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Denver superintendent gets 10% raise, contract extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — After a 4-3 vote by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, the superintendent of Colorado's largest school district will see a bump in pay and a contract extension.Dr. Alex Marrero initially signed a contract with the district in July of 2021 for a $260,000 salary. In the roughly two years since, that number has been has been bumped up to $276,354 annually, due to a cost of living adjustment.The new deal extends Marrero's time as superintendent until 2026. His contract was set to expire in 2025. It will pay him $305,000 per year, representing a 10% raise from what he earned in base salary in 2023. Public pushes back on SROs in Denver schools The new contract also includes incentives for Marrero to earn more money, depending on how many "measures" he achieves each year. The measures are goals set by the board, and under the deal, Marrero could see up to 12.5% of his base salary paid through incentives, provided he hits every goal."What you will see in this co...

Only 11% of Colorado in a drought after recent rains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has seen big improvements in this week's drought monitor thanks to the impressive rainfall totals from last week's storm system. Parts of the Front Range picked up 3-6 inches of rain in just the last week. The May rainfall total for Denver is now at 4.77 inches, making it the ninth-wettest May on record so far. Denver cracks into top 10 for wettest May on record This week's drought monitor update has 11% of Colorado still in a drought. The rest of the state is completely drought-free or in abnormally dry conditions, indicated by yellow in the graphic below. The Front Range is currently not in any type of drought condition, nor is most of the western half of the state. Around 55% of Colorado is in the drought-free category. The other 45% of the state is in abnormally dry conditions (yellow), which is the step just under a moderate drought.The last time this much of Colorado was not under any type of drought conditions was in August 2021. Crews begin work ...

Smoke from Canada fires affects Colorado air quality on Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- An air quality health advisory was issued Thursday morning as wildfire smoke affected northeast Colorado.Several counties were included in the advisory issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The advisory was in effect as of 10 a.m. Thursday and will last until 8 p.m. Severe storm threat for Denver area Residents are advised to remain indoors and avoid outdoor activities if smoke is thick or becomes thick in their neighborhood, especially for people with heart disease, respiratory illness, the youth and the elderly.If smoke is present indoors and is making you feel ill, the department recommends relocating to an area near you with better air quality.Here are the counties that were included in the advisory.Logan CountySedgwick CountyPhillips Morgan CountyWashington CountyYuma Countyeastern Weld CountyAccording to the department, if visibility through smoke is less than five miles then air quality has reached unhealthy levels.Air quality ...

Man arrested after confronting police who used pepper spray on children fighting near Dillard High School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

Police arrested a man after he confronted officers who used pepper spray during a fight that broke out near Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale.Police body camera video captured the tense moments after officers responded to the scene of the off-campus altercation along the 2500 block of Northwest 11th Street, Wednesday afternoon.Daniella Wilson, the girlfriend of the man who was arrested, spoke with 7News on Thursday about the takedown.“We heard a commotion, we came outside,” she said.It began with dozens of people on the street near the campus.Wilson said she came out to make sure her nephew wasn’t involved.“For him not to be a part of the altercation. I went out there and told him to go in the opposite direction and go back to the house,” she said.The bodycam video does show a scene that had spiraled out of control.Fort Lauderdale Police officers pushed through the crowd, ultimately using pepper spray to break up the children who were fighting.The ...

Bishop Briggs unmasked as winner in ‘The Masked Singer’ season 9 finale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

The Masked Singer has unmasked a new winner and runner-up. It was an exciting season 9 finale with powerful performances and two big reveals.The masks are off and Bishop Briggs is the winner.Now that there’s no pressure to succeed.The only decision she has to make is, where is she going to put that golden mask trophy?Bishop Briggs: “Oh, my gosh. Wow. I haven’t even thought of that. I can’t wait to be able to speak about this secret. I hope to keep the Masked Singer trophy on my bedside so that every time I wake up, I can look at it, and I could show my son.”She enjoyed trying out different performance styles as Medusa and says she definitely felt a connection with the character.Bishop Briggs: “I feel Medusa is very misunderstood. And as a woman living in our world today, I feel like we are sort of confined to only being one thing when in fact we’re multiple things all at once.Runner-up, Macaw, was David Archuleta.The ex-American Idol contest...

TikTok users file lawsuit against Montana over first-in-nation law banning app

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Five TikTok users filed a lawsuit to overturn a planned ban on the video sharing app in Montana.They argued in a legal complaint filed late Wednesday in federal court in Missoula that the law is an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights.They also say the state doesn’t have authority over matters of national security. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill into law Wednesday and said it would protect Montana residents’ private data and personal information from being harvested by the Chinese government.The ban is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.“We expected a legal challenge and are fully prepared to defend the law,” said Emily Flower, spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Justice.TikTok has argued that the law infringes on people’s First Amendment rights and is unlawful.Some lawmakers, the FBI and officials at other agencies are concerned the video-sharing app, owned by ByteDance, could be used to allow the Chinese government to access inform...

Taylor Swift fan battling cancer excited to attend Gillette Stadium show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

A Taylor Swift superfan is refusing to let her battle with cancer keep her from this weekend’s show. She is scheduled to receive a treatment the day of the performance. Knowing how important the concert is, the teenager’s doctors at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center are making sure their patient will be able to attend. “I had got the call that I had cancer, and then one of my first questions was like ‘Can I still go to Taylor Swift?’” Gove said. Gove was diagnosed with a cancer known as solid tumor sarcoma when she was 10-years-old. She battled the cancer for several years before learning in January of this year that it was back. Around the same time, a friend invited Gove to see Swift. In the aftermath of her cancer relapse, Gove said hospital staff caring for her rallied around her with excitement. “They would print out little things and put them on my wall,” Gove said. “And they’d...

Yankees Notebook: Jose Trevino hits IL, giving Ben Rortvedt shot to show he’s real

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

TORONTO — The Yankees are dealing with more muscle pain, as Jose Trevino hit the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain before Thursday’s series finale against the Blue Jays.Aaron Boone said that Trevino tweaked his hamstring early in Wednesday’s game when he ran out of the batter’s box. In the seventh, the catcher ran gingerly to first base before avoiding a tag from pitcher Chris Bassitt.While Boone wasn’t sure if Trevino will undergo an MRI, he did receive treatment Thursday. The manager added that the backstop has been generally “beat up.” Boone feels some time off will benefit Trevino, and the hope is that he returns toward the end of the Yankees’ upcoming homestand.“Obviously, we gotta get the hamstring healed, but hopefully it gives his whole body a little break, too,” Boone said. “And hopefully it’s something that serves him and us well over the long haul.”While Kyle Higashioka started be...

Chicago White Sox fall short in bid for 1st series sweep of the season, falling 3-1 to the Cleveland Guardians

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

The Chicago White Sox wasted a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity early in their game Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians.Late in the game, the Sox had a much-needed grounder that wasn’t fielded cleanly.Instead of completing their first series sweep of the season, those moments proved costly for the Sox in a 3-1 loss to the Guardians in front of 11,900 at Guaranteed Rate Field.The Sox clicked offensively, on the mound and defensively in the first two games of the series.That wasn’t the case Thursday. The pitching was still on point with Dylan Cease, but the Sox couldn’t overcome the lack of clutch hitting and the error.“A loss is a loss,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “But this loss right here, we had opportunities to do some things here. We had won the previous two games, we had an opportunity to win this third one and that second inning was a nice opportunity to put a crooked number up there and get ahead early with our opening-day starter (...

World Cup hype starting to build in Boston, years away from soccer’s best taking the pitch at Gillette Stadium

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:55 GMT

Boston has ruled the sports world for decades, and in 2026, the sports world comes to Boston.Though still years away, the hype is mounting for the hub and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro to host at least some matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Boston will be one of 16 host cities across North America drawing an estimated 450,000 global visitors, with a projected net economic impact of up to $500 million.Leaders involved in bringing the World Cup to Boston and a horde of politicians gathered Thursday at Big Night Live on Causeway Street for the unveiling of the “We Are Boston” brand that will be seen widely before, during and after the month-long soccer extravaganza.Thursday’s event reminded Patriots and Revolution owner Robert Kraft of when Boston last hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup, in 1994. Kraft, honorary chairman of the 2026 World Cup United Bid Group, said he hopes Gillette Stadium will be the site of at least six matches.“I go back to ‘94, and the world we are living in now,...