Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

Americans use an estimated 500 million straws each day, but a Shedd Aquarium initiative is trying to put a dent in that figure. Last week, nearly two dozen restaurants joined the effort.

A class-action “use of force” lawsuit seeks a federal crackdown on the Chicago Police Department.

Republican state lawmakers say they have crafted a balanced budget bill that is both a compromise with Democratic proposals and one Gov. Bruce Rauner has promised to sign if it’s passed.

An Illinois man from Belleville is identified as the lone gunman who opened fire Wednesday morning at a park in Alexandria, Virginia.

Watch the June 14, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

The 225,000-square-foot Sears and Roebuck printing facility was once described as its own city within the city of Chicago, but it’s been closed for decades—until now.

On a horse farm north of Chicago, a European tradition combines artistry and athletic prowess. We meet some of the star athletes–and the ponies that will someday take their place.

An alliance of Southeast Asian countries turns 50. What the Western World can learn from it.

Street festivals, vintage sales, funny femmes and plenty of tacos usher in Father’s Day weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Local teachers are recommending changes to Chicago Public Schools to offer better support to students dealing with poverty, homelessness and violence.

What the nearly complete skeleton of a 2 1/2-year-old child tells researchers about the history the human spine – and human evolution.

Was the design of White Castle restaurants based on a Chicago landmark? Geoffrey Baer has the answers you crave.

Chicago residents should expect to pay about 10 percent more in property taxes. 

Watch the June 13, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

A leaky roof, rotting walls and crumbling stairs – that was the condition of the Illinois executive mansion in 2015. Now a renovation of the 161-year-old mansion is underway.

What does it take to adapt a classic Disney musical for a live audience? We sit down with the award-winning composer to talk about remaking “Aladdin,” and the “keys” to his success.

Since ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft hit the Chicago market in 2013, overall taxi ridership in the city has taken a plunge. We discuss the future of Chicago’s cab industry.

New details on the Russian cyberattack before the 2016 election, and how Illinois was affected. 

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise the benchmark interest rate again. What that means about the U.S. economy.

Customized activity monitoring devices are helping Brookfield Zoo staff study sleeping patterns and other behaviors in giraffes. 

Jeffrey Gettleman was born and raised in Evanston, but a trip to Kenya when he was 18 years old changed the trajectory of his life.

When two local comedians launched the Chicago Women’s Funny Festival in 2012, they were regularly asked: “What’s it like to be a woman in comedy?” Find out what’s in store for this year’s fest—and how the business of comedy is evolving.

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios is pushing back on a series of reports by the Chicago Tribune questioning the accuracy and fairness of his office.

The state owes nearly $15 billion in unpaid bills, and if a budget isn’t passed, the backlog could swell to $24 billion. Can a deal be made? We discuss the budget crisis.

Watch the June 12, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

On the road to reform, which path should the Chicago Police Department take: one with or without federal oversight?