Money

Close-up of someone's hands typing on a laptop.

Federal broadband program helping more than 300,000 Cook County residents set to expire

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.

By Amy Yee

Food and Restaurants

Plymouth Restaurant, rooftop bar closing after 20 years downtown; rooftop to reopen as Mexican cantina

By Jessica Ma

Housing & development

How Realtors deal will affect homebuying

By Abby Miller

Work

Former Foxtrot workers rally, demand back pay after grocer's sudden closure

By Abby Miller

Small Business

Call & Response Books opening new store in Hyde Park

By Isabel Funk

Money

Sun-Times launches Money section

Business news often has the stigma of being too complex, boring or disconnected from the daily struggles of the average consumer. Our new Money section wants to change that.

Money guides

A sign indicating that a home is under contract in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Money

Is it time to refinance your mortgage?

While it’s too early to tell when home loans will become more affordable, even a modest drop can make refinancing an attractive option.

By Jackie Dulen | For the Sun-Times

Rows of $100 bills are lined up on a flat surface.

Money

How to complain — and get your money back

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.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Twenty-dollar bills are fanned out from a wallet.

Money

Expecting a tax refund or work bonus? Here’s ways to make the cash last

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.

By Beth Braverman | For the Sun-Times

Consumer Affairs

Flooded basements in Chicago are increasingly common. What you can do.

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.

By Jessica Pupovac | WBEZ

The Watchdogs

'Deceptive' real estate firm tied to Loop's Monroe Capital sued by Kwame Raoul

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.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Cars race up and down South Columbus Drive near East Ida B. Wells Drive in the Loop.

Personal Finance

Rising inflation means Illinois' required car insurance limits may not be enough protection

There are a few ways to make sure you have enough coverage before a car accident puts you at risk.

By Drew Gula | NerdWallet

Consumer Affairs

Internet providers must now be more transparent about fees, pricing, FCC says

The new required pricing labels are modeled on nutritional labels and are meant to help consumers comparison shop and avoid junk fees.

By Cora Lewis | AP

Money

Walmart grocery shoppers' deadline nears to get in on $45 million class-action lawsuit settlement

If you bought meat, poultry, pork or seafood sold by weight or bagged citrus fruits at Walmart, you could be eligible to claim up to $500. Here’s what you need to know.

By Mike Snider and Sarah Al-Arshani | USA Today

Education

Efforts to improve financial literacy education in Illinois gain traction

The state has become one of an increasing number of states that have added financial literacy to its core curriculum, but experts say more could be done.

By Jackie Dulen | For the Sun-Times

Technology

Browsing in incognito mode doesn't protect you as much as you might think

Nearly every major web browser has a private mode. Here’s a look at what they do and don’t do for surfers.

By Associated Press

Housing & Development

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference at state of Illinois’ offices in the West Loop last week.

Housing & development

Pritzker spending boost to fight homelessness includes targeting racial disparities

Illinois’ Black residents are nearly eight times more likely to be homeless than its white residents, University of Illinois Chicago study found.

By Mohammad Samra

Loop

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.

By Amy Yee

Housing & development

House next to Obamas' Kenwood home, once linked to Tony Rezko, nears completion

A Chicago couple has invested at least $4.2 million into building a home on a lot once owned by the wife of convicted political fixer Tony Rezko.

By Abby Miller

Rendering of a proposed new White Sox ballpark at The 78.

Sports

Chicago stadiums, arenas and real estate make for a playground for the wealthy

We all love sports teams, but regular people don’t own the buildings or the land they frolic upon. We just pay homage to the teams — and to the power-laden who own them.

By Rick Telander

Carl Wolf, executive director of Respond Now, a non-profit in the south suburbs, says if more municipalities don’t want to use $20 million in Cook County grants to help migrants, they can pass the money through to organizations like his.

Immigration

Cook County is offering $20 million for suburbs to help migrants — but finding few takers

Some towns say they’re already overburdened. Nonprofit organizations working to help migrants say suburbs could pass the money to them.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Work

Janitors union rallies in Loop for better pay as contract deadline looms

Hundreds of janitors who keep the city’s office buildings clean held a rally ahead of a possible strike vote on Saturday.

By Amy Yee

Work

New federal rule would bar 'noncompete' agreements for most employees

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.

By Christopher Rugaber | AP

Taste

Cava restaurant opens in Wicker Park on Friday, announces future suburban location

Following its launch, the popular Mediterranean restaurant is set to open a second area outlet this summer in Vernon Hills.

By Erica Thompson

Small Business

Dom's Kitchen & Market and Foxtrot facing class action over sudden layoffs at specialty grocers

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.

By Abby Miller

Back in 2020, the Castaways Bar and Grill located on North Avenue Beach was one of the few restaurants to reopen amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

Food and Restaurants

Castaways Beach Club, formerly Castaways Bar & Grill, closed for renovations last summer. A refresh features an updated menu and renovations costing more than $3 million.

By Jessica Ma

Small Business

Astrology-themed sober bar raised $47k in Kickstarter funds, predicts late summer opening

The Kickstarter-backed mocktail bar called Solar Intentions will be joining a growing sober scene in Chicago.

By Olivia Dimmer | For the Sun-Times

Chicago

Lou Malnati's aims to honor 10 teachers with a year of free pizza

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week next month, 10 winners will be awarded a free medium cheese pizza per week for a year in addition to a $250 catering package for their school.

By Sun-Times Wire

More business news

A TikTok content creator, sits outside the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington as Senators prepare to consider legislation that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers.

Technology

What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for you

It would be at least a year before a ban goes into effect — but with likely court challenges, this could stretch even longer, perhaps years.

By Associated Press

Money

Oberweis Dairy has two potential buyers following Chapter 11 bankruptcy

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.

By Amy Yee

Small Business

Dom's Kitchen and Foxtrot abruptly shutter stores, months after specialty grocers merged

The store closings started Tuesday morning and include two Dom’s Kitchen sites and 33 Foxtrot locations.

By Abby Miller and Isabel Funk

Money

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.

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and Anne D’Innocenzio | AP

Money

Kroger, Albertsons — still hoping to merge — agree to sell more stores to satisfy regulators

The companies now plan to sell 579 Kroger and Albertsons stores in markets where they overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire grocery supplier and operator.

By Dee-Ann Durbin | AP

RECORDDAY-042124_1.jpgPhillip Gross shows his wife Michelle Calderhead the records that he found at Dusty Groove on the Northwest Side on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20, 2024. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Business

Chicagoans build community while seeking special vinyl on Record Store Day

On Saturday, music-lovers visited local record stores for their favorites among more than 380 exclusive releases, including projects from Pearl Jam, David Bowie, the Beatles and Paramore.

By Erica Thompson

Guests take part in a learning lab held by the Arts & Business Council of Chicago.

Entertainment and Culture

Chicago nonprofit serving the arts acquires the Arts & Business Council's programs

Lawyers for the Creative Arts, based in the Loop, said the deal means they will become a ‘one-stop shop’ for arts organizations.

By Amy Yee

Food and Restaurants

Two new Filipino eateries open in Chicago, adding to wave of restaurants offering fun spins on ube and longanisa

Being their own boss is key for these business owners, but also being there for their kids is just as important.

By Dorothy Hernandez

2024 Democratic National Convention

Democratic convention events getting Chicago treatment with new hospitality vendors

Five event production companies, nearly all based in Chicago, will be throwing the official parties for the Democratic National Convention in August.

By Amy Yee

Health

Howard Brown, union reach tentative agreement after 17 months of negotiations

The contract would include raises across the union body — including annual wage increases — a new minimum wage of $19.23, insurance for part-time employees, two weeks of paid leave for gender-affirming care, a union rights clause and protections against layoffs, among other things.

By Violet Miller

Transportation

Uber launches rider verification program in Chicago, 11 other cities

Chicago riders may now find a blue check mark under their name, as part of Uber’s rider verification process.

By Jessica Ma

The Shedd Aquarium will undergo a $500 million transformation beginning this summer and culminating with the Shedd’s 100th anniversary in 2030.

Work

Shedd Aquarium workers form union

In an open letter, staff cited work-life imbalance, financial struggles and lack of communication from management, among other grievances, as reasons for unionizing.

By Amy Yee

Citibank’s South Michigan Avenue branch in downtown Chicago, where former Citi wealth adviser Helen Grace Caldwell worked.

The Watchdogs

Ex-Citi VP in Chicago ripped by judge for bilking elderly clients of $1.5 million, gets 30 months in prison

Before sentencing Helen G. Caldwell, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly said, “The only difference between Ms. Caldwell and a bank robber is that she didn’t have a mask and a gun.”

By Eva Putnam | Injustice Watch

Entertainment and Culture

Little Village venue Apollo's 2000 inks landmark status

Owners Javier and Lidia Galindo have operated Apollo’s 2000 for more than 35 years. Now, they’re ready for the venue to enter its next era as a city-designated landmark.

By Abby Miller

The Oberweis Dairy at an Aurora location on Randall Rd, just north of I-88

Money

Oberweis Dairy plans to close plant, lay off 127 workers

The company, known for its ice cream stores and milk packaged in glass bottles, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

By Amy Yee

Money

World Business Chicago names new CEO

Philip Clement, who succeeds Michael Fassnacht, is tasked with promoting Chicago as a destination for businesses.

By Amy Yee

Small Business

Discount retailer Bargains in a Box closes shop

Since the 1990s, countless shoppers have scored eye-popping deals on a range of goods found in giant cardboard boxes and on warehouse-style shelves.

By Amy Yee

Education

Chicagoans have hopes, doubts about new student debt relief proposed by Biden

“I just feel like I’m going to die paying off my student loans,” said one high school counselor in Southeast Chicago after the president introduced a plan to aid nearly 25 million more student loan borrowers. But a borrower in Pilsen said the program could “radically change my life.”

By Lisa Philip | WBEZ

How to help reduce elder poverty? Keep Chicago seniors employed

By Amy Yee

City Hall

Mayor Brandon Johnson offers revised plan to borrow $1.25 billion for development, housing projects

A substitute ordinance brings more transparency to Johnson’s $1.25 billion housing and economic development plan — but also led to questions from City Council members about what should be subject to Council approval.

By Abby Miller

Work

United flight attendants rally outside O'Hare, demanding better pay

Union members picketed at 17 airports worldwide, including O’Hare, a week after the Chicago-based airline reported that executives received large pay hikes.

By Amy Yee

On a tree lined street, cars are parked in front of a brick building that has glass-block windows.

Money

Amazon owes Chicago-based tech company $525 million for patent infringement, jury rules

Kove, a West Loop technology company, alleged in a 2018 lawsuit that Amazon Web Services used its patented technology as a building block for its hugely profitable cloud services.

By Abby Miller

City Hall

Cubs rounding the bases to install new rooftop signs on buildings around Wrigley

The Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards unanimously passed an ordinance that would allow the Ricketts family — owners of the Cubs — to install new rooftop signs near Wrigley Field.

By Abby Miller

Springfield

Pritzker pitches grants to open new stores in food deserts

The governor announced the second phase of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, which includes a round of grant funding for new grocers in food deserts.

By Mariah Rush

Austan Goolsbee (left), president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Money

Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee on the economy, health of our financial system

How is the economy doing? And how does the U.S. financial system really work? Goolsbee answers those questions and more.

By Andrea Guthmann | WBEZ

A server tends to a table of customers at Athena Restaurant in February 2022.

Other Views

Getting rid of tipped wages in Illinois would be the final blow to many restaurants

Any increase in restaurant costs can mean the difference between keeping the doors open or closing for good. And many tipped workers already make far more than minimum wage.

By George D. Alpogianis