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  • Rob Reiner and his wife found dead in Los Angeles home

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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.

    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.

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  • Commentary: Homeland Security says it doesn’t detain citizens. These brave Californians prove it has

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    Call it an accident, call it the plan. But don’t stoop to the reprehensible gaslighting of calling it a lie: It is fact that federal agents have detained and arrested dozens, if not hundreds, of United States citizens as part of immigration sweeps, regardless of what Kristi Noem would like us to believe.

    During a congressional hearing Thursday, Noem, our secretary of Homeland Security and self-appointed Cruelty Barbie, reiterated her oft-used and patently false line that only the worst of the worst are being targeted by immigration authorities. That comes after weeks of her department posting online, on its ever-more far-right social media accounts, that claims of American citizens being rounded up and held incommunicado are “fake news” or a “hoax.”

    “Stop fear-mongering. ICE does NOT arrest or deport U.S. citizens,” Homeland Security recently posted on the former Twitter.

    Tuesday, at a different congressional hearing, a handful of citizens — including two Californians — told their stories of being grabbed by faceless masked men and being whisked away to holding cells where they were denied access to phones, lawyers, medications and a variety of other legal rights.

    Their testimony accompanied the release of a congressional report by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in which 22 American citizens, including a dozen from the Golden State, told their own shocking, terrifying tales of manhandling and detentions by what can only be described as secret police — armed agents who wouldn’t identify themselves and often seemed to lack basic training required for safe urban policing.

    These stories and the courageous Americans who are stepping forward to tell them are history in the making — a history I hope we regret but not forget.

    Immigration enforcement, boosted by unprecedented amounts of funding, is about to ramp up even more. Noem and her agents are reveling in impunity, attempting to erase and rewrite reality as they go — while our Supreme Court crushes precedent and common sense to further empower this presidency. Until the midterms, there is little hope of any check on power.

    Under those circumstances, for these folks to put their stories on the record is both an act of bravery and patriotism, because they now know better than most what it means to have the chaotic brutality of this administration focused on them. It’s incumbent upon the rest of us to hear them, and protest peacefully not only rights being trampled, but our government demanding we believe lies.

    “I’ve always said that immigrants who are given the great privilege of becoming citizens are also some of the most patriotic people in this country. I know you all love your country. I love our country, and this is not the America that we believe in or that we fought so hard for. Every person, every U.S. citizen, has rights,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) said as the hearing began.

    L.A. native Andrea Velez, whose detention was reported on by my colleagues when it happened, was one of those putting herself on the line to testify.

    Less than 5 feet tall, Velez is a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona who was working in the garment district in June when ICE began its raids. Her mom and teenage sister had just dropped her off when masked men swarmed out of unmarked cars and began chasing brown people. Velez didn’t know what was happening, but when one man charged her, she held up her work bag in defense. The bag did not protect her. Neither did her telling the agents she is a U.S. citizen.

    “He handcuffed me without checking my ID. They ignored me as I repeated it again and again that I am a U.S. citizen,” she told committee members. “They did not care.”

    Velez, still unsure who the man was who forced her into an SUV, managed to open the door and run to an LAPD officer, begging for help. But when the masked man noticed she was loose, he “ran up screaming, ‘She’s mine’” the congressional report says.

    The police officer sent her back to the unmarked car, beginning a 48-hour ordeal that ended with her being charged with assault of a federal officer — charges eventually dropped after her lawyer demanded body camera footage and alleged witness statements. (The minority staff report was released by Rep. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.)

    “I never imagined this would be occurring, here, in America,” Velez told lawmakers. “DHS likes … to brand us as criminals, stripping us of our dignity. They want to paint us as the worst of the worst, but the truth is, we are human beings with no criminal record.”

    This if-you’re-brown-you’re-going-down tactic is likely to become more common because it is now legal.

    In Noem vs. Vasquez Perdomo, a September court decision, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that it was reasonable for officers to stop people who looked foreign and were engaged in activities associated with undocumented people — such as soliciting work at a Home Depot or attending a Spanish-language event, as long as authorities “promptly” let the person go if they prove citizenship. These are now known as “Kavanaugh stops.”

    Disregarding how racist and problematic that policy is, “promptly” seems to be up for debate.

    Javier Ramirez, born in San Bernardino, testified as “a proud American citizen who has never known the weight of a criminal record.”

    He’s a father of three who was working at his car lot in June when he noticed a strange SUV idling on his private property with a bunch of men inside. When he approached, they jumped out, armed with assault weapons, and grabbed him.

    “This was a terrifying situation,” Ramirez said. But then it got worse.

    One of the men yelled, “Get him. He’s Mexican!”

    On video shot by a bystander, Javier can be heard shouting, “I have my passport!” according to the congressional report, but the agents didn’t care. When Ramirez asked why they were holding him, an agent told him, “We’re trying to figure that out.”

    Like Velez, Ramirez was put in detention. A severe diabetic, he was denied medication until he became seriously ill, he told investigators. Though he asked for a lawyer, he was not allowed to contact one — but the interrogation continued.

    After his release, five days later, he had to seek further medical treatment. He, too, was charged with assault of a federal agent, along with obstruction and resisting arrest. The bogus charges were also later dropped.

    “I should not have to live in fear of being targeted simply for the color of my skin or the other language I speak,” he told the committee. “I share my story not just for myself, but for everyone who has been unjustly treated, for those whose voice has been silenced.”

    You know the poem, folks. It starts when “they came” for the vulnerable. Thankfully, though people such as Ramirez and Velez may be vulnerable due to their pigmentation, they are not meek and they won’t be silenced. Our democracy, our safety as a nation of laws, depends on not just hearing their stories, but also standing peacefully against such abuses of power.

    Because these abuses only end when the people decide they’ve had enough — not just of the lawlessness, but of the lies that empower it.

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    Anita Chabria

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  • Orlando mail thief wanted; $100K reward offered for information leading to arrest

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    A $100,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of a mail thief.According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, a suspect can be seen on surveillance footage prying open mailboxes and stealing mail from the Ventura post office in Orlando.The incident occurred on Nov. 21 just after midnight. The United States Postal Inspection Service has issued a letter to residents, warning them of the ongoing criminal investigation and the difficulty in determining which mail pieces have been affected.Martha Morales headed to the post office near Curry Ford and South Goldenrod on Tuesday. Morales, who has had a PO box for nearly ten years, discovered the letter from the Miami division of the United States Postal Inspection Service when she checked her mail Tuesday night. “Going on ten years,” she said.”We are currently conducting a criminal investigation in your area involving a mail theft ring,” the letter stated.The letter further explained, “Because of the nature of the crime, it is difficult to determine exactly what mail pieces corresponding to you have been taken. It is possible recovered mail was returned to you and/or mail was destroyed as a result of the perpetrators actions.”On the door of the post office, the same letter Morales received is displayed, along with another notice about adjusted lobby hours to protect mail and ensure timely service. Morales expressed her concern, saying, “Oh yeah,” when asked if she would double-check her mail for missing checks.Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly noted that mail theft is typically considered a federal offense, and his office has investigated similar cases recently. “We have investigated a theft of five, six hundred pieces of mail that were attributed to a group out of Central Florida,” Staly said. “They were stealing checks, they were washing the checks, and then adding a different amount and a different person payable.”Sheriff Staly encourages residents to report stolen mail to their post office and local law enforcement. As for the mailbox theft on Curry Ford, it remains unclear what the thief managed to steal. Morales hopes, “they got caught.”Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact law enforcement at 1-877-876-2455. WESH 2 reached out to the inspection service for more information on the alleged theft ring, but by Tuesday night, had not heard back. Though mail theft would typically be considered a federal offense, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said his office investigated mail theft just within the last six or seven months. “We have investigated a theft of five, six hundred pieces of mail that were attributed to a group out of Central Florida,” Staly said. As far as what that group was doing with the mail they stole, Staly said, “They were stealing checks, they were washing the checks, and then adding a different amount and a different person payable.”If your mail gets stolen, the sheriff encourages you to tell your post office and local law enforcement.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    A $100,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of a mail thief.

    According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, a suspect can be seen on surveillance footage prying open mailboxes and stealing mail from the Ventura post office in Orlando.

    The incident occurred on Nov. 21 just after midnight.

    The United States Postal Inspection Service has issued a letter to residents, warning them of the ongoing criminal investigation and the difficulty in determining which mail pieces have been affected.

    Martha Morales headed to the post office near Curry Ford and South Goldenrod on Tuesday.

    Morales, who has had a PO box for nearly ten years, discovered the letter from the Miami division of the United States Postal Inspection Service when she checked her mail Tuesday night. “Going on ten years,” she said.

    “We are currently conducting a criminal investigation in your area involving a mail theft ring,” the letter stated.

    The letter further explained, “Because of the nature of the crime, it is difficult to determine exactly what mail pieces corresponding to you have been taken. It is possible recovered mail was returned to you and/or mail was destroyed as a result of the perpetrators actions.”

    On the door of the post office, the same letter Morales received is displayed, along with another notice about adjusted lobby hours to protect mail and ensure timely service. Morales expressed her concern, saying, “Oh yeah,” when asked if she would double-check her mail for missing checks.

    Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly noted that mail theft is typically considered a federal offense, and his office has investigated similar cases recently. “We have investigated a theft of five, six hundred pieces of mail that were attributed to a group out of Central Florida,” Staly said. “They were stealing checks, they were washing the checks, and then adding a different amount and a different person payable.”

    Sheriff Staly encourages residents to report stolen mail to their post office and local law enforcement. As for the mailbox theft on Curry Ford, it remains unclear what the thief managed to steal. Morales hopes, “they got caught.”

    Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact law enforcement at 1-877-876-2455.

    WESH 2 reached out to the inspection service for more information on the alleged theft ring, but by Tuesday night, had not heard back.

    Though mail theft would typically be considered a federal offense, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said his office investigated mail theft just within the last six or seven months.

    “We have investigated a theft of five, six hundred pieces of mail that were attributed to a group out of Central Florida,” Staly said.

    As far as what that group was doing with the mail they stole, Staly said, “They were stealing checks, they were washing the checks, and then adding a different amount and a different person payable.”

    If your mail gets stolen, the sheriff encourages you to tell your post office and local law enforcement.

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  • Co-conspirator of suspended Osceola County sheriff pleads guilty to money laundering

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    Co-conspirator of suspended Osceola County sheriff pleads guilty to money laundering

    WESH TWO NEWS ON CW STARTS NOW. FIRST TONIGHT, TWO MORE CO-DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE AGAINST SUSPENDED OSCEOLA SHERIFF MARCOS LOPEZ TOOK PLEA DEALS. TODAY. I’M JESSE PAGAN AND I’M MICHELLE IMPERATO LOPEZ’S ESTRANGED WIFE. AND ANOTHER CODEFENDANT. CHRISTINA DURAN. AN ALLEGED ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATION. THEY BOTH PLED GUILTY. WESH TWO HAYLEY CROMBLEHOLME IS LIVE AT THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL. HAYLEY. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THEM? SO AT THIS POINT, ANY SENTENCE COULD BE FACING THAT’S YET TO BE DETERMINED. THAT’S GOING TO BE UP TO THE COURT TO DECIDE. BUT FOR ROBIN LOPEZ, AFTER SHE WAS RELEASED FROM THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL HERE THIS AFTERNOON, IT APPEARS SHE’LL BE AVOIDING PRISON TIME AND AVOIDING A FELONY CONVICTION. NOW THIS ALL COMES. THESE PLEA DEALS JUST DAYS AFTER COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE THAT DIOR WAS PREPARED TO TESTIFY THAT HE GAVE CASH IN AN ENVELOPE TO ROBIN LOPEZ FROM THAT GAMBLING OPERATION TO GIVE TO MARCOS. IN THIS VIDEO FROM BACK IN JULY, ROBIN LOPEZ WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT RACKETEERING CHARGE. WHAT IS THIS FOR? IT’S A WARRANT OUT OF LAKE COUNTY. SHE WAS ARRESTED AGAIN IN OCTOBER FOR PROVIDING FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION OR OMITTING MATERIAL INFORMATION ON HER BOND APPLICATION, BUT MONDAY AFTERNOON, SHE LEFT THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL ONCE AGAIN AND BASED ON HER PLEA DEAL, IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKELY SHE’LL RETURN. THE AGREEMENT SAID LOPEZ IS CHANGING HER PLEA TO GUILTY ON A REDUCED CHARGE OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND PLEADING GUILTY TO THE CHARGE RELATED TO HER BAIL APPLICATION. IT SAYS SHE WILL FACE A MINIMUM OF 24 MONTHS PROBATION, BUT HER ADJUDICATION WILL BE WITHHELD. HER ATTORNEY, MICHELLE YARD, SAID IN A STATEMENT TODAY. ROBIN LOPEZ MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO ENTER A PLEA IN HER CASES. THIS PLEA ALLOWS HER TO IMMEDIATELY RETURN HOME TO HER FAMILY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH HER LIFE. IMPORTANTLY, THE COURT HAS WITHHELD ADJUDICATION, MEANING THAT SHE HAS NOT BEEN FORMALLY CONVICTED AND WILL NOT CARRY THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF A FELONY CONVICTION. THIS DIFFICULT DECISION WAS MADE WITH CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HER FUTURE. WE SPOKE WITH CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY RAJAN JOSHI ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LINE IF ROBIN LOPEZ WAS CONVICTED. BEING A CONVICTED FELON WOULD HAVE BEEN LIFE CHANGING FOR HER, HE SAID. THAT KIND OF CONVICTION CAN IMPACT WHERE YOU CAN RENT AN APARTMENT, WHAT WEAPONS YOU CAN HAVE. AND IN SOME CASES, IF YOU CAN VOTE. ROBIN LOPEZ WASN’T THE ONLY CODEFENDANT TO STRIKE A DEAL MONDAY. KRISHNA DAREN, WHO INVESTIGATORS HAVE DESCRIBED AS AT THE HELM OF THE OPERATION, PLED GUILTY TO A MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGE, WITH THE AGREEMENT SAYING THE TIME HE WILL SERVE IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT. IT COULD MEAN A MAXIMUM OF FIVE YEARS IN PRISON. WITH THE PLEA DEALS REACHED MONDAY, MARCOS LOPEZ REMAINS THE ONLY CODEFENDANT ARRESTED TO NOT STRIKE A DEAL. WE ASKED JOSHI WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR HIS CASE. THAT’S NOT GOOD FOR SHERIFF LOPEZ BECAUSE HE’S THE LAST MAN STANDING, AND THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO’S GOING TO TAKE THE FALL FOR ALL THIS. EVERYONE ELSE CUT A DEAL, AND A LOT OF THE CO-DEFENDANTS ARE GOING TO BE TESTIFYING AGAINST HIM. NOW, WE DO EXPECT TO BE TESTIFYING IN THE CASE AGAINST MARCOS LOPEZ. AND ROBIN LOPEZ’S ATTORNEY SAYS HER CLIENT PROVIDED A SWORN STATEMENT TO PROSECUTORS TOD

    Co-conspirator of suspended Osceola County sheriff pleads guilty to money laundering

    Updated: 11:04 PM EST Nov 24, 2025

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    A co-conspirator of suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has pleaded guilty to money laundering, according to court records.Krishna Deokaran’s guilty plea came on the same day as the estranged wife of the former sheriff, Robin Severance-Lopez, pleaded guilty to money laundering Monday. While Deokaran never faced any racketeering charges, investigators described him as standing “at the helm of the operation, overseeing its financial and logistical framework.”Unlike Severance-Lopez, Deokaran is being adjudicated guilty by the court. Deokaran could face up to five years in prison, according to court records. His sentence is to be decided at a later date. Marcos Lopez is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments from Deokaran in exchange for protecting the casino, the Eclipse Social Club Casino, where the illegal gambling ring was based in Kissimmee.Deokaran is expected to testify at the eventual trial for the former sheriff, but the date has not yet been set. >> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.

    LAKE COUNTY, Fla. —

    A co-conspirator of suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has pleaded guilty to money laundering, according to court records.

    Krishna Deokaran’s guilty plea came on the same day as the estranged wife of the former sheriff, Robin Severance-Lopez, pleaded guilty to money laundering Monday.

    While Deokaran never faced any racketeering charges, investigators described him as standing “at the helm of the operation, overseeing its financial and logistical framework.”

    Unlike Severance-Lopez, Deokaran is being adjudicated guilty by the court.

    Deokaran could face up to five years in prison, according to court records. His sentence is to be decided at a later date.

    Marcos Lopez is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments from Deokaran in exchange for protecting the casino, the Eclipse Social Club Casino, where the illegal gambling ring was based in Kissimmee.

    Deokaran is expected to testify at the eventual trial for the former sheriff, but the date has not yet been set.

    >> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.

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  • Two UAB football players stabbed on campus, another player in custody

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    Two University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) football players are recovering after being stabbed by another player on campus Saturday morning.It happened shortly after 10 a.m. at the Football Operations Center.Two people were stabbed, according to Birmingham Fire and Rescue, which responded to the scene. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.Both victims were taken to UAB Hospital for treatment.UAB issued the following statement: “We’re grateful to report that two players injured in an incident this morning at the Football Operations Building are in stable condition. Our thoughts are with them and their families as they recover. The suspect – another player – remains in custody, and an investigation is taking place. The team elected to play today’s game. UAB’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of all of our students. Given patient privacy and the ongoing investigation, we have no further comment at this time.”The team elected to play the afternoon game at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, where 29 players were being honored on Senior Day.UAB player Daniel Israel Mincey was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Saturday afternoon on charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder. It has not been confirmed if his arrest is connected to the stabbings.UAB Police and Public Safety are handling the investigation.This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. ____The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

    Two University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) football players are recovering after being stabbed by another player on campus Saturday morning.

    It happened shortly after 10 a.m. at the Football Operations Center.

    Two people were stabbed, according to Birmingham Fire and Rescue, which responded to the scene. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

    Both victims were taken to UAB Hospital for treatment.

    UAB issued the following statement:

    “We’re grateful to report that two players injured in an incident this morning at the Football Operations Building are in stable condition. Our thoughts are with them and their families as they recover. The suspect – another player – remains in custody, and an investigation is taking place. The team elected to play today’s game. UAB’s top priority remains the safety and well-being of all of our students. Given patient privacy and the ongoing investigation, we have no further comment at this time.”

    The team elected to play the afternoon game at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, where 29 players were being honored on Senior Day.

    UAB player Daniel Israel Mincey was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Saturday afternoon on charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder. It has not been confirmed if his arrest is connected to the stabbings.

    UAB Police and Public Safety are handling the investigation.

    This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

    ____

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • FBI thwarts ‘potential terrorist attack’ in Michigan

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    FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday the bureau had thwarted a “potential terrorist attack.”In a social media post, Patel said, “multiple subjects” were arrested by the FBI in Michigan Friday morning. Those subjects were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend, according to Patel. The director said more details were expected to come later.The FBI’s Detroit field office confirmed “the FBI in Michigan were present in the cities of Dearborn and Inkster this morning conducting law enforcement activities,” spokesperson Jordan Hall told CNN. “There is no current threat to public safety.”The Dearborn Police Department said it “has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the City of Dearborn earlier this morning.”“We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time,” the police department said.Neither the FBI nor the Dearborn police said that the operations were connected to the arrests Patel announced Friday morning.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

    FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday the bureau had thwarted a “potential terrorist attack.”

    In a social media post, Patel said, “multiple subjects” were arrested by the FBI in Michigan Friday morning. Those subjects were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend, according to Patel.

    The director said more details were expected to come later.

    The FBI’s Detroit field office confirmed “the FBI in Michigan were present in the cities of Dearborn and Inkster this morning conducting law enforcement activities,” spokesperson Jordan Hall told CNN. “There is no current threat to public safety.”

    The Dearborn Police Department said it “has been made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the City of Dearborn earlier this morning.”

    “We want to assure our residents that there is no threat to the community at this time,” the police department said.

    Neither the FBI nor the Dearborn police said that the operations were connected to the arrests Patel announced Friday morning.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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  • Paranormal tales haunt Santa Fe National Forest’s Holy Ghost Campground

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    IN THE COUNTRY. THERE’S A PRIEST THAT IS IN THE WOODS THERE IN THE TREES. THERE’S ALSO SOME MORE RECENT STORIES ABOUT SOME REAL TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS THAT WERE UP THERE THAT THE SPIRITS ARE HANGING. WOW. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT. AND YOU’RE NOT SCARING ME AT ALL. ISOLATED, DEEP IN SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST. A PLACE CALLED HOLY GHOST IS FILLED WITH STORIES PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATIONS, MAKING SOME PEOPLE UNEASY WHEN THEY ARRIVE. THERE’S TWO STORIES. ONE IS THAT HE HAD KILLED THE PUEBLO INDIANS, AND THE OTHER ONE IS THAT THEY KILLED HIM BECAUSE THEY WERE REBELLING AGAINST ANY COLONISTS THAT WERE COMING IN. ED AND SARAH SLATER FROM DUKE CITY PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY HAVE LOOKED INTO THE STORIES FOR SOME TIME. THE TALES DATE BACK TO THE 17TH CENTURY OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST WHO HAUNTS THESE CAMPGROUNDS TODAY. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT SOMETHING UNEXPLAINED. MY NEIGHBOR OVER HERE, SHE HAD A FRIEND THAT CAME, AND IN TWO DAYS SHE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE SHE JUST COULDN’T STAND IT. SHE SAID. THERE WERE TOO MANY SPIRITS AROUND OR WHATEVER. THIS PLANET IS VERY, VERY OLD AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF FOOTPRINTS LEFT ON IT. AND IF YOU WANT TO BRAVE A NIGHT HERE, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO GO IN WITH AN OPEN MIND. AT HOLY GHOST CAMPGROUND, RON BURKE KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. RON. THANK YOU. THE HOLY COAST CAMPGROUND IS ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH OF PECOS. DUKE CITY PARANORMAL SAYS IF YOU PLAN TO GIVE GHOST HUNTING A SHOT. HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND P

    Paranormal tales haunt Holy Ghost Campground in New Mexico

    Updated: 5:28 PM PDT Oct 29, 2025

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    Isolated deep in the Santa Fe National Forest, the Holy Ghost Campground is known for its unsettling tales passed down through generations, making some visitors uneasy upon arrival.Ed and Sara Slather from the Duke City Paranormal Research Society have investigated the stories surrounding the campground, which date back to the 17th century. The tales include a Catholic priest who is said to haunt the area.”There’s a priest. That is in the woods there in the trees,” one person said.Another added, “There’s also some more recent stories about some real terrible accidents that were up there that the spirits are hanging.”The stories include two versions: one where the priest killed Pueblos, and another where the Pueblos killed him in rebellion against colonists. Residents in the area have reported feeling something unexplainable.”My neighbor over here told me. She had a friend stay that came, and within two days, she had to leave because she couldn’t stand it. She said there was too many spirits around or whatever,” one local said.The campground, located outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and about 15 miles north of the village of Pecos, is known for its mysterious atmosphere.”This planet is very, very old, and there’s been a lot of footprints left on it,” one person noted. For those daring enough to spend a night at Holy Ghost, it’s advised to approach with an open mind.”You kind of have to go in with an open mind,” one visitor said.Duke City Paranormal suggests that those interested in ghost hunting at the campground should prepare themselves, as they might not always see something.

    TERERRO, N.M. —

    Isolated deep in the Santa Fe National Forest, the Holy Ghost Campground is known for its unsettling tales passed down through generations, making some visitors uneasy upon arrival.

    Ed and Sara Slather from the Duke City Paranormal Research Society have investigated the stories surrounding the campground, which date back to the 17th century. The tales include a Catholic priest who is said to haunt the area.

    “There’s a priest. That is in the woods there in the trees,” one person said.

    Another added, “There’s also some more recent stories about some real terrible accidents that were up there that the spirits are hanging.”

    The stories include two versions: one where the priest killed Pueblos, and another where the Pueblos killed him in rebellion against colonists. Residents in the area have reported feeling something unexplainable.

    “My neighbor over here told me. She had a friend stay that came, and within two days, she had to leave because she couldn’t stand it. She said there was too many spirits around or whatever,” one local said.

    The campground, located outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and about 15 miles north of the village of Pecos, is known for its mysterious atmosphere.

    “This planet is very, very old, and there’s been a lot of footprints left on it,” one person noted. For those daring enough to spend a night at Holy Ghost, it’s advised to approach with an open mind.

    “You kind of have to go in with an open mind,” one visitor said.

    Duke City Paranormal suggests that those interested in ghost hunting at the campground should prepare themselves, as they might not always see something.

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  • Pedestrian struck, killed in Ocala hit-and-run, police say

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    The Ocala Police Department said someone was struck and killed in a hit-and-run incident early Friday morning.Police say the person, who remains unidentified at this time, was struck on Northwest Blitchton Road just east of I-75 and west of Northwest 35th Avenue Road.The lanes from the off-ramp of I-75 to eastbound Blitchton is blocked as police investigate. This story is developing. Check back later for updates.

    OCALA, Fla. —

    The Ocala Police Department said someone was struck and killed in a hit-and-run incident early Friday morning.

    Police say the person, who remains unidentified at this time, was struck on Northwest Blitchton Road just east of I-75 and west of Northwest 35th Avenue Road.

    The lanes from the off-ramp of I-75 to eastbound Blitchton is blocked as police investigate.

    This story is developing. Check back later for updates.

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  • Elk Grove crash leaves 1 person dead

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    Elk Grove crash leaves 1 person dead

    Elk Grove Boulevard between Shorelake Drive and Waterfowl Drive is closed in both directions

    Updated: 10:21 PM PDT Oct 19, 2025

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    A person is dead after a solo vehicle crash in Elk Grove, Elk Grove police said.Elk Grove Boulevard between Shorelake Drive and Waterfowl Drive is closed in both directions, police said. It is unclear what led up to the fatal crash, or how long the roads will be closed.This is a developing story. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.If this story happened near you or someone you know, share this article with friends in your area using the KCRA mobile app so they know what is happening near them. The KCRA app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.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

    ELK GROVE, Calif. —

    A person is dead after a solo vehicle crash in Elk Grove, Elk Grove police said.

    Elk Grove Boulevard between Shorelake Drive and Waterfowl Drive is closed in both directions, police said.

    It is unclear what led up to the fatal crash, or how long the roads will be closed.

    This is a developing story.

    See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.

    If this story happened near you or someone you know, share this article with friends in your area using the KCRA mobile app so they know what is happening near them. The KCRA app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.

    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

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  • Plenty of schools have no-zeroes policies. And most teachers hate it, a new survey finds

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    This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

    About one in four teachers say their schools don’t give students zeroes. And nearly all of them hate it.

    The collection of practices known as equitable grading, which includes not giving students zeroes, not taking off points for lateness, and letting students retake tests, has spread in the aftermath of the pandemic. But it wasn’t known how widespread the practices were.

    A new nationally representative survey released Wednesday finds equitable grading practices are fairly common, though nowhere near universal. More than half of K-12 teachers said their school or district used at least one equitable grading practice.

    The most common practice — and the one that drew the most heated opposition in the fall 2024 survey — is not giving students zeroes for missing assignments or failed tests. Just over a quarter of teachers said their school or district has a no-zeroes policy.

    Around 3 in 10 teachers said their school or district allowed students to retake tests without penalty, and a similar share said they did not deduct points when students turned in work late. About 1 in 10 teachers said they were not permitted to factor class participation or homework into students’ final grades.

    Only 6% of teachers said their school used four or more equitable grading practices.

    That was surprising to Adam Tyner, who co-authored the new report for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative think tank, in partnership with the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization. He expected more schools would be following a “whole package” of grading reforms supported by advocates like former teacher and education consultant Joe Feldman, who wrote the influential book “Grading for Equity.”

    “It’s not like this has swept the country,” said Tyner, who has studied grading practices. He argues that some policies meant to create equity lead to grade inflation and don’t benefit students.

    The findings come as many schools are rethinking what students should have to do to get a high school diploma, and how much emphasis should be put on grades. At the same time, many schools continue to struggle with student disengagement and historically high rates of absenteeism following the pandemic. As a result, they’re trying to hold students accountable for their work without making it impossible to catch up on missed assignments.

    Though ideas about how to grade students more fairly predate the pandemic, several large districts started rethinking their grading practices following that disruption, as more students struggled to meet strict deadlines or do their homework.

    Proponents of equitable grading say it’s important for students to be able to show what they know over time, and that just a few zeroes averaged into a grade can make it difficult for students to ever catch up. When students don’t see a path to passing a class, it can make them less motivated or stop trying altogether.

    Still, some teachers have pushed back, arguing that no-zeroes policies can hurt student motivation, too.

    That showed up in the recent survey.

    Eight in 10 teachers said giving students partial credit for assignments they didn’t turn in was harmful to student engagement. Opposition to no-zeroes policies came from teachers of various racial backgrounds, experience levels, and who worked with different demographics of students.

    No-zeroes policies can take various forms but often mean that the lowest possible grade is a 50 on a 100-point scale. Some schools use software that will automatically convert lower grades to a 50, one teacher wrote on the survey.

    Schools that enrolled mostly students of color were more likely to have no-zeroes policies, the survey found. And middle schools were more likely than high schools and elementary schools to have no-zeroes policies, no-late-penalty policies, and retake policies.

    Researchers weren’t sure why those policies popped up more in middle schools.

    But Katherine Holden, a former middle school principal in Oregon’s Ashland School District who trains school districts on equitable grading practices, has some guesses.

    High schools may be more worried that changing their grading practices will make it harder for students to get into college, Holden said — a misconception in her eyes. And districts may see middle schoolers as especially likely to benefit from things like clear grading rubrics and multiple chances to show what they know, as they are still developing their organization and time-management skills.

    In the open-ended section of the survey, several teachers expressed concerns that no-zeroes policies were unfair and contributed to low student motivation.

    “Students are now doing below-average work or no work at all and are walking out with a C or B,” one teacher told researchers.

    “Most teachers can’t stand the ‘gifty fifty,’” said another.

    More than half of teachers said letting students turn in work late without any penalty was harmful to student engagement.

    “[The policy] removes the incentive for students to ever turn work in on time, and then it becomes difficult to pass back graded work because of cheating,” one teacher said.

    But teachers were more evenly divided on whether allowing students to retake tests was harmful or not.

    “Allowing retakes without penalty encourages a growth mindset, but it also promotes avoidance and procrastination,” one teacher said.

    Another said teachers end up grading almost every assignment more than once because students have no reason to give their best effort the first time.

    The report’s authors recommend getting rid of blanket policies in favor of letting individual teachers make those calls. Research has shown that other grading reforms, such as grading written assignments anonymously or using grading rubrics, can reduce bias.

    Still, teachers don’t agree on the best approach to grading. In the survey, 58% of teachers said it was more important to have clear schoolwide policies to ensure fair student grading — though the question didn’t indicate what that policy should look like — while the rest preferred using their professional judgment.

    “There are ways to combat bias, there are ways to make grading more fair, and we’re not against any of that,” Tyner said. “What we’re really concerned about is when we’re lowering standards, or lowering expectations. … Accountability is always a balancing act.”

    Nicole Paxton, the principal of Mountain Vista Community School, a K-8 school in Colorado’s Harrison School District 2, has seen that balancing act in action.

    Her district adopted a policy a few years ago that requires teachers to grade students on a 50-100 scale. Students get at least a 50% if they turn in work, but they get a “missing” grade if they don’t do the assignment. Middle and high schoolers are allowed to make up missing or incomplete assignments. But it has to be done within the same quarter, and teachers can deduct up to 10% for late assignments.

    Paxton thinks the policy was the right move for her district. She says she’s seen it motivate kids who are struggling to keep trying, when before they stopped doing their work because they didn’t think they could ever bounce back from a few zeroes.

    “As adults, in the real world, we get to show what we know and learn in our careers,” Paxton said. “And I think that kids are able to do that in our building, too.”

    Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

    For more news on classroom trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub.

    Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors (see all)

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  • FHP: 71-year-old killed in wrong-way, head-on crash in Astor

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    A 71-year-old man is dead, and another man was injured after a head-on crash in Astor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.FHP said the crash happened just after 8:30 on Wednesday night.Investigators said a 2002 Cadillac Escalade, driven by a 71-year-old man, was traveling westbound on SR-40 when it crossed over the centerline into the eastbound lane and started driving the wrong way. They said the Escalade then entered the direct path of an oncoming 2025 Freightliner semi-tractor-trailer.As a result, the two vehicles crashed head-on. The Freightliner, which was traveling eastbound, was being driven by a 49-year-old man with a 25-year-old male passenger onboard.The 71-year-old man driving the Escalade was pronounced dead at the scene.FHP said the semi-truck driver was not injured. The 25-year-old passenger in the semi-truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Drivers can use CR-445 as a detour.

    ASTOR, Fla. —

    A 71-year-old man is dead, and another man was injured after a head-on crash in Astor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

    FHP said the crash happened just after 8:30 on Wednesday night.

    Investigators said a 2002 Cadillac Escalade, driven by a 71-year-old man, was traveling westbound on SR-40 when it crossed over the centerline into the eastbound lane and started driving the wrong way.

    They said the Escalade then entered the direct path of an oncoming 2025 Freightliner semi-tractor-trailer.

    As a result, the two vehicles crashed head-on.

    The Freightliner, which was traveling eastbound, was being driven by a 49-year-old man with a 25-year-old male passenger onboard.

    The 71-year-old man driving the Escalade was pronounced dead at the scene.

    FHP said the semi-truck driver was not injured. The 25-year-old passenger in the semi-truck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

    Drivers can use CR-445 as a detour.

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  • 1 dead, 2 injured in shooting at Alcorn State

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    1 dead, 2 injured in shooting at Alcorn State University

    1 dead, 2 injured in Alcorn State University shooting; MBI investigating.

    Updated: 10:11 PM EDT Oct 11, 2025

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    The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate a shooting on the campus of Alcorn State University that left at least one person dead and two injured.According to MBI, the shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the Industrial Technology Building on campus. No arrests have been made at this time. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence, and MBI says details remain preliminary and could change as the investigation develops.

    The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate a shooting on the campus of Alcorn State University that left at least one person dead and two injured.

    According to MBI, the shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the Industrial Technology Building on campus.

    No arrests have been made at this time.

    Investigators are continuing to gather evidence, and MBI says details remain preliminary and could change as the investigation develops.

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  • Darth Vader balloon faces uncertain future as fans rally for its revival

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    BEING NEW BALLOONS TO ONE OF THE POPULAR SHAPES EVERY YEAR IS THAT DARTH VADER BALLOON. BUT THE FUTURE IS ACTUALLY UNCERTAIN, AS THAT BALLOON IS AT THE END OF ITS LIFESPAN. SO NOW THERE’S AN EFFORT TO KEEP THE TRADITION ALIVE. PEYTON SPELLACY JOINS US LIVE FROM THE PARK WITH MORE ON THIS STORY. HEY, PEYTON. HEY, GOOD MORNING TODD, I WANT TO SHOW YOU YODA IS BEING SET UP RIGHT NOW. NOW, HIS COUNTERPART, DARTH VADER, IS NOT SO LUCKY. LIKE YOU SAID, HIS FLYING DAYS ARE NUMBERED. BUT FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, HE’S BEEN LOOMING LARGE OVER BALLOON FIESTA PARK. HE’S A FAN FAVORITE FROM THE GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY. BUT THIS CREW SAYS HIS FLYING DAYS AREN’T OVER WITHOUT A FIGHT. THE BALLOON IS 19 YEARS OLD. IT’S REALLY A LONG TIME FOR A SHAPE, AND SO WE WE REALLY EXPECT WE CAN CONTINUE THE STORY. BENOIT LAMBERT HAS BEEN FLYING THE STAR WARS SPECIAL SHAPE SINCE 2007, AND SAYS FROM THE MOMENT HE SAW THEM, HE KNEW THE FORCE WAS STRONG WITH HIM. BUT TIME, EVEN FOR THE DARK SIDE, HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL. YOU CAN SEE IT START TO BE HARD BECAUSE THE FABRIC STARTS TO BE DEFLATED ON THE NECK, BUT IT’S PART OF THE PROCESS. DARTH VADER MAY BE GROUNDED, BUT HIS CREW ISN’T THROWING IN THE LIGHTSABER YET. THEY’RE FUNDRAISING TO REBUILD IT BECAUSE IT’S MORE THAN JUST A BALLOON. IT’S THE SHOW EVERYONE’S LOOKING FOR. WE HAVE 100 TROOPERS AROUND MY BALLOONS. DARK SIDE. IT’S THE KIDS THAT’S SEEING THE KIDS SEE ACTUAL CHARACTERS IN REAL LIFE. BUT IT’S NOT JUST FOR KIDS. FANS OF ALL AGES ARE DRAWN IN. COME ON, EVEN THE BIG KIDS COULD GET SOME BIG KIDS. I SAW THE STORMTROOPERS WITH THEIR LIGHTSABERS AND THEIR GUIDES AND I WAS LIKE, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THEM. KATRINA’S A FIRST TIMER AT FIESTA, BUT THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH HER. I EVEN HAVE A TATTOO RIGHT HERE WITH THE DEATH STAR IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SUNFLOWER. AS SOON AS I GET SOME TIME, I’M GOING TO GET ONLINE AND I’M GOING TO DONATE TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING MAGICAL THAT WE NEED TO SEE EVERY YEAR. THAT PASSION, GIVING THE CREW HOPE THAT ONE DAY SOON THE SITH LORD WILL RISE AGAIN. DO YOU THINK HE’LL MAKE A RETURN? I HOPE SO, YES. THAT’S MY PLAN. YES. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THESE CHARACTERS ALONGSIDE DARTH VADER, YOU CAN DONATE ONLINE. WE HAVE THAT LINK ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT FOR NOW, LOOKS LIKE DARTH VADER AND YODA WILL BE FLYING. MAYBE STATIC, MAYBE YODA WILL BE FLYING OVER HERE AT OUR ONE MARKER REPORTING LIVE

    Darth Vader balloon faces uncertain future as fans rally for its revival

    Updated: 1:17 AM EDT Oct 10, 2025

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    The Darth Vader balloon, a fan favorite at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for nearly two decades, faces an uncertain future as its fabric deteriorates, prompting efforts to keep the tradition alive.Beniot Lambert, who has been flying the “Star Wars” special shapes since 2007, said, “So the balloon is 19 years old. The fabric starts to behold. So we are planning a way to continue the story.”Lambert noted the toll time has taken on the balloon, saying, “You can see it start to behold because the fabric starts to be deflated on the neck. But it’s part of the process.”Despite the challenges, the crew is determined to rebuild the balloon, recognizing its significance beyond just being a balloon.Video below: ‘Star Wars’ opens in theaters”We have 100 troopers around my balloons,” Lambert said.The balloon’s appeal extends beyond children, drawing fans of all ages. One first-time attendee, Katrina Bustillos, shared her excitement, saying, “I saw the stormtroopers with their lightsabers and their guides, and I was like, we need to follow them.”Bustillos, who has a tattoo of the Death Star, expressed her commitment to the cause, saying, “As soon as I get some time, I’m going to get online and I’m going to donate to you guys, because I think this is something magical that we need to see every year.”The crew remains hopeful that the Sith Lord will rise again, with Lambert expressing his optimism, “Do you think he’ll make a return? I hope so. Yes, that’s my plan.”

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

    The Darth Vader balloon, a fan favorite at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for nearly two decades, faces an uncertain future as its fabric deteriorates, prompting efforts to keep the tradition alive.

    Beniot Lambert, who has been flying the “Star Wars” special shapes since 2007, said, “So the balloon is 19 years old. The fabric starts to behold. So we are planning a way to continue the story.”

    Lambert noted the toll time has taken on the balloon, saying, “You can see it start to behold because the fabric starts to be deflated on the neck. But it’s part of the process.”

    Despite the challenges, the crew is determined to rebuild the balloon, recognizing its significance beyond just being a balloon.

    Video below: ‘Star Wars’ opens in theaters

    “We have 100 troopers around my balloons,” Lambert said.

    The balloon’s appeal extends beyond children, drawing fans of all ages. One first-time attendee, Katrina Bustillos, shared her excitement, saying, “I saw the stormtroopers with their lightsabers and their guides, and I was like, we need to follow them.”

    Bustillos, who has a tattoo of the Death Star, expressed her commitment to the cause, saying, “As soon as I get some time, I’m going to get online and I’m going to donate to you guys, because I think this is something magical that we need to see every year.”

    The crew remains hopeful that the Sith Lord will rise again, with Lambert expressing his optimism, “Do you think he’ll make a return? I hope so. Yes, that’s my plan.”

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  • 3 injured in Sacramento shooting, police say

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    Three people were shot early Sunday morning in midtown Sacramento at The Lock & Key, officials said. Officers went to J Street near 27th Street around 12:45 a.m. for a report of a shooting, the Sacramento Police Department said. Upon arrival, three people were found with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. They were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.KCRA 3 spoke with a mother of one of the victims. She said her daughter was shot in the leg during her 28th birthday celebration inside the lounge. The mother explained that her daughter and son-in-law told her about a fight that broke out between two men inside the club.No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The investigation is still ongoing. KCRA 3 reached out to the Lock & Key for more information was unsuccessful.This story was curated by Hearst’s KCRA Alert Desk.See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.If this story happened near you or someone you know, share this article with friends in your area using the KCRA mobile app so they know what is happening near them. The KCRA app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.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

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Three people were shot early Sunday morning in midtown Sacramento at The Lock & Key, officials said.

    Officers went to J Street near 27th Street around 12:45 a.m. for a report of a shooting, the Sacramento Police Department said. Upon arrival, three people were found with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. They were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

    KCRA 3 spoke with a mother of one of the victims. She said her daughter was shot in the leg during her 28th birthday celebration inside the lounge.

    The mother explained that her daughter and son-in-law told her about a fight that broke out between two men inside the club.

    No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The investigation is still ongoing.

    KCRA 3 reached out to the Lock & Key for more information was unsuccessful.

    This story was curated by Hearst’s KCRA Alert Desk.

    See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.

    If this story happened near you or someone you know, share this article with friends in your area using the KCRA mobile app so they know what is happening near them. The KCRA app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.

    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

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  • ‘Fight or flight takes over’: Transportation employees save cardiac arrest victim’s life

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    A Vermont man is lucky to be alive after collapsing from cardiac arrest in August. This week, he finally got the chance to thank the people who saved him.Bob Fenoff, 67, was working on a wall in his office when he said he suddenly blacked out and collapsed. Fenoff’s office is connected to the garage, which he leases to the Vermont transportation agency, VTRANS. “I just lost consciousness and that was it. Ended up on the floor,” Fenoff said.Two VTRANS employees, Noah Royer and John McClure, immediately jumped into action. They dialed 911 and began performing CPR — skills they had learned through mandatory workplace training.“Even though it doesn’t train you for moments like that, it gives you the basics,” Royer said. “Fight or flight takes over from there.”First responders arrived minutes later. Paramedics used a defibrillator to restart Fenoff’s heart. He spent two weeks in a coma before waking up and is now expected to make a full recovery.“If it had not been for the brave and immediate actions of Noah Royer and John McClure, I do not think that Mr. Fenoff would be standing in front of us today,” Keith Feddersen, a paramedic with CALEX Ambulance, said.Fenoff and his wife, Kathy, say they can’t express enough gratitude for the lifesaving efforts.“I’d thank you a hundred times — can’t thank you enough,” Kathy said.First responders hope Fenoff’s story will inspire others to learn CPR and AED use.“Getting certified is vitally important,” Capt. Phil Hawthorne of the St. Johnsbury Fire Department said. “This case really proves it.”

    A Vermont man is lucky to be alive after collapsing from cardiac arrest in August. This week, he finally got the chance to thank the people who saved him.

    Bob Fenoff, 67, was working on a wall in his office when he said he suddenly blacked out and collapsed. Fenoff’s office is connected to the garage, which he leases to the Vermont transportation agency, VTRANS.

    “I just lost consciousness and that was it. Ended up on the floor,” Fenoff said.

    Two VTRANS employees, Noah Royer and John McClure, immediately jumped into action. They dialed 911 and began performing CPR — skills they had learned through mandatory workplace training.

    “Even though it doesn’t train you for moments like that, it gives you the basics,” Royer said. “Fight or flight takes over from there.”

    First responders arrived minutes later. Paramedics used a defibrillator to restart Fenoff’s heart. He spent two weeks in a coma before waking up and is now expected to make a full recovery.

    “If it had not been for the brave and immediate actions of Noah Royer and John McClure, I do not think that Mr. Fenoff would be standing in front of us today,” Keith Feddersen, a paramedic with CALEX Ambulance, said.

    Fenoff and his wife, Kathy, say they can’t express enough gratitude for the lifesaving efforts.

    “I’d thank you a hundred times — can’t thank you enough,” Kathy said.

    First responders hope Fenoff’s story will inspire others to learn CPR and AED use.

    “Getting certified is vitally important,” Capt. Phil Hawthorne of the St. Johnsbury Fire Department said. “This case really proves it.”

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  • Pedestrian dead after crash in midtown Sacramento, police say

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    Pedestrian dead after crash in midtown Sacramento, police say

    MAILED OUT BEFORE THAT WAS CAUGHT. A NEW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IN WEST SACRAMENTO IS PART OF THE CITY’S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT FOR GROWTH, EXPECTED TO COME IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AT SIX. I’M GULSTAN DART AND I’M EDIE LAMBERT. THIS IS NOT PART OF THE PROJECTS NEAR SUTTER HEALTH PARK. HERITAGE OAKS PARK IS IN SOUTHPORT AT LAKE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD AND VILLAGE PARKWAY. KCRA 3’S MICHELLE BANDUR SHOWS US HOW ONE RESTAURANT IS ALREADY SERVING CUSTOMERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT. EMILE’S CAFE SERVING UP LATTES FOR LUNCH, NOT WAITING FOR THE WORK OUTSIDE TO BE DONE. IT WAS JUST SITTING HERE VACANT AND WAS JUST KIND OF INSPIRING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT COULD BE, CO-OWNER JOSH THURSTON TAKING A CHANCE TO OPEN WHILE BULLDOZERS MOVED DIRT AND BUILD WEST. SACRAMENTO’S LATEST $7 MILLION PROJECT, EVEN ON A RAINY DAY. DO YOU HAVE THE. YOU CAN SEE THE VISION OF WHAT’S TO COME HERE? YEAH. THAT’S RIGHT, YOU CAN. WEST SACRAMENTO MAYOR MARTHA GUERRERO SAYS THIS IS A LONG AWAITED PROJECT. THE CITY BOUGHT HERITAGE OAKS PARK NINE YEARS AGO, AND NOW THEIR PLANS FOR A COMMUNITY DESTINATION COMING INTO PLAY AS THE AREA KEEPS GROWING, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF HOUSING AND GROWTH IN IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE TOWN. IT’S BEEN PLANNED FOR OVER A DECADE AND SO WE WILL HAVE ABOUT 6000 HOMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. THE NINE ACRES INCLUDES AN OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER, SPLASH PAD, BMX BIKE SKILLS COURSE AND SKATE PARK. ADA ADAPTABLE PLAYGROUND, FITNESS STATIONS, WALKING TRAILS ALL WHILE WORKING AROUND 160 TREES AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY. WE’VE WORKED WITH OUR OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IS THAT WE WANTED TO PRESERVE THE HERITAGE OF THIS PART OF OUR CITY WHERE THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAD ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES UP ALONG THE RIVERFRONT. SO THEN HE WROTE, FATHER PAUL BABA IS ALREADY AN AMY LU REGULAR. IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS, ENJOYING THE PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE. IT’S TIME TO BREAK THE GROUND AND PUT IN SOME NICE THINGS AND RESTAURANTS. AND LIKE THIS CAFE, MEALS AND OF COURSE PLACES TO WALK AND TO EXERCISE AND TO HAVE PEACE. EMIL’S WANTS TO BE THE ANCHOR FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE THINK THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS A SORT OF A GROUNDING CENTER. EMIL’S ACTUALLY OPENED ITS DOORS A FULL YEAR BEFORE THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE SUMMER OF 2026. REPORTING IN WEST SACRAMENTO, MICHELLE BANDUR KCRA THREE NEWS. AND $3 MILLION OF THAT PROJECT CAME FROM A FEDERAL GRANT. CHECKING BACK IN WITH OUR WEATHER RIGHT NOW, A LIVE LOOK ACROSS OUR AREA, WE’VE GOT RANCHO CORDOVA WEST SACRAMENTO, A SHOT FROM PINE HILL. AND YEAH, WE HAD A RAINY MORNING AND WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR MORE WET WEATHER TOMORROW. SO LET’S CHECK IN WITH OUR METEOROLOGIST DIRK VERDOORN. YEAH, WE’VE SEEN A SHIFT IN THE RAIN. WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD SOAKING RAIN THIS MORNING. AND THAT RAIN HAS STAYED PRETTY STEADY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WHILE THE VALLEYS DRIED OUT. NICE LOOK HERE FROM OUR RANCHO CORDOVA SKY CAMERA. SO LET’S LOOK AT JUST SOME UPDATED NUMBERS. FIRST WE HAD A HAD AN UPDATE FROM THE 3:00 HOUR. THE 5:00 HOUR. WE GOT SOME BIGGER NUMBERS HERE. BLUE CANYON GOT OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN AND THEY’RE STILL ADDING TO THOSE NUMBERS. AUBURN 7300 POLLOCK PINES ALSO NOW AT 1.36IN OVER AN INCH AND A THIRD. THEY’RE QUINCY, 55/100 OF AN INCH AND 20/900 IN SACRAMENTO. GOT OVER A QUARTER OF AN INCH IN SACRAMENTO. AND THIS WAS REALLY THE CORRIDOR WHERE WE SAW THE MAIN STREAM JUST CONTINUE TO FLOW THROUGH THE MORNING, DROPPING THOSE IMPRESSIVE AMOUNTS. NOW IT’S SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE EAST. WE’RE STILL GETTING SOME RAIN OVER LAKE TAHOE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE HEAVIEST RAIN A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF LAKE TAHOE THROUGH TUOLUMNE COUNTY, MARIPOSA COUNTY AND COUNTIES THAT ARE FARTHER SOUTH THAN THAT. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AS WE GO THROUGH THE NIGHT? TONIGHT? WE WILL SEE SOME CLEARING RIGHT NOW, BUT THEN THE CLOUDS WILL START COMING BACK AS WE GET CLOSER TO MIDNIGHT. AND THEN IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, THAT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE OUR BEST CHANCE FOR SOME MORE RAIN THAT’S GOING TO BE MOVING IN. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE A LOT, BUT THE CHANCE FOR RAIN COULD BE THERE FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE. WE’LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP. NOW BACK OVER TO YOU. DEREK. THANK YOU. THE CHP SAYS THE WET WEATHER CONTRIBUTED TO A DEADLY CRASH ON I-80. THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL GOT REPORTS OF THAT CRASH JUST AFTER NOON TODAY. THIS WAS AT THE HIGHWAY 174 OFFRAMP NEAR COLFAX. OFFICERS SAY THAT CAR SPUN OUT AND SPEED COMBINED WITH THE WET ASPHALT MAY HAVE BEEN FACTORS. OFFICERS SAY A YOUNG PERSON WAS KILLED AND THREE OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY HURT. NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. THE NAME AND AGE OF THE PERSON KILLED HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. THE MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING INTO THE LOBBY OF A SACRAMENTO TV STATION HAS BEEN INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES. 64 YEAR OLD. ANIBAL HERNANDEZ SANTANA IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AT THE LOCAL ABC AFFILIATE. LAST MONTH, A GRAND JURY HANDED UP THE INDICTMENT ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AND FIRING A GUN IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND INTERFERING WITH THE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS STATION. HERNANDEZ SANTANA IS SCHEDULED TO BE BACK IN COURT NEXT MONDAY. THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A STOCKTON WOMAN AND HIDING HER BODY IN AN ATTIC FACED A JUDGE FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. 41 YEAR-OLD DOUGLAS SHAW WAS ARRESTED ON TUESDAY AT SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM, WHERE HE WORKED. HE IS ACCUSED OF KILLING 28 YEAR-OLD LEWIS. HER FAMILY TRACKED HER PHONE TO A HOME IN VALLEJO AFTER THEY STOPPED HEARING FROM HER, AND THAT’S WHERE POLICE FOUND HER BODY. DOZENS OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS FILLED THE COURTROOM TODAY TO CALL FOR JUSTICE. AT THIS POINT, OUR FAMILY IS UNDER GRIEVANCE. WE ARE JUST WE ARE DEVASTATED AT THIS TIME AND WE JUST ASK THE PUBLIC. WE ASK EVERY PERSON TO PLEASE KEEP OUR FAMILY IN PRAYER. SHAW IS BEING HEL

    Pedestrian dead after crash in midtown Sacramento, police say

    Updated: 8:24 PM PDT Oct 2, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    A woman is dead after being hit by a vehicle Thursday evening in midtown Sacramento. According to the Sacramento Police Department, the crash happened around 6:30 p.m. along 29th Street. Officials say the woman was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, where she later died.Police have closed 29th Street at K Street and travelers are advised to take alternate routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more information. See our live traffic map for updates.Click the video player above to watch other evening headlines from KCRA News 3This story was curated by Hearst’s KCRA Alert Desk.See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.If this story happened near you or someone you know, share this article with friends in your area using the KCRA mobile app so they know what is happening near them. The KCRA app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.See more coverage of top California stories here | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A woman is dead after being hit by a vehicle Thursday evening in midtown Sacramento.

    According to the Sacramento Police Department, the crash happened around 6:30 p.m. along 29th Street.

    Officials say the woman was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, where she later died.

    Police have closed 29th Street at K Street and travelers are advised to take alternate routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more information.

    See our live traffic map for updates.

    Click the video player above to watch other evening headlines from KCRA News 3

    This story was curated by Hearst’s KCRA Alert Desk.

    See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.

    If this story happened near you or someone you know, share this article with friends in your area using the KCRA mobile app so they know what is happening near them. The KCRA app is available for free in Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • I asked students why they go to school–this answer changed how I design campuses

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    This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

    At first, the question seemed simple: “Why do we go to school?”

    I had asked it many times before, in many different districts. I’m a planner and designer specializing in K-12 school projects, and as part of a community-driven design process, we invite students to dream with us and help shape the spaces where they’ll learn, grow, and make sense of the world.

    In February of 2023, I was leading a visioning workshop with a group of middle schoolers in Southern California. Their energy was vibrant, their curiosity sharp. We began with a simple activity: Students answered a series of prompts, each one building on the last.

    “We go to school because …”

    “We need to learn because …”

    “We want to be successful because …”

    As the conversation deepened, so did their responses. One student wrote, “We want to get further in life.” Another added, “We need to help our families.” And then came the line that stopped me in my tracks: “We go to school because we want future generations to look up to us.”

    I’ve worked with a lot of middle schoolers. They’re funny, unfiltered, and often far more insightful than adults give them credit for. But this answer felt different. It wasn’t about homework, or college, or even a dream job. It was about legacy. At that moment, I realized I wasn’t just asking kids to talk about school. I was asking them to articulate their hopes for the world and their role in shaping it.

    As a designer, I came prepared to talk about flexible furniture, natural light, and outdoor learning spaces. The students approached the conversation through the lens of purpose, identity, and intergenerational impact. They reminded me that school isn’t just a place to pass through — it’s a place to imagine who you might become and how you might leave the world better than you found it.

    I’ve now led dozens of school visioning sessions, no two being alike. In most cases, adults are the ones at the table: district leaders, architects, engineers, and community members. Their perspectives are important, of course. But when we exclude students from shaping the environments they spend most days in, we send an implicit message that this place is not really theirs to shape.

    However, when we do invite them in, the difference is immediate. Students are not only willing participants, they’re often the most honest and imaginative contributors in the room. They see past the buzzwords like 21st-century learning, flexible furniture, student-centered design, and collaborative zones, and talk about what actually matters: where they feel safe, where they feel seen, where they can be themselves.

    During that workshop when the student spoke about legacy, other young participants asked for more flexible learning spaces, places to move around and collaborate, better food, outdoor classrooms, and quiet areas for mental health breaks. One asked for sign language classes to better communicate with her hard-of-hearing best friend. Another asked for furniture that can move from inside to outside. These aren’t requests that tend to show up on state-issued planning checklists, which are more likely to focus on square footage, capacity, and code compliance, but they reflect an extraordinary level of thought about access, well-being, and inclusion.

    The lesson: When we take students seriously, we get more than better design. We get better schools.

    There’s a popular saying in architecture: Form follows function. But in school design, I’d argue that form should follow voice. If we want to build learning environments that support joy, connection, and growth, we need to start by asking students what those things look and feel like to them — and then believe them.

    Listening isn’t a checkbox. It’s a practice. And it has to start early, not once construction drawings are finalized, but when goals and priorities are still being devised. That’s when student input can shift the direction of a plan, not just decorate it.

    It’s also not just about asking the right questions, but being open to answers we didn’t expect. When a student says, “Why do the adults always get the rooms with windows?” — as one did in another workshop I led — that’s not a complaint. That’s a lesson in power dynamics, spatial equity, and the unspoken messages our buildings send.

    Since that day, about a year and a half ago, when I heard, “We want future generations to look up to us,” I’ve carried that line with me into every planning session. It’s a reminder that students aren’t just users of school space. They’re stewards of something bigger than themselves.

    So if you’re a school leader, a planner, a teacher, or a policymaker, invite students in early. Make space for their voices, not just as a formality but as a source of wisdom. Ask questions that go beyond what color the walls should be. And don’t be surprised when the answers you get are deeper than you imagined. Be willing to let their vision shift yours.

    Because when we design with students, not just for them, we create schools that don’t just house learning. We create schools that help define what learning is for. And if we do it right, maybe one day, future generations will look up to today’s students not just because of what they learned, but because of the spaces they helped shape.

    Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

    For more news on district and school management, visit eSN’s Educational Leadership hub.

    Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors (see all)

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    Enrico Giori, Chalkbeat

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  • Eastbound I-4 reopens after crash near convention center in Orange County

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    One eastbound lane of Interstate 4 has reopened after the highway was shut down near mile marker 72 on Monday afternoon after multiple crashes with injuries, Florida Highway Patrol said. Five people were transported to area hospitals, FHP said. One of the vehicles involved is a semi that overturned. Eastbound traffic had been detoured onto International Drive before getting back on I-4 eastbound from Sand Lake Road.Traffic is still moving very slowly in the area as the other lanes of eastbound I-4 where the crash occurred are still shut down as of 6 p.m.>> This is a developing story and will be updated

    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —

    One eastbound lane of Interstate 4 has reopened after the highway was shut down near mile marker 72 on Monday afternoon after multiple crashes with injuries, Florida Highway Patrol said.

    Five people were transported to area hospitals, FHP said.

    One of the vehicles involved is a semi that overturned.

    Eastbound traffic had been detoured onto International Drive before getting back on I-4 eastbound from Sand Lake Road.

    Traffic is still moving very slowly in the area as the other lanes of eastbound I-4 where the crash occurred are still shut down as of 6 p.m.

    >> This is a developing story and will be updated

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  • NAEP scores for class of 2024 show major declines, with fewer students college ready

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    This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

    Students from the class of 2024 had historically low scores on a major national test administered just months before they graduated.

    Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, released September 9, show scores for 12th graders declined in math and reading for all but the highest performing students, as well as widening gaps between high and low performers in math. More than half of these students reported being accepted into a four-year college, but the test results indicate that many of them are not academically prepared for college, officials said.

    “This means these students are taking their next steps in life with fewer skills and less knowledge in core academics than their predecessors a decade ago, and this is happening at a time when rapid advancements in technology and society demand more of future workers and citizens, not less,” said Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board. “We have seen progress before on NAEP, including greater percentages of students meeting the NAEP proficient level. We cannot lose sight of what is possible when we use valuable data like NAEP to drive change and improve learning in U.S. schools.”

    These results reflect similar trends seen in fourth and eighth grade NAEP results released in January, as well as eighth grade science results also released Tuesday.

    In a statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the results show that federal involvement has not improved education, and that states should take more control.

    “If America is going to remain globally competitive, students must be able to read proficiently, think critically, and graduate equipped to solve complex problems,” she said. “We owe it to them to do better.”

    The students who took this test were in eighth grade in March of 2020 and experienced a highly disrupted freshman year of high school because of the pandemic. Those who went to college would now be entering their sophomore year.

    Roughly 19,300 students took the math test and 24,300 students took the reading test between January and March of 2024.

    The math test measures students’ knowledge in four areas: number properties and operations; measurement and geometry; data analysis, statistics, and probability; and algebra. The average score was the lowest it has been since 2005, and 45% of students scored below the NAEP Basic level, even as fewer students scored at NAEP Proficient or above.

    NAEP Proficient typically represents a higher bar than grade-level proficiency as measured on state- and district-level standardized tests. A student scoring in the proficient range might be able to pick the correct algebraic formula for a particular scenario or solve a two-dimensional geometric problem. A student scoring at the basic level likely would be able to determine probability from a simple table or find the population of an area when given the population density.

    Only students in the 90th percentile — the highest achieving students — didn’t see a decline, and the gap between high- and low-performing students in math was higher than on all previous assessments.

    This gap between high and low performers appeared before the pandemic, but has widened in most grade levels and subject areas since. The causes are not entirely clear but might reflect changes in how schools approach teaching as well as challenges outside the classroom.

    Testing officials estimate that 33% of students from the class of 2024 were ready for college-level math, down from 37% in 2019, even as more students said they intended to go to college.

    In reading, students similarly posted lower average scores than on any previous assessment, with only the highest performing students not seeing a decline.

    The reading test measures students’ comprehension of both literary and informational texts and requires students to interpret texts and demonstrate critical thinking skills, as well as understand the plain meaning of the words.

    A student scoring at the basic level likely would understand the purpose of a persuasive essay, for example, or the reaction of a potential audience, while a students scoring at the proficient level would be able to describe why the author made certain rhetorical choices.

    Roughly 32% of students scored below NAEP Basic, 12 percentage points higher than students in 1992, while fewer students scored above NAEP Proficient. An estimated 35% of students were ready for college-level work, down from 37% in 2019.

    In a survey attached to the test, students in 2024 were more likely to report having missed three or more days of school in the previous month than their counterparts in 2019. Students who miss more school typically score lower on NAEP and other tests. Higher performing students were more likely to say they missed no days of school in the previous month.

    Students in 2024 were less likely to report taking pre-calculus, though the rates of students taking both calculus and algebra II were similar in 2019 and 2024. Students reported less confidence in their math abilities than their 2019 counterparts, though students in 2024 were actually less likely to say they didn’t enjoy math.

    Students also reported lower confidence in their reading abilities. At the same time, higher percentages of students than in 2024 reported that their teachers asked them to do more sophisticated tasks, such as identifying evidence in a piece of persuasive writing, and fewer students reported a low interest in reading.

    Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

    For more news on national assessments, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub.

    Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors (see all)

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    Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat

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  • 2 injured in Osceola County road rage shooting, sheriff’s office investigating

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    Two people were injured following a road rage shooting in Poinciana on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting occurred sometime after 4 p.m. near the area of Cypress Parkway and Marigold Avenue, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office told WESH 2. The sheriff’s office said the shooting occurred after Jose Gabriel Astacio, 30, got out of his 2016 Mercedes GLE and exchanged words with the victims.Soon after the victims attempted to leave the intersection, Astacio fired three shots into the passenger side of the Ford Expedition, hitting the front-right passenger, a 41-year-old male, in the face. At the same time, the driver suffered injuries after being grazed by a bullet.The driver of the Expedition that was shot at then drove to the nearby HCA Poinciana Hospital, where the passenger was later airlifted to Osceola Regional. “This is an ongoing problem not only here in Osceola County but in Central Florida, road rage,” said Kim Montes of the Osceola County sheriff’s office. “You cannot let your emotions take over driving. We cannot take things personally when you’re driving and somebody cuts you off, whether it’s intentional or unintentional. We cannot let our emotions fuel our anger so much that it comes to this.”With the assistance of the Miami-Dade County Robbery Intervention Unit, Astacio was located in South Florida on Sept 24. He was taken into custody in Hialeah. His vehicle was later located hidden near a residence in Kissimmee. Once in custody, a large amount of cash and drugs were found on his person. Astacio was booked into the Miami-Dade jail on local charges, according to Osceola deputies.Pending extradition back to Osceola County, a warrant has been issued for Astacio for the following charges: attempted murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

    KISSIMMEE, Fla. —

    Two people were injured following a road rage shooting in Poinciana on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

    The shooting occurred sometime after 4 p.m. near the area of Cypress Parkway and Marigold Avenue, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office told WESH 2.

    The sheriff’s office said the shooting occurred after Jose Gabriel Astacio, 30, got out of his 2016 Mercedes GLE and exchanged words with the victims.

    Soon after the victims attempted to leave the intersection, Astacio fired three shots into the passenger side of the Ford Expedition, hitting the front-right passenger, a 41-year-old male, in the face. At the same time, the driver suffered injuries after being grazed by a bullet.

    The driver of the Expedition that was shot at then drove to the nearby HCA Poinciana Hospital, where the passenger was later airlifted to Osceola Regional.

    “This is an ongoing problem not only here in Osceola County but in Central Florida, road rage,” said Kim Montes of the Osceola County sheriff’s office. “You cannot let your emotions take over driving. We cannot take things personally when you’re driving and somebody cuts you off, whether it’s intentional or unintentional. We cannot let our emotions fuel our anger so much that it comes to this.”

    With the assistance of the Miami-Dade County Robbery Intervention Unit, Astacio was located in South Florida on Sept 24. He was taken into custody in Hialeah.

    His vehicle was later located hidden near a residence in Kissimmee.

    Once in custody, a large amount of cash and drugs were found on his person. Astacio was booked into the Miami-Dade jail on local charges, according to Osceola deputies.

    Pending extradition back to Osceola County, a warrant has been issued for Astacio for the following charges: attempted murder, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and shooting into an occupied vehicle.


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