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'Left out:' School support staff push for better pay amid teacher raises

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After more than two decades serving students as a special education paraeducator, Tammy Reyes feels right at home in her Galena Park school. The struggle begins, however, when she finds no place to go home after school."In my current situation, I'm homeless," she said. "I've been in Galena Park ISD for 23-plus years, and I'm homeless. I don't make enough. It's rough. It's really rough."Tammy makes $23,000 caring for special needs children and serving at the side of teachers. She could rely on her spouse's income when she was married, but in the twelve years since, she leaves exhausting days only to find extra money in other jobs. Working in children's ministry at her church helped to pad her paycheck for eight years. Cleaning houses also helped a little, until she was physically able to do no more."But I have a job with Galena Park that's 40 hours. I shouldn't have to work a second job. I shouldn't have to work a third job," she said. "My primary job should provid...

Volunteers improve habitat in hopes sharp-tailed grouse will return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

KETTLE RIVER, Minn. — This should be the time of year when sharp-tailed grouse do their dancing, the territorial mating ritual when males square off to bluff fight and females gather to watch.To the winners of this chest-puffing, wing-spreading display of hormones goes the right to court, mate and pass on their progeny.But that’s not happening at the Firebird Wildlife Management Area in northwestern Carlton County anymore because the sharptails are all gone, echoing a problem across the region.“This should be a good spot. There have traditionally always been leks (dancing grounds) on this site, and several more within a couple miles around here. But not anymore,” said Chris Balzer, area wildlife manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “The numbers just kept going down until there weren’t any left.”But on a cold and windy Earth Day last week, two dozen volunteers showed up at the Firebird area to try to keep the habitat suitable for sharptails, hoping the birds wil...

Norwegian group will host Syttende Mai celebration in Stillwater

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

The St. Croix Valley Syttende Mai Society will host a banquet May 17 to observe Norway’s Constitution Day.“Syttende Mai” is Norwegian for “17th of May,” the day in 1814 the Norwegian Constitution was adopted, said Roger Bosmoe, president of the society.The holiday is “often thought of as Norway’s Fourth of July,” Bosmoe said. “Comparing it to our Independence Day is appropriate because Norway’s Constitution was patterned after the American Constitution.”Scandinavian historian Race Fisher, who has a degree in history and Nordic studies from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a master’s degree in history from Illinois State University, will be the featured speaker at the May 2023 Syttende Mai celebration in Stillwater. (Courtesy of the St Croix Syttende Mai Society)The event will be at the Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center in Stillwater. Social hour starts at 5 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m.Scandinavian historian Race Fisher, who has a degree in history and Nordic studies from...

Gammelgården Museum in Scandia marks 51st year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

The idea for the Gammelgården Museum in Scandia was conceived in 1971 when the congregation of Elim Lutheran Church learned that its former pastor’s house and barn — dating back to the 1850s — were for sale.It turned out the church’s 1856 log sanctuary, which was being used as a hay barn, also was available and could be moved to the 11-acre site and restored.A group of church members formed a committee and Gammelgården, which means “old farm” in Swedish, opened in 1972. Other buildings have since been added to the site, including a welcome center that opened in 2002.“We have the oldest Lutheran pastor’s house in Minnesota, as well as the oldest Lutheran sanctuary in Minnesota,” said Lynne Blomstrand Moratzka, museum director.Plans to mark the open-air museum’s 50th year had to be put on hold because of leadership changes at the museum, so “we are celebrating our 51st anniversary and looking to the next 50 years,” Moratzka said. “This is the third century for five of our ...

St. Louis blues community mourns the loss of Tom Hall, a beloved musician

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- People are remembering the life of a St. Louis blues musician. Tom Hall died in a house fire a week ago today. He performed at SqWires in Lafayette Square for nearly two decades. The restaurant was packed with mourners. SqWires' management, friends, and fans all came out to pay tribute to the longtime favorite, Tom Hall. He was supposed to play on Friday, but he died.The blues singer was presumed dead in a barn fire last week. Hall performed at SqWires regularly. He was scheduled to perform Friday, but unfortunately, a memorial was held in its place. A fundraiser for his family was held instead. All proceeds donated via bar sales went to his family. They will continue to accept donations from anyone who wants to help. Tom has a daughter who is expecting; the proceeds will help her.The fire is still under investigation. The police are currently waiting for autopsy results. In the meantime, another memorial will take place next week.

Gateway Arch volunteer program seeks community help to tackle riverfront litter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- The volunteer program at the Gateway Arch is seeking 100 people or more to "team up to clean up" the St. Louis riverfront. This is all in celebration of National Park Week. The Mississippi River is one of the largest sources of oceanic plastic debris. Last year's clean-up brought in 35 bags of trash, 40 pounds of plastic, and 54 pounds of other recyclables kept out of the river. All volunteers will receive gloves, trash bags, water, and snacks. Volunteers are asked to park at the Kiener West Garage. You will receive validation. There's a clean-up happening from 9 to 11 this morning and another one from 11 to 1 this afternoon.

Rebuilding Together, St. Louis free home repairs for those in need

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- More than 300 volunteers with "Rebuilding Together St. Louis" will rehab 19 homes for people who need it most. For 30 years, the non-profit has provided free home repairs to veterans, people with disabilities, and low-income homeowners. Repairs include ramps, grab bars, plumbing, and electrical issues. For the first time in over a decade, the volunteer group includes a team of renovators composed entirely of women.

Murder victims families unite for justice and healing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

FLORISSANT, Mo. - Moms from across the country united in north St. Louis County to stand up to violence.They’re families who have lost their children to homicide and are coming together in a group called Voices of Black Mothers United.“We also want to be a voice. We want to start bringing about solutions here in St. Louis," said Sylvia Bennett-Stone. "So this is the start of engagement, a movement, and us getting together and saying we’re going to make a difference.”She and Johnetta Doss are two mothers whose teenage daughters were murdered. Top story: One officer hurt, one shot in St. Louis “My days haven’t really been happy since I lost my daughter," Doss said. "So to know there is another mother out there—rooting for me, pushing me, speaking life into me. It means a lot.”They organized a Survivor’s Ball to lift up mothers grieving in ways that few can understand. They’re also working together to find solutions.“There’s not one answer to this madness. Our youth are killing our y...

Keeler: Nuggets star Nikola Jokic doesn’t “need” NBA title to confirm his status. Pressure? Pressure in this series is all on Kevin Durant and NBA’s favorite Suns.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

If Nikola Jokic blew anymore sunshine up Kevin Durant’s backside, KD could roll into Ball Arena on a bridge of lollipops and rainbows.“(He’s) probably the best scorer in the NBA,” the Nuggets’ NBA MVP said Friday of the Suns’ postseason ringer.How do you cope with Phoenix’s pick-and-roll machine?“Pray,” the Joker replied in his deadpan, Jokic way. Followed by a trademark Joker shrug.“I don’t know,” Jokic continued. “They’re going to try everything, probably. They’re talented.”Oh, yeah. Got ‘em right where he wants ’em.So now the Joker needs a ring to validate his greatness? Seriously? Come on. Do better. Did our man Chuck Barkley need a ring? Did Karl Malone? Jokic is going into the Hall of Fame regardless. No Denver Nugget will ever wear No. 15 again. He’s the GOAT of Nick Wright’s least-favorite NBA franchise. The “greatness” ship sailed two years ago.Oh, no. No, no, no, sir. The pressure in the Western Conference’s main event, the-semifinal-that-shoulda-been-a-final, is all...

Grading the Week: Cale Makar’s big hit, Coach Prime’s roster overhaul and optics vs. reality

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:39 GMT

More often than not, it’s the optics of a brutal hockey hit that matter most during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.And if the Grading the Week staff is being honest, those weren’t very good when Cale Makar clobbered Jared McCann in Game 4 of the Avs’ first-round series against the Kraken — resulting in a one-game suspension for Game 5 at Ball Arena that Colorado ultimately lost.Cale Makar — CGranted, it’s quite a bit different to examine something in slow motion than in the fast-moving confusion of real-time hockey action.But this much cannot be argued: Makar engaged with McCann once to start the sequence, the puck was fluttering out of play as he followed McCann into the corner for hit No. 2, and the resulting full-body check slammed McCann into the boards so hard he was lost for the rest of that game and the two that followed.Taken together, it’s hard to argue against severe punishment from the NHL, regardless of the fact Makar’s on-ice hi...