Stories by Hedy Weiss

In this electrifying revival directed by Seret Scott, Ntozake Shange’s groundbreaking work has never been so sharply defined in terms of character, language and overall narrative drive.

Chicago Sun-Times reporter Fran Spielman has doggedly and meticulously covered Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his predecessors for decades. She joins Carol Marin to discuss his legacy.

Lush plants, show tunes, hot coffee and cold beer usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

The diets of white Americans contribute to climate change more than the eating habits of African and Latino Americans, according to a new report by a group of Chicago researchers.

In his new film “The Public,” writer, director and actor Emilio Estevez examines the intersection of homelessness and public spaces. Estevez joins us to discuss the film along with Chicago-based artist Che “Rhymefest” Smith and author Ryan Dowd.

In just a few years, Ron Wilson reintroduced Bowen High School’s wrestling program and turned it into a city and regional powerhouse. Now, Wilson, a special education teacher turned firefighter, continues to lead the Boilermakers. 

A state audit contradicted former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s claim that his administration had done everything federal experts recommended to remedy a deadly 2015 Legionnaires’ disease crisis.

As part of the celebration of its 100th season, the NFL will break from tradition and feature the Bears vs. the Packers  in its season opener Sept. 5.

Watch the March 26, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

If you park in a private lot and get booted it will cost you nearly three times what the city charges for a regular parking ticket. For more than 15 years it’s been a controversial – and sometimes maddening – fact of city life.

“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett exited the Leighton Criminal Court Building a free man Tuesday morning after prosecutors unexpectedly dropped felony charges against him in a case that’s garnered national headlines for months.

We discuss the legal underpinnings of the stunning move by prosecutors to drop all charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, and how media coverage of the case has played out.

Regulators plan to clean up the soil of several residential yards with high levels of brain-damaging manganese, but they have yet to finalize a plan for addressing homes with elevated levels of lead in the soil.

From humble beginnings in Massillon, Ohio, to a high-powered federal prosecutor. We bring you an in-depth profile of mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot.

As the April 2 runoff eletion nears, we take an in-depth look at Toni Preckwinkle’s path from high school history teacher to political power player.

Watch the March 25, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Political fallout over the report’s findings is just beginning. Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti joins us with legal analysis of the document.

In 2015, 40th Ward Ald. Patrick O’Connor easily won re-election. But the second-longest-serving member of the Chicago City Council is now in one of the most contentious runoff races in the city. He and challenger Andre Vasquez join us.

About 4 percent of women incarcerated in state prisons across the U.S. were pregnant when they entered jail, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health. 

Chicago high school students, with some guidance from WTTW, recently produced stories showcasing one family’s journey from Bangladesh to Chicago and an open mic event sponsored by Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper.

A volatile winter has left the city’s streets cratered with potholes. What the city is doing to patch them up.

Chicago police say they’re considering hate crime charges against two men charged in the fatal shooting of off-duty Officer John Rivera.

Caring for a sick family member, such as a child, is the top reason why parents take off work, according to a new citywide survey. Yet nearly 40 percent of working parents don’t have paid leave.

While the Social Security Administration may contact people by phone, employees will never threaten a person or a promise Social Security benefit approval in exchange for information, according to the agency.

Two men are charged with first-degree murder in the weekend slaying of an off-duty Chicago police officer who was repeatedly shot while sitting in a parked car.

Half of Chicagoans believe the city is “on the wrong track,” according to a new WTTW/Crain’s Temkin/Harris poll, which also indicates that Lori Lightfoot will win the April 2 runoff election to become Chicago’s next mayor.