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Missouri education board makes social-emotional learning optional amid confusion

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The state's top educators hope to curb bad behavior in the classroom by offering social-emotional learning resources for schools.For the past few months, a group of teachers, school counselors and mental health experts have been researching what would help improve student behavior in the classroom. The reason behind this study is to not only help with teacher recruitment and retention but also to have an effect on the business community.While the initial goal was to implement social-emotional learning standards statewide for all districts, the final decision of the State Board of Education on Tuesday was to instead make them optional."What we were trying to do by bringing together and unifying an approach that we all support has had the opposite effect," Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven said. "It's created a bit more divisiveness than we would like to see."But it's not only educators feeling the effects of the curren...

Man arrested after blowing up giant teddy bear

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

An exploding giant teddy bear led to the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of drugs, weapons and ammunition, police said.According to an Instagram post by the San Bernardino Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call from a local business owner who said he was told by witnesses that an explosive device had gone off in the parking lot in front of their business. The exact date or location of the incident was not released. Surveillance footage from the scene shows a man exiting his vehicle and placing the teddy bear, which contained an explosive device, next to their SUV. Security footage captures a man detonating an explosive device inside a teddy bear in San Bernardino, CA. (San Bernardino Police Department)Security footage captures a man detonating an explosive device inside a teddy bear in San Bernardino, CA. (San Bernardino Police Department)Security footage captures a man detonating an explosive device inside a teddy bear in San Bernardino, CA. (San Bernardino P...

Suspects in North Hollywood triple homicide still outstanding

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

The search for several suspects in connection with a triple fatal shooting Monday night in the parking lot of a popular Mexican restaurant in North Hollywood continues.  Calls about the shooting outside Ernie’s Taco House at the intersection of Moorpark Street and Lankershim Boulevard came in around 9:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Details are limited and it’s unclear what exactly led to the deadly shootings, but police said that three to four suspects, described only as Hispanic males dressed in black clothing, pulled up to the victims’ black Mercedes and fired several shots at the four people inside before fleeing the scene in a silver sedan.  One of the victims, identified by the L.A. County Department of the Medical Examiner, as 26-year-old Calvin Saldana, died at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was able to drive himself and two others to a hospital in Burbank where two of those victims died. Authorities did not provide any informat...

The unexpected costs of living in L.A.'s 'trendiest' neighborhoods

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

It's expensive to live in Los Angeles, but not every neighborhood is created equally.While you can find good deals in many of L.A.'s boroughs and suburbs, a handful of the "trendiest" neighborhoods are going to cost a lot, even if you manage to strike gold on the home of your dreams. While rent is more expensive in trendy neighborhoods, having an active social life is more expensive too.Looking at 14 of the "trendiest" neighborhoods in America, a new study from Architectural Digest analyzed just how much people were paying to enjoy their neighborhoods on top of monthly rent. Architectural Digest considered the cost of renting an average one-bedroom home, as well as entertainment expenses including the cost of attending events and treating oneself to semi-regular outings. "We assumed the resident would be attending an entertainment venue once a week, an art venue once a week, dining out and buying coffee five times a week, and enjoying a cocktail twice per week," the report states.Tw...

More US ships, military forces headed to Israel

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

By Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Within hours of the horrific Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needed to respond. On Tuesday, more ships and forces were heading toward Israel, and other troops in the U.S. were preparing to deploy if called on.One U.S. aircraft carrier and its strike group are already in the eastern Mediterranean and a second one has left the U.S. and is heading that way. In addition, three Marine warships are moving into the region. Scores of aircraft were dispatched to U.S. military bases around the Middle East, and American special operations forces are working with Israel’s military in planning and intelligence.As of Tuesday, five shipments of U.S. weapons and equipment had arrived in Israel.The buildup reflects growing U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel will escalate into wider regional conflict. So the...

Oakland man sentenced to 25 years for killing his 80-year-old father

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

OAKLAND — Six years after he was charged with killing his father and beating his half-sister during the same incident, an Oakland man has accepted a 25-year prison term in a plea deal with prosecutors, court records show.Aaron Clark, 44, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his 80-year-old father, Ernest Clark Jr., and assault in the attack on his half-sister. He was sentenced to 25 years and four months on Oct. 9, in a plea deal that required prosecutors to drop murder and attempted murder charges against him.Ernest Clark Jr., a well-known real estate agent, was attacked in his bedroom, possibly while he was asleep, authorities said. After fatally beating his father, Aaron Clark allegedly attacked his sister and pushed her down a flight of stairs, causing serious injuries.The attack occurred around 11:30 p.m. Sept. 17, 2017, at a North Oakland home on the 6000 block of Margarido Drive near the Claremont County Club. Clark was arrested a short distance ...

San Jose hotel tower sale tied to SJSU advances — but some fears arise

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

SAN JOSE — A deal to convert a downtown San Jose hotel tower into university housing for SJSU students has moved closer to reality — although a local union raised the specter of tax and job losses due to the plan.The deal involves the sale of the 264-room southern tower of the 805-room Signia by Hilton San Jose hotel whereby a real estate developer would purchase the south tower and then lease the rooms in the highrise to San Jose State University students.Under this plan, the 541-room north tower would remain a hotel owned by an affiliate controlled by Bay Area business executive Sam Hirbod and operated by Hilton officials. The hotel is located at 170 South Market Street in San Jose.The San Jose City Council voted on Tuesday to agree to the sale of the south tower from the Hirbod group to an affiliate of Mill Valley-based developer Throckmorton Partners as well as to separate the current hotel property into two lots, one for the north tower and one for the south tower.D...

Lanes reopen on westbound Carquinez Bridge after crash

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

(KRON) -- Multiple lanes were blocked on the Carquinez Bridge in Vallejo going westbound due to a crash on Tuesday, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic log. All lanes have since reopened. The crash was reported at about 4:20 p.m. A sig alert was issued at 4:39 p.m. At 5:42 p.m., 511 said all lanes reopened. An image from Caltrans' traffic camera showed that the three right lanes of the bridge were blocked. Drivers are advised to avoid this area and find other routes. In the other direction of Interstate 80, lanes were briefly blocked due to a separate crash. That wreck happened at Pinole Valley Road in Pinole, involving an overturned Mustang.

Toddlers who drowned at San Jose daycare remembered

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- Lillian "Lily" Jade Hanan's family was planning to wear matching Beluga whale costumes for Halloween. The toddler's obituary writes, "Instead, Lily was buried in a Beluga onesie, tutu, and whale socks."Lily was one of three toddlers who fell into a San Jose daycare's backyard pool on the morning of October 2. By the time a daycare worker noticed, it was too late, investigators said. Lily and a second toddler, 1-year-old Payton Cobb of Hollister, drowned, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office. The tragedy happened on Fleetwood Drive at Happy Happy Daycare, a home daycare facility for infants and toddlers. The daycare's owners self-surrendered at the San Jose police station on October 13. They were booked into jail on charges of child neglect resulting in death, child endangerment, and criminal negligence. Officials revoke San Jose daycare’s license after 2 toddlers drown in pool Families of the toddlers are left in the tragedy's af...

Thousands sign petition to delay reopening of West Maui to tourists

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:02:57 GMT

(KRON) -- Parts of Hawaii devastated by the wildfires two months ago have re-opened for tourists. Hawaii's governor says tourism is important to avoid massive unemployment rates, but displaced residents in West Maui say it’s too soon.Nearly 17,000 people have signed a petition to try to delay the re-opening of West Maui, especially in Lahaina where the wildfire did the most devastation. Families in West Maui have spent the last two months sifting through ash and picking up the pieces after a wildfire burned more than 2,000 acres and killed at least 97 people. 2 Napa bicyclists hit, killed by lumber from flatbed truck on Silverado Trail Lahaina resident De Andre Makakoa is one of the thousands whose home was destroyed in the flames.“More so than the difficulty of losing all of your physical possessions losing your home, car is the memories,” Makakoa said.Makakoa signed the Lahaina Strong petition urging Hawaii’s governor to delay re-opening West Maui to visitors. He was recently ab...