Stories by Ash-har Quraishi

More than 40 government agencies are ready to respond to any disruptions this weekend. We take a look at the secret communications center that will be keeping watch over the city during the NATO summit.

NATO's Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, joins us to talk about what diplomacy and security issues will be discussed during the summit.

In three days, the largest NATO summit in history will be held in Chicago. Defense funding, Afghanistan, and new partnerships will be at the top of the agenda. We look at what the alliance hopes to accomplish this weekend. 

Metra, Amtrak, and the CTA are one day closer to implementing strict NATO security measures. Find out how it will impact your commute.

Tony Award-winning actor Ian McDiarmid is starring at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. We talk to him about the obscure play, Timon of Athens, and his famed villainy as Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars film saga.

As Mayor Rahm Emanuel continues to stress the importance of the NATO summit to Chicago, some subtle hints that a major event is coming start appearing downtown. We tell you what they are.

Why is Chicago hosting the NATO summit? Who stands to benefit? What are the stakes if things go awry between protesters and police? Carol Marin and her guests have answers.

What are black bloc protesters, and how is Chicago preparing for their violent tactics? Paris Schutz reports. 

JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon is under fire from all sides as a disastrous hedging strategy costs the bank at least $2 billion and wipes more than $17 billion off the bank's value. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has that story, and more top business headlines. 

Studs Terkel would have been 100 years old today. We go to the vault for interviews with Terkel from many different periods in his life.

A new book tells stories in the voices of famous Chicagoans, from Barack Obama to Rod Blagojevich to Oprah Winfrey. We talk with the author.

He went from playing Chicago softball to playing for the White Sox. Kevin Hickey died Wednesday at the age of 56. We look back at John Callaway's 2002 profile of this hometown hero.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced a new online resource to empower the people of Illinois to help restore fiscal stability to our state.

Clowns -- that's right, clowns -- are coming to Chicago this week to protest the "absurdity" of NATO.

The city of Chicago has approved a permit for what's thought to be the largest anti-NATO rally being held by the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CAN-G8.) Ash-har Quraishi has the latest.

Ten years into the war in Afghanistan, NATO is strapped for cash and still has 100,000 troops left in the country. After this, will the alliance attempt regime change again? We look at where NATO's been and where it's going.

The city may be saying that it's business as usual during the NATO summit -- but that's not what some downtown businesses are expecting. Find out why the gathering of world leaders is already causing a revenue drop in the Loop.

A new study examines how the impact of a divorce early in a child's life may cause more behavioral problems. We hear from the study's co-author.

The author of a new book shares some ideas seldom heard by graduates. He joins us.

Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy bring the heat in The Iceman Cometh. Hedy Weiss reviews this, and three other highly recommended shows currently on Chicago stages.

Anti-NATO activists stage a demonstration, and then get arrested. Is it a prelude of what's to come? We have a full rundown of what to expect for the upcoming NATO summit.

Gov. Pat Quinn pledges to sign legislation ending free health insurance for state retirees. Carol Marin talks with state lawmakers about what else may happen during the legislative session.

We hear from the Chicago Police and Fire unions about Mayor Rahm Emanuel's so-called "Roadmap to Retirement Security" and what the rank-and-file think about the plan to change their pensions.

He took on Al Gore in the 2000 Democratic presidential primary. Former NBA great and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley joins us to talk about the economy, the upcoming election and his new book.

We read what some of you had to say about our theme music and our coverage of presidential candidates in tonight's Viewer Mail.

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