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Viewpoint: The ‘metaversity’ is here — and you shouldn’t ignore it

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

Later this school year, a group of students at University of Maryland Global Campus will enter a crime scene as part of a course in criminal justice. They will be briefed beforehand by a criminal justice expert and use a “crime scene kit” to investigate evidence. In their personalized scene, they will look for bloodstains, encounter and examine a dead body, and scrutinize the scene for other clues.Welcome to the “metaversity,” the place where the metaverse and higher education intersect. Neither student nor professor will leave their home to visit the crime scene. The crime scene does not exist physically. For UMGC, founded 75 years ago specifically to meet the needs of adult learners for whom a traditional campus experience was impractical or impossible, this course is the next frontier in education. While sleuthing through the crime scene, the students will create a “spatial recording” — an interactive 3D video — that captures everything they do and say during the…Read the full st...

Police investigating death at Cheesman Park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Police officers are investigating an outdoor death at Denver's Cheesman Park.Just after 10 a.m. Monday, the Denver Police Department tweeted about an outdoor death investigation at Cheesman Park located south of east Colfax. The park itself takes up five square blocks within the neighborhood that bears the same name. ‘South Park’ fan Ed Sheeran dines at Casa Bonita during Denver tour stop The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will provide the cause of death and identify the person. At this time, Denver Police have not said whether the death was criminal in nature but would provide an update when more information became available. This was the second outdoor death investigation in Denver on Monday. The other took place in the 600 block of South Downing Street, which has Washington Park on one side and residential buildings on the other.

Police investigating death near Washington Park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Police are investigating a death near Washington Park.Around 10 a.m. Monday, the Denver Police Department tweeted about an outdoor death investigation taking place in the 600 block of South Downing Street. The area is on the northwest side of Wash Park by Smith Lake on one side of the street and residential buildings on the other side.FOX31 cameras were at the scene. Multiple DPD patrol cars were parked in front of homes on the other side of the park. Police investigating death at Cheesman Park The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will provide the cause of death and identify the person.At this time, Denver Police have not said whether the death was criminal in nature but would provide an update when more information became available.This is the second outdoor death investigation in Denver on Monday, and both were near popular parks. DPD was investigating another death at Cheesman Park.

‘We’re not built for this.’ Tropical Storm Hilary batters California with heavy rain and catastrophic floods

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

(CNN) — After making landfall in Mexico earlier Sunday, Tropical Storm Hilary has crossed into California, where it is unleashing heavy rain and turning roads into gushing streams as officials warn of potentially deadly floods.“We are not used to this level of precipitation, generally. Certainly not in the middle of summer,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria told CNN’s Jim Acosta Sunday afternoon, saying he was worried about potential power outages from the wind as well as flooding. “We’re not built for this kind of rainfall.”Authorities across southern California pleaded with residents not to drive, warning of mudslides, road deterioration and dangerous debris flows and flooding, as some communities declared emergencies to respond to the storm. One California official has warned Hilary could be among the most devastating storms to hit the state in recent years.The National Weather Service said parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties were already experiencing “dangerous f...

Marlins’ home advantage: The science behind loanDepot Park’s winning streak

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

The Miami Marlins have recorded a remarkable series of wins on their home turf at loanDepot Park. The question arises: what contributes to their consistent success in their home games?“We try to tailor our field to what our guys prefer, what they like,” said Chad Mulholland, Marlins Head Groundskeeper. “So, I think there is some kind of a home field advantage.”Chad Mulholland, who has meticulously manicured baseball fields for over three decades, has been with the Marlins since 2012. For Mulholland, this meticulous work is nothing short of scientific.Mulholland and his skilled crew hold college degrees in turf grass management. They analyze elements like ball trajectory, bat impact and player movements to perfect the field. The synthetic turf surface is underlaid with crushed coconut shells and sand, aiming to replicate the characteristics of natural grass. The field’s moisture level is finely tuned through irrigation, mimicking the feel and playability...

Miami PD investigating after thief steals Amazon driver’s vehicle

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

An Amazon delivery driver was stopped in his tracks after a thief stole his vehicle. Around 5 a.m. Monday, police said they received a call about the theft after the victim noticed their vehicle was taken in the area of Northwest 54th Street and Northwest 17th Avenue. The Amazon driver was seen talking to police officers at the gas station where his car was stolen. According to police, the driver made the call after he noticed someone attempting to steal the vehicle. The driver approached the thief, hit the car’s window with his fist before the carjacker drove off with his vehicle, along with several Amazon packages that needed to be delivered. Though no injuries were reported by officials, the Amazon worker did have a bloody hand after he hit his fist on the glass of the car. He needed the gas station clerk’s help to call 911.The City of Miami Police Department is investigating the incident. If you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 30...

High school student to be recognized for academic work at Homestead City Hall

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

Homestead High School student Janiya Baker, 15, jumped from the ninth grade to the 12th grade in just one year and she will be recognized at Homestead City Hall for her incredible achievement. A feat that has never been done before in Miami-Dade County, Baker thrived in the busy environment of extra-curricular activities and being a student athlete. She even holds the current highest GPA in her class.“It was a lot of work I had to do,” she said. “I came to high school with high school credits, and from the help of my college advisor and my mom, I’m in the 12th now.” From class president to varsity cheerleader, Baker’s goals after high school are set on Florida International University where she aims to major in business and join the cheer team to spread her Panther spirit.

Finland considers swastika ban after racism scandals rock government

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

A series of racism scandals within the new Finnish government has led to calls for a ban on the swastika and the hammer and sickle.Ben Zyskowicz, an MP from the center-right National Coalition Party, told POLITICO: “It’s very difficult to find real … concrete decisions which can be made by the government or by the parliament … to fight against racism,” adding that is “a real problem.” But he said it is not enough to merely condemn racism, so legislation must be adopted to outlaw discrimination. His suggestion is a ban on the use of the swastika and the hammer and sickle.Zyskowicz’s proposition is part of a broader collection of ideas drawn up by a new working group to fight against discrimination and racism, set up by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo after several racism scandals involving his junior coalition partner the Finns Party. Orpo said he had a “zero tolerance” policy for racism and extremism.The parliament is expected ...

Texas under tropical storm warning for storm expected Tuesday morning

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

(CNN) — Areas along the South Texas coast are under tropical storm alerts for a yet-to-form system that could start lashing the area with wind, rain and coastal flooding as soon as Tuesday morning.This broad area of showers and thunderstorms in the central Gulf of Mexico is being called Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 by the National Hurricane center because it has the potential to strengthen into a tropical depression or tropical storm but hasn’t yet done so. The designation allows the hurricane center to issue critical alerts warning of a storm’s arrival before it has technically formed.A tropical storm warning is in effect for portions of South Texas south of Port O’Connor and a tropical storm watch has been issued from Port O’Connor northward to Sargent. If it becomes a tropical storm, it could be named Harold, depending on whether another area in the Atlantic Ocean closer to Africa develops into a tropical storm first.The system had 30 mph winds Monday morning and was moving ...

The original voice of Mario is stepping away from the role, Nintendo says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:33:45 GMT

(CNN) — Mushroom Kingdom will soon bid farewell to one of its longest-tenured residents.Charles Martinet, the longtime voice of Nintendo’s beloved plumber Mario, is stepping away from the role after nearly 30 years, the video game company announced. Martinet will become a Mario ambassador instead, “sharing the joy of Mario” at international events, Nintendo said.“It has been an honor working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him,” Nintendo said in Monday’s announcement. The company noted that Nintendo executive and Mario designer Shigeru Miyamoto will soon join Martinet for a “special video message.”Martinet has voiced the mustachioed hero in dozens of über-popular games, from the groundbreaking “Super Mario 64” in 1996 to the mega-hit “Mario Kart Wii” in 2008 to 2021’s “Mario Party Superstars.” Mario’s accented falsetto has become as integral to the character as his red hat and facial hair — signatures that ...