Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

Pandemic, protests, polls: as you've heard a million times since March, this has been an unprecedented year. Throughout, Frontline has tried to help you make sense of it all. Revisit their investigative journalism and films from this year of upheaval.

Lanzi Candy's Cashew Nut and Rice Crunch was once sold internationally and on American Airlines, all while made out of a small family-owned factory in Chicago. A documentary follows the business's story and a quest to recreate its most popular treat.

The three-part, six-hour Hemingway from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick comes to WTTW and PBS in April, featuring the voices of Jeff Daniels and Meryl Streep among others, as well as authors Edna O'Brien, Mario Vargas Llosa, Tobias Wolff, and more.

Little about 2020 has been normal, but the holidays are still here to be enjoyed and celebrated, albeit in an adapted, safe manner. WTTW has as much holiday cheer as you need this December, in the form of PBS KIDS specials, holiday concerts, festive travel shows, and more. 

Women are drastically under-represented as lead chefs in the restaurant business, but a new nonprofit aims to begin changing that. “I feel like the difficulties and the lack of systemic support for motherhood are a big part of why a lot of women drop out of this industry," says Beverly Kim.

For your scaled-down Thanksgiving meal, try a one-pan dish that lets you cook both turkey breast and your stuffing without drying it out too much, courtesy of Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen.

If Peter can continue to charge through scandals and practice politics on his own terms, his political career is looking bright, in the finale of Roadkill.

Maggie only has two more people to apologize to for gossiping, but events have spiraled beyond her control, leading to some frightening encounters during Thurlbury's anniversary party. It's the finale of The Trouble with Maggie Cole.

The 1909 Plan of Chicago recommended the lakefront be public parkland, extensive parks and forest preserves throughout the city, and other proposals that helped make Chicago the city we know today. 

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving airs Sunday, November 22 at 6:30 pm. A Charlie Brown Christmas airs Sunday, December 13 at 6:30 pm.

Maria Tallchief, a half-Osage dancer considered one of the epitomes of American ballet in the twentieth century, was recently honored in a Google Doodle that featured footage from WTTW's archive, in honor of Native American Heritage Month.

Researchers at places like Northwestern University's Institute for Sustainability and Energy are working on creating liquid fuels using solar technology as well as developing more efficient, inexpensive, flexible solar cells. 

No one is reliably loyal as political careers hit rough patches. Julia considers jumping ship from Dawn, while Peter faces a grilling from his family and others close to him. Investigations into his court case continue, unbeknownst to him. 

Peter ends up in an awkward situation when Maggie decides to spend the night at the pub to have time to process the revelation of a secret about Jamie, and to apologize to Brian for spreading rumors. Alex becomes frantic in his search for his money.

Illinois's solar industry has rapidly expanded in the past few years, but as governmental funding runs out and the COVID-19 pandemic lowers business, the future is looking uncertain. "Without immediate legislation, our company is going to look very, very different next year,” says the CEO of a solar installation company.