Cpl. Zach Nelson enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately after high school and deployed as a motor transport specialist with the 6th Regimental Combat Team in December 2011.

On July 5, 2012, Cpl Nelson was severely injured in a vehicle rollover in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, sustaining a T-4 complete spinal injury resulting in paraplegia from the chest down.

In 2016, Zach and his wife, Kiley, received a specially adapted custom home from Homes For Our Troops. He joins Ray Stevens to talk about service, family, and how HFOT has changed his life for the better.

Make a difference in a Veteran's life today, visit www.hfotusa.org for more information.

Cpl. Zach Nelson enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately after high school and deployed as a motor transport specialist with the 6th Regimental Combat Team in December 2011.
On July 5, 2012, Cpl Nelson was severely injured in a vehicle rollover in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, sustaining a T-4 complete spinal injury resulting in paraplegia from the chest down.
In 2016, Zach and his wife, Kiley, received a specially adapted custom home from Homes For Our Troops. He joins Ray Stevens to talk about service, family, and how HFOT has changed his life for the better.
Make a difference in a Veteran's life today, visit <a href="https://www.hfotusa.org">www.hfotusa.org</a> for more information.

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;

Military Monday: Cpl. Zach Nelson, Homes For Our Troops

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The Ray Stevens Show wraps up the week with conversations on Chicago politics, local controversy, and economic trends. Former gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski discusses Mayor Brandon Johnson’s visit to the Vatican and his criticism of social media companies amid concerns over Chicago’s growing teen takeover problem. Joe Shrader, owner of Shrader’s Goods, joins the show to talk about community support for his Mount Greenwood business after the city claimed the store’s firefighter-themed merchandise violated copyright rules. Later, Mark Lukas shares updates from PAWS Chicago, while financial analyst Jonathan Hoenig of The Capitalist Pig breaks down the latest market trends and economic headlines. The show concludes with “Tom on the Town,” featuring stories and happenings from around Chicagoland.

Key Segments:


Mayor Johnson’s Vatican visit and teen takeover response


Mount Greenwood rallies behind local firefighter-themed business


PAWS Chicago community update


Economic and market analysis

The Ray Stevens Show wraps up the week with conversations on Chicago politics, local controversy, and economic trends. Former gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski discusses Mayor Brandon Johnson&rsquo;s visit to the Vatican and his criticism of social media companies amid concerns over Chicago&rsquo;s growing teen takeover problem. Joe Shrader, owner of Shrader&rsquo;s Goods, joins the show to talk about community support for his Mount Greenwood business after the city claimed the store&rsquo;s firefighter-themed merchandise violated copyright rules. Later, Mark Lukas shares updates from PAWS Chicago, while financial analyst Jonathan Hoenig of The Capitalist Pig breaks down the latest market trends and economic headlines. The show concludes with &ldquo;Tom on the Town,&rdquo; featuring stories and happenings from around Chicagoland.
Key Segments:
<ul>
<li>
Mayor Johnson&rsquo;s Vatican visit and teen takeover response
</li>
<li>
Mount Greenwood rallies behind local firefighter-themed business
</li>
<li>
PAWS Chicago community update
</li>
<li>
Economic and market analysis
</li>
</ul>

The Ray Stevens Show (May 29, 2026) | Mayor Johnson’s Vatican Visit, Firefighter Store Fight & Market Insight

David Hochberg from Team Hochberg joins Ray to talk about Rep. Nancy Mace's suggestion that senior citizens should be exempt from property tax and what effect it would have on local municipalities.

David Hochberg from Team Hochberg joins Ray to talk about Rep. Nancy Mace's suggestion that senior citizens should be exempt from property tax and what effect it would have on local municipalities.

Rep. Nancy Mace says seniors shouldn't pay property tax. Is she right?

The Ray Stevens Show covers major issues impacting Illinois taxpayers, Chicago communities, and the future of technology regulation. Chris Plante joins the show, while LyLena Estabine of the Illinois Policy Institute discusses new concerns over schools allegedly “double-dipping” taxpayer dollars for teacher pension costs. Former gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner reacts to BP removing its chairman despite posting record profits, raising broader questions about corporate leadership and the energy industry. Later, Pastor Corey Brooks of Project HOOD talks about mentoring Chicago youth and combating violence as summer “teen takeovers” begin across the city. The show also features tech attorney Nelson Rosario discussing Illinois’ growing debate over AI regulation and whether lawmakers risk driving innovation and startups out of the state with burdensome policies.

Key Segments:


Teacher pension funding controversy


BP leadership shakeup amid record profits


Chicago youth mentoring and teen takeovers


Illinois AI regulation debate

The Ray Stevens Show covers major issues impacting Illinois taxpayers, Chicago communities, and the future of technology regulation. Chris Plante joins the show, while LyLena Estabine of the Illinois Policy Institute discusses new concerns over schools allegedly &ldquo;double-dipping&rdquo; taxpayer dollars for teacher pension costs. Former gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner reacts to BP removing its chairman despite posting record profits, raising broader questions about corporate leadership and the energy industry. Later, Pastor Corey Brooks of Project HOOD talks about mentoring Chicago youth and combating violence as summer &ldquo;teen takeovers&rdquo; begin across the city. The show also features tech attorney Nelson Rosario discussing Illinois&rsquo; growing debate over AI regulation and whether lawmakers risk driving innovation and startups out of the state with burdensome policies.
Key Segments:
<ul>
<li>
Teacher pension funding controversy
</li>
<li>
BP leadership shakeup amid record profits
</li>
<li>
Chicago youth mentoring and teen takeovers
</li>
<li>
Illinois AI regulation debate
</li>
</ul>

Military Monday: Cpl. Zach Nelson, Homes For Our Troops

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