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Chicago's Crisis-Management Challenges

As Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel face crises at the state and city level, crisis management specialists tell us about the importance of leadership and image.

Lawmakers Discuss Governor's Pension Proposal, Democratic Response

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday announced a pension deal to reform Illinois' troubled state retirement system, but Democratic leaders in the legislature quickly pushed back on the plan. A panel of lawmakers discusses the proposal and whether it has any chance of passing the General Assembly.

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Chicago Lawmakers Say TIF Surplus Can Help Close CPS Budget Gap

Just a day after Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republican leaders in the General Assembly proposed a state takeover of the financially distressed Chicago Public Schools, lawmakers propose altering the TIF legislation to allow a surplus to be spent on the district. 

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Gov. Rauner, Republicans Tout John Cullerton Pension Plan

Gov. Bruce Rauner says he and Senate President John Cullerton have a deal on major pension reform, but it fell apart as the day went on. What happened? Paris Schutz has details.

Independent Maps Aims to Remove Politics from Legislative Redistricting

A nonpartisan coalition aims to wrestle political mapmaking out of the hands of lawmakers and into the hands of the people. Cindi Canary, the organization’s executive director, joins us to discuss the citizen initiative Independent Maps.

Viewer Feedback: 'Bankruptcy is Inevitable'

Hear what viewers had to say about the Republican proposal to take over Chicago Public Schools when we read feedback from the "Chicago Tonight" website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Turkish Singer Performs Traditional Music of the Black Sea Region

Turkish singer Aysenur Kolivar was recently in Chicago for a fellowship program with the Old Town School of Folk Music. She collects and performs music from the Black Sea region. During her stay she performed at WTTW. We bring you that performance from our studio.

‘Native Haute Couture’ Showcases Elaborate Designs, Craftsmanship

An exhibition at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston looks at the "haute couture" that has long existed in Native American communities. We revisit that story.

CPS, CTU React to GOP Proposal for State Takeover of District

Teachers, parents and the Chicago Public Schools district may not always agree, but on this point they do: leave the management of CPS in Chicago. We hear from education leaders on the GOP plan for a state takeover of the nation's third-largest school district.

State Legislators Respond to Proposed State Takeover of CPS

Republican state leaders want to take away mayoral control of the cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools. Instead, they want the nation's third largest school district under the purview of a state emergency board. Democratic legislative leaders in Springfield immediately opposed the plan, with some calling it "dead on arrival." We speak with state legislators from both parties.

What is it about Zambonis? We Meet a Zamboni Driver

The best strategy for dealing with Chicago winters, some say, is to embrace it and get outside for some winter fun, like ice skating. Last winter, Jay Shefsky laced up his skates and hit the ice ribbon at Maggie Daley Park, where he met the Zamboni driver. We revisit his time on the ice.

Public Universities Feeling the Cash Crunch in Illinois

Many Illinois college students face the loss of their MAP grants because of the state's fiscal crisis, and Chicago State University says it won't be able to make payroll in March. Amanda Vinicky joins us with details.

Examining North Korea’s Alleged ‘Success in First H-Bomb Test’

Earlier this month, North Korea claimed to have successfully detonated its first hydrogen bomb as a "self-defense against the U.S." While it was known that the secretive, totalitarian dictatorship had atomic weapons, the assertion to have successfully tested a far more powerful hydrogen bomb has been greeted with skepticism.