State lawmakers are reconvening this week in Springfield to work on the budgeting process for next year. We'll hear from legislators from both sides of the aisle. 

On Wednesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Chicago Tonight for an hourlong forum with Mikva Challenge high school students who asked him about his priorities for a second term. After the forum, students shared their thoughts on how well they thought the mayor answered questions and how the forum impacted their opinions of him.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel won a second term in office in this month's runoff election. He joins Chicago Tonight for a forum with Mikva Challenge high school students who'll ask him about his priorities for his second term and how he plans to address issues facing young people in Chicago.

House Speaker Michael Madigan will convene a special oversight panel that will meet Tuesday to look at the budget cuts proposed by Gov. Bruce Rauner. As the governor marks 100 days in office this week, we examine his term so far with Chicago Tonight Springfield reporter Amanda Vinicky.

Low-level drug offenders will no longer be prosecuted in Cook County. Instead, they'll be sent to treatment. Paris Schutz has more on a major shift in drug policy.

Author Peter Slevin has covered both Barack and Michelle Obama for many years. The former Washington Post reporter, who's now on staff at Northwestern University's journalism school, joins us to talk about his new book tracing Michelle Obama's family background, her upbringing and education, and her life with her husband.

We share what you had say about our one-on-one with Gov. Bruce Rauner and the possibility of ending some state tax breaks in tonight's viewer feedback.

Illinois is one of only three states that does not tax retirement income. That cost the state $2.2 billion in FY 2013, and along with other tax breaks the total revenue the state is foregoing is close to $9 billion. Is it time to reassess and end at least some of these tax breaks? Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, is just back from Springfield and joins us to share his thoughts.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel picked a transition team filled with familiar names, including Chicago Transit Authority President Forrest Claypool and businessman Michael Sacks.

Victims of disgraced Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge would receive reparations under a new agreement reached by the mayor, City Council, and advocates of Burge torture victims. Find out what the package includes.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton reacts to Gov. Bruce Rauner's rosy projections for a budget deal. We have the details.

In 2010, Robert Blagojevich was on trial alongside his brother, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, on corruption charges. All of the charges against Robert were dropped while his brother would have a retrial. Robert discusses the details of the first trial and his current relationship with his brother.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has proposed big cuts to try and close a $6 billion budget gap, all the while traveling the state promoting a right-to-work agenda. We go one-on-one with the governor about his many controversial proposals in his first Chicago Tonight interview since the election.

Robert Blagojevich, the brother of convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, joins us to discuss his own legal experience beating the odds of a conviction, which is also the subject of his new book, Fundraiser A: My Fight for Freedom and Justice.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the political future of Jesús "Chuy" García, and former congressman Aaron Schock's mounting legal problems.

Some key City Council races are still too close to call. Could it be bad news for Mayor Rahm Emanuel? We have the details.