Hotness in the News, brought to you by SociaLifeChicago, is your daily intel for quick news stories to keep you up on what’s going on in Chicago and the world. With sports, celebrity, business, fashion news and our ‘Look of The Day.’ Make small talk, better.
“The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”
― John D. Rockefeller
CHICAGO NEWS
• YouTube co-founder Steve Chen is providing crucial funding for a $1.9 million innovation center the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora has been planning since 2008. He was once a student there and the new 6,400-square-foot IN2 will be called the Steve and Jamie Chen Center for Innovation & Inquiry. Expected to open in 2016, the facility will have space for IMSA students and others from the community to work together to take a concept and turn it into a viable business model. [SUNTIMES]
NATIONAL NEWS
• President Obama’s efforts to reach the You tube generation not particularly tuned into the day in day out of politics, backfired somewhat after one of the three of the most popular YouTube content creators that were selected, GloZell Green, offered some colorful words. [ABC 7]
• Kelvin Cochran, the former Atlanta Fire Chief who lost his job following controversy over a religious book he wrote that compared homosexuality to “pederasty” and “bestiality,” has filed federal discrimination complaint, on religious freedom grounds against the city. The complaint, filed Wednesday, accuses the city of violating Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. [WASHINGTON POST]
WORLD NEWS
• Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, 91 years old, died due to complications from pneumonia and his brother Salman has already been named the next king. He had ruled Saudi Arabia as king since 2006. King Salman, thought to be 79, has been crown prince and defense minister since 2012. King Salman has been part of the ruling clique of princes for decades and is thought likely to continue the main thrusts of Saudi strategic policy, including maintaining the alliance with the United States and working towards energy market stability. [REUTERS]
SPORTS
• Chicago Bulls’ Pau Gasol has been voted one of the starters of the All Star Game for the Eastern Conference. The final Ballot features five Chicago Bulls players: Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Nikola Mirotic and Derrick Rose. The All Star game will take place February 15 at Madison Square Garden. [BLEACHER REPORT]
• Andreas Seppi defeated Roger Federer at the Australian Open, making this the first time since 2001 that Federer will not make it into the fourth round of the tennis competition. “Seppi jumped to a two-sets-to-love record by playing consistent baseline tennis, moving a hesitant Federer around the baseline and winning key points, Federer looked poised to make the tenth comeback of his career after trailing two sets to love. Seppi clinched the match on a highlight-worthy running forehand passing shot, the ball landing on the inside corner of the court, painting the lines.” [USA TODAY]
BUSINESS
• Former Burberry CEO and now Apple’s head of retail and online, Angela Ahrendts, who hails from the midwest, is reported to have received compensation package worth $73.4m, whereas Apple CEO Tim Cook received $9.2m. Before being poached to Apple and during her time at Burberry, Ms. Ahrendts was among the highest paid executives in the UK and held unvested Burberry equity with a value of approximately $37m. Her salary is just over $411,000 while Mr. Cook’s salary rose nearly to $2m. She also received cash and perquisites from Burberry that exceeded $5m annually.” The SEC filing stated, “she also received a new hire award of $33m to encourage Ms. Ahrendts to join the company and to provide her with a meaningful equity stake.” She is the highest ranking female executive in the company. Unrelated, J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler is to leave Apple’s board in March. [TELEGRAPH]
CELEBRITIES
• The Daily Front Row’s inaugural Fashion Los Angeles Awards took place at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood last night with Katy Perry, Kanye West, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Nicole Richie, George Kotsiopoulos all in attendance. The event honored Moschino Creative Director Jeremy Scott, Milk Studios’ Mazdack Rassi, “It” model of the moment Gigi Hadid, Instyle Magazine’s Editor in Chief Ariel Foxman, Hervé Leger’s Lubov Azria, Calvin Klein Collection’s Italo Zucchelli, Designer Christian Louboutin and Ilaria Urbinati. [FASHION WEEK DAILY]
FASHION
• French fashion house Guy Laroche (pronounced: Gee Lah-Rosh) has appointed Adam Andrascik as their new Creative Director. Andrascik, who has been designing his own eponymous brand since 2010, will put that on hold for his new role replacing Marcel Marongiu. He has been collaborating with the brand since last October and his first collection will show March 4 during Paris Fashion Week. [VOGUE UK]
LOOK OF THE DAY
• Minka Kelly
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