Stories by Matt Masterson

Chicago Public Schools teachers and parents blasted the district's plan for special education funding in its budget for the coming year, saying it pits students against each other in a "Hunger Games"-esque struggle for school resources.

Starting next year, cosmetologists working in Illinois will be required to learn how to recognize signs of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Neighborhood holiday markets, outsider art, cyclocross and Jerry Seinfeld usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Why aren't Chicagoans getting on the recycling bandwagon? What city officials are doing to reverse dropping participation rates.

When is a police officer allowed to fire a weapon? The Chicago Police Department is set to release new rules on that, but they are already drawing criticism.

Watch the Dec. 6, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

A controversial energy bill is set to be signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday. We hear from both sides of the debate over the Future Energy Jobs Bill.

A new project aims to fill a void in a news cycle that has primarily centered on the issues young men face in the city.

Parents of former Marist High School seniors claim the students are being used as “scapegoats” by the school in response to growing social media pressure and criticism over the incident.

Legislative leaders are still bickering – with no budget compromise in sight. Two lawmakers weigh in on the ongoing budget stalemate.

Why residents on the West Side of Chicago voted overwhelmingly to raise their property taxes a bit higher than the rest of the city.

Watch the Dec. 5, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

An ambitious new art exhibition looks at the cultural impact of, and creative response to, AIDS in America.

Chicago’s first snowfall came just in time for the beginning of the city’s annual winter celebration at Navy Pier.

A new Chicago Public Schools website is set to help students sort through scores of local high schools to find the right one for them based on academic and extracurricular interests.

Next time you see a squirrel, take a picture. That photo, along with additional location and observation data, can help Chicago researchers better understand the local urban ecosystem.

Speaking before a group that opposed the recent bill to raise electric rates and bail out two failing nuclear plants, Gov. Bruce Rauner explained why he supported it.

Chicago Public Schools says it plans to add $600 million in projects to its capital improvement budget for the upcoming year, but how much money the district will actually spend remains to be seen as it waits to gauge “market conditions and community feedback.”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Friday the creation of a legal protection fund to help thousands of immigrants and refugees threatened with deportation and pledged $1 million to start the fund.

The Springfield standoff turns even uglier as Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoes $215 million in CPS pension relief. Chicago’s deadly year surpasses 700 murders. And Jay Cutler is set to have season-ending surgery. These stories and more with Joel Weisman and guests.

In response to a recent surge in the number of hate crimes reported nationwide, Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart has launched a hotline for reporting incidents of discrimination.

After a long debate, a last-minute push to bail out two downstate nuclear plants passed the Illinois General Assembly late Thursday at the tail end of the veto session.

Watch the Dec. 1, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Gov. Bruce Rauner strikes down a bill for Chicago Public Schools teacher pensions and the Illinois House strikes back. The latest from Springfield.

How President-elect Donald Trump’s global business empire could create potential conflicts of interest.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation that would have provided Chicago Public Schools with $215 million in pension relief funding, blowing a massive hole in the district’s 2017 budget.