Critics of the case have argued that the death rate for the Countess of Chester was unusually high, even when the Letby deaths were taken into account. While two or three deaths per year were common in the neonatal unit, there were 17 deaths linked to the unit, only seven of which were blamed on Letby.

Dr. Evans confirmed that 10 deaths were never presented to the jury because they lacked “significant consistencies” that suggested wrongdoing. To be included in the indictment, the deaths had to have occurred “unexpectedly” and “unexplained” from conditions that affect babies, such as an infection, sepsis or a congenital problem.

“There were issues with all seven of these (babies) that were suspicious,” he added. “Why did this baby collapse?” That’s suspicious. Babies don’t do this all of a sudden.

“Why didn’t these babies respond to resuscitation? That in itself is suspicious.

“Most surprising were the comments from neonatologists who should know better, commenting on cases where they had not seen the clinical records and had not been to court.”

Outside experts have pointed to problems on the ward that may have increased the babies’ risk of death. The ward was understaffed, cramped and admitted more vulnerable babies than usual. Since the trial, it has also emerged that the neonatal unit was hit by an outbreak of Pseudomonas, a bacteria known to be fatal to vulnerable babies.

At the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is currently examining how the deaths could have been prevented, parents of the babies who died spoke of unhygienic practices on the unit and described scenes of “chaos” and “pandemonium”.

A father told the hearing how he had caught doctors and nurses Googling how to perform a life-saving procedure, describing the hospital’s operating theater “like something out of a horror movie”.

“There were protocols for everything.”

The year before the deaths in Letby, a premature baby died after doctors accidentally inserted a breathing tube into his esophagus when it should have gone into his trachea. Several of the babies also experienced medical accidents on the ward, including four incidents in which umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) were misplaced or fell out.

However, Dr. Evans believes concerns about the hospital have been overblown.

“I think the criticism of the Chester unit as dysfunctional is misplaced,” he said.

“Before Letby began her carnage, survival rates for even the smallest babies in Chester were very good, as good as the Office of National Statistics figures for England and Wales.

“There were protocols for all sorts of things that you don’t get in a dysfunctional unit. When the babies collapsed, the counselors were there. And then the nurses’ and doctors’ testimony (at the trial) showed that they clearly knew what they were doing.

“I didn’t know about the case of the baby whose tube went into the esophagus instead of the trachea. That’s unfortunate. Unfortunately, that could have happened anyway. This is not an attempt to defend it.”

A former pediatrician from Carmarthen, Dr. Evans, 75, retired from practicing medicine in 2009 and founded a company called Dewi Evans Pediatric Consulting, which provides expert medical advice on legal matters such as child abuse cases and criminal proceedings.

In 2017, just a month after the first report was received by Cheshire Police, Dr. Evans reported the investigation in the local newspaper and sent an email to the National Crime Agency saying: “If Chester Police have no one in mind I would be happy to help. Sounds like my case.”

He had already worked on 49 cases for the NCA and received thousands of pages of unredacted medical notes from the Countess of Chester.

With Jujutsu Kaisen Since the book is slowly losing momentum and is almost coming to an end, the leaks for the final chapter have already caused a stir. The biggest mistake Jujutsu Kaisen Slowly, the serious lack of focus on the characters and the unanswered mysteries became apparent. Despite spending so much time with them, we know little to nothing about them and their characters are not fleshed out enough.

Yuji Itadori, the beloved protagonist, had been through a lot since the Shibuya arc, but that was about it. Fans are confused about where or what his domain extension is or what he might end up doing. Likewise, the famous Gojo Satoru, who is also known to non-anime fans, died far too early. So if the fan favorites couldn’t get the spotlight Jujutsu Kaisenthen who did it? Unfortunately the answer is Sukuna.

The main characters are great but irrelevant

The majority of the characters Jujutsu Kaisen have been well received by the masses. From their eccentric personalities to their attractive looks, Gege Akutami nailed most aspects. Yuji Itadori is a charming protagonist who later suffers a lot and we see him become the hardened protagonist he is now.

Gojo Satoru isn’t just an all-powerful mentor; The pressure to be the strongest is enormous and he has lost too much. Megumi Fushiguro, the boy with so much potential, struggles to find his place in the world of jujutsu sorcery. Maki has suffered so much abuse and oppression at the hands of the elitist, misogynistic Zenin clan. However, in the long run, none of this matters.

After the Shinjuku Showdown arc, the plot started to fall apart. After Gojo Satoru’s tragic death, everyone else was left to pick up the pieces. Sukuna was essentially invincible and it was impossible to give him an advantage after taking over Megumi’s body.

Fans witnessed the deaths of several characters, some of which were incredibly unnecessary, before Yuji finally defeated him. In the end, surprisingly, it was Sukuna who developed the most. He admitted defeat and was a comforting figure to Uraume, something we never thought possible. But why did Gege lose focus on her main characters and elevate Sukuna?

The flaw in Gege Akutami’s character writing

Fans were rightly excited about the return of fan favorite Gojo Satoru, but the strongest wizard was killed off in a disappointing way. It almost felt disrespectful to his character and we all know Akutami notoriously dislikes him. Still, this isn’t a good excuse for how incomplete the author left the storylines of several other major characters. Instead, Akutami gave Sukuna a very powerful conclusion, even though fans were looking forward to his demise for several chapters as he gleefully murdered many.

Sukuna’s conclusion in the manga is undeniably quite interesting. The King of Curses has always been a fascinating character that you love to hate after a while. Unlike Mahito, he learns what loss and defeat are and accepts them. However, it doesn’t really explain why the main characters are incomplete and their development is almost nil. The main trio is largely reduced to the ambitious “power of friendship” trope. Sukuna Ryomen is essentially treated as the main character in the end, despite the lack of Heian-era lore and the hasty defeat.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available on VIZ Media.

The 2024 season is starting to settle down. The 2025 offseason will soon come into focus.

Coaches are fired; that is inevitable. Candidates will emerge to work with other teams. That too is unavoidable.

One candidate is already known. And he is currently unattached. Any owner can decide during the season to sell Bill Belichick at the end of the season, or sooner at the latest. (And we know that happens even when it shouldn’t.)

Here’s the first (and possibly only) part of our Belichick watch list. These are the teams that might be interested in hiring the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach. That’s not the case, or should be (or shouldn’t be), but could be.

Many believe the biggest factor in Belichick’s next job will be whether and to what extent an owner is willing to make contractual commitments if not de factoControl of the team to Belichick. If it was clear that he would be the coach and only the coach, with no effort or inclination to make personnel decisions, he would already have a job. In Atlanta or possibly in Washington. His potential reluctance to operate in a structure that placed him under a younger, less experienced and far less accomplished GM was enough to keep the likes of Arthur Blank, the new member of Arthur Blank’s Falcons Ring of Honor, away from him.

There is an important threshold factor that some owners may consider. Does the fan base want Belichick?

It’s hardly self-evident. Last year, when it became clear that Belichick and the Patriots were going their separate ways, we posted a poll on Twitter that asked a very broad and general question. If your favorite team is looking for a coach this offseason, would you want Belichick? About three out of four respondents answered no.

That’s probably one of the reasons Belichick decided to dip his foot into the media pool. Before opting for a cannonball instead.

He’s so overexposed that the natural reaction might be, “Who cares?” Yes, he said some interesting things. But most of it is noise. And his delivery and demeanor still resemble one of his many press conferences too closely to remind those who see and hear him of the curmudgeon who often seemed condescending, curt and dismissive.

So which teams are on our first Belichick watch list? Let’s go:

1. Cowboys.

Many consider this to be obvious. I think Jerry Jones will ultimately be too cheap to pay Belichick. Until then, Jerry will take advantage of the opportunity to attract as much attention as possible. Heck, he spoke publicly about finally signing Belichick in January, not long after declaring that the coach, who won 36 games in three regular seasons, would be back for the final year of his contract.

On Wednesday PFT LiveMichael Holley had an interesting idea. If Belichick were the coach and only the coach in Dallas, would he expect far less than he is making in New England?

Another appeal, given the rivalry between Jones and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, would be the opportunity to remain loyal to his former employer.

2. Eagle.

After last year’s season-ending free fall, Nick Sirianni’s future was in doubt. Belichick’s availability added to the uncertainty.

Sirianni could be in trouble again this year depending on how the next 14 games go. Belichick remains on the radar screen until we know if Sirianni has done enough to secure another season.

3. Giants.

Belichick has always had a soft spot for the Giants. When details of the Jimmy Garoppolo handling breakdown began to emerge a few years ago, a report surfaced that Belichick would want to coach the Giants if things ended in New England.

Depending on how the rest of the year goes, the Giants could make another change; John Mara has fired four coaches in less than a decade.

The possibility of Belichick ending up with the Cowboys or Eagles could be enough to get Mara to pull the trigger and make the man who once left as NYJ’s HC the NYG’s new HC/GM.

4. Jaguars.

This one was evident during Monday night’s embarrassing loss to the bills. Owner Shad Khan made everyone aware before the season started – win now.

If current trends continue, Khan could decide to turn to Belichick.

It could be even worse than when Khan hired Urban Meyer.

5. Bengal.

This one became fascinating during Monday night’s unexpected loss to the Commanders. However, I added them to the list for one reason: to get them off the list.

The Bengals are definitely too cheap to hire Belichick. Hell, they’re too cheap to release Zac Taylor with three years left on his contract.

Like the Cowboys, they would be too cheap to fire Taylor alone one remaining year of his contract.

6. Bears.

The franchise is bursting with history. The city, which looks like an offspring of New York and Pittsburgh, is bursting with football. The squad is bursting with talent, except on offense.

Would the Bears pay Belichick? Maybe not.

Or maybe if they believe he’s the guy who can get the team back to a level that will raise enough public money to finance a new stadium.

When was the last time someone released an original sci-fi blockbuster franchise that wasn’t based on pre-existing intellectual property? The most appropriate contemporary examples are probably the Quiet place series, John Krasinski’s Alien Invasion trilogy and Avatarin which the gap between the 2009 original and the 2022 sequel was no obstacle to its enormous box office success and critical acclaim

13 years is a long time. 20 years is even longer because 2004 was the year David Twohy started The Chronicles of Riddickthe sequel to his sleek, mean vehicle from Vin Diesel Pitch blackpublished in 2000. The Chronicles of Riddick made big promises about the future of Diesel’s mischievous and rugged antihero. Due to dismal box office performance, that promise went unanswered. Yes, Twohy and Diesel released a sequel, Riddickin 2013; No, this film’s back-to-basics delights weren’t a sufficiently satisfying consolation prize The Chronicles of Riddickis cult.

However, it turns out that we live in a fair and just world, and although 12 years is a long time to wait, there is a fourth chapter in this series. Riddick: Furyabegan production last August. (That’s 12 years at least; It is currently unclear when the film will be released in cinemas. Rejoice! Then tide yourself over until then Riddick: Furyais the future theatrical release with Arrow Video’s luxurious new 4K release The Chronicles of Riddick.

This CD is a treasure trove for Twohy fans, as it contains both the 119-minute theatrical version and the 134-minute director’s cut. Riddick: Furya That said, it’s also a reminder of how damn close we came in the 2000s to making a sci-fi franchise all of a piece, rather than stitching it together from the threads of previously established works. Luckily, the melancholy only lasts until you press play on the CD and is replaced by the thrill of reliving Twohy’s meaty Edgar Rice Burroughs riff. Pitch black is a comparatively isolated film that reveals little about its setting, but The Chronicles of Riddick This attitude catapults to a level of performance that remains astonishingly unrecognized 20 years later. Twohy packs an entire universe into every frame of the film, conjuring a strange and silly universe, but one that he and his cast are so committed to that these details become features to be celebrated, not mocked.

And yet it is ridicule that greeted the film when it was released in 2004. Audiences rejected Diesel’s work as Riddick, as well as Twohy’s vision and the sight of Linus Roache dissolving himself in sacrificial winds. They said “no” to Keith David, an actor whose presence enhances every film he appears in. Most importantly, they said “no” to anything. Originaleven before the industry’s decision at the end of the 2000s to rely entirely on IP with integrated viewership.

The Chronicles of Riddick is a slice of Limburger reminiscent of the era of star Wars, Conan the BarbarianAnd Heavy metal. The film’s reference points are clear and yet it is never referential. Diesel plays Riddick with such comfort that it’s easy to imagine him playing the character in a homegrown D&D campaign, and there’s an underlying familiarity The Chronicles of RiddickNarration and plot in a very unique context. He likes to play Riddick. He appears to identify with Riddick’s nature as an instinctive survivalist on a primal level, while bonding with him on a human level through strong empathy. Riddick displays his apathy convincingly. He is connected to the freedom afforded by his lack of personal ties and motivated by perseverance. It is these qualities that instill in him an aversion to authority, turning him from “anti-hero” to plain old “hero.”

There is a certain logic and intelligence behind it The Chronicles of Riddick This is belied by his dumber qualities. Twohy saves most of the former for Diesel, David and Karl Urban (who plays the supporting villain Vaako with his trademark, dominant stockiness). The director blames Judi Dench and Thandiwe Newton, who play the air elemental Aereon and Dame Vaako (the scheming Lady Macbeth to Vaako, well, Macbeth), respectively, for the film’s silly material. Your job is to give the film seriousness and being seriouswhich is not the same as taking the material seriously.

Twohy makes the impossible possible while simultaneously managing to integrate that impossibility into an equally otherworldly creative vision. He overwhelms the ill-advised details of his script by the strength of its broader foundations. The Chronicles of Riddick is a messy film, as imperfect an example of blockbuster genre cinema as anything the American studio system has produced in the last two decades. It’s a ride. Twohy gives the film full throttle from the start. He shows no hesitation. He’s overconfident that his hands will stay steady on the wheel, and rightly so, because they do Do. At its silliest, the story maintains its determined pace, progressing at breathtaking speed to one epic set piece after another; At its best, the characters race madly across the surface of a volcanic planet in a desperate attempt to escape the sun.

In another film, this would also have been just another stupid decision on a pile of stupid decisions. But inside The Chronicles of Riddickthis moment, among countless others, triumphs over any inherent stupidity through sheer force of will.

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire a communications professor who wanted to keep his job after he was fired as chancellor of one of the system’s campuses for producing pornographic films.

Joe Gow, who served as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should retain a teaching position on campus. But the university’s lawyers argued that he behaved unethically, violated the terms of his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation and compromised its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before publicly voting to fire Gow. There was no public discussion before the board vote.

Gow said he is considering filing a lawsuit to keep his teaching job. He did not immediately respond to a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leadership became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.

The case has drawn national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-ranking university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films and for the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were protected by the First Amendment. The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves were legal, but that they were not protected by his employment contract.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the regents’ decision “a major blow to academic freedom and the right to free expression.”

“FIRE has said time and time again: Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” Greenberg said. “We are disappointed that the UW has caved to donors and politicians by alienating a tenured professor.”

Republican lawmakers already view Wisconsin’s university system as a liberal incubator. Last year they forced the company to scale back its diversity initiatives. System President Jay Rothman has tried to avoid further angering conservatives as he seeks approval for an $855 million increase in the next state budget.

Gow’s hope of teaching in the classroom again was rejected by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow had not taught in 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she declined to allow him to return to teaching in any capacity.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She received $5,000 from tuition fees for her performance. The university said he came up with the idea of ​​bringing her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under the pseudonyms “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhances Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real Adventures in the Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

Many fantasy managers underestimate the impact kickers can have on a match, and we’ve already seen stunning performances at the position this season. However, we are here to help you find the best kicker option with our Week 4 Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings for the 2024 NFL season. Let’s see where key kicker options like Ka’imi Fairbairn, Justin Tucker, Chris Boswell, Blake Grupe, Tyler Bass, Jake Bates and Greg Zuerlein stand this week.

Our kicker fantasy football rankings are compiled by leading NFL analysts Nick Mariano, Brandon Murchinson, Scott AngelAnd Andersen Pickard. Below you’ll also see recent fantasy football news and NFL headlines for kickers that will be factored into these updated draft rankings.

These kicker rankings are constantly updated. Be sure to bookmark our fantasy football rankings portal and check back regularly for updates. Most importantly, our free mobile app is a must – download it and configure your notifications. We deliver top NFL news, injuries and fantasy analysis 24/7 with our free push notifications!

Be sure to check out all of our 2024 fantasy football rankings:

Week 4 Kicker Fantasy Football News and Injuries

• Ka’imi Fairbairn is one of the league’s elite Versus Jaguars
• Cameron Dicker is a safe option in Week 4
• Chris Boswell A starting option in Week 4
• Justin Tucker: A shaky option in Week 4
• Blake Grupe is a good option in Week 4

Don’t forget to bookmark our weekly PPR rankings, semi-PPR rankings and standard rankings.

Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens – Fantasy Football Outlook

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has finally shown signs of slowing down this season, much to the surprise of fantasy managers and football fans around the world. The star kicker starts the season as a K18 and has already missed three of his eight field goal attempts so far.

Week 3 did him no favors as he missed his only field goal attempt and hit four extra points. Its Week 4 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, is one of the tougher teams to start this season, as they have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers.

Opposing kickers are only averaging 5.7 fantasy points against them right now, and if Tucker continues to miss the field goals he used to make, John Harbaugh and company may be looking to make them on fourth down more often. Fantasy managers will want to proceed with caution when starting Tucker this week.

– Alex Fischbein, RotoBaller

Blake Grupe, New Orleans Saints – Fantasy Football Outlook

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe hit field goals of 34 and 38 yards in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. His second professional season began with a bang in Week 1, when he converted five extra points and made four field goals (including two from over 50 yards).

The two games since then have produced more modest results with scores of eight and six fantasy points. In Week 4, he has a good chance of scoring another double-digit score against the Atlanta Falcons, who have given kickers the most fantasy points so far this season. Fantasy managers looking for options in Week 4 can back Grupe with confidence.

-Dan Stephens, RotoBaller

Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers – Fantasy Football Outlook

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell has been very productive to start the 2024 season and will look to continue to thrive in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts. Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense isn’t necessarily firing on all cylinders, the Steelers’ defense has been dominant and has often lost control. On offense, there’s little work to do to get within Boswell’s range.

He may not provide the same weekly upside as a kicker on a team with a stronger offense, but Boswell is about as steady as it gets. The Colts are tied for the fifth-most fantasy points per game allowed to kickers this season, and with Indianapolis giving up the second-most offensive yards in the league, fantasy managers can start Boswell with confidence on Sunday.

-Jorden Hill, RotoBaller

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Check out all of RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings. Employee rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Match of the Day after today’s draw: “We are happy, especially after last week. That was a good performance, we played bravely in our own way. It was two teams going head-to-head for probably 70 minutes. They were stronger than us in the last 20 minutes and we had to defend really well to keep the point.

“We got into really good crossing areas and I was really happy with how we were out of possession and how we attacked the game. I can’t ask for much more, the boys gave it their all.”

About Anthony Gordon, playing up front: “I said he was capable of playing that role. The highlight for me today was his energy and his running performance. He led the line really well and was really happy that he scored his goal. Well deserved.”

About Sandro Tonali: “It’s probably our strongest position in terms of selection. We hold Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff in very high regard. Tonali would be one of our best players today. He suffered from slight cramps today, but that’s normal given the amount of time off he had.

Regarding improved performance compared to last week: “It is difficult to define how people react in certain situations. There will always be a boost here, especially against the opponent. There is a fear factor, you know you have to perform well otherwise it could be very difficult. The challenge for us. “It’s about finding that consistency and that’s what we’re working towards.”

Support local journalism and stay informed with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

8:20 p.m.: “It’s not going to be the same as what you left.” Anna Maria Island devastated, Manatee County reports major damage

Authorities say Anna Maria Island took the brunt of the damage in the county, and could potentially remain closed to non-residents through the weekend.

“The beaches have been dramatically affected by unprecedented storm surge from 5 to 7 feet along the coast,” said Manatee County Commission Chairman Mike Rahn.

Rep. Michelle Steel has requested a federal civil rights investigation into the Santa Ana Unified School District’s alleged anti-Semitism surrounding its ethnic studies program.

In a letter sent to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Thursday, Sept. 26, Steel and Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, declared ongoing litigation – after allegations that the district’s Ethnic Studies Steering Committee was developing a curriculum with anti-Semitic content The process, which violates the Brown Act, has already revealed “an alarming pattern of anti-Semitism at the highest levels.”

In 2023, the Santa Ana Unified school board approved two ethnic studies courses that included lessons on colonialism around the world, cultural appropriation, Native American culture and white privilege.

It involves incorporating teachings critical of the Israeli government that were later questioned by pro-Israel groups.

In September 2023, a group of Jewish organizations – the Anti-Defamation League, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, the American Jewish Committee – and the law firm Covington & Burling filed a lawsuit against Santa Ana Unified. They claimed that these teachings “contain false and harmful narratives about Israel and the Jewish people.”

The content of Santa Ana Unified’s courses was inspired by proposed state education policies that Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed in 2020 due to bias, the lawsuit says. The goal of this law was to make a one-semester course in ethnic studies a requirement for high school graduation, but Jewish groups subsequently argued that the proposed curriculum was anti-Semitic. Newsom signed a separate measure in 2021 requiring ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement.

Santa Ana Unified’s lawsuit alleged that the courses were developed “in secret” behind closed doors by a committee set up by the superintendent to develop ethnic studies curriculum under the direction of the school board, in violation of California law open meetings were violated. Enacted in 1953, the Brown Act “guarantees the right of the public to attend meetings of local legislative bodies,” according to the attorney general’s office.

The lawsuit asks the court to stop Santa Ana Unified from teaching the ethnic studies courses, which were “adopted in violation of the law,” until they are lawfully approved.

District spokesman Fermin Leal denied the allegations related to Brown Act violations. Leal said the lawsuit incorrectly assumes that the steering committee is an “official” subcommittee of Santa Ana Unified, which would subject it to the Brown Act’s open meeting laws. But that was not the case, he said.

“The Steering Committee is an advisory body that utilizes the public to gather perceptions, expertise and competing viewpoints from diverse constituencies before recommending the final model curriculum to the Board for adoption,” Leal said. “This is the same process we use to adopt other curriculum models.”

David Loy, legal director of the government watchdog group First Amendment Coalition, questioned the legality of the steering committee’s alleged private meetings.

“Brown Act matters are decided by substance, not form,” Loy said. “If this committee is established by the board, it is subject to the Brown Act.”

In evidence filed in August, the organizations suing the district said they received text messages between “high-level district officials” discussing approving courses during Passover, a major Jewish holiday. (It is unclear in the lawsuit whether a senior district official is a board member, steering committee member or other official.)

According to the lawsuit, one Santa Ana Unified official said in a text message to another, “I would like to note that there is no public comment on ethnic studies.” We may have to use Passover to get all new courses approved. The other officer responded, “That’s actually a good strategy,” according to the lawsuit.

A school board member also suggested Jewish people should not be included in the ethnic studies curriculum because “they are subject to racialization that falls into the category of white people,” the lawsuit said. The lawsuit alleged that a member of the district’s ethnic studies steering committee privately referred to a Jewish member of the committee as a “colonized Jewish spirit” and a “(expletive) baby” for raising concerns about anti-Semitism.

During a Santa Ana Unified board meeting on April 25, board member Rigo Rodriguez acknowledged potential problems in one of two proposed ethnic studies courses and suggested a vote be tabled for two weeks. However, Board President Carolyn Torres said she agreed with approving the course “based on my personal opinion.”

The board then voted 3-0 in favor, with Rodriguez abstaining. The second course was unanimously approved.

Torres did not respond to a request for comment.

The courses are taught to high school students in the district.

“Open meetings are required by law to prevent situations like this,” said James Pasch, senior director of national litigation at ADL. “The anti-Semitism that influenced this process sent a clear message to Jewish students and families that their voices were not welcome and that they were intentionally excluded.”

The curriculum was approved before Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which sparked a massive wave of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

While reported hate crimes in California fell 7.1% in 2023 compared to the previous year, reported anti-Jewish bias crimes increased from 189 in 2022 to 289 last year, an increase of 52.9%, and reported anti-Muslim ones Hate crimes increased from 25 in 2022 to 40 in 2023.

In August, the Orange County Board of Education began developing its own ethnic studies curriculum for its Alternative, Community and Correctional Education Schools and Services program, which could also be made available to school districts throughout the county.

The Board of Education oversees special education and alternative programs in the county, including ACCESS, which serves students who face academic and social challenges in traditional classrooms and helps adults earn their high school diploma.

Trustee Jorge Valdes, who suggested the district board create the curriculum, pointed to Santa Ana Unified and said he wanted the process to be “very open and transparent” rather than “completely secretive,” as Santa Ana has been accused of being.

It’s “clear that certain individuals made a concerted effort to conceal their biased motives,” Steel said of the Santa Ana Unified case. “For this reason, we demand that (the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights) initiate a formal investigation into this matter to ensure that all wrongdoing comes to light and that those responsible for perpetrating this discrimination are held fully accountable under federal law.” be drawn.”

An Education Department spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Leal, the Santa Ana Unified spokesman, said the district is confident that if Steel’s request for an investigation is approved, “despite some strong opinions from members of the committee, it will come to light that personal bias was not reflected in the final product we adopted.” “.

“The goal of the curriculum is to approach coursework with critical thinking skills,” Leal said. “We seek to teach our students not what to think, but how to think about and approach controversial issues that evoke different perspectives, historical interpretations and opinions.”

A hearing in the case is scheduled for November in Orange County Superior Court.

Every day, Lacey Wicksall fields calls from couples across the country who are deeply in love but running out of time.

And that’s exactly why Wicksall is talking to them.

As executive director of the Chicago-based nonprofit Wish Upon A Wedding, the 52-year-old mother of two helps provide free wedding ceremonies and vow renewals for couples facing a terminal illness or life-changing health condition.

“I just spoke to a couple on the phone a few hours ago and I still have tears in my eyes,” Wicksall says of a recent phone call checking on a couple who were in the process of applying for a wedding at the nonprofit. “We all had tears in our eyes. It is difficult.”

Since 2009, the organization has made nearly 300 “dream” ceremonies possible by working with wedding industry professionals who donated everything from catering to wedding attire to a venue, videographers and DJs.

Wicksall explains: “When you’re going through a tragedy, you just need someone to go into your darkness and do something good for you. And that’s exactly what we’re here for – to provide respite in the middle of the storm.”

Couples who often learn about the organization from nurses or various support groups apply through the group’s website. Before being selected for an interview, Wicksall and “wish coordinator” Megan Biehl check the applicant’s health status with their doctor or hospice worker and then get to work learning more about the couple and their vision for their dream ceremony.

“We ask a lot of questions about her story in the interview,” explains Wicksall. “Tell us how you met, how you found out about your diagnosis, why it is important for you to get married or renew your wedding vows? And what do you love about each other? So many couples are never asked this question. And we give each of them a chance to speak, and usually they cry the whole time – and so do we.”

If selected, the nonprofit, which provides $2,000 for each “wish,” begins contacting wedding planners in the couple’s area, explaining their situation and asking if they might be interested in joining the organization to help with the ceremony.

“When they called me, I thought, ‘I can’t say no,'” recalls Georgia-based wedding planner Lydia Leek, who organized a wedding for a young couple – Skylar Bernstein and Sam Wombough – in August after the 22nd. The one-year-old bride was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of brain cancer.

With time of the essence, Leeks quickly got to work, spending hours with the couple to get a feel for the vibe they wanted to achieve with their wedding. She then reached out to her list of suppliers to see if they might also want to join in and donate their services.

“I spoke to more than twelve of them – from florists and photographers to cake caterers – and everyone was so helpful. I didn’t have to ask anyone twice. They all just said yes.”

The result was a nearly $60,000 wedding at the Conley Creek venue in Blairsville, Georgia, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. “It was everything I could have dreamed of,” says Bernstein. “And it was all taken care of for us.”

Not surprisingly, the ceremonies are often more than just a wedding or vow renewal – they are a celebration of life.

“People often tell us how wonderful it is to bring everyone you love together in the same room before they die,” Wicksall says. “Often our wishes are similar to a living funeral. Two years ago we did one where the groom fell asleep and died on the night of his wish. Every single person he loved was allowed to be there that evening to say goodbye to him.”

Over the years, Wicksall has also learned that the best-planned ceremonies can often be changed at the last moment due to health concerns.

“If we have a venue where everything is fully planned and the person takes a turn for the worse at the last moment, we can pivot and do it in their backyard or in a hospital room,” Wicksall says. “Our teams fully understand that at the end of the day, what matters is what the intended recipient can handle that day.”

Most importantly, for couples who often feel like they’re living on borrowed time, Wicksall and her team of big-hearted wedding professionals across the country can provide, for a few fleeting moments, a joyful respite from the drudgery of endless doctor’s appointments and treatment plans.

“Mothers can put on a beautiful dress and either wear a wig or wear their normal hair, have their hair and makeup done and feel beautiful again for the first time in eighteen months because the chemotherapy has taken them away,” says Wicksall. “It gives people a day when they just don’t have to think about the hell they’re living through.” . We are in the business of hope because hope gives people something to look forward to and live for.”