John Williams

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, Jon Hansen has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head south on I-55 and visit our state capital and chat with Amy Beadle, the Marketing Manager for Visit Springfield! Amy reminds us that we can also take Route 66 to Springfield, what to see during their “History Comes Alive” summer program, where you can stay when you visit, all the incredible food options in the area, and what you should know about Springfield’s crown jewel, the Illinois State Fair coming in August.

Click here to win a three-day Abe-mazing family getaway to Springfield, Illinois courtesy of WGN Radio and Visit Springfield Illinois!

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins Jon Hansen to talk about what she thinks of “scrambled oats,” a recipe that’s very hot right now on social media, and new research that shows why we overeat. And, as always, Dawn answers all of your nutrition questions.

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

The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. This week the Rascals talk about the upcoming DNC in Chicago and the plan to virtually nominate President Biden and Vice President Harris before the scheduled DNC. Does this decision take any juice away from the DNC? The Illinois House passed a $53.1 billion state budget early Wednesday morning. Why do lawmakers have to wait until the last minute and then hold a vote in the middle of the night? Is this what an open government should look like? Senate President Don Harmon didn’t put a measure to extend a moratorium on public school closings in Chicago to a vote because he accepted Mayor Brandon Johnson’s promise not to shut down any schools or deplete funding for selective enrollment schools. Was this a win for Mayor Johnson? The Madison County (Illinois) Board will place a symbolic advisory referendum on the November ballot that will ask voters if they should explore separating from the Chicago area. What do the Rascals make of this effort? The Washington Post dug into some data about America’s best decade. When do the Rascals think the nation peaked? And does it follow the data? And what decade delivered the best music? The gang debates!

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins Jon Hansen to answer all of your lawn and garden questions.

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins Jon Hansen to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Kerry reminds us why everyone needs a power of attorney.

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

Andrew Van Dam, Columnist at the Department of Data, The Washington Post, joins Jon Hansen to break down and analyze a YouGov survey that asked 2,000 adults which decade had the best and worst music, movies, economy, etc.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins Jon Hansen to break down a Washington Post analysis of America’s Best Decade, how inflation is impacting consumers, if you can tell the difference between store brand and name brand products, and how Illinois House Bill 4409 (passed by the IGA, waiting to be signed by Governor Pritzker) replaces the word “offender” with “justice-impacted individual” in the Adult Redeploy Illinois program.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins Jon Hansen to talk about an F.D.A. panel endorsing the safety of a colon cancer blood test, an oral medication proving to be effective against postpartum depression, and how concerned we should be about bird flu.