Robert Channick

Robert Channick is a business reporter for the Tribune. A former broadcast consultant and radio station manager, he began freelancing for the Chicago Tribune in 2002, joining the Tribune staff as a business reporter in 2011. He has a bachelor's degree in English from Kenyon College and a master's in journalism from Northwestern University.

Marquee Sports Network field reporter Taylor McGregor prepares for a Cubs-Marlins game at Wrigley Field on Sept. 22, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Taylor McGregor, Marquee’s Chicago Cubs sideline reporter, is leaving to join ESPN full time

September 24, 2026 at 3:57 p.m.

A staple of Chicago Cubs TV broadcasts since Marquee Sports Network launched in 2020, Taylor McGregor is leaving her sideline reporting role to work full time for ESPN.

Cary Sabados shops for chocolate at Hotel Chocolat in Lakeview on Feb. 12, 2026. This Lakeview location, opened last April, was the first Chicago store. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago-based Hotel Chocolat going nationwide with airport concessions, grocery stores and new retail markets

September 23, 2026 at 12:37 p.m.

This fall, Hotel Chocolat will pop up at 49 airports, hit the shelves at Wegmans, H-E-B and Kroger supermarkets, and open new stores in Virginia, Utah and California.

Family-owned Marconi has been making giardiniera that tops your Italian beef for more than a century

September 23, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

For more than a century, Marconi Foods has been making giardiniera. The family-owned company in Des Plaines recently opened up its factory doors to show just how it’s done.

Chicago radioman Eddie Volkman stands at Wacker Drive and Wasbash Avenue on Sept. 14, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Media Report: Eddie Volkman fired, WXRT’s Terri Hemmert honored and Lou Canellis gets ‘Tonight’ show

September 16, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The latest Chicago Media Report tackles Eddie Volkman's departure from 96.7-FM WSSR, Lou Canellis' new talk show and introduces the new Fox 32 political reporter.

The Morton Arboretum proposed a return to Chicago’s roots by creating a network of mini-forests across city neighborhoods. (Green City Rising)

World Business Chicago announces design contest winners with shared vision for greener city

September 15, 2026 at 3:29 p.m.

Competing but complementary proposals to restore Chicago’s tree canopy and natural habitat shared the top prize in World Business Chicago’s inaugural “Horizon Lines” design contest to find the city’s next...

Construction workers build a seven-story Drury Plaza Hotel, Sept. 9, 2026, outside the Hollywood Casino Joliet in the Rock Run Collection mixed-use development. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Hotel and major retailers springing up along the interstate at new Hollywood Casino Joliet development

September 10, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

While construction on the towering Bally’s Chicago hotel has stalled amid a dispute with the city over video gambling terminals, a more modest hotel is going up by the new...

Nicor Gas headquarters in Naperville on Dec. 7, 2010. (Corey R. Minkanic/for the Chicago Tribune)

Nicor Gas agrees to lower proposed rate increase by $140 million

September 9, 2026 at 7:41 p.m.

Nicor Gas has reached a settlement with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office to reduce its pending rate request for next year by nearly $140 million, or 63%.

Essendant, formerly known as United Stationers, is laying off 134 employees at its Carol Stream distribution center, pictured on Sept. 4, 2026. The century-old wholesale office supply company is laying off nearly 1,300 employees across six states. (Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

State investigating Essendant, century-old office supply firm, for layoffs that may have violated WARN Act

September 4, 2026 at 3:42 p.m.

Formerly known as United Stationers, the business grew over decades from a small family-owned Chicago store into the nation's largest independent wholesaler of office products.

Bally's Chicago casino under construction on Aug. 28, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Bally’s CFO resigns amid liquidity issues, VGT dispute and Chicago construction slowdown

September 3, 2026 at 4:24 p.m.

Bally’s announced the departure Thursday of Mira Mircheva, who is stepping down as CFO effectively immediately for “personal reasons,” according to a news release.

Chicago Bulls play-by-play radio announcer Chuck Swirsky traveled to Vatican City in November and presented the pontiff with an authentic Bulls jersey, inscribed with “Pope Leo” and the number 14 on the back. (Vatican Media/X)

Chicago Media Report: Bulls’ Chuck Swirsky celebrates 50 years on air — and new sports anchor joins NBC 5

September 2, 2026 at 4:20 p.m.

The latest Chicago Media Report introduces the new weekend sports anchor at NBC 5 Chicago and explores Chuck Swirsky's 50 years of high-energy sports talk.

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