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Passing the paddle: Some Missouri school districts cling to corporal punishment

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Early on in his administrative career, longtime Missouri educator Chris Belcher had what he called the worst experience of his life.“The kid screamed, and I felt awful,” he said.He didn’t want to do it, but he had to.It was the 1980s, and Belcher was told to paddle a student who was enrolled in the school district’s special education program. The administrator who typically oversaw discipline for that particular student was out that day, leaving Belcher to handle the punishment.As upsetting as the situation was to both the student and Belcher, it also reaffirmed his strong belief in cognitive and nonpunitive strategies.School corporal punishment, which gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is a physical disciplinary method to correct student misbehavior. In most instances where the practice is used, students are paddled by a district superintendent or school principal.Missouri’s Cassville R-IV School District made headlines last August when it chose to reinstate...

Missouri sees surge in cannabis jobs after legalization vote

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Marcus Kerr was running his own food truck in California in 2018, when he parked by a marijuana dispensary one day.“I just ended up meeting the owner of this company, and they had my food,” he said. “They said, ‘Hey, can you infuse this?’ Then I started working for the big guys.”Kerr began creating edible recipes in a California lab, and he’s been in the cannabis industry since. Now he’s excited to be part of Missouri’s new journey into the recreational marijuana space.Kerr moved to St. Louis about a month ago and joined the Luxury Leaf Cannabis Dispensary team as a specialist. Beyond a career opportunity, cannabis science is something passed down within his family.“I’m from Jamaica, where it’s growing on the side of the mountains, so it’s in my DNA,” he laughed. “Literally it is, like in my chromosomes.”Kerr is among thousands of people who have landed cannabis jobs in Missouri since voters approved recreational marijuana use through a constitutional amendment, which appeared on th...

Letecia Stauch suffered mental break during killing of 11-year-old Gannon, defense says as murder trial opens

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

A Colorado Springs woman accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson three years ago suffers from multiple personality disorder due to severe childhood abuse and underwent a mental break when she killed the boy, her defense attorney said Monday.Attorney Will Cook offered the claims as he mounted an insanity defense during opening statements in the jury trial for Letecia Stauch, 39, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her stepson, 11-year-old Gannon Stauch.Prosecutors alleged that Letecia Stauch was sane when she killed Gannon inside his bedroom, hid his body in a remote area nearby and then rented a van and drove the boy’s body to Florida, where she dumped his remains under a bridge. Cook argued that Stauch was out of her mind and shouldn’t be held legally responsible.“There is no motive,” Cook said, showing jurors a photo of Gannon and Letecia Stauch smiling together the day before he was killed. “There is no reason. It doesn’t make ...

Broncos CB Faion Hicks arrested in Florida, charged with felony related to concealed weapon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Denver second-year defensive back Faion Hicks was arrested near his hometown in Florida after a traffic stop on Saturday, police there confirmed Monday to The Post.Related ArticlesDenver Broncos | As Sean Payton’s offseason plan for Broncos comes into focus, one takeaway: It’s nothing like Nathaniel Hackett’s Denver Broncos | Kiszla: Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson doesn’t need fixing. He needs smart coaching. For a change. Denver Broncos | Broncos podcast: Revamped O-line, keeping Jeudy and Sutton, and more analysis Denver Broncos | Rams coach Sean McVay: “The game is better” with Broncos’ Sean Payton back on the sideline Denver Broncos | Broncos CEO Greg Penner: Under coach Sean Payton, Denver “teed up to be a very different team next year” Hicks, 25, faces three charges including a third-degree felony for carrying a concealed firearm, according to co...

15-year-old charged in connection with Brighton homicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

A 15-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a homicide in Brighton last week.The teen, who was not named because they are a minor, also faces charges of first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft and possession of a handgun by a juvenile, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.Brighton police on March 28 went to check on a man in the 400 block of North 6th Avenue. There they found 44-year-old Joseph Johnson dead from apparent gunshot wounds.The 15-year-old was arrested in Castle Rock later Tuesday.Since the suspect is a minor, a judge will determine if the case will be transferred to district court or remain in juvenile court.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Three men plead guilty in slaying of 18-year-old Yeshiva student outside Denver school Crime and Public Safety | Police seek public’s help after fatal shooting of 36-year-old woman near Aurora grocery store Crime and...

The $174,000 question: Who gets the money Steve Bachar brought to court?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

In a trust account sits $174,370 of Steve Bachar’s money. Should he be able to withdraw it?The cash was turned in to the Denver District Court last month by Bachar, a disgraced businessman and disbarred attorney who admitted stealing it from an old friend.But that old friend, Jamie Lindsay, didn’t want it. On March 10, the 74-year-old cancer patient asked Judge Eric Johnson to reject a plea deal between Bachar and prosecutors and put Bachar on trial in hopes that he is sent to prison. He was told the money would go back to Bachar.Johnson, in an unusual decision, granted the request and scheduled a September trial.Robert Swestka, a public defender representing Bachar, then asked when his client could get his $174,370 back. A court clerk told him it would be available in a few days.But then came three lawyers carrying three garnishment demands.“What (Bachar) should understand is that people are paying attention to what he does and will continue to take every legal step, lawful step, t...

KTLA, Nexstar honor this year's group of 'Remarkable Women'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Each year, Nexstar Media Group celebrates International Women's Month by spotlighting "Remarkable Women" from coast to coast, with the big winner eventually being named "Nexstar Woman of the Year."This weekend, more than 100 remarkable women arrived in Los Angeles, all inspirational leaders from across the country making an impact in their communities — from helping the homeless to working with domestic violence victims.Their work and contributions are in the spotlight as they descend on Hollywood and receive the star treatment.On Sunday, hours after their arrival in L.A., they walked the "purple carpet" and danced poolside at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, where they had their very own Remarkable Women decorative waterfall.They kicked off Monday with a double-decker bus tour of some of Los Angeles' most iconic landmarks.All 200 Nexstar TV stations in 116 markets around the U.S. accepted nominations for this prestigious honor. Nexstar received more than 10,000 nominations this year.Many...

This is a good time to be a big fat chicken

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

Smaller chickens, beware -- KFC and Chick-fil-A have your number.Restaurant chains that feature chicken sandwiches and chicken-on-the-bone offerings are seeking birds no larger than 4 pounds.That is, chickens that are more Tom Holland than Henry Cavill.The big-breasted birds that until now have dominated the poultry industry are no longer in high demand, the Wall Street Journal reports.Instead, restaurant chains want small-breasted chickens that lend themselves more easily to sandwiches.This preference, the Journal says, "is driving up costs for restaurant operators.""What happened was the chicken sandwich ... it just became much tougher for us to find that small bird," Dan Shapiro, CEO of food-service chain Krispy Krunchy Foods, told the paper.Poultry suppliers are being pressured to breed more birds that weigh in below heavyweight status, even though smaller chickens have less meat and tend to be less profitable for livestock businesses.What this change in American eating habits s...

Lakers star Anthony Davis named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for 2nd time

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

For the second time this season, Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis has been named Player of the Week for the NBA's Western Conference.During the week of March 27 to April 2, Davis led the surging Lakers to a 3-0 record with important road wins over the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets.During that three-game winning streak, Davis averaged 38.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks per game while shooting 65% from the floor and 80% from the free throw line.This is the ninth weekly award Davis has received in his career, including his fourth as a member of the Lakers. Davis was named Western Conference Player of the Week earlier this season for the week of Nov. 28 through Dec. 4.Davis, 30, is averaging 26.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks per game in his fourth season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He's appeared in 52 games, including 50 starts. LeBron James returns to Lakers; comes off bench agains...

SF Giants nearly make franchise history while spoiling White Sox home opener

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:40:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Ringing in the White Sox home opener Monday, it was the Giants who threw a party. Call it a disco dinger bash.Rebounding from a season-opening series loss in New York, the Giants launched seven home runs — four in one inning and two from David Villar — while Anthony DeSclafani turned in six sharp frames in a 12-3 win. It even featured a special guest, DeSclafani’s fiery alter ego (Tony D?) who jawed and lunged at a Chicago player, just one of many retired by the San Francisco right-hander in his first start since last June.DeSclafani’s counterpart, White Sox starter Michael Kopech, proved to be just the medicine San Francisco’s bats needed after being blanked twice in their first three games of the season.Joc Pederson got the party started in the second inning with a no-doubter to right-center, and he would have had second in his next at-bat if not for Luis Robert’s leaping catch at the center field wall. No worry, though, Pederson was merely settin...