Stories by Kristen Thometz

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. 

Staff at a Chicago high school reportedly spent nearly $3,200 in school gift cards on wedding favors, meals and casino purchases. That’s one of several investigations included in a newly released annual report from CPS’ watchdog.

Thousands of Cook County property owners prepaid 2017 tax bills before the end the year, to the tune of almost $800 million. Where that money is going.

The Bears are in the market for a new head coach for the third time in six years. We take a look at the top candidates.

Watch the Jan. 2, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Whether it’s a giant rampaging ape or a serious drama, Chicago will be the setting for quite a few new movies and TV shows in 2018. A look at what is coming.

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin may be all the rage, but is the so-called “blockchain” technology behind them the thing that could really change the world?

Exploring the connection between a controversial painting at the Art Institute and the new play “Red Velvet” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Much like 2016’s set, the words of 2017 are a political batch reflective of the tumultuous year we just put behind us. What else made the cut.

How Republican lawmakers are trying to stop publicly funded abortions in Illinois—and what the bill’s backers say.

Chicago public health officials have signed off on a Southeast Side company’s updated plan to cut emissions of brain-damaging manganese dust that regulators say pose a health risk to nearby residents.

Chicago Public Schools’ new leader Janice Jackson announces plans to hold community meetings throughout the city this spring in the hopes of sparking an open dialogue about the district’s biggest needs.

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.

Watch the Dec. 28, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Lloyd DeGrane spent three years photographing homeless encampments in Chicago. He shares images and stories from the streets.

The financial markets have skyrocketed over the past year. Can they keep climbing in 2018?

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. 

Jazz can bring to mind a dark nightclub after hours with a lot of booze, but we met a group of Chicago jazz musicians on a sunny summer morning – and they were fueled only by coffee and cake.

A new mural at the Chicago Cultural Center honors 20 women, past and present, who contributed to the cultural life of the city. “Chicago Tonight” was on site throughout the creation of the work, the largest to date by Chicago artist Kerry James Marshall.

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.

Cook County officials filed lawsuits this week against a half dozen drug companies and their subsidiaries, blaming them for aggressively marketing prescription painkillers that have led to a spike in overdose deaths.

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.

Watch the Dec. 27, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

He has been called “The Bruce Springsteen of Israel.” But unlike the Boss, David Broza can sing in four languages and plays a mean flamenco guitar. David Broza joins us in conversation and performance.

New Year’s revelers may want to take note: The city plans an extra crackdown on party buses that shuttle people from bar to bar. Here’s the latest on that and what to expect in 2018.

Roughly 20 percent of the produce grown in this country is never eaten, and a lot of it never even makes it off the farm because it doesn’t look right. Now, Chicagoans can buy that perfectly good but unattractive produce.