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Librarians train to defend intellectual freedom and fight book bans at Chicago conference

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — School librarian Jamie Gregory has been called a “pedophile” and “groomer,” bombarded with private messages threatening harm, accused of distributing pornography in schools, and had her personal address posted on social media.She takes it on the chin.“I’m just not going to quit. I’m not going to let them call me that, especially when I’ve worked my whole entire life to get to where I am,” said Gregory, who was named the 2022 South Carolina school librarian of the year.The “shocking” allegations made her think: “My whole entire adult life, and all of my education and all my work — what if this is over? I’m not going to let that happen,” Gregory said Saturday to a room packed full of about 100 fellow librarians at a training session on fighting book bans at the American Library Association’s annual meeting in Chicago.The attendees broke into applause at Gregory’s declaration.Book bans and how to fight them is a major focus of the this year’s ALA’s conf...

Funnel cloud advisory, rainfall warning for Toronto and GTA

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

Environment Canada is warning of possible funnel clouds this afternoon and evening across much of southern Ontario. A special weather advisory was issued just before 3:30 p.m. for Toronto and the GTA, saying conditions are favourable for the development of funnel clouds.“These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms,” the national weather service said. “This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.”Landspout tornadoes don’t usually cause significant damage but can be strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.“Should a funnel cloud develop nearby, prepare to take shelter. These funnel clouds usually appear with little or no warning.”A funnel cloud advisory is now in effect across portions of southern Ontario????Several funnel cloud re...

His LGBTQ teen book is one of the most banned in the U.S. Here's why he keeps writing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Writer and illustrator Mike Curato didn't set out to write one of the most-banned books in school libraries (or the most banned, depending which list you're reading). Instead, he says he was just being honest about what it's like being a young LGBTQ person.The Massachusetts-based artist has written several children's books — many starring a polka-dotted elephant named Little Elliot — but older readers may be more familiar with his blockbuster young adult graphic novel "Flamer." Released in 2020, the book, aimed at readers ages 14-18, is a based on Curato's own experiences as a gay Filipino Boy Scout. Memes, jokes about Titan submersible draw criticism over insensitivity "Flamer" has earned rave reviews and won awards for its portrayal of suicidal ideation, which LGBTQ youth are at higher risk of due to societal mistreatment. In "Flamer," fourteen-year-old protagonist Aiden discovers a first male crush — but he also faces severe bullying and alienation at summer camp. ...

Shop on social media the smart way

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

(NerdWallet) - When Ziwei Cong bought some sweatpants that caught her eye during a livestream shopping event on social media, she was disappointed when they arrived and didn’t fit well.“It’s very easy for me to become irrational during these kinds of shopping events,” says the assistant professor of marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She adds that the hosts can be very persuasive and hook you with limited- time offers to trigger impulse purchases.Social shopping, or purchases made through social media sites that sometimes incorporate livestreaming events with influencers, is booming. Almost half of U.S. consumers (47%) say they’ve made a purchase on social media, and 39% say they have bought that way and would do so again, according to 2022 data in a report released in April by the market intelligence agency Mintel.“Shopping on social media has really taken off more with younger consumers. They’re on their phones more and on social media more often, s...

Person airlifted after falling 15 feet at Pace Bend Park, ATCEMS says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

SPICEWOOD, Texas (KXAN) -- One person was airlifted via STARFlight after falling approximately 15 feet at Pace Bend Park-Levi Cove in Spicewood, Austin-Travis County EMS said on Twitter.At approximately 1:45 p.m., medics and STARFlight responded to the incident and declared the person a trauma alert, according to Twitter.The patient was transported by the Pedernales Fire Department boat to "the flats" where STARFlight landed and transported the person, who was not identified Saturday, to Dell Seton with potentially serious injuries, medics said.No further information was released, and the incident remained under investigation Saturday.

Slow and steady warmup through the middle of next week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The rest of your afternoon is sunny and hot with high temperatures returning to triple digits after a two-day hiatus in the 90s at Austin's Camp Mabry.Today's normal high is 94°A Heat Advisory is in effect today for the entire area. Maximum heat index readings this afternoon will likely rise to between 108° to 115° at many locations. Heat advisory now continues through Sunday eveningThe Heat Advisory has already been extended through at least Sunday evening.High pressure over Mexico continues to be our main weather feature. The high will drift to the northeast, parking over Central Texas Tuesday and Wednesday, which is when we expect this coming week's heat to peak at close to 106º.The heat dome is over Central Texas Tuesday and WednesdayTuesday's record high is 106° set in 2012. Wednesday's record high is 106° set in 2013.Later next week as the high starts to slide to our east we'll notice high temperatures dropping slightly, but still staying in the triple digits ...

Brock Stewart has been a boon to Twins’ bullpen

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

DETROIT — This whole Brock Stewart thing is really working out for the Twins.That isn’t often the case for teams that take a flier on a veteran who has been out of the game, and Stewart hadn’t pitched in a major league game since Sept. 24, 2019, with the Toronto Blue Jays.But Stewart, 31, has been just about lights-out since he joined the big league club on April 25 after signing a two-year, minor-league deal with Minnesota last July.“This could not have played out any better for us,” manager Rocco Baldelli said.After defusing a bases-loaded situation in the sixth inning, and then striking out the side in the seventh of Friday’s 4-1 victory at Detroit, Stewart has fanned 33 batters in 24⅔ innings and has an earned-run average of 0.73.In his past nine appearances, the right-hander is 1-0 with a blown save, three holds, 16 strikeouts, six hits, no walks and a 0.00 earned-run average in 9⅔ innings. His WHIP in 24 appearances is an impressive 1.054.Stewart, 31, has appeared in 46 major-...

SiCM Summer Meals program starting up this week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) will be facilitating their annual Summer Meals program to benefit children in the Schenectady and Scotia areas. The initiative is set to begin on Monday, June 26. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! 2023 marks the 29th year of the initiative, and this summer's program will operate in a "congregate setting", departing from the pandemic-era grab-and-go model. This year, SiCM is preparing to serve lunches at several different sites, supported by volunteers, partnerships with local organizations, and the generosity of donors. “The congregate meals will be a new experience for hundreds of children throughout Schenectady who experienced better and safer access to meals during the pandemic.” said Amaury Tañón-Santos, Executive Director of SiCM. “Partnering with organizations offering summer programs to children and youth throughout Schenectady can ensure that, ...

4 dead in fiery high-speed crash on 5 Freeway in Downey 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

A crash on the 5 Freeway in Downey claimed the lives of four people early Saturday morning. According to a release from the California Highway Patrol, the single vehicle crash involving a 2018 Dodge Charger happened around 2:30 a.m. on the southbound span of the 5 Freeway south of Lakewood Boulevard. CHP confirmed that the vehicle was on fire when they arrived and that all four occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. "Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle at a high rate of speed causing the vehicle to collide with a guardrail and the bridge abutment of the Lemoran Avenue pedestrian overcrossing," CHP said in a statement. "The force of the impact caused the vehicle to split in two, subsequently ejecting the two rear passengers onto the right shoulder."The rear end of the car was found approximately 100 feet south of the front end, authorities said. 5-year-old killed, teen hospitalized in South L.A. hit-and-run crash ...

Armed truck driver arrested on multiple weapons, narcotics charges in Pasadena

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:43 GMT

A man who fell asleep with his U-Haul truck stopped in a Pasadena street was arrested when police discovered several weapons, magazines and body armor inside the vehicle. According to a release from the Pasadena Police Department, officers responded to the area of Claremont Street and Wilson Avenue regarding a truck stopped in the street. Upon arriving on the scene, they noticed the truck had been involved in a minor accident. When officers went to contact the driver, they found him asleep in the driver’s seat. “[Officers] woke up the driver and asked him to exit the vehicle,” Pasadena Police said in a statement. “As he exited, officers saw a handgun in the driver’s waistband.” The driver, later identified as 36-year-old Carson resident Marc Oliver David, fled from officers and was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. Upon detaining David, they discovered a loaded 9mm handgun.  Man stops elderly couple from being robbed in San Gabriel Police searched the U-H...