News Analysis with Carol Marin
House Speaker Michael Madigan seems to be laying the groundwork for a casino in Chicago. Carol Marin discusses that possibility with her panel of House legislators. Guests: State Rep. Paul Froehlich; State Rep. Jim Durkin; State Rep. Kenneth Dunkin; and State Rep. Sidney Mathias
Contact your state legislators

Chicago Transit Crisis
Mayor Daley was but one voice calling on legislators to pass a funding plan to avert next Sunday's CTA cutbacks. Rich Samuels tells us what's likely to happen in Springfield.

Power to Recall Governor Blagojevich?
Should Illinois citizens have the power to remove a governor - specifically Governor Blagojevich?  The Chicago Tribune thinks so and called for just that in an editorial yesterday. Carol Marin talks with editorial page editor Bruce Dold.
Read the Tribune editorial

Wrigley Field Facelift
The sight of Wrigley Field in ruins may upset die-hard Cubs fans.  Even worse to them may be that the White Sox head groundskeeper is redesigning the field.  We talked to the "sod-father" and Cubs management about the project. 

Bears Alumni Club
There's more bad news for Chicago sports fans.  The Bears once again fall short of victory.  Emery Moorehead joins us in the studio.

Critic for a Day
Comic actor Steve Carell takes a turn for the dramatic in the new movie, Dan in Real Life. Our "critic for a day" is "The Fixer," Sun-Times columnist Stephanie Zimmerman.

Viewer Mail
We'll reach into the viewer mailbag to get your feedback to some of our recent stories.

Later this week on Chicago Tonight:
Photographer Victor Skrebneski, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, scientist J. Craig Venter

News Analysis
Momentum is gathering in Springfield for casino expansion. Elizabeth Brackett and her panel examine what some believe are the many social ills we could face if new casinos are in the cards. Guests: Doug Dobmeyer, Nancy Duel, Wayne Burdick
Outreach Foundation for problem and compulsive gamblers

Mandatory "Superbug" Screening
The so-called “superbug” known as MRSA is most often transmitted in healthcare settings. Loyola Medical Center announced yesterday that it will soon begin mandatory screening of all patients. Is it worth it, or a waste of money? Guest: Dr. Lance Peterson, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

Chicago Matters
There are two Mexican consulates in Chicago representing that country's opposing political parties. In tonight's installment of our Chicago Matters series on immigration, Eddie Arruza explores the purpose of the "unofficial" consulate.

Chicago Bloggers
We'll examine the growing phenomenon of online blogging.  Three Chicago news bloggers tell us what's making big headlines this week on their websites.
Gapers Block
Chicagoist
CTA Tattler

Hidden Chicago
Geoffrey Baer takes a look back at the days when Lincoln Park was a cemetery. It was emptied more than 100 years ago, but some of the departed never left.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers tours of Graceland, Rosehill and Oak Woods Cemeteries.  Click on “Tours,” then browse “Tours by Name."
Click here for information about artist Pamela Bannos, her website and her web-based art project about the history of City Cemetery

Commentary
Debra Pickett
Cook County Board information
City of Chicago Budget Hearings Schedule

Later this week on Chicago Tonight:
Photographer Victor Skrebneski, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, Studs Terkel

News Analysis with Carol Marin
Responding to public and aldermanic pressure, Mayor Daley says he's scaling back his request for a property tax hike. Rich Samuels has the latest on next year's city budget and then Carol Marin and her panel explore what's behind the mayor's recent moodiness. Guests: Bob Crawford, former political editor at WBBM Newsradio 780 and Cate Plys columnist at the Beachwood Reporter.

Newspaper Ordinance
There’s something about some Chicago's newspapers that you probably don't know.  As of last February, the city council voted to reduce littering by making it illegal to have unbundled stacks of publications around the city.  This ordinance applies mostly to Chicago's fifty or so free publications. But publishers of those papers say this makes distribution impossible and could be the first step on a slippery slope that infringes on their first amendment rights.  Phil talks to first ward Alderman Manny Flores who was one of the co-authors of the ordinance and Ron Roenigk, publisher of the free publications Inside and Inside Lincoln Park.

Therapeutic Riding
Human beings have figured out all kinds of ways to put horses to work.  They pull heavy loads for us.  They help us rustle cattle. And they run so fast that we have great fun betting on them.  In recent years we have even asked horses to be therapists.  It turns out that for many people with physical or developmental disabilities, horses can be very therapeutic.  Chicago Tonight producer Jay Shefsky visited one therapeutic riding program Strides, in Lockport, Illinois and reports for us. For a list of therapeutic riding centers in Illinois click here.

Victor Skrebneski
One of the world’s most renowned photographers has been extremely busy lately, with two new books and a brand new exhibit.  Phil talks with the one and only Victor Skrebneski.

Crabtree Studios
The sculptural objects and functional art expo better known as SOFA opens this weekend at Navy Pier.  It’s an exhibition bridging craftsmen and fine art designers from around the world.  This year SOFA welcomes some farm-raised, functional art from one of the state’s oldest working farms.  Christian Farr reports on the Artbeat.

Melissa Ferrick
Singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick performs music from her critically acclaimed, folk-rock album, In the Eyes of Strangers.

Later this week on Chicago Tonight:
Craig Venter

News Analysis with Eddie Arruza
Things are moving quickly in Springfield for a possible casino in Chicago. But should it happen without the input of Chicago residents? Eddie Arruza talks to Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and the mayor of Elgin, which has the most profitable casino in the state.
Tell us and legislators what you think of a casino in Chicago

Dan Hynes
The state's chief fiscal officer is not happy with what he says are egos in Springfield.  State Comptroller Dan Hynes joins us in the studio to tell us what's on his mind.
Tell us and legislators  what you think of the Springfield stalemate
Read Dan Hynes' fable

Cal-Sag Rowing
It's full speed ahead on the Cal-Sag Channel where Rich Samuels shows us that Chicago's loss is Blue Island's gain. You may want to take in the regatta this Sunday.
Information on Sunday’s event in Blue Island
Chicago Rowing Center 

Studs Terkel
We'll preview John Callaway's "Friday Night" interview with Chicago icon, Studs Terkel.

Artbeat
Every time Rita Simo told people she wanted to start a free music school, they told her she was crazy. Now  the People's Music School is more than 30 years old.  We'll pay them a visit.

Check, Please! Supper Club
We'll head to the River North district for a tasty and playful menu item from David Burke's Primehouse restaurant.
Recipe for Lobster Salad

Viewer Mail

Next week on Chicago Tonight:
Scientist J. Craig Venter, Allison Rosati, Food Network's the Hearty Boys, plus the best pizza in Chicago!

The Week in Review with Joel Weisman at 7pm
Lawmakers wrestling with the transit budget crisis, Mayor Daley unveiling a scaled down city budget on Monday, former Governor George Ryan may be heading to jail next week, we’ll take a closer look at crime coverage in the media, Oprah Winfrey dealing with a sex scandal at her South African girls school, big changes on the local radio landscape, Bulls general manager John Paxson shoots down Kobe Bryant trade rumors, and Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher battling a bad back and the local media.

Guests
Norm Van Lier - Comcast SportsNet
Stacey Baca - ABC 7 News
Mary Ann Ahern - NBC 5 News
Steve Rhodes - The Beachwood Reporter

Friday Night with John Callaway at 7:30pm

John sits down with Chicago icon Studs Terkel who has just written a new memoir called Touch and Go.