The author was delighted when the wood-chomping rodents surfaced at the harbor. Then one turned up dead.

While Groundhog Day remains a fun tradition, meteorologists rely on data and computer models for more accurate forecasts. This year, the National Weather Service said it’s a toss-up whether Illinois will see an early spring.

Evanston Roundtable features Liza Lehrer and Lincoln Park Zoo’s bat monitoring project.