Stories by Paul Caine

Last night's GOP presidential debate hosted by CNN set off some fireworks as candidates did all they could to make an impression in a crowded field. Political communications specialist Jason DeSanto joins "Chicago Tonight" to give his take on the heated discourse.

One of the most significant transit initiatives to launch in Chicago begins service this weekend. We take a preview spin around the city's first bus rapid transit line, called Loop Link.

In this food-loving town we have everything from hot dog stands and McDonald’s headquarters to the culinary artistry of Grant Achatz's Alinea. And they all need photography. Jay Shefsky offers a behind-the-scenes look at a very tasty photo shoot. 

A small, windowless building on Block 37 is dwarfed by glassy new high-rises. A viewer wonders how it managed to escape the wrecking ball. Geoffrey Baer shares the story behind this unusual building, plus the history of the Marshall Field’s holiday windows and Kermit the Frog’s commercials for milk in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Caryn Benson, 38, of Romeoville, was charged on Tuesday by the federal government with one count of embezzlement, but records show a past theft charge.

Embattled State's Attorney Anita Alvarez chose to not attend a marathon City Council committee hearing Tuesday on police misconduct in the wake of the ongoing scandal at the Chicago Police Department.

Exclusive: “Chicago Tonight” has learned that U.S. Department of Justice officials are scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Wednesday as the civil rights investigation into the police department gets underway. 

Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool says the district has offered the Chicago Teachers Union a new contract proposal. Brandis Friedman has the details.

A day after teachers voted overwhelming to go on strike, Chicago Public Schools is offering teachers a new contract that it says will prevent thousands of teacher layoffs. Jesse Sharkey joins us for a discussion.

While fatal police-involved shootings have been at the center of many recent news stories, it seems the voices of officers connected to these incidents aren’t always the loudest.

The risk of a Great Lakes oil spill has grown as the region becomes a hub for refining and transporting heavy tar sands oil. Oil that the Coast Guard says it does not have a method to clean up.

Simulating the evolution of the cosmos. A local physicist is here to talk about using supercomputers to delve into the mysteries of the universe.

Twenty percent of children in Cook County are what’s known as food insecure–living in families who can’t afford or can’t access nutritious food. A new program aims to tackle food insecurity among some Chicago-area children and their parents. Take a look at how the program works.

Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey on Monday morning announced that 88 percent of its membership has voted "yes" to the question of authorizing a strike. The vote was taken over three days last week, in which 92 percent of members voted.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is calling for the resignation of Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez in the wake of the shooting death of Laquan McDonald. Carol Marin talks with Preckwinkle about the crisis surrounding the Chicago Police Department and the sweeping probe of police patterns and practices by the DOJ.

The Laquan McDonald shooting has brought the police union under fire. Is there a culture of cover-up among cops? Dean Angelo, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, joins us.

A revealing look at the massive new collection of contemporary art at the Art Institute, where the Modern Wing galleries have been transformed.

Another missed kick by Robbie Gold, another missed opportunity for the Bears. James "Big Cat" Williams is here to break down the Bears eighth loss of the season. 

State-approved medical marijuana has arrived in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. We get a look inside the first—and so far the only—dispensary to open in the city. 

Test your skills against our latest Chicago Tonight Puzzle. Don’t forget to submit your answer by 10 a.m. Monday for the chance to win a special prize package (and bragging rights!).

A former museum employee allegedly pocketed more than $900,000 over a seven-year period before the theft was discovered. The former employee has yet to be formally charged.

Joel Weisman and his panel discuss Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s apology in the wake of the Laquan McDonald crisis, the search for a new Chicago Police Department superintendent and the possible political fallout from recent events for the mayor.

Dean Angelo, the head of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, met with Department of Justice officials in Washington, D.C. this week as the agency begins its civil rights investigation into the Chicago Police Department.