Stories by Nick Blumberg

On Tuesday, State Rep. Ken Dunkin was the lone Democratic holdout on two bills that would have reversed changes made to social service programs by the governor. This, despite pleas from child care advocates and the risks associated with going against powerful House Speaker Mike Madigan. Dunkin joins "Chicago Tonight" to discuss his decision.

Cincinnati giant Kroger puts Mariano's on its grocery list, McDonald's has a new recipe for success and Macy's is exploring a State Street redevelopment. Joining us with these stories and more is Crain's Chicago Business deputy managing editor Ann Dwyer.

On this Veterans Day we hear from two men who served their country and are now featured in a new book of remembrances by Chicago-area veterans. The book, “I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War,” features the memories of 50 veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Comedy legend John Cleese talks about the real-life inspiration for "Fawlty Towers" – and tells us why he doesn't think one of his more famous Monty Python skits is all that funny.

Local history expert Geoffrey Baer visits the towering walls on the south lakeshore and a swampy nature area in the middle of an industrial neighborhood in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The Citizens Police Data Project went online Tuesday. The searchable database chronicles 56,361 police disciplinary records. Among them, more than 28,000 allegations of misconduct filed against the Chicago Police Department between March 2011 and September 2015, and records on officers repeatedly accused of wrongdoing between 2000 and 2008.

The Illinois General Assembly returned to work in Springfield on Tuesday for the first time in three weeks. Amanda Vinicky joins us with the latest.

Allen "Nick" Scott is preparing to bury his 20-year-old daughter Kaylyn Pryor on Saturday. The aspiring model was shot and killed last Monday after visiting her grandparents in Englewood.

An unlikely hero in the Bears come-from-behind thriller in San Diego. James "Big Cat" Williams is here with his take on the Bears third win of the season. 

Veterans who show their military IDs will receive free access to all exhibits at the museum on Wednesday. 

A federal judge on Tuesday did not dismiss legal challenges against the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. 

Several Chicago Public Schools could be consolidating with neighboring schools, if residents in at least two Chicago communities are able to convince the district to take action. Brandis Friemdan has the details on a proposed merger that residents on the Near North Side have been considering.

Dark matter: we can't see it, but it's believed to make up 85 percent of all matter in the universe and without it we almost certainly wouldn't be here. Particle physicist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Randall joins us to discuss her new book "Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe."

Joshua Bell has been a violin virtuoso since he was teenager in Bloomington, Indiana back in the 1980s. He talks with "Chicago Tonight" about his early years, the greatness of the Stradivarius and his favorite collaborators in this encore presentation. He'll also treat us to a live performance with pianist Sam Haywood.

Official rules for the Chicago Tonight Puzzle Challenge.

Today is the first day of medical marijuana sales in Illinois. Who is buying, who is selling, and is the program here to stay? Paris Schutz has the latest.

The U.S. Department of Education ruled that Palatine Township High School District 211 violated a transgender student's right not to be discriminated against when it refused the student unfettered access to the girls' locker room.

The violence in Chicago continues to spark rage and national headlines. Last week it was the murder of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee, then 20-year-old Kaylyn Pryor, an aspiring model, was gunned down. This weekend 14-year-old J-Quantae Riles was killed. Eddie Arruza reports on steps being taken on the city’s West Side to combat the violence.

The museum sold five antique trains from its collection at a public auction last month. 

The veteran journalist who was anchor and managing editor of "Nightline" on ABC from 1980 until 2005 discusses his new book about the risk of cyberattack facing the power grid in the United States and the inadequate measures being taken to protect it.

Puzzle lovers, put on your thinking caps and prepare for the first-ever Chicago Tonight Puzzle. We'll stimulate your cerebrums with the first installment of a monthly segment in which we challenge our viewers to solve a puzzle for a chance to win a "Chicago Tonight" prize package.

An original and a reproduction – one of only two in the world – will be on display as part of the Field Museum's "Greeks" exhibit opening Nov. 25.

Joel Weisman and his panel of guests discuss the top stories of the week, including the announcement by Lake County officials that police Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz’s death was a suicide; the tragic murder of 9 year old Tyshawn Lee; the new trailer for Spike Lee's controversial film "Chi-raq"; and news that CPS schools may see thousands of layoffs this winter.