Latest news with #Kinkead
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
56 Threatened Turtles Born at Iowa Zoo Released Into the Wild
Dozens of Blanding's turtles were released back into their natural wetland habitat on June 4 Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Blank Park Zoo, and Iowa State University joined forces to raise the turtles that are considered a threatened species The year-old turtles were released with tiny transmitters allowing their movements to be tracked for the next two monthsA group of year-old Blanding's turtles were released from the Blank Park Zoo and placed in their natural habitat. Blanding's turtles are a threatened species, and as part of a partnering project between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Blank Park Zoo, and Iowa State University, the agencies worked together to help the population. "Blanding's turtles are so cool, they've got this bright yellow chin, and they kind of look like an army helmet with this dome shape of their shell," Dr. Karen Kinkead, wildlife diversity program coordinator for the Iowa DNR, told WHO Des Moines. The turtles' parents are native to the Iowa wetlands. Now that their babies are one year old, they were released into a marsh in Guthrie County with tiny transmitters to track their movements and gather data. 'You definitely want to be putting them into a good Blanding's turtle habitat where they're gonna be able to thrive, so that's pretty much made up of wetlands,' Elizabeth Lang, a research associate at Iowa State University, told Iowa Local 5 News. WHO Des Moines reports that Lang will spend her summer in the marsh tracking the turtles and monitoring their whereabouts. Over the winter, the baby turtles made the Blank Park Zoo their home. "The zoo's kept them over the winter for us, and they've kept them awake instead of allowing them to go to sleep for the winter," Kinkead told KCCI News. "So they've grown bigger than they would in the wild. Because they're bigger, it will be harder for some of their natural predators to swallow them whole." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Kinead said she has concerns about the Blanding's turtle release: "I'm definitely a bit nervous. I hope that they do really well out there." "To my knowledge, this is the first opportunity we've had to track the juveniles," Kinkead told WHO Des Moines. "And we suspect that the juveniles are not using the habitat the same way as the adults do because we just don't find them the way we do adults." Kinkead said she believes the young turtles spend more time in the water than the adults. The turtle's transmitters will last two months, allowing Lang and partnering technicians to track how the turtles spend their summer. WHO Des Moines reports that the Blanding's turtle was placed on a threatened species list due to complications in successful nesting and habitat loss. DNR is working to rebuild the Blanding's turtle population following a late winter storm that devastated the species 10 years ago. Read the original article on People
Khaleej Times
28-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Muna British Academy Finds a New Home at Saadiyat Island
Aldar Education's much-loved flagship primary school, Muna British Academy, is preparing for a transformative new chapter. Set to relocate to a state-of-the-art, purpose-built campus in the prestigious Saadiyat Lagoons community, the school will open its doors in August 2025 — not only offering its signature nurturing environment for early learners but also extending its academic journey all the way to British Sixth Form. This strategic move is more than a change of location; it marks the dawn of a new era for one of Abu Dhabi's most respected schools. In an exclusive interview, Graeme Kinkead, Principal of Muna British Academy, shares the inspiration behind this move and the vision that will shape the future of education at Muna. A Vision for the Future 'The world is changing fast, and we're preparing children for a future that we can't entirely predict,' Kinkead explains. 'While we've achieved excellence on our current site, the new campus gives us the opportunity to take things even further. Purpose-built innovation spaces will empower us to fulfill our long-term vision of delivering world-class education from ages 3 to 18.' This expansion also addresses a long-standing limitation: previously, students would leave Muna at age 11. 'Now, we'll guide and inspire them all the way through their teenage years, until they graduate at 18 — ready to make a meaningful impact in the world,' he adds. A Campus that Inspires From the youngest learners to soon-to-be graduates, every student will benefit from expansive, cutting-edge facilities. The new campus promises larger classrooms for collaborative learning, vast outdoor spaces for FS1 and FS2, and a host of specialist facilities for academic and creative development. 'Imagine dark rooms for photography, dance studios, a fully equipped auditorium, soundproof music practice rooms — even a dedicated space for coding and robotics,' says Kinkead. 'It's a dream environment, built for excellence.' The Saadiyat Lagoons campus is designed with innovation at its heart. With robotics rooms, design technology (DT) labs, and advanced art studios, the school will foster hands-on learning with modern tools. One standout feature is the leap in sports infrastructure: from a single swimming pool to three, including a dedicated training pool for younger students. 'We're not just adding facilities,' says Kinkead. 'We're enhancing experiences. This space allows us to bring our STEM, arts, and sports programmes to life — in ways we couldn't before.' Elevating Extracurriculars Extracurricular activities are a cornerstone of the Muna experience, and the new location takes this commitment to the next level. With eight badminton courts, two full-size basketball pitches, outdoor tennis courts, paddle courts, and cutting-edge music production rooms, students will have unmatched opportunities to explore their passions. 'We're welcoming incredible subject specialists to lead high-level ECAs — including a UK-based art and design teacher with university-level expertise. It's about depth, breadth, and quality,' Kinkead explains. Moving a thriving school community is no small feat, and Muna is approaching it with care and collaboration. 'Our goal is to retain what makes Muna so special,' says Kinkead. 'We're working closely with families and staff to ensure everyone feels part of the journey.' Through parent workshops, staff buddy systems, and planned student induction days — including interactive 3D tours of the new site — the school is ensuring a seamless transition grounded in community spirit. Raising the Bar for Excellence According to Kinkead, the move to Saadiyat Lagoons is more than an upgrade — it's a reinvention. 'We've always provided world-class education, but in facilities that no longer matched our ambition,' he reflects. 'Now, with cutting-edge design, technology, and learning spaces at our fingertips, we're shaping a curriculum that reflects the future — from AI to 3D printing.' Importantly, well-being remains a priority. 'We're designing everything around the child — their needs, their interests, their potential,' he says. 'This is about shaping confident, curious individuals ready to thrive.' As the school looks forward to welcoming its first-ever Year 7 cohort in 2025, Kinkead shares an emotional vision for the years ahead. 'By 2030, those students will be our first graduating class,' he says proudly. 'They'll be 18, stepping into the world from the halls of Muna — not just as students, but as global citizens.' He adds, 'We're not starting from scratch. We're carrying forward a legacy — and making it even better. I hope that anyone reading this can see how committed we are to putting children first, and shaping a future-ready curriculum that empowers them to change the world.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Efforts to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Negotiations over Pennsylvania's state budget are ongoing. Governor Josh Shapiro wants marijuana legalization to be a part of it and so do some lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle. 'Everybody is recognizing that that legalizing cannabis is not an ask question anymore,' said Democratic State Rep. Emily Kinkead of Allegheny County. 'It's a when and how.' Kinkead alongside Republican State Rep. Abby major proposed legislation that would legalize adult use cannabis. 'I think it's largely similar to the bill that I introduced last session with Representative Kaufer, but it includes some updates from stakeholders,' Kinkead added. This new legislation aims to establish a regulated cannabis market in Pa while prioritizing public safety and public health. 'We are seeing more and more drugs on the illicit market, not just cannabis and not just opioids that are laced with fentanyl and other drugs that are not what people think that they are buying,' she explained. 'So, legalizing cannabis allows us the ability to tell people what it is that they are buying and that they can rely on it.' This legislation could potentially boost the economy too. 'We need more revenue streams,' Kinkead said. 'You know, this legalization, you know, could create upwards of 30,000 jobs and good like family sustaining jobs.' Easter services celebrated across Midstate While some – like Dale Mohan of Dauphin County — support this legislation. 'I don't see a problem with it,' he said. 'I think people are doing it anyway. And hell, it's already legal to a certain extent. If you have a marijuana card or things like that. So, I mean, I think just make it legal way around.' Others are not in favor of marijuana becoming legalized in the Commonwealth. 'I'm definitely on the fence,' said Tamara Ehler of Cumberland County. 'I think my views over the past year changed about substance use. All substances, legal or illegal. Can be abused.' Keith Coyne of Dauphin County added, 'I absolutely believe marijuana is a gateway drug. Again, I think for certain people it may not be, but how do you take a chance with that.' Rep. Kinkead told abc27 News several similar laws have been proposed. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices 'This legislation with Representative Major is really just trying to make sure that we have all of the pieces of the of the narrative available when we're really seriously talking about how do we legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania,' she said. This bipartisan bill has not yet been submitted for introduction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmakers announce bill to protect genetic data
(WHTM)– Pennsylvania lawmakers have announced a bill that would establish new protections for residents' genetic data. One of the world's largest genetic testing companies, 23andMe, filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, leaving many customers concerned about where their personal data will end up. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now State Representatives Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Brian Munroe (D-Bucks) announced a bill they say will better protect Pennsylvanians. The Genetic Materials Privacy and Compensation Act aims to ensure that Pennsylvanians have inherent rights to the use and sale of their genetic material, according to a release from Kinkead. 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy. What does this mean for your DNA data privacy? The bill would require for-profit genetic testing companies to get permission from consumers before sharing data with a third party and ensure people receive compensation for the use of their DNA, per Kinkead. 'The bankruptcy of 23andMe is exacerbating the data privacy nightmare of tens of millions of Americans who entrusted the company with their genetic material,' said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. 'Personal data like DNA should not be treated as a corporate asset that is sold to the highest bidder. Situations like this are a huge wake-up call that the genetic data of Pennsylvanians will remain vulnerable to exploitation until we strengthen our laws around data privacy through legislation like the Genetic Materials Privacy and Compensation Act.' Kinkead says the bill draws inspiration from Henrietta Lacks, whose cervical cells were collected without her consent and used to develop the polio vaccine and were used in hundreds of other studies. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The State Reps plan to introduce the legislation soon. 'Our legislation reflects what people already know – that the information contained in their DNA belongs to them, and them alone,' said Munroe. 'While 23andMe's recent bankruptcy filing highlights the challenges some companies in this space face, the broader genetic testing industry remains highly profitable, with companies continuing to make substantial profits from selling genetic data to research and pharmaceutical firms. This bill ensures that people are notified before their genetic data is sold, that they have the right to approve or disapprove such sale and, most importantly, that they receive fair compensation for its use. It's time for companies to be held accountable and for individuals to regain control over their most personal information.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The children left behind by free lunch programs, and the proposed $250M solution
This story first appeared in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. Sign up for free here. When Angela Girol's students started getting free breakfast and lunch in 2020, the fourth grade teacher saw huge improvements in their focus and mood. '[I'll be] standing in the hall, and they'll come up and give you a hug, because they're happy, and their tummies are full, instead of just walking by you and not looking at you, because they're hungry,' said Girol, who works in suburban Pittsburgh. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded these meals during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, suspending income rules so all K-12 students in the U.S. could eat breakfast and lunch at no cost. After the federal support ended in June 2022, Pennsylvania continued to provide free breakfast at public schools but went back to charging students for lunch depending on their income. Federal meal programs still waive costs for the state's poorest children, but nearly 50,000 Pennsylvania kids live in households with incomes just outside the range to qualify for even reduced lunch. Other families that can receive this aid are too embarrassed to admit they need assistance and choose not to apply. This results in some students going hungry, putting them at greater risk of bad grades, suspensions, and illness. If they eat a school meal that they can't afford, they risk incurring debt and shame. The solution to this knot of economic, health, and caregiving problems, advocates argue, is universal free lunch. Last session, state Rep. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny) introduced a bill that would provide free school lunch to all kids regardless of their family income, and another that would erase meal debt. She plans to reintroduce both, and argues free lunch would help students now and far into the future. 'It's a really simple, really basic way of addressing a lot of the issues that contribute to kids not becoming successful adults,' she told Spotlight PA. During the 2022-23 school year, 56.6% of Pennsylvania's public school children qualified for free or reduced lunch, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Based on current participation, Kinkead said her free lunch bill would cost roughly $250 million per year if federal funding levels remain unchanged. There's a possibility that Congress will cut funding to the USDA's nutrition program for K-12 schools in low-income areas. If this happens, Kinkead estimated that providing free lunch could cost Pennsylvania taxpayers as much as $500 million a year. The universal school lunch bill died in a Democratic-led state House committee last session. The debt elimination bill passed the state House with all Democrats on board, as well as several Republicans. However, it was not taken up in the Republican-controlled state Senate. Kinkead told Spotlight PA that she's hopeful for GOP support this session, noting previous Republican support for her school debt bill. 'It's hard to vote against feeding kids, but it has to be brought up for a vote,' she said. More than half of Pennsylvania's 3,200 public and nonprofit private schools are enrolled in a USDA program that pays between 40% and 100% of food costs based on the percentage of students who already qualify for free meals. At schools that don't participate, annual household income determines whether kids qualify for free lunch. For a family of four, that amount can be no more than 130% of the federal poverty level, or $40,560. To receive lunch at a reduced cost, a family of four's income in 2024 must not exceed 185% of the federal poverty level, or $57,720 per year. Kinkead said her legislation would especially benefit kids whose family incomes are just over that threshold. Kids in this group — from households neither decisively poor nor middle class — are more likely to not get enough nutritious food. Unless school lunch is free to all, there will always be kids whose parents earn a little too much for them to qualify, warned Nicole Melia, the public policy and legislative chair for the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania, which represents school food service administrators, dietitians, and cafeteria staff. Part of the problem, she explained, is federal rules for free and reduced school meals don't take into account varying costs of living. Families in Philadelphia and Elk County are subject to the same income standard, a uniformity that overlooks significant differences in the costs of housing and food. Universal school lunches can have a positive impact on attendance, academic performance, and children's health, research shows. School lunches, on average, are healthier than what kids bring from home because cafeterias must adhere to federal nutrition standards that limit sugar and sodium and require a certain amount of fruits, vegetables, and grains. On the flip side, food insecurity can have devastating consequences. Daniel R. Taylor, a board member of Pennsylvania's chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics who supports free lunch policies, said in an email that children who deal with the issue have weaker immune systems, visit emergency rooms more often, and experience more developmental delays compared to kids with consistent access to nutritious meals. There can also be a serious financial cost in the form of school lunch debt. The Pennsylvania Department of Education doesn't collect data on school lunch debt, nor does the federal government, so the extent of this issue is not known. When a family doesn't pay their child's lunch debt, school districts decide whether to absorb the unpaid bill or send it to collections, which might hurt a parent's credit score. 'Those are the families that we're seeing rack up negative debt. They can't make payments,' Melia said. Nick Marcil of the Debt Collective, a national organization that advocates for debt cancellation, recalled feeling shame as a public high school student near Philadelphia. When his father was out of work, his mom signed Marcil and his brother up for free lunch. Marcil said he questioned whether he deserved this support but also was relieved that he could eat lunch and not worry about how it would impact his family's budget. 'I'm sure that it is the case for so many other students across Pennsylvania,' said Marcil, who was part of the push that led the Bristol Borough School District to cancel nearly $22,000 of meal debt. Melia also saw the effects of stigma when she managed the meal program at Great Valley School District in Chester County. Before the pandemic, the only kids who got school breakfast were those from low-income families. One morning, one of Melia's favorite students came in late, so she gave the little girl a meal to take to class. But the student threw the food away. 'She was ashamed,' said Melia. 'She was a free student. It was not universally accepted.' In addition to stigma, there are other reasons that kids go hungry, said Kinkead. Parents might be struggling with large medical bills, or they might be afraid to ask for financial help because a member of their household is undocumented. Others will withhold food as a form of abuse. 'There are a lot of factors that we can't take into account on paper,' she said. Back in Pittsburgh, Girol the teacher said she'd like more students to benefit from school lunch and thinks providing it for free would help. She sees too many sack lunches that lack the right nutrition for kids to learn and grow. 'You open up their lunch box and it's like, all their Valentine candy and their Halloween candy is in there, and it's a Pop-Tart,' she said. If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
