Stories by Kristen Thometz

For the last 50 years, Star Trek has captivated audiences as the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explored the galaxy using technological advances – warp drive, wormholes, beaming technology, holodecks – in order to do so. Dirk K. Morr, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, joins us to discuss the scientific ideas behind Star Trek technologies. View a graphic and read an interview.

BP says all the oil  from last week's spill is now cleaned up. But activists worry about the possibility of future spills. Elizabeth Brackett has the latest details. View a graphic on the Lake Michigan oil spill compared to the 10 biggest U.S. oil spills by volume.

A new report from Gov. Pat Quinn's transit task force is recommending a shake-up to the structure of the RTA, Metra, CTA and Pace systems to streamline operations and budget woes. The blue-ribbon transit study commission is also recommending ethics reforms. Carol Marin gets the details of the report from the co-chairs of the Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force, George Ranney Jr.  and Ann Schneider, and the Task Force’s Ethics chairman, Patrick Fitzgerald. Read the full report, and view a graphic of the current structure of the RTA, Metra, CTA and Pace.

The clouds have cleared, the weather is warm, and anything is possible. Does that include a winning season on the south side? Paris Schutz has the details on the White Sox' home opener against the Minnesota Twins. Watch a web extra interview with White Sox Executive Vice President Kenny Williams.

A major campaign is gaining steam in the effort to award the so-called Borinqueneers the Congressional Gold Medal. During the Korean war, the 65th Infantry Regiment made up of soldiers from Puerto Rico displayed valiant and often heroic service all the while facing the challenges of discrimination and prejudice. We speak with one of the last surviving Borinqueneers living in Chicago and a member of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance, which is pushing for the commendation to happen this year. View a timeline about the 65th Infantry Regiment.

In 1975, she became the first woman to cover the Super Bowl, and now she’ll be the first woman to receive a Ring Lardner Award. Jeannie Morris stops by to discuss women in sports, and how she was the woman who paved the way. Read what local female sports reporters had to say about Morris's impact on sports journalism.

We share what you had to say about the NLRB ruling on unionized football at Northwestern University and our conversation with Gov. Pat Quinn about his 2015 budget when we read some of our viewer feedback. 

Transit riders beware: the head of the CTA’s rail union says dozing off while driving a train is not all that uncommon. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists talk more about Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s complaints about local news coverage. Do journalists try too hard to show another side to a story that only has one side? Watch the web extra video.

A nature exhibit, a World's Fair Show and an iconic musical; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

One day after telling Springfield legislators they face a stark choice between making the “temporary” income tax hikes permanent or slashing spending on education and social services, Gov. Pat Quinn joins us to discuss the tough choices facing the state, and how he plans to defeat Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner in the November election. Watch Quinn's budget address, view graphics of his budget breakdown, and read an article about how the state budget would be impacted if the income tax increase were allowed to expire as scheduled in 2015.

One of the most famous home runs in baseball history is also one of the most controversial. In the 1932 World Series between the Cubs and the Yankees, Babe Ruth came to bat with the score tied. As Cubs players and fans taunted him, Ruth is said to have pointed to centerfield and then hit a 500-foot home run to that very spot. Did he call his shot? If not, how did the story get going? Chicago sportswriter Ed Sherman has written a new book on the legendary baseball moment. He joins us. Read an interview with Sherman, an excerpt from the book, and watch a Chicago Stories episode about "The Called Shot."

Geoffrey Baer's newest program -- A Taste for the Past: Architect Pier Carlo Bontempi -- is a profile of a little-known Italian architect who is this year's winner of the Driehaus Prize, a prestigious, Chicago-based award for architects who design classical and traditional buildings. It debuts on WTTW11 at 8:00 pm Thursday. Geoffrey joins us to tell us about his adventures in Italy. Watch an anecdote from Bontempi's childhood, read an interview with the documentary's producer and co-writer, and see behind-the-scenes photos from Ialy.

A Lakeview restaurant has the recipe for being green. Find out how Justin Vrany’s restaurant, Sandwich Me In, produced less than eight gallons of trash during two years of being in business. Brandis Friedman has the story of this eco-friendly eatery. Read an article, check out one of Vrany's recipes, and view a slideshow.

We revisit a conversation with Sting about his riskiest project to date – writing the upcoming musical The Last Ship, inspired by the shipyard in his hometown of Wallsend, England. Read a blog, watch a web extra video, and view a photo gallery.

We share what you had to say about our discussion with Ald. George Cardenas on the city's proposed plastic bag ban when we read some of our viewer feedback.

Gov. Pat Quinn delivers his annual state budget address. Paris Schutz has the details from Springfield. Read an article and watch Quinn's full address.

Making the income tax increase permanent, a property tax relief, and adding $50 million to a monetary assistance program for college students in Illinois will all be addressed during Gov. Pat Quinn budget speech. Carol Marin talks with Sen. Kirk Dillard from Springfield, and then analyzes the budget address with her panel of guests. View graphics of Quinn's 2015 budget.

Just three of the nearly 50 school buildings closed by Chicago Public Schools last year are now occupied again, though CPS says charter schools could move into the closed buildings if the community approves. Elizabeth Brackett has the story. Read an article.

The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Northwestern University football players are employees and can unionize. Sports attorney and IIT Chicago-Kent adjunct professor Eldon L. Ham joins us to talk about the NLRB ruling. Read an interview with Chicago Sun-Times Sports Columnist and former Northwestern University football player Rick Telander about the ruling.

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Eliza Fournier joins us to talk about spring gardening. She brings tips and reminders on how to clear out the damage from a long Chicago winter and prepare for bountiful seasons ahead.

Could Illinois voters put an end to gerrymandering of districts? We have the details on why one campaign says it could happen this year. Read an article, watch a video, and view a map detailing how each state approaches the redistricting process.

The Affordable Care Act requires that employers provide health care to employees - including contraception at no cost. This is a problem for a number of business owners for religious reasons and they are taking their fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, justices hear oral arguments from two such businesses. We discuss the arguments and future implications. View a timeline on the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporation cases.

Is the city about to join San Francisco and nearly 100 other cities across the country in passing a ban on plastic bags? We discuss the proposed ban with Ald. George Cardenas, chairman of the Committee on Health and Environmental Protection, who today held hearings on the issue and says he has the City Council votes to pass a ban.