Connected To Chicago - 06-21-15 - This week's newsmaker is Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He and Bill Cameron discuss getting booed at the Blackhawks' rally, the F-bomb defense, and the Springfield standoff. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. Topics include the F-bomb as well as the boos at Rahm, also the state budget saga in Springfield, Donald Trump announcing his candidacy for president, Mark Kirk's issued apology for his "bro with no ho" remark, Dick Durbin calling for guns to stay out of the hands of felons and the mentally unstable, and the rising support for Bernie Sanders. Finally John Dempsey recaps the Blackhawks' 3rd Stanley Cup win in 6 years.

Connected To Chicago - 06-21-15 - This week's newsmaker is Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He and Bill Cameron discuss getting booed at the Blackhawks' rally, the F-bomb defense, and the Springfield standoff. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. Topics include the F-bomb as well as the boos at Rahm, also the state budget saga in Springfield, Donald Trump announcing his candidacy for president, Mark Kirk's issued apology for his "bro with no ho" remark, Dick Durbin calling for guns to stay out of the hands of felons and the mentally unstable, and the rising support for Bernie Sanders. Finally John Dempsey recaps the Blackhawks' 3rd Stanley Cup win in 6 years.

Connected To Chicago - 06-14-15 - This week's newsmaker is Cook County Commissioner for the 10th District, Bridget Gainer. She gives her thoughts on Senator Mark Kirk's comment about Lindsey Graham. She also addresses the need for pension reform, Bruce Rauner's action on the budget issue, and county funding from gambling and sales tax. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. They dive into how Kirk's comments will influence his reelection campaign next year. And the Springfield impasse. Finally Nick Gale speaks with Loren Dinneen, program manager of the 1000 Jobs for Chicagoland Manufacturing Campaign about their efforts to get veterans and others employed.

Connected To Chicago - 06-14-15 - This week's newsmaker is Cook County Commissioner for the 10th District, Bridget Gainer. She gives her thoughts on Senator Mark Kirk's comment about Lindsey Graham. She also addresses the need for pension reform, Bruce Rauner's action on the budget issue, and county funding from gambling and sales tax. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. They dive into how Kirk's comments will influence his reelection campaign next year. And the Springfield impasse. Finally Nick Gale speaks with Loren Dinneen, program manager of the 1000 Jobs for Chicagoland Manufacturing Campaign about their efforts to get veterans and others employed.

Connected To Chicago - 06-07-15 - This week on "Connected to Chicago" John Dempsey sits in for Bill Cameron and addresses the State of Illinois financial crisis with Ralph Martire, of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Martire strongly believes Illinois is undertaxed, not overtaxed, and that the state's biggest problem is a lack of revenue, not excessive spending. Plus, Crain's Chicago Business Greg Hinz and the Sun Times Lynn Sweet talk to John about the first identification of an alleged sex abuse victim of Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Finally, Jennifer recaps the Takata airbag recall hearing.

Connected To Chicago - 06-07-15 - This week on "Connected to Chicago" John Dempsey sits in for Bill Cameron and addresses the State of Illinois financial crisis with Ralph Martire, of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. Martire strongly believes Illinois is undertaxed, not overtaxed, and that the state's biggest problem is a lack of revenue, not excessive spending. Plus, Crain's Chicago Business Greg Hinz and the Sun Times Lynn Sweet talk to John about the first identification of an alleged sex abuse victim of Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Finally, Jennifer recaps the Takata airbag recall hearing.

Connected To Chicago - 05-31-15 - This week's newsmaker is Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. Bill Cameron discusses with her the indictment this past week of Denny Hastert. She also talks about her Deferred Prosecution Program that encourages the reformation over incarceration of small time non-violent offenders, many of which are minor drug and prostitution charges. Should domestic terrorism be charged to those involved in street violence? And her reelection campaign. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. They give their take on the Denny Hastert indictment, as well as the latest turbulence in Springfield, and the 2016 senate race. Finally John Dempsey reflects on the Bulls' coach firing.

Connected To Chicago - 05-31-15 - This week's newsmaker is Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. Bill Cameron discusses with her the indictment this past week of Denny Hastert. She also talks about her Deferred Prosecution Program that encourages the reformation over incarceration of small time non-violent offenders, many of which are minor drug and prostitution charges. Should domestic terrorism be charged to those involved in street violence? And her reelection campaign. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. They give their take on the Denny Hastert indictment, as well as the latest turbulence in Springfield, and the 2016 senate race. Finally John Dempsey reflects on the Bulls' coach firing.

Connected To Chicago - 05-24-15 - This week's newsmaker is Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. He discusses the state budget forecast. What will Governor Rauner do with an out of balance budget? Also will a casino in Chicago be a new source of revenue for the state? Is there a pension fix that might work? And the "Millionaire's Tax" that didn't pass because of three democrats. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. They give their take on the state budget issue in Springfield as well as discussing Dick Durbin bucking President Obama on trade, the bipartisan issues surrounding the NSA, the money flow through The College of DuPage and the University of Illinois, and the now 17 Republican presidential hopefuls for 2016. Finally Nick Gale takes a look at a local effort to help the people in Nepal after the country was devastated by two earthquakes. The earthquakes killed thousand of people and injured thousands more. When the earthquakes struck, doctors from a Chicago based non-profit were in the country. Dr. Victoria Brander is a physician at Northshore University Heath System, a professor at Northwestern University and co-founder and director of Operation Walk Chicago. She describes Operation Walk Chicago's mission and then describes the damage she saw first hand after the first of the two earthquakes struck.

Connected To Chicago - 05-24-15 - This week's newsmaker is Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. He discusses the state budget forecast. What will Governor Rauner do with an out of balance budget? Also will a casino in Chicago be a new source of revenue for the state? Is there a pension fix that might work? And the "Millionaire's Tax" that didn't pass because of three democrats. Then Bill Cameron is joined by Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business in the roundtable. They give their take on the state budget issue in Springfield as well as discussing Dick Durbin bucking President Obama on trade, the bipartisan issues surrounding the NSA, the money flow through The College of DuPage and the University of Illinois, and the now 17 Republican presidential hopefuls for 2016. Finally Nick Gale takes a look at a local effort to help the people in Nepal after the country was devastated by two earthquakes. The earthquakes killed thousand of people and injured thousands more. When the earthquakes struck, doctors from a Chicago based non-profit were in the country. Dr. Victoria Brander is a physician at Northshore University Heath System, a professor at Northwestern University and co-founder and director of Operation Walk Chicago. She describes Operation Walk Chicago's mission and then describes the damage she saw first hand after the first of the two earthquakes struck.