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How inflation is impacting Missouri education department's budget

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Just like Americans are paying more for gas and eggs at the grocery store, Missouri schools are also feeling the effects of inflation.The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is unveiling its proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and it includes an added $135 million to pay for an increase in the transportation and foundation formulas. There's also a request for the state to pay for programs that were originally funded by federal COVID relief dollars, since that money will soon be gone."Cost for operating transportation across districts and across the state has significantly been impacted by fuel costs, staffing costs and the cost of equipment," DESE Deputy Commissioner Kari Monsees said. "We are asking for additional federal capacity—an increase of about $37 million for the food service programs."Not only is inflation taking a toll on your wallet, but it's also impacting education. Besides the increase in food and fuel, DESE said the fou...

Wayward bird lands at Busch Stadium during Cardinals-Brewers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – With the way the Cardinals’ season has gone, maybe it was a wayward swallow making its way back to Capistrano. Or just a lost loon.Whatever the bird that landed at Busch Stadium during Tuesday night's Brewers-Cardinals game, it wasn't a harbinger of good luck.The Redbirds were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the NL Central-leading Brewers.But it was the commentary from Brad Thompson and Chip Carey that livened up the broadcast.“They think it’s a chestnut-sided warbler,” said Aileen Abbott, World Bird Sanctuary. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW “Which is one of the common warbler species that will migrate through here in the fall and the spring. You can see them at Tower Grove Park and the beautiful males...

Broncos safety Justin Simmons misses practice due to hip injury

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

The Broncos’ defensive issues just got more complicated.Starting safety Justin Simmons did not participate Wednesday’s practice due to a hip injury. Simmons was not in uniform while stretching on the side field during the media’s viewing period.Broncos’ defensive tackle Mike Purcell (ankle) and outside linebacker Frank Clark (hip) also did not practice, while left tackle Garett Bolles (ankle) was a limited participant.The Broncos’ secondary has had its fair share of injury issues. Safety Caden Sterns is expected to be out for the season after tearing his patellar tendon in Week 1’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Safety P.J. Locke (ankle) and cornerback K’Waun Williams (ankle) are on injured reserve.Simmons previously dealt with a groin injury that forced him to miss about two weeks of training camp last month.The Dolphins, on the other hand, had their top two wide receivers land on the injury report. Tyreek Hill was limited due to an ankle injury, while Jaylen Waddle (co...

Broncos HC Sean Payton tried to hire Vic Fangio this winter. Now he’s game planning against him.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Sean Payton is plenty familiar with Vic Fangio. Heck, he knows who taught Fangio math in sixth grade.But an offensive game-planner can never have too much information about his next adversary.Payton, as it happens, now works in a place with a wealth of Fangio familiarity. After all, Miami’s defensive coordinator coached many of the current Broncos defenders and players up through the 2021 season during his nearly three years as Denver’s head coach.“I was just talking to (veteran safety Kareem Jackson) earlier,” Payton said Wednesday. “Right as I was walking out to practice, I had a question about some red zone stuff.”Secondary coach Christian Parker is the only full-time defensive coach remaining from the Fangio era, but Payton said, still, “we had a number of discussions last night where I’d walk down the hallway, ‘What do you think?’”The veteran coach’s respect for Fangio is clear. They’ve never worked together, but Fangio’s from Scranton, Pennsylvania, as are Payton’s parents. Ba...

Devon Toews on contract negotiations with Avalanche going into last season: “My intent is to stay here the rest of my career”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews hopes to reach an agreement with the organization on a contract extension before the 2023-24 season, he said Wednesday during the team’s preseason media day.“My intent is to stay here the rest of my career,” Toews said.The 29-year-old blueliner is entering the last year of a team-friendly deal with an average annual value of $4.1 million, which occupies 4.9% of the team’s salary cap space in the upcoming season (excluding Gabriel Landeskog’s $7 million).He’s coming off his second consecutive 50-point season, in which 37 of his 43 assists in 2022-23 were at even strength. Playing on one of the NHL’s most potent defensive pairings with Cale Makar, Toews finished 14th in Norris Trophy voting.Related ArticlesColorado Avalanche | Forward Tomas Tatar agrees to 1-year deal with Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche | Kroenke exploring potential Ball Arena renovations with market evaluation...

Kiszla: We wanted Buffs vs. Rams to be a blood feud, then were shocked when CU star Travis Hunter got hurt?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

A lacerated liver for CU Buffs star Travis Hunter is the price of doing business, when doing what’s right or wrong doesn’t really matter in college football, so long as the hype machine keeps printing money.And aren’t victories for money the bottom-line reason why Deion Sanders is here?While responsibility for the cheap shot begins with Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn, who made himself a comic-book villain that acted too macho for his green-and-gold britches, everybody who dialed up the heat on a silly football game, including us in the media, bears some responsibility for the tackle that sent Hunter to the hospital and knocked him out of the Heisman Trophy race.Maybe Hunter explained it best, while wearing a giraffe costume during a live video stream from his room: “It’s football. Something bad is going to happen on the field sooner or later.”Amen, brother.Bad stuff is collateral damage to be expected when football gets personal.So amid all the righteous rage, ugly death thre...

Rockies lose 3-2, swept by Padres to fall to 56-96 with 10 games remaining

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

The Rockies did immediate damage on Wednesday, but the bats went flat from there.Colorado blew another late lead in the process, falling to the Padres, 3-2, in the Rockies’ 19th loss when leading after six innings this season. Chase Anderson pitched well for a second straight outing, but dropped to 0-6 on the year as he lacked run support after the opening frame at Petco Park.“That’s a tough one,” manager Bud Black told reporters. “Chase pitched very well again. And Chase deserves better — overall, 16 starts for us and he hasn’t got a win. There’s been many times when he was in position to get the win or pitched well enough to win. So it’s frustrating, for sure. We just couldn’t get a big hit.”The Rockies pegged Seth Lugo for a couple runs in the first inning, using Brendan Rodgers’ solo homer and Ezequiel Tovar’s RBI infield single to take a 2-0 lead. Rodgers’ first homer of the season came off Lugo...

Romanian nationals caught allegedly stealing from Pasadena Macy's; suspects may be tied to other thefts

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Four Romanian nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with organized retail theft in Pasadena, authorities announced Wednesday.A section of the Pasadena Police Department aimed to combat retail theft and vehicle burglaries recently focused their attention at a Macy’s on 401 S. Lake Avenue.On Sept. 8 detectives closely monitored four people who they believe were “methodically choosing high value clothing items,” police detailed in a news release.The suspects allegedly concealed items by hiding behind each other. They eventually left the store without paying for any of the items, police said.Romanian nationals charged in a retail theft operation are seen in a surveillance photo released by the Pasadena Police Department on Sept. 20, 2023. Detectives tried to arrest the suspects, but they managed to get away. Then, after a brief foot chase, three of the suspects were apprehended, but the fourth tried to get away and allegedly tried to drive a vehicle into an officer’s ve...

Shake Shack makes recipe changes for select items

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Shake Shack is making recipe adjustments to a few of its menu items, including the fan-favorite crinkle-cut fries.On Monday, the restaurant chain announced that it would be testing a new frying oil from Zero Acres Farms, a food company focused on creating healthy and environmentally friendly cooking oil, at two locations in New York City. McDonald’s to phase out self-serve soft drink fountains The Zero Acre oil will be used to fry Shake Shack’s  “Crinkle Cut Fries, 'Shroom Burger, Shack Stack, Veggie Shack, Chicken Shack, Chicken Bites and new limited-time Hot Menu items,” a news release said.The Zero Acre oil is made with rain-fed sugarcane plants.“We're excited to further elevate the taste of their fries, chicken, and other menu items with cleaner frying in Zero Acre oil,” Jeff Nobbs, co-founder and CEO of Zero Acre Farms, said in a statement.“This partnership combines the deliciousness that Shake Shack is known for with the health and sustainability focus of Zero Acre, all...

12 L.A. County schools receive 'Blue Ribbon' honors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:58:00 GMT

Los Angeles County is officially home to some of the best schools in America. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Office of Education announced that 12 L.A. County schools were named "Blue Ribbon Schools" for 2023.The national honor is made by the United States Department of Education and is meant to highlight schools that "demonstrate overall academic excellence or significant progress in closing achievement gaps."A total of 353 schools across the country received the Blue Ribbon designation in 2023, including 313 public schools and 40 private schools.Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo said the recognition is a "testament to the commitment and passion" of the community, including students and teachers."When we come together with a shared vision, great things can be accomplished. This recognition reflects that collaborative spirit, bringing immense pride to each awarded school and its community," Duardo said.The following schools in Los Angeles County were na...