Stories by WTTW News

What’s wrong with this picture of an old firehouse on Lake Street near Kedzie? Look closely at how the word “Department” is spelled. Geoffrey Baer is on a hunt for more misspelled signs in the Chicago area for an upcoming edition of Ask Geoffrey. If you know of one, please share the information here.

A huge lake freighter pulls up to storage facility along the Calumet River, poised to haul away piles of the controversial petroleum byproduct called "petcoke."  Elizabeth Brackett has the latest details.

Debate over an Ashland Bus Rapid Transit line is heating up as community meetings take place this week to gauge public sentiment. We talk with Ald. George Cardenas (12th) and Metropolitan Planning Council Vice President Peter Skosey about the advantages and challenges facing this long-term project. Read an interview.

Chicago's new bike share program was a hit with commuters this summer, but can it hold up during the winter? And what happens behind the scenes to make sure bikes are available and ready to go at one of the 300 locations throughout the city? Paris Schutz takes a rare look inside. Read an article.

Is a new City Council office the answer to curing the city's financial woes or just another layer of bureaucracy? Paris Schutz has the story.

The field of nanoscience -- the science of the very small -- is exploding and is likely to profoundly shape our future, impacting everything from energy production and storage to cutting edge, designer medicines. Here to help us separate the science from the science fiction is Dr. Amanda Petford-Long, director of the Nanoscience and Technology Division and the Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne National Laboratory.

The Bears are tied again for first place in the NFC North. James “Big Cat” Williams breaks down their latest win over the Cowboys, including Josh McCown’s stellar performance, and the receiving corps’ outstanding effort. Watch a web extra video.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama leave on Air Force One to attend a memorial service for Nelson Mandela Tuesday as Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan recalls her year in South Africa while Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island. Elizabeth Brackett has the details. Watch web extra videos about the anti-apartheid icon from WTTW's archives.

Now that Gov. Pat Quinn has signed the bill to fix Illinois' underfunded pension system, will it be found unconstitutional? Carol Marin and her panel of experts explore the issue.

We share what you had to say about Chicago Tonight's Ventra Special in tonight’s viewer feedback.

Cass McCombs returns to Chicago on Friday, December 6 to play The Empty Bottle on Western Avenue.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. Watch the web extra video.

A festive aquatic show, Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier, and holiday shopping at the Merchandise Mart; Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on this weekend.

Nelson Mandela died at age 95. Watch web extra videos about the anti-apartheid icon from WTTW's archives.

Gov. Pat Quinn officially signed what he calls “historic legislation,” and “his number one priority,” into law today. Read an article.

On a special edition of Chicago Tonight with a live studio audience, we take a close look at the CTA’s problem-plagued rollout of its new Ventra payment system.

Besides the main arteries of museums and galleries, the Chicago area has endless capillaries of creativity.

Carol Marin and her panel of guests look at Tuesday's historic pension vote in Springfield. View interactive graphics to see how Senate and House members voted on the bill, and read a Q&A with Republican Sen. Matt Murphy.

Chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, Peter Baker, joins us to check in on fixes to HealthCare.gov and the potential political fallout from the glitches in the 2014 midterms.

Pension reform passed the Illinois House and Senate today. Read official statements from politicians and policy institutes.

The Illinois House passes pension reform by 62-53-1. View an interactive vote graphic to see how each member voted.

The Illinois Senate passes pension reform by 30-24-3. View an interactive vote graphic to see how each member voted.

The pension reform bill passes both the Illinois House and Senate. Carol Marin and Paris Schutz join us live from Springfield with the details. View interactive graphics to see how Senate and House members voted on the bill.

Known for holding their rank and file members’ feet to the fire, Illinois legislative leaders were on the hot seat early Tuesday morning. House Speaker Mike Madigan, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R), and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R) testified about the merits of their pension reform compromise before a panel of lawmakers in a prelude to today's big vote. Read an article.

As one in four births in Illinois is a Latino child, advocates at the Latino Policy Forum say the Latino community needs further investment, particularly in early education. We take a look at a home visiting program designed to help mothers learn how to better prepare their children for the first days of school, so that Latino children don’t start off academically behind their peers. Read an article and watch a web extra video.