NoneGRASS LAKE, MI - Not everyone loves math as much as Lesley Choate does, but she thinks any student can learn to be comfortable with numbers in her classroom. Choate, 37, first fell in love with the field of mathematics while attending Bedford Public Schools in her hometown of Temperance. Her eighth-grade math teacher made the subject fun and engaging like no other teacher had before. Choate said she works hard to ensure her lessons are accessible even for so-called “math haters.” Following her graduation from Western Michigan University in 2011, Choate taught math for Kalamazoo Public Schools for three years before getting a job teaching academically at-risk students for the Pennfield School District in the Battle Creek area. By 2016, Choate had made the move to Grass Lake both personally and professionally. In addition to finding her way back into a math classroom, the move allowed her to live closer to the hometown of her husband - a Jackson County native - as well bringing her closer to her own family in Temperance. Now in her 13th year as an educator, Choate said she’s right where she wants to be teaching eighth grade math and algebra at Grass Lake Middle School. Choate sat down with MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot to talk about the trust and friendship she’s built with her peers and pupils at Grass Lake Community Schools, and the dedication she feels for making math a little easier for everyone. Jackson Citizen Patriot: Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired you to get into the field of education? Lesley Choate : I don’t think there was a specific thing, but when I was growing up I did baton-twirling, and I would love to help the little kids - I did a bit of coaching in middle school and high school. I just knew that I loved teaching and helping. I know I wanted to help - I wanted to be a cheerleader for these kids. That’s pretty much what made me want to be a teacher. Also, when I was in eighth grade, I had a math teacher at Bedford, Mr. (Brad) Reed, who really made me start to love math. I was like “I can do this - this is fun!” I actually don’t remember much of my math education up until that point. When I got to that class and realized how much fun it was, that’s when I decided I wanted to teach math. JCP: Why was working in the field you’re in such a calling for you? Choate : I know mathematics can be tricky for some kids. “I’m not a math person” they’ll say. I don’t really belief in that - I wanted to make math approachable for everyone, so even if you feel like you aren’t a math person, I want to make you feel like you can do it and be successful at it. It might be a little hard, but I want to give kids the tools to be successful at it even if it wasn’t their favorite thing. Do I want them to love math? Absolutely, but I get it and not everyone loves math. I want them to at least enjoy it while they’re here and get something out of the class, and I think the kids usual respect that I’m accepting of them no matter what their love for math is. JCP: Is there a specific moment from your career that you would consider to be the most rewarding? Choate : I got my masters degree in educational technology, and I think that has set me up for success and has led to some very rewarding things. I’ve gotten to do educational conferences, and in my building I' kind of the go-to tech person, and I feel like that’s been the most rewarding thing because like I said, I just love helping and I love teaching, so that background has allowed me to do those things, and I find a lot of joy in doing that. JCP: The field of education has changed and evolved in several ways in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic - in what ways, if any, have you changed or evolved in your role in the past few years? Choate : Being on Zoom helped me get a true insight into these children’s lives. They’re going through things, and when you see them on Zoom, you see things like sibling in the background and all the life that they’re experiencing every day. COVID really helped me see the whole child and what they’re going through - that they’re not just a student, they’re all these other things as well. I think it also gave me a great opportunity to pull into my educational technology background and really get to play with the fun new technology that’s out there. Since COVID, I feel like we’ve made a lot of progress with how we can use technology in the classroom, because we were kind of forced to with COVID. JCP: What is your favorite part of your job? Choate : I have a couple, because I really do love my job. I love my co-workers and the team that I’m with. My principal is wonderful, and I love the kids. I love reading to them every day when they come in and just trying to cheer them up and showing that positivity and kindness, no matter what they give back to me. If they’re having a crappy day, I’m still going to be kind, because you don’t know what’s causing them to have a bad day. As cheesy as it sounds, my favorite part is being able to encourage students and lift them up. If you know a K-12 educator in Jackson or Washtenaw counties who might make a good subject for the weekly “Meet the Teacher” series, send an email with their contact information to mkukulka@mlive.com . If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free “ 3@3 Jackson ” daily newsletter.
ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of any federal crimes his son might have committed. The 82-year-old president said in a statement that his son’s prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
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SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates ALTR, MPB, CDMO, AVAV on Behalf of ShareholdersThe New York Mets fell just short of a World Series appearance. They are one of five potential teams that could land Juan Soto, but they could potentially lose a big piece of their rotation as well. The Mets already lost Luis Severino to the Athletics. The Athletic's Jim Bowden noted that the team could also lose Sean Manaea to a three-year, $68 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles. "The Orioles are playing at the top of the starting pitching market — Corbin Burnes, Fried, Roki Sasaki and others — but if that fails, Manaea would be a solid backup plan after his breakout season with the Mets," wrote Bowden. Manaea had a career year with the Mets in his lone season. In 32 starts he had a 3.47 ERA, 184 strikeouts and 181 2/3 innings pitched. He set career bests for ERA and innings pitched while striking out the second most he ever has in a single season. The 32-year-old was a key part of the Mets' improbable postseason run. He threw 17 innings in his first three postseason starts and allowed five earned runs. He struck out 17 in that span. His quality start in Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies was a big reason the Mets were able to advance. He also threw a gem in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets' pursuit of Soto has frozen them out of signing other players. With the Soto sweepstakes coming to an end soon, Mananea could sign in the coming week. The Mets will likely be involved, but a team like the Orioles may value him more if they lose Corbin Burnes. More MLB: Dodgers could bring $180 million superstar to LA with yet another deferred deal
Police arrested a 26-year-old man on Monday in the Manhattan killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO after they say a Pennsylvania McDonald's worker alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. The suspect, identified by police as Luigi Nicholas Mangione, had a gun believed to be the one used in Wednesday’s attack on Brian Thompson , as well as writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. Here are some of the latest developments in the ongoing investigation: Where was the man captured? Mangione was taken into custody at around 9:15 a.m. after police received a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, police said. Mangione was being held in Pennsylvania on gun charges and will eventually be extradited to New York to face charges in connection with Thompson’s death, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. What evidence did police find? In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” Kenny said Mangione also had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Officers also found a suppressor, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” the commissioner said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, Tisch said. What do we know about Mangione? Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. Some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent people, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have had children attend the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things,” according to a post on the school website. He praised their collective inventiveness and pioneering mindset. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione, according to his obituary. Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes ranging from Catholic organizations to colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione. A spokesman for the lawmaker's office confirmed the relationship Monday. The shooting and a quick escape Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Just 11 minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspected shooter exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. ___ Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore and Cedar Attanasio in New York contributed to this report. Sean Murphy And Maryclaire Dale, The Associated Press
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BEIJING , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baijiayun Group Ltd ("Baijiayun" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: RTC), a one-stop AI video solution provider, recently announced it has completed autumn upgrade. Driven by both technological development and market demands, the audio and video technology service market has entered a period of intensive cultivation and development. Baijiayun recently announced that it has carried out an important upgrade to its live and on-demand products, aiming to enhance the quality of live and on-demand products and provide customers with more targeted services. In terms of live broadcast products and services, Baijiayun has added multiple new functions. The newly added "My Invitation" and "Invitation Leaderboard" functions enable users watching the live broadcast to share the live broadcast link with one click and easily invite others to watch the live broadcast. The list of successfully invited users will be clearly displayed in the "My Invitation" area in the live broadcast room, enabling users to view their invitation results and sense of accomplishment of sharing. The newly added "Chat Messages on the Wall" function in the live broadcast room brings a brand-new experience to classroom interaction. Teachers or teaching assistants in the group classroom live broadcast room can easily set the wonderful remarks of students as "on the wall" for display, and the on-wall operation can be completed by double-clicking the message. This function not only enables teachers to highlight students' excellent viewpoints in real time but also makes the students whose remarks are set on the wall feel valued and encouraged, and at the same time greatly enhances the interactivity and participation of the classroom. Through this function, students can participate more actively in classroom discussions and jointly create an active and efficient learning atmosphere. In addition to the comprehensive optimization of live broadcast functions, Baijiayun has also carried out innovative upgrades in the on-demand video function. Among them, the addition of the on-demand intelligent translation function provides users with a more convenient and efficient learning experience. Baijiayun's live and on-demand products have added an "Intelligent Translation" service. It not only automatically generates bilingual subtitles but also allows intelligent translation, secondary editing, and deletion of subtitle content for the automatically generated subtitles and custom uploaded subtitle files. On the viewing end, students can choose to display bilingual or single-language subtitles according to their own needs. The intelligent translation function also provides educational institutions and teachers with a broader market and development space. Through translated subtitles, they can promote their course content to the global market and attract more students and fans. This not only helps to enhance their popularity and influence but also brings more business opportunities and benefits. About Baijiayun Group Ltd Baijiayun is a one-stop AI video solution provider with core expertise in SaaS/PaaS solutions. Baijiayun is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality video experiences across devices and localities and has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017. Premised on its industry-leading video-centric technologies, Baijiayun offers a wealth of video-centric technology solutions, including Video SaaS/PaaS, Video Cloud and Software, and Video AI and System Solutions. Baijiayun caters to the evolving communications and collaboration needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries. For more information, please visit ir.baijiayun.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the documents the Company has filed or furnished or may file or furnish with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. For investor and media enquiries, please contact: Company Contact: Ms. Fangfei Liu Chief Financial Officer, Baijiayun Group Ltd Phone: +86 25 8222 1596 Email: ir@baijiayun.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/continuously-optimize-user-experience-baijiayuns-live-and-on-demand-products-complete-autumn-upgrade-302313368.html SOURCE Baijiayun Group Ltd