Amid bans, Black parents seek schools affirming their history

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

By Cheyanne Mumphrey | Associated PressDECATUR, Ga. — Every decision Assata Salim makes for her young son is important. Amid a spike in mass killings, questions of safety were at the top of her mind when choosing a school. Next on her checklist was the school’s culture.Salim and her 6-year-old, Cho’Zen Waters, are Black. In Georgia, where they live, public schools are prohibited from teaching divisive concepts, including the idea that one race is better than another or that states are fundamentally racist.To Salim, the new rules mean public schools might not affirm Cho’Zen’s African roots, or accurately portray the United States’ history of racism. “I never want to put his education in the hands of someone that is trying to erase history or recreate narratives,” she said.Instead, Cho’Zen attends a private, Afrocentric school — joining kids across the country whose families have embraced schools that affirm their Black heritage, in a co...

Warming Bay Area temperatures bring with them Spare the Air alert

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

The Bay Area’s first warm-up of 2023 began to build Wednesday, and like most warming trends, it’s creating dirty air.Unlike most of them, this heat wave — if it can be considered that — will be the equivalent of dipping a foot in water and then quickly pulling it out.“We’re warming up a bit (Wednesday). Then our warmest day will be Thursday,” National Weather Service meteorologist Sean Miller said. “It’ll be warm Friday, and then that’s it. By Saturday, we’ll be dropping off.”And by early next week, rain could fall, the weather service said.For that reason, the Spare the Air alert issued by the Bay Area Air Management District for Thursday may be an isolated one. it will mark only the second one of 2023. The air district issued 17 Spare the Air days last year.The air district said ground-level ozone pollution is forecast to be unhealthy and encouraged people not to drive if they don’t need to do so.Accordi...

Detached house in Danville sells for $2.1 million

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

320 Glasgow Circle – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 300 block of Glasgow Circle in Danville has new owners. The 2,908-square-foot property, built in 1996, was sold on April 13, 2023. The $2,100,000 purchase price works out to $722 per square foot. The property features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, an attached garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on a 6,300-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:On Glasgow Circle, Danville, in November 2022, a 2,908-square-foot home was sold for $1,750,000, a price per square foot of $602. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,484-square-foot home on the 100 block of Glasgow Circle in Danville sold in October 2022, for $1,570,000, a price per square foot of $632. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In April 2023, a 2,486-square-foot home on Gardner Place in Danville sold for $1,550,000, a price per square foot of $623. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

Fox agrees to provide more Murdoch docs in Smartmatic case

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

By Marshall Cohen | CNNFox News has agreed to provide voting technology company Smartmatic with additional material about its corporate chairman Rupert Murdoch and other top executives, as part of Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion lawsuit against the right-wing network.The agreement was announced Wednesday at a court hearing in Manhattan regarding the defamation case, which stems from Fox’s airing of 2020 election lies. New York Supreme Court Judge David Cohen scheduled the hearing after Smartmatic raised concerns about whether Fox was complying with its pretrial obligations to turn over relevant evidence.“We will produce the materials as quickly as we are able to,” Fox lawyer Winn Allen said.Fox also will give documents to Smartmatic related to Rupert Murdoch’s son Lachlan Murdoch, who is the CEO of Fox Corporation, as well as relevant materials about Chief Legal Officer Viet Dinh and Raj Shah, a former Trump administration official who is now a vice president...

Sharon Stone slams Kim Kardashian getting ‘American Horror Story’ role

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

Sharon Stone is another veteran actor who has dedicated years to training and working in the profession who doesn’t think much of reality star Kim Kardashian joining the cast of “American Horror Story.”Stone’s criticism of Kardashian’s new career move follows Broadway luminary Patti LuPone telling Andy Cohen point blank that she doesn’t at all like the idea of Kardashian being cast in the horror anthology series, in which LuPone has appeared for three seasons, as Us Weekly reported.BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 16: Sharon Stone attends An Unforgettable Evening at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on March 16, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for WCRF) While appearing on Cohen’s show, “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” Sunday, LuPone was asked whether she cared about the influencer and shape wear mogul joining the show, Us Weekly said. LuPone, a Tony-winning Broa...

Minnesota takes steps to make it even easier to vote

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota — a state where it is already easy to vote — is moving make it even easier, countering the national trend of states imposing further restrictions on balloting.The Minnesota Senate was set Wednesday to debate an elections bill that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register so they can vote as soon as they are old enough, and establish automatic registration when residents apply for or renew driver’s licenses or sign up for Medicaid and other public programs.At a news conference ahead of the debate, Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon called it a “once in a generation opportunity” to strengthen democracy.Minnesota is increasing voter access even as red states impose more restrictions, often in the name of election integrity. Several Republican-led states have tightened rules on voting by mail since the 2020 presidential election, in part because of the false narrative of widespread fraud in that race. Mississippi last month set tight...

Wyndham: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc. (WH) on Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings of $67 million.The Parsippany, New Jersey-based company said it had net income of 77 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 86 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 81 cents per share.The hotel and resort chain posted revenue of $313 million in the period, which did not meet Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $318.2 million.Wyndham expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.92 to $4.06 per share, with revenue in the range of $1.38 billion to $1.41 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/WHSource

BioMarin: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) on Wednesday reported first-quarter earnings of $50.9 million.The San Rafael, California-based company said it had profit of 27 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 60 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 43 cents per share.The rare disease biopharmaceutical posted revenue of $596.4 million in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Eleven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $572.5 million.BioMarin expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.80 to $2.05 per share, with revenue in the range of $2.38 billion to $2.5 billion.BioMarin shares have declined 10% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $93, a climb of 17% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (...

AvalonBay: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:11:16 GMT

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — AvalonBay Communities Inc. (AVB) on Wednesday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The results topped Wall Street expectations.The Arlington, Virginia-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $360 million, or $2.57 per share, in the period.The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for funds from operations of $2.54 per share.Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.The company said it had net income of $146.9 million, or $1.05 per share.The apartment building owner posted revenue of $674.7 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $665.6 million.For the current quarter ending in June, AvalonBay expects its per-share funds from operations to range from $2.54 to $2.64. Analysts surveyed by ...