Stories by Kristen Thometz

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the Fed may start  raising rates around six months after quantitative easing—ahead of what experts were expecting. We take a closer look at how the markets react to her comments at her first live press conference, and how her first policy meeting may affect the economy. Read an article, watch Yellen’s full press conference, and read a transcript of her remarks.

The Illinois Supreme Court struck down the state’s strict eavesdropping law that made audio recording anyone in public illegal without consent. The court ruled that the law "criminalizes a wide range of innocent conduct." We have analysis from Harvey Grossman, Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. Read the court's opinion and watch Paris Schutz's 2011 story on the Eavesdropping Law.

Are hospitals over-prescribing antibiotics to their patients? A recent report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that some clinicians prescribe three times as many antibiotics than clinicians in other hospitals, which can sometimes result in a patient taking an antibiotic for too long, potentially causing super-resistant infections. We discuss the effects of overdosing on antibiotics and how hospitals can improve antibiotic-prescribing. Read an interview and view a graphic of antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. by state.

The antibiotic stewardship program is offered in a health care facility or hospital that is designed to help improve the way antibiotics are used and prescribed. Read an article.

Brutal winter conditions this year devastated the bird population in the Midwest region. The Field Museum has collected roughly 60 specimens but many more have perished as a result of starvation from limited open water on Lake Michigan. We speak with Field Museum research assistant and ornithologist Josh Engel about the phenomenon. Read an article and view a slideshow.

Hollywood photographer Peter Sorel was born in Hungary, but now calls Chicago home. From One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to Frida and Life of Pi, Sorel has documented and created poster images for more than 120 memorable movies. Read an article and view a slideshow of Sorel's work.

We share what you had to say about our discussion on the pros and cons of legislative term limits and how they work and our conversation with Illinois House of Representatives' 39th District challenger Will Guzzardi when we read some of our viewer feedback.

Voter turnout in Chicago is expected to be around 16 percent for the March Primary Election, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. The low turnout benefited the debut of electronic poll books in Chicago's precincts. Read an article.

The March Primary is over and the parties are coalescing around their respective candidates for governor. Paris Schutz has more on what is shaping up as a bruising battle. Read an article and view a map of Republican gubernatorial votes by county.

Bruce Rauner has won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in the November election. Carol Marin and a roundtable of top political reporters digest last night’s primary election results and look ahead at how the races are shaping up for November. View an interactive graphic of March Primary Election results.

Challenger Will Guzzardi beat State Rep. Toni Berrios for the Illinois House of Representatives' 39th District in the March Primary Election. He joins us.

Dr. Brendan Reilly describes himself as a dinosaur in the medical field, and in his new book One Doctor: Close Calls, Cold Cases and The Mysteries of Medicine, he tells the stories of some of his most memorable patients, the changes that have taken place in practicing medicine, and why he’s a dying breed. He shares all that and unveils the mysteries of medicine. Read an article and a book excerpt.

The craft brew industry in Chicago has exploded in the last few years and shows no signs of stopping. Is there a saturation point for Chicago’s market? We talk with leaders on the craft brew scene and explore the growing trend. Read an article, view a slideshow, and take a craft brew QUIZ.

Geoffrey Baer sheds some light on a colorful Chicago firehouse tradition that has a maritime connection, the real life Mr. Selfridge’s time in Chicago and the location of the city’s first revolving doors this week's edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Bruce Rauner has won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in the November election. Check out the winners for key races in the March Primary Election.

Voter turnout for Tuesday's March Primary Election has been low, and less than 9 percent of registered voters in Chicago have cast ballots as of 6:00 pm. Voters today will determine who will appear on the November ticket for Republican and Democratic races ranging from governor to the state legislature. Read an article.

As we race closer to the November election, one item that’s being pushed to be on the ballot is legislative term limits. Joining us to discuss the pros and cons of term limits and how they work are Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs Chris Mooney and UIC Political Science Professor Dick Simpson. Read an interview and view a map on term limits in the United States.

From Washington to Wall Street to Main Street, the U.S. has a spending problem. The nonprofit MoneyThink is working to change that spending culture by teaching fiscal literacy to youth in urban areas. We chat with 24-year-old entrepreneur and MoneyThink co-founder Ted Gonder about the organization’s mission, his work in Chicago, and his new White House advisory council position. Watch a video.

Chicago Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss reviews plays currently on Chicago area stages. Watch web extra video reviews.

The dean of Chicago photojournalists, Art Shay, shares pictures of his beloved wife Florence, who died in 2012 after 67 years of marriage. We revisit a preview of the exhibit, My Florence: Photographs by Art Shay. Read an interview with Ann Nathan, a gallery owner who currently represents Shay.

We share what you had to say about our GOP Governor Forum when we read some of our viewer feedback.

This past weekend, at the Paralympic Games in Sochi, the U.S. sled hockey team won the Gold Medal. Two members of that team -- Brody Roybal and Kevin McKee -- were from Chicago and were featured in Jay Shefsky's profile. Watch the video and read an article.

Sen. Mark Kirk had strong words today in reaction to the latest news out of Ukraine. Paris Schutz has the details. Read President Obama's statement on Ukraine from this morning and watch a web extra video.

Carol Marin and her panel of guests break down the top races as the candidates make their final push before Tuesday’s March Primary election. Joining us are Chicago Tribune Editorial Page editor Bruce Dold, Chicago Sun-Times political reporter Natasha Korecki, and Crain’s Chicago Business political columnist Greg Hinz. Visit Chicago Tonight's 2014 March Primary Elections page for the latest stories, forums and videos.

For the first time in Illinois, 17-year-olds will be able to vote in Tuesday's March 18 Primary Election. Nearly 3,500 teens have registered in Chicago. Read an article.

Malachy Towey and Kevin Henry are two of the elder statesman of Irish music in Chicago. Towey, age 93, plays the bodhrán, an Irish frame drum. Henry is 85, and plays the flute. For more than 50 years, they have been part of a vibrant Irish music scene in Chicago.