Wal-Mart workers to see $9 wage minimum
By Lucy Ren Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced on Thursday that approximately 500,000 associates at its U.S. stores would receive a minimum hourly pay of $9 in April, a 24 percent increase from today’s federal minimum wage. Wal-Mart U.S. will increase its minimum monthly wage by another dollar by next February. According to President and Chief […]
No tax hikes in Rauner’s budget proposal
By Meredith Wilson Gov. Bruce Rauner presented a balanced budget to the Illinois Legislature on Wednesday that did not include a single tax hike. The proposed state budget for fiscal year 2016 is $31.5 billion, a decrease of 21 percent from the $38.2 billion agencies reported needing for fiscal year 2016, known as the maintenance […]
Lunar New Year celebrations kick off in Chicago
By Beth Lawrence Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year, is one of the most celebrated holidays in China. The Chinese Fine Arts Society is bringing that celebration to Chicago with the city’s second annual Chinese New Year celebration.
Beyond the Box Score brings ‘The Female Voice in Sports Media’ to NU
By Beth Werge If anyone is capable of leading a groundbreaking discussion about the challenges of being a woman in sports media, it’s Christine Brennan. Medill and Northwestern University Athletics held the fifth installment of their Beyond the Box Score series this week, bringing USA Today columnist Brennan (BSJ80, MSJ81), CNN’s Rachel Nichols (BSJ95), Fox […]
Child hunger makes learning difficult, especially in harsh winter
By Emily Hoerner For Chicago’s food insecure children, this season’s blistering cold temperatures may present additional barriers to learning in the classroom. When weather is especially harsh, people turn to food services like pantries, soup kitchens and shelters more frequently, said Jim Conwell, communications director at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
How about them Apples?
New genetically modified apples don’t brown when bruised By Shanley Chien It may take a few years for bins of Arctic apples to show up in grocery stores. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved two types of these genetically modified apples that don’t turn brown when sliced. The flesh of the fruit stays a […]
Love, peace and soul — on gig posters
By Antoinette Isama Chicago’s nightlife scene peddles its wares through posters that are pasted on poles, thumbtacked on cork boards and attached to messages on the Internet. It’s a must that these posters pop; they are vital to drawing a crowd for live performers and shindigs alike. A monthly dance party at Wicker Park’s Double […]
Sorry exporters, a strong dollar is golden in U.S.
By Lei Xuan “The world is in a currency war,” says A. Gary Shilling, president of the New Jersey-based consultants A. Gary Shilling & Co. His reasoning is simple and global: “Many central banks are chopping interest rates to push their currencies down. They all hope to spur exports to offset internal weakness.” A moderate […]
VIDEO: Businesses adjust to greater consumer expectations
By Andrew Fowler Now more than ever American consumers have a lot of influence on retailers and they’re not afraid to use it. According to a trend report from Chicago-based analysts at Mintel, consumers now expect speed and convenience on-demand thanks to the internet. Proper Suit, a custom menswear retailer, is one Chicago business that is changing […]
Fed minutes: ‘many’ favor delaying interest rate hike
By Lucy Ren The majority of the participants at the January Federal Open Market Committee meeting leaned towards delaying the interest rate hike, according to the FOMC’s January meeting minutes released on Wednesday.