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DPS “seclusion room” investigation finds McAuliffe International School held students without proper supervision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

An investigation by Denver Public Schools found that employees at McAuliffe International School, including former Principal Kurt Dennis, violated district policy by placing students in two rooms without proper supervision and either locking or holding the doors shut while doing so, according to a letter summarizing the findings. The district’s Board of Education announced earlier this month that DPS was looking into the use of a “seclusion room” at the middle school, including whether students of color were locked inside alone, after receiving an email from an anonymous McAuliffe employee. The allegations have since spurred two separate investigations by the Denver Police Department and the Colorado Department of Education. “Everything we have told the community has come back to be true,” said DPS board Vice President Auon’tai Anderson, adding, “What happened to those babies should never happen again.” DPS’s internal investigation found that McAuliffe employees were directed to use...

Super Bowl-winning coaches’ second act: Sean Payton eyes history with move to Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

When Sean Payton arrived on the Front Range this offseason intent on turning around the Broncos, he embarked upon a challenge that has eluded every Super Bowl-winning coach who preceded him.Since the AFL and NFL merged in 1966, a total of 35 coaches have led their teams to at least one Super Bowl title. While 14 of those have gone on to coach another franchise later in their careers, none have raised the Lombardi Trophy with another team — or, in the case of Payton’s mentor Bill Parcells, three other teams.Thus, in taking over the Broncos after a 15-year run in New Orleans that included a Super Bowl XLIV win, Payton is attempting to make history. Here’s a look at the 14 other Super Bowl-winning coaches’ second acts:Vince LombardiVince Lombardi, back on the sidelines after a year’s absence in the coaching ranks, views his charges as Washington meets the Chicago Bears in an exhibition game, played, Aug. 3, 1969 in Washington. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges)Supe...

This is how much singles need to live comfortably in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

It’s not exactly breaking news that California is among the most expensive states in the nation when it comes to home prices, rent, gasoline, utilities, and, well, most things.Now, a new survey outlines how much someone needs to earn as a “living wage” to live comfortably in California and the other 49 U.S. states.The personal finance website GoBankingRates.com looked at data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and research by the state of Missouri to determine how much single people, not couples or families, pay in necessities each year. Then, those amounts were doubled to factor in discretionary spending and savings.States that require the highest living wage for individuals are Hawaii ($112,411) followed by Massachusetts ($87,909) and then California ($80,013).“That’s not surprising when you realize that median home values are also highest in Hawaii, California and Massachusetts,” the study's authors noted.According to the California Association of Realtors, the median price...

Bay Area arts: 7 cool things to do and see this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

There is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area over Labor Day Weekend, including a gaggle of fun festivals and a show by a Bay Area music legend.Here is a partial rundown.Holiday fests: Scottish games, Kings Mountain, Art & WindThe three-day Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer with some of the Bay Area’s biggest and longest tenured outdoor events, plus a vegan food fest now in its third year. Here’s a look.157th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games: The Bay Area’s largest celebration of Scottish culture features “heavy athletics” contests such as the caber and stone tosses, a Kilted Mile race, heritage exhibits, traditional foods, whisky tastings and music including pipe bands, harpists, fiddlers and Celtic rock.Details: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton; $35 single day; $60 two-day passes; youth, senior discounts available; military members and kids 11 and under free; www.thescotti...

Habit Burger Grill comes to new Hayward apartment village

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

The Bay Area’s newest Habit Burger Grill has opened in Hayward.Look for the chain’s signature Charburgers sizzling on the grill at Lincoln Landing, a new luxury apartment village on Hayward’s Foothill Boulevard. It’s the first restaurant to open in the retail spaces at the six-floor complex.The restaurant, which specializes in fresh, never frozen patties, also also offers tenderloin steak and ahi tuna; grilled marinated chicken and crispy chicken sandwiches; Caesar, Cobb and BBQ chicken salads; and side dishes that include tempura green beans, onion rings and sweet potato fries. Love peppers? There’s a self-serve station where you can load up on jalapenos and pepperoncini.The 2,400-square-foot restaurant, which is equipped with both staffed order counters and self-serve kiosks, offers dine-in, takeout and delivery.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Celebrity chef Chris Cosentino comes to West Marin Restaurants, Food and Drink | ...

Indeed will pay $10,000 to help transgender workers relocate to states where they feel safer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

By Jeff Green | BloombergIndeed Inc., the online job-search company, has introduced a $10,000 relocation payment for transgender employees or those with transgender children, signaling a new front in the corporate pushback against state policies restricting the lives of LGBTQ people.While Indeed introduced the program to its employees in July, until now the company has not discussed it publicly.Shortly after Indeed announced the initiative, Sam Burger, a 30-year-old senior content creator at the company who uses the pronouns they and them, left their hometown of Austin, Texas, for Denver, Colorado, a place they felt would be friendlier to those seeking gender-affirming care. The Indeed payment has gone toward a relocation that, they estimated, has cost them $5,000 so far.RELATED: California conservative groups promote anti-trans bills as state AG sues school district over anti-trans policy“As soon as I found out that I was getting the money, it was very much like a weight lifted,” B...

Sen. McConnell appears to freeze during remarks again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

By Morgan Rimmer | CNNSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for about 30 seconds on Wednesday while speaking with reporters after a speech in Covington, Kentucky.The incident is similar to an episode McConnell experienced at the US Capitol late last month and is likely to raise additional questions about the fitness of the 81-year-old to lead the Senate Republican caucus.Wednesday’s episode occurred when a reporter asked the Republican leader if he was planning to run for reelection in 2026. McConnell had to ask him to repeat the question several times, chuckled for a moment, and then paused, closing his mouth and staring straight ahead.Someone at his side then asked him, “Did you hear the question, senator, running for reelection in 2026?” McConnell did not respond.“I’m sorry you all, we’re gonna need a minute,” the aide told reporters. A member of the senator’s detail spoke quietly to him for a moment, and McConnell was able to whisper an answer to him.McConnel...

Ex-Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, accused of sex abuse, not fit for trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

By Steve LeBlanc | Associated PressDEDHAM, Mass. — The once-powerful Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick will not stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted a teenage boy decades ago, as a Massachusetts judge dismissed the case against the 93-year-old on Wednesday because both prosecutors and defense attorneys agree he suffers from dementia.McCarrick, the ex-archbishop of Washington, D.C., was defrocked by Pope Francis in 2019 after an internal Vatican investigation determined he sexually molested adults as well as children. The McCarrick scandal created a crisis of credibility for the church, primarily because there was evidence Vatican and U.S. church leaders knew he slept with seminarians but turned a blind eye as McCarrick rose to the top of the U.S. church as an adept fundraiser who advised three popes.During Wednesday’s hearing, Dr. Kerry Nelligan, a psychologist hired by the prosecution, said she found significant deficits in McCarrick’s memory during two...

Review: The Monokei Standard makes sacrifices to offer high-end features at affordable price

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

Excellent mechanical keyboards usually cost hundreds of dollars. They feature aluminum casings, brass weights, gaskets and several types of foam. That’s on top of other bells and whistles such as knobs or OLED screens. Taken altogether, the pricey device delivers a distinct sound accompanied by a memorable typing experience.The Monokei Standard tries to capture that feeling at a more affordable price. The company does this by using less expensive materials while retaining features found in higher-end products. The result is a good mechanical keyboard that punches above its weight class.Monokei has some collaborations with popular franchises such as Jujutsu Kaisen. (Gieson Cacho/Bay Area News Group) A TKL FORMAT WITH QUIRKSThe Standard is a TKL, or a tenkeyless, meaning it has all the keys of a full standard keyboard except for the number pad usually on the right. This allows it to fit on more desks and prevents the gaming or workspace from feeling overwhelmed by the size....

Judge holds Rudy Giuliani liable for defaming election workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:40 GMT

By Eric Tucker | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A federal judge on Wednesday held Rudy Giuliani liable in a defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers who say they were falsely accused of fraud, entering a default judgment against the former New York City mayor and ordering him to pay tens of thousands of dollars in lawyers’ fees.U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said the punishment was necessary because Giuliani had ignored his duty as a defendant to turn over information requested by election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea’ ArShaye Moss, as part of their lawsuit.Their complaint from December 2021 accused Giuliani, one of Donald Trump’s lawyers and a confidant of the former Republican president, of defaming them by falsely stating that they had engaged in fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. In a statement Wednesday, the women said they had endured a “living nightmare” and an unimaginable “wave...