Latest news with #Greenwood
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Newcastle United midfielder Greenwood announces departure
Newcastle United midfielder Hannah Greenwood has announced the news that she will be leaving the club this summer. The player confirmed her scheduled departure via a post on her personal X account late last night. Advertisement Greenwood spent the early days of her career with Durham. She represented both Durham Cestria and Durham's professional side before joining latest club Newcastle United in summer 2023. The midfielder won the 2023/2024 FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division title before helping The Magpies to establish themselves in the second tier this term. Announcing her Newcastle United departure, Greenwood said 'My time at Newcastle United has come to an end. I've felt it's probably the right time to leave for a while now and to look for a new exciting opportunity elsewhere, so I can continue to improve and develop as a player. 'The past two seasons have been a crazy unforgettable whirlwind, one where I have developed a lot in many ways and a time where I have made truly special memories with a great bunch of girls who welcomed me in with open arms and made me feel at home straight away. We've achieved so much along the way that I couldn't have ever imagined, trail-blazed and smashed records. 'I've been unbelievably fortunate enough to have made several really special friends for life during my time here, for which I'll be forever grateful to Newcastle for signing me and enabling me to meet all these amazing people. Advertisement 'Thank you so much to all the staff both this season and last, including our amazing Colin Lock and to all my lovely teammates over my time here with whom I share amazing memories. 'Lastly, a huge thank you to the fans for your unwavering support for both the team and I over the last two seasons. I've loved being part of the Geordie family. I simply can't express enough how amazing you all are, don't ever change Geordies!' Greenwood is the second player to be leaving Newcastle United this summer. Goalkeeper Grace Donnelly is also moving on.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Rules on 'blinding' LED headlights could change within weeks
The government is looking into these type of headlights which 91 percent of people say 'dazzle' them. Motorists who struggle with the glare from LED headlights could see rules around them change in a matter of weeks. The Department of Transport is currently investigating the headlamps amid growing concerns of drivers being temporarily 'blinded' on the roads. And the government is set to publish its findings into LED headlights and road safety this summer meaning a change to rules surrounding the 'dazzling' headlights could be just around the corner. This has since been confirmed by an update on the UK Parliament website. It read: "In response to a petition launched during the 2019–24 parliament which attracted 14,107 signatures, the previous Conservative government said it intended to commission independent research into headlights dazzling oncoming drivers. The Labour government subsequently commissioned research in October 2024 and a report is expected in summer 2025." Future roads minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that research was in progress and is "due to deliver in summer 2025". The independent research comes as a survey conducted at the end of 2023 found that around 90 percent of drivers in the UK have complained that modern headlights are 'too bright'. This study will look at the factors affecting headlight glare and determine if something can be done to reduce the impact of drivers being blinded, reports The Express. Ms Greenwood said: "All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments." However, AA president Edmund King said he believes the piercing headlights are a major contributing factor in collisions on the roads and a quarter of motorists say they avoid driving at nigh t because of them. The issue is also on the radar of the United Nations international expert group on vehicle lighting, with additional measures expected to be introduced by September 2027. A DFT spokesperson explained that this independent research would contribute significantly to grasping the primary reasons behind driver glare and formulating "appropriate mitigations". Research by the RAC in December 2023 found that 85 percent of drivers believe the problem of bright headlights is 'getting worse'. The survey of 2,000 drivers found 89 percent think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are 'too bright', of which 28 percent think 'most are'. Of the motorists who complain about the brightness of car headlights, 91 percent said they get 'dazzled' when driving, with 74 percent saying this happens 'regularly'. And 64 percent believe some headlights are so bright they risk causing accidents. In fact, five percent of these drivers revealed they have nearly been involved in a collision themselves. Seven percent said they find headlight glare so bad that they avoid driving at night altogether, which rises to 14 percent for drivers aged 65 and over. The Department for Transport records how many times each year a police officer has noted 'dazzling headlights' as a factor contributing to an accident. Over a decade, the data shows the highest number of collisions in 2013 at 369, and the lowest in 2020 at 196 - which was influenced by the Covid lockdowns. LED (light emitting diode) headlights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen bulbs. This is worsened if headlights are not properly aligned and the increasing popularity of taller vehicles like SUVs, which can direct the light beam more directly into the eyes of drivers in lower cars.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Broome County parks opening for 2025 season
BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Although the Broome County parks are open year-round, the official launch of the 2025 season will take place this weekend. Memorial Day Weekend marks the grand opening of the season when boating, swimming, and camping begin at the County's parks. Parks are open from 8 am to dusk daily. All parks have free admission and parking. During the season, a variety of special events and programs will be offered including BroomeBands Together, Movies in the Park, the Broome County Triathlon, the 5K series, Beach Bash,and Spiedie Fest. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the following amenities are available: Boat rentals, 7 days/ week 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (last rental out at 6:30 PM) Beaches open 7 days/ week 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Concessions are available at Nathaniel Cole and Greenwood 7 days/ week 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Camping open 7/days a week $30/ night + $5 reservation fee Pavilions available for rental $30 weekday. $100 weekend & holiday + $5 reservation fee The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Youth Services reminds all visitors to follow parkrules and respect the beaches, boats, and other public park spaces. Dogs are welcome at all parks. The county asks pet parents to please keep them on a 6-foot leash and clean up after them. For more information or inquiries regarding pricing and amenities, click here. Binghamton High School Boys Basketball Team visits State Capitol Broome County parks opening for 2025 season Binghamton Salvation Army to resume services with kitchen on wheels Another successful Kick It For Cans kickball tournament Goodwill Theatre gets nearly $5 million grant to expand operation Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNET
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Considering Getting a Heat Pump? Everything You Need to Know
Summer heat is rolling in, which means you need cooling. On the other hand, if you're in a cooler area, you may need heating. Either way, a heat pump is a solid choice for temperature control year-round. In fact, heat pumps outsold gas furnaces in 2023 and that's not surprising. Heat pumps do a better job than air conditioners and they also cost less to run in comparison to gas furnaces and other traditional temperature control methods. A recent CNET survey revealed that 78% of Americans are stressed about high electricity bills, and if that sounds like you, a heat pump may be able to save you some money. Your mileage will depend on the circumstances. No matter where you live, there's a heat pump for you. Director of product management for the heat pump manufacturer Carrier, Brooke Greenwood, says that heat pumps "really are technological advancements, and they perform better, which is why you're seeing a lot more of them." Although the HVAC industry is already big on heat pumps, the average American homeowner still isn't all that aware of heat pumps and how they work. A 2024 survey (PDF) by Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US says 44% of homeowners know and understand how heat pumps work, while 27% have never heard of them or are unaware of how they function. This stat shows that people don't really know enough about heat pumps and their advantages, which points to a need for better awareness. But are heat pumps as good as they're made out to be? Or are there disadvantages that homeowners should know more about? Here's everything you need to know about these appliances. Are there hidden costs of getting a heat pump? Whether it's your cable bill, your cellphone or buying a car, we've all experienced the "too good to be true" hidden costs that catch up with you after time. While there aren't necessarily "hidden costs," there are things that could affect the cost of installing a heat pump. "It's generally straightforward," Greenwood said. "There's really no hidden cost. But there are some things that you need to be aware of." New ductwork Not every heat pump will require new ductwork or even changes to existing infrastructure in your home. Traditionally, Greenwood said, "heat pumps will use the existing ductwork and just replace your air conditioning unit." But there are some exceptions. There may be additional costs if you swap out your traditional AC unit for a heat pump. JulPo/Getty Images For instance, very old homes -- especially in the Northeast and South -- may need some adjustments, such as ductwork or additional wiring. But generally speaking, if your ductwork is fairly new, you should be set for a heat pump. "It's really about the contractor who built the house or installed the ductwork," Greenwood said. "Those really haven't changed a lot over the years. So if it was done correctly, you're pretty much good to go." If you don't have ducts at all, there's a solution for that as well. "Some historic homes don't actually have ductwork going through the home," Greenwood said. "But we have a solution, which is our ductless heat pumps. They require minimal construction but would give you a heating and cooling solution that's quicker and more cost effective to install in that application." Permitting Broadly speaking, Greenwood said most homeowners don't require any permits to change to a heat pump. But every city is different, and some areas will have different requirements. And if you do find yourself in a home that requires a ductless heat pump, it may be because you live in a historic or otherwise protected district, which can be very strict on changes. So be sure to check with your local municipality's guidelines before making any decisions. Improving your electrical system The most likely change you'll need to make in order to accommodate the installation of a heat pump will be electrical upgrades. Greenwood said often, when replacing a gas furnace and an air conditioning unit with a heat pump, you'll require an electrical upgrade to move the connection from 115 volts to 230 volts. You may also need a larger electrical panel or additional wiring work. The good news is that there are federal, state and local incentives available to help you make that upgrade. One easy way to ease the burden is with a tax credit for a new electrical panel from the IRS. Higher electricity costs Electricity costs can vary dramatically depending on where you live. According to a CNET survey, 78% of Americans feel stressed about high energy bills. So if you're switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump that runs on electricity, you'll want to account for the difference in cost between natural gas and electricity. "[Heat pumps] can be more expensive to run with higher electricity costs, compared to the gas heat provided by a furnace," Greenwood said. Your utility company may also charge a disconnect fee if you're canceling your gas service altogether. In a recent Reddit thread about heat pumps, people expressed concern about the cost of switching to a heat pump. Some tout the benefits of a solar power system to offset electric costs. Home insulation It's not a requirement for adopting a heat pump, but Greenwood said upgrading insulation could be a key to ensuring your new appliance is working efficiently. This problem would affect air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps alike. But if efficiency is your overall aim, the installation of a heat pump would be a great time to improve your home's insulation. Your home's insulation plays a vital role in how hard your HVAC equipment must work to maintain a comfortable temperature. "[In a poorly insulated house], to maintain the level that you want, your equipment would have to operate more, as compared to a home that's better insulated and would hold the warmth or cool in," Greenwood said.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
A school district singled out by Trump says it teaches ‘whole truth history'
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - "Remember, your listeners are from Mars," teacher Susan Greenwood told one of her fifth graders at Brownsville Elementary one day earlier this year. "They know nothing about slavery, they know nothing about the Civil War." Greenwood was circulating the classroom, giving pointed feedback on students' writing for an assignment in her Virginia Studies class. The goal was to develop arguments to answer the core question in this unit on the Civil War: Was violence justified to resist slavery? The students had been tasked with writing a position statement, three pieces of evidence for it and a conclusion - and then turning those arguments into a podcast. Not just any evidence would do: They sifted through original documents - an 1837 flier for a meeting of abolitionists, testimonies of enslaved people, a transcript of abolitionist John Brown's address to a court after his attack on Harper's Ferry. The class is part of a curriculum that Virginia's Albemarle County school district developed after a deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, the county seat. That August 2017 tragedy helped spur district educators to consider new ways of teaching social studies that require students to think critically and understand key events from a range of perspectives, including those whose voices are often omitted from standard accounts. In early 2019, the district adopted an anti-racism policy that required a top-to-bottom review of district practices. Two years later, it unveiled a social studies curriculum designed to expand what's covered, including how those harmed by unjust laws and policies fought back and often built thriving communities. Nationally, the backlash to anti-racist policies and lesson plans like Albemarle's has been fierce in recent years. Since 2020, Republican lawmakers have tried to restrict discussion of racism, gender and more in K-12 schools, and at least 18 states passed laws forbidding schools from teaching critical race theory, an academic theory that has become a conservative catch-all for discussions about systemic racism and inequality. In Virginia, Republican Glenn Youngkin rode to victory in the 2021 gubernatorial race as part of that movement, and he signed an executive order forbidding the state's education department from promoting the teaching of "inherently divisive" ideas. Albemarle has twice been a focus of that backlash. In 2021, several parents sued over a curriculum piloted by one school they said was ideological. Local and state courts found in the district's favor, but the case appears to have put the district on the Trump administration's radar. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order demanding that schools end "radical indoctrination" or lose federal funding. A fact sheet accompanying the order that circulated online named Albemarle County schools and referred to one of the families who filed the 2021 lawsuit. The order, along with a Department of Education letter demanding an end to race-conscious practices in schools and other actions, are part of a sweeping effort by the administration to redefine discrimination and reverse efforts to embrace historical perspectives beyond those of the white majority. Educators and historians worry those actions will lead to widespread self-censorship on the part of teachers who may fear blowback even about historical topics as fundamental as slavery and Jim Crow. "If students aren't allowed to grapple with the more complex moments in American history, they're going to have an incomplete view of the U.S. historical narrative," said Jessica Ellison, executive director at the National Council for History Education. Related: A lot goes on in classrooms from kindergarten to high school. Keep up with our free weekly newsletter on K-12 education. Albemarle County's rolling, forested hills in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains are dotted with the mostly well-off suburbs of Charlottesville, including occasional brick mansions and grand estates. About 75 percent of the district's students are white and 9 percent are Black, while the median household income, nearly $100,000, is above both the state and national average. The 2017 rally, after which Trump proclaimed there were "very fine people on both sides," prompted school board members, district officials and students to grapple with the district's challenges with both personal and institutional racism. In the 2019-20 school year, Black students represented just 4 percent of those identified as gifted, 4 percent of those earning a more rigorous advanced studies diploma and 21 percent of district suspensions, though they made up 11 percent of the student body. The district set up an anti-racism steering committee of administrators, school principals and others that got help from a team of students. It also partnered with staff of nearby Montpelier, James Madison's home, to win a grant that would fund a rewrite of the social studies curriculum. Starting in fall 2019, teachers from Albemarle and other districts participated in a year of professional learning about Charlottesville's past, including its history of racial discrimination and resistance. They met with local historians and experts on Black and Indigenous history, heard from a University of Virginia child psychology expert on race and identity development, toured Confederate monuments and more. Portions of the new curricula were introduced in Albemarle classrooms beginning in 2021. The district wanted to be transparent with parents and the community about what was coming, said social studies coordinator Neeley Minton. After units for elementary school were written in summer 2022, Minton presented them to a group representing parents, students, educators and community members called Forward Albemarle. Later she and others held presentations for district parent-teacher organization presidents, parents and community members. Principals presented unit content to parents at family nights. District officials refer to the curriculum's approach as "whole truth history." A unit on the American Revolution has students read both the Declaration of Independence and a letter from Seneca tribal chiefs describing how victory in the Revolutionary War let the American government seize their land. That emphasis on multiple perspectives builds on general requirements in Virginia's 2015 social studies standards. The state mandates, for example, that fifth graders learn about both the state's post-Civil War economic growth and its practice of racial segregation. (The latest update to those standards, which goes into effect this fall, was the subject of a years-long battle.) Even the youngest students are asked questions designed to make them think through all sides of historical and political debates. In a kindergarten unit on citizenship, the question is, "Does fairness mean everyone gets the same things?" Students look at primary sources to answer and think through those questions. Related: The college degree gap between Black and white Americans was always bad. It's getting worse At Journey Middle School one day in February, seventh graders were in the middle of a history unit on the Harlem Renaissance. The question here was, "How can art be used as a tool for resistance?" The students studied art that had been taped to the walls: images of the Great Migration, a Langston Hughes poem, a photo of sharecroppers in the field and more. They wrote short answers on worksheets about what they saw. Who's the artist? What's their work trying to show? The worksheets were a way to get them started on an essay. "When you tell a bunch of seventh graders to write an essay, they're just going to put their heads down, and say 'I can't,'" said teacher Valerie Lewis. Having them combine short answers into paragraphs and those into an essay builds their confidence, she said. Classes that focus not only on oppression but resistance and resilience force students to see those harmed in a new way, consistent with the anti-racism policy. "A lot of our approach is helping students see the assets of communities that have been historically marginalized," said Minton. "That's why we focus so much on agency, excellence, resistance to injustice." Related: How do we teach African American history in polarized times? Sarah Harris, 45, has three children in district schools, including a seventh grader. Her child's essay about the Harlem Renaissance led to a conversation at home about current art as resistance, including street art and political cartoons, she said by email. The unit took something from the past "and made it real and relevant for my 13-year-old," she said. That contrasts with her own experience as a student in the '90s, when social studies involved textbooks, worksheets and multiple-choice tests, she said. "We very rarely had to think critically about what we were learning." The Harlem Renaissance class also impressed Zoe Hamilton, one of Lewis' students. "The art has meaning. It's not just art for art. It has power," she said. Seventh grader Maddox Ewing remembered stories of enslaved people drawing escape routes in the braids of their hair, which they read in another unit. Seventh grader Finch Carlson said she likes that teachers make them give solid proof for their opinions. In a unit on New York City tenements, it wasn't enough to say she thought conditions were hard - she had to describe what was in original photos and testimonies to prove her answer. Lewis wants students to be listened to out in the world, not just in class. "I tell them, 'Especially when you're still young, if you provide your proof, people are more likely to take you seriously,'" she said. And Minton said the curriculum prepares students for membership in a multiracial democracy. Since introducing the anti-racism policy, the district has had some limited success in reducing gaps in outcomes by race. For example, by 2023, the share of Black students in gifted classes had grown slightly, to 5 percent, and those earning the advanced studies diploma had increased to 7 percent. But suspensions for Black students climbed to 36 percent of the total out-of-school suspensions that year. The district continues to debate and refine the curriculum. Seventh grade history teacher Dingani Mthethwa said he wished the core question in the Harlem Renaissance unit was more open-ended. "We're asking how art can be used as a tool of resistance, but art can also be used as a form of oppression," he said, citing post-World War I art that depicted caricatures of Black people. Minton said by email that among much else the current version of the question gives students an opening to make reasoned arguments about how Black artists resisted oppression. A now-abandoned school curriculum is what ensnared the district in Trump's executive order. In December 2021, five sets of parents sued over an "advisory curriculum" piloted by one middle school that was meant to ease students' integration into secondary-school life, in part by helping them learn more about their identities and those of other students. It included materials the parents said indoctrinated their children and made them uncomfortable. For example, two slides talked about the idea of white privilege and defined anti-racism, which the families said promulgated "racial tropes" and caused one student, who is multiracial, to view his racial identity negatively. In June 2022, a county circuit court dismissed the lawsuit, concluding in part that under the parents' theory, the district would need to create individual education plans for every student and ensure that no student be made to feel uncomfortable. A higher court upheld that decision. The district took control of writing a new curriculum, rolling out the new version at an August 2022 school board meeting, and inviting parents to review it. No one objected at that or several subsequent board meetings, and there's no evidence there have been complaints since. The Hechinger Report contacted four of the five sets of parents who sued, but none responded to requests for comment. The fact sheet that circulated that referenced Trump's order charged that Albemarle's anti-racism policy is "based on critical race theory." The order called for three federal agencies to develop a plan by the end of April to eliminate federal funding for "illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination" in schools. (The White House did not return a request for comment regarding the fact sheet.) Then, on April 3, the Education Department sent letters to state and district leaders nationwide threatening to withhold federal funding to school districts unless they sign a certificate stating that they comply with the administration's interpretation of civil rights laws, including that diversity, equity and inclusion activities are illegal. Minton said by email that "there is no explicit teaching of critical race theory" in the district. But she said it's important to define the term: a theoretical framework asserting that racism is more than just individual prejudice but rather is "baked into" larger systems and laws. Albemarle students learn about state laws once requiring Black Americans to take literacy tests and pay poll taxes, for example, which suppressed their ability to vote. "It would be very difficult to dispute that racism against Black Americans was part of the legal system at that time," Minton said. District counsel Josiah Black said the district hasn't heard anything more from the administration and that officials weren't surprised to be named. "I don't think anyone was shocked," he said. "We're in a place, Charlottesville, that for whatever reason, garners a lot of media attention." He declined to comment on whether the administration might try to cut district funding and how the district might respond. District communications officer Helen Dunn, in an email, said any funding loss would be "a big blow." Albemarle County schools did sign the certificate demanded by the Education Department, Dunn said in an email. "We have been and will continue to be compliant with Title VI," she wrote, referring to the section of 1964 civil rights legislation that prevents discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin. It's unclear pulling federal funds would survive a court challenge: Two Virginia Commonwealth University education professors noted in a Feb. 11 op-ed that the order conflicts with U.S. law that forbids federal control of local schools. The Albemarle district said it won't back down from its anti-racism policy or approach to social studies. "We're not changing what we're doing," said Dunn. Black said the school board "doesn't have a lot of appetite" for making changes to the policy. "We feel good about the steps that we've taken to protect kids and to foster an inclusive environment here," he said. But elsewhere, school administrators and teachers unsure of what's allowed may avoid teaching certain topics. "There's this fear that parents will take it to a school board or to the news," said Ellison of the National Council for History Education, noting that a third grade teacher recently told her she skipped a unit on Frederick Douglass because of a parent's complaint. Back in Greenwood's classroom, her fifth graders were getting ready for their podcasts. As they finished their worksheets, she had them go to the hall to rehearse. "My opinion is that violent actions were not justified because at the end, everyone involved got killed," said one student, citing John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and a revolt by enslaved people led by Nat Turner that resulted in execution or exile for everyone involved. By contrast, the student pointed to Henry Brown, an enslaved man who in 1849 shipped himself in a crate from North Carolina to Philadelphia and freedom. "I feel like if you resist and you get caught and killed, it's not as effective as if you don't and you stay alive," the fifth grader said. Greenwood estimated that about a third of students came down in favor of the idea that violence was justified, 10 percent thought that it wasn't and the rest said that both were needed. "A 10-year-old's world is this big," said Greenwood, making a small square with her hands. "This is teaching students different perspectives. These were real people with hopes and dreams." Javeria Salman contributed reporting to this story. Contact editor Caroline Preston at 212-870-8965, on Signal at CarolineP.83 or at preston@ A local version of this story was published by Charlottesville Tomorrow, a central Virginia nonprofit news organization. This story about social studies curriculum was produced byThe Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter. The post A school district singled out by Trump says it teaches 'whole truth history' appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
