Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: The CTA avoids fare hikes but service cuts and layoffs are still looming; Jeanine Nicarico's killer, Brian Dugan, gets the death penalty; Governor Quinn decides to release prisoners early; Congressman Danny Davis bows out of the race for Cook County Board President; Chicago's magnet school admission policies are revamped; and another devastating loss puts the Bears season on the brink. Guests:

The Dow closed up 44 points today and at a thirteen-month high this past Monday. Is it a positive sign for the economy as a whole? Elizabeth Brackett finds out from her panel of economists and investment strategists.

Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels made its public trading debut Thursday to great success. This comes despite a lackluster economy and a family feud among the Pritzkers, who own the hotel chain. WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us with the details, plus the rest of the week's business news.

Chicago freelancers could work from home, but we show you why more and more are spending money to get back to the cubicle.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: President Obama marks the one-year anniversary of his election; former Attorney General Jim Ryan launches another gubernatorial bid; CTA drivers may strike over threatened layoffs; the agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier is battered by the weak economy; and Bears fans are worried about the team's lack of offense. Guests:

Chicago's free weekly newspaper The Chicago Reader has a new publisher: Jim Warren. He is a former managing editor at the Chicago Tribune and a former reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. He joins us to talk about his vision for the paper.

Will it soon cost six dollars for a round-trip ride on the CTA? Today CTA President Richard Rodriguez presented the transit agency's 2010 budget to the Cook County Board. We talk to him about the challenges mass transit is facing in Chicago.

Families might be forced to scale it back again this holiday season because of the economy. We talk to a local financial guru about how to shop for your kids on a tight budget. Money Savvy Generation

4G, or WiMAX, has arrived in Chicago. It means super-fast internet connections from just about anywhere. The Chicago Tribune's Wailin Wong joins us to explain why people are so excited about it.

It's official: Chicago's Ricketts family has bought the Cubs. What will it mean to have a fan running the ball club? Kris Kridel of WBBM's Noon Business Hour joins us with some insight, plus the rest of the week's business news.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: State lawmakers busy during the fall veto session; Cook County property taxes soaring; Illinois grappling with the swine flu; terrorism suspects arrested in Chicago; protesters take to the streets against the American Bankers Association annual meeting; new Cubs owner Tom Ricketts officially takes over; and the Bears hope to bounce back from one of the worst losses of the Lovie Smith era. Guests:

The Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their destination while allegedly working on their laptop computers have had their licenses revoked. But the incident has also raised questions about what's happening in the cockpit. Eddie Arruza talks to a retired pilot and aviation consultant about airline safety.

As unemployment numbers have soared, so have the numbers of hungry people. And not just in Chicago. Elizabeth Brackett reports on the efforts to combat hunger in the northern suburban and rural areas of Illinois. Northern Illinois Food Bank Contact Information

What do you need to know to plan a successful retirement? Author, Sun-Times columnist and financial analyst Terry Savage joins us to crunch the numbers on your retirement savings. The New Savage Number: How Much Money Do You Really Need to Retire?

The second installment property tax bill you're about to receive will very likely be higher than last year's. How can that happen in a time of declining property values? Rich Samuels tells us how the Mayor is responding.

Eddie Arruza finds out more about rising property taxes when he talks to Cook County Assessor James Houlihan about the bad news that's coming in the mail.