Stories by WTTW News

We share what you had to say about Chicago Tonight’s conversation with Steven Salaita when we read some of our viewer feedback.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis underwent emergency surgery today. NBC 5 News Reporter Mary Ann Ahern joins us with the details on the story she broke this afternoon.

The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States has died, and Ebola screenings will soon be implemented at O’Hare. We discuss the latest Ebola cases and precautions being put in place to stop the spread of the disease. 

Nik Wallenda plans to tightrope walk between Chicago skyscrapers blindfolded. A state law requires all tightrope walkers to have either a safety net or harness, but the City says that law should not apply to Wallenda. 

CPS high school students in need of non-traditional high school settings can choose among more than 40 Options Schools. Learn more about these schools and why CPS has expanded the number of seats available. 

In tonight’s edition of Ask Geoffrey, we revisit Chicago’s School Street, the history of Chicago’s civil defense unit, and a tree planted by Ulysses Grant in a South Side park.

On the eve of their milestone silver anniversary, River North Dance Chicago gets a rehearsal room visit from Chicago Tonight.

The mayor pulls a sneaky end-run around aldermen who had wanted city voters to weigh in on whether or not there should be an elected Chicago Public School Board. Paris Schutz has the latest on today’s strange developments.

Planning for the Illiana Expressway continues after the project received a green light from a federal environmental review. Our panel discusses the controversial tollway and what happens next.

Last month, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel penned an op-ed detailing why he hopes to die at the age of 75. Chicago Tonight discusses the controversial article.

Since launching the Student Outreach and Re-engagement centers, or SOAR, Chicago Public Schools has helped 170 former high school dropouts earn their diplomas. Find out how the program works and what students are saying about it.

His tweets cost him a tenured position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chicago Tonight sits down with Steven Salaita to hear about how social media changed his life.

Theater and Dance Critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, Hedy Weiss reviews a production of “Smokefall” at the Goodman Theatre, “The Night Alive” at Steppenwolf, and “The Commons of Pensacola” at the Northlight Theatre.

Electrical problems and soggy weather fizzled Saturday night's Great Chicago Fire Festival. Paris Schutz has more on the aftermath and the mayor's plans for the event moving forward.

In a surprise move, the U.S Supreme Court started its new term by deciding not to hear any of the same-sex marriage petitions before it. Our panel takes a closer look at what the Court's decision means.

Chicago Tribune Pulitzer prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin talks about NEIU’s El Centro and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s “God Box” located at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

A bison conservation herd makes its way to Illinois to help protect the landscape. 

Bears' turnovers turn the tide in the Panthers favor. Former Bear James "Big Cat" Williams joins Ann Kreiter to talk about Chicago's latest loss.    

We share your thoughts about the slaughter of African elephants when we read some of our viewer feedback.

A mac and cheese fest, the West Town Art Walk, a Chicago Gangster Convention; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Today is the final day of business for Hot Doug’s, the iconic gourmet hot dog spot known for its exotic hot dogs and sausages. Chicago Tonight revisits Doug Sohn’s exit interview. 

Joel Weisman and his panel continue their conversation about the double dipping charges leveled against Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.

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

In Evanston this afternoon, President Obama makes the case that the economy is better under his watch, but acknowledges the middle class hasn't fully felt it.

With thunderstorms forecasted in Chicago, airlines cancelled more than 700 flights at Chicago’s airports. The latest cancellations come less than a week after a fire at an Aurora radar facility resulted in thousands of cancelled flights. 

This summer a toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie led to 500,000 people being cut off from their drinking water in Toledo. Elizabeth Brackett details the latest efforts to protect the Great Lakes drinking water.