Business & Economy
The latest on new businesses, economic trends, market shifts, and the people driving the local economy.
31st Street Beach Swim Advisory Issued Due to High Bacteria
At Chicago's 31st Street Beach, a yellow swim advisory flag was implemented on Thursday, May 28, 2026, when bacteria levels exceeded 235 CFU, according to City of Chicago Beach Lab Data .
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Anthropic Claude AI powers new tools for small business growth
Anthropic is now offering its advanced Claude AI models at prices up to 66.
Local Business Incentives for Urban Development and Job Creation
Despite states like Delaware offering $500 for each new job created and Florida providing 5 percent annual capital investment credits for 20 years, firm-specific tax incentives do not strongly increas
Vincere Portfolios in Chicago: A Profile on Their U.S.-Based Team and White-Glove Support
Vincere Portfolios, a Chicago-based firm, distinguishes itself in the booming algorithmic trading market with a U.S.-based team and transparent operations, offering institutional-grade tools and white-glove investor support. This approach provides accountability and human-led guidance, contrasting with anonymous offshore firms.
A Major Life Transition Can Be the Right Time to Revisit Your Financial Plan With John Mateyko
Major life transitions like a new job, marriage, or inheritance are ideal times to revisit your financial plan, as they change the underlying facts of your financial situation. John Mateyko, a Fiduciary Financial Planner, emphasizes identifying what changed, rebuilding cash-flow, and reviewing new benefits to update your plan effectively.
As Payments Get Integrated, Why PayTrac Offers the Most Scalable Business Solution
As payments become increasingly integrated into broader business ecosystems, choosing a scalable payment solution is crucial for growing businesses. PayTrac positions itself as a growth partner, offering solutions that accommodate higher volumes, new locations, and diverse payment channels without disruption.
How IronHawk Financial Structures Bulletproof Buy-Sell Agreements to Protect Your Business
Buy-sell agreements are legally binding contracts that guide ownership transitions for businesses with multiple owners, preventing disputes and financial strain. IronHawk Financial specializes in structuring and funding these agreements to protect business value and ensure smooth transitions during unexpected events or retirement.
3 Overlooked ClientSilo Tools That Will Unify Your Fragmented Sales Process
Fragmented sales processes often lead to inefficiency and lost deals, causing chaos for sales teams. ClientSilo offers integrated tools to unify sales management, improve communication, and proactively monitor pipeline health to prevent opportunities from slipping through the cracks.
Intention.ly vs. Generalist Agencies: Which Is the Right Growth Partner for RIAs? (Expert Breakdown)
RIAs often struggle to attract ideal clients, making the choice of a growth partner critical. Specialist consultancies, particularly in financial services, offer superior results compared to generalist agencies due to their deep expertise and outcome-focused approach.
Flat-Rate Managed IT Services Explained: Is Predictable IT Support Right for Your Business?
Flat-rate managed IT services offer a subscription-based approach to technology support, helping small businesses manage expenses and move away from unpredictable, reactive IT models. This proactive approach provides continuous monitoring, cybersecurity, and expert guidance with a predictable monthly fee.
7 Proven Advisor Recruitment Strategies Intention.ly Delivers for Top RIAs in 2026
The landscape of advisor recruitment has shifted from transactional compensation to brand-led strategies, as top talent now seeks firms with clear vision and growth platforms. Intention.ly helps RIAs attract A-players by building magnetic employer brands and deploying digital-first content strategies.
Aligning Sales Targets and Operating Capacity With Elevate CFO
This article emphasizes the critical importance of aligning sales targets with operating capacity to prevent strain during delivery and protect profitability. It advocates for converting sales forecasts into expected operational demands and integrating fulfillment costs into revenue planning before finalizing quotas and resource commitments.
How Vincere Portfolios' Algorithms Pursue Systematic Growth Without Using Leverage
Vincere Portfolios offers proprietary algorithmic trading strategies in U.S. regulated futures markets, emphasizing systematic growth without the use of leverage. Their approach focuses on risk management, transparency, and fully collateralized positions, aiming to reduce emotional decision-making in investing.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Michelada Fest Canceled, Returns as Free Pilsen Street Celebration
For the second consecutive year, Michelada Fest has been canceled.
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.
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
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.
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.