Stories by Patty Wetli

Show of Hands was scheduled for this weekend in Ravenswood. As the next best thing, the craft fair’s organizer has created a virtual platform where makers and shoppers can meet.

The race is more methodical marathon that mad dash to the finish — though the victor can win at the line by a turtleneck rather than a nose — and is just one more offbeat sport that has had a moment during the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision to cancel the season was made with the “health and safety of the festival’s artists, staff and neighbors,” in mind, Ravinia’s President and CEO Welz Kauffman said in a statement.

The rate of new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections has continued to slow during the past two weeks, representing “major progress,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Elected in 2019, Gary Mayor Jerome Prince promised to bring much-needed economic development and growth to the struggling Northwest Indiana city. But just a few months into his first term, things have changed.

The city of Gary has struggled mightily, even in economic good times. The COVID-19 pandemic and statewide shutdown have only exacerbated existing problems. 

The coronavirus has permeated every aspect of Dr. Roland Walker’s life. As health commissioner of Gary, Indiana, he oversees the city’s response to the pandemic. But it has taken a toll on his personal life, too.

With remote learning in place through the rest of the school year, the district is telling students they won’t be negatively impacted by “circumstances beyond their control” as in-person instruction has been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are high school students really learning during this time of stay-at-home orders and remote learning? Maybe more than lesson plans intended.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces a divided City Council determined to help shape the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic that has likely created a financial crisis for Chicago, four aldermen said Thursday during an interview for “Chicago Tonight.”

As part of our series of virtual art tours, we visit a collection of artwork that highlights the richness of Mexican art in Chicago.

The city is asking residents to donate handmade face masks for the city’s most vulnerable populations ahead of a statewide requirement for people to keep their faces covered in public.

A onetime tree nursery became a bucolic place of rest and recovery for tuberculosis patients on Chicago’s North Side. Geoffrey Baer has the story of a decadeslong battle against a contagion.

A day before a modified stay-at-home order takes effect in Illinois, officials used their daily press briefing to discuss efforts to ramp up coronavirus testing across the state, and to urge residents to stay home and wash their hands frequently.

The Chicago Police Department says the expansion will help streamline operations and control in order to meet public safety needs and increase collaboration between detectives and patrol officers. 

The 2-1 ruling by a panel of the appeals court extends a nationwide injunction blocking the Department of Justice from withholding the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from sanctuary cities like Chicago.

Watch the April 30, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The nation’s top infectious disease expert said Thursday that new cases of the coronavirus are a certainty as states begin to roll back restrictions. 

The layoffs amount to 1 in 6 American workers and encompass more people than the entire population of Texas, or more people than live in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas combined.

Sixty-eight percent of Americans say they highly trust the information that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing about the virus, 66% trust their doctor or health care provider, and 52% said the same about their state or local government, according to a recent poll.

The number of detainees within the Cook County Jail is reaching historic lows during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as that number drops, the number of those being held on electronic monitoring devices has steadily risen.

Chicago’s airports have seen a steep reduction in traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic, but flights are still taking off and landing in the city everyday. 

Wedged between Chicago and O’Hare, Rosemont is known for its outlet malls, convention center and close proximity to the state’s largest airport. 

An assignment in Peru turned into a nightmare for Chicago artist Sharon Bladholm, who was trying to get back home when the coronavirus pandemic hit. 

O’Hare International Airport is one of the engines of Chicago’s economy. But what happens when that engine is operating at about 5%? We check out the scene at one of the world’s busiest airports.

The last time Illinois lawmakers were in Springfield, the coronavirus had not yet been declared a pandemic. After nearly two months, Republican legislators are amplifying their calls to return.