Stories by WTTW News

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Mayoral candidates lining up, Mayor Daley still coy about his election plans, the changing face of State Street, AT&T hiking phone rates, Chicago Public Schools set to open next week, the White Sox nab wild-card lead, and Bears QB Rex Grossman finally finds the end zone. Guests:

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown is now a mayoral candidate. Rich Samuels reports on Brown's political career and then Eddie Arruza goes one-on-one with her to find out why she's running and what she would do as mayor of Chicago. Illiniwek We'll have the latest on perhaps the final chapter of the ongoing controversy about the University of Illinois mascot, Chief Illiniwek.

News Analysis with Carol Marin It appears Mayor Richard Daley is ready to run for reelection next year although he's yet to say so officially. Chicago Housing Authority Chief Terry Peterson announced today that he's taking a leave of absence to run Mayor Daley's re-election campaign. Carol Marin and her panel raise the curtain on the race for mayor. Guests: Cliff Kelley, WVON radio; Laura Washington, Chicago Sun-Times; Carlos Hernandez Gomez, CLTV.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent Paul Salopek is being held in the Sudan on charges of espionage. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel discuss the perils of reporting abroad. Political Hiring Interim Cook County Board President Bobby Steele bans political hiring. Rich Samuels will be here with the latest on allegations of clout at the county building.

News Analysis with Carol Marin Nearly 1,300 people have been hired by Cook County this year in spite of a hiring freeze. Who was behind these new hires made after former board president John Stroger's stroke? Carol Marin and her panel discuss the latest mystery coming out of the Cook County offices. Guests: Commissioner Mike Quigley, Alderman Todd Stroger, Commissioner Tony Peraica.

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Judy Baar Topinka proposes a Chicago casino, city foie gras battle rages, Northwestern students stand up to the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Chicago's CD rates extremely attractive, McDonald's #2 man resigns, the Sox get ready for a wild-card showdown with the Twins, and Bears running back Cedric Benson turned in by his teammates. Guests:

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Can a Chicago casino begin to solve the state's school funding problems? Republican candidate for governor Judy Baar Topinka thinks so. Her opponent does not. Eddie Arruza and his panel look at gambling as a source for education funding in Illinois. Guests: Bruce Dold, Ralph Martire, Doug Dobmeyer

Topinka Plan Republican candidate for Governor Judy Baar Topinka unveils a major school funding plan but her democratic opponent says her numbers don't add up. Eddie Arruza will have details.

Cook County Debrief Will Cook County join the city in getting a federal monitor overseeing its hiring practices? That's what Republican candidate for Cook County Board President is demanding. Eddie Arruza will have the latest on alleged patronage hiring at the county level. News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Mayor Daley weighs in on the city ban on foie gras. Elizabeth Brackett's panel includes the alderman who proposed the ban. Guests: Ald. Joseph Moore, Chris Robling, Paul Green

Obama in Africa Illinois' U.S. Senator Barack Obama has visited Nelson Mandela's prison cell. We'll be joined on the phone by Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet, who is in South Africa, travelling with the senator on his journey through the continent.

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Democrats bicker at state fair, deportation battle at local church, former alderman Ed Vrdolyak targeted by the feds, downtown condo sales tank, statewide ACT scores on the rise, more than 10,000 public school kids homeless, the Sox get ready for the Twins, and the PGA championship tees off at Medinah. Guests:

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza An undocumented immigrant facing deportation has taken refuge in a Chicago church. Now her plight has turned into a rallying cry for immigration reform. Is she the Rosa Parks of immigration reform? Or a law-breaker who should be deported? Eddie Arruza and his panel will take that up. Friday Night Preview John Callaway talks to former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Chicago's oldest black-oriented radio station is getting a major boost. WVON's president Melody Spann-Cooper joins us to takl about her station's big plans. Shady Oaks Camp We'll visit Shady Oaks Camp in the far southwest suburbs, a home-away-from-home for campers with cerebral palsy.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Chicago now has the highest gas prices in the nation. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel discuss the reasons why. Guests: David Sykuta, Rebecca Stanfield

Phil Ponce is off tonight. News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Marshall Field's has started easing into its new Macy's moniker. Eddie Arruza and his panel of experts debate whether it's a good fit for Chicago. Guests: Ellen Warren, Louis Stern Critic for a Day We review the Oliver Stone movie "World Trade Center" with film critic, Bruce Ingram. Artbeat With this ring... you know it's summertime at the Chicago Botanic Garden. We'll climb inside the Carillon to meet the "lord of the rings".

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Chicago on alert after foiled terrorist plot, Cabrini-Green shooting opens racial wounds, the business community finally raising money for Judy Baar Topinka, Lowe's joins big-box battle, the U.S. Olympic Committee gives Chicago some advice, Dusty Baker not sure he wants to manage the Cubs next year, and the Sox try to tame the first-place Tigers. Guests:

Terror Plot Foiled News today of a foiled terror plot on multiple airlines is impacting Chicago's airports. Elizabeth Brackett reports on today's long security lines, and the first O'Hare arrivals from Heathrow talk about their security checks and delays. News Analysis with Eddie Arruza State and local officials say Chicago was not a target of the disrupted terror plot. We'll have a report on those statements. And Eddie Arruza and his panel look at what is being done to keep the city safe, and what is fueling the fire of terrorism.

Olympics Bid The United States Olympic Committee met with Chicago business leader Pat Ryan and others today to polish Chicago's Olympic bid. A stadium large enough for opening and closing ceremonies remains Chicago's biggest problem. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

Chicago Tonight has the night off so we can bring you Chicago Sky basketball from the WNBA. Please be sure to tune in tomorrow night!

Durbin & Obama In a speech before AFSCME today, Sen. Barack Obama, sounding very much like a presidential candidate, blasted the Bush administration for fostering a society in which everyone is out for themselves. Sen. Dick Durbin also addressed the delegates, attacking the Bush administration for its handling of the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina. Elizabeth Brackett reports.

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review A heat wave and severe storms batter Chicago, Target balks at big-box ordinance, a new push for a property tax cap, work finally starts on Block 37, Bobbie Steele takes over the Cook County Board, Mayor Daley in a war of words with Rev. Meeks, and the Cubs trade future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. Guests:

Big Box Consequences Target is threatening to pull out of a south side development if the mayor doesn't veto the "big box" ordinance. Rich Samuels reports on today's developments.

Well-Being Checks For yet another day, high temperatures are making life unbearable for many in Chicago, especially older residents. Christian Farr followed members of Chicago's Department of Human Services today, as they checked up on the elderly to make sure they are safe in this heat.

Chicago Tonight has the night off so we can bring you Chicago Sky basketball from the WNBA. Please be sure to tune in tomorrow night!

Update on Cardinal George's Health Cardinal Francis received good news from his pathologist today in the wake of his surgery last week. Rich Samuels tells us why the Cardinal's doctors are now calling him a "cancer survivor" rather than a "cancer victim".

Chicago Tonight: The Week in Review Big-box wage ordinance passes, Chicago aldermen vote themselves a pay raise, city housing bubble loosing air, Chicago survives Olympic cut, United Airlines finally turns a profit, and the White Sox stumbling. Guests: