Stories by Elizabeth Brackett

As part of the Chicago Community Trust’s On The Table, Chicago Tonight's Elizabeth Brackett hosted a dinner with eight area residents where they shared their thoughts, concerns, opinions, and hopes for the region's future. Read her blog about the event and watch a video of what participants had to say.

Hearings on pension funding and Amtrak funding are happening in Springfield today. We discuss these issues and more with Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky.

We speak with Mayor Rahm Emanuel about the Illinois Supreme Court ruling that found the 2013 pension reform law unconstitutional. What does that mean for Chicago’s pension reform? We’ll also ask him about the downgrading of the city’s credit rating to junk status and Obama Presidential Library coming to the South Side of Chicago. 

Just back from Nepal yesterday, we speak with a local doctor who was in Nepal providing knee and hip replacements. We get the latest from her on the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Lakland Guitars has made an impact in their 20 years in Chicago. Their instruments are played by U2 and the Rolling Stones. Chicago Tonight goes behind-the-scenes to find out what it takes to make an electric bass that can bring a bottom-heavy sound to a band's rhythm section.

As part of the Chicago Community Trust’s On The Table, Chicago Tonight correspondents Eddie Arruza, Elizabeth Brackett, and Brandis Friedman hosted dinners with area residents on Tuesday. We hear from them and the dinner guests about the conversations they shared.

Moody’s downgraded the city of Chicago’s credit rating to junk status, leading Mayor Rahm Emanuel to call the credit rating agency “out of step” and its decision “irresponsible.”

After months of speculation, the Barack Obama Foundation officially announces the library is coming to the South Side of Chicago. But when and where will it be located exactly? Paris Schutz has the details. 

It's official. The Obama Presidential Library is coming to Chicago. What will it mean for the South Side? We'll hear more details about the city's triumph.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been lobbying hard for a Chicago casino ostensibly to help tackle the city's pension and budget woes. Meanwhile, state Rep. Bob Rita is sponsoring two bills that would create as many as five new casinos in Illinois, one of which would be a mega casino in Chicago. How would a casino in Chicago impact the city? And how would it affect existing state casinos? 

An exhibition at The Field Museum looks at City Windows, the papercut artwork of Chinese artist Qiao Xiaoguang now on display at two locations in Chicago. We revisit the story.

As awareness increases about the risk of traumatic brain injury while playing contact sports and the possible long-term health impacts, we talk to Dorothy Kozlowski, a professor of biological sciences at DePaul University whose research focuses on understanding and treating the injured brain.

In the wake of the Illinois Supreme Court’s pension ruling, we analyze the options on a way forward for Illinois and Chicago.

On Friday, May 8, the Illinois Supreme Court found the state’s 2013 pension reform law unconstitutional, affirming the ruling made six months earlier by a lower court. In its ruling, the Supreme Court said “crisis is not an excuse to abandon the rule of the law.” We discuss the decision with a panel of lawmakers.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will discuss what last week's Illinois Supreme Court ruling means for her plan to change the county's pension system. 

An artist revered in her home country of Colombia has made a strong impression on the international art world. We revisit our story about the MCA Chicago exhibition of Doris Salcedo's first-ever retrospective. 

James Beard semifinalist Paul Fehribach, executive chef of Andersonville's Big Jones restaurant, joins Chicago Tonight to discuss the recipes and history in his new Southern cookbook.

We share what you had to say about the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling on the state's 2013 pension reform law. 

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the state’s 2013 pension reform law. Chicago Tonight hosts a special 30-minute edition on the ruling.

Joel Weisman and his panel of local journalists discuss this week’s top stories.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the Burge police torture reparations package. They also delve into the impact of director Spike Lee's upcoming movie that will reportedly be called Chiraq.

The Illinois Supreme Court has struck down the state's landmark 2013 pension reform law, upholding a lower court ruling that it violated the state constitution. In the ruling, the court rejected the state's defense that its contractual obligations were not absolute, because it reserved "emergency powers" in a time of crisis.

Serenade the moon on the lagoon; drink up the suds at Soldier Field; and enjoy the sounds of a classical rock star. Chicago Tonight has your weekend picks.