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 ride east and visit the great state of Ohio as John chats with Karen Raymore, Executive Director, Hocking Hills Tourism Association. Karen tells us how to get to Hocking Hills, where you will want to stay when you visit, the marvelous hiking in Hocking Hills, why it’s a great place to visit for Spring Break, the wineries and breweries in the area, the wonderful children’s museum, and the best time to make reservations.

WGN is giving a lucky listener a chance to win a 3-night getaway to Hocking Hills! Register here.

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, longtime Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and political pundit Marj Halperin! The Rascals start this week’s podcast by sharing what they remember about the start of the COVID pandemic back in March of 2020. Woah, and all of sudden we are debating vaccine efficacy. A recent shooting in Streeterville has revived the debate over the curfew in Chicago. Do the Rascals believe the curfew downtown should be 8pm? And should people feel safe when they come downtown? The Chicago City Council voted 19-26 on to reject a push to ban the sale of newly created furs within city limits. How would the Rascals have voted on this issue? What’s the latest on Canada becoming the 51st state, and the ongoing tariff drama? And are the Democrats doing enough to push back on the current administration? Marj says no, they aren’t. And finally, it’s time for ‘Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light.” What are the Rascals recommending (or not recommending) this week?

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about an Illinois state senator proposing a property tax exemption if you have lived in your home for 30 years, what interest rate would get people out of their homes right now, the latest on tariffs, and Rocket Mortgage acquiring Redfin.

David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call him at 855-56-David, or check out the Team Hochberg website.

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. What are some things that we should be doing to our lawns and yard in early spring?

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

Longtime Chicago radio veteran Harvey Wells, founder, Lower Tech Bills, talks to John about how he helps customers lower their internet, cell phone, and television costs. Today, Harvey explains how you can watch all your favorite Chicago sports teams.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about ‘super-agers,’ the cost of health care as you age, the other uses of weight loss drugs, the latest on the measles outbreak, CDC looking into a link between vaccines and autism, and what we should know about hantavirus.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the challenge to follow local sports teams on television, his latest Unpopular Opinion that suggests that St. Patrick’s Day stinks, and his thoughts on the day in 2020 when everything shut down due to the COVID pandemic.

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