Politics

State Politics

Illinois Republicans have a new chairman, and state Democrats are concerned about losing President Obama's old Senate seat. Our panel of journalists takes a look at the state's top political stories.

Guests:

• Abdon Pallasch - Chicago Sun-Times
• Eric Zorn - Chicago Tribune

• Chicago Tribune: Illinois GOP chief steals spotlight at Republican day at the fair (08/21/09)
• WBBM: Governor: University trustees should resign (08/07/09)
• Chicago Tonight archives: Rich interviews trustees Frances Carroll and James Montgomery, Sr. (08/18/09)
• Chicago Tonight archives: Alexi Giannoulias interview (07/29/09)
• Chicago Tonight archives: Cheryle Jackson interview (08/12/09)

Arts & Entertainment

News Analysis with Carol Marin

The decision on the host city for the 2016 Olympics is a little over a month away. We find out the latest on the city's bid progress from Olympic insiders, including Chicago 2016 bid chairman and CEO Pat Ryan. We also find out if a dispute between the USOC and the IOC may have put Chicago's bid in jeopardy.

Guests:

• Pat Ryan - chairman and CEO of the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid committee
• Marc Ganis - president of Sportscorp, a sports business consulting firm
• Allen Sanderson - economics professor at the University of Chicago

• Executive summary of Chicago's Olympic bid
• Download complete bid book

The Friday Night Show

Classic Callaway: Elaine Stritch

For the rest of the summer we'll be replaying the best of John Callaway's interviews over the years, tonight we take a look back at a 2006 conversation with Broadway star Elaine Stritch.

Guest:

• Elaine Stritch

The Week in Review

The Week in Review with Joel Weisman

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Politicians stumping at the state fair; Chicago's Uptown area: the latest neighborhood grappling with rising violence; Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. holds a town hall meeting on health care; Chicago learns its Olympic fate in just six weeks; Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hopes to rebound from his dismal pre-season debut; and the Cubs struggling down the stretch.

Guests:

• Esther Cepeda - Chicago Sun-Times
• Bruce Dold - Chicago Tribune
• David Greising - Chicago Tribune
• Mike North - Comcast SportsNet

Viewer Feedback

Viewer Mail

A viewer blows the whistle on the nomination process for new trustees for the University of Illinois when we read some viewer mail.

Time Out Chicago

Time Out Weekend Picks

No need to run away and join the circus when you can spend the night with one instead. Time Out Chicago is here with suggestions for the weekend.

Guest:

• Madeline Nusser - Time Out Chicago

• Rock for Kids Music Mixer
• El Circo Cheapo Lock-In
• Wild Adaptations and Native Plants Workshop
• Girl Scout Takeover
• Zoppe Family Circus

The Friday Night Show

Classic Callaway

We take a look back at another classic John Callaway interview -- his July 2006 conversation with Broadway star Elaine Stritch.

• Elaine Stritch's entry in the Internet Broadway Database

Ask Geoffrey

Ask Geoffrey

We find out about a peaceful meadow that was once a POW camp in tonight's edition of Ask Geoffrey.

• Chicago Park District: Montrose Avenue Beach
• Chicago Park District: North Avenue Beachhouse
• University of Chicago's online exhibit of 1933-34 World's Fair
• History of Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church
• Des Plaines flower company's connection to Camp Pine

Arts & Entertainment

Foster Avenue Mural

The newest member of Chicago's public art family is a reflection of the city's earliest inhabitants. We learn how the mural on Foster Avenue was created.

• Chicago Public Art Group
• Schudule of Aug. 22 mural dedication (PDF)

Business

Asian Carp

A destructive species of fish has been spotted in the waters close to Chicago. Rich Samuels tells us why the Asian carp poses a great threat to commercial and recreational fishing and how the region is working to keep the fish out of Lake Michigan. And we hear from the acting president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes about other possible permanent solutions to the Asian Carp problem.

Guest:

• Joel Brammeier - acting president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes

• Alliance's statement on need to protect against invasive species
• Read the Alliance's full report
• Environmental Protection Agency: Frequently Asked Questions about Asian carp
• NPR: Asian Carp: Can't beat them? Eat them (07/12/06)