Latest news with #Balto
Identity
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Identity
Are Young Talents Ready to Take the Spotlight?
Over the past couple of years, a wave of rising talents has taken the entertainment industry by storm, whether in cinema or television. Many of these fresh faces have managed not only to stand out but to sustain their presence for more than just a single season. This brings us to an important question: Are young talents truly ready to take the spotlight? Well, there's no need to think twice about it. They are, and here's why. This new wave began on a strong note, with shows like Balto and Hala Khasa leading the way. These productions were among the first to fully rely on young talents stepping into lead roles, many of whom had been part of the entertainment industry for years but had not yet been given the chance to shine as main characters. The massive success of such shows proved that audiences are more than ready to embrace new faces and fresh energy, encouraging the industry to give more space to those rising talents. The big screen followed suit, with films like El Harifa (both parts), Siko Siko, 6 Ayam, and Rambo further cementing the presence of young talent. These weren't flukes or overhyped projects. They were strong, successful productions that proved what many already believed: Young actors are capable, and it's their time to lead the scene. This new generation of actors brings with it not just fresh faces but real dedication. It's crystal clear how hard they continue to work on themselves, on their craft, and on the roles they bring to life. Their commitment is inspiring, and the results speak for themselves. It gives hope to audiences across generations, hoping that storytelling will continue to evolve with passionate, talented voices at its core. So yes, it's safe to say: this is the right moment for young talents to take over the spotlight. And honestly, it's more than well-deserved.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carenet Health Acquires Balto Health Services, Expanding Powerful Capabilities for Healthcare Organizations of Any Size
SAN ANTONIO, April 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carenet Health (Carenet), a leader in tech-enabled healthcare services, today announced the acquisition of Balto Health Services (Balto), a healthcare engagement provider with operations in the US and El Salvador. This strategic move bolsters Carenet's ability to deliver customized, bilingual managed services to start-up and mid-sized healthcare businesses looking to elevate their member/patient experiences. Balto has unique expertise in meeting the needs of budding payer, provider and health tech companies, particularly those serving Medicare, Medicaid and government-sponsored populations, with agility and speed to market. "This acquisition represents more than just growth for Carenet," said John Erwin, CEO of Carenet. "It's a catalyst to enable more of America's great and growing healthcare companies to deliver better care at a lower cost. Balto's proven capabilities, particularly in bilingual patient and member engagement, align seamlessly with Carenet's mission, portfolio and roster of enterprise clients. Together, we'll accelerate value-based healthcare transformation and empower organizations of any size to succeed." Balto Health Services' founder and CEO, Carlos Baltodano, echoed this sentiment, noting, "We're thrilled to join forces with Carenet. Combining Balto's passion for personalized service and taking on unique challenges with Carenet's leading technology and extensive resources opens the door to support a broader spectrum of companies that are seizing critical opportunities to improve our healthcare system." With enhanced offerings, a nimble startup mindset, Spanish-speaking capabilities and expanded geographic footprint, Carenet is well-positioned to meet evolving healthcare industry demands at scale. Balto's clients will not only benefit from enhanced agility but also gain access to leading technology, insight-led orchestration and operational excellence, developed in partnership with hundreds of premier healthcare organizations. The new business unit will operate within Carenet as "Carenet Launch" under Baltodano's leadership and maintain its strong operational presence in Biloxi, Mississippi, and El Salvador. About Carenet Health For more than 20 years, Carenet Health has partnered with leading payers, providers and health tech and services companies to power the business of healthcare. Carenet combines world-class technology, data insights, AI automation, clinical expertise and skilled teams around the globe to measurably improve engagement, efficiency and meaningful business and health outcomes. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts For media inquiries:Skip DampierVP, Marketing(214) 356-9091sdampier@
BBC News
10-04-2025
- BBC News
Bike bus in Cardiff creates safety in numbers on school run
Organised bike rides to school create safety in numbers and set pupils up for a successful school day, organisers Bus World, an American non-profit group which wants to get more children cycling to school, has seen organised rides grow across the world, including in volunteer as marshals and the ride has designated meeting points and times along the way to pick up children."It's a really fun and joyful way for children to get to school," Sam Balto, a PE teacher from Portland, Oregon, in the United States and co-founder of Bike Bus World said on a ride in Cardiff on Thursday. "A lot of people don't ride to school because they don't feel safe," Mr Balto adddd."Building physical activity into children's schedules is a wonderful way to set students up for a great school day."There's tons of research that shows that children do better academically when they're physically active before school." He said the organisation is seeing bike buses created in countries all over the world, with singer Justin Timberlake joining one of the group's rides the UK, there are currently about 20. Claire Archer Joy, one of the parents at Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch in the Canton area of Cardiff, set up the school's bike bus almost a year wanted to create a safe environment for families to cycle to school together."We started with eight members of the team," she said."It's definitely taken time to grow but I think as people see it going past, they realise what a safe environment it is."Families make their own arrangements for returning home, but the celebratory environment at the start of the day - there is singing and music along the way - fosters a real sense of community for those taking part say. Marshals and a driver at the front and at the back make sure everyone is safe. The convoy operates like a bus, picking up children along the way, and motorists wait happily for the "bus" to go by, cyclists in nine, a pupil at Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch, says the rides are "loads of fun" and feels safe with the marshals."I love hearing all my friends sing along to the Welsh tunes like Yma o Hyd," she said. Osian, 10, also enjoys the music. "You can have a chat along the way and have fun," he said.
Forbes
06-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Meet Balto — The Legendary Sled Dog That Saved Nome
In January 1925, the remote Alaskan town of Nome faced a brewing disaster. A deadly outbreak of diphtheria had begun to spread — a disease known for suffocating its victims, especially children. The town's lone doctor, Curtis Welch, had just diagnosed the first confirmed case, only to discover that his entire supply of antitoxin had expired. Nearly 540 miles away in Anchorage, the only viable batch of the life-saving serum sat untouched. Snow and subzero temperatures had severed Nome from the outside world. The shore of the Seward Peninsula — where the nearest port was situated — was icebound. Train lines could only deliver the serum as far as Nenana. Airplanes, unreliable in the extreme cold, were grounded. This left the people of Nome with only one option. A last-ditch, high-risk mission with a relay of sled dog teams racing against time. Over 20 mushers would carry the serum through some of the harshest terrain in North America. The serum was first transported by rail from Anchorage to Nenana, from where the arduous relay was to begin. But this relay was about to test the very limits of everyone involved. Blizzards swept the interior. Wind chills plunged to -85°F. Each team covered a leg of the journey, often without rest. Some faced whiteouts so severe they couldn't see the dogs in front of them. Others lost dogs to frostbite and exhaustion. The most treacherous segment, including a perilous crossing over the drifting ice of Norton Sound, fell to Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog, Togo. Together, they covered over 250 miles — more than any other team. But one final leg remained — the last 55 miles through a whiteout, and one sled team would have to see it through. As Kaasen secured the serum, his thirteen-dog team stood ready. Balto, a rugged, dependable Siberian husky, took the lead. The storm raged with full fury, visibility reduced to near zero. Kaasen suffered frostbite along the way, leaving him no choice but to trust Balto to navigate the deadly expanse by instinct alone. Midway through, disaster struck. A violent gust overturned the sled, flinging Kaasen into the snow. The serum — the last hope for Nome — vanished into the darkness. With numb fingers, he clawed through the ice, knowing failure meant countless lives lost. Ultimately, Kaasen managed to recover the package, still frozen and intact. Through 53 miles of relentless blizzard, Balto pressed on — plowing through snow drifts, skating over frozen rivers, pushing against unforgiving winds. Finally, in the dead of night, a flicker of light emerged through the storm — Nome. The town's last hope had arrived. The serum was still frozen solid, but the children would live. Balto had done the impossible. Balto's arrival in Nome marked the beginning of an American legend. Before that fateful night, he was just another sled dog, bred for endurance rather than speed. But in a single moment, he became a hero. News of the serum run captivated the nation. Balto starred in Balto's Race to Nome, a silent film that enthralled audiences. He and Kaasen embarked on a national tour, drawing massive crowds eager to see the dog that braved the worst storm in memory. In 1925, a statue was erected in Central Park, immortalizing his legacy with the inscription, 'Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence." A statue of Balto in Central Park, New York getty But few knew how close he and Kaasen had come to disaster in those final, desperate miles. Sadly, Balto's story didn't end in triumph. After the spotlight faded, he was sold to a sideshow and lived in poor conditions until an Ohio businessman helped raise the funds to rescue him. Today, his preserved body is displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where visitors continue to honor the dog who defied the storm. To mark the 100th anniversary of the 1925 'Great Race of Mercy', Nome held a week-long celebration to honor its legendary hero. The Nome Kennel Club organized a series of events commemorating Balto's achievement, including lectures, a dog-food drive and a reenactment of the final leg of the relay. The celebration brought together mushers, historians and dog-lovers from around the world, ensuring that Balto's extraordinary feat continues to inspire new generations. Nearly a century later, Balto's story remains a testament to endurance, loyalty and courage. It's a reminder that history isn't always made by kings or generals. Sometimes, it's written by a dog leading a sled through a relentless blizzard, carrying the fate of a town on his back. Have you ever wondered what kind of heroic traits your pet might have? Take this pet personality test to see if your furry friend shares Balto's courage, loyalty and determination.
The Guardian
20-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Cycling to school almost became extinct - until one man revived the bike bus
'It's a movement, not a moment.' That's the mantra from Sam 'Coach' Balto, a former school teacher from Portland, Oregon who quit his day job to stoke a revolution called the 'bike bus' – groups of kids and families cycling to school together. How did one person in a mid-sized American city turn a weekly bike ride into something of a phenomenon? He leaned on the power of social media. In the past two years his videos have been viewed by hundreds of millions of people. Riding bikes to school shouldn't be a big deal, but it nearly became extinct in the US after decades of helicopter parenting, automobile-oriented cities and the epidemic of dangerous and toxic car traffic that accompanies them. Like a scientist restoring a threatened species, Balto turned his passion for the benefits of physical activity in young people into a trend that has gone from his current home town in the Pacific north-west to the White House in Washington DC (where he was invited by former president Joe Biden to attend a holiday reception), and beyond. Today, Balto estimates there are more than 200 bike buses across the US. They have been around for a while. In Portland, a 'bike train' movement kicked off in 2010 when a 24-year-old bike advocate named Kiel Johnson began organising what he referred to as 'bike trains' at an elementary school, where riders would join a mass of cyclists at various stops along a route to school. It caught on and in just a few months Johnson had signed up six other schools, won a grant, and had been interviewed by a national television show. He also used Facebook to spread information and communicate with other bike train leaders but video – other than one uploaded to YouTube in 2010 that barely reached 1,000 total views – wasn't part of the picture. 'When you joined one of the big bike trains it really felt like you were part of something – we just didn't have a way to share that,' Johnson recalls now. 'Social media didn't have that ability back then.' It would be another few years before sharing videos on Vine, TikTok and Twitter/X would become mainstream. That Johnson found success without the boost of social media, however, showed the viral potential of the bike bus. It also proved to be a challenge, because without viral videos to reach and inspire millions in minutes, Johnson had to do a lot of that work himself. That lack of scalability was one reason he wasn't able to keep pushing bike trains forward. In 2012, two years after they started, the bike train movement had reached the end of the line. But great ideas have a way of staying alive. Nearly a decade later, while on a trip to Spain, a Californian called Zach Klein came across a large group of schoolchildren riding through the streets of Barcelona and took a video. 'Something special is happening in Barcelona,' he posted on X on 18 October 2021. 'They call it Bicibús – or Bike Bus.' Klein's post went viral and was picked up four days later by National Public Radio, and then spread online like wildfire. One who saw it was Balto. The following spring, Balto, then a physical education teacher at an elementary school, recalled that bicibús video from Spain and decided to try one of his own. He hatched a plan for a 'Bike Bus for Earth Day' – a group ride that would meet about a mile away from school and pick up children and parents on bikes along the way. 'I think this is the start of something really special here,' Balto said from the start of the ride that morning. Turns out that was a massive understatement. The children loved it, and why wouldn't they? The benefits, after all, of cycling regularly are vast. It's good for children's health – mental and physical – and also has a ripple effect of advantages for the whole family, as any Dutchman will argue. Many of Balto's students say the best thing about the bike bus is that it's simply a cool thing to do with friends. But the excitement went way beyond the school. Not only did the students excitedly demand to ride again the following week, videos went viral beyond anything Balto could have imagined. When he posted his first clip of the Earth Day bike bus on 22 April 2022, it was watched more than 200,000 times. And that was just the beginning. In September 2022, one of his bike bus videos got over a million views on TikTok. A week later, a parent posted a video of the bike bus that got over two million views overnight. Balto recalls looking at his phone that next morning and yelling 'Holy shit! Holy shit!' to himself. That same day he received emails from NBC, CBS, Access Hollywood and other media outlets. Over the next three years, Balto went from quirky Portland bike activist to a bona fide internet celebrity. Last month, global pop star Justin Timberlake joined his bike bus after giving in to prodding by Balto and his legions of followers on TikTok and Instagram. Timberlake was performing that night and showed up beforehand to pedal alongside Balto and hundreds of kids and fans. The video of that ride has 3.2m views. In the past year alone, Balto's videos have been viewed more than 200m times. Balto, who now runs the non-profit Bike Bus World, credits social media for building the movement. 'Without it, this might have remained just a cool local initiative in Barcelona. But social media made it global. The visibility also helped change public perception about kids biking to school, proving that it's fun, safe, and scalable.' Balto is right that moments are not movements, but as long as moments can be captured and shared on social media, sometimes movements will follow.
