Stories by WTTW News

We look at the contribution Chef Charlie Trotter made to the Chicago fine dining scene with journalist Louisa Chu, food contributor for WBEZ and host of weekly podcast, Chewing the Fat, writer David Tamarkin, media director for Chef Rick Bayless and editor of Middlewest magazine, and Chicago magazine executive editor Jennifer Tanaka.  

Chicago Transit Authority and Ventra officials promise a quick fix to the new Ventra system. How? Paris Schutz has the details.

Researchers at two local universities are looking into how poverty impacts young minds. We have the story. Learn more about the studies, and view a photo gallery.

In what turned out to be a battle of backup quarterbacks, Josh McCown and the Chicago Bears beat the Packers and secured a share of first place in the division. James “Big Cat” Williams joins Ann Kreiter to break down the Bears improbable road win.

It’s profane to even call it “art.” Art usually inspires a viewer to think deeply. But this art wasn’t about inspiring -- it was about conspiring.

The Legislative Veto session is winding down. If something is to get done this year on the big ticket items like pension reform, marriage equality and mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun offenders, it has to happen in the next three days. Which of these will get done and which will get put off yet again? Paris Schutz has the details.

What does Chicago’s borrowing $9.8 billion over 13 years buy?  A Chicago Tribune investigation found it bought obsolete software, trash bins, flowers and dog waste bags—among other spending that’s driven up the city’s long-term debt.  We talk with the journalists who uncovered the unmonitored spending spree.

This year, for the first time in this country, more poor people live in suburbs than in American cities. Here in the Chicago region, the number of suburban poor increased 99% over the past decade. Brandis Friedman has the story of how some are confronting these challenges.

Author Rich Cohen joins us to talk about Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football, his new book that captures the heart of the 1985 Monsters of Midway. Read an excerpt.

Carol Marin talks with Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) about the newly announced City Council Office of Financial Analysis.

Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man Steven Van Zandt recently joined us for a wide-ranging discussion about the Boss, The Sopranos, and why he thinks The Rascals is one of the greatest American bands ever. During his visit to our studio, we also recorded a web extra conversation—which we are broadcasting on Chicago Tonight. Read an Artbeat blog about Van Zandt, view a behind-the-scenes slideshow of his visit to our studio, and watch a web extra conversation.

We share what you had to say about state employee pensions in tonight's viewer feedback.

A Michigan man described as “an accomplished international gem merchant” says he’s owed $25 million from the FBI for allegedly giving them the tip that led to the death of Osama bin Laden. Read an article.

SOFA CHICAGO is the exceptional art fair devoted to design, and this year marks its 20th anniversary. It fills Festival Hall at Navy Pier through Sunday.

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

Joel Weisman and his guests take a closer look at the Chicago Cubs trial run of new signage at Wrigley Field, and the rooftop owners strenuous objections. Watch the web extra conversation.

Orpheus and Euridice at the Eckhart Park Pool, a winter farmers’ market, and an art exposition at Navy Pier; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

The Chicago Police Department announced crime is down, but its overtime costs will be three times higher than expected. Is the drop sustainable or just a band-aid on a longer term problem?

The Federal Reserve will continue propping up the economy, saying Washington is to blame for impeding economic growth. We hear from economists about the prospects of improvement as the nation heads toward its next fiscal deadlines.

Activist Bill Ayers joins us to talk about his new book, Public Enemy: Confessions of an American Dissident. Read an excerpt, and watch a web extra video.

Liz Callaway is a clarion-voiced singer of the Broadway stage. She's also the daughter of the man who started this show, John Callaway. She joins us, accompanied by her son, Nicholas Callaway Foster, to sing and share stories. Watch web extra videos.  

We share your reactions to a new report about fire department response times in this week’s viewer feedback.

English sculptor Sir Anthony Caro died last week at the age of 89. This was big news in the art world, where his abstract works created a new language for the medium. In Chicago, it wasn't news.

Members of the pension committee join us to talk about the likelihood of the state's $97 billion dollar pension problem getting resolved during next week's veto session.

While glitches plague the federal health insurance marketplace website, we discuss how things are going for people here in Illinois.

Did you ever wonder how prize racehorses get from Chicago or Kentucky to, say, Dubai? 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.