Stories by Brandis Friedman

The Lakeview neighborhood has a unique new place for people who are homeless, and suffer mental illness or disabilities, to call home. Brandis Friedman takes a look inside. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

Demand for locally produced, organic foods has never been stronger. We talk with a Chicagoan who is seen as a leader of the so-called Good Food Movement: Jim Slama, the founder and president of FamilyFarmed.org. Read an interview with The Organic Gardener founder, Jeanne Nolan, and take a QUIZ to test your knowledge on USDA organic regulations.

We share what you had to say about our conversation with Illinois Deputy Governor Cristal Thomas and director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, about the number of state residents enrolled and the final month of the Affordable Care Act when we read some of our viewer feedback.

New at the museum -- two solo exhibitions feature a pair of female contemporary Indian artists.

Paris Schutz reports on why some powerful unions are urging Democratic members to cross over and vote Republican in next week’s gubernatorial election. Read an article.

We take a look at a new study that says Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death with one of the study’s researchers, Bryan James of Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Read the full study, an article about super-agers, and view a graphic on Alzheimer's disease.

As spring in Chicago gets underway, so do the building projects. We talk with Chicago Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin about the most recent building projects in the news and what will be coming down the pipeline. Read an article.

Republican Illinois gubernatorial candidates Bruce Rauner, Dan Rutherford and Bill Brady provide information regarding their charitable contributions. Read an article.

It’s funny the way Chicago anecdotes bloom in books about Broadway.

Veteran politician Rep. Tom Cross faces DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan in the GOP Primary for Illinois State Treasurer. The winner will face Democrat Mike Frerichs, who is running unopposed. Cross and Grogan join us. Read an article.

The Centers for Disease Control says there may be as many as 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses every year in the United States, costing the economy more than $150 billion and resulting in around 3,000 deaths. We talk with two food safety experts about the impact new technologies are having in keeping our food safe. Read an article.

We share what you had to say about The Civic Federation's proposal to balance the state's budget by taxing retirees when we read some of our viewer feedback.

Republican Illinois Lieutenant Governor candidate Jil Tracy was the last candidate to release her tax return ahead of Tuesday's March 18 Primary. Read an article about the tax returns filed by Republican gubernatorial candidates and their running mates.

Set your clocks forward on Sunday -- but not before you shine a light on some excellent art opportunities.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists tackle education topics: the ISAT controversy, and why some teachers refused to administer the state-mandated test; the national spotlight shining on Fenger principal Elizabeth Dozier in Chicagoland; and the role Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s education policy could play in the next mayoral election. Watch the web extra video.

A celebrity dance competition, a mural painting event and health expo; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Republican candidates for Illinois Lieutenant Governor -- Maria Rodriguez, Steve Kim, and Jil Tracy -- gave a brief news conference following the forum. Read an article.

For the first time in Illinois, the Lieutenant Governor candidates are running with a candidate for governor. We meet the four Republican candidates and hear their vision for their jobs, and for Illinois. Read an article and a recap of our live online chat.

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of Illinois' 2014 March Primary Elections. We’ve gathered information here about the growing Republican and Democrat fields, and some of the key issues in the races. You can read profiles of the candidates, view timelines of their careers, and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight. Early voting started March 3 and the general primary is on Tuesday, March 18. Candidate Forums: Wednesday, March 5: GOP Senate Forum: Doug Truax (Jim Oberweis declined our invitation to participate) Thursday, March 6: Lt. Governor Forum: Maria Rodriguez, Steve Kim, Jil Tracy, Evelyn Sanguinetti Monday, March 10: GOP Treasurer Forum: Tom Cross and Bob Grogan Thursday, March 13: GOP Governor Forum: Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Bruce Rauner, Dan Rutherford

“Would you like to subscribe to public television, or would you prefer a knee to the groin?”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced an ordinance in today's Chicago City Council meeting banning new petroleum coke facilities and blocking expansion of existing facilities. The ordinance is co-sponsored by Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and Ald. John Pope (10th). Elizabeth Brackett has the details on that, and other City Council news.

Downers Grove businessman Doug Truax and entrepreneur Jim Oberweis are competing in the Republican Primary for the opportunity to take on incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Truax joins us. Oberweis has declined our invitation to participate. Read an article, and view bios and career timelines of the candidates.

The CNN series Chicagoland debuts this week. We talk with series producer Yoav Attias and Pulitzer prize-winning Chicago journalist and co-writer, co-producer and series narrator, Mark Konkol, about the dichotomy of Chicago, and the picture it paints of the city on a national stage. Read an article about the Chicago premiere.

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of the 2014 race for Illinois Treasurer. You can read profiles of the candidates and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight. Tuesday, Oct. 21: Illinois Treasurer Forum

Love him or not, people want to know: what was Sting like? Honestly, I was in King Sting’s galaxy for exactly 14 minutes last Thursday in a room with a lot of other people. If you want a real take on his personality, you should ask someone who’s known him for at least 15 minutes.