Stories by Eddie Arruza

He's a composer, conductor, poet and instrumentalist. And he's already being compared to Mozart. We revisit the 25 year old whose children's opera–written for Chicago–is getting another hearing. 

We share what you had to say about some of our recent stories when we read viewer feedback from the "Chicago Tonight" website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

A dire report from Illinois' comptroller today: The state budget stalemate has reached an alarming point in the state's ability to make a significant pension payment and pay bills. 

Living in the Chicago area is about to get even more expensive. Not only is Mayor Rahm Emanuel seeking a record high property tax increase to help shore up police and firefighter pensions. But today Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is asking for a county tax on recreational activities like golfing and cable TV to help plug the county's budget deficit. 

The two owners of a principal training academy ensnared in the CPS corruption and bribery scandal have their day in court. We have the very latest.

The political heavyweight and her populist upstart challenger grabbed the spotlight Tuesday night, joined by candidates Jim Webb, Lincoln Chafee and Martin O'Malley. We take a deeper look at the debate and its potential impact on the race with Jason DeSanto, a senior lecturer at Northwestern University law school.

New York-based Condé Nast purchases Chicago’s Pitchfork Media, while Playboy magazine announces it will no longer publish nude photographs starting next year. Crain’s Chicago Business deputy managing editor Ann Dwyer talks about these and other top business headlines of the week. 

Geoffrey Baer returns with more dispatches from the Chicago Architecture Biennial, including bold proposals for the future of its host city.

Kyle Schwarber's moon shot helps propel the Cubs to the National League Championship Series for the first time in 12 years. Paris Schutz is here with a full recap of tonight's heart-stopping series clincher over the rival Cardinals.

After pleading guilty in court to one federal count of wire fraud, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett spoke with reporters briefly and apologized to the children and families of CPS. 

The Thompson Center is for sale. Gov. Rauner says the iconic building has become a costly and inefficient albatross for Illinois. Just how much can the state get for it, and what does the renowned architect who designed it have to say about its future?

A new energy initiative is encouraging area residents to get smart—by purchasing so-called smart thermostats–under a new rebate program that aims to cut heating costs. Will homeowners warm up to what is planned to be the country's largest smart energy initiative? We'll discuss the ambitious program with our panel of guests.

Along a busy stretch of Western Avenue on the North Side of the city is the newly opened West Ridge Nature Preserve. The 20-acre park includes woods, wetlands, walking paths and a 4.5-acre pond. Jay Shefsky goes for a tour. 

The former "Meet the Press" moderator and White House correspondent was raised in a two-faith household but without much in the way of belief. His marriage to a Christian woman and their decision to raise their children as Jewish sparked a spiritual journey.

As Mayor Rahm Emanuel defends his role in the Barbara Byrd-Bennett scandal, "Chicago Tonight" has learned of another controversial CPS contract with someone else Byrd-Bennett used to work for.

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett will reportedly plead guilty to a federal bribery indictment along with the co-owners of SUPES Academy, her former employer. We'll talk with the reporter who broke the story and the former CPS Inspector General who blew the whistle, as well as a former federal prosecutor.

Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. He gives us his take on the winless Lions in advance of Sunday’s game at Ford Field.

Heavily cited throughout the federal indictment against former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett are emails outlining the alleged kickback scheme tied to the controversial $20.5 million no-bid contract awarded to SUPES Academy. Tonight we’ll talk about the misconceptions and myths of email with Jeffrey Cramer, a former federal prosecutor who now heads the Chicago office of security firm Kroll. 

The Chicago Bears improved to 2-3 after another come-from-behind win, this time on the road at noisy Arrowhead Stadium. Former Bear James "Big Cat" Williams joins Ann Kreiter to give us his take on the game.

Anne-Marie Slaughter's article in The Atlantic, Why Women Still Can't Have It All, is now the most-read piece in the magazine's history. Her new book "Unfinished Business" expands upon the ideas in the article, and calls for a new valuation of caregiving and a change in the structure of the workplace. Slaughter joins us to discuss her new book.

Throughout the Chicago Cubs’ monumental 2015 playoff season, the team has displayed huge hearts through their performance on the field and charitable efforts off the field. One of the organization’s programs that has stepped up to the plate for those in need is Cubs Authentics, a program that is now donating 100 percent of its net profits of MLB authenticated game-used and autographed Cubs memorabilia to the Cubs Charities program.

From historical images of Vietnam to a stark look at the free market, here are the five stories "Chicago Tonight" readers were most interested in over the past seven days.

Joel Weisman and his panel of guests discuss the Cubs victory over the Pirates, corruption charges against former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and other top stories of the week.