Segment 1: WGN Business Reporter Steve Alexander tells John about Kmart closing its last full-size U.S. store.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about how retailers need to be prepared when customers get politically heated up.

Segment 3: Harold Redman, President and CEO, ECHO Incorporated in Lake Zurich, tells John about how many people they employ from the Lake Zurich area, the efficiency of their facility, ECHO being a recipient of a Green Business Award from the Village of Lake Zurich, the 10 products they launched at a media event last week, who typically uses their products, the advancements of battery technology, their partnership with Susan B. Komen, and how business has been going this year.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels is expanding its global footprint. The company has announced more than 20 new properties in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. The new locations will expand Hyatt’s brand in several new regional markets, including Peru, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. Since 2017, Hyatt has doubled the number of luxury rooms in its global inventory. The hotel chain says the new locations underscore Hyatt’s position as a premier hotel brand for high-end travelers. The other new locations are in California, Arizona, Utah and Florida. 

Also, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says more interest rate cuts are on the way. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John to talk about the latest on a bill to fund the government, the difference between a conforming loan and a nonconforming loan, the number of housing units authorized to start construction stagnating, and what the Fed cutting interest rates will mean for you.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Nanograf, a Chicago battery startup, landing $60M for a new facility in Flint Michigan, and the founder of Bonobos building friendship startup called Pie.

Segment 3: Robert Garvey and Dana Hokin, founders of Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co., join John to talk about being awarded #50 out of “The Best 100 Pizzerias in the World” by 50 Top Pizza. Robert’s also received the special award for “Performance of the Year 2024 – Robo Award!”

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

World Business Chicago is hosting a weeklong conference this week called Future of Fintech Week. The event will focus on the future of finance technology in Chicago. Industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors in FinTech will gather to focus on growing the sector locally. Chicago Inno says Fintech activity has been trending up in the past year after peaking in 2021. Activity in the sector has fluctuated in actual activity and deal size. World Business Chicago sponsors several programs aimed at attracting growth capital for local entrepreneurs. The conference runs through Friday. 

Also, a Chicago startup that focuses on shipping reports a successful funding round. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins Jon Hansen to talk about the Fed cutting rates earlier this week, what the Fed decision means for investors, why you should not fear investing when the market is high, and the importance of the labor market.

Segment 2: Chris Geier, CEO, Sikich, tells Jon what their company does, his belief that trust is at the core of their culture, why they implemented a flexible work policy, how it has helped them find better candidates for employment, and how successful the policy has been overall.

Segment 3: Ryan Messner, President of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, tells Jon everything you need to know about this weekend’s Apple Fest!

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Chicago-based McDonald’s says its $5 value meal will stay on the menu until the end of this year. The meal’s include four items, including a choice of McChicken or McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink. 

A venture capital firm in Chicago that invests in real-estate startups has raised a third fund that’ll be used to back more tech firms. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst, Bankrate, chats with John about the Fed cutting interest rates yesterday, why he was encouraged by the policy decision, how the market has been reacting to the rate cut, and the economy being in very good shape overall.

Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins Jon to talk about Instagram making teen accounts private by default, California Governor Gavin Newsom signing three bills to crack down on the use of artificial intelligence, and hackers demanding $6 million in bitcoin from the operator of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for documents they stole during a cyberattack last month.

Segment 3: Cristi and Jeff DiCianni, Owner, Fitness Premier in Manhattan, Illinois, tells Jon about what led them on this journey, what sets this gym apart from their competition, how the diverse membership impacts their business, their expansion into the wellness arena, the support they have received from the community, the different levels of membership, what it’s like being a franchise owner, and their plans for future growth.

Segment 4: Derek Poitras, General Manager, Flyover, tells Jon about Navy Pier’s new immersive journey, Legendary Iceland!

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins Jon Hansen to talk about what a Fed rate cut will mean for you and how the Fed typically acts during an election year. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

A new ranking puts the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in two of the top three spots. The schools finished number two and number three respectively in the Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business School rankings. The list highlights the best full-time MBA programs. Kellogg is up four spots over last year. Booth is in the same slot. Stanford University came in at number one. Darthmouth and University of Virginia round out the top five. Bloomberg compiles the rankings with the help of surveys of graduating students, recent alumni and companies that recruit MBAs.

Also, a medical supply company is expanding its downtown Chicago office footprint.Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of the LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen to talk about Amazon telling employees to return to the office five days a week, and why some teens are losing faith in college.

Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins Jon Hansen to talk about a number of recent stories including Michael Jordan’s mansion finally landing a buyer, the Obamas’ old Hyde Park condo hitting the market, and a Streeterville penthouse cutting its $14.3 million asking price by half.