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Will universal pre-K save Colorado's low rankings for early childhood education?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Colorado's universal pre-K system starts in a matter of weeks, and it could maybe save the state's otherwise poor rankings for early childhood education.The Colorado General Assembly passed a bill in 2022 that will give all Colorado families a chance to access 10 hours of free preschool per week for all 4-year-olds beginning in 2023. According to one study, however, Colorado's early education access is one of the nation's worst in the years before the bill kicks in. Colorado Day brings 2 new state license plates Financial adviser WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 early childhood education metrics, including the share of school districts that offer a state pre-K program, the number of pre-K quality benchmarks met and the total reported spending per child enrolled in pre-K.Colorado ranks 11th lowest among U.S. states and the District of Columbia for its overall early education offerings. This is the weighted score across three ...

Jets' Hackett says Broncos' Payton broke a coaches' code with his disparaging comments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Nathaniel Hackett isn't expecting a phone call from an apologetic Sean Payton any time soon.The New York Jets offensive coordinator was disappointed by disparaging comments made by the Denver coach last week in a story published by USA Today in which he called Hackett’s 15-game stint with the Broncos last season ”one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”Hackett, hired by the Jets during the offseason, said Payton — without ever mentioning him by name — broke an unwritten code among coaches with his public criticism.“Before we get started, I just want to say something real quick,” Hackett said Tuesday to open his first news conference of training camp. "Obviously, last week has been a very unique week, I think, for this organization. And, I’ve been involved in this business my whole life, 43 years. And as a coach, as a coach’s kid, we live in a glass house. We know that. We all live in different rooms. We've all got a key for it.“And it’s on...

Police search for hit-and-run driver in SW Miami-Dade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

Police are looking for a driver who crashed his SUV, left his vehicle and took. The vehicle was seen traveling down the road, hitting several cars and was flipped.It happened Monday morning near Southwest 137th Avenue and 260th Street. The driver got out and walked away. He was wearing white pants and a blue jacket.If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

The Schemer: Inside French commissioner Thierry Breton’s plot to run Europe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

BRUSSELS — When Thierry Breton first floated the idea of becoming European Commission president, not even he seemed to take the idea very seriously.“I may be able to consider a new Plan B assignment,” the internal market commissioner replied with a smile, when asked at a POLITICO event whether he wanted the top job, prompting laughter.But as the European Parliament election draws closer, Breton’s “Plan B” pitch to take over leadership of the EU executive is coming into greater focus.A former minister and tech CEO who was France’s second choice for European commissioner, Breton amassed a vast amount of power within the Berlaymont building where the commissioners sit, putting his stamp on everything from COVID vaccines to artillery shells for Ukraine’s war effort to enforcement of the EU’s digital rules. His job — overseeing the hallowed single market of the 27 EU member countries — is one of the most critical portfolios in Brussels, and previous occupants of the post have includ...

The British public’s mounting food price anxiety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

Liv Walsham is an associate director at Public First.“The cost of the food shopping. That has just gone up by a stupid amount.’’These are the words of a woman from Bolton who voted Conservative in 2019 and is now thinking about voting Labour. It was also the sentiment of every single voter I spoke to for a report on boosting Britain’s agriculture to make its food system more resilient. And this palpable anxiety about rising prices was echoed in our Public First poll too, with 94 percent of the British public reporting they’re concerned about food prices — similar to the level of concern they have about energy prices and wait times for the National Health Service.The British public are feeling out of pocket, and they’re highly stressed about the cost of their weekly shopping. So, while many in government might feel comforted by recent inflation figures showing a small drop, it’s worth remembering that for the people we spoke to, prices will still be going up. And that when the prime ...

China found influence in Europe’s west — not east

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

Andreea Brinza is vice president of the Romanian Institute for the Study of the Asia-Pacific.Soon after its inception in 2012, China’s then 16+1 mechanism for cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was deemed by some observers as a divide et impera strategy against the European Union.But what a difference a decade makes, as it is, ironically, Western Europe that’s now putting the Continent’s unity on China to the test.Regarded as small, in need of money, plagued by democratic issues and easy to influence, CEE countries were once seen as Beijing’s Trojan horse in Europe. And there were fears that a flood of Chinese investment would buy political influence, threatening the bloc’s cohesion when it comes to China — but that’s not how it happened.Firstly, China didn’t deliver on its promises. With CEE countries only getting around 10 percent of promised investments between 2000-2022, China had a negligible economic footprint in most of these nations. But more importantly, most...

Excitement builds for fans as Beyoncé takes the stage at Gillette Stadium for first local show since 2018

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

The stage is set in Foxboro where Beyoncé is scheduled to take the stage at Gillette Stadium Tuesday night for her first local show since 2018. Beyoncé will be making her fourth appearance in Foxboro as she brings her Renaissance tour to town.As fans prepare for the concert, crews were making final preparations on Monday, setting up the stage and other equipment. Parking lots were scheduled to open for Beyoncé’s show at 4 p.m. The show itself is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early because there is no opening act. Fans expressed excitement for seeing Beyoncé live, citing her emotional lyrics, fashion and artistic concerts.

Batman, Captain Marvel among superheroes bringing smiles to children at MGH

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

A team of superheroes made a difference for children at Massachusetts General Hospital.“We’re here to spread some smiles and meet some heroes,” Captain Marvel said.Batman, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch and Harley Quinn stopped by MGH for a special visit with the pediatric patients and their families, bringing smiles to children’s faces, one cape at a time.The heroes are all cosplayers in town for Fan Expo Boston in Seaport. The superheroes played games with the children and helped bring their favorite movie and comic book characters to life.“This is a great event for the patients that we have here at Mass General,” a healthcare provider said. “It’s not easy being hospitalized, and anytime we have an opportunity to bring a little cheer and joy to a difficult situation, it goes a really long way for our patients and their families.”Several healthcare workers also got to attend the event, and they said the real heroes are the patients.

Virtual event: Sun Orioles journalists to field subscribers’ post-trade deadline questions at noon Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

The Orioles moved early and late to upgrade their roster leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline, dealing for right-handed reliever Shintaro Fujinami on July 19 and for right-handed starter Jack Flaherty with minutes left to go. Going into the regular season’s final two months, the American League’s winningest team could have additional reinforcements coming from within.Since spring the Orioles have essentially flipped the probability models give them of playing in the postseason. With their new additions and increasing local and national attention, how deep could they go? Your subscription is your pass to a virtual Q&A with Baltimore Sun Orioles reporters Nathan Ruiz and Jacob Calvin Meyer, moderated by Sun sports content editor C.J. Doon. To participate, return to this page at noon ET on Friday, Aug. 4. (Use the adjacent button to add the event to popular digital calendars.)Submit your questions ahead of time here: ()

Billy Eppler believes Mets can reach ‘sustainability’ without tanking: ‘That’s another part of our goal’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:45 GMT

KANSAS CITY — The Mets don’t want to rebuild and they don’t want to spend years at the bottom of the standings in order to acquire prospects. But they also don’t see a path to contention this or year or next, so in order to get those coveted prospects, the Mets had to sell.The club traded four players ahead of the deadline Tuesday and in total parted with six in the last week and seven in the last two months. That would put them firmly in the “seller” category, but in a sense, they actually bought prospects. They paid down the salaries of players in order to obtain better prospects in return. GM Billy Eppler is confident the Mets can turn things around in a span of two to three years. It’s a much shorter timeline than a full-blown rebuild.“To get to the sustainability that we always talk about, we were going to have to do that organically,” Eppler said on a Zoom call. “There are lots of ways to do that and I think some of t...