The Week in Review

The Week in Review with Joel Weisman

This week on Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review, aldermanic runoff candidates make their final push for City Council, while Rahm Emanuel asks if the number of aldermen should be cut in half. Gas prices soar, with experts wondering if $5 a gallon is just around the corner. The University of Illinois approves another tuition hike. Groupon's president surprises the business community and calls it quits. And in sports, Derrick Rose makes his case for MVP while the Chicago Bulls continue to surge.

Guests:

• Mary Ann Ahern, NBC-5 News
• Laura Washington, Chicago Sun-Times and ABC-7 News
• Greg Burns, Chicago Tribune
• Paula Faris, NBC-5 News

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Arts & Entertainment

Architect Robert A.M. Stern

Acclaimed architect Robert A.M. Stern helped resurrect New York's fabled 42nd Street. But that's not why he is being honored in Chicago this weekend. He's here to accept the Richard H. Driehaus prize for his classical style architecture. Geoffrey Baer gives us a sneak preview of a new WTTW documentary about Stern, debuting tonight.

• More on the documentary "Architect Robert A.M. Stern: Presence of the Past"
• More on Driehaus Prize

Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections: Puppet Opera

What happens when you mix puppets and opera? We go behind the scenes at one of the most technically sophisticated puppet shows in the country. Jay Shefsky has the story.

• For the origins of puppet opera, visit More on the Story
• Opera in Focus

Science & Nature

NASA Arrives at Mercury

In yet another first in man's exploration of space, NASA's "Messenger" spacecraft arrived at the planet Mercury. It's the first craft ever to go into orbit around the closest planet to the sun. We talk to an Astrophysicist from the Adler Planetarium about what humans are learning from our planetary neighbors.

• Messenger's Mission to Mercury
• Messenger News Center
• Adler Planetarium Citizen Science Initiative

Politics

Vying for the 41st Ward

We sit down with the two aldermanic candidates in the 41st ward runoff. Meet Mary O'Connor and Maurita Gavin.

• Visit our 41st ward page for web-exclusive video

Education

School Breakfasts

The Chicago Board of Education passed a mandate requiring free breakfast to be served in all elementary school classrooms. Hundreds of parents have signed petitions objecting, citing food allergies and a waste of classroom time. Our panel discusses this hot topic.

• For local parent reaction, visit More on the Story
• Do you approve of school breakfasts in the classroom? Join the discussion.

Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections: 'Working' in Chicago

Grammy-winning composer Stephen Schwartz -- best known for his musical "Wicked" -- revitalizes Studs Terkel's "Working" in a newly adapted musical exploration here in Chicago.

• Visit our More on the Story blog for web-exclusive video
• More on Stephen Schwartz

Health

Operation Walk

A local group of physicians, who volunteer their time to do free joint replacement surgeries in poor countries around the world, have now brought the program home to Chicago. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

• Operation Walk Chicago

Politics

Vying for the 25th Ward

Smokestacks on the Southwest Side are the source of a burning issue. We discuss why some residents are upset, and find out what the aldermanic candidates are doing about it in our forum for the 25th ward runoff election.

• Visit our 25th ward page for web-exclusive video