Annie Pei

A kidnapping saga unfolded in Cleveland this week as 52-year-old musician Ariel Castro was taken into custody for the kidnapping of three women, some of whom he held in his house for more than a decade. In Trenton, NJ, three children were released following a 36-hour long hostage situation during which one individual has been killed. Finally, the Bangladesh government is set to face some even tougher criticism as a factory fire adds to the death toll of another factory collapse from to weeks ago.

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Cleveland Kidnapper Arrested, Charged for Kidnapping and Rape of Three Women

A horrific kidnapping saga unfolded in Cleveland this past week as Ariel Castro, 52, was arrested and charged for the kidnapping and rape of three women, some of whom he had held hostage for more than a decade.

Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were all kidnapped within 2002-2004 by Castro while they were young women. Castro had lured the young girls and captured them, holding them inside his house for more than 10 years until Berry escaped early this week.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev may still be suffering from what authorities describe as “grievous injuries,” but that hasn’t stopped anyone from charging him for his crimes. Elsewhere around the world, France becomes the 14th country in the world to legalize gay marriage, a legislative result that will surely continue to spark protests. Finally, Bangladesh will be forced to re-think their worker safety laws following the collapse of a big garment factory building, which killed more than 300 people.

Welcome back to this week’s NEWSFLASH!

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Charged

The sole surviving suspect of the Boston Marathon bombings, 19-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was officially charged by federal authorities on Monday as he lay in his hospital bed. 

Though Tsarnaev’s injuries limited his ability to speak, authorities reported that the suspect was cooperative and understood everything that was being said. Tsarnaev is officially being charged with using a weapon of mass destruction to kill civilians.

From the meeting, it was said that Tsarnaev admitted that both Tsarnaev brothers were motivated by jihadist ideas. The suspect faces the death penalty if convicted.

When your four-year-old dancer self was busy doing pliés, grand battements, and tapping your feet at your nearby dance studio or community center, PhiNix Dance Crew Freestyle Director Cameron Okeke was in his living room in front of a TV. With a Men In Black VHS in the machine and Will Smith on the screen, four-year-old Cameron would repeatedly do the Men In Black dance with his mom all in the name of good fun.

15 years later, he would compete in front of a crowd of thousands at New Orleans’ Essence Music Festival, a dance performance that won him 5,000 dollars and a newfound confidence in his dance abilities.

“Every time I dance I remember my family, who for a very long time thought I had no dancing ability,” says Cameron. “They were incredibly shocked when I was selected as the Chicago finalist in the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. The entire experience was surreal; the food, the music, the late nights were breathtaking.”

Now, after meeting some amazing stars (Trey Songz and his mom apparently never talk about his music, so don’t bring it up!) and incredible dance crews like the FootworKINGZ, Cameron is back helping the PhiNix crew prep for their Friday show, REVIVAL. Even after his superstar status following the competition, Cameron is more than happy to be back where he belongs: right on UChicago campus. As Cameron explains, “I'll always carry the competition with me in my heart because votes form my UChicago peers made it possible. So thank you.”

Getting a job offer is always exciting, especially if you’ve just graduated college or are a college senior looking to work full-time. Say goodbye to your classes, and say hello to the work you’ve always dreamed of doing!

What makes working even more awesome are the benefits and job perks you’re likely to get even at entry-level positions. From insurance to fun days with your co-workers, job benefits can help cut down on costs and also provide you with the incentive to keep on going. Ever wondered how sick days work or what 401K plans actually are? Read on for some of the most common perks you’re likely to get with your job and how to know whether the offer you received is a good one or needs some negotiating.

Your salary

The starting salary you receive with a company will depend largely on the industry, the geographic location of your job, and the availability of qualified candidates in your area. Lesley Mitler, founder of career counseling service Priority Candidates, explains that while a starting  salary in PR, broadcast journalism or advertising could be anywhere from the low to mid $20,000 region, someone working in IT could have a starting salary in the $60,000 to $70,000 range. There is no hard-set standard for starting salaries, which is why you see a huge range depending on the industry.