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Parents Bill of Rights: 5 things to know about the House GOP's legislation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

The Parents Bill of Rights was passed in the House on Friday in an educational policy win for Republicans that has gained steam at the state level.The legislation was introduced by Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) and approved in a largely party-line vote, as Republicans argue parents deserve more transparency from their schools and more of a say in what their children are taught.Democrats, who dubbed the legislation the “Politics Over Parents Act,” argue the bill does nothing to increase parental engagement in their children’s education and overburdens schools. It is unlikely to get any serious attention in a Democrat-controlled Senate, but the bill will most certainly be used by the GOP to attack Democrats, using the message that Democrats do not want parents involved in their children’s education. Here are five things to know about the Parents Bill of Rights, what it does and what it signifies:  Increases transparency in school curriculumOne of the bill's main goals ...

Bi-State plans to expand MetroLink line in St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners approved a resolution and memorandum of understanding with the City of St. Louis on Friday to plan, design, and construct the Jefferson Alignment Metrolink Expansion.“What a great milestone, and the city is on board, and under the leadership of Mayor Jones, we’re looking at the Jefferson Alignment for expanding MetroLink,” said Taulby Roach, president, and CEO of Bi-State Development.The federal government's New Starts program funds capital transit projects such as the Jefferson Alignment Metrolink Expansion with up to $4.6 billion per year. Top Stories: St. Louis lauds female firefighters, but denies promotions Bi-State and the city will apply for funds, with 40% of the project paid for locally.“The public has already voted in a self-taxing initiative in the city and county to expand MetroLink,” Taulby said. “We’ve been banking that money, waiting for a project like this.”For phase one, the route runs from Chippewa to th...

Rockies spring training report: German Marquez named opening day starter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

Germán Márquez stuck a “feather in his cap” and then went out and mowed down the Brewers Friday afternoon.The Rockies’ veteran right-hander was informed by manager Bud Black that he will pitch on opening day against the Padres on Thursday at San Diego. It will be his third start on opening day, the most in franchise history.“It means a lot to me,” Márquez told reporters at spring training. “I’ve been working really hard. I’m so happy and I’m excited to be pitching the first game.”Lefty Kyle Freeland, a Denver native, will pitch Game 2 vs. the Padres and then start the home opener against the Nationals on April 6 at Coors Field.Black, who believes Márquez is primed for a comeback season, knows that pitching the opener is a big deal.“It’s a great feather in the cap to be named the opening-day starter,” Black told reporters at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, Ariz.Márquez celebrated by dominating the Brewers ...

LAUSD reaches historic deal, meets demands of union workers following 3-day strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

A tentative deal was reached Friday to end a labor dispute involving the Los Angeles Unified School District and tens of thousands of union workers who staged a three-day strike this week, the district announced.The deal includes a 30% pay increase that Local 99 of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had been seeking and a vast expansion of benefits including: -$2 per hour increase for all employees effective January 1, 2024-6% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2021-7% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2022-7% ongoing wage increase effective July 1, 2023-Members working at least part-time (four days or more) or more will receive fully paid healthcare benefits along with their dependents.-$1,000 bonus for current employees with the district from 2020-21 "during adverse circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."-Raise the minimum wage to $22.52 an hour-Increase hours and compensation for paraprofessionals serving students with special needs-Invest $...

How Gary Payton II can change the Warriors’ entire defense for the better

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

Gary Payton II’s imminent return could turn the Warriors back into a defensive juggernaut just in time for the playoff push.Can one player change an entire defense? In Payton’s case, yes.“We all know what GP is capable of on the defensive end,” Draymond Green said on his podcast last February. “Can plug GP right in, and he knows the system like the back of his hand.”The 30-year-old will practice Saturday and could make his Warriors debut this season for Sunday’s pivotal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, his first action since Golden State conducted a complex four-team trade to acquire him from Portland at this year’s deadline. The trade nearly fell through as the Warriors training staff discovered during his physical that Payton was dealing with core soreness after an offseason surgery.But there’s a reason the Warriors opted to trade their No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman for Payton — a league misfit re-cast as an essentia...

49ers tap into Panthers pipeline for kicker to replace Robbie Gould

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

SANTA CLARA — And here’s the kicker: Zane Gonzalez, Robbie Gould’s apparent successor with the 49ers.The 49ers ushered out Gould’s six-year tenure Friday by trading for Gonzalez from the Carolina Panthers, a franchise that has offered them a pipeline of talent since last October.Preceding Gonzalez on the cross-country move: running back Christian McCaffrey in last October’s trade, new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks in January, and quarterback Sam Darnold and cornerback Myles Hartsfield in free agency.Unlike the midseason trade for McCaffrey that cost the 49ers a haul of draft picks (including 2023 second-, third- and fourth-round spots), Gonzalez was acquired on the cheap, for a conditional swap of late-round pick in the 2025 draft, the 49ers announced.Gonzalez, who must still pass a physical to complete the trade, was deemed expendable once the Panthers signed Eddie Pineiro to a two-year deal Thursday.FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 19: Zan...

Major Danville thoroughfare closed for weeks; traffic delays expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

DANVILLE — A stretch of one of this town’s major thoroughfares closed Thursday and will remain blocked for several weeks as crews work to replace a damaged drainage culvert.The closure of Diablo Road, from Alameda Diablo to Avenida Diablo, is expected to cause significant disruption to daily commutes. Only school buses and emergency vehicles will be allowed on the road that connects Diablo and Blackhawk residents to Interstate 680.The Diablo Community Services District intends to close the intersection of Avenida Nueva at Diablo Road to replace the outdated drainage culvert just east of Alameda Diablo.Engineers inspected the culvert pipe in January and found it to be flattening, causing slope erosion and a dip on the surface of the road. The current culvert pipe has reached the end of its 60-year life expectancy and has been heavily damaged by winter storms, officials said.The project will involve digging up Diablo Road, constructing a new culvert onsite and installing it. Tha...

What’s with all this talk about firing squads?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

By Michael Tarm | Associated PressCHICAGO — The image of gunmen in a row firing in unison at a condemned prisoner may conjure up a bygone, less enlightened era.But the idea of using firing squads is making a comeback. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill this week seeking to add the state to the list of those authorizing firing squads, which currently includes Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma and South Carolina.Fresh interest comes as states scramble for alternatives to lethal injections after pharmaceutical companies barred the use of their drugs.Some, including a few Supreme Court justices, view firing squads as less cruel than lethal injections, despite the violence involved in riddling bodies with bullets. Others say it’s not so cut-and-dry, or that there are other factors to consider.A look at the status of firing squads in the United States:WHEN WAS THE LAST EXECUTION BY FIRING SQUAD?Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed at Utah State Prison on June 18, 2010, for killing an attorney durin...

Proposal to ban ghost guns to be introduced at Capitol

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Law enforcement sources confirmed with FOX31 a ghost gun was found near the body of Austin Lyle.Sources also confirmed a ghost rifle was found in his home by police when he was 16 years old. Lawmakers say they want to crack down on the so-called ghost guns so we don't see more incidents involving them.The bill has not been introduced yet, but it is something lawmakers have been working on for a while, hoping this lessens and helps trace crime.State lawmakers are getting ready to introduce a measure that would make creating and possessing ghost guns illegal."Ghost guns are un-serialized firearms. Basically, what that means is that you can print or buy a kit of a ghost gun without going to an official store that has the regulations associated with a gun," said state Senator Rhonda Fields. "This is real, this is relevant and we in the State of Colorado have an opportunity to address it." Hundreds of students, teachers gather outside state Capitol Fields, who is spons...

Miami beats No. 1 seed Houston; all four top NCAA seeds out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:10 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nijel Pack and Miami hit shots from near and far against the stingiest defense in the country to beat Houston 89-75 on Friday night in the Sweet 16, leaving the NCAA Tournament without a single No. 1 seed among its final eight teams for the first time since seeding began in 1979.Miami (28-7), only the fifth team this season to score at least 70 points against Houston (33-4), will play second-seeded Texas or No. 3 seed Xavier in the Midwest Region final for the chance to go to the Final Four.About 30 minutes before Houston’s loss, top overall seed San Diego State fell to Alabama in Louisville, Kentucky. Fellow No. 1 seeds Purdue and Kansas lost during the tournament’s first weekend.The fifth-seeded Hurricanes reached a regional final for the second straight year just a few hours after Miami’s ninth-seeded women’s team hung on to beat Villanova and advance to the Elite Eight for the first time. Miami and UConn are the only schools with teams remaini...