Stories by hunter clauss

Karen Lewis

Karen Lewis Grades CPS' Budget Math

CPS on Monday unveiled a $5.7 billion operating budget that calls for more than 400 teacher layoffs and banks on $480 million in state aid. Tonight, we'll discuss the district's budget proposal and ongoing teacher contract negotiations with Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis.

Local Republicans Sound Off on Trump, Crowded GOP Field

Thursday Debate to Include TV Personality Among 10 Candidates

Voters will get a chance to see 10 of the 16 leading declared Republican presidential candidates square off Thursday in the first primary debate, which is hosted by Fox News and Facebook. We discuss the surge behind Donald Trump’s candidacy and what the crowded field of candidates means for the Republican Party with our panel.

Combating the Rising Use of Heroin in City, Suburbs

Some advocates and law enforcement officials say heroin use is rising in Illinois and that Chicago has one of the largest open drug markets in the country.

Forrest Claypool

Crunch Time for Chicago Public Schools

We discuss the CPS budget and other challenges facing the nation's third-largest school district with Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new leadership team: CPS CEO Forrest Claypool and chief education officer Janice Jackson. 

Conan O'Brien. (Meghan Sinclair / Team Coco)

Comedy Writer From Winnetka Files Lawsuit Against Conan O'Brien

A freelance comedy writer from Winnetka accuses Conan O’Brien of using jokes he posted on Twitter and has filed a lawsuit against the late-night comedian. Tonight, we’ll talk about the ethics of comedy and how jokes are shared with comedian Dwayne Kennedy and Curtis Flagg, the director of operations at Chicago’s Laugh Factory.

Rising Rents Put the Squeeze on Many in Chicago

Some bad news for anyone searching for a Chicago apartment: Rents are going up, and in some places, dramatically. We talk about the factors behind the rent hikes with our panel.

John Dillinger Returns to Crown Point with Opening of New Museum

Armed with a fake wooden gun, the infamous gangster John Dillinger made a daring escape from the Crown Point County Jail in Northwest Indiana in 1934. More than 80 years later, Dillinger has returned to Crown Point. Joining us to discuss the new John Dillinger Museum is Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

Real-Life Ant Man Reviews 'Ant-Man' Movie

Ant expert Sean Menke reviews Marvel Studios’ new superhero movie Ant-Man, which follows ex-con Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) as he saves the day by harnessing a super-secret particle that allows him to shrink. Menke joins us to talk about Ant-Man, the science behind the movie, and his extensive studies on the small insects.

'Chi-Raq' Filming Over, But Debate Over Name Carries On

Filming for Spike Lee’s new film Chi-Raq has wrapped up, but the debate over the film’s working title rages on. Next week, the City Council is expected to hold hearings on the film's controversial moniker.

Task Force Proposes Consolidation, Dissolution of Local Governments

In a city that has 50 aldermen, it might not come as a surprise that Illinois has the most units of government in the country, nudging out the competition with 6,964 governmental bodies, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This fact isn’t lost on Gov. Bruce Rauner, who created the Local Government and Unfunded Mandates Task Force to come up with recommendations on how to trim down that number. We discuss the task force’s recommendations.

Analyzing the Cook County Sales Tax Hike

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle won a victory Wednesday after the county board narrowly signed off on her controversial sales tax hike, but there might be some legal and political risks. We’ll talk with the Civic Federation president Laurence Msall and Nick Kachiroubas, an assistant professor at DePaul University’s School of Public Service.

Lake Michigan Water Levels On the Rise

Heading to the beach? You might actually see less of it: Water levels in Lake Michigan are rising at a record pace. We’ll talk with an expert about what’s causing the rise, how it affects the lake’s ecosystem, and what it means to nearby property owners.

Illinois Senate

Illinois Senate Expected to Consider Temporary Budget

The Illinois Senate is back in session Tuesday. This week’s showdown is centered on who will keep state workers paid: the Democrat-controlled General Assembly or Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Chicago skyline

Remembering the Deadly Heat Wave of '95

This summer marks the 20-year anniversary of a brutal heat wave that hit Chicago and left more than 700 people dead. Tonight, WGN chief meteorologist Tom Skilling and Northeastern Illinois University professor emeritus Robert Starks join us to remember the summer of 1995.

Local Organization Helps Transgender People Find Work

We take a look at a local organization that helps transgender people improve their work skills, find jobs, and overcome social stigmas facing the trans community. 

Who Wins and Who Loses in a Government Shutdown?

State lawmakers are expected to meet this week to consider a temporary, one-month budget in an effort to stave off the devastating effects of a government shutdown. But as the budget stalemate between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly continues with no clear resolution in sight, who wins and who loses? 

Fiscal Year Begins Without a Budget

State lawmakers are considered a temporary one-month budget in an effort to keep state government funded. That measure failed in the House. Senate President John Cullerton has proposed a measure that addresses the pension crisis facing Chicago Public Schools, while also incorporating a property tax freeze which Gov. Bruce Rauner sought. We talk with Chicago Tonight correspondents Carol Marin and Amanda Vinicky.

Looming Government Shutdown and CPS’ Pension Pain

We’ll talk about the latest developments in Springfield with veteran reporter Carol Marin and Springfield correspondent Amanda Vinicky. It’ll be a whooper of day as a state government shutdown appears increasingly likely because Tuesday is the final day in the state’s current budget. Meanwhile, Chicago Public Schools managed to pay its $634 million pension payment Tuesday afternoon. 

Former CPS CEOs Weigh In on District's Money Woes

Former Chicago Public Schools chiefs Paul Vallas and Terry Mazany will talk with us as part of a series of discussions we are having with education experts and elected officials on the colossal challenges facing Chicago Public Schools and what it means for students and parents.

Analyzing CPS’ Financial Challenges

The Chicago Board of Education is expected to sign off on a $200 million borrowing plan today to help the cash-strapped district manage its financial woes until the end of the month. But the massive cash-crunch facing CPS will remain and some observers fear that teacher layoffs and other school cuts might be inevitable. 

Catholics and Climate Change

Pope Francis' recent views on climate change are sparking debates within the Catholic community. Joining us are Mark Potosnak, a member of the Catholic Climate Covenant and assistant professor of environmental science at DePaul University, and Mary Anne Hackett, president and CEO of Catholic Citizens of Illinois.

Safety in Sanctuaries

A panel of local religious leaders joins us to talk about the racially motivated shooting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina and how they are addressing safety concerns from their congregations.

Techweek Chicago

Ahead of the annual congregation of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and innovators at Techweek Chicago, we’ll talk with Techweek CEO Katy Lynch about what to expect this year and how the weeklong event has rebounded from last year’s snafu involving controversial party invites.

Analyzing the Advantages of Lake Michigan

Last weekend, the nonpartisan Council of Great Lakes Governors held a summit to discuss how to prevent a repeat of last year’s toxic algae bloom that left more than 400,000 without drinking water. We’ll talk with experts about the summit and the economic and technological advantages that Lake Michigan provides to Chicago. 

Examining the Consequences of a Property Tax Freeze

The political game of chicken between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic lawmakers got even more heated this week as the two sides went toe-to-toe over the issue of freezing property taxes. Chicago Tonight analyzes the pros and cons of a property tax freeze with experts. 

State Budget Battle Continues

The battle over the state’s budget continues to heat up. We’ll talk with Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky about the latest news coming out of the state’s Capitol.