Stories by WTTW News

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joins us from the Democratic National Convention with the latest news.

What do delegates do before the convention begins at 5:00 pm? Lots! Illinois delegates began the day with breakfast at 7:00 am. At 10:00 am, delegates had the choice of a plethora of Caucus and Council meetings.

Craig Robinson and Valerie Jarrett warmed up the crowd at the overflowing Black Caucus meeting on Wednesday. It wasn't a tough job knowing Michelle Obama was on tap. The excitement was palpable and the room exploded when the First Lady stepped up to the podium. Watch Michelle’s entrance in the following web extra video.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel woke up a pretty sleepy Illinois delegate breakfast meeting Wednesday morning. Emanuel first lavished praise on the speech that had all the delegates talking -- Michelle Obama's convention address.

Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Warren and Nancy Pelosi address the Democratic National Convention. We hear from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Elizabeth Brackett in Charlotte on Chicago Tonight at 10:00 pm. And, Northwestern Law Senior Lecturer Jason DeSanto joins Paris Schutz and Phil Ponce in our studios with analysis.

Rep. Lou Lang talks about party unity among Illinois Democrats and comments on Gov. Pat Quinn's convention speech in our web extra video.

Labor unions sponsored the Illinois delegates 7:00 am breakfast at the Omni Hotel Tuesday morning. Delegates, some looking a little bleary-eyed after Monday night's round of parties, barely had time to grab breakfast before Mike Madigan, with his Democratic Party Chair hat on, called the meeting to order at 7:30 sharp.

Michelle Obama and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel address the Democratic National Convention. Elizabeth Brackett has the latest news from the Illinois delegation in Charlotte. And, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady joins Northwestern Law Senior Lecturer Jason DeSanto and Phil Ponce in our studios with analysis.

Just two weeks after being booed off stage on Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair, Gov. Pat Quinn’s labor battles are keeping up with him in Charlotte.

Finding a cab at any time in Charlotte is a lot harder than finding a cab at State and Madison at 4:45 pm. Especially when it rains. And rain it did in Charlotte on Monday, the day before the official opening of the Democratic National Convention.

Chicago actor Michael Clarke Duncan passed away at age 54. We revisit a Chicago Tonight conversation with him from 2000 in our web extra video.

Paris Schutz joins us from Tampa with the Illinois delegation's reaction to Mitt Romney's speech at the Republican National Convention.

Paris Schutz describes the atmosphere at the Republican National Convention, and shares the inside scoop on the Illinois delegation.

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

In our web-extra video, Joel Weisman and his Week in Review panel delve further into the Republican National Convention.

What if you dreamt you were running for your life, chased by an animal or monster---and while having that nightmare, you were also running in real life, no longer in conscious control of your body? That's what happened to comedian Mike Birbiglia, who had a number of sleepwalking episodes. He's shared some of those experiences in a one-man show, on the "This American Life" radio program, and now, in the upcoming movie, Sleepwalk with Me.

Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what is going on!

It's Mitt Romney's night at the Republican National Convention. What kind of bump will the convention give his campaign? Rev. Jesse Jackson joins Phil Ponce and Jason DeSanto in our studios to discuss Romney's speech. And, we hear from Paris Schutz in Tampa with the latest news from the Illinois delegation.

Call it ground zero for the resistance. It’s a small office space in the first floor of a nondescript building -- one block from the security perimeter of the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Inside, reporters were packed to the gills as Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and others from the Democratic National Committee held court.

The atmosphere in the hotel Thursday morning was different. A lot of smiling; a lot of buzz among the delegates for tonight’s big show; although there were a lot of red eyes, too. That's because sleep has been at a premium.

Paris Schutz joins us from the Republican National Convention with the latest news.

Congressman Aaron Schock joins us from Tampa with the latest news from the Republican National Convention.

Paul Ryan addresses the Republican National Convention. We take a look at his speech with Northwestern Law Senior Lecturer Jason DeSanto, Elizabeth Brackett and Phil Ponce on Chicago Tonight at 10:00 pm. And, we hear from Congressman Aaron Schock and Paris Schutz from Tampa.

Relations between House Speaker John Boehner and former speaker Nancy Pelosi have never been warm. Speaking to the Illinois delegation this morning, Boehner indicated that the battle was back on.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services announced Wednesday that it is lowering their rating on bonds issued by the state of Illinois from an A+ rating to an A rating. The cost of General Obligation bonds will now increase for taxpayers because of the lower A rating. S&P analysts noted that the rating was lowered due to “the state’s weak pension funding levels and lack of action on reform measures.”

If you tune to local convention coverage featuring dispatches from your favorite television political reporters (and your humble servant as well), you may notice something tonight: bloodshot eyes. You see, sleep was a bit hard to come by last night. Is it because we were out late into the night perusing the various after-hours fundraisers? Not exactly. Is it because we decided to jump off the grid, head to the famous Ybor City district and enjoy the fruits of Tampa's nightlife? Ahh, no.