Stories by WTTW News

Renowned jazz pianist and composer Marian McPartland died on Tuesday, August 20, at age 95. She was a pioneer for women in the field of jazz and became a popular and enthusiastic exponent of the genre all her life. Watch a web extra video of Marian McPartland and Rosemary Clooney in an unforgettable rendition of the Gershwin classic, “Our Love is Here to Stay.”

Chicago Tonight first learned that Alex Clifford would like his old job back at Metra, and his lawyer says that giving it to him is the only way to undo the controversial severance package that is now estimated to pay him close to $900,000.

Eddie Arruza and his guests have analysis of the RTA audit, and they take a look at where Metra goes from here.

Al Jazeera America launched Tuesday. Will the latest offshoot of the Middle Eastern media network be a success in the United States? We have analysis.

At half an acre, the rooftop garden atop McCormick Place West is the largest in the entire region. We bring you the backstory behind this little-known space. Read an article.

The biggest news stories through the unique lens of political cartoons: We speak with Scott Stantis of the Chicago Tribune and Eric Allie of the Pioneer Press.

We look at the Smart Chicago Collaborative's summer program for students, teaching some basic computer skills--and what is means to be a programmer. Read an article.

Chicago lost a versatile and talented artist when Ralph Childs died last week at age 62. We spoke with Ralph on the Artbeat Chicago show back in January 2005. Mark Ruffin was our correspondent at the time, and he caught up with Ralph Childs at an art exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. Watch the web extra video from our archives.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel faced tough questioning today about indicted former Chicago comptroller Amer Ahmad. Paris Schutz has the latest.

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of the 2014 race for Illinois governor. We’ve gathered information here about the growing Republican and Democratic fields, and some of the key issues in the race. You can read profiles of the candidates, view timelines of their careers, and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight. Thursday, March 6: Lt. Governor Forum: Maria Rodriguez, Steve Kim, Jil Tracy, Evelyn Sanguinetti Thursday, March 13: GOP Governor Forum: Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Bruce Rauner, Dan Rutherford

WIll State Sen. Kwame Raoul challenge Gov. Pat Quinn in the Democratic primary? Columnists Eric Zorn, of the Chicago Tribune, and Laura Washington, of the Chicago Sun-Times, share their takes on the impact a Raoul candidacy would have on the race.

The Washington Post’s chief correspondent Dan Balz joins us to talk about his new book, Collision 2012: Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America. Read an excerpt.

CVS has opened a massive mail order pharmacy in Mount Prospect. We tour the facility and hear what the company's CEO has to say about the impact of the Affordable Care Act.

Chef Rick Bayless shares his Roasted Poblano Gazpacho recipe with us. Read the recipe.

Chicago's former comptroller is indicted on federal charges of bribery and money laundering while serving as Ohio's deputy treasurer. Paris Schutz has the details. Watch our 2011 interview with Amer Ahmad.

Whittier Elementary School parents protest the demolition of a contested field house. Chicago Public Schools says the Pilsen field house was unsafe. Elizabeth Brackett has the details.

How will the Navy Pier redesign change the character of the waterfront? Is the community getting a voice in DePaul’s design plans for its massive, taxpayer-subsidized basketball arena? Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin joins us to chime in on these topics and more.

We share what you had to say about Jesse Jackson Jr.'s sentencing, Safe Passage, and Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review in tonight’s viewer feedback.

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

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists take on changes in journalism in this web extra conversation. Was the sale of The Washington Post to Jeff Bezos a vanity purchase? And what changes are ahead at the Sun-Times and Crain’s? Watch the web extra video.

Historic coins, airplanes, and fashion shows; Chicago Tonight knows what's going on this weekend.

Nearly 4,000 people were injured and more than 500 killed Wednesday as Egyptian authorities attempted to disperse protest camps loyal to ousted president Mohamed Morsi. M. Cherif Bassiouni, a war crimes expert and law professor at DePaul University, joins us on Chicago Tonight at 7:00 pm with insight into the conflict.

Another Metra board member resigns as Gov. Pat Quinn appoints a team to recommend overhauling the region's entire transit system. Paris Schutz has the latest. Read bios for the 15-member task force.

From the very first coin authorized by President George Washington to the yet-to-be-issued newly redesigned $100 bill, we visit the World’s Fair of Money at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont to see what $1 billion in historic rare coins and paper money looks like. Eddie Arruza has the story. Read an article and view a slideshow.

In tonight’s viewer feedback, we share what you had to say about our interview with Shelia Simon, the push to reappoint Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, and CPS officials calling for new charter schools.

Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is sentenced to 30 months in prison, and his wife Sandi Jackson is sentenced to 12 months. We have the latest news and analysis. Read an article, view a timeline, and watch web extra videos from our archives.