Former Police Chief Bill Kushner joins The Ray Stevens Show to talk about Chicago's rising crime rates in 2026. They talk about some of the factors contributing to these issues, such as the shortage of police officers, a decrease in proactive policing, and the effects of recent legislative changes like the Safety Act. They also touch on concerns regarding public safety, the influence of immigration on crime rates, and the importance of a justice system that effectively deters criminal behavior through the threat of punishment.

Former Police Chief Bill Kushner joins The Ray Stevens Show to talk about Chicago's rising crime rates in 2026. They talk about some of the factors contributing to these issues, such as the shortage of police officers, a decrease in proactive policing, and the effects of recent legislative changes like the Safety Act. They also touch on concerns regarding public safety, the influence of immigration on crime rates, and the importance of a justice system that effectively deters criminal behavior through the threat of punishment.

Ray Stevens brings the RIGHT side of the conversation to mornings on 890 WLS-AM live from 6am-9am. If you missed the show, come here to catch up on the right side of Chicago talk.

Ray Stevens brings the RIGHT side of the conversation to mornings on 890 WLS-AM live from 6am-9am. If you missed the show, come here to catch up on the right side of Chicago talk.

The Ray Stevens Show

Ray Stevens brings the RIGHT side of the conversation to mornings on 890 WLS-AM live from 6am-9am. If you missed the show, come here to catch up on the right side of Chicago talk. 

Ray Stevens brings the RIGHT side of the conversation to mornings on 890 WLS-AM live from 6am-9am. If you missed the show, come here to catch up on the right side of Chicago talk.&nbsp;

Addressing Rising Crime and Policing Challenges in Chicago

Monsignor Kenneth Velo joins Ray Stevens to discuss the recent war of words between Pope Leo and President Trump, why the Pontiff is speaking out about the conflict in Iran, and how American Catholics should approach the discussion.

Monsignor Kenneth Velo joins Ray Stevens to discuss the recent war of words between Pope Leo and President Trump, why the Pontiff is speaking out about the conflict in Iran, and how American Catholics should approach the discussion.

Tensions rise between Pope Leo and President Trump over Iran

Taylor Hathorn, visiting fellow with Independent Women’s Center for American Safety and Security, joins Ray Stevens to discuss the latest updates in Operation Epic Fury, how the U.S. is achieving its goals in the Middle East, and why Trump was right to confront Iran head on.

Taylor Hathorn, visiting fellow with Independent Women&rsquo;s Center for American Safety and Security, joins Ray Stevens to discuss the latest updates in Operation Epic Fury, how the U.S. is achieving its goals in the Middle East, and why Trump was right to confront Iran head on.

Why Operation Epic Fury is integral to American national security

Jonathan Hoenig joins The Ray Stevens Show to analyze the latest financial news and its impact on consumers. The conversation covers a broad range of economic topics, from market volatility to the specific ways inflation is affecting everyday purchases.

Ray and Jonathan talk about the market's 1,000-point bounce following news of a ceasefire, while also defining what constitutes a technical market "correction". Jonathan notes that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is running at 3.3%, well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, leading to a discussion on potential interest rate hikes.

They highlight significant price increases across various sectors, including an 11% jump in candy prices, record-high car prices (averaging over $50,000 for new vehicles), and a 20-25% increase in the cost of a general basket of goods over the last few years. They discuss the impact of doubling jet fuel and gas prices, noting that airlines like United are increasing checked bag fees to offset these costs.

The conversation also explores high property taxes in states like Illinois—which Hoenig notes are 68% higher than the national average—and the resulting "exodus" of businesses and individuals to lower-tax states.

Jonathan Hoenig joins The Ray Stevens Show to analyze the latest financial news and its impact on consumers. The conversation covers a broad range of economic topics, from market volatility to the specific ways inflation is affecting everyday purchases.
Ray and Jonathan talk about the market's 1,000-point bounce following news of a ceasefire, while also defining what constitutes a technical market "correction". Jonathan notes that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is running at 3.3%, well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, leading to a discussion on potential interest rate hikes.
They highlight significant price increases across various sectors, including an 11% jump in candy prices, record-high car prices (averaging over $50,000 for new vehicles), and a 20-25% increase in the cost of a general basket of goods over the last few years. They discuss the impact of doubling jet fuel and gas prices, noting that airlines like United are increasing checked bag fees to offset these costs.
The conversation also explores high property taxes in states like Illinois&mdash;which Hoenig notes are 68% higher than the national average&mdash;and the resulting "exodus" of businesses and individuals to lower-tax states.

Addressing Rising Crime and Policing Challenges in Chicago

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