Stories by Hope Holmberg

Tall ships, street art, and a Fest for Beatles fans. Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

On Aug. 8, 1988, 25 years ago tonight, history was made at Wrigley Field with the first scheduled night game in the history of the storied ballpark. Watch Chicago Tonight's coverage of the event in this web extra video from our archives.

The Illinois State Fair kicks off in Springfield. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney breaks down the political scene, including the start of the governor's race.

We break down the state of the Illinois governor’s race and what's happening with pension reform in the state.

Jahmal Cole was inspired to create a new web series after volunteering at the Cook County Jail and realizing that most of the inmates had never visited landmark sites, such as the Willis Tower.

Among the 14 historic ships heading for Chicago’s Tall Ships Festival is the “Lynx,” a two-masted schooner modeled after an 1812 “privateer.” I spent 24 hours on the Lynx as it sailed to Chicago. Read an article, view a slideshow, and watch Web Extra: Dawn on a Tall Ship for a video postcard of my trip.

The Fest for Beatles Fans returns to Chicago for its annual visit. Local author Robert Rodriguez, a Beatles authority and guest speaker at the Fest, has just written a book called Solo In The 70s about the post-Beatles careers of the Fab Four. He joins us. Read an excerpt from the book, Rodriguez's best solo album picks, and watch a web extra video from our archives.

We revisit an inside look at the long-awaited Goodman Theatre production of The Jungle Book. Watch a web extra video and view a slideshow.

We share what you had to say about the recent CPS layoffs and Len Goodman, an attorney of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich who filed an appeal on his behalf on July 15, in tonight’s viewer feedback.

The Tall Ships Festival begins today at Navy Pier. Jay Shefsky spent 24 hours on the tall ship Lynx this week as it sailed to Chicago. On Thursday's show, Jay gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Lynx. Today, we have Jay's web extra “video postcard” of dawn aboard a historic two-masted schooner. Watch the video.

Less than a week after medical marijuana became legal in Illinois, the first clinic opens in Chicago. But it's still going to be a while before patients get their prescriptions filled.  Eddie Arruza has the details.

In a whirlwind week for newspapers, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to buy The Washington Post for $250 million, while Boston Red Sox Owner John Henry has purchased The Boston Globe from the New York Times Company. We discuss the future of the newspaper industry in light of the sales.

The State Department issues a worldwide travel alert and the temporary closure of 19 embassies and consulates. We look at the latest terror threats with Robert Pape, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. View a map of the closures and charts on attacks.

We speak with a former prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney's juvenile division who says she was demoted for dropping charges in a “wilding” case in the Loop.

Chicago’s premier rock and roll photographer talks about 37 years of incredible access to the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, and everybody who’s anybody in popular music. On the eve of a new, interactive exhibit of his photos at the Elmhurst Historical Museum, we visited Paul Natkin in his home studio and on assignment shooting the Chicago Blues Fest. We revisit the story. Read a Q&A, watch a web extra video, and view a slideshow.

Our panel of expert chefs and restaurant owners – Chelsea Kalberloh Jackson of Pleasant House Bakery, Dan Smith of Hearty Boys, and Cleetus Friedman of Fountainhead – weighs in on how you can get the most out of dining out this summer. View some recipes.

In light of the recent Metra scandal, Gov. Pat Quinn is looking to appoint a panel of experts to suggest a “fundamental overhaul” of both Metra and the Regional Transportation Authority. Will the task force recommend streamlining the oversight of public transportation? And is it a good idea to completely revamp Metra, Pace, CTA and the RTA? We have analysis.

Alfonso and Margaret Iannelli were a husband and wife design team who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and then struck out on their own. We revisit a conversation with Chicago cultural historian Tim Samuelson about this artistic power couple, and a show of their work at the Chicago Cultural Center. View a slideshow, read a book excerpt and watch a video.

Neighbor Carts hires workers with pre-existing barriers to employment, while simultaneously working to eradicate the city's vast food deserts. We revisit Jay Shefsky's story about the company's innovative business model. Read an article and view a slideshow.

Saxophone great James Carter talks about his lifelong love of jazz and how he became an authority on vintage horns. Watch a video performance, and read a Q & A with Lauren Deutsch, executive director at the Jazz Institute of Chicago

In the longest doping suspension in baseball history, Alex Rodriguez is potentially benched for 211 games. Twelve other players also get hefty bans related to a performance-enhancing drug scandal. We look at the impact on the game. Read an article.

About 3,000 teachers and staff have already been laid off this summer in a massive downsizing effort by the Chicago school district. What’s the big picture impact for student education? Carol Marin and her guests assess the issue.

We talk with Len Goodman, an attorney of imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who filed an appeal on his behalf on July 15. Read the full appeal.

Film and TV veteran William Petersen returns to town to do a two-character play with a promising young Chicago actress, Rae Gray, at Steppenwolf Theatre. We have a conversation with the two stars of the Chicago premiere of Greg Pierce’s Slowgirl. Read an interview with the play's director.

This past weekend, 300,000 people turned out for the biggest Lollapalooza yet. For its ninth year, 130 bands played on eight stages in three days. The festival brought in more than $4 million in revenue for the city. Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot joins us to discuss some of the festival's highlights. Read an interview and view a slideshow.

We share what you had about the to say about the legalization of medical marijuana in Illinois and the city's budget shortfall in tonight's viewer feedback.