Stories by Kristen Thometz

Two Illinois residents are among 34 individuals across the country who have died after experiencing serious vaping-related illnesses since March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking the federal government to reconsider its decision to deny monetary aid to residents and businesses affected by near-record levels of flooding that hit Illinois this spring.

Ninth-grade students in select Chicago Public Schools will learn how to recognize and cope with stress as part of a DePaul University-led violence prevention research project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

The show’s three exceptionally graceful, expressive actors – each of them powerful solo players – form a seamless bond that is beautiful to behold. They are at once passionate artists and fierce cultural warriors.

Watch the Oct. 24, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The Cubs on Thursday announced a three-year deal with former catcher David Ross, who becomes the 55th manager in club history. 

The ongoing Chicago teachers strike has already cost students six days of classes. But with upcoming deadlines for students prepping for college, Chicago Public Schools leaders are expressing a sense of urgency in getting students back into school.

Republicans briefly brought the Democrat-led impeachment investigation to a halt when around two dozen GOP House members stormed into a closed-door deposition with a Defense Department official. 

The powerful Illinois House speaker is named in a federal subpoena. Our politics team tackles that story and Mayor Lightfoot’s budget proposal in our weekly roundtable.

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied and marched on city streets outside City Hall on Wednesday morning as Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered her first budget address.

As the city and the Chicago Teachers Union try to hammer out a contract agreement, we explore common strategies and pitfalls in any negotiation with professional mediator Teresa Frisbie.

Mayor Lightfoot laid out her plan to resolve the city’s massive deficit, but any final budget will require the support of aldermen. Weighing in on that and more: Alds. Scott Waguespack, Ray Lopez and Jason Ervin.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced tough questions Wednesday from members of Congress about his social media platform’s digital currency project. We discuss the billionaire tech entrepreneur’s plans for Libra.

Bill Daley has left Bank of New York Mellon after less than six months as vice chairman. He started there following his loss in Chicago’s mayoral election earlier this year.

Leaders from Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police are criticizing Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, the subject of an ongoing investigation into a driving incident who said this week he plans to skip President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Chicago.

A team led by several Chicago-area researchers has developed a new method to “upcycle” single-use plastics into a number of commonly used products, such as motor oils, detergents and cosmetics. 

Scaly creatures, a Dia de Los Muertos celebration, graveyard performances and a beer-centric conference usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered her first budget address Wednesday at City Hall amid a swirl of protests from striking Chicago Public Schools teachers and support staff outside. How she plans to close the budget gap.

Watch the Oct. 23, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Two teens and a juvenile are facing multiple felony charges after they allegedly carjacked a woman’s vehicle last week with two children inside it. Police say the children, ages 5 and 2, were found unharmed just blocks away.

A top U.S. diplomat testified Tuesday that President Donald Trump was holding back military aid for Ukraine unless the country agreed to investigate Democrats and a company linked to Joe Biden’s family.

President Donald Trump’s appearance next week at a police chiefs conference will be his first visit as president to Chicago, a city he has ridiculed for years. The city’s top cop plans to skip the speech, even though he’s hosting the event.

There is still no deal between the city and the Chicago Teachers Union, and the strike is raising specific concerns for some high school seniors. Meanwhile, a former teacher-turned-presidential hopeful rallied with the CTU on Tuesday morning.

A former Time editor and State Department official on fighting for truth in the age of disinformation. Richard Stengel tells us about his new book “Information Wars.”

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has promised to fix a broken property tax system and end political patronage hiring. But a recent report found that the assessor’s office is not complying with a series of federal court orders. Kaegi joins us to discuss that and more.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday will deliver her first budget address, with an expected plan to close an $838 million budget deficit. She’s already accounted for $200 million of that with a proposal to refinance $1.3 billion in city borrowing.