Latest news with #JenniferHawkins
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Lexie Brant, 21, crowned Miss Universe Australia
Queenslander Lexie Brant has taken home the crown at this year's Miss Universe Australia final in Perth. The 21-year-old model and occupational therapy student, who works as a medical secretary and has 6000 followers on Instagram, beat out 29 other contestants to claim the coveted crown. The natural beauty, who was smiling from to ear as was she crowned, follows in the footsteps of previous winners-turned-household names Olivia Molly Rogers, Maria Thattil, Laura Dundovic and Jennifer Hawkins. Miss Universe Australia shared the moment on its social media, writing that it 'can't wait' to see her shine in November, when Ms Brant represents the country at the Miss Universe competition in Thailand. Her win was similarly celebrated online, with Australians declaring it as 'well deserved'. 'You look amazing and must be so proud,' one social media user wrote. 'You are just amazing,' another commented. 'So awesome,' a third person said. Ahead of the competition, Ms Brant was relatively unknown – telling Gold Coast Magazine she was a 'quiet girl' growing up, never the first to raise her hand or speak up. Competing in Miss Universe, Ms Brant added, was a sign of how far her confidence has come. 'Entering Miss Universe Australia was about doing something original and intentionally outside my comfort zone,' she said. 'I wanted to challenge myself, not only in how I present myself physically, but also in how I carry myself emotionally and mentally.' She added that the experience has reminded her to 'stay curious' and has been just as much about 'inner confidence' as outer presentation.
The Age
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Why these public schools are receiving a $100m upgrade
The state government is ramping up efforts to keep gifted children in public comprehensive schools via a $100 million budget spend designed to make parents consider their local high school. In 2024, the state government announced it would roll out high potential and gifted education (HPGE) programs in every NSW public school, pledging $50 million for facility upgrades at select schools. Now, an additional $50 million has been promised ahead of Tuesday's state budget, to improve school science and technology labs, creative and performing arts spaces, music workshops, sporting facilities and design and technology workshops at 33 schools in western Sydney and regional NSW, as well as fund teacher training. Launched in 2021, the HPGE policy was supposed to ensure gifted students were extended even if they did not attend a selective school or an opportunity class. However, the program was available in only half of government schools. Enrolments in NSW public schools are falling.: 25,000 fewer students attended state schools last year than 2019, amid a rush to low-fee privates. Windsor High School principal Jennifer Hawkins said its renovations, including new science labs, soundproofed music rooms and visual arts rooms, should help attract gifted students. The school will also receive a refurbished admin block and it is working with council to upgrade its kiss and drop zone and external signage. 'We were selected as we have the potential to attract students to our school that we aren't currently attracting. We compete with some very nice private schools and independent schools and appearance appears to be important,' said Hawkins. She said the money being spent on aesthetics was 'minimal' compared to the spend on classrooms that 'will absolutely allow students to achieve their potential'. Department deputy secretary Martin Graham said the investment was to ensure 'parents can be confident if their child goes to a local public school they can be challenged and stretched'.
Boston Globe
09-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
One way to address R.I.'s housing shortage is by offering more home choices
Advertisement What's driving those high prices? First, it's the scarcity of homes; bidding wars regularly drive up prices. Over the last decade, Rhode Island has consistently built among the Many renters in Austin, Texas, are getting something no Rhode Islander would believe — drops in their rent at lease renewal time. After years of rapid building, Austin's median home price has Advertisement In 2024, Like newly constructed homes, new cars are also mostly unaffordable for low- and middle-income families. The average new car sales price last year was Besides a shortage of homes, what else is driving the high prices? The cost of land, labor, materials, and property insurance has soared. The cost of raw land jumped 15 percent from 2018-2023, according to the Advertisement And we've all felt the sticker shock from rising property insurance. According to research conducted by the In this political environment, the best option for addressing Rhode Island's housing affordability challenge is by building more homes. And the best way to do that is to smooth a glidepath to accelerate construction. Neighbors Welcome! Rhode Island is a new grassroots network of Rhode Islanders advocating to do just that. There are several common sense measures under consideration at the State House that could once again legalize mixed-income neighborhoods. These bills would make it easier to build townhouses and triple deckers, allow new homes on smaller lots that match existing neighborhoods, lift local bans on modest affordable home choices, bring all state permitting online, and make it easier to redevelop aging strip malls for apartments over shops. Jennifer Hawkins is a housing and community development adviser, a former executive director of One Neighborhood Builders, and a member of the Neighbors Welcome! Rhode Island advisory board. Seth Zeren is the co-founder and board secretary of Neighbors Welcome! Rhode Island, and vice president for development at Armory Management Company.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
AR 911 dispatcher awarded for de-escalating armed man
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — A 911 dispatcher was credited with de-escalating a situation involving an armed man on March 1. Jennifer Hawkins received the Distinguished Service Award from Sheriff Mike Allen after successfully talking an armed man into surrendering to deputies. Hawkins is one of 22 dispatchers who handle 911 calls at the Crittenden County Emergency Communications Center in Marion. VIDEO: Police chase breaks out during traffic stop 'You have to make sure you stay in the right mindset. You have to stay calm,' said Hawkins. 'You have to give it the best you've got.' She said that on that Saturday, she received a call from a woman saying one of her family members was intoxicated from alcohol and having a mental crisis. Hawkins has been a Crittenden County dispatcher for three years. This was the first call she had handled involving a reported mentally ill person armed with a weapon creating a domestic disturbance. Memphis airport braces for spring break travel surge She asked the armed man to take the gun and put it in a room away from him, and he agreed. Hawkins gathered critical information for responding deputies and got the armed man to cooperate and surrender peacefully, 'Public safety dispatchers, regardless of where they are, they are the backbone; they are the lifesavers. They take the call to save the life,' said Deranecque Sims, director of Crittenden County Emergency Communications. The Crittenden County Emergency Communications Center serves West Memphis, Marion, and Crittenden County. They have handled more than 6,000 calls to date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
