Stories by Maya Miller

When asked to describe the late artist Ed Paschke, Vesna Stelcer, the director at the Jefferson Park art center that bears his name, chooses one word: timeless.

A farmhouse built in 1856 may have ties to the Underground Railroad. This summer, the homeowners and a Lake Forest archaeologist will begin work to uncover the mystery.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Monday commended the Illinois House for passing a long sought-after measure cracking down on people caught multiple times for illegal gun possession, but perhaps they were too quick with their praise.

Illinois legislators are under the gun to pass Illinois’ first complete budget since July 2015. The spring session ends Wednesday, though with time running short it seems more likely that the deadline will be put off until the end of June.

Lawmakers heard tales of woe Sunday as the Illinois House resumed what’s supposed to be the swan song of the annual spring session. There is, increasingly, a prevailing sentiment that the Democratic-led General Assembly will fail to pass a budget by May 31.

A new round of finger-pointing played out as Illinois lawmakers left the capitol Friday for a mini Memorial Day weekend break.

The same day the U.S. Census Bureau released data outlining Chicago’s record population loss, moving equipment company U-Haul offered a different, sunnier take on things.

A program targeting vacant homes and crime in a 20-block section of Chicago’s Southwest Side is expanding after a four-year pilot – and a noticeable change in the neighborhood.

Using an analysis of Chicago Police Department data, the district says crime along Safe passage routes has fallen by 32 percent since the 2012-13 school year. 

Officials in Whiting, Indiana, think their city is about to become a whole lot more popular.

A heated debate over affordable housing in Jefferson Park. Restrictions eased on local gun ranges. Population decline in Chicago … again. And could the end of Illinois’ budget impasse be near? These stories and more with Joel Weisman and guests.

House legislation calling for an elected Chicago Board of Education has once again passed with strong bipartisan support, but the bill may still have a difficult road ahead.

Watch the May 25, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Plump, sun-ripened tomatoes are indisputably the crown jewel of home vegetable gardens, and a successful tomato crop means giving them the best start possible. The Organic Gardener Jeanne Nolan shares her tomato tips.

The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter talks about his solo career and his work with the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.

After nearly a decade, household debt in the U.S. has surpassed its peak levels of the 2008 Great Recession.

Chicago didn’t quite crack the top 10, but the city did receive four out of five “park benches” and moved up to No. 11 in the latest ranking of park systems in the nation’s 100 biggest cities.

Illinois lawmakers are set to spend the bulk of the Memorial Day weekend at the capitol, as Illinois edges closer toward entering a third straight year without a budget.

This week, the city of Chicago is coming through on a promise made two years ago to survivors of torture.

Following a “marathon” bargaining session Wednesday night, educators at Passages Charter School announced they have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with school management. 

Same-day water testing conducted at UIC's School of Public Health will give Chicagoans more timely alerts about water quality at their favorite beaches this summer. 

For the second consecutive year, the city of Chicago experienced higher levels of population loss than any other city in the nation, according to 2016 data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Some high-profile civic groups are getting together to pressure state lawmakers to finally get a full-year budget done. 

Illinois representatives Wednesday are beginning to vet the $37.3 billion spending plan – as well as the tax hike that would support it – passed a day prior by their Senate peers.

A scenic bike ride, street festivals, baseball, mole and a State Street parade usher in the long weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Watch the May 24, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."