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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.

Governor Quinn delivered his first State of the State address this afternoon. Eddie Arruza has some highlights from the speech and tells us what some are saying about his remarks.

Carol Marin and her panel take a look at the primary races that are heating up.

We look at the local reaction to yesterday's devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Financial columnist Terry Savage offers tips and insights about managing your money in 2010.

Is too much Oprah a bad thing? The Chicago author of the new book Living Oprah spent a year living every aspect of her life according to the direction of the Queen of Talk. She shares some of the surprising things she discovered. Living Oprah Blog Robyn Okrant

Chicago's own electro-pop group Breakers Broken performs live in our studio.

Will there be a health care reform bill on the President's desk this month? Is there another stimulus plan on the horizon? How is the Afghanistan surge working? Elizabeth Brackett asks the man working on the answers to all of those questions -- Senator Dick Durbin.

Heated racial rhetoric has dominated the headlines lately. From Rod Blagojevich's apology for saying that he is "blacker than Barack Obama" to Senator Harry Reid's comments in 2008 about the advantages of the President Obama's light skin and lack of a "Negro dialect," we continue the dialogue on race sparked by recent controversies. "Was it Racism? 2009" -- The Chicago Reporter