Laura Michaud, Encore Center for Performing Arts Board Secretary and a founding board member, joins Ray and Nick to talk about partnering with Freedom Sings USA to bring the program to Chicagoland veterans during Memorial Day week 2026. Pairing vets with songwriters, songs are written in one day and performed that evening at a community event on May 28.

Veterans can learn more or apply at: https://www.encorecenterforperformingarts.org/freedomsingsapplication 

Laura Michaud,&nbsp;<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.encorecenterforperformingarts.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CThomas.Hush%40cumulus.com%7C92512da9171e43a9b34608de82e3c4d5%7Ce5d6709fbecf4b058cee37f5a62617c4%7C0%7C0%7C639092111952781344%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=O%2ByvCmxmRnQuqpmsTJPunBAvgWgeKoEThEbjO2pUecI%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="f85813bc-1a1f-4d22-bf6f-fbca7c6f078a" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Encore Center for Performing Arts</a> Board Secretary and a founding board member, joins Ray and Nick to talk about partnering with Freedom Sings USA to bring the program to Chicagoland veterans during Memorial Day week 2026. Pairing vets with songwriters, songs are written in one day and performed that evening at a community event on May 28.
Veterans can learn more or apply at: <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.encorecenterforperformingarts.org%2Ffreedomsingsapplication&amp;data=05%7C02%7CThomas.Hush%40cumulus.com%7C92512da9171e43a9b34608de82e3c4d5%7Ce5d6709fbecf4b058cee37f5a62617c4%7C0%7C0%7C639092111952808756%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=SEOZIokQV7TlbYYxbR04grEawkKd4QW7lCdEollamrc%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="8804ba3d-e4a2-4223-bf13-69f574fa6d38" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://www.encorecenterforperformingarts.org/freedomsingsapplication</a>&nbsp;

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: New Program Coming to Elmhurst pairs Chicagoland Veterans with Grammy-winning Nashville Songwriters

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Tax Day is less than a month away and there's plenty of new deductions you can take to save money and get a healthy return thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill. 

Tax attorney Dimitra Anderson joins Ray an Nick to share some insight into the new laws and how to get the most on your tax return.

Tax Day is less than a month away and there's plenty of new deductions you can take to save money and get a healthy return thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill.&nbsp;
Tax attorney Dimitra Anderson joins Ray an Nick to share some insight into the new laws and how to get the most on your tax return.

Navigating New Tax Laws in 2026

Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalist Pig, joins The Ray Stevens Show to discuss current market trends, economic challenges, and technological advancements. Jonathan highlights the significant fluctuations in oil prices, noting a recent peak near $98 a barrel before settling around $93. He links these shifts to broader market instability and the ongoing impact of global conflicts. Major tech stocks, referred to as the "Mag 7" (including Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla), are nearing a technical correction, defined as a 10% decline from recent peaks.

January’s core inflation rate of 3.1% significantly exceeds the Fed's 2% goal, leading to expectations that interest rates will remain on hold. Despite economic concerns, Jonathan expresses optimism about American innovation, specifically citing the FAA's selection of eight new proposals for air taxi pilot programs in cities like Dallas, Austin, and New York.

A reported 42% of recent college graduates are underemployed, working in roles that do not fully utilize their degrees. This has sparked a discussion on the rising value of trade skills and the shifting requirements of major tech companies that no longer strictly demand four-year degrees.

Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalist Pig, joins The Ray Stevens Show to discuss current market trends, economic challenges, and technological advancements. Jonathan highlights the significant fluctuations in oil prices, noting a recent peak near $98 a barrel before settling around $93. He links these shifts to broader market instability and the ongoing impact of global conflicts. Major tech stocks, referred to as the "Mag 7" (including Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla), are nearing a technical correction, defined as a 10% decline from recent peaks.
January&rsquo;s core inflation rate of 3.1% significantly exceeds the Fed's 2% goal, leading to expectations that interest rates will remain on hold. Despite economic concerns, Jonathan expresses optimism about American innovation, specifically citing the FAA's selection of eight new proposals for air taxi pilot programs in cities like Dallas, Austin, and New York.
A reported 42% of recent college graduates are underemployed, working in roles that do not fully utilize their degrees. This has sparked a discussion on the rising value of trade skills and the shifting requirements of major tech companies that no longer strictly demand four-year degrees.

Market Volatility and Future Innovations

Mark Lukas from PAWS Chicago Joins The Ray Stevens Show. To discuss raining is essential for building a strong bond between a pet and its owner. Volunteers at PAWS work with shelter animals to establish a baseline of good behavior before they are adopted. When someone adopts from PAWS Chicago, their first training class is included in the adoption fee. Classes can be taken at their training center or online. Beyond basic obedience, PAWS offers fun activities like pet tricks, agility, and "nose work" (where dogs are trained to find specific scents, similar to search-and-rescue or bomb-sniffing dogs). ark highlights an upcoming major adoption event called "Rescue Together," a partnership with Chicago Animal Care and Control aimed at finding homes for as many animals as possible.

Mark Lukas from PAWS Chicago Joins The Ray Stevens Show. To discuss raining is essential for building a strong bond between a pet and its owner. Volunteers at PAWS work with shelter animals to establish a baseline of good behavior before they are adopted. When someone adopts from PAWS Chicago, their first training class is included in the adoption fee. Classes can be taken at their training center or online. Beyond basic obedience, PAWS offers fun activities like pet tricks, agility, and "nose work" (where dogs are trained to find specific scents, similar to search-and-rescue or bomb-sniffing dogs). ark highlights an upcoming major adoption event called "Rescue Together," a partnership with Chicago Animal Care and Control aimed at finding homes for as many animals as possible.

Military Monday: New Program Coming to Elmhurst pairs Chicagoland Veterans with Grammy-winning Nashville Songwriters

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