Stories by Kristen Thometz

City health officials remind residents it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine. “This is a serious year,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Julie Morita.

For first time since the height of the Cold War, the hands of the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic indicator of how close we are to a global catastrophe, have been moved to 11:58 p.m. This is the closest the clock has been to midnight since 1953.

Fewer Chicago teens are smoking cigarettes, according to city data. But the mayor and city health officials want to reach a “tobacco-free generation,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Julie Morita.

Students at the University of Chicago protested early Thursday in response to news that former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon had accepted an invitation to speak at the school.

In the first 22 days of 2018, the Illinois Poison Center says it has received 31 calls related to people ingesting Tide Pods, with six of them associated with a dangerous social media trend.

Monster trucks, prix-fixe menus and an overnight bookstore bash usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

If you’re looking to shed pounds, you’ve likely done some Googling. But beware: Not everything you read online will help you reach your beach bod goals. Local dietitians debunk diet and exercise myths and share tips.

How would Illinois residents be notified of a nuclear threat – and where should they seek shelter if an alert was issued? We speak with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. 

An icy dip in the lake, a massive gathering in the Loop, personal stories and Mexican pastries usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in Chicago.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Tuesday she “did not remember” the specific vulgarities used by President Donald Trump in a meeting last week, saying profanity was used by almost everyone in the room. 

Researchers have created a tool that can predict language learning in deaf children after they receive a cochlear implant. Prediction is just the first step, says Dr. Nancy Young. “We’re trying to create precision therapy.”

Don’t let frigid weather derail your outdoor exercise routine. With the proper precautions and gear, you can keep it up all winter long, says orthopedic surgeon Dr. Diego Villacis.

Are chronic pain patients losing access to opioids? One advocacy group says yes, and now it’s pushing for “more reasonable” guidelines from the CDC on opioid prescriptions.

Free fitness classes, bull riding and craft cocktails usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Tribute concerts, storytelling, films and artwork commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. Here are eight ways to mark the holiday.

Get updated details for the Jan. 20 event from the organizers of last year’s Women’s March on Chicago, including rally information and the planned route through the Loop. 

Anatomy is at the heart of medical school. To help fellow students remember lessons he struggled with, University of Chicago student Daniel Lam picked up his knitting needles.

Parents have admonished children for making funny faces since about the dawn of time. But a 30-minute facial exercise routine can erase some signs of aging in middle-aged women, a new study finds.

Bill Bucklew is walking 2,500 miles across the country to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and funds to find a cure. It’s a condition he knows well: In 2012, he was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 43.

A winter trek, silent DJ party, improv comedy and oodles of dance classes usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Chicago ushered in 2018 with a record-setting high temperature of 1 degree on New Year’s Day. With cold temperatures expected to persist, the city could tie a different record by the end of the week.

Inspired by the song “My Shot,” from the blockbuster musical, actor Miguel Cervantes is challenging the public to take their “shot” and help raise awareness and funds to find a cure for epilepsy. 

More than 200 laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2018, ranging from health care and criminal justice to animal welfare. We give you the rundown.

Belly dancing Wookiees, a magical scavenger hunt, New Year’s Day bike ride and a massive blanket fort party usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

In less than a month, Women’s March on Chicago organizers will mark the one-year anniversary of their inaugural march with another one designed to empower women voters. Here are the details for the event.

Ring in the new year with live music, comedy, ice-skating, yoga and bubbly and brews. Here are 10 New Year’s Eve parties in and around Chicago.