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$3 million federal grant going to early childhood center at former Pease campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Independent School District said its board of trustees approved a partnership Thursday between the district and United Way for Greater Austin to open an early childhood education center at the former site of Pease Elementary School in downtown Austin.District leaders shared more information Friday morning about the expected federal funding allocation for the Pease campus saying the center would be responsive to the needs of the community.U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) took part in Friday's announcement along with AISD Interim Superintendent Matias Segura, AISD Trustee Lynn Boswell, United Way for Greater Austin CEO David Smith and AISD Director of Real Estate and Asset Management Jeremy Stiffler, according to the district.Doggett shared he secured initial approval for $3 million of federal funding toward the renovation of the facility.The project at the site on 1106 Rio Grande St. would "help strengthen childhood development and workforce par...

Over 4,000-acre fire near Houston 40% contained

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

WALKER COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas A&M Forest Service is responding to an over 4,000-acre fire blazing in Walker County near Houston, officials said in a social media post Saturday.Officials said the fire — dubbed the Game Preserve Fire — is 4,254 acres in size and 40% contained as of Sunday morning. The Forest Service noted the flanks and head of the fire remain active, with aircraft and engine crews helping to protect nearby structures from the blaze.Officials added a temporary flight restriction is now in place for the Game Preserve Fire, with people asked to avoid the area "to create a safe space for firefighting aircraft."

Man shot in Frogtown Sunday in St. Paul’s 24th homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

St. Paul police are investigating the death of a man who was found shot near Sherburne Avenue and Mackubin Street North early Sunday.Officers were called to the 400 block of Sherburne just before 2 a.m. on reports of shots fired. They found a man with multiple gunshots lying in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The man’s death marks the city’s 24th homicide of the year.Police will release the victim’s name after the Ramsey County medical examiner’s office confirms his identity.Authorities ask anyone with information to call 651-266-5650.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Hastings man dies in car crash on Highway 55 Friday night Crime & Public Safety | St. Cloud police are latest agency to withdraw school resource officers over opposition to use-of-force limits Crime & Public Safety | St. Cloud lawmaker to plead guilty in July DWI case in Kanabec County Crime & Public Safety | ...

Bay Area high school football: Where to find our complete Week 2 coverage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

Serra made a statement with its 28-0 victory over De La Salle. Los Gatos overcame a big deficit on the road to stun Liberty.Luke Baker had another big night for San Ramon Valley. Mack dominated Bellarmine. Mitty improved to 2-0 with a win over Aptos.As always, the Bay Area News Group has you covered.If you have not already, please subscribe here for digital access all season long. Your contributions keep us going.Here is our complete Week 2 coverage.Enjoy.Roundup: Best of Week 2Results: Weekend scoreboard, how Top 25 faredPhotos: Our staff’s Week 2 imagesNo doubt: Serra shuts out De La Salle in a physical gameEmotional return: Mountain View plays in honor of mother who diedThriller: Los Gatos erases big deficit, edges LibertyOpening statement: Mack wins its season opener, routs BellarmineFast start: Luke Baker heats up early as SRV tops AcalanesRunning wild: AJ Cenizal leads Mitty over AptosAerial attack: Palo Alto hits Leland with big playsMountain View to honor family in wake of t...

Cupertino hosts Community Open House on housing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

Housing open houseStaff from Cupertino’s Housing Division will hold forth on future rezoning and housing development in the city on Saturday, Sept. 9, 1-3 p.m. The Community Open House: Focus on Rezoning of Housing Sites is taking place during the Silicon Valley Fall Fest at the Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Road.The open house will focus on the Housing Element, part of the city’s General Plan that identifies where, how, and how much housing Cupertino is required by the state to plan for between 2023 and 2031.Climate change grantsSanta Clara County is awarding up to $80,000 in funding to support community-based climate change mitigation and adaptation activities focused on extreme heat and poor air quality. The funding will help communities that suffer disproportionately because of poorer air quality and extreme heat.Nonprofit organizations can apply for individual grants of up to $8,000, but only one application per organization is allowed. Applicants must...

San Jose-Evergreen Community College District sees enrollment growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

For the second straight semester, the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District showed significant enrollment growth compared to the previous year. The back-to-back enrollment increases come following double-digit reductions in student headcount during the COVID-19 pandemic.Fall semester classes started on Monday, Aug. 28, at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College (SJCC). Evergreen’s early enrollment numbers show an increase of 19.6% compared to last year, while SJCC’s early enrollment reflects an increase of 17.2%. A similar increase was seen in enrollment numbers at both colleges during the spring 2023 semester.Regaining enrollment lost during the pandemic has been a point of emphasis for the district. Among the enrollment strategies has been a program providing free tuition and no fees to qualifying students enrolled in at least six units at either campus.Both colleges have also increased dual credit offerings in partnership with local high schools, which allow st...

Parkside in Los Gatos waits on parklet before opening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

The long-awaited Parkside is inching closer to fruition in the former Boulanger building in downtown Los Gatos.Owner Darren Matte says he’s waiting on the parklet to be completed before opening, which could mean the end of September. Once concrete is poured, it needs to cure for two weeks before construction on the parklet, which absorbs six parking spaces, can commence. Able to accommodate 50 people, who will sit on woven rope chairs, its mandatory concrete planter boxes, which act as safety barriers, will be faced with the same brick as the building exterior.Inside, Parkside is nearly complete, with natural lighting from enormous windows along with overhead fixtures and wall sconces. Matte says lighting is critical: Even the underside of the bar, with its hooks and outlets, is illuminated.The interior is relaxing and comfy, with a mix of dark leather seating, blue-gray wainscotting, warm walnut tables and matching paneling. The gleaming white three-sided marble-top bar is deep eno...

Young Beyonce fans celebrate her tour stop with party at Milpitas Library

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

Young fans of Beyonce met at the Milpitas Library on Aug. 29 in honor of her concert at Levi’s Stadium the following day. The show was part of Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour, and the library celebrated the event with a craft and dance party featuring her music.Keerthi, 6, walked in the activity room attracted by her favorite songs playing through the speakers. She was wearing a red sparkly dress in honor of Beyonce and was ready to decorate a hat to complete her Beyonce outfit. Librarian Norma Rubio was hosting the event and provided Keerthi and the other 20 fans in attendance with a wide variety of materials, from pompons to googly eyes, not forgetting glitter decoration, markers and glue.Henny Serber, 9, and her dad, Avi Serber, shared her favorite song, “Single Ladies.” Henny was excited to show the hat she was designing to family friends who flew from New York to attend Beyonce’s concert.An Chen joined the party to enjoy quality time with her daughters Bella, Josie and C...

Roof, window rebates available to some Saratoga residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

Roof and window rebatesRoofs and windows are two of the most vulnerable parts of a structure during a wildfire. Saratoga Wildland Urban Interface property owners who install a Class A roof and multi-pane, tempered glass windows are eligible for rebates of up to $10,000. For more information and to apply, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/WUIrebate.Saratoga poetry contestK-12 students who live or attend school in Saratoga are invited to participate in the Saratoga Loves Poetry contest. Winners in different age categories will receive prizes and have their poems showcased by the city in November. Submissions are due Oct. 1. Visit www.saratoga.ca.us/poetry for more information and to submit your poem.New city websiteThe city of Saratoga recently launched its new website. The new site at www.saratoga.ca.us features a clean, modern design as well as an enhanced search tool, improved navigation and chatbot that utilizes artificial intelligence to provide visitors with 24/7 support to locate inform...

New book goes ‘Behind the Barrels’ at Ridge Winery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:54 GMT

In her account of the birth of Ridge Winery, Sue Crane recounts the madness of those early years, when she and her husband Hew, along with Fran and Dave Bennion and Blanche and Charlie Rosen, risked life, limb and poison oak to reclaim a scrappy vineyard remnant on Monte Bello Road in Cupertino and turn it into an iconic and well-known brand worldwide.Crane wrote “Behind the Barrels: The Women of Ridge” with her good friend, Helen Park Bigelow. The book was self-published late last year.Crane, the last remaining Ridge founder, says she has no interest in making money from the book, only in sharing her story of a remarkable group of friends and their lives together.“That was my past and it is my heritage and story,” she says. “It was very important to write of my life and that time at the beginning of Silicon Valley.”Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen, Howard Zeidler and Dave Bennion were all working on a variety of projects at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park—including magnetic circu...