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Illinois lawmakers scrutinize private school scholarships without test-result data

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Critics of an Illinois program providing private school scholarships say there’s no proof it improves academic achievement. But state education officials have never reported the academic performance of participating students as required by the Invest in Kids Act, a hot issue as lawmakers reconvene Tuesday. The five-year-old program expires at year’s end. Supporters want it reauthorized before the General Assembly adjourns for the year on Thursday. Opponents say it’s a drain on public education and want it ended.The Invest in Kids Act requires participants to take the same standardized test as their public-school counterparts each spring to measure their progress and judge the program’s success. Critics led by teachers’ unions wonder where the numbers are. They haven’t been collected.The coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down annual statewide student assessments in 2020 and 2021, the first two years of Invest in Kids. T...

Toronto mother calls for reversal of Bill 60 after nurses caring for her child move to private clinic

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

A Toronto mother says she is in a desperate situation as she loses publicly-funded nurses for her complex special needs child to the private sector.Nicole Payette-Kyryluk is urging the Ford government to reverse funding cuts and legislation that she says is privatizing the healthcare system.Her 12-year-old daughter, Alexa, was born with a rare neurodegenerative disorder. She is non-verbal and palliative and wasn’t supposed to survive past the age of two.Payette-Kyryluk describes her life as every parent’s worst nightmare because in recent months, access to care has become unimaginably difficult.“She has a lot of different things, health wise. And she requires a lot of suctioning,” said Payette-Kyryluk. Alexa’s condition has worsened. She now requires a ventilator and round-the-clock care.“She’s also tube-fed so we have a feeding pump there. We have to nebulize her so we have equipment here to clear her airway,” explained Payette-Kyrylu...

Crescent Point solidifies Montney dominance in $2.55B deal for Hammerhead Energy

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

CALGARY — Crescent Point Energy Corp. says it has signed a $2.55-billion deal to purchase Hammerhead Energy Inc, a Calgary-based energy company with assets in the Montney oil-producing region of northwest Alberta.The deal positions Crescent Point as a dominant player in the Montney, one of North America’s largest unconventional petroleum plays.As a result of the deal, Crescent Point will acquire approximately 800 drilling locations.This will immediately make Crescent Point the largest landowner in the Alberta Montney’s volatile oil fairway, in addition to already being the largest landowner in the adjacent Kaybob Duvernay play.The purchase will make Crescent Point the seventh-largest oil and gas exploration and production company in Canada by volume, with production expected to total over 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day once the deal is closed.The deal, which includes approximately $455 million of Hammerhead’s net debt, will see Hammerhead shareholders receive $21 pe...

Man hit by bottle during altercation on CTA train

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was hospitalized early Monday morning after he suffered cuts to his arms after being hit with a bottle during an altercation on a CTA train, police say.According to Chicago police, the 23-year-old man was riding on a train near the 1100 block of South State Street on the Near South Side when the altercation broke out between him and another man just before 3 a.m. FBI-Chicago warns of charity fraud amid ongoing conflict between Israel, Hamas Police say amid the altercation, the victim was hit with a liquor bottle, leaving him with lacerations to his arms. Officers say Chicago firefighters transported the victim to the hospital in good condition.Currently, it is unclear what led to the altercation, and police say no arrests have been made.  Chicago City Council committee holds hearing on Peoples Gas rate hike request Authorities have not yet identified the man involved and say an investigation is underway.Anyone with information that could help police in their...

FBI-Chicago warns of charity fraud amid ongoing conflict between Israel, Hamas

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

CHICAGO — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a warning to the public about scammers seeking fraudulent donations amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.According to Robert Wheeler Jr., the special agent-in-charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, criminals are using the tragedies unfolding in the Middle East to solicit fraudulent humanitarian donations, before using the money for their own expenses or to support criminal enterprises. Chicago City Council committee holds hearing on Peoples Gas rate hike request What is charity fraud?According to the FBI, charity fraud, which is also known as "disaster fraud," can come in many different forms. Special agent Wheeler said some perpetrators taking part in these types of crimes may prey on victims within the local community by claiming to collect funds for victimized families abroad. Foreign terrorist organizations may also take part in these types of crimes by establishing fake charities on soc...

Second Colorado officer acquitted in Elijah McClain's death

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A suspended Aurora police officer has been acquitted of charges in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after he was pinned with a carotid hold by Aurora, Colorado, police officers and injected with a potent sedative by paramedics.Nathan Woodyard was charged with and found not guilty of reckless manslaughter and the lesser included charge of criminally negligent homicide after being on trial for the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. The trial included two and a half weeks of testimony and a jury began deliberations just after 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3. The verdict was returned on Monday, Nov. 6, around 3 p.m.The trial focused on what had ultimately killed McClain, who was stopped walking home from a convenience store on Aug. 24, 2019. He was reported to 911 as suspicious for wearing a black ski mask and listening to music. After the police stopped him, officers quickly became physical with McClain.McClain went into cardiac arrest and never re...

Marijuana use increases risk of heart attacks, new studies suggest

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

(The Hill) – Two new studies suggest that regular use of marijuana could be linked to a higher risk of heart failure or heart attack, especially among older people. The preliminary findings of the studies, which have yet to be published, will be presented next week at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2023 in Philadelphia.The first study followed 156,999 people for 45 months. It found that those who used marijuana daily had a 34 percent increased risk of developing heart failure, when compared to those who said they never used marijuana. Throughout the study, nearly 2 percent – 2,958 people – developed heart failure.When accounting for coronary artery disease, however, the risk dropped from 34 percent to 27 percent, which researchers said could reveal that “coronary artery disease is a pathway through which daily marijuana use may lead to heart failure.” If marijuana is rescheduled, will it be legalized nationwide? The survey looked at “using marijuana whe...

What a strong El Niño pattern means for Texas winter weather

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video explains the difference between La Nina and El Nino.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Last February brought Austin's worst ice storm on record. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration after hundreds of pounds of ice accumulated on trees and power lines, knocking out power for more than 250,000 people and damaging one-third of all trees in the city. KXAN First Warning Weather forecast As this winter approaches, the weather pattern is changing as our three-year La Niña ends and a strong -- or very strong -- El Niño ramps up.An El Niño pattern features warmer than normal ocean temperatures near the Equator in the eastern Pacific, which influences weather patterns across the U.S. (KXAN Weather graphic) The First Warning Weather team found that a strong El Niño pattern this winter could mean less ice, more rain, and much-needed drought relief in Central Texas.Low lake levels claim another businessGreg Winborn had high hopes and a vision in 2022 when he opened...

Defense rests case in APD officer's murder trial

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Monday, attorneys representing Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor finished presenting their case after the state rested last week. Taylor is on trial for murder in the death of Michael Ramos. Jurors were released Monday but are expected to return Tuesday for closing arguments, should the state choose not to bring forward any rebuttal witnesses. They could begin deliberations as soon as Tuesday. Prosecutors expect to wrap mid-week in APD officer’s murder trial Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex's parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Monday providing live updates of the trial on social media platform X: Week 3: Back in court this morning for the third week of APD Officer Christopher Taylor's murder trial. As always, I'll have a thread here🔽 A reminder that you'll get more detail over at https://t.co/YjssmH...

Following a warm start to the week, colder weather blows in Thursday

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:40:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Unseasonably warm and humid weather continues Tuesday and Wednesday, but a strong cold front arriving during the day Thursday will bring an extended stretch of colder weather and periods of light to moderate rain.Highs will be in the 80s and lows in the 60s through midweek under a mix of clouds and sun. South winds will keep things noticeably warmer than average for early November.Late week cold frontA storm system trekking east across the Plains will send a cold front our way on Thursday. We currently expect the cool air to arrive in the Hill Country early Thursday morning, Austin Metro area late-morning, and eastern counties by Thursday afternoon. This will send temperatures dropping and bring periods of rain through much of the day.Next cold front arrives ThursdayRain is expected to clear the area by Friday afternoon, but additional rain may build back into the area Saturday and Sunday as a separate storm system approaches. BLOG: El Niño into 2024: What that me...