Stories by Meredith Francis

The sharing economy is surfacing on Chicago’s lakes and rivers as boat rental app GetMyBoat joins the likes of Uber, Lyft and Airbnb.

A pair of Midwestern artists makes richly detailed paintings that explore mythology and nightmares. Aside from mysterious themes and striking visuals, the works of painters Gina Litherland and Paul Lamantia are essentially different.

Forty years after Richard J. Daley’s death, Chicago still identifies itself with the man who steered it for more than two decades. Belly up to the bar and get a little taste of Chicago’s spirited history: an Irish whiskey and smoky mezcal blended drink.

Watch the June 2, 2016 episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Maryville Academy started nearly 133 years ago as an orphanage, but as a result of major cuts in funding, the agency announced it will no longer house children. We speak with Maryville's executive director about the changes and organization's new direction.

Illinois is about to enter a staggering second year without an agreed-upon state budget. We talk with lawmakers about what happens next.

The day after Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool warned that schools may not open in September, the Chicago Teachers Union weighed in, calling Claypool's leadership a failure. We hear arguments from both sides.

The new permanent location for the museum opens on Saturday. Chicago Tonight got a preview of the new space located on the Bubbly Creek branch of the Chicago River. 

There’s a festival for just about everybody this weekend, from Maifest in Lincoln Square to the Gospel Music Festival in Millennium Park and the 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park, plus scores more.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently installed a park bench equipped with air pollution sensors at a CPS elementary school. It's one of just seven such benches in the U.S.

The rise of far right wing groups in Europe and the United States: What's fueling their popularity?

The former Chicago City Council watchdog is back on the investigative beat. Faisal Khan, who served as City Council's  Legislative Inspector General, is heading up a new government watchdog organization.

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

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner blasts Democrats for failing to pass a budget before the end of the spring legislative session. Where does Illinois go from here?

A debate is brewing over the Chicago Police Department's use of an algorithm they say identifies people who are most likely to shoot someone or be shot themselves. We hear from all sides.

A bill to increase utility rates to bail out failing nuclear plants in Illinois failed Tuesday in Springfield. But will the plants now close? "Chicago Tonight" has exclusive new information.

An Elgin company hopes robots will be the future of the fast-food industry. Will online beer sales be the next frontier for e-commerce? Crain’s Chicago Business managing editor Ann Dwyer brings us these stories and more.

Two years ago, amateur photographer Josh Feeney spotted a nest of owls within a Cook County forest preserve. Since then, he's returned to the site to check on the rare species and recently found evidence of successful breeding.

Geoffrey Baer tracks down answers for three questions about Chicago's bygone streetcar heyday. 

High hopes in the search to reverse or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. We'll tell you about two important medical studies being conducted in Chicago.

Watch the May 31, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

An annual study from the University of Illinois at Chicago finds that aldermen are increasingly voting independently from Mayor Rahm Emanuel on contested issues.

Health care experts have long warned that the effectiveness of antibiotics has been declining due to overprescription by doctors and also because of the use of antibiotics in raising livestock for human consumption.

It’s the final day of the spring session for the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield, and despite maneuvering on all sides to float a solution, the state still does not have a budget. But that doesn’t mean it’s over. 

With just three weeks left in the school year, some Chicago Public Schools are finishing work that many schools try to have done at the beginning of the year: making sure all children are up to date on their shots and annual physicals.