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.

A special effect goes horribly wrong at a Lyric Opera of Chicago rehearsal, seriously burning an actor.

Chicago ends its deadliest January in a decade as hundreds more police are deployed to the streets. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel discuss the city's crime rate.

The country's oldest planetarium has a new president. We hear what her vision is for the Adler.

Olympic gymnast and actress Cathy Rigby defies age and gravity as "Peter Pan." We talk with Rigby about her acrobatic career in sport and on stage.

A few years ago, Jay Shefsky introduced us to banjo prodigy Noam Pikelny when he had just joined mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile as part of his band, Punch Brothers. Pikelny is now nominated for a Grammy. We take another look at Jay's story.

Sen. Dick Durbin outlines the Senate 'Gang of 8' immigration proposal. Paris Schutz has the latest.

Charges of insider contracts surface in building and maintaining a $25 million UNO charter school. Carol Marin talks with the Chicago Sun-Times reporters who uncovered the story.

Provocative filmmaker Oliver Stone discusses his 10-part documentary series on the history of the United States.

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

Look out below! Why are some Chicago neighborhood homes below street level?