Stories by Marc Vitali

What is the landmark status of Marina City and other Chicago buildings? And is the Trump sign "classy" or in the words of Chicago Tribune critic Blair Kamin, is it "urban acne"? Kamin joins us on Chicago Tonight for the latest on Chicago architecture.

A freelance comedy writer from Winnetka accuses Conan O’Brien of using jokes he posted on Twitter and has filed a lawsuit against the late-night comedian. Tonight, we’ll talk about the ethics of comedy and how jokes are shared with comedian Dwayne Kennedy and Curtis Flagg, the director of operations at Chicago’s Laugh Factory.

Could Chicagoans soon be paying higher taxes for sugary drinks? We'll tell you about that and other items Chicago's City Council took up today.

The City Council today tackled a host of issues in its final meeting before a two-month break. But one issue that didn't come up between aldermen and Mayor Emanuel is the big, expensive elephant in the room. Carol Marin talks with a panel of aldermen to analyze the city’s options for making its pension payments. 

Some bad news for anyone searching for a Chicago apartment: Rents are going up, and in some places, dramatically. We talk about the factors behind the rent hikes with our panel.

High-end treasures in Chicago's Gold Coast are usually found in pricey stores. But we'll tell you about some being uncovered at an archaeological dig on the grounds of a famous house.

The watchdog group Citizens Utility Board on Wednesday alerted Chicago customers to upcoming changes to their power bills and offered tips for avoiding bad deals.

Geoffrey Baer tells a sweet South Side success story, tests the waters at an unusual car wash, and finds the facts behind a fascist monument in this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Mayor Emanuel, back in Chicago after a vacation in Europe, returns to a fiscal situation that is bleaker than it was when he left, thanks to last week's court ruling throwing out a law that cut benefits for many city retirees.

Many of Illinois' most vulnerable residents could be the hardest hit by the budget stalemate in Springfield. But last Thursday, a U.S. District Judge ensured that Cook County Medicaid recipients will not become victims of the political impasse. 

Chicago police officers shot and killed 70 people between 2010 and 2014, according to a new report from the Better Government Association. Andrew Schroedter, senior investigator with the BGA, joins Chicago Tonight to talk about these numbers and their implications for Chicago.

Crain’s Chicago Business senior reporter Steve Daniels takes a closer look at the soaring cost of Peoples Gas' massive gas main replacement program and higher charges coming to Commonwealth Edison customers.

Christian Picciolini was once a neo-Nazi skinhead leader in Chicago. Today he runs an organization called Life After Hate. Jay Shefsky tells the story of Picciolini's remarkable transformation.

Armed with a fake wooden gun, the infamous gangster John Dillinger made a daring escape from the Crown Point County Jail in Northwest Indiana in 1934. More than 80 years later, Dillinger has returned to Crown Point. Joining us to discuss the new John Dillinger Museum is Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

There was heated debate at a City Council committee meeting Monday on whether or not to strip Illinois Film tax credits from Spike Lee's forthcoming film Chi-Raq. Some say the title validates gang culture while others fumed that aldermen have far better things to do with their time. Is the title Chi-Raq here to stay? 

A Cook County judge ruled Friday that Chicago's plan to change city workers’ pensions was unconstitutional. The city vows to appeal the decision. We look at the ruling, whether any pension reform can be constitutional, what the consequences are to the city's plummeting bond rating, and whether the city will have to raise taxes to cover the pension liability. 

Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here to discuss the landmark legislation is Karen Tamley, commissioner of the Chicago Mayor's Office for Persons with Disabilities.

The American-born artist James McNeil Whistler had a profound impact on his 19th century European contemporaries. An exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago looks at Whistler's artistic vision – and his influence on a little-known French artist held in high regard by curators and collectors.

National Medal of Science recipient May Berenbaum is an expert in the interaction of insects with plants, the founder of an annual insect-themed film festival, and the namesake of an X-Files character and new species of cockroach. She joins us on Chicago Tonight.

We share what you had to say about the continued debate over the title of Spike Lee’s new film Chi-Raq and the ongoing budget stalemate in Springfield.

When Layne Mosler hails a cab, she doesn't have a destination in mind. What her driver doesn't know is that Mosler's next stop will be his (or her) favorite restaurant. This strategy has led her to discover some of the best eats in cities across the globe, which she details on her blog Taxi Gourmet. Now, Mosler shares her adventures in her new book, Driving Hungry.

Mayor Emanuel and the city of Chicago are back to square one in efforts to resolve the funding crisis for two of the city's four pension funds, likely exacerbating the city's ongoing fiscal problems. 

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss this week’s top stores in politics, business, and sports.