Stories by Kristen Thometz

A new theater festival takes the stage in September to share true stories about addiction, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues related to mental health. 

Drivers in Illinois will soon be allowed to pass cyclists in no-passing zones, and bicycling on the shoulder of the road will also be legal. Learn more.

In addition to luscious food pics and contoured abs, users of the popular photo-sharing app can find a bevy of advertisements for plastic surgery. But a new study finds that many providers are not board-certified plastic surgeons. And that, they say, is an issue.

Everyone who has been touched by cancer has a story to tell. Through Brushes with Cancer, artists find inspiration from those stories to create reflective works of art.

To counter the divisiveness of President Trump’s proposed border wall, artist and Pussyhat Project co-founder Jayna Zweiman is seeking the public’s help to create 2,000 miles of welcome blankets to give to new immigrants.

Construction management teams bidding for a leading role in the Obama Presidential Center must commit to specific diversity and inclusion goals, the Obama Foundation announced Thursday.

Illinois joins a handful of states that require restaurants to provide some form of food allergen awareness and safety training. Learn about the new rules.

“My main hope is to make it easier for people to access health care,” said Yosue Perez, whose website maps health care providers in Illinois that serve people regardless of their immigration status.

Pet owners should not panic, local health officials say, but take precautions after a rabid kitten was found in Carroll County.

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a measure this week allowing the city to install noise monitors along the scenic expressway, following residents’ complaints.

As more people flock to the backyard poultry trend, the number of salmonella infections are likely to increase, says Illinois Department of Public Health veterinarian Dr. Connie Austin.

Thousands of people swarmed to Carbondale to watch the solar eclipse on Monday. And thousands hit the road as soon as the celestial event was over.

“Sometimes, children and teens in certain sports believe they need to achieve a particular body type to be successful,” said Dr. Rebecca Carl. “Unless they have a healthy strategy to work toward their goals, however, they can end up defeating themselves and causing health problems.”

Following years of steady decreases, a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a significant rise in teen overdose deaths in 2015. “It’s disappointing,” said Renee Manworren, a local researcher.

Join us online for live coverage from Chicago’s Adler Planetarium starting at 11:40 a.m. Heading outside? Here are 12 places in and around Chicago where you can celebrate the eclipse. 

For years, critical care doctors have noticed an increase in patients suffering from opioid overdoses. A new study confirms their observations and details the staggering cost of treatment.

“A lot of women said it sets an unrealistic standard when they see Beyoncé in a magazine and she looks fantastic,” said researcher Toni Liechty. “If those are the images you’re seeing, you think that it’s common.”

“This law sends a message to survivors of felony child sex crimes that it is not too late to come forward,” said Polly Poskin, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, in a statement.

Falls are the leading cause of injury in older adults. How one local company is trying to prevent them from occurring, while allowing older adults to maintain their independence.

Under a new law, Illinois residents as young as 16 years old can sign up to become organ and tissue donors when they receive their driver’s license or state ID cards. 

“The impact it had on people will likely last for far more than two years, and not just from the past two years but also going into the future,” said Mitch Lifson, one of the report’s co-authors.

While Illinois was lauded in a new report for its smoke-free laws and rules on indoor tanning devices, the state is “exceptionally” far behind on comprehensive tobacco-control programs, according to a national cancer advocacy organization.

For black women in Chicago, a breast cancer diagnosis in 2003 meant you were 68 percent more likely to die from the disease than a white woman. A new study shows that gap is closing.

Your mother was right to tell you to eat your broccoli. Eating nutrient-rich foods like broccoli, spinach and kale could slow age-related cognitive decline, according to a new study.

“Blood donations are being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in, which could lead to delays in patient care,” said Laurie Nehring of the American Red Cross. “We are doing everything we can to prevent that from happening.” 

We’re not the only ones enjoying the tomatoes. The Organic Gardener Jeanne Nolan shares her advice on how to rid our garden of a cute – yet pesky chipmunk.