Chicago Tribune Springfield Correspondent Ray Long, followed by State Sen. Christine Radogno each discuss what they see as the challenges of balancing the Illinois budget. Long discusses the political aspects of the issue during the first 20 minutes and then Radogno discusses what she feels is the blame that falls squarely on the shoulders of Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and the Illinois Democratic party on Radio Chciagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Friday June 26, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Cook County Board Commissioner and Finance Chairman John Daley discusses efforts to roll back the 1 percent sales tax imposed by President Todd Stroger, and also discusses the challenges facing elected officials in the county blaming them for failing to do their part to off-set the county deficit. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Thursday June 25, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Fox Chicago News and Fox Good Day Chicago reporter Anita Padilla on stakeout at the northside Chicago home of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich as word comes that Patti Blagojevich will be returning from the reality TV series taping of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Thursday June 25, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Former Congressman Bill Lipinski discusses the protests in Iran and the response from President Barack Obama, international relations including China and Russia; President Obama's health care program and the controversy surrounding South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday June 25, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Andy Shaw executive director of the Better Government Association discusses his plans to give the watchdog organization more teeth, expand online and on radio, and include more monitoring of the suburbs on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 24, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Brian Costin the publishers of the popular suburban Chicagoland web blog Schaumburg freedom Coalition (www.SchaumburgFreedom.com) discusses events in Schaumburg and the fight for transparency there. on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 24, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Media pundit and commentator Aaron Freeman discusses events in Iran and protests against President Ahmadinejad's re-election. And, discusses President Obama's response on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 24, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Author and Radio Tahrir host Barbara Nimri Aziz discusses her new book "Swimming up the Tigris" and also events in Iraq and Iran. Aziz hosts Radio Tahrir on WBAI Radio (www.RadioTahrir.org) on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 24, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Pundit and media consultant and writer Dan Proft, a regular on Radio Chicagoland and also WLS with Don and Roma, announced his candidacy for Governor in the Republican Primary in February 2010 on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 24, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

A caller, Dave, discusses the special tax on homes purchased in Cook County since 2005 under a plan approved by the Illinois General Assembly and pushed by County Assessor Jim Houlihan that the caller has been fighting for the past year on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Tuesday, June 23, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com

Heather Alderman, Vice President for Advancement, General Counsel and spokesperson for The Pillars, a social and health care service center, discusses the state's social and human resources services on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Tuesday June 23, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com. Illinois Legislature. Gov Pat Quinn. Cut backs in human services, health care, sexual assault, headstart, children and family services, budget crisis, $9-$12 billion deficit

Orland Park Police Chief and former Reagan Secret Service Guard Tim McCarthy discusses the effectiveness of the new red light cameras in the southwest suburb and data already reviewed on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Tuesday June 23, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Tom Tresser, publisher of NoGamesChicago.com and leading opponent of the 2016 Olympics, talks about his campaign to lobby against the Chicago Olympics and his recent trip with a delegation from his organization to Laussanne, Switzerland where Mayor Daley and AON's Patrick Ryan were lobbying the International Olympic Committee with a coterie of supporters. There, Daley acknowledged for the first time that Chicago taxpayers will have to foot the bill for any losses, breaking a promise he made three years ago in launching the 2016 Olympic Committee bid. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Monday June 22, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Jonathan Vanderbrug Jonathan Vanderbrug, Health Care Justice Director, Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care on President Obama's health care program. The Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care is a grassroots coalition of more than 300 local and statewide organizations representing consumers, health care workers and providers, community organizations, seniors, religious, labor, disability rights organizations and other citizens concerned about health care and wellness. These groups share the vision laid out in our Mission Statement. The Campaign for Better Health Care (CBHC) was founded in 1989 on the belief that accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right. Since then, we have become the state's largest health care coalition. In 2002, we launched the Health Care Justice Campaign (HCJC) to continue the fight for health care for all Illinois residents. The HCJC is made up of an array of diverse organizations that have coalesced around this vital issue: the Illinois Hospital Association, Illinois AFL-CIO, the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, the Metropolitan Healthcare Council, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, United Healthcare and over 100 other organizations. http://www.cbhconline.org/index.html. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Monday June 22, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

John Charles Kunich, a Cubs’ fan since birth, is the author of five books (including co-author of Survival Kit for Leaders) and numerous professional articles. Kunich also wrote the script and music for Marva!, a musical about famed Chicago educator Marva Collins. He is a tenured professor of law at Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, North Carolina. His co-author is Richard I. Lester, co-author of Survival Kit for Leaders, has written textbooks for the U. S. Air Force and published widely in both national and international journals. Dr. Lester currently is Dean of Academic Affairs at the Eaker College for Professional Development at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Kunich and Lester are authors of "Cubs' Fans Leadership Secrets" and Kunich joins the radio show to discuss the book. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Friday June 19, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com. Plus phone calls from listeners on the Cubs, health insurance, Iran and the Middle East and more.

Media pundits Monroe Anderson and Dan Proft discuss everything from President Obama's health care proposals to the battle between Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Gov Pat Quinn on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Thursday June 18, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, wwww.RadioChicagoland.com.

Media columnist and pundit Aaron Freeman discusses the issues facing protestors in Iran challenging the re-election of President Ahmadinejad, with callers. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Wednesday June 17, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Cook County Board Commissioner Liz Gorman discusses the 1 percent sales tax by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, and the controversy surrounding Regional Schools Supt. Charles Flowers who, according to a state audit, has mismanaged the state agency's $1 million budget. Gorman opposed last year a county board proposal to give Flowers a $190,000 loan and this week her colleagues voted to call for an investigation into Flowers and his mismanagement of the office acknowledging Gorman was right. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Wednesday June 17, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Chris Geovanis, spokesperson for Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, discusses his proposal and the battle to keep the 1 percent sales tax increase he sponsored, efforts to compromise, and other issues from the controversy involving Tony Cole to the battle to force the resignation of controversy-plagued Regional Schools Supt. Charles Flowers, who is accused of mismanaging millions of dollars in his state agency's budget. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Wednesday June 17, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Chicago Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief Dave McKinney discusses a wide range of issues including the controversy surrounding Regional Schools Supt. for Cook County Charles Flowers and the scandals involving his hiring of relatives, borrowing of government funds of unaccounted expenditures, unpaid loans, and a deficit of $1 million, equal to his department's budget; the growing rift between Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan over the income tax hike proposal and the call for a special session to approve a new budget; and more. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Tuesday, June 16, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, http://www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Bill Corcoran, president and CEO of ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid, www.ANERA.org, discusses the findings of his recent visit to the besieged Gaza Strip, reporting on the destruction of more than 22,000 civilian homes and the desperation for food, medical assistance, work and more. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Tuesday, June 16, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, http://www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Attorney Nick Valadez discusses his anticipated candidacy in the Democratic primary against incumbent Joan Murphy in the 6th Cook County District in spring 2010 for the Cook County Board. Valadez is critical of Murphy who not only sponsored the 1 percent Todd Stroger Sales Tax hike, but had originally sought to adopt a 2 percent increase instead. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Tuesday June 16, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, http://www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Chicago Sun-Times reporter Tim Novak discusses the grand jury probe of the Chicago Pension fund investment of $68 million in a firm owned by Robert Vanecko, the nephew of Mayor Richard M. Daley. Vanecko created DV Urban Realty only months before the pension boards invested in the company's land deals. His partner is Allison Davis, a former partner with Tony Rezko, the convicted influence peddler. Novak also discusses Vanecko's ties to the Hired Truck Scnadal. And Novak discusses the Rezko case and the case of others involved in the Rezko scandal with former Gov. Rod blagojevich including partner Ali Ata  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Monday June 15, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Israeli journalist and commentator on on reaction and response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to the Israelis Sunday night. Friedman is currently a senior news correspondent for Mishpacha magazine, a weekly news journal aimed at the Orthodox Jewish community, and is a former senior editor at Ynetnews on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Monday June 15, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Media pundit and comentator Aaron Freeman discusses in detail the war crimes investigation by the United Nations of Israelim military actions in the Gaza Strip and the background behind its lead investigator Richard a South African judge who prosecuted war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday June 11, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Chicago Tribune Columnist John Kass discusses the many personalities of Mayor Richard M. Daley and the ridiculous defense by some media of the outrageous $68 million pension fund investment in a realty firm partnered by Mayor Daley's nephew Robert Vanecko. Allison Davis. DV Urban Realty. Antoin Tony Rezko. Sweetheart deals.  On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Thursday June 11, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.Radiochicagoland.com.

Ray Hanania rants on the rising image of Patti Blagojevich, noting how her appearance on NBC's "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" has helped show a more positive side to her personality much to the chagrin of her detractors in Illinois cesspool of hypocritical politics. Hanania defends Patti Blagojevich and speculates she could win the reality show and dramatically improve her public image and help the case of her husband, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. And, Hanania blasts the rightwing extreme media and conservative talkshow demagogues like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Charles Krauthammer balming their political extremist views with feeding the fanaticism that drives people like James W. von Brunn the 88 year old White Supremicist, racist, Arab and Muslim hater, and anti-Semite who murdered one guard and wounded another in a gun assault on the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. Why aren't those fanatics being held responsible for their hate speech which foments hatred of Blacks, Jews, Arabs, Muslims and more? On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Thursday June 11, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.Radiochicagoland.com.

Joe Lucas Sr. Vice President of ACCCE (American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity) and former DOE official in the Clinton administration on alternative energy sources on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Wednesday June 10, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Political Strategist and spokesman DelMarie Cobb discusses and defends U.S. Senator Roland Burris exploring the controversy and the real issues he faces as the junior senator from Illinois and the relationships to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Wednesday June 10, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Better Government Association (BGA), it's head Andy Shaw, and political pundit and City Club emcee Paul Green, seem to have taken a major pass on the sweetheart deal controversy involving Robert Vanecko, the nephew of Mayor Daley, and the $68 million investment his company with Allison Davis DV Urban Realty received from several city pension funds. Green says it's not that big of a story (???) and Shaw hasn't issued any releases demanding that the pension board members resign in disgrace. But, Shaw is all over the sexual harrassment lawsuits filed by several politically motivated activists in the Town of Cicero against Town President Larry Dominick. Why is there this imbalance. Ray Hanania rants on the topic in this opening salvo for his radio show RadioChicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 10, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com. Antoin Tony Rezko, former partner with Davis.

Tom Tresser, publisher of www.NoGamesChicago.com, discusses the reasons whyC hicagoans and Chicagoland suburbanites should oppose and reject the 2016 Olympics Plan proposed by Mayor Daley and Pat Ryan of AON Corporation on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Tuesday June 9, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.  

Andye Friedman Israeli journalist and commentator on President Obama's speech to the "Muslim World," the recent elections in Lebanon involving the Hariri-Hezbollah rivalry, and other Middle East topics. Friedman grew up in Southern California but has spent his adult life in Israel. He is currently a senior news correspondent for Mishpacha magazine, a weekly news journal aimed at the Orthodox Jewish community, and is a former senior editor at Ynetnews, the English language edition of Israel’s largest news website. His work has been published in the US, Australia and Israel, and he has lectured about Middle East affairs in Israel, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania, Monday June 8, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Warren David, the publisher of Arab Detroit, discusses the reaction and response of the American Arabs in Detroit, one of the nation's largest concentrations of Arabs, to the speech made by President Barack Obama at Cairo University to the Arab and Muslim World. David's web site www.ArabDetroit.com is a central hub for the American Arab community. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Friday June 5, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Arabisto.com columnist Ali Younes discusses his reaction and analysis of President Barack Obama's speech to the Arab and Muslim World during his appearance at Cairo University in Egypt . On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Thursday June 4, 2009 on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Sam Bahour, an American peace activist in El-Bireh Palestine just north of Ramallah and Jerusalem, discusses Arab World reaction to President Barack Obama's precedent-setting speech to the Muslim World and Arab World during an appearance at Cairo University in Egypt. . On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Thursday June 4, 2009 on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Phil Tourney, a survivor of the USS Liberty which was deliberately attacked by Israel on June 8, 1967, discusses the campaign to force the US Government and Israel to admit the conspiracy to cover this tragedy up and acknowledge the heroic efforts of 34 American sailors murdered by Israel's straffing. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Thursday June 4, 2009 on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com. Also Hanania rants on the true meaning of the American Flag and the true definition of "patriotism" in an American finally freed by a true Patriot President Barack Obama from the intimidation of hatred and demagoguery. (Hey, when Dick Cheney, Sean Hannity AND Osama Bin Laden hates Obama, then just maybe Obama is the best thing this country has ever seen.)

Media commentators Dan Proft and Monroe Anderson debate and discuss issues ranging from President Barack Obama in the Middle East, Middle east peace, the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the US Supreme Court, the General Motors bailout, and what's upw ith former Vice President Dick Cheney  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 3, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Host Ray Hanania rants on the abuse of the American Flag, Old Glory, by those claiming patriotism on all sides and laments about how people ignored the flag until after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorism tragedy, and how today the flag is being forgotten again on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania Wednesday June 3, 2009 WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Commentator, comedian and pundit Aaron Freeman discusses torture, gitmo and more on a special afternoon edition of Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on WJJG 1530 AM Radio Tuesday June 2, 2009, www.RadioChicagoland.com. (Ray substitute hosts for Judy Baar Topinka).

Callers discuss Patti Blagojevich on I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here and the General Motors bailout and more  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on WJJG 1530 AM Radio Tuesday June 2, 2009, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

HuffingtonPost.com senior editor Ryan Grim discusses the bailout of General Motors, the controversy surrounding Sonia Sotomayor's appointment to the US Supreme Court, President Obama, former Vice President Dick Cheney (what is he doing and is he running for something) and more on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on WJJG 1530 AM Radio Tuesday June 2, 2009, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Jay Kelly Lowenstein of the Chicago Reporter discusses his investigation into the death of a senir resident at an Alden care center on Chicago's South Side. Was it an accident or was it the result of neglect  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on WJJG 1530 AM Radio Monday June 1, 2009, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Chicago Tribune Springfield reporter Ray Long explores the dynamics of the failed effort to pass the income tax increase proposed by Gov Pat Quinn and the political balance between Republicans and Democrats on the issue on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on WJJG 1530 AM Radio Monday June 1, 2009, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Media Commentator Aaron Freeman discusses the facts behind how the U.S. Government did and did not use torture, the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the "enhanced interrogation" techniques (torture) and resources in which Americans can find more accurate information. Among the details, The Bush administration replaced propofessional interrogation techniques that resulted int he identification of Padilla and Khaled Sheik Mohammed, with torture to force prisoners to make the non-existent connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda in March 2003 before the US Invasion. On Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Friday May 29, 2009, WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Arlington Heights Daily Herald columnist Burt Constable discusses a wide range of issues from casino gambling to video gaming machines, to local stories  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday May 28, 2009 on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

National Taxpayer's United of Illinois President Jim Tobin discusses the fight to oppose taxation in Illinois and Gov. Pat Quinn's excessive 50 percent increase in the Illinois income tax  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday May 28, 2009 on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com. Tobin also discusses excessive pension payments.

Former Congressman Bill Lipinski discusses political issues from local to regional to state to national to international on this bi-weekly series (every other Thursday morning). Topics include US Senator Roland Burris, Illinois Legislative reform efforts, the bailout of the auto industry, President Barack Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, and more on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday May 28, 2009 on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, www.RadioChicagoland.com.

Cook County Board member and Finance Committee Chairman John Daley discusses the challenges of the county's budget and why the 11 county officeholders need to step up to the plate. He also discusses Stroger's apparent failure to lead properly  on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday May 27, 2009, on WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.RadioChicagoland.com

Huffington Post columnist David Astor discusses the lighter side of the news reflecting back on Bush-isms and likely Obama-isms if President Obama were to re-state some of the funny things President Bush had said on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Thursday May 27, 2009, on WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.RadioChicagoland.com

Former Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka discusses President Barack Obama's selection of a new member of the US Supreme Court, including Sonia Sotomayer, the likely contender, and follow-up on former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Radio Chicagoland's Mornings with Ray Hanania on Wednesday May 26, 2009, in a special edition substitute hosting for Judy Baar Topinka (who calls in from home) on WJJG 1530 AM Radio www.RadioChicagoland.com