Kate Thayer – Page 16

"Little Arturs," one of six "Troll Hunt" wooden sculptures by artist Thomas Dambo at the Morton Arboretum on Jan. 28, 2021.

I-88 ‘Troll Hunt’ statue draws record number of visitors to Morton Arboretum

January 19, 2020 at 9:47 p.m.

Spotting a 20-foot, spear-wielding troll peering down from atop his grassy berm on the outskirts of the Morton Arboretum might make drivers on Interstate 88 do a double take. It...

Natasha Felix plays with her three sons Oct. 1, 2015, at Honore Park, which is next to their home. It took two years for Felix to get a court to throw out a DCFS "inadequate supervision" finding against her.

Wilmette mom at center of DCFS investigation sheds light on parents caught in ‘upside-down child welfare system’

December 12, 2018 at 5:05 p.m.

The Wilmette mother at the center of a child welfare investigation that began after she let her 8-year-old daughter walk their dog around the block is using her newfound platform...

Alyse Ruriani, shown Sept. 7, 2018, uses safety planning six years after her attempted suicide. She's now a graduate student studying art therapy.

Step-by-step safety plans, follow-ups can help prevent repeat suicide attempts

December 12, 2018 at 4:54 p.m.

After struggling with depression and self-harm through most of her teenage years, Alyse Ruriani attempted suicide at age 17. While her parents and a hospital stay saved her life that...

Chicago mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot, from left, Dorothy Brown and Amara Enyia.

‘We’re in a movement’: Could Chicago elect first black woman as mayor?

December 12, 2018 at 7:59 a.m.

Now that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will not seek re-election, political experts are eyeing the open race to see if the city will make history and elect an African-American woman...

Corey Widen, right, of Wilmette, sees off her 8-year-old daughter as she walks the family dog, Marshmallow, on Aug. 20, 2018.

Wilmette mom investigated for letting 8-year-old walk dog around the block. ‘For something like this to happen to me, there’s something really wrong.’

December 12, 2018 at 7:55 p.m.

Just after returning home from a walk around the block with her dog, Marshmallow, an 8-year-old Wilmette girl expected a visit from a playmate. Instead, police officers arrived at the...

The great homework debate: While some experts say homework leads to good study habits, others say it has little bearing on academic success,

Should kids have homework? The great debate.

December 12, 2018 at 6:51 p.m.

The start of a new school year means the return to daily homework, an often dreaded task and the root of parent-student strife that leaves some parents of elementary school...

Jennifer Blattner, who underwent chemotherapy treatments for stage 1 breast cancer, holds her cooling cap July 31, 2018, at her home in Elmhurst.

‘It helps me feel normal’: Hospitals offer cooling caps to help cancer patients preserve hair

December 12, 2018 at 6:54 p.m.

Jennifer Blattner decided to cut a few inches of her wavy, brown hair earlier this year, but it still flows past her shoulders. She said no one would know she’s...

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers are on display at a supermarket in Manhattan, Tuesday, July 24, 2018. Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar is one of four varieties of Goldfish crackers Pepperidge Farm is voluntarily recalling because of fears they could potentially have salmonella.

In wake of Goldfish recall, 5 things to know about salmonella

December 12, 2018 at 10:11 p.m.

As food recalls become routine with warnings of bacteria in produce, the latest salmonella outbreak affects a surprising food — crackers. On Monday, Pepperidge Farm voluntarily recalled four varieties of...

Abby Major, 13, reacts as nurse Laura Johnson administers a dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at an Amita Health clinic July 3, 2018, in Hoffman Estates.

‘It’s not just a girl problem’: When offering HPV vaccine, doctors advised to focus on cancer prevention

August 19, 2019 at 3:56 a.m.

In her children’s pediatrician’s office two years ago, Lockport mother Kelly DiFilippo declined the HPV vaccine for her oldest daughter, and “no one batted an eye,” she said. But when...

Christena Estby and her daughter Kaleigh, 13, left, play with Josiah, 2, center, and Samuel, 4, on July 12, 2018, outside their home in Grant Park.

New Illinois adoption tax credit eases financial burden on families

December 12, 2018 at 9:35 p.m.

Even before they were married, Cory and Christena Estby knew they wanted a big family, including adopting children who needed loving parents. As the years passed, the Kankakee County couple...

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