Stories by WTTW News

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin reacts to the nation's credit downgrade. Eddie Arruza reports on what the senator says he hopes will be the next steps taken in Washington.

Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 joins us to discuss the local impact of S&P's historic downgrade, as well as news of Kraft's split and the latest on Groupon's IPO.

More and more medical providers in Chicago are switching their patient's paper records to electronic. But the conversion is giving some doctors headaches, and has some health officials alarmed. Paris Schutz has the story.

Daren Wendell swam across Lake Michigan this past weekend in a 36-hour, 50.6 mile journey to raise money for a great cause. He's here to talk with us about his amazing feat.

Beautiful interior spaces were created by a forgotten Chicago artist. We look at the stained glass, wood carvings and total living environments that were handmade by artist Edgar Miller. Edgar Miller and the Handmade Home Watch a slideshow

We hear what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer mail. Send Chicago Tonight your comments

This week on Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review, the President returns home to collect cash and celebrate his 50th birthday, amid criticism from both sides of the aisle over the debt ceiling compromise. Illinois representatives defend their debt ceiling votes. Tea Party favorite Joe Walsh and Democrat Jan Schakowsky both vote "no" for very different reasons. The Dow nose-dives to its lowest level of the year as fears abound over another worldwide economic slowdown. A new report details the costs of Ald. Ed Burke's bodyguards. Local food giant Kraft gets sliced into two companies.

Illinois Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Robert Dold had opposing votes on the debt ceiling deal. They join Eddie Arruza to explain their votes, and give their thoughts on what appears to be an ever-increasing political divide in Washington.

We talk with Chicago architect Adrian Smith, who, along with his firm, has been picked to design the world's tallest building — to be built in Saudi Arabia.

What do you get when you combine state of the art technology and role playing? Ash-har Quraishi takes us inside the simulation program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, where students are getting real-life medical experience in a virtual emergency room.

Can you imagine heading to a public building once or twice a week just to keep clean? Geoffrey Baer has more on the history of Chicago's bath houses in tonight's Ask Geoffrey.

The gospel music world lost one of its greatest singers this week: Chicago soprano Delois Barrett Campbell, of the legendary Barrett Sisters. We have a profile.

We hear what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer mail. Send Chicago Tonight your comments

The debt deal is signed, now comes the explaining. Carol Marin talks with two local members of Congress — one a yes vote and one a no vote — about why they voted the way they did.

A one-time funeral director talks about his greatest undertaking—creating paintings of a spiritual world. More on the Story: Slideshows & Video on global art project More on Matt Lamb Lamb's website The Museum of Private Art Collections Umbrellas for Peace

The owner and executive chef of "Province" demonstrates some great summer recipes that won't require turning on the stove. More on the Story: Cool recipes for a hot summer More on Chef Randy Zweiban More on "Province" More on Green City Market

In Erik Larson's new book, In the Garden of Beasts, he tells the true story of a Chicago family that unexpectedly finds itself in a position of prominence in Berlin during Hitler's rise to power. More on the book More on Erik Larson

The debt deal is done, but the stock market continues to tank. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel look at how D.C. politics have affected the markets.

One of the world's most well-known and watched televangelists, Joel Osteen, is here to talk about faith, his mega church and his upcoming event in Chicago.

Our resident tour guide Geoffrey Baer discovers a whole new way to explore Chicago, thanks to a visiting troupe of Australians!

We hear from a local author who shares tips for exciting vacations close to home. More on the Story: Read an excerpt & view a slideshow More on the book More on Elisa Drake Drake's website

Congressional leaders and the President come up with an 11th hour deal to raise the debt ceiling. Carol Marin and her panel tally up the potential winners and losers in the debate over the debt.

A sentencing date has been set for convicted former Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich. He'll learn his fate on October 6. Elizabeth Brackett has the latest on sentencing guidelines and Blagojevich's fate.

If Chicago and Toronto have the same population, then why does Chicago have almost eight times the number of murders each year? WBEZ's Robert Wildeboer is here to help us find out.

Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951. But her cells kept living, starting a scientific revolution and a multi-billion dollar industry. When members of her family found out, they felt angry and exploited. We revisit our recent conversation with the author of a best-selling book about the story.

Snakes have escaped Lincoln Park Zoo and are on their way to the suburbs. Paris Schutz has more on where they've landed and why.