Is your town or neighborhood above the rest? Chicago Magazine's Dennis Rodkin shares his picks for the 20 best towns or neighborhoods in the Chicago area.

We meet some beginning cross-country skiers -- and some experts -- at one of Cook County's premier cross-country ski destinations. Map of nearby cross-country ski destinations

Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman paints a bleak picture for Chicago students if $700 million is cut from the budget. Ron Huberman joins Elizabeth Brackett to discuss the possible layoffs of 3,200 teachers and 600 non-teaching employees at CPS as well as other cuts.

Foreclosures in Illinois were up 22 percent in February. WBBM Newsradio's Kris Kridel tells us how that figure compares to the rest of the nation when she joins us with the week's top business stories.

St. Patrick's Day is nearly here. "Check, Please!" host and master sommelier Alpana Singh joins us with her picks for St. Paddy's Day to make sure your glass doesn't go empty. Alpana's St. Patrick's Day Drink Recommendations

Illinois is in a deep fiscal crisis, with a budget deficit of $13 billion, additional billions in unpaid bills, and unfunded pension obligations that are through the roof. Governor Quinn joins Phil Ponce and Carol Marin to talk about his budget proposal, which offers the choice of education cuts or a tax hike, plus much more.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Governor Quinn calls for a 33% income tax hike; CTA drivers are among the highest paid in the country; a racist yard sign infuriates neighbors; one of Chicago's underperforming public high schools is in the middle of a scandal where grades were allegedly inflated; and Derrick Rose is the latest Bulls player to be battling an injury. Guests:

The president of the Commercial Club of Chicago says that if a private company operated as Illinois does, it would have been bankrupt and out of business long ago. We hear from Commercial Club President Eden Martin about the club's reaction to Governor Quinn's budget plan, unveiled yesterday.

Some businesses are benefiting from more plentiful loans being made available by the Small Business Administration. Diane Eastabrook of the Nightly Business Report shows us some local examples of these loans in action.

Is O'Hare the least secure airport in in the nation? That's what the airport's former security chief says. Carol Marin sits down with the former security head to discuss those claims, his pending lawsuit, and more.

We have your reaction to the governor's budget address when we read our viewer mail.

Carol Marin and her panel take a closer look at the governor's fiscal plan.

Chicago tour boat and barge operators are up in arms about one of the proposals for keeping invasive Asian carp out of Lake Michigan -- periodic closures of locks and of the Chicago River itself. Our Geoffrey Baer joins us to help clarify this controversial issue.

Governor Quinn presented a state budget for what he calls "a crisis of epic proportions" and his proposals are already drawing fire. Eddie Arruza tells us what the governor wants.

Groupon, which pioneered a unique mixture of social networking and group discounts, started in Chicago a little more than 2 years ago and now expects to be in 100 cities by the end of the year. Founder and CEO Andrew Mason joins us to talk about the company's quick rise.

We remember Chicago activist and labor leader Frank Lumpkin, who died earlier this month. Memorial services for Frank Lumpkin are set for 10 a.m. April 5 at the union hall at 11731 S. Avenue O, and also at noon April 24 near the Haymarket Memorial at Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park.