We break down complex business news to help you understand how money moves in Chicago and how it affects you.
Feds have 'significant safety concerns' about Ford fuel leak recall and demand answers about the fix
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is demanding volumes of information from the automaker as it investigates the fix in a March 8 recall of nearly 43,000 Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs with 1.5-liter engines.
Money guides
While it’s too early to tell when home loans will become more affordable, even a modest drop can make refinancing an attractive option.
Got a consumer problem? Help is out there. Keep this list for the next time you have an intractable issue with a retailer or service provider.
It’s not uncommon to receive an unexpected windfall this time of year thanks to a bonus from work or a tax refund. Whatever the circumstances, it’s easy to make costly mistakes.
When big storms hit, basements fill with stormwater and sewage. But there are steps that you and also government can take to help stay above water.
Researchers said if state officials don’t curb utility spending, “Illinois is on course to maintain its entire gas system indefinitely.”
If consumers are disappointed in a lower-than-expected score or a significant drop, it’s helpful to understand what factors into that number, according to an expert.
El Programa de Conectividad Asequible ofrecía $30 al mes a los hogares que cumplían los requisitos necesarios para pagar su factura de Internet de banda ancha, pero con el fin del programa, algunos proveedores de servicios ofrecen sus propias opciones.
The Affordable Connectivity Program offered eligible households $30 per month toward their broadband internet bill, but with the program ending, some service providers are offering their own options.
Chicago agents say the just-approved, $418 million National Association of Realtors settlement over broker commissions might not have an immediate impact, but it will bring changes, and homebuyers and sellers have been asking what it will mean for them.
MV Realty targeted people who had equity in their homes but needed cash — locking them into decadeslong contracts carrying hidden fees, the Illinois attorney general says in a new lawsuit.
Housing & Development
A project that was stymied under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot could open in 2025 now that there’s an agreement on security measures for the nearby Jardine Water Filtration Plant.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s latest initiatives don’t address concerns raised in a lawsuit against the city and provide no reassurance the city will get accessible housing right going forward.
The retail giant’s new consolidation center is one of only three in the U.S., as it looks to streamline and automate its supply chain.
The leader of the Altgeld Murray Homes Alumni Association explains how a community land trust could help Riverdale boost home ownership and investment.
Rebuild Together Metro Chicago and its network of 1,500 volunteers from local unions and businesses completed work ranging from installing mobility aids like grab bars to overhauling electrical and plumbing systems.
Illinois’ Black residents are nearly eight times more likely to be homeless than its white residents, University of Illinois Chicago study found.
The Logan Square restaurant’s take on the pan-fried noodle dish, a popular street food in Malaysia, stays true to its roots.
Launched within the last four years, Alexander James, Bull Young Bourbon and Renard Whiskey are carving out space in a historically exclusive industry.
In a vote Monday, 98% of voters at UChicago moved in favor of representation by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), which represents staffers at Northwestern.
Parachute, their beloved dining gem in Avondale, is dead. But the pioneering duo have set their sights on what comes next.
He fed hungry steelworkers from the nearby U.S. Steel South Works plant, taking off just two days a year — Christmas and Thanksgiving. But his kids would join him and help out at the restaurant.
Restaurants and bars anticipate a big revenue boost from the city’s outdoor dining program — especially with key summer events like NASCAR and the Democratic National Convention.
More business news
The classic toy, with Chicago roots, has its ups and downs.
Jacqueline Jackson’s Small Business Association award is the latest milestone in a “bittersweet” career.
Barbara Glusak, who was Washington Federal Bank for Savings’ chief financial officer, kept sounding the alarm about falsified loan records, court records show. But no one heeded the warning, allowing an embezzlement scheme to continue six more years.
Google bought the 39-year-old building for $105 million in 2022 with plans to redevelop it into its Chicago headquarters for 2,000 of its employees.
An attorney for plaintiff Angela Valadez argued for a direct link between her cancer diagnosis and Zantac, which she took for nearly 20 years. Defense attorneys cited the drug’s proven safety record and blamed other health factors for her cancer.
The upgrade includes wheel locks, a software update and an immobilizer protection sleeve for vehicles that can’t receive the update.
A new report from the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity finds that Black business owners still face barriers that keep them from thriving, such as lack of access to capital.
Barbara Glusak warned two of Washington Federal Bank’s board members about loan fraud, but the two did nothing to stop it — and were later convicted of participating in it. Glusak is now scheduled to testify at the sentencing hearing for Janice Weston and George Kozdemba.
The teams were set to join Stadium once their agreement with NBC Sports Chicago expires in October. On Saturday, The Athletic reported that the teams will partner with Standard Media Group, a company based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Howard Brown Health Workers United said 98% of votes cast supported ratifying the contract.
Several hotter-than-expected reports on prices and economic growth have undercut the Fed’s belief that inflation was easing.
The move would ease tax burdens on pot shops, currently prohibited from deducting expenses from income associated with Schedule I or II substances. Those savings could be passed on to customers, industry leaders said.
The annual list includes businesses that fall into a number of categories, such as automotive, beauty, books, fitness, fashion, food, home decor and home repair.
The lawsuit claims the tech giants “purloined” millions of articles from the newspapers without permission or payment to train their generative artificial intelligence software and dramatically boost their businesses.
The regulation is designed to prevent many rear-end and pedestrian collisions and reduce the roughly 40,000 traffic deaths per year.
The owner hopes the rebrand will appeal to more customers after the spot suffered losses in recent years. The restaurant downstairs, for now, will be used for private events and catering.
The former employees contacted workers rights organization Arise Chicago and filed charges with the Illinois Department of Labor, according to the organization.
Owner Courtney Bledsoe said the store will focus on stocking books by authors of color and celebrating the stories they tell.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, 30 million people — roughly one in five workers — are subject to noncompetes, which bar workers from jumping to or starting competing companies.
Lawyers for the Creative Arts, based in the Loop, said the deal means they will become a ‘one-stop shop’ for arts organizations.
The complaint, field Wednesday, said the companies violated the state and federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act by failing to properly notify employees that they would be laid off.
Brian Boomsma of Dutch Farms in Pullman made an offer to buy Oberweis Dairy while Hoffmann Family of Cos. in Winnetka also expressed an interest to purchase the company.
Loop's weekend foot traffic exceeds level before pandemic, but retail vacancies still at record high
The Chicago Loop Alliance released its latest report on the Loop, finding that it offered some signs of a revival.
The Kickstarter-backed mocktail bar called Solar Intentions will be joining a growing sober scene in Chicago.
The store closings started Tuesday morning and include two Dom’s Kitchen sites and 33 Foxtrot locations.
Retailer Express files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, announces store closures, possible sale
The retailer operates 24 stores in Illinois, according to its website, including a site at Water Tower Place and on State Street.