Lee Enterprises Says It Has Contained Cyber Threat

Gap Inc., which was for decades a fixture at shopping malls around the country, said Thursday that it will be closing 220 of its namesake Gap stores — or one-third of its store base — by early 2024. That will result in 80 percent of its remaining Gap stores being in off-mall locations. As part of its restructuring, Gap Inc. said it also plans to close 130 of its Banana Republic stores in North America in three years. The retail organization detailed a three-year plan that calls for closing what amounts to 30 percent of the company’s Gap and Banana Republic stores in North America and focusing on outlets and its e-commerce business.

Dotdash Meredith is giving up a deal with the state of Iowa in which it was to receive tax incentives for hiring and keeping workers in Des Moines. The publishing company was to receive $460,000 in tax credits and refunds under the arrangement, in return for adding 41 employees by March 2021 for at least $29.12 per hour and retaining them through March 2023, according to the Des Moines Register. Dotdash Meredith informed the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in an August 10 letter that it would close the tax-incentive contract. Dotdash Meredith, facing reduced ad spending, suffered a $28 million operating loss in Q2.

The increased presence of screens in today’s classrooms has prompted educators to reassess the role of traditional print materials in student learning. As concerns about digital burnout, comprehension challenges, and digital platform security grow, schools find that print-based resources offer numerous advantages. These include improved comprehension, reduced screen fatigue, and a more focused, secure learning environment. With recent shifts toward print in media and education, schools recognize the need to balance digital and print resources to create a more effective, well-rounded learning experience. Research continues to show that students retain and understand information better when reading from paper as opposed to digital screens. In May educational neuroscientists at Teachers College, Columbia University published a study that conducted brain imaging of 59 middle-schoolers from New York City after reading text on paper and text on a screen.