Stories by Taurean Small

Chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless stops by to share some delicious springtime dishes. Check out two recipes and view a behind-the-scenes slideshow.

Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner says he favors a different set of retirement benefits for state police and fire personnel. Read an article.

Four solo exhibitions from local artists, plus one beast of an installation.

The recently passed pension reform deal paves the way for big property tax increases. But will aldermen be able to stomach the vote to raise them, or will they defy Mayor Rahm Emanuel and scuttle his pension reform deal? We talk with Ald. John Arena (45th), Ald. Will Burns (4th), and Ald. George Cardenas (12th). 

The web bug known as Heartbleed has rocked the Internet world. After its discovery last week, Heartbleed continues to threaten personal information and sensitive data transmitted over the web daily. We chat with Alex Hilton, Founder and CEO of FroogaliT, about how the bug can affect average consumers and what people can do to protect themselves. Read an article and view a graphic.

When French President François Hollande visited Washington in February, President Obama gave him a hand-crafted table. We meet the Chicago-area craftsman who designed and built the table, made in part with wood from George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Watch a video and view a slideshow.

The craft brew industry in Chicago has exploded in the last few years and shows no signs of stopping. Is there a saturation point for Chicago’s market? We revisit a conversation with leaders on the craft brew scene and explore the growing trend. Read an article, view a slideshow, and take a craft brew QUIZ.

After a violent weekend in Chicago, Police Supt. Garry McCarthy talks about recently seized firearms and penalties for gun crimes. Brandis Friedman has the details. Read an article and watch the full news conference.

Last week, state lawmakers passed Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to cut retirement benefits for some city workers. Even though the bill left out a controversial property tax hike provision, Gov. Pat Quinn has yet to sign the legislation. We discuss the effect Chicago’s reform could have statewide, and other topics, with our panel of Illinois lawmakers. Read an article.

Maggie Daley Park is taking shape with the addition of white building blocks called GeoFoam. We tell you how that will form the rolling hills of the park and how soon it may be open to the public. Read an article and view a slideshow.

Scientists are forecasting that El Niño – a weather pattern that brings warmer than average temperatures to the U.S. – will likely develop later this year. We discuss what El Niño means for Chicago’s upcoming seasons with Paul Sirvatka, professor of meteorology at the College of DuPage. Read an interview.

A documentary airing on WTTW11 Monday titled The Trials of Muhammad Ali profiles the boxing legend's years in exile and court fight for freedom. Director Bill Siegel joins us. View a timeline of Ali's career.

We share what you had to say about the possibility of a Star Wars museum in Chicago and concerns that Cook County's employee computer system may have been hacked in tonight's viewer feedback.

Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn and Republican Challenger Bruce Rauner agreed on one thing at Friday’s appearance before a giant crowd of suburban and downstate teachers union members. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the ramifications of the Northwestern football team’s effort to unionize. Watch the web extra video.

Cardinal Francis George says he’s asked the Vatican to begin the process to find a successor to take over as Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. George appeared before reporters Friday morning, a few days after undergoing chemotherapy for cancer in his kidney and liver. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

ReptileFest, a women's film festival, and a fashion show; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Is White Mystery too wild for Chicago Tonight or just wild enough?

George Lucas’s Star Wars museum could land in Chicago. Married to Chicago investment executive Mellody Hobson, Lucas has called Chicago his “second home” and Mayor Rahm Emanuel is rolling out the red carpet in a bid to capture the new museum. We discuss Chicago’s chances. Read an interview with Don Welsh, Choose Chicago CEO and President.

Next Door is the place people frequent when they can’t get any work done at home, when they are looking for extra space to hold a meeting, and where they want to network and collaborate with like creative minds. It’s also the place where they receive financial coaching and discover their inner awesome. Read an article and view a slideshow.

In a post-recession economy, many people are fearful of credit and credit card debt. But one program is helping people with poor or no credit get credit cards. Brandis Friedman explains why this program is actually helpful. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

New York Times obituary writer Bruce Weber was teetering between life and death, and questioning what it all meant in 2011. To cope, he took his second bike ride across the country. We talk with Weber about his ride experience and the book that arose from his meditation. Read an interview and a book excerpt.

ReptileFest returns to the University of Illinois at Chicago this weekend, bringing with it hundreds of species of reptiles and amphibians from all over the world. Chicago Herpetological Society president John Archer and "Frog Lady" Deb Krohn visit our studios to give us a preview of some of the creatures we can expect to see this weekend. View an interactive graphic and behind-the-scenes slideshow of reptiles.

In part three of our Vivian Maier series, Jay Shefsky introduces us to several people trying to unravel the mystery of the celebrated photographer.