Cuba's top diplomat to the United States, José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez, is on a whirlwind tour of Chicago. We talk with him about his objectives and the current state of relations between Cuba and the United States.

The Field Museum opens its hidden collections to display artifacts and specimens from 120 years ago. We get a preview of Opening the Vaults: Wonders of the 1893 World’s Fair. View a slideshow of images from the exhibit.

Architect Stanley Tigerman has been a self-described outsider since he began his career in the 1950s. He joins us to talk about his decadeslong career.

Chicago artist Leo Segedin, 86, is still painting about his childhood on the west side, and dancing into old age. We revisit Jay Shefsky's profile. In the 1950's a group of 24 young artists started a cooperative gallery in Chicago called Exhibit A. Tomorrow, the Chicago Cultural Center opens an exhibit featuring work from seven of those artists, including Segedin and fellow Exhibit A artist, Morris Barizani. View a slideshow of some of Segedin's favorite pieces, handpicked by the artist himself.

Sir Gilbert Levine came to be known as the "Pope's Maestro" through his relationship with Pope John Paul II, spanning 17 years. He worked closely with the pope to conduct historic concerts around the globe in an effort to bring people of all faith's together, and is known in Chicago for bringing together the Lyric Opera Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus in their first combined performance in 2012. He  joins us for a conversation.

We share what you had to say about about the city’s 2014 budget in tonight’s viewer feedback. in tonight’s viewer feedback.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel formally introduces the city's 2014 budget to City Council, which includes new parking fees, cable taxes and speed camera revenue. How did they take it? Paris Schutz has the details. Read Emanuel's 2014 Budget Recommendation briefing and full budget address.

A House Bill regarding stronger punishment for unlawful gun offenses is up for debate in the fall veto session, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel in support. We talk with Ald. Will Burns (4th) and Ald. Willie Cochran (20th) about how to combat gun violence in Chicago, and across the state. Read an article.

Two defendants lay out bribery schemes allegedly involving Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios at the Cook County Board of Review. Elizabeth Brackett has the details. Read the full indictment.

A teaching method that started in Italy, and isn’t often seen in low-income communities, is helping pint-sized students in the Back of the Yards neighborhood learn from their environment—despite their environment’s penchant for violence. Read an article and watch a web extra video.

New York Times best-selling author, Simon Winchester, talks about his new book: The Men Who United the States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible. Read an excerpt.

Professor George Crabtree of Argonne National Laboratory discusses the quest to build a better battery and America’s energy future.

Fifty years ago today, 200,000 Chicagoans boycotted segregationist policies by Chicago Public Schools. Watch a video clip from a new documentary that chronicles the protest and read an article.