Stories by Kristen Thometz

More than two dozen Nestle cookie dough products are being recalled due to the potential presence of rubber pieces, according to an announcement by the Food and Drug Administration.

The mission of Cook County Health is to provide care to all county residents regardless of their ability to pay, but years of increased demand for charity care is taking its toll on the health system, according to CEO Dr. John Jay Shannon.

Nearly 40 people across the country have died from vaping-related illnesses, including three in Illinois, according to state and federal health officials. 

More than 2,000 cases of apples shipped to eight states, including Illinois, have been recalled because of possible listeria contamination. Affected varieties include Honeycrisp, Fuji and Red Delicious. 

A Halloween parade, immersive plays, fried dough and plenty of games usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Buying in bulk and hunting down package-free items can be a challenge that often requires trips to multiple stores. To make sustainable shopping more accessible, two Chicago sisters plan to open a zero-waste marketplace by spring 2020.

Gear up for nature walks, art shows and holiday markets of all sizes across Chicago and the suburbs. 

As health officials deal with a mysterious vaping illness, they’re urging people to stop using e-cigarette products. We get advice and tips for quitting from a University of Chicago psychology professor who says “the main thing is you get started.”

Do you have old prescription medicines in your cabinet? Don’t flush them down the toilet or throw them in the trash. Instead, dispose of them Saturday, no questions asked, at DEA-sponsored sites. 

Two Illinois residents are among 34 individuals across the country who have died after experiencing serious vaping-related illnesses since March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ninth-grade students in select Chicago Public Schools will learn how to recognize and cope with stress as part of a DePaul University-led violence prevention research project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Scaly creatures, a Dia de Los Muertos celebration, graveyard performances and a beer-centric conference usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office is seeking to add Irish pharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt to its lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the nation’s opioid epidemic.

In Illinois, there have been 137 vaping-related illnesses – the most in any state across the country, according to the latest data released by federal and state health officials. 

An evening parade, baked goods, architectural gems and a paranormal conference usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

As vaping-related illnesses continue to rise, Illinois health officials are urging people to stop vaping, pointing out the potentially dangerous consequences in a new social media campaign. 

For years, the U.S. saw a steep decline in the number of deaths from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension – known collectively as cardiometabolic disease. But that downturn has mostly leveled off since 2011, according to researchers.

Autumn is upon us, and soon Illinois will be awash in fall foliage. Here’s your guide to when – and where – you can spot those red, orange, yellow and purple leaves during their peak throughout the Land of Lincoln.

Jack-o’-lanterns, historic homes, cured meats and elite runners usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

The Oct. 13 race is just one of six marathons Bill Bucklew is running in single a year to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease. The 49-year-old was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder seven years ago. 

Stress, drug abuse and depression are among the top 10 health issues facing Chicago youth, according to a citywide survey of adults.

More than 100 Illinois residents are among 1,080 people across the country who have been hospitalized for severe breathing illnesses related to vaping, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.

The scientist who invented blood tests that can detect diabetic complications and liver cancer sees the tool becoming part of annual blood tests in the future. “That’s the grand picture,” said University of Chicago professor Chuan He.

Fall flavors, a community art project, pumpkin patches and a scary film series usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Illinois residents open up about their experiences with addiction and recovery in a new statewide video campaign that seeks to connect people who use drugs with services. 

Interviews with nearly 90 patients in Illinois and Wisconsin reveal that the use of products containing THC may play a role in the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, according to findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.