Stories by Michael Lipkin

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, wants to lower the mandatory school age in Illinois from 7 to 5. 

Jay Shefsky introduces us to a basketball team you won't forget.

We hear what you had to say about the controversial billboard in River North when we read some of our viewer feedback.

Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and wife Sandi co-conspired to divert $750,000 in campaign money for personal use, according to an information filed today against the former congressman by the Washington D.C. U.S. Attorney.

Eddie Arruza and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Eddie Arruza and his panel of journalists weigh the pros and cons of a racy billboard downtown, and whether its’ sexually-loaded message crosses the line into indecent advertising.

Poetry competition, South Asian chocolates and a play about the racial divisions of South Africa, Chicago Tonight knows what's going on this weekend.

The Illinois Senate approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage—bringing it one step closer to becoming law. The bill passed the Senate in a 34-21-2 vote, but now faces a tougher vote as it moves to the Illinois House of Representatives. See how Senate members voted in our interactive graphic.

As Hadiya Pendleton's murder inspires national gun safety legislation, Police Chief Garry McCarthy is here to discuss why state laws need to change.

Why is this billboard turning heads in River North? And should it be taken down? Paris Schutz reports.

A new WTTW special covers the mock retrial of Mary Todd Lincoln, who was tried and institutionalized for insanity a decade after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Would she be institutionalized under today's laws?

Top Chef and Mexico: One Plate at a Time host Rick Bayless shares his recipe for a Mexican El Diablo cocktail. 

It happened 84 years ago, but many Chicagoans still associate Valentine's Day with a massacre. Take a look at the late John Callaway's 2004 "Chicago Stories" piece about gangland Chicago's most infamous hour.

Bandleader Orbert Davis and friends perform their Emmy-winning score from the documentary DuSable to Obama.

We hear what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer mail.

City Council passed much-debated and controversial new ethics rules today by a unanimous vote. Even aldermen who were disappointed at the final, watered-down rules still voted yes.  But the mayor said he didn’t agree with the final outcome.

Chicago Public Schools releases a list of schools that are still being considered for closings. Elizabeth Brackett has the latest.

As Pope Benedict XVI prepares for his last weeks in office, we speak with Father Don Senior about what it's like to live in Vatican City. 

The President laid out a list of agenda items for his upcoming term. But how realistic are they? And, what was the Republican response? We have analysis.

Despite the sluggish economy the Dow is poised to hit an all-time high. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has this story, and more top business headlines.

Chicago Magazine’s Executive Editor, Cassie Walker Burke, is back on the show to tell us who made the publication’s 2013 list for the 100 most influential people in the city. 

We tell you about an organization that helps low-income residents prepare their tax returns for free.

State's attorneys outline their case against two young men charged in the shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton. Paris Schutz has more on what prosecutors say happened that day, and what they believe it says about Chicago's homicide problem.

The alleged shooters of Hadiya Pendleton failed to press charges from an earlier shooting, preferring retaliation instead, according to police. We speak with CureViolence's Ameena Matthews and executive director of the mayor's Office of Public Engagement Felicia Davis on gang culture. 

A study names Chicago's traffic among the country's very worst. What city planners are doing to save people time and money.

Local female veterans react to the Pentagon lifting the ban on women in combat.