Stories by WTTW News

This week on Chicago Sunday: Host Phil Ponce talks with Cook County Republican Party Chairman Gary Skoien about the state of the Republican party in Cook County and his controversial comments about Mayor Daley. We'll meet activist Alex Wilson who's helping some underprivileged Chicago kids beat some pretty tough odds by fixing and riding bicycles.

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Normally our panel of news insiders analyze the week's news but periodically we like to let you get to know the people in the business. On tonight's special edition of the “Week in Review” we'll hear from the people who personify the nightly news, the anchors. We'll let them analyze their own roles and how they may be changing in today's ever-expanding media landscape. Guests:

Chicago Air & Water Show

News Analysis with Phil Ponce Tomorrow is Republican Day at the State Fair in Springfield. But the GOP has been less than unified lately. Would another Jim Edgar gubernatorial run re-energize the party? Phil Ponce and his guests, Greg Hinz and Kristen McQueary, weigh in on the GOP disarray. WTTW's 50th Birthday We'll have parody from Second City and poetry from Gwendolyn Brooks as Rich Samuels continues his look at the earliest years of WTTW.

News Analysis with Phil Ponce Last week, the FBI issued a vague warning to Chicago about the possibility of terrorists using fuel-tanker trucks as downtown weapons. How vulnerable is Chicago to such an attack? Phil Ponce and his guests assess the threat. Guests: Matthew Lippman, University of Illinois at Chicago; Aaron Gellman, Kellogg School of Management.

New Corruption Charges U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald claims that $137,000 in bribes were given in exchange for $8 million worth of park district business - the scheme involving a former park district official and a mundelein landscape firm. Rich Samuels has the details.

This week on Chicago Sunday Host Phil Ponce talks with State Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R – Elgin) about his run for Governor. A rare behind the scenes look at The Lion King. Artbeat correspondent Fawn Ring talks to the local actor cast as the evil lion "Scar" and watches as he transforms himself into the character.

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Media giants John Johnson and Peter Jennings remembered, President Bush comes to Illinois to sign the federal transportation bill, Mayor Daley tight-lipped about his 2007 election plans, gas prices on the rise again, the White Sox take on the world-champion Red Sox, and the Cubs season slipping away. Guests:

Gas Prices Gas and crude oil prices have reached record highs. We'll talk with the Chicago AAA motor club to get some answers on why we're paying so much and what we can do to bring down our expenses.

News analysis with Elizabeth Brackett President Bush came to Illinois today to sign the massive $286 billion transportation bill. What's in it for Chicago area commuters? Elizabeth Brackett finds out as she's joined by Congressman Danny Davis, Congresswoman Judy Biggert, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Tim Martin.

The Mayor in the hot seat Chicago's Mayor Daley says he's as eager as anyone to rid City Hall of corruption. Rich Samuels reports on his honor who held his own in a sparring match with reporters today.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez spoke at the American Bar Association Convention today in Chicago. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel discuss the top legal stories on the agenda. Crain's Chicago Business What is Chicago doing to try to draw more convention business to the city? Crain's Chicago Business on-line editor Michael McHugh joins Phil to discuss that and the latest business headlines.

This week on Chicago Sunday: Host Phil Ponce talks with Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer who is starring as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the Chicago production of Wicked at the Oriental theatre. Rich Samuels interviews the national championship winning women of the Chicago Rowing Center and hears the story of why they are being forced to vacate their practice waters.

Discussion of current affairs.

New Corruption Charges U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald claims that $137,000 in bribes were given in exchange for $8 million worth of park district business - the scheme involving a former park district official and a mundelein landscape firm. Rich Samuels has the details.

War on Corruption The war on public corruption being waged by the U.S. Attorney's office has snared a millionaire businessman and two prominent Chicago attorneys. It's all part of a bigger investigation into Illinois state boards. Eddie Arruza reports on Patrick Fitzgerald's latest targets.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Mayor Daley announces five new cabinet members as his administration retools in the face of a federal investigation. Eddie Arruza reports on who the new top level managers are, and then Elizabeth Brackett and her panel take a closer look at the changing face of the daley administration. Guests: Abdon Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times; Carlos Hernandez Gomez, WBEZ-FM; and Dick Kay WMAQ-TV.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett The guilty plea of the former number two man in the water department, Donald Tomczak brought the federal investigation into city hall corruption a lot closer to the mayor's office. Elizabeth Brackett and her guests, Laura Washington and Jay Stewart, look at the latest city hall developments.

This Week on Chicago Sunday: Host Phil Ponce talks with Gary Johnson, who was recently named president of the Chicago Historical Society. The Art Institute is home to the world-famous painting "American Gothic," which has inspired more parodies than you can count. We'll look at the origins of this well-known image and the light-hearted spoofs it has endured.

Chicago Sunday with guest Barack Obama.

Obama on Friday Night Show.

2004 Candidate Forum.

2004 Barack Obama Profile.

The Blagojevich archive takes us back 2004, when Rod Blagojevich was our guest on Chicago Tonight's "Friday Night Show."

2004 primary race for the U.S. Senate.

2004 Democratic Senate Debate.