Stories by Jay Shefsky

There are 3,149 different types of plants in the Chicago region. A massive new book details every single one.

What it’s like to practice medicine in Jerusalem, one of the most religiously and politically complicated cities on Earth. A discussion with Dr. Elisha Waldman about his new memoir.

Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan discusses his agency’s role in combating the opioid crisis.   

A new PBS program features stories of people coming together across ideological divides. We speak with “American Creed” director Sam Ball.

Chicago reels after highly regarded Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer is killed. House Speaker Michael Madigan comes under fire. Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget pitch to lawmakers falls flat. 

More controversy in the race for governor. A neo-Nazi is the likely GOP nominee in a Chicago-area congressional district. A wild week on Wall street. And remembering John Mahoney. 

Sparks fly as the candidates for Illinois governor go for the political jugular. Where is the study into the fairness of the Cook County tax system? And a former CPS CEO appears to be eyeing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s job. 

Eddie Arruza and guests discuss the Outcome Health settlement and the controversy over journalists and others allegedly buying fake Twitter followers. 

High-flying Chicago tech startup Outcome Health came crashing to Earth last year with investors. We get the latest from John Pletz, senior reporter at Crain’s Chicago Business.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatens Chicago and other sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, Illinois politicians are front and center on the immigration debate. And Janice Jackson officially becomes CPS’s CEO. Eddie Arruza and guests discuss these stories and more.

New Year’s resolutions may already be broken, but there’s still time to make smart financial moves in 2018. We get money tips from Sean Sebold of Sebold Capital Management.

Beverly Walker, acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, talks about running the controversial agency charged with protecting Illinois’ children. 

Is Oprah serious about a run for the White House? Will Garry McCarthy run for mayor? Karen Lewis laughs at a draft of her obit. And the Bears have a new head coach.  

President Donald Trump surprised both supporters and detractors when he seemed to endorse an immigration deal a day after the White House announced that nearly 200,000 Salvadorans who have been in the country for more than a decade must leave.

Whether it’s a giant rampaging ape or a serious drama, Chicago will be the setting for quite a few new movies and TV shows in 2018. A look at what is coming.

A gene found in an Amish family in Indiana may hold the secret to living longer and healthier. We speak with the lead author of a new study.

A mass exoneration in Cook County clears 15 men. Proposed layoffs in the wake of the failed soda tax. And controversy over playmaking decisions by Bears coach John Fox.

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.

Gov. Bruce Rauner launches his re-election bid. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle demands 10-percent cuts. And in Springfield, a “bump stock” bill is defeated and sexual harassment allegations emerge. 

Mayor Emanuel says the city is safe for this weekend’s Chicago Marathon. A moment of truth for looms for the Cook County soda tax. All eyes are on the Cubs, and Mitch Trubisky makes his NFL debut Monday night.

The Nobel Prize committee called it “a discovery that shook the world.” A local scientist explains gravitational waves.

As Ken Burns takes on Vietnam in a new 18-hour documentary, we hear from local veterans about their lives since the war.

Amazon plans to build a second headquarters somewhere in North America. Can Chicago woo the tech giant and the estimated 50,000 jobs that would come with it?

Hurricane Irma leaves behind storm surge flooding, widespread power outages and serious damage to property. We get an update from Florida.

At least 10 people have died as a result of the Category 5 Hurricane Irma, a storm widely considered to be one of the worst on record. We speak with Univision Chicago anchor Érika Maldonado via Skype from Miami.

If music is one of the best ways to get a taste of another culture, Chicago is in for a feast starting Friday. We get a preview.