Stories by Patty Wetli

As one person succinctly summed it up on social media: “We don’t need no April fools jokes … we living in one.”

It’s the first of the month, and everybody knows the rent’s due. For millions of Americans, Wednesday is the first time the landlord is knocking on the door since the coronavirus outbreak turned the economy upside down.

Citywide crime was down in March compared to last year, but Chicago is currently on pace for more shootings and homicides in 2020.

Northfield-based Medline Industries bills itself as the largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies in the U.S. We talk with CEO Charles Mills about the company’s efforts to address the pandemic.

Making a career in music and the arts is tricky in the best of times. These days, the struggle is surreal. Here’s our latest check-in with a few players on Chicago’s music scene where, to quote a famous Chicago soul singer, “Only the Strong Survive.”

COVID-19 patients are currently using about 24% of ventilators available statewide, but there’s concern that supplies could run out. To address that possibility, University of Illinois engineers invented a ventilator that can be reproduced on a rapid scale.

The spread of COVID-19 has sparked fear and apprehension — and misinformation can elevate those emotions. To help answer your questions about the new coronavirus, we turned to infectious disease specialist Dr. Susan Bleasdale of UI Health.

How is the coronavirus impacting residents and businesses in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood? We ask 46th Ward Ald. James Cappleman, who represents much of the North Side neighborhood.

With the announcement of an extended stay-at-home order, an already difficult situation becomes more challenging. We report from Uptown, one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, both by income and ethnicity. 

There is no joy in Mudville (or in Chicago for that matter) as the coronavirus pandemic has struck out Major League Baseball. Jason Benetti and Len Kasper talk about what might have been — and what may happen in the weeks to come.

We speak with Martin Sorge of Uptown United, the neighborhood’s chamber of commerce, to see how area businesses and local nonprofits are making ends meet during the pandemic.

These days, it’s as important as ever to stay informed. But the glut of coronavirus content can, at times, be overwhelming. A new, locally produced podcast offers a much different perspective on the pandemic.

The expected three-week extension of the governor’s order mirrors a move Sunday by President Donald Trump to lengthen social distancing guidelines to April 30. Illinois now has 5,994 COVID-19 cases, and 99 deaths.

From Green City Market’s spanking new app to McKinley Park’s Google spreadsheet, farmers market organizers are working overtime to support growers and get fresh, local food in the hands of Chicagoans.

Watch the March 31, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

For the second year in a row, Illinois saw the highest number of criminal exonerations last year, and once again, that total was driven largely by false convictions tied to a corrupt former Chicago sergeant, according to a new report.

More than 150 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Cook County Jail. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the situation poses the “biggest health problem in the county.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s tough love in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic has spawned a million memes. Now the mayor gets in on the joke with her own video.

Grocery stores remain one of the few places in Chicago where large numbers of people are still able to mingle, and that — rightfully — has put both employees and customers on edge.

Beverly and surrounding communities have been hit hard with business closures and worker furloughs. But the area is infused with a spirit of collaboration, especially when it comes to helping those most vulnerable to the virus.

The Chicago Medical Society says that intensive care units in Chicago are full as of Monday. But experts say a peak in cases is still two to three weeks away. 

Democratic lawmakers are calling out an apparent lack of racial data that they say is needed to monitor and address disparities in the national response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The 19th Ward alderman is calling for greater protections for police officers amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of Monday evening, 50 Chicago police officers have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused organizers to postpone this summer’s Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We discuss the delay with three Olympic athletes from the Chicago area.

Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have described a range of symptoms, and they’ve lived with a fear of spreading the illness to their family and friends. A Chicago-area resident shares her story.

A portion of the convention center will become an alternate care center for patients with mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.