Stories by WTTW News

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists delve further into the Blackhawks/Penguins game at Soldier Field, the Chicagoland series debuting March 6 on CNN, and why late-night host Jimmy Fallon is taking a polar plunge in Lake Michigan. Watch the web extra video.

A polar plunge, a tour of Chicago's theater district, and a zombie maze game; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Sheriff Tom Dart are being sued for an alleged culture of brutality and violence at Cook County Jail. Paris Schutz has the details.

Mike Webster is a Republican running for Secretary of State against incumbent Jesse White.

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy joins us to discuss the increased use of the so-called Hug-A-Thug interventions, whether the severe weather has played a role in Chicago’s declining crime rate, and the impact that the capture of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán may have on drugs and gangs in Chicago.

Illinois is now rated as the least credit-worthy state in the nation. It seems increasingly likely that some form of state tax reform must be a part of any plan to address the state’s long-term fiscal woes. But what type of reform? State Rep. David McSweeney and State Rep. Christian Mitchell debate the merits of a progressive vs. a flat tax. View an infographic from Reboot Illinois for a nationwide overview on taxes.

New research shows that the combination of mentoring and intensive tutoring can make up for three years' worth of lost learning for 9th and 10th grade boys who were previously at risk of dropping out down the road. Brandis Friedman has the story. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman joins us with a sneak peek at the 2014 season. Read more about the concert season.

The Civil War is remembered through art and literature that capture the American spirit on the Northern home front. We revisit a preview of The Newberry Library's exhibit, Home Front: Daily Life in the Civil War North. A book of the same title is a companion volume to the collaborative exhibition. Read an excerpt.

We share what you had to say about our conversation with Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire on the life and legacy of Harold Ramis and the skyrocketing pothole claims in the city when we read some of our viewer feedback.

The brutal winter has led to skyrocketing pothole claims in the city. What can residents do? And when will they be filled? Paris Schutz has the story. View the city's Pothole Tracker map to see where potholes have been patched in the last seven days.

Chicago will be the new site for a manufacturing-technology research lab that will focus on turning academic research into profitable, job creating projects in the Midwest. But how much is this costing and will the benefits meet expectations? We discuss the issue. Read an article.

The ISAT test is scheduled to begin next week, but some Chicago Public School teachers are refusing to administer the statewide tests. Elizabeth Brackett has the story. Read an article.

Jim Tilmon discusses his career, WTTW’s “Our People,” and the impact African American programming has had on public affairs television.

Vietnam veteran Lon Hodge struggled for years with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until he got a PTSD service dog named Gander. Lon says that Gander has saved his life. Now, Lon and Gander help other vets and work to raise awareness about PTSD, veteran suicide and service dogs. Jay Shefsky has a profile. Read an interview with Fran Menley, Service Dog Trainer at Freedom Service Dogs of America, about how they rescue, train and pair dogs with veterans and people with disabilities.

A chunk of transportation history rests in the Chicago River. Geoffrey Baer talks trains and technology in this week's edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Writer, actor and director Harold Ramis died at the age of 69. Joining us to talk about his life and career are Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire. Watch a 1997 Wild Chicago clip featuring Ramis and host Will Klinger, and watch all of Ramis's appearances from WTTW's archives.

Paris Schutz reports on why a race for Illinois State Representative between two Chicagoans is turning ugly, and has powerful Democratic party insiders on edge. Read an article.

Is social media fueling Chicago gang wars? We take a closer look at the phenomena with Ben Austen, a journalist who took an in-depth look at how Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram -- among many others on the world wide web --- have contributed to escalating tensions and street violence in Chicago. Read an interview with former gang leader and community activist Hal Baskin.

Who knew that the king of gothic cartoons came from Chicago? We visit an in-depth exhibit of Edward Gorey -- who influenced everyone from Maurice Sendak to Tim Burton -- at the Loyola University Museum of Art. View a slideshow of artwork.

Edward Gorey was a Chicagoan. It’s amazing how many people are unaware (myself included, until recently) that the great Gorey was born in Chicago in 1925.

From North Shore native to international opera star, tenor Matthew Polenzani joins us to talk about growing up in Chicago and his stellar career. And he shows us why he's one of the most sought-after operatic performers.

Chicago actor, writer and director Harold Ramis died at age 69. Watch web extra video interviews with Ramis from WTTW's archives.

After more than a decade on the run, notorious drug kingpin Joaquín "el Chapo" Guzmán was captured by Mexican authorities on Saturday. We hear from the head of the Chicago Crime Commission on Guzmán's arrest, and the chances that he'll ever be brought to trial in Chicago where he was indicted in 2009 on numerous charges by federal authorities. View a timeline of Joaquín "el Chapo" Guzmán's criminal career.

Gary, Indiana Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson joins us to discuss drug courts, Gary making progress and more. Watch her state of the city address and read an interview about the War on Drugs.