The Lake Forest Podcast

🎙️ Why do we have to leave? That's the question Kate McGrath asked when friends across the North Shore started asking where they were moving — Wisconsin? South Carolina? Florida? Instead of packing up, Kate decided to fight..🗳️ Kate McGrath is the Republican nominee for Illinois State Senate District 29 — running against 14-year Democratic incumbent Julie Morrison, Senate Majority Whip. District 29 covers Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Lincolnshire, and Glenview..🎵 This episode inspired our album "Why Do We Have To Leave?" — A North Shore Political Blues Album. Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BN8V....🏒 PUCK CANCER: Co-host Jeff Urso was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia and launched Puck Cancer — raising $10,000 for Lurie Children's Hospital. 100% of net streaming proceeds go directly to Lurie Children's. Stream the Puck Cancer album on Spotify and help Jeff hit his goal..🔥 In this episode:⚖️ SAFE-T Act — a local cop called it the single worst thing done to Illinois first responders🏠 Property Taxes — Lake County highest in Illinois, median Lake Forest bill nearly $18K a year🏫 School Choice — Illinois spends $20K per student. Loyola tuition is $21K. Same money. Why?🛹 Pete's #1 Beef — Jesus on a skateboard at Hometown Coffee and the Morrison law that tied our hands🚌 Migrant Crisis — $182M in state services while Lake County got midnight bus dumps with zero warning🗳️ Conservative Apathy — why won't conservatives get off the couch?🥊 Debate Challenge — Joe offers to host Morrison vs McGrath right here. Kate said yes. Julie?.📅 FUNDRAISER: Duffers Bar Lake Forest — April 10th 5:30-7:00 PM🌐 kateforstatesenate.com | 🐦 @katyperrone13 | 📘 McGrath for Illinois.📝 NOTE: During the Sheridan Gorman discussion the policy cited was the SAFE-T Act. The more precise policy was the Illinois TRUST Act and sanctuary policies. Morrison has supported both..📝 NOTE: Morrison voted FOR the Homeless Bill of Rights — she did not sponsor it. Chief sponsor was Sen. Ira Silverstein..⏰ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Supporter messages3:21 Intro — Kate McGrath Republican nominee District 294:54 Kate's background — New Trier, AHA, Loyola volleyball coach7:45 Why Kate is running — "Why do we have to leave?"8:37 Top 3 reasons NOT to vote for Julie Morrison9:25 #1 — SAFE-T Act — "Single worst thing done to this state"11:23 Sheridan Gorman — Loyola student killed near campus12:44 #2 — Property Taxes — nothing being done14:11 #3 — School Choice — parents need power back17:19 Loyola $21K vs Illinois $20K per pupil21:30 School district consolidation — 1 in 10 US districts is in Illinois25:17 Illinois highest tax burden + largest outbound migration28:01 Morrison won't return Joe's emails — debate challenge issued29:24 Kate accepts debate challenge30:20 🛹 Pete's #1 Beef — Jesus on a skateboard at Hometown Coffee32:34 Homeless crisis statewide — tent cities on Lakeshore Drive33:30 Why don't conservatives vote?36:13 Kate was raised a Democrat40:28 Small businesses shutting down across Illinois43:29 Local Democrats nationalizing every race with Trump46:00 Teachers unions blocking school choice47:30 Pritzker Obama Madigan — all sent kids to private school48:10 Mailer debate — Pete vs Joe53:34 Electoral math — 16K Lake Forest voters, 245 showed up for caucus54:22 "They said nope you're on your own" — Republican Party abandoned Kate56:03 Chicago Flips Red — Danielle's viral video57:19 Joe's math — Kate needs 40-43K votes to beat Morrison1:01:35 Does Illinois need to go bankrupt before anything changes?1:01:50 Kate's website and how to help1:03:46 Fundraiser at Duffers — April 10th 5:30-7PM1:05:52 Pete's close — "A vote for Kate is a vote against Julie Morrison".🎵 Music: "The Full Morrison Roast" from the album "Why Do We Have To Leave?" by Peter Jansons📧 [email protected]🌐 lakeforestpodcast.com💰 patreon.com/lakeforestpodcast

🎙️ Jeff Urso opens up about his leukemia diagnosis, nine nights at Lake Forest Hospital, five days of chemo, and how he turned the hardest month of his life into Puck Cancer — a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Plus the new beach concessions at Forest Park Beach, the cell tower finally coming to Route 60, caucus drama, primary election results, and the voter with no home on either side of the aisle.🎵 Stream the "No Home" album on Spotify — every song inspired by this episode:https://open.spotify.com/album/2IFBQf...⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:🎙️ 0:00 Intro & supporter shoutouts🐱 4:41 Jeff Urso preshow cat health update🏒 7:42 Falcons Hockey https://www.falconshockey.org/🏥 10:25 Puck Cancer Sundays at Duffers💰 11:20 Joe Kneasley Chiefs shoutout — donates $1,000 to Puck Cancer📰 12:09 Dan Dorfman article — Jeff on the front page https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/0...❤️ 15:20 How can people help Puck Cancer🙌 16:32 Shoutout to Nina for Puck Cancer marketingDuffers:   / dufferspublf  Bratski's: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...🏖️ 17:17 Beach concessions — Lake Forest Park Beach📶 36:10 New cell tower plan approved📺 36:35 Cell tower show clip    • Lake Forest Podcast: Traffic, Cell Towers ...  🗳️ 41:54 Caucus spring meeting results https://www.lakeforestcaucus.com/post...❓ 45:01 Why do less than 300 of 16,000 residents show up to decide Lake Forest candidates?🎬 46:04 William Griffin show clip    • Dr. William Griffin: March 17th Election, ...  🙋 49:15 Joe Weiss running for 3rd Ward Caucus🎵 50:03 Lake Forest Podcast "No Home" album https://open.spotify.com/album/2IFBQf...🎬 52:40 Morgan Coghill show clip    • 🎙️ Lake Forest Podcast: Morgan Coghill Cha...  🗳️ 54:33 Why don't Republicans/conservatives vote?🚰 1:10:55 Water pipe — Green Bay Road main from 1924🎵 1:16:50 People cruising around Lake Forest listening to the Lake Forest Podcast albums📍 The Lake Forest Podcast covers local news, civic affairs, and community issues across Lake County and the North Shore of Illinois. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.#LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #60045 #LakeCounty #PuckCancer #LurieChildrens #CellTower #NoHome #AIMusic📍 The Lake Forest Podcast covers local news, civic affairs, and community issues across Lake County and the North Shore of Illinois. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.#LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #60045 #LakeCounty #PuckCancer #LurieChildrens #CellTower #NoHome #AIMusic

🗳️ Dr. William Griffin is back! College of Lake County Trustee, Triton College faculty member, and Lake Forest fixture Bill Griffin joins Pete, Jeff, Joe, and Philippe Melin for one of our most packed episodes yet.Bill's on the ballot March 17th for Republican Precinct Committeeman in Precinct 252 — and yeah, it's actually contested. We get into why that's unusual, what a precinct committeeman really does, and why local politics matters way more than most people think.🎓 BREAKING — Dr. Griffin drops real news: CLC President Dr. Lori Suttick is a finalist for the presidency at Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa. If she takes it, the board starts a presidential search. Bill has led several of these.🤖 Then things get spicy. Pete asks whether AI is going to blow up traditional education — and Philippe Melin goes full alarm bell. Where's the data that ed tech actually improves learning outcomes? Dr. Griffin brings the faculty perspective from Triton. Great debate.🏛️ Plus — Ted Dabrowski for Illinois governor, the Lake County GOP leadership shakeup, school choice, CPS funding, and why Republican turnout in non-presidential years is the whole ballgame.🎵 And yes — the episode opens with Pete's AI-generated campaign jingle for Joe Weiss's caucus race. We're not sorry.❤️ Puck Cancer — get well Jeff Urso, our partner in crime:  / 185hwu2u47  🎧 Lake Forest Podcast Album — listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/6MxR0T...🌐 Website: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.com❤️ Support us on Patreon:   / lakeforestpodcast  📧 Contact: [email protected]🎵 Music: "Drop the Tapes" by TrackTribe⏱️ Timestamps:🎵 0:00 Sponsor reads💛 2:45 Puck Cancer shoutout — get well Jeff Urso   / 185hwu2u47  🗳️ 3:03 Joe Weiss caucus election video🎵 4:35 Lake Forest Podcast record albums — enjoy the music🎙️ 5:09 Dr. Griffin joins the show📺 6:24 Dr. Griffin's last appearance two years ago    • Interview with Dr William M. Griffin Runni...  🗺️ 6:36 Shields Township Precinct 252 map https://maps.lakecountyil.gov/Output/...☕ 12:14 Shoutout to Mary at Gerhard's🗳️ 18:00 Why you should vote for Bill for Precinct 252 Committeeman🏛️ 24:20 What does Bill think of Ted Dabrowski?📣 27:36 What can a precinct committeeman do to get out the vote?🎓 32:30 Is College of Lake County getting a new president?📺 32:46 Jan Gibson show clip    • 🚨 Janet Gibson Talks College of Lake Count...  🤖 36:28 How has AI changed things in schools since Bill was last on?📚 41:42 Should schools let students make their own curriculum?🧮 49:10 Should we still be teaching calculators and spreadsheets?✅ 52:10 Schools as proctors to verify knowledge🏫 59:38 Dabrowski on school capacity https://www.instagram.com/p/DVW5j2NjZ...🗳️ 1:09:18 Final pitch — vote Griffin March 17th & April 1st🎸 1:09:56 Outro + Puck Cancer shoutout#LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #DrWilliamGriffin #CollegeOfLakeCounty #LakeCountyIL

🏀 The Lake Forest Scouts just knocked off the #1 seed in the sectional — and that's just the opener. Pete and Joe cover everything happening in Lake Forest and beyond this week.

📋 IN THIS EPISODE:🏀 5:55 — Fear the Spear 🎵 LFHS Scouts beat St. Viator 59-55 — March Madness upset of the year📡 2:44 — Cell tower debate — why the West Metra station is the right location🐻 10:15 — Bears going to Indiana? Arlington Heights? Waiting on Chicago's next mayor?🏫 15:08 — Ted Dabrowski on Chicago's empty schools 👉   / 1gd17u8bap  📚 16:31 — School choice and vouchers — Florida got it right, Illinois never will🚧 29:00 — Coal tar driveway sealant ban at city council — educate don't mandate🇺🇸 35:45 — Iran — finally somebody did something🗳️ 46:30 — Joe Weiss for Third Ward caucus — he's running, but he's not campaigning here🎵 This week's AI album: "Fear the Spear" — inspired by this episodeAvailable now on Spotify and all streaming platforms🎙️ Hosts: Pete Jansons, Jeff Urso, Joe Weiss📧 [email protected]🌐 https://www.lakeforestpodcast.com❤️ Support us:   / lakeforestpodcast  #lakeforestpodcast #LakeForestIL #LakeForestScouts #FearTheSpear #ChicagoBears #MarchMadness #IHSA #CoalTar #SchoolChoice #JoeWeiss #Illinois #LakeBluffIL

🏥 Jeff checks in from Lake Forest Hospital with a FULL TOUR! This week Pete, Jeff (calling in from his hospital bed!), and Joe tackle everything happening in Lake Forest: Jeff gives us an inside look at the brand-new Lake Forest Hospital wing, the city unveils plans for America's 250th birthday bash, and we break down the City Council's awkward omnibus vote mix-up. Plus: Should texting while driving carry the same penalties as drunk driving? Can Lake Forest and Lake Bluff share beaches (for dogs too!)? What goes in a time capsule that won't be opened until 2076?🎆 AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATIONLake Forest is going ALL OUT this July! Concert in the square, ticketed dinner at Elawa Farms, fireworks at Deer Path Park with Fletcher Rockwell & Freddie Jones Band headlining, ice cream social at the beach... and Alderman Gosherian wants to bury a time capsule.🏥 JEFF'S HOSPITAL TOURJeff tours Lake Forest Hospital's new Ken Griffin wing from the inside: 15-minute wait times, luxury rooms, good food, and way better than Highland Park Hospital (his words, not ours).🗳️ CITY COUNCIL DRAMAThe omnibus vote error, parking changes, and why the Waukegan/Everett intersection is finally getting fixed with state grant money.🚗 TEXTING = DRUNK DRIVING?The guys debate which is more dangerous and why Illinois should increase penalties for texting behind the wheel.🐕 JEFF'S DOG BEACH DREAMAn intergovernmental agreement between Lake Forest and Lake Bluff so residents can use each other's beaches? Jeff's all in.⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 Intro2:48 Lake Forest City Council Meeting    • LF City Council | 02.17.2026  6:25 Fourth of July 250th Celebration 🎆7:35 Philippe Melin Discussion9:41 Baby Beauty Pageants Debate 👶14:09 City Council Omnibus Vote Difficulty 🗳️20:24 Primary Election Talk25:35 City Council Meeting on Parking 🚗26:35 Waukegan and Everett Intersection 🚧29:33 Drunk Driving or Texting - Which is Worse? 📱32:26 Morgan Coghill Show Card    • 🎙️ Lake Forest Podcast: Morgan Coghill Cha...  36:07 Jeff Joins & Tours New Lake Forest Hospital Wings 🏥37:08 Lake Forest Hospital ER Review ⭐41:30 Parking and Jeff's Thoughts42:08 Best Car Washes in Lake Forest 🚙44:42 Time Capsule for 2076 ⏰46:12 Pączki at Gerhard's   / 1fme9a3ate  47:35 Ragdale Historic Home https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragdale49:20 Doggie Drinking Fountain 🐶51:20 Jeff's Dog Beach Idea 🏖️53:07 Valentine's Day at Bratsk's 💕55:30 Dog Poop Discussion🔗 Links & Resources:📺 Lake Forest City Council Meeting:    • LF City Council | 02.17.2026  🎤 Morgan Coghill Shoutout:    • 🎙️ Lake Forest Podcast: Morgan Coghill Cha...  🥐 Gerhard's Bakery Pączki:   / 1fme9a3ate  🏛️ Ragdale Foundation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragdale🎙️ COMING NEXT WEEK: Live recording at Bratsk's with Nina! Restaurant reviews and a fresh perspective.🙏 Support the Show:Get early access on Patreon:   / lakeforestpodcast  Subscribe & hit the bell for Lake Forest news every week📧 Contact: [email protected]🌐 Website: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.com#LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #LakeForestHospital #CityCouncil #LocalNews #America250

Local pride explodes! Lake Bluff's Riley Mills (Lake Forest HS '20 grad, Notre Dame Fighting Irish alum, Seahawks rookie) delivers his FIRST NFL sack... in the SUPER BOWL! From injury recovery (couldn't walk a year ago) to bull-rushing the Pats' line in Seattle's dominant 29-13 win over New England—better late than never! 🏈🔥 Seahawks' defense crushes with 6 sacks total.The guys recap Super Bowl LX vibes (blowout game, Bad Bunny halftime in Spanish sparking international growth debate vs. controversy/Kid Rock alternative), other Lake Forest sports legends (Matt Grevers swimming golds, Hilary Knight hockey, Caleb Durbin MLB trade), local issues (parking/valet drama, Shields Supervisor, Brad Schneider focus), Valentine's Day, restaurant review rants ("Karen Table for One" idea), Big Ed's BBQ + Jay Leno visit, Elawa Farms shoutout, live stream ideas, and Ring's lost pet feature/privacy takes.Key Moments (exact/near-exact wording + timestamps/URLs where provided):0:00 Lake Forest High School Graduate Riley Mills Sack In Super Bowl    • Rylie Mills' EPIC First Sack in the Super ...  3:37 Perhaps the greatest moment in Lake Forest Scouts athletic history in professional sports... Riley Mills sack in the Super Bowl.5:15 Better late than never... first career sack came in a Super Bowl.11:18 Matt Grevers in Olympics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Gr...11:28 Hilary Knight in Olympics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_...12:07 Caleb Durbin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caleb_D...13:06 Did Roger Goodell sell out the NFL with Bad Bunny at halftime show?21:50 Parking update22:45 Valets in Lake Forest23:45 What is the problem with valets?26:40 Morgan Coghill recap32:17 Should Congressman Brad Schneider of the 10th district in Illinois pay more attention to issues in the 10th district34:40 Shields Supervisor responsibility36:50 Valentine's Day46:41 Dealing with Restaurant Reviews53:20 Big Ed's BBQ and Jay Leno58:35 Laura Calvert Elawa Farms show clip    • Laura Calvert Executive Director Elawa Far...  59:10 Should we do a live stream1:01:50 Ring Lost Pet Feature https://ring.com/support/articles/pkh...Subscribe:    / @lakeforestpodcast  Visit: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.comSupport:   / lakeforestpodcast  #LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #SkooWalker #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #RileyMills #SuperBowlSack #SuperBowlLX #Seahawks #NotreDame #LakeBluffPride #NFL #BadBunny #HalftimeShow #LocalPolitics #ParkingDrama #RestaurantReviews #BigEdsBBQ #ElawaFarms #RingPetAlert #ValentinesDay #IllinoisPolitics #PodcastLife

🚨 Lake Forest is talking politics, turnout drama & local heat! 🔥Pete Jansons, Joe Weiss, Jeff Urso & guests go hard on Morgan Coghill’s return challenge to Brad Schneider, the infamous 8% voter turnout roast, Joe’s LF4T complaint, and downtown parking shake-up.Key Moments (your timestamps + links):0:00 Intro & sponsors 💥9:10 Morgan Coghill https://www.coghillforcongress.com/10:37 Congressman Brad Schneider Guest List Dispute https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/0...11:20 Indivisible Illinois Statewide and Local Action Groups https://www.indivisibleillinois.org/c...20:28 Term Limits in Congress ⚖️22:00 Coghill Show Clip    • 🛑 Socialism Hits the North Shore?! Morgan ...  22:40 Coghill Voting vs Schneider voting – what would be different with Morgan?24:20 Supply Chains, Drugs and Inflation 💊32:20 Brad Schneider Staffer arrested 😳40:15 ID for voting? 🗳️42:30 Shortage of Health Care Facilities and Personnel44:40 Free Medical School 🎓48:00 Trade Schools 🔧51:37 Democratic Socialists should do mandatory military/public service56:05 Joe Weiss files complaint against LF4T 📜1:00:33 Parents Care ❤️1:02:08 Update On Lake Forest Parking from City Council Meeting 🅿️1:17:14 Is 8% good enough voter turnout in Lake Forest? 🤨1:19:25 Is there someone that can make sure we aren’t getting defrauded in the 10th District?1:21:50 City Of Lake Forest Parking Presentation    • LF City Council | 02.02.2026  Subscribe for more Lake Forest fire:    / @lakeforestpodcast  Website: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.comSupport the show:   / lakeforestpodcast  #LakeForestPodcast #MorganCoghill #BradSchneider #LakeForestIL #IL10 #VoterTurnout #LF4T

The Lake Forest Podcast hosts Pete Jansons, Joe Weiss, Jeff Urso, and former State Senator Susan Garrett discuss the recent failure of the Lake Forest Caucus bylaw amendment. The team explores the controversy surrounding internet voting, the need for binding results in caucus elections, and strategies to increase local voter participation from its current 8% level.Key Moments0:00 Intro6:22 Caucus Bylaw Vote Failed17:28 Pete's framing of the voting issue18:48 Senator Susan Garrett's take on the voting issue32:45 How do we get more people to vote in local election issues38:02 Enjoy Lake Forest videos Eileen Looby    • Inside Lake Forest - South Gate Cafe  47:09 Trust and Transparency Caucus what happened to Next President why did he resign?1:11:17 Pete's been complaining about the Lake Forest Caucus Bylaws for 5 years    • Throw Back Thursday: May 6, 2021 Lake Fore...  1:14:40 The Lake Forest Podcast ability to get discourse going on issuesSubscribe:    / @lakeforestpodcast  Visit: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.comSupport:   / lakeforestpodcast  #LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #SkooWalker #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #CaucusBylaws #LocalPolitics #AbsenteeVoting #InternetVoting #SusanGarrett #VoterTurnout #CommunityEngagement #Transparency #ElectionDebate #Bylaws #IllinoisPolitics #LakeCounty #LocalGovernment

Bears heartbreak meltdown 😤 Caleb's miracle not enough, field goal regrets everywhere! Caucus remote voting vote THIS SATURDAY—big debate on electronic option 🗳️💥 Joe Weiss filing complaint vs Lake Forest for Transparency ⚖️💰 Plus ER ambulance costs, firefighter contract update, Wiener Circle NSFW rants, Parents Care FOIA win, and Lake Forest chaos.Crew: Pete Jansons, Jeff Urso, Joe Weiss + Lori Fitzgerald & Philippe Melin!Key Moments:0:00 - Intro & sponsors9:12 - Conor Clark show    • Connor Clark's Journey in Sports Broadcast...  18:30 - Weiner Circle19:40 - Weiner Circle experience (Raunchy language NSFW Ear Muffs)    • The Cheeseburger Show: Wiener's Circle Unc...  27:50 - How Much is an ambulance ride in Lake Forest?28:50 - Any update on The Fireman Contract/Staffing?    • Lake Forest Illinois Firefighters UNDERSTA...  30:35 - Caucus Vote regarding Online Voting https://www.lakeforestcaucus.com/endo...https://www.lakeforestcaucus.com/post...41:06 - Why are people against remote voting?48:29 - What should be changed in the bylaws? In priority?57:50 - Philippe Melin Joins the show59:07 - Parents Care Update https://www.parentscare.org/1:01:05 - Parents Care Attorney General Victory Against Lake Forest Schools1:14:32 - Joe Weiss Challenging Lake Forest For TransparencySubscribe:    / @lakeforestpodcast  Visit: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.comSupport:   / lakeforestpodcast  

#LakeForestPodcast #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #ChicagoBears #BearsNation #CalebWilliams #BenJohnson #CaucusVote #RemoteVoting #LakeForestTransparency #ParentsCare #FOIA #LocalDrama #WienerCircle #AmbulanceRide #FirefightersContract #VoteSaturday #PeteJansons #JeffUrso #JoeWeiss #LoriFitzgerald #PhilippeMelin #NorthShoreVibes