A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported at 9:40 p.m. Sunday 13 miles from Rancho Palos Verdes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 13 miles from Los Angeles, 14 miles from Palos Verdes Estates, 14 miles from Rolling Hills Estates and 14 miles from Avalon on Catalina Island.
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur per year in the Greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.8 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Are you ready for when the Big One hits? Get ready for the next big earthquake by signing up for our Unshaken newsletter, which breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, which apps you need, Lucy Jones’ most important advice and more at latimes.com/Unshaken.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.
A man accused of shoplifting at an Orlando Walmart was shot by a deputy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Sunday night, deputies said.In a release from OCSO, deputies say a man wearing a mask was attempting to steal a cart full of items from the Walmart located at 11250 E. Colonial Drive.After an attempt at communicating with the suspect, OCSO says the deputy discharged his Taser, but it did not work.OCSO said the deputy told the suspect, “Don’t reach,” before he discharged his weapon and shot the man.The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, OCSO said. According to the release, two knives were recovered at the scene.WESH 2 has a crew at the scene, where deputies and patrol cars can still be seen at the Walmart. This is the second time this week a shoplifter was shot at a Walmart in Central Florida.The sheriff’s office will provide an update Monday morning.>> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A man accused of shoplifting at an Orlando Walmart was shot by a deputy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Sunday night, deputies said.
In a release from OCSO, deputies say a man wearing a mask was attempting to steal a cart full of items from the Walmart located at 11250 E. Colonial Drive.
After an attempt at communicating with the suspect, OCSO says the deputy discharged his Taser, but it did not work.
OCSO said the deputy told the suspect, “Don’t reach,” before he discharged his weapon and shot the man.
The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, OCSO said.
According to the release, two knives were recovered at the scene.
WESH 2 has a crew at the scene, where deputies and patrol cars can still be seen at the Walmart.
This is the second time this week a shoplifter was shot at a Walmart in Central Florida.
The sheriff’s office will provide an update Monday morning.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.
In the fall of 2023, the California Legislature tasked the state’s fire safety regulators with writing a report that some housing affordability advocates say could make it easier to build bigger, airier and better-lit apartment buildings in California’s housing-strapped cities.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal was given until Jan. 1 to come up with a report on single-stair apartment buildings — a type of midsized multifamily development legal in much of the world, but effectively banned across most of North America.
More than a month later, single-stair advocates are still waiting on that report — though a draft version obtained by CalMatters hints that the office may be considering a modest change to the state building code.
“They were given a deadline,” said Stephen Smith, founder of the Center for Building in North America, which advocates for cost-reducing changes to building regulations.
That safety-minded code is meant to provide residents with multiple escape routes in a fire. But it has also become a focal point of criticism among a growing number of housing advocates, architects and urbanists, who say it raises the costs of multifamily construction, limits where apartments can be built, pushes developers toward darkened studios and away from family-sized apartments and provides limited health and safety benefits.
“I know there’s been a real desire among politicians in California to change the state’s image as a slow-moving state, but in this case I don’t see it,” said Smith, who was also a member of the working group of fire service professionals, building-code experts and housing advocates tasked with writing the first draft of the report for the state fire marshal. The group’s last meeting was Nov. 4.
“This report is still under review and we will publish the report as soon as it is approved for publication,” said Wes Maxey, Cal Fire’s assistant deputy director of legislation, in an email. He would not say when the report is expected to be released or what the holdup is about.
The state Legislature regularly assigns research reports of this kind to various corners of the state bureaucracy — and, as CalMatters has reported before, the state bureaucracy regularly blows past its assigned deadlines.
But the single-stair analysis has garnered considerable interest outside of Sacramento.
Rules in California (with the one, recent exception of Culver City) require apartment buildings taller than three stories to have at least two staircases connected by a hallway.
The Legislature was clearly interested in raising that height limit when it ordered the report in the first place.
“Many European countries allow buildings with single staircases and have better records on fire safety than the United States,” said Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Milpitas Democrat, urging a “yes” vote on his bill in the summer of 2023. “I believe having the fire marshal conduct the study will start the conversation about leveraging existing fire and emergency response technologies and strategies to maximize housing projects.”
Local fire marshals, fire chiefs and firefighting unions have, by and large, opposed easing staircase requirements in the building code wherever they’ve been proposed.
The final report is likely to disappoint either those organized fire services — a politically powerful constituency — or “Yes In My Backyard” advocates that have found an ally in Gov. Gavin Newsom.
A draft version of the report circulated among stakeholders in late October included a half-hearted endorsement of a change to the state building code. If the state fire marshal recommends new policy, the draft reads, the change should only be from a three-story maximum up to four. Any new four-story single-stair structures should also be restricted in size and abide by a number of other added safety-oriented restrictions, the report added.
Culver City, west of downtown Los Angeles, passed a single-stair ordinance last year to nix the second-stair requirement in certain apartment buildings up to six stories. Six stories is also the cutoff in New York City, Seattle and Honolulu. In Georgia, Vermont, Puerto Rico and Portland, Ore., the maximum is four.
The draft report, which is not final, also went out of its way to emphasize “the near unanimous feedback from California Fire Departments who are opposed to permitting single-exit stairway construction … greater than 3 stories.”
Whenever it is finalized and published, the report won’t have the force of law. But should state legislators opt to take up the issue in the future, its final recommendations are likely to carry weight with undecided lawmakers.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says four people, including two children, were found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in an Ocala home. Deputies said they were called to a home on Banyan Track Way, near Southeast 58th Avenue in Ocala, shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Friday for a well-being check. At that home, deputies said they found two adults and two children dead inside.Investigators initially called their deaths suspicious, but have since confirmed there is no foul play involved. The identities of the deceased were not immediately released.> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.
OCALA, Fla. —
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says four people, including two children, were found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in an Ocala home.
Deputies said they were called to a home on Banyan Track Way, near Southeast 58th Avenue in Ocala, shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Friday for a well-being check.
At that home, deputies said they found two adults and two children dead inside.
Investigators initially called their deaths suspicious, but have since confirmed there is no foul play involved.
The identities of the deceased were not immediately released.
> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released.
Police responded to the Lake Nona Middle School campus in Orange County after reports of an armed individual on school property, according to the Orlando Police Department.Chopper 2 flew over the scene, where at least a dozen police cruisers could be seen in the parking lot and school bus loop. OPD responded to the scene just before 5 p.m. after receiving the 911 call.Officers secured the campus and did not find a threat to the school, OPD said.According to police, there are no reported injuries and the incident remains under investigation.>> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Police responded to the Lake Nona Middle School campus in Orange County after reports of an armed individual on school property, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Chopper 2 flew over the scene, where at least a dozen police cruisers could be seen in the parking lot and school bus loop.
OPD responded to the scene just before 5 p.m. after receiving the 911 call.
Officers secured the campus and did not find a threat to the school, OPD said.
According to police, there are no reported injuries and the incident remains under investigation.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.
Man killed in Seminole County shooting; suspect in custody
THE ROADS ACROSS THE REST OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. WE ARE ALSO STAYING ON TOP OF MORE BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING IN SEMINOLE COUNTY. A MAN IS DEAD AFTER A SHOOTING NEAR SANFORD, WESH TWO, BOB HAZEN LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NOW, SO BOB DEPUTIES SAY THEY DO HAVE THE SHOOTER IN CUSTODY. THAT PERSON APPARENTLY STAYED HERE AT THE SCENE AFTER THE SHOOTING, AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL DEPUTIES, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS AND DETECTIVES WHO ARE HERE ON THE SCENE AT THIS HOUSE. AND THIS IS A VERY QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS THE LAKE MARKHAM WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE WEST OF SANFORD. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THEY WERE CALLED TO THIS HOUSE HERE CLOSE TO 1130 LAST NIGHT FOR A SHOOTING. ONE MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND. AND THAT MAN DIED AT THE HOSPITAL. INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT THE PERSON THEY BELIEVE FIRED THE SHOT DID STAY HERE AT THE SCENE, AND THAT PERSON IS IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW. THEY ALSO SAY THIS APPEARS TO BE A DOMESTIC INCIDENT, BUT THEY HAVEN’T EXPLAINED EXACTLY WHAT THEY THINK LED UP TO THAT SHOOTING OR WHO THAT PERSON WHO IS IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW. WE’RE GOING TO STAY OUT HERE AND GATHER MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VICTIM. AGAIN, NOTHING’S BEEN RELEASED ABOUT THAT PERSON OR WHO IS IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW. AND AS WE GET THAT THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, WE WILL BRING I
Man killed in Seminole County shooting; suspect in custody
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly shooting on Colonial Court near Sanford.One man was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.The suspect is in custody. They have not been identified.Deputies believe this is an isolated, domestic incident. They say there is no danger to the area. This is a developing story. Stay with WESH 2 for updates.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly shooting on Colonial Court near Sanford.
One man was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
The suspect is in custody. They have not been identified.
Deputies believe this is an isolated, domestic incident. They say there is no danger to the area.
This is a developing story. Stay with WESH 2 for updates.
After moving to Los Angeles from Palo Alto in 2023 with only a standing desk and a bed frame, Tess van Hulsen and Andrew Chait learned quickly how to furnish an empty rental without buying anything new.
Because they love thrifting, decorating together was actually fun for them.
In this series, we spotlight L.A. rentals with style. From perfect gallery walls to temporary decor hacks, these renters get creative, even in small spaces. And Angelenos need the inspiration: Most are renters.
Two years later, their love of thrifting, antiquing, bargaining and restoring has turned their Westwood rental into a showcase of “secondhand treasures,” says Van Hulsen, 28, who works as a commercial contract specialist.
“I have always liked things that have history and character and a story behind them,” she says. “Each piece represents a store we love, a lucky find or a successful haggle that ended with us carrying home something with history.”
Andrew Chait and Tess van Hulsen relax on their condo rooftop, sitting on patio furniture they bought in Venice through Facebook Marketplace.
Chait, meanwhile, enjoys the thrill of searching and bargaining. He likes making deals, and even if he walks away, he still feels like he’s won.
“I’m good at finding value, and Tess has the eye for style,” says Chait, 32, who works as a development director. “It’s something we really enjoy doing together.”
At a time when many millennials and Gen Z shoppers enjoy hunting for deals on secondhand items, Van Hulsen and Chait also wanted to avoid “fast furniture, poorly built materials and disposable design,” according to Van Hulsen. For them, gently used pieces make their rental feel special.
“People my age are taking an interest in having heirlooms and traditional items,” Van Hulsen says as she points to a silver-plated trinket tray that holds her jewelry. “I think it’s really fun to entertain and bring stuff out when guests come over. It makes the table look nice, and the platters are great for bringing food upstairs when we entertain on our rooftop patio.”
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1.An assortment of vintage items on display in a hutch the couple purchased at the Santa Monica Flea Market. 2.Brass angel candlesticks scored for $2 apiece at a Palo Alto garage sale flank a silver-plated punch bowl. The couple purchased the lithograph in Beverly Hills through Facebook Marketplace.
Except for a few family heirlooms and some small dressers from IKEA and West Elm, nearly everything in their condo is thrifted.
In the living room, an elegant cream-colored linen sofa from the Home Consignment Center is the main piece. On either side are striped linen armchairs, and a wooden coffee table from Facebook Marketplace completes the look, giving the room a relaxed coastal feel.
A vintage ashtray Van Hulsen found on Etsy rests on top of a Cezanne book scored at a Palm Springs estate sale.
Dutch ceramic figurines and Asian ginger jars from various estate sales and thrift stores.
Next to the 2-year-old sofa is an antique Tiger Oak hutch from the Santa Monica Antique and Vintage Market. It’s filled with their thrifted finds including silver champagne buckets, candlesticks, colorful Mexican ceramics and a tall rotating server from the Council Shop, a thrift store chain that supports low-income women and families in Los Angeles.
“It’s dangerous living so close to the Council Shop,” Chait says of the nonprofit, which is within walking distance of the couple’s rental. “We probably walk down there every two weeks or so.”
As the couple walks through their home, they reminisce about how each item has its own story.
In the bathroom, a mint julep cup that was given as a trophy at the 1964 Peacock Hill National Horse show holds toothpaste and toothbrushes.
“I knew we wanted a neutral couch,” Van Hulsen says of the sofa that was originally on hold when they first saw it. “Luckily, it is modular, so my mother-in-law and I took it home in pieces in two cars.”
The china cabinet was discounted to $60 at the Santa Monica Antique and Vintage Market because it was missing some glass pieces. “We purchased it from a father and son who were so nice,” says Chait. “Tess and I couldn’t fit it in our car, so they delivered it to us for $40.”
Adds Van Hulsen: “It’s narrow and the perfect size.”
In the dining room corner next to a table and eight chairs from the UCLA Thrift Shop that they had to pick up in two trips sits a charming oak dresser with carved floral details. “I found it on the street during bulky item pickup day in Palo Alto and brought it down during a holiday car ride back,” van Hulsen says.
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1.A matted frame with illustrations of St. Martin’s Church and St. James’ Palace in London.2.Chait’s collection of vintage mechanical banks. 3.A bronze duck paperweight.
She also found a vintage print of Windsor Castle, now hanging in the entryway, on the street in Palo Alto. “That was the furthest thing we have thrifted,” she says.
Many of the accessories in their penthouse such as a bright blue Kitchen Aid mixer (which can cost up to $699 new), coffee-table books and a decorative clam shell remind the couple of their favorite place: Palm Springs.
The couple play Phase 10 on the dining room table they purchased from the UCLA Thrift Shop.
Now that they’re settled, it’s easy to forget how tough it was to find a rental near Chait’s new job in Santa Monica. “It was hard,” Van Hulsen says. “It was around Christmas, and there wasn’t a lot available.”
“People were making deals and offering to pay more than the listed rent,” says Chait.
Eventually, they found a bright two-bedroom, two-bath unit in Westwood with high ceilings, a loft and a rooftop patio. “We applied to two other places before we saw this one. It was worth waiting for,” van Hulsen says.
Chait grew up in L.A. and spent 10 years in the Bay Area. He believes buying secondhand from strangers is a great way to get to know the city. “When I went to buy a wine fridge from someone yesterday, we ended up talking about surfing for half an hour,” Chait says. “It’s fun to meet new people and hear the stories behind what they’re selling. Plus, exploring new parts of L.A. is always interesting.”
A ceramic beagle rests next to two silver toothpick holders.
For them, sticking to a budget is a way to get creative. Whether it’s silver platters or things left out on the street during bulky item pickup day, the couple is always searching for stylish, affordable finds.
The result is a surprisingly cohesive look with jute rugs, light woods and striped linens creating a relaxed California coastal vibe with touches of Palm Springs and France. “My mom has always been a thrifter,” says Van Hulsen. “When we lived in London for four years, we collected all sorts of bits and baubles.”
“From the beginning, Tess and Andrew’s relationship was stitched together through a shared love for the hunt,” her mother Dana McCue said in an email. “Their weekends away were never just about the destination, but about the ‘treasures’ hidden in dusty corners and the thrill of the ‘find.’ Today, their beautiful Westwood Penthouse serves as a living gallery of their love story. Each curated piece is more than just decor; it is a physical milestone that captures their journey from that first shared discovery to the life they have built together.”
The couple’s bed and side tables are among the new items in their condo.
Though some couples who are making a home together for the first time prefer to buy new furniture, Van Hulsen and Chait have stuck with secondhand pieces except for their upholstered panel bed, which they purchased at Living Spaces. “That is our only big furniture purchase,” Chait says. “Things are so expensive, and so many things fall apart. And besides, we like the stories. That’s what we get excited about: the story, talking to people, imagining the life it had before.”
They have a dresser from the Venice Canals that Tess squeezed into her Jeep Cherokee, etchings from an estate sale in Carmel, a lamp from the Guy on Motor at Venice in Palms and a vintage mirror from San Diego. “We have thrifted all over California,” says Van Hulsen.
Silver platters are everywhere: on side tables, under cabinets and also under the bed. “Stubbing my toe on silver is not that bad of a life,” she adds, laughing.
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1.A vintage soldier decanter.2.A vintage case of Navy Cut cigarettes from Palm Springs. 3.Legos, a Nintendo Game Boy and figurine sit on top of a Sony Playstation 4 console.4.A bronze woman purchased in Laurel Canyon rests to other thrifted items in the dining room. 5.Leather-bound books are sandwiched in between brass duck bookends the couple found at an estate sale in Northern California.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. For example, Chait recently bought a Frigidaire wine refrigerator for $100 on Facebook Marketplace, but when he got it home, he saw it was too big for their space. (They’re still trying to make it work.) Van Hulsen adds: “I’ve gotten some coffee tables that I ended up flipping because they didn’t work in our space.”
Making a cheap mistake isn’t a big deal when you can just resell the item online.
Now that their condo is furnished, do they have a rule about not bringing in too much stuff?
A photograph of the couple rests next to a painting of Manhattan Beach the couple found on Facebook Marketplace.
“You’re looking at him,” Van Hulsen says, grinning at her fiancé.
“You’re making me sound like the bad guy!” Chait says, laughing.
“That’s part of the fun,” Van Hulsen says as she brings over a sterling silver ice cream scoop engraved with “There’s nothing wrong with me that ice cream can’t fix” in barely perceptible cursive.
“We’re never really done,” Van Hulsen says. “It’s exciting to find new things and imagine how they’ll fit in our home.”
Second lady Usha Vance announced on social media Tuesday that she and Vice President JD Vance are expecting their fourth child.”We’re very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy,” the statement read. “Ush and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July.”During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children.”This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Second lady Usha Vance announced on social media Tuesday that she and Vice President JD Vance are expecting their fourth child.
“We’re very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy,” the statement read. “Ush and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July.
“During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A semi tractor-trailer fire on Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County closed all southbound lanes on Tuesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The incident was reported before Mile Marker 232 around 8:45 a.m. FHP said the cab portion caught fire and was separated from the trailer. No injuries have been reported at this time, and the incident remains under investigation.>> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. —
A semi tractor-trailer fire on Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County closed all southbound lanes on Tuesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident was reported before Mile Marker 232 around 8:45 a.m.
FHP said the cab portion caught fire and was separated from the trailer.
No injuries have been reported at this time, and the incident remains under investigation.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
National protests against immigration enforcement on Saturday include many cities in Northern California.At least 1,000 demonstrations are planned under the banner “ICE Out for Good” across the country. Protests planned for cities in KCRA 3’s coverage area include:RosevilleVacavilleStocktonWoodlandFair Oaks/CarmichaelFairfieldModestoSacramentoSonora(LiveCopter 3 will have a view over the demonstrations. Watch in the video above.) The protests are being organized by groups that include Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen, Voto Latino, United We Dream and the 50501 movement.They come after the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis, where immigration agents have surged as part of a new crackdown tied to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. Good, a mother of three and a U.S. citizen, was shot when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot into her vehicle on Wednesday morning as she was driving forward in an area where agents were operating. Trump administration officials have alleged the shooting was done in self-defense, which state and local officials have disputed. At least four people have been killed and seven hurt in 16 shooting incidents by immigration officials during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to Hearst’s Get the Fact Data Team. In another 15 incidents, federal immigration agents held people at gunpoint but didn’t shoot. In the latest encounter, two people were shot and wounded by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in east Portland. This story is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 for updates. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel–The Associated Press contributed to this story. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
At least 1,000 demonstrations are planned under the banner “ICE Out for Good” across the country. Protests planned for cities in KCRA 3’s coverage area include:
Roseville
Vacaville
Stockton
Woodland
Fair Oaks/Carmichael
Fairfield
Modesto
Sacramento
Sonora
(LiveCopter 3 will have a view over the demonstrations. Watch in the video above.)
The protests are being organized by groups that include Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Public Citizen, Voto Latino, United We Dream and the 50501 movement.
They come after the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis, where immigration agents have surged as part of a new crackdown tied to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.
Good, a mother of three and a U.S. citizen, was shot when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot into her vehicle on Wednesday morning as she was driving forward in an area where agents were operating. Trump administration officials have alleged the shooting was done in self-defense, which state and local officials have disputed.
At least four people have been killed and seven hurt in 16 shooting incidents by immigration officials during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to Hearst’s Get the Fact Data Team. In another 15 incidents, federal immigration agents held people at gunpoint but didn’t shoot.
In the latest encounter, two people were shot and wounded by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in east Portland.
This story is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 for updates.
A major crash has shut down all of the eastbound lanes on I-4 at Lake Mary Boulevard.According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened just after 7 a.m. at the Lake Mary Boulevard exit.Drivers traveling along I-4 eastbound should exit at SR-434 and use US-17/92 as a detour.FHP says people were injured in the crash.I-4 westbound is not impacted.This is a developing story.
LAKE MARY, Fla. —
A major crash has shut down all of the eastbound lanes on I-4 at Lake Mary Boulevard.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened just after 7 a.m. at the Lake Mary Boulevard exit.
Drivers traveling along I-4 eastbound should exit at SR-434 and use US-17/92 as a detour.
eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #1 focuses on the Trump Administration’s goal of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.
Key points:
In light of Donald Trump assuming a second presidential term in 2025, conversations concerning dismantling the United States Department of Education have resurfaced. Supporters argue that federal involvement in education undermines state authority, while critics fear that removing the federal role could exacerbate inequities and hinder national progress. To evaluate the proposal, it is crucial to examine the federal and state roles in education, the historical and constitutional context, and the potential benefits and challenges of such a shift.
The federal role in education
The United States Constitution does not explicitly grant the federal government authority over education. As Lunenberg et al. (2012) noted, “Education is not a function specifically delegated to the federal government” (p. 327). Instead, under the Tenth Amendment, powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states (McCarthy et al., 2019). This leaves education primarily under state jurisdiction, with federal involvement historically limited to indirect support rather than direct control.
The United States Department of Education was established in 1979. It is responsible for overseeing federal funding for schools, enforcing federal laws in education, and ensuring equal access for students across the country. Furthermore, it has played a significant role through legislation such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and its successors: NCLB (No Child Left Behind) and ESSA (the Every Student Succeeds Act). These laws link federal funding to specific requirements, which aim to address inequities in education. Currently, federal contributions account for approximately 8 percent of funding for elementary and secondary education, with the remaining 92 percent coming from state and local sources (“The Federal Role,” 2017).
The role of state and local control in education
Education policy and administration have traditionally been state functions. States determine funding formulas, establish teacher certification requirements, and oversee curricula through their departments and boards of education (Lynch, 2016). Governors and state legislatures allocate funds, which are often distributed to schools based on enrollment, need, or specific programs (Lunenberg et al., 2012).
Local school boards also play a critical role, managing day-to-day operations and responding to community needs. This decentralized structure reflects a longstanding belief that local authorities are better positioned to address the diverse needs of their communities. However, it has also led to significant disparities between states and districts in terms of funding, resources, and student outcomes.
Dismantling the United States Department of Education
One of the most compelling arguments for dismantling the United States Department of Education lies in the principle of localized control. Critics argue that education is best managed by state and local governments because they are closer to the specific needs of their communities. Localized governance could allow schools to tailor their policies, curriculum, and resource allocation in ways that best fit the unique demographics of their regions. For example, schools in rural areas may have vastly different needs than those in urban centers, which is why local authorities are likely better equipped to address these disparities without the interference of federal oversight.
The concern extends beyond general education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is enforced by the United States Department of Education, mandates that students with disabilities receive free and appropriate public education (FAPE) along with necessary services and accommodations. Similarly, the department oversees federal programs that support English Language Learner (ELL) students by helping schools provide tailored instruction and resources to students who are not native English speakers. Without federal oversight, it is possible that these programs could lose funding or be inconsistently applied across states, causing vulnerable populations to be without critical support.
Advocates of dismantling the United States Department of Education also point to the financial burden of maintaining a federal agency. They argue that billions of dollars allocated to the department could be redirected to state education budgets, thereby allowing for more impactful initiatives at the forefront. By eliminating bureaucratic layers, states could potentially deliver education funding more efficiently, thereby focusing resources directly on teachers, classrooms, and students.
Another critical function of the United States Department of Education is establishing and enforcing national education standards. Programs such as NCLB and ESSA aim to hold schools accountable for student performance and ensure consistency across states (albeit, there are arguments those programs have led to a culture of “teaching to the test” and have stifled creativity in the classroom), but allowing states and local districts to have greater freedom to design their own standards and assessments may fostering innovation while also leading to the quality of education varying dramatically from state to state and can cause challenges for students in transient populations due to a lack of cohesion disrupting their education and limiting their opportunities.
Keeping the United States Department of Education
Dismantling the United States Department of Education raises significant concerns about equity. The department plays a crucial role in addressing disparities in funding education, as well as in funding access. Federal programs (i.e., Title I, free meals, counseling, after-school programs, etc.) provide additional resources to schools serving high numbers of low-income students, many of which are located in inner-city areas. Without the United States Department of Education, these programs might be eliminated or left to the discretion of states that have historically struggled to prioritize funding for underserved communities.
Inner-city urban schools often face unique challenges (i.e., overcrowding, insufficient funding, higher rates of poverty among students, etc.). Many of these schools also serve disproportionately high numbers of students with disabilities and ELL students, thereby making federal support even more vital. The United States Department of Education enforces civil rights protections that ensures that all students (including vulnerable subgroups) receive equitable treatment. Dismantling the department could weaken these safeguards, thereby leaving marginalized communities more vulnerable to neglect. Therefore, the loss of federal oversight is a serious concern for public education. Historically, states have not always allocated resources equitably, and urban school districts have often been underfunded compared to their suburban counterparts. Federal intervention has been essential in addressing these disparities. Without it, inner-city schools may struggle to maintain even basic standards of education, thereby exacerbating poverty and inequality.
All schools (not just inner-city schools) will be adversely impacted by dismantling the United States Department of Education. Federal funding supports Advanced Placement (AP) courses, STEM initiatives, and dual-enrollment opportunities. Dismantling the United States Department of Education could lead to inconsistencies in college admissions processes because states might adopt different graduation requirements and assessments. This lack of standardization could complicate admissions for students applying to out-of-state or prestigious universities. Furthermore, the United States Department of Education funds research initiatives that lead to the development of new teaching methods, technologies, and curricula. These innovations often benefit all schools, but without federal support, such research might stagnate leaving schools without access to cutting-edge educational resources.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the debate pertaining to dismantling the United States Department of Education has taken on new urgency under the Trump administration in 2025. While advocates of dismantling the department argue for greater local control and efficiency, the critics highlight the potential risks to equity and access. As the nation grapples with this issue, it is essential to prioritize the needs of students (and communities). The ultimate goal must be to create a more equitable and effective education system that serves all students regardless of their background or zip code.
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Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Middle School and William Howard Taft University
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake shook Northern California on Sunday afternoon. The temblor was reported at 4:41 p.m. seven miles from Susanville, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 66 miles from Magalia, Calif., 68 miles from Reno, , 69 miles from Paradise, Calif., and 73 miles from Chico, Calif.
Moderate shaking was reported near the quake’s epicenter, with light shaking reported as far east as Redding, north into Klamath Falls, Ore., and as far south as Sacramento, according to the USGS.
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of 25 earthquakes with magnitudes of 4.0 to 5.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 3.4 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Find out what to do before, and during, an earthquake near you by signing up for our Unshaken newsletter, which breaks down emergency preparedness into bite-sized steps over six weeks. Learn more about earthquake kits, which apps you need, Lucy Jones’ most important advice and more at latimes.com/Unshaken.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are working to draw a barricaded person outside of a building in Winters, according to police. The Winters Police Department said there is no threat to the public, but is advising people to avoid the area of East Street, Edwards Street, Baker Street and East Abbey Street. The scene is near a shopping center in that area that includes a Round Table Pizza and Dollar General store. It is unclear what led to the person being barricaded or whether they are armed. This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Multiple law enforcement agencies are working to draw a barricaded person outside of a building in Winters, according to police.
The Winters Police Department said there is no threat to the public, but is advising people to avoid the area of East Street, Edwards Street, Baker Street and East Abbey Street. The scene is near a shopping center in that area that includes a Round Table Pizza and Dollar General store.
It is unclear what led to the person being barricaded or whether they are armed.
This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.
eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #6 focuses on DEI in education.
Key points:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become integral to educational institutions across the United States. DEI aims to foster environments where all students can thrive regardless of their backgrounds. The programs are designed to address systemic inequalities, promote representation, and create inclusive spaces for learning. However, as DEI becomes more prevalent, it also faces scrutiny and debate regarding its effectiveness, implementation, and impact on educational outcomes.
One of the main advantages of DEI in education is the promotion of a more inclusive and representative curriculum. Students gain a broader understanding of the world by integrating diverse perspectives into course materials. This enhances critical thinking and empathy. Furthermore, the approach prepares students to navigate and contribute to our increasingly globalized society. Moreover, exposure to diverse viewpoints encourages students to challenge their assumptions and develop a more nuanced perspective on complex issues.
DEI initiatives also contribute to improved academic outcomes by fostering a sense of belongingness amongst students. When students see themselves reflected in their educators and curricula, they are more likely to feel valued and supported. This leads to increased engagement and motivation. This sense of inclusion can result in higher retention and graduation rates (particularly among historically marginalized groups). Furthermore, diverse learning environments encourage collaboration and communication skills because students learn to work effectively with peers from different backgrounds.
In addition to benefiting students, DEI programs can enhance faculty satisfaction and retention. Institutions that prioritize diversity in hiring and promotion practices create more equitable workplaces. This can lead to increased job satisfaction among faculty members. Mentorship programs and professional development opportunities focused on DEI can also support faculty in creating inclusive classroom environments, which further benefits students.
Despite these benefits, DEI initiatives are not without challenges. One significant concern is the potential for resistance and backlash from individuals who perceive DEI efforts as a threat to traditional values (in other words, a form of reverse discrimination). This resistance can manifest in various ways (opposition to DEI policies, legal challenges, and political pressure). Such opposition can hinder the implementation and effectiveness of DEI programs, thereby creating a contentious atmosphere within educational institutions.
Another challenge is the difficulty in measuring the success of DEI initiatives. Without clear metrics, it can be challenging to assess the impact of these programs on student outcomes, faculty satisfaction, or institutional culture. The lack of quantifiable data can lead to skepticism about the efficiency of DEI efforts, thus resulting in reduced support or funding for such programs. Additionally, the absence of standardized definitions and goals for DEI can lead to inconsistent implementation across institutions.
Resource allocation is also a critical issue in the execution of DEI initiatives. Implementing comprehensive DEI programs often requires significant financial investment (funding for specialized staff, training, and support services). In times of budget constraints, institutions may struggle to prioritize DEI efforts. This may lead to inadequate support for students and faculty. Without sufficient resources, DEI programs may fail to achieve their intended outcomes thus further fueling criticism and skepticism.
The potential for tokenism is another concern associated with DEI initiatives. When institutions focus on meeting diversity quotas without fostering genuine inclusion, individuals from underrepresented groups may feel marginalized or exploited. Tokenism may undermine the goals of DEI by creating superficial diversity that does not translate into meaningful change or equity. To avoid this, institutions must commit to creating inclusive environments where all individuals feel valued and empowered to contribute fully.
Furthermore, DEI programs can sometimes inadvertently reinforce stereotypes or create division among student populations. For example, emphasizing differences without promoting commonalities may lead to increased social fragmentation or feelings of isolation among certain groups. Educators must carefully balance the celebration of diversity with the promotion of unity and shared values to foster cohesive learning communities.
In summary, DEI initiatives in education offer numerous benefits, but these programs also face significant challenges. To maximize the positive impact of DEI efforts, educational institutions must commit to thoughtful, well-resourced, and inclusive implementation strategies that promote genuine equity and inclusion for all members.
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Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Bessemer City Middle School and William Howard Taft University
eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #7 focuses on sustainability in edtech.
Key points:
Educational technology, or edtech, has reshaped how educators teach, offering opportunities to create more sustainable and impactful learning environments.
Using edtech in teaching, educators and school leaders can reduce environmental impact while enhancing student engagement and creativity. The key is recognizing how to effectively leverage edtech learning strategies, from digitized lesson plans to virtual collaboration, and keeping an open mind while embracing new instructional methods.
Rethinking teaching methods in the digital age
Teaching methods have undergone significant transformation with the rise of educational technology. Traditional classroom settings are evolving, integrating tools and techniques that prioritize active participation and collaboration.
Here are three edtech learning strategies:
The flipped classroom model reverses the typical teaching structure. Instead of delivering lectures in class and assigning homework, teachers provide pre-recorded lessons or materials for students to review at home. Classroom time is then used for hands-on activities, group discussions, or problem-solving tasks.
Gamification is another method gaining traction. By incorporating game-like elements such as point systems, leaderboards, and challenges into lesson plans, teachers can motivate students and make learning more interactive. Platforms like Kahoot and Classcraft encourage participation while reducing paper-based activities.
Collaborative online tools, such as Google Workspace for Education, also play a critical role in modern classrooms. They enable students to work together on projects in real time, eliminating the need for printed resources. These tools enhance teamwork and streamline the sharing of information in eco-friendly ways.
Sustainability and innovation in education
Have you ever wondered how much paper schools use? There are approximately 100,000 schools in this country that consume about 32 billion sheets of paper yearly. On a local level, the average school uses 2,000 sheets daily–that comes out to $16,000 a year. Think about what else that money could be used for in your school.
Here are ways that edtech can reduce reliance on physical materials:
Digital textbooks minimize the need for printed books and reduce waste. Through e-readers, students access a vast library of resources without carrying heavy, paper-based textbooks.
Virtual labs provide another example of sustainable education. These labs allow students to conduct experiments in a simulated environment, eliminating the need for disposable materials or expensive lab setups. These applications offer interactive simulations that are cost-effective and eco-conscious.
Schools can also adopt learning management systems to centralize course materials, assignments, and feedback. By using these platforms, teachers can cut down on printed handouts and encourage digital submissions, further reducing paper usage.
Additionally, edtech platforms are beginning to incorporate budget-friendly tools designed with sustainability in mind; some of these resources are free. For instance, apps that monitor energy consumption or carbon footprints in school operations can educate students about environmental stewardship while encouraging sustainable practices in their own lives.
Supporting teachers in the shift to edtech
Transitioning to edtech can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for educators. By streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing lesson delivery, technology empowers teachers to focus on what matters most: engaging students.
Circling back to having an open mind–while many teachers are eager to adopt edtech learning strategies, others might struggle more with technology. You need to expect this and be prepared to offer continuous support. Professional development opportunities are essential to ease the adoption of edtech. Schools can offer workshops and training sessions to help teachers feel confident with new tools. For instance, hosting peer-led sessions where educators share best practices fosters a collaborative approach to learning and implementation.
Another way to support teachers is by providing access to online resources that offer lesson plans, tutorials, and templates. Encouraging experimentation and flexibility in teaching methods can also lead to better integration of technology. By allowing teachers to adapt tools to their unique classroom needs, schools can foster an environment where innovation thrives.
If you’re concerned about bumps on this road, remember teachers have common traits that align with edtech. Good teachers are organized, flexible, have communication skills, and are open-minded. Encourage a team approach that’s motivating and leverages their love of learning.
Bringing sustainability and enhanced learning to classrooms
The integration of edtech learning strategies into classrooms brings sustainability and enhanced learning experiences to the forefront. By reducing reliance on physical materials and introducing eco-friendly tools, schools can significantly lower their environmental impact. At the same time, teachers gain access to methods that inspire creativity and collaboration among students.
There’s also this: Edtech learning strategies are constantly evolving, so you’ll want to stay on top of these trends. While many of those focus on learning strategies, others are more about emergency response, safety, and data management,
Investing in modern technologies and supporting teachers through training and resources ensures the success of these initiatives. By embracing edtech learning strategies, educators and administrators can create classrooms that are not only effective but also sustainable–a win for students, teachers, and the planet.
Sam Bowman, Contributing Writer
Sam Bowman writes about people, tech, wellness, and how they merge. He enjoys getting to utilize the internet for community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Connect with him on Twitter @SamLBowman1.
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eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #8 focuses on the debate around teachers vs. AI.
Key points:
A colleague of ours recently attended an AI training where the opening slide featured a list of all the ways AI can revolutionize our classrooms. Grading was listed at the top. Sure, AI can grade papers in mere seconds, but should it?
As one of our students, Jane, stated: “It has a rubric and can quantify it. It has benchmarks. But that is not what actually goes into writing.” Our students recognize that AI cannot replace the empathy and deep understanding that recognizes the growth, effort, and development of their voice. What concerns us most about grading our students’ written work with AI is the transformation of their audience from human to robot.
If we teach our students throughout their writing lives that what the grading robot says matters most, then we are teaching them that their audience doesn’t matter. As Wyatt, another student, put it: “If you can use AI to grade me, I can use AI to write.” NCTE, in its position statements for Generative AI, reminds us that writing is a human act, not a mechanical one. Reducing it to automated scores undermines its value and teaches students, like Wyatt and Jane, that the only time we write is for a grade. That is a future of teaching writing we hope to never see.
We need to pause when tech companies tout AI as the grader of student writing. This isn’t a question of capability. AI can score essays. It can be calibrated to rubrics. It can, as Jane said, provide students with encouragement and feedback specific to their developing skills. And we have no doubt it has the potential to make a teacher’s grading life easier. But just because we can outsource some educational functions to technology doesn’t mean we should.
It is bad enough how many students already see their teacher as their only audience. Or worse, when students are writing for teachers who see their written work strictly through the lens of a rubric, their audience is limited to the rubric. Even those options are better than writing for a bot. Instead, let’s question how often our students write to a broader audience of their peers, parents, community, or a panel of judges for a writing contest. We need to reengage with writing as a process and implement AI as a guide or aide rather than a judge with the last word on an essay score.
Our best foot forward is to put AI in its place. The use of AI in the writing process is better served in the developing stages of writing. AI is excellent as a guide for brainstorming. It can help in a variety of ways when a student is struggling and looking for five alternatives to their current ending or an idea for a metaphor. And if you or your students like AI’s grading feature, they can paste their work into a bot for feedback prior to handing it in as a final draft.
We need to recognize that there are grave consequences if we let a bot do all the grading. As teachers, we should recognize bot grading for what it is: automated education. We can and should leave the promises of hundreds of essays graded in an hour for the standardized test providers. Our classrooms are alive with people who have stories to tell, arguments to make, and research to conduct. We see our students beyond the raw data of their work. We recognize that the poem our student has written for their sick grandparent might be a little flawed, but it matters a whole lot to the person writing it and to the person they are writing it for. We see the excitement or determination in our students’ eyes when they’ve chosen a research topic that is important to them. They want their cause to be known and understood by others, not processed and graded by a bot.
The adoption of AI into education should be conducted with caution. Many educators are experimenting with using AI tools in thoughtful and student-centered ways. In a recent article, David Cutler describes his experience using an AI-assisted platform to provide feedback on his students’ essays. While Cutler found the tool surprisingly accurate and helpful, the true value lies in the feedback being used as part of the revision process. As this article reinforces, the role of a teacher is not just to grade, but to support and guide learning. When used intentionally (and we emphasize, as in-process feedback) AI can enhance that learning, but the final word, and the relationship behind it, must still come from a human being.
When we hand over grading to AI, we risk handing over something much bigger–our students’ belief that their words matter and deserve an audience. Our students don’t write to impress a rubric, they write to be heard. And when we replace the reader with a robot, we risk teaching our students that their voices only matter to the machine. We need to let AI support the writing process, not define the product. Let it offer ideas, not deliver grades. When we use it at the right moments and for the right reasons, it can make us better teachers and help our students grow. But let’s never confuse efficiency with empathy. Or algorithms with understanding.
Dennis Magliozzi & Kristina Peterson, University of New Hampshire’s Writers Academy
Kristina Peterson and Dennis Magliozzi have been teaching English since 2008. Kristina has a master’s degree in teaching and over a decade of experience mentoring teachers. Dennis holds an MFA in poetry and a PhD from the University of New Hampshire. Together, they co-teach in the University of New Hampshire’s Writers Academy and Learning Through Teaching program. Their work on generative AI’s impact in the classroom is highlighted on Heinemann’s blog, and in their forthcoming book, AI in the Writing Workshop: Finding the Write Balance.
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Dennis Magliozzi & Kristina Peterson, University of New Hampshire’s Writers Academy
eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #9 focuses on chronic absenteeism.
Key points:
The biggest problem in education is that kids aren’t showing up to school. Last year, 26 percent of students missed a month of class or more, leading to dramatic declines in academic performance. Chronic absenteeism accounted for 27 percent of the drop in math scores and 45 percent of the decline in reading scores from 2019 to 2022. Students who are chronically absent are 7x more likely to drop out before graduating, and while state and district leaders are scrambling for solutions, kids are falling further behind.
Why chronic absenteeism is hard to solve
In 2019, only 13 percent of students in the U.S. were chronically absent. Typically, these students missed school because of significant personal reasons–long-term illness, gang involvement, clinical depression, working jobs to support their families, lacking transportation, drug use, unplanned pregnancy, etc.–that aren’t easily fixed.
However, since the pandemic, the rate of chronic absenteeism has doubled from 13 percent to 26 percent.
The change is cultural. For the last hundred years, it was drilled into the American psyche that “school is important.” A great effort was made to provide bussing to any child who lived too far to walk, and the expectation was that every child should come to school every day. Cutting class was sure to land you in the principal’s office or potentially even lead to police showing up at your door.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, this narrative flipped. As parents began working from home, their kids sat beside them. With lectures recorded and assignments posted online, attending class began to feel optional. When school doors reopened, many families didn’t fully come back. Common excuses like being tired, missing the bus, or simply not feeling like going were validated and excused rather than admonished. While students who skip school were once seen as delinquent, for many families it has become culturally acceptable–almost even expected–for kids to stay home whenever they or their parents want.
Overwhelmed by the drastic rise in absenteeism, school staff are unable to revert cultural norms about attendance. And it’s not their fault.
The root of the problem
Each student’s situation is unique. Some students may struggle with reliable transportation, while others skip certain classes they don’t like, and others still are disengaged with school entirely. Without knowing why students are missing school, staff cannot make progress addressing the root cause of chronic absenteeism.
Today, nearly 75 percent of student absences are “unexplained,” meaning that no authorized parent called or emailed the school to say where their children are and why they aren’t in class. This lack of clarity makes it impossible for schools to offer personalized solutions and keep students engaged. Unexplained absences only deepen the disconnect and limit schools’ ability to tackle absenteeism effectively.
Knowing why students are missing school is critical, but also very difficult to uncover. At a high school of 2,000 students with 85 percent average daily attendance, 225 students will be absent each day without providing any explanation. In an ideal world, schools would speak with every parent to find out the reason their child wasn’t in class–but schools can’t possibly make 225 additional phone calls without 3-5 additional staff. Instead, they rely on robocalls and absence letters, and those methods don’t work nearly well enough.
Normalize attendance again: It takes a village
Improving attendance is about more than just allocating additional resources. It’s about shifting the mindset and fostering a culture that prioritizes presence. This starts with schools and communities making attendance a shared responsibility, not just a policy.
First, schools must take the initiative to understand why students are missing school. Whether through modern AI-driven attendance systems or with more traditional methods like phone calls, understanding the root causes is critical to addressing the issue.
Next, categorize and recognize patterns. Small adjustments can have big impacts. One district noticed that students who were 0.9 miles away from school were much more likely to not show up because their bussing policy was for families living 1 mile away from school or further. By changing their policy, they saw a surge in attendance. Similarly, pinpointing specific classes that students are skipping can help tailor interventions, whether through teacher engagement or offering additional support.
Lastly, schools should focus resources on students facing the most severe challenges. These students often require personalized solutions, such as home visits for unresponsive parents or help with transportation. Targeted efforts like these create a direct impact on reducing absenteeism and improving overall attendance.
When communities unite to make school attendance a priority, students receive the support they need to succeed. Tackling chronic absenteeism is not an easy task, but with focused effort and a culture of engagement, we can reverse this troubling trend and give students the foundation they deserve for future success.
Joe Philleo, Edia
Joe Philleo is the co-founder and CEO of Edia, an AI-powered platform that tackles two critical challenges in K-12 education: improving math outcomes and reducing absenteeism. Edia’s mission is to ensure every student has access to an exceptional education, grounded in the belief that school shapes the trajectory of people’s lives.
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eSchool News is counting down the 10 most-read stories of 2025. Story #10 focuses on teaching strategies around AI.
Key points:
In the last year, we’ve seen an extraordinary push toward integrating artificial intelligence in classrooms. Among educators, that trend has evoked responses from optimism to opposition. “Will AI replace educators?” “Can it really help kids?” “Is it safe?” Just a few years ago, these questions were unthinkable, and now they’re in every K-12 school, hanging in the air.
Given the pace at which AI technologies are changing, there’s a lot still to be determined, and I won’t pretend to have all the answers. But as a school counselor in Kansas who has been using SchoolAI to support students for years, I’ve seen that AI absolutely can help kids and is safe when supervised. At this point, I think it’s much more likely to help us do our jobs better than to produce any other outcome. I’ve discovered that if you implement AI thoughtfully, it empowers students to explore their futures, stay on track for graduation, learn new skills, and even improve their mental health.
Full disclosure: I have something adjacent to a tech background. I worked for a web development marketing firm before moving into education. However, I want to emphasize that you don’t have to be an expert to use AI effectively. Success is rooted in curiosity, trial and error, and commitment to student well-being. Above all, I would urge educators to remember that AI isn’t about replacing us. It allows us to extend our reach to students and our capacity to cater to individual needs, especially when shorthanded.
Let me show you what that looks like.
Building emotional resilience
Students today face enormous emotional pressures. And with national student-to-counselor ratios at nearly double the recommended 250-to-1, school staff can’t always be there right when students need us.
That’s why I created a chatbot named Pickles (based on my dog at home, whom the kids love but who is too rambunctious to come to school with me). This emotional support bot gives my students a way to process small problems like feeling left out at recess or arguing with a friend. It doesn’t replace my role, but it does help triage students so I can give immediate attention to those facing the most urgent challenges.
Speaking of which, AI has revealed some issues I might’ve otherwise missed. One fourth grader, who didn’t want to talk to me directly, opened up to the chatbot about her parents’ divorce. Because I was able to review her conversation, I knew to follow up with her. In another case, a shy fifth grader who struggled to maintain conversations learned to initiate dialogue with her peers using chatbot-guided social scripts. After practicing over spring break, she returned more confident and socially fluent.
Aside from giving students real-time assistance, these tools offer me critical visibility and failsafes while I’m running around trying to do 10 things at once.
Personalized career exploration and academic support
One of my core responsibilities as a counselor is helping students think about their futures. Often, the goals they bring to me are undeveloped (as you would expect—they’re in elementary school, after all): They say, “I’m going to be a lawyer,” or “I’m going to be a doctor.” In the past, I would point them toward resources I thought would help, and that was usually the end of it. But I always wanted them to reflect more deeply about their options.
So, I started using an AI chatbot to open up that conversation. Instead of jumping to a job title, students are prompted to answer what they’re interested in and why. The results have been fascinating—and inspiring. In a discussion with one student recently, I was trying to help her find careers that would suit her love of travel. After we plugged in her strengths and interests, the chatbot suggested cultural journalism, which she was instantly excited about. She started journaling and blogging that same night. She’s in sixth grade.
What makes this process especially powerful is that it challenges biases. By the end of elementary school, many kids have already internalized what careers they think they can or can’t pursue–often based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status. AI can disrupt that. It doesn’t know what a student looks like or where they’re from. It just responds to their curiosity. These tools surface career options for kids–like esports management or environmental engineering–that I might not be able to come up with in the moment. It’s making me a better counselor and keeping me apprised of workforce trends, all while encouraging my students to dream bigger and in more detail.
Along with career decisions, AI helps students make better academic decisions, especially in virtual school environments where requirements vary district to district. I recently worked with a virtual school to create an AI-powered tool that helps students identify which classes they need for graduation. It even links them to district-specific resources and state education departments to guide their planning. These kinds of tools lighten the load of general advising questions for school counselors and allow us to spend more time supporting students one on one.
My advice to educators: Try it
We tell our students that failure is part of learning. So why should we be afraid to try something new? When I started using AI, I made mistakes. But AI doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Around the globe, AI school assistants are already springing up and serving an ever-wider range of use cases.
I recommend educators start small. Use a trusted platform. And most importantly, stay human. AI should never replace the relationships at the heart of education. But if used wisely, it can extend your reach, personalize your impact, and unlock your students’ potential.
We have to prepare our students for a world that’s changing fast–maybe faster than ever. I, for one, am glad I have AI by my side to help them get there.
Hanna Kemble-Mick, Indian Hills Elementary
Hanna Kemble-Mick has been an elementary school counselor for eight years. She currently works at Indian Hills Elementary, where she uses SchoolAI to enhance her work. She’s also the Dean of Elementary School Counselors for USD 437, holds the Kansas School Counselor of the Year title, and is a 2025 School Counselor of the Year® finalist. Additionally, she works as a Counselor Leader Coordinator for KSDE. Hanna is committed to supporting counselors and providing practical solutions for their practice.
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Director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators, the official said.The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”His role as Meathead in Norman Lear’s 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.Relatives of Lear, the legendary producer who died in 2023, said they were bereft by the news.“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”Messages to Reiner’s representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner’s death a devastating loss for the city.“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.
LOS ANGELES —
Director-actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators, the official said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.
Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.
Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”
His role as Meathead in Norman Lear’s 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.
“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”
Messages to Reiner’s representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner’s death a devastating loss for the city.
“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”
The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.
Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98 and Marshall died in 2018.
Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.
Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.
