Jeanne Massey, Executive Director, FairVote MN, joins John Williams to talk about the power and value of ranked-choice voting. Jeanne explains why this method is a more equitable way of voting, and how the current race would play out if we adopted ranked-choice voting.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about her new Pumpkin Banana Bread recipe and some other fun and healthy ways to use canned pumpkin. And, as always, Dawn answers all of your nutrition questions.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take a quick trip up north and visit with Stephanie Klett, President and CEO, Visit Lake Geneva! Stephanie tells John about the beautiful fall colors in Lake Geneva, the historic downtown, the fun Halloween events like the Lake Geneva Ghost Walks, the Haunted Barn & Hayrides, the highly anticipated Beer & Spirits Festival, and the Pumpkin Drop & Fall Festival. Stephanie also talks about the best places to eat, shop, and stay when you visit.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected].

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys! The Rascals start the podcast this week talking about former president Donald Trump and the multiple stories that detail why he is a threat to democracy. Will any of these stories have an impact on the election? A judge ruled that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani must turn over his New York City apartment, sports memorabilia and other prized possessions to two Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him. Do the Rascals think that the judge’s decision was too severe? Turning to local news, a Chicago City Council committee approved a plan to lower Chicago’s default speed limit to 25 mph. Do the Rascals like the idea? Will this plan pass the full City Council? And finally, Austin has been away for a couple of weeks, so he catches everyone up on the latest news about the Chicago school board.

Thom Dillion, Owner, JT Medicare Solutions, joins John Williams in-studio to talk about Medicare Open Enrollment, his thoughts on Advantage plans, and what you need to know about the significant changes to Medicare this year.

For all those looking for Thom’s assistance – they can reach out to JT Medicare Solutions at 800-227-1012 or go to JTMEDICARESOLUTIONS DOT COM

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob explains that we are still way below where we need to be with precipitation so make sure you continue to water those trees and shrubs.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected].

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the impact of air quality on how you feel on a particular day, the unusual surge of “walking pneumonia,” especially among kids, the amount of COVID in the community being down, why now is a great time to get your COVID and flu shots, and a recent study that shows the link between serious infections and dementia.