Stories by Nicole Cardos

There’s a telescope under construction in Chile, and it’s slated to be the world’s largest – if it’s completed in time.

The Chicago mayoral candidate faces criticism after handing out nearly $300,000 in cash and checks at a charity event. “I haven’t done anything but give my own money away,” Wilson said of the cash controversy.

There are more and more cases of food poisoning in Illinois. What’s behind the problem – and how to protect yourself.

A very familiar voice on our classical music sister station is retiring. A look at the on- and off-air musical life of WFMT’s Carl Grapentine. 

A new resolution to bring universal basic income to Chicago may soon be making its way to City Council for a vote.

The Special Olympics celebrates 50 years. How it all began – right here in Chicago.

When it comes to the health and maintenance of Lake Michigan, some environmentalists, property owners and even surfers have expressed their concerns. What the future may hold.

Public housing across the U.S. will become smoke-free at the end of the month. What that means for some 60,000 residents in Chicago.

Illinois ranks sixth in the nation when it comes to the percentage of state legislators who are women. A new panel aims to increase the number of women in Illinois politics.

A Chicago-area native talks about efforts led by a hospital ship to provide free surgeries to patients in West Africa and Central Africa.

Learn about a new report on sexual harassment in the sciences – and the suggestions it makes to better combat it. 

Exploring the change in the way you register to vote at the DMV – a change that’s rolling out this week.

Vicki Huddleston, a former U.S. ambassador, shares stories from her new memoir, “Our Woman in Havana.”

“A lot of studies show that when newspapers close, local politicians become lazy and voters become less informed and there’s lower voter turnout,” said Chang Lee, an assistant professor of finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The center has seen nearly 500 patients since opening May 1. “It’s as busy as expected to be, and as well as we can expect early on,” said Dr. Selwyn Rogers, founding director of UChicago Medicine’s trauma center.

Chicago will become the second city in the country requiring hotels to implement panic buttons.

A new program for teenagers lets them explore the arts in Chicago for just $5. Learn more about the Teen Arts Pass. 

What to read this summer? We asked a trio of local authors what books they’re taking to the beach. Here are their top picks.

Jitters on Wall Street as the U.S.-China trade war escalates. What it could mean for your wallet.

A team of researchers at DePaul University is working to bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities. Meet “Paula,” the American Sign Language avatar they created that translates English into ASL.

A popular web series based in Chicago that highlights the “complex and flawed” lives of “regular people” has secured a development deal with HBO. 

New details on the Russian cyberattack before the 2016 election, and how Illinois was affected. 

Students at Roger C. Sullivan High School will share stories of community and identity from local and international perspectives this week, in collaboration with Lifeline Theatre.

Inspired by a popular cinder track relay race at Indiana University Bloomington, and the 1979 dramedy “Breaking Away,” the Chicago Cinder Classic will set wheels spinning in Chicago this summer.

How do the city’s halal restaurants, which serve mostly Muslim customers, hold up during the month of Ramadan? We explore the traditions of two West Ridge destinations.

A local chamber of commerce has rebranded a Chicago neighborhood as Malt Row, where it says you’ll find the greatest concentration of microbreweries in the city.