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LGBTQ+ kids, students of color feel less safe at school amid conservative restrictions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The first encounter with racism that Harmony Kennedy can remember came in elementary school. On a playground, a girl picked up a leaf and said she wanted to “clean the dirt” from Harmony’s skin.In sixth grade, a boy dropped trash on the floor and told her to pick it up, “because you’re a slave.” She was stunned — no one had ever said anything like that to her before.As protests for racial justice broke out in 2020, white students at her Tennessee high school kneeled in the hallways and chanted, “Black lives matter!” in mocking tones. As she saw the students receive light punishments, she grew increasingly frustrated.So when Tennessee began passing legislation that could limit the discussion and teaching of Black history, gender identity and race in the classroom, to Harmony, it felt like a gut punch — as if the adults were signaling this kind of ignorant behavior was acceptable.“When I heard they were removing African American history, banning LGBTQ, I almo...

Why are teens spending less time than ever with friends?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

(The Hill) -- America’s teenagers are seeing a lot less of one another. The share of high school seniors who gathered with friends in person “almost every day” dropped from 44 percent in 2010 to 32 percent in 2022, according to Monitoring the Future, a national survey of adolescents. Social outings for the typical eighth grader dwindled from about 2 1/2 a week in 2000 to 1 1/2 in 2021. The nation’s teens have traded face time for Facetime. Adolescents are spending less time gathering in shopping malls, movie theaters and rec rooms, and more time connecting on Instagram, TikTok and Discord.  Some researchers see the retreat from social gatherings as key to explaining the wave of adolescent ennui that is sweeping the nation. Numerous studies have tracked rising rates of loneliness among adolescents before, during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness epidemic. And loneliness presages depression and other...

Squirrels costing WilCo at least half a million dollars in damage

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Williamson county Judge Bill Gravell said he has a new political foe during a May 23 county commissioners court meeting: squirrels. The bushy-tailed rodents have cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars recently and Gravell thinks it could be even more than they think. "I'm not joking, commissioners," Gravell said during the meeting. "There's no telling how much money we've spent on squirrels." A county spokesperson said squirrels grounded out a electrical pole transformer in Georgetown. The resulting power outage caused the county's Justice Center building to operate on two-thirds power, which eventually damaged two of the four chillers that regulate the building's temperature. The damage was so extensive that it was going to be cheaper to replace the two chillers rather than fix them, according to the county spokesperson. Costly damage To replace the two chillers, it will cost the county $400,000, and the new chillers are not going to be ...

5 things to know this Wednesday, June 7

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- We're halfway there. Happy Wednesday everyone! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect more or less the same as we got yesterday. Another thick layer of smoke will seep south around mid-day. However, the thickest smoke will be in Central New York and in the mid-Hudson Valley. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Many woke up to see and smell the smoky haze coating the Capital Region. Wildfires in Canada led to poor air quality in the area. Meanwhile, a suspected arsonist told police he started a string of small fires in Colonie over the last couple of weeks and according to police documents, he did it for fun. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Wednesday morning. 1. Canadian wildfires bring smoky haze to Capital RegionOn Tuesday, many woke up to a smoky haze around the Capital Region, with wildfires in Canada leading to an air quality alert.2. Self-admitte...

11-acre wildfire in Johnsburg contained in 3 days

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

JOHNSBURG, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An 11-acre wildfire that started on Friday was successfully contained on Monday in Johnsburg. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says the fire was between Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest and adjacent private land. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Forest Rangers were asked to assist on June 2 at 9:26 p.m. on Waddell Road. According to the DEC, due to steep terrain, an indirect attack and burnout operations were executed to mitigate threats and contain the fire. On June 5, around 4:48 p.m., the fire was fully contained. The DEC says the fire is believed to have started due to a lightning strike.

Multiple crews respond to church fire in Soulard

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A historic church in Soulard burned overnight.Bethlehem Mission Church on the Gravois and Allen Avenues is pretty damaged here Wednesday morning, but the fire chief says structurally it's okay. However, the inside is heavily damaged.It started around 10:30 p.m. There was heavy smoke when crews arrived. People who live on this block were shocked to see all the smoke billowing out of the historic building. As soon as the first crews arrived, the chief said they went in, which allowed more air to get inside, and then the fire really took off - leading to more crews arriving to help. Missouri governor denies clemency for man facing execution today In total, it took about 60 firefighters to get the fire under control. They were working with three ladder trucks and one deck gun. The building is three stories, and there's a lot of wood inside.Chief Dennis Jenkerson shared that the fire was heaviest on the first and second floors., and there's a parsonage attached on the other...

Man shot and killed at Soulard Bar and Grill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Tragedy overnight in Soulard after a man is found shot and killed near a popular landmark. The crime scene unfolded in the parked lot just outside the 'Bottom Line Sports Bar and Grill' on South 7th Street and Broadway right across the street from the Soulard Farmers Market. Police got the call just after 12:30 a.m.Authorities told FOX 2 when officers arrived they found the victim shot in the parking lot. At this point, it's unclear how many times the man was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Missouri governor denies clemency for man facing execution today Police have not yet released the name or the age of the man who was killed. They do explain that he was an adult.It's understood multiple loved ones of the victims showed at the scene after learning about what happened. Right now, police are trying to piece together the facts of what led to the shooting. Authorities also shared that at this point no suspects are in custody. Homicide detectives have taken ov...

St. Louis Walk of Fame voting underway until June 20

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Voting for the 2024 St. Louis Walk of Fame is underway until June 20.There are 120 members on the selection committee who will choose the next three recipients with a St. Louis connection in fields like music, acting, entertainment, sports, and science. The three winners will each receive a bronze star along Delmar Boulevard in University City. Free Trip Tuesday heads to Giant City State Park with Shawnee Forest Country! Among this year's 16 nominees are actress Jenna Fischer, The Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards, 'Back to The Future' writer and producer Bob Gale, and NASA Apollo flight director Gene Kranz.The St. Louis Walk of Fame was founded in 1988 to showcase great St. Louisans.

Memorial in honor of restaurant owner shot and killed in May taking place tonight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A memorial is being held Wednesday night for a restaurant owner shot and killed last month.Fa Ming Pan, known to friends as Randy, was the owner of 'St. Louis Kitchen' in north St. Louis. Back in May, someone opened fire at the Chinese restaurant. Randy died after being shot in the stomach. Free Trip Tuesday heads to Giant City State Park with Shawnee Forest Country! The memorial is at 6:00 p.m. at St. Louis kitchen on North Kingshighway Boulevard.

Rockies Mailbag: GM Dayton Moore to Colorado? What can Nuggets teach the Rox?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:15 GMT

Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.I read recently in a national writer’s notes column that the Rockies are supposedly talking to Dayton Moore, the longtime Royals front office executive, about a role with the team. Do you see something like that happening, whether with Moore or someone else? If so, what role would you guess that person would have? Adviser, or maybe president of baseball operations?— Dave, Fort CollinsDave, I checked out the column you are referring to by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman is well-connected, especially to super agent Scott Boras. So I imagine he didn’t write his tidbit without some degree of validity behind it.However, I’m skeptical. Moore did not return my text, and when I asked Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt if the club is interested in bringing Moore into the front office, Sch...