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Local school districts put teacher raises in the hands of voters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — School board trustees in Round Rock ISD and Pflugerville ISD have voted to put increased pay for teachers on the ballot in November.Both districts have called for a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) this fall. This would change how certain pennies are spent in the district.Both districts say raising pay for staff is at the heart of these elections. They said these proposals are directly related to inaction of lawmakers to increase school funding during the regular session of the Texas legislature this year. Teachers to get extra pay in Senate property tax plan According to PfISD, if the VATRE is approved, the average taxpayer's tax bill will decrease by $650 a year, if it fails the rate would decrease by $831 per year. PfISD said the VATRE would provide $10.7 million to the district."We and other districts asked for $1,000 increase in the student allotment, that did not happen. There were a couple other things added that are mandatory for us to take care of ...

Positively St. Louis: In just 6 months, NEEC supports over 600 businesses across St. Louis City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Since the ribbon cutting to open the Northside Economic Empowerment Center (NEEC) in January 2023, more than 600 St. Louis City-based businesses have received support, capacity building and workforce development. With a goal to support more than 1,000 businesses this year, the NEEC, located in the annex building of Sumner High School in North St. Louis, is funded by $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds through the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC). The NEEC is an innovative concept that provides a team of business professionals who can serve current and new business owners with hands-on support, training and business empowerment across St. Louis City.  The NEEC is a strategic, centralized center that meets businesses where they are in their journey, to provide training, digital lab, planning rooms, training and workshops and acts as a technical assistance hub for WBE/MBE contractors. Neal Richardson, CEO & President of the SLDC says the NEE...

Revving up futures: St. Louis junior racing event ignites passion for speed and STEM

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

MADISON, Ill. - It's a big racing weekend in St. Louis with the Bommarito Automotive 500. Ahead of the festivities, some high school and junior high teams took to the track to compete in the Junior 500 on Friday. The junior competition began in 2017 to give children interested in racing an opportunity they might not regularly have. Friday afternoon, local high schools and youth teams from both states of the St. Louis arrived at World Wide Technology Raceway. Around 30 students from CBC, Jennings Jr. High, St. Louis University and other school spent time on the cart tracks Friday. Deputy shot in Lincoln County; suspect found dead "This is a super super experience for them, and they get to go fast, and they like that the best," said Kim Goevert, Jennings Jr. High math teacher. " You are learning STEM, and it's very fun and kind of like learning how to drive, so you can use that later on in life," said team member Jaden Walker. With Indy car teams prepping on the field for this Sund...

Indigenous teen missing from Thornton; authorities ask for publics help locating her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

A 16-year-old Indigenous girl who was last seen in Thornton on Tuesday is missing.Dominique Brown was last seen about 9 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Grant Street and East 136th Avenue, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.She is described by CBI as 5′ 3″ tall and 115 pounds, with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black clothing, including a pulled-up hoodie.Dominique Brown, 16, was last seen in Thornton on Tuesday. If you see her, please call 911. pic.twitter.com/OnNlwaedqx— CBI (@CBI_Colorado) August 25, 2023“Dominique spent all of her life in Montana and Wyoming and is not familiar with Colorado,” the CBI said. She is a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe.Anyone who sees Dominique, or who knows of her whereabouts, is asked to call 911 or the Thornton Police Department at 720-977-5150.

Broncos reveal $100 million upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High: What’s new at the stadium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

In competition with people’s couches, flatscreen televisions and basements, Broncos team president Damani Leech knew the organization had to make a meaningful impact towards the stadium renovations so fans would continue to flock to Empower Field at Mile High on Sundays.On Friday, the team showcased stadium upgrades that were worth $100 million, the single-largest capital improvement in the stadium’s 22-year history, highlighted by a brand-new scoreboard.“It’s been exciting,” Leech said. “Over the course of the past season, when we traveled to other stadiums, you really (understood) the responsibility we have to provide a great experience for our fans.”Leech said the process started with a vision of enhancing the gameday experience from an operational and entertainment standpoint. He understands fans won’t be able to experience everything the stadium provides, but they can at least enjoy something new.Leech said “a decent chunk” of the $100 million went into the scoreboard ...

California delivering millions to accelerate process of building climate-friendly homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

California is set to spend more than $200 million to speed up the process of building environmentally friendly homes in select regions across the state.Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that the state would deliver $239 million to build 5,480 climate-friendly homes in the state, including 3,249 that are considered affordable, 2,156 that are considered "market rate" and 75 units that are earmarked for affordable homeownership.Regions to receive the statewide funding include Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Oakland, San Francisco, El Cerrito and Santa Rosa.The investment, the governor says, will spur the development of housing projects by cutting into the significant costs of "pre-development," including the expensive undertaking of setting up utilities, sidewalks, bike paths and other key infrastructure."With nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, California is jump-starting the construction of new and affordable housing throughout the state," Newsom said in a news release. "In a pos...

Long Beach man accused of posing as teen online to entice minor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

A Long Beach man has been arrested after allegedly posing as a teen to entice a minor online, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials said Friday.The incident dates back to April 10, when deputies responded to a report of online solicitation of a minor for sex.The parent of the victim discovered the inappropriate conversation and images on the victim’s phone, authorities said.The suspect, 48-year-old Alex Ronaldo, allegedly posed as a 15-year-old boy.Investigators found evidence that Ronaldo had allegedly sent the victim child porn and solicited the victim for sexual purposes.Before parents and law enforcement were involved, the suspect was allegedly making plans to meet with the victim.Ronaldo was eventually arrested and booked on suspicion of child pornography and online solicitation of minor for sexual purpose charges, officials said.“The Riverside County Sheriff Office would like to remind parents that social media and messaging apps are the most common medium used by se...

Man shot in North Hollywood; suspect at large

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

Police are searching for a suspect after a man was shot in North Hollywood on Friday afternoon.Los Angeles police responded to a shooting on the 6100 Block of Carpenter Avenue around  3:24 p.m.Arriving officers found a man with gunshot wounds at the scene. The suspect had fled the area before authorities arrived.Police were searching for a suspect after a man was shot in North Hollywood on Aug. 25, 2023. (KTLA)Police were searching for a suspect after a man was shot in North Hollywood on Aug. 25, 2023. (KTLA)The victim’s condition remains unknown. Video from the scene shows a canopy being set up as a heavy police presence surrounds the area.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Jets intercept civilian aircraft near Biden's California vacation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

A civilian pilot may have received the fright of their life on Friday morning as they violated a temporary flight restriction over Lake Tahoe due to President Biden's vacation in the area, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). At around 7:50 a.m., the civilian aircraft began its flight towards Lake Tahoe when two NORAD F-16 fighter jets and a United States Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin intercepted and escorted the aircraft out of the area. NORAD said that during the event flares were used to grab the attention of the civilian pilot. "Flares were employed with the highest regard for the safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground," NORAD wrote in a news release. Flares are designed to burn out quickly and completely before landing on the ground. "NORAD employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites and fighter aircraft to identify aircraft and determine the appropriate response," NORAD wrote in the release. "The identification and mon...

theART-Dept.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:02 GMT

theART-Dept. a new, multi-use, multimedia art gallery, storefront, and hyper-inclusive event space in West Hollywood, is emerging as a revitalizing hub for Los Angeles’ various siloed scenes, neighborhoods, “spaces,” and creative communities. Founded by Greg Bean, an entrepreneur emerging out of the Web3.0 space, and curated by Keith Botha, a South African native now living in Los Angeles. The 8748 Holloway Drive location of theART-Dept. is a three-story creative space operating near the nucleus of LA’s famous Sunset Strip. Located near the newly reinvigorated Viper Room and the latest Supreme flagship store, effectively positioning this new curatorial operation in the epicenter of West Coast retail, culture, nightlife, and progressive arts programming. The space also functions as a creative advisory platform capable of remote curation and pop-ups, as well as an online, simplified, direct-to-consumer sales platform. In addition, theART-Dept. is also a Web3.0 collective featuring ove...