Long after the state's public pension alarm began to blare, Illinois' leadership is finally roused and ready to answer the call.

Maybe.

This year, we'll see how determined our leaders are as they launch various efforts to comprehensively fix a benefit system that's teetering...

Now comes word that Timothy Geithner, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for U.S. Treasury Secretary, is trying to push Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair out of office. So much for Obama's "team of rivals" governing philosophy.

Apparently, Geithner worries that Bair is not a team player, according to...

The way major financial institutions are feasting on taxpayer-backed bailouts, you'd think every bank in this country has on the feed bag.

Not true.

Just north of Chicago, dwelling in the People's Republic of Evanston, is First Bank & Trust -- a 13-year-old community lender that doesn't want any...

When it comes to buying the Chicago Cubs, Mark Cuban no longer has game.
The brash billionaire's bid to acquire the baseball team from Tribune Co. was struck a fatal blow by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is charging the Texas businessman with insider trading. And the SEC...

Ken Griffin, Chicago hedge fund magnate and one of the country's wealthiest men, is the anti-Trump. Unlike The Donald, Griffin hates being noticed. Even in good economic times, or when making one of his eye-popping philanthropic donations, Griffin steers clear of the spotlight.
All that is about to...

No, he's not Superman. But we'll often expect him to be the Man of Steel.
Yes, President-elect Barack Obama has a huge job before him. Fixing the economy, ending the war, protecting the country, reviving the middle-class, shoring up the sagging educational system, curing the health care insurance crisis...

He's been called Dr. Doom. No, I'm not referring to the comic book super-villain and longtime nemesis of the Fantastic Four.

For the last few years that nickname has been hung on Nouriel Roubini, professor of economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University, who...

For most workers, the year-end bonus no longer exists, having gone the way of company-paid holiday parties and gift turkeys. Indeed, such Yuletide Cheer is rare, except on Wall Street, which is licking its collective chops in anticipation of yet another round of big annual payouts.

And why not? Extra...

All this ruckus over the financial rescue package is prompting many people to cook up their own plans for saving our economy. One innovative idea goes like this: Screw bailing out banks, give money directly to the American people. Internet message boards are chatting up the idea. Callers on talk...

Throughout this ongoing economic crisis, the hardcore anti-bailout crowd crows that everything can be fixed if we just act more like multi-billionaire Warren Buffett.

Apparently, Buffett sees gold where others envision only muck. So, the "Oracle of Omaha" is digging deep--but not too deep, mind you--to acquire ownership stakes...

Do you hear a fiddle? Because it sure feels like Rome is burning.
It's no huge surprise that the Bush Administration's massive economic rescue bill wasn't passed in the House of Representatives. Know anyone who approves of this thing? No, it is a deeply-flawed piece of legislation and...

In the teeth of a previous housing recession, a real estate agent looked me dead in the eye and said: "You have to buy now. Time is running out." Not true. It took a little longer, but my wife and I ended up buying the right house, although not from...

Call me small-minded, or vindictive, but I don't feel sorry for Wall Street.

Yes, I realize we're in a crisis and suffering through the roughest economic patch since the Great Depression. And I appreciate it isn't nice to pick on someone when they're down.

But I'll be honest, being...

At a time when the stock market is plunging and a once-venerable Wall Street investment house is going bankrupt, it may seem like all is lost.

Not true.

In fact, amid the carnage, some examples have emerged that stir --shall we say--a cautious optimism about getting free of this...

Show me the money.

Chances are that's what some angry UAL Corp. shareholders will soon be saying. It's a demand expected to surface in legal actions that may arise from the controversial Internet posting of a news story and...

Well, you've got to hand it to the Tribune Co. It made people feel sorry for United Airlines, one of those businesses the public just loves to hate.

Before going on, I need to say this: United Airlines'...

Yeah, that Jane Addams was a funny gal. Who wouldn't laugh at a community organizer who spent her adult life feeding hungry, homeless children and fighting for social reform? Founder of Hull House? Nobel Peace Prize winner? Please, enough with the jokes.

What's that you say? It's not...