Stories by WTTW News

Planning for the Illiana Expressway continues after the project received a green light from a federal environmental review. Our panel discusses the controversial tollway and what happens next.

Last month, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel penned an op-ed detailing why he hopes to die at the age of 75. Chicago Tonight discusses the controversial article.

Since launching the Student Outreach and Re-engagement centers, or SOAR, Chicago Public Schools has helped 170 former high school dropouts earn their diplomas. Find out how the program works and what students are saying about it.

His tweets cost him a tenured position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chicago Tonight sits down with Steven Salaita to hear about how social media changed his life.

Theater and Dance Critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, Hedy Weiss reviews a production of “Smokefall” at the Goodman Theatre, “The Night Alive” at Steppenwolf, and “The Commons of Pensacola” at the Northlight Theatre.

Electrical problems and soggy weather fizzled Saturday night's Great Chicago Fire Festival. Paris Schutz has more on the aftermath and the mayor's plans for the event moving forward.

In a surprise move, the U.S Supreme Court started its new term by deciding not to hear any of the same-sex marriage petitions before it. Our panel takes a closer look at what the Court's decision means.

Chicago Tribune Pulitzer prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin talks about NEIU’s El Centro and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s “God Box” located at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

A bison conservation herd makes its way to Illinois to help protect the landscape. 

Bears' turnovers turn the tide in the Panthers favor. Former Bear James "Big Cat" Williams joins Ann Kreiter to talk about Chicago's latest loss.    

We share your thoughts about the slaughter of African elephants when we read some of our viewer feedback.

A mac and cheese fest, the West Town Art Walk, a Chicago Gangster Convention; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Today is the final day of business for Hot Doug’s, the iconic gourmet hot dog spot known for its exotic hot dogs and sausages. Chicago Tonight revisits Doug Sohn’s exit interview. 

Joel Weisman and his panel continue their conversation about the double dipping charges leveled against Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.

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

In Evanston this afternoon, President Obama makes the case that the economy is better under his watch, but acknowledges the middle class hasn't fully felt it.

With thunderstorms forecasted in Chicago, airlines cancelled more than 700 flights at Chicago’s airports. The latest cancellations come less than a week after a fire at an Aurora radar facility resulted in thousands of cancelled flights. 

This summer a toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie led to 500,000 people being cut off from their drinking water in Toledo. Elizabeth Brackett details the latest efforts to protect the Great Lakes drinking water.

Dancer Misty Copeland joins us to talk about her rocky upbringing and her against-the-odds success in the world of ballet. 

Chicago poet and fiction writer Stuart Dybek stops by to talk about teaching writing at Northwestern University and his two books of short stories released this year. 

The traveling exhibit highlights the major events of 1968, including riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Chicago Tonight previews the exhibit that opens on Saturday. 

Ebola is rapidly spreading in West Africa, killing thousands of people; and the first case in the U.S. was recently reported. Learn more about the virus and local research that focuses on treating and preventing Ebola.

President Obama will be in Chicago this evening through tomorrow. Paris Schutz has more on why he's here, and why he's not coming into O'Hare or Midway airports.

The Ebola epidemic continues to spread as the first person in the United States is diagnosed with the disease. Our panel discusses the impact it could have in America.

The Institute of Cultural Affairs installed 483 solar panels on the roof of its headquarters in the Uptown neighborhood, making it the largest number of solar panels on one structure in the Chicago area outside of downtown. The institute tells us how it's part of its master plan on sustainability. 

The Great Chicago Fire Festival culminates this Saturday on the Chicago River.