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The ABCs of teaching kids to read: Maryland’s continued shift to the ‘Science of Reading’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Maryland’s approach to reading instruction for the state’s youngest children has been evolving over the past few years.In the 2020-2021 academic year, the state’s “Ready to Read Act” went into effect. It required screening of all incoming kindergarten students to check whether a student could be at risk for reading difficulties.In July, outgoing State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury outlined the state’s approach to the “Science of Reading” in a memo to the Maryland State Board of Education. In that July 21 memo Choudhury wrote, the method “outlines essential components of effective reading instruction,” including an emphasis on phonics.Choudhury said that stands in contrast to what is known as the balanced literacy approach, one that “often lacks rigorous, evidence-based foundations.”Since then, Choudhury resigned and took a post as an advisor to the state’s Board of Education and Carey Wright...

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer laments ‘heartbreaking’ breakup of Pac-12

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Growing up in the Bay Area, UCLA coach Cori Close received one of the best lessons of her life.As a sophomore in high school, Close attended the Tara VanDerveer Basketball Camp.“It actually totally changed the trajectory of where I was going,” Close said Tuesday during Pac-12 media day. “I went on to play against her in the NCAA Tournament as a player, and now I coach against her. I just think, ‘Man, what would the standards be without a Tara VanDerveer?’”Those standards will next be introduced to the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big 12 and the Big 10 after this season, when ten Pac-12 schools will head their separate ways.Stanford, led by VanDerveer since 1985, is joining the ACC.“It’s heartbreaking,” said VanDerveer, a Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer and the winningest coach in the history of the sport. “I’m in a bad dream. This is a nightmare.”Imagine how her peers feel.“That was one of the reasons that attracted me to the Pac,” Arizona State coach Natas...

Denver encampment sweep stopped after mayor answers request to visit site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — There was a change in plans on Tuesday that stopped a Denver encampment from being swept, even though warnings had been posted saying that would happen.The encampment at 48th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard had been given notice a week earlier that the campers would be forced to leave the area. The sidewalks would be cleared because of public health and safety hazards, the city said. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox But that did not happen after all.“We're going to address the issues with this encampment in a different way: by providing a portable toilet and trash services as well as additional outreach and service connections,” a spokesperson for the city's Homelessness Resolution Operations Center said.Mayor visits Denver encampmentThe change came after District 8 City Council Member Shontel Lewis said she asked Mayor Mike Johnston to stop the sweep and visit the site instead.“When he met with those individuals, he said we’re not g...

Jury deliberation begins in trial of 2 officers charged in Elijah McClain's death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Jury deliberations began Tuesday in the trial of the first two police officers to be prosecuted in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black man who was put in a neck hold and pinned down by officers in Aurora before paramedics injected him with a powerful sedative.Closing arguments were heard earlier Tuesday, and the judge dismissed the jury for the day later in the afternoon with instructions to return to Wednesday morning. Officers on trial ignored Elijah McClain’s pleas of ‘I can’t breathe,’ prosecutors say Prosecutors seeking a conviction of the two officers implored a jury during closing arguments to remember that the 23-year-old was just trying to walk home the night he was put in a neck hold and pinned down by the officers before paramedics injected him with a powerful sedative.Defense attorneys countered that the two officers had no choice but to forcefully subdue McClain after he resisted them.The case now rests in the hands of 12 jurors who will decide whe...

What would the $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot's tax bill be in Colorado?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA/NEXSTAR) — It's obvious that $1.73 billion is so much money that most of us wouldn't know what to do with it.However, just because someone wins the estimated $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot, that doesn't mean they get to keep all that cash.According to Powerball, whoever wins the jackpot during the next drawing, which is Wednesday, will have the option to claim a lump sum payment of $756.6 million or 30 annual payments that increase by 5% each year over a 29-year-old period. Colorado adults: Can you answer these 5th-grade state math test questions? Before getting your winnings, you'd have to pay a 24% tax withholding, which the IRS requires for winnings over $5,000, CNBC explains. Out of the $756.6 million cash value, that would be about $181.58 million you'll lose up front.However, because you'd be bumped into the top tax bracket (for those with incomes over $578,125 for single filers), the IRS says your tax burden would be 37%. That's another $98.32 million out...

Denver weather: Accumulating mountain snow, rain on the plains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Temperatures reached the upper 70s again in Denver weather making for another warm and pleasant fall day in the city. We are tracking a cold front expected to arrive on Wednesday with cooler temperatures and passing rain showers. According to Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast, that cold front will produce accumulating snow in the northern mountains with totals that could cause slick travel over mountain passes.Snow totals from late Wednesday through Thursday for the Colorado mountainsWeather tonight: Mostly cloudy and coolIt will stay mostly cloudy in metro Denver through the evening before slowly clearing overnight. There will be some spotty rain and snow showers in the Colorado mountains. It will be breezy with overnight lows in the mild upper 40s in the city. There will be chilly 30s in the Colorado mountains with only a few spots dipping below freezing.Overnight lows by Wednesday morning across ColoradoWeather tomorrow: Rain showers an...

North Carolina man charged with kidnapping, sexually assaulting teenage girl in Hollywood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Police arrested a North Carolina man accused of kidnapping and molesting a teenage girl in Hollywood.Shane Taylor, 44, appeared in court Saturday and is facing six charges related to the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of the victim who, police said, is between 12-15 years old. According to Hollywood Police, the victim told officers that she was walking down the street after school when she was taken by the suspect near a CVS close to the Hard Rock Hotel. The victim said that she was then driven around Broward County for an unspecified amount of time. During the drive, the victim said she was molested multiple times by Taylor after she told him she didn’t consent. As Taylor was driving with the the victim, he crashed his vehicle, which allowed the victim to run away into a Shell gas station, located at 2800 Hollywood Blvd.The victim then called 911 at the gas station. After hearing statements Taylor made while in custody, officers were able to corroborate the victim...

Harvard University faces backlash after letter from student groups blames Israel for violence in region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Harvard University has recently faced backlash after a letter from several student groups blamed Israel for violence in the region. The letter was shared on Sunday. Harvard’s president has since responded, saying in part “Let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.” “Such inhumanity is abhorrent whatever one’s individual views of the longstanding conflicts in the region,” president Claudine Gay continued. The letter was penned by Harvard University Palestine Solidarity Groups. It blamed Israel for recent violence and said the “events did not occur in a vacuum.”“The letter from Harvard student groups is depraved,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss told 7NEWS this week. “It represents a complete lack of not just understanding, but of empathy.” Harvard Hillel also countered the position in the letter, urging the Harvard community to do better. Gay responded on Tuesday after Harvard was criticized for not addressing the letter in a stateme...

Boston police seek public’s help ID’ing person in connection with stolen dog

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

Boston police asked for the public’s help Tuesday in efforts to identify a person in connection with a stolen dog. Police said the dog was stolen at the Washington Park Mall on Friday of last week. In their statement this week, police shared a photos of a person who they said stole a dog.Boston police said their investigation into this incident is ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact detectives at (617) 343-4275.Those wishing to reach out anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). 

US Coast Guard recovers remaining debris and evidence from Titan submersible

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:49 GMT

(CNN) — The remaining debris from the Titan submersible that suffered a catastrophic implosion en route to the wreckage of the Titanic in June has been recovered – including presumed human remains, the US Coast Guard said Tuesday.All five passengers on board the Titan, a 23,000-pound vessel roughly the size of a minivan, were killed shortly after the vessel lost contact with its mother ship about 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive toward the Titanic.The evidence recovered from the North Atlantic Ocean seafloor last week by marine safety engineers from the Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation was “successfully transferred to a US port for cataloging and analysis,” a release from the Coast Guard says.“Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titan’s debris and transported for analysis by US medical professionals,” the release says.The salvage mission was a follow-up to initial recovery operations after the submersible impl...