Today In My City
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Business & Economy

The latest on new businesses, economic trends, market shifts, and the people driving the local economy.

A large, diverse crowd gathered at a music festival stage, illuminated by vibrant neon lights during a performance.

Lollapalooza 2026 aftershow lineup revealed before main lineup

Over 80 acts, including Empire of the Sun and Major Lazer, have just been announced for Lollapalooza's 2026 aftershows, even though the main festival lineup is still months away, according to WGN-TV a

Rafael Mendoza· May 26· 3 min
A somber scene of a traffic accident aftermath with police lights, highlighting the critical injury of a pedestrian and potential charges against a driver's aunt.

Driver Critically Injures Pedestrian; Aunt May Face Charges

Just three weeks after 19-year-old Sarah Jenkins received her full driver's license, she critically injured Mark Thompson, 62, in a downtown crosswalk on Tuesday.

Rafael Mendoza· May 25· 3 min
Historic downtown Reno commercial building undergoing adaptive reuse conversion into residential apartments, showcasing urban renewal.

Reno residential conversion permit issued for adaptive reuse project

A single permit issued this week in downtown Reno quietly greenlights the transformation of a historic commercial building into dozens of new homes, marking a pivotal moment for the city's housing fut

Rafael Mendoza· May 23· 3 min
A lively street festival scene at Northalsted Market Days with diverse crowds enjoying music and food stalls under sunny skies.

Northalsted Market Days 2026 Reveals Star-Studded Headliner Lineup

Northalsted Market Days 2026 will take place August 7-9 on Halsted Street between Addison and Belmont avenues.

Rafael Mendoza· May 20· 3 min
Federal judge orders the release of a detained mother from ICE custody, while her son remains in detention.

Federal Judge Orders Release of Mother Detained by ICE

After being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine March appointment, Liliana Navarrete was ordered released by a federal judge.

Rafael Mendoza· May 20· 3 min
A small business owner uses a tablet displaying Anthropic Claude AI interface, with glowing lines of code connecting to their store, symbolizing growth and efficiency.

Anthropic Claude AI powers new tools for small business growth

Anthropic is now offering its advanced Claude AI models at prices up to 66.

Aisha Patel· May 13· 4 min
3 Overlooked Features in Intention.ly’s Platform That Directly Impact Advisor AUM Growth

3 Overlooked Features in Intention.ly’s Platform That Directly Impact Advisor AUM Growth

Many financial advisory firms struggle with marketing despite significant budgets, often due to fragmented strategies. This article highlights three overlooked features within Intention.ly's platform, such as a holistic "Growth Engine" and proprietary AI, that can directly impact advisor AUM growth by providing an integrated, accountable approach.

Sponsored by Intention.ly· Jul 13· 6 min
Junk Removal or Dumpster Rental with All In The Family Junk Removal

Junk Removal or Dumpster Rental with All In The Family Junk Removal

Deciding between full-service junk removal or a dumpster rental for clearing debris in Long Island can be challenging. All In The Family Junk Removal offers both options, helping homeowners, renters, and project owners choose the best fit based on the job's demands, volume, and required labor.

Sponsored· Jul 9· 7 min
No-Cost & No-Pressure: How Derek Rogers Delivers Unbiased Medicare Support in Northeast Florida

No-Cost & No-Pressure: How Derek Rogers Delivers Unbiased Medicare Support in Northeast Florida

Derek Rogers, a local Medicare advisor in Jacksonville, provides no-cost, unbiased support to help Northeast Florida residents navigate the confusing Medicare landscape. He focuses on education and clarity to help clients confidently choose the right plan.

Sponsored· Jul 8· 6 min
Why Atlanta's Top Families Choose John Mateyko for Comprehensive Financial Planning

Why Atlanta's Top Families Choose John Mateyko for Comprehensive Financial Planning

John Mateyko, a Fiduciary Financial Planner and Managing Partner of IDEX Financial, offers comprehensive financial planning services for top families in Atlanta and Serenbe. With over two decades of experience, he helps clients balance multiple financial priorities, from retirement and education to wealth preservation and legacy planning.

Sponsored· Jul 7· 5 min
5 Overlooked Benefits of Outsourcing Customer Support with Ethos Support for Small Business

5 Overlooked Benefits of Outsourcing Customer Support with Ethos Support for Small Business

Outsourcing customer support, particularly with flexible services like Ethos Support, offers small businesses strategic growth opportunities beyond just cost cutting. It provides access to specialized talent, unprecedented operational agility, and superior service consistency through lower agent attrition.

Sponsored· Jul 6· 5 min
7 Top Business Coaches Dominating 2026, Led by Entrepreneur Magazine's #1 Brad Sugars

7 Top Business Coaches Dominating 2026, Led by Entrepreneur Magazine's #1 Brad Sugars

Ambitious entrepreneurs often hit a plateau where pure hustle is no longer enough, leading them to seek business coaching. Finding effective guidance in the booming, crowded market of business coaches is challenging, making it crucial to identify coaches with proven systems and verifiable track records.

Sponsored· Jul 2· 7 min
Close-up of a car's dashboard displaying speed limit technology, with a driver's hands on the steering wheel on a highway at dusk.

Illinois Law Requires Speed Limit Tech for Restricted Drivers

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a bill requiring repeat speeders to use technology to prevent exceeding limits for restricted driving privileges, though the program won't launch until after New Year's Day 2028.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 28· 2 min
A cinematic depiction of AI's economic impact, showing robots working in a factory while people look on, with a futuristic city in the background.

AI's economic impact: Job displacement and UBI solutions

Dario Amodei, CEO of AI powerhouse Anthropic, suggested a universal basic income (UBI) may be needed if AI-driven job displacement permanently reduces labor demand, according to Canadian Affairs .

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 28· 2 min
A detailed puppet of an alien character celebrating a successful crowdfunding campaign, with a thermometer showing over $22,000 raised.

Popular Puppet Web Series for Adults Raises Over $22K

The web series 'For Alien Eyes Only' has already raised over $22,000 in less than a month for its first official season, demonstrating a powerful shift in how adult-oriented content gets funded.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 23· 2 min
Surveyors conduct soil testing at the future site of the Bronzeville Trail, an elevated park and bike path project in Chicago.

Bronzeville Trail project launches with soil testing

Environmental soil testing has begun at the abandoned rail site, officially launching the $100 million Bronzeville Trail project.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 23· 2 min
Kamilla Cardoso in action, driving to the basket during a WNBA game, showcasing her intense focus and athletic prowess.

Kamilla Cardoso posts 26 points, nine boards vs Wings

In a heartbreaking 93-92 loss to the Wings, Kamilla Cardoso exploded for a career-high 26 points, adding nine rebounds and three assists, far surpassing her typical output.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 21· 2 min
Sydney Adamu takes charge of 'The Bear' restaurant amidst chaos and existential threats in the Season 5 trailer.

The Bear Season 5 trailer shows restaurant crossroads

A flood, a delivery cut-off, and the building being sold off: these are just some catastrophic challenges facing The Bear restaurant in its newly released final season trailer.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 9· 2 min
A modern Chicago office tower, 20 South Clark Street, stands illuminated at dusk, symbolizing financial stability in a challenging urban real estate market.

George Armoyan's Clarke Buys Chicago Office Towers, Becomes Debt-Free

In a Chicago office market grappling with record vacancies and looming debt maturities, one major tower, 20 South Clark Street, now operates entirely debt-free.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 7· 2 min
A lively street festival in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood with diverse crowds, food stalls, and colorful decorations celebrating community.

Michelada Fest Canceled, Returns as Free Pilsen Street Celebration

For the second consecutive year, Michelada Fest has been canceled.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 6· 2 min
Diverse LGBTQ+ hockey players celebrating together on the ice, showcasing community and joy in Chicago.

Exclusion fuels Chicago queer hockey growth and visibility

More than one hundred new members joined Chicago Pride Hockey this year, doubling its typical Pride month growth, even as national hockey bodies moved to exclude trans athletes.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 5· 2 min
A Jeep Wrangler crashed through the front window of a Dunkin' Donuts on Chicago's Northwest Side, with emergency services present.

Driver Crashes Jeep Into Dunkin' on Chicago's Northwest Side

Two women enjoying their morning coffee at a Chicago Dunkin' were suddenly hospitalized after a 32-year-old woman, driving on a suspended license, accelerated her Jeep directly through the store's fro

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 5· 2 min
A child illuminated by a smartphone screen in a dark room, symbolizing the risks of social media targeting and online exploitation.

Illinois law restricts social media targeting of children

In 2025, reports to the Illinois ICAC Task Force surged by 45% over the previous year, signaling an escalating crisis of online child exploitation.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 4· 2 min
Two figures, a Black woman and a white man, stand on a theatre stage under a spotlight, separated by distance and tension, representing the characters of 'Keerah'.

Netta Walker's 'Keerah' is a playwright debut at Definition Theatre

Seven years after a summer romance between a Black American poet and an Irish writer, a journalist forces them to confront their past in Netta Walker's play 'Keerah', premiering at Definition Theatre.

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 2· 2 min
Illinois State Capitol building with residents looking towards a hopeful horizon, representing the search for tax relief and affordability.

Illinois House Approves Delinquent Tax Sale Reform

Last year, nearly 7,500 Illinoisans moved to Missouri, where property taxes are less than half what they paid in Illinois, according to Senator Curran .

Rafael Mendoza· Jun 1· 2 min
Chicago skyline obscured by hazy, unhealthy air with an orange tint during sunset.

Chicago Air Quality Unhealthy Through Thursday Morning

Nearly 9.4 million people across the Chicago metropolitan area face an air quality alert due to unhealthy ozone levels, impacting daily life in Illinois and Indiana, reports Newsweek . While residents

Rafael Mendoza· May 28· 2 min
Chicago police officers are injured after a blue sedan drives into a crowd they were attempting to disperse on the Near West Side.

CPD officers injured dispersing Near West Side crowd

Five Chicago police officers were struck by an 18-year-old driver's blue sedan, traveling against traffic, as they attempted to disperse a 'teen takeover' crowd early Sunday.

Rafael Mendoza· May 24· 2 min
Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut bottle on a mini film set, promoting the 'It's a Pepper Fling' microdrama series.

Dr Pepper promotes Creamy Coconut with new microdrama series

Dr Pepper, a brand boasting nearly $4 billion in Q1 revenue, is launching a four-episode social media microdrama, 'It's a Pepper Fling,' to promote its limited-time Creamy Coconut flavor.

Rafael Mendoza· May 23· 2 min
A beautifully plated gourmet dish sits on a table in a sophisticated, dimly lit restaurant, symbolizing the successful relaunch of Atelier.

Atelier Lincoln Square restaurant closure marks new beginning

Despite holding a coveted Michelin star, Atelier announced its closure due to financial issues in May 2026, only to swiftly reopen in a larger space at 4544 North Western Avenue in October 2026.

Rafael Mendoza· May 23· 2 min
Chicago skyline at dusk with a Chicago Fire Department engine in the foreground, symbolizing the service and sacrifice of Engineer Steven M. Decker.

Chicago Fire Department Engineer Steven M Decker Dies

Chicago Fire Department Engineer Steven M.

Rafael Mendoza· May 23· 2 min