Stories by Rhyan Zuercher

We talk with the Chicago Tribune’s syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson about relationships, love, and healthy living advice she has doled out for the past decade in her column, Ask Amy. Watch a web extra video.

Clowns relate the true story of Chicago's 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in a stunning and funny revival of a show called Burning Bluebeard at Theater Wit. We get a preview. Read an Artbeat blog about the play and watch Hedy Weiss' web extra video review.

We share what you had to say about the CTA ending its ex-offenders program in tonight's Viewer Feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the Illinois governor’s race. Watch the web extra video.

Here is a list of the most memorable art I saw and heard this year. From opera in a swimming pool to barn-blazing bluegrass and forgotten artists, 2013 was a very good year for enthusiams old and new.

On this edition of Chicago Tonight’s Field Trip, we take a look at the dinosaur that was king before the T-Rex. Watch the web episode and view a slideshow.

Crime numbers in Chicago are reportedly at their lowest levels in decades. We take a look behind the scenes at the Chicago Police Department to see what strategies police leadership believe are working. Watch a web extra video.

The murder rate in Chicago is down compared to last year, but some community members are concerned over police tactics used. We talk with Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy about the crime rate in Chicago, gun legislation and police initiatives for the coming year. Read an article.

Emily Graslie, creator of the “The Brain Scoop” YouTube channel, talks about her recent video addressing sexist comments and the lack of women in the science industry. Watch the video.

As a Muslim girl growing up in Turkey, Meltem Aktas wasn’t planning to make a career of Christian art. Jay Shefsky has a profile of the sacred artist. View a slideshow of her work.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve are fast approaching, which means parties and entertaining. Chef Rick Bayless joins us to share a festive margarita recipe and shrimp cocktail with a Mexican twist. Read his recipes.

Legendary Chicago radio personality Larry Lujack died Wednesday at the age of 73. We look back at two of Lujack's appearances from WTTW's archives. Watch the web extra videos.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to scale back its $85 billion a month bond-buying program. As Fed policymakers convene this week, financial insiders speculate what the timetable for a stimulus wind-down could look like. We talk with two Chicago economists about the stimulus program and what federal tapering means for businesses and consumers. Read an interview.

Community protest brings results as one company removes its petcoke from a Calumet River storage site. But thousands of tons remain on other sites. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

Oak Park native, actress, blogger and magazine editor Tavi Gevinson joins us to talk about growing up in the public eye, college, and editing her new book: Rookie Yearbook Two. Read excerpts and watch videos.

In this edition of Ask Geoffrey, Geoffrey Baer brings us up to speed on the wildly popular railroad fairs of the late 1940s, where rail enthusiasts flocked to Chicago’s lakefront to see vintage and modern locomotives in action.

Chicago Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss reviews new plays at Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, and some unusual holiday shows. Watch web extra video reviews.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is raising concerns about local law enforcement's ability to object to certain concealed carry applicants. Brandis Friedman has the details. Read an article.

After a scandal that resulted in the resignation of its CEO, Metra is looking for a new leader. Elizabeth Brackett sits down with new Metra board members to talk about leadership and the company’s vision going forward.

Sixty-five ex-offenders who work for the CTA will soon find themselves out of a job, thanks to a dustup between the rail union and CTA management. Can it be saved? Paris Schutz has the story. Read an article.

The New York Times' White House correspondent Peter Baker discusses his new book, Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House. He addresses who was really pulling the strings behind the scenes during George W. Bush’s two terms. Read an excerpt.

The holidays would not be the same without it. We go behind the scenes to see how the Joffrey Ballet manages to keep its annual presentation of The Nutcracker fresh and new every year. Read an article.

We talk with the man recently hired to turn the city’s high-tech incubator known as 1871 into a major technology hub.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Tom Dart have a new plan to ease the overcrowding at Cook County Jail. Carol Marin and her guests take a closer look at how they are trying to reverse the chronic problems with the Cook County criminal system, including the resentencing of violent offenders from boot camp to prison, as well as the results of a meeting between Chief Judge Tim Evans, Preckwinkle, Dart and the Illinois Supreme Court to reduce the massive criminal case backlog.

Chicago and the U.S. are in a transitional phase in terms of how they are perceived on the global stage according to Ivo Daalder, President of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. We talk with Daalder about Council initiatives that are working to bring Chicago and the country into a new age of diplomacy. Read an article.