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Staffing challenges in Children's Division leading to large abuse and neglect backlog

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - While the state is seeing a reduction in the number of children in Missouri's foster care system, the Children's Division continues to face major staffing challenges.Currently, there are more than 14,300 child abuse and neglect cases open in Missouri. The Kansas City and St. Louis regions make up about 75% of those cases. The Department of Social Services told lawmakers last week that the way to eliminate that backlog is to hire more investigators."You hire someone in the door, they are simply not going to be able to take the caseload on Monday morning from someone that left on Friday afternoon," Department of Social Services Director Robert Knodell said.A lack of workers is creating chaos for a state agency. In the St. Louis area, there are 6,125 child abuse and neglect cases that have been open for more than 45 days, compared to 3,590 in the Kansas City region."It doesn't seem like we have enough people to do this task," DSS Children's Division Director Darre...

Upon further review: Commanders used screen game to take advantage of Broncos’ defense

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

There are many reasons why the Broncos blew an 18-point lead to the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Their inability to stop Commanders quarterback Sam Howell’s screen passes was one of them.Denver was clinging to a 24-21 lead at the start of the fourth quarter when Howell threw a short pass to his left to running back Antonio Gibson, who had plenty of green grass in front of him as he sped down the field for 36 yards. Two plays later, second-year running back Brian Robinson Jr. powered into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown to give the Commanders their first lead at 28-24.As Washington faced a second-and-8 with 10:15 to go, the Broncos blitzed six defenders. With linebacker Josey Jewell and defensive end Zach Allen closing in, Howell dumped the ball off to Robinson, who took advantage of another open field near Washington’s sideline and ran 21 yards for a first down.Eventually, Robinson scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Commanders’ lead to 35-24 with 7:11 left ...

Mother of model found dead in DTLA apartment speaks out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

The mother one of two models who were discovered dead in downtown Los Angeles in the span of a week said she’s been contacted by other loved ones who fear there could be a serial predator out there.“As a parent, you never want to go through this,” said Sharon Coats, the mother of 32-year-old Nichole “Nikki” Coats.She and her family are desperately searching for answers after her daughter was found dead in her high-rise apartment by concerned family members on Sept. 10.An aunt who was among those to make the gruesome discovery said they could not recognize Coats and that her bed was bloodied. “I believe it was murder, I really do,” the aunt said.  Authorities, however, have not revealed anything about Coats' cause and manner of death. Two days after Coats’ body was found, 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney, who was a model and a real estate agent, was found dead in her luxury apartment in Bunker Hill. 2 models found dead in downtown Los Angeles: What we know It remains unclear how Mooney...

Police searching for shooting suspect in Orange County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

Police in Huntington Beach are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect accused of shooting another man over the weekend, officials announced on Monday.  The incident occurred Sunday around 11 p.m. in the area of Beach Boulevard and MacDonald Drive, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the area on reports of a man suffering a gunshot wound. The victim was located at the scene and was rushed to a nearby trauma center where he is expected to survive.  After an extensive search of the area, police were unable to find the suspect, described as a Black male adult in his mid-20's with facial hair and short, black braided hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, sweatpants, a hat and white and black Nike shoes.  On Monday, officials released a grainy surveillance photo of the suspect walking down the sidewalk.  Surveillance photo released by Huntington Beach Police Department of an alleged shooting suspect fr...

When and what is Yom Kippur?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

Jewish communities around the world are preparing to observe Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar, starting at sundown on Sept. 27 and concluding at sundown on Sept. 28.Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, falls on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei each year. This date typically falls in September or October.The holy day is marked with solemn reflection, fasting and prayer. During this 24-hour period, observant Jews will refrain from eating, drinking, sex, and other physical comforts as they seek forgiveness for their sins.“Like Shabbat, no work is to be done on Yom Kippur,” according to Chabad.org.Members of an Orthodox Jewish community study the Torah in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Yom Kippur, one of the most important holidays of the Jewish year on October 12, 2016 in New York City. Also known as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur includes a sundown-to-sundown fast where worshippers can't use electronics or work. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty ...

The Forum Becomes a Boogie Wonderland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

The Forum Becomes a Boogie Wonderland: I don’t know why, but the Kia Forum was intense on Friday night. Way, way more intense that usual and it made little sense. The parking lot was sold out, so attendees were left to pay $75 (WTF?) to park across the road at the SoFi Stadium, or find their own alternative in the Wild West that is the permit-controlled surrounding Inglewood streets. I’ve been going to shows at the Forum for years and have never seen such a shit show in that regard.Once in though, the entertainment was magnificent. Chicago’s Earth, Wind & Fire have been a going concern since 1969, so that’s 54 years of funk-soul-pop-jazz brilliance. The setlist in Inglewood was insane — every song a freaking gem.From the opening “Shining Star,” through their perfect covers of the Beatles’ “Got to Get You Into My Life” and David Foster’s “After the Love Has Gone,” not a moment was wasted. Visually, they...

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is a Trip We Didn’t Need

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

It’s easy to see why the cast wanted to attend another Greek Wedding. They got to spend a month under the turquoise spell of Greece, where the film is set, and millions of people are likely going to watch them enjoy it. More than that, they got to showcase a culture not often seen in movies, which was the main reason director Nia Varaldos’ original was so much fun. It’s harder to pinpoint what makes My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 an escapist or even needed another follow-up.No one is saying these actors shouldn’t have a breezy trip, but it would have been nice if more of their environs could have been translated to the screen. The best vacation movies are palpably and pleasurably atmospheric, so much so, you can almost feel the sun beating down on your back when you watch them. When the Portokalos arrive in Athens, however, it feels more like a punchline than a place to visit.Part of what made the first entry work were the jokes, especially the ones centered around Tou...

Canada ousts Indian diplomat as it investigates Sihk’s killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

By Rob Gillies | Associated PressTORONTO — Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat Monday as it investigates what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called credible allegations that India’s government may have had links to the assassination in Canada of a Sikh activist.Trudeau said in Parliament that Canadian intelligence agencies have been looking into the allegations after Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a strong supporter of an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, was gunned down on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia.Trudeau told Parliament that he brought up the slaying with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G-20 last week. He said he told Modi that any Indian government involvement would be unacceptable and that he asked for cooperation in the investigation.Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said the head of Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled as a consequence.“If proven true this would be a great violatio...

Letters: Oil companies | Self-driving cars | Dyslexia skills | Lottery owes | Spending here | Pride flag bans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Oil companies mustreveal what they knewRe: “State sues oil giants over shifts in climate” (Page A1, Sept. 17).Permission to file the lawsuit holding oil companies financially accountable for knowingly contributing to climate change is good news indeed.What would be truly remarkable is a public statement from the oil companies acknowledging their long-term campaign of misinformation and lies along with requiring them to share the data on what they knew.A hefty fine is the only legal recourse available. Nonetheless, educating the public about the oil company’s duplicity would help build public support and involvement in addressing climate change.Eleanor LevineOaklandSelf-driving carsare a bad investmentI have lived in San Francisco on and off throughout my life. I still love this beautiful city, despite the current problems.Over the past two Saturdays, I enjoyed North Beach and the Inner ...

Drew Barrymore praised for showing human capacity to reverse course after a very bad decision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:58 GMT

For a week, the lovably quirky and phenomenally resilient Hollywood star Drew Barrymore became one of the most mocked and disparaged women in America.As the strike by Hollywood writers entered its fourth month, Barrymore insisted that her eponymous day-time talk show would resume production. In her response to the backlash last week, the former child actor-turned “Charlie’s Angels” power player doubled down on her decision by delivering an emotional, rambling statement that was not the convincing explanation she intended but a display of “Hollywood royalty” at its most privileged and clueless, Puck’s Mathew Belloni said, further exposing her to more vitriol, derisive memes and accusations of being a scab.But Barrymore became admired again on Sunday after she announced that she was pausing her show’s return until the Writers Guild of America strike is over. “I have listened to everyone,” she said in a statement post on Instagram. ...