We speak with Blaine Elementary principal Troy LaRaviere about his recent op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times and the overwhelming response he has received from colleagues about the Chicago Public Schools' administration and its treatment of employees.

Springfield bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times Dave McKinney joins us to discuss all the latest action in Springfield, where things stand for Gov. Quinn’s proposed budget and the latest on efforts to pass pension reform for Cook County workers.

Winners of the James Beard Foundation Awards were announced last week and Chicago’s chefs, restaurants earned four top honors. Beard winners Dave Beran and Jimmy Bannos Jr., join us tonight. 

After smoke led an Elgin radar facility to be evacuated, all inbound and outbound flights were stopped at O'Hare International and Midway airports, according to the Associated Press. 

State legislation allowing psychologists to prescribe medication drugs was approved in a House committee vote last week and now moves on to the full House for further debate. Tonight, we take a look at the controversial bill and debate the pros, cons. Learn more and read the full bill.

“The White Snake” chronicles the tale of a gentle serpent spirit who transforms herself one day into a beautiful young woman and travels down to the world of humans. So begins Mary Zimmerman’s interpretation of the classic Chinese fable into a spectacular Goodman Theatre production. See a slideshow from the play. 

Like most big cities, Chicago has a rat problem. Exterminators and local municipalities do their best to make a dent, but now there's a new approach to rodent control that is actually quite old. 

Elizabeth Brackett, Eddie Arruza and Brandis Friedman participated in the Chicago Community Trust initiative called On the Table. Last night they hosted three dinner-and-discussion forums.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis discusses her opposition to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s re-election, who she would like to see run against him, the union’s proposal for a new tax on financial transactions and much more. 

As student loan debt spirals out of control, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin pushes legislation to lower interest rates and save individual borrowers thousands. 

The Cook County Forest Preserve District makes its biggest land purchase in nearly 50 years snapping up a foreclosed 400 acre horse farm in Barrington Hills.  We look at how the Forest Preserve was able to afford the $14.5 million property and what it might become. 

Coming off the worst defensive season in Chicago Bears history, it's no surprise General Manager Phil Emery used this year's draft to beef up the team's defense. Read an interview with the Bears new signee and former Northern Illinois University quarterback, Jordan Lynch.

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