Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

Two Chicago-area researchers have uncovered what they think is the first piece of physical evidence showing that forgotten memories could still live on inside our brains.

Considering homeownership? How to decide if it’s the right time to buy—and how to avoid common mistakes. A discussion with real estate and personal finance author Ilyce Glink.

After 20 years, Kevin Quinn is “no longer an employee of any of my political committees” given “inappropriate conduct,” House Speaker Michael Madigan announced in a statement Monday.

Under a revised plan, students at Hope, Harper and TEAM Englewood high schools will now be allowed to stay at their schools through graduation instead of being forced out this summer.

A new city report on energy use by buildings shows progress toward reducing carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.

Officials battling the state’s opioid epidemic got a boost this week with the donation of a medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses. In 2016, nearly 1,950 people died of opioid overdoses in Illinois.

Defense attorneys say they need more than a year to adequately prepare for trial in the case of a Champaign man facing the death penalty in the disappearance and death of a University of Illinois scholar.

More controversy in the race for governor. A neo-Nazi is the likely GOP nominee in a Chicago-area congressional district. A wild week on Wall street. And remembering John Mahoney. 

Friday’s snowfall could be heavy at times but will gradually end later this morning after blanketing the area with another 2-4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Here’s what you need to know.

We speak with the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists who broke the Watergate story for the Washington Post in the early 1970s. 

In addition to new allegations of police rape, the Chicago Police Department is facing another lawsuit related to the torture tactics of notorious former police commander Jon Burge.

Looking for a handcrafted scale model of Wrigley Field? How about glittery portraits of politicians, TV personalities—or both? All can be found at a Bridgeport workspace that provides adult artists with supplies, guidance and opportunity.

Watch the Feb. 8, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

We have some fun on a bun in commercial bakeries that make the bread for two iconic Chicago foods.

The news site DNAinfo Chicago shut down three months ago. Now, former staffers are coming back with a new business model and a new name, but with the same focus on hyperlocal news.

A long out-of-print book tells the stories of African-Americans who knew and worked for Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. 

Before the snow even started to fall Thursday evening, Chicago Public Schools took the rare step of canceling all Friday classes.

Nevest Coleman spent nearly two decades in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Now he’s suing the city of Chicago, claiming he was beaten and coerced into giving a false confession.

As part of the city’s fight against opioids, Chicago Police officers will be equipped with naloxone. “Ensuring public safety goes beyond focusing solely on violent crime,” said Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.

The Joffrey Ballet’s winter program is a stunning showcase of the prowess of its dancers, as well as the stellar talents of the Chicago Philharmonic and music director Scott Speck.

The number of solar jobs in Illinois – and the U.S. as a whole – decreased last year, but experts are still optimistic about the industry’s future.

Chicago’s tallest building is being recognized for its standing atop another category: energy efficiency.

The Canadian prime minister spoke candidly at the University of Chicago on Wednesday, addressing trade tensions between both countries, as well as his vision of gender equality.

Illinois’ state employee pension plan, one of the largest in the nation, has retired from hedge funds. Find out why.

Watch the Feb. 7, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

On a street where homes sell for well over $1 million, one house has been hiding in plain sight for decades. It has been a welcome surprise to preservationists, but not to the developer who now owns it.