Stories by WTTW News

Stocks go up 430 points just a day after a massive sell-off. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel look at the volatility on Wall Street, the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates, and where the economy may be heading.

Do people of certain races all look alike? A recent scientific study delves deep into the so-called "other race effect." Ash-har Quraishi explains the science behind the study and how it could have practical applications in the justice system.

Chicago's annual Air & Water show gets underway next weekend. We talk with the city's new commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Special Events about this, and how budgetary constraints will affect arts and special events in Chicago in the future.

Are imported beers getting smaller? Check Please! Host and Master Sommelier Alpana Singh is on the case in tonight's edition of Ask Alpana.

Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony were the dynamic duo of design. We meet the married couple who took the ideas of the Prairie School to the other side of the world. The Magic of America: Electronic Edition by Marion Mahony Griffin Walter Burley Griffin Society of America Walter Burley Griffin Society Inc. (Australia)

Rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the U.S. long-term credit rating from AAA status to AA-plus. The unprecedented move helped trigger another massive sell-off on Wall Street. Carol Marin and her panel examine what this means for the economy and the average investor.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin reacts to the nation's credit downgrade. Eddie Arruza reports on what the senator says he hopes will be the next steps taken in Washington.

Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 joins us to discuss the local impact of S&P's historic downgrade, as well as news of Kraft's split and the latest on Groupon's IPO.

More and more medical providers in Chicago are switching their patient's paper records to electronic. But the conversion is giving some doctors headaches, and has some health officials alarmed. Paris Schutz has the story.

Daren Wendell swam across Lake Michigan this past weekend in a 36-hour, 50.6 mile journey to raise money for a great cause. He's here to talk with us about his amazing feat.

Beautiful interior spaces were created by a forgotten Chicago artist. We look at the stained glass, wood carvings and total living environments that were handmade by artist Edgar Miller. Edgar Miller and the Handmade Home Watch a slideshow

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This week on Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review, the President returns home to collect cash and celebrate his 50th birthday, amid criticism from both sides of the aisle over the debt ceiling compromise. Illinois representatives defend their debt ceiling votes. Tea Party favorite Joe Walsh and Democrat Jan Schakowsky both vote "no" for very different reasons. The Dow nose-dives to its lowest level of the year as fears abound over another worldwide economic slowdown. A new report details the costs of Ald. Ed Burke's bodyguards. Local food giant Kraft gets sliced into two companies.

Illinois Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Robert Dold had opposing votes on the debt ceiling deal. They join Eddie Arruza to explain their votes, and give their thoughts on what appears to be an ever-increasing political divide in Washington.

We talk with Chicago architect Adrian Smith, who, along with his firm, has been picked to design the world's tallest building — to be built in Saudi Arabia.

What do you get when you combine state of the art technology and role playing? Ash-har Quraishi takes us inside the simulation program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, where students are getting real-life medical experience in a virtual emergency room.

Can you imagine heading to a public building once or twice a week just to keep clean? Geoffrey Baer has more on the history of Chicago's bath houses in tonight's Ask Geoffrey.

The gospel music world lost one of its greatest singers this week: Chicago soprano Delois Barrett Campbell, of the legendary Barrett Sisters. We have a profile.

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The debt deal is signed, now comes the explaining. Carol Marin talks with two local members of Congress — one a yes vote and one a no vote — about why they voted the way they did.

A one-time funeral director talks about his greatest undertaking—creating paintings of a spiritual world. More on the Story: Slideshows & Video on global art project More on Matt Lamb Lamb's website The Museum of Private Art Collections Umbrellas for Peace

The owner and executive chef of "Province" demonstrates some great summer recipes that won't require turning on the stove. More on the Story: Cool recipes for a hot summer More on Chef Randy Zweiban More on "Province" More on Green City Market

In Erik Larson's new book, In the Garden of Beasts, he tells the true story of a Chicago family that unexpectedly finds itself in a position of prominence in Berlin during Hitler's rise to power. More on the book More on Erik Larson

The debt deal is done, but the stock market continues to tank. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel look at how D.C. politics have affected the markets.

One of the world's most well-known and watched televangelists, Joel Osteen, is here to talk about faith, his mega church and his upcoming event in Chicago.

Our resident tour guide Geoffrey Baer discovers a whole new way to explore Chicago, thanks to a visiting troupe of Australians!