Stories by Kristen Thometz

The civil rights advocate announced Friday that he was diagnosed with the progressive degenerative disorder in 2015. 

Watch the Nov. 16, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Illinois U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez on Wednesday was one of six House Democrats who formally moved to impeach President Donald Trump by filing articles of impeachment.

Imagine learning your father was prison pals with notorious murderer Nathan Leopold. That’s the true story told in a new graphic novel.  

A Mexican wolf pup born this spring at Brookfield Zoo and released into the wild as part of a species recovery program was tracked down in New Mexico and is healthy, the zoo announced this week.

The new documentary “Making a New American Nutcracker” premieres on WTTW. We speak with the Joffrey Ballet’s artistic director and the film’s producer.

How can citizens avoid trouble when getting pulled over by the police? We speak with Dwayne Bryant, the author of a manual that explains how to safely handle a traffic stop.

More than 50 organizations are urging the Illinois congressional delegation to reauthorize funding for programs that provide health insurance to children and support for low-income and at-risk families, before it becomes a crisis in the state.

“It’s a brand new beginning for me,” said Leonard Gipson, one of 15 men who had drug convictions vacated by a judge Thursday. The convictions stemmed from arrests made more than a decade ago by disgraced former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts.

Watch the Nov. 15, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

As evidence mounts that Russia did meddle in the 2016 election, we speak with a Russia expert about what Vladimir Putin’s strategic goals might be.

Carol Marin discusses a court appearance by attorneys for Cook County public defenders who filed suit over detainees exposing themselves.

A new exhibition looks at rare works of art that are powerful—and sometimes graphic. The historic work was made by an artist with a strong connection to Chicago public art.

Lake Michigan is getting warmer, and eventually it will mean winters with less snow in Chicago. But don’t plan yet for winters free of the white stuff.

Shooting deaths are down across Chicago in 2017 after last year’s unexpected spike, but this week the city homicide totals crossed another grim milestone.

Michael Borys was in jail for less than a day when he had a seizure and fell from his bunk, resulting in vision loss and multiple brain surgeries. Three years later, Cook County has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit 

To many, the legacy of activist Malcolm X is that of a fiery counterpart to the pacifist Martin Luther King, Jr. But to one of his daughters, that analysis overlooks his complexities and contributions to the fight for human rights.

An exhibition at the Field Museum aims to be an immersive experience that brings the 2015 movie and its gigantic reptilian stars to life. 

Dorky personas, holiday lights, fine art, gliding acrobats and seasonal brews usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

What happened to the Alexander Hamilton statue in Lincoln Park? Geoffrey Baer tells his story in this encore edition of “Ask Geoffrey.” 

The Chicago Transit Authority hasn’t raised fares since 2009. Now, the head of the Regional Transit Authority says “the time has come” to change that. 

With the penny-per-ounce pop tax fizzled out, new plans to come up with the $200 million Cook County says it needs.

Many doctors have long believed the threshold for high blood pressure needed to be lower. On Monday, that change was made.

Watch the Nov. 14, 2017 full episode of "Chicago Tonight."

Bermuda is more than a lovely vacation destination. Apparently, it’s also one of the places very wealthy people—and companies—stash their cash to lower their taxes.

It began as an effort to combat Nazi propaganda, but in these highly partisan times can the taxpayer-funded Voice of America remain free from bias?