Home Care In Evanston, AB

Using the Keck II telescope in Hawaii, astronomers have observed a nearby brown dwarf known as HD 33632 Ab. Results of the observational campaign, presented in a paper published May 14 on the pre-print server arXiv, provide more insights into the properties of this substellar object and its atmosphere.

Brown dwarfs (BDs) are intermediate objects between planets and stars, occupying the mass range between 13 and 80 Jupiter masses (0.012 and 0.076 solar masses). Given that BDs have similar temperatures and atmospheric properties to gas giant exoplanets, they are more massive and brighter at the same age, which allows astronomers to characterize their atmospheric properties more easily.

At a distance of 86 light years, HD 33632 Ab is a BD companion to the solar-mass star HD 33632 A, which is of spectral type FV8. It has a subsolar metallicity and is estimated to be 1–2.5 billion years old. The brown dwarf has a mass of about 46 Jupiter masses and is separated from its host by approximately 20 AU.

A team of astronomers led by Chih-Chun Hsu of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, has employed the Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC) to conduct high-resolution spectroscopy of this system.

"We present the Keck/KPIC high-resolution K-band spectroscopy of the benchmark brown dwarf mass companion HD 33632 Ab, which provided companion radial and projected rotational velocities as well as CO and H₂O abundances," the researchers wrote.

The observations found that HD 33632 Ab has projected rotational and radial velocities of 53 and -8 km/s, respectively. The system's orbital period was measured to be about 74 years, and the orbital eccentricity was calculated to be 0.25.

The collected data indicate that HD 33632 Ab is less massive and at a closer distance to its host than previously thought. The mass of the brown dwarf was found to be some 37 Jupiter masses, while its separation from HD 33632 was estimated to be approximately 18 AU.

Based on the KPIC spectra of HD 33632 Ab, the astronomers detected carbon monoxide and water vapor in its atmosphere. However, they did not find any traces of methane, which could be due to several factors, including the fast rotation of the brown dwarf or the relatively low signal-to-noise ratio of the obtained spectra.

The study found that HD 33632 Ab has a metallicity at a level of 0.0 dex and a carbon to oxygen ratio of 0.58, which is generally consistent with the properties of the host star. The researchers noted that these results are expected for BD companions formed through gravitational core collapse or disk instability.

Summing up the results, the authors of the paper underlined that the new results for HD 33632 Ab could help us advance our knowledge about the formation and evolution of brown dwarfs in general; however, a larger sample of studied close-in BDs is still needed in order to make significant improvements in this matter.

More information: Chih-Chun Hsu et al, Rotation and Abundances of the Benchmark Brown Dwarf HD 33632 Ab from Keck/KPIC High-resolution Spectroscopy, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.08312

Journal information: arXiv

© 2024 Science X Network

Article content

More than two years after construction funding was announced on a new middle school in Evanston, the Calgary Board of Education still has no shovels in the ground on the much-needed project touted to add 900 student spaces.

According to a construction update presented to trustees this week, only three public school projects are underway in a system that has seen historic growth, two of which have not yet received full funding or an estimated completion date.

Article content

Currently, only the Louise Dean School project is set for completion this fall, a $10-million relocation and expansion of the program for teen mothers from its former site in Kensington to Jack James High School.

John Diefenbaker High School, which was approved for a $36-million modernization in March 2023, has not received any dollars yet, with only a “pre-design report” completed in December, and discussions ongoing “regarding next steps” with Alberta Infrastructure.

And for the $38-million middle school in Evanston approved in March 2022, up to 90 per cent of “design and build” funding has been received. But officials say work has not yet started, and no completion date has been determined.

“Evanston middle school still has not broken ground, over two years after the provincial government announced full funding for it in March 2022,” said Trustee Susan Vukadinovic.

“The CBE is running out of space for students. We are full now and we urgently need new schools built in communities across our growing city.”

Dany Breton, CBE superintendent facilities, explained there can be a time lag from when the province announces funding to when the CBE receives it. As well, the CBE is still working on permit approvals with the City of Calgary.

Article content

Article content

“We are currently awaiting development permits from the city,” Breton said this week.

“The city establishes requirements that the developer must meet. Then there is a dialogue between the city and the developer about what adjustments need to be made.

Breton said he is hopeful shovels will be in the ground in the coming weeks.

“The process has been going on for a while but I’m optimistic we are receiving those permits imminently and you’ll see work on that site.”

The slow movement on construction comes at a time when CBE is facing an unprecedented enrolment surge, overcrowding and space crunches that are expected to continue in the coming years.

After welcoming more than 7,000 new kids in 2023-24, bringing total enrolment to a record 138,244, CBE is projecting a total of 146,294 students in 2024-25, meaning an additional 8,050 kids.

And in 2025-26, the CBE is projecting 153,193 total students, an additional 6,899 kids, reaching yet another all-time high.

Overall, in the next two years the CBE is expecting to add another 14,800 students, higher than the 13,000 received in the previous two record-setting years.

Article content

Recommended from Editorial

Still, out of the UCP’s Budget 2024 announced this spring, the CBE was granted full construction funding for only one new school, a new K-4 school in Evanston, among 12 other full construction approvals across Alberta.

Three other desperately-needed schools only received design funding — a high school in Cornerstone, a K-4 elementary school in Redstone and a modernization at Annie Gale, a grades 6-9 school in Whitehorn — meaning there is no certainty as to when they will begin construction.

As a result, CBE officials have quadrupled the number of high-priority projects in its three-year capital plan presented last month, going from six projects listed last year to 21 this year.

Vukadinovic said the CBE is still awaiting confirmation from Alberta Infrastructure on next steps for the new elementary school in Evanston, as well as for the various projects that have received only limited planning or design dollars.

Article content

“Speed of delivery is critical,” Vukadinovic said.

“I would like to see the Government of Alberta demonstrate greater agility in responding to the growth pressures in Calgary’s public education system.

“I worry that the provincial government is distracted by unnecessary side projects.”

Vukadinovic estimates that last year CBE had 3,900 kids waiting for the province to approve a school in their neighbourhood.

“But instead of 3,900 student spaces, the CBE received approval for only 600 student spaces. We’re getting full construction funding for only one of the new schools that were on our capital planning list last year.

“And one new school per year does not cut it for Calgarians.”

As a result of enrolment growth, Vukadinovic added, the CBE actually needs funding for 11,400 student spaces or 13 new schools and one major modernization.

“I’m worried that the current provincial government is falling further and further behind on building new schools for Calgarians,” she said.

“Calgarians are hard-working people who are paying their fair share of taxes and who expect schools to be built in their neighbourhoods.”

Article content

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has said the province is moving ahead with as many school projects as possible, including 18 in the Calgary area, six of which have received full construction funding, with others receiving funds for planning and design.

In addition to the CBE elementary school in Evanston, those projects include a high school in the community of Rangeview for the Calgary Catholic School District, a new francophone school in Calgary, as well as schools for Airdrie, Cochrane and Chestermere in the Rocky View Schools district.

“We are working to build new schools as quickly as possible in Alberta’s fastest-growing communities,” Nicolaides said this week.

“Through Budget 2024, we’ll be investing $2.1 billion over the next three years to build 43 schools across the province, including 11 in Calgary.

“These new schools in Calgary will provide more than 4,500 new spaces for students.”

CBE officials added that schools that received funding approvals before Evanston middle school — in 2018 and 2019 — also took some time, with most opening in the 2022-23 school year, including Mahogany School, Bayside School, Lakeshore School, and Prairie Sky School.

And North Trail High School opened for this academic year, in the fall of 2023.

[email protected]

Article content

This settlement is closed!

Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!

NorthShore University HealthSystem agreed to pay $55 million to resolve an antitrust class action lawsuit claiming it overcharged for inpatient hospital services.

The class is made up of all persons or entities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico who, from Feb. 10, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2015, purchased or paid for inpatient hospital services directly from NorthShore University HealthSystem, formerly known as Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, or its wholly-owned hospitals, predecessors, subsidiaries or affiliates other than those acquired as a result of the merger with Rush North Shore Medical Center.

Those who solely paid fixed-amount co-pays, uninsureds who did not pay their bill, Medicaid and Traditional Medicare patients, governmental entities, the defendant, other providers of healthcare services, and the present and former parents, predecessors, subsidiaries, and affiliates of the defendant and other providers of healthcare services are not class members.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim NorthShore University HealthSystem raised its rates for inpatient hospital services after it acquired Highland Park Hospital. These increased rates allegedly violated federal antitrust laws.

NorthShore University HealthSystem is a hospital system in the Chicago area.

NorthShore hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $55 million settlement to resolve the antitrust class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on the amount they paid for inpatient hospital services. Each claimant will receive a pro rata share, though no payment estimates are available at this time.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is March 25, 2024.

The final approval hearing for the NorthShore antitrust settlement is scheduled for May 6, 2024.

In order to receive a settlement payment, class members must submit a valid claim form by April 4, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

All persons or entities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico who, from Feb. 10, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2015, purchased or paid for inpatient hospital services directly from NorthShore University HealthSystem, formerly known as Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, or its wholly-owned hospitals, predecessors, subsidiaries or affiliates other than those acquired as a result of the merger with Rush North Shore Medical Center.

Potential Award

TBD

Proof of Purchase

Bills, payment receipts, account statements and other proof of paid inpatient hospital services.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

04/04/2024

Case Name

In re: NorthShore University HealthSystem Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:07-cv-04446, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Final Hearing

05/06/2024

Settlement Website

EvanstonNorthwesternHealthcareAntitrustCase.com

Claims Administrator

NorthShore Antitrust Litigationc/o A.B. Data, Ltd.PO Box 170990Milwaukee, WI [email protected]

Class Counsel

Marvin A MillerMILLER LAW LLC

Defense Counsel

Dan K WebbWINSTON & STRAWN LLP

Article content

Projecting more historic growth and nearly 15,000 new students in the next two years, the Calgary Board of Education has been promised only one new school in this year’s provincial budget.

Last week’s Budget 2024 outlined full construction funding for 12 school projects across Alberta, but only one was granted to the CBE, the province’s fastest-growing district.

Article content

A new K-4 school in the northwest community of Evanston will receive full construction funding. But three other badly needed projects will only receive design funding — a high school in Cornerstone, a K-4 elementary school in Redstone and a modernization at Annie Gale School, a grades 6-9 school in Whitehorn — meaning there is no certainty as to when they can begin construction.

CBE officials debated the system’s three-year capital plan Tuesday, which has been forced to almost quadruple the amount of projects needed in Year 1 — going from six projects listed last year to 21 this year.

“As a reflection of the exceptional times we are in, we have quadrupled the total number of schools requested, from six to 21 new schools, speaking to a second consecutive year of historic enrolment,” said Dany Breton, CBE superintendent of facilities.

Record growth has seen system-wide utilization rates go from 87 per cent to 92 per cent this school year, Breton added.

If no further schools are approved, those projections would go over 100 per cent by 2025, and close to 110 per cent over the next six years.

Article content

Article content

After welcoming more than 7,000 new kids in 2023-24, bringing total enrolment to 138,244, CBE is projecting a total of 146,294 students in 2024-25, meaning an additional 8,050 kids, which would be an all-time high.

And in 2025-26, the CBE is projecting 153,193 total students, or an additional 6,899.

Overall, in the next two years the CBE is expecting to add another 14,800 students, higher than the 13,000 received in the previous two record-setting years.

Budget 2024 invested $9.3 billion in K-12 schools, including $1.2 billion to address growth and hire 3,100 school-based staff over the next three years.

But critics have said both the operating and capital side of Alberta Education’s commitments fall much too short to address the exceptional growth, bringing families from across Canada and around the globe.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association has launched a provincewide advertising campaign highlighting the UCP’s underfunding, and pointing to recent Statistics Canada data that show Alberta has the lowest per-capita student funding in the country.

Article content

The ATA is using television, radio, billboard, print and online advertisements to help raise public awareness of the state of funding for schools, and the effects low funding has had on learning conditions.

“Despite having the richest economy in the country, Alberta has the poorest public education system. There is no excuse for this. Alberta students deserve better,” said ATA president Jason Schilling.

Recommended from Editorial

As a result of 15 years of chronic underfunding, Schilling said student enrolment growth has outpaced teacher population increases by more than two to one, and that the difference between growth rates is equivalent to having at least 6,000 fewer teachers than if teacher staffing levels had kept up.

“Imagine if we cut 6,000 teachers from the school system in one day. Programs would be slashed, thousands of classes would be combined and supports for students would disappear,” Schilling said.

Article content

“That is what has happened in our schools — not overnight, but gradually and consistently over 15 years.”

NDP education critic Amanda Chapman said that as more schools are forced to turn libraries, cloak rooms, gymnasiums and stages into makeshift classrooms, public education is increasingly lacking.

“I would like someone in the government to imagine being the teacher who has to teach a class on the stage of a gymnasium, while another class is having gym in the same space.

“These kinds of environments are not anywhere near to being ideal, for teachers or students.”

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the province is moving ahead with 18 school projects in the “Calgary area,” including six that have received full construction funding.

In addition to the CBE school in Evanston, those projects include a high school in the community of Rangeview for the Calgary Catholic School District, a new francophone school in Calgary, as well as schools for Airdrie, Cochrane and Chestermere in the Rocky View Schools district.

“Our government is working as quickly as possible to build new schools in our growing communities, and Budget 2024 demonstrates this,” he said.

“Budget 2024 will provide 35,000 new and modernized student spaces across the province, with 16,000 specifically in Calgary.”

[email protected]

Article content

Global News Hour at 6 Calgary

Alberta budget includes ambitious plans to increase school spaces in Calgary and area according to government

More Videos

0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%

Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard ShortcutsEnabledDisabled

Play/PauseSPACE

Increase Volume↑

Decrease Volume↓

Seek Forward→

Seek Backward←

Captions On/Offc

Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf

Mute/Unmutem

Seek %0-9

Next Up

Calgary Stampede excitement high at local music venue

facebook

twitter

Email

Linkhttps://globalnews.ca/video/10330763/alberta-budget-includes-ambitious-plans-to-increase-school-spaces-in-calgary-and-area-according-to-government/

Copied

Embed<iframe src="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/10330763/" width="670" height="372" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>

Copied

Live

00:00

00:00

00:00

The Alberta government announced funding for 18 school projects in the Calgary area in its 2024 budget, tabled Thursday.

The 2024 budget outlined a 4.4 per cent increase in education funding, with operating expenses up $393 million to $9.3 billion.

About $680 million in new capital funding is to go toward 43 school projects to create 35,000 student spaces across Alberta.

“Communities across the province will be seeing new and modernized schools for their students, providing them the best places to learn,” Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.

If approved, the 2024 budget will invest $2.1 billion over three years to build and modernize schools across Alberta.

5:08

The new school projects announced Friday will translate to about 16,000 more spaces for students in the Calgary region.

The following school projects in the Calgary area will receive full construction funding:

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

“On behalf of the students and community of Evanston, we are pleased to receive our top priority for a new elementary school in their neighbourhood,” Calgary Board of Education chair Laura Hack said.

“This will allow some of our youngest learners to attend school closer to where they live. We also appreciate the design or planning funding for three new schools and one modernization.”

Design funding was announced for the following projects:

Planning funding has been allocated for:

“Our goal is that all students have access to quality, faith-filled Catholic education close to where they live,” said Shannon Cook, board chair of the Calgary Catholic School District.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the provincial government to ensure that investment in school districts keeps pace with enrolment growth and is sustainable, appropriate, and equitable so that we can support the diverse needs of our students and ensure high education outcomes for our students.”

Hack said despite the announcements Friday, there is still a critical need for more learning spaces.

“Over the past two years, Calgary Board of Education has welcomed more than 13,000 additional students to our system. That’s enough to fill more than 22 elementary schools,” she said.

Over the next three years, $24 million is being set aside to fund growth for new private schools and early childhood services operators.

Funding for private schools and early childhood centres will increase at four times the rate of public K-12 spending.

“We have a commitment as a government to ensuring that we’re supporting choice in education. That’s something that our government firmly believes in and we want to make sure that there is funding available to a variety of different educational partners and providers, be they private schools, charter schools and or others,” Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides said.

Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley said about 28,000 students enter the province’s education system every year. The budget allocates enough money for that many classroom spaces but only over three years.

“It’s just over one-third of what’s required,” Notley said.

Amanda Chapman, the Opposition’s education critic, issued a statement after the school projects were announced on Friday and said the plans “will not meet Alberta’s high demand for learning spaces.”

“Our population is exploding, the diverse needs of students is already a crisis in our classrooms and all kids need safe spaces in our schools, especially as they arrive from war-torn regions of the globe. There is nothing in this budget to address these challenges right now.”

In total, the 2024 budget laid out funding for 28 new schools, 10 replacement schools and five modernizations across Alberta. Addition projects for areas outside of the Calgary and Edmonton regions are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

— with files from Bob Weber, The Canadian Press.