Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra (Photo: J. Geil Photography)

The 40-year romance of Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra will culminate in matrimony today.

Chicago’s legendary power couple will tie the knot before Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, surrounded by a small group of friends, Kurtis confirmed in a call just before the ceremony. “It just seems like the right time,” he said. “Forty years is a nice warm-up period.”

LaPietra turns 68 today. Kurtis is 77.

The two have been inseparable since their days together at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, where Kurtis was the principal anchorman and LaPietra was executive producer of the 10 p.m. newscast. With homes in Lincoln Park and north suburban Mettawa, they’re also business partners in Chicago-based Kurtis Productions.

“When it started, neither one of us felt compelled to have to get married,” Kurtis recalled of their romance. “She was the hippie, I was the straight guy. And it was a kind of badge of courage that we were living the life — the youth culture back then.

“Every time we thought we would get married, we’d say: ‘Hey, if it’s not broken, why fix it?’ I think the secret of our relationship was the job. We loved what we were doing and working together. That’s been a strength throughout. You know, we’ve been through so much. And you get older. So here it is.”

Any honeymoon plans? “The honeymoon will be in the office,” Kurtis laughed. “Hardly a bump in the road!”