Stories by Kristen Thometz

Twinkling lights, new toys, barrel-aged beer and holiday markets usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

The city of Chicago plans to file a lawsuit Tuesday against a handful of retailers caught illegally selling e-cigarette products to an underage Chicago resident as part of an undercover sting.

Coming up: Lincoln Park Zoo Holiday Market, Hinsdale Christmas Walk, Caroling at Cloud Gate and more.

While fewer teens are using traditional cigarettes, more are turning to e-cigarettes. The trend “sets youth tobacco control programs backward more than 10 years,” said researcher Scott Hays.

Despite documented benefits of breastfeeding, only about half of American mothers breastfeed their infants through the first six months of their life. A new study seeks to find out why. 

Mexican dancers, neighborhood bites, a murder mystery and funny films usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

A new study finds an online program that teaches teens coping skills is effective at reducing depressive symptoms, especially among those with more severe symptoms.

More than 1 million Americans live with brain shunts and the constant threat of their failure, which can be fatal. A new, noninvasive skin sensor can detect whether a shunt is working in minutes.

The mayor said he understands the seriousness of homelessness and the city’s lead pipes, but he doesn’t think homeowners should be treated “as an ATM machine.”

Monster trucks, improv comedy, global artists and Greek eats usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Next month, voters will be tasked with electing Cook County Circuit Court judges. To help navigate the options, three local bar associations screened and ranked each candidate. Here are their recommendations.

Online voting is not permitted anywhere in the United States, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. The agency is raising awareness of fraudulent online voting schemes ahead of the Nov. 6 election.

Caring for patients is a vital part of the medical school experience. Armed with knowledge and backpacks full of supplies, a group of students is taking its skills to the streets of Chicago.

Las Vegas residents donated nearly 800 units of blood after last year’s mass shooting, but new research shows that many of those donations weren’t needed – and some even went to waste.

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless says its newly announced proposal could generate $150 million per year for homeless services and decrease the city’s homeless population by 36,000 in just 10 years.

The donation from Chicago philanthropists Robert and Emily King will increase clinical trials at the hospital and create a fund for nursing education. 

Circus acts, Halloween candy, craft coffee and roller skaters usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

A gene associated with the learning disorder dyslexia may make some athletes less susceptible to concussions, according to a new study by Northwestern Medicine and Penn State University.

University of Chicago researchers will develop robotic arms that patients can move with their brains, thanks to a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Each year, an average of 73 Illinois women die within one year of pregnancy, according to a new report. “The findings are stark and speak volumes,” said IDPH Director Nirav Shah. “The disparities are even more alarming.”

The older brother of Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke about the “tremendous impact” of the Affordable Care Act and related topics at a conference in Chicago on Thursday.

A Halloween parade, costumed canines, a zombie apocalypse and international films usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

A common but preventable gum infection may facilitate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study by the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Strong women, architectural gems, immersive plays and Mexican folk art usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

In a new study, older adults share insights about why they refuse help and offer strategies to overcome their concerns.

The musicians’ strike has led the venerable opera company to cancel some performances and issue an apology to patrons.