Business
Commuters dodge headaches as freight-rail strike averted
A deal reached Thursday between freight rail companies and their workers has ensured that commuter rail systems that also would have been affected can serve customers unimpeded.
U.S. News
Business
Rail strike would impact consumers, businesses
The Association of American Railroads trade group estimates that a strike would cost the economy $2 billion a day. The Business Roundtable says a strike would be an “economic catastrophe.”
Agriculture
US asks farmers: Can you plant 2 crops instead of 1?
Illinois and midwestern farmers are being asked to do more by the federal government to meet international demand.
Business
Fed official: New real-time payment system starts summer '23
In development for effectively a decade, Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard told a workshop in suburban Rosemont on Monday that she expects the FedNow system to launch between May and July next year.
Crime
Chicago man found guilty in Minnesota road rage shooting
Jurors found Jamal Smith, 34, of Chicago, guilty of three counts in the July 2021 death of 56-year-old Jay Boughton, of Crystal, MN. Boughton was shot in the head as he drove his son home from a baseball game on Highway 169 in the Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth.
Business
Stocks drop deeper into bear market ahead of big Fed news
Investors are bracing for the Federal Reserve's announcement on Wednesday about how sharply it will raise interest rates. Earlier in the day, it wobbled between modest losses and gains after a couple big companies flexed financial strength with stronger profits and payouts to shareholders.
Business
EPA raises amount of ethanol that must be blended with gas
The fuel consumes more than 40% of the nation's corn supply, and ethanol and other biofuel production plants offer jobs in rural areas that have seen steady population declines over the decades.
U.S. Politics
Full text of the 2022 State of the Union Address
The text of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, as provided by the White House.
News
Biden calls for release of Lombard native Mark Frerichs, being held hostage in Afghanistan
Frerichs, a civil engineer and contractor from Lombard, Illinois, was kidnapped in January 2020 from the capital of Kabul. He is believed to be in the custody of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.
College Sports
Georgia snaps 41-year title drought with 33-18 win over Bama
The Bulldogs (14-1) hadn't won a national title since freshman Herschel Walker led them there in 1980.
Business
Holiday weekend flight cancellations highlight debate over new COVID rules
Airlines have called on the Biden administration to shorten the guidelines governing the isolation period for vaccinated workers who get COVID-19. The union for flight attendants has pushed back against that.
U.S. Politics
Senate confirms big slate of ambassadors, including Rahm Emanuel to Japan
Eight Republicans ended up voting with a majority of Democrats to confirm Emanuel. Three Democrats voted against his confirmation: Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon.