Stories by WTTW News

Enter the surreal world of Gertrude Abercrombie—a visionary Chicago painter who impressed both art critics and some of the giants of jazz.

Will Congress and the President reach a deal to avoid defaulting on U.S. debt? Carol Marin and her panel look at the political stalemate.

A British developer unveils big plans for the old main post office in the Loop. Are the plans visionary or overly ambitious? WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us to discuss that and other top business stories, including a new California company being hired by employers to run social media background checks on applicants.

President Barack Obama's top political strategist David Axelrod tells Elizabeth Brackett why the Obama re-election campaign has come home to Chicago. More on David Axelrod More on Barack Obama Chicago Tribune article

It's hot in Chicago, and climatologists are predicting the city could feel like the Deep South by the end of the century. How is the city preparing for the possibility of such a drastic change? We hear about the Chicago Climate Action Plan.

Sylvia McNair spent 20 years performing in opera. But these days, her repertoire centers around the Great American Songbook. Eddie Arruza talks with McNair about some big changes in her life, and then she performs some songs she loves. More on the Story: Hear more songs More on McNair McNair's website AMPATH

This week on Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review, with extreme temperatures blanketing Chicago and government officials ever-mindful of the 800 heat-related deaths in 1995, the city is in full emergency weather mode. Mayor Rahm Emanuel expands recycling by hiring private companies to compete against city haulers for the contract. Illinois' newest casino in Des Plaines is a big winner, but Gov. Pat Quinn is still waiting for the gaming expansion bill to be sent to his desk. And in sports, the NFL and the Players Association are close to a deal to save the football season.

How are Chicagoans dealing with this hot summer weather? Ash-har Quraishi braves the heat to gauge local reaction.

The heat wave is on and it won't let up! Why is this happening? Why is 2011 a year of major snow and sun? Eddie Arruza and our panel talk about the meteorology behind the extreme weather. More on Paul Sirvatka More on Gino Izzi Chicago Sun-Times article

The U.S. space shuttle program has come to an end with the Shuttle Atlantis returning to Earth early this morning. Eddie Arruza talks to a former Chicagoan and shuttle astronaut on what the 135 missions accomplished and what's ahead for the U.S. space program. More on Robert Satcher Follow Satcher on Twitter NASA

Trucks are the subject of artist John Himmelfarb's recent obsession. We go under the viaduct and into the Chicago Cultural Center for a look at a convoy on canvas. More on the Story: See a slideshow of paintings & sculptures Himmelfarb at the Cultural Center Himmelfarb's website

Eliza Fournier of the Chicago Botanic Garden joins us with advice about taming your tomatoes and tips on how to manage your garden in the heat.

One Chicago high school is home to a stunning art glass window. We find out which one in tonight's edition of Ask Geoffrey. Lakeview High School window Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Ask Geoffrey your own questions

We hear what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer mail. Send Chicago Tonight your comments

We see this week's heat wave through your eyes — and cameras—when we look at YouTube videos from the past few days. YouTube

A brand new casino opens to great fanfare. Are more on the way? Carol Marin sits down with the head of the Illinois gaming board, who has called the state's new gambling bill "garbage."

Two sailors were killed in this year's race to Mackinac. We talk about what might have gone wrong with three sailors who weathered the deadly storm on their way to Mackinac Island.

What is Google+, and will it become a serious rival to Facebook? We talk about this, Tech Week coming to Chicago, and much more.

No matter how well you think you know this city, there are always a few surprises around the corner. Geoffrey Baer finds some Chicago neighborhoods that are so hidden, they even take him by surprise.

The worst is on the way. As hot as it's been, even hotter temperatures will settle into the Chicago area tomorrow and Thursday. At times it could feel as hot as 110 degrees. Eddie Arruza reports on how the City of Chicago is preparing for what could be dangerous weather.

Is a deal on the debt finally about to happen? Elizabeth Brackett and her panel have more on the latest round of talks and how this debate might affect your pocketbook.

We take a look inside the Cook County Jail to learn how it handles arrested undocumented immigrants. Cook County Department of Corrections U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch testified at a hearing today in Britain about the phone hacking scandal that shut down his News of the World tabloid and rocked his publishing empire. We look at the privacy, media and hacking issues surrounding the scandal.

In tonight's Scientific Chicago, Jay Shefsky reports on the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory's collaboration to create sophisticated brain modeling technology to unravel the mysteries of epilepsy.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Cook County and the surrounding area. What's causing the extreme temperatures, how long will it last and what do storms in the forecast mean? Ash-har Quraishi has the story on how to brave the heat wave safely.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pitting two private garbage companies against city workers for Chicago's recycling services. Carol Marin and her panel look at this and the showdown over work rules and 625 announced layoffs to close the city's budget shortfall.