Stories by Alexandra Silets

It's official. The Obama Presidential Library is coming to Chicago. What will it mean for the South Side? We'll hear more details about the city's triumph.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been lobbying hard for a Chicago casino ostensibly to help tackle the city's pension and budget woes. Meanwhile, state Rep. Bob Rita is sponsoring two bills that would create as many as five new casinos in Illinois, one of which would be a mega casino in Chicago. How would a casino in Chicago impact the city? And how would it affect existing state casinos? 

An exhibition at The Field Museum looks at City Windows, the papercut artwork of Chinese artist Qiao Xiaoguang now on display at two locations in Chicago. We revisit the story.

As awareness increases about the risk of traumatic brain injury while playing contact sports and the possible long-term health impacts, we talk to Dorothy Kozlowski, a professor of biological sciences at DePaul University whose research focuses on understanding and treating the injured brain.

In the wake of the Illinois Supreme Court’s pension ruling, we analyze the options on a way forward for Illinois and Chicago.

On Friday, May 8, the Illinois Supreme Court found the state’s 2013 pension reform law unconstitutional, affirming the ruling made six months earlier by a lower court. In its ruling, the Supreme Court said “crisis is not an excuse to abandon the rule of the law.” We discuss the decision with a panel of lawmakers.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will discuss what last week's Illinois Supreme Court ruling means for her plan to change the county's pension system. 

An artist revered in her home country of Colombia has made a strong impression on the international art world. We revisit our story about the MCA Chicago exhibition of Doris Salcedo's first-ever retrospective. 

James Beard semifinalist Paul Fehribach, executive chef of Andersonville's Big Jones restaurant, joins Chicago Tonight to discuss the recipes and history in his new Southern cookbook.

We share what you had to say about the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling on the state's 2013 pension reform law. 

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the state’s 2013 pension reform law. Chicago Tonight hosts a special 30-minute edition on the ruling.

Joel Weisman and his panel of local journalists discuss this week’s top stories.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the Burge police torture reparations package. They also delve into the impact of director Spike Lee's upcoming movie that will reportedly be called Chiraq.

The Illinois Supreme Court has struck down the state's landmark 2013 pension reform law, upholding a lower court ruling that it violated the state constitution. In the ruling, the court rejected the state's defense that its contractual obligations were not absolute, because it reserved "emergency powers" in a time of crisis.

Serenade the moon on the lagoon; drink up the suds at Soldier Field; and enjoy the sounds of a classical rock star. Chicago Tonight has your weekend picks.

The Chicago Teachers Union is digging in its heels over contract negotiations with the school district. Find out how far they're willing to go over what the union calls a 7 percent pay cut proposal from the city. Brandis Friedman has the details.

“Unachievable.” That's what fiscal watchdog group The Civic Federation calls Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed 2016 fiscal budget in a new report released today. And the report comes a day after Rauner gave an unprecedented speech to the Chicago City Council, saying city officials shouldn't expect a bail out from the state. Tonight we talk with a panel of experts about what this means for the city and the state.

There’s good and bad news for Cook County's troubled jail system. Paris Schutz has more on the changing landscape of the Cook County criminal justice system amid some political hardball between top county officials. What progress is being made?

Shira Piven, director of the new film, Welcome to Me, joins us to talk about female directors in Hollywood, working with Kristen Wiig, and the film's portrayal of mental health.

Chicago's Divvy bike sharing program is expanding this spring. Where are the new stations? And where aren't they?

Chicago Tonight staff digs into the first planting of the season with The Organic Gardner Jeanne Nolan.

We share what you had to say about Archbishop Blase Cupich’s comments on the Catholic Church’s financial situation, Chicago aldermen’s reactions to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s City Council address, and support for PBS Chief Paula Kerger.

Gov. Bruce Rauner takes his controversial right-to-work agenda to Chicago's City Council. Paris Schutz has the latest.