Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines; President Obama throws a rally at the White House for Chicago's Olympic bid; former Rod Blagojevich confidant Chris Kelly commits suicide; Governor Quinn lands key union support; American Airlines expanding operations at O'Hare; Chicago Sun-Times union members vote against proposed concessions; Bears great Brian Urlacher out for the rest of the season with a wrist injury; and debate rages over a proposed statue of Walter Payton at Soldier Field. Guests:

The U.S. now gets more crude oil from Canada than any other country. The majority of that oil is processed here in Midwest refineries. Elizabeth Brackett tells us why some critics say the environmental costs of the heavier, dirtier Canadian crude are much too high. Community Media Workshop: Tar Sand Oil...Illinois Pipeline (02/19/09)

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Chicago finds out its Olympic fate in just 3 weeks; President Obama takes his health care fight directly to the people; Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is plagued by poor poll numbers; the bidder for the Chicago Sun-Times is calling for major union concessions; Oprah Winfrey takes over Michigan Avenue; Bulls great Michael Jordan is enshrined in the Hall of Fame; and the Bears open the season against the Green Bay Packers. Guests:

Getting a notice of foreclosure is every homeowner's nightmare, and homeowners are receiving them in record numbers. Eddie Arruza brings us one man's foreclosure story and explains why it doesn't automatically mean the loss of your home.

A Chicago-based investor group is trying to save the Sun-Times. We have the latest on the chances of survival for this longtime Chicago newspaper. Guest: Jeremy Halbreich - Chief executive officer of the Sun Times News Group.

One of Chicago's top real estate players, Koenig and Strey, has been bought by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway. Was it a good deal? And what does it mean for Chicago's struggling real estate market? Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780's Noon Business Hour has those details, plus the rest of the week's business news.

We meet an out-of-work sales executive trying to jump-start his career with help from his family. Greater Chicago Networking Group

Is a price war brewing among local food store giants? Kris Kridel has that story and the other business news of the day.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Senator Ted Kennedy remembered; Mayor Daley apologizes yet again for the controversial parking meter deal; Chicago's inspector general David Hoffman runs for the U.S. Senate; Governor Quinn backs off his threat to fire the final two University of Illinois Trustee holdouts; Illinois braces for the swine flu; Bears quarterback Jay Cutler takes on his old team, the Broncos; and has Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley been the subject of racial taunts by Cubs fans? Guests:

The Chicago Cubs have been sold to Chicago's Ricketts family for $845 million. Was it a fair deal? Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780's Noon Business Hour fills us in when she discusses the week's business news. Guest:

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail.

A viewer blows the whistle on the nomination process for new trustees for the University of Illinois when we read some viewer mail.

New credit card rules take effect today. But what will this landmark overhaul mean for consumers? Eddie Arruza and his panel discuss this and more. Guests:

A destructive species of fish has been spotted in the waters close to Chicago. Rich Samuels tells us why the Asian carp poses a great threat to commercial and recreational fishing and how the region is working to keep the fish out of Lake Michigan. And we hear from the acting president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes about other possible permanent solutions to the Asian Carp problem. Guest:

Crushing clunkers is a recession-proof business. We speak with a local auto recycler who gives us the pros and cons of the government's Cash for Clunkers program. VictoryAutoWreckers.com CashforClunkersFacts.com: Info about Chicago Cash for Clunkers program