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Florida school district adding 4-day weekends to combat chronic absences

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Pasco County School District in Florida is introducing a new approach to the school calendar in the 2024-25 school year to combat chronic absenteeism. The new schedule will include several "four-day mini breaks strategically placed throughout the years," the district said.The extended weekends will be held from October 12-15, 2024, February 14-17, 2025, and April 18-21, 2025. 10 best and worst cities for singles, study finds The school district hopes the added breaks will encourage families to take trips or schedule appointments during these days, to boost attendance during scheduled contact days. "This forward-thinking initiative not only benefits students but also accommodates the needs of parents and guardians who often struggle to coordinate family vacations with the academic calendar," the district added.Pasco County Schools listed five benefits of the new schedule including improved student engagement, tackling chronic absenteeism, empowering ...

Westlake takes on Galena Park North Shore in 6A Division I semifinals at The Pfield

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westlake takes on Galena Park North Shore in the 6A Division I semifinals on a blustery Saturday at The Pfield in Pflugerville.Both teams come into the matchup undefeated at 14-0, and for the Chaps, this game has an extra layer to it since the Mustangs beat the Chaps in the semifinals last season to break the program's 54-game winning streak. Texas high school football playoff scores for Friday, Dec. 8 Follow along with live updates and highlights throughout the game, and keep this story in your tabs for a recap following the game. You can watch the game on KBVO, channel 14 over the air in the KXAN viewing area. Check your local cable provider for the specific channel on your guide.Live updates2:35 2Q: TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE: D'andre Hardeman scores on an 8-yard run with a nice cut to get him to the end zone. PAT good. Mustangs 14, Chaps 7 6:36 2Q: TOUCHDOWN NORTH SHORE: On fourth-and-goal, quarterback Kaleb Bailey runs up under center...

Two-game skid reminds Wild there is still plenty of work ahead

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

The Wild won’t exactly limp into Sunday’s game at Seattle, the last in a four-game road trip that already has taken them through western Canada. But they’ll do so after being reminded that, in some ways, they’re still the team that lost 11 of 13 games and got their head coach fired.Under John Hynes, the Wild found a new lease on life, another gear and a tweaked system that plays to their strengths, and it all showed during an impressive, four-game winning streak. The Wild outscored their opponents 18-5 overall, 9-1 in the first period, and never trailed.That changed in a 2-0 loss at Vancouver, the team’s first shutout loss of the season, and in Friday night’s 4-3 loss in Edmonton to the streaking Oilers.“We weren’t going to win all games to the end, right?” goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said after making a season-high 36 saves against the Oilers. “Still need to progress, still need to learn from our mistakes, and still need to get better and do John’s systems and thoughts.”“I think w...

Jace Frederick: For the Timberwolves, the next month is one massive test

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

The Timberwolves are the definition of a professional outfit at the moment. Minnesota is 17-4 — three games clear of second-place Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.The Wolves bring a winning level of effort and execution to the floor each night. What they did over the past week and a half — downing four cellar-dwellers in succession — is an impressive feat in a league where it’s quite easy to trip over yourself against inferior competition on any given night, as last season’s team proved time and time again.Really good teams beat bad teams anywhere and topple other good teams on their home floor. Through 21 games, the Timberwolves have proven they are — at minimum — a really good team. Through their consistent success, Minnesota has attracted more local fans and garnered more national attention.The Wolves have earned every ounce of the praise they’re currently receiving.And now comes the fun part. The team that’s established itself as one of the NBAR...

Gophers surge past Florida Gulf Coast without injured Garcia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

Minus its top player, Minnesota knew it needed a team effort even more so Saturday.Minnesota Gophers guard Elijah Hawkins (0) drives around Florida Gulf Coast Eagles guard Dallion Johnson (23) in the second half a NCAA men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Minnesota beat Florida Gulf Coast, 77-57. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)It was particularly successful during a key second-half stretch. Or, more accurately, most of the final 30 minutes.Five players scored during a 16-1 surge, and the Gophers pulled away to beat Florida Gulf Coast 77-57 at Williams Arena.Joshua Ola-Joseph led the way with a career-high-tying 17 points, Mike Mitchell Jr. tied a season-high with 14, and Isaiah Ihnen had 13 off the bench for the 7-3 Gophers.Cam Christie added 11 points, Elijah Hawkins had 11 assists for the second straight game, and Parker Fox had a season-best seven rebounds.“Parker sparked us. I thought Mike sparked us. I thought Elijah was really good wit...

Terminal at LAX goes up in flames; cause of fire under investigation  

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

A terminal at Los Angeles International Airport caught fire Saturday morning.Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from the American Airlines “Eagle’s Nest” Regional Terminal, which exclusively serves flights on American Airlines’ American Eagle regional airline.  Part of Ventura County community evacuated due to brush fire Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters responded to the blaze, which was first reported around 11:10 a.m., and were able to extinguish the flames in 40 minutes. Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from the American Airlines “Eagle’s Nest” Regional Terminal, which exclusively serves flights on American Airlines’ American Eagle regional airline. (Citizen App)Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from the American Airlines “Eagle’s Nest” Regional Terminal, which exclusively serves flights on American Airlines’ American Eagle regional airline. (Citizen App)Video posted to the Citizen App shows smoke billowing from...

Live updates | Gaza death toll tops 17,700 and Yemen rebels threaten ship traffic to Israel

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 17,700, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. Israel’s ground offensive in southern Gaza Strip intensified on Saturday with further airstrikes and artillery fire, a day after the United States blocked a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire. Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in the ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages.Amid concerns about a wider conflict, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened to prevent any ship heading to Israeli ports from passing through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea until food and medicine can enter Gaza freely. With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents have reported severe food shortages. Despite growing international pressure, President Joe Biden’s admini...

While Palestinians suffer, Hamas reaps the benefits

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

ISTANBUL — Much of the Gaza Strip lies in ruins, with its people pushed from their homes by Israeli bombardment and the death toll climbing ever higher.But Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years, is still reaping benefits from its surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7. It is regarded as the only Palestinian faction to squeeze concessions from Israel in many years. It has thrown a bloody wrench into Israel’s plans to improve relations with its Arab neighbors and forced the Palestinian issue back onto the agendas of world leaders.Two months into the war, despite vows by Israeli officials to destroy Hamas, Israel has yet to kill its top leaders, free the remaining 137 hostages Hamas holds or provide convincing evidence that it can achieve its goal of eliminating Hamas without an astronomical human cost.In Hamas’ cynical calculation, the loftiness of Israel’s aims is a plus. While sticking to its long-term goal of destroying the Jewish state, Hamas can declare victory merely by survivin...

‘One of our great residents’: San Jose community leader Frank Fiscalini dies at 101

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

Frank Fiscalini, a longtime San Jose school superintendent and civic leader whose political influence brought him to within 2,000 votes of the city mayor’s office in 1990, died Friday at 101. He passed away peacefully of natural causes, his family said.In more than a half-century of work in and service to San Jose, Fiscalini developed the clout of a master politician. By the end of his career in local government, including two terms as city councilman during the 1990s, the city’s movers and shakers rated him among San Jose’s 40 most powerful people.He was also widely liked and admired.“It’s hard to think of anybody who made it through the wind tunnel of politics and made it out with such honesty and integrity,” said State Sen. Dave Cortese, a former vice mayor of San Jose, who counted Fiscalini as a mentor and friend.In this 1996 photo, Frank Fiscalini responds to a question at a San Jose candidate forum in Willow Glen. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area New...

49ers’ Dre Greenlaw fined; return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud on shelf; Seahawks add quarterback

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:59:38 GMT

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers will be without return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud for at least the rest of this month.McCloud went on the Injured Reserve list Saturday and must miss a minimum of four games, which could prove consequential if the 49ers don’t find a sure-handed replacement in their playoff push.Rookie Ronnie Bell filled in last game for McCloud and botched a punt return with the ball harmlessly bouncing out of bounds in last Sunday’s 42-19 win at Philadelphia.Veteran wide receiver Chris Conley was promoted from the practice squad to fill McCloud’s roster spot.McCloud was ruled out Friday, along with defensive tackle Arik Armstead and tight end Ross Dwelley, for this Sunday’s game between the 49ers (9-3) and the Seattle Seahawks (6-6) at Levi’s Stadium.“He was limited on Wednesday, but didn’t feel great, so we’ve got to be safe with him,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday of McCloud.McCloud injured his ribs in last month’s wi...