Hundreds of layoffs; Boeing plans a $1 billion expansion; Chicago’s old main post office could become a 21st century urban hub; and the end of an era for Sears. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM joins us to discuss this week's top business headlines.

Once there were dozens of men's hatmakers in Chicago. Today, there is only one. Jay Shefsky takes us inside Optimo Hats.

The Cubs take an opening day drubbing at Wrigley Field -- but has the team finally agreed with the city on a major deal to renovate the stadium? Paris Schutz has the latest.

Sequestration grounds the Thunderbirds. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has that story, and more top business headlines.

The Chicago Transit Authority says it's not getting into the banking business, but their new Ventra card could charge customers as much as $188 per year if linked to a MasterCard account. CTA President Forrest Claypool joins us with more on the new fare card.

Bringing manufacturing back to America is being called "reshoring." But will the U.S. ever regain its manufacturing supremacy? We take a look at the phenomenon and how the Chicago area is faring.

A new documentary confronts America's destructive economic trade relationship with a China. Author and filmmaker Peter Navarro joins us.

Illinois could be sitting at the precipice of a major oil boom, but at what cost? Paris Schutz goes inside the heated debate over the controversial extraction method known as "fracking."

Ready to go see the Rosemont Cubs? We look at the offer the suburban mayor is making to bring a new friendly confines to the suburbs.

Markets react to the latest prognostications from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has that story, and more top business headlines.

The Chicago Water Department is hiring; 160 jobs have opened to install 75 miles of new water main and 57 miles of new sewers in 2013. 

As tax day looms, the numbers show that filings are down 13 percent from where they were this time last year. This means late filers will be aplenty — but sequester will slow their lines down even more. Tax officer Mark Steber joins us to talk all things unique about filing in 2013.

Now is the time to snag great home deals in Chicago -- but where are the best places to look? We give you the inside scoop.

Tribune Co. hires bankers to handle the likely sale of its newspapers. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has that story, and more top business headlines.

The former chairman of Exelon Corporation argues that, without swift immigration reform, Congress is putting the entire Midwest economy at risk. He joins us.

Billions of dollars in federal spending cuts loom if Congress does not reverse course by next week.  We have more on how the so called sequestration could be felt here at home.