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Innovation or risk? Missouri's top education leader questions value of four-day school weeks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - As Missouri students head back to the classroom for the new year, roughly one-quarter of the state’s school districts are only in session four days a week. While shorter work weeks are helping districts recruit teachers, the state’s education department is leery of their long-term effects. Missouri's top education leader, Margie Vandeven, is concerned about instructional time for students. "It’s challenging to go back to a five-day [week] after you’ve had the four day [week]," said Vandeven. Remembering Kait Anderson: a mother’s mission to promote safety and support In a state that is suffering a teacher shortage crisis, the effort to attract potential educators in Missouri is becoming more prevalent. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education estimated around a 5.4% shortage in qualified teachers and full-time employees statewide in a December 2022 report."We are seeing an increase at the statewide level in the number of districts that ar...

Nonprofit spends $860K to increase police patrols in downtown St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Police Foundation is spending around $860,000 to add more overtime police patrols around downtown St. Louis. This is part of an anti-violence crime initiative pilot program that launched last month, which is also supported by first-year police chief Robert Tracy, according to our news partners at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Remembering Kait Anderson: a mother’s mission to promote safety and support The initiative pays officers around $70 an hour in overtime pay. The program primarily consists of four-hour overtime shifts that involve one sergeant and six police officers. The initiative is intended to help crackdown on crime in Downtown St. Louis and the Downtown West neighborhood. It began less than a month after a mass shooting left one teen dead and several others injured.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham detained by police in Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

A player for the New Orleans Saints was taken into custody in Southern California on Friday night ahead of their preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.According to a statement from the Saints, Graham was experiencing a medical episode before he was detained."Jimmy Graham experienced a medical episode...which resulted in him becoming disoriented," the team said. "He was taken into custody by local authorities and transported to a local hospital for evaluation for what [team doctor] Dr. John Amoss believes to be a likely seizure and spent the night under medical supervision and testing. Amoss met Graham at the hospital and is overseeing his care at this time."He was released from the hospital on Saturday morning and is back with the team as they prepare to take on the Chargers, the Saints said.Graham, 36, was originally arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance after police received calls of a person acting erratically and wandering in...

49ers put Taco Charlton on season-ending injury list; running back waived

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Former Dallas Cowboys’ first-round pick Taco Charlton won’t be suiting up for the 49ers this season, not after going on Injured Reserve ahead of today’s preseason game against the Denver Broncos.Charlton is believed to have sustained a hamstring injury. Signed Aug. 1, he played 23 snaps in Sunday’s 34-7 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders to open the preseason. The 49ers were his fifth team since leaving the Cowboys after the 2017-18 seasons.He is the fourth player to go on Injured Reserve since camp began July 25, the others being defensive lineman Darryl Johnson and cornerbacks Anthony Averett and Terrence Mitchell.The 49ers signed two defensive linemen ahead of hosting the Broncos: La’Darius Hamilton, formerly of the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, and Tomasi Laulile, who previously played for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League.Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | What to watch for in 49ers-Broncos as roster ...

Stockpile of thousands of illegal weapons seized from East Bay knife shop, owner arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

DUBLIN — The owner of a Dublin knife store was arrested after police located thousands of illegal weapons stockpiled inside his business, home and a nearby storage unit, authorities said Friday.On Aug. 11, Dublin Police began investigating the distribution of illegal weapons from Dublin Knives, a business in the 6500 block of Dublin Boulevard.After detectives obtained a search warrant for Dublin Knives — located northeast of the intersection of interstates 580 and 680 — police allegedly found more than 2,000 illegal switchblade knives, approximately 40 rifles and handguns, 245 sets of brass knuckles, four cane swords, body armor and various other weapons.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Stray bullet from ‘gun battle’ wounds woman asleep in Oakland home Crime and Public Safety | East Bay man pleads guilty in lottery ticket theft scheme Crime and Public Safety | Cruel cops or caring family men? Indictmen...

Urias become first Red Sox ro hit grand slams on consective pitches, Boston beat Yankees 8-1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Urias become the first Red Sox player to hit grand slams on consecutive pitches and the first in 80 years to hit slams in consecutive games in leading Boston to an 8-1 victory Saturday, sending the fading New York Yankees to their seventh straight loss.Urias cleared the based in his last at bat against Washington reliever Robert Garcia on Thursday night and the ninth-place hitter stunned Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the second inning with a blast to left center. Urias, who was acquired from Milwaukee in a deal at the trade deadline, is the first Red Sox to hit grand slams in consecutive games since Jimmie Foxx on May 20-21 in 1940. He also is the first player to hit grand slams in consecutive trips to the plate since Josh Willingham with Washington in 2009.The last Boston player to hit grand slams in consecutive plate appearance was Bill Mueller, who did it on the seventh and eighth inning at Texas July 29, 2003 at Texas.Cole (10-4) also gave up a two-run drive to...

Malen scores after canceled substitution for Dortmund to start Bundesliga with win over Cologne

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Donyell Malen should not have been on the field when he scored late for Borussia Dortmund to start the Bundesliga with a fortunate 1-0 win over Cologne on Saturday, The Dutch winger was due to go off to make way for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens just minutes before he scored, but Julian Ryerson signaled his inability to continue and Dortmund coach Edin Terzić took off the injured Ryerson instead of Malen.“Football writes such stories,” Terzić said. “The one who stays on scores the winning goal in the end, and hopefully Jamie will conjure some magic for us next week.”Dortmund’s late win didn’t prevent memories of the team’s missed title chance from being revived as it looked set for another disappointing draw at home in the league.The home team labored for long periods to break through the well-drilled visitor’s disciplined unit and was fortunate that Cologne’s Davie Selke, Dejan Ljubicic and substitute Sargis Adamyan did not score. In its previous game at...

Jones, Waller and Hyatt deliver as Giants offense makes impressive preseason debut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tight end Darren Waller and rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt are living up to all the hype that surrounded them coming to the New York Giants.The 30-year-old Waller has developed a strong rapport with Daniel Jones since being acquired in a trade from Las Vegas, clearly emerging as the quarterback’s top option.A speedy third-round draft pick out of Tennessee, Hyatt has been the main deep threat since the Giants opened training camp.Jones, Waller and Hyatt put on a show Friday night as the Giants beat the Carolina Panthers 21-19.The Jones-Waller combination hooked up three times for 30 yards as New York’s first-team offense opened the game with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that Jones culminated with a 4-yard pass to Daniel Bellinger.“He’s a player that you can use in different roles relative to where he lines up at the line of scrimmage or outside the line of scrimmage,” coach Brian Daboll said of Waller on Saturday. “He’s capable of doing those th...

Virginia hemp businesses start to see inspections and fines under new law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Businesses around Virginia are beginning to face fines from state regulators who say the retailers are out of compliance with laws restricting the sales of certain hemp products.The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services began conducting inspections last month to ensure retailers were adhering to recent legislation that aimed to end the sales of intoxicating hemp-derived products.As of early August, at least seven businesses had received noncompliance letters, The Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday. Violations stemmed from both this year’s legislation and a 2022 bill that prohibited the sale of THC products in shapes that might appeal to children or that mimic trademarked brands, according to the newspaper.Among the stores facing a fine is Chesapeake Tobacco & Vape, which offered five edible hemp products that were not in compliance, according to a letter the department sent the shop July 31. The letter said the business also failed to ...

Bellingham scores twice in Real Madrid win for 3 goals in 2 games since Spain move

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Jude Bellingham’s double led Real Madrid’s 3-1 fightback at Almeria on Saturday, taking his tally to three goals in two games since arriving to the Spanish league.The 20-year-old England midfielder debuted for Madrid last weekend with a goal to seal victory at Athletic Bilbao in their season opener.He improved on that superb start for the 14-time European champion with his brace and an assist at Almeria to help overturn an early goal by the modest host.Vinícius Júnior added a third goal to seal the victory after he received the ball from Bellingham.Bellingham, who joined Madrid on a 130-million-euro ($142 million) move from Borussia Dortmund this summer, scored eight goals in the Bundesliga last season.Wearing the No. 5 of Madrid great Zinedine Zidane, Bellingham has immediately taken on a leading role on the field in Carlo Ancelotti’s side. The coach credited Bellingham’s character, and the experience he has already accumulated at a young age, as...