Stories by WTTW News

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, Lauren Bacall, 89, died in New York City. The legendary actress began a film career in the 1940s and continued to act for nearly 70 years. We revisit a conversation she had with former Chicago Tonight host John Callaway.

Chicago native, comedian and Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams died at the age of 63. We take a look back at his life and career. 

In the wake of Robin Williams's death, apparently from suicide, we discuss depression with an expert in mental illness.

Are aldermen trying to operate without any oversight? We'll talk to the outspoken legislative inspector general about why he feels he needs more money to do his job.

A young scientist works to repair the world, one school bus at a time. Brandis Friedman has his story.   

What's behind some candidates seeming personality transplants? We talk to three of Chicago's top media trainers who give us the insight behind good, bad, and ugly messaging.

Jaume Plensa's sculptures featuring giant heads opened to the public this summer in Chicago's Millennium Park. We revisit our talk with the Catalan Spanish artist and sculptor on his inspiration behind his latest installation.

In Swahili, Kusanya means to collect and gather the people and strengths within the community to build a stronger, more hopeful, and more peaceful neighborhood. Kusanya is also a café in Englewood which has embarked on a journey of bringing hope and love to the community. 

Carol Marin and four political journalists analyze where the candidates stand in the latest polls, and how money is influencing the hotly contested races.

We sit down with experts to check in on the crisis in Iraq.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is taking the residue of human waste from their water filtration process and transforming into a powerful soil additive/fertilizer that is used in parks, golf courses, and farms throughout the area.

Chief meteorologist at WGN Tom Skilling co-authored an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune regarding climate change and the potential effects of inaction. We discuss the issue with him tonight. 

Shark Week is back. We discuss our continuing fascination with the ocean's top predator with shark expert Lise Watson of the Shedd Aquarium.

The annual Chicago Korean Festival, a bubble workshop for children, and a celebration of Japanese culture; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists delve further into the upcoming mayoral race, and whether potential candidates Karen Lewis and Alderman Bob Fioretti pose a real challenge to Rahm Emanuel.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists recap this week's headlines.

Many black Chicago homeowners were forced to purchase their homes on contract in the ‘60s. Eventually, homeowners in North Lawndale banded together and fought back against buying on contract.  

Karen Lewis stops by to discuss her political future and more. 

We take a look at a little-known piece of Chicago's real estate history: the Contract Buyers League. 

The author of the upcoming book, "The Mockingbird Next Door," details her friendship with Harper Lee, the reclusive author of the classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird."

A new Science & Symphony production is premiering at the Grant Park Music Festival. It's a musical and visual journey through the Northern Lights.

We share what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer feedback.

The City Council’s watchdog says he will run out of money to investigate aldermen within the next two weeks. Paris Schutz has the latest in the ongoing heated debate over who polices aldermen.

After an eight-year legal battle, the City of Chicago has finally released data on which police officers have amassed the most complaints. We talk to the journalist whose lawsuit finally forced disclosure and the President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

After a 10 year, 4 billion mile long journey, the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft made history today as the first spacecraft to go into orbit around a comet.

The discovery of a tiny cricket in a 20-million-year-old piece of amber that was found in the Dominican Republic more than 50 years ago offers new views into an ancient environment and how it once thrived.