Stories by Nick Blumberg

Illinois Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R) and Luis Gutiérrez (D) join Chicago Tonight to discuss Iran, Planned Parenthood, clean energy, the 2016 election, and more issues they'll face next month.

The family of Illinois motorist Sandra Bland files a lawsuit against law enforcement officials in Texas. On Chicago Tonight, we'll take a closer look at motorists' rights, as well as the right way to act when getting stopped by police.

There are new rules this summer surrounding child care for low-income families in Illinois. Child care advocates say that the changes–which they argue are not connected to the state budget impasse in Springfield–will eliminate 90 percent of new program applicants from eligibility. 

Some advocates and law enforcement officials say heroin use is rising in Illinois and that Chicago has one of the largest open drug markets in the country.

More than 100 guns were stolen from a Norfolk Southern freight train that was parked in a rail yard on the South Side. On Monday, we discuss growing concerns surrounding the security of trains carrying dangerous freight through Chicago.

We discuss the CPS budget and other challenges facing the nation's third-largest school district with Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new leadership team: CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and chief education officer Janice Jackson. 

President Obama's Clean Power Plan aims to reduce carbon emissions 32 percent by 2030. It's the administration's "biggest, most important step" in combating climate change. We take a closer look at the new policy, the legalities and how it will impact the state and consumers.

A distinctly American arts movement was born in Chicago in the 1960s and remains influential to this day. We take a closer look at revolutionary experiments in art and music highlighted in "The Freedom Principle,"  a new summer show at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

There's been a roar of outrage over a Minnesota dentist's killing of a lion named Cecil. Joining us to discuss the big-game tourism trade and changing attitudes about it, is Terri Colby, who was with the Chicago Tribune from 1995-2009, including time as an editor for the Tribune's Travel section.

We share what you had to say about the Better Government Association's report on police-involved shootings in Chicago, the rising price of rent across the city, whether or not the proposed tax on sugary beverages is a bitter pill, and Geoffrey Baer's conversation with Newton Minow.

During a recent walk around Lincoln Square and North Park, we spotted loads of colorful flowers decorating front stoops, gardens, walkways, windows, and along the street. We'll keep snapping photos of colorful Chicago, and we invite you to join us. What's blooming in your neighborhood?

From Chicago's top spot in fatal police-involved shootings to a successful road trip for the White Sox, Joel Weisman and his panel have your week in review.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists debate the merits of Lollapalooza, and the impact of the Blackhawks' new training facility coming to the West Side. 

The parade for new city taxes continued Thursday as a group of aldermen made their case to Mayor Emanuel that powerful corporations and the wealthy should shoulder the burden of tax hikes to help plug a massive budget hole. The aldermen are also targeting the private law businesses of powerful political figures like Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) and House Speaker Michael Madigan. 

Complaints about jet noise at O’Hare International Airport topped more than 400,000 in May. On Thursday, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation that will increase the number of runways allowed at O’Hare in an effort to mitigate jet noise affecting some Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs.

The city of Chicago's partial ban on plastic bags is now in place, but the ordinance as it's currently written will still allow stores to give out plastic bags, provided they meet certain standards. We discuss the new rules and proposed changes to them.

What is the landmark status of Marina City and other Chicago buildings? And is the Trump sign "classy" or in the words of Chicago Tribune critic Blair Kamin, is it "urban acne"? Kamin joins us on Chicago Tonight for the latest on Chicago architecture.

A freelance comedy writer from Winnetka accuses Conan O’Brien of using jokes he posted on Twitter and has filed a lawsuit against the late-night comedian. Tonight, we’ll talk about the ethics of comedy and how jokes are shared with comedian Dwayne Kennedy and Curtis Flagg, the director of operations at Chicago’s Laugh Factory.

Could Chicagoans soon be paying higher taxes for sugary drinks? We'll tell you about that and other items Chicago's City Council took up today.

The City Council today tackled a host of issues in its final meeting before a two-month break. But one issue that didn't come up between aldermen and Mayor Emanuel is the big, expensive elephant in the room. Carol Marin talks with a panel of aldermen to analyze the city’s options for making its pension payments. 

Some bad news for anyone searching for a Chicago apartment: Rents are going up, and in some places, dramatically. We talk about the factors behind the rent hikes with our panel.

High-end treasures in Chicago's Gold Coast are usually found in pricey stores. But we'll tell you about some being uncovered at an archaeological dig on the grounds of a famous house.