Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

On Feb. 10, Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed a new baby bird, the first African penguin chick hatched and reared at the zoo's new penguin habitat. 

Scaly creatures, vintage vinyls and cheesy bites usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Supporters have tried to resurrect the ERA for years, but the movement gained steam Wednesday, passing the Illinois Senate by a vote of 42 to 12 – more than 35 years past its deadline.

What’s behind the resignation of Willow Creek mega-church leader Bill Hybels? A discussion with Chicago Tribune reporter Manya Brachear Pashman.

Watch the April 11, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

The award-winning actor and director talks about her new book, a collection of personal essays that explore her journey as a feminist.

Two Illinois politicians grabbed national headlines as they grilled Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg during his testimonies before Senate and House committees this week.

The state is withholding tax money from south suburban Harvey because it has fallen behind on its pension payments. Will others follow?

At age 91, the jazz guitarist is a living legend from Chicago’s first family of music. We pay him a visit.

Here’s something that might surprise you: The best place in the entire state of Illinois to see birds during their spring migration is in the city of Chicago. 

“The newsroom is in a position of jeopardy, and we’re standing up to make sure we’re paid fairly and to make sure we have a voice in how this place operates,” said Charlie Johnson, a Chicago Tribune home page editor and member of the union organizing committee.

Three years after they began installing bat houses along waterways in Cook County, conservationists are hoping the bats will start moving in this year.

The former security officer claims he was improperly trained and later defamed by the head of the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Watch the April 10, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

The controversial database is coming under legal scrutiny as many say they have been wrongly added to the list and targeted.

Search warrants for Monday’s raid were reportedly obtained to collect evidence, in part, for Michael Cohen’s $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. What it all might mean.

On Chicago’s West Side, the average life expectancy is just 69 years. What one coalition of health care institutions and professionals is doing to change that.

A hypothetical male patient diagnosed with hypertension served as the starting point for a University of Chicago study on racial bias in health care in the U.S. and France.

The Winter Olympics are long gone, but at the Chicago Children’s Museum, kids can continue to experience elements of the Korean culture they’ve seen glimpses of on TV.

The Greek Orthodox faithful of Chicago have a new leader. Metropolitan Nathanael Symeonides was enthroned on March 24 and is only the second in this region.

She has held the unique job title of Chief Curiosity Correspondent at the Field Museum since 2013. Now, Emily Graslie tells us about her new podcast “ExploreAStory.”

The achievement gap between white and minority students within Chicago Public Schools has shrunk, according to a national assessment, but the shift wasn’t caused by higher student scores.

After drawing an estimated 60,000 people to the inaugural event last year, Chicago’s second installment of the March for Science returns this weekend – with a few changes.

The remaining 7.5 weeks of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session comprise Gov. Bruce Rauner’s last real chance before November’s election to show voters that the skills he used to amass a personal fortune can transfer to state government.

Watch the April 9, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

That storied and unstoppable Cubs double-play combination of “Tinker to Evers to Chance” is chronicled in a new book. We talk Cubs history with author David Rapp.