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Dell Jewish Community Center celebrates grand re-opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A center of Jewish life in Central Texas reached a milestone Monday as Shalom Austin celebrated the official grand re-opening of a renovated and expanded Dell Jewish Community Center. Shalom Austin said the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation matched $6.25 million of the more than $25 million capital campaign to aid in the construction. Dell JCC is named after Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell and his wife Susan.The Dells joined Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration, which according to Shalom Austin, also included remarks from Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Council Member Alison Alter, and JCC Association of North America President and CEO Doron Krakow. The new two-story, 37,805-square-foot Dell JCC facility has expanded to include a state-of-the-art fitness center, living room, café, education center, meeting rooms, and all-gender restrooms, according to Shalom Austin. Shalom Austin said the grand opening happened exactly 30 years after the 40-acre campus had...

Jay Mathews: Rejected by a top-tier college? Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your chances for future success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

There is nervousness in the homes of ambitious American high school students awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University. Will the justices upend preferences for certain racial and ethnic groups? Will they ruin the chances of many teenagers getting into a top school, which would bring them lifelong success?The answer to the second question is no, regardless of how the court rules.Affirmative action admission policies can help colleges achieve greater diversity on their campuses. But in the course of that public debate, we do college applicants great harm if we give them the false impression they will do better in life if they attend highly selective schools.Long-standing research shows that except for some low-income students, being admitted to the most selective colleges has no significant effect on whether those young people achieve their dreams for life.We’re all naturally fascinated with ...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: My Coworker Talks On Her Speakerphone In the Lunch Room

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma is about talking on your speakerphone. Here's the email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I'm having an issue at work, and I'm hoping I can get some good advice. I work in a nice place. Most of my coworkers are fantastic. However, there is one coworkers who feels the need to have conversations on her speaker phone in our office lunch room. It's so annoying. We're all trying to have conversations and she's shushing us because she can't hear what her phone mate is saying. Well put the phone to your ear!!!! Several of us have said something to her, but she just won't stop. We're considering going to the boss, but we don't want to be jerks either. What would you do? Hope you can help! Thanks so much JaneWell, it sounds like several of you have tried talking with her about it and she won't stop. So at this point, I think I would hang a sign in the lunchroom that s...

New Siena Poll covers Hochul, NYS budget, elections, etc.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new Siena poll released on Tuesday gave insight into Governor Hochul’s favorability rating, as its gone negative for the first time. The poll also highlighted how New Yorkers feel about the new state budget, minimum wage increase, cracking down on unlicensed cannabis sellers, mental health, and more. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the poll, 45% view Gov. Hochul unfavorably compared to 40% who disagree. Also, her job approval rating slid to 50% from 52% in March. Voters were evenly split on whether Hochul is effective, with each side sitting at 39%. Voters were also even on if she is a strong leader, with each side at 40%. A majority 58% believe she is hardworking, with 20% disagreeing.Image via new Siena Poll released May 16, 2023“While voters think that the recently passed budget and many of its specifics will be good for New York, at the same time they also give Hochul her worst-e...

Pittsfield PD finds missing woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Pittsfield police have found Tara Cremin, a 25-year-old woman who was reported missing on Monday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Pittsfield Police Department thanks the public for their help in finding Cremin.

Ask Amy: Elderly mother is caught in an anxious cycle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

Dear Amy: My mother raised eight children. She is now in her late-70s, and lives alone.Recently she received a cancer diagnosis and we have been taking turns getting her to appointments and helping with errands, chores, meals, etc.We are happy to help, and tell her so.My problem is that she gets very emotional and constantly apologizes to us, saying variations of: “Children should never have to care for their mother” and stating that she is “a burden” to us.Constant reassurance from us is not helping.How can we help her to understand that we want to help, and are happy to do so?She spent many years caring for her own mother at the end of my grandmother’s life, so I’m not sure if that is part of it or not.What do you think?— Feeling HelplessDear Helpless: I suspect that your mother’s lengthy experience taking care of her own mother probably is a factor informing her emotional response now.People seldom talk about this, but for some, caregivin...

Durham report on Trump-Russia investigation: What led to it and what happens next

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

By ERIC TUCKER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — An investigation into the origins of the FBI’s probe into ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign has finally been concluded, with prosecutor John Durham submitting a much-awaited report that found major flaws.The report, the culmination of a four-year investigation into possible misconduct by U.S. government officials, contained withering criticism of the FBI but few significant revelations. Nonetheless, it will give fodder to Trump supporters who have long denounced the Russia investigation. Meanwhile Trump opponents will likely point to the Durham team’s meager court record — one guilty plea and two acquittals at trial — as proof that the probe was a politically motivated farce.A look at the investigation and the report:WHO IS JOHN DURHAM?Durham has spent decades as a Justice Department prosecutor, with past assignments including investigations into the FBI’s coz...

France tightens bird flu measures in southwest after new outbreaks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

France has strengthened sanitary measures in order to combat a wave in bird flu cases in southwest France, where the outbreaks have recently increased. The French Agriculture Ministry announced this on Friday (12 May).France was among the worst-affected countries by the spread of bird flu, also known as avian influenza, around the globe in the last year.This disease has caused the death of hundreds of millions birds and disrupted supply of poultry meat, eggs, and other products. Some countries such as France have therefore planned vaccination campaigns to protect farm flocks.The agriculture ministry released a statement saying that 21 outbreaks of highly-pathogenic bird flu, mostly in ducks, have been detected since May 4.The ministry reported that until the last week, France hadn't recorded any outbreaks since 14 March, leading to the authorities lowering their alert level nationwide from high to medium.It said that in the southwest, flocks near affected farms would be culed to red...

Trailblazer Gloria Molina was first Latina in California to win several elected offices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

As the first Latina elected to the California state Assembly, Los Angeles City Council and L.A. County Board of Supervisors, needless to say Gloria Molina inspired legions of women, particularly Latinas, to demand a seat at the table and to hold leadership roles.And with a political career that spanned more than three decades, Molina’s influence was felt at all levels of government – local, state and national. Despite reaching such heights, those who knew her said Molina never forgot her roots and devoted her life to being a fierce advocate for the underserved.And so news of her passing on Sunday, May 14, following a three-year bout with cancer, was met with an outpouring of words of admiration from politicos and civic leaders throughout L.A. County.Molina, 74, died at her home in Mt. Washington, surrounded by loved ones.A public Celebration of Life will take place July 15 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a Mexican-American museum and cultural center in downtown L.A. that Molina had ...

Former California teacher, wrestling coach pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:57:20 GMT

A former Anaheim elementary school teacher and high school wrestling coach pleaded guilty on Monday to possession of child pornography, authorities said.Richard O’Connor, a 45-year-old resident of Anaheim, was previously employed as a fourth-grade teacher at Crescent Elementary School and volunteered as a boy’s wrestling coach at Canyon High School. Both schools are in Anaheim. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography as part of a plea agreement, according to court records.The former teacher is not accused of victimizing students, officials said.In October 2022, authorities served a federal search warrant for O’Connor’s Apple iCloud account and identified at least 81 videos and 158 images of child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Justice Department said. O’Connor admitted in his plea agreement that material found on his account depicted infants or toddlers, as well as one video of a child engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.O’Connor is scheduled to be ...