Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project Will Reduce Travel Times to Allow for Potentially More Frequent Train Operation
LOS ANGELES – Metrolink held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Burbank-Downtown Station to mark the start of the Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project. The project is part of Phase 1 of the agency’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program and aims to reduce travel times by allowing for increased speeds and more efficient operations. These improvements will lay the groundwork for the potential to provide passengers with wait times of no more than 30 minutes.
“By improving track infrastructure, the Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project is an important step toward greater regional mobility, while delivering economic growth through new jobs,” Metrolink Board Chair Ara Najarian said. “Metrolink appreciates its partnership with the City of Burbank on this enhancement and looks forward to working with other cities and agencies as our SCORE projects evolve.”
The Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project, located north of the Burbank-Downtown Station, will realign a portion of existing main line track, reconfigure and lengthen track, improve and replace approximately one half mile of existing track and install new right of way safety fencing.
“It’s an exciting day for Metrolink as we begin work on this project that will eventually deliver more efficient train travel in the region, especially for riders along our Antelope Valley and Ventura County lines,” Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said. “Metrolink’s SCORE program will, over the next few years, add more track while improving grade crossings, stations, and signals for our riders and in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project is funded by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) through Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). Construction is scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2023. For more information, please visit: metrolinktrains.com/SCORE.
Press conference speaker quotes:
Senator Anthony Portantino (25th District)
“The Burbank Junction Speed Improvement project will bring new jobs, environmental benefits, and increased usage of regional public transportation,” said Senator Anthony Portantino. “Fewer vehicles on the road means fewer accidents and reduced air pollution and emissions. The improvements and updates will have significant positive impacts on our communities throughout the 25th Senate District for decades to come.”
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Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale)
“The state’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) was created to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s rail, bus, and ferry transit systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale). “Transportation touches everything, and the work of TIRCP and SCORE advance the effort to create safe, equitable and sustainable transit solutions that positively impact housing issues, access to job opportunities, and our health.”
L.A. County Supervisor and Metrolink Board Member Kathryn Barger
“Every day our service takes thousands of vehicles off our highways and local roads. But we have only scratched the surface of what Metrolink can achieve,” said L.A. County Supervisor and Metrolink Board Member Kathryn Barger. ” Our service will play an ever-increasing and important role in people’s ability to move around the region. So, I view this project as a first step in a great leap forward and I am so proud to celebrate it.”
Mayor Jess Talamantes (City of Burbank)
“Metrolink’s Burbank Junction Speed Improvements Project will be a tremendous benefit to our city,” said City of Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes. “On behalf of the City Council, I congratulate Metrolink on the groundbreaking of this milestone and look forward to our continued partnership in providing safer operations and increased service speeds for our community.”
Each state in the U.S. has its own child abuse laws, and all states, tribes and territories aim to protect children from abuse. But all state laws also allow parents to hit their children if it does not leave an injury or a mark.
A typical example is Oklahoma’s definition of child abuse and neglect. It includes an exception that permits parents to use ordinary force as a means of discipline, including spanking, using an implement like a switch or a paddle. However, leaving evidence of hitting, such as welts, bruises, swelling or lacerations, is illegal and considered child abuse in all states.
Parental spanking of children is considered unique from other physical violence because of the relational context and the purpose. Laws entitle parents to hit their children for the purpose of teaching a lesson or punishing them to improve behavior. Children are the only individuals in society who can be hit by another person and the law does not regard it as assault.
Spanking’s impact on a child is unfortunately similar to abusive hitting. Spanking has been labeled as an “Adverse Childhood Experience,” or ACE. These are events that cause poor health outcomes over the span of one’s life.
The practice of spanking also affects parents. Acceptance of the physical discipline of spanking puts parents at risk for the escalation of physical punishment that leads to abuse.
Parents who spank their child have the potential to abuse them and be caught in a legal and child protection system that aims to protect children from harm. It is unclear what triggers a parent to cross over from discipline into abuse. Research shows that spanking at a young age, such as a 1-year-old, increases the chance of involvement by Child Protective Services by 33%.
Some school districts require permission from parents to allow disciplinary paddling in school, while others do not require any communication. State law does not assure agreement between parents and school districts on what offenses warrant a paddling. Parents may feel they have no alternative but to keep their child in school, or fear reprisal from school administrators. Some students are old enough to denounce the punishment themselves.
In this school district, physical punishment is used only when parents give written permission.
Is spanking considered the same as hitting?
The term spank conceals the concept of hitting and is so commonplace it goes unquestioned, despite the fact that it is a grown adult hitting a person much smaller than them. The concept is further concealed because hitting a child’s bottom hides any injuries that may occur.
Types of hitting that are categorized as spanking have narrowed over the years but still persist. Some parents still use implements such as tree switches, wooden spoons, shoes or paddles to “spank” children, raising the chances for abuse.
Most spanking ends by the age of 12, partly because children this age are able to fight back. When a child turns 18, parental hitting becomes the same as hitting any other adult, a form of domestic violence or assault throughout the U.S.
There is a lack of a consistent understanding of what constitutes a spanking. The definition of spanking is unique to each family. The number of hits, clothed or not, or using an implement, all reflect geographical or familial differences in understanding what a spanking is.
How do US adults view spanking?
People in the United States generally accept spanking as part of raising children: 56% of U.S. adults strongly agree or agree that “… it is sometimes necessary to discipline a child with a good, hard spanking.” This view has been slowly changing since 1986, when 83% of adults agreed with that statement.
The laws worldwide that protect children from being hit usually begin by disallowing nonparental adults to hit children. This is happening in the U.S. too, where 31 states have banned paddling in schools.
At a national level, efforts have been made to end physical punishment in schools. However, 19 states still allow spanking of children in public schools, which was upheld by a 1977 Supreme Court case.
With the slow but steady drop of parents who believe that sometimes children need a good hard spanking, as well as the ban of paddling in schools in 31 states, one could argue that the U.S. is moving toward a reduction in spanking.
What does research say about spanking?
Spanking’s negative influence on children’s behavior has been documented for decades. Spanking seems to work in the moment when it comes to changing or stopping the immediate behavior, but the negative effects are hidden in the short term and occur later in the child’s life. Yet because the spanking seemed to work at the time, the parent doesn’t connect the continued bad behavior of the child to the spanking.
An abundance of research shows that spanking causes increased negative behaviors in childhood. Spanking lowers executive functioning for children, increases dating violence as teenagers and even increases struggles with mental health and substance abuse in adulthood. Spanking does not teach new or healthy behaviors, and is a stress-inducing event for the child and the adult hitting them.
No studies have shown positive long-term benefits from spanking. Because of the long-standing and expansive research findings showing a range of harm from spanking and the increased association with child abuse, the American Psychological Association recommends that parents should never spank their children.
What are some resources for parents?
Consider these questions when choosing a discipline method for your child:
Is the expectation of your child developmentally accurate? One of the most common reasons parents spank is because they are expecting a behavior the child is not developmentally able to execute.
Can the discipline you choose grow with your child? Nearly all spanking ends by age 12, when kids are big enough to fight back. Choose discipline methods you can use over the long term, such as additional chores, apologies, difficult conversations and others that can grow with your child.
Might there be another explanation for your child’s behavior? Difficulty of understanding, fear or miscommunication? Think of your child as a learner and use a growth mindset to help your child learn from their life experiences.
Parents are the leaders of their families. Good leaders show strength in nonthreatening ways, listen to others and explain their decisions. Don’t spoil your kids. But being firm does not have to include hitting.
Is spanking children good for parents?
Doubtful. Parents who hit their kids may be unaware that it influences their frustration in other relationships. Expressing aggression recharges an angry and short-tempered internal battery that transfers into other parts of the adults’ lives.
Practicing calm when with your children will help you be calmer at work and in your other relationships. Listening to and speaking with a child about challenges, even from a very early age, is the best way to make it part of your relationship for the rest of your life.
Choose a method that allows you to grow. Parents matter too.Christina Erickson, Associate Dean in the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Not All Cheese Is Created Equal — Discover the U.S. Regions Making Cheese Worth Traveling For
When it comes to cheese, America often gets a bad rap—especially from international visitors used to shelves full of regional specialties and raw milk delicacies. Mass-produced slices and fluorescent shreds may dominate supermarket aisles, but beyond the plastic wrap lies a thriving world of artisan cheesemakers producing some of the finest cheese in the world.
Whether you’re a Euro expat feeling homesick for good camembert or a local foodie ready to explore beyond cheddar blocks, here’s your guide to America’s best cheese-producing regions and the creameries putting U.S. cheese on the global map.
Artisan Cheese Map of America
🟩 Northeast: Home of Heritage and Innovation
Vermont and New York are leading the charge in high-quality, farmstead cheeses. These producers emphasize small herds, raw milk, and European-inspired aging techniques.
Jasper Hill Farm (VT) – Aged in their own underground cellars, cheeses like Harbison and Bayley Hazen Blue have won international awards. Consider Bardwell Farm (VT/NY) – One of the oldest cheesemaking sites in the region, known for Dorset and Pawlet, both raw milk marvels. Nettle Meadow (NY) – Makers of Kunik, a decadent triple-cream goat and cow blend that’s pure bliss.
🟨 Midwest: America’s Original Cheese Country
Wisconsin earns its title as “America’s Dairyland,” but there’s much more than curds and cheddar here.
Uplands Cheese (WI) – Their Pleasant Ridge Reserve has been named the best cheese in America multiple times. Hook’s Cheese (WI) – Known for their sharp aged cheddars—some matured for over 15 years. Roth Cheese (WI) – Blending European tradition with American craftsmanship.
🟦 West Coast: Cheese with a Creative Spirit
From lush coasts to wine country, California and Oregon boast cheeses as fresh and bold as their surroundings.
Cowgirl Creamery (CA) – A pioneer in organic cheese, their Mt. Tam and Red Hawk are favorites in wine country. Point Reyes Farmstead (CA) – Their Original Blue is a creamy, complex blue cheese that pairs beautifully with fruit and wine. Rogue Creamery (OR) – Makers of Rogue River Blue, the first American cheese to win “Best Cheese in the World.”
🟧 The South: A New Frontier in Farmstead Cheese
You might not expect to find world-class cheese in Georgia or North Carolina, but Southern creameries are proving otherwise.
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Sweet Grass Dairy (GA) – Farmstead cheeses from grass-fed cows. Green Hill is a Southern take on camembert. Boxcarr Handmade Cheese (NC) – Italian-style cheeses like Cottonbell and Rocket’s Robiola. Mozzarella Company (TX) – Fresh, handmade mozzarellas and seasonal specialties.
🟪 Southwest & Rockies: Earthy, Bold, and Unique
Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona offer high-desert cheeses shaped by elevation and heritage.
Beehive Cheese (UT) – Known for Barely Buzzed, a cheddar rubbed with espresso and lavender. Haystack Mountain (CO) – Small-batch goat cheese with personality. Mesa Top Farm (NM) – Sustainable, local, and full of character.
🧭 How to Explore Artisan Cheese in the U.S.
Whether you’re traveling or staying local, here’s how to tap into this hidden world of American cheese:
✅ Visit Farmers’ Markets – Ask vendors about local dairy farms.
✅ Explore Regional Cheese Trails – Vermont, California, Wisconsin, and Oregon all have mapped-out routes.
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✅ Buy Direct Online – Many artisan creameries ship nationwide.
✅ Look for “Farmstead” Labels – This means the cheese was made where the animals were raised.
✅ Use American Cheese Society’s Directory – A trusted source for discovering producers.
Final Bite: American Cheese, Reinvented
Forget what you know about “American cheese.” From the forests of Vermont to the valleys of California, a new generation of cheesemakers is redefining what domestic cheese can be: bold, complex, sustainable, and just as crave-worthy as anything from Europe.
The next time someone says, “The U.S. doesn’t do cheese,” just smile… and hand them a slice of Pleasant Ridge Reserve or Rogue River Blue.
For more on Artisan Cheese, check out Food and Drink!
At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.
Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.
(Family Features) For those who have served in the U.S. armed forces, transitioning back to civilian life can be a challenge. However, community support can help make the transition easier for many veterans and provide those who offer that support – particularly young people – with rewarding opportunities and insight.
Take, for example, Daniel Finney, who started volunteering at a local Department of Veterans Affairs hospital where his mother worked when he was 13 years old. At first, his mother simply wanted him to learn from the veterans and their experiences, but volunteering changed the trajectory of Finney’s life.
He volunteered almost daily for the next 10 years, even inviting his friends to join him at the hospital. From that experience, Finney built valuable skills and chose to pursue a career as a physician’s assistant.
“I chose to volunteer at the hospital not only because it was a great opportunity, but because I wanted to give back to our nation’s heroes who I felt were too often overlooked,” Finney said. “In addition, volunteering with dedicated health care professionals allowed me to discover the actual purpose for my current career path.”
Not only did Finney reap personal rewards from volunteering and make a real difference in the lives of veterans, he also received tens of thousands of dollars in college scholarship money from DAV (Disabled American Veterans). The organization annually offers $110,000 in scholarships to student volunteers to be used toward accredited higher learning, including universities, colleges, community colleges and vocational schools.
“I look at this scholarship as another door opening up,” Finney said. “This has allowed me to do so many things. One of them is to pay for college. I want to continue to be a civil servant wherever I go. I want to continue to help veterans, whether that’s a part of my job or whether I’m still volunteering. It can be working at a hospital or helping with a food drive for the homeless veteran community. It can be anything. I now have that desire ingrained in me to continue to serve our veterans.”
These scholarships are open to students age 21 or younger who have contributed a minimum of 100 cumulative volunteer hours credited through DAV or DAV Auxiliary. Students can be nominated or may apply with the inclusion of an essay on what volunteering for veterans means to them. Learn more at DAVScholarships.org.
For students, or anyone interested in giving back, consider a few other ideas for supporting the nation’s veterans.
Express Your Gratitude
Simply saying “thank you” can go a long way in expressing gratitude to veterans. Whether it’s through a handwritten note, a heartfelt conversation or a public acknowledgment at a community event, showing appreciation can help veterans feel valued and recognized for their service.
Raise Awareness for Veterans’ Needs
Learning about the challenges veterans face, such as service-related health issues, homelessness and underemployment, then advocating for supportive legislation and programming can go a long way toward improving their situations.
For example, Amelia Marcum, another DAV scholarship recipient, developed a Native American veterans resource guide designed to provide veterans with key information about federal, state, community and tribal-based programs. She worked closely with Vietnam veteran and North Dakota state Sen. Richard Marcellais to bring the guide, which is now used by five tribal veterans resource service centers, to fruition.
“Volunteering to serve the veteran community has been immensely transformative for me,” said Marcum, a direct descendent of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. “I discovered a profound sense of purpose in elevating support systems for Native veterans, a community that serves at the highest rates among ethnic groups yet often faces significant challenges in accessing the benefits they rightfully deserve.”
Support Veteran-Owned Businesses
Many veterans transition into entrepreneurship after their military careers, and your patronage not only helps their businesses thrive, but also puts money back into the local community. Look for veteran-owned businesses or use online directories to find veteran entrepreneurs when searching for specific goods and services.
SOURCE:DAV
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