Stories by WTTW News
Web Extra: The Week in Review: 12/5
| WTTW News
Joel Weisman and his guests continue their conversation online with a comparison of the recent Ferguson and NYC protests with Vietnam War-era protests.
Weekend Events Around Town: 12/5-12/7
| Travis Cornejo
A Polar Palooza, Chicago Book Expo, and Caroling at Cloud Gate; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.
Aim High Mentoring Program Visits The White House
| Josclynn Brandon
A Chicago mentoring program that strives to ensure that 100 percent of participating students graduate high school, enter college, and gain skills to succeed in the workplace, participates in The White House College Opportunity Day of Action.
Wrigley Plan Approved for Federal Tax Credit
| Alexandra Silets
The Chicago's Commission on Landmarks approve the Cubs revised signage plan at Wrigley Field by a 6 to 1 vote.
IL Lawmakers Pass Ridesharing, Retirement & More
| WTTW News
The veto session for the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up with lawmakers approving several pieces of legislation. We discuss the bills that passed both chambers and await the governor’s signature.
Tech is the New Black
| Brandis Friedman
The Museum of Science and Industry celebrates the pairing of fashion with technology. We take a look inside the one night only installation and hear from the museum's first-ever recipient of the Fashion Inspiration Award, blogger Garance Doré.
Viewer Feedback: 12/4
Petcoke & Crime Stats
| WTTW News
We share what you had to say about the continuing petcoke problem on Chicago's southeast side and Police Supt. Garry McCarthy's latest crime statistics in tonight's viewer feedback.
Deputy Mayor on Downtown Business Boom
| Paul Caine
Chicago Deputy Mayor Steven Koch joins us to discuss booming downtown development and job growth, and the city's new minimum wage.
Chicago Defender: Serving News to the Black Community for 110 Years
| Josclynn Brandon
The Chicago Defender was founded in 1905, and at one point was the nation's most influential black weekly newspaper. We hear from the new editor and publisher about future plans for the publication.
The Futuristic Art of Chesley Bonestell
| Eddie Arruza
American illustrator Chesley Bonestell was a visionary of universal proportions. The Adler Planetarium is currently presenting an exhibition of Bonestell’s artwork. We take a look at the art and science behind his out-of-this-world paintings and how they influenced the modern fascination with what lies in the final frontier.
From “Citizen Kane” to “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
Beyond His Outer Space Paintings, Influential Artist Chesley Bonestell also Made Earthbound Art for Hollywood Movies
| Marc Vitali
Before CGI visual effects dominated Hollywood movies, filmmakers often used a painting of a landscape or location to create a non-existent environment.
City Council Passes Minimum Wage Hike
| Paris Schutz
The minimum wage in Chicago is about to go up. A plan to increase it by about $1 each year for the next five years overwhelmingly passed City Council today, despite objections that it will force jobs out of the city, and threats from business groups that they could still undo today's action.
Lawmakers Convene for Final Week of Veto Session
| Josclynn Brandon
The Illinois General Assembly is in session. The governor-elect talks about the state budget, and we dive into legislation that could make state government less transparent.
Protecting Against Cyber Attacks
| Alexandra Silets
Sony Pictures is the latest victim of a cyber hack and data breach. The FBI is warning more cyber attacks are coming. We look at what it means for your wallet and security.
Sending History Up the River
| Dan Andries
Three Chicago artists are at work on a small-scale replica of the DuSable Museum of African-American History that can tour the city and eventually float up the Chicago River to the moribund site of DuSable Park.
Chicago Tonight Studio Goes Green
| Travis Cornejo
For the next few weeks, Chicago Tonight will broadcast from a temporary studio as the regular set has its lights replaced with new energy-efficient lighting.
City Council to Vote on Minimum Wage Hike
| Paris Schutz
The City Council is poised for a vote on raising the minimum wage this week.
Supt. McCarthy Talks City Crime Statistics
| Brandis Friedman
Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy shares crime stats, with a month to go until year's end. And as more protests regarding the police-involved shooting death of Michael Brown are scheduled in Chicago, McCarthy also discusses how events in Ferguson, Mo. have influenced his policing strategy.
Antarctic Explorers Discuss Their Dangerous Trek
| Nick Blumberg
National Geographic explorers Mike Libecki and Cory Richards tell us about their trek to a never-before climbed 2,000-foot summit in Antarctica called Bertha's Tower.
'Where in Chicago?'
| WTTW News
Geoffrey Baer’s first-ever quiz show premieres on WTTW11 at 7:30 pm. In Where in Chicago?, Baer and his crew travel the city, quizzing Chicagoans on history and trivia.
Vote Set for Minimum Wage Hike
| Paris Schutz
Mayor Rahm Emanuel called a special meeting of the City Council for next Tuesday, Dec. 2 to vote on hiking the city minimum wage.
Kaleidoscope of Color
“Seeing Trees in a Different Light”
| Marc Vitali
An illuminating spectacle brightens wintry nights at the Morton Arboretum.
President Touts Immigration Reform in Chicago
| Paris Schutz
President Obama is in town to promote his executive order on immigration. We take a deeper look at how it impacts Chicago.
No Indictment for Ferguson Officer
| WTTW News
In light of the grand jury’s decision to not indict Ferguson, Mo. Police officer Darren Wilson for any crimes related to the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, we examine the relationship between police and community residents in Chicago.
KCBX Denies Petcoke Dust Problem Despite Air Quality Violations
| Elizabeth Brackett
KCBX reduces its petcoke piles by half and says new air monitors show that petcoke dust does not leave its facility. But the EPA cites the company for two violations of national air quality standards.
Final Harvest of the Year
| Paul Caine
The Organic Gardener Jeanne Nolan returns to the WTTW garden for the final harvest of the year just in time for Thanksgiving.
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