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Academic coaches help students finish community college

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (AP) — A decade after dropping out, Briana Mathis, a 30-year-old mother of two, is navigating her first year back at Wallace Community College. She was recruited back to the school in Dothan, Alabama, by the staff at a new student support center. The same adviser has kept her on track by helping her appeal a financial aid decision and checking in regularly on her progress. “I definitely needed the guidance, and I probably wouldn’t have gotten this far without the guidance,” Mathis said.Two-year community colleges, which serve many of the students who need the most support, have the lowest completion rates of any kind of university or college. The availability of advisers, students say, is often a deciding factor in who succeeds. In Alabama, a number of community colleges have sought new ways to help students through whatever life and academic challenges come up until they graduate. ___EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of Saving the College Dream, a collaboration be...

Taliban ban restaurant gardens for families, women in Herat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban have banned families and women from restaurants with gardens or green spaces in Afghanistan’s northwestern Herat province, an official said Monday. The moves followed complaints from religious scholars and members of the public about mixing of genders in such places, he said. It was the latest in a slew of restrictions imposed by the Taliban since they took power in August 2021. They have shut girls out of classrooms beyond sixth grade and women from universities, most types of employment, including jobs at the United Nations. They are also banned from public spaces such as parks and gyms. Authorities say the curbs are in place because of gender mixing or because women allegedly are not wearing the hijab, or Islamic headscarf, correctly. The outdoor dining ban only applies to establishments in Herat, where such premises remain open to men. Baz Mohammad Nazir, a deputy official from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue’s directorate in Her...

'Elf' and 'Barton Fink' actor Michael Lerner dies, family confirms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Michael Lerner, the actor who starred in "Elf," "Barton Fink," and more, died over Easter weekend, his family said. "We lost a legend last night," wrote Sam Lerner, Michael's nephew, in an Instagram post Sunday. "It’s hard to put into words how brilliant my uncle Michael was, and how influential he was to me. His stories always inspired me and made me fall in love with acting." FILE - Actor Michael Lerner arrives at the Geffen Playhouse on December 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joshua Blanchard/FilmMagic)Sam followed in his uncle's footsteps and also became an actor, starring in the TV series "The Goldbergs." Michael Lerner's career spanned 60 years. His first of his 183 acting credits on IMDb dates back to 1963. Thousands of purple creatures wash ashore in California He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1991 for his supporting role in "Barton Fink," a Coen brothers dark comedy. In 2003, Lerner starred in the Christmas comedy "Elf" opposite Will F...

Man killed after car hits light post on Southwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was killed in a car crash on the Southwest Side Monday morning. Police responded to a crash near the 6100 block of South Cicero Avenue where a vehicle jumped the curb, striking a light post and tree before coming to a complete stop. 18-year-old man shot while attempting to break into business on North Side The man sustained trauma to the body and was pronounced dead on the scene. There were no further injuries reported and police are investigating the incident.

2 wanted after man robbed at knifepoint on Red Line

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Two suspects are wanted after a man was robbed at knifepoint on a Red Line train last week.On Tuesday, a man was riding at Red Line train northbound near Morse when he was verbally confronted by a rider sitting across from him, police said.Another rider then stole the man's cellphone and backpack at knifepoint. Suburban ringleader gets 9 years in USPS mail-for-cash scheme No suspects are in custody. Anyone with information can call police at 312-745-4706 or submit a tip at cpdtip.com.

Bodies of missing musician and his son found in Arkansas lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KDVR) — After 24 days of searching, the bodies of a band member and his son were recovered from an Arkansas lake. The Benton County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas confirmed on Facebook Sunday that crews found the bodies of Chuck and Charley Morris.Chuck was a percussionist for the band Lotus, an electronica house band formed out of Philadelphia and Denver. Charley was attending college in Ohio, Nexstar's WDAF reported.Chuck and Charley originally went kayaking on Beaver Lake in Arkansas on March 16. The father and son were supposed to return from the trip at 2 p.m. that day, but when it got to 4 p.m. with no sign of them, police were called and began searching. Two kayaks and a coat were found in the water. Colorado cheer coach accused of inappropriate behavior with minor “It’s just something you never expect to hear,” said bandmate Luke Miller. “We all hope for the best, but it didn’t work out.”Crews spent 24 days looking for Chuck and Charley, and the Benton Cou...

Texas is growing fast. How often are city limit population signs updated?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas is home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the country. So, how often are the populations updated on city limit signs?The Texas Department of Transportation, responsible for installing city limit signs, can update city populations every two years at the most. RELATED: New population estimates reveal fastest-growing cities in Texas The TxDOT online manual says the signs are updated at the city's request, and the department does not initiate these revisions. While city limit signs can be installed on any highway or freeway, the city's population can only be listed on conventional roads. So, for example, you won't see Austin's population listed on city limit signs along Interstate 35. TxDOT requires a city to meet one of these requirements for a city limit sign to be added:the area is listed in the U.S. Census,the area is in the latest Texas Almanac under "cities and towns," and/orthe area is on the latest "Texas Official Travel Map" Does Texas require ...

Texas No. 1 state for severe weather insurance claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Now that we're a fourth of the way through 2023, insurance companies have been able to gather data on claims for 2022. The data is not good news for Texas; we were the No. 1 state for severe weather insurance claims in the country.KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with Chris Lewis from Allstate Insurance Company about new data on severe weather claims here locally.Meteorologist Nick Bannin: Chris, you have some new data about just how much severe weather we had in Texas, and compare that to what we look like nationally, right? Chris Lewis, Allstate: Yeah, absolutely. So probably not a list we want to be on top of, but we are number one in the country when it comes to severe weather, and have been there pretty consistently over the last few years.Bannin: What types of severe weather did we have the most of in 2022 here in Texas?Lewis: Yeah, so definitely the biggest problems we see are wind, and specifically hail. We had 458 separate hail events last year in the ...

Wisconsin mourns after two cops killed in traffic stop shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

MADISON, Wis.  — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Sunday “our hearts are heavy” a day after two police officers were shot to death during a traffic stop.“Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers’ families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss,” Evers posted on Twitter.The Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement late Saturday that it was investigating the shooting in Cameron.An officer from the Chetek Police Department conducted a traffic stop around 3:38 p.m. and at some point gunfire was exchanged with the motorist, the department said.The Chetek officer and another officer from Cameron were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect in the shooting was taken to a hospital and later died, the department said.The names of the officers and the suspect were not immediately released.The deaths of the ...

Country star Walker Hayes to perform at Hudson Valley Rodeo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:00 GMT

AMENIA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Country star Walker Hayes is set to perform at the third annual Hudson Valley Rodeo in Amenia on September 16. The rodeo is set to take place at the Keane Stud Farm at 217 Depot Hill Road. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The family-friendly rodeo features Mutton Bustin’, Barrel Racing, Roping, Bronc Riding, and Bull Riding. Doors open at noon with family-friendly activities and the rodeo begins at 3 p.m. The event also includes food trucks and vendors.Hayes is set to perform at 7 p.m. He is best known for the songs "Fancy Like," "You Broke Up with Me," and "AA." Old Dominion postpones MVP Arena concert All net proceeds from this event will benefit the Amenia-Wassaic Community Organization and its programs. You can buy tickets to this event on the Hudson Valley Rodeo website.