Arts & Entertainment

The Calling

We talk with the director of the new and provocative PBS documentary The Calling, which looks at lives of people who become spiritual leaders.

Chicago Business News

Chicago Business

We learn about the newest holiday party trend -- ugly sweaters. WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us with that story and a recap of the year in Chicago business.

Education

News Analysis: Charter Schools

The Renaissance Schools Fund wants to raise $40 million in the next five years for more charter schools, but proposals for four new charter schools were withdrawn at last week's contentious Chicago Public Schools Board meeting. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel take a look at the debate over charter schools.

Politics

Congressional Update

Illinois' newest U.S. Senator, Republican Mark Kirk, votes to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Chicago Sun-Times Washington D.C. bureau chief Lynn Sweet joins us to talk about this and other congressional actions.

The Week in Review

The Week In Review

On this week's edition of Chicago Tonight: The Week In Review hosted by Phil Ponce: Mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel spent almost 12 hours testifying at a hearing to determine whether he can stay on the February ballot, and the questioning ranged from the serious to the comical. His tenant contradicted some of Emanuel's testimony about the possessions the family left behind. And in a strange twist, Emanuel's real estate broker testified that the tenants demanded $100,000 to vacate the house. Another mayoral candidate, James Meeks, sparked a controversy when he said white women should not be entitled to minority set-aside contracts from the city. The mystery of the Honeybee Killer may be solved. In sports, Kerry Wood is coming back to the Cubs. And crews work around the clock to remove snow from the new University of Minnesota football stadium in hopes the Bears will play a battered Minnesota Vikings team there on Monday Night Football.

Guests:

• Craig Dellimore, WBBM Newsradio 780
• Marcella Raymond, WGN-TV
• Elizabeth Brackett, WTTW
• Gail Fischer, Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Business

The Year in Review

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists look back at the year in a special year-end edition of Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review.

Politics

Chicago's Lake Shore Drive: Urban America's Most Beautiful Roadway

Chicagoans drive on Lake Shore Drive every day without realizing the history beneath them. A new book recounts the long tale of Lake Shore Drive -- we talk with the authors.

• Chicago's Lake Shore Drive: Urban America's Most Beautiful Roadway

Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

We talk with actress Amy Morton about her starring role in the Steppenwolf Theatre's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Politics

Rahm Emanuel Residency Hearing

Eddie Arruza has the latest from the final day of the hearing on Rahm Emanuel's residency.

Arts & Entertainment

Chicago Botanic Garden

Need help sprucing up your holiday greenery? The Chicago Botanic Garden's Eliza Fournier is here to help you "deck the halls."