Stories by Erica Gunderson

In any year, applying for college can be a stressful time for high school students. But like so many other things this year, the pandemic has made the application process even more uncertain and difficult. 

A federal advisory panel put people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters, teachers and grocery store workers next in line for COVID-19 shots as a second vaccine began rolling out Sunday to hospitals.

Craving a Chicago-style dog or a slice of deep dish? A new online pop-up serves artful representations of the city’s most popular eats — and these dishes double as holiday gifts and ornaments that won’t get your fingers greasy. 

Mark Flessner, the city’s top lawyer, resigned Sunday amid a growing furor over Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s handling of the revelation that Chicago police officers handcuffed a naked woman during a mistaken raid in February 2019.

As Illinois reaches another grim milestone in the number of COVID-19 cases, December is on pace to become the state’s deadliest month, an analysis of public health data shows. 

Workers on Sunday began packaging shipments of the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the U.S., a desperately needed boost to efforts to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control.

’Tis the season for the delicious coconut drink that’s a treasured tradition for Puerto Ricans. We share a coquito toast with comedian Mike Oquendo and learn how to whip up a batch at home.

What happens when you and your doctor don’t speak the same language. Immigrant teens working illegally in suburban factories. A holiday window display helps artists and businesses during the pandemic.

Communication with your health care providers is crucial for good outcomes, but what happens when you don’t speak the same language? Two local doctors talk about breaking through language barriers in medicine.

About two dozen volunteers of all ages took to the streets Saturday to distribute 120 care pages to people experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Meet the founders of The heARTS Project, the new nonprofit behind the effort.

The Army general in charge of getting COVID-19 vaccines across the United States apologized on Saturday for “miscommunication” with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution.

The Chicago Zoological Society said it was devastated by the loss of the dolphin, Magic, who was born and hand-reared at Brookfield Zoo. Others who had visited the dolphin expressed their sadness on social media.

Increased scrutiny over the Chicago Police Department’s mistaken raid comes as police face national calls for reform over how they do their jobs following a reckoning that has swept the country in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other allegations of police brutality.

For institutions with “living collections,” there’s really been no such thing as a shutdown during the pandemic. Even with no visitors coming through the door, zoos and aquariums are still caring for their animals around the clock.  

The first round of health care workers in Illinois receive COVID-19 vaccines. Mayor Lightfoot slammed over a shocking police video of a wrongful raid. And the Chicago Teachers Union loses its challenge to prevent in-person learning.

Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.

Three aldermen dropped their call for a special meeting of the Chicago City Council late Friday, amid a growing furor over Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s handling of a video showing Chicago police officers handcuffing a naked woman during a mistaken raid of her home in February 2019.

The panel members are leaning toward putting “essential workers” next up because people like bus drivers, grocery store clerks and others who perform vital jobs that can’t be done from home are the ones getting infected most often. 

The pandemic in Illinois reached another sobering mark on Friday, whenhealth officials reported 15,015 total deaths linked to the pandemic and 886,805 infections. 

Through the program, the school district will provide $310,000 in tuition reimbursement for educators who will work to earn a special education endorsement at one of four Chicago-area universities

The agenda for Tuesday’s special meeting includes an order that would stop the city’s Law Department from sanctioning Anjanette Young, the social worker whose home was raided, for releasing the video of the raid.

Vice President Mike Pence became the highest-ranking U.S. official to receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday in a live-television event aimed at reassuring Americans the shot is safe

Dwain Johnson, 18, is the second person to be charged in the Dec. 3 murder of ex-Chicago Fire Department Lt. Dwain Williams.

Fraternal Order of Police President Lodge 7 John Catanzara faces possible termination from his position with the Chicago Police Department over multiple inflammatory social media posts.

On the Far Northwest Side, the Sauganash community seeks to make the season a bit more festive amid the coronavirus pandemic with its holiday light displays.

Former Bears offensive lineman James “Big Cat” Williams previews the Bears matchup Sunday against the Vikings.