Stories by WTTW News

Billionaire Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner evades prison over his conviction of hiding money overseas. Paris Schutz explains why.

Chicago Board of Education’s Inspector General Jim Sullivan joins us to talk about his latest watchdog report detailing the waste, fraud and corruption he uncovered this year in the Chicago Public Schools. Read the full report.

We talk with Grammy-Award winner Che “Rhymefest” Smith about his new talk show on WVON-AM that focuses on politics and social issues in Chicago. Read an interview and view a slideshow.

Scientists at west suburban Fermilab have installed the final piece on a massive particle detector called NOvA that may answer some very big questions. We go deep underground to uncover how the contraption might do that. Read an article.  

We take a tour of the MINOS underground facility and watch the installation of the last NOvA Far Detector module. Read a behind-the-scenes blog and view a slideshow.

We take a look at fun, funky and completely unexpected words with Jason Riggle, a University of Chicago linguist who cast his vote on a wide spectrum of words that range from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Did you ever wonder how prize racehorses get from Chicago or Kentucky to, say, Dubai? We revisit a story where Jay Shefsky takes us to O'Hare Airport to meet a man who makes his living flying around the world with racehorses. Read an article.

Carol Marin takes a look at the state of the race for Illinois governor with Dave McKinney, Springfield Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, Amanda Vinicky, Illinois Public Radio and WUIS Statehouse Bureau Chief, and Mark Anderson, NBC-5 Chicago's Ward Room political blogger.

Gov. Pat Quinn asks for emergency action to protect Illinois residents from petcoke. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

School districts across the country are reporting a shortage of special education teachers. We take a look at Chicago Public Schools' shortage and find out how districts and universities are working to fill the void. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

Imagine waking up on a crowded train platform in a foreign country. You don’t know where you are or even WHO you are. That’s what happened to Chicago author David Stuart MacLean. His new book, The Answer to the Riddle is Me: A Memoir of Amnesia, chronicles how he has spent much of the past decade trying to piece together the fragments of what he remembers of his former life. He joins us with his story. Read an excerpt and view a slideshow.

We take a closer look at the international popularity of the PBS megahit Downton Abbey with Rules, Britannia author and BBC America blogger Toni Hargis and Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn.

In tonight's Viewer Feedback, we share your comments on one disabled young man's triumphant story and your thoughts on the Affordable Care Act.

This week’s visit from the Polar Vortex was more than snowy and bone-chillingly cold; it was expensive as well. Read an article.

Judy Baar Topinka is running for re-election as Illinois Comptroller in 2014.

Sheila Simon is running against Judy Baar Topinka for Illinois Comptroller in 2014.

Mike Frerichs is throwing his hat in the ring for Illinois Treasurer in 2014.

Bob Grogan is throwing his hat in the ring for Illinois Treasurer in 2014.

Tom Cross is throwing his hat in the ring for Illinois Treasurer in 2014.

Jesse White is Illinois' current Secretary of State.

Paul Schimpf is running against Lisa Madigan for Illinois Attorney General in 2014.

Lisa Madigan is running for reelection as Illinois Attorney General in 2014.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists consider the plea from new U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon for more funding. Watch the web extra conversation.

A country concert, a famous house tour and a circus festival; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.  

Patients at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge may have been exposed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Read an article.