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Missouri Senate approves five-day school weeks, exempting rural districts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Nearly a quarter of all Missouri's school districts are only in session four days a week this year. Legislation moving forward in Jefferson City could require schools to go back to five days a week, but some districts would be exempt.The law allowing four-day weeks was passed more than a decade to help schools save money after the recession but now it's being used as a perk to hire and retain teachers. This week, the Missouri Senate passed a bill allowing home school students to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities in the local school district. Within that legislation, Democratic Senator Doug Beck, from Affton, added a provision, requiring five-day school weeks, unless approved by a vote of the people.  Top Story: Witness: Woman pumping gas seriously hurt chasing after stolen purse "I think the more contact students have with their teachers, like 174 days compared to 142 days, is critical to learning," Beck said Thursday after th...

David’s Bridal could shutter its stores, including six in Colorado, if a buyer isn’t found soon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

David’s Bridal, a national retailer of wedding and prom dresses, has informed state employment agencies around the country that it could lay off more than 9,236 employees, including dozens in Colorado, as it seeks a buyer to stave off closure.The Pennsylvania-based company listed all its U.S. stores without specific breakouts for each in a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) letter filed with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) on Friday. Included on that list were a half dozen Colorado stores:9270 Sheridan Blvd. in Westminster8680-B Park Meadows Center Dr. in Lone Tree100 South Abilene St. in Aurora7320 North Academy Blvd. in Colorado Springs4300 South College Ave. in Fort Collins632 Market St. in Grand JunctionAlthough the company didn’t say it would definitely shut down the stores, it is setting the groundwork for closures that would overlap with the peak wedding season. The dismissal of field or store employees could begin as soon ...

Cherry Creek office building fetches $12.5M after 48-year hold

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

A Cherry Creek office building has changed hands for the first time in nearly half a century.The building at 2702 E. 3rd Ave., which has three stories above a garden level, sold for $12.5 million on Tuesday, according to public records.The structure, which sports a midcentury modern facade, was built in 1966. Seller Jerry Wrench told BusinessDen he and his investors had owned it for 48 years.“That doesn’t happen often anymore,” Wrench said.The building was purchased by an entity affiliated with the family-owned Lario Oil & Gas Co., which is headquartered two blocks away at 260 N. Josephine St. A company representative said it’s the first Cherry Creek property Lario has bought outright, although the company has invested in projects, including the office building where it leases space. No imminent changes are planned.“Right now, we like the stabilized cash flow and the location,” the representative said.The building, sometimes also given the address 288 Clayton St., was designed b...

NBA Playoffs to include all four of California's teams for the first time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

The NBA Playoffs will include all four of the league’s California teams, the first time the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are in the postseason since sharing statehood. The NBA has had four teams in California for 38 years, dating back to the Kings’ relocation from Kansas City to Sacramento. The Kings have called Sacramento home since 1985 and played at the original ARCO Arena until the second and now-demolished ARCO Arena from 1988 to 2016.The Kings now play at the Golden 1 Center, where they will host the Warriors for Game 1 of a first round series in the first-ever playoff matchup between the two Northern California squads. Here’s how all four California teams secured their spot in the playoffs.Sacramento KingsThe Kings are in the playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons and are the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 48-24 record. The franchise also won its first Pacific Division title since 2003.Prior to the ...

'Snake burglar' arrested in Riverside

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

A serial burglar dubbed the “Snake Burglar” was arrested Wednesday for allegedly committing over 70 thefts throughout Riverside.The suspect was identified as Christopher Michael Jackson, 32, a local transient, according to the Riverside Police Department.Jackson’s signature move typically involved removing a windowpane to break into a local business and upon entering, he would crawl along the floor to avoid triggering the alarm system, police said.He would then cut open the business’ safe and take any money inside before fleeing.Since July 2021, police say Jackson was responsible for over 70 commercial burglaries throughout the Riverside area.Jackson had been arrested several times before and was recently sentenced to “six sentences of 16 months in jail after pleading guilty to 23 felonies,” according to arrest documents. “However, laws or orders pertaining to overcrowding in the jail system allowed him to only serve less than 10 days in jail.” Father murdered in Pomona freeway sh...

Three Southern California men arrested in connection with crimes that targeted Home Depot stores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

Three men have been arrested in connection with a criminal retail theft organization that allegedly targeted multiple Home Depot stores across Southern California.Officers with the California Highway Patrol’s Southern Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force have recovered about $150,000 in merchandise from the arrests, the department announced.Thirty-one-year-old Luis Delasancha, 39-year-old Everardo Carrillo and 26-year-old Agustin Garfiaz Jr. were arrested on Thursday by officers after a three-month investigation into the crime organization’s alleged activities.The three suspects were arrested on suspicion of organized retail theft, grand theft, and receiving stolen property.Delasancha and Carrillo are from Orange County, while Garfiaz is from Los Angeles County.  The group allegedly targeted Home Depot stores in L.A., Orange, Ventura, and San Diego counties.The investigation remains active and can involve prosecution by the California Attorney General's Office, according to a ...

LA Weekly and Geojam will be Lighting Up the Desert this Weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

As tens of thousands of partygoers descend on the Coachella Valley this weekend, LA Weekly has partnered with Geojam to deliver another legendary weekend of fun and celebration in the desert.This invite-only affair takes place Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 – at a private estate, headlined by host and world-famous skateboarder Nyjah Huston and a slate of stellar musicians and DJs destined to set the night ablaze. Guests will be treated to a finely curated event filled with gifting suites, art exhibits and one-of-a-kind activations set to transform the desert landscape. Geojam Desert is the Friday night party while Saturday day is called Geojam Splash.  (Huston is an investor in both Geojam and LA Weekly.) GeojamAttendees to Geojam events are always a surprise but to get a sense of their events, last year’s attendees included Tyga, Jaden Smith, ASAP Ferg, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Loren Gray and Victoria Justice with Diplo behind the decks. Rumor has it that this ...

2 Men Charged For Attacking Older Couple At Elton John Show In Dodger Stadium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed battery charges for two men in connection with the attack of an older couple after an Elton John concert at Dodger Stadium in November 2022.Reece Hopkin, 38, and Chad Reeves, 42, face one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury, with Hopkin facing an additional felony count of vandalism or destruction of property.“What started out as a night of entertainment and revelry ended in violence,” District Attorney Gascón said in a statement Friday. “Verbal disagreements should never take such a dangerous turn. I want to thank the LAPD for their thorough investigation and our prosecutors who meticulously reviewed the case to determine what charges should be filed. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that our entertainment venues are safe for all.”The incident occurred in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after the first of three shows Elton John played for his farewell tour.The couple...

Letters: Shifting liability | New income tax? | Racism on board | Jailing Holmes | Ukraine war | New ‘goodbye’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.PG&E trying to shiftliability to customersRe: “New law could make PG&E bills higher” (Page C1, April 13).The proposed fixed rate based on income shows that PG&E wants your money whether or not you actually consume their electricity.First, letting PG&E access income data violates privacy laws.Second, the proposed income levels are ridiculously low for California, so virtually all PG&E clients would pay at least $30 and most would pay $50-$92 a month, in addition to their actual energy charges.Third, apparently this applies to all clients who are hooked up to the grid, even if they provide PG&E more energy from solar panels than they use. PG&E got a huge reduction in the amount PG&E will pay for energy from new solar panels; this will completely quash going solar. It also would penalize clients who already went solar on the assumption they could defray installati...

Montana lawmakers vote to completely ban TikTok in the state

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:42 GMT

Montana became the first US state on Friday to pass legislation banning TikTok on all personal devices, sending a bill to Gov. Greg Gianforte prohibiting TikTok from operating within state lines and barring app stores from offering TikTok for downloads.The legislation marks the furthest step yet by a state government to restrict TikTok over perceived security concerns and comes as some federal lawmakers have called for a national ban of TikTok.Lawmakers in Montana’s House voted 54-43 to give final approval to the bill, known as SB419. Should Gianforte sign the bill, it would take effect in January. But the legislation could quickly face significant legal challenges.The legislation specifically names TikTok as a target of the bill, and outlines potential penalties of $10,000 per violation per day. The penalties would also apply to any app store found to have violated the law. Individual users of TikTok, meanwhile, would not be penalized for accessing TikTok.“The governor will careful...