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TEA report: AISD waited up to 9 months to evaluate some kids suspected of needing special needs services

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Texas Education Agency investigators allege Austin Independent School District has repeatedly missed strict state and federal deadlines on evaluating kids suspected of needing special education services, according to its final investigative report published Friday.The district is now facing state intervention in the form of a management team taking over district operations that pertain to special education. Austin ISD to discuss possible appeal of TEA conservatorship Monday night The report alleges that TEA investigators substantiated allegations submitted over the last three years showing the district has sometimes waited as long as nine months to evaluate students who needed special education evaluations.State law requires school districts to evaluate students within 45 days of parental consent.“I would tell you that as an organization we have made tremendous progress over the last several months, but it has been an ongoing challenge for this organization for yea...

Albany PD investigating threats against Hackett MS

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany police are investigating threats of violence made against one of the city's schools last week. The district superintendent said multiple threats have been made against Hackett Middle School since Friday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! All the threats were unfounded, but investigators believe they all may have been related. Superintendent John Yagielski said police executed a search warrant at a home connected with the investigation and said those responsible will face criminal charges.Investigators said the threats against Hackett were separate from swatting calls made on March 30. Law enforcement agencies received hoax calls that falsely reported a shooting at dozens of schools around the state.The search for those responsible for the hoax calls is ongoing.

Annual pinwheel planting brings awareness to child abuse

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and New York State officials are working to build awareness to protect children from mistreatment.The New York State Office of Children and Family Services held its annual pinwheel planting in Rensselaer on Monday. Pinwheels are a universal symbol of a childhood free of fear and trauma. This year's campaign focuses on strengthening and supporting families. The goal is to prevent abuse before it happens. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The shift from what we have commonly thought about as straightforward child abuse reporting to how do we support these families in real time is revelational," Prevent Child Abuse NY Exec. Dir. Tim Hathaway said.State buildings were also lit in blue Monday evening in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

RPI graduate named commander of Artemis II mission

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

HOUSTON (NEWS10) -- NASA is taking the next major step to eventually put people back on the moon. Four astronauts have been selected to man the upcoming Artemis II mission. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The team consists of three Americans and one Canadian: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The crew is set to make history. Koch and Glover will become the first woman and the first person of color to eventually step foot on the lunar surface.The Capital Region is playing a small role in the return to the moon. Wiseman, the mission's commander, is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. NASA chooses Artemis II crew to fly to the moon "He is just a marvelous person, and it is really thrilling to know he has been given this opportunity," RPI Pres. Martin Schmidt said. "Reid really personifies and embodies much of the student body here today, a huge curiosity and passion for science and e...

Animal Protective Foundation receives $68K donation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

GLENVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A local animal shelter received a record breaking donation on Monday. Capitaland Subaru presented the Animal Protective Foundation in Glenville a $68,000 donation.The money was raised during Subaru's "Share the Love" event. The company set aside a total of $400 per car sold during the event to give to their chosen non-profit. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "This represents almost a 50% increase over what they have done in the past, so it is a pretty remarkable effort for a very dedicated group of our supporters, and we are so thankful for that," APF Exec. Dir. Joe Lisella said.Since 2016, the company has contributed more than $300,000 to the shelter.

Afghanistan war veteran announces primary challenge against Santos

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan war veteran and former vice president at J.P. Morgan, announced a primary challenge against Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) on Monday, becoming the first Republican to take on the embattled congressman who has faced calls to resign.In a statement on his campaign website, Curry said he is running to “restore honesty and integrity” to the congressional representation in New York’s third congressional district, directly pointing to Santos.“From day 1 George Santos has completely violated our trust. As a result, our equities are not carried on Capitol Hill, our interest are not advocated for in the Congress and our phone calls continue to go unanswered,” Curry said. “It’s time for change, it’s time for new leadership and it’s time for a fresh face that we can actually believe in. And that’s why I’m running for Congress," he added.Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. (Annabelle Gordon)Santos has not yet said if he plans to run for reelectio...

Missouri official under fire for opposing LGBTQ+ protections

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

EFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Democrats on Monday called for the removal of the leader of the state's Human Rights Commission after he testified last week against a bill for LGBTQ+ rights.Timothy Faber, chairman of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, has “lost the trust of elected leaders," Senate Democrats wrote in a letter to Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed the fellow Republican to the commission in 2021. The commission handles cases of alleged discrimination in the state.The bill in question, brought by the state’s only openly gay senator, would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would offer protections against landlords refusing to rent to LGBTQ+ people or employers firing them. Top story: Timeline of severe weather near St. Louis Tuesday Faber testified against it last week, telling Senate committee members that “this bill cannot be separated from religion, and particularly religious liberty.”“The U.S. Constitution and the Missouri...

Officials seeking help to identify patient hospitalized for 2 weeks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

Officials at LAC+USC Medical Center are asking for the public's help to identify a woman who has been hospitalized for more than two weeks.The woman is believed to be between 55 and 60 years old and arrived at the hospital on March 20 after she was found unresponsive on the sidewalk.She's described by hospital staff as a Black woman, with coarse, shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes. She's about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing about 242 pounds with a heavy build, officials said, and she has no other "identifiable markers."Hospital workers in Los Angeles are hoping to identify this woman hospitalized since March 20, 2023. (L.A. County Department of Health Services)Due to privacy laws, the L.A. County Department of Health Services-run facility cannot provide any additional details about her condition or prognosis.Anyone with information about the woman's identity is urged to contact Jennifer Burgos, Sr., a clinical social worker with LAC+USC Medical Center Department of Social Wor...

33-year-old Simi Valley woman identified as second suspect in deadly West Hills shootout

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

A second suspect has been identified in connection with a shootout Saturday at a busy West Hills shopping center that left one person dead, and three others injured, authorities announced Monday.  The shooting happened around 3:45 p.m., with police responding to the scene on reports of gunfire exchanged involving multiple people at a shopping plaza near Fallbrook Avenue and Vanowen Street. A 45-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. A 35-year-old woman, a 35-year-old man and a 45-year-old man were hospitalized in serious or critical condition, LAPD said. After the shootout, police say 34-year-old Mark Connole of Woodland Hills, crashed his vehicle, fled the shooting and was picked up at the location by a female suspect, now identified as 33-year-old Amy Waters of Simi Valley.  “A pursuit ensued by marked police vehicles. Suspect Waters failed to pull over and violated numerous vehicle code violations putting the public at risk,” an LAPD news release ...

Disney teases live-action 'Moana' film, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson returns as Maui

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:14 GMT

A live-action remake of the animated Disney blockbuster "Moana" is in the works. CEO Bob Iger and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made the announcement during Disney’s annual shareholder’s meeting Monday. Johnson famously voiced the character of the demigod known as Maui in the 2016 movie. Auli‘i Cravalho voiced Moana in the original. She will serve as executive producer with Scott Sheldon of Flynn Picture Co.The "Black Adam" star made the announcement via a video message from the Hawaiian island of Oahu alongside his two young daughters. "Deeply humbled to announce we’re bringing the beautiful story of 'Moana' to the live-action big screen!" Johnson wrote in a caption on Instagram. "This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace, mana, and warrior strength.""I wear our culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that run...