Stories by WTTW News

We revisit a story about a Chicago artist who has been painting since the 1940s and is just now getting his due.

The public employees union AFSCME says it will sue to stop Chicago’s recently signed pension reform law. But not all unions agree with that stance. Paris Schutz has more on what’s behind the rift, and on how the city plans to pay for the new law.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Chicago pension reform bill, but left it up to the city to decide how the deficit will be funded. We talk with city aldermen about their plans to find the funds.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Friends of the Chicago River are releasing 30,000 channel catfish into the Chicago River. 

Julia Collins is a 31-year-old business consultant from Wilmette, Ill. and won 20 games straight on the game show Jeopardy. This makes her the top female player in the game's 50-year history. We sit down with Collins to chat about the Jeopardy experience, her winnings, and her example of female achievement.   

Making the American Body author Jonathan Black gives us a look into the fitness industry and its impact on the American body consciousness.

After a long wait, the Governor today finally signed the bill into law that reforms two of the city's underfunded pension systems. The governor urged City Council to avoid using property tax hikes to fund the new law, and the mayor responded by taking property tax hikes off the table in the first year of the new law.

The city's top watchdog has decided to stay in his office for the duration of his appointment by Mayor Emanuel. We'll hear what's changed with his relationship with City Hall.

In 2007, Yoani Sánchez began a political blog that focused on her frustrations with the situation in Cuba. She now travels the world speaking out against the Cuban regime. We talk with her during her first visit to Chicago. 

Michael Waldman says in his new book, “The Second Amendment: A Biography” that for more than two centuries gun rights and gun control went hand in hand. In the 1970s, a change in leadership at the NRA led to a new campaign to expand gun ownership rights. Waldman joins us to tell us that story.

The community-based agency Avenues to Independence is celebrating the reopening of its Thrift Shoppe, which serves as a job training center. We meet several families who have benefitted from the group’s work.

Are Chicago residents getting the short end of the stick when it comes to city developments?

We share what you had to say about our conversation with Mayor Rahm Emanuel when read some of our viewer feedback.

A food festival, a Star Trek convention, and a street art fair; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss further former mayor Jane Byrne’s impact on Chicago in this web extra exclusive.

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

The Cubs say they’ve satisfied the mayor’s request and it’s time for the city to sign off on their plans. Meanwhile, the rooftop owners tell us why they believe they’ll win a court case against the team.

Over the past 10 years, monarch butterfly populations have been declining in North America. Learn simple ways to promote the creature’s habitat in your backyard.

The Chicago art scene of the 1960s was wildly imaginative. We talk to the director of a new film that gives the most complete look yet at the many artists who became known as the Imagists.     

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he’s struck an accord with the City’s Inspector General, Joe Ferguson. Today's comments from the mayor indicate Ferguson has agreed to serve at least the remaining three-plus years of his tenure.

Chicago Tonight’s Phil Ponce interviews Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Phil and Rahm look back at his first three years in office and they discuss Chicago’s future.

A credit rating agency warns of trouble ahead for Illinois because of its failure to extend the income tax hike.

Friday marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the massive Allied invasion of Nazi occupied Europe that turned the tide of World War II.  Everyday the number of veterans who took part in that historic event are diminishing. But we hear from one Chicago-area veteran who was among the first to storm the beaches of Normandy.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle went to Springfield to make a personal pitch for Cook County pension reform. The bill passed in the Senate, but hit a road block in the House this session. Preckwinkle joins host Phil Ponce to discuss the next steps, more. 

A panel of lawmakers discuss the latest state budget news and more. State Sen. Heather Steans (D) says, lawmakers are kicking the can down the road. She joins us tonight.