Give Pitt this much credit as it sinks toward the bottom of the ACC standings:

The Panthers do the tough stuff as well as any team in the conference.

Yes, Pitt has lost seven of nine and no longer is a middle-of-the-pack ACC team, but in the areas of defense, offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers, few teams in the conference are better.

Pitt ranks fourth in the ACC in average points allowed (64.4), and only two conference teams hit the offensive glass as successfully as Pitt (333 offensive rebounds).

Victories and defeats are based on shooting and scoring, however, and that has been a problem. Pitt is 13th in average points (65.5) and 14th in shooting percentage (40.6).

Still, there are reasons to carry hope into the last three games of the regular season.

Lets look at three of them:

1. Pitt is pesky on defense

A good example of that was a steal by Xavier Johnson late in Saturdays 59-56 loss to Virginia.

Seconds after he scored to cut the Virginia lead to four, Johnson rushed Virginia guard Kihei Clark from behind it looked like Clark never saw him made the steal off a dribble, scored on a layup and was fouled.

Those were Pitts last points of the game. Johnson missed the free throw, and Pitt squandered subsequent chances to win or force overtime.

But the Panthers didnt roll over after trailing by 14 with 6 minutes, 24 seconds left.

The last four minutes, they made some plays, Virginia coach Tony Bennett said. They attacked.

The steal by Johnson was Virginias 16th turnover of the game, which shouldnt be a surprise to anyone watching Pitt this season. Pitt opponents commit an average of 15.4 (14.4 in ACC games). Pitt leads the conference in turnover margin (plus-3.6) and is second in turnovers forced (431).

We were the aggressor, Johnson said. Were a good defensive team. Thats where we excel.

That is small progress because it occurred in another defeat, but it is an indicator coach Jeff Capel hasnt lost his team.

2. Can Pitt beat Syracuse?

Pitt has lost six in a row to the Orange, who visit Petersen Events Center on Wednesday in the final home game of the season. That includes three last season by margins of 11, nine and 14 points and this seasons 69-61 defeat at the Carrier Dome.

Syracuse (15-12, 8-8) is 2-5 since the most recent meeting, and Pitt scored 40 points in the second half of that game. The Panthers have done that only five times in 34 halves against ACC teams. Pitt shot 53.6% after halftime. Justin Champagnie and Terrell Brown combined to hit 10 of 12 shots.

Capel found a way to solve the Syracuse 2-3 zone. If he wins the battle of wits with Jim Boeheim, Pitt has a good chance for victory.

3. What about the postseason?

With three games remaining in the regular season, Pitt has fallen to a tie for 12th in the 15-team ACC, ahead of only Wake Forest and last-place North Carolina.

That would mean opening the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., at noon March 10 against the 13th seed, perhaps one of the 10/11-loss teams (Boston College, Miami or Virginia Tech).

The Syracuse game is important for the Panthers (15-13, 6-11), not only for ACC seeding, but to give them a shot at 17 victories entering the tournament and 19 to present to the NIT committee.

Is that looking too far ahead? Capel would offer a definitive, Yes!

Pitt probably needs to win four more games to even be considered an NIT bubble team. That wont be easy.

How bad does that Nicholls State loss look now?

Get the latest news about Pitt basketball and all things Panthers athletics.

Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry by email at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

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Even in losses, Pitt showing signs of progress - TribLIVE

DUNBARTON A Concord man was arrested on burglary and other charges after being found inside a house by the homeowners, who called police and kept him there, police said.

Kerry Whittier was charged with burglary, criminal trespassing, possession of a controlled/narcotic drug and default or breach of bail conditions after his arrest Friday night, police said in a release.

Police responded to a home on Gile Hill Road around 9:50 p.m. Friday after the homeowners called to report a burglary in progress, saying an unknown individual had pulled a vehicle inside the garage to avoid detection and was still there, according to the release. The homeowners were able to prevent the man from leaving until police arrived, the release said.

Whittier, who police said was in possession of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest, was taking to the Merrimack County House of Corrections and held on preventative detention pending his arraignment scheduled for Monday in Merrimack County Superior Court, according to the release.

At the time of his arrest, Whittier was out on bail for three separate criminal trespassing offenses and one default or breach of bail conditions offense in another jurisdiction, police said.

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Concord man arrested after homeowners report burglary in progress - The Union Leader

ROME Since Pope Francis convened a historic summit at the Vatican one year ago to address clergy sex abuse and accountability, much has been done, but advocates say more is needed.

Dozens of experts, abuse survivors and their advocates came to Rome the same week as the summits anniversary to emphatically reiterate the need to never let ignorance, complacency or denial ever take hold again and to make the church safe for everyone.

The advocacy groups held media events and worked on talking to as many Vatican officials and religious leaders as possible to highlight still unaddressed concerns such as abuse by women religious, transparency in past and current Vatican investigations of known abusers and the likelihood of ever seeing zero tolerance for known predators.

However, significant measures have been rolled out piecemeal over the year. Here is a rundown of the most major changes:

Pope Francis approved a sweeping new law and set of safeguarding guidelines for Vatican City State and the Roman Curia in March, just a month after the Feb. 21-24 Vatican summit.

The new law On the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, beefed up existing criminal laws for Vatican City State and mandates quick reporting of suspected or known abuse to the Vatican tribunal. It covers all forms of physical and emotional abuse not just sexual violence through coercion as well as serious forms of mistreatment, neglect, abandonment and exploitation against minors, who are below the age of 18, and vulnerable adults. Any Vatican employee around the world can be tried by the Vatican court for violations.

This new law on child protection was meant to better comply with the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocol, since legal amendments made in 2013 brought Vatican law into detailed compliance with several international treaties the Vatican had signed over the past decades.

While Vatican City State is a tiny country with few residents, the move was also meant to be a role model for the rest of the church and those places or institutions still lacking concrete, clear guidelines and procedures.

In May, Pope Francis issued Vos estis lux mundi (You are the light of the world) for the universal church.

The papal mandate revised and clarified norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable in protecting minors as well as in protecting members of religious orders and seminarians from abuse. It requires all priests and religious to report suspected abuse or cover-ups and encourages any layperson to report through a now-mandated reporting system or office that must be set up in each diocese by June of this year.

It insists leaders will be held accountable not only with suspected cases of committing abuse themselves, but also accusations of interfering with, covering up or failing to address abuse accusations of which they were aware.

No matter what local or national cultures or laws say, for the universal church, the document defined a minor as anyone under the age of 18 and included those who can be defined a vulnerable person and what is considered to be child pornography. It also established that bishops and religious superiors are accountable not just for protecting minors but also for protecting seminarians, novices and members of religious orders from violence and sexual abuse stemming from an abuse of power.

The document was a follow-up to Pope Francis 2016 document, As a Loving Mother, and together, the two documents are meant to correct what had been a lack of or unclear procedures for investigating the way a bishop, and now religious superiors, comply with already established norms against abuse and clearly expressing the consequences of noncompliance or cover-ups.

The latest, most recent change was in December, when Pope Francis waived the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse.

Abuse survivors had long called for lifting the obligation, saying it had been abused or used in ways to cover up misconduct and crimes.

Now, not only are victims and witnesses free to discuss their case, the amended law specifies that the still-in-effect obligation of Vatican officials to maintain confidentiality shall not prevent complying with civil laws, including mandatory reporting and following legal court orders.

The same day he released the instruction in December, the pope issued a number of amendments to Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela (Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments) from 2001.

Pope Francis changed the age defining a child from 14 to under 18 regarding what qualifies as child pornography, and the procedural norms for how the tribunal of the doctrinal congregation is to be composed and conducted was spelled out.

He removed the requirement that the legal representative of the accused be a priest, allowing the role of advocate or procurator to be any qualified member of the faithful who has a doctorate in canon law and is approved by the presiding judge.

The pope has other big decisions and changes still coming, Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told Vatican News Feb. 20.

This journey is not over. Soon there will be other steps, seen and prepared over this year, he said.

The step-by-step process, he said, is meant to help the church develop a culture of attention and prevention that never ends.

Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesnt come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux by giving a small amount monthly, or with a onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.

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One year after abuse summit, church reviews progress, additional needs - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

Phyllis Cowling, CEO of United Regional Published 7:00 a.m. CT Feb. 23, 2020

United Regional Health Care System finished the renovation of the emergency room in January 2017.(Photo: Richard Carter)

United Regional continued advancing our passion of providing excellence in health care for the communities we serve in 2019.

Over the last year, we transitioned to a new electronic health record, received national honors for our commitment to patient safety, expanded services and space at the Barnett Road Medical Building, and partnered with the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank and Midwestern State University to improve access to quality health care now and in the future.

2019 System Recognitions:

United Regional received re-certification as a Primary Stroke Center and again earned advanced certification in Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement by the Joint Commission.

We also earned an A in both the Spring and Fall Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade making this our eighth A rating in a row, a sequence which began in the Spring of 2016. This designation recognizes efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. More than 2,600 hospitals were graded; only 33% of those earned an A.

United Regional was once again verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee, demonstrating we not only have the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients from the pre-hospital phase through rehabilitation.

And, United Regional was surprised and honored to be named the 2019 Member of the Year by the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce & Industry. We are obviously passionate about providing excellence in health care for the communities we serve, and this award recognized the role we play as an overall community leader.

New Physicians to United Regional Physician Group:

In 2019, we welcomed four new physicians to United Regional Physician Group: Dr. Kevin Bedford, OB/GYN; Dr. Michael Henderson, Family Medicine; Dr. Rabia Khan, Neurology; and Dr. Paul Morrison, Urology. With the addition of Dr. Khan, United Regional Physician Group now offers advanced diagnostic testing and treatment for a wide range of neurological symptoms and conditions.

United Regional also helped to recruit the following physicians to our community: Dr. Tilahun Belay, Internal Medicine; Bukola Esho, Internal Medicine; Dr. Robert Funk, Neurosurgery; Dr. Bhavika Gandhi, Internal Medicine; Dr. Kyle Howard, Pediatrics; Dr. Valmy Ngomba, Internal Medicine; Dr. Hollie Rose, OB/GYN; Dr. Derick Sager, Anesthesiology; Dr. Adam Schwalm, Pediatrics; Dr. Bryan Stroud, Hospitalist; and Dr. Dawncheerie Walker, Family Medicine.

Services:

On April 6, United Regional transitioned to a new electronic health record, Epic an integrated technology system that is helping transform health care, and health, for our patients and our community. A key benefit of Epic is that it improves patient safety with the most up-to-date and accurate health information in one system. This results in better continuity of care, both within and outside the walls of United Regional.

In an effort to improve community health, United Regional proudly partnered with the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank to implement a Mobile Food Pantry. Many people who face food insecurity are elderly, disabled, facing health issues and/or have small children. The Mobile Food Pantry enables a team to reach these especially vulnerable populations by bringing the pantry to them. With staff from both the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank and United Regional, food is being distributed six times per month to locations on Eastside and City View, along with healthy eating education, disease specific education, and blood pressure/blood sugar screenings. We believe this approach will help provide better nutrition and preventive care, along with management of chronic diseases, for high-risk populations in our community.

United Regional is also honored to have partnered with Midwestern State University with a 10-year corporate sponsorship agreement for the United Regional Interprofessional Education Suite in MSUs new health sciences building, Centennial Hall, which opened for the Fall 2019 semester. The long-standing partnership between United Regional and MSU Texas brings about exceptional educational and training opportunities for the universitys students and faculty, as well as United Regional employees.

On November 1, United Regional opened the Medication Management Clinic, a new model of care that adds a pharmacist to an outpatients care team to help manage medications. The services of the Medication Management Clinic are currently provided exclusively for URPG Rheumatology patients, who often have high-cost, incredibly-complex medication regimens. It provides the opportunity for a dedicated, one-on-one discussion between the patient and pharmacist to thoroughly discuss medications.

Location:

The newest expansion of the Barnett Road Medical Building opened on September 23. The expanded area adds 38,000 square feet to the existing building and is the new home for United Regional Physician Group Family Medicine providers. This latest development reflects the progress made over the years, and our commitment to continuously advancing the health care in our community.

As we reflect, 2019 proved to be another successful year and United Regional continues providing excellence in health care for the communities we serve.

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Progress: United Regional earning 'As' in number of areas - Times Record News

Mayor Ed Johnson at the Feb. 20 meeting of the Fayetteville City Council gave the 2020 State of the City address. Johnson during the annual address reviewed the numerous accomplishments that occurred in 2019, and looked ahead to 2020, where the evolution of Fayetteville as a destination continues to unfold.

Good evening, citizens of Fayetteville, Georgia.

It is indeed an honor and a privilege to give this, my fourth State of the City address as mayor of our wonderful city.

On behalf of the City Council and our great city staff, it is a great honor to report that the state of Fayetteville is excellent.

Before giving you a perspective of this past years accomplishments and a look ahead on what we hope to accomplish in 2020, I want to thank former council members Harlan Shirley and Kathaleen Brewer for their outstanding contribution to our citys leadership team for the past four years. We value your contributions to this citys growth and progress.

I would also like to welcome new council members Joe Clark and Darryl Langford with their positive energy and support of the strategic plan that was developed with citizen input a few years ago.

They have both shown a commitment to a cohesive and cooperative working relationship with the city staff and current council members, which I believe is a great foundation for getting this accomplished for the citizens of Fayetteville.

Again, let me reiterate that the state of our great city is excellent.

This is based upon the many projects that are currently under development, especially our new City Hall and City Center Park complex that we feel will engender even greater pride for our staff and citizens to have a facility that they can be very proud of, and that we feel will be a destination place for many activities for all Fayetteville citizens.

In January of 2019, community engagement was the unofficial theme as we began the New Year.

The city conducted and wrapped up both its National Citizen Survey and Master Path Plan projects, which were based on input from hundreds of Fayetteville residents.

These documents continue to inform our city staff and your city leaders about what you, the citizen, thought were priorities as we seek to move the city forward in a more positive direction.

Our Technology and Communications departments launched Facebook LIVE streaming of all Fayetteville City Council meetings to ensure citizens had access to meetings and events that seek to keep you informed.

The city enhanced its communications/marketing approach with the monthly news magazine being launched both as an in-print and online publication with another opportunity to inform citizens of what was happening in our city.

We have completed more than five miles of city roadway repaving projects, which is being funded primarily by state grants and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars that you approved in 2016, which has allowed us to get many needed projects accomplished or initiated.

We intend to continue resurfacing city streets based upon prioritization and available funding. Remember, SPLOST funding helps us meet the need to keep our streets in good condition.

The City Council approved the Downtown Entertainment District for Main Street Fayetteville, which we hope will further influence many family and fun activities to make our downtown a destination place.

We introduced our first-ever Friday Night LIVE event and partnered with the Fayetteville First United Methodist Church to host another well-attended Easterpalooza festival.

During the Christmas holiday season, we held the Annual Main Street Christmas Parade and Fayettevilles annual Christmas on Main Street event. This years event was the citys largest parade, and what was one of the most festive tree lighting ceremonies in the history of the event.

The Ridge Nature Area, that is managed by Southern Conservation Trust completed and officially opened the parks public restroom facility and inaugurated the annual Run the Ridge 5K, making the Ridge Nature Trail a viable outside venue for outdoor enthusiasts.

The Lane Brown Gazebo, located on the downtown square across from the Historic Courthouse, was completely re-built making it more accessible and usable for citizen activities.

We continue having Main Streets Taste of Fayette, and our amphitheaters Summer Concert series along with many other activities, to develop our downtown as a place for synergy, fun and community enjoyment.

There was a groundbreaking on the Whitewater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant that will allow a more effective and efficient water management and treatment which will improve the infrastructure for many years.

The City Council approved the much-anticipated Master Path Plan that outlines future sidewalk and multi-use path connectivity possibilities throughout Fayetteville.

Again, in October of 2019, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Fayetteville City Hall and City Center Park to be built on 10 acres of land along West Stonewall Avenue in the downtown district.

I am proud to report that our fiscal management and stewardship of tax payers funds and revenue is excellent.

The City of Fayettevilles Finance Department earned its 23rd consecutive CAFR award this past year. This is indicative of a city that has sound fiscal management practices and detail accounting. The city formed its own Public Facilities Authority and based upon our credit rating of AA+, the city is now able to fund many of the planned projects.

Yes, in 2019 the council voted to retain the millage rate at 5.4 mills, which technically was a tax increase over 2018, but it was necessary to maintain our rainy-day fund which allows for funding of unexpected contingencies.

We have made every effort to be fiscally conservative while taking advantage of a strong national economy to build and improve our citys infrastructure and customer services.

As you can see, the City of Fayetteville enjoyed a year of great progress in 2019, celebrating several milestones along the way.

Now, your city leaders are focusing on and preparing for what will become a very active and productive 2020 and early 2021.

Two of the most significant milestones we anticipate in 2020 will be the completion of the Whitewater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Upgrade in August and the new City Hall and City Center Park in the Summer of 2021.

As part of the new City Hall and City Center Park project, which is located in downtown Fayetteville along West Stonewall Avenue, the city is also looking forward to repurposing the old Fayette County High School gymnasium and the old bus barn that are located on the eastern edge of the property.

We believe that through public-private partnerships, we will develop the park spaces and the venues that will be a pleasant place for families and citizens to come and enjoy themselves. We invite you to go to the Citys website and see the plans for what we believe will be great amenities.

Fayetteville is growing at a steady pace, but this council and staff are being intentional and attentive to ensuring that our growth is effectively managed.

The mixed-use development on the west side of the city currently known as Pinewood Forest continues to grow and develop into a vibrant community for all citizens, and we believe it will complement the forward progress and renovation of downtown Fayetteville and the surrounding communities.

We have worked diligently and with great cooperation from Walton Communities and Meridian on the Square apartment developers to ensure we create high-quality apartments with a mix of retail uses in the downtown area to ensure the viability of existing businesses, while at the same time enhancing the vibrancy of our downtown.

We are working, without wavering, to ensure developers who want to operate and build in Fayetteville will meet the highest quality standards that cater to a variety of housing options for our residents.

We are working synergistically with our other stakeholders to include the Fayette County Board of Education, Fayette Piedmont Hospital, the Fayette County Development Authority and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce to address and hopefully satisfy the need for skilled labor and quality housing for young professionals that will enhance the citys future.

Were excited about 2020 and 2021, but let there be no doubt that this City Council and staff will continue to make public safety our number one priority.

We have hired and continue to seek high quality and community-oriented personnel for our Police Department and our Fire Department.

All statistics and available data reflect that Fayetteville is among the top safest cities in the nation.

We are not immune from the rampant and insidious crime that is occurring in our nation, but our Public Safety Departments are being proactive and vigilant so as to minimize the impact of crime and other unfortunate incidents such as fire and traffic accidents.

We have continued to attract committed and dedicated personnel in both departments such that we are fully staffed and seeking to hire and equip more highly competent personnel with competitive salary levels.

We are authentically seeking to create a culture and climate of visionary leadership and highly dedicated staff.

We will continue to cultivate a climate and culture for professional staffing in all city departments, utilizing technology and best business practices to ensure high-quality customer service.

We are working diligently to ensure balanced and responsible growth to provide a high quality of life for all Fayetteville citizens.

We seek to develop and establish effective public policies and strategies that will keep Fayetteville on a positive growth trajectory.

We will work with the Georgia Department of Transportation, and Fayette County to address the concern of increased traffic and develop alternative transportation methodologies and traffic management techniques that will minimize transportation problems.

We are developing a Highway 85 retail corridor study and a plan to investigate opportunities to redevelop and revitalize older shopping plazas and address the growing concerns about the future of the Fayetteville Pavilion.

Your City Council is unified in our desire to be forward-thinking and progressive-minded as we work with our exceptional city staff to make Fayetteville a great place to live, work and play.

We invite and encourage citizens to stay informed and be involved as we seek to make Fayetteville a City you can be proud to call home.

As always, it is the City Council and the city staffs desire for God to bless Fayetteville and may God bless America.

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Fayetteville Mayor Ed Johnson touts 'a year of great progress' - The Citizen.com

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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is throwing footballs again after elbow surgery, and he says his doctor believes hes on pace to be cleared to full activities before training camp.

Roethlisberger told Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his medical report was positive.

It was a good report. I got to bypass the tennis ball throwing for a month and go right to the football. Still going to be about 2.5-3 months until I get total clearance from doc but we are doing good, Roethlisberger said. It felt amazing to throw. It was hard to hold the smile in. Two more throwing sessions while Im out here in California and then headed back to the Burgh.

Last year Roethlisberger played in just two games before being shut down for the season. The Steelers nearly made the playoffs anyway, and this year they have to feel good about their chances of getting back into contention with Roethlisberger back in the starting lineup.

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Roethlisberger says hes making progress, will be cleared in three months - NBCSports.com

When asked about this states greatest treasures, the late U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan would invariably start extolling the one-of-a-kind virtues and wonderment of the New York City water system, and in particular the long underground aqueduct that drew needed H2O from the Catskills for delivery via urban taps.

Up here where that waters been drawn from for over a century now, as well as in those areas under which the tunnel aqueducts that carry it to our south run, talk has long had a edgier element to it as folks decry the loss of old communities flooded for the citys massive reservoir system, or the fetid water thats bubbled up from leaks in the citys treasured water transporting system.

This month, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection gave an update on its multi-year, multi-billion dollar project to clean, upgrade and rehabilitate the Catskill Aqueduct, after shutting down the structure that delivers 40 percent of the Citys water for 10 weeks starting last November. During that time, the City DEP announced in a recent press release, upwards of 200 workers were deployed at more than a dozen locations in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties to clean the inside of its older aqueduct, repairing cracks and other defects, and replacing valves that are connected to the 92-mile long aqueduct.

The work was long awaited for manyand a first act of a much longer production yet to unfold as New York City grapples with decades of aging infrastructure over the coming years.

In southwestern Ulster County, many are wondering whether it will all be too little too late. Thats where one of the two major leaks that the citys been monitoring since the 1970s, in Wawarsing, was long releasing millions of gallons of water per day, creating wet basements, contaminated drinking wells (and the need for a slew of state- and federal-funded municipal water systems), along with a recent property buy-back program. For over a decade, angry residents petitioned their local officials, and met regularly with New York City representatives, to plead their cases, speaking of health issues and lost investments.

The recent emptying of the aqueduct, and multi-decade project to repair its entire length after years of charting its leaks with the aid of robot submarines, will eventually include the completion of a 2.5-mile Rondout-West Branch Bypass Tunnel dug beneath the Hudson and begun in November of 2013.

All is in preparation for an even larger undertaking: the eight to nine month long emptying of the Delaware Aqueduct and rerouting of its waters via another new tunnel under the Hudson as the source of those longstanding Wawarsing leaks get fixed.

This complex project to rehabilitate the Catskill Aqueduct has required more coordination and flexible planning than perhaps any in the history of our water supply, noted DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza in the recent press announcement. I want to thank the laborers who worked around the clock for 10 consecutive weeks, the communities north of the city who prepared and activated their backup water supplies while the aqueduct was out of service, and our DEP engineers and planners who coordinated activities during the shutdown. While we are pleased with the significant progress that was made this year, much work remains to complete the project and ensure this critical aqueduct can serve New Yorkers for generations to come.

1.3 billion gallons a day

Sapienza pointed out how the currently in-progress rehabilitation project focuses on the 74 northernmost miles of the aqueduct, from Ashokan to Kensico Reservoir on the east side of the Hudson. To safely perform the work, DEP must periodically shut down the Catskill Aqueduct for weeks at a time. The first shutdown, which occurred in the fall and winter of 2018-2019, allowed experts to inspect the inside of the aqueduct, test methods for cleaning its concrete lining, and repair a few areas where leaks were known to exist.

Among recent accomplishments during the recent water shutdown:

The cleaning, from inside, of a total 32.5 miles, or 171,500 linear feetfrom a facility near the Wallkill River in Ulster County to the Croton Reservoir in Westchester County, from which workers removed a harmless, organic film by using stiff scrapers similar to squeegees. DEP estimates it will regain roughly 40 million gallons of transmission capacity in the Catskill Aqueduct by cleaning its concrete lining. A total of 800 tons of organic film was removed during the latest shutdown.

A total of 14,036 linear feet of holes were drilled into the aqueduct to seal leaks by injecting them with a special grout to fill the cracks.

Workers also removed and replaced the first two of 35 century-old valves located at chambers that allow the aqueduct to drain into local bodies of water. The remaining valves will be removed and replaced in future shutdowns.

All of this, mind you, is basically just prep work in anticipation for that major shutdown of the Delaware Aqueduct in 2022, the 85-mile-long tunnel thats the longest in the world, beginning at the Rondout Reservoir in Ulster County and conveying about half of New York Citys drinking water every day. Thats where the projects other bypass comes in from Newburgh to Wappingers and started last summer along with the shutdown to last between five and eight months. The leaking section of the existing aqueduct near Newburgh will be plugged and taken out of service forever.

The entire system started getting built in a burst of energy between 1907 and 1915, with Catskills water first reaching New York City in 1917. Much, at first, was created using a cut and cover method that involved excavating a trench and building the aqueduct at the surface. The Delaware Aqueduct was blasted into beingbetween 1939 and 1945, and now carries approximately 1.3billion U.S. gallons per day.

Talk about a means of drawing two views of the New York City water supply system a little closer together.

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Fixing the tunnels: Progress report on DEP's Catskill Aqueduct - Hudson Valley One

Vernon Carey Jr. got to show the progress that hes made in the rematch with Virginia Tech. In the first game, in December, Carey was limited to 15 minutes as Duke went to a small lineup to match up with the Hokies, who were double and triple teaming Carey with smaller defenders.

In the second game, Carey played 23 minutes and scored 16 points with nine rebounds.

He never played at the post before coming here, and so early on he wasnt double-teamed, the first few games, and he put up good numbers, coach Mike Krzyzewski said. So he was learning to play the post and then he was learning to play the post against one guy, and now people are double and triple teaming him, and that was difficult. Theres some changes in your offense but the main thing is hes developed poise, and hes worked real hard, and Nate (James)s worked really hard with him, so he continues to develop. What we tried to do tonight is not feed him from the wing all the time because when they do that, then they can baseline double and come from on top, but if you can feed him from on top, then its not the same double and hes got a little bit more room, so that was our goal tonight.

Matthew Hurt also showed progress. The freshman had just eight points and no rebounds in the first game. On Saturday, he scored 16 with 10 boards.

Matthew played great, Krzyzewski said. Really the defense he and Wendell (Moore) had on (Landers) Nolleyhe only had three points. Hes an outstanding player. Usually he takes advantage of the matchup at the four. Wendells not a four, hes an athlete, and Matt is more of a four, but he played like an athlete tonight. He moved his feet well, and that was one of the keys to the game. He really pursued the ball well in rebounding. He was going after it with two hands. That was one of his better games. Hes practiced that way, and hopefully, we can keep moving.

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Coach K on the Progress of Matthew Hurt and Vernon Carey Jr. - Sports Illustrated

$1 million will help fix a much used side street damaged by flood waters in 2018.

POTTSVILLE, Pa. The city of Pottsville is getting some disaster relief to the tune of $1 million.

That's particularly helpful since a much used side street in the city has been closed since it was damaged by flood waters in August of 2018.

Pottsville City Administrator Tom Palamar explains how a portion of Progress Avenue got to be in this shape.

Newswatch 16 was on Progress Avenue in August of 2018 as flood waters rushed over that part of the road.

The damage it caused has kept part of the street closed ever since.

Progress Avenue from one end to another looked like a river, people actually caught fish on progress avenue that day, said Palamar.

People in the city call the closure a major inconvenience.

To get around it, drivers have to detour into the parking lot of the Giant grocery store.

This is so horrible to get through after work, it`s definitely a pain to go in and out, every time, said Jesse Smith.

It`s messing with the post office, it`s messing with the local businesses around here and it`s messing with the patrons, it really is a big inconvenience, said a woman who only gave her first name, Crystal.

Pottsville just received grant from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for around $1,066 million to fix Progress Avenue.

Finally, finally it`s been a long time coming, said Crystal.

Palamar says now with the FEMA money secured, the city will work with PEMA, the state`s emergency management agency, to draw up the details of the construction project.

At this point we will now work with PEMA on the state level and bring the local, state and federal, be able to bring a bid package together, get it out, get a contractor and get done, said Palamar.

I`m glad that they`re going to get it fixed, you can actually go through the traffic like you`re supposed to, said Smith. I`m sure the postal people are pretty happy too about it.

Palamar says the city should be able to put the progress avenue project out for bid in about a month.

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Disaster relief funds to fix Progress Avenue in Pottsville - wnep.com

ROME As the Boy Scouts of America slide further into scandal with allegations of widespread sexual abuse continuing to go public, the Catholic Church also finds itself on the public hot seat again one year after a global summit on child protection.

Exactly 12 months after Pope Franciss historic Feb. 21-24 abuse summit, attended by the presidents of all episcopal conferences worldwide, both survivors and experts have reflected on what the institution has accomplished, and what has yet to be done.

Speaking to Crux, German Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, who was part of the summits organizing committee, called the event a milestone in both recognizing and accepting that the abuse of children and vulnerable people is a global problem, and that the Church must be at the forefront of developing and implementing best practices for safeguarding.

The head of the Pontifical Gregorian Universitys Center for Child Protection (CCP) and a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Zollner said being at the forefront means to protect children and the most vulnerable among adults and to safeguard their dignity and possibility for growth.

The priest noted that the Catholic Church isnt the only institution dealing with this, pointing to the Boy Scouts, which announced on Tuesday it was filing for bankruptcy after dozens of people accused members of the organization of abusing them in a period spanning decades.

Zollner noted the same reactions to abuse denial and cover-up is also seen in other institutions, including other faith denominations and public schools.

He cautioned against the Church trying to take the moral high-ground, saying we shouldnt think we can teach others now. If somebody wants to work with us to move forward, we are certainly willing to share forces.

Zollner highlighted several concrete steps the Vatican has taken to promote safeguarding over the past year, including the publication shortly after the summit of new guidelines concerning the protection of minors and vulnerable people.

Published in May 2019 and titled Vos estis lux mundi, new guidelines, among other things, make it mandatory for all clerics and members of religious orders to report cases of clerical sexual abuse to Church authorities, regardless of their ecclesial status.

Additionally, Zollner pointed to the popes decision in December 2019 to abolish the pontifical secret in abuse cases, meaning that from Jan. 1, 2020, onward all documents produced in canonical procedures involving sexual abuse can be submitted, upon request, to competent authorities in a given country.

This applies both to the documents kept in the Vatican archives and to those found in the diocesan archives, which were also previously subject to pontifical secrecy, he said.

Yet while Zollner is optimistic about the progress made, survivors have criticized the pope for not doing enough, saying the same patterns are still happening after the summit.

The pope has the ability, has the power, to command every bishop in the world to report sexual abuse to civil society. Presently, its up to the bishops to decide, or not to decide, in relation to civil law., said Tim Lennon, an abuse survivor and president of the Survivors Network of the Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Its civil society that gives this church any kind of moral compass. It isnt coming from within, he told Crux, explaining that in his view, the Vaticans new guidelines fall short of any effectiveness because reporting follows the Churchs hierarchical structure.

In the so-called metropolitan model, abuse or cover-up by priests must be brought to their bishop, and abuse or coverup by bishops must be reported to the metropolitan archbishops overseeing the area. In cases where the metropolitan is accused of abuse, reporting can be done directly to the Holy See through the papal representative in the country.

According to Lennon, the law is not effective, because its bishops investigating other bishops, which he said is what got the Church in trouble in the first place.

We rely on secular society, he said, calling the new model bogus.

Lennon said he believes the new laws are designed to keep the information within the Church. As long as they keep the secret, they control.

Similarly, Kevin Bourgeois, leader of SNAPs New Orleans branch, told Crux he believes accountability means to really lift the veil of secrecy and to be open and transparent.

They talk the talk, but they do not walk the walk when it comes to being honest with people who are in the pews every single Sunday, he said, insisting that transparency would mean not only defrocking top prelates convicted of abuse such as Australian Cardinal George Pell, who is currently awaiting ruling on a second appeal of his conviction of abusing an altar boy but also handing over documents to federal and state officials so instances of abuse can be investigated.

Claudia Labeguerie, an abuse survivor from a school for the deaf in Mendoza, Argentina, said she wanted to come to Rome for the anniversary of the summit because the popes promise didnt go through, it was left to words and not practice.

Weve come to demand evidence so theres no more coverup, she told Crux. Weve suffered a lot, abuse and tortureWeve come to tell our story. Because we got justice in Argentina, our abusers are incarcerated, but we need this to happen in the rest of the world.

Its not something that just happened to us, but this happens a lot in other countries, she said.

In November notorious pedophile priest Father Nicola Corradi, along with along with two others Father Horacio Corbacho and layman Armando Ramn Gmez Bravo were convicted and sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of minors at the Provolo Institute for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children, which also had a presence in La Plata and Verona, Italy.

Another trial is underway against nine women, including two religious sisters, who allegedly covered up and enabled the abuse.

According to Zollner, major results wont be seen immediately, but it will take time to fully implement change and apply Franciss new guidelines.

It is impossible for the Holy Father to snap his fingers and effect an immediate change, he said, but shared that in his experience, this change is already happening rapidly in many dioceses and bishops conferences.

In my travels, I see that work is being done to revise guidelines to accommodate the changes put forth by Vos Estis and the conditions for which pontifical secret for clerical sexual abuse casework can now be lifted, he said, noting that new offices dedicated to prevention and intervention are being established and the CCP is working vigorously to provide training to the personnel staffing these offices.

One hole Zollner said still needs to be filled is that while Vos Estis offers an initial description, the Church needs a better definition of Vulnerable People and well need to verify its implementation especially in regards to the establishment of offices in dioceses, including religious orders, and an accountability system will have to be put into place.

Pope Francis has acted decisively to implement rigorous legal changes for his own juridical territory of Vatican City State, he said, noting that this also includes extraterritorial Vatican realities, such as seminaries, universities, hospitals, and churches throughout Rome.

In each of these entities, people are being more carefully vetted and are obliged to report the abuse of minors and vulnerable people, he said, adding that Those who do not listen to such reports are themselves guilty of misbehavior punishable by law.

However, despite the progress Zollner outlined, for survivors and their advocates this change needs to happen on a much faster timeline.

Nadia Debbache, a lawyer with French Association La Parole Libre, which provided representation to the victims in the ongoing case against French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, who was recently acquitted by an appeals court of cover-up, said she believes the position of the pope is very complex.

I think maybe he tried to change but in reality there are no actions because there has been no change, its the same situation because the mentalities are the same, she said, adding that for its own sake, its necessary for the institution of the Catholic Church to change quickly.

Follow Elise Ann Allen on Twitter:@eliseannallen

Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesnt come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux bygiving a small amount monthly, or witha onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.

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One year after global abuse summit, reaction mixed on progress made - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY NOVEMBER 16: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his interception with teammate Jeff Okudah #1 in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Thats because elite recruits have joined the Ohio State football team, and with player development by great coaches have madereloading seem easy, even though it is not.

The team is about a week away from beginning formal spring practices. For the veterans, it is a time to refine their strengths. For the rest, it is time to separate themselves from the pack.

Last spring, there were worries about linebacker and offensive line, units that were underperforming and lacking depth. Now both units are core strengths heading into 2020.

Quarterback was certainly an issue too. it was just easier to feelcomfortable in Justin Fields becoming an immediate star with Ryan Day at the helm.

Expectations for this program in 2020 have not changed despite losing key players.

Here are two units that need to make serious progress this spring:

Secondary

Losing Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette and Jeffrey Okudah is a tough blow. Besides leadership and experience, they were the No. 3, No. 7 and No. 8 leading tacklers last year.

If there was one man up for the job to ensure minimal drop off it is Kerry Coombs.He lost Vonn Bell, Eli Apple and Tyvis Powell in 2016 and built a stronger unit for 2016. That magic is needed again.

Given the depth issues, I suspect hell switch back to primarily using two corners and two safeties.

Shaun Wade is the only returning player that finished in the top 15 for total tackles.He has one corner spot locked up. Look for Cameron Brown or Sevyn Banks to fill the other corner spot.

Both played well when Arnette was out with his injury. They also had the luxury of playing with experienced players all around. How will they handle full-time duties?

In nickel packages, look for the loser of the other corner spot and Marcus Williamson to fill the void.

Most will disagree with me, but replacing Fuller is the most critical need for the defense this offseason.The free safety has to be able to do everything.

Josh Proctor is the favorite. Hes definitely showed flashes of his capabilities, namely closing speed.

Even though his best game last year was against Clemson, our last memory of him is blasting Jack Coan to end the Big Ten Championship.

His athleticism makes him an ideal backend guy for this defense.

The strong safety spot is wide open. No one returns with any meaningful experience.

Ill say Marcus Hooker begins making his own mark on the program. Hes got the tools, and with Coombs coaching should make the leap to starter.

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Ohio State Football: Two units that must progress this spring - Scarlet and Game

(Nairobi) Sudans transitional government should accelerate legal and institutional reform and visible progress on domestic justice initiatives, Human Rights Watch said today, following its first official visit to the country in over 14 years. International donors should expedite assistance to support the transitional governments reform agenda.

Sudans leaders confirmed to us in our meetings that they are committed to ensuring genuine reforms and bringing to justice those responsible for the most serious violations, said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. Now is the time to implement these commitments and seize this extraordinary moment of opportunity to secure the democratic, rights-respecting reforms that so many Sudanese took to the streets at great risk to themselves to achieve.

Human Rights Watch delegation met with Sudans chair of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Khartoum, February 11, 2020.

On February 12, 2020, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chair of Sudans ruling Sovereign Council, and Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok met with Roth and Mausi Segun, Human Rights Watchs Africa director, and reaffirmed their commitment to hold rights abusers to account. They said that this included cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has warrants for the arrest of former president Omar al-Bashir and four other suspects for atrocities in Darfur.

Al-Bashir was ousted in April 2019 after months of protests in Sudan, which government security forces dispersed violently, killing hundreds of people after protests began in December 2018. A transitional military council took power until a transitional government was formed in August, following a power-sharing agreement between military and civilian groups. The transitional government is headed by an 11-member Sovereign Council for a period of 3 years, to be followed by elections.

At the ICC, al-Bashir faces five counts of crimes against humanity, two counts of war crimes, and three counts of genocide. These relate to allegations of murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, intentional attacks on the civilian population, pillage, and rape between 2003 and 2008 in Darfur. The transitional government should invite the ICC to Sudan to discuss the terms of engagement and moving forward with prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch acknowledged that transitional authorities have made important progress on rights reforms and accountability. That has included abolishing the criminal charge of apostacy and repressive morality laws, known as the public order regime, as well as criminalizing female genital mutilation and approving draft laws establishing commissions to work on human rights and transitional justice reforms. Human Rights Watch also heard concerns from nongovernmental organizations that there had not been adequate consultation with these groups on the new laws.

Human Rights Watch delegation met with Sudans Minister of Justice, Nasredeen Abdelbari, Khartoum, February 10, 2020

The authorities should carry out comprehensive justice system reforms to ensure that peoples rights will be protected at every stage of the justice process, ensure adequate public participation, and address gender discrimination by reviewing legal guardianship, marriage, and inheritance provisions, among others, Human Rights Watch said. Womens rights groups also told Human Rights Watch that they have not been adequately or fairly represented in the transitional institutions and have been calling for equal representation in appointments for state governors and membership on the legislative council.

Human Rights Watch stressed the need for the government to ensure that reform efforts do not trample on human rights, particularly in efforts to dismantle the former government. In November 2019, the transitional government passed a law to dissolve the former ruling party, confiscate its assets, and bar its members from political activities for 10 years. More than 20 former ruling party leaders have been detained and are reportedly held at Kober prison. The authorities should ensure that those arrested are properly charged, have access to lawyers, and are prosecuted in timely, open, and fair trials.

The authorities should also make known the whereabouts of Musa Hilal, the Darfuri tribal leader and former government adviser whose role overseeing human rights abuses in Darfur is well-documented. Hilal has been detained since November 2017 and is standing trial in the military headquarters with other members of the Revolutionary Awakening Council, a political party he formed on January 2014, his family members reported.

Many reforms envisioned in the transitional governments constitutional charter have yet to be carried out. The legislative council, which was to be formed within three months of the transitional governments swearing-in, has not yet been formed, pending a peace agreement between the government and opposition armed groups. Most of the rights-focused commissions have also not been formed, delaying organized reform efforts. Such delays impede the governments ability to debate key laws and policies that are critical for justice and accountability, Human Rights Watch said.

Institutional reforms, particularly relating to security, are urgently needed. Although the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) was renamed the General Intelligence Service (GIS) and no longer detains people, it is not clear that institutional reforms have been made within the organization, which has a record of rights abuses. The authorities have also not reformed any of the states other sprawling security institutions. Reforming these agencies is key to providing justice for past crimes and preventing abuses in Sudan in the future, Human Rights Watch said.

The committee set up to investigate the murderous June 3 crackdown by government forces on protesters outside the army headquarters has far from completed its work and, lacking critical resources, has not met international standards for investigations or protecting witnesses. Victims families and nongovernmental groups said they were frustrated at its slow pace and inaccessibility, especially for victims of gender-based violence. Government officials should ensure that this committee has the mandate, political backing, and necessary protection to investigate those responsible higher up the chain of command for planning and ordering the dispersal operation, particularly as a member of the Sovereign Council may be implicated.

The attorney-generals office has set up various new committees to investigate past crimes, including the killings of protesters between December 2018 and al-Bashirs ousting on April 11, abuses by the former government since 1989, corruption-related crimes, and crimes in Darfur. Investigations are ongoing, but legal immunities which still exist under a patchwork of laws remain an obstacle to prosecution, officials told Human Rights Watch.

In December, the authorities announced convictions and death sentences for 29 security personnel in the case of a teacher tortured to death in Kassala in February 2019. The prosecutions of security officers in a regular court, the first case of its kind, is a step toward accountability for a heinous crime, but the prosecutions should not be limited to low-ranking officers. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty under all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty.

Investigations and prosecutions of the full range of abuses by the NSIS are a critical part of a broader transitional justice program, but they will require resources and expertise. The government should seek assistance from international bodies and donors, who should promptly provide it on flexible terms both at the technical and policy levels.

Sudans leaders say they want to turn the page with genuine reforms and a transition toward a rights-respecting, democratic government that is accountable to the Sudanese people. That will require addressing the past honestly and forthrightly, not trying to forget or bury it, Roth said. Making this democratic transition a success will require securing justice and accountability for past atrocities, including the violent dispersal of protesters on June 3, and accelerating the most critical human rights reforms.

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Sudan: Progress on Rights, Justice, Key to Transition - Human Rights Watch

When families think about where to attend college, cost is always one of the first factors weighed.

Alongside cost, however, families need to research the quality of the degree. It is the equation of cost plus quality that can determine the value of the degree. And the value of the degree is what most benefits a graduate.

While keeping costs steady at MSU we are working hard to increase our value in a number of ways. I hope that you find these details meaningful, whether you are a proud graduate of MSU, a family member of a graduate, or considering attendance at our university.

Senior nursing students Courtney Brady, left, and Toni Barrow make their way to class in the new health sciences center, Centennial Hall, on the first day of classes, Fall 2019.(Photo: TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS)

The much-anticipated opening of Centennial Hall, home to programs in our Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services, began 2019 on a high note. The $42 million project was part of the $58.4 million in tuition revenue bond funds appropriated by the state in 2015, and marked the largest designation of capital construction funds in the history of the University.

This project was instrumental in forging new alliances with Shimadzu Medical Systems USA and B-Line Medical LLC, as well as renewing our longstanding local partnership with United Regional. The Shimadzu School of Radiologic Sciences at MSU Texas is the first corporate and public educational partnership of its type in radiological sciences.

Through these alliances, our students and faculty will work and train with state-of-the-art equipment and software that will set them apart in their fields. The building now stands as confirmation of the trust and support our state has placed in us to provide an educated workforce and stimulate economic development across our region and beyond.

The new Centennial Hall at Midwestern State University opens Friday afternoon and will house the nursing, radiolocal and other health sciences education programs.(Photo: TORIN HALSEY/TIMES RECORD NEWS)

Expansion to select doctoral programs has emerged as a new interest of MSU Texas graduates. We are now pursuing approval for not one, but two, doctoral programs. Programs in radiologic sciences and educational leadership would be the first for our university, and the doctoral program in radiologic science would the first of its kind in the United States.

Alongside this change for our graduate endeavors are our undergraduate signature minors to respond to student interests and workforce needs in fields such as cybersecurity, educational design and learning management, musical theater, and organizational psychology to name a few. Such advancements help us stay true to the value we know students receive from our liberal arts foundations; strides in our professional degrees show the quality of this important combination.

Affordability is imperative for our MSU families and no program does more to make a degree available to first-generation students than our Priddy Scholars Program. Middle-income families across the region have benefited from this freedom from the cost of higher education given to our students.

Priddy Scholars do not have to divide their time and attention between the workplace and the classroom, instead single-mindedly pursuing studies, participating in campus events, preparing for leadership and service roles in the community, engaging in international study, and selecting a career. Priddy Scholars stay enrolled at MSU Texas, with 90 percent completing their degrees without interruption. What we are learning from this program is helping us to design programming to help all students be successful and keep all MSU Texas degrees affordable.

Through the generosity of our donors, new fellowships and a professorship have been introduced to support faculty activities in the arts and humanities that enhance research, artistic endeavors, and teaching. These programs not only reward our faculty for work in their disciplines, but also serve to inspire our students.

Like the explosion of interest in the health sciences stimulated by the opening of Centennial Hall, the addition of Legacy Hall in 2016 led to enhanced support for our growing residential population. Just last month, we acquired property for our procurement service operations at the corner of Midwestern Parkway and Maplewood Avenue that will similarly open spaces for converting the Daniel Building, located in the heart of campus, into the Bridwell Activities Center.

We will begin construction this fall on the Cannedy Greek Commons, an initiative to provide space for the Universitys growing Greek Life population. Once this phase of the project is well established we hope to later add offices for our student government association and student affairs departments, as well as meeting rooms, a dining auxiliary, and a 150-seat theater to complete the activities center.

We are nearing completion of renovations to Moffett Library and are excited to see the transformation of this learning space. While libraries are still an important component in the campus experience, how students use those spaces has changed through the years.

We have added study areas on the first and second floors, designed and equipped to meet todays student needs. Additionally, enhanced tutoring and academic support services will be available for our student body.

Finally, we understand that while we serve students first, as a public university we also serve our community, particularly when it comes to providing a trained workforce in critical areas. Last January, we welcomed the Center for Nonprofit Management and Leadership as part of our Dillard College of Business Administration.

By expanding upon our resources such as faculty, students, alumni and facilities, we will work to advance the success of nonprofits and our community. In fact, nonprofits are so critical to our community that we have introduced a nonprofit management minor at the University. The minor is open to all majors and builds on the financial and organizational skills needed in the nonprofit sector.

Like the Center for Nonprofit Management and Leadership, the new North Central Texas AHEC center on campus, under the direction of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, serves an outreach to address community-based needs for health information. Their mission is to recruit, educate and sustain a health professions workforce committed to underserved and rural populations. We are pleased to host this center on our campus.

Also a leader in health-care outreach, the Wilson School of Nursing at MSU Texas is supporting the second phase of the Medically Underserved Specialization for Advanced Nursing Graduate Students by way of outside funding. The project received a $2.7 million continuation grant that prepares our family nurse practitioner students. Through this federal support, our students will be employed in primary care areas with academic and clinical training experiences in rural and underserved populations. A new focus on mental health medical management will further complete this valuable and competitive preparatory experience for nursing students.

And finally, the Kimbell School of Geosciences is now partnering with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center located in our Bolin Science Hall. This partnership is a natural fit that will provide opportunities for the USGS staff and MSU Texas faculty and students to acquire a better understanding of local groundwater and surface water issues.

When MSU Texas launched our strategic plan three years ago with a bold vision to build bridges for a vibrant future we could see our centennial celebration in 2022 on a distant horizon. Our work toward promoting a strong university community, pursuing new student populations, creating a destination residential campus, and stimulating a culture of engagement was on full display in 2019, and it propels us toward the boundless opportunities ahead for 2020 and beyond.

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Progress: New initiatives at MSU Texas enhance the value of students degrees - Times Record News

It seems each day a new story or report comes out on how a company is addressing diversity as a core value or priority. But are we focusing on the long-term and moving the needle on hiring and retaining women, professionals of color, LGBTQ+ employees and those with disabilities? While there is a lot of buzz, the actual data around hiring and retention has not significantly changed. And employees inside these organizations continue to voice concerns of racism and discrimination.

With the flurry of awards, articles, research and corporate programs, one would think that we finally were making some progress on corporate diversity. In January, Forbes published its annual list celebrating Americas Best Employers for Diversity and in December, Fortune, in partnership with management consultancy Great Place to Work, also published its annual list of Best Workplaces for Diversity. The methodology of both lists considers the diversity numbers and employee feedback on culture. Yet, the top 20 organizations on both lists are completely different. If we are measuring the "best" for diversity, shouldnt we expect to see the same firms called out as leaders? What measurement criteria is really being used?

In any case, it is imperative that businesses successfully build teams and cultures that are made up of different ethnicities and races, genders, generations, abilities, geographies and inclusive of the LGBTQ community. Companies that get this right will be able to attract and retain the best talent and deliver for their communities, customers and investors because they will be more innovative and competitive. If we are to make any significant progress on critical issues such as ending poverty and climate change, as set forth in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we will need everyone at the table.

Companies that get this right will be able to attract and retain the best talent and deliver for their communities, customers and investors because they will be more innovative and competitive.

The inconsistency we see in the diversity leadership listings is due in part to the inconsistency in how companies are being held accountable for their diversity data. Today more companies are disclosing diversity data. Companies such as Cisco and Salesforce provide detailed annual diversity reports and have even made their Equal Employment Opportunity, Survey 1 (EEO-1) data public. The federal government requires all U.S. contractors to complete an EEO-1 diversity survey annually.

While some companies are still at the other end of the spectrum, which provide limited public quantitative data or none at all, overall companies should be commended for the progress they are making on public disclosure of their diversity data. This data exposes the issue that diversity is not increasing in any statistically significant manner. This is especially evident when it comes to leadership roles. For change to occur in a material way corporations must hold themselves more accountable when their diversity numbers related to hiring and retention are not increasing in line with their public commitments.

While it is often difficult to change hiring and recruiting behaviors, using alternative recruiting channels can be part of the solution. This could mean expanded college recruitment opportunities, opening new sites in more diverse locations and making investments in nontraditional educational pathways.

Why not give Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) a try? There are over 100 HBCUs with almost 300,000 students enrolled. Fifty percent of all black lawyers and doctors are alumni of HBCUs. And HBCUs continue to be an important and often overlooked pipeline for black talent. They produce 20 percent of all black college graduates and 25 percent of all the science, technology, engineering and math degree (STEM) black graduates.

While we are on the topic of STEM, women only hold about 25 percent of the jobs in the tech industry even though they make up half of the total workforce. While the gender gap persists, the number of women awarded a STEM degree or certificate in the United States has steadily risen, according to Statista, which analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The number of male students granted a STEM degree or certificate increased by 38 percent between the 2008-2009 and the 2015-2016 school year, while the number of female students who achieved the same degree or certificate increased by 48 percent. Companies have to be more intentional in recruiting the technical female talent that is out there.

While the gender gap persists, the number of women awarded a STEM degree or certificate in the U.S. has steadily risen, according to Statista.

One example of the promise in alternate recruitment channels is found at Apple. Apple retail stores can serve as the entry point for diverse talent. Talent that otherwise may not check all boxes and requirements for a traditional corporate technical job could start in an Apple retail store and make their way into a corporate job at Apple or another tech company.

Symantec (now NortonLifeLock), where I previously worked, and JP Morgan Chase have partnered with U.S. nonprofit NPower to invest in an expanded pipeline of technology talent. These investments are in technology-focused job training, including the much-in-demand cybersecurity field. Veterans and young adults from underserved communities are prepared for quality technology jobs, placed into internships with corporate partners and then into permanent positions.

Perhaps there are other creative ways that companies could create entry level "pipelines" to increase their diversity representation.

While many companies have prioritized hiring diverse talent, it's equally important for companies to retain and engage that talent.

Precious J. Stroud, founding executive director of BlackFemaleProject, an organization focused on fostering the success of black women in the workplace, often shares her story of being told early in her career to change her name at her job because her employer did not think it was professional enough. This story could be added to the many more we hear every day where employees are made to feel uncomfortable bringing their authentic selves to the workplace.

To create a true sense of belonging, people who have privilege and economic power have to not only be willing to give up some of their power, but also have to actively fight marginalization.

Recently a Facebook memo surfaced on Medium reminding us that while inclusion is at the forefront of many companies' diversity messages, actually achieving a sense of belonging for all employees is still difficult to make a reality. Black Facebook employees reiterated their feelings in the memo and shared that "On the inside, we are sad. Angry. Oppressed. Depressed. And treated every day through the micro and macro aggressions as if we do not belong here." Facebook leadership vowed to listen and do better.

Donna LaSala, program director and professor at Presidio Graduate School, points out that to "do better" people who have privilege and economic power must "listen and believe the lived experiences of underrepresented community members not debate them, not doubt them." To create a true sense of belonging, people who have privilege and economic power have to not only be willing to give up some of their power, but also have to actively fight marginalization.

Building a more diverse and inclusive workforce, while complex, is a business imperative and is material to both stakeholders inside and outside of the company. Companies have made public commitments with minimal improvement. Perhaps approaching diversity as a long-term effort embedded within the companys overall strategy, with clear milestones along the way, rather than a quick fix and race to the finish line, will result in real, sustainable progress.

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Rushing to go nowhere: How can we make more progress on diversity in the corporate sector? - GreenBiz

Can the U.S. ever achieve racial equality? Many hope so, but half of black Americans say its unlikely that the country will achieve it, according to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center. According to the survey, many Americans have negative views of racial progress in the U.S., and more than half say it has gotten worse since Donald Trump was elected president. Others argue that racism is part of the fabric of public policy in the country.

If racial progress can be quantified, personal finance site WalletHub gave it a try, looking toward achievements in the workplace, schools and voting booths. To do so, they measured the gaps between black and white Americans across 21 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in four main categories: employment & wealth, education, social & civic engagement, and health.

They evaluated those dimensions on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of progress, then ranked the states based on their scores. Some of the indicators used to see the gaps between black and white Americans include the rate of homeownership, household income, poverty, standardized test scores, voter turnout, education level, and health factors including rates of obesity, diabetes, and infant mortality.

Click on the gallery below to see the states that have made the most racial progress, according to WalletHubs study.

1. Wyoming

Employment and wealth rank: 3

Education rank: 1

Social and civic engagement rank: 1

Health rank: N/A

Though the black population of Wyoming is less than 1%, Wyoming ranks among the top five states for the highest change in the gap between black and white Americans for median annual income and unemployment rate in WalletHubs study. Above, a living history presentation of the Buffalo soldiers in Cheyenne.

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States That Have Made the Most Racial Progress - TheStreet

Members of the St. Paul teachers union voted Thursday to authorize a strike over a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the states second-largest school district.

The St. Paul Federation of Educators said late Thursday night that two-thirds of its members voted and that 82 percent of voting members want to strike.

No one wants to strike, but St. Paul educators are fed up. District leaders arent listening to the people who know our students best the educators and parents who are with them every day, union president Nick Faber said in a prepared statement. The longer they ignore our proposals, the longer our students go without the resources they need and the schools they deserve.

The union says it will announce a strike date next week. A 10-day cooling off period will begin once they give formal notice, setting the stage for an early March strike that would close school for some 37,000 students.

Mediated negotiations are scheduled for March 5 and 6, and the parties are trying to schedule additional dates, district spokesman Kevin Burns said Thursday.

We are extremely disappointed our educators continue down a path toward a strike. Our students, families, coworkers and community expect all of us to work together and avoid a strike, and thats what I am committed to doing, Superintendent Joe Gothard said in a prepared statement.

St. Paul has several extra school days built into its calendar, but a prolonged strike would require extending the school year past June 9.

In 2018, the parties reached a deal 11 days after members authorized a strike and one day before teachers were preparing to walk off the job.

The school district entered negotiations last year planning to increase ongoing spending by no more than $9.6 million enough for a 1.5 percent pay raise this year and 2 percent next year for teachers, educational assistants and school and community service professionals.

During mediation Wednesday, the district offered an additional $1.2 million for a districtwide mental health team. That was a response to a union proposal for a full-time social worker, counselor, nurse and behavior intervention specialist at every school, plus more psychologists and staff mental health training.

After voting to strike Thursday, Horace Mann Elementary science teacher Sarah Bosch recalled standing with one foot in her classroom full of students and another in the hallway as she spoke with a child in crisis from another class. There was no counselor or social worker in the building, she said.

We need to stand up for our kids to get what they need, she said.

Rebecca Stedje, a sixth-grade English teacher at Murray Middle School, said students need more mental health staff.

They need just so much more than we can give them, she said.

The union also is pushing for lighter workloads for special education teachers and the hiring of 50 multilingual staffers, among other issues.

The union has proposed salary increases of 3.4 percent and 2 percent for teachers, who made $75,199 on average last year.

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St. Paul teachers union votes to strike over lack of progress in negotiations - St. Paul Pioneer Press

Destiny 2

Were closing in on the end, now. For the last few weeks Destiny 2 has been running a community event where players have to acquire ungodly amounts of a currency called polarized fractiline and donate it to a central obelisk in the tower in order to unlock some sort of mystery reward. This morning, we blew threw the sixth of 7 stages, which would be 6,000,000,000 fractiline. Somewhere out there I saw a fractiloan joke made. Now, were closing in on the final stage: 9,777,777,000 fractiline. Bungie likes sevens, always has. I dont know why the last digits arent sevens, but I blame Osiris, the lovable schmo.

This last stage might go a little bit quicker than the earlier ones, because yesterday the investors started to activate. Since the beginning of this Empyrean Foundation event in Destiny 2, a certain returns-oriented crowd has been urging players to put their fractiline into fractiline-producing planetary obelisks rather than donating it, saying that the eventual returns would mean far more total fractiline for the tower than straight donations. Its a bit complicated if you havent been following it, but the upshot is that there were a ton of people not donating fractiline for a little bit, and now there are a ton of people donating a ton of fractiline.

If you want to follow along in real time, check out this tracker. Since the announcement to the time of this writing weve already had 38,000,000 more fractiline donated, and it will assuredly be more by the time you click that link.

I havent donated a ton: a got some god rolls on timelost weapons, filled the 5,000 for the triumph and so forth. Im still glad that there are some people in the community that are willing to sit there and click that button for eons, because man does it feel exhausting. When we finally finish the donations well be able to claim the final seasonal triumph and thus the Savior title, so Im holding on for that. Mostly I want that pin. I like the pins.

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Destiny 2 Empyrean Foundation Progress: Were In Stage 7, And It Wont Be Long - Forbes

The United States has welcomed Ukraines progress in the fight against corruption and the implementation of institutional reforms, and also reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Donbas.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State StephenE.Biegun said this during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko in Washington,D.C., on February 21.

"Unwavering U.S. support remains crucial for Ukraine. New approaches not only in Kyiv - it's inspiring," Prystaiko wrote on Twitter.

According to the U.S. Department of State,Deputy Secretary Biegun and Foreign Minister Prystaiko discussed their mutual desire for a peaceful settlement to Russias aggression in Ukraine.

The Deputy Secretary congratulated the Foreign Minister on the progress his government has made to combat corruption and institute reforms. "The parties also discussed opportunities for further integrating Ukraines military, investment, and trade with the Euro-Atlantic community," the report reads.

As Ukrinform reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko is on a visit to the United States. The day before, he took part ina UN General Assembly meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

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U.S. congratulates Ukraine on progress in fighting corruption - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

A suspect has been nabbed after a student reported a burglary in progress at an occupied Vassar College townhouse.

It happened just after midnight on Wednesday, Feb. 19,Town of Poughkeepsie Police said.

Officers responded and obtained a description of the suspect.

A subject matching the descriptionwas located in the area by a responding officer. The subject was detained and identified asFranz L. Brandon Jr., 30, of the City of Poughkeepsie.

He was taken into custody following an investigation.

Brandon was charged with second-degree burglary (a felony) and petit larceny (a misdemeanor).

He was released on an appearance ticket to appear in Town of Poughkeepsie Court at a later date.

Town of Poughkeepsie Police were assisted at the scene by the City of Poughkeepsie PoliceDepartment.

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Suspect Nabbed After Student Reports Burglary In Progress At College Townhouse In Area - East Dutchess Daily Voice

Golden State Warriors star shooting guard Klay Thompson wont play this season.

However, that doesnt mean we cant still track his ACL rehab.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Thompson is slowly but surely rounding into form:

The Warriors were always going to be cautious with Thompson since they gave him a five-year max contract this past summer worth $190 million. Klays long-term health is very important to the organization.

Thompson averaged 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Warriors in 2018-19 during the regular season. The five-time All-Star shot 46.7 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line.

In the 2019 playoffs, Thompson put up 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. The Warriors lost to theToronto Raptorsin the NBA Finals in six games, with Thompson tearing his ACL in Game 6.

The Warriors will be playoff contenders again next season withStephen Curry, Klay Thompson,Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins leading the charge. This season marks the first time in the Steve Kerr era the Dubs wont make the postseason.

Follow ClutchPoints onTwitter&Instagram, and like us onFacebook for more news on Klay Thompson and the Warriors. We can also be found on Flipboard where you can subscribe and follow us.

All of our NBA content can be found on the NBA section of the ClutchPoints home pagehere. For all of our college basketball content, clickhere.

Follow Warriors or other NBA games live by downloading the ClutchPoints Appand heading to the scores tab under the NBA section.

You can listen and subscribe to the Battle for LA podcast on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, andSoundcloud. You can also find new episodes of Battle for LA, the ClutchPoints NBA Podcast, and Establish the Pass under thePodcast tabon the ClutchPoints home page.

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Klay Thompson showing real progress in ACL tear recovery - ClutchPoints