Good morning!

Welcome to this edition of the Morning Drive Podcast!  In today's episode, WBEZ’s Tony Arnold looks at the Illinois Republicans’ hopes for this year – when they have so much working against them.

Today's news:

►Blago powerbroker William Cellini's sentence was announced yesterday.

Featured in the podcast:

►Illinois Republicans hope to win the majority in our state legislature

And your WEATHER for today: Partly cloudy. High of 55..

Tonight, A brisk low of 37 with clear skies.

This weekend, partly cloudy skies with highs in the low-to-mid 50's.

Today's featured music is Junior Brown.  He'll be at Fitzgerald's tomorrow night.