Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to share details about Mike Madigan testifying on his own behalf and if this could extend the length of the case. She also talks about President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing for the hush money case and what the process of pardoning an individual consists of.

KTLA tech reporter Rich DeMuro joins Bob Sirott to share some of the highlights from CES 2025. He mentions a 163-inch TV, an electric car by Honda and Sony, and more. DeMuro, a Los Angeles resident, also provides an update on the impact the wildfires are having on the city and surrounding communities.

Anna Davlantes, WGN Radio’s investigative correspondent, joins Bob Sirott to share what happened this week in Chicago history. Stories include the opening of Chicago’s first public library, the first use of the radar gun on the Edens expressway, the Bears’ “double doink” game, and more.

Shamus Toomey, Editor in Chief and co-founder of Block Club Chicago, joins Bob Sirott to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. Shamus has details on:

Chicago ‘Should Explore’ Congestion Tax To Reduce Traffic, Mayor Says: In an interview Tuesday with Block Club, Mayor Brandon Johnson also defended the 2025 budget process and reiterated his support for Chicago’s sanctuary city status.

Artists Renovating East Side’s Old St. George Church Into ‘ARTEMPLE’ With Studios And Housing: The ARTEMPLE Foundation will debut an “Art of the DJ” program this year, with plans to bring artist residencies, performances and more to the former church campus.

CTA Ditches Twitter/X, Angering Some Riders: ‘This is The Wrong Direction’: Changes to the social media site’s algorithm led the agency to prioritize other platforms like BlueSky and Threads, as well as text and email alerts, for service announcements.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean talk about celebrities in L.A. leaving their homes, the death of Peter Yarrow, and Lisa Kudrow’s ‘Friends’ story. They also share details about the divorce finalization between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, as well as what’s new on streaming services.

On January 8th, 2025, Steve Grzanich shares today’s potential market drivers:

Jen Sabella, the Director of Strategy and co-founder of Block Club Chicago, joins Bob Sirott to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. She provides details on:

These South Chicago Goats Will Eat Your Christmas Trees: Urban Growers Collective is taking donations of decoration-free pine trees through Jan. 11 at its South Chicago farm to feed to goats as a healthy snack.

Weegee’s Lounge Could Close After 19 Years In Logan Square: While the bar’s closing date has not been announced, its owner said on social media that people should visit while they still can.

Pioneering Hyde Park Health Food Store Bonne Sante Will Be Replaced By Chick-Fil-A, Owner Says: After a half-century in business, the health-food store will close its longtime 53rd Street location sometime after a retirement sale in January, owner Kristofer Braaten said.

Bronzeville’s Nitro Nostalgia Serves Up Ice Cream And A Blast From The Past: Daughter-and-father duo Kamillah and Garland Lucas opened the shop earlier this month, offering ice cream flavors named after classic songs. There are also old-school board games for customers to enjoy.

Social media strategist Scott Kleinberg joins Bob Sirott to talk about creating resolutions for enhanced social media experiences, like using a password manager, updating privacy settings, and managing your screen time. He also shares details about Apple’s Siri privacy lawsuit and answers this week’s genius bar question.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean talk about the Golden Globes ratings, Aubrey Plaza’s statement after her husband’s death, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on The CW. They also share details about celebrity relationship news, like the engagement of Zendaya and Tom Holland, as well as the finalized divorce of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.

Paul Nolte, Senior Wealth Advisor & Market Strategist for Murphy & Sylvest, joins Bob Sirott to talk about why the markets remain expensive, possible rate cuts for the new year, and why commodity prices are picking up. He also shares details about what investors can expect from stocks this year and how to keep a good credit score.