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How an app is helping Alexandria address absenteeism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

Alexandria City Public Schools is using an app to notify parents in the Virginia school system when their students aren’t in class.The app, called ParentSquare, sends families three notifications a day if their student is absent. Seventy percent of families have a registered ParentSquare account, school system spokeswoman Julia Burgos said in a statement, but all families get the notifications regardless of whether they use the app.Use of the app is a part of the school district’s plan to combat a rise in chronic absenteeism — the number of students who miss 10% or more of required school days. In Alexandria, over 2,500 students (16%) were chronically absent last year, according to the latest state data.“It makes communication very easy between the school staff and the family,” said Hope Murphy, Alexandria’s attendance and truancy outreach specialist. “When school staff send a text, it is received in the family’s language. And when they respond, they can respond in their language.”A...

Today in History: October 21, Thomas Edison perfects a workable electric light

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

Today in History Today is Sunday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2023. There are 71 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 21, 1879, Thomas Edison perfected a workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J. On this date: In 1797, the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as “Old Ironsides,” was christened in Boston’s harbor. In 1805, a British fleet commanded by Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French-Spanish fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar; Nelson, however, was killed. In 1917, legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. In 1944, during World War II, U.S. troops captured the German city of Aachen (AH’-kuhn). In 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon clashed in their fourth and final presidential debate in New York.In 1966, 144 people, 116 of them children, were killed when a coal waste landslide engulfed a school and some 20 houses in Aberfan, Wales.In 1971, President Richard Nixon nominated...

9 Salmonella cases reported from raw milk in San Diego County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Nine people in San Diego County have fallen ill to Salmonella bacteria linked to unpasteurized or "raw" milk or milk products from a producer in Fresno, California, local health officials said.The nine cases, which started in late September, range in age from 1 to 41 years old, the County of San Diego stated on its website Friday. Three of the cases resulted in child hospitalizations.Anyone who may have recently purchased Raw Farm LLC raw milk or milk products is urged to not consume the product and discard it, the county advises. All of the cases reported consuming the aforementioned products prior to becoming sick.“The County recommends that people who have products from this company in their homes dispose of them immediately,” said Dr. Seema Shah, medical director of the County’s Epidemiology & Immunization Services Branch. “It’s also important for anyone sick to seek medical care. People who are ill, and those that live with them, should wash their hands frequen...

Man suspected of arson at Hillcrest LGBTQ+ bar arrested

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man suspected of arson was arrested after the outside awnings of a Hillcrest LGBTQ+ bar caught fire overnight on Friday.Police identified Ryan Habrel, 38, as a suspect in the case. He was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of arson to a commercial structure and the use of an accelerant, authorities said.Around 12:30 a.m., San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were alerted to the fire at Gossip Grill, located at 1220 University Ave. The nightclub is the sole bar in the county that puts queer and transgender women at the center of its business.According to SDFD, firefighters were able to knock down the flames in about nine minutes, confining the damage to the exterior structures. The interior of the restaurant and surrounding businesses were unimpacted by the blaze. The damage of the fire caused $10,000 in damage, Lt. Adam Sharki with the San Diego Police Department said in a news release Friday. Ocean Beach Pier closed due to high surf No injuries were reported to staf...

India conducts space flight test ahead of planned mission to take astronauts into space in 2025

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India successfully carried out Saturday the first of a series of key test flights after overcoming a technical glitch ahead of its planned mission to take astronauts into space by 2025, the space agency said.The test involved launching a module to outer space and bringing it back to earth to test the spacecraft’s crew escape system, said the Indian Space Research Organization chief S. Somanath, and was being recovered after its touchdown in the Bay of Bengal. The launch was delayed by 45 minutes in the morning because of weather conditions. The attempt was again deferred by more than an hour because of an issue with the engine, and the ground computer put the module’s lift-off on hold, said Somanath.The glitch caused by a monitoring anomaly in the system was rectified and the test was carried out successfully 75 minutes later from the Sriharikota satellite launching station in southern India, Somanath told reporters.It would pave the way for other unmanned mis...

Appeasement policy costs lives

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

The recent outbreak of war in the Middle East, resulting in over 3,000 deaths, was triggered by the 7 October attack, and its consequences. The conflict has led to more than 1,000 deaths in Israel and over 2,000 deaths in Palestine, with no clear end in sight. In addition, the recent terrorist attack in Brussels rings the bell of the new situation that need our maximum attention to overcome the current conditions. It is essential to examine how we arrived at this point and consider ways to preserve peace and security in the region and stop terrorism in Europe. The "appeasement policy" of Western nations, particularly toward Iran, has played a significant role in these unfortunate events, writes Ali Bagheri Ph.D, Researcher in Thomas More University of Applied Science, Activist for human rights and democracy in Iran.The global landscapeAmid the ongoing international conflicts, the failure of Russia in its war against Ukraine , the sunset of the Iran Nuclear Deal, peace negotiations b...

2 people found dead in North Hollywood

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a possible murder-suicide in North Hollywood Friday evening.Police responded to the 6500 block of Riverton Avenue around 7:45 p.m. for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and shots fired.Upon arrival, officers discovered a 48-year-old female victim dead from multiple gunshot wounds. A 46-year-old male was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound nearby, police said.No further information was immediately available. This deadly shooting comes just days after three people were shot and killed in front of taco restaurant in North Hollywood.The suspects in that deadly shooting have not yet been apprehended, police said.

Garden Grove man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting underage girl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

A Garden Grove man was arrested on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting an underage girl after contacting her through social media. According to a Garden Grove Police department news release, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Eric Andrew Carino, requested to meet the underage victim in person to engage in sexual relations, and she initially agreed. Upon meeting, the young girl changed her mind and requested Carino take her home. Carino ignored the victim’s request and instead took her to his home and sexually assaulted her.  After assaulting her, Carino drove her back home and immediately blocked her on social media. During an investigation, the young girl was able to identify Carino as the man who sexually assaulted her. Police also linked Carino to an additional 2021 sexual assault case from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was arrested on sexual assault charges.

The top 10 most expensive home sales in Palo Alto, reported the week of Oct. 9

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

A house that sold for $7.2 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Palo Alto in the past week.In total, 11 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $3.5 million. The average price per square foot was $1,819.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Oct. 9 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $2.3 million, single-family home in the 2300 block of Princeton StreetA sale has been finalized for the single-family home in the 2300 block of Princeton Street in Palo Alto. The price was $2,300,000 and the new owners took over the house in September. The house was built in 1938 and the living area totals 882 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $2,608. The house features two bedrooms and one bathrooms.Princeton Street9. $2.5 million, single-family house in the 3400 block of Park Blvd.The 1,992 square-foot si...

Unbeaten New Zealand and India meet at scenic Dharamsala in Cricket World Cup on Sunday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:00 GMT

Over the past week, the Indian city of Dharamsala received the season’s first snowfall. As television cameras pan out behind the stadium, the Himalayan mountaintops are noticeable in their pristine white glory.Temperatures are set to rise on Sunday, though, when the only two unbeaten teams at the Cricket World Cup meet. New Zealand and hosts India are 4-0 in the tournament, although the 2019 runners-up New Zealander lead on net run rate.New Zealand began its tournament by beating defending champions England by nine wickets, and then made easy work of the Netherlands (by 99 runs), Bangladesh (by eight wickets) and Afghanistan (by 149 runs).Those last three wins have come at a canter for the Black Caps, and were never in doubt. The tougher part of their league campaign begins on Sunday, against two-time champions India, followed by Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.“We don’t want to read too much into it (the tougher schedule ahead). Every team in this tournament can win...