Good morning!

Welcome to this edition of the Morning Drive Podcast!

Today’s news:

►Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel followed through on his promise of no new taxes or fees Wednesday as he announced his proposal for the city’s 2013 budget.

►One of the last two sea otters rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska’s coast in 1989 has been euthanized at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, officials said Wednesday.

►A downstate Illinois judge ruled against the closure of seven state facilities Wednesday, which includes two prisons and two juvenile centers and three adult transition centers.

►Cook County’s proposed tax on guns and ammunition is getting mixed reviews from gun store owners.

Featured in the podcast:

►Let the questions begin!  Beginning next week, aldermen can get Mayor Emanuel’s top staff on the record about the budget and also about city services. But who REALLY asks the questions, and do some aldermen keep their lips zipped?

And your WEATHER for today: Mostly sunny then becoming partly sunny late this afternoon. Still windy like yesterday, but warmer, highs in the mid 60s. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour. Tonight, mostly cloudy in the evening, then becoming partly cloudy. Pretty chilly - lows in the lower 30s in the outlying areas to mid 40s downtown. Patchy frost possible in the west and north suburbs toward morning.

Friday, partly cloudy in the morning then clearing, cooler, highs in the mid 50s except lower 50s near the lake. Friday night, clear in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows from the lower 40s to the upper 40s downtown.

Music in the podcast brought to you by Frightened Rabbit. They are scheduled to play Lincoln Hall tonight.

Also don’t forget, you can listen to all the jams we add to The Morning Drive on this playlist…

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