New boutique
A customer looks in the window at a new boutique, Apricot Lane, that opened earlier this month at Uptown Crossing, 206 North Street, Normal. The store offers branded fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags and accessories. (Photo by Danielle Lawry / Contributing Photographer)
Animal shelter on a tight leash
The first thing visitors to the Central Illinois Small Animal Rescue & Care Center notice are the trills and squawks that fill the air, as exotic birds taunt cages filled with wide-eyed cats in the main room. Young and old, friendly and scared, the birds and animals curiously approach the gates of their tiny, temporary homes to meet their potential owners.

Twitter takes charge, blocks German account
Twitter has blocked a user account for the first time, responding to a request made by German authorities. The company adopted a policy earlier this year allowing it to block accounts in countries where the account violates national laws.The handle @hannoverticker, belonging to neo-Nazi group Better Hanover, was banned in Germany as of Sept. 25. Any content posted since then will not be visible to users across the country. This is the first time Twitter has used its ability to censor content on its website.

Play for Peace pushes for RSO bid
Peaceful play among children does not always occur in school, sometimes leading to conflict. Play for Peace, a program initiated in 1996, responds to conflict across the globe and most recently here in Bloomington-Normal.The program is a dynamic global learning community headquartered in Chicago that is dedicated to connecting children, youth and organizations through cooperative play to create laughter, compassion and peace.