Winners of the James Beard Foundation Awards were announced last week and Chicago’s chefs, restaurants earned four top honors. Beard winners Dave Beran and Jimmy Bannos Jr., join us tonight. 

After smoke led an Elgin radar facility to be evacuated, all inbound and outbound flights were stopped at O'Hare International and Midway airports, according to the Associated Press. 

State legislation allowing psychologists to prescribe medication drugs was approved in a House committee vote last week and now moves on to the full House for further debate. Tonight, we take a look at the controversial bill and debate the pros, cons. Learn more and read the full bill.

“The White Snake” chronicles the tale of a gentle serpent spirit who transforms herself one day into a beautiful young woman and travels down to the world of humans. So begins Mary Zimmerman’s interpretation of the classic Chinese fable into a spectacular Goodman Theatre production. See a slideshow from the play. 

Like most big cities, Chicago has a rat problem. Exterminators and local municipalities do their best to make a dent, but now there's a new approach to rodent control that is actually quite old. 

Elizabeth Brackett, Eddie Arruza and Brandis Friedman participated in the Chicago Community Trust initiative called On the Table. Last night they hosted three dinner-and-discussion forums.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis discusses her opposition to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s re-election, who she would like to see run against him, the union’s proposal for a new tax on financial transactions and much more. 

As student loan debt spirals out of control, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin pushes legislation to lower interest rates and save individual borrowers thousands. 

The Cook County Forest Preserve District makes its biggest land purchase in nearly 50 years snapping up a foreclosed 400 acre horse farm in Barrington Hills.  We look at how the Forest Preserve was able to afford the $14.5 million property and what it might become. 

Coming off the worst defensive season in Chicago Bears history, it's no surprise General Manager Phil Emery used this year's draft to beef up the team's defense. Read an interview with the Bears new signee and former Northern Illinois University quarterback, Jordan Lynch.

We share what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer feedback.

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) and the Nigerian Islamic Association decry the kidnappings and violence in Nigeria. They also distance themselves from Boko Haram, saying the terrorist group is extremist, but not Islamic. The U.K. have also joined the international effort to rescue the girls. 

As the nation rallies together to bring back the girls abducted in Nigeria, nearly 25,000 women and girls fall victim to trafficking in Chicago every year. Tonight, we address Chicago’s human trafficking problems, possible solutions.