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The hidden pricetag of California’s public schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

At Scotts Valley High, a school eight miles north of Santa Cruz, the track is made of dirt.Todd Hoffman, the volunteer coach, calls it the ’70s retro track. And despite years of trying, it’s something he hasn’t been able to upgrade. Hoffman heads up a fundraising group, one which, through parent and community donations, pays for 90% of the school’s athletic budget, he says — from the kids’ uniforms to the coaches’ salaries to the transportation to and from games. Every year, parents are asked to give $200 per child, per sports team to the club, a sum that Hoffman says wouldn’t fully cover the costs even if everyone paid them.“It feels like we’re keeping it all going,” said Hoffman. “And that’s sad.”For years, schools across California have been supported by parents, communities and education funds, groups which have long filled the gaps between what students need and what the state provides. Depending on the wealth of the community around those schools, those gaps might ...

The pros and cons to Warriors potentially bringing on Dwight Howard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

It was just over a decade ago that the Warriors were desperate to trade for Dwight Howard. Stephen Curry was one of the names Golden State lofted to the Orlando Magic in return for the then-superstar’s services. But Howard had no interest in a long-term future with the downtrodden Warriors and demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile Curry transformed into a global superstar and Golden State into a lasting dynasty.Now fate has come full circle and roles reversed: After a season in the Taiwanese League, 37-year-old Howard wants back into the NBA and Curry’s Warriors are offering a chance to land one of their final two roster spots. In this case, the Warriors won’t be courting Howard.With a camp invite, Howard likely has to convince head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. that he’s willing to accept a lesser role — playing behind Draymond Green and Kevon Looney — than he was accustomed to during his All-Star years a ...

High school football roundup: Live Oak, Menlo School among Saturday’s winners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

No. 22 Menlo School 28, Menlo-Atherton 13The Knights won the battle of Atherton thanks to a big day from quarterback Mikey McGrath and a number of timely defensive plays. It was Menlo School’s first victory against Menlo-Atherton since 2014. McGrath threw three touchdown passes, the first one a 26-yard toss to Nicky Scacco in the first quarter.Scacco scored his second TD of the day in the second quarter, high-pointing a ball in the corner of the end zone to give Menlo School a 14-0 lead. Brady Jung turned a McGrath pass into a 79-yard touchdown reception with 3:47 left in the first half, handing the Knights a 21-0 lead. Then came a flurry of action at the very end of the first half. Menlo School’s Palmer Riley intercepted a M-A pass, but the offense couldln’t do anything with it. With 10 seconds to go in the half, the Bears got on the board with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Xander Eschelman to James Grey. Menlo-Atherton got the ball back after the touchdown, but Menlo School’s Jack...

Police investigate SWMD hit-and-run crash, sending 2 to trauma center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

Miami Police responded to a possible accident involving a motorbike overnight in SouthWest Miami-Dade.Upon arrival, officials found a motorist of a motor scooter and another person on the scene who appeared to be injured after the reported crash at 2235 Southwest 8th Street around 3:46 a.m.The scooter had two passengers that were thrown on impact. Both an adult male and an adult female were transported to Ryder Trauma Center in serious condition.The crash appeared to be a hit-and-run, according to police, involving another motorist who fled the scene. Detectives are continuing their investigation as well as determining the circumstances surrounding this crash and the person involved who fled. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Baked Oatmeal Cups / Belkys

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

If you are looking for an easy breakfast treat, we have something to start your day off right. That’s what’s cooking as we grab a Bite With Belkys. Ingredients:2 ½ cups rolled oats (Old Fashioned)1 large egg1 ½ cups milk (any kind)¼ cup pure maple syrupOptional mix-ins: Finely chopped apples, bananas, cinnamon, fresh or frozen berries, peanut butter, mini chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, etc.Method of Preparation:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan (you can also use silicone muffin cups). Set aside.In a medium bowl, stir together oats, eggs, milk, and maple syrup until combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin pans (make sure you get equal liquid in each cup so none are dry).Stir in optional mix-ins if desired. We made them with banana and chocolate chips, but use your favorites!Bake for about 25 minutes, until light golden brown on top and completely set.Let them sit for 10–20 minutes before removing them from t...

Iranian authorities arrest Mahsa Amini’s father on anniversary of her death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

First two cargo ships arrive in Ukrainian port after Russia’s exit from grain deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Two cargo ships arrived in one of Ukraine’s ports over the weekend, using a temporary Black Sea corridor established by Kyiv following Russia’s withdrawal from a wartime agreement designed to ensure safe grain exports from the invaded country’s ports.Two Palau-flagged bulk carriers, Aroyat and Resilient Africa, docked Saturday at the seaport of Chornomorsk in the southern Odesa region, according to an online statement by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. The vessels are the first civilian cargo ships to reach one of the Odesa ports since Russia exited the grain deal. Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, said in an online statement Saturday that the two ships will be delivering some 20,000 tons of wheat to countries in Africa and Asia. For months, Ukraine, whose economy is heavily dependent on farming, was able to safely export its grain from Black Sea ports under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to ensure safe shipmen...

Lots of indoor farms are shutting down as their businesses struggle. So why are more being built?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

CLEBURNE, Texas (AP) — Inside a bright greenhouse about an hour outside Dallas, workers in hairnets and gloves place plugs of lettuce and other greens into small plastic containers — hundreds of thousands of them — that stack up to the ceiling. A few weeks later, once the vegetables grow to full size, they’ll be picked, packaged and shipped out to local shelves within 48 hours.This is Eden Green Technology, one of the latest crop of indoor farming companies seeking their fortunes with green factories meant to pump out harvests of fresh produce all year long. The company operates two greenhouses and has broken ground on two more at its Cleburne campus, where the indoor facilities are meant to shelter their portion of the food supply from climate change while using less water and land.But that’s if the concept works. And players in the industry are betting big even as rivals wobble and fail. California-based Plenty Unlimited this summer broke ground on a $300 million facility, w...

Italy investigates if acrobatic plane struck birds before it crashed, killing a child on the ground

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

MILAN (AP) — The Italian Air Force said it was investigating whether an aircraft of its acrobatic team struck birds before it crashed near an airport, killing a child on the ground.A 5-year-old girl and her family were traveling in a car near the perimeter of the airport near the northern city of Turin when the aircraft crashed Saturday afternoon, bursting into flames and smashing through the airport fence.The girl’s mother and older brother remained hospitalized for treatment of burns while the father was released Sunday, hospital officials said. Video of the crash shows nine aircraft in two tight V-formations, before one of the aircraft drops below the others and crashes, sending a fireball into the air. In the video, the pilot —identified as Maj. Oscar Del Do — can be seen ejecting with a parachute shortly before impact inside a fence airfield. He suffered burns. The Air Force said the reason for the crash was under investigation, but said one hypothesis was that the aircraft suf...

UAW justifies wage demands by pointing to CEO pay raises. So how high were they?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:06 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been a central argument for the United Auto Workers union: If Detroit’s three automakers raised CEO pay by 40% over the past four years, workers should get similar raises.UAW President Shawn Fain has repeatedly cited the figure, contrasting it with the 6% pay raises autoworkers have received since their last contract in 2019. He opened negotiations with a demand for a similar 40% wage increase over four years, along with the return of pensions and cost of living increases. The UAW has since lowered its demand to a 36% wage increase but the two sides remain far apart in contract talks, triggering a strike.Fain’s focus on CEO pay is part of a growing trend of emboldened labor unions citing the wealth gap between workers and the top bosses to bolster demand for better pay and working conditions. In June, Netflix shareholders rejected executive pay packages in a nonbinding vote, just days after the Writers Guild of America wrote letters urging investors ...