BREAKING NEWS

The Washington Post estimates that Obama’s Africa trip could cost $60 million to $100 million. A more precise estimate is impossible because details about the president’s security are classified. Should the White House spend $100 million on President Obama’s trip to Africa? A New York man is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child after he locked four kids in a closet for vandalizing his father-in-law’s home. Former Congressman Joe Walsh joined John and Amy with reaction to President Obama's trip to Africa and also NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Plus, a man in Massachusetts found a piece of the Russian Mir Space Station in his backyard.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has created a stir with remarks he made during a speech on immigration, in which he said that women who immigrate to America are more fertile than women who are born in the country. Rich Johnson with Fox News Radio joined John and Amy to talk about Washington's reaction to the NSA story that dominated the news cycle last week. Plus, former Vice President Dick Cheney says that Edward Snowden is a traitor who has hurt national security.

Fox News National Security Analyst & former Pentagon spokesperson K.T. McFarland joined John and Amy to talk about the White House announcement on Syria and the election results in Iran. Former Vice President Dick Cheney says that if we’d had the NSA data mining program in place at the time, we would have been able to prevent 9/11. Plus, an 8th grade student in West Virginia could face 1 year in jail and a $500 fine for wearing an NRA t-shirt to school. He was arrested for disturbing the education process and obstructing an officer.

The NSA held a briefing for Senators on their controversial data mining program, but only 47 of the 100 Senators attended. The rest flew home early. The Top 5 @ 5. A passenger on a plane en route to Denver was taken into custody after he claimed to be carrying a bomb in his backpack. John is happy that once they verified that there was not a bomb, the flight continued on it's way rather than landing. Plus, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has created a stir with remarks he made during a speech on immigration, in which he said that women who immigrate to America are more fertile than women who are born in the country.

American Spectator columnist and former Pentagon official Jed Babbin joined John and Amy with reaction to Thursday's White House announcement that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, and the United States will be providing assistance. President Obama's summer safari in Africa has been canceled because the White House felt that using snipers to protect the President was not a good idea politically. Congressman John Dingel is celebrating 57 years of service in the House of Representatives, John thinks this might be a good argument for term limits. Plus, Huggies has come up with a high tech belt that lets dads get some of the experiences of being pregnant.

Joanne Kenen the Health Editor for Politico joined John and Amy to talk about what the exception that was made from Sarah Murnaghan's lung transplant means for the transplant system. Four U.S. Senators, including Dick Durbin are calling on Nickelodeon to ban ads targeted at children that promote and sell junk food and sugar. A new study suggests that "Stand your ground" law help white defendants more than black defendants. Plus, a diabetic man woke up to find that his dog had gnawed off two of his toes. Doctors say that the man likely had an infection, and the dog was trying to help him.

Texas has fired the first salvo of the War on Christmas in 2013. Governor Rick Perry signed a bill that allows public school teachers to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" and display Christmas trees, nativity scenes or menorahs. The Top 5 @ 5. Huggies has come up with a high tech belt that lets dads get some of the experiences of being pregnant. Plus, Michele Bachmann says that if Congress passes an amnesty bill, there will never be another Republican President.

Illinois Hour Republican Leader Tom Cross joined John and Amy to talk about the battle between the House and Senate in Springfield over pension reform. A New Jersey politician has paid for billboards calling for people to eliminate saggy pants. Scott McEwen joined John and Amy to talk about his new book "Sniper Elite: One Way Trip." Plus, Home & Garden Television is taking some heat for encouraging people to use the American flag as a table cloth as people decorate for Independence Day.

Peter King is now calling for Glenn Greenwald from The Guardian to be arrested for reporting the information from Edward Snowden. He says that freedom of the press is “cherished” but “no right is absolute.” Caitlin Huey-Burns the Political Reporter for Real Clear Politics joined John and Amy with the latest on the debate over immigration reform in the Senate. Plus, Chris Christie slow jammed the news with Jimmy Fallon last night.

A Park Ridge man was growing a “Playoff Lawn” to show his support for the Blackhawks. Eventually the city cut it for him. Was it a sign of civic pride or an eye sore? A new phone app in Winnipeg would let people take a picture of parking violators and get a cut of the parking fine. Do you think that's a good idea? Former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton believes that NSA leaker Edward Snowden may have committed an act of war against the United States. Plus, a 72 year old California woman shot at a home intruder, trying to scare him away. It was a .357 Magnum, so it was pretty effective at scaring the ne’er-do-well.

Wednesday's storm of the century didn't quite live up to expectations, although there may have been a tornado in the south suburb. The Top 5 @ 5. Amy's kids Andrew and Russell had an exciting day yesterday, when a police chase ended right in front of their school. Amy is upset that they did not alert parents. Plus, Chris Christie slow jammed the news with Jimmy Fallon last night.

James Goodale, the lawyer who represented the New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case and author of the new book "Fighting For The Press: The Inside Story of the Pentagon Papers & Other Battles." He joined John and Amy with reaction to the emergence of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. According to a new Pew poll, 60% of Americans approve of the NSA program to gather cell phone and internet data on all Americans. Dan Claassen, the owner of Helicopter Sniper Adventures joined John and Amy to talk about their business.

First degree murder charges have been filed against Dorothy Spourdalakis, the mother of a teen with severe autism found stabbed to death in west suburban River Grove. Amy says that because of his severe autism, it was a mercy killing, and she should not be charged with murder. Do you agree? An Arlington Heights man's antique gun collection was confiscated by police thanks to a VA psychiatrist. Plus, the family of the child who was suspended for biting his Pop Tart into the shape of a gun has lost an attempt to get the suspension expunged from his record.

Leigh Munsil the Defense Reporter for Politico joined John and Amy to talk a little bit about the intricate web of civilian contractors like Edward Snowden who have top secret clearance. John thinks that Snowden is just a traitor, do you agree? John Dryden, the Batavia High School teacher at the center of a recent controversy over his recommendation to students about a school survey was warned to keep his opinions about all future district initiatives to himself or risk losing his job. Plus, a gun range in Texas lets people fire automatic weapons from a moving helicopter.

Cubs infielder Ian Stewart has learned that you should watch what you Tweet. He has been suspended without pay and may be released after Tweeting comments about Cubs management. The Top 5 @ 5. NYC sushi restaurant bans tipping, opting instead to give workers a proper wage by increasing the price of everything 15%. Plus, according to a new Pew poll, 60% of Americans approve of the NSA program to gather cell phone and internet data on all Americans.

Catherine Herridge the Intelligence Correspondent for the Fox News Channel joined Amy Jacobson and Thom Serafin to talk about the search for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, and what charges he could face if he is sent back to the United States. Governor Pat Quinn met with Democratic leaders to try to hammer out a compromise on pension reform before the special session later this month. Starting next year, parents in Chicago will get an annual “report card” on how schools, principals and teachers are ranking. That comes as part of Chicago Public Schools new five year plan.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has joined Twitter, which has fueled speculation that she will run for President. Do you think she could win if she ran? Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley plans to announce Tuesday that he’s forming an exploratory committee as he weighs a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Pat Quinn. Plus, Mike North joined Amy Jacobson and Thom Serafin with a preview of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup Finals series against the Boston Bruins.

Congressman Randy Hultgren from the 14th district joined Amy Jacobson and Thom Serafin to talk about the emergence of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. The contractor that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden worked for has already posted a job opening looking for a replacement. Attorney Joe Lopez joined Amy Jacobson and Thom Serafin with reaction to the first day of jury selection in the George Zimmerman trial down in Florida. Plus, Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley plans to announce Tuesday that he’s forming an exploratory committee as he weighs a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Political guru Thom Serafin is filling in for John Howell this morning. Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley plans to announce Tuesday that he’s forming an exploratory committee as he weighs a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Pat Quinn. The Top 5 @ 5. John Bingham joined Amy Jacobson and Thom Serafin to talk about National Running Day. Plus, some people are calling for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to be charged with treason.

Edward Snowden has come forward as the person responsible for the leak of the NSA surveillance programs to gather data on cell phone calls and Internet use. He traveled from his home in Hawaii to Hong Kong before speaking to The Guardian. Do you think he is a hero or a traitor? Former Congressman Joe Walsh joined Amy Jacobson and John Tillman with reaction to the NSA story. Plus, a California elementary school has started a gun buy-back program, for toy guns.

Brian Battle the Director of Trading for Performance Trust Capital Partners joined Amy Jacobson and John Tillman with analysis of the May unemployment numbers. Prosecutors are seeking a four-year prison sentence for former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.. Jackson would also have to forfeit the $750,000 he stole from his campaign, and pay back another $750,000 to his reelection committee. Sandi Jackson would get 18 months. Illinois State Rep. Jeanne Ives joined Amy Jacobson and John Tillman to talk about the battle over pension reform in Springfield.

Jeff Carter is an investor, independent trader and former member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Board of Directors. He joined Amy Jacobson and John Tillman to talk about the most recent credit downgrade for the state of Illinois. After more than 15-months, the trial of George Zimmerman gets under way with jury selection in Florida. Brian Fung the Technology Writer for National Journal joined Amy Jacobson and John Tillman to talk about the emergence of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Do you think Snowden is a hero or a traitor?

John Tillman the Chairman and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute is filling in for John Howell this morning. The Top 5 @ 5. Edward Snowden has come forward as the person responsible for the leak of the NSA surveillance programs to gather data on cell phone calls and Internet use. He traveled from his home in Hawaii to Hong Kong before speaking to The Guardian. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul took to Fox News Sunday to declare his legal opposition to the NSA’s surveillance programs. He says that he will go all the way to the Supreme Court if he has to.

A new poll says that a plurality of Americans blame “government welfare” for persistent poverty. 24% say that the biggest cause of persistent poverty is that too much welfare prevents initiative. Perhaps on a related note, a 33 year old Nashville man has 22 children with 14 different women. Michael Medved joined John and Amy with reaction to the Verizon Wireless story and also had a review of the new Vince Vaughn movie The Internship.

Some politicians on both sides of the aisle are defending the NSA tracking cell phone and internet data. Are you willing to let the NSA snoop on your phone and Internet use if it will prevent a terrorist attack? Reuters has discovered that the IRS scandal leaked because an employee accidentally hit "Reply All" on an email. Boston Globe Columnist Jeff Jacoby joined John and Amy with reaction to the Verizon Wireless story. Plus, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he and his wife are getting a divorce. We believe that we have stumbled upon his profile on a dating website.