Stories by Amanda Vinicky

For the first time since taking full control of Illinois government, Democrats in Springfield are poised to flex their political muscles by quickly passing a statewide hike in the minimum wage.

Five of the 14 candidates running for Chicago mayor participated in a forum Tuesday as the Feb. 26 election draws near. But getting simple answers to complex issues was no small task.

Watch the Feb. 5, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

As religious congregations shrink, churches all over the city are being shuttered and converted into luxury residences. But not everyone is happy with the results. 

Russia’s announcement that it plans to build two new land-based missile launch systems follows the U.S. decision to withdraw from a decades-old nuclear treaty. 

President Donald Trump delivers his second State of the Union address Tuesday night following a historic 35-day government shutdown. 

With the election three weeks away, it’s crunch time for Chicago mayoral candidates to get their messages across.

Hedy Weiss reviews a production that imagines what happens when two couples of different ages – plagued by similar problems of communication and neurological degeneration – attempt to interact. Plus, a play-turned-production that shines a light on visionary chemist Dr. Rosalind Franklin. 

For the 49th consecutive year, the Museum of Science of Industry hosts its Black Creativity program, a celebration of achievements by African-American artists and innovators. 

He’s been making hats and gloves for 45 years, but they’re not designed to keep us warm. Meet the man behind some eye-catching creations.

Embattled 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke, clad in a top hat and overcoat, is seen in a video shared with Chicago Tonight handing out shoulder bags at a polling place during November’s general election.

“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett told Chicago police that his attackers seemed to know who he was before they beat him and tied a rope around his neck.

Educators say Chicago International Charter School leadership refuses to use a $36 million surplus on staff raises or classroom improvements. Around 2,200 students are being impacted by the strike.

The patriarch of the family behind the Chicago Cubs has apologized after an online media outlet published emails in which he took part in racist comments and conspiracy theories.

Watch the Feb. 4, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Some robocalls are helpful, but most – representing politicians or telemarketers – have become an annoying fact of life. We speak with the author of a new guide aimed at preventing those automated calls.

With an historic agreement in place, what does the road ahead look like for police reform in Chicago? We speak with community activist William Calloway and Northwestern University law professor Sheila Bedi.

Chicago has an operating budget shortfall of nearly $100 million – a hole that mayoral candidate Amara Enyia says she has the skills to tackle. But documents show Enyia is struggling to manage her own finances.

How can readers know whether a news site is trustworthy? There’s a web browser plug-in created by the company NewsGuard to help determine just that.

Opponents of the $6 billion proposal are calling for more affordable housing units. “Affordable housing is a crisis throughout the entire city,” said Ald. James Cappleman, who is spearheading the opposition.

The lead prosecutor in the Jason Van Dyke murder trial says he’s spoken with the state’s top legal officer about the possibility of challenging the prison sentence handed down to the former Chicago police officer.

Chicagoans Darren and Genevieve Coady are getting ready for their first summer as owners of a lakeside resort in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. 

Margaret Hart, who served as a WWCI trustee from 1986 to 2010, died Jan. 27 at her home in Lake Forest. She was 97 years old.

O’Hare International Airport had more than 903,000 arrivals and departures during 2018, according to data released Monday by the Federal Aviation Administration. Atlanta’s airport came in second.

House Speaker Michael Madigan has been a player in state politics for the better part of his 76 years. What a newly released deposition reveals about the famously guarded speaker and his 13th Ward Organization.

Christina Ham’s play, “Nina Simone: Four Women,” is the anatomy of a song. And by extension, it is the anatomy of the angry, emotionally wounded singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist who wrote it.