Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: A New Trier honor student is jailed in a hit-and-run case; Cook County Board Presidential candidate Toni Preckwinkle backtracks on her pledge to eliminate the rest of the controversial county sales tax increase; Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis says he is willing to cut his $310,000 salary; Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Brady launches a television ad blitz; a Congressional probe is called for after a bank in President Obama's old neighborhood avoids being seized by the government; and the mighty Blackhawks are just two wins

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review with Joel Weisman at 7:00 pm

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Lawmakers are still wrangling over the state budget in Springfield; we'll take a closer look at Chicago's deadly streets and what can be done to stop the violence; a Chicago Tribune investigation finds that House Speaker Michael Madigan swayed the University of Illinois to admit relatives of political figures, political allies, and donors; sweeping work rule reforms are expected at McCormick Place; the Bulls fire head coach Vinny Del Negro; and the Blackhawks continue their Stanley Cup quest. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: President Obama gives a boost to the Giannoulias campaign during a visit to Illinois this week; Mayor Daley balks at the suggestion of sending in the National Guard to help police Chicago's deadly streets; United and Continental Airlines are reportedly close to striking a mega-merger deal; immigration protests are planned in Chicago and across the country this weekend; Walmart is going to meet face to face with organized labor about its proposed Chicago expansion plans; and the Blackhawks advance to the conference semifinals against the V

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Former Governor Rod Blagojevich wants to subpoena President Obama to appear at his upcoming corruption trial; White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel says he's interested in becoming Mayor of Chicago once Mayor Daley leaves office; sweeping reforms are recommended for pricey McCormick Place; the Cubs send Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen; and the Bulls and Blackhawks are finally showing some signs of life in the playoffs. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: new details are revealed in the case against former Governor Blagojevich; the stage is set for a City Council showdown over proposed Walmarts in Chicago; U.S. Senate challengers Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk are in a frantic fundraising contest; McDonald's is spending a billion dollars to give their restaurants a coffee house feel; and Bulls vice president John Paxson allegedly gets into a physical altercation with head coach Vinny Del Negro. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Governor Quinn is trailing Republican challenger Bill Brady by 10 points, according to a new poll; Forrest Claypool is running as an independent in the Cook County Assessor's race; United Airlines and US Airways have renewed merger talks; violence is surging on Chicago's deadly streets; and the Cubs and Sox embark on a new season. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: The state's bond rating was downgraded to the second-lowest in the country; voters are getting to know Governor Quinn's running mate, Sheila Simon; drivers are bracing for construction season delays; trade show customers are threatening to leave pricey McCormick Place; and the Cubs and Sox open the new baseball season next week. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines; Governor Quinn is backing Paul Simon's daughter, Sheila, for his running mate; Illinois lawmakers finally pass pension reforms; U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan allegedly kept a clout list of requests to get into coveted Chicago magnet schools; President Obama signs historic health care legislation; an alleged beating by off-duty Chicago police officers was caught on tape; and the Cubs and Sox Opening Day lineups are taking shape. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines; Governor Quinn wants lawmakers to work during their spring break to vote on his tax hike; teachers accuse Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman of using scare tactics during the budget crisis; Chicago's unemployment rate is now nearly 12 percent; full body scanners arrive at O'Hare Airport; and the Bulls and Blackhawks playoff push is stalled by major injuries. Guests:

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:

Tonight's panel discusses the week's top headlines; U.S. Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias' family bank is on the brink of collapse; Chicago's longstanding hand gun ban is facing a Supreme Court challenge; the University of Illinois is considering hiking their tuition 20%; Chicago ministers are throwing their support behind another Walmart; and Bulls players are battling the injury bug. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: As the state's budget crisis continues to grow, support is growing for a major income tax hike; legislation to end free CTA rides for all seniors is moving forward in Springfield; 8 underperforming Chicago Public Schools are set to be closed or completely overhauled; O'Hare airport gets full body scanners; Mayor Daley suggests privatizing parts of pricey McCormick Place; and the Cubs and Sox are working off the rust in spring training. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: George Ryan's wife reaches out to President Obama to release the former governor from prison early; Mayor Daley is letting the public apply for open aldermanic seats; more controversy is brewing in the race for lieutenant governor; Governor Quinn signs a bill that ousts the entire McCormick Place board; red-light cameras are being scrutinized by lawmakers in Springfield; and the Bulls were busy at the trade deadline. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: Democrats are jockeying for the Lieutenant Governor's ballot spot vacated by Scott Lee Cohen; Mayor Daley orders a budget review of the Chicago Police Department and wants to give the city's Inspector General the power to investigate aldermen; CTA service cuts are making for a longer commute; the Chicago Auto Show rolls into town; and former White Sox slugger Frank Thomas announces his retirement. Guests:

Joel and his panel discuss Tuesday's primary election results: Governor Quinn wins a razor-thin victory against Dan Hynes; Quinn's running mate for Lieutenant Governor, Scott Lee Cohen, is generating plenty of publicity because of his arrest record for domestic battery; Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard are locked in a statistical dead heat; Toni Preckwinkle topples embattled incumbent Todd Stroger in the race for Cook County Board President; and Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias are set to square off for President Obama's old U.S. Senate seat.