County Budget Crisis With a budget deficit of $500 million looming, Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool announced his plan today for cutting the county's budget. His plan is in stark contrast to President Todd Stroger's plan for dealing with the deficit. Commissioner Claypool and Republican commissioner Peter Silvestri will give us more details on both plans.

Remembering President Ford President Ford is often credited with helping to "heal" the country in the wake of Watergate. We'll look at some specific steps he took, including his appointment of a prominent Chicagoan. Guest: David Strauss

Daley Challengers Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown made her Chicago mayoral candidacy official today. And Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s wife Sandi says she wants to be the 7th Ward alderman. Rich Samuels has the latest on the lineups for the February municipal elections.

Mayor Daley Elizabeth Brackett sits down for a one-on-one interview with Mayor Daley, who yesterday announced that he will seek his sixth term in office. News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Last Friday's tragic downtown shooting was over an invention. Eddie Arruza talks to an inventor about the sometimes frustrating process of bringing an idea to life. Guests: Jeff Ward, Tim Holbrook

President Todd Stroger Todd Stroger was sworn in this morning as president of the Cook County Board. Rich Samuels has the details. News Analysis with Carol Marin Retiring Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan took time out of his last day in office to file a $189,000-lawsuit against his employer, Cook County. Carol Marin sits down with the sheriff to askhim about this and about his 16 years in office.

News Analysis with Carol Marin It looks like Bobbie Steele will be stepping down and "offering" one of her children to replace her as a Cook County board commissioner. We'll ask Commissioner Forrest Claypool what he thinks of this and the pension pay raise Steele will be getting along the way. Bears Alumni Club The Bears blow their last chance to win yesterday's game. We'll talk about the second loss of the season with Super Bowl Bear Gary Fencik on tonight's Bears Alumni Club.

News Analysis In 1994, Newt Gingrich led a Republican revolution in Washington. Tonight, we'll talk with him about the recent Democratic victory, the upcoming presidential race, and his own ambitions for the White House. Senator Barack Obama today laid out his strategy for Iraq. He calls for a gradual and substantial reduction of troops. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel talk about what else he said and whether or not his plans are viable.

News Analysis with Carol Marin Out with the old, in with the new... Carol Marin will talk transition with outgoing Cook County board president Bobbie Steele and incoming president Todd Stroger.

Obama/Campaign Update Sen. Barack Obama admits his real estate dealings with the indicted Tony Rezko were a blunder. Rich Samuels has the latest on the man whose star power Democrats hope will push them over the top at the polls tomorrow. News Analysis with Carol Marin Candidates in tomorrow's midterm elections have been citing newspaper endorsements in their TV ads. Carol Marin will pick the brains of the editorial page editors behind those newspaper endorsements. Guests: Bruce Dold, Steve Huntley and David Beery

Campaign Update The charges continue to fly in the tight race for Cook County board president. Rich Samuels has the latest on that and other key races that voters will decide on November 7th. News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Elizabeth Brackett and her panel of journalists take a look at the top stories of the past month and those we spent too much time paying attention to. Guests: Dawn Turner Trice, Lester Munson, Neil Steinberg

Lou Piniella The Cubs have a new manager. We'll hear what Lou Piniella plans to do to turn the team's fate around. News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett The Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange announced today that the two companies will merge. What does it mean for Chicago's economy, and what does it mean for investors? Elizabeth Brackett and her panelists will explain.

News Analysis with Carol Marin Governor Blagojevich's campaign is choosing a "rose garden" strategy when it comes to debates. Carol Marin and her panel weigh in on that and other political news. Bears Alumni Club Something special is happening at Soldier Field this year. Former Bears linebacker and special teams standout Jim Schwantz is here to recap yet another dominating performance by the Bears.

Goodbye, Dusty Cubs manager Dusty Baker is OUT! After one of the most disastrous seasons in years, Baker was let go by the team one day after the resignation of team president, Andy McPhail. Elizabeth Brackett reports on what might happen next to the north siders.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett The candidates for Cook County Board President squared off at a downtown debate this afternoon. We'll hear from representatives from each camp about how their candidates fared. Bears Alumni Club The Bears steal a win from the Minnesota Vikings in the last minutes of the game. We'll talk about their 3-0 record with former Bears right guard and Bears radio broadcaster Tom Thayer in our Bears Alumni Club.

News Analysis with Carol Marin Electric bills are set to soar 22% after a decade-long rate freeze expires. Carol Marin's panel debates the shocking developments. Guests: Anne Pramaggiore, Com Ed; Mary Wisniewski, Chicago Sun-Times; David Kolata, Citizens Utility Board. Click here for information about Com Ed's customer assistance initiative, C.A.R.E..

News Analysis with Carol Marin Reputed mob boss, Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, was nabbed by authorities last week after nine months on the lamb. Carol Marin takes a look at the importance of this arrest with her panelists who include Lombardo's attorney, Rick Halprin.