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Walters: California’s lagging schools should look to Pentagon’s model

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

The state Department of Education released results from the latest round of academic achievement tests of California’s nearly 6 million public school students last week and there were — unfortunately — no surprises.California’s kids continue to display subpar skills in English language arts and mathematics — fewer than half meeting standards in the former and scarcely a third in the latter, with fractional gains at best.As usual, the state’s educational establishment tried to put a positive spin on the results while blaming the pandemic for any deficiencies.“These results suggest that California’s public schools are beginning to turn the corner on pandemic recovery, with gains on most assessments and a substantial reduction in chronic absenteeism, especially for our most vulnerable groups of students,” Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the state school board, said in a statement.As usual, too, Darling-Hammond and other officials touted their efforts to improve ed...

The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

By Simone Pathe | CNNWhile events on the other side of the world – and the other end of the US Capitol – have dominated recent news, the race for control of the Senate is a crucial factor in what Washington could look like after next year’s elections.The 2024 Senate map is advantageous for Republicans as they try to pick up the one or two seats needed to flip the chamber, depending on who wins the White House next year. Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus are defending the most competitive seats – the top eight on this list of 10 seats most likely to flip – which is not likely to change ahead of November 2024.The order of the ranking, however, is changing. (Rankings are based on CNN’s reporting, fundraising figures and historical data about how states and candidates have performed.) Pennsylvania, for example, shoots up from No. 7 in July to No. 4 this month – in large part because it’s the one battleground where Republicans aren’t facing a messy primary.GOP candidate fields else...

DJ Dusty Street, radio pioneer with Bay Area history, dies at 77

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

Dusty Street, who broke ground as a woman DJ in rock and roll radio and helped shape the sound of KROQ-FM/106.7 in the ’80s, died Sunday, Oct. 22 at her home in Eugene, Oregon. She was 77.Her death was first reported by longtime friend and KLOS-FM/95.5 colleague Geno Michellini on Facebook on Sunday.“I have been in Eugene the last two days at Dusty Street’s bedside,” he wrote. “The numerous afflictions that she has been so indomitably fighting these last years finally caught up to her. I am writing with a broken heart to say that Dusty left us tonight.“Tonight I lost one of the best friends I ever had and the world lost a radio and music legend as befitting her starring role in the ‘San Francisco Sounds’ documentary movie that just came out recently,” he continued. “She was all that and so much more.“There will never be another Dusty Street. The queen is gone, but she’ll never be forgotten.”Sirius satellite radio disc jockey Dusty Street and Greg Steele, a Sirius programming directo...

Girl kidnapped from her San Francisco home found safe, police say

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The San Francisco Police Department Special Victims Unit asked Tuesday for the public’s help to find a 4-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped by her relative without her father's consent. Overnight Wednesday, SFPD confirmed to KRON4 that the girl was found in good health.No arrests have been made in the alleged kidnapping, according to police.Before being located, police said Fatima Abuzahra, 4, was last seen with the suspected kidnapper, 30-year-old Enas Birawi, on the 600 block of Eddy Street in the Tenderloin. The girl's father alerted police at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday that his daughter was gone. Birawi allegedly took the girl without the father's knowledge nor consent, police said."The investigation determined that Fatima was taken from her home by a relative, Enas Birawi," Officer Robert Rueca said.Police did not say how the girl and suspect are related. SFPD wrote, "Fatima and Enas were last seen in the area of the 600 block of Eddy St. It is possib...

Bob Melvin is leaving the San Diego Padres to manage the San Francisco Giants: AP sources

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have hired manager Bob Melvin away from the division rival San Diego Padres, three people with direct knowledge of the agreement said Tuesday.The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither team had made a formal announcement about the move. The Athletic first reported Melvin was the Giants' choice.The 61-year-old Melvin will be returning to the Bay Area where he grew up cheering the Giants. He later played for them and then managed the Oakland Athletics from 2011-21. An introductory news conference was planned for Wednesday.“I’m very excited to work with Bob Melvin,” Giants ace Logan Webb said in a text message Tuesday night. "I’ve heard nothing but fantastic things from everyone that has played for him. Excited to get to meet him, play for him, and learn from him!”Melvin had one year left on his contract with San Diego but leaves amid reports of friction with general manager A.J. Preller. Melvin manag...

Reagan National Airport reaches record for guns carried on, caught at security

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

More guns are being found in carry-on luggage and stopped at airport checkpoints this year at Reagan National Airport, reflecting a troublesome national trend recorded by the Transportation Security Administration.As of Nov. 23, TSA officers say they have stopped 30 guns from getting through DCA’s airport security in 2023, already reaching the previous record of most firearms caught in a year at the airport.“It is disappointing to see travelers continue to bring their guns to our checkpoints because in doing so they create a potentially dangerous situation through their own actions,” said John Busch, TSA’s federal security director at DCA. “Responsible gun owners know where their guns are and they know not to bring them to a checkpoint.”TSA officers at DCA stopped a traveler with this loaded handgun on August 11, 2023. (Courtesy Transportation Security Administration)Guns can be transported legally on a flight if they are checked in a locked, hard-sided case, declared to...

Amphenol: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP) — WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP) — Amphenol Corp. (APH) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $513.9 million.The Wallingford, Connecticut-based company said it had profit of 83 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for pretax gains, came to 78 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 74 cents per share.The maker of fiber-optic products posted revenue of $3.2 billion in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.08 billion.For the current quarter ending in December, Amphenol expects its per-share earnings to range from 75 cents to 77 cents.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $3.09 billion to $3.15 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $3.16 billion.Amphenol expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.94 to $2.96 per share, with ...

BOK Financial: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — TULSA, Okla. (AP) — BOK Financial Corp. (BOKF) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $134.5 million.The bank, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said it had earnings of $2.04 per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.12 per share.The Regional banking operator posted revenue of $815.2 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $499 million, also falling short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $517.4 million.BOK Financial shares have decreased 31% since the beginning of the year. The stock has declined 27% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BOKF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BOKFSource

HomeTrust Bancshares: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — HomeTrust Bancshares Inc. (HTBI) on Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $14.8 million.The Asheville, North Carolina-based bank said it had earnings of 88 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 79 cents per share.The holding company for HomeTrust Bank posted revenue of $70.5 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $50.8 million, which also beat Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $50 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HTBI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HTBISource

Norfolk Southern: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:19:59 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — ATLANTA (AP) — Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $478 million.On a per-share basis, the Atlanta-based company said it had profit of $2.10. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $2.65 per share.The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.74 per share.The railroad posted revenue of $2.97 billion in the period, topping Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.94 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NSC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NSCSource