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Henrico County Public Schools Face Widespread HVAC Failures Ahead of Student Return

Henrico County Public Schools Face Widespread HVAC Failures Ahead of Student Return

Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) are grappling with significant HVAC issues across more than half of its 74 schools as students are set to return on Monday. The problem has escalated, with over 30 schools previously reporting HVAC malfunctions, including classrooms reaching temperatures of 90 degrees or higher. Facilities staff and hired technicians are working through the weekend to implement short-term and long-term solutions, including repairs and the installation of portable AC units in affected classrooms. Additionally, Glen Lea Elementary School has reported concerns about mold in an isolated area, prompting an environmental specialist to respond. While the initial assessment indicates no immediate danger, testing is ongoing, and staff in the affected area have been relocated. All furniture and desks impacted by mold are slated for replacement before Monday.

Westchester County Journal News

Measles cases reported across NY as school year approaches. Here's what to know

Measles cases reported across NY as school year approaches. Here's what to know

New York has reported 28 confirmed measles cases this year, including 22 outside New York City, as health officials urge residents to make sure they are vaccinated.

Duval County Public Schools Addresses Widespread AC Outages Amid Heat Wave

Duval County Public Schools Addresses Widespread AC Outages Amid Heat Wave

Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) has announced measures to address widespread air conditioning issues in its schools, which have been exacerbated by a recent heat wave. Parents and students have reported broken and failing AC units in classrooms since the beginning of the school year. In response, DCPS has created a dedicated HVAC service desk and increased its maintenance budget to $40 million, with plans to add another $10 million next school year, largely allocated to AC systems. Jim Culbert, Chief of Operations and Technology Services for DCPS, acknowledged the concerns, stating, 'We hear you.' The district plans to upgrade AC systems in six to eight schools annually and evaluate every school's chiller for renovation or replacement. The issue gained significant attention after smoke from a broken air-handler motor forced an evacuation at Crown Point Elementary School.

Anchorage School District Expands New Lunch Service Model to All Schools

Anchorage School District Expands New Lunch Service Model to All Schools

The Anchorage School District (ASD) has completed a four-year transition, expanding its new student nutrition service model to all 57 elementary schools. This initiative moves away from a decades-old pre-packaged tray system to a 'traditional service' model where students serve themselves from bulk, open-tray stations. According to Marcie McGill, ASD’s student nutrition senior director, the previous system led to increased waste and reduced food quality. The new approach allows students to choose or decline individual items, which has resulted in them eating 30% more of both the entrée and vegetables, with very little produce leftover. The district's central kitchen has also shifted to scratch cooking, making items like pizza dough and marinara sauce in-house, and is even testing new menu items such as a Copper River salmon bowl for older students. This transformation aims to provide better quality food and more choices for students.

Berkeley County Parents Report Persistent School Bus Delays Amid Driver Shortage

Berkeley County Parents Report Persistent School Bus Delays Amid Driver Shortage

Parents in Berkeley County, South Carolina, are reporting ongoing school bus delays as nearly 40,000 students returned to schools last week. The Berkeley County School District has acknowledged that not all students are arriving at class on time, attributing the delays to a bus driver shortage and unexpected call-outs. The district began the academic year with 27 bus driver vacancies. Parents, who use a bus app for pickup time updates, are receiving delay notifications that are often inexact and do not specify the bus number, with some indicating arrival windows of 60 to 90 minutes. Isoraida Lorenzo Duncan, a mother of four, stated she has contacted the district eight times, and her middle schooler has not been able to ride the bus to school at all this year due to the delays. She highlighted the difficulty for parents with multiple children to drop them off themselves, especially when both parents work. The district has stated that drivers are in place for regular routes, but recent delays stem from last-...

Alaska School District Expands Innovative School Lunch Program to All Schools

Alaska School District Expands Innovative School Lunch Program to All Schools

The Alaska School District (ASD) has successfully completed a four-year transition, expanding its new student nutrition service model to all 57 elementary schools. This initiative moves away from a decades-old pre-packaged lunch system to a choice-based model that emphasizes scratch cooking and local sourcing. Marcie McGill, ASD’s student nutrition senior director, stated that the previous system led to increased waste and reduced food quality. Under the new model, students serve themselves from bulk, open-tray stations, allowing them to choose or decline individual items. Chef Daniel Smith, executive chef and culinary logistics assistant director, highlights a creative culinary philosophy, focusing on what children enjoy and are not typically exposed to. The central kitchen now prepares items like pizza dough, marinara sauce, and fajita vegetable mix from scratch. The district serves over 20,000 breakfast and lunch meals daily, totaling 3.6 million meals last year. A new menu item, a Copper River salmon b...

Exclusive-Fauci's lawyers set up legal defense fund as US probes multiply

Exclusive-Fauci's lawyers set up legal defense fund as US probes multiply

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Lawyers for Anthony Fauci have launched a legal defense fund for the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, saying that the need to respond to a growing number of state and federal investigations related to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will require

US HHS launches initiative to improve response to missing autistic individuals

US HHS launches initiative to improve response to missing autistic individuals

Aug 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday launched an initiative to improve preparedness and response when autistic individuals are reported missing.

Saint Augustine’s University Halts Fall 2026 Classes Amidst Bankruptcy Proceedings

Saint Augustine’s University Halts Fall 2026 Classes Amidst Bankruptcy Proceedings

Saint Augustine’s University, a 158-year-old Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, will not offer classes or educational programs for the fall 2026 semester. This decision comes as the institution navigates Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and an uncertain future. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Warren reportedly described the university as “essentially closed” during a court hearing, raising concerns about its ability to deliver on promises to prospective students and its use of limited resources while in bankruptcy. The university had initially planned to launch eight online, non-degree programs in September, covering subjects like programming, artificial intelligence, and public health, with course syllabi developed and instructors identified. However, these plans have been put on hold. Saint Augustine’s ceased offering traditional courses after losing its accreditation earlier this year, following a lengthy legal battle with the Southern Association of Colleges and S...

Authorities Seize 30 Animals from Condemned Brooklyn Park Home, Owner Faces Charges

Authorities Seize 30 Animals from Condemned Brooklyn Park Home, Owner Faces Charges

Authorities in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, seized 29 cats and one dog from the home of a 68-year-old woman last month. The intervention followed years of complaints regarding the property, with some reports dating back to 2001. Investigators obtained a search warrant after the house was condemned due to unsafe conditions. The woman residing in the home was transported to a hospital and, while not arrested, is facing charges related to animal mistreatment. Many of the rescued animals have since been adopted, with a few remaining available at the Animal Humane Society. This action highlights a prolonged issue of animal welfare and property maintenance in the Twin Cities area.

Omaha Family Calls for Change After Fatal Shooting of Father of Four

Omaha Family Calls for Change After Fatal Shooting of Father of Four

An Omaha family is advocating for an end to gun violence following the fatal shooting of Lashawn Lessley Jr., a father of four. Lessley was shot and killed on Sunday at his home, according to police reports. His family and friends gathered for a prayer walk on Thursday night to honor his memory and call for change. Relatives described Lessley as a loving and caring individual who was a mentor to the children in his family and brought joy to those around him. His cousin, Deja Jefferson, stated that Lessley 'literally gave you the shirt off his back.' Lessley's father, who requested anonymity, revealed that his son was sitting on the couch when he was shot through a window. The family expressed profound grief and emphasized that Lessley did not deserve this fate, urging individuals to resolve conflicts through dialogue rather than violence.

Pittsburgh reports first case of measles. See exposures, US data

Pittsburgh reports first case of measles. See exposures, US data

A person with measles visited Pittsburgh twice in August, exposing people at UPMC Children's Hospital.