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Walters: California students among nation’s worst for math and language

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

Gov. Gavin Newsom and other political figures like to brag about California’s role as a national or even international leader in all things wonderful.They tend, however, to gloss over or ignore indications that California is falling short in some very important indices of societal achievement, such as public education.When measured against other states, much less other nations, California’s nearly 6 million public school students rank among the lowest in national education testing for mathematics and language skills.The latest round of National Assessment of Educational Progress test results, released last fall, revealed that California’s fourth- and eighth-graders were once again in the bottom tier of states in reading and math.Moreover, California’s unusually long school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced achievement even more, as a recent report from the Public Policy Institute of California revealed.Before the pandemic, 51% of students met standards in English languag...

Happy Wanderer: Timber Cove Resort, Sonoma County coast dazzling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

Fourteen miles north of Jenner in Sonoma County, there’s a stretch of coast so stunning that Ansel Adams would spend hours on it just sitting on the cliffs above the crashing surf.The landmark Timber Cove Resort is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and Ansel Adams’ longtime assistant, Mary Alinder, above, shared some of his beloved photographs in a talk she gave at the inn earlier this summer. (Ginny Prior — for Bay Area News Group) The beloved photographer was friends with the visionary who built Timber Cove Resort, the iconic lodge perched above the sea as part of the Timber Cove development. The landmark inn is celebrating its 60th anniversary and Adams longtime assistant, Mary Alinder, shared some of his beloved photographs in a talk she gave earlier this summer.“Ansel came here more than once and would just go sit on the bluff,” she says, adding that the landscape had a place in his soul.The same soul-stirring scenery draws visitors to the Timber Cove Resort today, with it...

2 men shot in SJ, police pursue suspects in chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

(KRON) -- Two men are now being hospitalized following a shooting early Wednesday morning in the 160 block of West Alma Avenue, according to the San Jose Police Department. Officer located a possible suspect vehicle in connection to the shooting that occurred around 1:12 a.m. The suspect car then fled police and led them onto a pursuit outside the city, SJPD said. Multiple people have been taken into custody in connection to the shooting. The two men who were shot were taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, police said. A firearm was located by SJPD. The businesses nearby where the shooting occurred include an alteration shop, a convenience store and a bar.Police advise the public to avoid the area and expect traffic delays.This investigation remains open and active. This is a developing story. Stick with us for updates.

Ukrainian prime minister says at least 16 people were killed and 20 wounded in Russian shelling of a market in east

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian prime minister says at least 16 people were killed and 20 wounded in Russian shelling of a market in east.Source

3 arrested in Southwest DC shooting that killed 1 man, injured 5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

Police outside the apartment where the shooting took place in Southwest D.C. (WTOP/Sandra Jones)Three people have been arrested in connection with a shooting Tuesday afternoon in Southwest D.C. that killed a man, left four people suffering from gunshot wounds and injured another man, according to D.C. police.In a social media post Wednesday morning, D.C. police said all three people were charged with first-degree murder with armed (felony murder).Assistant Chief Carlos Heraud said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon that officers responded to the shooting at around 4:15 p.m. at a residence on the 200 block of M Street SW, a few blocks west of Nationals Park. Officers found two men with gunshot wounds at the scene.“Once again, this investigation is very early,” Heraud said. “What we do know is that it appears all the parties involved, or all the parties I have mentioned thus far, know each other in some way, shape or form.”One man was pronounced dead at...

The Chiefs have won 8 straight season openers. They have a ways to go to catch the longest streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have been fast starters to the NFL season.The defending-champion Chiefs head into their opener Thursday night at home against Detroit having won eight straight regular-season openers, which is tied for the fifth longest streak of the Super Bowl era.Kansas City last lost in Week 1 back in 2014 with Alex Smith at quarterback when they fell 26-10 to Tennessee in a game played before Mahomes had even made his college debut at Texas Tech.They won the next three openers with Smith at QB and then all five since Mahomes became the starter, scoring at least 33 points in the last seven Week 1 games. They have a long way to go to catch the longest streak ever as the Cowboys won 17 straight openers between 1965-81. The last team to win more than eight straight was the New England Patriots, who won 10 in a row from 2004-13.Mahomes has been particularly sharp to start the season, throwing at least three TD passes in all five season-opening starts in his ...

Manchester United says it is taking allegations of abuse by Antony seriously

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United spoke about the allegations of domestic abuse made against Brazil international Antony for the first time on Wednesday, saying it was taking the matter seriously.The Premier League club did not say whether the forward would be available for selection after he was dropped from his country’s two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.“Manchester United acknowledges the allegations made against Antony and notes that the police are conducting enquiries,” the club said. “As a club we are taking this matter seriously, with consideration of the impact of these allegations and subsequent reporting will have on survivors of abuse.”On Monday, Brazilian media published details of alleged domestic abuse by Antony against his ex-girlfriend.The Brazilian soccer confederation said Antony would not be part of the team for games against Bolivia and Peru “due to the facts that became public on Monday.”United had come under pressure for not commenting sooner, ...

Is hunting beneficial for the environment?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Hunting season started on Sept. 3, and Colorado licenses are still available. Before you turn your nose at the thought of hunting, it turns out that the environment benefits from hunters nationwide. That being said, hunting only services the environment when it is done correctly. Kara Van Hoose, a public information officer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said it didn't always help the environment. In the early 1900s, North America was overhunted and wildlife was seen as temporary, said Van Hoose. In response, the states created the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Agencies like CPW follow the model when granting hunting licenses. Part-time closures at Rocky Mountain National Park for elk mating season For each animal, CPW divides up the land into units with only a specific number of licenses. The number of licenses is decided each year by biologists, wildlife officers and area wildlife managers who complete on-the-ground, helicopter and hunter surv...

Disney to add a theme-packed sixth ship to its cruise line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

(CNN) — Disney is adding a sixth ship to its growing cruise line, the entertainment giant announced late Tuesday morning in a video presentation.It will be christened the Disney Treasure, and it’s brimming with the kind of colorful, pop-culture theming you’d expect, with nods to “The Lion King,” Marvel superheroes, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” “Star Wars” and others.But don’t pack your bags quite yet. The maiden voyage of the Treasure, sister ship to the Disney Wish that launched in 2022, is scheduled for December 21, 2024. It will leave Port Canaveral, Florida, for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise, Disney said in a news release. After that, the ship will embark on seven-night itineraries in the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral.While the first voyage is more than a year away, die-hard Disney cruisers can reserve a spot much sooner. Bookings for Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members start September 12 this year. Bookings open to all guests on September 20...

Murky waters in Florida’s West Coast following Hurricane Idalia raise health concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:48 GMT

In the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia’s passage, some beaches along Florida’s West Coast have taken on an unsettling murkiness and health officials are warning residents about potential health risks associated with swimming in these waters. Residents and beachgoers have reported discomfort and concerns after experiencing the water firsthand. “It made us sick. We got out of the water, you know,” one resident shared. The less-than-ideal conditions have cast a shadow over what was anticipated to be a pleasant three-day beach weekend. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Iahn Gonesenhauser explained what might be happening. “When you have that runoff dragging water or dragging other sediments off of those populated areas a lot of things like fertilizer or sewage and untreated wastewater can all find its way back in there,” he stated. “That’s what causes those bacterial blooms that we see and particularly the Enteroccacus which is what the Department ...