Hedy Weiss: Theater Reviews

Hedy Weiss: Theater Reviews

The "Spider-Man" musical has been in the news for months now. But will it have legs beyond Broadway? Hedy Weiss reviews the show for us, along with three new shows a little closer to home.

• More on the Story: Read about the shows
• More on Weiss

Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections: Deep Space Adventure

The Adler Planetarium takes you into deep space for an immersive new exhibit. We speak with the president of this Chicago institution about the science behind their latest venture.

• More on the Story: View a photo gallery
• Deep Space Adventure
• Adler Planetarium
• More on Dr. Paul Knappenberger Jr.
• Chicago Sun-Times article
• Watch more Cultural Connections online

Health

Dr. Damon Arnold: Public Health

Summer is in full swing. And along with sun, swimming and street festivals, mosquitoes are also a reality of the season. How much of a concern are West Nile-infected mosquitoes? Illinois' Director of Public Health talks about that and other public health concerns.

• More about Dr. Arnold
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• More about West Nile virus
• West Nile virus in Illinois
• Chicago Tribune article
• More about bat contact
• More about Rabies

Politics

Presidential Campaign 2012

While the president held the first ever Twitter Town Hall today, Republican candidates are lining up to face Obama in the 2012 presidential race. Our Carol Marin and her panel of political analysts will discuss the growing field and more.

• Chicago Tribune: 2012 Campaign page
• The New York Times: 2012 Campaign page
• Washington Post: 2012 Campaign page
• Rasmussen Reports: Daily Presidential Tracking Polls
• Real Clear Politics: 2012 Republic Presidential Nominations
• On The Issues

Politics

City Council Meeting

Gun ranges will now be legal in Chicago. The Chicago City Council passed the ordinance today, keeping Chicago one step ahead of a federal court decision that could mandate the ranges. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

• What are your thoughts on gun ranges coming to Chicago?
• More on the Story: Read the ordinances
• Chicago Tonight's Mayor Emanuel page

Science & Nature

Rooftop Gardens

Geoffrey Baer takes us to a vegetable farm on the roof of a North Side restaurant and other gardens high above the streets of Chicago.

• Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Conservation Science Center
• Gary Comer Youth Center
• Uncommon Ground
• Chicago Specialty Gardens

Arts & Entertainment

James O'Shea

It was once one of the most powerful media conglomerates in the U.S. -- then came a new buyer, bankruptcy and an $8 billion buyout. So what really happened to the Tribune Company? Former Chicago Tribune managing editor James O'Shea discusses his tell-all book: The Deal From Hell: How Moguls and Wall Street Plundered Great American Newspapers.

• More on the book
• More on the author
• James O'Shea's articles
• Chicago Tribune

Arts & Entertainment

Lukas Verzbicas

He's one of the top high school runners in American history, and he hails from right here in the Chicago area. Ash-har Quraishi reports on the latest phenom in American distance running.

• More on the Story: Web article, videos & photos
• Chicago Tribune article

Chicago Business News

Chicago Business News

WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us to discuss Chicago's push to boost sagging tourism figures, new plans to renovate Navy Pier and other top business headlines.

• Chicago Business article on tourism push
• Chicago Tribune article on Navy Pier renovation
• Chicago Sun-Times article on McCormick Place unions
• Examiner article on West Nile Virus in Chicago
• The Wall Street Journal article on Kraft

Business

Illinois Budget Cuts

Gov. Pat Quinn whacks an additional $376 million from the state's budget, signing it hours before the deadline. Eddie Arruza and his panel examine whether the cuts to Medicaid and school spending are enough to help ease Illinois' fiscal crisis.

• More on the Story: Budget cuts breakdown
• Did the governor and the state lawmakers do the right thing by cutting the state's education budget by $269.4 million?
• More on the budget
• Shriver Center
• Illinois Policy Institute
• Chicago Sun-Times article
• Chicago News Cooperative article