Southern California home prices dropped again in December, capping off a yearlong skid that saw the average home value in the six-county region drop by more than $7,000.
In December, the average home price fell to $854,993, according to data from Zillow. Prices were down 0.1% month over month and 1.3% year over year.
It’s the lowest that Southern California home values have been since March 2024.
Economists and real estate agents say a variety of factors have slowed the market, including high mortgage rates, rising inventory and economic uncertainty stemming from tariffs.
Until the recent declines, July 2023 was the last time that year-over-year prices had fallen. Back then, rising mortgage rates were knocking many buyers out of the market. Values started increasing again when the number of homes for sale plunged as sellers backed away, unwilling to give up mortgages they took out earlier in the pandemic with rates of 3% or lower.
Real estate agents say homeowners increasingly want to take the next step in their lives and are deciding to move rather than hold on to their ultra-low mortgage rates. But many first-time buyers, without access to equity, remain locked out.
Add on the economic uncertainty and you get a market that’s noticeably downshifted.
If the Trump administration’s policies end up pushing the economy into a recession, some economists say home prices could drop much further.
In L.A. County, many sellers took their homes off the market over the holidays. There were 16,655 homes on the market (a 9% drop from November) and only 3,520 new homes were put up for sale (a 19% drop from November).
For now, Zillow is forecasting that the economy will avoid a recession and home prices will increase over the next year. The real estate firm expects that next year, home prices will rise 1.2% both nationally and in L.A.
Housing prices by city and neighborhood
Note to readers
Welcome to the Los Angeles Times’ Real Estate Tracker. Every month we will publish a report with data on housing prices, mortgage rates and rental prices. Our reporters will explain what the new data mean for Los Angeles and surrounding areas and help you understand what you can expect to pay for an apartment or house. You can read last month’s real estate breakdown here.
Explore home prices and rents for September
Use the tables below to search for home sale prices and apartment rental prices by city, neighborhood and county.
Rental prices in Southern California
In December, the median rent across Los Angeles dropped to $2,167, the lowest it has been since January 2022. Rents dropped for the fifth consecutive month.
The downward trend has continued in most markets across L.A. County. However, in Orange and Ventura counties, rents have risen slightly year over year.
A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday on some charges related to his imposition of martial law.The verdict is the first against Yoon in the eight criminal trials over the decree he issued in late 2024 and other allegations.Video above: Former South Korean president arrives at Seoul courtThe most significant charge against him alleges that he led a rebellion in connection with his martial law enforcement and it carries a potential death penalty.The Seoul Central District Court in the case decided Friday sentenced him for other charges like his defiance of authorities’ attempts to detain him.Yoon hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when an independent counsel earlier demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon over those charges, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.Yoon has been impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.Yoon maintains he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament which obstructed his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.
, Seoul —
A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday on some charges related to his imposition of martial law.
The verdict is the first against Yoon in the eight criminal trials over the decree he issued in late 2024 and other allegations.
Video above: Former South Korean president arrives at Seoul court
The most significant charge against him alleges that he led a rebellion in connection with his martial law enforcement and it carries a potential death penalty.
The Seoul Central District Court in the case decided Friday sentenced him for other charges like his defiance of authorities’ attempts to detain him.
Yoon hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when an independent counsel earlier demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon over those charges, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.
Yoon has been impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.
Yoon maintains he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament which obstructed his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.
The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child—leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance.Officials said the overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts slammed the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease.The change came after President Donald Trump in December asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising its guidance to align with theirs.HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Monday.Medical experts disagreed, saying the change without public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.“Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.
WASHINGTON —
The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child—leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance.
Officials said the overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts slammed the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease.
The change came after President Donald Trump in December asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising its guidance to align with theirs.
HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.
“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement Monday.
Medical experts disagreed, saying the change without public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.
“Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.
The Philadelphia region is on pace to have its coldest December since 2010, with the average temperature so far this month just over 35 degrees, and four of the next five days projected to have below-freezing lows.
AMSTERDAM—Mews released its 2026 Hospitality Industry Outlook. The report argues that the next 12 months are a narrow window for hotels to get systems, data, and teams AI-ready before conversational search, AI-powered booking, and autonomous agents move from experiments to everyday guest expectations.
Drawing on the perspectives of eighteen industry experts, the Outlook tests a series of future scenarios through in-depth surveys, asking leaders to rate each by likelihood, impact, and desirability. Across these scenarios, there is a strong consensus that AI will compress the guest journey from search to stay, shift a large share of operational work to agents, and sharply raise expectations of what “personalized service” means.
“Hospitality is at a tipping point,” said Wouter Geerts, director of Market Research at Mews. “Hotels that treat 2026 as a planning year will lose ground. The ones that use it to clean up data, content, and systems will be the ones AI can actually find, trust, and send business to.”
Five Shifts That Will Redefine the Hotel Business
According to the report, the hospitality industry is set to change in five key ways:
Discovery and booking go conversational: Generative AI is on track to turn fragmented search and booking into one continuous conversation. Hotel visibility will hinge less on ad spend and more on structured content, connectivity, and open APIs.
A chance to reclaim the guest relationship: AI assistants could either cement OTA dominance or spark a reset in favor of direct channels. Hotels with connected systems and rich, AI-ready content will be best placed to win both guest loyalty and algorithmic trust.
Agentic AI starts behind the scenes: The first big wins are expected in back-office operations, guest communications, and housekeeping, as agentic AI handles routine tasks, coordinates across systems, and surfaces insights for teams.
Staff roles evolve, not disappear: Transactional processes—check-in, payments, routine questions—are likely to be increasingly automated. Leading hotels will redesign roles around soft skills, empathy, and brand storytelling, not admin.
2026 as an inflection point: The next year is framed as a preparation phase: aligning tech stacks, cleaning up data, and piloting supervised AI use cases so hotels are not caught off-guard as guest expectations and AI platforms accelerate in the late 2020s.
The AI Readiness Checklist
Mews asserted that 2026 will be the year hotels either build the foundations for AI or watch better-prepared competitors pull ahead. To support this, the Outlook includes a four-step AI readiness checklist that shows how properties can move quickly without taking reckless risks.
Assess tech stack and data: Hotels map core systems such as PMS, CRM, messaging, housekeeping, POS, and payments, then identify silos, data gaps, and integration opportunities. The checklist stresses the need to understand which vendors are building towards AI-driven features and open APIs and which are not.
Get content AI-ready: Clean, structured, consistent content becomes the entry ticket to AI-driven search and booking. The report calls for a single source-of-truth factsheet and concise Q&A content for common guest questions, kept in sync across all channels so AI systems can represent the property accurately and confidently.
Run one small, supervised AI pilot: Rather than a broad, unfocused transformation, hotels are urged to start with a narrow, measurable use case – for example, handling routine pre-arrival questions or summarizing guest feedback within existing systems. Clear guardrails are set, impact is measured over a few weeks, and the workflow is refined before any expansion.
Build governance and team buy-in: Cross-functional working groups, defined ownership, and staff training on new workflows and handoffs are highlighted as non-negotiable. The aim is to keep service personal and accountable even as more work is automated behind the scenes.
Each step links back to deeper sections of the report that examine generative AI, agentic AI, and automation in more detail, turning high-level scenarios into concrete next actions anchored to 2026.
The report also summarizes emerging trends in AI-driven search, booking, and operations, and outlines what hotels should expect from their tech stack as generative and agentic AI mature.
Greenville, Wis – December 8, 2025 – School Specialty®, a leading provider of learning environments, supplies and science curriculum to the preK-12 education market, today announced the acquisition of Nasco Education U.S., a trusted name in specialized, curated education solutions for K-12 schools. This strategic acquisition enhances School Specialty’s ability to serve its core customers by enhancing its value proposition to schools across the country.
“We estimate that nearly two-thirds of Nasco Education U.S.’s customers are already School Specialty buyers,” said Ryan Bohr, CEO of School Specialty. “Like School Specialty, Nasco Education U.S. has been an industry fixture of supplying schools for decades. Combining our companies will bring procurement efficiencies to our customers and expand the scope of products available to them.”
School Specialty has more than 60 years of leadership in transforming classrooms into future-ready learning spaces for preK-12 educational institutions, serving five in every six school districts nationwide and curating products from hundreds of trusted brands. Nasco Education U.S. offers a broad selection of specialized products, including hands-on, activity-based resources that support instruction across subjects like science, math, and the arts. Both companies share a deep commitment to providing high-quality, relevant resources that empower teachers and students.
Both organizations will operate independently for the near term. School Specialty expects to integrate the businesses gradually to ensure a seamless experience for the longstanding customers of both organizations.
“Together, we will be able to provide even greater support, innovation, and value to schools nationwide, helping them deliver the best possible learning experiences for their students,” said Ryan Bohr, CEO of School Specialty.
About School Specialty, LLC
With a 60-year legacy, School Specialty is a leading provider of comprehensive learning environment solutions for the pre-K12 education marketplace in the U.S. and Canada. This includes essential classroom supplies, furniture and design services, educational technology, sensory spaces featuring Snoezelen, science curriculum, learning resources, professional development, and more. School Specialty believes every student can flourish in an environment where they are engaged and inspired to learn and grow. In support of this vision to transform more than classrooms, the company applies its unmatched team of education strategists and designs, manufactures, and distributes a broad assortment of name-brand and proprietary products. For more information, go to SchoolSpecialty.com.
About Nasco Education U.S.
Nasco Education U.S. is a leading developer and distributor of instructional materials, offering a wide range of hands-on learning products for the preK-12 education market with 80+ years of experience. Nasco Education U.S. provides schools and educators with the educational materials needed to create impactful classroom experiences that enhance student engagement and academic performance. For more information, go to NascoEducation.com.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
Need a last-minute Thanksgiving idea? EZ’s Liquor Lounge, 3301 White Oak, is hosting its annual Thanksgiving community potluck on Thanksgiving Day, with owner Matt Tanner serving up his signature Goose & Andouille Gumbo. All are invited to bring a favorite dish or simply come as they are to enjoy the good company
Now through Sunday, November 30, Burger Bodega and House of Pies are teaming up on a Bayou Goo Pie Shake ($10), available atBurger Bodega, 4520 Washington, Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shake blends House of Pies’ beloved Bayou Goo – featuring layers of velvety sweet cream cheese, pecans, vanilla custard and chocolate shavings – into a classic Burger Bodega milkshake, finished with milk chocolate shavings.
In honor of 15 years since opening their first shop in Miami, PINCHO is celebrating in Miami and Houston, throwing it back with fan-favorites from its vault of craveable specials. From November 28–December 4, folks can dig into the Cartel Burger and Cartel Hot Dog – your choice of signature beef patty or all-beef dog topped with cheddar, bacon, papitas, pink sauce and mango sauce, all tucked into a butter-toasted brioche bun.
The Kid, 1815 North Durham, hosts a one-night Cocktails for a Cause event on Friday, December 5 from 4 to 9 p.m., raising funds for Kids’ Meals Houston. Guests can sip two specialty cocktails – the Comeback Kid made with bourbon donated by Redemption Bourbon and the Kids’ Table featuring cantaloupe syrup and lime – with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the nonprofit’s mission to fight childhood hunger. Children are welcome until 7 p.m. and Happy Hour food pricing runs until 7 p.m.
Whiskey Cake is throwing a Prohibition Party across all Houston locations on Friday, December 5, where the whiskey flows legally and the mischief is encouraged. Expect live music, hand-rolled cigars on the patio and bartenders slinging bootleg-inspired cocktails from Whiskey Cake’s scratch bar. Doors open at 7 p.m., the band starts at 8 and guests are encouraged to dress the part. Admission is free.
Brasserie 19, 1962 West Gray, is kicking off the holiday season with a high-energy holiday edition of its signature monthly brunch party, Santa Le Brunch de Funk, held on Saturday, December 6 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Expect melted raclette, holiday cocktails and a live DJ spinning seasonal favorites and chic brunch beats. Guests are encouraged to arrive in Christmas sweaters or cozy pajamas.
The Audrey, 9595 Six Pines, will host a Holiday Nutcracker Tea on Saturday and Sunday, December 6–7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering an enchanting morning filled with seasonal magic. Guests can enjoy elegant teas, festive bites, and visits from Nutcracker ballerinas — including Clara and her mischievous mice — dancing through the dining room for charming photo ops. Reserve via OpenTable for Saturday or Sunday.
Emilia’s Havana, 1800 Post Oak, is bringing a little Cuban heat to the season with Havana Holiday, a ticketed pop-up experience at the speakeasy-style lounge inspired by 1950s Cuba. Running through December, the pop-up features live music, elegant holiday décor and a limited-edition cocktail menu created with Royal Wine, Rémy Cointreau and Bacardi, including festive sippers like the Santa Clausmopolitan, GingerBERG Nog and Dubai Chocolate Martini. Wednesday hours run 5–10 p.m. with the kitchen open until 9 and a $25 cover that includes the first cocktail. Thursday offers dinner seating from 6:30–9 p.m. and cocktails and light bites from 10 p.m.–close; Friday and Saturday carry a $50 cover (Thursday–Saturday) that also includes the first drink and no minimum spend.
This season, Berg Hospitality is giving Houstonians a reason to pause with its new “5 at 5” special — $5 mini martinis during the 5 o’clock hour across many of its concepts. For a limited time, guests can stop by on weekdays from 5 to 6 p.m. for a perfectly chilled mini martini made their way. The special is available at Annabelle Brasserie, B&B Butchers, B.B. Italia Bistro & Bar, Emilia’s Havana, Prime 131, Real Agave, The Annie Café & Bar, The Sylvie, Trattoria Sofia, Turner’s and Turner’s Cut.
Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge, 95 Tuam Street, is celebrating Thanksgiving Eve with festive specials all night long on Wednesday, November 26, including $10 Mojitos made with Mount Gay Rum and an extended $7 smashburger-and-fries combo available until 8 p.m. A DJ kicks things off at 8 p.m.
PKL Social, 1112 Shepherd, is getting the holiday weekend started with an all-day Friendsgiving Happy Hour on Wednesday, November 26, featuring $1 wings and drink specials. Bring a canned good to support the Houston Food Bank Drive and your first beer is free. On Friday, November 28, folks can hit PKL’s second annual Thanksgiving Classic Tournament, offering a fun excuse to get out of the house and enjoy some friendly post-holiday competition.
Medium Rare will debut its iconic Thanksgiving Day tradition, the Turkey Fry, in Houston this year, open to anyone who brings a fully thawed turkey (up to 10 pounds) to be safely fried — for free — by the experts. Bring your bird to Medium Rare Houston, 3201 Louisiana, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. While Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher assures they will try to get to everyone, it is a first-come, first-served basis.
On Saturday, November 29, Bas’s Cheesesteaks will be popping up at Third Place, 420 East 20th, slinging its Philly style cheesesteaks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until sold out). The thinly-sliced halal ribeye comes loaded into seeded hoagie rolls with mayo and melty white cheese with (or without) grilled onions, with add-ons including sweet, bell, hot, or Italian long hot peppers, habanero aioli and ketchup. Meals can be rounded out with fries and/or a Pudgy’s deli cookie.
Traveler’s Cart, 1401 Montrose, recently transitioned from counter-service to full-service as owners Thy and Matthew Mitchell evolve the concept to put an even greater emphasis on service and hospitality. With the full-service transition comes several new offerings, including Thai Chili Queso, Baja Shrimp Tacos, Chicken Lo Mein, Salmon Donburi, Chicken Parmesan, Vietnamese Cha Ca and Steak Frites. New cocktails include a Mexican Espresso Martini and a Pandan Sticky Rice Old Fashioned.
Video above: Previous coverageA murder charge has been dropped against a woman who was accused of killing a man during a road rage shooting in Orange County. Tina Allgeo appeared in court on Thursday morning for a hearing about a motion to dismiss the charges against her. Allgeo was facing charges of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.Allgeo pleaded no contest to aggravated battery, and the murder charge against her was dropped.BackgroundThe victim, Mihail Tsvetkov, and Allgeo encountered each other in front of an Olive Garden restaurant. She got out of her car and confronted him about driving too close to her.Allgeo says he then bumped her car. The report says she exited her car a second time, holding her phone to call the police. Police said Tsvetkov drove away.In a written statement, Allgeo told police she accidentally struck his car while trying to get his tag number.The report says Tsvetkov then got out of his car, approached Allgeo, opened the car door, and a struggle ensued.According to the report, she said she shot him once because she feared for her life as he punched her multiple times.Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has criticized the case, saying it’s “stand your ground.”Witnesses at the scene described the confrontation as brief and unprovoked. About the victim The victim was identified as Mihail Tsvetkov. The victim’s sister said he was planning to relocate in 12 days to be with his family before he was killed.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Video above: Previous coverage
A murder charge has been dropped against a woman who was accused of killing a man during a road rage shooting in Orange County.
Tina Allgeo appeared in court on Thursday morning for a hearing about a motion to dismiss the charges against her.
Allgeo was facing charges of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.
Allgeo pleaded no contest to aggravated battery, and the murder charge against her was dropped.
Background
The victim, Mihail Tsvetkov, and Allgeo encountered each other in front of an Olive Garden restaurant. She got out of her car and confronted him about driving too close to her.
Allgeo says he then bumped her car. The report says she exited her car a second time, holding her phone to call the police. Police said Tsvetkov drove away.
In a written statement, Allgeo told police she accidentally struck his car while trying to get his tag number.
The report says Tsvetkov then got out of his car, approached Allgeo, opened the car door, and a struggle ensued.
According to the report, she said she shot him once because she feared for her life as he punched her multiple times.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has criticized the case, saying it’s “stand your ground.”
Witnesses at the scene described the confrontation as brief and unprovoked.
About the victim
The victim was identified as Mihail Tsvetkov.
The victim’s sister said he was planning to relocate in 12 days to be with his family before he was killed.
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ overhaul of the Hub 51 space in River North starts with the unveiling of a wallet-friendly cocktail bar. Gus’ Sip and Dip aims to prove that downtown bars can pour quality cocktails at affordable prices at all times of the day, not just happy hour.
The menu will consist of classic cocktails all priced at $12. A bar program with housemade ingredients, — including juices and syrups — as well as in-house ice making will help keep prices low.
Costs are a worry, but Kevin Beary also cites hard seltzers and ready-to-drink canned cocktails as reasons the next generation of drinkers has shifted away from cocktails that are mixed in front of them by bartenders. “It’s a concerning sign when we see folks of the younger age groups gravitating towards those,” says Beary.
“I’m so concerned for the future of cocktails that I feel like I need to expose as many people to great classic cocktails as possible,” he adds.
Gus’, which should debut next month at 51 W. Hubbard Street, is Beary’s brainchild — he’s the beverage director of Three Dots and a Dash, the Bamboo Room, and the Omakase Room at Sushi-san. For the 30 cocktails, Beary promises ingredients, techniques, and presentations that guests are familiar with and a curated selection of premium spirits. “Instead of offering a 200-bottle back bar where I have a ton of inventory, I’m focusing solely on the spirits we use to make the cocktails,” he says.
Complementing the cocktail list — ranging from a “killer White Russian” and amaretto sour to a traditional martini — will be an ambiance that channels classic taverns. “It’s supposed to feel like a bar that could have been there for the past 50 years,” Beary says. “Classic in nature, very approachable, and somewhat familiar.”
Glassware also went through a careful selection process, especially since the various glasses will be stored in freezers under the bar. “I wanted to have every piece of glassware come chilled,” he says.
Taking over one-third of the former Hub 51 space, Gus’ Sip and Dip will seat about 75 guests. Located in the center of the room, the 25-seat U-shaped bar will feature leather-wrapped arm rails. Leather booths surround the room with a few high-tops near the bar.
In addition to cocktails, a light and a dark beer have been custom brewed for Gus’. Beary says McSorley’s Old Ale House in New York, which has been open for two centuries, inspired the move. He declined to say which two breweries were making the beer. There’ll be cider, too. Wine offerings will be limited to a red and white burgundy.
The food menu, headed up by RPM Restaurants chef Bob Broskey, will feature classic tavern favorites, including a wagyu French dip, Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, and a burger.
“I’m trying to create a bar that is going to be very appealing to your seasoned cocktail drinker but can also be a really good introduction to this classic style of drinks for the next generation,” says Beary.
Hub 51 had a 16-year run before it closed in June. Sharing the Hub 51 space with Gus’ will be Crying Tiger from HaiSous chef Thai Dang, opening next year.
Chicago restaurants must wait until December to learn if they’ve earned a Michelin star. Like last year, the tire guide will bundle announcements for Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. at a private party held in New York.
Michelin will announce on Monday, December 9 at a ceremony held at the Glasshouse in New York. Last year’s announcement came in November, and the big news was Smyth joined Alinea as the only two restaurants in Chicago will a full three Michelin stars. Daisies also received a Green Star which recognizes a commitment to environmental sustainability. There is some irony as the tire company created the guide to encourage car travel.
Twenty-one Chicago restaurants have Michelin stars, one of the highest restaurant honors. But in recent years, local tourism boards have been attracting the Michelin Guide to their cities to help boost travel. Some have questioned whether this waters down the honor. The bib gourmands, a designation that recognizes value for the money, will also be announced.
The guide has been rating restaurants in Chicago since 2011. The guide arrived in New York in 2005 and in D.C. in 2017. The guide is in eight American markets: California, Florida (Miami/Orlando/Tampa), Colorado, Atlanta, and Texas. It’s also in Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico, and Quebec.
A fundraiser for Northern Thailand
Northern Thailand has been in crisis with floods and typhoons. The government ordered evacuations, shelters were set up, and hundreds of animals needed rescue. Waters have since receded, but aid is still required. NaKorn, an upscale restaurant that opened in 2016 in suburban Evanston, is holding a fundraiser dinner to help the community. Proceeds from the Sunday, October 20 event will benefit underprivileged children and families in Thailand. There are two seatings and reservations are available via OpenTable.
Goose Island’s Rare Day
Goose Island Beer Co. won’t hold its annual Propreitor’s Day, an event that celebrates the Chicago-area-only release of a Bourbon County Brand Stout variant. It’s the one packaged in a blue box and the flavors change every year. Instead, Goose has unveiled a replacement centering around another variant: Rare Day. The event will take place on Saturday, November 16 at the Goose Island Barrel House. There were two sessions, but the early session has already sold out. Tickets for the $160 event are on sale via Oznr.
A Cal Fire engineer accused of setting several fires in Northern California had previously been in a firefighting training program while serving a six-year state prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter, according to state corrections officials.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said 38-year-old Robert Matthew Hernandez, who was recently charged with multiple counts of arson, had participated in the state’s Conservation Camp Program from April through December 2018.
The fire camps, about 35 in the state, are minimum-security facilities run by the corrections department, Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. State officials say the program paves the way for job opportunities and benefits for formerly incarcerated people.
Mary Xjimenez, a corrections department spokesperson, said Hernandez was transferred from San Bernardino County to state prison in August 2017.
“He was sentenced to six years for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated,” she said. “He received 756 days of pre-sentence credit for time served while awaiting sentencing and was eligible for credit-earning opportunities while incarcerated.”
Among those credit-earning opportunities was the fire camp program.
Hernandez was released on parole supervision in December 2018. That following year, Xjimenez said, he enrolled in the Ventura Training Center, a certification program to help formerly incarcerated people apply for entry-level firefighting jobs with local, state and federal firefighting agencies.
Xjimenez said Hernandez completed his parole in November 2020.
Hernandez’s latest run in with the law occurred a week ago when the native of Healdsburg allegedly started five fires white off duty: The Alexander fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road fire on Sept. 8, the Geysers fire on Sept. 12 and the Geyser and Kinley fires on Sept. 14, according to Cal Fire law enforcement officials.
Hernandez was charged with five counts of arson on Tuesday. The Press Democrat, the first news outlet to report on Hernandez‘s ties to the fire camp program, said that Hernandez did not enter a plea and that his attorney, Orchid Vaghti, declined to comment.
State corrections and fire officials said they were appalled to learn that Hernandez not only violated the public’s trust but attempted to tarnish the work of firefighters.
“We strongly condemn the actions of any individual that endanger our communities and undermine the valuable contributions of fire camp participants,” Xjimenez said,
Keene, NH – Acclaimed Early Learning furniture brand Whitney Brothers® today announced its new Live Edge Collection of furniture for preschool and kindergarten environments received a 2023 Best of Year Honoree award from Interior Design magazine.
Now in its 18th year, Interior Design’s Best of Year contest is the preeminent global design awards program recognizing the most significant products and interior design projects of the year across a spectrum of commercial, institutional, residential, educational and contract categories. In the 2023 program, Best of Year jurors evaluated 722 entries submitted by 418 manufacturers from 29 countries. Awards were announced on December 7 in a live event in New York City hosted by Cindy Allen, editor-in-chief of Interior Design. The complete list of award winners can be seen here.
“Best of Year is so crazy and so exciting,” said Allen. “These are the best of the best! There’s no shortage of innovation on display.”
Jurors cited how the engaging design of the Live Edge collection transforms a common table, chair or bench into an important contributor to the look, feel and appeal of an Early Learning environment. Live Edge tables and seating also coordinate with all other furniture pieces in Whitney Brothers® broader Nature View Collection, the world’s first biophilia-inspired furniture collection for Early Learning environments.
“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award again from Interior Design,” said Mike Jablonski, president of Whitney Brothers®. “It signals a clear understanding that biophilia design is important to our littlest learners because it can increase a child’s engagement with their learning environment and set the trajectory of their future positive learning outcomes. It’s another great example of the fresh design thinking that best distinguishes the Whitney Brothers® brand.”
About Whitney Brothers® Founded in 1904, Whitney Brothers® invented furniture for Early Learning and institutional childcare and pioneered its commercial distribution through educational distributors and dealers in schools, childcare centers, Head Start facilities, churches, libraries, museums, and residential homes throughout North America and the world. The brand’s rich 120-year heritage spans old world craftsmanship blended with state-of-the-art CNC manufacturing technology to create award-winning products of uncompromising quality, design, innovation, safety, durability and value. Each product is UL GREENGUARD® Gold Certified, qualifies for LEED credits, meets or exceeds applicable CPSIA, ASTM and BIFMA requirements, is supported by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, and proudly made in America.
About Interior Design Interior Design is the leading global brand that informs, connects and influences design professionals, business leaders and industry experts through engaging content and a comprehensive platform of products, tools and services. A trusted resource for design innovation, design solutions and design experiences, Interior Design offers more than a point of view; it is the transformative voice of design.
About the Best of Year Awards Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards is the ultimate retrospective design awards program. Now in its 18th year, Interior Design Editor in Chief Cindy Allen has honored over 7,000 projects and products from over 500 global firms and manufacturers.
About GREENGUARD Certification GREENGUARD Certification is part of UL Environment, a business unit of UL (Underwriters Laboratories). GREENGUARD Certification helps manufacturers create — and help buyers identify –interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used. UL Environment acquired GREENGUARD in 2011,
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
The end of the year is here, which means Pokémon Gois wrapping up another one with a huge Community Day Weekend event. The 2023 Community Weekend event will cover all of the Pokémon featured in Community Days throughout the year and it’ll even give you a chance to grab some Pokémon from 2022 days.
The event takes place on Dec. 16 and 17 and most of the perks will be active from 2-5 p.m. in your local time. There are some other perks, like special trades or evolving to get special moves, that take place out of that event period (which we explain below).
If you like collecting shiny Pokémon and you missed out on any of these Community Days earlier, this is your chance. It’s also a great chance to grab powerful Pokémon like Conkeldurr or Blastoise.
The featured Community Day Pokémon from throughout the year will be split among two days. Any Pokémon that were featured in a 2023 Community Day Classic will spawn on both days, but at a rarer rate. Meanwhile, 2022 Community Day Pokemon will also appear in eggs and raids. Below we list out the spawn times, special moves, and other perks of the Pokémon Go 2023 Community Weekend.
Saturday Community Day Pokémon spawns
The following will spawn on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2-5 p.m.:
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Sunday Community Day Pokémon spawns
The following will spawn on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2-5 p.m.:
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: JUlia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Community Day Classic Pokémon spawns
The following will spawn on both Saturday and Sunday at 2-5 p.m.:
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
2022 Community Day raid and 2 km egg Pokémon
The Pokémon below are from 2022 Community Days, but they’ll be hatching out of eggs and appearing in raids.
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic/The Pokémon Company
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Mihoyo
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic/The Pokémon Company
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic/The Pokémon Company
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image sources: Niantic
December 2023 Community Weekend special moves
When these Pokémon evolve on Dec. 16 starting at 9 a.m. until Dec. 17 at 9 p.m., they will learn a special move (with Ursaluna being a special exception):
Charmeleon → Charizard: Dragon Breath and Blast Burn
Wartortle → Blastoise: Hydro Cannon
Sandshrew → Sandslash: Night Slash
Alolan Sandshrew → Alolan Sandslash: Shadow Claw
Alolan Geodude → Alolan Golem: Rollout
Poliwhirl → Poliwrath: Counter
Slowpoke → Slowbro/Slowking: Surf
Flaaffy → Ampharos: Dragon Pulse
Poliwhirl → Politoed: Ice Beam
Skiploom → Jumpluff: Acrobatics
Wooper → Quagsire: Aqua Tail
Pupitar → Tyranitar: Smack Down
Sealeo → Walrein: Icicle Spear
Staravia → Staraptor: Gust
Togetic → Togekiss: Aura Sphere
Piloswine → Mamoswine: Ancient Power
Boldore → Gigalith: Meteor Beam
Gurdurr → Conkeldurr: Brutal Swing
Lampent → Chandelure: Poltergeist
Fraxure → Haxorus: Breaking Swipe
Zweilous → Hydreigon: Brutal Swing
Quilladin → Chesnaught: Frenzy Plant
Braixen → Delphox: Blast Burn
Frogadier → Greninja: Hydro Cannon
Noibat → Noivern: Boomburst
Grubbin → Charjabug: Volt Switch
Charjabug → Vikavolt: Volt Switch
Stufful → Bewear: Drain Punch
Galarian Linoone → Obstagoon: Obstruct
Ursaring → Ursaluna: High Horsepower
Paldean Wooper → Clodsire: Megahorn
Note that Ursaring will only evolve during a special full moon, which Niantic said will occur at 2 p.m. on Dec. 16 until 6 a.m. on Dec. 17. The moon will also occur from 2-9 p.m. on Dec. 17.
December Community Day bonuses and perks
From 2-5 p.m. on both days, the following bonuses will be active:
Catch XP doubled
Catch Stardust doubled
Catch candy doubled (XL included)
Hatch distance for eggs put into Incubators during the above time halved
Lures last for three hours
Incense last for three house
From 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on both days, you’ll also be able to do two special trades per day. Plus, Stardust costs for trading will be halved.
The entire Metrolink regional commuter rail system will be shut down at the end of December for four days. You have the Olympics to thank for that.
The agency announced a systemwide shutdown — all seven lines plus the Arrow service, connecting downtown San Bernardino to Redlands — from Dec. 26, a Tuesday, through Friday the 29th for repairs, cleaning and upgrades.
Regular train service is scheduled to resume on Dec. 30, a Saturday. This planned work will help “provide safer, more efficient service,” according to Metrolink, which is thinking ahead to big-time international events Los Angeles is hosting including the 2028 Olympics. There’s also the accompanying Paralympics and the 2026 World Cup (perhaps), not to mention the Superbowl.
December’s shutdown culminates a three-year project to modernize the system’s central hub, Union Station, said Justin Fornelli, Metrolink’s chief of program delivery, in a news release.
The work includes replacing signal relay technology that is about as old as Union Station itself. The update is a safety boost and will allow Metrolink to run multiple trains on multiple tracks as they enter and depart Union Station, the agency says.
Union Station opened with a “massive parade down Alameda Street” on May 3, 1939, according to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Metrolink began 53 years later, on Oct. 26,1992, offering three routes, the Ventura County Line, the San Bernardino Line and the Santa Clarita Line. Today, Metrolink’s seven lines plus the passenger rail service Arrow all have connections to Union Station and Metro subway and light rail — services that should be essential to Angelenos, athletes and tourists during the upcoming Olympics, as well as other events.
Los Angeles held the Summer Olympics at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1984, when 6,829 athletes from 140 countries competed. A total 650,000 visiting athletes and spectators made their way around Los Angeles.
The next Los Angeles Olympics is expected to more than double the number of participating athletes, at 15,000, and the crowds of spectators are also expected to balloon.
Metrolink’s improvements are funded by the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion program.
Union Station will undergo additional maintenance and facelift projects during the shutdown — restoring concrete platforms, renewing paint, cleaning canopies and gutters, and performing tuneups on high-voltage sources to reduce the possibility of power outages.
On the Antelope Valley Line, Metrolink will replace rail that’s reached the end of its service life; the older rail on the curvy route necessitate “slow orders,” which caused passenger delays. The San Bernardino Line will see new culverts for diverting rainwater and storm runoff underneath the tracks to prevent flash flooding.
During the four-day service outage, Metrolink is not providing any alternative forms of transportation. It has a list of some suggested options. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will continue to run Dec. 26-29 on a modified schedule. Pacific Surfliner trains will not be affected by the Metrolink service suspension.
“As a leader of transportation here in Southern California, we’re excited that we will be upgrading our signal system,” Jeanette Flores, Metrolink assistant director of public affairs, told The Times. “We are working on [projects] across multiple lines to deliver the safest, most reliable passenger rail experience for our community. So this is an exciting time for us and we’re very blessed that we have great community support.”
Flores reminds people to take advantage of free train rides to all students when the four-day suspension has been lifted. “Students can ride for free in any of our trains within our system,” she noted. “We’re trying to encourage the next generation of riders to prioritize the environment, get off the freeways and take our … very clean system.”
Ditto is an elusive Pokémon in Pokémon Go, as it disguises itself and you can’t actually just catch one straight-up.
In order to find Ditto, you’ll want to find the Pokémon that it currently disguises itself as. For example, you may see a Diglett, and it’ll stay a Diglett once you tap on it, but it’s secretly a Ditto. Once you catch that Pokémon, you’ll be met with an “Oh?” prompt, and it’ll turn into a Ditto — if you’re lucky.
Ditto’s chosen disguises changes from time to time, so you’ll want to make sure you know what the disguises are currently if you’re Ditto hunting — specially if you are after a shiny.
Below, we’ve listed out the current Ditto disguises.
Pokémon Go Ditto disguises in December 2023
As of Dec. 11, 2023, Ditto can be any of the following Pokémon as part of the Adamant Time event:
Oddish (Gen 1, Kanto)
Koffing(Gen 1, Kanto)
Rhyhorn(Gen 1, Kanto)
Goldeen (Gen 1, Kanto)
From left to right: Oddish, Koffing, Rhyhorn, and Goldeen in Pokémon GoImage: Niantic via Polygon
Whether these four will remain as Ditto disguises following the event’s conclusion on Dec. 15 remains to be seen. It’s also unknown whether the following list of previous Ditto disguises (which last updated on March 21, 2023) will return, and we’ll know more as we come towards the weekend:
Diglett (Gen 1, Kanto)
Grimer (Gen 1, Kanto)
Snubbull (Gen 2, Johto)
Corphish (Gen 3, Hoenn)
Starly (Gen 4, Sinnoh)
Roggenrola (Gen 5, Unova)
Tympole (Gen 5, Unova)
Litleo (Gen 6, Kalos)
From left to right: Diglett, Grimer, Snubbell, Corphish, Starly, Roggenrola, Tympole and Litleo in Pokémon GoImage: Niantic via Polygon
How to find shiny Ditto in Pokémon Go
There’s a few things to know about Ditto and shiny hunting. For one, if you encounter a shiny Pokémon that can be a Ditto, it will never be a Ditto. Don’t worry, you won’t lose your shiny.
Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic
Finding a shiny Ditto is just the luck of the draw. Any Ditto you find and catch has a chance to be shiny and the shiny rates are higher than usual. Expert research group The Silph Road says it’s about a one in 64 chance to be shiny (via Wayback Machine). You’ll just have to get lucky when you find disguised Pokémon.
With college application season in full swing and the competition for acceptance into top schools more competitive than ever, students are turning to AI-powered tools for application support, reveals a new survey from Brainly. Seventy percent of high school juniors and seniors believe AI-powered tools, including ChatGPT, can be a resource in brainstorming ideas for their college essays or short answer responses. Brainly’s survey earlier this year reveals that high-school students are also accessing AI-powered tools, such as those integrated into Brainly’s educational app, for individualized homework help.
Brainly’s survey comes when the acceptance rate among the best universities continues to shrink, making it harder for students to gain entry to their top higher education choices. For example, the College Board reports that in 2022, Harvard received applications from 61,220 students – the highest-ever number of applicants, but only accepted 1,214, the elite university’s lowest acceptance rate.
The survey data underscores a fundamental change in how students utilize AI tools for college applications. Rather than relying solely on AI to write their essays, students use these tools to foster critical thinking, inspire creativity, and brainstorm potential topics. The statistics demonstrate a nuanced and balanced approach, showcasing that AI is not replacing traditional guidance but enhancing and complementing it.
Highlights of the survey include:
Increasing reliance on AI-powered tools: Nearly 70% of surveyed seniors believe AI-powered tools, including ChatGPT, are valuable resources for brainstorming ideas for college essays and short-answer responses. This data reinforces the growing acceptance and reliance on AI for creative inspiration in the competitive field of college admissions.
Growing trust in AI tools: Almost 60% of seniors express trust in responses generated by AI-powered tools, highlighting confidence in the technology’s ability to guide them through the application process. This finding emphasizes that students view AI as a helpful and trustworthy ally in navigating the intricacies of college applications.
Juniors plan to engage AI tools: Nearly 73% of high school juniors are considering leveraging AI-powered tools for brainstorming ideas. This indicates a proactive approach by juniors to integrate AI into their application preparation, showcasing a shift in how students approach college admissions well in advance.
Collaboration with traditional guidance: While AI tools are gaining popularity, the survey reveals that seniors also seek guidance from traditional sources, with 57.5% consulting a college counselor and 48.3% turning to a parent or family member. This indicates a complementary relationship between AI and traditional support systems in the college application journey.
“Brainly’s survey results closely align with what I see in the students I work with and prepare for college,” said Cammy Barber, MEd, School Counselor & Department Chair, St Augustine High School, St Augustine, Fla. “Students are looking for ways to save time and assure them that they are on the right path. AI-powered tools can help students brainstorm ideas for a college essay. It can give suggestions for how to write a college application essay for those who lack writing skills, too. It’s also a great way to narrow a student’s search criteria when looking for a college.”
The “Public Libraries and Book Bans – Parent Perception Survey” gathered insights from 1,527 parents and guardians with children under 18 in two surveys during October and November 2023. The surveys asked parents and guardians about their perception of librarians’ trustworthiness as professionals and curators of a library collection. The results are detailed in a new report from EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot.
Top-level findings are:
An impressive 92% of parents, grandparents, and guardians trust librarians to curate appropriate books and materials.
90% of parents report being comfortable allowing their child to select their own materials and 96% feel their children are safe within the library.
83% agree that librarians know what books children would love; 77% agree that librarians are friendly and approachable; 77% agree that librarians make the library a place for fun and creativity; and 85% agree that librarians support children’s learning.
91% of parents and guardians say that they trust public librarians and 86% find school librarians trustworthy.
Parents are of mixed opinion on whether they think public librarians have a political agenda:
Yes, and they should = 35%
No, but they should = 9%
Yes, and they should not = 12%
No, and they should not = 44%
85% of parents report being satisfied or very satisfied with librarians
The survey results demonstrate that librarians in schools and public libraries are trusted by families of various backgrounds and income levels and are valued in society. Librarians are valued in society and are central to education and communities. They foster safe, engaging environments that support learning and creativity, with their expertise and warmth resonating deeply with parents nationwide.
“This survey shows how out-of-touch politically motivated book banning and censorship groups are,” said John Chrastka, EveryLibrary Institute Executive Director. “Contrary to the narratives that so-called parent rights groups are advancing, parents across America value librarians’ roles in our communities and our children’s education. Pro-censorship groups do not represent the vast majority of parents or guardians in their beliefs about librarians, reading, education, and civil society.”
“Book Riot is excited to continue collaborating with EveryLibrary Institute on this important project. This survey is the next step in our shared goal of championing literacy, supporting libraries and librarians, and learning about parental perceptions of the work that librarians do,” said Vanessa Diaz, Book Riot Managing Editor. “It’s a natural extension of Kelly and Danika’s tireless efforts in spreading awareness of the state of censorship and books bans in the US, and we hope as ever that this research will both educate and be a catalyst for change.”
“We are once again excited to partner with EveryLibrary on assessing and understanding parental perceptions of the public library,” said Kelly Jensen from Book Riot. “This series of surveys further our knowledge on what libraries are doing right and allows us to see where and how we can advocate for better understanding the roles libraries play in the lives of the average person. We continue to be thrilled to see the vast majority of parents think that the public library is a safe place for their children.”
In a new analysis, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) finds that most states (29 states and the District of Columbia) use a weak elementary teacher reading licensure test, meaning that they do not effectively measure teachers’ knowledge of scientifically based reading instruction prior to entering the classroom. One state, Iowa, requires no reading licensure test at all. This shortcoming means that, every year, nearly 100,000 elementary teachers across the country enter classrooms with false assurances that they are ready to teach reading.
More than 50 years of research has illuminated the most effective way to teach children to read. It requires systematic, explicit instruction in the five core components of the science of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Preparing teachers to teach these five components—known as scientifically-based reading instruction—can ensure more than 1 million additional students enter 4th grade able to read each year.
Unfortunately, far too often, states allow teachers into the classroom inadequately prepared to teach reading. Licensure exams, if rigorous and aligned to the science of reading, can serve as an important guardrail for making sure teachers have this critical knowledge. However, many licensure tests are weak in that they do not adequately assess teachers’ preparedness to teach reading. Far too many states are using these weak tests.
“Every child deserves great reading instruction, but far too many children aren’t receiving it,” said NCTQ President Heather Peske. “As part of a comprehensive strategy to improve reading instruction, states can help ensure teachers are prepared to teach reading effectively by requiring stronger licensure tests.”
Examining every elementary teacher reading licensure exam currently being used by states, NCTQ looked for evidence that the tests adequately address the five core components of reading. NCTQ also examined whether these tests devote undue attention to methods of reading instruction that have been debunked by research and can hinder students from becoming strong readers, such as three-cueing. Additionally, NCTQ checked whether these tests combine reading with other subjects. This is important because if subjects are combined, the teacher’s understanding of reading could be masked. Using these criteria, NCTQ determined whether tests were strong, acceptable, weak, or unacceptable.
Key national findings:
Of the 25 elementary teacher reading licensure tests in use by states, the majority (15) are weak.
Just six exams are rated “strong” and four are rated “acceptable.”
Across these 15 weak licensure tests:
Ten do not adequately address all five components of the science of reading.
Five combine reading with other subjects, such as social studies or science.
(Note, one test fits into both categories listed above)
One includes too much emphasis on content contrary to research-based practices.
The majority of states (29 states and the District of Columbia) use “weak” tests that do not signal whether teachers have the knowledge they need to teach students to read.
“Teachers who aren’t prepared in the most effective instructional practices for teaching reading unknowingly enter classrooms ill-prepared to help students become successful readers,” said Peske. “This lack of preparation has a profound impact on students’ literacy skills and future prospects, especially among students of color and those living in poverty.”
Roughly one-third of children in elementary classrooms across the country cannot read at even a basic level by the middle of the fourth grade. The situation is even bleaker for historically marginalized students, for whom inadequate reading instruction is yet another barrier to educational equity, with 56% of Black students, 50% of Hispanic students, 52% of students in poverty, 70% of students with disabilities, and 67% of English Learners reading below basic reading levels.
Students who are not proficient readers are four times more likely to drop out of high school, face lower lifetime earnings, and have higher rates of unemployment.
Recommendations To address this pressing issue, the NCTQ recommends the following solutions.
State education leaders should:
Transition to a stronger reading licensure test: States select and approve the tests that their teachers must pass for licensure. Requiring a stronger test will likely lead to better reading instruction in elementary classrooms across the state as preparation programs will be motivated to align their courses with the components of reading addressed in a stronger test.
Require a strong reading test for anyone teaching students in the elementary grades. In some cases, states require reading tests for general education elementary teachers but not for special education teachers or for early childhood teachers who are licensed to teach lower elementary grades. These loopholes ultimately hurt the students who most need teachers capable of building a foundation in literacy.
Testing companies should:
Shore up weaknesses and clearly identify limitations in existing tests: Both major testing companies, ETS and Pearson, have strong and acceptable reading licensure tests on the market, but they also offer tests that omit numerous topics from the core components of reading, and that combine reading with other subjects, diluting the assessment’s ability to verify teachers’ reading knowledge.
Resources
Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with more than 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print, and face to face. He is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology. You can reach Kevin at KevinHogan@eschoolnews.com
Happy December, Polygon readers! The winter holidays are only a few short weeks away, but don’t fret: There’s plenty of presents in the form of movies new to streaming to enjoy in the meantime. With November now behind us, we’ve combed through the latest movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Max, and more to bring you the best of what December has to offer.
This month, we’ve got a bunch of DC Comics films arriving this weekend on Netflix, including Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel starring Henry Cavill and Matt Reeves’ explosive take on Batman starring Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz. Hustlers, the comedy crime drama starring Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu, comes to Hulu this week, while the modern slasher movie The Strangers: Prey at Night comes stalking its way onto Max.
Let’s dive in and see what this month has in store!
Editor’s pick
The Batman
Photo: Jonathan Olley/Warner Bros.
Genre: Superhero action Director: Matt Reeves Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano
It’s a daunting task, creating a new incarnation of Batman. Since the character’s first appearance in 1939, the Dark Knight has become one of the most iconic characters in the entirety of popular culture, with several feature adaptations having taken their own unique crack at what makes Bruce Wayne, the man beneath the cowl, tick.
Matt Reeves’ 2022 reboot starring Robert Pattinson shows audiences a Batman younger and angrier than any they’ve seen before — a costumed vigilante who’s only two years deep into his campaign as a caped crusader for justice. This shift affords Reeves the opportunity to devote more time to Batman as a crime fighter and detective, piecing together clues and surveilling suspects as he attempts to uncover the truth behind a conspiracy at the heart of Gotham City and apprehend a vengeful serial killer, the Riddler (Paul Dano). From the film’s gothic modernist version of Gotham City to the ferocity of the film’s close-quarters fight sequences, The Batman feels like a brilliant distillation of all the qualities that have made the character such an enduring pop culture icon while carving its own niche in the broader universe of Bat-media. We’re still two years out from the highly anticipated sequel, but if it’s been a while since you last saw it in theaters, The Batman’s arrival on Netflix is the perfect opportunity to revisit it. —Toussaint Egan
New on Netflix
Man of Steel
Image: Warner Bros.
Genre: Superhero action Director: Zack Snyder Cast: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon
Stay with me as I share my journey with this movie. Like many others, when I first saw it, I hated it. I thought the violence and destruction were excessive and without thought, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. With the passing of time and the completion of the trilogy of movies, I have done a complete 180, and Man of Steel is now a movie I unexpectedly and unabashedly adore.
This is a deeply personal movie about feeling alienated from the world around you and wanting to be accepted, and about the failures of our parents while they try to look out for us. (Man of Steel could also be referred to as “Inside You There Are Two Dads: The Movie.”) All the elements that left me cold the first time around have since been contextualized thoughtfully in the movies that follow, especially in the opening scene of Batman v Superman.
Henry Cavill seems born to play Superman, bringing his natural charisma and good looks to the role in addition to an undercurrent of melancholy as he tries to navigate a world that seems to have no clear place for him. Michael Shannon is menacing as Zod, as is Antje Traue as his lieutenant Faora-Ul. With incredible fight scenes, a roaring score from Hans Zimmer, and thoughtful meditations on where our parents’ vision of our path in life differs from our own, Man of Steel deserves your reconsideration (or a rewatch, if you’re already in the “this rules, actually” camp). Now that it’s on Netflix (and with a new Superman on the way), that’s doubly true. —PV
New on Hulu
Hustlers
Image: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Genre: Crime comedy-drama Director: Lorene Scafaria Cast: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles
Based on an article from fellow Vox Media publication New York Magazine (hello, my colleagues), Hustlers is a colorful, exciting crime thriller about a group of strippers in New York City who scam wealthy clients. The movie features one of Jennifer Lopez’s best performances as the group’s ringleader and mother figure, and Constance Wu, Riverdale’sLili Reinhart, Keke Palmer, Lizzo, and Cardi B fill out the lovable group of women just trying to make it on their own terms. From our review when the movie was first released:
If anything, the film, based on a true story, feels more like the female reboot of a franchise than any of the actual remakes and reboots in that vein that we’ve gotten (Ocean’s 8, Ghostbusters, Men in Black: International, etc.) in that it tells the kind of story usually reserved for men with a cast full of women. Unlike those attempts, Hustlers never once feels like it’s just “a heist movie but with women;” it’s a full-fledged epic, made by and about women, and proof positive that female-centered films can flourish without being based on a pre-existing male-based IP.
Lopez recently announced a new album and short film due this February, which makes it a great time to revisit one of her best roles. —PV
New on Max
The Strangers: Prey at Night
Image: Aviron Pictures
Genre: Slasher horror Director: Johannes Roberts Cast: Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, Bailee Madison
Director Renny Harlin is taking a page out of the Fear Street playbook by spearheading a new trilogy of stand-alone sequels to 2008’s The Strangers, all scheduled to be released throughout 2024. What better occasion could there be to revisit the last time the series’ sinister trio of masked murderers last stalked their way across screens?
Bryan Bertino’s original 2008 movie was a hit: a lean, mean psychological horror film that felt like a much-needed back-to-basics serial killer thriller for audiences fatigued with special effects-reliant spectacles and the “torture porn” traps of the Saw franchise. The Strangers became a sleeper hit among fans and saw significant success at the box office, so it’s a wonder why it took over a decade for the sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night, to finally come out.
Set 10 years after the original, the movie follows a family vacationing at a trailer park in Ohio who unexpectedly cross paths with three masked killers intent on adding them to their body count. With no other recourse and desperate to survive, the family must band together to fight back and escape with their lives. The sequel leans more into the tropes of slasher horror, and the sedate barebones aesthetic of the original gives way to a more neon-infused contemporary grunge, but overall, The Strangers: Prey at Night is still a wickedly fun and terrifying horror movie. Here’s hoping that Harlin’s trilogy is able to push the carnage even further. —TE
New on Prime Video
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Image: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Genre: Action comedy Director: Doug Liman Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody
Every once in a while, you’ll see people complaining about how there’s too much sex in movies and TV. The truth is very much the opposite — our mainstream entertainment has never been less sexy (even filmmakers during the Hays Code era worked around those restrictive standards to imbue sexiness into their work). Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a wonderful antidote to these times, a sexy movie about sexy people doing sexy things.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play a husband-and-wife assassin duo who are in the midst of marital problems — turns out, it’s hard to keep your home life spicy when your work life is as dangerous as it comes. When they’re both assigned to kill the same person, things go very wrong.
It’s a very fun time at the movies, but there’s another reason to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith right now — Prime Video is working on a TV adaptation starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine (Blue Eye Samurai), which will premiere next February. —PV
Sean and Amanda are joined by Wesley Morris to talk Todd Haynes’s new film and ‘Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Wesley Morris to unpack their feelings about Todd Haynes’s May December. They discuss the complicated nature of the performances, hypothesize its potential for awards season, and much more (1:19). Later, they talk about their shared love for the newest concert film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, and highlight their appreciation for its impressive technical feats (55:13).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Wesley Morris Producers: Jack Sanders and Bobby Wagner
Happy December, Polygon readers. Christmas movie season is here, and there are tons of new Christmas movies slated to come out over the next month.
This week, there are four in that category: the critically acclaimed The Holdovers, Eddie Murphy’s Candy Cane Lane, Netflix’s Family Switch, and the horror movie It’s a Wonderful Knife. But that’s not all that’s new this week: Carol director Todd Haynes has a buzzy new movie out on Netflix, there’s a second movie with musical numbers named Leo dropping on Netflix in as many weeks, and big franchise reboots Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and The Exorcist: Believer make their streaming platform debuts.
That’s only touching the surface — December is usually a busy time for new movies to watch at home, and this year is no different. Let’s dig into it.
New on Netflix
May December
Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix
Photo: Francois Duhamel/Netflix
Genre: Drama Run time: 1h 57m Director: Todd Haynes Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
One of our great modern filmmakers is back with another thorny story — this about an actor (Natalie Portman) studying a woman (Julianne Moore) she is going to play in a film. The woman (based loosely on convicted sex offender Mary Kay Letourneau) is known for her scandalous relationship with her husband (Charles Melton), who she first met when he was a minor. Melton has already won multiple awards for his portrayal of the husband, and as it’s a Todd Haynes movie, you can expect a sumptuous, at times uncomfortable watch led by fantastic performances.
No, you are not seeing double. Yes, last week, Netflix premiered its “Adam Sandler as a talking lizard” animated musical Leo. This week, the Tamil box-office hit Leo, a remake of David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence, lands on the platform.
Both Leos on Netflix prominently feature musical numbers, but they couldn’t be more different movies. In this one, a coffee shop owner and family man (Vijay) dispatches a group of killers at his business, making him an overnight sensation. This raises the interest of a gangster, who believes the man is his long-lost son.
Leo is the third movie in director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s LCU, after Kaithi and Vikram. There are a few repeat characters in this one, but neither of the previous movies are necessary to understand it (but they are both better, so I’d say they’re worth checking out).
Family Switch
Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix
Photo: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix
Genre: Sci-fi family comedy Run time: 1h 41m Director: McG Cast: Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers
It’s Freaky Friday, squared! From McG (Charlie’s Angels), this spin on the body-swap trope adds a dash of Christmas to the formula and has all four members of the principal family swap bodies.
American Symphony
Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix
Image: Netflix
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 44m Director: Matthew Heineman Cast: Jon Batiste, Suleika Jaouad
This documentary follows two artists in love facing a difficult situation: One, award-winning musician Jon Batiste, is writing a symphony, while his partner, bestselling author Suleika Jaouad, is being treated for cancer.
New on Disney Plus
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Where to watch: Available to stream on Disney Plus
Image: Lucasfilm
Genre: Action-adventure Run time: 2h 34m Director: James Mangold Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen
Harrison Ford’s final outing as Indiana Jones sees the whip-wielding archaeologist adventurer embark on one last intrepid expedition with his estranged goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) as they race across the world in search of an ancient artifact before a Nazi rocket scientist (Mads Mikkelsen) gets his nefarious hands on it.
Mangold is a very fine director capable of helming solid crowd-pleasers (Ford v Ferrari, Walk the Line) and even breathing new life into the dying X-Men franchise with Logan. But Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny looks anonymous. Its visual style is drab in a way that drains the film of any personality. When Indiana Jones makes his way through boobytrapped caves in torchlight in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the contrast between the outside world and this creepy tomb evokes a singular wonder. But virtually every scene in darkness here is scantily lit and hard to see. And like many a modern blockbuster, Dial of Destiny leans on rapid cuts that heighten the pace of Indiana’s brawls with the Nazis, but the choreography is barely discernible.
Genre: Documentary Run time: 1h 41m Director: Steve James Cast: Tom Goodwin, Mickey O’Sullivan
Legendary documentarian Steve James (Hoop Dreams) turns his camera toward the story of Theodore Hall, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project and gave information to the Soviets about the development of The Bomb. The documentary uses interview footage with Hall and his wife, as well as reenactments and archival footage.
New on Prime Video
Candy Cane Lane
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video
Image: Prime Video
Genre: Christmas Run time: 1h 57m Director: Reginald Hudlin Cast: Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell
It’s a very Eddie Murphy Christmas on Prime Video. He’s a man determined to win a Christmas home decoration contest, and he makes a deal with an elf (Jillian Bell) that has unforeseen consequences on his town.
Genre: Thriller Run time: 1h 43m Director: Alice Troughton Cast: Daryl McCormack, Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy
A young writer (Daryl McCormack) agrees to tutor the son of his idol (Richard E. Grant). But all is not as it seems, as dark secrets threaten to tangle the writer in this family’s web.
Genre: Drama Run time: 1h 37m Director: Savanah Leaf Cast: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii
A pregnant single mother in the Bay Area hopes to reclaim her two children from foster care in this moving drama from first-time feature director Savanah Leaf. It’s one of the best movies of the year.
Genre: Horror Run time: 1h 51m Director: David Gordon Green Cast: Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Ann Dowd
After a short theatrical run, David Gordon Green’s new entry in the Exorcist franchise arrives at home. It’s a bizarre twist on the franchise, per our review:
Up until this most recent movie, the title The Exorcist carried some weight. While its role as a representation of quality was up for debate, its mark as a sign of ambition was not. Since the original Exorcist, the series has provided some of American cinema’s best and most interesting artists with space to ruminate on faith and evil. Believer lacks the ambition that’s meant to define an Exorcist movie. This is the most profound statement the movie has to offer, seemingly by accident: If the result of moving past God is that everything in the world will feel as empty and pointless as The Exorcist: Believer, we should cling to faith forever.
New on Shudder
It’s a Wonderful Knife
Where to watch: Available to stream on Shudder
Image: RLJE Films
Genre: Horror Run time: 1h 27m Director: Tyler MacIntyre Cast: Jane Widdop, Justin Long, Joel McHale
It’s a Wonderful Life meets the slasher genre in this Christmas movie about a girl who wishes she’d never been born, only to discover how many lives that would truly cost.
Genre: Comedy Run time: 1h 35m Director: Adele Lim Cast: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu
What if someone took the 2017 comedy Girls Trip and combined it with the soul-searching drama of Return to Seoul? You might get something like Joy Ride, the new comedy about a four Chinese American friends who bond through their shared adventure to track down their birth mothers.
Genre: Comedy Run time: 1h 31m Director: Emma Seligman Cast: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Marshawn Lynch
Teen girl comedies are back in a big way, and Bottoms is a standout of this year’s crop. A trio of comedic powerhouses star in this movie about high school girls who start a fight club to try and impress the popular girls at school they have crushes on. Chaos ensues.
Bottoms is strongest when it fully indulges that satire. Part of the high school’s hype strategy for the big football game involves plastering the halls with heavily sexualized shirtless posters of the star quarterback. A classroom scene inexplicably involves one of the students standing in a cage. After a particularly climatic moment, a sad montage plays out, set to none other than Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,” a needle drop so ridiculously 2000s that it transcends time and space.
Genre: Neo-noir crime thriller Run time: 1h 49m Director: Neil Jordan Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange
Liam Neeson (Taken) plays Raymond Chandler’s iconic down-on-his-luck detective in a feature length adaptation of the 2014 Philip Marlowe novel The Black-Eyed Blonde by John Banville. Hired by a glamorous heiress (Diane Kruger) to ascertain the whereabouts of her ex-lover and bring them back, Marlowe quickly finds himself entrenched in an investigation that goes far deeper (and potentially far deadlier) than a lover’s quarrel.
New to rent
The Holdovers
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Focus Features
Genre: Comedy drama Run time: 2h 13m Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
A strong late awards-season contender, The Holdovers has been beloved by every single person I’ve seen watch it. It’s about three people left at a New England boarding school for Christmas in 1970 — an uptight teacher (Paul Giamatti), the school’s head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), and a sulking student (Dominic Sessa).
Freelance
Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Image: Relativity Media
Genre: Action comedy Run time: 1h 48m Director: Pierre Morel Cast: John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba
Taken director Pierre Morel moves to a more comedic mode here, in this movie about a former Special Forces officer (John Cena) and a journalist (Alison Brie) who travel to a fictional country together to interview the nation’s dictator.
Genre: Supernatural horror thriller Run time: 1h 50m Director: Emma Tammi Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio
The massive hit video game series finally gets a horror movie adaptation, and Universal is going with the 2021 release model of simultaneous home and theatrical releases. Will it work for them? Only time will tell, but what it means for you is that you can watch a movie about the infamous, creepy pizza restaurant and its cursed animatronic animals either at home or in theaters.
The movie’s funniest line is unintentional, when Mike earnestly explains, “I’m having a hard time just processing everything that’s happened,” as if he’s working through a tough breakup rather than a series of increasingly bizarre animatronic attacks. He’s right, though. For a movie with such a simple, appealing premise, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a lot to process.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24569775/jlee_230407_1001_pogo_shiny_togepi_togetic_togekiss.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24341254/pogo_shiny_chespin_quilladin_chesnaught.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24668291/jlee_230519_1001_pogo_shiny_shiny_fennekin_delphox_braixen.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24126684/pogo_shiny_noibat_noivern.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24815886/jlee_230728_1001_pogo_shiny_poliwag_politoed_poliwrath_poliwhirl.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25055452/jlee_231103_1001_pogo_wooper_paldean_shiny.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25157404/jlee_231211_1001_pogo_shiny_timburr.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24714520/jlee_230609_1001_pogo_shiny_axew_fraxure_haxorus.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24842501/jlee_230810_1001_pogo_shiny_froakie_frogadier_greninja.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24943687/jlee_230922_1001_pogo_shiny_grubbin.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21967513/pogo_shiny_charmander_charmelon_charizard_x_y_mega.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24771605/jlee_230705_1001_pogo_shiny_squirtle_wartortle_blastoise_mega.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25102560/jlee_231121_1001_pogo_shiny_mareep.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24610654/jlee_230425_1001_pogo_shiny_swinub_piloswine_mamoswine.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24374046/jlee_230120_1001_shiny_larvitar_pupitar_tyranitar.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23306930/pogo_shiny_sandshrew_sandslash_alolan.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23577246/pogo_shiny_alolan_geodude_graveler_golem.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23235728/pogo_shiny_hoppip_skiploom_jumpluff.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24188265/pogo_shiny_teddiursa_ursaring_ursaluna.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22538890/shiny_galarian_zigzagoon_linoone_obstagoon_pogo.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23169395/pogo_shiny_spheal_sealio_walrein.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23762075/pogo_shiny_starly_staravia_staraptor.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21760305/pogo_boldore_gigalith_roggenrola_shiny.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24036612/pogo_shiny_litwick_lampent_chandelure.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21592936/pogo_shiny_deino_zweilous_hydreigon.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23409609/pogo_shiny_stufful_bewear.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24524823/ditto_disguises_march_2023.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24523399/jlee_230320_1001_shiny_ditto.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9649609/man_steel.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25115756/Brody_Hustlers.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25116119/The_Strangers_Prey_at_Night_034.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25115707/mr_and_mrs_smith_02.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25125193/leo.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25115813/FL_138_20230119_Unit_15179r.JPG)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25115836/American_Symphony_00_48_57_15.png)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24761656/IJ_DOD_dtlr2_uhd_r709f_stills_230405.088296.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24827870/compassionate1_lhfb_jumbo.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25071982/unnamed.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25125279/0909_Image_sequence085_R.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24839968/ON9ClGpp.jpeg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24889828/2560_TP_00080AR.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25125256/IT_S_A_WONDERFUL_KNIFE_6.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24811131/joy_ride_01.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24884861/bottoms_bottoms_0147635_R_rgb.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24482935/1200x0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25116087/vf1123_the_holdovers_005.jpeg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25117518/freelance_john_cena_alison_brie_01.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25035583/FourOnFloor.jpg)