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Morning Host Steve Cochran Abruptly Departs WLS/Chicago


Steve Cochran
Steve Cochran

WLS-AM/Chicago abruptly canceled "The Steve Cochran Show," "The Closing Bell" and "PM Chicago" on Friday morning. With the moves, the Cumulus News/Talker is adding more syndicated conservative talk programming. Cochran will be replaced by local host Ramblin' Ray Stevens, according to an internal email obtained by Axios. Cochran joined WLS for mornings from 5:30-9am in June, 2022. Prior to that, he handled mornings on crosstown rival WGN-AM since 2013. He's previously aired in mornings in Miami, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minneapolis and New York.

"The Big 89 is leaning into the right side of talk with Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles replacing The Closing Bell and PM Chicago," WLS Program Director Stephanie Tichenor wrote in an email.

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