06/16/21: Does McDonald’s plan to automate drive-thru ordering break Illinois privacy law?

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

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

05/20/21: 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

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

05/25/21: 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

05/11/21: 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

06/23/21: 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

05/27/21: Homes are going for well over the asking price: The average home in Chicago is now selling for over 100 percent of the asking price, but home values overall are still rising slower than in other major cities. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to explain why that’s not necessarily a bad thing in a recap of this week’s real estate news. Plus: Mayor Lightfoot unveils plan to help hard-hit businesses, Illinois House passes long-awaited weed license bill, Illinois and Discovery Partners Institute team up to monitor COVID in wastewater and the travel rebound gains steam. by Crain's Daily Gist

26 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

05/26/21: Why marijuana edibles are creating buzz: THC-infused snacks and candies are increasingly making up a huge share of total weed sales. Reporter John Pletz joins host Amy Guth to explain why Chicago’s deep roots in the food business may give local pot entrepreneurs an edge over the competition. Plus: Lightfoot administration faces more turnover, Chicago more than doubles rent relief funding, Fulton Market development sites hit the market and United Airlines launches its own vaccine lottery. by Crain's Daily Gist

17 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

08/23/21: Businesses confront new round of mask mandates: While business groups generally support Chicago’s move to reinstate its indoor mask mandate, some argue that it shouldn’t be on business owners to enforce it. Reporters Ally Marotti and A.D. Quig join host Amy Guth to discuss the news you need to know to start your week. Plus: Illinois selling bonds after first ratings increase in decades, death threats and in-flight chaos lead to wave of charges against airline passengers, farm boom boosts Deere and big winners emerge after the state’s final weed lottery. by Crain's Daily Gist

33 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

05/06/21: 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

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

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

05/12/21: 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

06/16/21: Does McDonald’s plan to automate drive-thru ordering break Illinois privacy law?: An Illinois privacy law that has entangled major companies including Facebook is now threatening McDonald’s efforts to improve drive-thru times—a key initiative in its plan to boost sales post-COVID. Crain’s reporter Ally Marotti joins host Amy Guth to explain. Plus: $7.3 billion takeover of Grubhub goes through, Boeing PAC resumes donating to politicians including Republicans who opposed certifying the presidential election, PharmaCann gets a $110M investment from a Canadian marijuana company and the travel rebound ends the need for United to furlough workers when federal pandemic aid runs out. 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

06/03/21: 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

06/28/21: What business in a post-pandemic economy looks like: Businesses across industries are charting the city’s comeback story. This month’s Crain’s Forum looks at how entrepreneurs and leaders used the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to transform the way they do work in Chicago. Forum Editor Cassandra West and reporters Wendell Hutson and A.D. Quig join host Amy Guth with more. Plus: City closes mass vaccination sites at United Center and many city colleges, big residential plan pitched for former DePaul College Prep campus, dozens of former Sears stores are set to hit market and the U.S. Supreme Court backs Chicago-based TransUnion on consumer lawsuits by Crain's Daily Gist

30 min listen

07/06/21: United is betting business travel will return. Will it? by Crain's Daily Gist

20 min listen

07/08/21: The three suburbs with almost no homes left for sale: In three Chicago suburbs, the fast-paced real estate market means the inventory of homes for sale is so slim, it's nearly nonexistent. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to discuss and recap this week’s real estate news. Plus: The city's aviation chief says O’Hare is due for a major rebound, Grubhub has plans for robotic food delivery on college campuses, Willis Tower insurer sues the city and local sewer district over flood damage from May 2020 storms, and why Big Food companies need strong second-quarter numbers. by Crain's Daily Gist

30 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

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

06/10/21: The housing market is having a Goldilocks moment: he Chicago-area real estate market is in a relative sweet spot. But how long can it last? Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to discuss and recap this week’s housing news. Plus: Worldwide travel loosens up, Illinois forms a high-speed rail commission, a Wacker Drive skyscraper hits the market, and new weed licenses could be issued by the end of the summer. by Crain's Daily Gist

27 min listen

06/15/21: Why businesses are paying more for cyber insurance: Insurers are raising premiums as a growing number of ransomware attacks has more businesses looking for digital protection. Reporter Steve Daniels joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: O’Hare is recovering slower than other major airports, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s energy plan could be a lucrative opportunity for ComEd, large mall owner files Chapter 11 and a look at three Chicago shopping areas with three different post-pandemic recovery paths. by Crain's Daily Gist

19 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

06/09/21: 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

06/21/21: The growing buzz around weed and hard seltzer: As Chicago-based White Claw tries to stay ahead in an increasingly-crowded hard seltzer space, suburban towns are reconsidering whether to approve recreational marijuana sales as the pot market continues to boom. Reporters Ally Marotti and John Pletz talk weed and hard seltzer with host Amy Guth. Plus: How the Chicago Bears' bid to move to the suburbs highlights issues at Soldier Field, Chicago area's last remaining coal-fired power plants are set to close, Cook County will likely again delay the property tax payment deadline and Mayor Lightfoot’s ‘Chi Biz Strong’ COVID recovery package moves closer to law. by Crain's Daily Gist

27 min listen

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06/16/21: Does McDonald’s plan to automate drive-thru ordering break Illinois privacy law?

06/16/21: Does McDonald’s plan to automate drive-thru ordering break Illinois privacy law?

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