Chicago's Afternoon News with Steve Bertrand

Peter Greenberg, ‘Eye on Travel‘ host and CBS News travel editor, joins Lisa Dent to chat about hundreds of United Airlines flights being delayed after a tech issue, new Amtrak trains, and more! Then, as always, he answers questions from listeners.

Louisa Chu, Chicago Tribune Food Critic, joins Lisa Dent to give her restaurant review of Las Carnitas Uruapan La Villita, a flagship for pork in Chicago.

Brian Herald, Clarendon Hills Manager, joins Lisa Dent to talk about how his team is going to the Little League World Series. Brian talks about his team and how they’ll be competing against 20 teams: 10 teams from various regions of the United States and an additional 10 from around the world. Their first game […]

Doug McConnell, World-Class Open-Water Swimmer and Founder of A Long Swim, joins Lisa Dent to discuss how Chicago River Swim has been approved to return this September. The swim is set for Sunday, September 21, 2025. You can apply to swim here: www.chicagoriverswim.org.

Dr. Dana Varble, Chief Veterinary Officer for the North American Veterinary Community, joins Lisa Dent to talk about breeding pets, shelters, and a new Ohio law that removes barriers to pet care. And, as always, Dr. Varble answers pet questions from listeners.

Ilyce Glink of thinkglink.com joins Lisa Dent on the show to chat about tariff revenue, grocery prices, and more! If you have questions for Ilyce, email them to questions@thinkglink.com, and sign up for her newsletter at glink.substack.com

Jahmal Cole, founder and CEO of My Block, My Hood, My City, joins Lisa Dent to talk about his mission to live in all 77 of Chicago's neighborhoods. This month, he’s in Chicago Lawn, and he updates listeners on his upcoming plans and shares how you can support his journey.

Axios Reporter Carrie Shepherd joins Lisa Dent to discuss how mental health professionals are pushing for AI regulation. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act following concerns about bots giving mental health advice.

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

Sophie McNeill, marketing manager for the Portage Park Farmers Market, joins Lisa Dent to share the scoop on seasonal markets running through October. Held on select Sundays at 4100 N. Long Ave, the market serves up fresh produce, meats, baked goods, live music, and more!

WGN Radio's host of Home Sweet Home Chicago David Hochberg, joins Lisa Dent to explain why top U.S. stocks now dominate the market like never before and why rising prices and falling jobs in the services sector could signal stagflation.

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

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois' 8th District, joins Lisa Dent to weigh in on GOP-led efforts to redraw congressional maps in key states like Texas ahead of the 2026 midterms. With Republicans seeking to solidify their slim majority in the House, Krishnamoorthi explains the political stakes and potential legal challenges.

Dr. Claire Vallotton, a professor and researcher at Michigan State University who specializes in early childhood language development, joins Lisa Dent to explain why “baby talk” is essential for early language development. She breaks down the science behind tone, repetition, and bonding.

Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent in his new weekly segment, Lou’s To Do List, sponsored by Perma-Seal. Lou answers any questions you have about projects on your to-do lists.

Bob McCoppin, reporter for the Chicago Tribune, joins Lisa Dent to break down a proposed law that would let Illinois courts hear toxic exposure lawsuits even if the exposure happened out of state. He explains how the bill could impact businesses, injured workers, and the state's legal system as it awaits the governor's decision.

Award-winning children's author Lori Orlinsky joins Lisa Dent to share the story behind her latest book, Being Middle (is a great place to be), a heartwarming and humorous tribute to life as a middle child. Inspired by her daughter, the book is being released just in time for National Middle Child Day on August 12.

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins Lisa Dent to discuss the growing threat of wage garnishment as millions of borrowers face student loan default. With pandemic-era protections gone and the Department of Education ramping up collections, Kaplan shares practical steps borrowers can take now to avoid financial hardship and protect their paychecks.

Dr. Juanita Mora, board director for the American Lung Association and CEO of Chicago Allergy Center, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the ongoing air quality concerns in Chicagoland due to wildfire smoke. Mora explains who's most at risk, what precautions to take, and how the smoky skies are impacting local health as heat and humidity […]

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

Zach Coppel, 2025 Chicago Ducky Derby Ambassador, and Peter Beale-DelVecchio, President and CEO of the Special Olympics, join Lisa Dent to discuss this year’s Chicago Ducky Derby on August 7. The Darling Ducklings have set their sights on the ambitious goal of selling 17,000 ducks as a team. Ducks can be adopted individually or in […]

Kevin McTigue, Clinical Professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the Illinois Tollway’s plans to explore dynamic pricing. McTigue shares insight into how this flexible pricing model is already reshaping other industries, from traffic congestion fees to real-time grocery store pricing, and what it could mean for […]

Karen Conti, partner at Conti & Dolan, LLC, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the latest developments in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. She explains why House Republicans are issuing subpoenas to the Clintons and former Department of Justice officials and what could happen next.

WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Demetrius Ivory joins Lisa Dent to discuss how Canadian wildfires continue to affect Chicago's summer weather and air quality. He shares why there's little reason to expect improvement, how climate change is driving conditions across North America, and why wildfire smoke could linger for the rest of the summer.

Howard Tullman, American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, educator, writer, lecturer, and art collector, joins Lisa Dent to discuss his latest article, ‘Are Competitors Poaching Your Key People? Here's How to Keep Them.’

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins Lisa Dent to discuss the latest data from the New York Fed, which shows credit card debt has reached $1.21 trillion, matching last year's all-time high. Savage also discusses the rising number of bankruptcy filings, what they signal about the state of the economy, and the dangerous traps […]

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

Deborah Conroy, DuPage County board chair, and Adam Forker, executive director of the DuPage County Health Department, join Lisa Dent to discuss the crisis recovery center that’s opening in late August. The CRC will serve as an accessible, trauma-informed hub where residents in crisis can stabilize and connect with critical community resources.

Ald. Daniel La Spata of the 1st Ward joined Lisa Dent to discuss the Chicago City Council's move to eliminate parking minimums near public transit, a change aimed at increasing housing density and affordability. La Spata explains why the new rules could help spur development and make housing more accessible across the city.

Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss how recent changes to federal law will delay or block Medicare drug price negotiations for some of the most expensive and widely used cancer medications. Then, Dr. Elliott answers questions about medications from […]

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

Former Illinois GOP Chair Pat Brady joins Lisa Dent to talk about the political standoff in Texas, where Democratic lawmakers fled the state to stop a controversial redistricting bill. Brady shares his take on the legal implications and what this tactic means for the upcoming 2026 elections.

Dr. Hermene Hartman, Chicago media pioneer and founder of N'Digo, joins Lisa Dent to discuss Congressman Danny Davis' decision not to seek re-election and why his endorsed successor, State Rep. La Shawn Ford, may be the experienced voice Democrats need in the fight against Donald Trump.

Peter Greenberg, ‘Eye on Travel‘ host and CBS News travel editor, joins Lisa Dent from New York to talk about turbulence on flights and how the worst of it can lead to injury. Greenberg shares some of the hottest places for tourists this year, sharing that US tourism has struggled. Then, as always, he answers questions […]

Ilyce Glink, CEO of Best Money Moves financial wellness company, joins Lisa Dent this week to share the latest jobs report. A underwhelming report resulted in President Trump firing the commissioner for labor statistics. Glink shares details about the state of the labor market, and how the economy will fare as a result.

Kevin Kelley, owner of Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley, joins Lisa Dent to share his restaurant adding a location in the River North neighborhood. Kelley shares his story and the best dishes on his menu.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins Lisa Dent to discuss new legislation in Springfield targeted at gun safety. AG Raoul shares how the legislation will enforce proper gun storage in homes and trace the ownership of guns used to commit crimes.

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

NHL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick joins Lisa Dent to talk about the Helping Hands Network Celebrity Golf Outing returning to Twin Orchard Country Club on August 4, 2025. The event will feature celebrity golf, Mahjong and Canasta games, and a full day of fun to raise funds for a meaningful […]

Christina Van Yperen, President & CEO of the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce, joins Lisa Dent to share some of the many events happening in Minooka and Grundy County.

Brenda Keener, co-owner of Rooted, joins Lisa Dent to detail Rooted. With a talented kitchen staff, Rooted brings in-house, fresh, high-quality food to Minooka. Keener, a Minooka native, shares her childhood experience, and how Minooka shaped her upbringing.

Daniel Kay Hertz, director of housing for Impact for Equity, joins Lisa Dent to explain why building affordable housing in Chicago is so costly. He breaks down how construction expenses, zoning rules, and complex financing drive up the price and shares what could help make housing more affordable.