Stories by Alexandra Silets

In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass his $1.5 trillion plan to “rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.” But how far will that money go?

Gertrude Abercrombie is a one-of-a-kind Chicago artist. Though she has been gone for 40 years, she is now getting a rare show at the Elmhurst Art Museum. 

State legislators override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of a trailer bill to the state’s new evidence-based funding formula. But school districts awaiting new state equity funding will still have to wait to get those dollars, according to one bill sponsor.

The grocery store chain says it is evaluating its supply chain “to see where additional change is needed” in response to public concerns over pork suppliers who confine pigs to tight metal crates.

The Chicago-based fast food chain agreed last year to work toward phasing out antibiotics from its beef and pork products. An Illinois nonprofit now wants McDonald’s to commit to a timeline to meet that goal.

Arm wrestling, hot chocolate-inspired treats, freakish performances and a salute to Langston Hughes usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Watch the Jan. 30, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Even as Gov. Bruce Rauner is expected to call for bipartisanship Wednesday, a source with knowledge of the speech says he will call for legislation that takes direct aim at House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Our story about so-called “congestion pricing” has a lot of you talking. We read comments from the Chicago Tonight website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Lawmakers consider a radical new proposal to solve the state’s massive pension crisis. Why they think it’s the best way to go.

Chicago may be on Amazon’s top 20 list, but what will it take to win it all – and at what cost?

If the skies over Chicago cooperate over the next 12 hours, the moon will offer a very rare triple feature. 

China’s landmark cloning of primates has some worried it sets a dangerous precedent. We discuss the breakthrough – and what it could mean for the future of cloning.

Former pro football players are joining the effort to ban tackling in youth football. We talk pros and cons of the newly introduced Duerson Act.

The Field Museum’s famous dinosaur will be moved to the second floor as part of a planned makeover, and to make room for the eventual installation of a touchable cast of the largest dinosaur ever discovered. 

A local group focused on ending racial and class-based school segregation is asking the Chicago Board of Education to review alternative proposals to CPS’ plan to transform a high-performing Near South Side elementary into a high school.

City health officials remind residents it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine. “This is a serious year,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Julie Morita.

More than two-thirds of CTU voting members cast ballots in favor of merging with the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff. “We've embraced our common struggle to support our workers, our students, their parents and our neighborhoods,” CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said.

Watch the Jan. 29, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

The Republican candidates for governor squared off Monday for the first, and potentially only, time. 

A phony tavern in 1970s Chicago exposed the city’s widespread corruption. We revisit the groundbreaking Chicago Sun-Times series with two of the journalists behind it.

A who’s who of great artists and writers of the 20th century was influenced by one who died in semi-obscurity nearly 200 years ago. We take another look at “William Blake and the Age of Aquarius.”

High-flying Chicago tech startup Outcome Health came crashing to Earth last year with investors. We get the latest from John Pletz, senior reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business.

This year’s Oscar picks for best picture are an unusually mixed bag of genres, including the comedy-horror film “Get Out.” Two film critics weigh in on this year’s nominees.

For first time since the height of the Cold War, the hands of the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic indicator of how close we are to a global catastrophe, have been moved to 11:58 p.m. This is the closest the clock has been to midnight since 1953.

Fewer Chicago teens are smoking cigarettes, according to city data. But the mayor and city health officials want to reach a “tobacco-free generation,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Julie Morita.