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2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools list includes four in Colorado

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

ROELAND PARK, Kan. (WDAF/NEXSTAR) — More than 350 schools in the U.S. have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the Department of Education. The annual recognition is given to schools based on academic performance, or progress toward closing achievement gaps among student groups on tests, the Education Department explains. Created in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon School Program recognizes public, parochial and private learning facilities from across the country.Schools can be recognized for a Blue Ribbon School Award in one of two performance categories: high achievement as measured “by state assessments or nationally normed tests,” and greatest advancements in closing achievement gaps. Colorado fall colors forecast 2023: When and where to see peak colors "The leaders, educators and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgro...

‘It Lives Inside’ a fresh take on horror

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

“It Lives Inside,” opening in theaters nationwide Friday, is a horror movie with a difference.While it boasts familiar figures like the plucky high schooler who will help her best friend battle a demon and a teacher who puts her life on the line, “It Lives Inside” is personal for its star Megan Suri and its 27-year-old writer director Bishal Dutta.“The inspiration for this came from ghost stories that I heard growing up, Hindu ghost stories. I felt that there was something so universal about them that would really resonate across cultures with a foreign Western audience.”“It Lives Inside” finds Suri’s Sam fighting to release her best friend from the deathly grip of the demon Pishach. Betty Gabriel  (“Get Out”) is Joyce, the self-sacrificing teacher who joins the battle.“For me,” Gabriel said in a Zoom interview, “the appeal of this was it’s based on Hindu mythology which is something new in an American film. I didn’t know about this particular demon and I thought this character was ...

Lowry: Fetterman makes Senate safe for slobs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

John Fetterman’s Senate legacy is now set — he’s the guy who made it possible to dress like a slob.What the Missouri Compromise was to Henry Clay, what the Second Reply to Hayne was to Daniel Webster, what the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was to Lyndon Johnson, Carhartt sweatshirts and baggy shorts will be to John Fetterman.The Pennsylvania senator is the poster boy — if self-indulgent sloppiness is your thing — for the Senate dropping a dress code that required senators to dress in business attire when appearing on the Senate floor.Fetterman briefly complied with the rule by making the sacrifice of putting on a suit and tie after he was first elected. Then, he reverted to his standard uniform that makes it look like he just arrived after sitting on his couch, surrounded by empty pizza boxes, watching football games all weekend.There’s business casual, then there’s Fetterman’s garb. If he showed up at almost any service or working class jo...

Editorial: We need more city councilors who do more than talk

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

Judging by recent actions, the Boston City Council is packed with members dedicated to service.Lip service, that is.As The Herald reported, the council is moving on an ordinance that would task police with compiling annual data on firearms trafficking, a measure aimed at cutting down on gun violence.“We cannot continue to sit idly by while our communities are repeatedly traumatized by violence, mainly because the weapon was purchased beyond our jurisdictions” said Councilor Brian Worrell, who co-sponsored the ordinance with Council President Ed Flynn.“This data is critical for policymakers and law enforcement to do their jobs and keep our community safe.”Tasking police with tracking firearms sales in a bid to keep our communities safe – a worthy ask. But isn’t this the same city council that narrowly passed an operating budget in June that would have cut roughly $31 million from the police department?Thankfully, Mayor Michelle Wu rejected the move, but it does spea...

Six questions as Bruins turn 100

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

The Bruins, the oldest American-based NHL team, kick off their Centennial season on Wednesday morning when players officially report to Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton for physicals and testing before Thursday’s first on-ice session.While it will be a season of celebration of the franchise’s past, what the present holds is still anyone’s guess.They still boast star-caliber players at forward (David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand), defense (Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm) and in net (Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman). But the depth has taken a huge hit. The B’s lost nine players from the team that won 65 games last year, including three of their four centermen who were familiar with a defensive system that asks a lot from its pivots. Thanks to salary cap constraints, GM Don Sweeney was limited in how he could replace those players.So, as you might suspect, we’ve got some questions. Here’s a half dozen:1. Will Jake DeBrusk be a long-term Bruin?After a major ca...

Chicken and linguine get the Scampi treatment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

A garlicky wine sauce is well known as the basis for the classic Italian dish, shrimp scampi. The sauce is delicious and perfect for sopping up with some crusty bread. For this recipe, I thought the sauce would be a great preparation for chicken thighs. Lots of garlic, some red vermouth and fresh parsley coat the chicken and add flavor to the linguine.You can use dried linguine instead of fresh. Boil for 8 to 9 minutes.You can use red or white wine instead of red vermouth.The quickest way to chop parsley is to snip the leaves with a scissors.TAG GOES HEREScampi-Style ChickenINGREDIENTS2 teaspoons olive oil2 teaspoons butter1 pound skinless chicken thighs with the bone4 garlic cloves, crushed1/2 cup red vermouth1/4 cup chopped parsleySalt and freshly ground black pepperDIRECTIONSHeat oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken thighs. Brown one side 5 minutes. Turn over and brown the second side for 5 minutes. Remove to a plate. Add the garlic an...

McCaughey: Migrant surge a crisis for schools & learning

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

Democratic politicians and the liberal media made the first day of school all about welcoming migrant children. Parents deserve the truth. The migrant surge is a disaster for their kids.The surge will worsen our education system’s twin failures: plunging math and reading scores, and the failure to ensure newly arriving kids learn English so they can succeed, too.Kimberly Carchipulla, who came from Ecuador and has been living at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan with her son, brought him to school earlier this month and said through a translator, “What I want for him is a future.”That’s what all parents want. But when migrant children are added to the class, the rest of the kids get less of their teacher’s attention. A teacher will have to focus on the newcomers who speak no English and may not have been to school before. For the rest, it could be a year of lost opportunities.Public school students’ reading and math scores have been falling for deca...

Poulson & Rose: Can we avert a constitutional crisis over debt?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

President Biden has threatened to increase debt without congressional approval. He argued in June that the 14th Amendment’s reference to debt makes it unconstitutional for the nation to default on debt.Failure to lift the debt ceiling would have resulted in debt default. A default occurs when the Treasury does not have enough money to pay for obligations it has already incurred. The crisis was averted when Biden and congressional leaders agreed to lift the debt ceiling as part of a budget agreement. What the president and Congress agreed to do is to kick the can down the road. The debt limit was suspended for two years until 2025.Congress continues to struggle to live with that budget agreement, and the legislators have yet to agree on most appropriations and face a Sept. 30 deadline. If they miss the deadline, the government will shut down.We must avert a constitutional crisis over debt. If the controversy over the debt limit reaches the Supreme Court, it is not clear how the justi...

Pumpkin mac and cheese puts fall spin on classic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

Football isn’t the only thing people go nuts over this time of year.September also marks the start of pumpkin-spice season, with the warming (and controversial) seasonal fall flavor finding its way into everything from your Starbucks latte to cookies, popcorn, spreads, breads, creamer, yogurt, gelato, cereal and toaster pastries. Love it or hate it, Nissin even makes a pumpkin-spice cup of instant ramen noodles.This luscious mac and cheese recipe dumps the “spice” part of the popular duo, but goes heavy on the pumpkin — or should we say squash — because the bright orange puree that goes in Libby’s famous cans of pure pumpkin is actually Dickinson squash, an elongated American heirloom winter squash with tan-colored rind and dense flesh.I used ruffled campanelle noodles for a bit of flair, but any hollow and tubular pasta noodle that features nooks and crannies for capturing the cheese sauce will work well. A blend of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano cheeses enhan...

Mary Ann Esposito’s Harvest Corn Pudding

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:45 GMT

It was a so-so garden year for lots of people…low yields due to too much rain and a cool start in June. Some veggies like corn, did just fine and while it is still in season, slather it up with butter and salt and enjoy.Save that summer taste by shaving the kernels off the cobs and freezing them for winter eating and use them in soups and stews and stir-fry. Celebrate the arrival of fall with this tasty corn pudding, a nifty side side dish or star attraction.TAG GOES HEREHarvest Corn PuddingINGREDIENTS½ cup flour1 teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon nutmeg4 eggs4 cups half/half or whole milk1/3 cup honey4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled4 cups corn kernels½ cup diced scallions1 cup diced sweet potatoDIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 425FButter a 12 x2x 9-inch casserole dish and set aside.In a bowl combine the flour, salt and nutmeg and set aside.In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until foamy; whisk in the honey and melted butter.  Stir in the corn kernels and scallions until well combined. Gently ...