Stories by Alex Ruppenthal

A coalition of environmental advocacy groups in Illinois hopes to put the brakes on a Rauner administration proposal that would relax pollution rules for eight downstate coal plants owned by Dynegy Inc.

Football players are often thought of as modern-day gladiators, but even the most hard-headed linebacker has nothing on the woodpecker, at least when it comes to sustaining blows to the noggin. 

Chicago Police are seeking a man they believe is responsible for two knifepoint robberies on the North Side that occurred after the suspect met the victims through a dating app.

Sparks fly as the candidates for Illinois governor go for the political jugular. Where is the study into the fairness of the Cook County tax system? And a former CPS CEO appears to be eyeing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s job. 

Eddie Arruza and guests discuss the Outcome Health settlement and the controversy over journalists and others allegedly buying fake Twitter followers. 

Watch the Feb. 1, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Fourteen percent of Chicago Public Schools principals left their schools last year, according to a new report. The district is now expanding a new strategy to keep its strongest principals on the job.

Your heartfelt reaction to Jay Shefsky’s story about five men with intellectual disabilities living together in Park Ridge.

Is an independent review of the Cook County assessment process just a political cover for embattled Assessor Joe Berrios?

Actors Richard Thomas and Pamela Reed talk about the comedy of “The Humans,” a touring play with deep Chicago roots.

Three of the richest men in America want to bring radical change to health care. Could their new company bring down costs?

Can childhood trauma lead to long-term heart disease? A growing body of evidence says yes, but it’s not just heart health that’s impacted. Toxic stress can lead to a multitude of health consequences.

Identical bills introduced in the Illinois House and Senate would mandate that mammogram providers notify women whose test results show they have dense breast tissue, a risk factor for breast cancer.

Men are less likely to develop multiple sclerosis than women, and now scientists have a better understanding as to why that is, thanks to the discovery of a “guardian molecule” by Northwestern University scientists. 

From “Empire” to “Electric Dreams,” Chicago is fast becoming a major television and film production hub. We speak with the director of the Illinois Film Office.

Attorneys for Brendt Christensen are hoping to postpone a February trial date after prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty.

The broadcaster whose show was suspended indefinitely by PBS in December amid allegations of sexual misconduct will moderate a panel Thursday at St. Sabina Church on the city’s South Side.

Watch the Jan. 31, 2018 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Gov. Bruce Rauner gives his election year State of the State speech, but Democrats – and even some Republicans – cast doubts on the sincerity of his message.

Chicago Park District officials presented new details Wednesday on a plan to build a Tiger Woods-designed golf course next to the proposed Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. Will it benefit the surrounding community?

Local mystery writer Gail Lukasik unveils her own startling family mystery in her new memoir.

The Chicago Sun-Times suspends Richard Roeper for allegedly buying social media followers. What exactly is a Twitter bot?

In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass his $1.5 trillion plan to “rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.” But how far will that money go?

Gertrude Abercrombie is a one-of-a-kind Chicago artist. Though she has been gone for 40 years, she is now getting a rare show at the Elmhurst Art Museum. 

State legislators override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of a trailer bill to the state’s new evidence-based funding formula. But school districts awaiting new state equity funding will still have to wait to get those dollars, according to one bill sponsor.

The grocery store chain says it is evaluating its supply chain “to see where additional change is needed” in response to public concerns over pork suppliers who confine pigs to tight metal crates.