Kimberly Bares, CEO, Magnificent Mile Association, tells John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about this year’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival! Kimberly also talks about the economic impact and what it means for the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.

Judy Socha, who has organized the Addison blood bank for over 50 years, joins John Williams to talk about her personal connection to blood drives, the importance of people donating blood, why she continues her mission to help bring in blood, the wonderful people that she has met on her journey, the amount of blood they […]

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some holiday vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head north and visit with the always delightful Stephanie Klett, President […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about the three things she’s going to add to her Thanksgiving routine, how to add color to your Thanksgiving meal, the most important tip to enjoy a healthy Thanksgiving, and how to R.E.S.E.T. your health the next day and beyond!

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

John Williams talks with Jeff Nydegger of JeffBuysYourHouse.com and Chris Kasper, both veterans of the U.S. Army. The two became friends while serving in the 864th Combat Heavy Engineer Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington. In 2003, while attached to the 101st Airborne, the two were among the first to cross the border into Iraq. They […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and long-time Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972. This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about Illinois launching Mobile ID for iPhones. Are the Rascals on board with the new technology feature? Next, Mayor […]

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias joins John Williams to talk about Illinois implementing Mobile IDs. Secretary Giannoulias explains how the digital technology works, why this technology is both convenient and safe, where you can use your digital ID right now, when the mobile ID will come to Android phones, and if passports will be coming to your […]

Tameka Patterson, MSW, LSW Divisional Pathway of Hope Project Manager, The Salvation Army, North and Central Illinois Division, joins John Williams to talk about the work she does at the Salvation Army, what they do to help families in tough circumstances, how many people they typically serve in a day, how each family they help […]

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.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer, Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about it being cold and flu season and the importance of getting your flu vaccine. Dr. Kopin also talks about a new study that showed daily music listening being linked to a big drop in dementia risk, the […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about his choice for ‘Word of the Year,’ Border Patrol leaving the Chicago area, and the Chicago City Council Finance Committee rejecting Brandon Johnson’s head tax proposal.

Jen Jolly, tech reporter and founder of Techish.com, joins John Williams to talk about some of the top tech trends for 2025 and the best gadgets for the holiday season.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

WGN Radio Senior Digital Strategist and Bracketologist Michael Piff joined John Williams to give an update on our inaugural Chicagoland Christmas Traditions Tournament, sponsored by Treetime Christmas Creations, and breakdown the Final Four, which includes Illumination at the Morton Arboretum, Lake Zurich’s Miracle on Main Street, the Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape and Holiday Magic at […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Michelle Nichols, Director of Public Observing, The Adler Planetarium, joins John Williams to explain why Chicago recently saw one of the most vivid Aurora Borealis displays in decades. Michelle breaks down how solar flares and coronal mass ejections trigger auroras, why this event reached as far south as El Salvador, and why your phone can detect colors […]

NewsNation Now anchor Connell McShane joins John Williams to talk about the latest news stories of the day including the Epstein files, immigration, and how the economy is shifting under the Trump presidency.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com!