Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

The 14-year-old female polar bear who recently arrived in Chicago is expected to mate with 8-year-old Siku, who has lived at the zoo since 2016. 

Chicago’s former top cop is expected to formally announce plans to run for the city’s top job next week, a source says. “It’s just killing me to be on the sidelines and watching what’s happening in the city,” Garry McCarthy told us last month.

Watch the March 15, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

State education officials interested in examining Chicago Public Schools’ special education offerings will hold open hearings this month after families, stakeholders and a media report stoked concerns last year of possible “systemic issues.”

A feud is brewing within the state Democratic Party. Why progressives running for office in the Democratic Party say House Speaker Michael Madigan is waging all-out war against them.

With its three major venues on Navy Pier, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a nonstop operation. Evidence of that can be seen in the just-announced season: 14 productions, a slew of guest directors and a mix of shows created both here and abroad.

Next week, more than 120 groups in the Chicago region will discuss how to end gender bias and sexual harassment against women as part of the “Talk It Out” series spearheaded by the Chicago Foundation for Women.

Democrats Richard Gonzalez, Sol Flores and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez. What solutions do they envision for problems impacting this predominantly Hispanic district?

Democratic gubernatorial front-runner J.B. Pritzker came under intense scrutiny during an hourlong candidate forum Wednesday on “Chicago Tonight” – the final such event before the March 20 primary election. Watch the discussion and videos from a post-event press conference.

Watch the March 14, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Thousands of students from Chicago schools, including Lake View High School, joined in the nationwide protest held one month after a shooting left 17 dead inside a high school in Parkland, Florida.

From kindergartners to college professors, citizen scientists helped Field Museum researchers examine more than 100,000 plant samples that could hold clues to key scientific questions. 

A green river, St. Patrick’s Day parade, historical scavenger hunt and oodles of pancakes topped with fresh maple syrup usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

In their final meeting before the primary, the top three Democratic candidates for governor explain why they should represent their party in November. J.B. Prizker, Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss join us. 

This is a scorching production that is all the more potent for its extreme, immersive intimacy. Read the full review.

Watch the March 13, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

A bill that would have placed more regulations on gun dealers goes down with the stroke of a pen in Springfield.

A brightly colored moth rarely seen in the U.S. (and bigger than a human hand) emerged from its cocoon Friday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – but you better get there fast if you want to see it.

Just how complicated is election law? An unexpected opening on the Cook County primary ballot offers some insight.

Students from dozens of schools across the city are planning to take part in a 17-minute walkout Wednesday morning, with each minute representing a life lost during the Feb. 14 mass shooting at a Florida high school.

State Rep. Jeanne Ives is running an insurgent campaign to challenge Gov. Bruce Rauner in the Republican gubernatorial primary on March 20. Hear about her campaign and plans for the state in our full video.

Political leaders of the fabled Chicago Democratic machine have lost public support from a group of lawyers, one of whom may in the near future be well-placed to do more than just talk about rooting out corruption.

Watch the March 12, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

An extensive investigation found evidence the revered conductor, who was for years associated with the Ravinia Festival and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, committed sexual abuse and harassment, the New York Times reports.

Reviews of two special productions that came to Chicago stages this past weekend: the world premiere of “Long Way Home” from hip-hop masters the Q Brothers Collective; and Lyric Opera’s celebration of Leonard Bernstein.

A citywide campaign seeks to curb underage drinking through public awareness and school policy reforms. “We don’t want schools to suspend students,” said Juan Padilla, a Voices of Youth in Chicago Education organizer.