Jon Hansen, host and executive producer of the Block Club Chicago Podcast, joins Bob Sirott to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. Jon has details on:

Reopened Property Tax Appeals Process Available For Another Week Following Massive Bill Spikes: Chicagoans have through Dec. 12 to appeal their latest assessment and potentially lower their property tax bill next year. South and West side homeowners were hit hardest by spiking bills this year, a recent report found.

State And Lake CTA Station Closing For 3 Years Starting In January: Trains will not stop at the State and Lake station until 2029, when a new modern, glass-covered station will open to the public. The Red Line will still stop at Lake.

Joe Swanberg’s Video Store Finds New Home At The Davis Theater: Analog, Swanberg’s subscription-based pop-up, revives the browsing experience and curated selections of video rental’s heyday. It’s housed in the Davis’ cocktail lounge.

This Northwest Side Mom Wants To Help Families Get Outside And Explore Nature Year-Round: Megan Blomquist Sklenar founded City Kids Outdoors during the pandemic, organizing nature meetups for Chicago families. “I want more people out in our nature here in Chicago,” she said.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean share details about the Golden Globes nominations, as well as Dean’s interview with Jamie Lee Curtis and Albert Brooks. They also talk about how Dick Van Dyke was honored in his hometown of Danville and where you can purchase tickets for his 100th birthday celebration.

WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer joins Bob Sirott to share the new upcoming WTTW special, Chicago Works, that focuses on the people that work behind the scenes throughout the city. Some of the places he visits include the largest UPS ground sorting facility in America, Wrigley Field, the United Center, and more.

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

Dining Editor for Chicago Magazine Amy Cavanaugh joins Bob Sirott to talk about some of her favorite places to eat at before a flight at O’Hare and Midway, including Tortas Frontera and Big Shoulders Coffee. She also shares details about a conversation she had with Chicago Magazine’s dining critic, John Kessler, about their favorite steak places. Some of those steakhouses include El Che, Asador Bastian, and Tre Dita.

Marianne Murciano, Bob Sirott’s wife and founder of Savvy-Planet, joins Bob to talk about the do’s and don’ts when buying a gift for the host of a party. She also explains price ranges for gifts depending on the events and making sure it’s a thoughtful gift.

Marianne joins Bob for a weekly segment Fridays following the 8:30 am newscast. For more savvy tips, go to Savvy-Planet.Com. Share your own savvy tip: [email protected]. Follow Marianne on Twitter (@marimur), Instagram (@havanagirl), and on Facebook (SirottAndMurciano).

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean share details about an agreement between Netflix and Warner Bros., as well as the American Film Institute’s list of the best movies of the year. They also talk about how Kevin Hart got roasted by the Wieners Circle, things to do this weekend, and Dean’s movie reviews.

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:

Scammers Are Trying To Extort Chicago Restaurants With ‘Bomb’ Of Fake Negative Reviews: Alpana, SHŌ and Beity are among the restaurants that recently faced a barrage of fake negative reviews. Google rolled out a new reporting measure to address the issue.

Chicago Could Ban Hemp Products As Push Advances To Final Vote: Ald. Marty Quinn’s proposed citywide ban could deal the knockout blow to hemp businesses already facing a federal ban expected to take effect late next year.

To learn more about Chance The Rapper’s involvement with CTA, click on the headline: Chance The Rapper Voices Train Announcements In New CTA Campaign

On December 5th, 2025, Steve Grzanich shares today’s potential market drivers:

Columnist and film critic Richard Roeper joins Bob Sirott to talk about a recent report that ranks the worst cities for porch pirate thefts, with Chicago coming out on top and some tips to help prevent theft. He also discusses winter parking bans and why signage can be confusing, as well as all the rules for parking in areas around the city after snowfall.