Tom Skilling, WGN-TV chief meteorologist emeritus, collaborates with Lisa Dent to host a podcast to spread awareness about the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration amid cuts from the Trump administration. Skilling is joined by some top meteorological experts who discuss the impacts that weather has on our lives and explain how the staffing cuts will impact the services that affect people everyday.

Tom’s Panelists:

Dr. Louis Uccellini – moved from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he achieved his doctorate in meteorology, to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where he headed the NASA’s mesoscale meteorological computer modeling and analysis effort–then to the National Weather Service in 1989 where he ascended to the agency’s top position. Dr. Uccellini joined the National Weather Service in 1989, assuming that agency’s top position as  from 2013 through 2022. There he oversaw every facet of the National Weather Service’s operation–working toward CLEARER MESSAGING of the agency’s increasingly accurate forecasts issued to the public and the array of users who depend on weather information in our country while developing close ties with the critical agencies that respond to our country’s most severe weather–from tornadoes to floods, hurricane, snowstorms–even tsunamis and space weather, which in our technologically driven world, can have huge and potentially disruptive impacts on everything from communications to electrical grids and pipelines. 

Ed Fenelon – headed the National Weather Service Chicago Forecast Office as part of a 33 year career in the National Weather Service–a career which took him from Williston, ND to Kansas City; Ann Arbor, MI; Marquette, MI and here to Chicago in 2005. He headed the Chicago National Weather Service Office the next 15 years. Ed and an array of his meteorological colleagues from the National Weather Service Forecast Office here in Chicago (at Romeoville) joined us year after year at our Fermilab presentations—presentations which couldn’t have been as successfully produced were it not for the active annual involvement of Ed and the meteorologists who work so hard and staff the NWS Chicago office.

Dr. Don Wuebbles – Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois-Champaign is an expert on climate change science. In his early years as a scientist, Wuebbles was among the young scientists who established the relationship between chlorofluorocarbon propellants in aerosol cans and the destruction of the UV absorbing stratospheric ozone layer. The result of his work was the passage of an international ban on these propellants as part of the groundbreaking Montreal Protocol.  Dr. Wuebbles has two degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, in Atmospheric Science. After 20 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Dr. Wuebbles came back to the University of Illinois as Professor and Head of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences in 1994. He also led the development of the School of Earth, Society, and Environment at the University, and was its first director. Dr. Wuebbles is an expert in atmospheric physics and chemistry, with over 600 scientific publications related to the Earth’s climate, air quality and stratospheric ozone. He also provides analyses and development of metrics for translating science to policy and societal responses. He has been a leader in many international and national scientific assessments, including being a coordinating lead author on international climate assessments led by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), thus contributing to IPCC being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Carlos Antunes, Director for the Americas, at TAP Air Portugal, joins Lisa Dent to discuss how TAP Air Portugal can fly you non-stop to Lisbon from Chicago O’Hare. During the summer season, their flights increase to five a week, connecting you with Portugal and beyond. Antunes discusses why Portugal is such a popular destination for travelers, the unique, award-winning stopover program the airline offers, and the hospitality you’ll experience on-board TAP Air Portugal.

Listen to HouseSmarts Radio with Lou Manfredini for updates about an upcoming WGN Radio contest to win two economy tickets to Lisbon aboard TAP Air Portugal.

Ald. Bill Conway, 34th Ward, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the ‘Get Behind the Vest’ pancake breakfast to raise money for bulletproof vests for Chicago police officers. Then, Ald. Conway discusses ongoing city issues.

Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.

Axios reporter Carrie Shepherd joins Lisa Dent to discuss how the Trump administration is affecting Illinois and Chicago. As a result of the the Trump administration’s cuts to federal grants, departments, and trade tariffs, Illinois and Chicago are being heavily impacted. Shepherd details how.

Sheila Fortson, Founder and Executive Director of FAME Center, joins Lisa Dent to discuss Rhythm & Roots: A Celebration of Black History & Artistry an event that takes place this weekend. The event celebrates Black artistry and honors Black women during Women’s History Month. They have a goal of raising $40,000 for their children’s summer camp.

Lindsay Bussick, Manager of Chaos Divers, joins Lisa Dent to discuss their team pulling a car out of the Fox River linked to a cold case from 1983. Bussick shares the process of finding the car and how modern technology made the search a success.

Dr. Jim Adams, Chief Medical Officer of Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss measles. As the number of measles cases continue to rise, Dr. Adams shares who might need a measles booster. Then, Dr. Adams shares the cause of a rise in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) cases, and what measures parents should take to reduce the risk.

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins Lisa Dent to discuss the results of the latest consumer confidence report. A twelve year low in consumer confidence, Savage explains, is an indicator of an upcoming recession. Then, as always, Savage answers questions from listeners.

Dr. John Christensen, Urologist at Northwestern Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss why there is an increase in the number of men who get vasectomies during March Madness. Then, Dr. Christensen shares some general information about vasectomies.