Stories by 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.

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.

The City Council is poised for a vote on raising the minimum wage this week.

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.

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.

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.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel called a special meeting of the City Council for next Tuesday, Dec. 2 to vote on hiking the city minimum wage.

An illuminating spectacle brightens wintry nights at the Morton Arboretum.

President Obama is in town to promote his executive order on immigration. We take a deeper look at how it impacts Chicago.

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 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.

The Organic Gardener Jeanne Nolan returns to the WTTW garden for the final harvest of the year just in time for Thanksgiving.

Celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich has educated audiences across the U.S. about traditional Italian dishes and ways of living. Her cooking show Lidia's Kitchen explores different styles of cooking throughout Italian regions while also making it accessible for viewers. Bastianich stops by the studio to talk about her success in the food and restaurant world, as well as where her love for cooking and quality ingredients originated from.

We have your thoughts on Illinois' first attempts at pension reform in tonight's viewer feedback.

When Atlantic magazine correspondent Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote his article, The Case for Reparations, he sought out to tell the history of the North Lawndale neighborhood, to educate readers, and encourage critical thinking among the masses. What he didn’t expect was for his piece to be used as a teaching tool and the premise for senior projects at North Lawndale College Prep. 

As Ferguson, Mo. awaited a grand jury's decision, a predominant writer on race in America shared his views. 

The mayoral candidate field is finally set. Who's in? Who's out? We break it down.

A Sangamon County judge tossed lawmakers' much touted pension reform law saying it's unconstitutional. Now it heads to the Illinois Supreme Court. What does this mean for pensioners and for Illinois, which has the worst bond rating in the nation and faces a $105 billion unfunded public employee pension liability? 

The Bears rebound from a lackluster first half to beat Lovie Smith's Buccaneers. James "Big Cat" Williams recaps the defense's four takeaways, and Jay Cutler's interception-free performance.

The price tag for the new DePaul University arena slated to be built on the Near South Side appears to be growing dramatically -- as much as 75 percent more than the original estimate.

Theater critic Hedy Weiss joins Chicago Tonight to review a roundup of shows to see before the holidays.

Illinois has lost the first round in its attempt to uphold recently enacted changes to the state’s pension law. Sangamon County Court Judge John Belz has found that the pension reform law is unconstitutional and “void in its entirety.” 

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss this week’s headlines.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists continue the conversation online, with more about the legacy of former Mayor Jane Byrne, the post-election interactions between Bruce Rauner and Pat Quinn, and future job options for Pat Quinn.

Christkindlmarket, the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

The Memory Archives aims to preserve the stories of Holocaust survivors in the Chicagoland area. The joint project between Northwestern and University of Hamburg students premieres Thursday night.