Latest news with #ArlingtonHighSchool
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Arlington High School employee accused of inappropriate conduct: What we know
An Arlington High School employee has been accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct at the school. According to a May 15 statement from Arlington Central School District Superintendent Philip Benante, the district received a report the previous week of alleged inappropriate conduct by a non-teaching employee at the high school. After receiving the report, the district notified the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and placed the non-teaching employee, whose name was not given, on administrative leave. The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office confirmed May 20 there is an investigation regarding alleged inappropriate contact involving an Arlington Central School District employee. No charges have been filed. "The Sheriff's Office is working closely with the school district, and the investigation is ongoing," Capt. John Watterson said in an email statement. "More information may be released at a later time as the investigation progresses." More: Memorial Day is May 26. Here are the parades, ceremonies planned in Dutchess County Benante said the district's board of education supported his recommendation to appoint an independent investigator to look into the report. Any families with questions or concerns were instructed to contact the school administration or use the district's Say Something Anonymous Reporting System "for ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone." "We have been in contact with the students and families directly affected by this situation and are committed to providing them with ongoing support," Benante said in a statement. (This story has been updated to meet our standards.) This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Arlington school employee accused of 'inappropriate conduct'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Town of Poughkeepsie police officer shot, killed man during Fair Oaks Drive response
A man was shot by a Town of Poughkeepsie police officer June 5 following a mobile crisis team response to a local residence. Officers responded around 2:15 p.m. to 8 Fair Oaks Drive in Poughkeepsie, after receiving a report of an active assault. A man who police did not identify was reported to have been armed with a sword, attacking members of the Dutchess County Mobile Crisis Team who were at the residence, according to a post by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department on its Facebook page. When police arrived at the scene, the officers were told the armed man was inside the home. The police found two men inside, including one who had sustained head injuries. More: Arlington High School employee accused of inappropriate contact with three students Police said there was a confrontation between the armed man and the responding officers, and one officer, who was not identified, shot the man. Police did not say how many times the man was shot. Officers administered aid at the scene, and the man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The investigation has been turned over to the New York State Office of the Attorney General, assisted by the New York State Police. This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information can call the New York State Attorney General's Office at 212-416-6054. This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Man fatally shot by Town of Poughkeepsie police officer: What to know
CBS News
03-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Minnesota immigration lawyer reflects on long journey from Mexico to law career
On May 9, Juventino Meza was sworn in as attorney by the Minnesota Supreme Court inside the Capitol building in St. Paul. Meza's journey from being undocumented to working his way to becoming an immigration attorney started when he was a boy. Meza was born in Jalisco, Mexico, in 1988. He grew up in an agricultural town and was the youngest of five siblings, who shared a one-bedroom house. Meza's parents immigrated to the United States while he was still a child. "I remember being a really angry teenager because I didn't understand why my parents left me," said Meza. "I was just so young and didn't understand what was going on. And so I think that was the toughest part of family separation for me." That separation from his family led him to struggle with emotions while growing up in Jalisco. "I remember being the worst kid to my sisters who were taking care of me, and I would run away and go hide out in the mountains," said Meza. His family members, one by one, made their way to the United States in 2003. At age 15, Meza made it to the U.S. with his sister. "We woke up early and someone drove us to the airport in Guadalajara, which is the big city in Jalisco, and then we took a flight to Mexicali, and then someone picked us up, and then they took us to the border and walked us," said Meza. Arriving somewhere on the outskirts of Mesa, Arizona, Meza would see something that sticks with him as a powerful moment of humanity. "We ended up in a playground, and there were teenagers playing basketball, and one of them saw my sister and went and brought her water," said Meza. "They were kind enough to bring my sister water, and that felt so human to me. I think about that moment a lot. It gets me really emotional – the humanity in the situation and bringing water to my sister. Meza was scared when he first arrived, but was excited because he hadn't seen his parents in years. "I remember also being excited because I was going to see my parents. I hadn't seen my mom in three years and I didn't know my dad, because my family says he moved to the U.S. when I was about 5 or 6," said Meza. "I was going to meet my dad and see my mom again and my other siblings again." Reunited with his family, it was just the beginning of his journey to adjusting to life in the United States. Meza was enrolled at Arlington High School, now known as Washington Magnet High School. When Meza arrived in Minnesota from Mexico as a teenager, he didn't speak a word of English. He was supposed to start his junior year of high school. Instead, a school interpreter suggested he be placed in ninth grade to give him more time to learn the language and adjust to life in the United States. Beyond the language barrier, Meza faced another challenge: his immigration status and sexual identity. "I started getting bullied for being gay by the other Latino kids. And, you know, there was a time when I ended up dropping out of school," said Meza. He would later return to school, and at that time, he met mentors who would change his life. Meza's school counselor introduced him to College Possible, a college access program for underrepresented students. "She said, 'I don't know what we're going to do, but we'll figure it out,'" said Meza. Together, they applied to colleges across the country, navigating a patchwork of policies for undocumented students. The process was confusing and full of uncertainty, but Meza leaned into it, not just for himself, but for others like him. Those mentors got him into Augsburg College with a full-ride scholarship. During his time there, he would meet someone who would influence his decision to become a lawyer. That realization came years after college began, during his work with the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Meza met attorney John Keller there, someone he describes as calm, brilliant and deeply committed to justice. Keller was advising lawmakers and helping shape policy in addition to representing clients. "I thought, maybe I want to be like John Keller," said Meza. "I want to be a lawyer, and I want to represent people like my family." That conviction took hold in 2012, around the time Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was announced. Meza began leading community workshops with NAVIGATE. By 2015, Meza had applied to law school. Getting in was only the first challenge. Paying for it would prove an even steeper climb. Though Minnesota had recently passed its version of the DREAM Act, opening up in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, the costs of legal education remained difficult. Meza eventually earned a spot at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He began classes in 2016 despite financial pressure. He paused his studies twice, working in San Francisco and later in Minnesota to afford tuition. "I was just so embarrassed," said Meza. "Embarrassed not to have money to stay in school." Then came a call from Linda Moen, the school's dean of students. She had tracked him down and called him. "She just said, 'We haven't heard from you. What's going on?'" said Meza. "She didn't judge me. She just wanted to know how we could get me back on track." He eventually returned, finishing his final two years and graduating in 2023. Meza says it was a difficult journey. "Law school is so isolating. I was always working, always stressed about money. I barely got to be a student," said Meza. After graduating, Meza set his sights on passing the bar exam. "The first time, I was working full-time and barely had time to study," said Meza. "I missed the passing score by just a few points." Determined not to go through it again, Meza saved up, took three months off and studied up to 70 hours a week. In April 2024, he got the news that he had passed. At that time, Meza was filled with pride and long-awaited relief, but also hesitation. "I still didn't know how the bar would handle my immigration status," said Meza. "It wasn't until I read that part that I knew it was over and that my immigration status had nothing to do with the bar exam application." His joy was tempered by caution. A trusted attorney advised against bringing his family to the public swearing-in ceremony, out of concern for their safety. "It was really heartbreaking to hear, I've always brought them along and it was bittersweet," said Meza. "To enjoy for a couple hours knowing that I will be sworn in and then finding out that it's not a good idea to bring them, was pretty heartbreaking." Meza was sworn in as an attorney at the St. Paul Capitol on May 9, along with dozens of others under the Minnesota Supreme Court justices. Meza was still able to bring the swearing-in ceremony to his family. "They'll be able to watch online, and then we're throwing a party, and then we're gonna do a private swearing-in so that they can be there. A judge is coming and it's going to be great," said Meza. Just a day before his swearing-in ceremony, Meza received his green card. "I wasn't supposed to go to college, I wasn't supposed to graduate high school, I wasn't supposed to get married to a man, I wasn't supposed to go to law school. I did all of that, and my family has been through all of it, and it's been beautiful," said Meza. "I'm just really thankful that my parents made that choice, and I can't imagine what that was like for them, but I'm glad that they did." Now, as a licensed attorney, Meza is using the system that once excluded him to fight for others like him. He plans to practice immigration law, drawing on more than a decade of experience as an organizer and advocate. For Meza, silence has never been an option. He was a key figure in the fight to pass the Minnesota DREAM Act — a battle that took more than 10 years. It was a victory that taught him the value of public visibility, even in the face of fear. "The moment we go silent, that's when we lose more and more," said Meza. "If we don't push back, there will be more abuses than what we're seeing already." As an openly gay man, an undocumented student and now a legal professional, Meza believes progress lies in building bridges across movements. "What's going on in immigration law is just one slice of everything else happening," he said. "We're part of different communities — and when we recognize those connections, that makes us stronger." At Arlington High School, where he learned alongside students from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, those early experiences shaped how he now sees today's immigration challenges — as a continuation of a broader civil rights struggle. "If you understand the civil rights movement: segregation, bombings, dogs, water hoses, the violence we saw then is, in many ways, happening to us now," said Meza. "Maybe in less graphic ways, maybe not." He cited recent tragedies, including the Texas teenager who died by suicide out of fear that her undocumented parents would be deported. "We need to learn from the past. People put their lives on the line to change unjust systems. I think that's the moment we're in again," said Meza. Now, he's turning that hard-earned knowledge into action as an attorney — someone equipped not just to advocate in the streets, but to defend and protect in court. "We need comprehensive, humane immigration reform," said Meza.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
Arlington High School senior creates volunteer tutoring club for younger English learners
Arlington High School senior Karen Yoda knows how it feels to move to a community where you don't speak the language and don't know anyone. She was going into third grade when her family moved from Japan to Arlington. "A lot of people already had friends. I remember being very lonely," she recalls. She also remembers how much she looked forward to her MLL (multilingual learner) classes. "They were the classes where I didn't just have to sit there and be confused," she said. "They were classes where all the teacher's attention was on me. I could go at my own pace and try new things." Inspired by her own tutor Karen, who is about to turn 18, also remembers the positive influence of her tutor. Miu Kikuchi was a high school student. Her help and attention inspired Karen. "She was an older student who was once in my shoes who was now fluent in English and someone who I really, really looked up to," she said. Their work together helped Karen learn English and, eventually, graduate out of the MLL program. When COVID hit, the memory of her personal experience gave Karen an idea that would eventually become the Bridge Project. In 2020, with time on her hands and a desire to be helpful, Karen began tutoring two younger students who had recently moved, as she had, from Japan to Arlington. She was in eighth grade and tutoring the siblings over Zoom. Later, when school resumed and in-person sessions were allowed, she also tutored a boy in Hannah Dingman's class. Hannah, who is now Director of Multilingual Learner Education for Winchester Public Schools, knew that the boy would benefit from Karen's help. "He needed a little bit more support with somebody who could translate things," she said. She explains that students whose parents don't speak English often struggle with understanding culture and expectations. With Karen's help, Hannah saw the boy blossom. "She knew exactly what he was going through because she went to the same elementary school. She understood the work," she said. Hannah, who was teaching at Hardy Elementary School at the time, remembers it as a very positive pairing. "It's almost like a light went off. I can remember thinking back and-all of a sudden-his time at school started to look different," she said. "All of a sudden, he's asking more questions and he's feeling more confident about his abilities and just producing more work." Eventually, Hannah helped Karen make a plan for a tutoring club that would match younger English-learning students with high schoolers who speak, when possible, the same "home language." The Bridge Project In the fall of 2023, Karen officially launched the Bridge Project. High school tutors spend an hour a week with their tutees-often at Robbins Library-working on reading, writing, and conversation. "I love tutoring kids," Karen said smiling. Initially, getting the word out was challenging. With dozens of tutors ready to go, many of the parents whose children might benefit couldn't read the e-mail communications from the club. The language barrier was too much. But shortly after Karen and another member of the Bridge Project made an in-person presentation to parents, their e-mail boxes filled up with requests. They knew they were onto something special. There are now roughly 50 tutoring pairs. Fifty more high school students have interviewed for the volunteer work and are ready to begin tutoring. Another 100 students have expressed an interest in tutoring in the future. The club's faculty advisor Duncan Slobodzian, who's also an MLL teacher, says the Bridge Project's growth is a testament to the time, effort, and resource development that Karen and the rest of the club's leadership team have invested. "To me, that stands as one of the legacies of the work that Karen and the rest of them have done in this club," he explains. Duncan (known to students as "Mr. S.") explains that he is passionate about English language arts and literature. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Java, Indonesia, he remembers trying to figure out how to communicate and learn the culture. When Karen asked him to serve as the club's advisor, he responded with a quick, enthusiastic yes. Creation of community He says the positive feedback the group's received from parents confirms that peer-to-peer tutoring leads to better academic performance, more confidence, and the creation of community. He says right now, when many immigrant families feel frightened and insecure, creating a "safe space" is a welcome support. At an after-school meeting, Karen and the Bridge Project's leadership team discuss how to talk about sensitive topics. They agree that offering information on the club's website about citizens' rights aligns with their mission. For Karen, the Bridge Club's evolution may be as gratifying as its creation. "I love running this club," she explains. She says that working with members to improve the club's offerings, expand its resources, and serve more elementary and middle school students is endlessly fulfilling. As they find new ways to support more people in Arlington, members also hope that other school districts will follow their lead. "I would really, really encourage someone to start something like this in their own district," Karen said. "I think it has helped a lot of different people. It's also really fun!"
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Lowland snow: Arlington, Snohomish Co. hit with winter blast, businesses impacted
The Brief The snow is continuing to fall in western Washington, causing some delays and closures in Snohomish County. Stanwood, Granite Falls and areas surrounding Arlington saw quite a bit of snowfall over the past few days. Some businesses, like the Marysville Chick-Fil-A, are facing staffing shortages due to the winter weather. Arlington, wash. - Snohomish County residents say Stanwood, Granite Falls and areas surrounding Arlington had quite a bit of snowfall over the past few days, causing some delays and closures. The snow started falling heavily again around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Arlington as many were wrapping up shopping trips and other chores. "It hasn't been too bad, coming down our neighborhood. It's a little bit icy in the mornings, but it's not sticking too much yet. We'll see what happens," said Scott Reece, an Arlington resident. Reece, a southern Californian who moved to Washington a few decades ago, has a sense of humor about the recent snowfall. "It's a little bit frigid now, ruining my golf game," said Reece. "The dogs are loving it. They love to cuddle." Some businesses were also impacted by the weather. The Marysville Chick-Fil-A, pictured below, was closed. A sign explained to customers it was due to "inclement weather." Employees told FOX 13 that workers were snowed in at home, causing a staffing shortage. Near Arlington High School, the main streets were clear on Wednesday afternoon, but the side roads were tougher to navigate. "Arlington, east side, they were cleaning up there," said Celerino Hernandez, an Instacart driver who was picking up several orders Wednesday night at the Arlington Safeway. Hernandez works a large area stretching from Seattle to Arlington. "It's a lot more orders than usual," said Hernandez. He says people have been sending him out to grab groceries so they don't have to go out in the winter weather. "Some alcohol I have to check their ID for," he said, showing off some of the items in his cart. He says from what he's observed, the east side of Arlington and the county have received the most snow so far and had the toughest driving conditions. "Arlington, Granite Falls, mainly those areas because a bunch of trees, a lot of trees where you don't get any sun," said Hernandez. The City of Arlington says maintenance crews are on standby for snow removal operations and staff has prioritized clearing main roads, emergency routes and high-traffic areas. "I'm happy. They are putting more sand and putting salt in the streets," said Hernandez. Reece's advice is to hibernate if you can. "It's a little bit cold. Stay indoors. Keep the fireplace on," he said. The Source Information in this story is from the City of Arlington and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Seattle mom beats 14-year-old son to death, causing over 1K wounds: docs Seattle high school principal on leave after DUI, reckless endangerment arrest First electric fire truck in WA unveiled in Redmond King County Metro purchase of 120 Teslas faces scrutiny as anti-Tesla sentiment in WA grows Could new tariffs cost Washington State $4.1B? What we know To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
