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Family in central Mexico struggles to preserve the natural way of producing intense red dye

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO TEPEYACAC, Mexico (AP) — One family in central Mexico is struggling to preserve the production of cochineal dye, an intense, natural red pigment so prized that, after gold and silver, it was probably the most valuable thing the Spaniards found in Mexico after the 1521 conquest.For centuries, red clothing — along with purple — had been a sign of power and wealth because it was rare and expensive. An indigenous Mexican process deriving the pigment from insects gave the Spanish empire a new source of red dye.Some of Mexico’s most picturesque and imposing colonial cities, like Oaxaca, were essentially built on the wealth derived from cochineal dye, also called carmine, and known as “grana cochinilla” in Spanish. It was much prized by the Spanish nobility, and it would go on to dye, among other garments, the British empire’s ‘Redcoat’ military uniforms, before it began to be replaced by synthetic dyes in the 1800s.Obtaining the dye the old fashioned way is slow, tedious and...

Children hit hardest by the pandemic are now the big kids at school. Many still need reading help

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

They were the kids most disrupted by the pandemic, the ones who were still learning to write their names and tie their shoes when schools shut down in the spring of 2020. Now, they’re the big kids at elementary schools across the United States. Many still need profound help overcoming the effects of the pandemic. To catch up, schools have deployed a wide range of strategies. And among some incoming fourth-graders, there are encouraging signs of gains. But as this generation progresses, many will need extra reading support that schools are not as accustomed to providing for older students. Beyond third grade, fewer teachers each year know how to help students who are lacking key foundational reading skills, said Elizabeth Albro, an executive at the U.S. Department of Education’s independent research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences. “ Middle and high school teachers aren’t expecting to have to teach kids how to read,” Albro said. Nationally, students suffered deep learning se...

As Taiwan’s government races to counter China, most people aren’t worried about war

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — As People’s Liberation Army fighter jets from China sped toward Taiwan on Friday, life on the self-governing island carried on as normal. Andy Huang, a restaurateur in Taipei, said he has become desensitized to military threats from the mainland.“I’ve been hearing about China invading for 30 years,” he said. Taiwan’s government is racing to counter China, buying nearly $19 billion in military equipment from the U.S, and extending military conscription for men to a year starting in 2024. But many on the island say they don’t feel the threat. That may be partly due to the nuanced views many Taiwanese hold of China. While polls indicate most people on the island reject reunification, many say they are attracted to their much larger neighbor’s dynamic economy, and its shared language and culture. Others are simply numb to hearing about the threat in their backyard.Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, and its actions in recent years have led some to fear it i...

Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial is in the hands of Republicans who have been by his side

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Billionaires, burner phones, alleged bribes: The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is going to test the will of Republicans senators to oust not only one of their own, but a firebrand who has helped drive the state’s hard turn to the right for years. The historic proceedings set to start in the state Senate Tuesday are the most serious threat yet to one of Texas’ most powerful figures after nine years engulfed by criminal charges, scandal and accusations of corruption. If convicted, Paxton — just the third official in Texas’ nearly 200-year history to be impeached — could be removed from office.Witnesses called to testify could include Paxton and a woman with whom he has acknowledged having an extramarital affair. Members of the public hoping to watch from the gallery will have to line up for passes. And conservative activists have already bought up TV airtime and billboards, pressuring senators to acquit one of former Pres...

Biden heads to Florida to see Idalia’s destruction. But he won’t be seeing Gov. DeSantis

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is heading to Florida on Saturday for a firsthand look at Hurricane Idalia’s destruction, but he won’t be seeing the state’s Republican governor and 2024 presidential hopeful, Ron DeSantis, who suggested such a meeting could hinder disaster response efforts.“We don’t have any plans for the governor to meet with the president,” DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said in a statement. “In these rural communities, and so soon after impact, the security preparations alone that would go into setting up such a meeting would shut down ongoing recovery efforts.” Idalia made landfall Wednesday morning along Florida’s sparsely populated Big Bend region as a Category 3 storm, causing widespread flooding and damage before moving north to drench Georgia and the Carolinas. But Biden’s visit to see its effects threatened to be engulfed by political clashes since DeSantis’ statement came hours after the president himself earlie...

Chicago area headed for five consecutive days of 90s, including several potential record breakers. “Moderate” weekend humidities to surge next week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

It’s DRY HERE as we head into September, 2023, and we have NO RAIN currently anticipated into mid-next weekIt hasn’t rained a drop officially in Chicago at O’Hare in 15 days (since 0.20” fell back on August 17).Frank Wachowski notes we finished August in NEAR RECORD TERRITORYMuch of the Chicago area is in an “abnormally dry” state with western counties in a state of MODERATE DROUGHT according to the latest DROUGHT MONITOR WHICH CAME OUT YESTERDAY. It’s going to be interesting to see how our drought status changes with next week’s DROUGHT MONITOR release.August finished with LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OUR NORMAL RAINFALL--just 1.33” versus the “normal” for August of 4.25.”Check out how widespread the dry weather was across the Corn Belt and central and northern Midwest.August ranked 25th driest of the past 153 Augusts dating back to 1871. That places the month among the driest 16% of all Augusts on the books here--particularly striking, because August has historically been Chicago’s second ...

Westlake flexes its muscle on defense, shuts out Converse Judson 47-0

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sophomore quarterback Rees Wise entered the game in the second half to throw his first two touchdown passes of his career and he ran for another in a Westlake 47-0 blowout win Friday over Converse Judson.It started out as a bit of a defensive struggle, but after the Chaparrals built a 17-0 halftime lead, the home team poured it on the second half to outscore the Rockets 30-0.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteWestlake head coach Tony Salazar said being able to get his younger players in the game and have them take varsity snaps was a goal even against a solid Judson program."We've got to build our depth and we hope it's a long season," Salazar said, "so the young guys will come in handy later on."Wise provided a bit of a spark in the second half with his first career touchdown toss. He fired a pass to Brody Wilhelm who hau...

Texas high school football scores for Saturday, Sept. 1

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Wires got crossed and the defenses forgot to show up out in Liberty Hill on Friday. The Panthers and Hutto both lived in each others' end zones and it was Liberty Hill who recovered an onside kick late to clinch an 82-80 win over the Hippos. Liberty Hill running backs Ben Carter and Noah Long combined for nearly 700 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while Hutto quarterback Will Hammond accounted for 10 touchdowns. It was absolute mayhem out there Friday night.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteDripping Springs took care of San Antonio Wagner 35-14 and Vandegrift topped Cedar Park 41-17. Lake Travis and Cibolo Steele engaged in a 6A Top 15 battle with the No. 12 Cavaliers coming up with a 20-10 win over the No. 11 Knights.Scores from the KXAN viewing areaBrentwood Christian 50, Somerville 22Brownwood 56, Marble Falls 7Burne...

Lynx take down Dream in OT, close in on playoff spot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

WNBA postseason action doesn’t begin for another 11 or 12 days, but the Lynx took a huge step Friday toward ensuring their participation.Napheesa Collier scored nine of her game-high 27 points in overtime and Minnesota roared back late in regulation to beat Atlanta 91-85.Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, right, shoots while defended by Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)Collier also had a career-high 17 rebounds, four blocks and three assists, the seventh player in league history to finish with at least 25 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks in a game.Dorka Juhász finished with 12 points, a career-best 16 rebounds, six assists and no turnovers. Juhász is the third rookie in league history to finish with at least 10 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. Candace Parker and A’ja Wilson are the others.The magic number of wins for Minnesota (18-19) to clinch a playoff sp...

Stunner: Holy Family football rallies to beat 4A champ Broomfield in final seconds

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:13:33 GMT

BROOMFIELD — The matchup between the Class 4A defending champs and the team it beat by 58 last season was the biggest ticket in the town of Broomfield Friday night.Could anyone predict what was in store, though?Those who crammed into Mike G. Gabriel Stadium — or as some did, watch from outside the gates — were treated to the biggest upset of the early season as 3A Holy Family rallied to beat Broomfield, 30-29, in the final seconds.After Holy Family went up two scores early, Broomfield regrouped behind a rushing attack and offensive line featuring one of the state’s top 2024 prospects — 6-foot-4, 310-pound Landen Davidson, who is committed to Nebraska. The Eagles rushed for around 300 yards for a second straight week and had four different players score on the ground, leading to 23 straight points and a two-touchdown lead headed into the fourth quarter.But the Tigers answered with two touchdowns and a winning two-point conversion from star QB Rylan Cooney in the fin...