Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review with Joel Weisman at 7:00 pm

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger hired new staffers and gave raises to others, despite a proposed hiring freeze and a pay freeze. Eddie Arruza and his panel take up the controversy.

It's no secret by now that the news industry is struggling to stay afloat, but what exactly is going on with the news? What does the future hold for the industry? Former Chicago Tribune publisher Jack Fuller, author of the new book What is Happening to News: The Information Explosion and the Crisis in Journalism, gives us his take.

Geoffrey Baer tells you where you can find spinning turbines, channeled glass, rainwater cisterns and free parking for bicycles, all in one building. Cyrus Edwin Dallin--Hood Museum of Art Greenway Self Park--GreenBeanchicago.com National Historic Landmarks Program

The forecast calls for sunshine this weekend. A master gardener shares advice on how to make your garden grow. Chat live with Eliza Fournier from 8 PM-8:30 PM

John Prine talks about his storybook journey to become one of the country’s most revered songwriters, and why he’s come home to his alma mater, Proviso East High School, for a special two-night concert.

Northwestern professor, author and performance artist E. Patrick Johnson joins us with his hit one-man show, Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South.

We hear from two people who know Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, including Judge Abner Mikva, for whom she was a law clerk.

A federal judge has ruled that two genes, which are linked to breast and ovarian cancer, cannot be patented and has struck down the previously awarded patents. While some applaud the decision, critics say the ruling could cripple future life-saving research. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel look at the impact of the divisive decision. Read the court ruling (nytimes.com)

We introduce you to an important -- and often overlooked -- American artist who painted scenes of nightlife on Chicago's South Side in the 1920s and '30s.

Controversial Chicago Pastor Carlton Pearson discusses his new book, God is not a Christian, nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu... Christ Universal Temple Watch our December 7th, 2009 story about Carlton Pearson

We meet a Chicago man who wants to change the way America thinks about table tennis. Where to play ping-pong/table tennis in Chicago

Carol Marin sits down with the Republican candidate for governor, Bill Brady. Bill Brady campaign website

Will new work rules at McCormick Place keep conventions in Chicago? WBBM Newsradio's Kris Kridel joins us with those details, plus the rest of the week's business headlines.

Nearly every Friday for three and half years, two Chicago nuns have led a vigil at the place where undocumented immigrants are processed before being deported. Jay Shefsky was there this past Friday morning. "Deportation's Brief Adios and Prolonged Anguish"--Chicago News Cooperative

He's fighting obesity with his so-called "50 Million Pound Challenge." We talk to bestselling author Dr. Ian Smith.