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Arkansas education secretary says state to review districts’ AP African American Studies materials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ top education official on Monday told school districts offering an Advanced Placement African American Studies course to send in their course materials for review, citing concerns the class may not comply with a state law restricting how race is taught in the classroom.Education Secretary Jacob Oliva sent the letter to the five districts that have said they will continue teaching the class after the state said it was not an approved course and would not count toward a student’s graduation credit. Oliva has said since it’s a pilot program, the state has not been able to vet the course to determine if it complies with the law prohibiting “critical race theory” from being taught at schools.The state had previously said the districts could offer the course as a local elective. The districts have said they’ll continue teaching the course at six schools and that it will count toward students’ grade point averages.“Given some of th...

Knicks sue Raptors, accusing foe of using ex-Knicks employee as ‘mole’ to steal scouting secrets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks sued the Toronto Raptors, their new head coach and a former Knicks scouting employee on Monday, saying the defendants conspired to steal thousands of videos and other scouting secrets over the past few weeks.The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court seeks unspecified damages and a ban on the further spread of the Knicks’ trade secrets. The lawsuit claimed that secrets including scouting and play frequency reports, along with a prep book and a link to valuable software, had they been downloaded thousands of times by Raptors employees.“This material consists of secret, proprietary information critical to the Knicks’ efforts to maintain a competitive advantage over their rivals, including the Raptors,” the lawsuit said.The Knicks said the theft occurred in recent weeks after the Raptors hired and recruited “a mole” within the Knicks organization. The lawsuit identified him as Ikechukwu Azotam, who since August 2021 had directed the planning,...

North Korea tells Japan of launch plan, a possible 2nd try to put up spy satellite, Japan media say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days, possibly a second try to put a military spy satellite into orbit, Japanese media said Tuesday. In late May, North Korea tried to launch its first spy satellite, but the rocket carrying the satellite plunged into the sea soon after liftoff. North Korea vowed to make a second attempt after studying what went wrong with the first launch.Kyodo News cited Japan’s coast guard as reporting it was notified that North Korea intends to launch a satellite between Thursday and Aug. 31. Kyodo said the plan is believed to be the North’s retry of a military reconnaissance satellite launch.Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed related government agencies to analyze the plan as much as possible and coordinate with the United States and South Korea to urge Pyongyang not to carry out the launch, Kyodo said.Japan’s coast guard said it was notified that North Korea would designa...

Biden says federal government will help Maui 'for as long as it takes' to recover from wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii, (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Monday viewed the devastation wrought by the flames that ripped through the western part of the Hawaiian island, seeing for themselves the hollowed homes, structures and singed trees left behind by the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.The Bidens lingered briefly on the tarmac after arriving at Kahului Airport to console Hawaii Governor Josh Green and his wife Jaime Green as well as members of Hawaii's congressional delegation who came to the airport to greet them. The president and first lady embraced each of their greeters before boarding Marine One for an aerial tour of the devastation caused by the fires. Maui town ravaged by fire will ‘rise again,’ Hawaii governor says of long recovery ahead Biden later got a close up look of the wreckage in Lahaina, a historic town of 13,000 people that was virtually destroyed by the flames. His motorcade wound through the community of block upon ...

New school year, new challenges as CPS students return to classroom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

CHICAGO — Monday was the first day of school for thousands of Chicago Public School students as the district continues to deal with many challenges, from teacher shortages to a lack of bus drivers.As the 2023-24 academic year began, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and city school administrators visited various institutions, looking to challenges ahead while exploring new growth opportunities. Parents and kids said they felt optimistic about the new school year despite some setbacks. 2 CPS students killed days before start of new school year "I'm glad the first day is here because I wanted to come back and see my new friends," said fourth grader Lyric Ollins.Johnson, a former teacher with three children attending CPS, presented Home Run Inn pizzas to students at Jackie Robinson Elementary in North Kenwood.  "Investing in our young people, investing in families, and strengthening education, that is the pathway to success," Johnson said. An immediate challenge faces the mayor and...

Senators deciding Paxton's fate have history of campaign donations for, against him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — On Saturday, former GOP appellate judge Marc Brown declined a prestigious appointment by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to assist in presiding over suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial. He had a history of political donations that could harm the public's trust, he said, after donating $250 to Eva Guzman — one of Paxton's 2022 primary opponents who campaigned on assertions that the now-suspended Attorney General was unfit for office."The proceedings... are far too important to the State of Texas for there to be any distractions involving allegations of favoritism or personal bias on my part," he said.Patrick accepted his declination. Yet former campaign contributions have not impacted the ability of others to decide Paxton's fate.Multiple state senators have contributed money to political campaigns both for and against Paxton. They will now decide whether to permanently remove him from office.Campaign donations from Paxton jurorsMayes Middleton (R-...

Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson vows to be ready for Sept. 10 season opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

Like he’s done for much of the past couple of weeks, tight end T.J. Hockenson went through warmups with the Vikings on Monday at TCO Performance Center, then exited stage left while the rest of his teammates continued to practice.Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson prepares for drills before an NFL football practice Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)“We’re taking it day by day,” Hockenson said. “Obviously I want to be out there.”It still raises the question: What the heck is going on with Hockenson?The most activity he has been through over the past couple of weeks has come in walkthroughs where there isn’t any contact.Talking to reporters last week Hockenson said his limited participation was due to an ear infection that was impacting his equilibrium. Talking to reporters this week, Hockenson provided even fewer details about the situation at hand, only vowing that he would be back to full participati...

Funeral for former bishop Howard Hubbard to take place Aug. 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The public funeral for Howard Hubbard, the former bishop of the Albany Catholic Diocese, will be held on Friday, August 25. Hubbard died from a stroke on Saturday, August 19, at the age of 84.Visitation takes place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the St. Piux X Church on Crumitie Road in Loudonville. Mass begins at 11:30 a.m. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger will preside. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hubbard was born in Troy and became a priest at age 25. He was the youngest bishop in the country at age 38. He was involved in several social justice initiatives and recognized for setting a high standard for priesthood.Hubbard also became a source of controversy in later years. He admitted in a 2021 deposition to concealing accusations of child sexual abuse for more than 30 years. He was also accused of abuse but repeatedly denied the allegations. He announced he got married just a few weeks before his ...

Biden tells Maui 'country grieves with you' after touring damage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden told Maui the nation "grieves with you" after he and first lady Jill Biden arrived Monday to survey the damage from the Hawaiian wildfires and meet with victims.The trip is a critical moment for the president as he and his administration have been under intense scrutiny for their response to the wildfires ahead of his visit.The two landed in Maui around 11 a.m. local time and boarded helicopters to get an aerial view of the devastation. How to help Hawaii residents impacted by Maui wildfires They went to Lahaina, where they got a firsthand look at the damage from the ground. There, Biden was briefed by state and local officials on the extent of the damage. "The country grieves with you, stands with you and will do everything possible to help you recover, rebuild and respect culture and traditions when the rebuilding takes place," Biden said in a news conference after touring the damage.Later i...

Trump's bond set at $200K in Fulton County case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:06 GMT

A judge signed off on a $200,000 bond for former President Trump in the Georgia election case, enacting stricter rules than his co-defendants, on Monday, according to court filings.The order forbids Trump from intimidating any co-defendants or witnesses in the case as he awaits trial.The warning includes a level of detail beyond the bond orders the judge signed for several of Trump’s co-defendants earlier in the day, making clear Trump’s ban includes social media posts and an “indirect threat of any nature.”Trump is also banned from contacting any co-defendant or witnesses in the case entirely, except through attorneys.Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) charged Trump and 18 others over their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.The defendants have a deadline of noon on Friday to voluntarily surrender.As the deadline approached, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Monday began signing off on the co-d...