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State senator chosen to be Missouri's next top educator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A state senator will not be running for re-election next year because she has been chosen to lead Missouri's education department.After seven years as the commissioner for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Margie Vandeven will resign in July. Instead of conducting a national search, the State Board of Education appointed a former assistant commissioner to be Missouri's next top educator."This is our time in Missouri to make a difference for all of the children of Missouri, the families and the educators," board member Kerry Casey said. "Missouri cannot continue in the status quo. Missouri cannot not be a leader in education. We need to be at the head of the pack, not the middle of the pack, and not at the end."A familiar face is returning to the state's education department. Sen. Karla Eslinger, R-Wasola, has a long background in education. From teacher and principal to superintendent to assistant commissioner at DESE and then serving...

On the border, the perfect burrito is a thin, foil-wrapped treasure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

By Pati Jinich, The New York TimesCIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico — One bite of a chile verde con papas burrito at Burritos Sarita in Ciudad Juárez has the power to shatter whatever preconceived notions you have about burritos. In it, a pillowy-soft flour tortilla, with hints of smoke from the griddle, swaddles a fragrant mix of tender potatoes, caramelized onions and fire-roasted chile verde that is coated in a salty and tangy thick crema.From start to finish, the tin-foiled treasure is delicate and neat. Burrito renditions far from this border city tend to be overstuffed, oversized, overdressed and overblown. But here, a purist burrito, as locals call it, has only what it needs: one tortilla, one filling.“It is our hallmark,” said Paty Covarrubias, the food truck’s general manager, of burritos’ importance to the city. She has been working for her aunt Sarita Alfaro’s business since she was 14.“My tía taught me you have to know how to make every part of the burrito yourself,” she said....

CHSAA’s first state football championships at Canvas Stadium exceed average attendance for games at Broncos’ stadium, event sponsor says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

With the first high school football state titles at Canvas Stadium in the books, fans showed they are willing to head north for championship football.The Class 5A and 4A title games pitting Columbine vs. Cherry Creek and Erie vs. Palmer Ridge drew a combined attendance of approximately 12,500 to Fort Collins last Saturday, according to a spokesperson for event sponsor Canvas Credit Union.That estimate exceeds six of the final seven “Championship Saturdays” held at Empower Field, where the games were played from 2005-22, minus the 2020 COVID year.“I was a little hesitant about what to think as far as sending two metro schools up to Fort Collins for the game,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry admitted, “but I thought our crowd was really good and the stadium was beautiful. I don’t think it impacted our fans traveling.”The 12,500 figure represents 1,500 more than last year’s crowd in Denver. Over the 17 years the games were played in the Bronco...

Home sales are expected to soar in these California cities next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

With mortgage rates finally easing, many California cities are expected to see home sales rebound significantly next year, according to a new forecast from Realtor.com.Five metro areas are predicted to see double-digit, year-over-year sales growth in 2024.They are Oxnard-Thousand Oaks (18%), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (13.8%), Bakersfield (13.4%), San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad (11%) and Sacramento (10.3%). Home sales in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area are predicted to climb 9.2% after seeing declining sales for two years. You can still find homes well below $500K in these California counties The online real estate portal ranked the top 100 markets based on two factors: expected single-family home sales growth and anticipated growth in median home prices. In all six of those California markets, prices are expected to climb by more than 40% over the 2017-19 average, according to Realtor."Among California metros, an interesting split emerges. Five California metros entered our...

Christmas Grinches targeting homes in Riverside County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

As Southern Californians prepare for the holiday season, Christmas Grinches targeting Riverside County homes remain at large.On Dec. 1 at around 4:30 a.m., Alexandra Falcon’s surveillance video caught at least two suspects trespassing on her property on Calle Vejar in Moreno Valley.“A group of guys were on my lawn and on my neighbor's as well and they had unplugged from the extension chord on two of our inflatables,” Falcon said.The woman’s security cameras captured at least two people stealing large, pricey Christmas decorations from the homes on her street.“We had a singular reindeer, like a Rudolph reindeer, and then we had a Santa,” Falcon said.Video from Falcon and her neighbor across the street shows a man approaching Falcon's home, then walking away. Minutes later, he returns to grab the holiday inflatables from her front lawn and calmly walks away.Surveillance video captures two thieves stealing large, pricey Christmas decorations from a Moreno Valley neighborhood on Dec. 1,...

3 German shepherds struck, killed in Canyon Country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

At least three German shepherds are dead after they were hit on a highway in Canyon Country on Monday, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal.The dogs, which were initially thought to be coyotes, were hit at about 12:40 a.m. on the northbound side of Highway 14 at Sand Canyon Road, California Highway Patrol Officer Josh Greengard told the Signal.Officers found the dogs dead at the scene.The origin of the canines is unknown.

71-year-old substitute teacher reportedly assaults high school student

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

A 71-year-old substitute teacher is under investigation after allegations that she assaulted a high school student earlier this week, authorities announced Monday.  Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to Yucca Valley High School, located at 7600 Sage Ave., at around 8:30 a.m. Dec. 4 on reports “of an assault on a student by a staff member,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.  It is unclear what led up to the alleged confrontation or exactly what happened, but the staff member, identified as Twentynine Palms resident Alice Barbee, was separated from the student, who was not injured during the incident, authorities said.  School officials and deputies with the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Department launched an investigation into the allegations.  The 71-year-old substitute teacher was placed on administrative leave by officials with the Morongo Unified School District at the conclusion of their investigation.   Dr...

Chef Shuffle: Test Kitchen Tuesdays At Selva Plus Team Dinners at Olivia and Holbox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

Colombian-born Chef Carlos Jurado of Selva ventures beyond his Colombian roots to experiment with a new menu to be featured in a once-a-month evening dining series. Selva, owned by Long Beach locals and restaurateurs Geoff and Karna Rau, is located in the emerging Zaferia District of Long Beach.The six-course menu includes dishes like scallop crudo with yuzu kosho, fermented aji amarillo, coconut vinaigrette and squid ink tuile, croquettes of duck confit with rocoto chili jam and bresaola, and pumpkin nuegados with chancaca, a warm sweet sauce made from sugarcane and crema. Bar Director Mike Borowski will design cocktail pairings for each dish like the La Rosa featuring rose, apple, pomegranate, lemon and amaro or The Blueberry Thing with muddled blueberries, gin, lemon, pineapple, violet liqueur, and luxardo. The event takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 9, (limited to 24 seats only). Tickets, schedule and reservations go live this week and are available at www.selvalbc.com. Reservations ...

Ally says Trump would ‘come after’ people in media in second term

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

By Michelle L. Price | Associated PressNEW YORK — A Donald Trump ally who worked in his Justice Department said Tuesday that if the former president is elected again, his administration will retaliate against people in the media “criminally or civilly.”Kash Patel, who was also chief of staff in the Defense Department and held a role on the National Security Council, made the comment on Steve Bannon’s podcast. He said that, in a second Trump administration, “We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media,” over the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed the election was stolen, despite the fact that numerous federal and local officials, a long list of courts, top former campaign staffers and even his own attorney general have all said there is no evidence of the fraud he alleges. Trump has also promised “retribution” as a central part of his campaig...

Richmond pastor charged with 16 counts in 4-victim child molestation case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:21 GMT

RICHMOND — An East Bay pastor has been charged with 16 counts related to a massive child molestation investigation that so far has uncovered four alleged victims, court records show.Victor Manuel Hernandez-Pineda, of the Iglesia Pentecostes Movimiento De Gloria, was charged with kidnapping, multiple counts of forcible rape, committing lewd acts upon a minor, and annoying or molesting a minor. He remains in jail in lieu of $7 million bail, which is likely to be raised even more at his arraignment Wednesday morning.Hernandez-Pineda was arrested last week after a tip from one of the victims that led to police obtaining a warrant to arrest him on suspicion of kidnapping and child molestation, authorities said. In the days since his arrest, three more girls, all younger than 16, have come forward, authorities said.Hernandez-Pineda, 53, is listed as the director of the Richmond church located on 3rd Street at Macdonald Avenue. He lives in Oakland. His attorney could not immediately ...