Stories by Kristen Thometz

Heading to O’Hare International Airport this week? You can breathe a sigh of relief: Airport workers announced Monday they won't walk off the job until Nov. 29.

Late last week it was announced that former Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. A local neurologist talks about the disease. 

Poet Daniel Borzutzky has won the 2016 National Book Award for his collection, “The Performance of Becoming Human.” The awards were announced Wednesday night in New York City.

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday the former WTTW Chairman and 20 others will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor at a ceremony later this month.

Inside the human body lives a community of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses and fungi known as the microbiome. Local professors talk about the importance of understanding the microbiome and the potential implications it could have on health and disease.

The former Chicago alderman was indicted Tuesday on charges of income tax evasion and impeding the IRS. He is expected to be arraigned before Thanksgiving.

On Monday, the co-anchor and managing editor of “PBS NewsHour” died at the age of 61 following several months of cancer treatment.

“I know how disappointed you feel because I feel it too, and so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort,” Hillary Clinton said to supporters Wednesday during her concession speech. “This is painful and it will be for a long time.”

The 2016 World Series Champions will celebrate their historic win on Friday. Here's what you need to know. 

Chronic pain affects 100 million Americans, and using drugs to treat patients' pain has been a process of trial and error. New research by local scientists could lead to more personalized treatment of chronic pain.

A national nonprofit watchdog group gives top grades to six Chicago hospitals in its latest ranking. See which ones made the cut.

Earlier this month Ben Stiller revealed he was treated for prostate cancer in 2014 and credited the PSA test with saving his life. Stiller’s surgeon talks about prostate cancer testing and the controversy surrounding the PSA test.

Working out during the day may be more effective than cramming in a late-night session, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.

About 20 million years ago, a 13-foot predator swam in warm, shallow seas across the globe. This extinct shark was recently discovered by an international team of researchers led by a DePaul University professor.

A paralyzed man is able to experience the sense of touch through the use of a robotic arm controlled by his brain. The breakthrough was made possible, in part, by years of research by a University of Chicago professor.

Thanks to an inquisitive Field Museum researcher, a nearly 40-million-year-old fossil housed at the institution has been identified as one of the earliest relatives of dogs, bears and foxes known as a beardog. 

The Illinois High School Association wants to hear from school principals and athletic directors before voting on proposed pitch count guidelines.

October is national bullying prevention month. Holistic psychotherapist and author Regina E. McCarthy wants to help children of all ages find their voice and the courage to stand up to bullying.

The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control is urging pet owners to vaccinate their cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies after two outdoor cats tested positive for the virus in Illinois and Missouri.

Framing healthy eating as a rebellious act against a manipulative industry can inspire teens to choose healthier snacks and drinks, a recent study found.

The rare psychiatric disorder increases the risk that a mother will harm herself or her newborn, according to a recent study. A local psychiatrist explains the seriousness of the illness and how it differs from the more commonly studied postpartum depression.

New technology developed in Chicago could lead to major advances in healing broken bones and other sports medicine injuries.

As violent crime in Chicago continues to soar, Comer Children’s Hospital announced it’s creating a new program to treat families and children affected by violence.

Nearly 107,500 lives could be saved each year in the U.S. if a more intensive approach to lowering high blood pressure was implemented, a recent study asserts.

Children under the age of 18 should not be given codeine, says the American Academy of Pediatrics in a new report that cites life-threatening events and even deaths linked to the drug.

A new form of cancer treatment developed by University of Chicago scientists was so effective in studies that one researcher said it’d be a “breakthrough” if it were replicated in humans.