Geoff Bennett:
There was an outpouring of grief and condolences today in the town of just 25,000 people, but there were also scenes of rage as demonstrators smashed up another bar said to belong to the same owner.
Back in this country, the retailer Forever 21 is set to close all us stores as it files for bankruptcy for a second time. The one-time staple of America’s malls cites rising costs and shifting consumer trends as major factors. It also lost ground to online competition from Amazon, Temu and Shein.
Founded back in 1984 by Korean immigrants in California, Forever 21 was kept afloat after a prior bankruptcy filing in 2019. The company’s Web site will remain active as it looks for possible partners to keep the stores going. Its overseas locations and Web sites will continue operating as normal.
On Wall Street today, stocks started the week on steady footing. The Dow Jones industrial average gained more than 350 points on the day. The Nasdaq added about 50 points, or a third of 1 percent. The S&P 500 also ended in positive territory.
And cities and communities across the country have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. In New York City, overcast skies failed to dampen spirits at the city’s 264th annual parade. Organizers say some 150,000 participants marched up Manhattan’s famed Fifth Avenue.
And, in Dublin, Ireland marching bands, revelers and plenty of green capped off a three-day festival. St. Patrick’s Day was originally meant to mark the death of Ireland’s patron saint, but has grown into a wider celebration of Irish heritage.