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Texas red-crowned parrots: Something unusual was just discovered about them

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — The Lone Star State may not be the first place you would think to find wild parrots but one species of parrot has defied the odds to become a native Texan. What's more, new research shows that while these birds' numbers may be in trouble, they have one quality that could help keep them around.Recently published research out of Texas A&M University took a look at a population of red-crowned parrots in the urban areas of South Texas and how they've adapted to urban expansion in the state. But the team, led by Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith and graduate student Simon Kiacz, found something interesting — not only are the parrots surviving increasingly urban areas, they're thriving in part because of it. Invasive stink bugs are back: What to do about them Red-crowned Amazon parrot (Getty Images)These types of species are known as synanthropes, according to researchers. Despite this unique feature, the red-crowned parrots are nevertheless currently considered endangered in th...

‘Totally Killer’ review: Kiernan Shipka’s teen horror sendup uninspiring

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

“Totally Killer” knows exactly what it wants to be: a funny, time-traveling, “Cabin in the Woods”-style sendup to the teen horror genre. Its inspiration are legion and its shame nonexistent as it sources material from horror classics: “Halloween,” “Scream,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” even “Back to the Future.” (You can’t convince me that time travel, with its infinite and unknowable outcomes, isn’t terrifying.) It leans into tropes with a creepy-mask smile on its face, never once shying away from well-worn paths created decades ago.But under the weight of all those well-known films and horror-movie tropes, “Totally Killer” strains to leave a lasting impression. It wants to make a joke at its source material’s expense, but all it ever accomplishes is making you want to watch those classics instead.The premise is interesting enough: A high school teen girl, Jamie (Kiernan Shipka, magical in “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”; here, less so), is sent back from 2023 to 1987 to sto...

Other voices: Why aren’t America’s students showing up?

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

Nearly four years into America’s learning-loss crisis, perhaps the biggest challenge facing the country’s schools is a basic one: getting students to show up. Rates of absenteeism have surged since the start of the pandemic, across nearly all regions, income levels and age groups. School leaders need to act now to solve the problem, or risk seeing millions of students lose any chance of recovery.By every measure, U.S. students are missing huge amounts of school. During the 2021-22 academic year, 28% of schoolchildren were “chronically” absent — defined as missing at least 10% of the 180-day school year, or three and a half weeks. That’s up from a rate of 15% in the last full year before the pandemic. The problem is most acute in urban public school districts: Chronic absenteeism topped 40% in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago; in Detroit, the rate was 77%. But even affluent, suburban areas have seen unexcused absences soar.It hardly needs say...

Real World Economics: U.S. fiscal policy needs outside help

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

Edward LottermanThe recent threat by Indiana GOP Congresswoman Victoria Spartz to resign her seat if Congress does not establish an independent “debt commission,” and what it implies, is as welcome as cool fall air.Here is a self-proclaimed Tea Party member recognizing that our non-functional legislative branch simply can’t handle any issue. Moreover, by calling for a commission of experts, Rep. Spartz implicitly acknowledges tax increases are part of what we need. That honest facing of reality is a major step forward.Yes, that last part is facetious. I am sure Spartz would angrily deny any need for higher taxes. But let’s consider the implications of her proposal.Having taught college econ since 1981, it is clear to me that any independent panel of experts would at the very least call for returning U.S. tax rates to those prevailing in January 2001 — the fourth year of federal budget surpluses that were projected at the time to reduce the national debt to zero by 2012. ...

Get ready to taco 'bout it: St. Louis Taco Week starts Oct 9th

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Starting on Monday, October 9, and running through Sunday, October 15, it's Taco Week in the city. To celebrate, enjoy $5 taco deals across town, and be sure to check out the St. Louis Taco Week App.Within the app, there is a list of participating restaurants, their specials, hours, and a map—everything you need for taco week. There are two ways to win: Check in by using the app at four or more locations during the week and automatically enter to win a grand prize of $250 in gift cards. Earn points for eating tacos at restaurants and checking in on the app. The person with the most points by the end of Halfway to Taco Week will win a grand prize of $250 in gift cards.  Belleville police investigate deadly shooting, blocks away from chili cook-off Stay updated on social media by following @stltacoweek on Instagram and RSVP for event updates on Facebook. The list of locations offering $5 taco specials and restaurant offerings may change: Alpha Brewing Company Amigos...

Counties with the highest unemployment in Missouri

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

While today's unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.Experts are mixed in their views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession. The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.But as of August 2023, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.8%—nearly the same as the same month last year, and up about 0.3 percentage points from July. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ran...

Keeler: CU Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders knows whose time it is, haters. His. Just watch.

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

TEMPE, Ariz. — Shedeur Sanders has been sacked more times than a gallon of milk. His favorite target, Travis Hunter, hasn’t played in 14 quarters and two overtime periods.Yet over his first six weeks on the job, Son of Prime’s notched four one-score victories as CU’s starting quarterback.Frame of reference: The Buffs won five one-score games, combined, over their prior 30 tilts, a bridge to nowhere that stretches all the way back to November 2020.He’s Elway Lite. Isn’t he? Well, maybe Reeves Era Elway Lite. Sanders The Younger is accurate and arrogant, cool and cocky to the last, the sizzle and the steak. Without him, the Buffs are 1-5 right now, a paper tiger of empty slogans and false promises.And y’ all are freaking out about a …. watch?That’s Forked Up.Look, Shedeur was just reminding all those Arizona State undergrads what time it was.His.“(I) was really just taking accountability of what’s going on in the game,&...

Blinken: US ‘working overtime’ to confirm reports American among those killed in Israel

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that U.S. officials have received reports that several Americans have been killed in Israel as a result of Hamas’s attacks on the country. In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Blinken said the U.S. is working to verify those reports. “Yes, we have reports that several Americans were killed,” Blinken told CNN’s Dana Bash when asked whether Americans were killed or kidnapped in Israel.“We're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, we're working to verify those reports,” Blinken said. Blinken’s comments come after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in decades Saturday, killing an estimated 500 Israelis, according to reports. Blinken reiterated American support for Israel and described the war as “a massive terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilia...

Saratoga venues host variety of community events

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

Sacred Heart carnivalSacred Heart Parish is hosting a carnival Oct. 13-15 at 13716 Saratoga Ave., with live musical entertainment each day, a community stage, food, amusement park rides and a raffle.Bands include Country Cougars, Blue House, the Megatones, Wandering Acoustics and Tsunami.For a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit https://parish.sacredheartsaratoga.org/carnival.Saratoga Symphony concertThe Saratoga Symphony will perform a free concert Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. at McAfee Performing Arts Center, 20300 Herriman Ave.Pianist Tamami Honma will be the soloist for Piano Concerto in C Major by Ferruccio Busoni. The work, which also features a men’s chorus, was first performed in Berlin in 1904 with its Italian composer as the solo pianist. Conductor Dr. Jason Klein will talk to the audience about the piece before it is performed.No tickets or reservations are needed. Masks are recommended to attend concert. For more information, visit www.saratogasymphony.org.SASCC ...

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose to host Día de los Muertos

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:02:12 GMT

Día de los Muertos at CDMChildren’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is hosting a Día de los Muertos program Oct. 28 to honor the lives of departed ancestors and loved ones. Attendees can create a sand painting with stencils, make cardboard calaveras (skulls) in the Neiman Art Studio, learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos and take in the larger-than-life skeleton puppets and the calaveras procession led by Teatro Familia Aztlán, which includes a stop at Lupe, the 14,000-year-old “muerto” mammoth.Visitors will be invited to write down the names of loved ones who have passed and say those names aloud, and to bring a personal memento to share on a community altar built for the day and visit an altar created by artist Lissa Jones in the Oaxacan tradition on view Oct. 23-Nov. 2.For tickets and more information, visit https://www.cdm.org/celebrate/community-celebrations/dia-de-los-muertos.Othering and BelongingSanta Clara County wants to be welcoming to everyone. The county’s Offic...