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Amid surge in kids entering Fairfax Co. child welfare system, nonprofit seeks volunteers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

A dramatic increase in kids entering the child welfare system in Fairfax County, Virginia, has led a nonprofit organization to ask for volunteers — especially those who identify as Black, Hispanic and Spanish speaking.More than 230 kids entered the county’s child welfare system between July 2022 and June 2023 — a 138% increase from the group’s last fiscal year, according to a recent news release from Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates, also called CASA.The nonprofit expects this need for services to keep growing. Darcy Hubbard, the group’s executive director, said other local agencies and the county’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court agree “all of our systems are overwhelmed and that families in our community are in crisis.”“I think it is fair to say that we are all a bit different coming out of the COVID lockdown than when we went in,” Hubbard said. “The families we work with were hit the hardest and continue to struggl...

Back to School Breakfast / Belkys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

Ingredients:2 Tbs. olive oil1 Tsp. garlic powder3 handfuls of spinach2 bell peppers, diced½ medium yellow onion, dicedSalt and pepper to taste12 large eggs½ cup milk1 cup shredded cheese (your favorite) dividedMethod of Preparation:Spray a medium casserole dish with non-stick spray. Set aside. If you are going to bake this casserole immediately, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.Add olive oil to a large skillet. Sauté the peppers and onion until tender. Add garlic and toss. Add spinach and toss until it’s wilted. Season with salt and pepper.Remove from heat and let the vegetables cool while you work on the eggs.In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and half of the shredded cheese.Once the veggies cool, add a layer of vegetables to the bottom of the casserole dish.Pour the egg mixture over it and then add the rest of the sauteed vegetables to the casserole dish. Pour the egg mixture over it and then add the rest of the sauteed vegetables to the dish and sprinkle with t...

Some Sunday storms and sun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

It’s a tale of two different weather stories this morning! We’re dry with some sun north of the Pike. Southeast Mass still has some showers and storms.We’ll keep the greatest threat for storms with lightning and strong wind across Southeast Mass through midday. There’s a chance for a pop-up storm early/mid afternoon. Mix of sun and clouds with highs in the mid 80s. It’ll feel muggy too. Busy baseball day! Here’s your Sox and WooSox forecasts…Tomorrow will be nice! More sun and highs in the low/mid 80s. Rain returns Tuesday.-Meteorologist Melanie Black

Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson ‘coming into his own’ as AL Rookie of the Year favorite thanks to aggressive play style

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

Ahead of the Orioles’ series against the New York Mets, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde was asked about the youngest player on his team.In his answer, Hyde said the word “love” five times to describe how he feels about rookie Gunnar Henderson. He loves the 22-year-old’s “passion,” his “energy,” his “emotion.” But there’s a tiny aspect of Henderson’s game that Hyde doesn’t love.When he grounds out, he always sprints down the first base line trying to beat the throw, lunging as he approaches first base and forcefully slamming his foot attached to his 220-pound frame on first base.“That drives me nuts,” Hyde said.Those moments, though, are a result of an aggressive play style that has allowed Henderson to find his groove and turn his season around.“He just plays so hard. He’s so awesome,” Hyde said with a smile. “I just want to see him hit the base a little easier, honestly....

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesian organizer as sexual harassment allegations swirl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Miss Universe Organization has cut its ties with its Indonesian franchisee and will cancel an upcoming pageant in Malaysia after contestants complained to police, accusing local organizers of sexual harassment.The New York-based organization said in a statement late Saturday it had decided to sever ties with PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.Six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant recently filed complaints with police, accusing local organizers of asking them to strip to their underwear for “body checks” for scars or cellulite, in a room with about two dozen people present, including men. Five of the contestants said they were then photographed topless.“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards and ethics,” the Miss Universe Organization said on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.The...

Pakistani security forces kill 2 insurgents in shootout after attack on a convoy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani security forces killed two insurgents in a shootout Sunday after a military convoy was attacked with small arms and hand grenades in the city of Gwadar in the restive southwestern Baluchistan province, the military said.The military made no mention of claims by the Baluchistan Liberation Army, a separatist group, that the daylight attack targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers accompanied by military vehicles, and that it lasted for hours.The military said there was no harm to civilians or security forces. Baluchistan has been the scene of a low-level separatist insurgency for over two decades. Separatists initially demanded a share of the wealth in the province, which is rich in gas and minerals, and later called for separation from Islamabad. Chinese companies operating in Gwadar and other parts of Baluchistan have been targeted in the past by Baluch insurgents. Pakistani forces claim to have largely quelled the insurgency but attacks still take pl...

A car careens into a campground on the Welsh coast and injures 9 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Nine people were injured when a driver lost control and careened into a tent in a campground on the coast of Wales, police said Sunday. At least two people were seriously injured in the crash late Saturday night and one was flown by helicopter to a hospital, Dyfed-Powys Police said. Occupants of the vehicle were among the injured.Clare Harris, who owns the Newgale Campsite with her husband, said the car was speeding and lost control and rolled into an area where people had pitched tents on the open grass that overlooks the Pembrokeshire coast.“The car was speeding down the hill, realized it needed to slow down and tried to brake,” she said. “It flipped and rolled several times, and crashed into the tent.”A baby in the tent that was struck was miraculously uninjured, she said.“It’s a tragic accident that the police are dealing with, that’s all we can say at the moment,” Harris said.Harris said it’s peak season at the campground but it wasn’t as busy as normal because of...

Niger’s junta gains the upper hand over the regional bloc threatening military force, analysts say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — One week after a deadline passed for mutinous soldiers in Niger to reinstate the country’s ousted president or face military intervention, the junta has not acquiesced. No military action has been taken and the coup leaders appear to have gained the upper hand over the regional group that issued the threat, analysts say.The West African bloc ECOWAS had given the soldiers that overthrew Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum until last Sunday to release and reinstate him or they threatened military action. On Thursday, the bloc ordered the deployment of a “standby” force to restore constitutional rule in Niger, with Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and Ivory Coast saying they would contribute troops.But it’s unclear when, how or if the troops will deploy. The move could take weeks or months to set into motion, and while the bloc decides what to do the junta is gaining power, some observers say.“It looks as though the putschists have won ...

Mayor Johnson to name next CPD superintendent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

CHICAGO -- Mayor Brandon Johnson said during his campaign he wanted to choose a CPD veteran to lead the department with Sunday as the deadline to make his decision.The mayor can pick one of the three finalists or reject all three and order another search. Two of the finalists are CPD veterans, Larry Snelling and Angel Novalez. Shon Barnes is the current police chief of Madison, Wisconsin. Snelling has been with the police department for 30 years and is considered the front runner. As chief of counterterrorism, he oversees SWAT, narcotics and gang division. He is also the former commander of the Englewood division. Community leaders hope Chicago’s next top cop is within CPD ranks Agent Novales is a 22-year veteran who was shot in the line of duty early in his career. He is currently chief of constitutional policing and reform. He oversaw community-assisted programs for many years. Shon Barnes took the helm in Madison in 2021. He was previously director of training for COPA, Civili...

Sunday Brunch: Gene & Georgetti's smashed sandwich

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:15:50 GMT

Check out Sunday Brunch with WGN Weekend Morning News with Gene & Georgetti's take on a smashed sandwich.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.