Eagles seek 7th straight win while Rams try to keep pace in crowded NFC West raceIndian Prairie School District 204 is seeing rapid growth in the number of students who qualify for language services, officials told the district’s Board of Education recently. In the last 10 years, the number of students who qualify for language services has increased by over 3,000 despite the district’s total student population falling by around the same amount, according to a presentation given by Director of English Language Learner Services Rafael Segarra and English Language Learner Coordinator Traci Wiegel. Now, the district has over 4,200 students in the program, the presentation showed. Just 2.5% of Indian Prairie School District 204’s students qualified for language services in the 2005-06 school year, but during the 2024-25 school year, that number has risen to 15.8%, Wiegel said during the presentation. That’s getting close to the state average of 16.4% of students who need language services, she said. About a third of the increase has happened since 2020, with around 1,000 more students qualifying for language services in the 2024-25 school year than they did in the 2021-22 school year, the presentation showed. The district’s English Language Learning Program has two parts: English as a Second Language, which is often shortened to ESL, and bilingual education, Segarra said during the presentation. The ESL portion of the program is for students who attend a school where less than 20 students need language services within a certain language group, he said. According to the district’s website, the goal of the ESL program is to develop English skills while still learning the content they would in their grade. The program looks to develop both social and academic language across listening, speaking, reading and writing, the website says. Schools with 20 or more students who need language services within the same language group are required by the state to provide bilingual services. Like the ESL program, this Transitional Bilingual Education program looks to teach students English and grade-appropriate content, but it also provides native language instruction and support while transitioning to English, according to the district’s website. Although it used to be a much smaller number years ago, 22 of the district’s 34 schools now qualify for the bilingual program, Segarra said. Those schools include Prairie Preschool, Brookdale Elementary, Brooks Elementary, Cowlishaw Elementary, Georgetown Elementary, Gombert Elementary, Kendall Elementary, Longwood Elementary, McCarty Elementary, Owen Elementary, Peterson Elementary, Steck Elementary, Watts Elementary, Welch Elementary, White Eagle Elementary, Fischer Middle, Granger Middle, Hill Middle, Scullen Middle, Still Middle, Metea Valley High and Waubonsie Valley High schools, according to the presentation. Of those schools, 11 offer bilingual education in a language other than Spanish. In addition to an increase in the number of students who need language services, the district is also seeing an increase in the number of languages spoken in the district, according to the presentation. In the 2021-22 school year, around 109 languages were spoken throughout the district, but that number has risen to 126 this year, the presentation showed. These languages represent all students in the district, not just those who need language services, Wiegel said. While Spanish is the top language spoken by students needing language services, which is 986 students, that number has actually gone down slightly since last school year, the presentation showed. The district is, however, seeing notable increases in the number of students in the English Language Learning Program who speak Russian, Uzbek and Ukrainian, according to Wiegel. The presentation showed that almost 100 more Russian-speaking students are enrolled in the program over last year, while Uzbek saw an increase of 50 students and Ukrainian saw an increase of almost 25 students. As the number of students enrolled in the English Language Learning Program has increased over the past four years, the number of district staff dedicated to the program has risen at a slower rate, according to the presentation. The district had 90 staff members for the program in the 2021-22 school year; now, it has just over 110 full-time equivalent positions, the presentation showed. In fact, the district has slightly less full-time equivalent positions than it did last year because Segarra rearranged some staff across the district to provide as many services as possible without impacting the budget, he said. “We are doing the best job we can with our kids based on what is available in terms of our resources,” he said. However, the number of students who need language services is growing daily, and caseloads are growing faster than is feasible for staff to handle, according to Wiegel. Based on staffing, the average caseload is around 56 students per teacher, she said. To increase the amount of time that teachers have with students, the department is looking for ways to decrease paperwork, Segarra said. An outside company is being considered to help with this problem, he said. The department is also looking at ways to use grant funds to hire more staff, but it is struggling to find certified teachers in languages like Russian, Uzbek, Ukrainian, Telugu and Arabic, according to the presentation. Weigel said the department is looking to hire teacher assistants who speak those languages to help, but “clearly the support from a teaching assistant is not the same as the support from a certified teacher.” In addition to needing more teachers, the department’s administrative team is also “well understaffed” compared to other departments in the district and in neighboring districts, according to the presentation. Another challenge for the department is that some buildings do not have enough space for language services to work effectively, the presentation stated. Some schools have very large populations but small spaces, forcing teachers to only meet with six or eight students at a time, which limits instructional time, Weigel said. However, the recently passed $420 million bond referendum may help this situation, she said. Despite challenges with staffing levels and instructional spaces, students are exiting the program because of their English proficiency level at much higher rates than the state average, the presentation showed. In 2024, 575 students exited the program, which is a 16.7% exit rate, Weigel said. The state’s exit rate was 6.2% in 2024, she said. While the exit rate is great, the percentages sometimes dip year-to-year because the number of students who need language services is growing, according to Segarra. Weigel said the demographics of the program are also changing as the district sees more and more “newcomers,” which are students who were born outside of the U.S. and arrived here within the last year or two. To help these students and their parents, the district formed a Newcomers Committee last year, Segarra said. Because of that committee, the district now has a guide for newcomers, which is set to soon be published in Spanish and Russian, along with professional development and a toolkit for general education teachers, he said. However, most of the students who need language services were born in the continental U.S., according to Segarra. The presentation showed that the district currently has over 2,400 students in the English Language Learning Program that were born in the U.S. rsmith@chicagotribune.com
Johor government will streamline all benefits and incentives provided to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the state through the Entrepreneurs Data Centre (Padu) system starting next year. State youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the decision followed investigations by Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd (PUJB), which revealed instances of some SMEs receiving one-off benefits multiple times. “There have been reports of owners receiving support up to three times from different federal and state government agencies. “The additional aid could have been used to help other SMEs in need. “Although these cases are rare, we need a strict, fair approach to ensure no single SME receives multiple aid from various agencies. “This way, we can assist more small businesses in need,” he told StarMetro. Mohd Hairi added that 63,000 businesses were currently registered under Padu, with 57,000 of them being SMEs. PUJB will collaborate with Johor State Entrepreneur Development Council to better manage and identify the types of aid and businesses to support in the future, he said. Currently, there are 43 state and federal agencies under the entrepreneur development council, aside from private sector participation. In addition to streamlining state aid for SMEs, PUJB through Padu will also organise events and programmes more effectively to avoid overlap, according to Mohd Hairi. “We recently received complaints about six food festivals and events being held simultaneously in various parts of Johor Baru. “This spreads the target market too thin, leaving some businesses unable to make a profit. “With PUJB overseeing future programmes, we aim to ensure better organisation and more strategic scheduling so SMEs can benefit fully,” he said. When asked whether the state planned to capitalise on Malaysia’s role as Asean chair next year, Mohd Hairi confirmed that the entrepreneur development council was exploring opportunities. “This will be an excellent chance for local businesses to gain international exposure.”
SEC rushing leader Dylan Sampson of Tennessee declares for NFL draftMany individuals, even those with significant assets, are negligent in establishing a comprehensive estate plan. A will, although necessary, is not sufficient. In this column I will discuss wills and other documents that you should consider. Consult with your attorney about including the following documents in your estate plan. Will A will is the document that contains a written statement of your instructions regarding your estate. The individual(s) responsible for managing your estate is the administrator. He/she is responsible for following the instructions you specify in the will. Your instructions are not limited to property disbursement. If you die without [...]
Analysts' ratings for Primerica PRI over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 4 analysts. The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 3 0 1 0 0 Last 30D 1 0 0 0 0 1M Ago 1 0 0 0 0 2M Ago 1 0 0 0 0 3M Ago 0 0 1 0 0 Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $320.5, along with a high estimate of $345.00 and a low estimate of $283.00. This current average reflects an increase of 4.4% from the previous average price target of $307.00. Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look A clear picture of Primerica's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Andrew Kligerman TD Cowen Raises Buy $345.00 $314.00 Mark Hughes Truist Securities Raises Buy $340.00 $300.00 Andrew Kligerman TD Cowen Announces Buy $314.00 - John Barnidge Piper Sandler Announces Neutral $283.00 - Key Insights: Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Primerica. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company. Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Primerica compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for Primerica's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations. Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Primerica's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Primerica analyst ratings. Delving into Primerica's Background Primerica Inc is a provider of financial services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. The company offers life insurance, mutual funds, annuities, and other financial products, distributed on behalf of third parties. Primerica has three main subsidiaries: Primerica Financial Services, a marketing company; Primerica Life Insurance Company, a principal life insurance underwriting entity; and PFS Investments, which offers investment and savings products, brokerage services, and registered investment advisory. It has four segments Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; Senior Health; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Geogriphically, it derives a majority of its revenue from the US. A Deep Dive into Primerica's Financials Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is below the industry average, suggesting that it is relatively smaller compared to peers. This could be due to various factors, including perceived growth potential or operational scale. Revenue Growth: Primerica's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 10.99% . This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers. Net Margin: Primerica's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 21.14%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management. Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 8.05%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital. Return on Assets (ROA): Primerica's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 1.11% , the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance. Debt Management: With a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02 , Primerica faces challenges in effectively managing its debt levels, indicating potential financial strain. The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are. Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update. Analysts may enhance their evaluations by incorporating forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, delivering additional guidance to investors. It is vital to acknowledge that, although experts in stocks and sectors, analysts are human and express their opinions when providing insights. Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now? Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. Click here to stay ahead of the market . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Soak it in, Nebraska fans. The long wait is finally over. The Nebraska football team is going bowling for the first time since 2016, and those who saw it happen live on Saturday couldn’t wait any longer to start the celebration. Fans rushed the Memorial Stadium field for the second time this fall, and who could blame them? As Nebraska’s one-time pregame anthem, “Can You Feel It,” blasted from the stadium’s loudspeakers, the answer was undoubtedly yes — everyone could feel the energy and the joy present on the field. Fans jumped together, screaming into the November night sky as Nebraska staffers milled around and players received congratulations, applause and handshakes. That such a breakthrough moment would happen for the Nebraska football this fall was not always certain, especially after the Huskers dropped a fourth straight game to USC last week. Following that game, quarterback Dylan Raiola boldly proclaimed he felt the Huskers would win their next game — but why? “I’m a big vibes person, and when I came back in the locker room even though we lost, I just got the vibe that we were about to take off,” Raiola said. On Saturday night inside Memorial Stadium, the vibes were immaculate. Let’s drop into coverage: When Nebraska walked off the field at the 2016 Music City Bowl, no one would’ve predicted that it’d be eight years before the Huskers would themselves back in the postseason. Year after year and season after season followed — each with its own promise and potential, only to end in heartbreak. There was the defensively challenged 2017 team, and the 2018 team that started 0-6 but put things together late. The 2019 team showed flashes but stumbled late, especially in one-score games. The 2020 team actually got the option to go to a bowl game but turned it down. The 2021 team earned the unfortunate moniker of perhaps being the best three-win team ever. The 2022 team once again found itself on the wrong end of one-score games. The 2023 team had an elite defense but couldn't get the job done in four tries. In the end, it was the 2024 Huskers who got it done, true freshman quarterback and all. It was impossible to see the accomplishment of Saturday night and not think of the hundreds of Huskers whose playing careers came to an end not during a bowl game but during the regular season. Players like Ethan Piper, Garrett Nelson, Luke Reimer or Trent Hixson — Nebraskans who shed blood, sweat and tears for the program with little to show for it. “It’s for the guys that came before us and stuck through it all,” senior Isaac Gifford said of making a bowl game. Head coach Matt Rhule was paid the big bucks to deliver such a moment, but he’s still deserving of credit for getting the job done. An inability to get over the line in 2023, combined with a swing and a miss at a transfer portal quarterback, raised pressure on Rhule as other programs found their quick fix and instant success. Rhule, who earned a reputation as a program-builder from his time at Temple and Baylor, was always going to focus on long-term, not short-term success. “The future of Nebraska football is not hanging on one decision; it’s hanging on an accumulation of great recruiting, great development, great coaching and great teaching,” Rhule said in November 2022. The Nebraska administrators who stood alongside Rhule on that day — Chancellor Ronnie Green, President Ted Carter and Athletic Director Trev Alberts — all left their posts before seeing the process through. Rhule, however, hasn't wavered. Nebraska fans can have their gripes about clock management, playing time, offensive play calls or any of the other places where NU still has room for improvement — but who can deny that Rhule has made strides in each and all of those areas? “It’s relief in that I’ve gotten the benefit of doing this twice before,” Rhule said Saturday of snapping the bowl game streak. “I look at the weight room, I look at the training room, sports science, sports psychology, player development, recruiting and I look at all the things we’re doing and believe it’s all right and that it’s all going to pay off in a big way.” Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is cooking up something special. Facing a Wisconsin defense that allowed just 16 points against No. 1 Oregon last week, Nebraska ran the ball effectively, threw the ball into tight windows and strung together drives with impressive consistency. It’s not just the 44-point output that stands out — the way Nebraska played on offense has simply looked different with Holgorsen calling the plays the last two weeks. “Credit to coach Holgorsen and what he’s brought to the offense,” Rhule said. “Maybe it’s playcalling, but I think the biggest thing he’s brought is a little bit of swagger to them.” Let’s give Holgorsen his flowers while remembering something as well: this is still the offense designed and built by Marcus Satterfield over the last two seasons. Holgorsen hasn’t reinvented the wheel since taking over, but what he has done is shake up the rhythm and timing of play calls within the offense and the personnel trusted to execute them. In order to run the ball, you have to commit to it, and Holgorsen has done an excellent job thus far of making sure Nebraska gets plenty out of its ground game. Playing the most snaps (52) of any Husker running back this season, sophomore Emmett Johnson also ran for the most yards (113) any player has all year. Nebraska also debuted a nifty two-back look where Dante Dowdell and Johnson lined up alongside Raiola in the backfield, a formation that gave the Wisconsin defense trouble to defend. Credit the blocking, up front and on the perimeter — where NU has looked much better in recent weeks — for springing the big running day. 20 of NU’s 38 rushing attempts went to the right side of its offensive line, with the Huskers averaging over 6 yards per carry on those plays. Holgorsen also dialed up the right mixture of passing plays for Raiola, who played his first interception-free game since late September. Nebraska got the ball out quickly with Raiola often firing to his first read for short gains, a setup senior Jahmal Banks said was “just like practice.” “The ball went where it was supposed to be,” Rhule said of Nebraska’s pass game, adding that the Huskers did well in pass protection. Also of interest in NU’s offensive personnel was senior wide receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda getting on the field to record his first catch since the 2023 season opener. And at tight end, usual starter Thomas Fidone II spent much of the game on the sidelines after committing an early false start penalty. Fidone played just three snaps, ceding playing time to Nate Boerkircher (49 snaps played) and Luke Lindenmeyer (44 snaps). Many of the players who powered the Nebraska offense on Saturday are the same who the Huskers will hope to build around moving forward. Johnson in particular stands out as the running back of the future for Nebraska, having averaged 4.6 yards per carry a year ago and 5.4 yards per attempt this fall in addition to his skills as a pass-catching back. “We’re changing Nebraska football,” Johnson said after the game. Raiola, of course, has gone through his own learning curves and should come back stronger as a sophomore in 2025 as a result. His favorite target this fall, freshman wideout Jacory Barney Jr., also continues to impress as the season progresses. In addition to his work on special teams, Barney has 49 receptions, 10 rushing attempts, three touchdowns and over 500 yards to his name this season. “Jacory runs a route as hard if he’s the first progression as if he’s the fourth progression; he runs every play like it’s the last play of his life,” Rhule said. Nebraska’s depth of talent on offense runs much deeper than those players, with some who’ve not even seen the field this fall set to make their impact moving forward. Knowing that this Wednesday will not be their final practice of the season with bowl game practices to follow simply adds to the growth potential of NU’s young offense. “There’s a lot of guys that if they just stop at the end of the year, catch their breath and look up, they’ve really gotten better over the course of the year,” Rhule said. “Now we have a couple extra weeks of bowl practice to try and get them to another one.” A veteran-heavy Nebraska defense, excellent throughout the 2023 season, hasn’t necessarily been at the same level this fall. Remember, that unit essentially dragged the team to five wins; earning more than that is the reward for their hard work this time around. Wisconsin struggled to finish drives off but still chewed up more than 400 yards of offense as Nebraska allowed 20-plus points for the fifth week in a row. Still, NU’s early season success — particularly in the nonconference slate — has allowed the Huskers to put together a solid campaign at home. Nebraska allowed just 15.7 points per game inside Memorial Stadium this season, a number which rose to 28.8 points per game on the road. Nebraska’s Black Friday matchup against Iowa will pit the Huskers against a team that is down to its fourth-string quarterback. If there’s one thing Iowa knows how to do, it is win with defense, special teams and the ground game. Sophomore walk-on Jackson Stratton completed 10-of-14 passes for 76 yards in Iowa’s win over Maryland, with head coach Kirk Ferentz saying Stratton is likely to start against Nebraska as well. NU fans can now begin looking at bowl game projections with the knowledge that the Huskers will be a part of the postseason. CBS Sports’ projection, updated after Nebraska’s win over Wisconsin, has the Huskers set for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Texas Tech on Dec. 26 in Phoenix. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Future of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Technology Market: Analysis and Leadership by Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology, InSightec, EDAP TMS, Shanghai A&S, Wikkon, SonaCare Medical, Changjiangyuan Technology Development, Philips Healthcare
New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings
The Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2024New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings
