Latest news with #Yoder
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Tears as 15-Year-Old Dog Found on Street – Then Shelter Find Microchip
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hearts have been broken by the devastating sight of a 15-year-old stray dog who wound up in a shelter—but then something unexpected happened. When Sara Yoder, 25, isn't working as an elementary school teacher, she's changing lives in another way by volunteering at the Carson Animal Shelter in Los Angeles, California. She regularly sits with the dogs, comforts them, and captures footage to share on social media (@saranoellie on TikTok). Among the many dogs she's recently highlighted was a senior dog who was found as a stray and taken to the shelter on June 24. Seeing this 15-year-old dog wind up in a kennel was a devastating sight, as Yoder told Newsweek that he looked "alone and weathered by time." The dog is thought to be part Basset Hound, but Yoder wonders if he might have some Golden Retriever or Labrador in him. As a stray, he didn't have a name, leading one volunteer to jovially name him Fat Boy. But that didn't sit right with Yoder, who thinks he deserves something more respectful. The 15-year-old shelter dog laying in his kennel at the Carson Animal Shelter. The 15-year-old shelter dog laying in his kennel at the Carson Animal Shelter. @saranoellie / TikTok "His body tells a story of hardship and survival," Yoder said. "His fur is rough, his eyes tired, and his movements slow, as if life has never given him the gentleness he deserves." She continued: "He is gentle, heartbreakingly so. A quiet, tender soul who moves slowly and carefully. He spent most of his days curled up on the cold concrete floor, barely lifting his head." Upon arriving at the shelter, the senior dog was scanned for a microchip. To their surprise, he had one. He had clearly been someone's pet, but he found himself lying in a kennel, waiting to be noticed. Yoder shared a video of the dog on TikTok and it went viral with over 392,200 views and 93,700 likes in a matter of days. The dog's sorrowful face captured attention online, as internet users were horrified at what happened to such an old pup. The online response was astonishing, as numerous adopters and rescue groups contacted Yoder to offer their help. She told Newsweek that she's felt "overwhelmed with hope and gratitude" that so many people wanted to help this sweet dog find a loving home. "So many people have opened their hearts and seen the same quiet potential in him. It's been deeply moving to witness strangers from all over rally around him, sending messages of kindness and sharing his story," Yoder said. As the shelter worked out a solution for the dog, the unexpected happened—the dog's owner came forward. The owner claimed that the dog wandered away from his home and she was there to reclaim him. The shelter offered to give the dog to a loving adopter, but the owner declined and was "was more than loving," and when they were reunited, the senior dog even "cried seeing his mom." "While it's hard to let go after witnessing his vulnerability, we hope he's safe and surrounded by love. May his days be filled with soft beds, kind hands, and the peace every senior dog deserves," Yoder said. "The love of a dog knows no bounds. We are hopeful he's happy in a familiar and loving home. His story is a reminder of the many paths we witness in shelters, some end in reunions, some in rescue, some come too late." If this senior dog has shown anything, it's the power of rescuing. Yoder hopes that the online attention will inspire others to consider adopting a pet. For anyone who was moved by this dog's story, Yoder has one message: take action. Whether it's fostering, adopting, volunteering, or simply sharing a video on social media. There are millions of animals in need of a home, and all they need is the right person to notice them. The viral TikTok video of the dog has gained over 2,500 comments on TikTok already. One person wrote: "I really hope someone gets this baby." Another TikTok user replied: "gosh he deserves to spend his time in a home in a soft bed." While one commenter added: "oh no he's so heartbroken." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Axios
09-06-2025
- Axios
This crisis in Charlotte has killed 31 people in 2025
On a Friday in May, 73-year-old Bill Yoder was riding his recumbent bike, as the grandfather often did to maintain his independence. Traffic had backed up at the intersection of East Woodlawn Road that afternoon, halting a tractor-trailer in a fading crosswalk. Yoder attempted to move around the truck, as many cyclists might in that situation. But at the same time, the semi drove forward, striking Yoder. He died on the scene. The big picture: Charlotte's streets are becoming more dangerous, and Yoder's death has raised new alarm over the issue. Less than halfway into 2025, 31 people — including five cyclists and four pedestrians — have died in crashes, according to the city's latest data as of May 28. Including those that caused serious injury, there have been nine crashes involving cyclists this year — up from seven in 2024 and four in 2023. Only one case is reported for 2022 and 2021, each. What they're saying: Yoder was the father of a member of the Sustain Charlotte team, a nonprofit advocating for safer streets and overall smarter city growth. The organization is using his death to push for street improvements, arguing that traffic violence has become normalized. "If there was anything else happening in Charlotte that had caused 30 people to die, everybody would be talking about it," says Shannon Binns, Sustain Charlotte's executive director. The City of Charlotte has pledged to eliminate traffic deaths through the "Vision Zero" initiative it launched in 2019, investing millions in pedestrian crossings and hosting events to spread awareness of safe driving. Yes, but: There's no real goal or deadline for reaching zero. Charlotte doesn't have benchmarks for when it expects to reduce traffic fatalities, while the number of crashes is rising yearly. An internal audit, which Axios reported on last year, criticized the city for not executing the Vision Zero program effectively. Among the findings, it stated the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was not concentrating enforcement efforts in areas with the most deaths and injuries. CMPD made 7,223 motor unit stops in 2024 — a 41% drop from 2023, according to the department's annual report. Chief Johnny Jennings has said there's "not as much time to go out and enforce traffic as there used to be," and more resources, such as red light and speed cameras, would help. Charlotte City Council has not formally discussed the audit results, but the Charlotte Department of Transportation says a Vision Zero plan update is slated for the coming year. It may introduce new strategies to reduce crashes. Of 73 actions outlined in the audit, 43 actions (59%) have been completed, according to CDOT. Sixteen actions (22%) are in progress, and a small batch has not started, "largely due to resource constraints or shifts in priorities." By the numbers: Charlotte has recorded 76 crashes with fatalities or serious injuries so far in 2025, the Vision Zero dashboard shows. Between the lines: It's hard to pinpoint what's causing the increases. Potential factors could be the return of commuting since the pandemic, Charlotte's fast population growth and clashing driving styles from different regions, and reduced traffic enforcement. Exceeding the speed limit is the top contributing factor for Charlotte crashes, per the city's dashboard. What they're saying: Sustain Charlotte's Binns says city leaders aren't discussing the issue as much as they should. He calls it "a matter of political will." "If you are intentional about how you design your city and your mobility network, you can really almost eliminate these deaths and serious injuries," he says. "But you have to be intentional, and you have to be committed. They're not just going to go away." Zoom in: The intersection where Yoder died is flagged alarm-color red in the city's High Injury Network, a map of corridors with high rates of fatal and serious crashes. Despite being close to Sugar Creek Greenway and attracting many bikers and pedestrians, the area lacks dedicated bike lanes. CMPD is still investigating Yoder's May 9 crash. Once the crash report is complete, CDOT says it will conduct an engineering investigation to determine if improvements, like more markings or signs, are needed at East Woodlawn Road and Park Road. At the least, Binns suggests the city should add more paint and fresh bollards to create space between bikes and cars in problem areas. Those improvements would be quicker and less expensive than concrete changes. A more expensive but impactful option is "road diets," like the one starting soon on Matheson Avenue near NoDa. A 0.6-mile stretch, between North Tryon Street and Jordan Place, is being transitioned from four lanes to two to slow down cars and make the route safer for bikers and walkers. It's a $12.9-million undertaking. What's next: Mecklenburg County is working toward putting a 1-cent sales tax referendum on this November's election ballot. If passed, the tax would generate an estimated $19.4 billion over 30 years for transportation projects, not including potential federal matching dollars.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pottsville School Board adopts 2025-26 district budget with no tax hike
Property owners in the Pottsville Area School District will avoid a tax increase this upcoming budget year since the school board has approved a 2025-26 spending plan with no millage increase. The board voted 9-0 during its meeting last week to approve the budget and keep the millage rate at 45.4025. The budget balances expenses and revenue at $51,842,309. District officials have spoken about the dire fiscal situation the district was in as recently as 2019, when the Pennsylvania Auditor General's office said that Pottsville was at risk of being placed on financial watch by the state. By contrast, the 2025-26 budget avoids a tax hike while adding important personnel, making much-needed improvements to buildings and infrastructure, increasing programming for students, and maintaining reserves despite rising expenses, officials said. The approved millage rate means that a property assessed at the district's median rate of $27,030 next year will pay $1,227 in taxes. Pottsville has now not raised taxes 12 of the last 19 years. The assessed value of real estate within the district decreased by $813,770 to $295,279,815 since last year. Though there were net in assessed values in Norwegian Township, Palo Alto and Port Carbon totaling $712,045, there was a decrease in assessed values in the city of Pottsville of $1,525,815. New staff approved for next year includes four additional teachers in the elementary school to continue to lower class sizes and a behavior interventionist to provide more support for special education students. Also added was a library media specialist for the middle and high schools and an additional physical education teacher at the high school. The upcoming school year will also include new math curriculum in K-6th grades. The high school will be receiving significant funding from the district's Crimson Tide Foundation to purchase approximately $100,000 in new technology including live-streaming equipment for the middle school, upgraded computers for the PAHS Publications program and resources for the high school's drone certification program. Dr. Sarah Yoder, superintendent, said that the largest financial challenges in drawing up the new budget were increased costs, including those for facilities and employee healthcare. The district's restructuring of its healthcare plan, though, will provide savings long-term, she said. Improving and maintaining the facilities based on the district's five-year facilities plan will remain the biggest difficulty based on needs to upgrade aging schools and equipment, she said. Grants that the district secured were important additions to the district's revenue, Yoder said. The district obtained an Emergency Connectivity Fund grant of nearly $1 million that enabled it to buy new technology beginning last school year and save money this upcoming year. A PennDOT grant received by the district increased the state Department of Education funding Pottsville received for transportation reimbursement and increased the number of students who have access to school bus transportation. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act state grant funds for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 totaling almost $1 will continue to support the district in terms of staffing, professional development, dual enrollment, health and wellness and more. By improving its credit score three levels in recent years the district will save money when it someday has to borrow funds since it will get a significantly lower interest rate, Yoder said. School board president Linda Wytovich agreed that the district must continue to focus on its aging buildings and athletic facilities, though the cost of the work needed will be millions of dollars. The top priorities are the high school, which was built in 1933, and Veterans Memorial Stadium, which opened a year earlier. The middle school and Martz Hall arena opened in 1970, and the elementary center in 1981. 'Each year we work towards balancing the needs of the students, staff, and facilities while keeping our taxpayers in mind as we build our annual budget and plans for the future,' Wytovich said. 'To date, we are moving in the right direction. I'm proud of the work the board and district's administrative staff has accomplished. I'm also thankful for the community's support and patience as we continue to build a better district.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
When it comes to 'Most Hospitable' in Ohio, WorldAtlas picks these three nearby towns
has ranked the nine Most Hospitable Towns in Ohio, and three of them are just around the corner. Making the list are Millersburg (Holmes County), Sugarcreek and Mansfield. Millersburg (Holmes County) was chosen for its Amish heritage and close-knit community ties, according to Mansfield was picked for its family-friendly attractions and Kingwood Center Gardens and Sugarcreek's lure is its Swiss heritage and unique culture. is an online educational website the specializes in geography and related topics. It offers content including maps, articles and data, covering areas such as geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics and travel. The site, which offers fact-checking, aims to provide accurate information, serving as a resource for educators and students. The Millersburg and Holmes County community hosts friendly residents who lead a simple life, according to WorldAtlas, which notes Yoder's Amish Home provides a feel for everyday Amish life through barn visits, buggy rides and other practical activities. Hershberg's Farm and Bakery entices newcomers with delicious baked goods and similar Amish treats, including pies, jellies, and jams. Visitors also can shop for antiques and handcrafts while interacting with receptive shopowners. The site also mentions the county's festivals. Mansfield has an impressive spectrum of family-friendly attractions, according to WorldAtlas, which lists the 47-acre Kingwood Center Gardens as a notable greenspace with its colorful blend of flowers, herbs and shrubs The Renaissance Theatre treats guests to live performances in a 1,400-seater venue, known for hosting singing, acting, and dancing shows. The town organizes several events throughout the year, with the Peace on My Block Party bringing families together. The fun festival aims to stop bullying and violence in the community through peaceful interactions and entertainment for kids of all ages, the website notes. Sugarcreek is known for its Swiss heritage and neighborly residents, according to WorldAtlis. Tourist visit to explore its unique culture at the Alpine Hills Historical Museum and Information Center. The center showcases rare exhibits depicting a unique combination of Amish and Swiss heritage The Dutch Valley Restaurant welcomes guests to try its rich traditional cuisine, featuring Amish-style. The annual Ohio Swiss Festival is a great time to join the community in celebrating its Swiss heritage through a variety of traditional activities, says the website. Other areas listed in the Top 9 Most Hospital Towns in Ohio are Twinsburg, Circleville, Marietta, Geneva-On-The-Lake, Sandusky and Waynesburg. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: WorldAtlas picks Millersburg, Sugarcreek, Mansfield as hospitable
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KLETC breaks ground for two facilities, a move to modernize how officers are trained
YODER, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center is breaking ground on new facilities to provide a better educational and training experience for law enforcement officers in training. KSN looks into the first steps for the project. The groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction of the Professional Development and Administration building and a housing facility in Yoder. Community cleans up cemetery after tornado Funded by the State of Kansas, around $20 million will be spent on building these. It's a move to essentially modernize the way law enforcement officers are trained, by providing them hands-on and real-world experience. The ultimate goal is not to have instructors impeded by a lack of facilities. 'We need an indoor firearms range. We need facilities that mimic the kinds of circumstances that officers are going to find on the job. So, we need to be able to have houses that we can turn into crime scene houses. We need houses that we can do forensic analysis and forensic evidence collection. So all of those things, we don't have them,' said Darin Beck, Vice Provost of KLETC and Director of police training for the State of Kansas. 'Educating all of these law enforcement officers, there's a lot that goes into that. And they just really did not have enough space to be able to do what they wanted to do. So, this really gives them the ability to continue their mission and to be able to get more and more folks through this system,' said State Rep. Dan Hawkins, Speaker of the House, Wichita. 'More instruction, more creative instruction, more leadership development for our public safety and law enforcement officials across the state. And that means better service in every community that we represent,' said Barbara Bichelmeyer, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, University of Kansas. They said that the training facilities will especially help smaller agencies in rural areas, saying these buildings will allow them to extend training all throughout the state. They also said cities like Wichita already have their own training facilities. However, that's not the standard for many other parts of Kansas. This is their way of providing equal training for all officers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
