Poet, activist, and children’s author Nikki Giovanni, 81, died on December 9 in Blacksburg, VA. Giovanni’s first two books, Black Feeling Black Talk and Black Judgment, were self-published in 1968, and she went on to author more than 30 books. She served as a professor at Virginia Tech and was the recipient of seven N.A.A.C.P. awards and 31 honorary doctorates.
Quarterly Profits Jump at Barnes & Noble Education
After a preliminary report a month ago, Barnes & Noble Education announced full results for their second quarter ended October 26, with sales down 1.4 percent to $602 million due to the closing of 109 physical and virtual stores (many of which, they say, were underperforming). Previously they estimated sales would “essentially flat.” Net income doubled to $49.7 million, up from $24.9 million, “due to improved operating income, lower interest expense, and reduced restructuring and other charges.” Adjusted EBITDA was up 29.1 percent to $66 million, attributed to $13 million in cost savings from closed stores, “productivity initiatives.” They estimate […]