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.

On the eve of finally opening its doors, the downtown property known as Block 37 is threatened with foreclosure. WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us with those details, plus the rest of the week's business news.

Tonight's panel discusses the week's top headlines: Mayor Daley dipping into reserve funds to plug gaping budget holes; the long-stalled Block 37 project runs into yet another delay; Cook County property taxes going up; Brown's Chicken killer James Degorski sentenced to life in prison; the EPA cracking down on BP's refinery expansion in northwest Indiana; Bears quarterback Jay Cutler signs a $30 million contract extension; and Bulls star Derrick Rose battling an ankle injury. Guests:

Phil Ponce sits down with world-renowned chef Rick Bayless to talk about his newest restaurant, Xoco.

A new news organization is forming in Chicago that will, among other things, produce local content for the New York Times. We talk to the group's editor and learn about the prominent role WTTW will also play in the group.

The printed newspaper may be approaching extinction, but there still seems to be an endless variety of magazines. We visit what could be Chicago's best-stocked magazine stand.

British Petroleum's $3.8 billion dollar refinery expansion plan in northwest Indiana was dealt a major blow this week. The Environmental Protection Agency says the permit, issued for the project in the last months of the Bush administration, must be rewritten. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel have the latest developments.

A surprising rise in Illinois's unemployment rate in September tops the week's business headlines. WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us with the details on that plus the rest of the recent business news.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines; The CTA proposing $3 fares and service cuts; Mayor Daley urges lawmakers to repeal free senior transit rides; 90 African-American ministers endorse Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's re-election bid; downtown office vacancies at a 3-year high; Playboy hoping their new CEO can spark a revival; and the Bears getting ready for the Falcons. Guests:

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail, including why Prevention magazine says microwave popcorn is one of the foods that should never cross your lips.

The Dow broke through the 10,000 mark today for the first time in a year. Is it a sign that the economy is rebounding? Eddie Arruza and his panelists look at where we are in terms of recovery.

Putting Marge Simpson on the cover of Playboy is just one of the ways the Chicago-based company's new CEO is trying to attract younger readers. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio's Noon Business Hour joins us with the details, plus the rest of the week's business news.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: President Obama sends in key cabinet members to meet with city officials about Chicago's surging youth violence; a bankruptcy judge approves the sale of the Chicago Sun-Times to financier Jim Tyree; the CTA is in yet another budget crunch; video poker is banned in Cook County; Chicago is still stunned by its first-round Olympic elimination; the Cubs sale is approved by Major League Baseball owners; and the Bears are riding the hot arm of Jay Cutler. Guests: