Stories by WTTW News

Be sure to tune in at 9pm tonight, right after a special 2-hour telethon for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. On tonight's program: Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines; Candidates have launched a wave of negative ads in the final days leading up to the primary election; 14 underperforming Chicago Public Schools are going to be either closed, consolidated, or overhauled; Drew Peterson was back in court this week as lawyers argued about hearsay evidence; McCormick Place may lose yet another major convention; and the red-hot Blackhawks are the talk of the NHL.

Approximately 75 Haitian refugees arrived in Chicago last night. We talk to some of the local organizations who are assisting them. Chicago Helps Haiti Relief Drive Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or Text Haiti to 90999 to give $10 to the Red Cross' Haiti relief effort

The three Democratic candidates for Cook County Assessor discuss the issues in a candidate forum. Robert Shaw -- Chicago Sun-Times questionnaire Joe Berrios campaign website Ray Figueroa campaign website

We also hear from the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Illinois Treasurer. Justin Oberman campaign website Robin Kelly campaign website

Electric cars were all the rage at last week's Detroit Auto Show. We have a report from the Chicago bureau of Nightly Business Report.

In this era of over-the-top weddings, Judith Martin, better known as Miss Manners, steps in with her new book, Miss Manners' Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding. She joins us with her gentle insights.

Former CNN anchor Paula Zahn hosts WTTW's newest series Health Secrets: What Every Woman Should Know. We give you a preview of tonight's world premiere.

Geoffrey Baer clarifies the mysterious expressway numbering system on tonight's edition of Ask Geoffrey. Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways

We devote the entire hour to the leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. In ballot order they are: former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, and Chicago Urban League President and CEO Cheryle Jackson. Campaign websites for all Democratic Senate candidates (in ballot order):

Tonight, we devote the entire hour to the Democratic candidates running for Cook County Board President In ballot order, they are: 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Terrence O'Brien, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, and current Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

The race to replace Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes is packed with plenty of candidates. We hear from the Democrats vying to become Illinois's next chief fiscal officer. Chicago Tribune's Candidates Profiles Chicago Sun-Times Candidate Profiles

We meet two of the three candidates running for Illinois Comptroller on the Republican side.

DuSable to Obama: Chicago's Black Metropolis On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the nation remembers the slain civil rights leader's contributions to America. Here in Chicago, there is a long, rich African-American history that stretches back to the city's first resident. We get a preview of WTTW's upcoming documentary DuSable to Obama: Chicago's Black Metropolis, which will premiere this June.

Governor Quinn is promising $15 million to the Brookfield Zoo for infrastructure improvements. But given the state's fiscal crisis, the money is far from a sure thing. Eddie Arruza reports on reasons why the Zoo feels the funds are justified.

Jack Higgins proves that the pen is mightier than the sword with his often biting and always insightful political cartoons. He joins us to talk about his new book My Kind of Toon. Jack Higgins exhibit at The Beverly Arts Center

We visit group of Lake Michigan surfers who are so passionate about their sport that they won't let a little thing like winter stand in their way.

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail.

We remember Chicago journalist Carlos Hernandez Gomez, who died yesterday at the age of 36.

Joel and his panel discuss the week's top headlines: The primary election is now less than 3 weeks away; Governor Quinn renews his call for a tax hike in the State of the State address; the Chicago Public Schools will spend $60 million on citizen patrols; lawmakers are demanding major changes at McPier, the agency that runs pricey McCormick Place; the Bears are rebuffed by top coaching candidates; and Sammy Sosa's home run derby buddy, Mark McGwire, admits that he used steroids. Guests:

Phil Ponce sits down with world-renowned paleontologist Paul Sereno. Learn more about Paul Sereno's Project Exploration

The rate of foreclosures spiked in 2009 -- what will the rate look like in 2010? Eddie Arruza and his panel attempt to answer this question, and much more. $2 Billion in Recovery Act Grants

Incumbent County Board president Todd Stroger faces a fierce primary battle for his position. But could a Republican actually win the seat? We talk to the two GOP candidates for county board president. John Garrido Roger Keats

We visit a bookstore devoted to promoting literacy in Chicago. Open Books

Geoffrey Baer has the story behind an historic windmill in an Elmhurst cemetery.

We meet a father and a son with two very different approaches to the winter sport of ice fishing. Local ice fishing locations and conditions North American Ice Fishing Circuit The Ice Men reality show is on the Versus Channel

We hear what you have to say about some of our recent stories when we read our viewer mail.