Both sides admit that closing schools means chaos for students, families and educators. But is this a necessary step for reform? We discuss the future of Chicago Public Schools.

High school students marched in protest of school closings, as faculty and staff at six turnaround schools face forced resignations. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

The water level in Lake Michigan rises after recent rains. But the long-term outlook still has lake levels far below normal. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett released a school safety plan today. It's part of an overall transition plan she says every school that will be closed or receive students will get when she announces her final schools closing list on March 31. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

Elizabeth Brackett takes a look at gun violence through the lens of the public health system rather than the criminal justice system.

More than 100 schools remain on the list for possible closures -- and in community meetings around Chicago, parents are strongly objecting to the possibility of closing their neighborhood school. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

Elizabeth Brackett reports on how the Shedd Aquarium is drastically cutting its energy consumption.

Lake Michigan water levels have hit record lows, and some experts say it could lead the Chicago River to un-reverse and start flowing back into the lake. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

Warm air and lake temperatures, along with a severe drought, have led to the low water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Elizabeth Brackett reports on the impact of those low water levels on the communities that surround the Great Lakes.

How accurately did opinion polls predict what voter's did in the privacy of a voting booth? Elizabeth Brackett and Joel Weisman are here to talk about polls and media coverage of the election.

A Chicago Public Schools program that gets students into better colleges and helps them stay there is expanding. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

For the fourth straight year, Chicago Tonight's own Elizabeth Brackett is a World Triathlon Champion! 

We have the latest news on negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Public Schools.

One of the contentious issues behind the strike is how teachers are evaluated on classroom performance. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel take up the debate.

The South Side's 3rd police district has seen a 91 percent rise in the homicide rate. Elizabeth Brackett looks at what police -- and the community -- are doing to fight back.

The scandal-plagued legislative scholarship program is dead. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Wednesday morning ending the 100-year-old program. Elizabeth Brackett reports.