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:

Forty Acres Fresh Market Opens In Austin, Bringing Grocery Store To Area Facing ‘Food Apartheid’ The grocery store brings fresh produce, a butcher counter, a hot bar and other grocery staples to a neighborhood where such stores have closed recently.

After Beloved Tamale Vendor Arrested By ICE, Neighbors Vow To Keep Her Stand Going Back of the Yards neighbors and organizers took over Laura Murillo’s tamale stand to raise funds for her family.

Bruce Sagan, Hyde Park’s Newspaperman And Renowned Arts Patron, Dies At 96 Loved ones remember Sagan as a passionate, humble “renaissance man” who had a seven-decade-long journalism career.

We also get the final preview from Jon Hansen about Block Club’s Block Party Chicago, where he’ll be hosting on Saturday, October 4th from noon-9 at Half-Acre Brewing Co. with a live Block Club podcast recording at 2pm!

Marianne Murciano, Bob Sirott’s wife and founder of Savvy-Planet, joins Bob to talk about tips for hosting holidays and parties at your home without feeling the stress. She also shares her recipe for her Pumpkin Spice Café con Leche.

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).

On September 26th, 2025, Steve Grzanich shares today’s potential market drivers:

As you may or may not know, WGN Radio is the only radio station in the city that uses a helicopter to help its listeners navigate their morning commute. WGN-TV’s Brhett Vickery and WGN Radio’s Amanda Czernecki work together to provide updates from the sky. Bob Sirott believes the traffic helicopter, ‘SkyCam 9’, needs an updated name, so he asked Brhett and Amanda to test a few out from the air.

Columnist and film critic Richard Roeper joins Bob Sirott to talk about the media and publicity angle of The Wieners Circle hot dog giveaway, as well as how common this practice is in the restaurant industry. He also shares details about how Chicago Sun-Times columnist, Mary Mitchell, will be honored at the Billy Goat Tavern.

Mayor of Lindenhurst, Dominic Marturano, joins Bob Sirott to talk about where Lindenhurst is located and how their downtown are revival has progressed. He also shares how him and his family came to move to Lindenhurst and some of the upcoming family activities they will be hosting.

Stephanie Lulay, Executive editor and Co-Founder of Block Club Chicago, joins Bob Sirott to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. She provides details on:

Private Fences Put Up Around Public Park Irk Near North Neighbors: The park must be publicly accessible 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily as part of an agreement with the city — but some are concerned the large fences a homeowner association put up will keep away other Chicagoans.

Babe’s Opens In Logan Square, Giving Women’s Sports Fans A Place To Call Home: With eight TVs, Babe’s is able to show four women’s sports games at a time. Events, sports-related movie screenings and watch parties are being planned.

Support the Block Club Chicago Block Party!: Join Block Club Chicago’s end-of-summer bash on Saturday, October 4, featuring live music, food, beer, local vendors, kids activities, games and more. RSVP below for free tickets, or if you’d like a VIP experience, check out our VIP ticket options.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean share details about Jimmy Kimmel’s ratings, why Jessica Chastain is protesting Apple TV+, and Dean’s interview with the star of “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.” They also talk about how the Leo High School Choir did on AGT and Dean’s conversation with Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro.

President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Steve Bernas joins Bob Sirott to talk about different types of Homecoming scams and fake phone calls claiming to be an employee from the village of Mount Prospect. He also shares details about how a Portage Park woman lost over twenty thousand dollars to a fake message on her computer and how National Preparedness Day is recognized.

Danny Salazar (Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager, Commercial Banking at Associated Bank) joins Steve Grzanich in the Associated Bank Thought Leader conversation to discuss the recent Fed rate cut and what it means for small businesses, as well as consumers and potentially the job market.