CHICAGO, June 17, 2008 –WGN-TV’s Paul Konrad and WGN Radio’s Steve Cochran will co-host WGN-TV’s first telecast of “Chicago’s Summer Blast: Fireworks and the Taste of Chicago” on Thursday, July 3rd from 9-10pm.

The hour-long special will feature the Taste of Chicago fireworks display from downtown Chicago, uninterrupted and commercial-free. WGN News at Nine reporter Lourdes Duarte will report on the festivities from the Columbia Yacht Club and WGN News at Nine reporter Antwan Lewis will report from the Adler Planetarium. WGN News entertainment reporter Dean Richards will highlight all of the sights and sounds at the Taste of Chicago. The #1 rated WGN News at Nine will follow the July 3rd special from 10:00-10:30pm.

The 27th annual Independence Eve Fireworks will display over 5,000 dazzling aerial devices and shells over Chicago’s lakefront. Over one million people typically attend the annual event. The live coverage will air on WGN-TV 9 and WGN-DT 9.1 in Chicago and nationally via WGN America.