Stories by Brandis Friedman

Chicago teachers were back in schools Tuesday instead of on the picket line. We take a closer look at the eleventh hour contract agreement between the district and teachers union.

Is the fiscal tide finally turning for Chicago? The mayor lays out the coming year's spending plan.

Watch the Oct. 11, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Illinois voters will decide whether the state's transportation funds will be locked away solely for transportation spending. A look at what’s at stake.

Displaced farmers–refugees from other countries–get more than food for their hard work at an urban garden in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood.

We get reaction from aldermen to the eleventh hour deal that averted a Chicago teachers strike, as well as the mayor’s budget, police oversight reform and more.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office announced last week a $750,000, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice that will help fund a new program that aims to improve the state's response to sexual assault crimes.

The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control is urging pet owners to vaccinate their cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies after two outdoor cats tested positive for the virus in Illinois and Missouri.

A Chicago alderman dropped his controversial plan to combine two elementary schools within his ward, but some parents are still concerned about what the rest of his proposal could mean for other schools in the community.

Free events like the Chicago Blues Festival are evolving. We speak with Chicago’s new commissioner of cultural affairs and special events about the future of city celebrations.

A strike by Chicago Teachers Union members has been averted after the union reached a tentative agreement with Chicago Public Schools and the Board of Education.

Archbishop Blase Cupich is going to Rome, where he’ll be elevated to cardinal in a special ceremony next month. 

Watch the Oct. 10, 2016 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Sunday’s town hall debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was one of the most tense in history.

Picket signs are printed and teachers say they're ready to walk out as parents scramble to find care for their children.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk wants to create a colony on Mars. Assessing the challenges–and his chances of success.

The second presidential debate starts off frosty and quickly gets personal. Analysis of how the two candidates performed.

Framing healthy eating as a rebellious act against a manipulative industry can inspire teens to choose healthier snacks and drinks, a recent study found.

A pilot program announced last week by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Family and Support Services aims to provide temporary employment opportunities and assistance to 100 homeless individuals.

CTU President Karen Lewis said negotiations between the two sides would continue over the weekend and through Columbus Day if necessary, but as of Friday afternoon, she had “nothing substantial” to report.

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson said Friday at an event at the University of Chicago that despite his recent blunders on foreign policy, he is the preferred candidate among men and women in the armed forces.

President Barack Obama hits town to raise cash. Contract talks heat up as a teachers strike looms. COPA sails through City Council. And the Cubs launch their playoff push against the Giants.

This WTTW guide is an online resource designed to inform voters about the candidates running for office in the Nov. 8 election. Learn more.

The Illinois Comptroller is an Executive Branch office of state government charged with maintaining the fiscal accounts of the state of Illinois and ordering the Illinois Treasurer to make payments into and out of those accounts. 

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes crimes committed in Cook County, serves as legal counsel for Cook County government agencies, and serves as legal counsel for all Cook County public officials. Learn about the candidates.