Politics
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Cook County Budget
With a Friday deadline looming, Cook County Commissioners today rejected a proposal to raise the sales tax to balance the 2008 budget. Rich Samuels will update us on the county's fiscal crisis as the possibility of a county government shut down approaches.
News Analysis with Carol Marin
Tony Rezko is charged with soliciting millions in campaign donations in exchange for handing out lucrative state business, and using his clout as a political fundraiser to appoint people to key state positions. The U.S. Attorney has called it "pay-to-play on steroids." Governor Blagojevich has officially been identified as "Public Official A" – the beneficiary of the campaign donations – in court documents. But he isn't accused of wrongdoing. Jury selection for Rezko's corruption trial begins Monday – so what do defense and prosecution attorneys have to do to make their respective cases? Carol Marin and her panelists take a look.
Cooler by the Lake
A lot of Chicago companies spend a great deal of time and money recruiting young graduates to the Chicago area. But now one Chicago non-profit is trying to change that equation. They are recruiting people to Chicago in the hopes that businesses will follow them here. It's called Cooler by the Lake, a project of World Business Chicago. Its executive director, Rita Athas, joins us to tell us about the initiative.
Winter Biking
This has been one of the toughest Chicago winters in recent memory. And yet, it seems to us that there are more people commuting on their bicycles this winter than ever before – even on the worst days. Chicago Tonight producer Jay Shefsky set out to learn how – and why – they do it.
Shyness
Once upon a time shyness was considered acceptable behavior. But in the 1970s a group of psychiatrists revised the list of mental disorders to include behavior once considered normal. These disorders were then treated with antidepressants, in turn creating a windfall for pharmaceutical companies. That's the assertion made in a new book called "Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became a Sickness", which questions the overmedication of our society. Author Christopher Lane joins us to discuss his book.
Joyce DiDonato
Since its premiere nearly 200 years ago, Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" has become one of the most popular operas ever. A comedy of mistaken identities and romantic entanglements, it features a plum role in the character of Rosina. Over the years the part has been sung by such legends as Maria Callas and Kathleen Battle. And now you can add the name Joyce DiDonato to that list of esteemed divas. She recently made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Rosina in a new production of The Barber of Seville. Joyce DiDonato performs live for us tonight.
