For years President Obama would receive daily devotional messages on his Blackberry. They were scriptures, quotes and short stories…all words of encouragement and inspiration which the president himself said “meant the world." Now you can read some of the daily devotionals in a new book called The President’s Devotional.  The book’s author, Joshua DuBois joins us to share some of the President’s favorite scriptures, and the words of reinforcement that got the President through tough times.

Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones joins us to talk about his new book, Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater as Seen by Chicago Tribune Critics. Read excerpts from the book.

Same-sex marriage passed both chambers on Tuesday in Springfield and is now waiting to be signed by Governor Quinn. State Representative Greg Harris, one of the key sponsors of the bill, joins us from the Chicago Sun-Times Springfield bureau with the latest.

Chris Hadfield’s journey from Canadian test pilot to commander of the International Space Station is a story of determination and hard work. He joins us to talk about his new autobiography,  An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. Read excerpts from the book, and watch web extra videos.

Going into the final week of the veto session in Springfield, the big ticket items on the docket were pension reform, same-sex marriage and mandatory minimums. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us with the latest details.

A restoration pioneer celebrates 30 years of working in the forest preserves. Elizabeth Brackett has the story. Read an article.

Just how long have the antique-looking Chicago streetlights been burning? Geoffrey Baer reveals the age of these beauties in this week’s edition of Ask Geoffrey.

Chicago Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss joins us to review shows currently on Chicago area stages. Learn more about the plays, and watch Hedy's web extra video review.

The Illinois House narrowly approved the same-sex marriage bill that passed in the senate earlier this year. Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney joins us to with the latest.

Influential chef Charlie Trotter, whose culinary skills and eponymous Chicago restaurant became world famous, died today at the age of 54. We take a look back at his celebrated career and the impact he had on the world of fine cuisine with three chefs who trained under Trotter. Watch a web extra video from our archives.

We look at the contribution Chef Charlie Trotter made to the Chicago fine dining scene with journalist Louisa Chu, food contributor for WBEZ and host of weekly podcast, Chewing the Fat, writer David Tamarkin, media director for Chef Rick Bayless and editor of Middlewest magazine, and Chicago magazine executive editor Jennifer Tanaka.
 

Chicago Transit Authority and Ventra officials promise a quick fix to the new Ventra system. How? Paris Schutz has the details.

Researchers at two local universities are looking into how poverty impacts young minds. We have the story. Learn more about the studies, and view a photo gallery.