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Texas church holds AI-generated service, uses ChatGPT

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — From the classroom to the workplace, artificial Intelligence has made its way into several parts of our lives. But now, it's in the church as well. The Violet Crown City Church in north Austin, Texas, hosted a Sunday service entirely created by AI. Pastor Jay Cooper said he used ChatGPT, whose technology can respond to questions and create a variety of content, such as articles, essays and emails. "ChatGPT kicked out about a 15-minute service, like a shotgun sermon, an outline," Cooper said. "It's very clear that a human element is still needed. I had to fill out the service with additional prompts and add a couple prompts to the sermon to kind of beef it up." ChatGPT: School districts discuss policies addressing Artificial Intelligence in the classroom Cooper said he got the idea after reading more about AI and speaking with members of the congregation who are software developers. "There's so many different applications for AI," he said. "I just had the idea, 'Wh...

5 standout moments from the start of the new school year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- The start of the 2023-2024 school year is in full swing as millions of U.S. students have returned to classrooms, but not without some hiccups. Kids across the country have seen some of their first days back canceled due to lack of transportation, extreme heat or insufficient educators to teach. Others saw schools closed over COVID-19 again.The start signals that issues exacerbated by the pandemic will continue to cause trouble for educators and students.Here are the biggest stories nationwide out of the new academic year:School bus driver shortageThe school bus driver shortage alone has affected tens of thousands of students across the country as delays and cancellations plagued their first week back.In Kentucky, Jefferson County Public Schools had a self-proclaimed “transportation disaster,” as some students did not get home until 10 p.m. due to the issue.“I saw some incredible instruction. Kids excited, families excited, new school buildings, and to have it end with...

Troy resident wins $1K a week for life on scratch-off

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Troy resident has won $1,000 a week for life on a scratch-off ticket. According to the New York Lottery, Justine Lanzillo claimed the top prize from the Win $1,000 A Week For Life scratch-off game. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The winning ticket was bought at Hannaford at 9 126th Street in Troy. Lanzillo chose to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum, totaling $456,614 after required withholdings.As of September 15, there were three top prizes remaining on the Win $1,000 A Week for Life scratch-off games. Players can check the status of any scratch-off by downloading the Game Report on the New York Lottery website. $1M winning Mega Millions ticket sold at Glenmont Stewart’s New York scratch-off games generated $4,406,338,198 in total sales during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Officials said school districts in Rensselaer County received $41,932,057 in Lottery Aid to Education funds during that time...

Albany man faces weapon charge after Quail St. incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a search warrant was executed Saturday morning on Quail Street. Shaquan Canteen, 38, was arraigned Sunday morning in Albany City Criminal Court. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Saturday, around 7:50 a.m., officers responded to Quail Street and Second Street for reports of a domestic-related incident. Police say during the investigation, detectives found a loaded revolver inside the residence. He was taken into custody and remanded to the Albany County Jail.

Metro drivers working overtime amid labor shortage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - According to a payroll analysis by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, some Metro drivers made more than $40,000 in overtime pay last year. In 2022, two drivers worked enough extra hours to make more than 40 grand in additional pay. and 32 drivers made more than $20,000 in overtime pay. The CEO of Bi-State Development says the hefty O-T payouts are directly related to labor shortages. Day Two of UAW strike: Wentzville picketers explain their motives Even though overtime pay was significant last year, Metro Transit reported saving about $3 million by having fewer workers. The head of MetroLink's main union says the overtime hours are "mostly voluntary."

St. Louis County owes Missouri more than $500K

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - St. Louis County owes the state of Missouri more than half a million dollars.The county must repay the federal grant money after a county contractor used it improperly, according to FOX 2's partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. PHOTOS: St. Louis Renaissance Festival returns for its 25th year The grants paid for a workforce development program, but officials say it was out of compliance due to poor record-keeping. The contractor that ran the program, the Wellston-based nonprofit Family and Workforce Centers of America,' has received millions in federal grant money over the years but has been scrutinized and accused of fraud and improper record-keeping.

2 vacant homes catch fire in Cahokia Heights, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. - Two vacant homes caught fire early Monday morning in Cahokia Heights, Illinois.The first fire started at around 12:30 a.m. on Edwards Street. Firefighters put it out, then got called back an hour later. Day Two of UAW strike: Wentzville picketers explain their motives That house and a house next door were on fire. No one was hurt, but neighbors shared that they saw two people leaving the second house before the fire started.

Amazon delivery truck crashes overnight in downtown St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An Amazon delivery truck was involved in a crash overnight in downtown St. Louis.The crash happened just before 1:00 a.m. on Washington Avenue at 4th Street. It involved a tractor trailer and two cars. PHOTOS: St. Louis Renaissance Festival returns for its 25th year Five people all declined medical treatment.

Candidates, parents looking for Denver school board shake-up this fall in wake of infighting, safety concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

Denver’s school board, which has drawn the ire of parent groups in recent months over directors’ infighting and the district’s handling of school safety, faces a potential shake-up when voters cast their ballots in November’s election.Nine candidates — including incumbents Scott Baldermann and Charmaine Lindsay — are vying for three seats on Denver Public Schools’ Board of Education as parent groups push for a change in leadership.At least one new face will join the board later this year after its most high-profile member, Auon’tai Anderson, dropped his re-election bid and is now pursuing a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives.The election comes as DPS and the district’s board are facing heightened scrutiny following the March shooting inside East High School, in which a student shot and wounded two administrators. In the wake of the shooting, a group of parents and other community members have called on members to resign over their handling of...

“The Librarianist,” by Patrick deWitt, and more short book reviews from readers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:00 GMT

“The Housekeeper and the Professor,” by Yoko Ogawa (Deckle Edge, 2009)Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. Sure, you could read advertising blurbs on Amazon, but wouldn’t you be more likely to believe a neighbor with no skin in the game over a corporation being fed words by publishers? So in this series, we are sharing these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].“The Housekeeper and the Professor,” by Yoko Ogawa (Picador, 2009)Intimately written in first person, this book seems more memoir than fiction. We never learn the housekeeper/narrator’s name (nor her son’s real name), but we learn so much about their personalities and grow to love them. The glimpses into Japanese culture were surprising in how Western things often seemed, such as meals that could be on my dinner table. And t...