Stories by Alexandra Silets

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction found billions of dollars wasted from corruption and mismanagement during the war. We talk with him about what went wrong and right with the government's $60 billion effort. Read Stuart Bowen Jr.'s full report.

Bernie Sahlins died at the age of 90 this past weekend. We talk with the close friends and colleagues of The Second City legend about the man who helped shape American comedy. Watch a 2004 interview with Sahlins from our archives.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Daley offers a three-point plan for pension reform, calling Gov. Pat Quinn out for "failed leadership." Daley is calling on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to issue an opinion on the constitutionality of pension reform bills. Watch the full news conference.

Chicago aldermen weigh in on the plan to place digital billboards along the expressways, city violence, and layoffs at Chicago Public Schools. View a map of the proposed sites for digital billboards.

Ground is set to break on a major transformation that will turn an abandoned railway into a three mile-long elevated park. Chicago Tonight has exclusive details about the final plan. Read an article and view a slideshow.

It was the how-to guide to find the best bars and most scandalous shows in the Second City. Originally printed for tourists about to visit the Columbian Exposition of 1893, Chicago By Day and Night: A Pleasure Seeker's Guide to the Paris of America is being reissued by historians Paul Durica and Bill Savage. Read an article.

What's the secret to Superman's success while others have faded away? And who was behind the country's first superhero? As the latest Superman movie, Man of Steel, crushes box-office records, we revisit our conversation with Larry Tye, author of Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero. Read a book excerpt and watch a web extra video.

Bernie Sahlins, co-founder of The Second City and mentor to John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray, died over the weekend at age 90. We remember Bernie Sahlins in his own words – from his visit to WTTW studios in February 2004. Watch his appearance from our archives.

We have some of your thoughts about our recent interviews with Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and with Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford in tonight's Viewer Feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the pros and cons of the city’s bike share program, and its political ramifications for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Also, they delve further into the possibility of a school property tax hike, and what impact that would have on voters in the 2015 mayoral election.

The country's largest comedy festival, food from the city's top purveyors, and butterflies at the Botanic Garden; Chicago Tonight knows what's going on this weekend.

Hillary Clinton announces she will join her family’s charitable foundation and champion children’s and women’s issues, as well as economic development. She made the announcement Thursday morning at the Clinton Global Initiative America conference in Chicago. Read an article and watch a live feed for a recap of the event.

Chicago Police arrest alleged street gang members in the first prosecution under the Illinois Street Gang RICO law, designed to hold gang leaders accountable for violence. Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and other officials held a press conference to discuss the takedown. Watch the web extra video.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that human genes are off-limits for patent protection. Read the full opinion, and a Q&A with a bioethics professor about the impact of the ruling on the medical community.

The Reagan Presidency is a new documentary focusing on President Reagan’s domestic and foreign policy decisions during his two terms in office. It premieres on WTTW11 at 8:00 pm Thursday. Watch a trailer and read more about Reaganomics.

Joe Mangrum spends all day on a work of art, and then it’s gone. He creates sand paintings - improvisational and temporary works in public spaces, as well as museums, galleries and events. Jay Shefsky caught up with him as he made a commissioned sand painting in a downtown office lobby. Read an article and watch a time-lapse video of sand art.

America’s biggest comedy fest enjoys its fifth anniversary year with a diverse group of performers. From the “Just for Laughs” festival, we’ll be joined by Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Brian Babylon (Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me) and renowned improv performer Susan Messing for a freewheeling conversation about Chicago’s key role in the art of comedy. Read a Q&A.

We share what you had to say about Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis's appearance on our show this week in tonight's viewer feedback.

A flood watch is in effect for the region from 4:00 pm Wednesday afternoon until 4:00 am Thursday morning. We chat with WGN-TV’s chief meteorologist Tom Skilling about what to expect, and how to protect your family and property.

Top lawmaker Tom Cross accuses House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton of playing politics to hold up pension reform. Paris Schutz has the story.

After months of speculation, Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford officially threw his name in the ring as the GOP gubernatorial candidate. View a timeline of Rutherford's political career.

Jonathan Alter is an award-winning author, columnist, reporter and television analyst. Since 2011, he has written a column for Bloomberg View, a worldwide commentary site housed under Bloomberg News. The Chicago native joins us to discuss his new book, The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies. Read an excerpt.

New Teacher Center is an organization that teaches teachers how to sidestep the pitfalls of early career burnout. Read a web article and watch an extended interview with Ellen Moir, founder and CEO of the organization, who is working to battle the teacher retention crisis in America.

Last Sunday, the Tony Awards had a strong Chicago accent. Steppenwolf Theatre’s Broadway production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won Tonys for “Best Revival,” “Best Director” and “Best Actor, Tracy Letts.” Before it went to Broadway, the show played at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, and we spoke with some of the principal actors. Watch a web extra video.

Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley is officially exploring a run for Illinois governor in 2014. Daley announced Tuesday in a web video that he has formed an exploratory committee for the race. Watch the video and read reaction from other potential gubernatorial candidates.