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Stories by Alexandra Silets

Blair Kamin: Union Station Redevelopment Off Track

A $1 billion redevelopment of the station would add 330 hotel rooms and more than 400 apartments atop the existing station that was completed in 1925.

US Supreme Court Upholds Trump Travel Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld an order restricting travel to the United States from several majority-Muslim nations. 

Federal Government Ends Oversight of Cook County Jail’s Medical Center

Inside the Cook County jail is a full-fledged medical center that treats every one of the 6,000-7,000 detainees housed there on a daily basis. We get an exclusive tour. 

Report Examines Lead in Water at Chicago Child Care Facilities

Water testing at a Chicago day care center showed at least one sample 16 times higher than the lead level allowed in bottled water, according to a new report from an environmental watchdog group. 

Chicago Poet Patricia Frazier Named National Youth Poet Laureate

The 19-year-old writes poetry with a message of empowerment, social activism and remembrance. Meet Patricia Frazier.

Chicago-Style Magic Reappears in Andersonville

Chicago has a style of magic? It does. We check out a North Side lounge that aims to recreate the spirit of Chicago-style close-up magic.

CPS Pulls 2 Principals From Schools After Sexual Abuse Investigation

The announcement comes as CPS continues to deal with blowback from a Chicago Tribune series that detailed how the district repeatedly failed to protect students from sexual abuse and misconduct.

June 25, 2018 - Full Show

Watch the June 25, 2018 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

A Look at the Biggest US Supreme Court Decisions as Term Nears End

The Supreme Court’s term officially ended Monday without rulings on a trio of hot-button issues. Those are expected by the end of the week.

Ivan Albright, ‘Master of the Macabre,’ in the ‘Flesh’ at Art Institute

By all accounts, Ivan Albright was a lighthearted fellow – but in the mid-20th century, the Chicago artist painted some very dark pictures.

Illinois Governor’s Race Widens

Primary voters decided the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor in March, but chances are voters will have other options in the general election.

Starting July 1, Chicago Hotels Will Need to Have Panic Buttons

Chicago will become the second city in the country requiring hotels to implement panic buttons.

When Does Taking a Moral Stand Cross the Line Into Incivility?

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders touched off a fiery public debate this weekend after tweeting that a Virginia restaurant refused to serve her because she works for the president. 

CSO and Chorus Capture Beauty in Music of Death, Transcendence

Just as many Italian Renaissance paintings of the crucifixion possess a breathtaking beauty that defies the brutality of the event, this music continually captures a vivid sense of transcendence.

New Urban Gateways Program Connects Teens to Arts

A new program for teenagers lets them explore the arts in Chicago for just $5. Learn more about the Teen Arts Pass. 

Alice the Corpse Flower on ‘Bloom Watch’ at Chicago Botanic Garden

Nearly three years after becoming the first corpse flower to bloom at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Alice the Amorphophallus is on the verge of blooming again.

US Supreme Court Won’t Hear Dassey Appeal in ‘Making a Murderer’ Case

Attorneys for Brendan Dassey say he was coerced as a teen into a murder confession. But with the high court's decision, he will remain in prison serving a life sentence.

CTU President Karen Lewis to Retire

The powerful head of the Chicago Teachers Union cited her ongoing battle with brain cancer as the reason for stepping down, according to a statement to the Chicago Tribune.

Bill Clinton in Chicago: This (Former) President Was Not Missing

In promoting his first work of fiction, “The President is Missing,” former President Bill Clinton on Thursday in Chicago demonstrated that he remains a super-smart, silky-tongued talker with both a healthy ego and an easily self-deprecating sense of humor.

The Week in Review: Immigration Debate Explodes in Chicago

The immigration debate hits Chicago. The governor’s race heats up. The head of the Chicago Teachers Union steps down. And the Bulls have their pick.

Rain Causes Sewage Discharge into Chicago River on Northwest Side

Chicago has seen 6 inches of rain in June, well above the historical average of about 2.5 inches, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Web Extra, The Week in Review: Karen Lewis Retiring

Paris Schutz and guests discuss the retirement of Chicago Teacher Union President Karen Lewis in this web-exclusive video.

Northwestern’s New Chameleon-Inspired Laser Changes Colors

Guided by the camouflaging abilities of chameleons, two Northwestern chemistry professors have developed a tiny, color-changing laser that could improve visual displays in TVs and smartphones. 

June 21, 2018 - Full Show

Watch the June 21, 2018 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Alzheimer’s Rate for Latinos Expected to Soar

Latinos are 50 percent more likely to Alzheimer’s disease than their white counterparts. Meet a Chicago researcher trying to find out why.

Sorry, Online Shoppers: No More Evading the Sales Tax

A U.S. Supreme Court decision released Thursday will have consequences for the state budget – and for online shoppers. 
 

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