NIU’s clerical staff will receive a 3 percent raise in addition to the 3 percent raise that all NIU employees received this fiscal year. The pay increase was made effective Jan. 1. The raise will affect about 530 NIU employees, said Steve Cunningham,...

The Counseling and Student Development Center is making it easier for students to seek advice about their problems by changing its walk-in procedures. “Basically, we had walk-ins for emergencies only and appointments for the initial visit,” said Anna...

Lower-than-expected snowfall has school and city officials singing Mother Nature’s praises as they attempt to save money but still protect services in a tight budget climate. Bob Albanese, associate vice president of Finance and Facilities, said the...

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s State of the State Address wasn’t what local politicians had hoped for. Sen. Brad Burzynski said the address was a disappointment. “He didn’t address the funding issue in the state budget,” Burzynski said. “He did so...

Her name is as familiar as your own. Students meet there every day. Annie Glidden Road is a common path for students, vehicles and local business, but have you ever thought about how the road got its name? Annie Glidden was an award-winning farmer in...

On Jan. 1, 2004, minimum wage in Illinois climbed to $5.50 - a $0.35 increase from last year. The raise in minimum wage will have a direct effect on many students whose hourly wage will get an unplanned lift because of the new Illinois state law. The...

Every year on the third Monday of January, schools and businesses across the nation close to celebrate the life and dream of Martin Luther King Jr. It is the time when King is remembered for his fight for freedom, equality and justice through non-violent...

The DeKalb County Health Department now is making the flu vaccine available to all DeKalb County residents, regardless of medical status or age. The health department ran out of the vaccine on Dec. 9. After receiving a new supply, the health department...

For years, NIU piano instructor Donald Walker helped aspiring musicians learn the skills on the ivories. Now, even after his death, Walker’s legacy lives on. NIU’s music department recently issued a CD of Walker’s recitals. The profits will go toward...

Local educators support early reading in child development, but express concerns about Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s initiatives. Blagojevich has plans to distribute one book each month to children ages 0 to 5 across Illinois. The program is designed to stimulate...

As we make the transition from childhood to adulthood, the icons we whimsically idealized slowly fall from their pedestals: the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and, with a much deeper sadness, our parents. They are no longer infallible giants,...

Losing weight, quitting smoking and getting out of debt seem to top the list. The new year brings another string of New Year's resolutions just waiting to be broken. This time around, from the most elite administrator to the bottom-barrel freshmen, 2004...