05/05/21: Are business leaders asking the right questions?

05/12/21: Why dealers are paying top-dollar for used cars: Used car values are soaring as dealers struggle to find pre-owned vehicles. Contributor Judy Crown joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: The Navy Pier Flyover is finally finished, an Oprah-backed startup wants to help grocers peer into their produce, The owner of Barnes & Noble is buying Paper Source and Biden is set to nominate Rahm Emanuel as ambassador to Japan. by Crain's Daily Gist

16 min listen

06/01/21: How Chicago businesses are addressing calls for racial justice: A health care coalition is launching a new report card that aims to help hospitals and clinics reduce systemic racism and health disparities. Meanwhile, a real estate developer is putting money behind the mayor’s alternative plan to renaming Lake Shore Drive after Black explorer Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. Stephanie Goldberg and A.D. Quig discuss in a reporters’ roundtable with host Amy Guth. Plus: Amtrak details its big expansion plan, Rivian pushes back launch of its battery-powered truck by a month, Boeing to pay $17 million to settle FAA enforcement cases and a big film studio campus is planned for the South Side. by Crain's Daily Gist

33 min listen

06/17/21: Downtown condo sales are set to explode: Enticingly low prices are attracting buyers and laying the groundwork for a big increase in downtown condo sales. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to explain in a recap of this week’s real estate news. Plus: Progressive hikes auto rates in Illinois as drivers take to the roads again, U.S. News ranks Lurie among the state’s top children's hospitals, Southwest says systems have been restored after 1,400 flights were disrupted due to a glitch, and chicken sandwich battles continue to rage as poultry prices soar. by Crain's Daily Gist

29 min listen

06/08/21: Hedge fund’s move to cut costs at Tribune may backfire: Tribune Publishing’s new owner will likely try to turn a profit by slashing newsroom staff. Reporter Ally Marotti joins host Amy Guth to discuss how further cost-cutting will make it difficult for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers to hold on to readers. Plus: A new report shows your property's share of local government debt, private-equity firms to buy Medline in $30 billion deal, Chicago Fire plans facility on Northwest Side and a ghost kitchen company owned by the co-founder of Uber is embroiled in a North Side NIMBY fight. by Crain's Daily Gist

18 min listen

06/09/21: What’s the future for hotels post-pandemic?: A Gold Coast hotel for sale stands to provide clues about what investors think hotels are worth as the pandemic wanes. Commercial real estate reporter Danny Ecker discusses with host Amy Guth. Plus: Airline leaders plead to restart trans-Atlantic flights, Cook County changes its vaccination strategy to address hesitancy, insurance startup Kin raises $69 million with an investment from a PGA pro and 10 community leaders get $50K grants from the Field and Macarthur Foundations to make a difference in underserved areas. by Crain's Daily Gist

18 min listen

05/24/21: The city is calling out businesses for a lack of diversity: Chicago’s political leaders are taking bold steps to bring attention to the lack of diversity in some of the city’s most powerful industries, from financial services to journalism. Crain’s Wendell Hutson and Ally Marotti join host Amy Guth for a reporters’ roundtable. Plus: McDonald's hit with $10 billion discrimination suit from Byron Allen, Tribune Publishing shareholders vote to sell company to hedge fund, CNA Financial paid $40 million in ransom after March cyberattack and Illinois will repay the $2 billion it borrowed from the Federal Reserve without using COVID relief funds. by Crain's Daily Gist

35 min listen

05/17/21: Will businesses need to police who's vaccinated?: Vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear masks indoors and they won’t count toward capacity limits under the city’s reopening plan. But how will businesses be able to tell who got the shot? Reporters Danny Ecker and Stephanie Goldberg join a reporters roundtable with host Amy Guth to talk about what could be a logistical nightmare. Plus: Lollapalooza will be back this summer, Civic Federation hits Pritzker's plan to close corporate loophole, Mariano's parent, Kroger gave its CEO $22 million after ending hazard pay for workers, Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg will be a spokesman for Chicago weed giant PharmaCann. by Crain's Daily Gist

33 min listen

05/04/21: Landlords get creative to lure workers back to offices: Many landlords are shelling out incentives and creative leasing perks to shore up their tenant rosters after the pandemic pushed office vacancy to an all-time high. Reporter Danny Ecker joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: CPS CEO Janice Jackson resigning, Basecamp employees quit after CEO bans political talk, CVS and Walgreens have wasted more vaccine doses than most states combined and here are 10 new Chicago restaurants with buzz. by Crain's Daily Gist

21 min listen

05/10/21: How COVID spurred a shortage of everything from chicken to new cars: Missteps at the beginning of the pandemic are now leading to serious shortages in just about everything, sending prices soaring. Reporters Ally Marotti and John Pletz join host Amy Guth to discuss how tight supply could threaten to slow the nation’s economic recovery. Plus: Illinois could fully reopen as soon as June 11, a large electric vehicle plant is coming to Joliet, big names preparing bids for Medline, grocery prices are going up, and a proposed weed bill calls for three lotteries to increase the number of pot stores in the state. by Crain's Daily Gist

33 min listen

05/25/21: Home sales soar even as prices go sky-high: The Chicago-area saw home sales and prices explode in April. Residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to explain why the market is hotter than it’s been in years. Plus: McDonald's reopening plan is running into opposition from franchisees, Gallagher set to fill Chicago’s Aon vacuum, Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush aims to restart biomedical research disrupted by pandemic and employers are left to take the lead when it comes to wearing masks at work. by Crain's Daily Gist

17 min listen

05/13/21: These are Chicago’s hottest housing markets: Homes are selling fast across the region, but where are they selling the fastest? Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to discuss and recap this week's real estate news. Plus: White House enlists McDonald's to promote vaccines, Joffrey Ballet expanding to South Loop, city’s marketing chief made permanent head of World Business Chicago and a 29-story Loop office building goes back on the market. by Crain's Daily Gist

34 min listen

06/22/21: How employers can support mental health as workers return to the office: The pandemic has only made worker burnout worse. Now, as companies begin to return to the office, leaders will need to do more to keep workers engaged and motivated. Chicago Comes Back columnists Emily Drake and Todd Connor join host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: How a newcomer to the hospital business plans to save Mercy, a scaled-back Air & Water Show is planned for this summer, Pfizer CEO urges Biden to form a coalition to cut drug costs, and here’s why you can expect long wait times and high prices when ordering an Uber or Lyft in Chicago right now. by Crain's Daily Gist

27 min listen

05/05/21: Are business leaders asking the right questions?: Good leadership means knowing when to ask questions and not answer them. Chicago Comes Back columnists Todd Connor and Emily Drake of the Collective Academy join host Amy Guth to discuss how to make the space for more meaningful workplace conversations. Plus: Illinois is aiming for a full reopening by July, complaints soared at United during COVID, Chicago pot firm plans deal to enter Virginia market and getting high on 'medicated' Skittles is no laughing matter for Mars Wrigley. by Crain's Daily Gist

33 min listen

05/18/21: Would waiving vaccine patents help end the pandemic?: The Biden administration unexpectedly came out in favor of suspending patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines in a move meant to boost supply in countries hard-hit by the pandemic. Health care reporter Stephanie Goldberg joins host Amy Guth to talk about why the debate over intellectual property rights isn’t as simple as it seems. Plus: A new congressional map surfaces in Springfield, Delta to require vaccines for new employees, Stellantis cuts shift at Illinois Jeep plant amid chip shortage and a WHO report says working long hours increases risk of death from heart disease and stroke. by Crain's Daily Gist

16 min listen

05/19/21: With eviction ban set to end, will $1.5B in renter aid be enough?: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces $1.5 billion in rent relief as the state says it will lift its freeze on evictions in August. Crain's commercial real estate reporter Alby Gallun talks with host Amy Guth about what it means for renters and landlords. Plus: Lightfoot says Chicagoans should keep wearing masks, General Iron owner hits city with $100 million lawsuit, Fulton Market developer plans massive apartment and office project, Peapod founders have a new grocery-tech venture that helps consumers who have special diets find the right foods. by Crain's Daily Gist

17 min listen

05/11/21: What business leaders think of Chicago’s economic future: The most recent Executive Pulse Survey from Crain’s-Harris Poll finds the majority of business leaders are hopeful the economy will pick up in the next six months. Harris Poll CEO William Johnson joins host Amy Guth to discuss what’s top of mind for business owners and C-suite executives as the city opens back up. Plus: City to fund $60M in Michael Reese site infrastructure, Helmut Jahn leaves architectural legacy in Chicago and around the world, Gallagher reportedly in talks to buy Aon and Willis assets and Rush and BMO launch $10 million health equity institute. by Crain's Daily Gist

18 min listen

06/14/21: Real estate’s moment of reckoning: Chicago is facing calls to reduce downtown buildings’ carbon footprint and landmark the homes of the city’s Black historical figures. Reporters Danny Ecker and Dennis Rodkin join host Amy Guth to discuss how the movements highlight the real estate industry’s role in climate change and systemic racism. Plus: Another lawsuit has been filed over Illinois' remap, COVID restrictions are lifting but some restaurants aren't ready, ethanol production outlook rises to the highest level since February 2020, and the park district's indoor pools will remain closed throughout the summer—but not because of COVID. by Crain's Daily Gist

29 min listen

06/24/21: Are homebuyers really leaving the city for the suburbs?: New data suggests that home sales in Chicago are growing faster than the larger metropolitan area. Reporter Dennis Rodkin breaks down the numbers with host Amy Guth in a recap of this week’s real estate news. Plus: CIBC takes a stake in one of the city’s most prominent minority-owned financial firms; Amazon plans a distribution warehouse and hundreds of jobs in Humboldt Park; a look at Mayor Lightfoot’s claim that homicides and shootings are down; and Michelin-starred chef José Andrés is set to open a speakeasy in Chicago this summer. by Crain's Daily Gist

27 min listen

07/20/21: Latest front in Main Street vs. Wall Street: Houseplant sales rose more than 30 percent during the pandemic. Now small, locally owned shops face competition from large venture-capital backed stores. Crain's reporter Ally Marotti discusses the retail rivalry with host Amy Guth. Plus: Portillo's plans an IPO; two Chicago startups are going public via blank-check firms; a local shopping center owner is being bought in a multibillion-dollar deal; and a look at how marijuana cultivation centers are growing jobs in rural Illinois. by Crain's Daily Gist

18 min listen

06/07/21: How businesses are preparing for a full reopening: Restaurants are getting ready for the removal of coronavirus restrictions June 11, as downtown landlords see a boost with life slowly returning to Chicago’s central business district. Reporters Alby Gallun and Ally Marotti discuss in a roundtable with host Amy Guth. Plus: Pritzker criticizes new ethics rules for state lawmakers; Staples offers $1 billion for Office Depot's consumer unit in new bid; Boeing plans to test ‘curtain of air’ to fight COVID in jet cabins and warns China that a trade impasse threatens its global sway. by Crain's Daily Gist

35 min listen

05/20/21: As prices explode, should you buy a home?: Low mortgage rates and a shortage of properties for sale has caused home prices to skyrocket. Do new homebuyers stand to lose money in the long run by buying in a sellers’ market? Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to recap this week’s real estate news and take listener questions. Plus: Agents group sues Allstate for multiple breaches of contract, WeWork chairman says demand for shared office space exceeds pre-pandemic levels, market research firm Ipsos reduces its downtown footprint, and Bank of America will raise minimum wage to $25 an hour. by Crain's Daily Gist

36 min listen

06/02/21: What to know about Illinois’ new $42B state budget: Lawmakers approved a state budget that doesn’t contain tax increases. Political columnist Greg Hinz joins host Amy Guth to explain. Plus: The great supply chain crisis of 2021 is now starting to impact the construction business, First Midwest in $6.5 billion deal with Indiana bank, Ulta's new CEO confronts a beauty business altered by COVID-19 and Chicago clears the way for Mercy Hospital’s new owner. by Crain's Daily Gist

21 min listen

05/06/21: Why new homes are getting more expensive: Strong demand and skyrocketing lumber prices are increasing the price of newly constructed homes by an average of $28,000 in the Chicago-area. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: Chicago says farewell to CME's last commodity trading pits, local retail sales poised to rise 6 percent this year, billionaire Sam Zell's firm announces $3.4 billion deal for a industrial property company and a nationwide study finds the J&J pause didn’t significantly hurt public perception of COVID vaccines. by Crain's Daily Gist

39 min listen

06/23/21: Why McDonald’s is doubling down on digital growth: McDonald’s is rolling out a nationwide rewards program and slashing options from its value menu in a bid to boost sales. Crain's reporter Ally Marotti joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: The grocery-store boom is poised to live on even as pandemic fades, GM and Ford are locked in an electric vehicle spending race, another Chicago company hits $1 billion valuation, and airlines seek criminal charges against unruly passengers. by Crain's Daily Gist

15 min listen

08/03/21: Why some Chicago companies are testing a 4-day work week: Employee burnout soared during the pandemic, pushing local companies to test solutions from a four-day workweek to a Zoom ban on Fridays. Crain’s reporter Katherine Davis talks with host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: City and County health departments advise residents to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, Loop tower drops condos and goes all rental, a coworking firm is set to open in the revamped Marshall Field building and a marijuana company files lawsuit seeking admission to the state’s weed license lottery. by Crain's Daily Gist

17 min listen

07/12/21: What's hot in commercial real estate right now: Leases are in demand for third-party logistics firms in Chicago. Crain's commercial real estate reporters Danny Ecker and Alby Gallun join host Amy Guth to talk about the state of office and industrial space. Plus: CTA ridership is recovering fast, but trains and buses are still only half as full as before the pandemic; Michelin-starred Mag Mile restaurant Spiaggia is closing permanently; Illinois gets a second bond upgrade; and Target backs off a Water Tower Place outpost. by Crain's Daily Gist

35 min listen

6/29/21: A spike in unruly passengers has airlines wanting to press charges: There’s been a dramatic uptick in violent incidents on flights, with airlines reporting 3,000 cases of disruptive passengers since Jan. 1. Reporter John Pletz joins host Amy Guth to discuss how carriers are responding. Plus: Kellogg CEO's Chicago address shows a company’s “headquarters" doesn't mean what it used to; CVS/Aetna combo targets Illinois in a new threat to Walgreens and Blue Cross; historic sites group breaks ranks with state officials over Thompson Center; and a Lake Shore Drive name change has been approved by City Council. by Crain's Daily Gist

17 min listen

06/03/21: Here’s why your home isn’t selling: Even in Chicago’s hot market, not all homes are selling fast. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to take reader questions and recap the latest news in real estate. Plus: Travel restrictions loosen as Chicago's latest COVID measures show the lowest test positivity rate since the pandemic began, Illinois senators approve a plan for a fully elected Chicago school board, ComEd bribery defendants ask a judge to toss some charges and Radio Flyer takes e-bikes and scooters for a spin. by Crain's Daily Gist

37 min listen

07/14/21: Bracing for another health care shake-up: The pandemic's financial toll on nursing home operators could push some under and pave the way for consolidation. Crain's health care reporter Stephanie Goldberg joins host Amy Guth to talk about struggles in the sector. Plus: The Chicago Auto Show returns with some changes; a strike against Cook County ends; the city announces $10 million in the latest Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants; and United CEO Scott Kirby hopes flyers won't have to wear masks come September. by Crain's Daily Gist

18 min listen

07/13/21: Gold Coast tower worries: The tragedy in Surfside, Fla., has residents of a Chicago tower anxious about the state of their own 57-story condo building. Crain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin discusses developments at 111 E. Chestnut with host Amy Guth. Plus: The troubled Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund has new leadership; Aon founder Pat Ryan has a second act that comes with some caveats; the maker of Weber grills plans an IPO; and the food trucks that survived the pandemic are still waiting for the rebound that restaurants are already enjoying. by Crain's Daily Gist

14 min listen

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05/05/21: Are business leaders asking the right questions?

05/05/21: Are business leaders asking the right questions?

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