Working Lunch newsletter
Plus: Dueling tenants’ rights proposals stall as City Hall heads toward negotiations • Cook County leaders warn of ‘devastation’ with 100 days to go before Medicaid work requirements take effect
 
 
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Working Lunch

Thursday, September 24, 2026

 

Mortgage rates climb for 5th straight week, pushing average rate on a 30-year home loan above 7%

The weekly average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate home loan rose to 7.03% from 6.95% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.30%.

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Dueling tenants’ rights proposals stall as City Hall heads toward negotiations

A pair of ordinances aimed at overhauling renters’ rights in Chicago were delayed Wednesday as Mayor Brandon Johnson and his opponents stood by their respective versions.

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Cook County leaders warn of ‘devastation’ with 100 days to go before Medicaid work requirements take effect

Cook County leaders and health officials sounded the alarm Wednesday, warning that changes in the Medicaid work requirement may lead to hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents losing coverage.

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Starbucks to close 250 stores in North America this week

Starbucks plans to close 250 North American stores later this week.

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Meta bets big on wearable AI and new AI agent

Meta is going all in on a consumer-friendly AI agent and pushing forward with AI-powered wearable devices.

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Loop 3-bedroom home with custom library built-ins: $1.2M

This three-bedroom penthouse loft has two full bathrooms, one half bathroom, 13-foot timber ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a private rooftop deck.

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Deadline to submit claims in Hearthside child labor settlement nears

People who worked at Hearthside Food Solutions while they were underage have two months left to file claims for financial compensation under an Illinois settlement agreement, the state said Wednesday.

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Toys R Us makes a comeback with new store in Lombard

Nearly a decade after closing most of its stores in the state, Toys R Us is making a comeback in Illinois.

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