Stories by WTTW News
Weekend Events Around Town: 3/20-3/22
| Linda Qiu
Taste what Chicago has to offer; hear Chicago stories; and listen to the sounds of Chicago blues. Chicago Tonight has your weekend picks.
Chicago Film Honored at White House Student Film Festival
| WTTW News
A video made by a group of young Chicago filmmakers is an official selection of the 2015 White House Student Film Festival. It was one of 15 selected from 1,500 entries and it will be honored at the White House on Friday.
Impact of Proposed Transit Funding Cuts
| Paris Schutz
Local transit officials are pushing back against major transit funding cuts proposed in Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget. Will fares go up? We have the details.
Discipline in Chicago Public Schools
Who Pays the Price?
| Evan Garcia
Expulsions and out-of-school suspensions in Chicago Public Schools saw a drop in the 2013-2014 school year, but a recent study suggests troubled students are still vulnerable. We discuss school discipline with our panel.
A New Voice for 24th Ward
24th Ward Aldermanic Runoff Forum
| Alexandra Silets
The 24th ward will have a fresh face representing the Lawndale neighborhood in City Council. Will it be the son of the former president of the Chicago Board of Education or a businesswoman who worked her way up from receptionist to vice president of a tool distributor?
"Street Smarts: Architect David M. Schwarz"
| Dan Andries
Geoffrey Baer's latest documentary exploring the career of the winner of the Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame is Street Smarts: Architect David M. Schwarz.We get a preview.
"Galileo's Middle Finger" On Fights Between Science and Activism
| Nick Blumberg
Historian Alice Dreger's new book, Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science, is a funny, surprising story of Dreger's career as an activist, researcher, and advocate for evidence-based activism. She joins us.
Welcome to the World of Mr. Imagination
| Marc Vitali
Meet the self-taught Chicago artist who could make dazzling art out of anything he found. Known as Mr. Imagination, he turned bottlecaps, mirrors, and scraps of wood into delightfully original works of art.
City Council Approves Transfer of Parkland for Obama Library
| Paris Schutz
A swath of public parkland now belongs to the Obama Presidential Library Foundation, if it chooses to locate here. We have the latest on that, and other news from Chicago City Council.
The Downfall of Congressman Aaron Schock
| Paul Caine
A predilection for social media and a jet-set lifestyle brings the political career of Congressman Aaron Schock, the once rising star of the Republican Party, crashing down. With reports that Schock over-billed taxpayers by misreporting travel expenses, could the young congressman be in real legal jeopardy? We discuss the issue with our panel.
What's the Purpose of Presidential Libraries?
| Evan Garcia
Chicago is fighting for the winning bid of President Barack Obama's presidential library and museum. These institutions were originally created to provide access to presidential records, but author Anthony Clark argues they've become platforms for a president to promote his legacy, not accurately exhibit history.
Urban Warriors
| Brandis Friedman
As a part of its Youth Safety and Violence Prevention program, the YMCA of Metro Chicago has launched the Urban Warriors program. The unique program brings together post-9/11 combat veterans with teens from some of Chicago's tougher neighborhoods for mentoring and bonding over their shared experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ald. Lona Lane Faces Stiff Challenge
18th Ward Aldermanic Runoff Forum
| Nick Blumberg
In February's election, challenger Derrick Curtis had a slight advantage over incumbent Ald. Lona Lane, though neither received a majority of the vote. The two will face off in next month's runoff election, and Chicago Tonight will host a forum to discuss the issues facing the 18th Ward.
Ask Geoffrey: Chicago’s ‘Miracle House’
| Erica Gunderson
Geoffrey Baer tours a Miracle House, swings by a bobtail swing bridge, and makes some noise at a silent film studio in this week's edition of Ask Geoffrey.
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock Resigns
| Paris Schutz
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock announced he will resign March 31. The announcement comes after multiple stories of questionable spending of taxpayer and campaign funds by the congressman.
Springfield News with Amanda Vinicky
| Crystin Immel
We discuss the progress being made on closing this year’s budget gap and Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed Fiscal Year 2016 budget, as well as how the governor is settling into his role with Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky.
Analyzing the Mayoral Candidates Financial Plans
| Paul Caine
With Mayor Rahm Emanuel and challenger Jesús "Chuy" García offering competing views on how to fix the city's finances, our panel looks at the proposals put forward to fix the city's looming crises.
Runoff for Foulkes in New Ward
16th Ward Aldermanic Runoff Forum
| Alexandra Silets
Ald. Toni Foulkes was mapped out of her 15th ward and decided to run for alderman in the 16th ward. She now faces Stephanie Coleman in a runoff.
The Irish Republican Murder that Shocked Chicago
| Nick Blumberg
Author Gillian O'Brien joins us to discuss her book Blood Runs Green, a non-fiction account of the largely forgotten murder of a prominent Irish-American doctor who was also the member of a secretive Irish Republican organization.
Hedy Weiss: Theater Reviews
| Marc Vitali
Chicago Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss reviews the latest from the Goodman Theatre and much more.
Emanuel & García Go Head to Head in First Runoff Debate
Mayoral Candidates Spar Over Finances, Pensions & Crime
| Paris Schutz
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and challenger Jesús "Chuy" García went one-on-one in the first runoff debate Monday. The two hit hard on each other's positions on city finances, crime, and red light cameras.
An Outsider Takes On a Daley in Bridgeport
11th Ward Aldermanic Runoff Forum
| Nick Blumberg
The race for the open seat in Chicago's 11th Ward has gone to a runoff between Patrick Daley Thompson and John Kozlar. Thompson is an attorney and Water Reclamation Commissioner. He's also a nephew of Richard M. Daley and grandson of Richard J. Daley. Kozlar is a law student and neighborhood advocate who ran and lost in the 2011 race. They join us.
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