Stories by Erica Gunderson

Geoffrey Baer shines a light on a pair of hooded statues at Union Station and some old-fashioned security technology in this week’s edition of “Ask Geoffrey.”

With 2017 drawing to a close, here’s a look at some of the top education issues to watch in the year to come, including CPS’ new leader, school closures and the hotly debated topic of tax credit scholarships.

Ring in the new year with live music, comedy, ice-skating, yoga and bubbly and brews. Here are 10 New Year’s Eve parties in and around Chicago. 

A throng of tubas, holiday cocktails, last-minute shopping ops and satirical songs usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

A government watchdog group is calling for oversight of Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and the way his office assesses property values. 

Watch the Dec. 19, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

An exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago features the artistic outpouring of Russian artists after the October Revolution of 1917, the coup that brought the Soviet Union into being more than a century ago.

Hedy Weiss reviews alternative holiday shows on Chicago stages—with not a “Nutcracker” or “Christmas Carol” in sight.

Tough talk about segregation from MacArthur “genius” grant recipient and journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.

It might sound like an episode of “The X-Files,” but a story reported Saturday by the New York Times sheds light on an official Pentagon program that researched and investigated unidentified flying objects.

Burr Ridge physician Dr. Robert Marshall tells us why he’s running for governor and discusses his plans for Illinois.

An off-duty police officer shot and wounded a would-be carjacker Monday evening in the Bronzeville neighborhood, according to the Chicago Police Department, which is dealing with an unprecedented spike in vehicle thefts this year.

Former Wisconsin politician Cathy Stepp “will bring a fresh perspective” to the EPA, agency chief Scott Pruitt said Tuesday. But the announcement drew blunt criticism from the group’s national employee union.

Author Kate Hennessy discusses her new book about Dorothy Day, her Catholic activist grandmother.

Individuals often drift in and out of the SNAP system intermittently, but the number who suddenly lost benefits spiked last month to 41,000 after recipients apparently missed a Nov. 5 deadline.

Watch the Dec. 18, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

It’s been three months since Hurricane Maria dealt a devastating blow to Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territory is still struggling.  How one young mother and her sons are restarting their lives in Chicago.

They’ve strutted across high-end runways and for fast-fashion TV commercials. Now, the Hiplet dancers are showing Chicago Tonight how they’ve worked for their success.

A new illustrated biography takes a close look at the life of the Chicago architect, preservationist and restorer of architectural masterpieces.

The “me too” campaign has ushered in a flood of allegations against prominent men. But whose job is it to make sure that rank-and-file workers are protected against sexual harassment?

Meet Drake, Magdalena, Pebbles and Wellington. They are the first penguins to turn 30 at Shedd Aquarium, and among the oldest penguins in human care across the U.S.

Bird enthusiasts are enjoying an “invasion” of snowy owls in Chicago and across northeastern Illinois this winter. Check out our map of recent snowy owl sightings.  

A.J. Baime’s new book makes the case that Harry S. Truman’s first four months as commander-in-chief were the most challenging and consequential ever faced by a U.S. president.

The Illinois State Board of Education will hold a public inquiry into Chicago Public Schools after advocate outrage stemming from a WBEZ report on the district’s special education practices.

Starting next month, some restaurant managers must be formally trained in food allergy safety. But an informal survey by the Illinois Food Allergy Education Association indicates not all restaurants are aware of the new rules. 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel blasts President Donald Trump on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios faces a lawsuit charging racial discrimination in the property tax assessment system. And Cubs announcer Pat Hughes reveals a health scare.