A longtime Chicago‑area McDonald’s operator is selling its restaurants and rebranding as BFRX Hospitality to build K9 Resorts pet hotels across the market.

U.S. Steel will restart a blast furnace at Granite City Works, bringing slab-making back and creating roughly 400 jobs as it readies for production in early 2026.

Printpack will close its Elgin plant, cutting 111 jobs as operations wind down over about six months. Layoffs are scheduled to start Jan. 5, 2026 and the company says it will offer transfers and support.

Venmo resolved a service disruption, now fully operational after an outage that prompted widespread complaints on social media. The cause of the issue remains undisclosed.

American Signature Inc., parent of Value City Furniture, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leading to the closure of 33 stores, including seven in Michigan. The company cites economic challenges for the restructuring.

Costco sues the Trump administration to seek refunds for tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, challenging their legality.

Goldman Sachs has agreed to buy Wheaton‑based Innovator Capital Management for about $2 billion, folding a local ETF specialist and roughly $28 billion of assets into its asset‑management arm.

Chicago residents supported local shops during Small Business Saturday, braving a snowstorm to buy from neighborhood stores, with festivities including prize wheels and tree lighting events.

The Illinois Department of Revenue warns shoppers about cybercriminals during the holidays and provides online safety tips, including secure payment methods and avoiding public Wi-Fi.

Illinois AG Kwame Raoul and 25 counterparts ask Shopify to combat illegal e-cigarette sales on its platform, citing ongoing illegal activities and health risks, especially for youth.

Cook County approved $2.4 million in funds to help small businesses through community financial institutions, aiming to improve local commerce and address capital access in underserved areas.

The Illinois Commerce Commission reduced Ameren Illinois' requested rate hike by $55.8 million, setting the ROE at 9.60%. The decision followed an 11-month review and aims to balance utility needs with consumer interests.

Chicago restaurants Kasama and Feld earned MICHELIN stars, highlighting their culinary excellence, with Kasama receiving two stars for its modern Filipino cuisine and Feld recognized for sustainable practices and local sourcing.