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Olympics in India a 'dream' facing many hurdlesMINNEAPOLIS — A DFL state representative-elect said Friday he will not appeal a judge's ruling that he is ineligible to hold the office because he did not meet residency requirements for the district. In a letter to Gov. Tim Walz, Curtis Johnson said he has "made the difficult decision not to accept my seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives and to resign from the Office of State Representative effective immediately and irrevocably." "While I disagree with the conclusion reached by the District Court, I recognize that whatever the decision on appeal, the ultimate decision belongs to the Legislature, where it appears there is no viable pathway for me being allowed to retain my seat," he added. Johnson's decision means a special election will be held to fill the seat. Earlier this month, a Ramsey County judge ruled Johnson did not live in District 40B for six months before the election as required by the state constitution. Johnson's GOP challenger, Paul Wikstrom, filed the election contest alleging Johnson did not live in the Roseville apartment he claimed as his residence and instead lived in a house in Little Canada. That city is now part of another district thanks to redistricting following the most recent Census. Johnson said his family considered purchasing a new home in the new district, but decided to rent while they continued their search, which proved harder than expected. Johnson's refusal to appeal also means the balance of power in the state House will go from a 67-67 tie among Republicans and Democrats to a one-seat GOP majority, at least until the special election is held. "I am pleased that Mr. Johnson has accepted the court's clear decision that there should be a special election to ensure that residents of 40B are represented by someone from their own district," GOP House Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth said. "This confirms that Republicans will have an organizational majority on day one, and we look forward to ensuring that a valid candidate represents District 40B in the upcoming legislative session." The GOP's slim majority is not enough to pass legislation without DFL buy-in — 68 votes are required to approve bills on the floor — but it will allow Republicans to pick a speaker and make other decisions about how the chamber operates. When the court made its ruling, DFL House Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman said Johnson would appeal, and that she expected the Minnesota Supreme Court to dismiss the case. District 40B includes Shoreview and Roseville. Anthony Bettin is a web producer at CBS Minnesota. He primarily covers breaking news and sports, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings.
NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. January It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. February Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. March “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. April Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. May It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. June Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. July Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. August This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. September One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. October “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. November MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. December “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!BREAKING: Sharia court Inauguration in Oyo postponed indefinitely, details emerge
A civil jury in Ireland finds that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor assaulted a woman in a hotel. (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert misstated the claim the jury found him liable for.)
FSK Completes Public Offering of $100 million 6.125% Unsecured Notes Due 2030Christmas lunch at risk due to blackouts
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Technology stocks led a broad rally on Wall Street Tuesday during a holiday-shortened trading session ahead of Christmas. The S&P 500 rose 1.1% for its third-straight gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.9%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. While Big Tech companies, including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped push the market higher, the gains were widespread. Advancers outnumbered decliners by more than 3-to-1 on the New York Stock Exchange. Broadcom rose 3.2%, Apple gained 1.1% and Amazon closed 1.8% higher. Super Micro Computer climbed 6%. Tesla jumped 7.4% for the biggest gains among S&P 500 stocks. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended with a 0.6% gain after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Elsewhere in the market, U.S. Steel rose 1.9% a day after an influential government panel failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of the nearly $15 billion proposed sale to Nippon Steel of Japan. NeueHealth surged 74.9% after the health care company agreed to be taken private in a deal valued at roughly $1.3 billion. All told, the S&P 500 rose 65.97 points to 6,040.04. The Dow added 390.08 points to 43,297.03, and the Nasdaq rose 266.24 points to 20,031.13. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59%. European markets closed mostly higher. Markets in Asia mostly gained ground. Tuesday’s U.S. market rally comes as the stock market enters what’s historically been a very cheerful season. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. The so-called “Santa rally” also correlates closely with positive returns in January and the upcoming year. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the stock market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 26.6% so far this year and remains within roughly 1% of the all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. U.S. markets will be closed Wednesday for Christmas. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to this week, including a weekly update on unemployment benefits on Thursday.Nashville Predators (7-11-3, in the Central Division) vs. New Jersey Devils (14-7-2, in the Metropolitan Division) Newark, New Jersey; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Nashville Predators visit the New Jersey Devils after Roman Josi scored two goals in the Predators' 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. New Jersey has a 5-3-2 record in home games and a 14-7-2 record overall. The Devils have a 14-2-2 record in games they score three or more goals. Nashville is 7-11-3 overall and 2-5-3 on the road. The Predators are 7-2-0 in games they score at least three goals. The teams meet Monday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hischier has 10 goals and 11 assists for the Devils. Luke Hughes has over the last 10 games. Filip Forsberg has eight goals and eight assists for the Predators. Adam Wilsby has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Devils: 7-3-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.2 assists, 4.9 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. INJURIES: Devils: None listed. Predators: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated Press
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Cooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level MediaAaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal
BREAKING: Sharia court Inauguration in Oyo postponed indefinitely, details emerge
New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil
Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Nittany Lions regulars sustain serious leg injuries at Minnesota
Hundreds of families staying in emergency accommodation in Dublin have been there for two or more years, according to data from the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE). Homeless numbers reached record levels this year, with latest figures showing a total of 14,966 people used emergency accommodation services in the last week of October, including 4,645 children in 2,161 families. Of the 10,321 adults using emergency services, 7,388 of those were in Dublin. “There is no denying how bad the situation is, specifically in Dublin,” said Mary Hayes, director of the DRHE. “Dublin has 70pc of national homelessness, and a lot of national homelessness is a government issue.” Data from the DRHE shows that, at the end of October this year, 376 families had been in emergency accommodation in Dublin for more than two years. That represents a quarter of the 1,512 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin at the end of October. More than half (56pc) of families in such accommodation are there less than a year, with 35pc of those there less than six months. Alongside this, 3,448 children were residing in emergency accommodation in Dublin, marking an increase of 388 compared to October 2023. Despite prevention measures and social housing supports, the number of families entering homelessness continues to outpace the number leaving it. On average, 81 new families present for emergency housing each month, while only 58 families exit into tenancies. To address this situation, a number of so-called “family hubs” were introduced by the Government in 2017. The idea was for families to stay in these centres for a limited time, with the goal of providing more stability and support services while they waited for permanent housing. However, 37 of these hubs are still in operation today, with many families staying far longer than expected. The DRHE, led by Dublin City Council, is the primary body responsible for co-ordinating the response to homelessness across the Dublin region. This includes collaboration with South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Ms Hayes said the immediate priority when she took over the role of director, was “less about having more hubs”, but there was a huge reliance on commercial accommodation such as hotels. Mary Hayes, director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive “The big focus for me was to get stable, contracted, private emergency accommodation,” she said. “So what we’ve done now is we have a lot of stable emergency accommodation which was not in place back when hubs were brought in. “Back then there was a reliance on the commercial sector, but it was night by night or week by week and we didn’t have contracts in place, standards and inspections. “We have all of that in place now for the private emergency accommodation sector, so on the physical side, we now insist on standards being in place. There are independent inspections and our own inspections .” According to the latest available figures, the DRHE spent an estimated €226.2m on the delivery of emergency accommodation last year. Ms Hayes said this was “the worst possible use of funds”. “It does not represent good social, human or financial value, and every other type of housing option is better than emergency accommodation,” she said. “We need to focus on fixing the supply issue, not just social housing, but stabilising the rental sector as well.” She also acknowledged that once families enter homelessness, it becomes more difficult for them to leave. “Once families are in homelessness, they are less willing to move out quickly, and it’s the security of tenure in housing assistance that becomes a major concern,” she said. “There are myriad factors for people entering homelessness. You may have families who, perhaps, have a homelessness situation but haven’t applied for social housing until they came into the system. “If you’ve got larger family sizes, that can be difficult and problematic. “Homelessness is no longer about personal circumstances, it’s about needing sufficient supply. “Notice of termination, for reasons such as landlord sale, is the single biggest driver of family homelessness in Dublin .” Speaking about what the DRHE would like to focus on with a new incoming government, Ms Hayes said she would like to “build on the momentum that was already there”. “Housing First has been one of the really good things brought in by the last government,” she said. “Even very chronic homeless people can still be housed as long as you provide enough supports around them.” Speaking about what can be done to make families experiencing homelessness feel better around the festive season, Ms Hayes said the NGOs “go out of their way”. “They make all sorts of efforts to normalise the experience for families, especially during Christmas,” she said. “The NGOs are exceptional when it comes to just that little bit extra and try to make it a very child-friendly experience, even within the family services. “We also recognise that families will perhaps want to go to their family’s home for Christmas and we can facilitate all of that throughout the Christmas period,” she added.Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Albany teachers and district officials have yet to land a deal on a new contract, as the strike enters its third week. However, there was movement over the key issue of managing class size over the weekend. A Place to Sleep, episode 2: Albany, part II Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty. In mediation updates released Sunday night, Nov. 24, by Greater Albany Public Schools, the district’s communications director Becca Mallery said the district had offered teachers a class size fund of $500,000 per year. That's up from their $300,000 offer. That fund could be tapped to staff up classrooms like by adding an educational assistant or hiring another teacher, which the district estimates would cost GAPS around $100,000. The union had previously asked for a $1.5 million fund, though late last week lowered their ask to $500,000 for the first year of any approved contract, while demanding a $1.5 million fund for the second and third years of an agreement. 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Margaret Atwood OSU event altered over threats Tree farm fiasco has Corvallis homelessness under microscope The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County Commentary: Gulbranson shows he should be starter in thrilling win over Cougars Albany's Joel Dahl pleads guilty to sex crime involving minor Strike over: Benton County, union reach tentative deal Philomath woman suspected in Eugene Airport bomb scare American flag thrown by driver fleeing Benton County deputies Sweet Home man sentenced for crash that injured his daughter Bomb cyclone, flood risk in Benton County this week In trying to flee, suspect accused of driving over Albany police officer OSU women's basketball: Ferreira brings versatility to the Beavers' lineup OSU football: Game notes for the Beavers' win over Washington State Head-on crash on Highway 228 kills 1, injures 2 UPDATED: Feds halt drawdown at Green Peter Reservoir after local cities complain The GAPS bargaining team has also offered lower class size thresholds for its pre-k through eighth grade classes for core subjects like English, math and social studies. The district offered lower thresholds for Title 1 or higher poverty schools in the district. Striking teachers at West Albany High School and Memorial Middle School formed picket lines along Queen Avenue, on Nov. 12. The strike has entered its third week. Those thresholds, when surpassed, would prompt a review process from a school building committee, which would make recommendation on how to address a classroom’s size, with options like hiring additional staff and blending classrooms on the table. Those recommendations would be presented to the district’s Human Resources director, other district officials and the union’s president, who will all ultimately decide how funds are spent. Appeals to their decisions would go before the superintendent and then the school board, which would have the final say. The union has previously requested hard class size caps and has tied the issue of high-class sizes to classroom safety and challenges managing student behavior. In their own statement, the Greater Albany Education Association said “small progress” was made over the weekend, but that the process offered by the district to address class size concerns "restricts teacher voice and choice." No mediation was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25. While the district’s nearly 9,000 students were scheduled to be off this week for parent-teacher conferences and the Thanksgiving break, conferences were canceled because of the strike. GAPS students will have been out of school for a total of three weeks since Nov. 11, missing nine school days. Albany teachers started their first strike in decades on Nov. 12 , after Veterans Day. Since then, organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Albany have seen an uptick in demand for their services. According to an update from Albany City Manager Peter Troedsson last Friday, the school closure has also driven demand for Albany Public Library services, with staff creating 93 new accounts since the strike began — 30 of which are youth accounts — and experiencing a doubling in youth program participants. With no deal over the weekend, teachers were back at their picket lines, Monday, Nov. 25. Striking teachers also scheduled community forums Monday evening at the Linn-Benton Community College Calapooia Center at the Albany campus. Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Reporter Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths here in Florida. Here’s whyOK Vancouver Canucks , let’s gather around. Draw close. Feel the warmth of the fire and the company. And let’s see what Santa brought each of you this winter. Teddy Blueger : Blasting through double-digits in goals for the first time and a charming poem. Brock Boeser : Forty goals and the promise of a shiny new contract. Erik Brännström : A giant gingerbread house and a nice new one-way contract. Jake DeBrusk : Thirty goals. You’re halfway there. And a new Taylor Swift album. Vincent Desharnais : Slippers, for his new catlike steps. And a goal. Just a goal. Phil DiGiuseppe : A heaping of NHL minutes and a festive panettone. Derek Forbort : Good health. And like Big Vin, a goal for him too. Conor Garland : More Selke votes. Lots more goals. A few sharks in there too. Danton Heinen : Home cooking and a commemorative framed portrait of his first-ever professional hockey fight. Nils Höglander : A fishing rod and a new rifle, both good items for sitting quietly in the bush and contemplating happier times on the ice. Filip Hronek : Adamantium for his shoulder and carp scales for his wallet. Quinn Hughes : Simple shopping here: The Hart AND Conn Smythe trophies. Dakota Joshua : Good health and goals. Happier times ahead for the big man. Noah Juulsen : A clutch of really, really good, well-timed hits. How about a nice little raise in a new contract? J.T. Miller : Health, happiness — and silence. Lots and lots of silence. Tyler Myers : Eight hours uninterrupted sleep. A referee who looks at him and thinks “penalty for being tall.” Elias Pettersson : No more questions. Just vibes. And goals. Lots and lots of goals. Max Sasson : Eight Crazy Nights. The DVD. Kiefer Sherwood : His hands have been outstanding form. Here’s a new pair of soft eczema gloves. Carson Soucy : Similar to Dad Myers, eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Also the world’s longest hockey stick, so his reach can be truly undefeated. Pius Suter : Peace on earth and 20 goals. Rick Tocchet : Staples, literal staples, and a full 60 minute effort. And no more soap operas, only videos of Hockey’s 100 Greatest Goals. Patrik Allvin : A couple nice head shavers, a new cover for his phone and a defenceman in a pear tree. Jim Rutherford : No more insiders and the dream of a calm, peaceful and stress-free game day. And there we have. A smattering for all. Happy Holidays, friends. pjohnston@postmedia.com