Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

Staff at the zoo are caring for the pup because his mother was unable to provide him with proper nourishment. His arrival in February marked the zoo’s second successful birth for this once-endangered species.

The Chicago-based candymaker is seeking an intern to sample sweets and lead “smile-spreading” activities throughout the city. The 8-12 week paid internship also includes a sweet signing bonus: one year’s worth of candy.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is awarding Illinois $15 million to continue combating the opioid crisis across the state through prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which will consider whether the plane can resume flying in the U.S., plans to meet Friday with safety officials and pilots from the three U.S. carriers that were using the Max jet.

Watch the April 11, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

We get up close and personal with some cold-blooded creatures ahead of the nation’s largest educational reptile show.

City officials have made good on their threat of legal action against Jussie Smollett, filing a civil lawsuit that seeks to recoup the cost of a police investigation into what they believe was a staged attack the actor orchestrated on himself.

Author James Forman Jr. talks about his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.”

They play a key role in court proceedings, but industry experts say there aren’t enough of them. What it takes to become a court reporter – and why some say it’s a good alternative to a four-year degree.

In all the attempts to dissect the Leopold and Loeb story, one mystery remains unsolved: What happened to the vast bird collection that Nathan Leopold had in his Chicago home when he went to prison?

A groundbreaking study concludes that human health can be “mostly sustained” for a year in space, a key finding that figures to help NASA with its mission of sending humans to Mars within two decades.

A $9.1 million gift will help the University of Chicago expand its efforts to treat the social, psychological and medical needs of young trauma patients and their families.

Dr. Julie Morita is moving on after two decades at the Chicago Department of Public Health. She tells us about her future plans, and discusses current threats to the city’s health.

More than 90% of individuals in the gang database are people of color, according to Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who says that puts a strain on police-community relations. “There’s an extraordinary adverse effect on certain communities.”

A Halal lifestyle fest, scaly creatures, roller derby matches and island music usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Watch the April 10, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel gets a warm send-off from his colleagues at his final City Council meeting. Our politics team tackles that and some of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering over Lincoln Yards.

Ever since Einstein’s theory of relativity first predicted them, black holes have captured the imagination of the public and scientists alike. We speak with two local astrophysicists about this scientific breakthrough.

Sometimes the best thing for a forest or prairie is to burn it. We spend a day with a Cook County burn crew.  

Chicago’s next mayor won’t be sworn in until May 20, but she’s hitting the ground running. On Wednesday, Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot left the city to meet with top political leaders in Springfield.

A semi-pro baseball team once bested the big leagues on the Northwest Side. Geoffrey Baer takes a swing at local baseball history and its “outlaw clubs.”

More than 128,000 individuals in Chicago are identified as gang-related, according to reports. The city’s top watchdog tells us about the police department’s gang database.

“The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey” is a wildly creative story about a familiar message brought to life by Chicago actor Joe Foust’s effortless storytelling skills, comic sensibility and emotional range. 

The non-binding measure is being celebrated by environmental advocates, who note that Chicago is now the largest U.S. city to announce a timeline for obtaining all of its energy from renewable sources.

An evidentiary hearing that began Wednesday will be used to determine whether four officers can keep their jobs following accusations they lied about what happened the night Laquan McDonald was killed.

After months of debate, the controversial $1 billion public subsidy for Lincoln Yards is now law. City Council approved the measure hours after Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot softened her opposition to the project.