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Education officials advance plan to prioritize chronic absenteeism, get students back in class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

As unprecedented pandemic-era spikes in absenteeism linger in schools around the state, Education Department officials are looking to redirect district accountability measures, pour in funds and move the issue to the front of the line.“I am considering proposing increasing the weight of chronic absenteeism in the district and school accountability system to highlight the importance and urgency of the issue,” said Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley at Tuesday’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting. “At the same time, we believe in kind of reciprocal accountability. And we want to make sure that we put out grants and offer the technical assistance — like webinars and other things — to support our districts as they better engage our families.“This is not about ‘gotcha’ or blame in any way, shape or form,” Riley continued. “This is about an educational community, focusing on an issue that is germane to al...

Picking through my awkward vinyl past with Jeff Tweedy, whose new book is ‘World Within a Song’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

Christopher Borrelli | (TNS) Chicago TribuneThe road manager for Jeff Tweedy looked at me as if he were being solicited at the airport. Or rather, it was a look I’m guessing he reserves for those times when someone thinks of him as a conduit for getting a band’s demo into Wilco’s hands. Wary — that’s the word I’m thinking of. He is good at his job, and I know because he appeared deeply exhausted by me and my idea. I had a high concept for my conversation with Tweedy, I explained, and that’s why I’m carrying my record collection in a plastic crate from Target.He shrugged. My funeral.“‘High concept,’” Tweedy said, suddenly at my side, staring at the record bin.We walked down into the concrete bunker of a green room beneath the Athenaeum Center, a few hours before Tweedy began a short tour for his new book, “World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music.” The book is a funny, generous installment of a pretty smart trend in music autobiographies: Rather ...

Baltimore TV producer’s ‘So Fly Christmas’ launches holiday movie streaming on BET+

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

Thanksgiving launches the season of cookie baking, family gathering and holiday movie streaming.So while there is a triple-header of NFL football set for Thanksgiving Day from noon to night, there’s also a slate of holiday films — mostly romantic comedies of the Hallmark movie persuasion.On BET+, this year’s lineup of 12 holiday titles to stream includes romance, action, comedies and musical drama. It will also include the work of a Baltimore TV producer.“So Fly Christmas,” which begins streaming Thursday on the subscription service, stars Tichina Arnold, of the CBS hit “The Neighborhood;” Tami Roman; Jackee Harry; and Robert Christopher Riley, and is produced by Marc Johnson, a Baltimore native and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute graduate.“It’s a Christmas film, a romantic comedy set during the holiday season,” Johnson said about the film. Its plot includes two friends making a pact to swear off love after one of them is s...

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown shows playmaking growth in win over Bucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

With under one minute left in the third quarter of the Celtics’ victory over the Bucks on Wednesday night, Jaylen Brown found himself with the ball in the open floor with Sam Hauser. They had a 2-on-1 transition chance against Pat Connaughton. What happened next, to put it lightly, was unexpected.“We locked eyes and I said (expletive) it,” Brown said.Brown threw a lob to Hauser, who grabbed it cleanly and finished a two-handed alley-oop. The Celtics bench, especially Luke Kornet, went bonkers. Brown stopped and let out a celebratory scream to Hauser, who raised the roof with two hands as he backpedaled back on defense.““Sometimes you’ve gotta switch it up a bit,” Brown said. “It’s a long season. We’re going to have a lot of different looks.”The play was the highlight of a breakout night for Brown, who bounced back from two consecutive subpar games to have his best performance of the season in Wednesday’s win. He had 26 points and added a season-high eight assists in an all-around ef...

Newburyport ground attack too much for Amesbury, 44-26

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

AMESBURY – Complete with throwback uniforms and packed stands on both sides of historic Landry Stadium, the 100th Thanksgiving feast between archrivals Amesbury and Newburyport lived up to the billing.Unfortunately for the hosts, Newburyport’s vaunted running game also lived up to the hype as the Clippers posted six rushing touchdowns, four by senior Kane Brennan, to capture the highly anticipated showdown, 44-26.“You could just feel it in the air during the warmups,” said Newburyport coach Brian Smolski, whose family tree dates back to his grandfather have played in this storied rivalry, which dates back to 1891. “There’s no rivalry like Amesbury and Newburyport.”Up by just 10 with three minutes to go and facing a critical third down on his own 46, Brennan followed a crushing lead block from Angus Webster and sprinted down the Amesbury sidelines for the clincher for the Clippers (9-2), who now lead the all-time series 53-41-6.“The last two years we lost to Amesbury and most of the ...

Thanksgiving meal served at Pine Street Inn ‘bittersweet’ amidst rise in need

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

It took 120 turkeys, 280 gallons of cranberry sauce, a 1,000 pounds of peeled and mashed potatoes, 580 pounds of mixed vegetables, 500 gallons of gravy, and hundreds of pies to make Thanksgiving dinner for the thousands gathered who gathered for a feast at the Pine Street Inn.The annual event draws community leaders and celebrities alike to lend a hand, and provides a traditional Thanksgiving meal for 2,000 people who otherwise do not have a place to go, Pine Street President and Executive Director Lyndia Downie said.The meal is also a yearly reminder that, for some, the holiday season’s arrival cannot be met with celebration.“It’s a really bittersweet day here, especially in the shelter,” Downie said.For the millions of Americans gathering with family across the country, and the 940 people the Pine Street Inn has helped into housing, Downie said, this season should be something to celebrate: a roof over their heads and a place to make their dinner alongside loved ones.“But I would ...

How are freeway exits numbered in California and why?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- The determining factor for freeway exit numbering in the state of California may surprise you.Drivers are aware that each freeway exit is numbered, but is there a system behind each designation? The short answer is "yes."As explained by the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, there are several reasons why transportation officials decided to start numbering freeway exits back in 2002. Take this as a sign, head to the slopes at Big Bear Mountain (share with your shred pal) The California Numbered Exit Uniform System, otherwise known as Cal-NExUS, was created for the following key reasons: to help travelers navigate unfamiliar areas, determine distances, and track travel mileage. These numbered exit signs, which are designed to be visible at night, are meant to increase highway safety, said Caltrans.So, what do the freeway exit numbers stand for? Exits are numbered from south to north on north-south routes and west to east on east-west ro...

Man, 64, faces another charge in sexual assault at Toronto’s Canadian human rights organization

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

A man arrested as part of a sexual assault investigation in March is facing an additional charge after another victim alleged they, too, were assaulted at the Canadian Human Rights International Organization (CHRIO).Toronto police said the suspect sexually assaulted a woman between February 25, 2023, and March 1, 2023, during meetings at the organization, which is located on Finch Avenue West near Keele Street.On March 9, authorities charged 64-year-old Jose Mario Guilombo with five counts of sexual assault and two counts of forcible confinement. He appeared in court that same day.Police said on November 20, 2023, another victim came forward.It’s alleged that between September 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021, a woman attended CHRIO, where she was sexually assaulted by the accused.On Wednesday, Guilombo was charged with an additional count of sexual assault. He was slated to appear in court for that offence on Thursday.Police are concerned there may be more victims.Mario Guilom...

NextStar expects up to 900 foreign workers to help build Windsor battery plant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

WINDSOR, Ont. — NextStar Energy Inc. says it expects upwards of 900 foreign workers to help build its heavily-subsidized battery plant in Windsor, Ont.The company, joint-owned by Stellantis and South Korea-based LG Corp., says the temporary global staff will be part of the roughly 1,600 technicians its external suppliers will use to assemble, install and test specialized equipment.The estimates come a week after Windsor police posted on social media that upwards of 1,600 South Koreans would be coming to help build the plant, raising concerns from labour leaders and politicians about how many local jobs would be created by the plant.NextStar says it remains committed to creating 2,500 full-time jobs for Canadians to run the plant once complete, and that the construction company it has contracted will employ 1,600 Canadian tradespeople directly and through subcontractors.Federal Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said earlier this week that he expects the company will bring...

Man wanted for allegedly performing indecent act aboard subway train

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:50 GMT

Toronto police are searching for a man wanted in connection with an indecent act aboard a subway train earlier this month.Investigators say around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, the suspect was riding an eastbound subway from Woodbine station. He’s alleged to have performed an indecent act in front of several passengers before fleeing the scene.The suspect is described as being in his late 20s, between five-foot-nine and five-foot-10 with a slim build, chin-length hair and a short beard. The suspect was last seen leaving Woodbine station wearing a white and blue plaid shirt, grey puffy jacket tied around his waist and baggy khaki pants.