The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) may be fighting for its life in the courts, but the schools it oversees have almost universally started moving on. Just seven institutions that the troubled accreditation agency oversees appear to be at risk of losing access to federal financial aid this month, according to data obtained from the U.S. Department of Education through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The data that the Center for American Progress obtained provide the best picture to date on which accreditors the various schools are trying to get approval from. For example, the best known of the troubled institutional brands that still had ACICS campusesthe Art Institutesis trying to obtain approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Several institutions that have faced investigations from state or federal actors, meanwhile, are trying to switch to the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) will be considering one of ACICS largest remaining chains as well as a group of schools owned by a private equity company where Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos had investments.

Keeping an eye on what happens to these schools and others over the coming months will be important for ensuring that institutions are truly meeting higher standards from other accreditors and not slipping through the cracks.

For years, ACICS served as a rubber stamp for access to federal financial aid programs. As an accreditation agency, its job was to verify the quality of postsecondary institutions so that these schools could offer federal grants and loans to their students. But a CAP analysis showed that ACICS was often willing to look the other way when problems arose and even honored schools that faced federal and state investigations for alleged wrongdoing. Recognizing the host of unacceptable problems at ACICS, the Department of Education terminated the agencys ability to act as a gatekeeper to federal funds in December 2016. While ACICS continues to litigate this decision, the roughly 269 institutions it oversaw have, by law, up to 18 months to find a new accreditor.

Recognizing that giving schools a full year and a half without oversight from an approved accreditation agency represented a risk to taxpayer dollars, the Department of Education established several deadlines institutions had to meet over roughly a year to maintain their access to federal financial aid. The first of these was March 13. By then, institutions had to show they had an application in process with another accreditor. Those that do not have an application pending had to submit a teach-out plana document that lays out what would happen to students if the school closesand also tell students that they had not applied to a new accreditor and could lose access to federal financial aid as a result. These schools will lose access to federal financial aid for new students if they still do not have an in-process application by June 12.

Only seven ACICS schools appear to be at risk of losing their access to financial aid next month, according to the data. Three of them (Broadview University in Utah, Global Health College in Virginia, and Trinity College of Puerto Rico) do not have an in process application but have implemented teach-out plans and student disclosures. Another four (Jose Maria Vargas University in Florida, Pacific Institute of Technology in Georgia, SOLEX College in Illinois, and School of Communication Arts of North Carolina) have failed to meet all the required terms. Overall, these seven schools are quite small, with a combined enrollment of just under 3,300.

The more interesting story, then, is what is going on with the rest of the ACICS schools. Which ones are planning to close? And for those that arent closing, which accreditation agencies are they pinning their hopes on?

Heres what we know: There are 269 main campuses enrolling 527,000 students that received access to federal financial aid through ACICS. (The total number of locations is higher because some schoolssuch as ITT Technical Institutecombine multiple campuses under one identifier.)

Apart from the departments action, a large number of ACICS schools had already either closed, announced plans to close, or lost access to federal financial aid. All told, 52 institutions enrolling 159,000 students fell into these categories.* This includes institutions such as ITT Technical Institute , which shut down in September after the Department of Education banned it from providing federal aid to new students, or Minnesota School of Business and Globe University, which both lost access to federal financial aid after a judge found they had committed fraud involving these programs and several appeals were unsuccessful.

Only eight schools, enrolling 7,500 students, have closed since the departments decision to terminate ACICS recognition. However, it is not clear if they might have closed anyway due to the broader financial challenges facing the sector.

Eleven institutions enrolling 25,000 students, meanwhile, have already obtained a new accreditor.* All but one of these schools applied for a new accreditor prior to the December termination of ACICS recognition. The most noteworthy of these schools is Ultimate Medical Academy, a Florida institution run by former executives from Trump University. It obtained accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Notably, the Trump administration recently overruled a recommendation from an expert panel to reject a request from ABHES to approve masters degree programs. That means schools with approval from this accreditor can now operate at the graduate level, where the amounts of federal debt a student can take on are much greater.

Excluding closures and already successful accreditation moves leaves 199 schools enrolling 339,000 students with active applications at other accreditation agencies. Of these schools, 134 enrolling 221,000 students applied to one of two agencies: 47 schools enrolling around 114,000 students applied to the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), while 87 institutions enrolling approximately 108,000 students applied to the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). This count reflects unduplicated 12-month enrollment and includes some schools, such as campuses formerly owned by Corinthian Colleges, which had already applied for accreditation at a different agency before the Department of Educations action.

When it lost recognition, ACICS oversaw several colleges that faced investigations and settlements. Though many of those institutions have since closed or been sold, heres the status of the remaining schools: National College and Spencerian College are all applying to ABHES. These two schools were both sued by the Kentucky attorney general in 2011 and 2013 for allegedly misrepresenting job placement rates. The Spencerian case is still ongoing. National College, meanwhile, paid a fine in 2016 for failing to respond to a subpoena. Similarly, Salter College, which settled with the Massachusetts attorney general in 2014 over allegations regarding job placement, is applying to ACCET. Meanwhile, Daymar College, Fortis Institute, and Lincoln Technical Institute are all trying to move to ACCSC. Daymar College settled with the Kentucky attorney general in 2016 over allegations that included misrepresentation of credits. Fortis College, which is operated by Education Affiliates Inc., is also trying to move to ACCSC. In 2013, Education Affiliates settled with the Department of Justice for $13 million over allegations mostly at campuses not accredited by ACICS about providing financial aid to ineligible students. Finally, Lincoln Technical Institute settled with the Massachusetts attorney general in 2015 over allegations that it improperly calculated job placement rates. None of the schools mentioned above admitted to any wrongdoing.

The moves of a few other schools merit particular mention. One is the campuses owned by the Education Corporation of America (ECA), which are trying to move to ACCET. These campuses operate under the brands Brightwood and Virginia College. These schools enroll almost 60,000 students, and ECA is one of the largest companies that is not publicly traded and has ACICS accreditation. The move to ACCET is interesting because several of the Brightwood campuses used to operate under the Kaplan brand. Many of those campuses had switched to ACICS after facing sanctions for failing to meet certain requirements for student outcomes at ACCSC and the Council on Occupational Education.

The Delta Career Education Corporation schools are also looking to move to ACCET. These operate under the brands of Miller-Motte, McCann School of Business, Berks Technical Institute, and Tucson College. They are owned by a private equity firm where Secretary DeVos had invested. All of the Delta schools applied for accreditation with ACCET on March 10, 2017two days before the departments deadline.

Even though ACICS operated as a national accreditormeaning schools from any part of the country could apply for recognition17 schools are now seeking accreditation from regional agencies. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission has the most of these applicants with eight. The most noteworthy applicant, however, is the Art Institutes, which is trying to get approval with the Middle States Commission on Higher Educationthe agency that oversees the Mid-Atlantic. The Art Institutes are part of the Education Management Corporation (EDMC), which has settled lawsuits over the years for alleged wrongdoing related to recruitment, among other issues, but has never admitted to wrongdoing. Other Art Institute branches already have Middle States accreditation, so the move is not particularly surprising. It does matter, though, because EDMC is currently trying to sell itself to a small nonprofit organization based in California, and the timing of any potential accreditation switch could affect whether ACICS also has to sign off on the sale.

The number of schools and affected students trying to move to a new accreditor could present a challenge for some of the smaller agencies to ensure they keep up with the applications without sacrificing any rigor in their processes. This worry is particularly prominent for ACCET and ABHES. For instance, the number of campus locations under consideration at ACCET (135) is greater than the total number it currently approves (103). Similarly, the 47 schools it is considering would represent a 70 percent increase over its current size.*

Though not as extreme as the ACCET case, ABHES is also poised to grow significantly. It is considering 28 additional schools at 59 locations. Thats an increase of 27 percent and 34 percent, respectively.

The initial March deadline is a pretty minimal bar for schools to hit since all they had to do was send in an application. The real test will come October 10. By that date, the 199 schools seeking accreditation elsewhere will have to show they had a site visit from a new agencya sign that the accreditor is seriously considering accepting the institution. Those that do not will lose access to financial aid for new students and must submit a letter of creditbasically, a financial guarantee of a certain sum of moneyto the Department of Education to cover expected costs if an institution closes. How many schools can meet the visit requirement will provide a more telling picture of whats going to happen to these institutions.

Ben Miller is the senior director for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress.

*Authors note: These data are based on U.S. Department of Education databases and FOIA requests and are available here.

Excerpt from:

What's Up with ACICS Colleges? - Center for American Progress - Center For American Progress

By Vivian Salama and Matthew Pennington The Associated Press

PALM BEACH, Fla. What was billed as a showdown between the leaders of the United States and China over trade and North Korea ended with little sign of confrontation Friday or of concrete progress in resolving their differences.

President Donald Trump had predicted a "very difficult" meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But after their first face-to-face at the Mar-a-Lago resort, he trumpeted that they had developed an "outstanding" relationship.

U.S. officials said the two sides agreed to increase cooperation on trying to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, and China acknowledged the need for more balanced trade with the U.S.

But the two days of meetings appeared heavier on optics than substance. The most-powerful message to the Chinese leader may have been Trump's decision to launch U.S. missile strikes at Syria.

Those strikes added weight to Trump's threat last week to act unilaterally against North Korea's weapons program although it would be much riskier to take military action against the nuclear-armed North, which has its artillery and missiles trained on a key U.S. ally, South Korea.

The U.S. administration's first recourse is very likely to be economic pushing China to crack down on Chinese banks and companies said to provide North Korea access to the international financial system.

In a possible harbinger of the kind of punishments Washington could inflict, a leading Chinese telecoms company, ZTE, was fined nearly $900 million in March for shipping sensitive U.S.-made technology to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.

"They recognize that shows our clear determination to crack down on this sort of activity," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told reporters.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. and China "agreed to increase cooperation and work with the international community to convince the DPRK to peacefully resolve the issue and abandon its illicit weapons programs." DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Tillerson said Trump and Xi noted the urgency of the threat of North Korea's weapons program and that they reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearization of the divided Korean Peninsula.

On trade issues, Trump called for China to "level the playing field" for American workers, stressing the need for reciprocal market access. He also noted the importance of protecting human rights and asked China to adhere to international norms in the seas of East Asia, Tillerson said.

As a candidate and president, Trump has taken an aggressive posture toward China, labeling Beijing a "tremendous problem" and arguing that lopsided trade deals with China shortchange American businesses and workers. Some $347 billion of the $502 billion trade deficit recorded by the U.S. last year was with China.

Trump said in a brief appearance before reporters Friday that he and Xi made "tremendous progress" in their talks and that he believes "lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away." He did not elaborate.

For Xi, who is entering a twice-a-decade Communist Party congress in the fall, the meeting with Trump was more about stabilizing the critical U.S.-China relationship and burnishing his foreign policy credentials than achieving a breakthrough.

Speaking alongside Trump, Xi said the two delegations discussed important topics and established a good friendship and working relationship. He noted the historic responsibility of both countries the world's largest economies and emerging military rivals to work toward peace and stability.

China's response to the U.S. missile strikes on Syria was muted. Its U.N. ambassador, Liu Jieyi, never mentioned the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, or the U.S. airstrikes, at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday. Liu focused instead on the need for a political solution to the six-year Syrian conflict.

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Trump, Xi get along, but progress slight - The Columbus Dispatch

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During Fridays Weekly Address, President Trump stated that on border security, we have so far exceeded even the most bullish predictions for the progress we could make in so short a period of time.

Transcript as Follows:

My Fellow Americans,

Were only 11 weeks in, but already my administration has achieved historic progress for the American people in fact, 93% of our domestic manufacturers have expressed optimism in the future, a record.

The confidence we are seeing in our Nation is about jobs and opportunity but its also about safety and security.

Security begins at the border as a candidate, I pledged to take swift and decisive action to secure the border, and that is exactly what I have done. We inherited a full-fledged border crisis it was a disaster. Yet, with quick and bold steps, we have so far exceeded even the most bullish predictions for the progress we could make in so short a period of time. Last month, we saw a 64% reduction in illegal immigration on our southern border.

At the same time, we are conducting enforcement actions across the country to remove dangerous criminal aliens from our society and theyll be gone. In just the last few days our Nations ICE officers have arrested 153 criminal aliens in south Texas, 84 criminal aliens in the Pacific Northwest, and 31 criminal aliens in Long Island, New York these arrests include aliens convicted of robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, sexual assault against a child, smuggling, drug dealing, and many more.

Much work needs to be done to reverse decades of harm caused by open border policies from Washington but, with time, dedication, and effort, we will get the job done, and save countless lives in the process.

Providing security for the American People also means restoring Americas standing in the world.

From the very start of my Presidency, I have worked to strengthen our alliances and improve our relationships all around the globe.

This week, I was honored to welcome the President of Egypt and the King of Jordan to the White House. Now, I am hosting a summit with President Xi of China at the Southern White House to address the many critical issues affecting our two peoples.

In our dealings with other nations, our conversations have been candid, open, and grounded in mutual respect.

I have been clear about advocating for the national interests of the United States, something so important to me, and so important to our people one of the reasons, certainly, that I got elected. And I want to ensure that the decisions we make truly serve the safety and security of our citizens.

In matters both economic and military, we understand that a strong America is in the best interests of the world that is why it is so important that as we strengthen international partnerships, we ensure these partnerships deliver real results for Americans and the American people.

Our decisions will be guided by our values and our goals and we will reject the path of inflexible ideology that too often leads to unintended consequences.

A future of peace, safety, and prosperity that is our guiding light, and always will be.

Together, we will bring about this future for the land we love, and for the people who call it home.

We love our country, and we love the American people. Thank you.

Follow IanHanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

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Trump: We've Exceeded 'Most Bullish Predictions' for Progress on Border Security - Breitbart News

NEWBURYPORT City officials are making progress in revising the Waterfront Trust documents that include construction plans for a new park on the citys waterfront.

Mayor Donna Holaday discussed plans for the waterfront, which has been on the table for decades, with members of the Waterfront Trust and Newburyport Redevelopment Authority Thursday evening. The plans call for an increase in open space while dialing down the number of parking spaces.

On Thursday, Mayor Donna Holaday acknowledged there is still much work to be done to revise the documents, and called for a series of meetings between subsets of groups involved with the waterfront to create a document they agree on.

The central waterfront is probably the biggest asset this city has, said Holaday.We have some really hard work ahead of us, and I think were down to some of the most important pieces as we move forward.

Holaday expressed her desire to overcome the plans financial hurdles and move on to dealing with other issues, saying that she is not worried about allocating annual funds to build and maintain the project. She estimated those costs at between $150,000 and $200,000 each year.

I believe that with all the value of the property in our city, if we cant together figure out how to come up with the money on an annual basis between the city and the Trust, we have a problem, said Holaday. Were committed to making that happen.

NRA chairman Bob Uhlig said he hopes the plans will include adding an additional point of access to the waterfront, and will create a meaningful park space that makes the area more of a year-round destination for visitors. He said he hopes the park will be funded sustainably to protect what he said would be the most important park in the city.

We are stewards of this land, and very critically we want to make sure we agree that the financing is sustainable so that this park can be maintained to the highest degree, said Uhlig.

Holaday said the group will meet again once the revisions to the Waterfront Trust documents have been completed, which she estimated would be in about six to eight weeks.

Jack Shea covers Newburyport City Hall. He can be reached via email at jshea@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3154. Follow him on Twitter @iamjackshea.

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Officials: Progress made toward developing Newburyport waterfront park plans - The Daily News of Newburyport

The gold standard for how a divided society with a violent past might work through that past and move forward was set20 years ago by South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission, inspiring other similar efforts around the world, even as the country has learned over time that working through a complicated past takes time, and is still taking time. It opened up a way to talk about the individual and systemic wrongs committed under 43 years of apartheid, a government-imposed system of discrimination and separation based on skin color.

Over seven years, from 1996, some 2,000 people, perpetrators, and victimstold their stories of what theyd done or what had been done to them, under apartheid. Over 7,000perpetrators asked for amnesty; fewer than 1,000 got it. Those who did generally showed contrition, sometimes directly to family members of the people theyd killed.

All this testimony was broadcast live, and all around the country, people watched. Some wept. Some scoffed. Some knew these stories all too well. And some were hearing them for the first time.

The commission was an amazing project, well-conceived. It did sterling work, says Stan Henkeman, executive director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town. [The Truth and Reconciliation Commission] was led by one of the foremost personalities in the country. And it actually was representative. There were even people on there with right-wing leanings. So the commission itself was a great institution.

That said, the TRC had its flaws, Henkeman says. Not everyone with a grievance had a chance to be heard the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation is even now, 20 years later, trying to help some such cases get to court. And, he says, far too few of the perpetrators who were denied amnesty were ever prosecuted for their crimes.

The government and particularly, the criminal justice system, failed the people of this country in terms of the amnesty process, he says. And you can imagine what it does to somebody whose family member was killed by somebody, and they can see that person walking around.

And then theres the almost inevitable reality that the initial euphoria after the end of apartheidhas been tempered by time and experience, and some disappointment, as Mandelas leadership and vision havent been matched by his successors. An opening of South Africas economy, after the lifting of sanctions imposed because of apartheid, doubled the countrys per capita gross domestic product and moved more black South Africans into the middle class, but still disproportionately advantaged the countrys white population. And while more colleges and businesses have opened up to nonwhites, with affirmative action quotas in place to ensure they do, disparities in income and opportunity remain stark, especially outside of South Africas major cities.

There was a moment I remember, says Sandiswa Sondzaba, a black 22-year-old masters student in geography at the University of Witwatersrandin Johannesburg. I went to an elite,girls high school, and we volunteered to teach a 6th-grade class in a rural black community. We asked one student what two times two is, and the student didnt know.

At her own university, she says, shes seen that the rural and township students who make it that fartoo often disappear from the system because of economic struggles.

The government has spoken about looking for funding for the missing middle ... but if people are starting with debts when they graduate, which is also a problem in America and in other developed countries, how are they supposed to help their families with accessing upward social mobility?

Sondzaba says her own family has done OK, post-apartheid, but they started out ahead Sondzaba's mother has two master's degrees.

So we managed to gain some sense of upward social mobility, she says. But you still kind of see when youre out with your friends from different racial groups, youre kind of expected to assimilate. As a black person, youre expected to speak in a certain way, to come across as intelligent. If you speak with a black accent, youre seen as less intelligent than someone who speaks with a European accent.

One group in South Africa that felt disadvantaged both during and after apartheid is those categorized as "colored" mixed race and/or descendants of the indigenous Khoisan people. They used to make up the majority of Cape Towns population; in the 1950s, they were forced to move to the outskirts of the city, to areas known as the Cape Flats. A downward spiral of poverty, crime, gang violence, drug use and teen prostitution ensued and remains a problem in many such areas.

I was sitting around with friends when I was in grade 11, and the crystal meth was all around me, says Chantay Hayes, 27, a resident of the Elsies River community in the Cape Flats. They were trying to get me to use some of it, and I just refused. I just clearly had a choice to make, and that was my choice. I chose not to do it.

But many of her friends did.

There are a lot who have passed away, because of the drugs, she says. Some of them are still on it and alive, but they look very, very unhealthy and sick. They have a lot of children. They dont work. They steal. Its actually very, very sad to see them like that.

Hayes found a way out. After spending some time in the United States, shes now employed by an American doctor, working in Cape Town. She has a car. She goes to work. Her old friends and neighbors arent sure what to make of her life.

When they see me drive around with the car that I have, or they see how I look, Im healthy and Im looking after myself, they either think Im dealing drugs, or Im doing some sort of illegal activity, she says with a sad smile. Its that rare here for someone here to get a normal job.

Part of the reason, she says, is that the affirmative action quota system now in place actually makes it harder for those in Cape Towns coloredcommunity to get jobs and university admittance close to where they live. Thats because the quota for coloredstudents or employees is 9 percent the proportion of coloredpeople in the South African population as a whole, while more than 40 percent of Cape Towns population is colored.

"Its a vicious cycle," Hayes says. "They cant get into college, these very intelligent guys who are living around here. They will come and do odd jobs. They will fix your car. They will fix everything, so they can buy crystal meth. They cant get the jobs they always wanted, so they will do odd jobs so they can numb the pain, and then theyll buy crystal meth just to forget about all their problems."

And that can lead to other problems, like getting drawn into gangs. Gang violence in Elsies River has become a fact of daily life; Hayes says murders are a regular occurrence, with gangs sometimes getting preteen boys to carry them out. And when violence happens, she says, the police rarely come.

Sometimes, we think theyd just like the colored community to kill ourselves off, she says. Sheand others at Elsies Riversay there seems to be a lingering resentment from black South Africans toward the colored communitybecause white South Africans gave the coloredcommunity a few more privileges than blacks under apartheid. That didnt always count for much, even then.

When I was 8 years old, I saw my friend getting killed in front of me because of racism, says Brendon Adams, also a coloredSouth African who grew up in Elsies River. This huge, white policeman just started beating on both of us. I got away so Im here to tell the story. And unfortunately, he didn't make it. ... Thats when I realized that something is off in this world. And I couldnt do anything about it.

As a teenager, Adams did start to do something he joined street protests in the last years of apartheidand watched as fellow protesters near him were killed, wounded or detained by police.

Believe me, youd rather be killed than detained, he says. I know people who were tortured by the police, and theyre still traumatized, even now.

When apartheid ended and the Truth and Reconciliation process started, Adams says he thought it would genuinely lead to a united South Africa. He's disappointed that the colored population, in particular, has been left behind, effectively ghettoized, at least in part. "President Mandela told us back then that if the ANC [African National Congress, still the ruling party] ever treats us the way the apartheid government did, we should get rid of them. Well, it seems like that's the case, now." Adams now lives in Minnesota, where he drives a school bus and teaches gospel music, but he comes back regularly to Elsie's River to help the New Hope Jeremiah Project for which he once worked, providing after-school activities and meals to kids in the communityand encouraging them to steer clear of drugs, gangs and prostitution, and think instead of creating a better future for themselves.

For all these entrenched problems that remain in South Africa, made no better by what many South Africans consider ineffectual and corrupt governance under President Jacob Zuma, most agree that life now is better than it was two decades ago, and that communal experience of watching and learning from the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions work was a big part of what made the improvementspossible.

I remember when we were watching it, and it was, for me, absolutely shocking to hear what black people went through when they testified about the killings and all those things that happened, says Jan Snyman, 70, an Afrikaans-speaking former government official and diplomat under apartheid. And so the lasting effect was, I think many complained to say they didn't go far enough. But I think it was a good start. It was a good start to get it out, to tell people what was happening.

Snyman grew up in the exceptionally segregated Free State, the grandson of a farmer who fought in the Anglo-Boer war and the son of a Dutch Reformed Church minister. He says he played with black kids when he visited nearby farms, but didnt think much, to my shame,about why their families were living in mud huts while he and his friends were living in comfortable houses. He says he started thinking more critically in college, and more again when, working in the governments information department, he accompanied an Australian journalist in 1973 to interview Nelson Mandela in prison on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town.

You know, everybody always said that when you meet Nelson Mandela, it was just like a different atmosphere, because of the personality that he was. And I experienced that, exactly that, Snyman says. And the things he was saying then were the same things he said when he got out of jail in 1990 the vision of having democracy, equality, one vote for each person.

Snyman says he was impressed with Mandelas leadership, and with what he made possible for South Africa. Twenty years later, even if not everything has gone as well as hoped or expected, Snyman is one Afrikaner who thinks South Africa is better for having given up apartheid and gone through the Truth and Reconciliation process.

"Should they have gone further? Should many people have gone to jail? I think one or two did, of the terrible things that they've done. But it was certainly an eye-opener. And people can accuse me, how did you not know? That's fine. Then they can accuse me. It's because of the system, and where I grew up no one really talked about how all this worked. I think it was a shock to many Afrikaners. And I think to a certain extent it helped, in terms of reconciliation. But it's going to take a long time."

Continued here:

South Africa's imperfect progress, 20 years after the Truth & Reconciliation Commission - PRI

Last week, I looked at the Nets March improvement. The teams defense improved vastly, and their offensive numbers saw an uptick as well. That improvement has carried over to the first week of April, with the Nets capping off a three-game winning streak with a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. As for the Orlando matchup...well, it happened.

This season is a stark contrast to previous years. The 2016-2017 season is about progress over playoffs, and foundation over quick fixes. This is Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinsons first full seasons as the top guys. Everyone knew that rehabilitating the Nets would be an arduous process. Even in the preseason, the Nets knew that this season was about incremental progress, rather than a playoff berth. In a preseason press conference, General Manager Sean Marks said the following

The season wont be measured entirely by wins and losses. Itll be measured by the progress thats made throughout the season. Our goals arent necessarily six months down the road goals. Its this next block of five games and asking did we improve from the last block of five games

After a brutal 1-27 stretch in mid-season, the Nets have shown the progress both Atkinson and Marks envisioned. The progress is a positive heading into the off-season for the entire organization. Heres the progress shown by a few Nets players this season

Brook Lopez Attacking off the dribble

Brook Lopezs excursion (or intergalactic voyage for a Star Wars fan) to the three-point line has been well documented throughout the season. Lopez has been shooting from deep all season, by design. But Lopez has complemented his perimeter game with new wrinkles as well.

Lopez shoots at a decent clip from three, 35.5%, per NBA.com. This forces defenders to respect his range. Lopez can pump fake and drive against defenders that are closing out, or simply drive past them if theyre too close. Here, Lopez receives the pass at the top of the key and takes the ball right past Thon Maker, drawing the foul and converting the bucket.

Lopez even shows solid vision when putting the ball on the floor. Previously, most of Lopezs assists came out of the post, where he would shovel passes to cutters that threw the entry pass, namely Bojan Bogdanovic and Sean Kilpatrick. Lopezs newfound ability to drive and kick adds another unexpected dimension from a 7-foot, relatively unathletic center. Lopez finds fan-favorite Jeremy Lin here after drawing in the defense with a drive.

Brook Lopez isnt just a standstill shooter and low post force. His game developed in unexpected, but welcome ways throughout the season. Lopezs newly dynamic offense is a welcome development for the growing Nets.

For a detailed analysis of Lopezs offensive improvement, check out my latest article for 16 Wins a Ring.

Sean Kilpatrick Defense

Sean Kilpatricks microwave offensive ability is well known. His ability to create offense carried the Nets in several games. But his defense caused some concern. Post All-Star Break, Kilpatrick is simply playing with more effort on the defensive end.

Above, Kilpatrick fights through a cross screen set by Kyle OQuinn on the sideline out of bounds play. Kilpatrick scurries across and contests his opponents shot at the free throw line, leading to a miss. Not bad!

Here, Kilpatrick is matched up against C.J. McCollum. McCollum runs a quick give-and-go play with Meyers Leonard, with Leonard acting as a pseudo-screen. Kilpatrick maneuvers around Leonard and closes out on McCollum. Kilpatrick prevents McCollum from driving to the rim, forcing him towards the corner. McCollum rises for a jumper but Kilpatrick contests the shot beautifully, raising a hand right in C.J.s grill. McCollums shot hits back rim.

Kilpatricks defensive metrics have improved as a whole. Prior to the All-Star Break, Kilpatricks defensive rating was 109.9, one of the worst marks on the team, per NBA.com. Past February 23, his defensive rating jumped to 103.3, tied for fourth best on the squad. His net rating improved from -8.5 to +3.2 as well.

Prior to the All-Star Break, opponents shot 50.6% against Kilpatrick, the worst mark for Nets that played over 10 games. Since then, opponents have shot 43.4%, per NBA.com/stats. Kilpatrick has shown his value as an offensive creator all season. Now hes proving that he can defend consistently as well.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Confidence

I know. Confidence cant be measured quantitatively. But for NBA players, it could be the difference between superstar and twelfth man. Just look at the career of former Net Anthony Bennett. At UNLV, Bennett was confident, challenging defenders at the rim and playing with attitude. The former number one pick also looked great in International competition, prompting Kenny Atkinson to take a flyer on him. But as a pro, Bennett looked tentative and unfocused. The Nets tried to rebuild Bennetts deflated confidence before ultimately releasing him in January.

Now, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may not be Anthony Bennett, but building his confidence has been a point of emphasis for the Nets coaching staff through the season. Kenny Atkinson said the following of his young power forward to the New York Posts Brian Lewis a few weeks ago

Hes starting to get some confidence in his game. Hes doing a better job of being a little bit more even-keel, more resilient. Young players, when things dont go their way, they tend to get down on themselves. Thats one of Rondaes areas of improvement that hes got to keep steady.

YES Networks Ian Eagle and Donny Marshall also spoke of Hollis-Jeffersons confidence, alluding to RHJs emotional nature and perfectionist mentality. Of course, winning helps in building confidence. But even through losses, positivity and encouragement can do the same for young players, from both coaches and veterans. Thats a cultural aspect that differs from previous regimes. Players should be responsible for slip-ups, but also need encouragement. Its a tight balance, but Atkinson and his staff seemingly have the right formula.

Although RHJ may still make questionable decisions, hes looked more comfortable lately. The awkwardness of his game is slowly being refined, and his frenzied energy, focused.

Heres one example...

Heres another...

Post All-Star Break, RHJs numbers have jumped in every area, going from 7.8 to 10.1 points per game, 5.1 to 6.8 rebounds, and improved offensive and defensive ratings. Like in many aspects of life, confidence is key. RHJ is carving his niche.

Are those the only player improvements?

Those are just three wide-ranging examples of the Nets individual improvements. Several other players also have shown marked growth this season. Joe Harris grew confidence with the ball in his hands. Spencer Dinwiddie and Isaiah Whitehead are now competent floor generals. Trevor Booker has found a niche as an energy player. ANd Caris LeVert just had his career high Thursday night. Seemingly, everyone on the team has grown throughout the year.

As Keith Smith reported, the Nets have been optimistic through adversity, and are proud of how far theyve come as a team. Progress is slow, but evident. Heading into the off-season, the Nets seemingly have established the foundation for success. Were getting there. Its just a slow elevator ride to the top.

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This.Is.Progress The Nets' Steady, Subtle Improvement - NetsDaily - NetsDaily

New York Times

Cuomo Hails Progress on Budget, but a Long Easter Break Beckons New York Times Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, at the State Capitol on Wednesday evening, said, It's very important to me that we not put our financial feet into cement. Credit Nathaniel Brooks for The New York Times. ALBANY With the state budget late and getting later, Gov. Assembly speaker: Progress being made on state budgetTimes Herald-Record Progress reported in state budget talksWXXI News all 266 news articles »

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Cuomo Hails Progress on Budget, but a Long Easter Break Beckons - New York Times

Click the image to read the 2017 Progress Minnesota digital edition.

Now in its sixth year, Finance & Commerces Progress Minnesota event showcases the entrepreneurial spirit and economic development occurring across the state. More than two dozen individuals, companies and organizations were selected for this years honor by an independent panel of judges.

The 29 honorees were feted April 6 at the Minneapolis Events Center. Gov. Mark Dayton issued a proclamation to celebrate April 6 as Progress Minnesota Day.

Since the first Progress Minnesota event in 2012, attendees have told us how impressed they are by the strength and creativity in Minnesotas business community.

In this magazine, youll read about the efforts of well-known companies, such as Xcel Energys commitment to renewable energy and Ryan Cos. US Inc.s revitalization of Minneapolis Downtown East.

Youll also learn about economic drivers outside the Twin Cities metro area, like Carlos Creek Winery, which drew nearly 115,000 visitors last year to its Alexandria lakes-area vineyard and tasting room, and Life Fitness, which in February completed a $33.5 million, 150,000-square-foot addition to its Owatonna Cybex facility.

This magazine also highlights the economic vitality of Duluth, which has been bolstered in part by the efforts of the College of St. Scholastica, all-weather outdoor furniture designer and manufacturer Loll Designs, and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, which helps drive economic growth at one of the largest ports in the U.S.

Youll find out about companies that bring Minnesota sensibilities to high-tech industries like IT company Atomic Data, lighting manufacturer aspectLED and Tech Dump, which gives people and electronics a second chance.

Inside youll also read tributes to individuals whove been boosters for Minnesotas economy, including a posthumous recognition for Todd Klingel, former CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Klingels emphasis on partnerships and collaborations has left its mark across the metro area in projects large and small, including influential regional economic development agency Greater MSP.

Minnesotas economic growth and potential is impressive, and the people, companies and organizations honored here make the future seem even brighter.

David Bohlander, Special Sections Editor, Finance & Commerce

Blake Huffman |Journey Home Minnesota

Todd Klingel |Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Julie Nelson |Small Business Development Center

Alex Tittle Sr. |Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee

Alliance Machine Inc. |Elk River

aspectLED |Arden Hills

Atomic Data |Minneapolis

Bellwether Enterprise |Minneapolis

Buddys Kitchen Inc. |Burnsville

Carlos Creek Winery |Alexandria

Cemstone Cos.|Mendota Heights

The College of St. Scholastica |Duluth

Duluth Seaway Port Authority |Duluth

Eutectics Consulting LLC |Minneapolis

Hennepin Theatre Trust |Minneapolis

Horizon Roofing Inc. |Brooklyn Center

King Technology Inc.|Hopkins

Latino Economic Development Center|Minneapolis

Lennar Multifamily Communities |Minneapolis, Edina and Bloomington

Life Fitness|Owatonna

Loll Designs |Duluth

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program |Minneapolis

Runnings |Marshall

Ryan Cos. US Inc. |Minneapolis

Select Comfort Corp.|Plymouth

Sherman Associates|Minneapolis

Tech Dump and Tech Discounts|Golden Valley

WomenVenture|Minneapolis

Xcel Energy |Minneapolis

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Profiles of Progress MN 2017 honorees Finance & Commerce - Finance and Commerce

FORT MYERS Rays RHP Alex Cobb took another step Saturday in regaining his pre-Tommy John surgery form.

"The progress I made this week going into this start versus last week's start I'll take hands down," he said after pitching 31/3 innings Saturday during a 63-pitch outing in the 2-1 loss against the Red Sox.

Cobb said early in camp that he wanted to pitch the way he did in 2013. While he returned last September after missing nearly two years, he couldn't find that rhythm.

Against the Red Sox, he impressed manager Kevin Cash with how he threw his changeup and curveball.

"I think that was a big step in the right direction for Alex and for us," Cash said. "He's continuing to make progress. I think he feels that he's close, and that's good."

How 'bout Archer

RHP Chris Archer drew rave reviews inside the Rays clubhouse after throwing four perfect innings Friday against Colombia in the WBC.

Said Cash: "It was fun to watch. I thought it was great for him, great for the Rays and great for Team USA."

Said 3B Evan Longoria: "He looked competitive. I think that's the guy we're looking forward to seeing this year."

Said CF Kevin Kiermaier: "He looks very confident right now, which you need out of your frontline guy, which is what he is for us. I think he's going to have a dominant season this year, I really do."

Hitters, too

Longoria said Cash's remarks Friday about pitchers needing to step on the gas should also apply to position players.

"I think it's just about intensity and intent," Longoria said. "There definitely comes a time where the excuse of it being March 11 or it only being spring training starts to kind of become an excuse for poor performance, essentially."

Here to compete

RHP Jumbo Diaz, claimed Friday off waivers, has a chance to earn a spot in the opening day bullpen once he joins the team after pitching for the Dominican in the WBC.

"When that day comes and he gets here we'll welcome him here and get him in the mix," Cash said.

Lights, camera, action

Alex Corddry makes her Fox Sun Sports debut this afternoon, taking over for Todd Kalas as the in-game reporter, during the first TV game of the spring. Dewyane Staats has the call. Brian Anderson is scheduled to debut this spring on March 25 vs. Boston.

Rays' Cobb optimistic about latest progress 03/11/17 [Last modified: Saturday, March 11, 2017 9:01pm] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Rays' Cobb optimistic about latest progress - Tampabay.com

President Donald Trump announced on Twitter Saturday the current efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act are going smoothly.

We are making great progress with healthcare. ObamaCare is imploding and will only get worse. Republicans coming together to get job done! the president tweeted.

The tweet came just two days after Trump delivered a similar message on Twitter, writing on March 9, Despite what you hear in the press, healthcare is coming along great. We are talking to many groups and it will end in a beautiful picture!

Trumps confidence in Republicans current health care reform efforts seems to contradict the numerous reports that have surfaced over the past week suggesting many Republican congressmen and think tanks are staunchly opposed to the House GOP leaderships proposed Obamacare replacement, the American Health Care Act.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called the bill a stinking pile of garbage and said he believes the bill will fail.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on Thursday on Twitter the health-care bill cant pass Senate w/o major changes. To my friends in House: pause, start over. Get it right, dont get it fast.

Cotton later added, What matters in long run is better, more affordable health care for Americans, NOT House leaders arbitrary legislative calendar.

In an interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said the AHCA is Obamacare lite and would incentivize young, healthy people to stay out of the private health insurance marketplace. Paul also told Cavuto he believes congressmen are very, very divided on how to replace the ACA.

The Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Tea Party Patriots, FreedomWorks, and Americans for Prosperity, among many other conservative groups, have also said they do not support the AHCA in its current form.

Trumps claim about the alleged great progress being made on health care reform came just a few days after Trump hosted influential conservative Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at the White House on Wednesday night. Reports issued by The Hill and Newsmax suggest Trump planned on soliciting Cruzs help in promoting the AHCA to conservative members of the Senate.

Cruz has reportedly said he has serious concerns about the House bill as drafted.

The AHCA sailed through its first two obstacles on Thursday, gaining the approval of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee along party-lines.

The legislations next hurdle will be the House Budget Committee. If it passes there, it will then be considered by the full Congress.

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Trump says 'great progress' made on health care bill, but GOP congressmen say bill 'will fail' - TheBlaze.com

As Manchester United embark on a hectic 11-day travel mission, we take a look at their travel plans for the next few days. Antonio Conte plays down the idea of a rift between him and Jose Mourinho after Chelsea's win over Man United in October.

Since winning at Chelsea in October 2012, on the way to a 20th league title, Manchester United's record at Stamford Bridge is abysmal: no wins and only one draw in six subsequent games. Their most recent visit was the worst of all, a 4-0 hammering last October that was the low point of Jose Mourinho's time in charge so far.

As if history doesn't make Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal daunting enough, Mourinho and his men head to London following a 4,500-mile round trip to Russia for last Thursday's Europa League round-of-32 first leg vs. Rostov. Chelsea, by contrast, haven't had a game since their 22-mile round trip to West Ham last Monday.

Further, United will be missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their player of the season so far, a one-man goal factory whose tally of 26 in all competitions is almost three times that of the next top scorer, Juan Mata. Ibrahimovic will serve the first of a three-match suspension after he accepted a violent conduct charge for elbowing Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

United are used to being favourites in almost every game they play but, despite not having lost in 17 league outings since their last visit to Chelsea, they will be underdogs as they face the best team in England this season.

(It's not like United can hold out for a draw either, as FA Cup sixth-round replays have been abolished. The move pleased Mourinho when he was asked about it earlier this season; he may revise that view if it's 1-1 after 88 minutes.)

Mourinho wants to win a treble this season, or a treble-and-a-half since he counts the Community Shield as half a trophy. He's already won the EFL Cup and his side are well placed to reached the last eight of the Europa League, ahead of Thursday's second leg at home vs. Rostov.

While Ibrahimovic has been the key man overall, he's only played 28 minutes of FA Cup football: A substitute cameo in the last round at Blackburn Rovers, in which he scored the winning goal. In Europe, the only two games that United have lost were the two in which Ibrahimovic didn't start, defeats at Feyenoord and Fenerbahce.

Apart from a game vs. Arsenal in November, when he was suspended, Ibrahimovic has played every single minute of every league game this season. Only Paul Pogba, who needs to step up on Monday after some indifferent displays, has played as much.

Marcus Rashford filled in as United's lead striker against Arsenal, but failed to have the same impact as in the equivalent fixture last season, when he scored twice. The 19-year-old's favourite United goal came come in an FA Cup sixth round replay at West Ham a year ago but Rashford, often played in a wide-left role, has been less prolific this season with seven goals from 36 games.

He could get a chance to lead the line in Ibrahimovic's absence, possibly in a 4-3-3 formation with Anthony Martial to his left and Juan Mata on the right, though Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been among United's best performers in recent months and deserves a chance to play against a side of Chelsea's pedigree.

The Armenian midfielder was not involved in that October game, when Mourinho went for a five-man midfield featuring Rashford, Pogba, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard. Fellaini was brought off at half-time but could make up for Ibrahimovic's absent physical threat. Lingard, who is admired by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, was replaced by Martial that day. Michael Carrick, meanwhile, didn't get off the bench.

United played with an uncustomary three at the back in Rostov and the alignment didn't convince, albeit in difficult conditions. Was it kidology from Mourinho or preparation to match Chelsea's successful formation? United's defence is a concern and Chris Smalling had possibly his poorest game in a United shirt the last time the sides met, when the hosts took the lead after just 26 seconds.

When asked about Monday's game against the club he led to three league titles, Mourinho said he won't field a "Nicky Butt team," referring to the former United midfielder's current role as United academy director. Mourinho sees talent in some youngsters at the club but doesn't trust them enough to start at Stamford Bridge. Instead, he'll go with a strong team, partly because he's vengeful, but chiefly because he wants United to retain the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

The manager does not have priorities; he wants to win every trophy on offer and has a large squad with no injuries, even if there's clearly room for improvement, with a second striker and a left-back he fully trusts among the main areas of focus.

Hindsight shows how things have changed since the start of the season, when right-back was considered a bigger problem than the opposite flank and, in Ibrahimovic, Rashford, Martial and Wayne Rooney, United hardly looked short of goalscorers.

There are too many games at present for Mourinho to feel satisfied with his side's preparation, but that's because United have been successful in non-league competitions this term: Monday will be the 20th cup tie, with up to eight more to follow.

The fans are certainly up for the trip to Chelsea and the increased 5,685 ticket allocation was oversubscribed by 3,000, even though the game is on a Monday evening. The atmosphere will be rocking in the away end at Stamford Bridge, with supporters keen to see if perceived improvement since their last visit is genuine and whether the Reds are closer to being able to go toe-to-toe with the best.

Chelsea's official website mocked United's recent league form last week when an article said it has "lifted them all the way from sixth to sixth." Actually, United were seventh after the 4-0 but it is true that the improvement in league position has been marginal. Winning at Chelsea, though, would send a powerful signal that Mourinho and Co. have not stood still.

Andy Mitten is a freelance writer and the founder and editor of United We Stand. Follow him on Twitter: @AndyMitten.

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Another visit to Chelsea will show Man United's progress under Mourinho - ESPN FC (blog)

HARRISBURG When four Wolf Cabinet secretaries appeared at a budget hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee last week, the hearing room was packed with advocates, lobbyists and vendors.

They were trying to glean details about the proposed creation of an umbrella Department of Health and Human Services by merging the departments of human services, aging, health and drug and alcohol programs. Gov. Tom Wolf has said the delivery of human services can be made more efficient and an estimated $90 million in savings realized through the merger.

Pennsylvanians would most likely interact with these agencies if they visit a county assistance office to obtain benefits from medical assistance or other programs, go to a senior community center daily for meals and activities or encounter a public health nurse during an outbreak of a contagious disease.

Ambitious timeline

As chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., led the questioning about the merger.

Baker asked how an ambitious timeline to create the new agency by July 1 could be met assuming the Legislature gives approval. Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, said its important that the separate agency missions in such areas as providing public health care and services for senior citizens not be lost in a consolidation.

The goal is to have a framework for the new department established by July 1, said Ted Dallas, secretary of the Department of Human Services. The actual consolidation would take place over the 2017-018 fiscal year, he added.

Same services

Department of Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne said the services provided by senior centers wont change under the merger. Osborne supported this statement by noting these services must be provided under the federal Older Americans Act. There are nearly 500 senior centers run by area agencies on aging in Pennsylvania.

In recent weeks, Osborne has visited senior centers that receive Lottery-funded grants to pay for improvements. Two of her stops were at the Robert J. Drake and Hamlin senior centers in Wayne County. The visits served the purpose too of easing jitters over the future of the senior centers.

Some $2 million in grants have been distributed this year under the competitive program. Osborne said requests for grants totaled $5 million.

Assistance offices

The DHS county assistance offices will continue as places where individuals go to obtain benefits, said Dallas. The merger plan calls for the back-office processing functions in the CAOs to be done out of five regional centers in an efficiency move.

The blueprint calls for the public health nurses in the Department of Health to work out of the county assistance offices. The nurses are currently based in leased offices throughout the state.

Health Secretary Karen Murphy said the aim is to have the nurses work more closely with community-based health services, but questions still surround this aspect of the merger.

Contact the writer:

rswift@timesshamrock.com

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Health services merger a work in progress - Scranton Times-Tribune

Many people know that March is Womens History Month a time when our country celebrates the contributions women have made to politics, history, culture and society. What many people dont know is that March was designated as Womens History Month in 1987 by Ronald Reagan.

It may surprise some, especially when you think of the commonly spun narrative that Democrats are the party for women, that a conservative president from the GOP spearheaded this effort. In fact, I bet this has some kids running for their safe spaces!

Of course Reagan understood that a special resolution wasnt what women needed to succeed; he also recognized womens potential and that their accomplishments deserved greater appreciation.

Today we have 21 women serving in the Senate, and 104 serving in Congress. There are seven confirmed women in the new administration, and a third of the Supreme Court seats are held by women. And the numbers are comparable at the state level, where 24 percent of executive positions are held by women, including four governors, 14lieutenant governors, and 56otherstatewide elected officials.

Of course this picture isnt perfect. Some lament that women are still grossly underrepresented in public office. And perhaps more significant, progressives are generallyoverrepresentedin these offices, meaning theyre pushing for more big-government policies that too often backfire on women and their families. But the idea of women in these positions is a familiar one.

Still, research demonstrates that American voters are ready for women to lead. New social science studies are suggesting that charges of gender bias appear to be overstated, and that voters are just as likely to vote for a woman who shares their ideology as a man.

However, progress isnt just a numbers game. Real feminist progress should also be determined by how we treat one another.

And on this mark, too many women are failing.

Theres no doubt the 2017 election was contentious politics often is.However, in the wake of the election, too many women seemed to have forgotten basic standards of decency. Frankly, just plain old good manners were ignored.

Pictures from the Jan. 21Womens March on Washington of women screaming, pushing and spitting at one another suggest that progress has not been made with regard to political civility. Insults and threats posted online about other women are horrible. And a month after the inauguration, the first woman to run a successful presidential campaign is still being threatened and denigrated; and the first lady continues to be ridiculed and subject to a constant stream of nasty, personal attacks.

Consequently, we are now living in a political environment seemingly more toxic than its ever been.

When Reagan determined March to be Womens History Month, there were only two women in the Senate: Nancy Kassebaum, a Republican from Kansas, and Barbara MikulskiBarbara MikulskiAfter 30 years celebrating womens history, have we made enough progress? DC restaurant owners sue Trump hotel over unfair competition: report Meet the Trump pick who could lead Russia probe MORE, a Democrat from Maryland. And in spite of being from opposite parties, Kassebaum and Mikulski recognized the chance to work together and forge partnerships. Together they founded the Office of Womens Health Research at the National Institutes of Health, and they served together on the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. They were partners, and today they remain friends.

As we celebrate Womens History this month, lets keep in mind its not just numbers that measure progress. We still have a long way to go in terms of recognizing that women are not a homogenous bloc. We may share many things in common shared experiences that unite us but, ultimately, we are still individuals who have different priorities and preferences. And while our differences may be criticized, we ought to remember that progress should be judged by the tone of our political arena, the standards of civility we demand and the grace with which we treat our adversaries.

Sens. Kassebaum and Mikulski could teach us all a lesson.

Andrea Bottner is the director of government affairs at the Independent Womens Forum and founder of Bottner Strategies.

The views of contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

See more here:

After 30 years celebrating women's history, have we made enough progress? - The Hill (blog)

A year ago the team made the bold move to get a starting QB, but creatively moved on after it was clear they needed more production from the position. The Texans now have a great deal of freedom to pursue other options.

Despite needing to utilize eight different starting quarterbacks in the last three years, the club has had a franchise-record three-consecutive winning seasons and back-to-back playoff appearances for only the second time. Bill OBrien and Rick Smith know that once they stabilize and solidify the position the franchise will have its best shot to pursue a championship.

Tom Savage is gearing up for his fourth season and looked promising in limited action in 2016. A healthy Savage could be a huge boost to the position. And Brandon Weeden, who came off the bench in the first-ever win at Indy in 15, and won his only start at Tennessee, is still here. But you know there will be more added to the mix.

If no other QBs are acquired before draft weekend, well be on pins and needles as the picks unfold. Even with another QB on the roster its hardly out of the question that the Texans look for a signal caller in the draft to help take them into the future. And considering some of the luck theyve had its entirely possible that a rookie could see the field.

I hate bringing up luck, but its hard to avoid the concept for the Texans when it comes to the most important position on the field. Whether its Matt Schaubs injury in 11, Savage and Ryan Fitzpatrick suffering season-ending injuries in the same game in 14, Brian Hoyer suffering two concussions in 15 and Savage getting a concussion in the 16 finale in the eve-game of the playoffs, its hardly been a leprechaun party.

Thats why, until Houston goes on a healthy multi-year run at the position, youll understand if they get as ocean-deep as possible with options at QB.z

The next few weeks, maybe the next few minutes, are crucial in determining the immediate and long term future of the team. The unscripted entertainment aspect of pro football is alive and well in the offseason and well be here to follow every bit of it.

Stay tuned.

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Vandermeer's View: Changes in progress - HoustonTexans.com

SKOWHEGAN Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you hear someone say Somerset County?

A burgeoning farm-to-table economy? The Kennebec River? The Skowhegan State Fair? Bernard Langlais sculptures? Lakewood Theater? The Margaret Chase Smith Library?

The Wesserunsett Arts Council and Main Street Skowhegan are gathering information about existing and future cultural resources in Somerset County with a downloadable public opinion survey asking people what they like and what they would like to see in the future for recreation, agriculture, the arts, history and the community in general.

There are three surveys in all, as the groups move to develop a Somerset Cultural Plan.

Kristina Cannon, executive director at Main Street Skowhegan, said part of the plan is to attract visitors to the area, be it for the historic buildings and parks, the grist mill in the former county jail, whitewater rafting in The Forks, Somerset Abbey in Madison or the planned Run of River whitewater park through Skowhegan.

The importance of the surveys goes back to positioning Somerset County as a tourist destination, Cannon said. By gathering information and figuring out what our cultural assets are, well be able to enhance them and use them to our advantage when it comes to attracting tourists.

Cannon said the Maine Office of Tourism has offered to send the surveys out to their partners to gather information not just from local people, but also from outside of the area to see whats attractive to visitors. She said cultural assets and attractions run the gamut from the recent brew fest in Skowhegan this past summer to the South Solon Meeting House.

The definition of culture is a pretty big and vast description, she said. We want to make sure we are capitalizing on the assets that we already have and using them for economic development in the form of tourism.

The Somerset Cultural Plan got started with public meetings in November at Good Will-Hinckley and later at Northern Outdoors, at Lakewood golf course and another in Pittsfield.

Along with the public opinion survey, there is a artist and performer survey and a business and cultural organization survey to identify goals to connect arts, culture and historic assets with the communities. All three of the surveys are available in hard copy to pick up and fill out from various town offices in the county and public libraries.

Surveys can be filled out and dropped off at the location where they are picked up.

The idea behind the three surveys is to collect thoughts and ideas from local community members, artists, cultural organizations and business owners, said Serena Sanborn, a member of the arts council board of directors and the Somerset Cultural Planning Committee.

The whole idea behind the cultural plan is to make life better for us in Somerset, Sanborn said in an interview. Its really asking the question, what do you love to do? What makes life great for you? And thats an important question for a county, which has great recreational stuff, a lot of great food all of those things but what else can we add to make it even better?

Sanborn said cultural events add to the quality of life, and thats important to the overall health of the region.

Survey questions, according to Saskia Reinholt, a consultant working with the cultural planning group, include some about how community leaders across all sectors value culture, whether arts and cultural offerings are accessible and are relevant, and what Somerset County wants to be known for.

The survey also asks what ideas have been successful elsewhere and what are the most realistic, valuable and effective strategies to support Somerset County cultural development.

Were measuring supply and demand, Reinholt said, supply being the artists in the county and the cultural providers the museums, libraries, cultural organizations to see what their needs are, if there are any gaps. And we measure demand, being public opinion and what people are interested in as far as arts and culture and what types of development that (theyd) like to see.

She said the study also looks at the barriers and the participation in local events to explore the reach, the value and the relevance of arts and cultural resources in Somerset County and beyond. Reinholt said people living in neighboring counties also are important to the surveys as well, if county institutions want to attract newcomers to the local art and food scene, and to see what visitors think about the cultural opportunities in Somerset County.

The goal of the Somerset Cultural Plan is to find new methods to increase participation in cultural activities, enhance innovative economic development and strengthen the arts and cultural network, Reinholt said.

Reinholt said organizers hope at least 1 percent of the countys population, or about 500 people, will respond to the public opinion survey, which is the standard for such surveys. On the business survey, people are asked if their business is farm-related, an art-, historic- or recreation-based endeavor or a service, such as web design and graphics. The artist survey asks where respondents create their art and what sort of facility or space the person would like to have available in Somerset County that are not available now.

Each survey takes five to 10 minutes to complete.

Doug Harlow 612-2367

[emailprotected]

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow

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Survey, cultural planning for Somerset County in progress - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

The current state of the environment is a pressing concern for Richmond. In 2015, we were No. 1 in ragweed, pollen and ozone pollution, and currently are No. 2 in the country for asthma count.

With the current administrations stance on climate change and environmental policy, there is little hope for any of these situations to get better. As asthma affects our community at a more frequent rate than most of the U.S population, this should be an area of concern.

With our nation more divided than ever, we will have to fight for our beliefs at every turn. We cannot do this if we are not informed.

With the administrations attacks on the press, it is more important than ever that the media covers the ongoing attacks on our environment and that our elected officials fight tooth and nail to defend the progress we have made in reducing pollution, protecting our open spaces and combating climate change.

MALIK HALL

Richmond

Continued here:

Public should defend progress on climate change - Richmond Free Press

While the debate about King Countys new proposed youth jail and courthouse continues, the county announced Friday that it is continuing to make strides in reducing the number of youths who are incarcerated. It also announced modest progress in reducing racial disparities.

The number of youth incarcerated in King County fell by 16 percent last year and the percentage of youths of color who were incarcerated, while still disproportionately high, fell as well, county officials announced Friday.

The change comes as the county continues to move forward on the construction of a new youth jail and courthouse, despite prominent protests and challenges from local activists who object to youth incarceration.

There were, on the average day, 51 kids in detention in the county last year, a decrease from 61 in 2015, and the lowest number in at least two decades, the county said. In 1998, for instance, the county held 187 juveniles in detention on an average day.

About half of youth in detention were black, a decrease from about 59 percent in 2015. Although they represent progress, those numbers are still far higher than the proportion of black people in the population: Only about 13 percent of King Countys residents are black.

The juvenile-detention numbers do not include about 20 in the county who due to their age and specific crimes have been charged as adults and are being held in adult jail.

Juvenile-justice officials tout their emphasis on restorative-justice programs offering more rehabilitative programs rather than punishments and incarceration. On Friday, they focused on a new program intended for youth arrested for violence against a family member.

The program, called Family Intervention and Restorative Services, gives young people a place to go overnight, to cool down and to get counseling to help them reunite with family.

Before the programs launch in early 2016, youth often had to be charged with a crime and possibly stay in detention before they could get support services.

The program served more than 200 families in 2016, the county said, and helped cause a 62 percent drop in juvenile domestic violence case filings, compared with 2015.

Those are the type of programs, county officials say, that will be housed in the new youth jail and courthouse building.

Public outrage over that facility continues.

Earlier this year protesters shouted down King County Executive Dow Constantine over the issue and held a rally outside Seattle Mayor Ed Murrays house.

Last week, a legal challenge to the project was dismissed on procedural grounds.

The new complex, estimated to cost $210 million, was approved by King County voters in 2012, although Murray recently asked county officials to take a second look at the project. About 75 percent of that cost is for the courthouse, as opposed to the jail, county officials said.

The county has approved a contract to begin construction of the facility this year and it is expected to open in 2019.

Laura Inveen, presiding judge for King County Superior Court, said that while it would be cost-prohibitive to change the basic structure of the building, we want to know what the community wants within those walls.

The new building would have more courtrooms and only about half as many detention beds (112) as the current facility, which officials say is outdated and lacks heat and air conditioning.

Wesley St. Clair, the countys chief juvenile-court judge, said most of the juveniles who remain in detention in the county are in for gun-related crimes. The vast majority, he said, were incarcerated for murder, sex offenses or robbery.

Jimmy Hung, the juvenile-unit chair for the prosecutors office, said that while the countys goal of zero youth incarceration was something it continues to aspire to, it remains, for now, a goal.

There are kids who have done some pretty awful things and they need a humane place, a therapeutic place, for them to spend some time, he said.

Right now the detention facility was built in a time when I think we as a society were more punishment-focused, versus rehabilitative.

Read more from the original source:

King County is jailing fewer youths, making some progress on racial disparity - The Seattle Times

PORT ST. LUCIE The radar gun was turned off at First Data Field. So much for that data.

For Matt Harvey, its not about speed right now. He believes that will come. Tim Tebow was the sideshow. Matt Harvey was the main attraction Friday.

Scouts registered Harveys fastball at 91-92 in the first inning and he did reach 93 in his three innings of work, but regaining velocity is one of the challenges following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

Its just the way it is, and Harvey has come to grips with it for now.

Its better, definitely an improvement from the first one, Harvey said of his second spring start. He gave up a long home run to lefty swinging Reid Brignac, the Astros No. 8 hitter in the third inning of Houstons 7-6 win.

I think its just a matter of time before things click and mechanics click and the timing clicks, said Harvey, who allowed that one run and two hits, one walk and two strikeouts over his three innings.

The Dark Knight needs to be more of a pitcher than just a superhero blazing fastball like he once was thats just the way it is these days and Harvey seems to have the right approach that is needed at this early stage of his second surgery comeback.

Getting out there, getting comfortable. I threw some good sliders, I threw some good changeups, obviously the fastball was up in the zone a little bit early, but then in the outing it was starting to come back down and I was starting to figure out the timing a little better, Harvey said.

As for his stiff neck he said, it was 90 percent better than it was before.

Manager Terry Collins said he was encouraged.

I liked a lot of what I saw, Collins said. I liked the changeup today, he had some life on his fastball. Hes getting his strength back, we need to get his release point down so he gets his command.

Collins said he had no idea who turned off the radar readings on the scoreboard.

I havent the faintest idea, he stated.

Clearly the Mets dont want Harveys head to get wrapped around radar gun readings at this point. Come back at your own speed, dont worry about the gun.

Harveys fastball is going to take a while to return thats what pitchers who have had the surgery have told me.

When this guy was right even though he had the ability to throw real hard, this guy was a pitcher, Collins noted.

Harvey has got more feel this year because last year he lost the feel in his fingers.

He couldnt feel his seams on the ball, Collins said.

Harvey said: Its coming along, I dont know what the speed was, but Travis [dArnaud] back there said it was coming in good. Talking to some of the different guys and talking with [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen], I think its about feeling comfortable with your mechanics out there with the hitters and all of that will fall into place.

I think with any surgery you cant go out there and think too much. I had 18 months after Tommy John before I played in a game so that was a little bit different story, but the strength is there. I feel great in between starts not getting sore at all, doing my long toss normally.

I wish it could be there right away, but youve got to build up strength. Definitely today was a step in the right direction.

Obviously its nice to go out there and throw 97 to 100 or whatnot, but you have to figure out how to pitch and pitch at what you have that specific day, so paying attention to that and being out there, its been a while since Ive faced hitters and have been in competition like that, but for me, I think its only going to be a matter of time.

Maybe someday soon the Mets will have the velocity readings back on the scoreboard when Harvey is on the mound.

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Mets like Matt Harvey's progress, but there was no radar gun to track it - New York Post

Related Coverage

BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Officials at the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford have provided an update on Hope, the dog they have been nursing back to health.

On Monday, a woman saw a dog struggling to walk near the Big Y Plaza on Route 1 in Branford. She brought the dog to the shelter where officials say she had been starved for two to three months. They named her Hope.

The community has rallied for Hope, sending donations to the shelter and sharing her story in the hopes of finding who is responsible for leaving her in such terrible condition.

The shelter has been seeing progress in Hopes health. On Friday afternoon, they posted another update. They said Hope is maintaining her body temperature, is eating and drinking, and is continuing to gain weight.

She is still under 24/hour care and will be for awhile.

There is a $9,010 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party. If you want to donate, you can do so online here or mail in checks, with Hope in the memo, to 749 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405.

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Branford shelter says Hope continues to make progress - WTNH Connecticut News (press release)

Here's something you don't see all that often in the wake of an 'End of Discussion' anti-speech debacle on a college campus: Positive, constructive news. We wrote about thedisgrace at Middlebury college last week, noting that dozens and dozens of students knowingly violated school policy by disrupting and derailing an event featuring a controversial scholar and author. They were reminded of the rules and warned not to break them prior to the attempted speech, then they did so anyway. Some in this anti-intellectual mob also broke the law, vandalizing an administrator's car and sending a (liberal) professor to the hospital after a violent scrum. The predictable national backlash in the conservative media was swift and predictable -- thankfully, however, strong push-back is also coming from other quarters. We told you about the assaulted professor'spublic statement of disgust and dismay, as well as asearing op/ed from an Iranian Middlebury professor. Since then, the school announced an investigation into the incidents, promising consequences for those responsible. And dozens of Middlebury faculty members signed a strong statement in support of free expression. From Daniel Menninger's excellent Wall Street Journalcolumn on the contretemps:

The letter he mentions is outstanding. It is clear-eyed and principled, and itbats down lazy arguments employed by the outrage mob to justify their behavior. An excerpt:

Bravo, bravo, bravo. And even the New York Times editorial boarddenounced the spectacle in relatively harsh terms, even if they couldn't resist taking a potshot at conservatives (accusing them of playing faux victims by"flopping" like soccer players. Mary Katharine and I use this exact analogyin our book, applying it to the Left's culture of endless grievance. The thing is, right-wing speakers have been genuinely victimized by this silencing phenomenon, almost always at the hands ofLeftists pretending that uncomfortable words are akin to physical or emotional injury. So the Times gets that piece totally backwards). In any case, this could be a sign of an important shift. On that score, I'll leave you withsome recommendations from a University of Chicago'free expression'task force devoted to combating illiberal trends in campus culture -- on which U of C, to its immense credit, has been a principledpioneer:

More institutions of higher learning should follow this lead, and faculty members from across the ideological spectrum should embrace the statement of principlearticulated in the Middlebury letter. Plus,this recent speech from Stanford's former provost is right on the mark.Taken together, thisfeels vaguelylike -- what's the word? -- oh, yes, progress.

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Progress: Following Chaos and Assault at Conservative Event, Middlebury Professors Defend Free Expression - Townhall