As is expected at this time of year, northern Illinois is experiencing record-breaking temperatures which have closed businesses and schools in the DeKalb area, including the university, as well as created dangerous road conditions and kept people indoors...

Popular stories are often heroic tales of bravery where the underdog reclaims their humanity and against all odds achieves what they have searched for. However, the air of aspirational heroes is dimming as darker characters steal the spotlight; the psychological...