| Tubman Academy runs on girl power
In Kathy Smith's P.E. and wellness class at this North Portland school, girls can shoot hoops, step to the popular "Dance Dance Revolution" game, and hear a lesson on sexual harassment without feeling embarrassed. There are no boys to be found in the gym, or anywhere else in the building at the new Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy for Young Women, one of the two single-sex academies to open as part of Jefferson High School's ongoing reforms this year. Eleven-year-old Shradha Pulla, a bespectacled seventh-grader who aspires to be a climate scientist, finds the environment refreshing. "Boys are distracting," she says simply. For the first time in her life, Shradha said, she's found herself raising her hand in class to speak. She and her classmates say there's more opportunity, since classes aren't as boisterous, and they don't feel as shy when boys are out of the equation.
£500m deal sealed to freeze council tax
A HISTORIC deal to freeze council taxes was struck between the Scottish Government and local authorities yesterday. John Swinney, the finance secretary, and council leaders agreed a funding package of more than £500 million that will make it possible to peg taxes at current levels. Mr Swinney is understood to have won over sceptical council leaders after offering them the extra money, alongside a promise of greater autonomy over how they spend the cash. .
Mountain View startup offers DNA scans online
The Google Inc.-backed company 23andMe on Monday started a Web-based genetic testing service offering customers a $999 scan of their DNA, including hints about their disease risks, clues to their ethnic ancestry and possible explanations for habits that annoy their relatives. The private Mountain View startup, with funding from Internet colossus Google and nearby biotech powerhouse Genentech Inc., is part of a wave of companies that are starting to commercialize information about the human genome for the general public. DeCode Genetics of Iceland rolled out its $985 service, DeCodeme, on Friday, and Navigenics of Redwood Shores plans to offer a test costing about $2,500 early next year. Customers will sign up online at 23andme.com and receive a saliva test kit in the mail to send back.
Changes simmering for Hot Springs’ ownership
A major shift in the future of the Takhini Hot Springs is occurring today, says one of the original investors looking to take control over the majority of shares. Carla Pitzel said now that the majority of shareholders have failed to secure the necessary financing to buy out her camp of minority shareholders, the shoe is on the other foot � and she says it�s a fine fit. Pitzel told the Star the minority shareholders want to and will buy out all the shares of the majority group and get back to advancing the original vision that was in place before � in her words � the majority took over control of the board of directors because they didn�t agree with the business plan. Securing the financing, she said matter-of-factly, will not be an issue. The camp of majority shareholders can expect to have their money exactly 120 days from tomorrow, according to the schedule in a mutual agreement signed by the two sides last July 31.
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