Stories by Heather Cherone

State tax revenue dropped $2.74 billion in April due to the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. 

The death of Greg Zanis, announced by his daughter, Susie Zanis, and confirmed by the mayor of the community where Zanis lived, was expected after a recent announcement that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and did not have long to live.

A high-profile effort to convince Illinois lawmakers to change the way the state draws congressional and state legislative districts has fizzled out after the coronavirus pandemic shut down the General Assembly.

The Urban Muslim Minority Alliance has been working to help Lake County residents get out of poverty since 2004 with GED classes, job preparedness training, a food pantry and more.

The industrial history of north suburban Waukegan has created a legacy of environmental issues for residents. We speak with Celeste Flores of Clean Power Lake County and Faith in Place.

An industrial town with a large working-class population, Waukegan is one of Illinois’ oldest communities. It’s also seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Lake County, with at least 1,214 residents testing positive.

It’s been a Chicago institution since it opened in 1957. Since then, the Old Town School of Folk Music has expanded its curriculum and, now, its online offerings. We stop by to see how it’s adapting to the changing times.

Researchers are studying the use of convalescent plasma therapy — and it’s already showing positive results at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown.

Pushing to reopen the economy, President Donald Trump insists that states can gradually lift lockdowns and still protect people from the coronavirus pandemic, even as he’s also suggesting U.S. deaths could reach 100,000. 

As the days of social distancing turn into months, anxiety and frustration continue to mount. We get advice on safeguarding kids’ emotional well-being during the pandemic.

The proposal would cancel rent and mortgage payments statewide for 180 days amid concerns that thousands of Illinois residents have missed rent payments due to the coronavirus.

After shutting down for more than a month, golf is back in Illinois – at some courses, at least. We check out the scene at a couple of suburban spots.

Health officials on Monday reported 46 deaths in Illinois from the coronavirus. “When I saw that number today, I was hopeful that this is the beginning or continuation of a trend I’ve been praying for,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

The world’s largest hornet, a 2-inch killer dubbed the “Murder Hornet” with an appetite for honey bees, has been found in Washington state, where entomologists were making plans to wipe it out.

Those who have died are parents, grandparents, cousins, friends and loved ones — not just statistics, Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters on a conference call Monday. The coronavirus death toll in Chicago now stands at 1,014 people.

Luft Balloons is bringing smiles, the best medicine, to front-line hospital workers, with massive helium-filled displays of gratitude.

The news is increasing familiar, yet heartbreaking. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, yet another much-beloved live music series is being silenced this summer. 

“We know physicians find it very difficult to ask for help,” said Dr. Smita Gautam, co-founder of the Physician Support Line, a free, national and confidential support line. “We’re here for you, and you deserve this help.”

Watch the May 4, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

Italy started stirring Monday, with millions of people allowed to return to work as Europe's longest coronavirus lockdown started to ease, while the U.S. took halting steps to lift some restrictions even as tens of thousands of new cases were reported every day.

The lawsuits say students should pay lower rates for the portion of the term that was offered online, arguing that the quality of instruction is far below the classroom experience. Colleges, though, reject the idea that refunds are in order. 

The ruling came hours after the pastor behind a lawsuit targeting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order led dozens of worshipers through a Sunday morning service at The Beloved Church in Lena.

Flowers are sprouting and migrating birds are overhead, but even as nature is doing its thing, the coronavirus pandemic has put a dent in a traditional spring rite of passage: graduation.

Illinois labs ran 19,417 coronavirus tests during a 24-hour period from Saturday to Sunday – a state record that nearly doubles the 10,000 per day goal Gov. J.B. Pritzker set in early April that took nearly all of last month to reach.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s grateful for the 600,000 swabs Illinois will receive from the federal government, but that the Trump administration should have done more — and still can — to help Illinois and other states.

The Migration Policy Institute found that 20% of the U.S. workers in vulnerable industries facing layoffs are immigrants, even though they only make up 17% of the civilian workforce.