It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature for 2026! Are you trying to come up with some quick getaway ideas that are only a quick trip from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head up to beautiful Grand Rapids and chat with John Vanderhaagen, Director of Communications at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park! John talks about the easy drive to Grand Rapids from the Chicago area, the current Chihuly at Meijer Gardens exhibition, the unique things about Chihuly’s work, the way Chihuly was able to master the materials, what else you can see at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, the summer concert series that runs through September, and all the other great things to do this summer in Grand Rapids.

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

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 (on his birthday), Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack and Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. The Rascals begin the podcast by talking about government transparency regarding the health and welfare of our elected officials, in light of Senator Mitch McConnell’s recent hospitalization. The group then touches on the ballot-access rules concerning Chicago politicians ability to get their name on the ballot in election years and the pro’s and con’s of the requirements and possible loopholes in the process. Next, The Rascals discuss ICE agent body-cam initiatives that may or may not be as strictly enforced as the public has noticed and the accountability of immigration officers using deadly force. To close out the conversation, the group talks about the county succession movement and the gerrymandering of the state of Illinois, the Father Pflager allegation saga, and a ‘Red light – Yellow light – Green light‘ round to end today’s show.

Dr. Chitaru Kurihara, thoracic surgeon and surgical director of the Lung Transplant Program at Northwestern Medicine, joins John Williams to share details surrounding the first known quadruple-organ transplant involving retransplanted lung that Northwestern surgeons performed.

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Listen in while Kerry discusses trust planning and how to set yourself up for success, how to spot elder-targeted fraud, how to teach your parents how to spot phishing attempts, and more. Kerry also answers listeners questions.

Jeremy Foster, Manager of Pollen Bank at the Chicago Botanic Garden, joins John Williams to talk about the rare Amorphophallus Titanum, also known as “corpse flower,” that is currently in bloom at the garden, and why people flock from miles around to experience the pungent smell of the rare flower.

Craig Bolanos, Co-founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the markets, President Trump’s handling of the housing assistance bill and the gradual impact on housing inventory and borrowing costs. Craig and John also cover gas prices, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, SK Hynix and SpaceX.

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 reminds us to join him and WGN Radio’s Mr. Fix-It this weekend at Lurvey Home & Garden in Des Plaines, on Saturday, July 18th from 6 AM to 10 AM for Lou’s Keepin’ It Green with Lou Manfredini.

Dr. Michael Bauer, Medical Director, Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, gives updates on the cyclosporiasis parasite outbreak, shares what Legionnaires disease is and details its rapid growth in number of cases, discusses why tick season might be the worst it has been in the US, and more.