How improv classes can serve as natural remedy for anxiety
Feeling anxious? Taking improv classes might just be a fantastic natural remedy for your worrying ways. In a pilot study in the Journal of Mental Health, scientists in 2017 discovered that improv exercises may provide a “strong and efficient treatment for patients with anxiety and depression.” Read More...
Los Angeles joins movement to eliminate late fees for overdue library books
When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided to eliminate library late fees from Chicago Public Libraries back in October, the impact was immediate. Within three weeks, the number of overdue books returned increased by 240 percent. People who couldn’t afford to pay late fees were encouraged to Read More...
Chicago is seeing book returns surge 240% after the mayor eliminated fees
A little over a month ago, we published a story about Chicago libraries doing away with overdue book fees, which are disproportionately affecting the city’s lower-income residents. Now, one month since the fines were eliminated, Chicago libraries are reporting a 240 percent increase in the number Read More...
Colorful Chicago building proves affordable housing and beauty can go together
Affordable housing, beautiful aesthetics, and sustainability are three things that rarely unite under one building, but in Chicago, architects have managed to bring all three together in harmony. Created by John Ronan Architects, the colorful building contains a public library at ground level and Read More...
Chicago’s public libraries are the latest to do away with overdue book fees
The city of Chicago’s public library system is the latest and the largest library system to do away with late fees for overdue materials. The change comes as a response to the fact that late charges were disproportionately affecting the city’s lower-income residents, one in three of which has Read More...
High schoolers are learning to 3D-print prosthetic hands for people in need
When does a school science project become especially worthy of attention? When it actually makes an impact outside the school. At West Leyden High School, just outside Chicago, some students are part of a science program called e-NABLE that teaches students how to use engineering software and 3D Read More...
The city council of Chicago just committed to 100% clean energy by 2040
The Windy City is going all-in on renewable energy. That’s right, the city of Chicago has just committed to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040, making it the largest US city to make such a commitment towards clean energy. The resolution, which was unanimously passed by the city council, points Read More...