Just how serious is the government shutdown? Federal employees missing paychecks will feel it, but what about the economy as a whole? And who is really to blame? We have analysis.

We share what you had to say about sand mining near a state park and the state of the economy in tonight’s viewer feedback.

We analyze what Wednesday's Federal Reserve announcement to continue the stimulus program will mean for the economic recovery.

The stock market is flying high. We take a look what's going on, and at how Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony before Congress could affect the markets tomorrow.

William Strauss, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, joins us to discuss how the Midwest is doing on the road to economic recovery.

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.

With the inauguration over, where do we go from here? A panel of experts joins us to discuss what to expect during President Obama's second term.

With only two weeks left until the U.S. reaches the fiscal cliff, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner have made some progress, but remain far from a final agreement. We have the latest.

The S&P 500 closes down for the fourth day in a row as the third quarter earnings season begins, and the Fed releases its latest economic data. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has those stories, and more top business headlines.

The markets react as the Fed wraps up its latest meeting. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has that story, and more top business headlines.

Former President Bill Clinton was in town on Thursday. We hear what he had to say about Mayor Rahm Emanuel's handling of Chicago's economy.

Lawsuits fly over Facebook’s bungled IPO that left small investors shortchanged. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM has that story, and more top business headlines.

Their bank here may have cost taxpayers nearly $400 million, but one local family is still lending -- in New York. Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM joins us to discuss that story, and more top business headlines.

Gas prices are soaring and so is outrage at the pump. What's the problem and are there any solutions? Carol Marin and her panel break it down.

Last week the Dow hit a three-year high and the unemployment rate dropped for the fifth straight month. Has the economy turned the corner? We turn to some Chicago economists for answers.

Kris Kridel of WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM joins us to discuss the year's top business stories, including the protracted battle over corporate tax breaks.