Stories by WTTW News

Actor Alan Cumming has starred in movies, hit TV series, and stage classics including the role of the emcee in Broadway's “Cabaret.” He visits Chicago Tonight to talk about his life, new memoir, and discovering some truths.

Veteran Chicago actor Mike Nussbaum joins us on Chicago Tonight to talk about his long career that keeps going strong.

Geoffrey Baer visits the site of a famously tiny Loop restaurant, a suburban neighborhood endorsed by an Olympian, and those scary steel fire escapes on downtown buildings.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools says the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity’s report on Chicago charter schools is inaccurate. 

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner will debate for the second time ahead of the Nov. 4 election. Paris Schutz will have the latest from tonight's debate between the gubernatorial hopefuls, locked in a tight race.  

The Vatican recently released a preliminary report calling for church leaders to reconsider their treatment of gay people, cohabitating couples, divorced and remarried couples, as well as children of less traditional families. Our panel discusses the draft report and its implications.   

Chicago charter schools underperform traditional schools, according to a study by the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity. We talk with the director of the institute about the study.  

As Illinois lawmakers look into ways to reform the state's prison system, we hear from the lead author of a comprehensive report on the U.S. prison system.  

Chicago journalist Jonathan Eig talks about his new book, “The Birth of the Pill,” and the history of the development of the birth control pill.

Soprano Renée Fleming has performed a number of unforgettable roles at Lyric Opera of Chicago. But perhaps her most lasting legacy will be her influence behind the scenes.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis will not run in the upcoming mayoral election, according to a statement released Monday afternoon.

City Inspector General Joe Ferguson goes in depth about his audit of the city's beleaguered red light camera program, which is found to have collected millions in tickets from drivers because of curious changes to protocols.

Toni Preckwinkle explains her proposed 2015 budget which contains no new taxes, fines or fees for the second consecutive year.

The Chicago Bears snap a two-game losing streak with a 27-13 win at Atlanta. James "Big Cat" Williams joins Ann Kreiter to recap the victory.

Chicago investor J.B. Pritzker talks about the Chicago Venture Summit, in which local tech entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors from around the country.

Anupy Singla stops by to talk about Indian spices, and her new cookbook, "Indian for Everyone: The Home Cook's Guide to Traditional Favorites."

We share what you had to say on the proposed fare hikes for Metra riders when we read some of our viewer feedback.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists continue their discussion by talking about other state races, including comptroller, and lieutenant governor races.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss this week's headlines.

The Chicago Marathon, Beer Hoptacular, and Music Box of Horrors; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

During a press conference this afternoon, the CTU announced there will be a temporary changing of the guard at the union while Karen Lewis recovers from what is described as a serious illness. Brandis Friedman has the latest.   

We take a look at the growing income disparity between blue- and white-collar workers.  

Metra is proposing fare increases of nearly 11 percent next year to help modernize aging infrastructure and railcars.

More than 100 state hospitals will be penalized by Medicare for having too many patients return to a hospital within a month of being admitted for treatment. We discuss the impact these penalties will have on hospitals and patient care.

For its 40th anniversary, the Smart Museum of Art has transformed itself into a museum of sculpture -- much as it was at its opening in October 1974.

This summer Jay Shefsky introduced Chicago Tonight viewers to a hidden treasure found in the woods of Clark Park. We revisit Jay’s story on The Garden, home of Chicago’s dirt jumps.