As the conclave begins, what’s at stake for the Catholic Church? We break down the process of electing a new pope.

Australian pop star Helen Reddy is back on the road after a 10-year hiatus. She joins us to talk about her storied career and her latest projects.

The trial of Cook County Commissioner William Beavers is underway. Paris Schutz has more on what to expect as the trial goes forward.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis joins us to talk about impending school closures, and whether race is a factor.

Sen. Dick Durbin says sequestration is having an impact on everything, from Head Start programs to the loss of air traffic controllers.

We have your thoughts about Gov.

Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney has the latest news from the state capitol.

Chicago State University is no stranger to fiscal dramas and failures.

Theaster Gates may be the hottest artist in Chicago right now, with major exhibitions around the world. We revisit Jay Shefsky’s profile of Gates.

Gov. Pat Quinn delivers his annual budget address in Springfield. We take a look at his proposal, the numbers, potential cuts -- and what it all could mean to you.

We look closer at claims of “environmental racism” with a Chicago scholar who studies the links between environmental hazards and race. 

Former Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch, who disclosed in January that she had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, has died at age 86. We take a look back at a 1994 interview of Netsch by John Callaway from the Chicago Tonight archives.

The largest snowstorm of the season hits Chicago. Find out how public officials are trying to avoid the chaos of the 2011 blizzard.