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Special needs Texans waiting on improved services after education bill fails

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Amy Litzinger's educational journey was harder than most.She doesn't write with her hands, move with her feet, or live independently of dedicated caregivers — daily challenges of a life with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She has, however, thrived throughout her life. Excelling in class and on stage, earning her college degree, and working the halls of the Texas Capitol are all proud accomplishments her diagnosis could not deter."It has been something that I've lived with and thrived with since I've been in education," she said. "Your diagnosis doesn't always define your potential."Litzinger credits her success to the support of abundant special education services — the public school paraprofessionals who helped her become a gifted and talented student in advanced placement courses, the family and friends determined to help her accomplish anything her able-bodied classmates could. She worries, however, that today's special needs students are not getting that same h...

Mullen star Jordan Leslie, a Dartmouth football commit, intent on making Mustangs basketball relevant again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Jordan Leslie is ready to empty his basketball tank, because he knows there’s no hardcourt left ahead of him after this winter.The Mullen multi-sport star was one of the top scorers in Class 6A last year at 22.7 points per game. Now this winter, he finds himself headed to play college ball… only in a different sport than the one he always envisioned himself in at the next level.Leslie is committed to play football at Dartmouth. It was a 40-year decision over a four-year one: Leslie believes the educational opportunities, networking and doors opened at an Ivy League institution far outweigh the Division II interest he was receiving in hoops.“I’m still trying to bring (these emotions) in, and control them, and harness them in my play,” Leslie said. “Ever since my freshman year I thought for sure I’d be playing college basketball. And choosing between football and basketball was tough. So this is new to me to have the feeling of a season where,...

30 Colorado high school boys basketball players to watch in 2023-24 CHSAA season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

A look at 30 Colorado high school boys basketball players to keep an eye on during the 2023-24 CHSAA season.*Siraaj Ali, jr., G, Overland: A volume scorer who’s at his best attacking defenses off the dribble, the 5-foot-10 guard turned in a breakout sophomore campaign with averages of 18.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game. After anpther offseason of growth, another leap could be next.Maurice Austin, sr., PG, Pueblo South: The reigning 5A player of the year tilts the court with a seemingly limitless reservoir of energy, blowing up opponents’ sets on one end as a defensive pest (5.3 spg) and picking them apart on the other as a scorer (27.2 ppg) and facilitator (5.3 apg). Already at 1,509 career points entering this season, 2,000 appears inevitable.Garrett Barger, jr., C, Eaglecrest: A crafty, efficient finisher around the basket, the 6-foot-9 Barger (12.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg) helped lead the Raptors to the Sweet 16 as an underclassman. With fellow junior LaDavian King as a runnin...

30 Colorado high school girls basketball players to watch in 2023-24 CHSAA season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

A look at 30 Colorado high school girls basketball players to keep an eye on during the 2023-24 CHSAA season.*Damara Allen, sr., G, Cherokee Trail: A UTSA commit and returning 6A all-state selection, the 5-foot-10 fourth-year varsity guard (11.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.4 spg, 2.0 apg) has grown along with a C.T. program looking to make serious noise after posting a breakout 19-win season.Ryanne Bahnsen-Price, jr., G/F, Roosevelt: A key figure alongside sophomore Kyla Hollier in the Rough Riders’ suffocating defense (2.3 spg, 0.9 bpg) and focal point of their offensive attack (14.0 ppg, 3.5 apg), the 6-foot all-state returnee has the defending 5A champions talking dynasty.Sofia Baldessari, sr., G/F, Douglas County: The 6-foot-2 wing joined Douglas County prior to her junior season and promptly turned in an all-state caliber campaign (20.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.3 spg) that powered Huskies’ first winning season in more than 17 years.Tori Baker, jr., G, Highlands Ranch: An young Eagles roster led by ...

Could Broncos’ red zone demons ruin their playoff aspirations? Only if nothing changes: “There’s no excuse to not get it done”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Courtland Sutton didn’t need a crystal ball to know what came next as he went in motion against Green Bay.The veteran wide receiver crossed the offensive formation to the left and settled briefly in the slot, creating a bunch with tight end Adam Trautman and receiver Marvin Mims, Jr. to his outside.On the snap, Sutton let both of them clear across his face, worked his way up the left sideline and, voila, found himself all alone thanks to the traffic they created.Tried-and-true concept. Clean execution. Easy throw from Russell Wilson for an 18-yard touchdown.Red zone clinic.If only it was always — or even usually — that simple.Instead, capitalizing in the red zone has been a chore for the Broncos even as they’ve turned their season around over the past month.Paradoxically, it’s been a chore, particularly during the team’s four-game winning streak.They’re officially 7-of-18 over the past four games. They’ve been charged with multiple red zone failures each in wins against ...

Me & My Car: 1931 Ford Model A in Dublin a masterpiece hot rod

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

The world of hot rods dates back to the 1920s and ’30s, when young guys would soup up Model A and Model T Fords in their garages. Each year, Ford seemed to crank out new cars faster and cheaper, making used Model A and T cars available at bargain prices.Related ArticlesLocal News | Me & My Car: East Bay owner’s ’63 Volvo with him through thick and thin Local News | Me & My Car: Oakland man’s ’92 Allanté one of Cadillac’s unique models Local News | Me & My Car: Pleasanton man owns first-, last-generation Thunderbirds In the Midwest, former horse racing tracks became popular to race mostly old Ford cars. These speedsters were just stripped-down stock models without lights or license plates. Sometimes custom bodies were used to class the race up a little, but the basic body only required bucket seats, a tool box and a fuel tank.Soon there were bigger engines and better transmissions as well...

Private intelligence firm says an oil tanker tied to Israel has been seized off Aden, Yemen, by an unknown force

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Private intelligence firm says an oil tanker tied to Israel has been seized off Aden, Yemen, by an unknown force.Source

China says a surge in respiratory illnesses is caused by flu and other known pathogens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country’s health ministry said Sunday.Recent clusters of respiratory infections are caused by an overlap of common viruses such as the influenza virus, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the adenovirus as well as bacteria such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is a common culprit for respiratory tract infections, a National Health Commission spokesperson said. The ministry called on local authorities to open more fever clinics and promote vaccinations among children and the elderly as the country grapples with a wave of respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since the removal of COVID-19 restrictions.“Efforts should be made to increase the opening of relevant clinics and treatment areas, extend service hours and increase the supply of medicines,” said min...

Police detain 2 people after 3-year-old girl fatally shot in Tamarac hotel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

A child was shot and killed at a Tamarac hotel — and the victim was just three years old. Detectives spent Saturday evening in one unit at the Extended Stay America on West Commercial Blvd in Tamarac, where they say a shooting claimed the life of a three-year-old girl, just after 8 a.m.Neighbors in the area say they were hearing a ruckus throughout the night and then later in the morning, hearing a gun go off.“Pow, it exploded so one shot. That was it,” said a neighbor who heard the incident.This neighbor said she came out of her room.“I was coming out the door, I could hear some screaming. My baby dead, my baby dead,” she continued. Fire rescue arrived to find the little girl accompanied by a woman. They then pronounced the child dead on the scene.Several Broward deputies swarmed the area and taped it off, where a forensics trailer was seen parked in front of the room most of the afternoon. K-9s were brought to sniff around for evidence.Investigators later f...

Moscow adds Meta spokesperson to criminal wanted list: Report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:11 GMT

Russia’s interior ministry has added the spokesperson of U.S. tech giant Meta Andy Stone to its wanted list, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. Stone “is wanted under an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” the agency reported, citing the ministry’s database. The reason Stone was added to the list was not indicated, according to the report. In 2022, following Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, Moscow officially designated the American tech company — which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — as a “terrorist and extremist” organization. That opened the door to heavier legal proceedings against its users in the country.Western social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) were banned from Russia and are only accessible in the country through VPNs. On Sunday, Russian authorities also said they downed 24 Ukrainian drones. The day before, Russia had launched the larg...