Crain's Daily Gist
1,080 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 126 ratingsGet a head start on your workday with the stories that matter most. Listen to our roundup of essential Chicago headlines and analysis from Crain’s reporters and host Amy Guth.
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Episodes
09/21/21: You need style points to build in Chicago
September 20, 2021 20:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBCrain's commercial real estate reporter Danny Ecker talks with host Amy Guth about a new City Hall advisory group aiming to uphold Chicago's reputation for innovative architecture and why developers and aldermen are wary of it. Plus: White House lifts COVID travel ban on international visitors, Pfizer says COVID-19 shot safe for kids 5 to 11, Archer Daniels Midland enters the fake-meat market and Walgreens to give bonuses to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
09/20/21: What this new energy law means
September 17, 2021 20:31 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBCrain’s reporters Steve Daniels and John Pletz talk with host Amy Guth about the potential impact of the energy bill just signed into law, the influx of venture capital dollars in Chicago and more. Plus: Hospital systems' patient revenue dips in pandemic era, Allstate paying $1.4 billion for Hurricane Ida destruction, Northwestern Medicine study reveals an early sign of dementia could hold a treatment for older patients and Sears closing its last Illinois store.
09/16/21: Putting a block on Airbnb
September 15, 2021 21:33 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBCrain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin talks with host Amy Guth about news from the local housing market, including how New Buffalo is mulling a ban on AirBnB and VRBO short-term vacation rentals. Plus: Lightfoot names San Antonio schools chief as new CPS CEO, Boeing sees COVID recovery powering a potential $9 trillion market, Caterpillar CEO says worker shortage adds to supply-chain snags and an aviation-maintenance school opens in Chicago.
09/15/21: More shoppers go antiquing
September 14, 2021 19:48 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBChicago’s antique shops are seeing a bump in business as other home good stores suffer from supply shortages and shipping delays. Crain’s reporter Ally Marotti talks with host Amy Guth about the influx in business that has forced some dealers to change how they operate. Plus: Jump Capital raises $350 million venture fund, BMO Harris joins wave of banks closing branches, consumer price growth cools and Mariano's parent company partners with Instacart to set 30-minute delivery goal.
09/14/21: The Catch-22 of ivermectin
September 13, 2021 18:45 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBReporters Stephanie Goldberg and Alby Gallun talk with host Amy Guth about why the question of using ivermectin is a lose-lose for hospitals, the uncertain future of Helmut Jahn’s architecture firm and other news of the week. Plus: Aldermen want stronger indoor COVID rules, aluminum hits $3,000 for 1st time in 13 years, TransUnion buying data firm for $3.1 billion and Salesforce CEO offers workers help leaving Texas in light of state’s new anti-abortion law.
09/13/21: Lessons from 9/11
September 10, 2021 20:46 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBUniversity of Illinois Gies College of Business Dean Jeff Brown and host Amy Guth discuss what he learned about crisis management and leadership on September 11th while working as an economic adviser at the White House. Plus: Illinois House approves energy bill by wide margin, Easterseals CEO picked to lead United Way Worldwide, Jenner & Block settles legal dispute and eyes new lease with River North landlord and Trump Tower gets big tax cut.
09/09/21: Late-era Frank Lloyd Wright for sale
September 08, 2021 20:49 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBCrain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin talks with host Amy Guth about news from the local housing market, including a Frank Lloyd Wright house hitting the market for the first time in 25 years, stories from the "Empire" mansion and affordability now versus 2006. Plus: Big banks are eating the little guys' lunch right now, Boeing board to face investors’ suit over 737 Max crashes, a Skokie firm wants to turn CO2 into syringes and a lawsuit filed in Illinois alleges Duncan Hin...
09/08/21: COVID's shadow on Willis Tower
September 07, 2021 20:35 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBCrain’s reporter Danny Ecker joins guest host A.D. Quig to talk about the leasing challenges facing the former Sears Tower during the pandemic and whether they might rival the ones the skyscraper grappled with for almost a decade following 9/11. Plus: The Duchossois family is selling a $5 billion company to Blackstone, the death of a pioneering leader of Chicago's premiere rehab hospital, Boeing talks with Ryanair fall apart and more problems with Illinois' cannabis licensing lottery.
09/07/21: COVID stress too much for health workers
September 03, 2021 21:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBCrain’s reporters Katherine Davis and Stephanie Goldberg join host Amy Guth to discuss burnout in the medical sector and how one organization is trying to raise Chicago’s profile as a tech hub in order to attract more talent. Plus: Vax proof required to enter United Center, lakefront building fetches $43 million after condos-to-apartments switch, slowest jobs gain in 7 months amid delta spread and Kraft Heinz in $62 million settlement with SEC.
09/02/21: Top-shelf housing is booming
September 01, 2021 21:05 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBCrain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin talks with host Amy Guth about news from the Chicago housing scene, including how the high end of the market set a new record as the $4 million-and-up segment hits a mark it doesn't normally reach until December. Plus: Illinois Dems finalize new legislative maps, U of C turbocharges its quantum computing quest, the chip shortage cuts deeper into auto factories as Stellantis halts production again and CEOs are dooming business travel—mayb...
09/01/21: Restaurants that somehow opened during COVID
August 31, 2021 20:06 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBCrain’s reporter Ally Marotti talks with host Amy Guth about new restaurants that set up shop over the summer despite the pandemic's harsh effect on supply, labor and logistics. Plus: DuPage Medical Group reports data breach, Airbus nabs $4.9 billion order from Boeing, Kirkland & Ellis inks massive Salesforce Tower lease and Walgreens raising starting pay to $15 an hour.
08/31/21: Schools come back with new and old baggage
August 30, 2021 20:32 - 16 minutes - 15 MBAs Chicago Public Schools resume in-person learning for the first time in more than 500 days, there will be familiar rites of passage and new ones. Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Cassie Walker Burke and host Amy Guth talk about what to expect from the new school year. Plus: Chicago sues Grubhub and DoorDash, Rivian files for IPO, Baxter reportedly nears $10 billion deal to buy Hillrom and Northwestern study finds getting COVID-19 doesn’t guarantee a high level of antibody protection.
08/30/21: For students, last year's problems are also next year's
August 27, 2021 20:27 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBReporters Stephanie Goldberg and A.D. Quig join host Amy Guth to talk about students experiencing learning gaps after spending so much time in virtual classrooms, how we frame the conversation to avoid stigmatizing kids, as well as vaccinations, medical ethics and more. Plus: Illinois sees one of the largest increases in initial unemployment claims, new tenant signs at the Mart, Ulta raises sales forecast as revenue surges above 2019 levels and how climate change means early harvest for farm...
08/26/21: Homebuyers flock to the city
August 25, 2021 20:29 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBCrain’s residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin talks with host Amy Guth about news from the local housing market, including how Chicago is seeing a home-sales stampede—undermining the narrative of people fleeing cities. Plus: NorthShore and Edward-Elmhurst in talks to combine, Delta Air Lines will charge unvaccinated employees $200, downtown apartment market breaks records again and how to get a ride on the Wienermobile.
08/25/21: Hyatt trading business attire for flip-flops
August 24, 2021 18:53 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBCrain's commercial real estate reporter Danny Ecker talks with host Amy Guth about Hyatt's expansion into resort destinations. What does the move potentially signal for the local hotel industry? Plus: Mayor Lightfoot says the city will require workers to get COVID vaccines, Sam Zell and Toll Brothers homebuilders enter into $1.9 billion apartment deal, Boeing employees’ freedom to raise safety concerns under FAA scrutiny and the second round of projects slated for South and West Side sites u...
08/24/21: Will Pfizer approval open the floodgates on mandates?
August 23, 2021 20:25 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBMany businesses have already required workers to get vaccines, and even more could be on the way. Crain’s health care reporter Stephanie Goldberg joins host Amy Guth to discuss whether the FDA's full-use approval of the Pfizer vaccine will lead to a wave of vaccine mandates from employers and schools. Plus: The Archdiocese of Chicago requires vaccines and denies religious exemptions, Boeing plans to invest in Virgin Orbit rocket launch efforts, Citadel to pull about $500 million from Melvin ...
08/23/21: Businesses confront new round of mask mandates
August 20, 2021 20:41 - 32 minutes - 30 MBWhile 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 fina...
08/19/21: These unusual Illinois homes found a buyer
August 18, 2021 20:59 - 24 minutes - 22 MBFrom an eccentric 1970s house to a home designed to look like the Virginia governor’s mansion, some very unusual properties have sold in recent weeks. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: Chicago to reinstate indoor mask mandate, a look at the city’s next hottest jobs, airlines are hiring a record numbers of pilots and the U.S. will offer booster shots for all who are vaccinated.
08/18/21: Why diversity is the future of tech
August 17, 2021 21:02 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBThe tech industry is notorious for hiring predominately white men, but a need for skilled talent has some Chicago companies taking steps to reimagine the recruitment process. Judith Crown joins host Amy Guth to discuss this month’s Crain’s Equity. Plus: New data shows Cook County property tax burden is shifting to landlords, more of Chicago's largest health systems will require COVID vaccines for workers, the state delays deadlines for Thompson Center bids, and a new area code is coming to t...
08/17/21: How plastic ends up on your plate
August 16, 2021 21:14 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBIt’s estimated that we each ingest about a credit card-sized amount of plastic each week. Journalist Eric Freedman, director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University, joins host Amy Guth to talk about this month’s #CrainsForum and explain how plastic flows from the Great Lakes into the food supply. Plus: CDC panel approves COVID booster shots for the immunocompromised, former Uncle Ben’s launches first campaign under new name, Hyatt to buy KKR-backed Ap...
08/16/21: Will billionaire Neil Bluhm bet on a Chicago casino?
August 13, 2021 20:48 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBBillionaire casino mogul Neil Bluhm isn’t showing his cards as to whether he’ll submit a bid to develop a Chicago casino. Reporters A.D. Quig and Ally Marotti join a roundtable with host Amy Guth to discuss the gambling outlook for the city, Ulta’s strategy to reach communities of color, and other news to start your week. Plus: Cisco to move to the Old Post Office, Gallagher in a multibillion-dollar deal with Willis, consumer sentiment in U.S. plunges to the lowest since 2011 and the city’s ...
08/12/21: Affordable housing can finally be built near Illinois’ community colleges
August 11, 2021 21:26 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBA new law will allow community colleges to build dormitories and apartments in a move that could improve the odds of student success for those facing housing insecurity. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to explain and recap this week’s real estate news. Plus: The Drake Hotel has been put up for sale, Chicago’s warehouse boom sees no end in sight, JPMorgan Chase boosts rewards on its Sapphire card and the city's new budget hole has decreased to $733 million.
08/11/21: Lawsuit challenges Illinois’ school mask mandate
August 10, 2021 18:45 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBA lawsuit filed on behalf of a downstate parent claims Gov. J.B. Pritzker overstepped his authority in implementing a school mask mandate. Reporter A.D. Quig joins host Amy Guth to discuss and recap the latest news in state and local politics. Plus: Latest Crain’s-Harris poll finds a majority of Chicago execs believe vaccines should be mandatory for office workers, Cook County Health proposes a 15% budget increase as Medicaid plan enrollment grows, a Chicago ‘Internet of Things’ startup rais...
08/10/21: Why businesses are choosing State Street over Mag Mile
August 09, 2021 21:46 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBRetailers including Macy’s, Express and Uniqlo have closed locations on the Magnificent Mile while still maintaining a presence on State Street. Commercial real estate reporter Alby Gallun joins host Amy Guth to explain why. Plus: City extends the deadline for casino bidders by two months, Illinois’ pension debt hits a record high, YMCA names the first woman CEO in its 170-year history and McDonald’s investors demand board files on ousted CEO's affairs with employees.
08/09/21: How sports betting could change the game at Wrigley Field
August 06, 2021 20:14 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBThe Cubs are one step closer to building a two-story addition to Wrigley Field that would house one of the first betting operations at a major U.S. pro sports venue. Danny Ecker and Ally Marotti join host Amy Guth for a roundtable discussion on the team’s plan and other news of the week—including how the delta surge has Chicago’s bars and restaurants bracing for more closures. Plus: Boeing spins off its venture-capital arm, Moline-based John Deere buys autonomous driving startup, United Airl...
08/05/21: Chicago’s hot housing market may finally be cooling off
August 04, 2021 21:45 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThe local real estate market is seeing a summer slowdown after months of incredible growth. Reporter Dennis Rodkin explains why in a recap of this week’s housing news with host Amy Guth. Plus: Restaurants experience whiplash as Delta variant prompts talk of new restrictions, NASA abandons Wednesday’s attempt at Boeing Starliner launch, Chicago investment firm buys Gold Coast hotel and the CDC issues a new eviction moratorium.
08/04/21: Has Portillo’s found the recipe for success?
August 03, 2021 19:37 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBPortillo’s restaurants average annual sales that are far higher than fast-food giant McDonald’s. But with a planned IPO, will the hotdog chain be able to produce the steady, profitable growth Wall Street craves? Reporter Ally Marotti joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: Uniqlo will close its flagship store on the Mag Mile, Related Midwest and Tyson Foods say they'll fire workers who refuse vaccines, Amazon’s Whole Foods tacks on a delivery fee in Chicago, D.C. nuclear bailout won't save Ill...
08/03/21: Why some Chicago companies are testing a 4-day work week
August 02, 2021 20:31 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBEmployee 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 t...
08/02/21: Delta variant throws wrench into return to office plans
July 30, 2021 21:34 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBCook County is encouraging those to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status amid the spread of the more contagious Delta variant. Stephanie Goldberg and Danny Ecker join host Amy Guth to talk about what it means for businesses. Plus: Fully elected school board now law in Chicago, city claws back more than $1 million from Mondelez and a Burger King operator, Caterpillar says costs will hurt margins even after price hikes, and Illinois issues first round of new weed shop licenses.
07/29/21: Why Chicago’s real estate boom isn’t a bubble
July 28, 2021 21:32 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBHome prices in May increased at the fastest pace since 2013, but that doesn’t mean the market is approaching bubble territory. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to explain why in a recap of this week’s housing news. Plus: Activists propose an alternative to the Obama Center, Kirkland & Ellis nears deal for biggest downtown office lease in years, software startup LogicGate raises $113 million and McDonald's outpaces Wall Street estimates even as labor shortages loom.
07/28/21: What’s inside Chicago’s tentative police union contract
July 27, 2021 21:25 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBMayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration has reached an agreement with the Chicago Police Department’s largest union on a new contract that includes pay raises and accountability reforms. Reporter A.D. Quig joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: Moody's upgrades outlook on Chicago debt, Northwestern and Rush top list of best Illinois hospitals in latest ranking from U.S. News, Blackstone is taking stake in GTCR, DePaul becomes the latest university to require COVID vaccines for faculty and staff...
07/27/21: Hotels and offices are finding creative ways to turn a profit
July 26, 2021 20:57 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBA speakeasy-style sushi bar inside a hotel room is providing a much-needed source of income for Hotel Lincoln in Lincoln Park. Crain reporters Ally Marotti and Danny Ecker talk with host Amy Guth to discuss how it’s one of the ways hotels and offices are getting creative with their spaces to find untapped revenue opportunities coming out of the pandemic. Plus: Adam Kinzinger joins panel investigating Jan. 6 riot, Aon and Willis scrap big merger deal, Old Second to buy West Suburban Bank and ...
07/26/21: Why Joe Mansueto is betting big on Chicago
July 23, 2021 19:42 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBThe billionaire founder of Morningstar is pouring large sums of his wealth into charitable efforts and high-profile business ventures in Chicago, making a sizeable impact on the city's landscape. Reporter Danny Ecker speaks with Joe Mansueto on a special episode of Crain's Daily Gist with host Amy Guth. Plus: Chicago Public Schools will require masks this fall, Amazon-backed Rivian confirms plan for a second assembly plant, new apartment tower near Millennium Park hits the market, and anothe...
07/22/21: Luxury homebuyers are coming back to the city
July 21, 2021 21:45 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn the past couple of months, seven condos have sold for $4 million-plus in downtown neighborhoods where the buyers put them under contract in 2021. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to explain what it means for the downtown housing market in a recap of this week’s real estate news. Plus: Sports betting at Chicago stadiums takes a step forward, Pritzker campaign pushes free college and tech ambitions, Petterino's to reopen under newly formed restaurant group and Lightfoot issues war...
07/21/21: How Illinois can become a leader in electric vehicles
July 20, 2021 20:28 - 21 minutes - 20 MBThis year’s Chicago Auto Show puts a spotlight on electric vehicles. Rob Kelter, Senior Attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center talks with host Amy Guth about what it will take to get consumers to transition away from gas-powered cars. Plus: Gov. J.B. Pritzker makes his re-election bid official; Nature's Fynd raises $350 million to become Chicago’s tenth “unicorn” this year; Foxtrot plans to open 50 stores in 2 years; and a new lawsuit threatens to slow Illinois’ weed licensing pro...
07/20/21: Latest front in Main Street vs. Wall Street
July 19, 2021 21:11 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBHouseplant 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.
07/19/21: Post-lockdown strategies for shots, rides
July 16, 2021 21:38 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBCook County is closing its last mass vaccination sites in favor of a more targeted approach to getting shots in arms, and Curb and Lyft try to sweeten the deal for customers as commuting returns. Crain's reporters Stephanie Goldberg and A.D. Quig discuss those stories and more with host Amy Guth. Plus: Mayor Lightfoot launches a $1 million reward fund to help get illegal weapons off the streets; Target opens a River North store; the parent of members-only club Soho House is valued at $2.8 b...
07/15/21: Are home buyers holding off downtown?
July 14, 2021 20:47 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBOur 500th episode of Crain's Daily Gist features residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin and host Amy Guth discussing the downtown condo rebound, why the city closed a Gold Coast tower's parking garage and all the latest news in the local housing market. Plus: New figures measure the downtown comeback; dramatic rate cuts pay off for State Farm; M1 Finance is Chicago's newest billion-dollar company; and $100 million deals keep venture funding on a torrid pace.
07/14/21: Bracing for another health care shake-up
July 13, 2021 21:29 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBThe 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.
07/13/21: Gold Coast tower worries
July 12, 2021 20:34 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBThe 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 r...
07/12/21: What's hot in commercial real estate right now
July 09, 2021 20:04 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBLeases 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.
07/08/21: The three suburbs with almost no homes left for sale
July 07, 2021 20:30 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBIn 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 ne...
07/07/21: Why Kaegi’s property tax reform efforts fail to get traction
July 06, 2021 21:19 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBCook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is now 0-3 in his efforts to push a piece of legislation through in Springfield that he says is key to his property tax reform agenda. Crain's government reporter A.D. Quig joins host Amy Guth with more. Plus: Chicago's top cop shifts blame on uptick in violence, Bears aren’t the only ones bidding for Arlington racetrack, Blackstone to pay $1.4 billion for Chicago software firm and Ford announces more factory downtime in July due to ongoing supply shortage.
07/06/21: United is betting business travel will return. Will it?
July 02, 2021 20:59 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBUnited Airlines is placing the biggest order for new planes in the company's history, part of an ambitious overhaul of the Chicago carrier’s fleet to increase premium seats for business travelers willing to pay more. John Pletz joins host Amy Guth to discuss. Plus: Ald. Carrie Austin indicted on bribery charges, RCN expands in Chicago with acquisition, U.S. Supreme Court passes on Blommer Chocolate case and chewing gum is making a comeback as masks come off.
07/01/21: Celebrities’ former homes crowd Chicago’s real estate market
June 30, 2021 21:03 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBBears linebacker Khalil Mack listed his Glencoe mansion, while the site of Mr. T’s 1987 “Lake Forest Chainsaw Massacre” sold for $5 million. Reporter Dennis Rodkin joins host Amy Guth to discuss and recap this week’s real estate news. Plus: Illinois sees first bond rating upgrade in over two decades, Wilson Sporting Goods picks Gold Coast for its first-ever store, Ferrara debuts massive DeKalb facility and food trucks at Daley Plaza are coming back.
06/30/21: New details emerge in Westlake Hospital saga
June 29, 2021 20:04 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBDespite promises to keep Westlake Hospital open, court filings now reveal that its for-profit owners had always intended to close the Melrose Park facility. Stephanie Goldberg joins host Amy Guth to discuss what it means for the future of health care in the largely Black and Brown western suburb. Plus: United places big jet order and CEO Scott Kirby details the Chicago carrier's plans to address an uptick in unruly passengers; Naperville sale marks biggest suburban apartment deal since 2018;...
6/29/21: A spike in unruly passengers has airlines wanting to press charges
June 28, 2021 21:28 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBThere’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 Driv...
06/28/21: What business in a post-pandemic economy looks like
June 25, 2021 21:19 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBBusinesses 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 fo...
06/24/21: Are homebuyers really leaving the city for the suburbs?
June 23, 2021 20:54 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBNew 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 se...
06/23/21: Why McDonald’s is doubling down on digital growth
June 22, 2021 18:53 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBMcDonald’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.