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Facing mounting challenges, schools embrace the 4-day week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

(The Hill) — Hundreds of U.S. school districts have sought to combat the teacher shortage and raise the quality of life for their students and faculty by making a big change: a four-day week. The trend of a four-day week has been rising among American companies and schools since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many finding benefits to having an extra day off. In schools, most students and teachers are getting Friday or Monday off while having slightly longer school days the rest of the week to make up for the missing day. “The number of school districts with a four-day school week has increased to about 850 districts nationally. Two years ago, it was around 650, so it's going up” said Aaron Pallas, professor of sociology and education at Teachers College for Columbia University. The trend toward four-day school weeks is in part a response to multiple educational issues that flared up during the pandemic, including teacher retention and absenteeism. 32-hour ...

Smoked sausage product, chicken strip meal recalled due to possible 'contamination'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

(WHTM/NEXSTAR) — Thousands of pounds of smoked sausage products and frozen chicken strip entrees are being recalled over concerns that they may be contaminated with foreign matter.According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Hillshire Brands is recalling approximately 15,876 pounds of blended meat and poultry smoked sausage products for potential contamination. The problem was discovered when the company received consumer complaints about bone fragments in the product. Cause of death revealed for ‘Margaritaville’ singer Jimmy Buffett One person reported suffering an oral injury after consuming the smoked sausage. Federal regulators are concerned that some products may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers.The affected product — 14-ounce Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage made with pork, turkey, and beef — was sold in California, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The packaging of a recalled Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage made ...

Stillwater prison on emergency lockdown after 100 inmates refuse to return to cells

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

The Stillwater prison was placed on emergency lockdown Sunday after about 100 prisoners in a living unit declined to return to their cells, authorities said.It’s not yet clear why the inmates are refusing orders, according to a Minnesota Department of Corrections press release. No injuries have been reported.Staff have been removed from the housing unit’s common areas at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater.Two correctional officers are safe in the unit’s secure control area and “in communication with facility command personnel,” the press release said.The department said it has activated a crisis negotiation team and deployed a special operations response team “out of an abundance of caution.”Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Man shot to death and found lying outdoors in Frogtown early Sunday Crime & Public Safety | Hastings man dies in car crash on Highway 55 Friday night Crime & ...

Americans have long wanted the perfect endless summer. Jimmy Buffett offered them one.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

It seemed wistfully appropriate, somehow, that news of Jimmy Buffett’s death emerged at the beginning of the Labor Day weekend, the demarcation point of every American summer’s symbolic end. Because for so many, the 76-year-old Buffett embodied something they held onto ever so tightly as the world grew ever more complex: the promise of an eternal summer of sand, sun, blue salt water and gentle tropical winds.He was the man whose studied devil-may-care attitude became a lifestyle and a multimillion-dollar business — a connecting filament between the suburbs and the Florida Keys and, beyond them, the Caribbean. From Margaritaville to the unspecified tropical paradise where he just wanted to eat cheeseburgers (“that American creation on which I feed”), he became a life’s-a-beach avatar for anyone working for the weekend and hoping to unplug — even in the decades before “unplugging” became a thing.“It’s important to have as much fun as possible while we’re here. It balances out the time...

Gent’s Barb Company partners with others to give free school supplies in Cohoes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) — School supplies and haircuts are among the many expenses families worry about since everything can cost hundreds of dollars per student. That’s why Anthony Weils, a barber at Gent’s Barber Company in Cohoes, decided to partner with other businesses in the area to help.“To give back to the community and the kids,” he said. “It’s the next generation coming up, so we need them to be ready for the future. We wanted them to go back to school with a fresh haircut and all of their supplies.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Owner of the barber shop, Sean Quell, said that families were able to grab some food while also making sure each child was all set with their supplies and new look.“Just seeing the smiles on the kids. And the excitement from the parents is just fantastic,” Quell said.And Coyle and Rich Manziello attended the event with their son. But they also wanted to make a donation to help the cause.“We just broug...

Police investigating vandalism at Hoosac Valley High School

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

CHESHIRE, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The Cheshire Police Department is attempting to identify the suspect of an act of vandalism. The incident took place at Hoosac Valley High School on September 1. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to police, a vehicle was caught on security cameras in the process of "blowing donuts" in the school's parking lot between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday night. Police stated the vehicle caused an estimated $3,000 to $5,000 in damages to the property, and that the car itself will most likely have been damaged extensively as well. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cheshire Police Department at (413)743-1501.

California lawmakers still need to decide on these bills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

Like school-aged children nationwide, lawmakers too are returning in Sacramento, though they are coming back to work to debate multiple bills, including high-profile ones like the so-called “Skittles ban.”Here is a collection of some bills lawmakers must decide on before sending some off to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. California bill aims to limit renters’ security deposits “Skittles ban”Introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), AB 418 proposes that California stop allowing the manufacture, sale and distribution of foods that contain Red Dye No. 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben.The bill would ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales candy, Dubble Bubble Twist Gum and other food items the sponsor says contain potentially dangerous and toxic chemicals.The bill passed the California State Assembly in May and was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee in July.California Student Teacher Support Grant ProgramThe bill, ...

Walmart in Aurora evacuated after threat, man arrested: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Walmart location in Aurora was evacuated Sunday morning after a man allegedly threatened to shoot up the store. The store, a Walmart Neighborhood Market, is located in the 10400 block of East Colfax Avenue. The evacuation began just after 9 a.m.Police said a man bought something at the store on Saturday. He allegedly didn't get a receipt for it but felt he'd been overcharged. He got into an argument with store management about it.Police told FOX31 the man threatened to come back and shoot up the store.He had another verbal argument with store management after returning Sunday and allegedly made another threat to shoot up the store. Deputies in Douglas County investigating robbery and kidnapping Police told FOX31 that management evacuated customers and sent employees to a secure location inside the store as a precaution.The man ended up leaving and was found at a nearby bus stop by police around 9:12 a.m. He allegedly had an active warrant for an unrelated charge...

Man killed in Dorchester shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

One man died from a gunshot wound in Dorchester late Saturday night, Boston police reported Sunday.Around 11:40 p.m. Saturday, the department said, officers responded to a report of a person shot at Old Road and Michigan Avenue in Dorchester.At the scene, cops found an adult man suffering from gunshot wounds, BPD stated. The man was taken by Boston EMS to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.The victim’s identity was not released immediately on Sunday.The incident is being investigated by the Boston Police Department’s Homicide Unit. In a release Sunday, the department urged anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470 or text or call the anonymous CrimeStoppers Tip Line.“The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner,” BPD said.The shooting follows a mass shooting which injured eight people and a sweep of gun arrests at the Car...

Orioles activate Jorge López amid roster moves: Aaron Hicks returns, Austin Voth DFA’d, Colton Cowser optioned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:57 GMT

Jorge López is back.The Orioles on Sunday activated the 2022 All-Star reliever after claiming him off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Saturday.López joins a bullpen in need of high-leverage arms, and the right-hander could use a change of scenery after struggling with the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins this season. The right-hander saved 19 games with a 1.68 ERA before the Orioles traded him to the Twins last August. However, if he does return to form with Baltimore, he is not able eligible to pitch in the postseason because he was not in the organization before Sept. 1.López’s activation came amid a series of roster moves before Sunday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Reliever Austin Voth was designated for assignment to make room for López on the 28-man roster. Outfielder Aaron Hick was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a lower back injury, and outfield prospect Colton Cowser was optioned to Triple-A...