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St. Andrew teacher wins prestigious Golden Apple Award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

CHICAGO — From the outside, it seemed like a typical Tuesday at St. Andrew School in Lakeview. But inside, students and staff came together with eager anticipation to let 6th grade teacher Rachel Werderits in on a big secret.She’s the recipient of the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching."Students talked about her riding her bike and running by their houses and writing notes to each of her students in chalk and also problems on the sidewalk," said Alan Mather, President of the Golden Apple Foundation. "And so, when they’d get on Zoom, it was like 'whose house did she visit today?'"Werderits has taught at St. Andrew for 14 years, and she’s known since the fifth grade that this was her calling."I started taking chalk from school and using the back of my bedroom door as a chalkboard and I taught imaginary lessons in my bedroom," Werderits said.And on Tuesday, all her hard work paid off."I am very humbled and honored to be recognized," Werderits said. "The challenge...

Underwater 19th-century hospital, graveyard uncovered in Florida Keys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (WFLA) — Archaeologists have found the remains of a 19th-century quarantine hospital on what was once an above-sea island in the Florida Keys, according to the National Park Service.Monday, Dry Tortugas National Park announced the discovery of the archaeological site near Garden Key. It was found as part of a survey first conducted in August 2022 by cultural resources staff, the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center, the Southeast Archeological Center, and a University of Miami graduate student. Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club Park officials said the hospital was used to treat yellow fever patients from Fort Jefferson between 1890 and 1900.So far, only one grave has been identified. Officials said it belonged to laborer John Greer, who died on Nov. 5, 1861, of unknown causes while working at Fort Jefferson. According to the National Park Service, Greer's grave was a headstone-shaped slab of greywacke, ...

How the Clean Air Force of Central Texas started

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Clean Air Force of Central Texas got its start in 1994 when Clean Air Metro Austin became the Austin AIR Force. The organization was renamed to its present moniker early in 1996.This group has one goal in mind and that is clean air for all in Central Texas.They partner with 38 organizations from various walks of life. Some of their partners are educational institutions, including the Austin Independent School District, Austin Community College and the University of Texas at Austin. They also partner with governmental agencies and environmental groups.KXAN's Rich Segal spoke with Clean Air Force of Central Texas Executive Director Bill Gibbs. One of the things they discussed was to define what particulate matter is. It is, at times, a part of the KXAN Air Quality Forecast.One source of pride for the organization is that Austin is always in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency standards.

UT grad students facing financial struggles, asking for increased salaries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Graduate students at the University of Texas are sharing their financial struggles with the UT administration."My rent going up from last year to this year, the cost of a bunch of other things are going up," said Jonathan Rojas, a UT master's student in the Institution of Latin American Studies. "That wiggle room is gone."Rojas said the cost to live in Austin and be a student working with the university has posed many challenges."The university isn't really understanding the situation graduate students are in," Deepesh Verma, who shares the same views with Rojas, said. "We are making below a living wage in Austin."The minimum teaching assistant and assistant instructor salary for UT doctoral and terminal master's students is $19,570 for positions that are 20 hours per week for nine months, but the university said there are opportunities to make more."We all deserve to make a living wage and we all deserve to be paid equitably which is the same dollar amount not based...

Inver Grove Heights officer, father of 3, dies after medical emergency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

A 35-year-old Inver Grove Heights police officer and decorated Army veteran known as a “dedicated family man” died Sunday after a medical emergency, the police department announced Tuesday.Ben Bidon joined the police department in 2015. He was in the Army from 2005 to 2009, and served a 14-month tour in Iraq.He worked for Inver Grove Heights as a crime scene technician, field training officer, firearms and use of force instructor, SWAT operator, and team leader and was currently assigned to the investigation unit. He “was compassionate and diligent in his duties and served the public with pride,” the department wrote on Facebook. “He worked tirelessly to make this community safe.”Inver Grove Heights Police Officer Ben Bidon. (Courtesy of the Inver Grove Heights Police Department)Inver Grove Heights police and firefighters along with M Health Fairview paramedics responded to a medical emergency Friday; Bidon was off duty, according to the departmen...

Staff member assaulted at state sex offender treatment facility in Moose Lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

MOOSE LAKE, Minn. — A staff member was airlifted to a hospital Monday after being assaulted by a resident of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program in Moose Lake.Authorities responded to a 911 call regarding the assault at about 1:23 p.m., the Carlton County sheriff’s office said in a news release. A 53-year-old man was transported via air ambulance to a Duluth hospital, KSTP-TV reported.KSTP, citing the Minnesota Department of Human Services, said the MSOP resident attacked the staff member from behind and bludgeoned him with a heavy object. The assault continued, with kicks to the head, until other staff members intervened.A 29-year-old male client of the program was arrested and transported to the Carlton County jail, pending charges of second- and fourth-degree assault. KSTP identified him as Nicolas Ladell Aron-Jones.MSOP houses civilly committed sex offenders at secure campuses in Moose Lake and St. Peter. Most MSOP residents have completed prison sentences.The sheriff’s off...

Blessing of the Brains prepare Siena students for finals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Some local college students gathered on Tuesday to spiritually and mentally prepare for final exams. Siena College hosted the annual Blessing of the Brains at the school's chapel. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Tuesday was Reading Day, which students can use to study before their exams start on Wednesday. Students said it was important to be in the right mindset before beginning the final push to the end of the semester."So it's always nice to prepare ourselves spiritually so we can prepare ourselves academically and do as well as we can on our finals," student Christina Amari said.The school also offered bananas, bagels and bacon, so students were properly fed before going off to study.

15-Love hosts spring book giveaway for National Tennis Month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The non-profit 15-Love celebrated National Tennis Month with their free book giveaway on Tuesday. Capital Region children were invited to receive two, free brand new books and an unlimited number of gently used books. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Children were also able to make some arts and crafts, have a snack, and participate in a free tennis demonstration. Other giveaway items included gently used clothes and toys.

Law enforcement detects impaired driving with Drug Recognition Experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) - As marijuana becomes more and more available in New York, driving while impaired cases are on the rise. NEWS10 talking with law officials on what they are doing to fight the increase in impaired drivers. Counties working on rural cell service solutions With alcohol, law enforcement can easily tell if you are an impaired driver but that’s not the case with marijuana. Now, drug recognition experts are needed to tell the difference.“We’re seeing an increase in offenders being charged with driving while impaired,” said Rensselaer County Stop DWI coordinator, Michael Dinardo. Attorney Eric Schillinger with Schillinger & Associates PLLC, says DRE’s are already being used.“It’s not new, the use of a drug recognition expert as a police officer who has gotten specific additional training to be able to take a look at an individual and run a battery of tests,” said Schillinger. Glens Falls’ new board game tavern open for play Saratoga County Sheriff, Mik...

Florissant man admits killing neighbor in 2015, gets 20 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:32 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Florissant man accused of killing his neighbor in September 2015 reached a plea deal on the case Tuesday, in exchange for a 20-year sentence.Peter Chafin, 48, admitted to shooting Dominic Smith with a shotgun in the 4200 block of Delor Street, located in the Bevo neighborhood. Smith was 36.Chafin went on trial in April 2022 for first-degree murder and armed criminal action, but the jury was deadlocked and could not return a unanimous verdict. During the trial, Chafin said he felt Smith was a threat to him and his family. The prosecutor at the time called the murder an act of vigilantism.Detectives said Chafin put Smith's body in an instrument bag for a double bass and dumped it into the Mississippi River. Chafin then encased the murder weapon in a concrete block and left that near the intersection of South Broadway and Nagel Avenue. 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims Smith's body was discovered that same month after becoming snagg...