Stories by Elizabeth Brackett

The Chinese tech company Foxconn wants to withdraw 7 million gallons of water a day from Lake Michigan for its proposed new Wisconsin plant. But would that violate the compact to protect the Great Lakes?

The Chicago Board of Elections says nearly 86,000 city residents cast ballots between Feb. 21 and March 18, surpassing the number of early voters in the 2010 and 2014 midterm primary elections combined. 

A group of men carried out more than a dozen armed robberies in the Albany Park neighborhood early Monday, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Community organizers opposing a new wave of school closures criticized Chicago’s pursuit of landing Amazon’s second headquarters, saying minority residents are being pushed aside to make way for the tech giant.

St. Patrick’s Day festivities kicked off a day early at Brookfield Zoo last week, where seals, camels, lemurs, orangutans and gorillas got shamrock-shaped and green-colored treats.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, director and screenwriter joins us to talk about his new book – and the city that inspired it.

A memorable moment from the film version of Peter Shaffer’s play, “Amadeus,” came rushing back to mind as I listened to this weekend’s glorious, spirit-altering concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which opened with Haydn’s “Symphony No. 89” and was followed by two works by his younger contemporary, Mozart.

J.B. Pritzker’s offshore holdings draw fire. Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoes a gun dealer bill. Should the public be able to fire the Chicago Police chief? And Loyola rambles on in the NCAA tournament.

Paris Schutz and guests discuss the massive O’Hare expansion plan and why Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pulling Chicago out of the running to host the 2026 World Cup.

The 14-year-old female polar bear who recently arrived in Chicago is expected to mate with 8-year-old Siku, who has lived at the zoo since 2016. 

Chicago’s former top cop is expected to formally announce plans to run for the city’s top job next week, a source says. “It’s just killing me to be on the sidelines and watching what’s happening in the city,” Garry McCarthy told us last month.

Watch the March 15, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

State education officials interested in examining Chicago Public Schools’ special education offerings will hold open hearings this month after families, stakeholders and a media report stoked concerns last year of possible “systemic issues.”

A feud is brewing within the state Democratic Party. Why progressives running for office in the Democratic Party say House Speaker Michael Madigan is waging all-out war against them.

With its three major venues on Navy Pier, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a nonstop operation. Evidence of that can be seen in the just-announced season: 14 productions, a slew of guest directors and a mix of shows created both here and abroad.

Next week, more than 120 groups in the Chicago region will discuss how to end gender bias and sexual harassment against women as part of the “Talk It Out” series spearheaded by the Chicago Foundation for Women.

Democrats Richard Gonzalez, Sol Flores and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez. What solutions do they envision for problems impacting this predominantly Hispanic district?

Democratic gubernatorial front-runner J.B. Pritzker came under intense scrutiny during an hourlong candidate forum Wednesday on “Chicago Tonight” – the final such event before the March 20 primary election. Watch the discussion and videos from a post-event press conference.

Watch the March 14, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Thousands of students from Chicago schools, including Lake View High School, joined in the nationwide protest held one month after a shooting left 17 dead inside a high school in Parkland, Florida.

From kindergartners to college professors, citizen scientists helped Field Museum researchers examine more than 100,000 plant samples that could hold clues to key scientific questions. 

A green river, St. Patrick’s Day parade, historical scavenger hunt and oodles of pancakes topped with fresh maple syrup usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

In their final meeting before the primary, the top three Democratic candidates for governor explain why they should represent their party in November. J.B. Prizker, Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss join us. 

This is a scorching production that is all the more potent for its extreme, immersive intimacy. Read the full review.

Watch the March 13, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

A bill that would have placed more regulations on gun dealers goes down with the stroke of a pen in Springfield.