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Tony Frank: If the Supreme Court strikes down race-conscious admissions, public universities have our work cut out for us

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

When a student is academically prepared for college but has no family history with higher education, they can find lots of reasons to believe that pursuing a college degree isn’t for them. Sometimes that’s cost – both perception and because they don’t know how much financial aid is available to them. Sometimes – particularly for students of color, rural students, and those with lower incomes – it’s a concern about fitting in and feeling welcome.And sometimes, what students hear in the news sends an overpowering message that the odds may be stacked against their success.A case in point: Among the issues on the U.S. Supreme Court’s docket this spring are a set of cases around “race-conscious admissions” – whether race can be a consideration in the admissions decision-making process.There are serious questions under consideration, and people who care about equity, equality, our nation, and its Constitution can legitimately arrive at different opinions. But the reality is that this ruli...

Pueblo Chieftain will shut down printing plant and eliminate 51 jobs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

Gannett plans to cut 51 jobs and permanently close production and distribution operations at the Pueblo Chieftain, which owns one of the last remaining large-scale printing presses in the state, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter filed with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.Employees were informed Tuesday that their jobs would be eliminated, with layoffs set to begin around Aug. 14, although that might be stretched out to a 13-day period beyond that date. Two employees will be kept until Oct. 15.“As a result of this closing, all employees in the production operation at the Pueblo facility will be permanently separated from employment,” Carla Gillespie, a human resources executive with Gannett, wrote in the letter.About half the jobs involve inserters and mailroom workers, followed by press operators and technicians and some delivery positions. There are no bumping rights, meaning the displaced workers won’t have pr...

Denver fireworks 2023: Fourth of July shows in the metro area

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

Editor’s note: Check each event’s website, listed below, for programming changes based on severe weather and fire danger.Fourth of July celebrations are back with an even bigger bang this year, thanks to the last few weeks of heavy rain that have helped lift fire restrictions in many Front Range communities.Even still, Colorado laws prohibit all personal fireworks that explode or leave the ground. Some examples, according to the North Metro Fire District, include bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, cherry bombs and M-80s. Those who use illegal fireworks are subject to fines of more than $2,500 and possible jail time.Typically, if fire restrictions are in place or a Red Flag Day is in effect, no fireworks of any kind are allowed. Updated, county-by-county restrictions can be viewed at coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.htmlAll of the following events are free, all ages, open to the public and weather-permitting, unless otherwise noted. As a rule of thumb, be sure...

CIRT: Greeley police shoot, kill armed barricade suspect Monday morning

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

The Weld County Critical Incident Response Team is investigating a Monday morning barricade that concluded with Greeley police shooting and killing a 35-year-old suspect.About 4:40 a.m. Monday, Greeley police responded to reports of shots fired in the 600 block of 46th Avenue Court in Greeley, according to a response team’s news release.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Greeley police shoot, kill armed barricade suspect Monday morning, according to CIRT Crime and Public Safety | Aurora police release video of officer fatally shooting 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson Crime and Public Safety | Police officer, suspect wounded in exchange of gunfire in northeast Denver Crime and Public Safety | Man fatally shot after firing shotgun at Jefferson County deputies near Conifer Crime and Public Safety | Denver police officer shot multiple times in attack, kills suspect who opened fire outside hotel A...

Temecula school board fires superintendent amid book ban controversy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

In a closed-door meeting Tuesday night, the Temecula Valley School Board voted to fire the district’s superintendent amid controversy over the district’s decision to block curriculum that mentions gay rights leader Harvey Milk.Jodi McClay's dismissal comes after the right-leaning board voted earlier this month to ban a textbook that mentions Milk, who was the first openly gay politician to be elected to office in California, from kindergarten through 5th grade social studies curriculum.No reason for her firing was provided. The board elected Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Velez as interim superintendent. Gov. Newsom blasts Temecula school board president over banned book During its May 16 meeting, the majority of board members said the book, “Social Studies Alive!," contained ”morally objectionable material.'' Board president Joseph Komrosky called Milk a “pedophile” in a recent meeting.The comment drew the attention of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.“An offensive statement from ...

Johnny Depp to donate $1M in settlement money to 5 charities

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

Amber Heard has paid the $1 million settlement to Johnny Depp stemming from last year's defamation case. According to PEOPLE magazine, the "Edward Scissorhands" actors will donate the funds to five charities. Make-A-Film Foundation, The Painted Turtle, Red Feather, Tetiaroa Society, and Amazonia Fund Alliance will each get $200,000 of the pot.The Make-A-Film Foundation pairs young people "diagnosed with critical or terminal illness" to create "five-minute film legacies" by pairing them with "noted directors, writers, actors and producer mentors."The Painted Turtle is a non-profit founded by Paul Newman, which allows children with serious medical conditions a chance to experience camping. Red Feather provides housing assistance to Native American communities. Marlon Brando's Tetiaroa Society will also receive the $200,000. The organization focuses on the conversation and sustainability of the "Tetiaroa terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the wildlife t...

Southern Baptists refuse to take back SoCal megachurch over women pastors

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

The Southern Baptist Convention has refused to welcome Saddleback Church back into its fold, rejecting an appeal by the Southern California megachurch over its February ouster for having women pastors.Southern Baptist church representatives at their annual meeting here also rejected a similar appeal by a smaller church, Fern Creek Baptist of Louisville, Kentucky, which is led by a woman pastor.The results of the Tuesday votes were announced Wednesday morning on the concluding day of the the two-day annual meeting here of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, whose statement of faith asserts that only qualified men can serve as pastors.The convention hall packed with about 12,000 Southern Baptists was quiet after the announcement, appearing to have listened to the earlier urging by SBC President Bart Barber for them to show restraint.“I know sometimes there are churches where people wind up in biblical divorce,” he said. “But we don’t throw divorce parties at church. And what...

Richard Coin Killed in Pedestrian Collision on Olive Highway [Oroville, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

53-Year-Old Oroville Man Fatally Struck by Vehicle in Pedestrian Accident near Kampong CourtOROVILLE, CA (June 14, 2023) – Wednesday evening, Richard Coin was fatally struck in a pedestrian collision on Olive Highway.The incident occurred around 8:19 p.m., on the southbound shoulder of Olive Highway near Kampong Court.According to reports, first responders located an unconscious man on the south shoulder of the highway. Per reports, the driver of a 2015 Dodge Challenger failed to stop in time and struck the pedestrian.Due to the extent of injuries sustained, medics pronounced 53-year-old Coin dead at the scene.Meanwhile, the involved driver stayed at the site at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.At this time, it was unclear whether intoxication played a role in the incident. Police are encouraging anyone with additional information about the fatal pedestrian-auto collision to contact them at 530-538-2448.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during ...

Lester Hogan Atkinson Arrested Following Hit-and-Run Crash on Highway 12 [Fairfield, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

Motorcycle-Auto Collision Near Pennsylvania Avenue Left Rider Critically InjuredFAIRFIELD, CA (June 14, 2023) – On Thursday, police arrested Lester Hogan Atkinson after a hit-and-run crash happened last month on Highway 12.The collision happened on May 31st, at around 10:50 p.m. along westbound Highway 12, near Pennsylvania Avenue.According to reports, a southbound vehicle on Pennsylvania Avenue hit the motorcyclist going west on State Highway 12.However, the driver did not stop to render aid and instead left the scene, ran a red light, and continued to travel westbound on State Route 12. The first responders to the site of the collision said the rider suffered life-threatening injuries.Later, a search warrant served on a Fairfield home led to the arrest of the hit-and-run driver. The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Lester Hogan Atkinson of Fairfield. Additionally, officers recovered a firearm inside his home.The Fairfield Police Department is asking anyone with addition...

Fox chyron calls Biden ‘wannabe dictator’ after Trump charges

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:58:18 GMT

By David Bauder | Associated PressNEW YORK — Fox News said Wednesday that an onscreen message that called President Biden a “wannabe dictator” was taken off TV immediately after it aired and “addressed.”The headline appeared Tuesday night under onscreen video of former President Donald Trump speaking to supporters live following his arrest, next to Biden speaking at an earlier White House event.The message, called a chyron, read in full: “Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.”Fox said in a statement Wednesday that “the chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed.” There was no explanation about how it was addressed. The website Mediaite reported that the message was onscreen for 27 seconds.The White House has said Biden has had no contact with Attorney General Merrick Garland about the indictment by special counsel Jack Smith, which accuses Trump of illegally hoarding classified d...