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M-DCPS superintendent discusses challenges, controversies as 2023 school year ends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

As the school year comes to a close, Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ superintendent provided a report card when it comes to day-to-day operations in the district.It is graduation season in South Florida, as classes end for summer across the region.Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, M-DCPS Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres listed students’ accomplishments throughout the school year that has just wrapped up.“The graduating class of 2023, in terms of scholarships, $606 million worth of scholarships,” he said.And while it has been a year of achievements, Dotres said, “the landscape has definitely changed.”It has also been one where Florida politics seemingly have played out in the classroom.“If new laws are put into place, we have to respond to them,” said Dotres.Some of the new laws limit what can be discussed and taught in schools, including gender, sexual orientation and topics that, some argue, could indoctrinate children.“We are responsible ...

Fly Wings / Soulfly, Miami

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

The Chef: Troy TinglingThe Restaurant: Soulfly, MiamiThe Dish: Fly WingsIngredients:2 lbs. chicken wings3 quarts peanut oil for frying; or any other oil with a high smoking point1 egg1 Tbsp water1/4 cup hot sauceChicken wing seasoning:1 tsp kosher salt1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp onion powder1/4 tsp black peppera pinch of cayenne pepperFor dredging:1 cup gluten-free flour1 tsp baking powder1 tsp garlic powder1/2 tsp kosher salt1/4 tsp black pepperMethod of Preparation:Combine the chicken wing seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. Season the wings all over, ensuring even coverage. Pat down to make the seasonings stick. Set aside.In a large bowl, combine the egg with the hot sauce and water. Whisk lightly and set aside.In a separate large bowl, combine the flour with the baking powder, salt and pepper. Mix the ingredients together and set aside.Heat 3 quarts of peanut oil in a large cast iron pot (the oil should be no higher than the middle of the pot) over a gas burner to 375F.Drop the ...

Florida player Brandon Montour streaks home for birth of child between Stanley Cup Final games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Montour took a baby break between the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.With wife Ryian going into labor earlier than expected, the Panthers defenseman left Las Vegas not long after the series opener and flew back to Florida on a private jet. Montour made it in time to be there for the birth of the couple’s first child, a son they named Kai.Montour returned for Game 2 and played 26:13, the most of anyone on either team.“I tried to get there as quick as I could,” Montour said Wednesday recalling his whirlwind journey. “Luckily I was there for it all and got to experience it with her.”The baby’s due date was June 18, and the plan was to induce labor on June 14. Ryian instead went into labor just before Game 1 started, but Montour didn’t learn that until General manager Bill Zito and coach Paul Maurice told him just after the final horn, and the journey began.Montour said he left Las Vegas as the only passenger on the plane ar...

UK to host major AI summit of ‘like-minded’ countries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Britain will host key players for a summit on artificial intelligence in the fall as Rishi Sunak seeks to position the U.K. as a power broker on the subject.Confirming plans for a conference first reported by POLITICO this week, British officials argued the U.K. would be “well-placed” to convene discussions on the future of AI.They cited Britain’s departure from the EU as allowing the U.K. to act quickly in response to a rapidly changing market. Ministers want to carve a path between strict EU regulations and the lighter touch U.S. approach.Sunak, who is expected to discuss the topic when he meets President Joe Biden Thursday, hailed AI as having “an incredible potential to transform our lives” but stressed “the need to make sure it is developed and used in a way that is safe and secure.”Downing Street did not say which countries or companies would attend the talks but the prime minister’s spokesman said Sunak was seeking to bring together “like-minded” natio...

Sorry, Trump — Rishi Sunak’s too busy to see you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Rishi Sunak has confirmed he will not meet presidential hopeful Donald Trump during his visit to the U.S. this week.Asked ahead of his arrival if he would be seeing Trump, the British PM indicated he would not, adding: “I’ve got a pretty busy schedule.” “I’m meeting key Congressional leaders from both sides and obviously the president,” he went on. “Those are the key engagements that I have.”While predecessor Boris Johnson enjoyed a close relationship with Trump, Sunak appears more focused on engagement with the Biden administration, as the U.K. and U.S. face a host of looming challenges.Asked about the prospect of a Trump return to the White House in 18 months, Sunak said the leaders he would be speaking to shared “universal values of freedom and democracy and the rule of law.”The British PM held talks Wednesday with figures including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.H...

11-year-old boys in stable condition after being struck by vehicle in Brockton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

Two young boys were in stable condition as of Wednesday afternoon after they were both struck by a vehicle in a crash near a Brockton school on Tuesday, police said. The incident happened shortly after 5 p.m. at the intersection of Market Street and Warren Avenue while police said a 60-year-old driver was driving along Warren Avenue.Police said the boys were both taken to a hospital in Brockton before being transported to a second hospital in Boston. The accident remained under investigation on Wednesday. No charges had been filed against the driver to date.

Search continues for person who police say drove at Boston officer, prompting them to shoot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

A search continued Wednesday for a suspect who police said charged at an officer with their car, prompting the officer to open fire in Jamaica Plain Tuesday night. Investigators were able to find the car after its driver sped off. As of Wednesday evening, though, they were still looking for the driver. Police said the incident started when the officer tried to pull over the rental SUV with Florida license plates near Wachusett Street and Eldridge Road. Police said officers later found the SUV on Weld Hill Street and eventually towed it away. A bullet hole was seen in the front windshield of the SUV after the incident. A day later, longtime neighbors said they were shocked to see such commotion. “It was intense,” said one person, who said he saw law enforcement personnel searching area backyards after Tuesday night’s events. “I’ve probably lived here most of my life and I never seen nothing that wild,” said neighbor Rene Capeles.As their search continues, investig...

Sharing the water with sharks is safe, California study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

A new study found it’s safe to swim with the fishes — even the sharks!Researchers from the Shark Lab – based out of California State University – said sharks are getting up close and comfortable with people but aren’t getting violent with swimmers.“Sharks are near us more often than we think, we just don’t see them,” Shark Lab Director Dr. Chris Lowe said.Over two years, researchers flew about 1,500 drones over dozens of beaches along the coast of California observing juvenile white sharks. The sharks were swimming near people 97% of the days studied, but no shark bites were reported.“As long as people aren’t chasing them, sharks aren’t considering people food so they just ignore us,” Lowe said.The same could be said about the beaches here in the Bay State.“Places like Cape Cod, I’m sure there’s sharks swimming right by them and they didn’t even know it,” Lowe said.Researchers still say to be careful how you act around Great Whites.“Right no...

Jury deliberations continue in weapons trial against Adam Montgomery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

Jury deliberations in the Adam Montgomery weapons case began Wednesday. Montgomery will stand trial again in November in a separate case connected to the death of his 5-year-old daughter Harmony Montgomery.Montgomery is accused of stealing an assault rifle and a shotgun from a friend’s home in 2019.Montgomery’s estranged wife Kayla Montgomery took the stand Monday. She accepted a plea deal in exchange for her testimony. She told the jury that Adam admitted to her that he stole multiple guns from their friends.Montgomery is facing one charge of second-degree murder in November. Harmony was last seen in 2019, and her body hasn’t been found.

Photos: Canadian wildfires bring smoke, low air quality to eastern US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:51:36 GMT

The ongoing wildfires in Canada continue to fill a large swath of the eastern United States with smoke and poor air quality.In New York City, a cough-inducing, yellow-orange haze has created hazardous air-quality conditions caused by smoke that’s been blown southward from the hundreds of wildfires. Outdoor activities at public schools, along with planned concerts, sporting events and other happenings across the city were canceled Wednesday.Here are some of the scenes across the eastern U.S:An aerial view of a boat on the ocean enveloped in a dense haze caused by wildfires in Canada on June 7, 2023 in Point Lookout, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)Smoke from Canada’s wildfires casts a haze over the Philadelphia skyline, as seen from Camden, New Jersey on June 7, 2023. An orange-tinged smog caused by Canada’s wildfires shrouded New York on June 7, 2023, obscuring skyscrapers and causing residents to don face masks, as cities along the U.S. East Coast issued air q...