Sharon Johnson
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Arts & Entertainment Producer-Publicist. You can take a gal out of the country but you will NEVER take the Kentucky Wildcat out of this gal.
Articles by Sharon Johnson
More US schools are taking breaks for meditation. Teachers say it helps students' mental health
REX, Ga. — (AP) — The third-grade students at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School had only a few days until summer vacation, and an hour until lunch, but there was no struggle to focus as they filed into the classroom. They were ready for one of their favorite parts of the day. The children closed their eyes and traced their thumbs from their foreheads to their hearts as a pre-recorded voice led them through an exercise called the shark fin, part of the classroom's regular meditation routine.
Republicans say Georgia student's killing shows Biden's migration policies have failed
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Students at two Georgia colleges grappled Monday with the killing of a nursing student killed in a violent act that Republicans including former President Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp blamed on the immigration policies of President Joe Biden. The killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley revived a theme — migrants committing violent crimes — that is animating the 2024 elections as Trump seeks a return to the White House.
At Florida's only public HBCU, students watch warily for political influence on teaching of race
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A core mission of Florida A&M University from its founding over a century ago has been to educate African Americans. It was written into the law that established the school along with another college, in Gainesville, reserved for white students. At Florida's only public historically Black university, some students now fear political constraints might get in the way of teaching parts of their history. A law signed last spring by Gov.
Reading Scores Georgia
FILE - Third-grade teaching assistant Keione Vance leads a reading session with a small group of students at Boyd Elementary School, Dec. 15, 2022, in Atlanta. The Georgia state Board of Education voted on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, to keep its current test score for deciding whether third graders are reading on grade level.
Reading Scores Georgia
Previous Pressure rises on Israel to pause fighting and ease siege as battles intensify n… Next Up State funds covered at least three trips to Prague by a form… Philadelphia is honoring the life of slain Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Mendez with a public viewing ahead of Tuesday's funeral. A funeral Mass for Police Sgt.
District 518 introduces Parents as Partners newsletter
WORTHINGTON — With the back to school season in full swing, the Office of Special Programs is pleased to offer something new: the Parents as Partners Newsletter. ABE consistently offers English classes, civics/citizenship classes, digital literacy, and high school equivalency (GED preparation) classes. It is all important to build strong connections between home and school.
Ludacris, Mercedes-Benz grant holiday wishes with new shoes
ATLANTA, Ga — (AP) — Just in time for the holidays, Ludacris and Mercedes-Benz have surprised schoolchildren in Atlanta with more than 500 new pairs of shoes. “It’s all about giving kids moments that they’re going to remember for the rest of their lives,” Ludacris said Wednesday at Miles Elementary School.
Traditional Integration Collaborative summer programs continue despite move
WORTHINGTON — In May, Nobles County Integration Collaborative moved from its location at Minnesota West Community & Technical College to West Learning Center. The college needed the space for a new program. West Learning Center is only a temporary home because space for NCIC is being built in the new District 518 Community Education building, which will be complete in early 2023. In spite of the recent move, NCIC staff will be facilitating their traditional summer programs.
Easing the Burden of Student Loans
Student loans have become a major source of worry for Americans during the pandemic. Student loan debt—the second largest category of consumer debt after mortgages—ballooned to $1.73 trillion in the second quarter of 2021. Forty-three million student borrowers had debts, at an average of $39,351, noted a September report by the Education Data Initiative, a team of researchers that seeks to make information about the U.S. educational system accessible.
Funding the Future
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s workforce represents something new and troubling, says Suzanne Hultin of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Helping Small Businesses Survive
When COVID-19 exploded in Tennessee in March 2020, it shattered daily routines, confined people to their homes, and increased financial stress. “Our clients, who were trying to put substance abuse behind them and were battling anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions, faced enormous challenges,” says Christi A. Davidson, founder and executive director of Customized Medical Needs, a treatment center in Memphis which serves mostly low-income people of color.
Taking Aim at Gun Violence
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were elected with the most ambitious gun reform agenda in decades. In addition to such long-sought goals as requiring universal background checks and banning the manufacture and sale of assault weapons, their plan calls for prohibiting ghost guns (unregistered and untraceable homemade weapons), creating a federal weapons buy-back program, and directing more than $900 million to community-based violence interruption programs.
Losing Your Health Care to COVID-19
For more than forty-five years, Shirley Smith has been a dedicated member of the workforce. A can-do woman, she helped customers select furniture and trained legions of salespeople at Art Van in Taylor, Michigan. Steady paychecks enabled her to support her son, buy a home, and manage her diabetes. But in March, Smith’s world collapsed when the retailer, where she had worked for twenty-three years, announced that it was going out of business.
NC developing ‘SlowCOVIDNC’ exposure notification app
RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is developing a COVID-19 exposure notification app called ‘SlowCOVIDNC’ that will launch across the state later this month. The state says the app will help North Carolinians slow the spread of the virus by alerting them when they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
As school begins, child care hotline offers last minute options
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - With school beginning on Monday, many teachers or those who work in school related jobs, may be in a last-minute crunch to find childcare while at work. According to program organizers, families and caregivers who need child care for children up to age 12 can call the child care hotline at 1-888-600-1685 to be connected to care options in the East. “This hotline can help connect families with child care options as this pandemic continues to affect our families.
Prolonged heat exposure can cause long-term health issues
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Another day of heat advisories means another day of doing your best to stay cool. Some jobs, however, don’t have that option. “We keep an eye on each other,” said Jacksonville Maintenance Worker Raymond Skinner, who’s worked for the city for two years. “We all work together.
Several parents plan to teach kids at home
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - With school about a month out, parents, grandparents, and other child guardians are still waiting to hear whether students will be heading to school or not, and in what capacity. With COVID-19 still a very real threat, parents like Diane Taylor say they will be cracking open the textbooks at home. “My husband and I did not feel comfortable with face-to-face instruction,” explained Taylor. Taylor is not alone.
Possible mask mandate adds racial tension for some
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - During a time of heightened racial tension, the idea of a mask mandate is causing even more worry for some African Americans in eastern North Carolina. A Texas A&M University study found that people who did not wear masks were significantly more likely to contract coronavirus. It also found wearing masks to be the most effective way to stop the spread of the virus.
To mask or not to mask?
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Raleigh is the latest North Carolina city to require face masks in public spaces, starting Friday at 4 p.m., and it may not be the last city to require face coverings. Many communities are asking whether they should do the same. Face masks.(CBS7 File Photo) “We first came out working on the pandemic with a shotgun approach and now we need to be more surgical about this.” Wednesday Gov.
Juneteenth events planned across country
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Events to commemorate Juneteenth, which honors the end of slavery, are scheduled across the country Friday. Juneteenth commemorates the day Union soldiers landed in Texas with news the Civil War had ended and slaves were freed. It’s a state holiday in 47 states and is getting more attention this year, partly because of the Black Lives Matter protests happening across the country. Banks like B&T and Chase will be closing early Friday.
Decline in new US virus deaths may be temporary reprieve
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of deaths per day from the coronavirus in the U.S. has fallen in recent weeks to the lowest level since late March, even as states increasingly reopen for business. But scientists are deeply afraid the trend may be about to reverse itself. “For now, it’s too soon to be reassured that deaths are going down and everything’s OK,” said Dr. Cyrus Shahpar of Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent epidemics.
Veterinarian provides insight on pets testing positive for COVID-19
BLOOMFIELD, CT (WFSB) -- The Centers for Disease Control recently announced the first pets in the U.S. to test positive for COVID-19. The two cats are from New York state, and are expected to be okay. RELATED: Two cats in New York confirmed to have coronavirus, making them the first pets in the US known to be infected However, to get some clarification, a veterinarian is sharing some insight on things pet owners need to know.
Hell No, You Can't Go
In July 2016, Margaret Beebe of Syracuse, New York, suffered a career setback when a local laboratory rescinded a job offer, which included higher wages, regular hours, and no travel. The laboratory discovered that Beebe had signed a non-compete agreement with her former employer, a Texas-based nationwide provider of clinical services. The agreement prohibited her from working for competitors within a fifty-mile radius for nine months.
Got a License for That?
Since 1994, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, the federal law requiring federally licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks before gun sales, has prevented more than three million felons, fugitives, and other prohibited purchasers such as people with disqualifying mental health conditions from purchasing firearms. But many dangerous people have fallen through the cracks, including several perpetrators of mass shootings.
A WOMAN'S VOICE IN MEDICINE
This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems. Please send reports of such problems to archive_feedback@nytimes.com.
The healing power of nature
Nature is a powerful force when it comes to healing the mind, body and spirit. It helps us feel connected to one another and the magic of our natural world. Oh, the magnificence of Minnesota summers! Can you remember the last time you took a moment to feel the warm sun on your face? Listened to the birds sing? Lingered to smell a blooming peony’s refreshing fragrance? Spending mindful moments in nature helps us reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones and the natural world around us.
Column: Building bridges to school and community
Recently, District 518 offered Transition meetings for parents and guardians of students who will be advancing to a different school building in the fall. Family Liaisons and School Counselors collaborated to host the Transition meetings, which provided information and gave families the opportunity to ask questions.
Top 5 Sights to Visit in the Bahamas with Kids
Many parents worry about keeping their children entertained on a family vacation, but this needn’t be a concern when traveling to the Bahamas. Here are five attractions that are sure to be enjoyed by both parents and their children visiting this beautiful chain of islands. Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounters (Nassau/Paradise Island) allows families to learn about marine life in the Bahamas through a series of exhibits that provide an up close and personal look at animals.
After Costly Cancer-Gene Testing, Treatments Add Up
Angelina Jolie. Credit: Courtesy of The World Economic Forum. (WOMENSNEWS)–Many women find themselves in a Catch 22 after they receive the results of the $4,000 test and learn that they are carrying a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. “They want to follow actress Angelina Jolie‘s example and have the same procedures she had to reduce the risk of breast cancer from 87 to 5 percent,” said Jen Flory, director of the Cancer Legal Resource Center.
Angelina Jolie Raises Big Question of Coverage
(WOMENSNEWS) Actress Angelia Jolie‘s recent announcement that she had a prophylactic double mastectomy to decrease her risk of developing breast cancer from 87 to 5 percent has cast the spotlight on the economic disparities of testing for and preventing cancers caused by the mutations in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.
Focusing on Strengths, Not Disabilities
Recreation for individuals with autism is entering a new era, says Matt Schinelli, founder of New Jersey All People Equal, which provides movement services, including for individuals with special needs, as well as professional-development courses for physical education teachers and coaches. “Today the emphasis is on inclusion,” says Schinelli, who has taught physical education in Livingston for 15 years and has a master’s degree in adaptive physical education.
Dare Devils Dare Not to Be Different
The New Jersey Dare Devils is one of about 60 ice hockey teams in more than 30 cities for kids with special needs. The team was founded in 2002 by a mother who wanted to give her son, who had developmental disabilities, a chance to play hockey just like his older brother did. Today, the Dare Devils—based at the Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange—attract 6 to 30-year-olds from across the state. About 90 percent of the approximately 50 players have autism. The team includes four girls.
Clemson family has five generations of "tiger love" - | WBTV Charlotte
Now that the Clemson Tigers can again boast the National Championship title, those who have cheered from the sidelines and in front of the TV screen feel like champions too. Some families say they've been winning with Clemson for more than a century. The Upstate has been home to Clemson University for nearly 130 years, and with many successes.Generation after generation of families have lived through all of the glory. Now, they celebrate another National Championship together.
From The Magazine: Cities Revoke Licenses to Shake Down the Poor
In August 2012, Gloria Mata Alvarado developed stomach cramps while her husband was driving her to a doctor’s appointment. To relieve the pain, she unbuckled her seat belt. When the Los Angeles policeman who stopped their car asked why, Alvarado explained that she had gastritis, a genuine medical condition. “That’s what everyone says,” the officer replied, issuing her a citation for a seat belt violation. The Los Angeles Superior Court fined Alvarado $712.
Could Jesse Osborne be tried as an adult? - | WBTV Charlotte
The accused gunman in the Townville elementary school shootings appeared in family court Friday. Jesse Osborne is also charged with murder in the death of his father. His body was found at their family's home on Osborne Road. (Note: The spokesperson confirmed the teenager's identity prior to Friday's court hearing, in which the teenager's charges and status as a juvenile were announced.) Jesse's grandparents were tipped off to the shooting when he called them crying.
Could Jesse Osborne be tried as an adult? - WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather
The accused gunman in the Townville elementary school shootings appeared in family court Friday. Jesse Osborne is also charged with murder in the death of his father. His body was found at their family's home on Osborne Road. (Note: The spokesperson confirmed the teenager's identity prior to Friday's court hearing, in which the teenager's charges and status as a juvenile were announced.) Jesse's grandparents were tipped off to the shooting when he called them crying.
Could Jesse Osborne be tried as an adult? - FOX Carolina 21
The accused gunman in the Townville elementary school shootings appeared in family court Friday. Jesse Osborne is also charged with murder in the death of his father. His body was found at their family's home on Osborne Road. (Note: The spokesperson confirmed the teenager's identity prior to Friday's court hearing, in which the teenager's charges and status as a juvenile were announced.) Jesse's grandparents were tipped off to the shooting when he called them crying.
Column: District 518 offers PASS classes to connect with, inform families
By Sharon Johnson, District 518WORTHINGTON -- District 518 values communication with parents and encourages families to be engaged in the education of their own children and involved with the school system.District 518 has offered Parents Advocating for Student Success (PASS) classes as an outreach and engagement opportunity for the last 10 years. PASS classes were patterned after a parent engagement model in California initiated by the Parent Institute for Quality Education.
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