KFire started as a pandemic experiment in Logan Square when two friends decided to turn a joke at a poker night into a real business. Ben Kim, a former finance worker, had zero restaurant experience but jumped in headfirst. He even took an entry-level job at a Mediterranean fast-casual spot to learn
The climb in gas prices has hit both sellers and shoppers hard. About a year ago, filling up a tank cost $3. 98 a gallon, but now some drivers pay nearly $6. For a farm shifting loads of berries from Central Coast fields to market, that extra cost adds up fast. One family-run business now spends $14
President Trump is planning a trip to China next week. The journey might change the fortunes of several well‑known companies, even though no official list of participants has been released. Reports suggest that executives from a handful of firms could be invited, giving investors clues about which s
Many small owners think adding more AI tools will free them up. In reality, it just piles up work. The usual setup is one model that answers a question and then the user copies the answer into another program. That loop is still manual work, not true automation. A better system launches severa
AltFinance’s chief executive, Marcus Shaw, talks about a bold new effort to connect students from historically black colleges and universities with the private finance sector. The idea started in 2021, when Shaw and his team realized that many talented graduates lack the insider knowledge needed to
A lawsuit filed in 2022 by Black former employees accused Google of a pattern that pushed them into lower‑level, lower‑pay roles while creating a hostile environment when they raised concerns. The case highlighted systemic gaps in hiring, pay and promotion practices that disproportionately affected
A new lawsuit says a big bowling chain, Lucky Strike Entertainment, is running an illegal monopoly. The suit claims the company has bought many small bowling alleys and then raised prices a lot. In 11 state courts, people who bowl often say the chain is making them pay too much. They say Lu
Analysts are turning their attention to two tech companies, offering new ratings and price goals. One company is Mitek Systems, a provider of mobile identity verification technology. The other is TTEC Holdings, which offers customer experience solutions. Mitek’s shares ended last Friday at $15
The city of Eau Claire wants to help a new steakhouse called Condesa get started in a long‑empty spot on Haymarket Landing. The 7, 700‑square‑foot building was bought by Foxconn in 2018 but never opened. Now, JP Nunez plans to turn it into a Latin‑inspired eatery that can seat 200 guests. Nunez s
Back in 1985, one man started a company that now rakes in millions for its top boss. That man is Charles F. Willis, IV, who still owns about 40% of Willis Lease Finance Corporation and calls the shots. The board of directors, packed with his family and a few supposedly independent members, has been
