Stories by WTTW News

Chicago Tax Hikes? Mayor Daley is zeroing in on tax and fee hikes for Chicagoans. Rich Samuels tells us where the increases may come. News Analysis with Christian Farr Cell phone giant Nokia just bought NAVTEQ, a Chicago-based digital mapping company, for more than $8 billion. Christian Farr and his panel look at what the mega-deal means to the average cell phone user. Guests: Roger Crockett, Eric Benderoff

Sales Tax Hike? Is Chicago about to have the highest sales tax in the nation? The Cook County board took up the issue today. Rich Samuels tells us what happened. News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett The Chicago Cubs are on their way to Arizona in hopes of advancing in the playoffs. The team clinched the National League Central championship this weekend. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel size up the team and their chances. Guests: John McDonough, Cubs president; Lester Munson, ESPN; Randy Hundley, former Cubs star

Phil Ponce guest hosts on 98.7 WFMT, Friday at 4:30 pm. Be sure to tune in for some musical surprises! Click here for live streaming video of Chicago City Council meetings (when in session) The Week in Review at 7pm

Phil Ponce guest hosts on 98.7 WFMT, Friday at 4:30 pm. Be sure to tune in for some musical surprises! Click here for live streaming video of Chicago City Council meetings (when in session) News Analysis with Eddie Arruza

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett What will happen to your property tax bills over the next three years? That depends on what choices legislators make in Springfield next week. The Cook County assessor tells us why he thinks his plan is the best deal for taxpayers. Guests: James Houlihan, Doug Whitley

Presidential Candidates in Town The leading Democratic candidates for president were in town today. Christian Farr tells us who they were trying to impress. News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett GM workers are on strike for the first time since 1970. Union officials say workers' jobs and benefits must be protected. What impact will the strike have on the Chicago area's economy? Guests: Robert Bruno, David Moberg, Bob Reed

Cubs Fever Cubs fever is gripping Chicago. We'll hear from Cubs president John McDonough who sat down with Phil Ponce today at Wrigley Field. News Analysis with Christian Farr The so-called "Jena 6" of Jena, Louisiana, have sparked debates across the country about the lingering inequalities of race. But does hate crime legislation help or hurt the cause? Christian Farr and his panel take a closer look. Guests: Laura Washington, Ralph Conner

The Week in Review at 7pm The battle over the proposed Grant Park Children's Museum rages on, Governor Blagojevich betting on three new casinos to bail out the CTA, Aurora residents protest a new Planned Parenthood site, drivers brace for repairs on the Edens Expressway next week, Chicago gridlock the second worst in the nation, the Cubs playoff hopes coming down to the wire, and the Bears get ready for the Dallas Cowboys. Guests:

Gigi Pritzker on Children's Museum Controversy Gigi Pritzker, president of the Chicago Children's Museum board, joins us to explain why it's important for the museum to move to Grant Park. News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Is an expansion of gaming the way out of Illinois's budget woes? The governor seems to have turned around and given his blessing to the idea. Eddie Arruza and his panel weigh in. Guests: Judy Baar Topinka, Doug Dobmeyer, Chris Fusco

News Analysis with Carol Marin Should the Chicago Children's Museum move to Grant Park? Carol Marin continues that debate tonight, after an unprecedented response to our coverage of the story yesterday. Sun-Times' Cruickshank Leaving Chicago The man who guided the Chicago Sun-Times through a tumultuous time riddled with scandal and financial mismanagement is moving on. Outgoing Sun-Times publisher John Cruickshank talks about what's next for him.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Mayor Daley yesterday suggested racism may be behind the opposition to the Chicago Children's Museum's move to Grant Park. But critics say the lakefront is public space and should remain so. Elizabeth Brackett tackles the issue with a representative from the Chicago Children's Museum and Alderman Brendan Reilly, whose ward includes Grant Park.

Edens Construction We'll hear from the Illinois Department of Transportation for some details of what the massive fall update of the expressway will mean for commuters.

The Week in Review at 7 pm CTA doomsday cuts averted this week but the agency is ripped for last year's Blue Line derailment, a jury convicts all of the defendants in the Family Secrets mob trial, Rosemont betting on a casino again, the Chicago Reader and Daily Herald announce layoffs, the Cubs battling to stay in first-place, and the Bears gear up for the Kansas City Chiefs. Guests:

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Tonight, right after our show, President Bush will address the nation on the subject of Iraq. But before then, Eddie Arruza and his panel will discuss whether U.S. troops can really leave Iraq any time soon. Polaris Charter Academy Chicago's newest charter school is celebrating its first week being open. Christian Farr tells us how it went, and explains why these teachers decided to open up this innovative school.

News Analysis with Carol Marin The Chicago Transit Authority is on the brink of a nightmare scenario of fare hikes and job and service cuts if help does not come in the form of funds from Springfield. Carol Marin and her panel will examine the way forward for mass transit in Chicago. Guests include State Sen. John Cullerton and State Rep. Brent Hassert.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett As the nation reflects on 9/11, how close are we to bringing the troops home from Iraq? Elizabeth Brackett talks to Rep. Mark Kirk and Rep. Dan Lipinski to find out the latest. Chicago on 9/11/01 On the night of September 11, 2001, we expanded our then-30-minute broadcast to an hour and analyzed the news in a variety of ways. We'll look back at what it was like in Chicago that day, with a story filed by our Rich Samuels that evening.

News Analysis with Carol Marin It's five guilty verdicts on all counts in the Family Secrets trial case against reputed Chicago mobsters. Carol Marin and her panel take a closer look at the significance of the verdict. Guests: Len Cavise, Patrick Collins Bears Alumni Club The NFC champion Chicago Bears start the new season with a thud. Tonight on our first Bears Alumni Club of the season, we'll talk about the game and look ahead.

The Week in Review at 7pm Oprah Winfrey throwing a multi-million dollar fundraiser for Senator Obama, CTA funding derailed again, DePaul University fires a controversial professor, the new school year begins, Chicago cabbies demanding a 24% fare hike, the Cubs battling to stay in first-place, and the Bears open the season against the Chargers. Guests:

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza The great Luciano Pavarotti almost singlehandedly brought opera to the masses. He also had strong ties to Chicago where he thrilled audiences and created controversy. Eddie Arruza and his panel look back at the amazing career of the larger-than-life tenor. Guests: William Mason, Richard Drews, Norm Pellegrini

New Air Quality Rules? The EPA is proposing new rules for air quality here, but Chicago activists say the new rules are not strict enough. Elizabeth Brackett was at the EPA hearings today and has the latest.

Olympics in Chicago? The U.S. Olympic Committee made it official today, submitting Chicago as its choice to host the 2016 Olympics. Rich Samuels has details on the city's marathon quest to bring the games back to the U.S. News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett Lawmakers are weighing a mass transit bill in Springfield. Will the CTA, Metra and Pace finally get the funding they've been pleading for? Elizabeth Brackett and her panel have the latest. Guests: George Ranney, Joe Ryan, John Norquist

The Week in Review at 7pm The bad blood between Governor Blagojevich and Michael Madigan was boiling again this week, Mayor Daley holds a downtown rally for CTA funding, we'll take a closer look at the wild real estate market, a new study says a quarter of Illinoisans are obese, the Cubs battling to stay in first-place, and Bears rookie Greg Olsen injured in preseason loss to the Browns. Guests:

Governor's Health Plan Governor Blagojevich began his promised expansion of health-care coverage today — without legislative approval. Rich Samuels has the details.

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza Time is running out for public transit in Chicago. Can state legislators agree on a new funding plan to keep the CTA from going through with its doomsday warnings? Eddie Arruza and his panel look at where we stand on a bail-out of our area's embattled transit system. Guests: Kevin O'Neil, State Rep. Julie Hamos, State Rep. Brent Hassert, John Filan Remembering Florence Scala Florence Scala died yesterday at the age of 88. Rich Samuels look back at one one of Chicago's greatest community activists.

Gun Shop Protest Rev. Michael Pfleger and Rev. Jesse Jackson marched on a suburban weapons manufacturer today. Rich Samuels brings us both sides of that story. News Analysis with Eddie Arruza The ongoing feud between Governor Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan escalated today. Blagojevich is suing Madigan over special budget sessions. Eddie Arruza and his panel have the latest.

Gonzales Resigns Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned today. We'll talk with constitutional scholar Robert Bennett about the circumstances surrounding the justice department.