Stories by Marc Vitali

Is White Mystery too wild for Chicago Tonight or just wild enough?

George Lucas’s Star Wars museum could land in Chicago. Married to Chicago investment executive Mellody Hobson, Lucas has called Chicago his “second home” and Mayor Rahm Emanuel is rolling out the red carpet in a bid to capture the new museum. We discuss Chicago’s chances. Read an interview with Don Welsh, Choose Chicago CEO and President.

Next Door is the place people frequent when they can’t get any work done at home, when they are looking for extra space to hold a meeting, and where they want to network and collaborate with like creative minds. It’s also the place where they receive financial coaching and discover their inner awesome. Read an article and view a slideshow.

In a post-recession economy, many people are fearful of credit and credit card debt. But one program is helping people with poor or no credit get credit cards. Brandis Friedman explains why this program is actually helpful. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

New York Times obituary writer Bruce Weber was teetering between life and death, and questioning what it all meant in 2011. To cope, he took his second bike ride across the country. We talk with Weber about his ride experience and the book that arose from his meditation. Read an interview and a book excerpt.

ReptileFest returns to the University of Illinois at Chicago this weekend, bringing with it hundreds of species of reptiles and amphibians from all over the world. Chicago Herpetological Society president John Archer and "Frog Lady" Deb Krohn visit our studios to give us a preview of some of the creatures we can expect to see this weekend. View an interactive graphic and behind-the-scenes slideshow of reptiles.

In part three of our Vivian Maier series, Jay Shefsky introduces us to several people trying to unravel the mystery of the celebrated photographer.

We share what you had to say about Chicago crime, the city's apparent shortage of ambulances, and Jay Shefsky's profile of an owl-loving nature photographer in tonight's viewer feedback.

There is concern today that the Cook County employee computer system may have been hacked. Read an article.

At the request of five aldermen, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is calling to restore paid Sunday parking on the north and northwest sides of the city. Merchants in these areas claim that parking can be difficult for customers when there is no time limit enforced. We discuss the measure with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd). Read an article and view a map of streets with free Sunday parking that could be affected by this legislation.

Susan Herman, president of the American Civil Liberties Union, joins us to discuss her book, Taking Liberties: The War on Terror and the Erosion of American Democracy. Read a book excerpt and view a timeline of laws designed to prevent future terrorist attacks.

Our science guy, Neil Shubin, is back to talk about the new PBS three-part series based on his bestselling book, Your Inner Fish. Watch a preview and read an overview of the series.

In part two of Jay Shefsky's series on photographer Vivian Maier, we meet other owners of her remarkable archive and explore the international explosion of interest in her work.

It's a victory for Mayor Rahm Emanuel as Chicago pension reform passes the Illinois General Assembly and heads to Gov. Pat Quinn for approval. Paris Schutz has the very latest details. View our interactive vote graphics to see how House and Senate members voted on the bill.

The Illinois Senate passes Mayor Rahm Emanuel's pension reform bill. View our interactive graphic to see how Senate members voted.

The Illinois House passed Mayor Rahm Emanuel's revised pension reform bill today in Springfield. View an interactive vote graphic to see how House members voted.

The state’s capital was filled today with advocates rallying against charter school bills under consideration. President of Chicago International Charter Schools David Chizewer and Legislation Coordinator for the Chicago Teachers Union Stacy Davis Gates join us with details. Read an article.

The Chicago City Council has ordered the Chicago Fire Department to investigate an apparent shortage of ambulances and paramedics. We talk with former Chicago firefighter Ald. Nick Sposato (36th) about the order. Read an interview with Better Government Association investigative reporter Patrick Rehkamp about the implications of fewer ambulances in the city.

Like the name suggests, zombie properties are often abandoned homes with no one living in them. Banks have foreclosed on them, but didn’t follow through with completion. Brandis Friedman takes a look at why that happens, the impact on the community, and what can be done. Read an article, watch a web extra video, and view a map of zombie properties in Chicago.

An organization that helps low-income Chicago area residents with free tax return preparation offers some important tips. View a map of tax prep centers.

The construction of Northeastern Illinois University’s El Centro satellite campus is gaining momentum and attention for its design. The color-changing building will be along the Kennedy Expressway between Addison and Belmont. We talk with Crain’s Chicago Business residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin about the “marker” building structure and its significance in the modern architectural world. View a slideshow of campus building renderings.

This week, a new documentary about photographer Vivian Maier opened in Chicago. She's the Chicago nanny who was also a secret photographer, and who many now believe is one of the great street photographers of the 20th century. Jay Shefsky first introduced us to Vivian Maier in December 2010. We revisit his original story.

Gov. Pat Quinn has thrown a big wrench into efforts to save part of the city's pension mess. Today, the governor said no to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposal to raise property taxes as part of a pension fix. But could a late-breaking development salvage a deal in Springfield to avert a fiscal crisis? Paris Schutz has the details. Read an article and Emanuel's new pension amendment.

Cook County Health & Hospitals System interim CEO Dr. John Jay Shannon stops by to discuss his new role, transforming the health and hospital system, and the redevelopment of Stroger Hospital Campus. Read his bio, read an article, and view a map of Cook County Health & Hospitals System locations.

Last year, Cook County Health & Hospitals System began enrolling people in CountyCare, a Medicaid program for uninsured adults in Cook County. CCHHS has been enrolling individuals at 138 locations, including the Cook County Jail. Read an article.

Today, Chicago magazine published the first article in a two-part special report, "The Truth About Chicago’s Crime Rates", that details an investigation into Chicago’s dramatic fall in crime in recent years and how crimes are being classified. We talk with the magazine's features editor and series co-author David Bernstein about his findings. Read an article and view graphics on Chicago crime stats.