News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Sen. Barack Obama took a giant step toward running for the White House today when he formed a presidential exploratory committee. Guests: David Axelrod, Bruce Dold, Laura Washington

Escape from Jail Elizabeth Brackett will have exclusive details of a Downers Grove businessman's escape from an Iraqi jail. The former Minister of Electricity had been held in an Iraqi jail on corruption charges. News Analysis with Carol Marin CTA president Frank Kruesi, Ald. Joe Moore and Ald. Ricardo Munoz join Carol Marin to talk about the CTA's current woes.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Ald. Arenda Troutman, who was charged this week with bribery, spoke out this morning at the first Chicago City Council meeting of 2007. Rich Samuels brings us the highlights of her raucous press conference. In light of those allegations against Ald. Troutman, one question raised is, do Chicago's aldermen have too much power over what does or does not get built in their wards? Elizabeth Brackett and her panel will take a look. Guests: Tom Durkin, Jay Stewart, Chris Gair

News Analysis with Carol Marin Sen. Barack Obama is making waves with a topless Hawaiian beach photo. We'll talk to his political consultant, David Axelrod, about it and about Obama's likely run for the White House.

Ald. Troutman Arrested There was news today of an alleged shakedown scheme by Chicago alderman Arenda Troutman. Rich Samuels was at federal court and brings us the latest. Read the Troutman complaint here.

The Week in Review with Joel Weisman We'll gaze into our 2007 crystal ball. What lies ahead for the city and state in government, politics, business, the arts, and sports? Will it be a prosperous, scandalous, or problematic year? Tonight at 7:00 pm. Guests:

The Beetles are Back Wilmette is the latest community to do battle with the destructive Emerald Ash Borer beetle. The village is cutting down almost 3000 ash trees. Guests: Wilmette Village President Chris Canning, Clem Hamilton, Morton Arboretum New Illinois Laws A number of new laws in Illinois took effect on January 1st. Eddie Arruza will tell us what some of these laws are and how they may impact you.

Disaster Preparedness How prepared is Chicago for a major catastrophe or terrorist attack? A new federal report is at odds with the claims of city officials that we're ready. Eddie Arruza reports. News Analysis with Carol Marin 2006 was a year of uncertainties for Chicago's major newspapers. Are old-fashioned paper-and-ink dailies a thing of the past? And if not, how will they survive? Carol Marin and her panel will have a look. Guests: Jeremy Mullman, Rich Gordon, and Paula Hambrick

County Budget Crisis With a budget deficit of $500 million looming, Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool announced his plan today for cutting the county's budget. His plan is in stark contrast to President Todd Stroger's plan for dealing with the deficit. Commissioner Claypool and Republican commissioner Peter Silvestri will give us more details on both plans.

Remembering President Ford President Ford is often credited with helping to "heal" the country in the wake of Watergate. We'll look at some specific steps he took, including his appointment of a prominent Chicagoan. Guest: David Strauss

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett The CTA has had a slew of problems this year, including this week's derailment in the South Loop. Elizabeth Brackett goes one-on-one with Frank Kruesi, president of the CTA, to find out what's being done to make things better.

Alsammarae Update The Oak Brook businessman who escaped from an Iraqi jail has told our Elizabeth Brackett he is safe and out of the reach of the Iraqis. Aiham Alsammarae was convicted and then cleared of corruption charges relating to his term as Minister of Electricity in Iraq. But he was still being held in a Baghdad jail facing additional corruption charges when he was spirited away by what Iraqi officials say was an American security company. Elizabeth Brackett will have the details.

Daley Challengers Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown made her Chicago mayoral candidacy official today. And Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s wife Sandi says she wants to be the 7th Ward alderman. Rich Samuels has the latest on the lineups for the February municipal elections.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Overspending. Underfunding. Calls for resignation of the chief. What is in store for Chicago's CTA? Elizabeth Brackett and her panel take a look at the issues surrounding this vital Chicago service. Guests: Greg Hinz, Scott Smith, Jackie Leavy "Pursuit of Happyness" The inspiring life story of Chicagoan Chris Gardner has been made into a major motion picture starring Will Smith. We'll revisit our July interview with this once-homeless single father-turned-millionaire businessman.

City Council Debrief The three new aldermen appointed by Mayor Daley to the Chicago City ouncil took their seats today. Rich Samuels has the latest on the last council meeting of the year and the upcoming municipal elections. News Analysis with Carol Marin His mother was a Kennedy, his father a member of the rat pack. But Christopher Kennedy Lawford became a drug addict. He'll share his story with Carol Marin tonight.

Mayor Daley Elizabeth Brackett sits down for a one-on-one interview with Mayor Daley, who yesterday announced that he will seek his sixth term in office. News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Last Friday's tragic downtown shooting was over an invention. Eddie Arruza talks to an inventor about the sometimes frustrating process of bringing an idea to life. Guests: Jeff Ward, Tim Holbrook