In a surprise announcement, Pope Benedict XVI said that he is renouncing the papacy at the end of February, citing his deteriorating health.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has picked former IDOT manager Natashia Holmes to replace Sandi Jackson as 7th Ward alderman. Paris Schutz has more on who she is, and details on an issue where the city council flexed its muscle with the mayor.

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Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have heated sidewalks and never have to shovel?  Geoffrey Baer tells us about some folks in Oak Park who had

Gov. Quinn lays out some major proposals in his state of state address, such as raising the minimum wage and banning assault weapons. But it's what he did and didn't say about pension reform that's getting attention today. The governor joins us.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy is here to talk about why the city saw its deadliest January in a decade -- and what he's doing to curb the violence.

Policy agenda or campaign speech? We have analysis and reaction from Gov. Quinn’s state of the state address.

Gov. Quinn used his state of the state address to call for pension reform. But did he do enough to outline the path forward? Carol Marin and her panel discuss.

The New York Times' best-selling author Patricia Crisafulli tells us about post-genocidal Rwanda's more hopeful face–and the country's road to socioeconomic recovery.

The gritty Blackhawks continue their winning ways.

A one-of-a-kind artist made his mark on Chicago. We tell the story of  H.C. Westermann, a combat veteran and artist who even has a connection to the Beatles.

We revisit a web-exclusive conversation with Christopher Kimball on our show.

An ordinance that would crack down on illegal gun purchases quietly passes the Cook County Board today.