Stories by Erica Gunderson

With the prospect of a long, dreary winter at home ahead, many Chicagoans are fluffing their nests with houseplants. We check in with some local plant shops to see how business is growing.

The Trump administration dove back into Capitol Hill’s confusing COVID-19 negotiations on Tuesday, offering a $916 billion package to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that would send a $600 direct payment to most Americans.

President Donald Trump celebrated the expected approval of the first U.S. vaccine for the coronavirus Tuesday as the White House worked to instill confidence in the massive distribution effort to come.

How neighbors in some Chicago communities are stepping up to help students with remote learning when their parents can’t work from home.

With coronavirus vaccines on the horizon, state health officials are addressing people’s fears and skepticism surrounding their rapid development.

Efforts to boost the number of affordable housing units in three red-hot Chicago neighborhoods will continue through June, even as city leaders weigh a broader overhaul of the city’s rules to help low- and moderate-income residents find a place to live.

Hayley Orlinsky has spent most of the coronavirus pandemic crafting colorful bracelets as a fundraiser to buy personal protective equipment for a children’s hospital. So far, the endeavor has generated nearly $20,000.

The state pays billions of dollars into the Medicaid program. WTTW News has learned that a group of lawmakers plans to demand billions back from the private health care companies that run that program. Can it work?

The U.S. is about to embark on a massive COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Here's what you need to know about the state’s plan.

City officials hit Lakeview Ald. Tom Tunney with two citations on Tuesday for allowing diners to eat inside his restaurant in defiance of a ban imposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. 

Riding a bicycle through a Chicago winter may sound daunting, but with a bit of preparation and the right attitude, it’s a manageable feat. Here’s some advice from avid cyclists for your winter riding safety — and pleasure.

Jasmine Smith allegedly attempted to flee a traffic stop and dragged a Chicago police officer for several downtown city blocks Monday afternoon. She is being held on $50,000 bond.

Watch the Dec. 8, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The Chicago Transit Authority hopes to learn in the coming weeks whether it’s received federal approval to move into the next phase of its massive Red Line Extension project, which would extend the city’s busiest train line to Chicago’s southern border.

Officials have now shut down two massive parties in Wicker Park in as many weeks, despite an increase in the number of confirmed and probable coronavirus cases in Chicago after the Thanksgiving holiday.

CTU President Jesse Sharkey signed on to an open letter sent to President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday from 16 local teachers unions and organizations, calling on Biden to appoint “one of our own” as his chief advisor on education.

With the coronavirus pandemic foiling plans for a trio of live performances, Chicago Opera Theater has adapted its 2020-2021 season to be a primarily virtual one. 

Chicago’s 55th mayor is hoping his passion for transportation and his legacy in the city is enough to secure him a spot in President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet as transportation secretary. An analysis of that legacy reveals a mixed record.

Illinois driver’s license facilities have been closed since mid-November, and they’ll remain that way through the beginning of 2021. Here’s what you need to know if you’re driving on an expired license. (Hint: It may not be expired after all.)

Nine months into the pandemic, many health care workers say they’re reaching a breaking point, and they’re bracing for what health officials say could be one of the most difficult winters in American public health history.  

Hanukkah and Christmas are held during some of the shortest days of the year — meaning, they’re also the darkest. But these holidays offer light through menorahs and advent candles, and now, the glow of a computer screen.

Meet a champion archer from Chicago who has overcome health obstacles to travel the world and win gold medals.

Commercial Avenue has long been the main business corridor in South Chicago, but in recent years the strip has struggled to fill vacant storefronts – a trend that was seriously exacerbated by civil unrest and looting this summer.

A little over a month after she won reelection, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx was officially sworn in. Following the ceremony, she reflected on the challenges of 2020 and looked ahead to the next four years.

The Philadelphia Phillies, the team Dick Allen started out with, announced his death Monday. The seven-time All-Star, 1964 NL Rookie of the Year and 1972 AL MVP started out with the Philadelphia Phillies, who retired his No. 15 in September.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday said officials are still “still watching and waiting” to see if there will be a surge statewide in the number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations stemming from holiday gatherings.