Chicago City Wire

Potbelly returns $10 million in PPP rescue loan funds meant for small business

By Bob Pepalis | May 25, 2020

The Chicago-based sandwich chain Potbelly announced it would return funds received from the Paycheck Protection Program.

Pritzker lacked authority to close schools, business strategist says

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 20, 2020

Chris Robling of Clearspan Strategic doesn’t think Illinois’ governor has the right to close schools.

Former Chicago GOP leader Chris Cleveland says closing schools shortchanges students

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 20, 2020

Chris Cleveland, former chair of the Chicago GOP, thinks keeping schools closed will shortchange students.

No baseball at Wrigley means minimal effect on Lehman True Value, huge impact on local economy

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 20, 2020

No baseball at Wrigley this summer will have a minimal effect on Lehman Midtown True Value while having a huge impact on the local economy, says Charles Nkuku, owner of the hardware store.

Pritzker's school closure order was premature, Norwood Park committeeperson says

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 20, 2020

Norwood Park Township Committeeperson and Illinois Senate candidate Anthony Beckman believes Gov. J.B. Pritzker acted like little more than a dictator by prematurely closing schools for the rest of the academic year.

Bombastic Cafe owner says Lakeview neighborhood suffers under COVID-19 closures

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 17, 2020

Richard Sykes spent much of Wednesday converting Bombastic Café from a coffee shop-art gallery into a to-go and delivery business because of the coronavirus.

Lakeview Ace Hardware says parking may improve if Cubs don't play

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 16, 2020

Not many people plan on stopping at a hardware store on the way to a ballgame, so Lakeview Ace Hardware store's owner doesn't expect much to change if the Cubs don't play at Wrigley Field this year.

Store owner forced to move during coronavirus crisis as building set to come down

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 16, 2020

As sales decline drastically at HuxHemp CBD Apothecary, owner Russell Huxhold must move to a new storefront in the middle of a pandemic.

From North Cook News

More Cook County residents felled by flu in 2017-18 than COVID-19

By Bob Pepalis | 5 years ago

More than 28,000 Cook County residents contracted strains of influenza during the 2017-2018 flu season, far more than the 4,767 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported here so far. Skeptics may point out the coronavirus might only have reached Cook County by January.

Chicago crime rate drops as shootings, murder increase

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 9, 2020

The overall crime rate in the city dropped about 4% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2019.

Kin, fellow startups lead Chicago tech industry's rapid growth

By Bob Pepalis | Apr 1, 2020

Chicago’s tech industry continued its rapid growth in 2019 and was on target to add more than 2,000 jobs this year, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.