We break down the state of the Illinois governor’s race and what's happening with pension reform in the state.

We share what you had to say about the recent CPS layoffs and Len Goodman, an attorney of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich who filed an appeal on his behalf on July 15, in tonight’s viewer feedback.

The State Department issues a worldwide travel alert and the temporary closure of 19 embassies and consulates. We look at the latest terror threats with Robert Pape, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. View a map of the closures and charts on attacks.

We speak with a former prosecutor with the Cook County State’s Attorney's juvenile division who says she was demoted for dropping charges in a “wilding” case in the Loop.

In light of the recent Metra scandal, Gov. Pat Quinn is looking to appoint a panel of experts to suggest a “fundamental overhaul” of both Metra and the Regional Transportation Authority. Will the task force recommend streamlining the oversight of public transportation? And is it a good idea to completely revamp Metra, Pace, CTA and the RTA? We have analysis.

We talk with Len Goodman, an attorney of imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who filed an appeal on his behalf on July 15. Read the full appeal.

We share what you had about the to say about the legalization of medical marijuana in Illinois and the city's budget shortfall in tonight's viewer feedback.

The fallout from the Alex Clifford $718,000 severance saga continues. Board member Larry Huggins, appointed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley, has resigned. The news came in a release sent by Mayor Rahm Emanuel's top press aide. Read an article.

Joel Weisman and his panel of journalists discuss the week's top headlines.

Illinois is now the 20th state to allow medical marijuana. Gov. Pat Quinn signed House Bill 1 on Thursday, which legalizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Paris Schutz has the details.

Gov. Pat Quinn responds to the lawsuit filed against him by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. The two legislative leaders filed suit Tuesday challenging the governor's decision to withhold paychecks from lawmakers until they come up with a pension reform solution. Paris Schutz has the details. Read Quinn's statement.

Could private dollars provide the key to building innovative, efficient infrastructure in Chicago? We chat with the new head of the city's controversial Infrastructure Trust.

Could Chicago be the next Taksim Square? We talk with Rick Perlstein, who wrote about Chicago’s protest culture in The Nation.

In the second mass killing of protesters in three weeks, Egyptian authorities attacked protesters in Cairo Saturday, killing 72. M. Cherif Bassiouni, a war crimes expert and law professor at DePaul University, joins us with insight into the conflict.

Sen. Dick Durbin says the U.S. House of Representatives' bill to cut funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by 80 percent would severely impact programs created to address ecological problems facing the Great Lakes. Programs to keep Asian carp out of the lakes would be slashed, among others. Elizabeth Brackett has the details. Read a fact sheet.

Author Rebecca Sive joins us to discuss her leadership guide for women, Every Day is Election Day: A Woman's Guide to Winning Any Office, from the PTA to the White House. Read an excerpt.