We talk with Academy Award nominee Joan Allen about her latest performance in The Wheel at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, a play about what happens to hope and human nature in times of war. Read an interview and watch web extra videos.

The Illinois General Assembly will tackle pension reform, marriage equality and tax credits for businesses during its fall legislative session. Carol Marin takes a look at the issues with members of the General Assembly.

Do you find medication instructions confusing? We talk with a Northwestern professor on a quest to make prescription labels clearer and more consistent so patients will get the most out of their medication.

The controversial oil and natural gas drilling method known as fracking is set to begin in Illinois. Will it bring jobs or will it wreak havoc on the environment? Read an article.

Despite a record-setting day from wideout Alshon Jeffery, the Bears lose their second straight game. James “Big Cat” Williams breaks down what went wrong against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Watch a web extra video.

Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich talks about her new book, a collection of columns called Even The Terrible Things Seem Beautiful to Me Now. Read some of her favorite columns.

On Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review last Friday, Joel Weisman and his guests discussed the Affordable Care Act. Some viewers took issue with the viewpoint of the panelists. We share what some of you had to say in tonight's Viewer Feedback.

Senate President John Cullerton hints a deal has been reached to reform the state's pension system. But are Republicans on board? Paris Schutz has the details.

We are now in day three of a federal government shutdown. We take a look at what it will take to get things up and running again.

African-American churches are among the fervent opponents of same-sex marriage. The topic is the subject of a new book called "Homophobia in the Black Church: How Faith, Politics and Fear Divide the Black Community."

Earlier this week, Phil Ponce spoke with financial analyst Terry Savage and economics professor Edward Stuart about the government shutdown. It was a lively conversation and it brought in a lot of reaction. We share what some of you had to say in tonight's viewer feedback.

Best-selling author Tom Clancy died at age 66. Back in 2002, Elizabeth Brackett interviewed Clancy on an episode of Chicago Tonight. Watch the web extra video from our archives.

After appealing to the Supreme Court for help, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle hopes the system is one step closer to resolving the massive backlog of Cook County criminal cases resulting in some inmates waiting years for their cases to be adjudicated. Carol Marin and her guests take a closer look at the effort to improve criminal courts operations. Read letters from President Preckwinkle and Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Kilbride.