Stories by Paris Schutz

Autumn colors are especially spectacular this fall. We tell you why and how long this peak season will last.

If you think you know the Catholic church, think again. A groundbreaking PBS series called Catholicism begins tonight, here on Channel 11. We have a preview.

This weekend, Chicagoans get a rare glimpse into private spaces around the city. Geoffrey Baer is here to tell us about Open House Chicago, a new event allowing people access to a variety of buildings that are usually closed to the public.

The conflicted life of artist Mark Rothko is brought to the stage in Tony Award-winning play, Red. We visit some of Rothko's works at the Modern Wing of The Art Institute, and speak with the playwright who honed his skills in Chicago long before he dramatized the story of the painter.

Former Apple CEO John Sculley said he didn't think there was a home computer market back in 1985. Elizabeth Brackett reported on Apple 26 years ago. We revisit her encounter with a prickly Steve Jobs, and get some perspective about just how far Apple has come.

We have your thoughts on a possible CTA fare hike when we read some of your viewer mail.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveils some surprising proposals to close Chicago's massive budget gap. So who'll feel the most pain? Carol Marin is joined by City Council members, and then we take a look at the specifics of the plan and whether it's the best way out of the city's $636 million shortfall.

Star witness and Blagojevich insider Stuart Levine begins testimony at the political corruption trial of William Cellini. Elizabeth Brackett brings us the details.

Sniffing out relatives? It may not be the human way, but it works for one finely dressed bird. We explore penguin behavior and more in tonight's Scientific Chicago.

The summer of 1919 brought about some of the worst racial violence in American history. We talk with the author of Red Summer, a new book that explores a deadly year of race riots and lynchings that swept the nation.

Their numbers are growing. The self-named "Occupy" protestors are upset about the economy and unemployment. But who are they? Elizabeth Brackett talks to some of the organizers about this wave of anti-corporate protests.

A new three-part WBEZ investigation examines the lack of Level 1 Trauma centers on Chicago's South Side -- and whether that fact is leading to more deaths. We talk with reporter, Natalie Moore.

The Bears get mauled by the Lions on Monday Night Football. Bears broadcaster and former linebacker Jim Schwantz joins us on tonight's Bears Alumni Club.

Meet the Chicago high school students who have been digging for Mammoths in South Dakota, and working with paleontology superstar Paul Sereno at Project Exploration.

As Illinois watches still another corruption trial, a watchdog group that encourages accountability in government has a new leader. We talk with the head of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

We shed light on the shadow boxes created by Joseph Cornell, an artist who thinks "inside the box."

A national unrest is brewing amid discontent with the President, Congress and Wall Street. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk join Carol Marin for a lengthy discussion about how to turn the country around.

Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 joins us to discuss protests on Wall Street and here in Chicago, companies threatening to leave the state because of high Illinois taxes, and other top business headlines.

How will history remember Mayor Richard M. Daley? We talk with the first-time author who has taken on the task of writing a Daley biography. What does he hope to accomplish with his book? We find out.

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

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

"He changed the way each of us sees the world." Those are the words of President Obama on the death of Apple co-Founder Steve Jobs. We talk about the legacy of the technological visionary. 

The Chicago Transit Authority says it's facing a $277 million shortfall. Eddie Arruza talks with new CTA president Forrest Claypool about possible cuts and fare increases.

One Chicago Public Schools teacher set out to eat a school lunch every day for a year. She ate 162 chicken nuggets, 30 pizzas and 62 fruit cups, among other things. Sarah Wu joins us to talk about her new book and blog -- and her newfound national celebrity. 

A 1955 building now stands in the middle of a huge construction site in Lincoln Park. We find out why people are taking such care to protect it in this week's edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Carrie Fisher brings her one-woman show to town, and is here to reflect on fame, Star Wars, and making The Blues Brothers in Chicago with John Belushi.