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White Sox broadcaster Jason Benetti encourages audience to “inspire and have an impact”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

Jason Benetti, a nationally recognized play-by-play sports announcer for Fox network and the Chicago White Sox, is a confident and familiar voice, peppered with wit.Benetti, 39, is also matter-of-fact, both personally and professionally, about his own medical journey of self-discovery and acceptance while sharing his life and career as an intertwined story.“I’m not normal and I wasn’t born normal,” said Benetti, the keynote speaker Tuesday before more than 200 guests in the auditorium on the Ivy Tech campus in Valparaiso.“Normal is boring. It’s like unsalted French fries.”Benetti spoke for 50 minutes and answered questions of an eager audience for 30 minutes, as part of the City of Valparaiso’s event marking Disability Awareness Month.Benetti has cerebral palsy, a factor for his balance and ability to walk. But as evidenced by the success of his on-air talent, he describes himself as “proof of not judging a book by its cover,R...

For 13 days, this Northern California teacher hiked nearly 2 miles through snow to get to school

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

The classic “old grumpy grandpa” saying goes something like this: “Back in my day, we walked 15 miles to school in the snow! Barefoot! Uphill! Both ways! And we liked it that way!”For Eagle Peak Middle School eighth grade science teacher Paula Abajian, there is some truth in that saying for her, as she spent 13 days hiking through snow and ice to get access to a vehicle, to then drive or be driven to school. Monday evening, March 13, was the first day she could finally drive the road to her home since the snowy weather started on Feb. 22.Eagle Peak teacher Paula Abajian hiking through snow to get to school.For Abajian, the logistics were as follows. She and her husband and two young children live at 2,500 feet above sea level in the mountains above Willits. The road to their home is on a north-facing slope, with several feet of snow accumulating on it from all the storms and not melting much due to the lack of sun on the north face. Midway through the series of storms, the snow melt...

Committee seeks to put St. Paul early learning grants on November ballot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

A city-driven committee composed of two dozen educators and community advocates has asked the St. Paul City Council to put a question on the November ballot that would cover the cost of childcare and early learning programs for low-income residents.Funding for the 10-year effort would be derived from city property taxes.The Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee recommendations submitted to the council on Wednesday generally resemble those long-supported by SPARK, a broad-based coalition of education and civic leaders, with key differences. Among them, the committee recommended that St. Paul tap an existing city department or create a new one to administer childcare grants to St. Paul-based providers, rather than leave oversight to an independent nonprofit.The committee also recommended that childcare grants be available for children from birth to age 5, rather than targeted exclusively to kids age 4 and 5. Given the projected funding source, SPARK organizers have predicted t...

New president named at MSU Moorhead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

A former university president in South Dakota has been named the next president of Minnesota State University Moorhead.Tim Downs (courtesy of Minnesota State)Tim Downs, 63, led Northern State University in Aberdeen from 2016 to 2021 and last year was hired as interim chief of staff at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.He’ll take over for the retiring Anne Blackhurst on July 1.Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra called Downs a great communicator and strong fundraiser who is focused on student success.Related ArticlesEducation | Dean of Mitchell Hamline law school to step down in 2024 Education | Eagan parents sue Florida university, running coach after daughter died by suicide Education | Jonathan Zimmerman: The left and right are both wrong about Ron DeSantis’ ‘Western civilization’ courses Education | What is a ‘borg’? College drinking TikTok trend is ‘very concerning,’ can l...

Massachusetts man turns himself in for Bennington attempted murder charge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

POWNAL, Vt. (WWLP) — A Massachusetts man was arrested on Tuesday for an attempted murder charge in connection to a shooting in Pownal, Vermont in January 2022. Giovanni Torres, 21, of Holyoke pleaded not guilty to second degree attempted murder in Bennington Superior Court and will be held without bail. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to a Vermont State Police affidavit, officers were called to Route 7 in Pownal after 10 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2022 for a report of shots fired. They said they checked the neighborhood, finding a house with significant damage like broken windows and bullet strikes. They also said that they found a gun outside, but did not find anyone in the building. There were no reports of gunshot victims at the nearby hospital.On Jan. 27, 2022, they got a search warrant for the damaged home and troopers found a 9mm ghost gun, several spent shell casings from a 9mm and a rifle, a DVR for security cameras...

This month, Green Island students read for pizza

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

GREEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) - At Green Island Union Free School District, it's any kid's dream. Every book read gets a student closer to free pizza.This March, the school district is celebrating National Reading Month with the launch of Green Island Reads. In the program, students K-6 select teacher-approved books and get reading, proving their progress by discussing the plot, writing summaries, and other methods. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Students will win a coupon for every third, sixth and ninth book they read. Those coupons are good for one personal pan pizza each from Spindle City Pizza in Cohoes. Students will also be given punch cards as a way to track progress, getting a punch for each goal. Once a card is filled out with 10 punches, they'll earn a $5 gift certificate and a new punch card."Starting Green Island Reads shows a long-term commitment to building district-wide enjoyment of reading and encouraging He...

North Adams closes Brown Street Bridge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. (NEWS10) — Officials in North Adams announced on Tuesday that the Brown Street Bridge is closed until further notice. The police department said that the bridge, connecting River Street and West Main Street, was shut down after a state inspection. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Brown Street is now closed to traffic at the River Street intersection, so access to Brown Street businesses can now be accessed only via West Main Street. City Hall said to plan alternate routes, and that they're working to resolve the issue with the state.

Lark Street's new donut shop to open Thursday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Lark Street's new donut cafe has called it: It's time to make the donuts. Bitchin' Donuts is set to open this Thursday, March 23.The new eatery at 193 Lark St. will open at 8 a.m. Alongside fresh and favored donuts, owner Tania Sharlow will also serve "Bitchin' Bites" - cauliflower biter, avocado fries, Buffalo mac and cheese, and breakfast sandwiches and burritos. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Bitchin' Donuts isn't Sharlow's first take at decadent delights. Her donuts were first served at Birch Bark Eatery, which closed in Glens Falls this past January so that the next step could begin. Bitchin' will remain a vegan eatery, just as Birch Bark was before it. Sharlow has expressed interest in adding more of her favorites from the former Glens Falls eatery as time goes on.

Crash closes westbound I-270 for hours

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A semi-truck crash has closed westbound I-270 since early Wednesday morning. Traffic is being diverted onto 367. The Missouri Department of Transportation is asking drivers to avoid the area, if possible. It is not clear when the crash will be cleared.The crash happened on I-270 near 367 after 8 a.m. A semi-truck's trailer hit a nearby wall and disabled the vehicle. The crash blocked One person was injured in the crash. The semi was hauling frozen foods. Person of interest wanted for killing two people in Troy, Missouri There is a traffic backup in the area.Check FOX 2's traffic map for real-time updates. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Police have person of interest in custody for Troy killings

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

TROY, Mo. – Police in Troy, Missouri, have taken a person of interest into custody Wednesday in connection with a double homicide. The bodies of a man and woman in their 70s were located Tuesday evening, inside a mobile home near the intersection of Eames and East Cherry streets. According to a spokesperson for the Troy Police Department, family members contacted police to request a wellness check. Officers arrived at the home around 7:30 p.m. and discovered the couple dead. Top story: Missing St. Charles woman found dead; 1 man in custody Law enforcement has not identified the man and woman, nor have they disclosed how they died. Investigators suspect they may have been dead inside the residence since earlier in the week.Investigators have told FOX 2 the individual in custody is the grandson of the man found dead in the mobile home.FOX 2 is no longer identifying the person of interest, since he has yet to be charged with a crime.The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with inf...