The John Howell Show Podcast

Illinoisans rejoice! There is finally some good news surrounding pensions. First, unfunded liability is at it's highest level since 2008. Also, lawmakers want to allow state retiree's to cash out early. This would mean the retiree's get a lump sum of money all at once instead of annually. It comes out to about 70 cents to the dollar. Senator Rob Martwick joins John Howell to discuss.

*John kicks off the show by sharing the details of how he eventually made his way through heart surgery

*Dave Byrnes of Courthouse News takes a look at the larger political implications of Patrick Daley Thompson's federal corruption trial.

*Rick Telender of the Sun-Times can't help but think of past doping accusations as he watches the events in Beijing.

*Professor Charles Lipson tells John that Biden missed his "Sister Souljah" moment.

*Plus, Alex Nitkin makes sense of the pre-trial hearing for Ed Burke, and Mike Emanuel of Fox News stops by for his weekly hit.

The Canadian Trucker's Freedom Convoy is still trucking along. Also, Angelina Jolie went to Capitol Hill today to urge lawmakers to pass the Violence Against Women Act. Fox News Chief DC Correspondent Mike Emanuel discusses with John Howell.

Patrick Daley Thompson is accused of filing fraud tax returns and lying about how much money he owed to a

bank. Courthouse News Service Reporter Dave Byrnes joins John to discuss the trial and what this means for the family.

Steen Metz, an 86 year old Holocaust survivor from Barrington, is using Zoom to educate others on the Holocaust. Steen shares his story with Wendy Snyder and discusses how going virtual has helped his program reach an estimated 94,000 people. To learn more about Steen and his program, go to www.steenmetzneverforget.com

"As We See It" is a Netflix show about three roommates on the autism spectrum that navigate the strange world of adulthood world. Actor Rick Glassman joins Wendy Snyder to talk about the show.

Chicago officially announced the spring and summer festival schedule for 2022. Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Deputy Commissioner for Programming Nancy Villafranca-Guzman joins Wendy Snyder to go through the full schedule.

Sherman "Dilla" Thomas is a break out Tiktok creator known for his videos showcasing black history in Chicago. He will be co-hosting “Black History Verified,” a half-hour special on CW26 and The U, showcasing the contributions Black residents have made to enrich the city’s culture, food, sports, and music scenes. He joins Wendy Snyder.

Jason Van Dyke is being released after serving a little over 3 years in prison. Several activists and political leaders are calling for federal charges to be presented but nothing has happened so far. Chicago Tribune Federal Courts Reporter Jason Meisner joins Rob Johnson with the details.

Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz went after reporters yesterday after they asked questions about the Kyle Beach controversy. Rob Johnson and News Anchor Rob Martier share their thoughts.