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NYS hosts first School Safety Summit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- New York State hosted the first of its kind, School Safety Summit. Over 900 school administrators and staff attended the two-day event in Albany. Education experts say school safety comes in many different ways. Whether it's feeling safe physically, being able to discuss issues such as bullying or simply feeling included, safety is key.  Students, staff welcome new Siena College president "And helping school leaders understand that safety is not just the absence of threat or harm or violence, but rather the existence of systems and structures that support mutual care and belonging and interconnection," said Christina Pate, Senior Associate at West EdW. Pate echoed what many education leaders had to say at the summit - school safety requires different approaches.  "We really want to make sure that our student and faculty, meaning teacher, principles, superintendents, really have a plan in place, and that plan has to be well known to the students and to the me...

St. Louis child dies after shooting himself

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A child died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the city's Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood.According to Sgt. Charles Wall, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. in the 3100 block of Brantner Place.Police found the child, who suffered a head wound, and rushed him to a local hospital, where he later died. The 10-year-old child has not been identified.An adult man was taken into custody Thursday afternoon at the scene of the shooting.

Guilty verdict for man who struck, killed woman with his truck

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Jurors in Madison County needed only 40 minutes of deliberation before returning a guilty verdict against a man who intentionally struck and killed a woman with his truck along a Pontoon Beach highway.Lisa Dunnavant-Polach was killed on Feb. 21, along Illinois 111, in the area north of Interstate 270 near Bel Air Drive.Dunnavant-Polach was running on foot and attempting to evade Richard Mayor, who was driving a Ford F-150. Prosecutors said they had been in a relationship, but got into a dispute prior.Stacy O’Dell saw what was happening and called her husband, Steven, and asked him to come and help. Steven, who was driving a tractor-trailer, pulled over along the side of the highway to help Dunnavant-Polach. As Dunnavant-Polach ran to get into the tractor-trailer, the F-150 slammed into her and sped off. ‘Drought alert’ declared in Missouri, some relief possibly on way for St. Louis Steven O'Dell, a former Marine, testified that one of Dunnavant-Polach's legs w...

Meet NASCAR Drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick at an East St. Louis McDonald's

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Several NASCAR stars will be making an appearance at the McDonald's on North 24th Street in East St. Louis Friday afternoon. Drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick will be there as a part of the Enjoy Illinois 300 weekend. The event is from 3 to 6 p.m. Five things to know for NASCAR’s Enjoy Illinois 300 this weekend A rally will be held at the McDonald's restaurant Friday. Wallace and Reddick will be there from 4 to 5 p.m. and customers can pose for pics with them and get autographs. Plus, there will be drink giveaways, bounce houses, yard games, a mobile video game truck, and photos with Grimace.NASCAR fans will be traveling to World Wide Technology Raceway for the race and three days worth of NASCAR-themed events. The raceway packed a sold-out crowd of 57,000 seats on race day, setting the stage for an encore this weekend.

RTD A-Line train strikes pedestrian, causing service disruptions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

An A-Line train struck a pedestrian at an Aurora station Thursday morning, injuring him and causing service disruptions on the commuter rail line for nearly three hours.The pedestrian was hospitalized with serious injuries and is expected to survive, according to Aurora police spokesman Matthew Longshore. The Regional Transportation District said A-Line trains were beginning to resume their normal schedule by early afternoon.The incident was reported at 9:50 a.m. at the Peoria Station. Longshore said the preliminary investigation determined the person struck by the train had crossed the tracks near the platform while a signal was warning of an approaching train.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | RTD plans two months of free fares this summer — and may not charge younger riders after that Crime and Public Safety | Heading to watch the NBA Finals at Ball Arena? Here’s how to get there by train or bus Crime and Public Safety | ...

Broncos have a new kicker, but coach Sean Payton makes it clear roster spots are up for grabs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

Denver had a kicker in attendance for its second week of OTAs in newly signed Elliott Fry.Coach Sean Payton made it clear that Fry — and everybody else, for that matter — shouldn’t feel overly comfortable.“We had a kicking battle one year in New Orleans, two guys, and man, (the reporters) all charted it each day during training camp and it was either-or, either-or,” Payton recalled. “This went on and on and it was one of those battles where I don’t know if I was any clearer after four weeks than I was when it began. They both did good things and then had days that maybe weren’t as good.“The final cut-down takes place to 53 (players) and I get a call from someone I know well with another staff that thinks he’s got a kicker and we bring him in on Monday, work him out and we sign neither of the two in the kicking battle.”Bottom line: You’re competing for a roster spot with players on your own team and also the other 31 in the league.“Don’t pay attention to the line in front of yo...

President Joe Biden falls on stage at Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

President Joe Biden fell on stage at the Air Force Academy Thursday afternoon, sparking looks of concern from onlookers there for the school’s annual graduation ceremony.Biden arrived at the academy, north of Colorado Springs, to make a commencement address for graduating cadets. On stage, the president praised the diversity of the academy and heralded the next generation of Air Force and Space Force officers.But during the end of the ceremony, the 80-year-old Biden turned to walk across the stage and tripped.An Air Force officer and two members of the U.S. Secret Service helped the president to his feet while onlookers – including members of the official delegation on stage – looked over in concern before Biden returned to his seat.The White House communications director, Ben LaBolt, tweeted out soon after that the president was fine and there was a sandbag on stage while Biden shook hands.During his 30-minute speech, Biden had warned cadets of the challenges they will soon face an...

Man acquitted of starting 2018 Holy Fire in Trabuco Canyon area of O.C.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

A man has been acquitted of starting the destructive Holy Fire in the Trabuco Canyon area of Orange County in 2018, officials said Thursday, though he was found guilty on another charge.Forrest Gordon Clark, 56, had been charged with aggravated arson with the intent to cause injury to another or damage property, arson of an inhabited property, arson of forest, making criminal threats and resisting arrest, according to the O.C. District Attorney’s Office. He was also facing an additional count of arson that caused multiple structures to burn. Man Suspected of Starting Holy Fire in Trabuco Canyon Area Charged He was acquitted on the arson charges, but was found guilty on the criminal threat charge, officials said.While it is unclear exactly how the Holy Fire was sparked, investigators at the time said they have evidence against Clark.Clark lived in the Holy Jim area for over a decade, and his cabin was the only one of 14 standing after the fire ripped through the neighborhood, the ...

New police data shows that crime has decreased in Los Angeles as the city plans to spend $3.2 billion on LAPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

The latest city budget, approved by the Los Angeles City Council in May, plans to allocate $3.2 billion to the LAPD, even though new police data show that crime in the city has moderately decreased this year.The data, recorded from April 23 to May 20, shows that the percentage of violent and property crimes has declined.Specifically, the number of rapes within the city has decreased 4.7% and robberies have decreased by 6.6% compared to the same time last year, the data show.Burglaries, vehicle thefts and homicide rates have also seen a decline, researchers found. U.S. Census data reveals the largest racial group in Los Angeles County The LAPD also shared additional positive crime statistics on Twitter, saying that homicides, hate crimes and fatal traffic crashes have decreased in L.A. this year compared to 2022.However, not all crime trends have seen a decline in the city. Experts did find that violent and property crimes, such as homicides and burglary or theft from a vehicle, di...

Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Kings star Domantas Sabonis join launch of health initiative for children under 5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:50 GMT

First 5 California launched an initiative called "Stronger Starts" on Thursday that’s aimed to rising awareness about mental health among the state’s youth. The non-profit launched the initiative by hosting an event at the Sacramento Zoo, which included appearances from California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Sacramento Kings all-star center Domantas Sabonis. According to the non-profit, the initiative is aimed at building awareness for families and caregivers around the impact of toxic stress response and the long-term effects adverse childhood experiences can have on young children until age 5.  Republic FC, Jennifer Siebel Newsom promote awareness of Suicide and Crisis Lifeline “This is another tool in the toolbox to address Californians' mental health challenges, especially those for our youth because it is the defining public health crisis of our time, ” Siebel Newsom said.Toxic stress is the physiological, psychological, and socio-economic effects on childre...