27-Year-Old Show Still Attracts New Audience Members
By Carlos D. Williamson For the Neo-Futurists, elaborate performances and quirky narratives are nothing new. Founded in Chicago by performer and playwright Greg Allen, the experimental theater troupe has been putting on shows since 1988. While the ensemble has changed over the years, the performers still find ways to keep audiences coming back.
China clamps down on homosexual content on TV and online
By Jenny Lee and Ya Zhou Vulgar, immoral and unhealthy. That is how the Chinese government views homosexuality, and that stance became more apparent after the release of a new set of guidelines by one of the main media censorship bodies last December. Reflecting that homosexuality impairs public morality and social stability, the eight-page document […]
Moving kinetic sculptures make a stop in Chicago during first major U.S. tour
By Katina Beniaris Video By Qingwei Vivian Chen Inside the Chicago Cultural Center’s newest exhibit, the Strandbeest comes alive with its bone-yellow pipes hitting the floor as it walks toward the visitors. Dutch artist Theo Jansen, the creator of Strandbeests, describes these new life-forms as “beach creatures.” “Hopefully in 20 years, mark my words, these […]
Police and colleges assess the the emoji threat
By Colin Mo When it comes to the concept of “emoji” – ideograms and smileys used in electronic messaging and internet web pages – courts and law enforcement tend to take it very seriously. Recently, a 12-year-old girl was arrested for using emojis on a public Instagram post, prompting her school to call in law […]
Retail sales sag for second straight month
By Sony Kassam Retail sales in the United States showed a softer than expected decline in February, but a downward revision for sales in January could signal concerns about the economy’s growth. The U.S. Department of Commerce said Tuesday that retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent last month – a decline for the […]
US producer prices dip as energy and food continue to slide
By Kaitlin Schuler United States wholesale prices fell slightly in February, pulled down by lower energy and food costs, in a performance that suggests inflationary pressures remain under control. The producer price index dipped a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent in February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Tuesday report, matching economist expectations. The […]
The do-it-all-guy: Illinois Tech’s young coach shoots, dunks and mentors
By Grant Miller Todd Kelly wore a red T-shirt and shorts with matching sneakers as he stepped onto the Keating Sports Center basketball court. He bent his knees, widened his arms and shuffled his feet to prevent the opposing point guard from dribbling around him. When his man passed to the corner, Kelly jumped and […]
Manufacturing educators see career opportunities despite overall sector contraction
By H. Will Racke Originally published on March 15, 2016. Updated on April 13, 2016. Even though Illinois today supports fewer manufacturing jobs than it did before the Great Recession, Chicago-area vocational trainers see a persistent, unmet need for skilled machinists and industrial maintenance technicians. Their starting salaries are in the $50,000 range, and with experience […]
BallotReady launches, impact to be determined
By Misha Euceph Illinois’ primary election day today is the big test, not just for candidates, but for BallotReady, a University of Chicago-backed non-profit, that won $30,000 in a challenge in May 2015. The site’s ambitious mission is to inform voters about every single candidate on their local ballots. The site launched earlier this year […]
DSW Inc.’s fourth quarter not as bad as feared, sales show growth
By Alison Martin Despite a steep decline in profit, DSW Inc.’s fourth quarter results beat investor expectations and helped send the company’s share price higher. In the quarter ended Jan. 30, 2016, The footwear and accessories retailer reported its net income as $11.8 million or 14 cents per diluted share, down dramatically from last year’s […]