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Bad to worse: Student misbehavior rises further since return of in-person classes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

(The Hill) -- Student behavioral problems that spiked with the return of in-person learning after the coronavirus pandemic are getting even worse, educators say.Seventy percent of teachers, principals and district leaders said in a recent EdWeek Research Center survey that students are misbehaving more now than in 2019, up from 66 percent in December 2021. One-third in the new poll said students are misbehaving "a lot more."Experts say the culture shock and whiplash from the extended period of remote classes is only one of the psychological and academic factors behind the problem.More than 200,000 students have lost a parent to COVID-19, and several states reported an increase in youth suicide during the pandemic. Scholastically, the Nation's Report Card 2022 found students had lost decades of learning.“I think one of the things that we really talk to school leaders about is, you know, really understanding that you cannot push your way through. If a student is not emotionally a...

Why are more Americans going to therapy?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

(The Hill) -- The number of Americans seeking mental health treatment is almost twice as high as it was two decades ago — reflecting a historic recent decline in mental health but also an increase in virtual care access and a positive trend of destigmatization.In 2004, just 13 percent of adults said they had visited a therapist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional within the past year, according to Gallup polling. In 2022, that number was up to 23 percent. While the shift began before COVID-19 arrived, the pandemic drove a new surge in demand for care, particularly among young adults. The share of Americans aged 18 to 44 who had received mental health treatment like medication, counseling or therapy over the past 12 months jumped from 18.5 percent to more than 23 percent between 2019 and 2021, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. “Without a doubt, shortly after the pande...

APD: Car found in Lady Bird Lake overnight

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A dive team will be out at Lady Bird Lake Monday morning to try to figure out how a car ended up in the water overnight, according to Austin Police. The Austin Police Department said around 2 a.m. Monday, it received a call of gunshots near the Festival Beach Boat Ramp. When officers arrived, they found a car in the water, APD said. APD said first responders didn’t find anyone hurt when they arrived, but it’s unclear if anyone is in the car in the water.Police are hoping to get a closer look at the car once the sun is up and a dive team is deployed.

Amazon funding computer science education for over 3,000 students in Austin area

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the school year comes to a close, Amazon has made a major commitment to students throughout the Austin area.The company will provide funding for computer science education for over 3,000 Austin area students."In Austin specifically, we think there's an immense opportunity to increase access to computer science education and careers for young people,” Victor Reinoso, Amazon Future Engineer global director of education philanthropy, said.Amazon’s overall goal is to reach more than 72,700 students across Texas by the end of the academic year.Currently, there are 46 schools within the Greater Austin area — including four schools in Leander ISD — participating in Amazon’s Future Engineer program.Taught by computer science teachers within each district, the program prepares students for jobs that are already in high demand throughout the Lone Star State.In Texas, there are currently more than 39,500 open computing jobs with an average salary of $94,779.According to Code...

What's the origin behind the 'Keep Austin Weird' slogan?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You've seen it on bumper car stickers and t-shirts, and maybe even mentioned out loud. But how did the slogan "Keep Austin Weird" come to be?The phrase dates back to Red Wassenich, an Austin Community College librarian who mentioned the phrase back in 2000 while calling in a donation to KOOP Radio, per Austin History Center archives. The weekly "The Lounge Show" would play "offbeat music," the inspiration behind Wassenich's contributions, according to a 2002 New York Times interview."Whoever answered the phone said, 'Why did you support the show?'" Wassenich said during his NYT interview. "I said, 'I don't know. It helps keep Austin weird.'"What emerged since was a cultural adoption of the phrase by fellow Austin residents and businesses. Wassenich began printing the slogan onto bumper stickers, while BookPeople and Waterloo Records "used the phrase to successfully fight the construction of a big book bookstore" nearby, per historic documents."Wassenich never intend...

Minnesota syphilis infections up sharply last year, according to state data

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

Syphilis cases in Minnesota rose 25% in 2022, reaching their highest level in years, according to new data from the Minnesota Department of Health.Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection spread through direct contact with a sore.Cases in the state rose to 1,832 last year, an increase of 375 compared with 2021. New cases were mostly among men, particularly among those who have sex with men, and they were primarily located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, according to state health officials.The infection can also be passed during pregnancy to a fetus or baby. These congenital syphilis cases also increased last year, by 42%. Syphilis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. In children born with syphilis, infections can lead to serious health complications such as deformed bones, severe anemia and brain or nerve problems.Health officials said the infections are detectable and easily treated with antibiotics, making this sharp increase in cases “especially troubling.”“One of th...

Deputies investigating church donation box burglary

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

AURIESVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is investigating a burglary at the Auriesville Shrine that happened on Sunday around 5 p.m. Deputies say the suspect pried open the donation box and took money inside. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Deputies are trying to identify the suspect using surveillance footage, however, the footage has low resolution. Anyone with any information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at (518) 853-5500.

Judge to decide on A.G.'s gender-affirming care restrictions today

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - A St. Louis County judge is expected to make a decision Monday on whether a rule restricting gender-affirming care for transgender kids and adults in Missouri can take effect.  The case is before Judge Ellen Ribaudo at the St. Louis County Courthouse. She is the judge we expect a ruling from Monday.Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is pushing for the restrictions, but several plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit looking to stop the rules from being enforced.Bailey says the emergency order is a way to shield minors from what he describes as "experimental medical treatments," though puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for years. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW The lawsuit against the order claims that B...

Investigators identify remains found by morel mushroom hunter

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. - Investigators in Jefferson County have identified the human remains found last week near Pevely by a morel mushroom hunter.Police said they belong to 64-year-old Joan Giudicy of Pevely. She had been missing since last December. Mike Shannon, longtime Cardinals radio broadcaster, dies at 83 Officers shared that her death remains suspicious, and the investigation is still active. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Forest Park hosts 19th annual golf tournament

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The Kwame Charitable Foundation is hosting its 19th annual golf tournament Monday.It's at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park. The goal is to raise $105,000 to pay for scholarships for historically black colleges and universities. 3 teens, 1 adult killed in Highway 79 collision in Lincoln County Registration is open for foursomes and individual players. That begins at 9:00 a.m., with first tee at 10:30 a.m.Non-players can still show support by attending the cocktail reception at 3:00 p.m., and an auction at 4:00 p.m.