Uncommon Knowledge
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FAIRFIELD — A mother in Solano County is demanding answers after learning that her 6-year-old son with nonverbal autism was allegedly slapped by his teacher.
It was Halloween morning when Fairfield mom Selenia Charles learned about the incident after a parent-teacher who witnessed it reported the incident to the school. Her son’s nonverbal condition made it even more distressing as he couldn’t communicate what had happened.
Charles said hearing that her child was abused was her “absolute worst fear realized.” She took swift action, pulling her son from Anna Kyle Elementary School and filing complaints with the district, the mayor’s office, and the police. However, the details of the incident remain unclear.
A statement from the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District reads:
“A very concerning allegation has been reported and is now under investigation. We take all reports seriously and a thorough investigation into the matter is now being conducted. As it is an internal personnel issue, the details of the investigation are confidential and can not be shared at this time.”
Sylvester Wethington, the boy’s father, said he’s noticed a significant change in his son’s behavior since the incident.
“It’s so important that this not happen to nonverbal kids because they can’t speak on it and they have no voice for themselves,” Wethington said.
Whether or not the teacher has been fired remains uncertain, and Charles fears there could be other victims.
“They’re not able to speak for themselves, so I’m going to be that voice for my son and whoever else needs it,” she said.
While Charles waits for answers from the school, she’s looking into other schools as she said her son will not return to Anna Kyle Elementary.
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A community in Southern California is reporting an increase in mountain lion sightings, prompting rising concerns about household pets.
The latest sightings of baby cougars in Thousand Oaks come after a young man died following a mountain lion attack further north in El Dorado County back in March.
Speaking to local news outlet KTLA, residents said that the baby mountain lion was hungry and clearly searching for food as it prowled around their front yards, with footage captured on doorbell cameras showing a cat being chased.
“It wasn’t full size, so we had to re-look at it and zoom into it and stuff and then we realized, ‘Oh my God, it’s a baby mountain lion,’” Mark McGee told the outlet.
Those in the neighborhood said they had some concerns about safety.
Further north a few weeks prior in March, a 21-year-old man died after being attacked in Georgetown, making it the first mountain lion fatality in California in 20 years.
His 18-year-old brother called emergency services when the attack began, with sheriff’s deputies scaring the animal away with a firearm. It was too late to save the man, however.
Following the incident, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that human encounters were uncommon, but can happen.
“First and foremost, our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham said at the time.
The last reported non-fatal attack in the Santa Monica Mountains was in August 2021, involving a 5-year-old boy.
Residents of Thousand Oaks explained that mountain lion sightings were unheard of until a few years ago.
“We’ve been here since 1987,” Esther O’Connor also told KTLA. “Basically, the only wildlife we’ve ever seen, up until I would say a couple of years ago, were birds and squirrels and racoons, but never a mountain lion.”
Newsweek reached out to the National Parks Service for further comment on the movements of the animals in and around the Santa Monica Mountains.
On its website, NPS says that the park is home to a “stable” population of mountain lions, with Los Angeles being one of only two megacities in the world – the other being Mumbai, India – to have a big cat population.
It’s estimated that at any one time, there are between 10 and 15 adults living in the park, with cub numbers unknown.
The City of Thousand Oaks advises locals to not approach a lion or run from one. Instead, they are urged to stand and face the animal and make eye contact if possible, while making themselves appear as large as possible while giving the lions space to escape or leave.
Newsweek reached out to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
California flat sweet onions are now in season. Progressive Produce and its division, Keystone Fruit Marketing, have a comprehensive year-round sweet onion program that features a variety of onions from around the globe, including Vidalias, Walla Walla, and Mayan Sweets from Peru and Mexico. The addition of California flat sweet onions introduces a local variety known for its taste and versatility.
“The California flat sweet onions marks a significant addition to our onion portfolio,” says Dr. Oscar Guzman, vice president of marketing and sales. “These onions are cultivated with care under the optimal conditions of the Californian climate, ensuring a product that enhances any culinary experience, whether grilled, sautéed, or served raw.” The reception from customers has already signaled a promising addition to the market. Progressive’s sweet onions have received acclaim, even from those devoted to other varieties. “Going into meetings, everyone talked about 1015s, but walking out, they were all praises for Progressive’s Mexican and California sweets,” said one customer.
The team from Progressive Produce.
Available in a 40-lb carton and a 2-lb bag, California flat sweet onions cater to both retail and food service providers. They present an opportunity to support local agriculture while reducing freight costs and environmental impact. “Opting for our California sweets not only supports regional farmers but also guarantees a fresher product for our customers,” says Dr. Guzman.
California flat sweet onions will be on display at the West Coast Produce Expo from May 30 to June 1. Visit Progressive Produce at Booth #204 to explore the distinctive flavors and sustainable advantages of these freshly harvested onions.
For more information:
Dr. Oscar Guzman
Progressive Produce
Tel: (+1) 323-890-8100
[email protected]
www.progressiveproduce.com
A California couple moved their wedding ceremony to a hospital chapel to fulfill the bride’s father’s dying wish to accompany his daughter down the aisle.
There wasn’t a dry eye inside St. Joseph Hospital when Abraham Arceo, who is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, gave his daughter Brittny away to the love of her life.
“He’s honestly my hero, and I’ve always looked up to him, ever since I was a little girl. So, even with this battle … he just means so much to me,” a tearful Brittny told WKYT.
Brittny’s original wedding date is still set for the end of June, but her father’s cancer began rapidly progressing in recent weeks.
That’s when she talked to a nurse about having the ceremony at the hospital.
The hospital staff planned out the entire wedding, even measuring the width of the doors to ensure Abraham’s wheelchair could fit through and creating a backup plan in case it didn’t.
Fortunately, it was just the right size and Abraham was wheeled to the alter with his hand holding his daughter’s and an IV bag trailing closely behind.
“Very emotional. It’s just been very hard lately, but we’re just glad they were able to do this for us. It meant a lot to Brittny, to me. Just wanted to make sure he was able to see her get married,” said Abraham Arceo’s wife, Cecilia Arceo.
To Brittny, the hospital wedding was even more special than anything she could have planned at a fancy venue.
“I’m just glad that he’s going to be able to live this moment and be able to walk me down because I know that’s what he wants. He just wants me to be happy,” Brittny told the outlet.
As the ceremony ended, a crowd of family members, nurses, doctors and hospital staff members cheered for the newlyweds and the bride’s father – whose wish came true.
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