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McCallum High School upgrades safety on campus with new fencing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – There is a new fence surrounding one side of McCallum High School."Safety and security for our students is the top priority," said Michael Mann, executive director of construction management for Austin Independent School District. The new fencing just recently went up at McCallum, but the plans to add safety upgrades to campuses around Austin ISD were made possible back in November, when the 2022 Bond Package was passed by voters. "We are in the first wave of getting these fencing projects rolled out," Mann said. In August, students at McCallum were met outside the front of the school by demonstrators with anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion signs."That was an example of why we want to have a secure perimeter, but it wasn't what specifically spurred us, this was already in the plans," Mann said. Texas’ State of Education: ‘It’s not about us’ McCallum Principal Andy Baxa said there have been instances over the years that have raised concerns, but these new fences sho...

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates often speak out on hot topics. Only one faces impeachment threat.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who Republicans are threatening to impeach over comments she made on the campaign trail about abortion and redistricting isn’t the first member of the court to offer public opinions about major issues of the day.One conservative justice frequently spoke out in favor of gun rights during her campaign, even producing a political mailer showing her brandishing a shotgun and wearing a hat promoting the NRA. Another had previously called Planned Parenthood, a frequent litigant in abortion cases, a “wicked organization.”And a former conservative justice faced a barrage of criticism after a campaign filled with misleading information about crime that raised questions about whether he could be impartial in cases involving criminal defendants.An Associated Press review of previous campaigns and public statements by Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates reveals that both conservatives and liberals have weighed in on topics that could come befor...

Underdog Lynx enter WNBA playoffs ready to ‘go in there and knock some socks off’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

The Lynx did not finish the WNBA’s regular season the way they had hoped to, and coach Cheryl Reeve made that abundantly clear with her postgame comments after the team’s loss Sunday to Indiana that cemented Minnesota into the No. 6 seed in the playoffs.But the good news, Lynx forward Napheesa Collier told reporters Tuesday, is none of that matters now. Sure, the 0-2 finish to the regular season pits the Lynx against a championship-caliber team in Connecticut to start the postseason.And sure, Collier noted, there are lessons to be learned from the past two losses. Minnesota needs to defend with more vigor and a closer attachment to the game plan, while also closing with better offensive execution.But now that the Lynx are locked into this matchup, all that’s of consequence is what they do moving forward, starting with Game 1 on Wednesday in Connecticut.The Lynx held a team dinner Tuesday, a tradition of sorts whenever the squad makes the playoffs. It serves two purposes — to c...

St. Paul man convicted of fatally shooting woman at East Side home where his son was shot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

A jury has convicted a St. Paul man of fatally shooting a woman last year at her East Side home, where his son was injured by gunfire six days earlier.Jurors on Monday found Curtrez Darale Johnson, 41, guilty of second-degree intentional murder in the December killing of 40-year-old Lashonda Nix, who was shot in the head as she peeked through a curtain.Lashonda Nix (Courtesy of the family)Johnson, who denied being the shooter, was also convicted of possessing a firearm after conviction of a crime of violence. He will be sentenced Oct. 24.The case went to the jury Friday afternoon after five days of testimony, which included Nix’s younger sister, Sharonda Nix, as a “spark of life” witness. This type of testimony aims to humanize a victim for the jury.“To hear the verdict that he was guilty on both charges was a relief for my family, especially for her children and my mother, who also sat with me through most of the trial,” Sharonda Nix said Tuesday.Lashonda Nix was a “hardworking and...

Father of teen killed in crash wants more transparency from police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The grief-stricken father of a Ladue Horton Watkins High School student killed with his two friends says his son was a good kid, and he was just out having fun with his two friends when they all died on the morning of Sept. 6.The father of Deion Robinson is asking for more transparency from the University City Police Department about its pursuit of the teens moments before they crashed their car into a vacant house and died.Brandon Robinson said Deion was driving the car, and friends Johnnie Ursery and Demetrius Ingram were along for the ride. All three were 15 years old.“It’s been a very hard time and we need answers. We need more answers because the video we seen was not all of what was released,” Brandon said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW ...

Broncos Roundtable: Did Denver’s Week 1 loss change your outlook going forward?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat reporterOK, gents, welcome back to the roundtable. You just watched Josh McDaniels beat Denver for the third time in the past 12 months and the Raiders prevail for the seventh straight time in this series overall. Did the performance change your opinion of the 2023 rendition of the Broncos? If it did for me, it’s only ever so slightly. This was a team that had depth and speed questions from the day it showed up for the offseason program back in May. Those things maybe had a bigger impact than expected Week 1 — playing without Jerry Jeudy and losing Greg Dulcich hurt, but, again, depth issues aren’t new with this team — but overall they looked about as expected. They don’t have a ton of margin for error and they’re going to have to ground and pound their way to victories. Anything surprise you guys aside from the fact that, yeah, we all picked Denver to win?Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat reporterMy opinion changes a bit. Denver didn&#...

Skittles spared from California food additive ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

A bill that would outlaw certain additives used in processed food passed the California legislature Tuesday, clearing the way for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign it into law.Known for its unwanted headline-grabbing "Skittles ban" moniker, the latest version of the bill actually spares the beloved rainbow-themed candy from having to make changes to its recipe after one of the chemicals in question was dropped from the list.Assembly Bill 418 would prohibit the manufacture and sale of any products that contain Red Dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil or propyl paraben. Those chemicals have already been outlawed in 27 nations in the European Union, according to the bill's author, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino).The bill previously included language to also prohibit the use of titanium dioxide, but that chemical was removed from the banned additive list in its latest revision. Titanium dioxide was at the center of a lawsuit filed last year by a California man who alle...

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passes motion to protect students during extreme heat 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to protect vulnerable students from extreme heat on school campuses on Tuesday. According to a release from the office of Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, the motion, co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, directs several county departments to convene with interested school districts and raise awareness of both federal and state funding opportunities to support climate resiliency and cooling at schools. The motion will also provide technical assistance to school districts in heat-vulnerable areas and lead to the creation of a toolkit to provide practices and strategies on how to protect students while a long-term strategy to modernize and cool down school campuses is implemented. And while some districts have school campuses that have already been made into cooling centers, other districts – especially smaller ones in unincorporated areas – do not have the ability to access those resources, the board said in a statemen...

Blaza Carbajal Dead, Saul Isaias Del Cid-Salazar Arrested after Hit-and-Run Crash on South Tucson Boulevard [Tucson, AZ]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

69-Year-Old Woman Pronounced Dead after Hit-and-Run Collision near East Bilby RoadTUCSON, AZ (September 12, 2023) – Saturday evening, Blaza Carbajal was fatally struck in a hit-and-run crash on South Tucson Boulevard.Authorities responded to the scene around 8:30 p.m., near East Bilby Road on September 2nd.Per reports, 25-year-old Saul Isaias Cid-Salazar was driving a red 2007 Dodge Charger while Carbajal was driving a grey 2021 Nissan Rogue. For reasons unknown, Cid-Salazar ran a red light and struck the Nissan at the intersection.Upon impact, the Dodge was pushed into a nearby traffic signal pole. One occupant then exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.On September 5th, police eventually located and arrested the suspect with manslaughter, hit-and-run, criminal damage and two counts of felony endangerment.Due to the extent of injuries sustained, medics pronounced 69-year-old Carbajal dead.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment....

From New York City to the Middle East: Taylor Ross’s Journey as a Custom Furniture Designer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:14 GMT

In the realm of furniture design, where artistry and craftsmanship merge, there is a quiet visionary who not only brings forth exquisite pieces, but also bridges cultures and continents. Meet Taylor Ross, the maestro behind Chronicle Home, a furniture haven using both bespoke and production methods to blend artisanal craft with modern design sensibilities.In this piece, we delve into the fascinating world of a man who thrives on the delicate dance between cultures, languages, and craft.Creating Furniture with Heart and SoulAt the heart of Chronicle Home lies a passion for the design of furniture that transcends mere utility. Ross, the founder and creative force behind the brand, brings a unique blend of artistry and technical prowess to every project. His designs aren’t just his designs; different artisans on different continents originate each piece. Each one participates in the design process and reaps financial rewards from sales as well. Only a few of the main designs of C...