Mom of 8-year-old killed in Texas floods speaks to CNN
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Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Giant Endangered Manta Ray Roughly Taken from Florida Waters to Be Put Into Captivity with Official Approval
'I mean, he was in pain. That animal was in pain," a witness alleged of the aquatic animal Florida locals are calling out state authorities after a dolphin tours company saw a crew capturing an endangered giant manta ray earlier this month. In a now-viral reel first shared to Facebook by Panama City Beach-based Water Planet USA on July 12, staff aboard the touring company's boat recorded video of five men roughly removing the fish from its natural habitat and placing it in a small pool for transport. 'Unfortunately, on todays tour- we witnessed a heartbreaking scene,' the video's caption read. The clip has since been shared by local outlets, including WPLG and the Orlando Sentinel, with the latter reporting that the giant endangered manta ray will be taken to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, despite it being a protected species. Water Planet USA told its followers that they should be 'outraged' by what had taken place. 'This video shows a giant manta ray—perfectly healthy—harvested just off Panama City Beach under a permit held by Sea World. It's heartbreaking and unacceptable,' the post continued. Although catching manta rays is generally banned in Florida, the state can allow special licenses for purposes that "increase the public's knowledge and awareness of Florida's marine resources." The license to capture the manta ray on July 12 was issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which allowed for one of the animals to be captured for exhibition purposes, per the Sentinel. PEOPLE has reached out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "As a citizen of this country, you have the right and the moral obligation to address the issue with your local representatives, of our Government issuing permits for the cruel and inhumane capture of ocean mega fauna such as the giant manta ray for public display, especially if our marine resources are exported overseas for gainful purposes,' Denis Richard of Water Planet USA, who was present when the video was filmed, told PEOPLE in a statement. 'These permits are a disgrace and an insult to our country's and the world's scientific community," Richard continued. No one from Water Planet USA appeared on-camera, but someone from their boat could be heard yelling, 'Let him go! You should be ashamed of yourselves!' SeaWorld Abu Dhabi opened in May 2023 and operates as a research, rescue & rehabilitation center. It is the first SeaWorld park outside of the U.S. and the first park without orcas. It is also the largest indoor marine-life theme park. However, Richard says that's still not good enough. 'The risks of that manta ray being traumatized and possibly dying in that process are very high because they are a very sensitive species,' the Water Planet USA founder and CEO told the Orlando Sentinel. He told WPLG his thoughts on witnessing the capture: 'I was horrified, and everybody on board was really upset," Richard told WPLG of witnessing the capture. 'I mean, he was in pain. That animal was in pain.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Giant manta rays are the world's largest ray with a wingspan of up to 26 feet, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service, a U.S. federal agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This species of rays has 'highly fragmented populations,' and their main threats are commercial fishing, the agency said. It is considered a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach SeaWorld Abu Dhabi for comment. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Simple Back-to-School Hack Eases First-Day Anxiety
Tucking a family photo into your child's pencil box is a small but powerful way to ease first-day nerves and help kids feel supported and confident. The start of back-to-school season brings about a variety of emotions for kids and parents alike—excitement, anticipation, and sometimes, a bit of anxiety. The thought of meeting new people, navigating a different environment, and stepping into an unfamiliar routine can be overwhelming, especially for a young child. I love this super simple trick I saw on Coffee and Carpool's blog about placing a family photo in your child's pencil box to ease those back-to-school jitters and decided to try it out! Why place a family photo in a pencil box or lunch box? Other than the familiar faces your child will see that will provide a sense of peace and calm. Here are some other reasons to use a family photo. Sense of Belonging: A family photo serves as a small but powerful reminder of a loving environment where the child feels safe and accepted. Reduced Anxiety: The photo acts as a tangible piece of home, reducing feelings of separation anxiety. Instant Comfort: A quick look at loved ones can act as an instant morale booster, helping kids tackle challenges with greater confidence. Enhanced Focus: When children feel emotionally secure, they can focus better on their lessons and engage more effectively in classroom activities. Family Photo Pencil Box – Materials: pencil case (hardback not soft pouch works best) school supplies printed photo that fits in the inside lid of your pencil box Instructions The process is as straightforward as it sounds: Choose a Photo: Select a family photo that your child loves. It could be a holiday snapshot, a picture from a family outing, or even a casual photo taken at home. We loved this one hike we did so chose that as a reminder for my child. Size It Right: Make sure the photo fits into the pencil box without taking up too much space. You can print a smaller version if necessary. There are many free tools like Canva you can use to resize an image easily. Discuss: Show the photo to your child before placing it in the pencil box. This can be an excellent opportunity to discuss their feelings about the new school year and remind them that their family is always with them, in spirit if not in person. Place It: Simply place the photo in the pencil box with double-stick tape or for more permanence you can glue it on (however you can't swap out the photo as easily if yoiu do that). You can also use glue dots or removable tape. Final Thoughts This straightforward back-to-school idea is a tiny gesture, but it could make a big difference in how your child perceives and adapts to a new academic environment. So this school year, as you shop for pencils, erasers, and notebooks, don't forget to add a loving family photo to that pencil box. It may be the most valuable 'supply' of all!
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines jet dives as a fighter jet crosses its path near Los Angeles
Alarms sounded in the cockpit of a Southwest Airlines jet shortly after taking off from Hollywood Burbank airport near Los Angeles on Friday, prompting evasive maneuvers, the airline said in a statement. Southwest Flight 1496, operating on a Boeing 737, took off just before noon local time on a short flight to Las Vegas. After less than six minutes in the air, a privately owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet, crossed less than two miles in front of it within a few hundred feet of its altitude, according to the flight tracking site Flightradar24. 'There was a small initial drop that I thought was just like really bad turbulence,' passenger Steve Ulasewicz told CNN. 'And then after that, there was this long free fall.' He describes being terrified, people screaming and pandemonium in the cabin. 'I definitely thought that the plane was going down, that there was a mechanical issue with it,' Ulasewicz said. Eventually the pilots got on the intercom and told the passengers they had to maneuver the plane to avoid the midair collision. 'The crew of Southwest Flight 1496 responded to two onboard traffic alerts Friday afternoon… requiring them to climb and descend to comply with the alerts,' said Lynn Lunsford, Southwest spokesman in a statement. 'Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration to further understand the circumstances.' The fighter jet was flying from El Paso, Texas to Venture County Airport in Oxnard, California. The FAA is investigating. It's not clear if the aircraft were directed so close together or if one of them was in a location where they were not supposed to be. When the alarms sounded, the Southwest plane dropped about 475 feet and then went back up about 600 feet over the course of about a minute, according to Flightradar24. The fighter jet went up about 100 feet in just a few seconds. Two Southwest flight attendants are being treated for injuries, but no passengers were hurt, the airline said. The passenger jet did not declare an emergency and continued the 39-minute flight to Las Vegas, landing about nine minutes ahead of schedule. CNN has reached out to Hunter Aviation International, the registered owner of the fighter jet. Most commercial planes are equipped with a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, often called TCAS, which can direct pilots to climb or descended to avoid getting too close to other planes. TCAS works independently of ground air traffic control, searching nearby airspace using radio frequencies from transponders in other aircraft. CNN's Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
