First American shares soar on earnings news
By Harvard Zhang First American Financial Corp. shares jumped Thursday after the title insurance company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter profits. In the latest quarter the Santa Ana, Calif.-based company reported net income of $81.6 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, up a modest 1.3 percent from $80.5 million, or 74 cents in the year-ago period. […]
Preventing Zika virus in Pregnant Women Top Priority for Illinois Health Department
By Stephanie Golden Protection of pregnant women against the Zika virus, which has been linked to a major birth defect, is the No. 1 priority for the Illinois Department of Public Health, a state spokeswoman said. “The Illinois Department of Public Health is supporting guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and is […]
Fighting for a better life, boxer talks about overcoming addiction
By Caley Chelios Dave Englund, 48, was a boxer and an ultimate fighter, but his biggest battle was not in the ring, it was his struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism. Englund was 22 when he hit rock bottom. Since then he’s fought his way back and transformed his life. He’s married and has two […]
VIDEO: Chicago Hack Night gets involved in Illinois’ use of technology
By Lucia Maffei Hardik Bhatt needs help. The Chief Information Officer for the State thinks that Illinois should complete “a 45-year journey in four years” to reach a level comparable to its peers in using technology to make everyday tasks easier for residents. To accomplish this goal, Bhatt asked for the help of the participants in […]
Jobless claims decline as holiday shakeout ends
By Ashesha Mehrotra The number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefits last week dropped to a seven-week low last week, a better-than-expected performance that suggests the labor market is stabilizing after a period of post-holiday layoffs. In the week ended Feb. 6, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday, initial jobless claims declined by […]
Secondhand smoke puts hookah bar employees at risk, new study shows.
By Chencheng Zhao Employees in hookah bars face health risks from secondhand smoke from the water pipes, New York University researchers are reporting. Environmental medicine researcher Terry Gordon and his colleagues investigated indoor air quality in some popular hookah bars in New York and the health effects of secondhand hookah smoke on the bar workers.
Christ the King kicks off playoffs
By Jasmine Cannon After winning their third straight Chicago Prep conference tournament title, Christ the King began regional play Tuesday in the IHSA playoffs. The Gladiators continued their winning ways beating Guerin 42-17. Despite injury issues, Christ the King still has the same motto, “one goal, state.”
Acco shares jump on fourth-quarter results
By Yi Gu ACCO Brands Corp. shares climbed after the company, helped by a rebound in its U.S. market, released a better-than-expected fourth quarter earnings results on Wednesday. In the latest quarter, the Lake Zurich, Illinois-based office products supplier’s net income dropped 28 percent to $31.4 million, or 29 cents a diluted share, from $43.9 […]
‘Homegrown’ exhibit showcases local artists’ origins at the Art Institute
By Katina Beniaris The Art Institute of Chicago digs through its roots to present artists who trained at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in honor of the school’s 150th anniversary. “Homegrown: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Permanent Collection” features approximately 120 objects, mainly works on paper, from […]
Everyone’s a critic: seven criticism tips from Michael Phillips
By Tim Rosenberger Michael Phillips, the lead film critic for The Chicago Tribune and formerly its theater critic, sat down last Friday at Tribune Tower to discuss criticism writing with a group of Medill students. For those who want a peek into the job of a critic, Medill Reports has collected the top seven tips […]