Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

There are more soggy days ahead. Find out how you can help ease the burden on the Chicago River and reduce the risk of flooding.

Blistering attacks against President Donald Trump coming from members of his own party. Local Republicans give us their take on the turmoil dividing Washington.

Meet Dr. Helene Gayle, the new CEO of the Chicago Community Trust, and find out what the future holds for this 102-year-old philanthropic organization.   

Youth football seems to be taking a hit. We speak with a Daily Herald investigative reporter about steep declines in high school football participation.

Viewers on four continents will watch a virtual presentation hosted by Adler Planetarium in early November to learn about the possibility of life on other planets.

While some gun rights advocates oppose any prohibition on “bump stocks,” others say they’re open to a ban, but that this particular proposal went too far, and was riddled with technical flaws.

A new tool developed by University of Chicago scientists could boost public health officials’ ability to predict how severe an upcoming flu season will be. 

The public exposure of a capitol culture rife with groping, lewd jokes and other forms of sexual harassment has legislation intended to help eliminate the behavior on the fast track.

Shootings are down over last year, a trend the Chicago Police Department hopes to continue by expanding its predictive technology.

Mortician, author and death acceptance activist Caitlin Doughty thinks American attitudes toward death are, by and large, “toxic.” 

Chicago’s bid to land Amazon’s much-coveted HQ2 has taken on a sci-fi element.

Watch the Oct. 25, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Are we seeing a societal sea change when it comes to sexual harassment?

Illinois legislators on Wednesday dealt Governor Bruce Rauner a series of blows, but the House failed by a single vote to override his veto of a measure that would ban municipalities from creating right-to-work zones.

As opioid overdose deaths continue to rise, President Donald Trump on Thursday is expected to declare the ongoing epidemic as a “national emergency.”

With the repeal of the soda tax, Cook County officials are now searching for ways to erase a $200 million shortfall in next year’s county budget. 

One of Brookfield Zoo’s newest tenants recently emerged from her mom’s pouch and can now be seen at the zoo’s Australia House.  

University of Chicago paleontologist Neil Shubin returns for another review of stories making headlines in the world of science. 

Geoffrey Baer gets eye-to-eye with some sky-high building ornament and gets beneath the surface of a towering metal figure in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

The inside story of American golf greats looking for vindication in one of the game’s top tournaments.

Halloween fun, sugar skulls and chocolate treats, vintage treasures and cutting-edge technology usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

An open letter details sexual harassment in state political circles as lawmakers return to Springfield for the fall veto session.

Meet Amy Bizzarri, the author of a new guidebook highlighting the unusual, unknown and often hidden side of Chicago.   

Watch the Oct. 24, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Weather forecasts say Chicago might see a third straight mild winter. Will that prediction pan out?

A nonprofit offers free emotional and practical support to Chicagoans who lose loved ones to homicide.