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Share the Spirit: After years in the foster system, a young woman gets a room of her own

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

As a child, Jayla Lackaff would often escape to the expansive worlds within her favorite video games to get away from her turbulent reality — the computer screen a wall separating her from the clashes between her mom and stepdad, who were often arguing around her, if not about her.“I was the scapegoat for a lot of things,” Lackaff said.She had no idea at the time that video games would later offer an oasis after she ended up in foster care, or that they would turn into a professional pursuit as she pieced her adult life together with the help of First Place for Youth, a nonprofit based in Oakland that provides housing and case management for people transitioning out of the foster care system and into adulthood.When her parents’ relationship faltered, Lackaff wound end up living elsewhere. Halfway through her freshman year of high school, her mom sent her from their home in San Francisco to live with her aunt in Oregon. When she came back sophomore year, it wasn’t long before h...

Many California undocumented students are missing out on financial aid. An easier, new application could get them more money

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

(BCN) -- Each year more than 35,000 undocumented students with dreams of earning a college degree in California apply for the state's marquee financial aid program, the Cal Grant -- but only about a third receive it.With no access to federal financial aid and few work opportunities, losing out on state dollars further undermines the ability of undocumented students to pay for school. The Cal Grant, for example, waives tuition at California's public universities and provides cash awards of about $1,650 to community college students. Tired of the waiting lists for California’s public universities, nursing students increasingly turn to expensive private programs Now, after several years of advocacy and a state law passed this year, California financial aid administrators are about to debut a revised application meant to get more college grants for undocumented students."What we all recognized was that we've asked these students to go through more processes, more forms, unfortunately ...

Man dead after shooting near L’Enfant Plaza Metro station

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

A man is dead after being shot near the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station Tuesday morning in Southwest D.C., according to police.D.C. police said officers responded to the 600 block of Maryland Avenue in Southwest after receiving a call at about 4:40 a.m.It said a man with a gunshot wound was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. His identity has not been released.Police said officers are on the lookout for a 5-foot-6-inch tall man, wearing dark clothing.Alert: Shooting Investigation in the 600 block of Maryland Avenue, SW. Lookout for a B/M, 5’6 in height and , wearing dark clothing.DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/ EVENT #I20230716004— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) December 26, 2023A map of where the shooting happened is below. Source

Ikuzo! Ottawa’s roster brings international flavor to newly launched women’s pro hockey league

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

“Ikuzo!” as they’d say in Japan. Or how about “Pojďme!” or ”Útra fel!” in Czech or Hungarian.The roster of Ottawa’s new Professional Women’s Hockey League team has such an array of international talent that defenseman Jincy Roese said one way to spur the bonding experience was having everyone learn how to say “Let’s go!” in various languages.“Oh, my gosh, it’s so cool,” said Roese, a U.S. national team player from O’Fallon, Missouri. “A lot of us are foreigners. I don’t think anyone is local to Ottawa, even. But it’s cool to experience different cultures. … And we just have these conversation point to go off which has really helped foster a good team environment.”The PWHL is awaiting rights clearances to unveil the nicknames of its original six franchises in kicking off its inaugural season starting Jan. 1. For now, perhaps Ottawa can go by “The Ambassadors.”The team features the league’s most diverse roster with 11 Canadians, seven Americans, two Czechs, a German, Hungarian a...

Dave Chappelle previews his New Year’s Eve special with some help from Morgan Freeman

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

(CNN) — Netflix on Sunday released a preview for Dave Chappelle’s upcoming Netflix comedy special, “The Dreamer.”The preview for the show, releasing on New Year’s Eve, is narrated by Morgan Freeman.“What do you dream about? Not the dreams you have in your sleep, the ones you hold in your heart,” Freeman is heard saying. “What happens to a dream deferred? Lucky for Dave, he doesn’t know.”Footage of Chappelle and Freeman watching the special, which was filmed in Washington DC at the Lincoln Theatre, is briefly featured in the spot, along with clips of the comedian performing on stage.“The Dreamer” follows the comedian’s 2021 Netflix special “The Closer,” which sparked criticism over jokes viewed as transphobic by some LGTBQ+ advocates and artists, and spurred dozens of Netflix employees to stage a walk out over the controversy.At the time, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged that he “screwed up” by not communicating better with his employees who were upset that the streamer stood by...

Bystanders form human chain to save gifts after woman, 3 children crash into water-filled ditch on I-95 in Volusia County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

A crash on Interstate 95 in Volusia County unfolded on Monday as a car ended up in a water-filled ditch, but officials would not let their gifts stay underwater. The incident unfolded at around 11:45 a.m. Monday when the vehicle veered off the highway, struck a pole, rolled, and landed in a ditch with approximately three feet of water. Bystanders helped the occupants, a woman and three children, the oldest around 5 years old, before first responders arrived on the scene. They were taken to the hospital with only minor injuries. After the woman and her children were taken to the hospital, local firefighters accessed the submerged vehicle using a ladder to salvage as many Christmas gifts as possible. The bystanders and Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies formed a human chain to help firefighters rescue the gifts. Deputies then moved the gifts to its office to have them sorted, dried, supplemented with extra donated gifts and then delivered to the hospital for the children.

Ken Jennings says Mayim Bialik’s ‘Jeopardy’ exit caught him ‘off guard’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

(CNN) — Ken Jennings is opening up about the departure of Mayim Bialik as co-host of the long-running game show “Jeopardy!”“It took me off guard, because I loved working with my Mayim and I’m gonna miss her,” Jennings said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter published Monday.“I can’t speak to her decision-making process or her opinions about it,” he added.In a statement posted to Bialik’s Instagram page earlier this month, the actor and author wrote that Sony, which produces the show, informed her that she will no longer host the “syndicated version of Jeopardy!”“I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family,” she wrote, adding her thanks to viewers and the show’s staff for “this incredible journey.”A Sony spokesperson told CNN in a statement at the time that Jennings will serve as “the sole host” fo...

Americans ramped up spending during the holidays despite some financial anxiety and higher costs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Holiday sales rose this year and spending remained resilient during the shopping season even with Americans wrestling with higher prices in some areas and other financial worries, according to the latest measure.Holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.1%, a slower pace than the 7.6% increase from a year earlier, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year’s sales are more in line with what is typical during the holiday season, however, after a surge in spending last year during the same period. Still, sales growth was a bit lower than the 3.7% increase Mastercard SpendingPulse had projected in September. The data released Tuesday excludes the automotive industry and is not adjusted for inflation.Clothing sales rose 2.4%, though jewelry sales fell 2% and electronics dipped roughly 0.4%. Online sales jumped 6.3 % from a year ago and in-person spending rose...

More Canadians hope to take advantage of Boxing Day sales compared to last year, survey finds

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

If you thought the malls were busy during Boxing Day in 2022, you may be in for a rude awakening this year.A survey from the Retail Council of Canada reveals that 32 per cent of Canadians want to take advantage of Tuesday’s deals, which is nearly double last year’s number of 18 per cent.Some of the hot items sought after include appliances, furniture, and clothing. Related: Canadians feeling the pinch while shopping for holiday dinner Heavy traffic expected around airport, nearby outlet mall Tuesday The survey found that holiday shopping in general is expected to be higher than ever, with Canadians saying they plan to spend $898 on average per person, a number the council calls “unprecedented.”“Even with prevailing financial concerns on Canadians’ minds, the desire to connect with loved ones and shop and share gifts and experiences remains undeterred,” said Diane Brisebois, president and CEO of the organization.“Retailers a...

Maine storm has delayed a key vote on California-style limits for gas vehicles

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:22 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The rollout of potential regulations to drastically cut gas-powered vehicle sales in Maine was pushed back by a year because environmental regulators had to delay a key vote after a storm caused widespread power outages.The Board of Environmental Protection postponed its Dec. 21 vote and won’t reconvene before year’s end. The delay means the proposed rules must be amended to go into effect for vehicles in the 2028 model year instead of the 2027 model year, and also reopened for public comment, said Jeff Crawford, director of the Bureau of Air Quality for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The original proposal would eventually require 82% of new vehicles sold to be considered zero emissions by the 2032 model year. A dozen states have already signed onto California’s standards for boosting electric vehicle sales and reducing traditional vehicle sales to meet climate goals.Critics of the environmental regulations were happy to get a second chance t...