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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The title "Pokemon Horizons the Series" sits across an array of Pokemon characters. The newest game in the "Pokemon" series, "Pokemon Legends: Z-A" was announced Feb. 27. (The Pokemon Company)

New Pokemon game announced

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | March 17, 2024

In a flash of yellow, a lone Pikachu runs across the streets of a luminous blue wireframe metropolis full of colorful people and Pokémon. At the center of the city, a brilliant tower stands tall.  As the camera pans out, the neon lights fade and...

Emily Blunt (from left), Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh stand together at a premiere for "Oppenheimer" on July 13, 2023 in London. (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

Film award contest to close Saturday

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 7, 2024

The Northern Star’s film award contest will close at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. Be sure to get your ballot in before the contest closes to be eligible to win the $25 Visa gift card.  The goal of the contest is to predict the closest ballot of Oscar...

A McDonald's bag decorated with anime rests on a white surface. Weekly manga is a recently added tie-in McDonald's has with their new Savory Chili WcDonald's sauce. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

McDonalds launches new sauce, anime

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | March 6, 2024

As the bag opened, the smell of fries and salt hit my nostrils, filling them with an intoxicating aroma.  Slowly I put my hand back in, fishing out my sauce, delicately peeling back the bright yellow packaging.  With a swift motion, I dip a few...

The words "Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection" sit in front of many Star Wars characters. The "Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection" will be released March 14. (Aspyr / Lucasfilm)

‘Star Wars Battlefront’ to rerelease

By Jonathan Shelby, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | March 5, 2024

There are an astonishing number of “Star Wars” games that have successfully united fans around the world and shaped the “Star Wars” games of the future.  Games such as Electronic Arts’ “Star Wars Battlefront” and Respawn Entertainment’s...

Cillian Murphy (from left), Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. stand on a stage holding microphones. "Oppenheimer" has 13 nominations and could make a sweep at the Oscars. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Northern Star predicts, picks Oscar winners

By Nick Glover and Lindsay Curtis | March 5, 2024

As the countdown to the 96th Academy Awards comes to an end, tensions rise to see which nominees win in their respective categories. If you think you know who is going to win, please take part in the Northern Star's film award contest. By entering...

DragonBall characters Goku Black (left) and Zamasu stand next to each other looking down. The newest update for season five of "DragonBall: The Breakers" introduces crossplay and a new horror element. (Courtesy of YouTube)

Season five revitalizes ‘Dragon Ball: The Breakers’

By Jonathan Shelby, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | March 4, 2024

Fans of the “Dragon Ball” series have had juicy amounts of content to look forward to with the teases of “Dragon Ball Sparking Zero” and the recent addition of rollback netcode to “Dragon Ball FighterZ.”  While these games may be the center...

A pair of Apple Vision Pros rest on a metal stand. Apple's new piece of technology cost over $3000. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Apple Vision Pro, the new norm for the rich

By Isabel Cambray, Lifestyle Writer | March 4, 2024

After its release in early February, tons of videos and photos have surfaced of users trying Apple’s new Vision Pro in unconventional places. From social norms such as “don't text and drive” or “don’t be on your phone while walking,” it...

Many gold trophies sit in a line. The 96th Academy Awards will occur Sunday, and the Northern Star is hosting a contest to see who can predict the winner of six of the biggest categories. (Prayitno | CCA2.0)

The Northern Star to host film awards contest

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | March 4, 2024

At 6 p.m. Sunday, the 96th Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, will occur. In commemoration of film lovers’ biggest night of the year, the Northern Star will host a contest to see who can predict the closest ballot of winners for the six...

Taylor Tomlinson stands in front of the sign for her show "After Midnight." Tomlinson is the first woman to take over a pre-existing late-night show. (Robert Voets | Paramount Press Express)

Comedian Taylor Tomlinson makes history with ‘After Midnight’

By Isabel Cambray, Lifestyle Writer | March 3, 2024

A comedian who addresses her own flaws yet finds humor in herself and the not-so-pretty parts of life, Taylor Tomlinson attracts an audience where those involved find humor in trauma dumping, sucky parts of dating and being in your twenties. Having...

In a scene from "Dune: Part Two," three sandworms move toward a group of people. "Dune: Part Two" released Friday and is the follow-up of 2021's "Dune." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

‘Dune: Part Two’ masters cinema

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | February 29, 2024

If I didn’t have to write this review, I would still be watching “Dune: Part Two.” I don’t mean that I walked out early. If I didn’t have to live my life, I would have watched it again. And again. And again. I wholeheartedly believe “Dune:...

A screenshot depicts the Peanuts character Franklin reaching out a hand to Charlie Brown. "Welcome Home Franklin" is Franklin's first special since his 1968 debut. (Courtesy of YouTube)

New ‘Peanuts’ special is heartfelt

By Lindsay Curtis, Copy Editor | February 28, 2024

The newest “Peanuts” special from Apple TV+ focuses on the comic strip’s first Black character, Franklin. Released Feb. 16, “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” is the character’s first TV special since his debut in 1968. Franklin...

A screenshot depicts Mario looking shocked at Donkey Kong in the new game "Mario vs. Donkey Kong." The new Nintendo Switch game contains over 100 puzzles for players to complete. (Courtesy of YouTube)

Join Mario’s puzzle adventure against Donkey Kong

By Isabel Cambray, Lifestyle Writer | February 27, 2024

A new game, “Mario vs. Donkey Kong,” was released Feb. 16 featuring Mario and Donkey Kong exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.  The game begins with Donkey Kong watching a commercial about Mini-Marios. After which, he breaks into the Mario Toy...