Belmont. We talk with Crain’s Chicago Business residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin about the “marker” building structure and its significance in the modern architectural world. View a slideshow of campus building renderings.

This week, a new documentary about photographer Vivian Maier opened in Chicago. She's the Chicago nanny who was also a secret photographer, and who many now believe is one of the great street photographers of the 20th century. Jay Shefsky first introduced us to Vivian Maier in December 2010. We revisit his original story.

Gov. Pat Quinn has thrown a big wrench into efforts to save part of the city's pension mess. Today, the governor said no to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposal to raise property taxes as part of a pension fix. But could a late-breaking development salvage a deal in Springfield to avert a fiscal crisis? Paris Schutz has the details. Read an article and Emanuel's new pension amendment.

Cook County Health & Hospitals System interim CEO Dr. John Jay Shannon stops by to discuss his new role, transforming the health and hospital system, and the redevelopment of Stroger Hospital Campus. Read his bio, read an article, and view a map of Cook County Health & Hospitals System locations.

Last year, Cook County Health & Hospitals System began enrolling people in CountyCare, a Medicaid program for uninsured adults in Cook County. CCHHS has been enrolling individuals at 138 locations, including the Cook County Jail. Read an article.

Today, Chicago magazine published the first article in a two-part special report, "The Truth About Chicago’s Crime Rates", that details an investigation into Chicago’s dramatic fall in crime in recent years and how crimes are being classified. We talk with the magazine's features editor and series co-author David Bernstein about his findings. Read an article and view graphics on Chicago crime stats.

The Chicago Teachers Union blasts district plans, but Chicago Public Schools says it has turned around other schools under the nonprofit management firm Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL).

We sit down with Jason Blumberg, CEO of the Energy Foundry, a venture capital fund established as part of the $3.2 billion smart grid law that aims to invest in technology companies that will transform the energy landscape. Read an interview with Samir Mayekar, Co-Founder and CEO of SiNode Systems.

A new book, Victura: The Kennedys, a Sailboat, and the Sea, shows what a small sailboat meant to a famous first family. Author James Graham joins us. Read an interview, a book excerpt, and view a slideshow of photos.

Legendary actor Mickey Rooney died at age 93. We look back at a clip featuring Rooney from our archives. Watch the full 1989 program about child stars called When We Were Young: Growing up on the Silver Screen.

Eddie Arruza and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Eddie Arruza’s panel of journalists reveal a few pages out of their reporter notebooks, and share what piqued their interest on their respective beats this week. Topics include Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, insurance companies, and PED use in Major League Baseball. Watch the web extra video.

A festival of colors, a spring craft show, and a canine carnival; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

How big a hit will homeowners and commercial property owners take if Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s pension reform proposal goes through? Read an article and view a chart.

The prospects of passing Mayor Rahm Emanuel's pension reform bill in Springfield this week are getting dimmer. We have the latest details from Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney.

Amnesty International is directing its attention to gun violence in Chicago and its human rights impact, while the Better Government Association investigates the cost of alleged police misconduct in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Brandis Friedman has the details. Read Amnesty International's 10-Point Human Rights Agenda, the BGA story, and watch a web extra video.

More than 7 million Americans signed up for the Affordable Care Act. But who exactly signed up for ObamaCare? How many are paying into the health insurance system? And what happens to the people who missed Monday’s sign-up deadline? We go in-depth with Forbes health care and policy reporter, and author, Bruce Japsen. Read an article and a book excerpt.

Jerry Goldner is crazy about owls. Illinois has nine species and Goldner has photographed them all, along with more than 200 other types of birds. Jay Shefsky tagged along with him recently as he photographed what may turn out to be Chicago’s last Snowy Owl sighting of the season. View an interactive graphic about the various owl species in Illinois.

When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface on July 20, 1969, it was one of the biggest news stories of all time about an event that forever changed mankind. But how was our understanding of that event shaped? A new book, Marketing the Moon, tells the behind-the-scenes story of how those missions were marketed to Americans and the world. One of the book's authors Richard Jurek joins us. Read an interview, view a slideshow of images, and watch web extra video of the Apollo 11 mission.

In town for standup shows at Zanies Comedy Club, Chicago native Jeff Garlin stops by to chat about his show “The Goldbergs” and his production work on the documentary “Finding Vivian Maier.”

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan files an amendment that would enact Mayor Rahm Emanuel's new pension reduction plan. The proposal includes a hefty property tax increase while also shrinking pension benefits. Who wins and who loses? 

Chicago aldermen react to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposed pension plan as they will have to take the tough vote to raise property taxes. Paris Schutz has the details. Read an article.