Medical marijuana has potential to reduce Puerto Rico’s debt

San Juan, Puerto Rico

By Hannah Rank Puerto Rico is about to welcome medical marijuana to the island.  The action, by executive order, could have potential economic benefits for the debt-ridden country. But it’s also recalling memories  of colonial exploitation. Drug policy activist Rafael Torruella, who is based in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, worries the budding industry will mirror other […]

Dollar Tree earnings miss despite Family Dollar lift

By Harvard Zhang Dollar Tree Inc. posted worse-than-expected fourth quarter profits despite positive results — and surging sales numbers – from its recent acquisition of a major competitor. In the quarter ended Jan. 30, the Chesapeake, Va.-based discount retailer reported net income of $229.0 million, or 97 cents per diluted share, up 10.8 percent from […]

Construction spending rise tops expectations

construction_feature

By Kaitlin Schuler Spending on construction in the United States rose by the largest amount in eight months in January, with growth in nonresidential projects counteracting a slight drop in residential construction spending. According to a report issued Tuesday by the Department of Commerce, construction spending increased 1.5 percent from December to a seasonally adjusted $1.14 trillion […]

Parents’ epic road trip following star Wildcat nears last stop

LyonOriginal

By Michelle R. Martinelli Bruce and Mary Alice Lyon enjoyed their holidays in an unconventional way. They spent Thanksgiving at a basketball tournament in Texas and New Year’s Eve on a nine-hour drive home to Wilmette from Penn State. It’s all been part of a four-year journey following the Northwestern women’s basketball team. The parents […]

Look beyond record with Illinois Tech; made great strides this year

By Grant Miller Don’t be deceived by Illinois Tech’s record. A 4-21 record might make it seem like yet another losing season for the Scarlet Hawks, but that’s not the case. In fact, opposing coaches think they will could be Division III contenders within the next couple seasons. Despite losing to UC Santa Cruz February […]

Chinese artist Xu Bing on inspiration, creativity and the future of art

xu bing

By Jenny G. Zhang What is the source of inspiration? According to acclaimed Chinese artist Xu Bing, the answer is all around us. “Our creations will always be a response to the new energy and questions or problems that occur from our social reality,” said Xu, who spoke before a full auditorium at the Art […]

AutoZone Inc. hits gas pedal on earnings journey

AutoZone Inc. store

By Steven Porter AutoZone Inc., the leading retailer of replacement car parts, posted better-than-expected earnings Tuesday, reaping the benefit for higher profit margins on its merchandise. The company reported net earnings of $228.6 million, or $7.43 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended Feb. 13, an increase of 8 percent over the $211.7 million, […]

For sharks, fish are friends, not (always) food

By Kathleen Ferraro Sharks strike fear with their reputation as man-eaters. But coral reef sharks are light eaters with no taste for human fare, new research shows. Reef sharks – species of shark that inhabit coral reefs – eat small prey and only at infrequent intervals, according to scientists at James Cook University’s ARC Centre […]

Korean-translated ballots are being readied for debut in March 15 Illinois primary

By Colin Mo When Cook County votes in the March 15 primary, Korean-Americans living in Cook County will for the first time have the option to use ballots that are translated into Korean, and the Chinese community is primed to help them with the transition. “The Chinese community stands by the Korean community, and we […]

Apps and technology help low-income people access healthcare

By Amanda Koehn A patient goes to a primary care appointment and the doctor notices a spot on the patient’s arm. Maybe it’s a mole, a cyst—even a zit. The doctor isn’t sure so the patient needs to see a dermatologist. The new appointment comes with a six-week wait, not to mention the time and […]