Michael Roberts sits down with David England, retired Finance Professor at John A. Logan College, to discuss the ramifications surrounding the steep drop in oil prices, as well as a spike in prices for gold, and the final results of Mr. England's challenge with CNBC's Jim Cramer.

Bryce Hill, Director of Fiscal and Economic Research at The Illinois Policy Institute, joins The Morning Newswatch.

State Representative Brandon Phelps spoke with Tom Miller about the many pieces of legislation being proposed and passed, while lawmakers are working to reach a bipartisan agreement on a state budget before the legislative session ends.