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.

Children play in a water fountain as other people sit in the shade during a hot day at Navy Pier on July 15, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

ComEd’s $10M relief fund running out after 60,000 customers apply in first week

July 16, 2025 at 5:05 p.m.

Nearly 60,000 customers have submitted applications since ComEd opened the window last week for the grant, which was created to defray rising electric supply charges during air conditioning season.

Racers take a warmup lap at the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 on July 6, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

NASCAR Chicago Street Race sees lower national TV ratings as city explores keeping event

July 16, 2025 at 1:38 p.m.

The media value and a forthcoming economic impact report may well play into the city’s willingness to renew the street race under Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Crews clear a fallen tree that hit a house and uprooted a sidewalk on July 16, 2024, on South Euclid Avenue in Oak Park after a storm. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

State Farm defends hefty 27.2% hike in Illinois homeowners insurance rates

July 15, 2025 at 6:17 a.m.

State Farm said its Illinois homeowners business has seen “unsustainable” losses in 13 of the last 15 years.

A house on Sandy Meadow Circle on the banks of Big Sandy Creek near Leander, Texas, seen on July 9, 2025, was heavily damaged in the Fourth of July weekend flood. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)

State Farm to raise Illinois homeowners insurance rates by 27.2% in August

July 10, 2025 at 2:44 p.m.

Many Illinois homeowners will soon see their home insurance rates skyrocket due to the increase in extreme weather events.

Last month, Tom Llamas became anchor of "NBC Nightly News," succeeding Lester Holt. On Thursday, Llamas will anchor the 5:30 p.m. national newscast live from outside NBC Tower at Cityfront Plaza in Streeterville. (NBC News)

New ‘NBC Nightly News’ anchor Tom Llamas brings national broadcast to Chicago

July 8, 2025 at 11:47 a.m.

Tom Llamas is planning to anchor Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. national newscast live from outside NBC Tower at Cityfront Plaza in Streeterville.

Alex Bowman #48 stands on his car after winning the Grant Park 165 of the NASCAR Street Race on July 7, 2024, at Grant Park in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)

2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race: What to know about the 2.2-mile course around the city

July 4, 2025 at 7:52 a.m.

The first two years of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race were accented by rain, but maybe the third edition will be a charm for fans and drivers.

A rented vintage DeLorean, replicating the car from the 1985 movie "Back to the Future," is displayed at Allstate’s Northbrook/Glenview headquarters on July 1, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

On 40th anniversary of ‘Back to the Future,’ Allstate celebrates its role in creation of DeLorean time machine

July 3, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Without Allstate, Marty McFly might never have left 1985 or perhaps would have traveled back in time in a Buick, forever disrupting the space-time continuum of the seminal movie trilogy.

Drivers race down Balbo Drive during the NASCAR Chicago Street Race in Grant Park on July 7, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

NASCAR Chicago Street Race puts city — in a seemingly endless loop through the Loop — back on national stage

July 2, 2025 at 10:59 a.m.

Beyond tens of thousands of expected attendees, Chicago’s telegenic lakefront and skyline will once again serve as a live backdrop to race cars careening around an urban circuit.

A CDOT worker walks past newly laid concrete on Columbus Drive south of Balbo Avenue in Chicago where heat caused the pavement to buckle ahead of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race scheduled for the 4th of July weekend. The work was completed earlier in the day, on June 26, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago closes streets early to fix buckling pavement ahead of NASCAR race

June 26, 2025 at 6:07 p.m.

The heat dome that descended on Chicago last weekend caused buckling pavement on stretches of the pop-up race course, forcing the city to close several streets ahead of schedule to...

Chicago Tribune offers buyouts to union newsroom employees

June 26, 2025 at 3:23 p.m.

The Tribune did not disclose the scope of the buyouts, or whether it is also considering layoffs to reduce the size of the newsroom.

All Stories