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LOCALIZE IT: States push raises to address teacher shortages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:As many schools struggle to find enough teachers, state governors across the U.S. are pushing for pay increases, bonuses and other perks in a growing competition to attract and retain educators. The question of teacher compensation will receive heightened attention during Teacher Appreciation Week beginning May 8, a time when school systems and parent-teacher organizations coordinate expressions of gratitude for educators. The strains of teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on many teachers, with unions reporting low morale and many thinking of leaving the profession. Governors have pitched raises as a way to address teacher shortages and shore up staffing pipelines threatened by lackluster enrollments in teacher training programs. Shortages are most extreme in certain areas, including the poorest or most rural districts, researchers say. Districts also report particular difficulties in hiring for in-demand subjects like special education, ...

ConforMIS: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

BILLERICA, Mass. (AP) — BILLERICA, Mass. (AP) — ConforMIS Inc. (CFMS) on Monday reported a loss of $9.6 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Billerica, Massachusetts-based company said it had a loss of $1.32.The medical technology company posted revenue of $12.8 million in the period.For the current quarter ending in June, ConforMIS said it expects revenue in the range of $11 million to $13 million.The company’s shares closed at $1.33. A year ago, they were trading at $12.17._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CFMS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CFMSSource

Napco: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Napco Security Technologies Inc. (NSSC) on Monday reported net income of $10.8 million in its fiscal third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Amityville, New York-based company said it had profit of 29 cents.The security products and software company posted revenue of $43.5 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NSSC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NSSCSource

Some Pilot COVID-19 At Home Tests recalled by FDA over bacteria risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning on Friday to consumers and health providers to discontinue using and discard recalled Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests made by SD Biosensor, Inc. over “significant concerns” of bacterial contamination.SD Biosensor is recalling all impacted tests, which were distributed by Roche Diagnostics to various retailers to stop the spread of Covid-19 infections.Throw out any Pilot tests from the affected lot numbers and do not pour the liquid solution down the drain, the FDA said.“Direct contact with the contaminated liquid solution may pose safety concerns and the bacterial contamination could impact the performance of the test,” the FDA said in a media release.The FDA said the tests may be contaminated with bacteria such as enterococcus, enterobacter, klebsiella and serratia species and cause infection. Bacterial infections may cause illness in people with weakened immune systems.If the liquid comes into contact with s...

Skier rescued after falling 2,000 feet off a 14er

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A Colorado Springs man was rescued after falling 2,000 feet while skiing the north face of a 14er.According to the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, the department's search and rescue team responded to Wilson Peak, which sits outside of Telluride, on Saturday afternoon on reports of a skier that was injured. 6 people injured after collapse at Gaylord Rockies resort A 32-year-old man fell 2,000 feet off the north face of Wilson Peak, which is 14,023 feet tall.Wilson Peak in San Miguel County. (San Miguel County Sheriff's Office)Crews in Telluride rescued a skier that fell 2,000 feet off of Wilson Peak. (San Miguel County Sheriff's Office)Crews in Telluride rescued a skier that fell 2,000 feet off of Wilson Peak. (San Miguel County Sheriff's Office)The search and rescue team was taken to the skier by helicopter where they were able to fly him back to the Telluride airport and transfer him to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. According to SMC...

Before fatal subway chokehold, Jordan Neely was on NYC’s list of homeless individuals with dire needs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

(CNN) — Jordan Neely, the man who died last week after being held in a chokehold on a New York City subway, was on a list of homeless people identified as having dire needs, according to a source familiar with his case.Neely, a 30-year-old street artist known for his Michael Jackson impersonations, was restrained and forced to the floor in a fatal chokehold by another passenger after he started shouting that he was hungry, thirsty and had little to live for.His death has been ruled a homicide by New York City’s medical examiner, but the ruling does not determine whether there was intent or culpability, which is a matter for the criminal justice system to consider. Charges have not been filed in the case, which is under investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.Before his death, Neely had been on an NYC Department of Homeless Services list of the city’s homeless with acute needs — sometimes referred to internally as the “Top 50” list...

School bus drivers in Marlboro go on strike amid contract negotiations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

Fifty-five bus drivers in Marlboro are going on strike Monday after the union and the school bus company failed to reach a new contract. The bus company, NRT Bus, operates in three different districts – Marlboro, Westboro, and Framingham. According to Teamsters Local 170, bus drivers in Framingham struck a deal Sunday night to avoid a strike and drivers in Westboro do not plan to strike despite having no deal yet. Despite the strike, school is still on in Marlboro Monday morning. According to a contingency plan up on the district’s website, students who live within a mile and a half of their schools will be expected to walk or get a ride. Several parents expressed their frustration Monday morning as they brought their children to school. “Today is the longest I took to drop them off, there’s so much traffic everywhere,” said Rodney Canales. “This is not safe either.”“We did try, it was hard,” said Tamalla Abbasova. “There ...

Biden administration will propose rule requiring airlines to compensate passengers for canceled or delayed flights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Monday will announce a proposal for a new rule that would examine mandating airlines to compensate and cover expenses for customers facing “controllable airline cancellations” or delays, according to a White House official.“When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” Buttigieg said in a statement. “This rule would, for the first time in US history, propose to require airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses such as meals, hotels, and rebooking in cases where the airline has caused a cancellation or significant delay.”Biden and Buttigieg will also announce that the department is launching an expanded Airline Customer Service Dashboard at FlightRights.gov, which shows which airlines “offer cash compensation, provide travel credits or vouchers, or award frequent flyer miles and cover the costs for other a...

More than 400 dead in flooding in Democratic Republic of Congo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

(CNN) — At least 400 people have died after floods and landslides hit the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province last week, officials told CNN.Heavy rainfall through last week caused rivers to overflow and created mudslides that devastated the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in South Kivu’s Kalehe territory, provincial governor Theo Kasi told CNN Monday.“We have 401 deaths in Bushushu and Nyamukubi villages in Kalehe territory,” Kasi said.Videos from the area show buildings swept away in the water and mud, with debris strewn across the villages.Valet Chebujongo, an activist in Kalehe, told CNN that rescuers have been unable to clear the muddy roads, leaving residents with the dangerous option of wading through lakes.“The Congolese government and its partners should find a safe place where the victims will be relocated and ask the population not to use the flowing waters and the lake during this period,” Chebujongo said, adding...

Authorities search for suspect after shooting on a DART train in Dallas leaves 1 dead and 2 others injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:05:00 GMT

(CNN) — One person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting when an altercation broke out aboard a DART train in Dallas on Sunday, and a suspect remains at large, authorities said.The incident unfolded around 4:30 p.m. local time and began as some sort of disagreement between two people aboard a northbound Green Line train near the Hatcher station, DART spokesperson Gordon Shattles said in a statement to CNN.Two people were shot, including a bystander. They were taken to a hospital, where one of the victims died, Shattles said.A third victim is believed to have been struck by shrapnel, police said. That person was treated at the scene.DART Police are leading the search for the suspect, Shattles said. It remains unclear what the exact nature of the disagreement was.The incident disrupted operations of the Green Line train for hours as investigators responded and probed the scene, according to tweets from DART.The shooting bookended a weekend riddled by gun...