Stories by Erica Gunderson

How the local business Blossom Inspirations is building bridges between American and Latino cultures through artisan crafts.

In honor of National Coming Out Day, we speak with a group that’s making sure young LGBTQ Latinos have role models in their communities.

President Donald Trump has been urging his supporters to go the polls and “watch very carefully,” raising concerns about possible voter intimidation. 

Confirmation hearings begin Monday for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. If confirmed, the 48-year-old appeals court judge would fill the seat of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month. 

From apples and pumpkins to pig races, hay rides, petting zoos and beyond, we’ve rounded up some options for fall fun in the Chicago area.

After the president refuses to participate in a virtual debate, it is canceled by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The city faces a nearly unsolvable budget problem as federal stimulus talks break down. And the “fair tax” fight heats up.

The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates confirmed Friday that the Oct. 15 faceoff would be scrapped. 

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted of second-degree murder of Black teen Laquan McDonald in 2014, is expected to be released in February 2022. While he remains in custody, it’s unclear where he will serve the remainder of his sentence.

Looking to shove his campaign back on track, President Donald Trump and his team laid out an aggressive return to political activities on Friday.

Diego Vargas, 24, was charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago this week with a single count of maliciously attempting to damage and destroy a building by means of an explosive device.

President Donald Trump has said at rallies, debates and press conferences that a vaccine could arrive within weeks. “We think we can start sometime in October,” Trump said at a White House press briefing last month.

Officials put out a call Friday for nominations for Chicago’s official Christmas tree. Pines need not apply.

Restrictions designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the Metro East area of Illinois near St. Louis will be lifted at 5 p.m. Friday after the number of confirmed cases has dropped significantly, state officials announced.

Kyle Rittenhouse appeared on a video stream and wore a face mask during a brief court hearing Friday morning in Lake County, Illinois. Judge Paul Novak scheduled an Oct. 30 hearing on the extradition request.

A pandemic, civil unrest and an increase in violence. How community organizations in Greater Grand Crossing are helping young people cope with adversity.

In normal times, vice presidential debates don’t matter much. But in an election year as wild as 2020, everything is magnified. Here are key early takeaways from the only vice presidential debate ahead of the Nov. 3 Election Day.

Health care, the environment and the economy were among the issues that got top billing Wednesday when the running mates of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off at their sole debate.

We meet some of the first ladies – and the young theater makers who carry on the tradition of a theater troupe called the Neo-Futurists.

Geoffrey Baer traces the half-century story that cost at least one preservationist his life, in this week’s Ask Geoffrey.

“At this point, there’s no diagnostic test that tells you whether a person that’s infected remains infectious,” said Dr. Benjamin Pinsky, who leads Stanford University’s virology labs. 

“As a city, we must ensure every child, regardless of their ZIP code, receives a high-quality early education, providing them the tools and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Mayor Lightfoot in a statement.  

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday that President Donald Trump bears at least a measure of responsibility for inspiring anti-government groups to plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation found that between 2010 and 2019, 80-90% of sexual harm reports made to the police department did not result in an arrest.

Many doctors and nurses find themselves in a world where the politics of the crisis are complicating treatment efforts, with some people even resisting getting tested.

Watch the Oct. 8, 2020 full episode of “Chicago Tonight.”

The kerfuffle involving a fictional character insulting Lou Malnati’s, by name, has earned national attention.