Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

At least 16 states have legalized industrial hemp production for commercial purposes. Could Illinois be next?

Emanuel won’t honor Trump’s rollback of transgender student rights, and Chicago schools will refuse entry to immigration agents without a warrant. Those stories and more with Joel Weisman and guests.

Inspired by President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, a team of local journalists launched a website this week to tell the stories of immigrants and refugees living in Chicago.

Watch the Feb. 23, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Illinois public officials and school districts weigh in on which bathroom or locker room a transgender student should use. 

Editors from Trains Magazine tell us why Chicago is America's railroad capital.

Debate over how an elite North Shore high school should present a seminar on civil rights and racism.

The longtime speaker announced Thursday he has appointed a dozen House Democrats to address unanswered questions in the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission’s final report and draw up equitable school funding reform legislation.

A stunning confession in the most notorious civil rights case of the 20th century.

The Chicago River is a lot cleaner than it used to be. And after years of litigation, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and environmental groups have agreed to a settlement and will work together to make the river even cleaner. 

The Paramount Theatre in Aurora is serving up a gothic new staging of the Stephen Sondheim hit “Sweeney Todd.” We discuss that show and other new productions, with the Chicago Sun-Times dance and theater critic.

Live blues, a jazz fest and a vintage pop-up show usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

The ASPIRA teachers union issued a near-unanimous vote Wednesday evening in favor of walking off the job in what would be the nation’s first-ever charter school teachers strike.

With nearly 20,000 homeless youth in Chicago, an all-night benefit aims to raise awareness and funds for 13 homeless agencies, shelters and drop-in centers. Learn more.

A group of Southeast Side residents and activists met Tuesday night to formulate a plan for confronting the latest threat of pollution in one of Chicago’s most industrialized areas.

In the depths of a Chicago winter – and especially when there's a winter heat wave – sometimes you just have to get outside. But what if you’re not one for skiing or skating? We decided to go fish.

Watch the Feb. 22, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

NASA said earlier this week it had a major announcement coming Wednesday. What an announcement it turned out to be.

Five candidates are vying for the position of 4th Ward alderman in the Feb. 28 special election. They join us to discuss their platforms.

Aldermen say they are prepared to go to battle against the police union to get rid of contract provisions they say lead to a culture of cover-up.

Northwestern scientists have discovered a new cell in the retina which may cause nearsightedness, or myopia, when disrupted.

The walls of a South Side armory tell the history of warriors throughout the ages. Geoffrey Baer shares that story and more in this week’s Ask Geoffrey.

Nearly all members of a Chicago Public School advisory council turned in resignation letters to the city's Board of Education on Wednesday morning, citing the disproportionate effect of district budget cuts on Latino schools.

Watch the Feb. 21, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Reuters reporter Dave McKinney takes an in-depth look at House Speaker Michael Madigan's role in Illinois' budget woes.

Teachers in the ASPIRA charter network – comprised of three Chicago high schools and one middle school – say they will vote on a strike Wednesday night after months of contract negotiations.