Stories by Kristen Thometz

Millions of holiday lights, a seasonal double feature, art fairs and carols usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

In three weeks, Illinois will become the 11th state with legalized marijuana sales. On Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx as she began the process of vacating thousands of low-level cannabis convictions.

Watch the Dec. 11, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on two articles of impeachment by the end of the week, sending them to the House floor for a vote by Christmas. Next would come a Senate trial, likely in 2020.

This year’s devastating losses are forcing tough decisions about the future of farming in America’s flood plains, even among those skeptical of climate change and humans’ role in it.

For the fifth year, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents “Merry, Merry Chicago!” a celebration of holiday music that features members of the orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

This month marks the 60th anniversary of one of Chicago’s most popular performance groups: the Jesse White Tumblers. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White joins in conversation to discuss that group, the Real ID rollout and more.

A fervent believer in the unique power of live theater, I have become quite a convert to broadcasts of live performances after seeing two superb National Theatre Live productions this past weekend. 

The bankrupt estate of Sears Holdings Corporation and the hedge fund division that bought the retailer’s troubled remains out of bankruptcy have been engaged in an ugly fight over the value of certain assets.

Watch the Dec. 10, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

A Chicago firm is suing the vendor behind the SAT and Advanced Placement exams in a federal class-action suit that accuses them of collecting and selling millions of students’ personal information.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has picked Gia Biagi to run the Chicago Department of Transportation and will submit her nomination for City Council approval this month.

The U.S. government is moving to revoke the citizenship of José Vilchis, a longtime gymnastics coach who’s been accused of sexually abusing multiple underage girls over the course of three-plus decades.

As winter weather arrives, Chicagoans can seek refuge from the cold at 113 public buildings designated as warming centers. 

If you recently purchased premade salad kits at the store, check the label before serving it. Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped salad kits have been linked with an E. coli outbreak.

House Democrats announced two articles of impeachment Tuesday against President Donald Trump — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — pushing toward historic votes over charges he corrupted the U.S. election process and endangered national security.

The language mavens at Merriam-Webster have declared the personal pronoun their word of the year based on a 313% increase in look-ups on the company’s search site, Merriam-Webster.com, this year when compared with 2018.

The Chicago Police Board held the first of three community listening sessions Monday in Washington Heights as it continues its search for a new superintendent.

Legal marijuana sales are coming to Illinois in January. But where exactly can you smoke pot in Chicago? City officials are trying to shed light on the issue – are they ready for the rollout?

Are relations between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and City Council members heading south? Several aldermen are decrying rough-edged tactics after a Lightfoot campaign committee publicly called out every alderman who voted against the city budget.

A federal agent who was at a Chicago airport to search a private plane that rapper Juice WRLD and his entourage had arrived in administered the opioid antidote Narcan to the performer, who briefly woke up incoherent but later died, authorities said Monday.

Ashik Desai, who was at the center of a fraud scheme at health care advertising firm Outcome Health, pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud.

Every county courthouse in Illinois is now required to provide a publicly accessible space – other than a bathroom – for women to express breast milk. But a survey of 77 facilities finds that nearly 25% lack a designated lactation space. 

Holiday shopping can be stressful – but it doesn’t have to be. To help spread seasonal cheer, WTTW News staffers picked our favorite local options.

Caroll Spinney, who gave Big Bird his warmth and Oscar the Grouch his growl for nearly 50 years on “Sesame Street,” died Sunday at the age of 85 at his home in Connecticut, according to the Sesame Workshop.

Watch the Dec. 9, 2019 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”