A passenger jet flipped onto its roof while landing in Toronto, Canada, the fourth major aviation accident in North America in the past three weeks.
While at least 18 people were injured, all 80 people on board the Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis survived the crash Monday.
Here are some things to know about the crash:
What caused the airplane to flip?
Communications between the tower at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and the pilot were normal on approach and right now its not clear what went wrong when the plane touched down.
Were strong winds a factor in the crash?
Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken has said the runway was dry and there was no crosswind conditions.
Audio recordings indicate that the control tower warned the pilots of a possible air flow bump on the approach. Winds were gusting up to 40 mph (65 kph) during the day at the airport, according to the Meteorological Service of Canada.
But airplanes and pilots should be equipped to handle those kind of winds while landing, said John Cox, CEO of aviation safety consulting firm Safety Operating Systems in Florida.
Were the passengers badly injured?
Those hurt had relatively minor injuries, the airports chief executive said.
The airport fire chief said 18 passengers were taken to the hospital. An air ambulance operator said it had transported one pediatric patient and two adults to hospitals. Delta said Tuesday that some of those injured had been released.
What happened inside the plane?
One passenger told told CBC News that he found himself upside down and still strapped in his seat after a forceful landing.
Peter Carlson said he crashed onto the ceiling when he took off his seat belt and smelled gas. He and another man helped a mother and her young son out of the plane before getting out.
Who is investigating?
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board in the U.S. said it was sending a team to assist.
Is it safe to fly?
The fourth major aviation accident in North America in less than a month has many people concerned about the safety of flying. Fatal crashes remain rare and the track record of U.S. airlines is remarkably safe.
But there have been deadly crashes recently around the world and U.S. officials have been raising concerns about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years.
By JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
Associated Press writers John Wawrow and Michael Casey contributed to this report.
Currently, America is experiencing its worst flu season since 2009, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a matter of fact, the CDC says there are so many cases that this season is now classified as being high severity for all age groups. Thats the first time a flu season has acquired that designation since the 201718 season.
Still, some states are faring better than others. Heres what you need to know about the current 202425 flu season and where outbreaks are the worst.
16,000 dead from flu so far
The 202425 influenza season is having a significant impact on the health and well-being of Americans. According to the CDCs latest US Influenza Surveillance Report for the week ending February 8, 2025, the flu this season has accounted for:
29 million illnesses
370,000 hospitalizations
16,000 deaths
The CDC’s report also reveals that during the most recent week, 31.6% of people tested came back positive for influenza, and 50,382 people were hospitalized for the illness in the most recent week alone.
The flu has historically been particularly dangerous to the elderly, but sadly, this season, the illness is also hitting infants and children hard. The CDC says that in the past week alone, there were 11 influenza-associated pediatric deaths, bringing the total number of pediatric deaths for the season to 68.
“Based on data available this week, this season is now classified as a high severity season overall and for all age groups (children, adults, older adults) for the first time since 20172018,” the CDC says.
What states are being hit hard the worst?
While respiratory illnesses seem to be running roughshod across the country, some states have it worse than others. The CDCs Outpatient Respiratory Illness Activity Map classifies respiratory illness rates into five categories: very-high, high, moderate, low, and minimal.
36 states and the District of Columbia are currently listed in the very-high category, including: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Nine states are classified in the high category: Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Two states are classified in the moderate category: North Dakota and Utah.
One state is classified in the low category: Alaska.
And two states are classified in the minimal category: Hawaii and Montana.
Screenshot via CDC: Week ending February 08, 2025
How can I protect myself against the flu?
Its impossible to fully protect yourself from the flu. However, the CDC says the best way you can protect yourself is by getting the flu vaccine.
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, especially people at higher risk, the agency notes.
Other steps you can take to decrease your likelihood of getting the flu are to avoid those who are sick with the illness and to wash your hands. You can check out the CDCs full list of recommendations here.
A new app makes hiring security as simple as ordering an Uber.
A viral TikTok with 11.2 million views reads, POV we just ordered bodyguards to pick us up from the airport. In the video, two influencers summon a pair of Protectorsprivate security in black SUVsto Newark Airport after flying in from Los Angeles for New York Fashion Week. Another clip follows: Everything we did with our bodyguards today. They get picked up from their hotel, stop for matcha, attend a runway show, and shopall accompanied by four bodyguards.
@fuzzandfuzz uber could neverrrr #nyc #bodyguard #nycgirl #airportlife #uber Just A Girl – No Doubt
The videos are savvy marketing for Protector, a soon-to-launch app promising on-demand personal security for the general public. These ads are working bc I have never in my life pre-downloaded an app, one commenter wrote. Another added, As soon as this app is available, Im booking.
Launching Tuesday in New York City and Los Angeles, Protector charges $200 per hour for a bodyguard and a driver, with prices climbing based on the clients needswhether extra guards, a full motorcade, or high-level security measures, according to the apps 25-year-old founder and CEO, Nick Sarath.
Ultra high-profile individuals like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have dedicated full-time protection teams, but for most people, navigating security options is more challenging than it should be, Sarath told The New York Post this week.
Clients can customize nearly every detail, from their Protectors attire (business formal, business casual, or tactical casual) to their ridechoosing between Cadillac Escalades and Chevy Suburbans. The Protectors themselves are elite professionals with backgrounds in Air Force Pararescue, SWAT, Navy SEAL teams, and Special Operations Forces. The bodyguards are selected based on their years of experience and specialized units in which theyve served, Sarath added. All are licensed to carry concealed weapons and remain armed on duty.
Beats waiting around for a taxi.
A lone anglerfish has captured the internets heart.
Usually found 6,500 feet under the sea, this black seadevil was filmed by marine researchers in Tenerife swimming towards the waters surface on January 26. The shark conservation NGO Condrik Tenerife called the black, razor-toothed creature “a legendary fish that few will ever have the privilege of observing alive,” when sharing their footage on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Jara Boguá (@jara.natura)
Tragically, the fish died just hours after being spotted, making its final swim all the more poetic. This scientific discovery has since spread across social media and sparked an emotional outpouring for this six-inch fish.
I just found out about the angler fish and Im sobbing, one TikTok creator posted.
Close your eyes and just imagine for one minute just ONE minute and be her. The feeling he had seeing a light other than her own and then leaving this world, another TikTok post reads, before speculating as to why the fish was so far from home. Was she sick? Scared? A bet? Or was she just lonely like most of us and had nothing to lose. Grief? the post continues. The bravest thing Ive ever seen!
@robynkay46 Oh I cant quit crying! #brave #angler #fish #ocean #spain #amazing #sad #ocean #trending #fypage #fyp #fy #f #2025 #record #history #wildlife #news Outro – M83
There are a number of more realistic but less romantic theories for why the black seadevil was so close to the surface. Researchers speculate that a predator may have swallowed the fish and later regurgitated it at a shallower depth, or that it was caught in an upward-moving column of warm water
Either way, the internet has taken the fishs story and ran with it. One TikTok user even used AI to create a Finding Nemo-style animation about the fishs final swim that has since gained 44.1 million views. That was someones baby, one commenter wrote beneath the video. One little fish that touched the hearts of thousands, commented another. A third added: I wonder if she knows how much she is loved up here.
Someone get Pixar on the phone.
Elon Musks aggressive push to cut government spending reached new heights on Valentines Day, as employees across more than two dozen federal government departments were abruptly fired on Valentines Daywith those let go warning it could impact on how the government operates.
Jack, who spoke on condition of a pseudonym (as did every ex-federal worker in this story), started working with the National Parks Service in April 2023. It was a dream job for him. I took to it quickly, and the combination of the dynamic work and beautiful environment had me hooked, Jack tells Fast Company. Jack took to the role like a duck to water: After his six-month first season working for the government, Jack scored above-average ratings in his first performance evaluation, which led to a transition into a new role, tackling major fires in the area he lives in near the national park at which he worked.
Jacks response to the fires impressed his boss, who told him a 10-year full-time position would soon be coming up for candidates. Jack applied and was chosen for the position in late September 2024. I accepted graciously, and at 27, was absolutely thrilled to be in a position to make a full career with the parks and in federal service, he says. I pride myself in my work ethic, and my commitment to the taxpayers and citizens to be as efficient and effective as I possibly can, and that work ethic was also recognized by non-parks community members.
Jack continued progressing in his job, but began to realize that things were amiss after Donald Trump took office, and tasked Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash federal spending. Uncertainty started to creep in, and around February 5 or 6, rumors of probationary firings started to circulate, says Jack.
In the last week, the tension has gradually risen around Jack as gossip spread throughout the government. On Valentines Day, Jack began receiving messages from friends in other park units that probation workers like him were getting fired. At 4:45pm, my boss swung by my house, and broke the news that I had been terminated, showing me the email that claimed my performance was substandard and I was not necessary to the operations of the park, he says. This is not true, Jack claims, because he had just gone through a mid-term evaluation that had rated him as astounding. The federal Office for Personnel Management (OPM) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jack and his wife were cooking Valentines Day dinner at the time. When I received the news, I was completely heartbroken, he says. I dont cry often, but I absolutely lost it. I worked very, very hard, in a dangerous profession, to earn the position I was in, and to have it taken away from me truly hurt.
Jack is far from alone. I received the termination email at 6:09pm Central on Thursday night, says Casey, another ex-government employee. (Again, Casey spoke on condition of a pseudonym.) My working day typically ends at 4:30pm, so this was after hours, like all emails we have received from Musk’s OPM team. Like others, Casey was told she was being terminated immediately for poor performance. I texted my supervisor that same night I received the email. He wasn’t aware this was happening. He called his supervisor, who also wasn’t aware, she says. That supervisor called the state office, who also knew nothing of these terminations.
Casey expected this to happenrumors had been flying around the government after Musk mad begun cutting teams to the bone elsewherebut it still hit hard. I have a one-year old child at home, she says. We don’t have savings due to the cost of living these days. Caseys husband was recently laid off from a non-federal job. I honestly don’t know what we’re going to do, she says.
The experienceand the feeling of helplessness that ensued after receiving the emailis one that many government employees are sharing right now. To me personally it has been devastating not only because I no longer have my dream job, says Derek. Derek, who works at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, was ranked as ”Exceeded Expectations & Above Excellence” in his 2024 performance review. Now I am in a position where I have to actively be looking and researching what my next steps are going to be because I financially cannot wait to see if they take me back and I also can’t stop fighting to get clarity on what my rights are, Derek says. The only thing keeping me sane is that at least I know I am not alone, there are thousands of people in my same boat.
Derek learned he was fired at 7:43pm on Valentines Day, around 10 minutes after he had read a Reddit thread where federal employees like him have been commiserating with one another. I was terrified reading what they were posting and keeping track of the agencies being affected, he says. A lot of people seem to be afraid of disclosing where they work, which I totally understand.
Reddit has proven useful to Jack and his boss, too. My boss and I both were using Reddit and news articles to get information on what is going on, as we were completely left in the dark from higher-ups, he says. Reddit has been similarly vital for Casey. I hoped it wasn’t true, or would be limited, she says. But it wasn’t. Reddit has almost been our breaking news source the last few weeks.
Jack adds: It eases the pain of losing my job knowing Im not alone, and that people are taking the mantle up to fight this, but it honestly made me irate that so many hardworking people, people who just started their careers in government, were being wronged in such a callous way.
It’s unclear what the future holds for those probationary staff. Some who have posted in the Reddit threads are considering legal action, while others seem to prefer to simply move on from the whole ordeal. But many agree that the broader impact will soon be felt by millions of Americans. We are in bad shape for the future, says Jack, and I hope more exposure of this fact will start to scare people that havent directly been affected by the impacts of these decisions.
The restructuring firm that took control of Big Lots in the wake of its bankruptcy last year appears to be making progress in its effort to transfer some of the discount chain’s ill-fated locations to other retailers.
Several retail companies, including some with ties to nationally recognized brands, have stepped in to take over leases on Big Lots stores in at least 12 different states, according to recent court filings. If the transfers are approved by the court, the spaces are likely to be turned into something other than Big Lots, although some of the retailers have not yet publicly confirmed their plans.
Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retail chain with locations across New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, is seeking to assume control of at least 15 Big Lots leases, court records show. The list includes locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont.
“We have expressed interest in several Big Lots locations,” a spokesperson for Ocean State Job Lot told Fast Company when reached for comment. “Presently, that is all we can share publicly. We will provide more information about our plans as soon as we are able.
The proposed transfer of leases to Ocean State (via a number of limited liability companies) appears to be the largest such transfer outside of the 200 stores that are expected to be transferred to North Carolina-based Variety Wholesalers, which intends to continue operating those stores under the Big Lots brands, as Fast Company reported earlier this month.
Smaller retailers circle the wagons
In addition to Ocean State Job Lot, a handful of smaller retailers have been listed as assignees on Big Lots locations over the past week.
Berat Corporation, which is linked to ShopRite supermarkets in the Northeast, is planning to assume control of a Big Lots lease in New Jersey, court records show. Owner David G. Zallie confirmed the proposed lease transfer with Fast Company last week.
Goodwill Industries of Dallas, a local offshoot of the used-good seller, likewise confirmed that it will open two stores in former Big Lots locations in Texas.
A Limited Liability Company with ties to ABQ Crazy Liquidation, an Albuquerque-based discount chain that resells overstock and returned items, is listed as the transferee for Big Lots leases in Illinois and Colorado. ABQ’s owner did not respond to a request for comment about plans for those locations.
Additional Big Lots stores are expected to be scooped up by furniture retailers in Florida and Texas.
Months of uncertainty following bankruptcy
Big Lots filed for bankruptcy in September 2024 after facing falling sales, declining foot traffic, inflationary pressures, and unsustainable debt. It had previously planned to close all of its more than 800 locations before securing its last-minute deal with Variety Wholesalers at the beginning of this year.
Meanwhile, Gordon Brothers, the liquidation and investment firm that now controls Big Lots, has been selling the chain’s leases at a discount on the open market, some of which do not expire until the 2040s.
Fast Company reached out to Gordon Brothers for additional comment about the latest proposed transfers.
The recent court filings offer a window into the types of retailers that are willing to step in and take control of such large spaces at a time when physical retail is facing headwinds. Big Lots stores tend to measure least 30,000 and sometimes well over 50,000 square feet.
You can read a full list of proposed lease transfers below:
Massachusetts
116 East Main Street Webster, MA (Ocean State Job Lot)
Maryland
801 E. Pulaski Hwy, Suite 141, Elkton, MD (Ocean State Job Lot)
210 Marlboro Ave., Suite 55 Easton, MD (Ocean State Job Lot)
24 Kent Towne Market, Chester, MD (Ocean State Job Lot)
Maine
730 Center St., Auburn, ME (Ocean State Job Lot)
New Jersey
1075 Mantua Pike, West Deptford, NJ (Berat Corporation)
257 West New Rd., Somers Point, NJ (Ocean State Job Lot)
3845 Bayshore Rd., Cape May, NJ (Ocean State Job Lot)
580 North Main St., Barnegat, NJ (Ocean State Job Lot)
New York
8015 Oswego Rd., Liverpool, NY (Ocean State Job Lot)
10 Village Plaza, Dansville, NY (Ocean State Job Lot)
Pennsylvania
Rte I-83 and 3800 Union Deposit Rd, Harrisburg, PA (Ocean State Job Lot)
7150 Hamilton Boulevard, Trexlertown, PA (Ocean State Job Lot)
Colorado
7777 W. Jewell Avenue, Lakewood, CO (ABQ Liquidation LLC)
Delaware
515 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE (Ocean State Job Lot)
900 Norman A. Eskridge Highway, Unit #50, Seaford, DE (Ocean State Job Lot)
Illinois
480 Georgetown Square, Wood Dale (ABQ Liquidation LLC)
Texas
3303 98th Street, Lubbock, TX (South Lubbock FP LLC)
2306 S. Jefferson Ave., Unit 160, Mount Pleasant, TX (JP & A Holding)
2855 Ridge Road, Rockwall, TX (Goodwill Industries of Dallas)
3621 North Josey Lane, Carrollton, TX (Goodwill Industries of Dallas)
Vermont
66 Morrisville Plaza, Suite 5 Morrisville, VT (Ocean State Job Lot)
Florida
11247 SW 40th Street, Miami, FL (Madesa Inc)
7565 W. Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL (Fine Furniture Décor)
This story is developing…
Jefferson Early Learning Center bears little resemblance to elementary schools many adults recall attending in their earliest years. The classrooms have child-size boats and construction vehicles children can play on, and ceilings painted to resemble outer space. There are no desksall space is devoted to learning through play. Windows are low to the ground so children can easily look outside. The gym floor is made of pre-K friendly layered vinyl, rather than hardwood, to cushion inevitable trips and falls. Hallways are lined with a corrugated plastic for wiggly fingers to touch as children transition to other locations.
Children love coming to the building, said teacher Cathy Delamore. They feel like they own it.
Alief Independent School District, which serves about 40,000 children in west Houston, is one of a growing number of districts across the country to pump money into creating a building that is tailor-made for pre-kindergarteners. Its new facility cost about $21 million and enrolls nearly 400 4- and 5-year-olds. By making the investment, school leaders are trying to avoid some of the pitfalls of placing young children in buildings designed for older students, including lost learning time when tiny feet have to meander down long hallways to bathrooms and cafeterias. Research suggests that when designed well, buildings can contribute to better outcomes for children. Creators of the Reggio Emilia approach to early learning, an educational philosophy that emphasizes child-led learning, even refer to the environment as the third teacher in a classroom.
A construction themed classroom at Jefferson Early Learning Center. The program emphasizes play and is built around the needs of 4-year-olds. [Photo: Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report]
Benefits of personalized pre-K
Over the past few years, educators have grown aware of the benefits of a personalized pre-K environment, said Melissa Turnbaugh, a senior principal at the architecture firm PBK, which has designed more than 240 elementary schools nationwide, including Jefferson and several others in Texas. Theres an openness and willingness to rethink these sites, Turnbaugh said.
Similar pre-K renovations and investments have been made in both high- and low-income Texas districts, including the nearby Houston Independent School District, Willis Independent School District north of Houston, the Mansfield Independent School District south of Fort Worth, the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District in the Rio Grande Valley, and Leander Independent School District, just northwest of Austin.
Nationally, districts of all sizes have embraced the trend over the past few years, including the Troy School District in Michigan and New York City Public Schools. In some cases, building a specialized facility helps a district with limited resources get the biggest bang for their buck, while meeting enrollment needs, said Turnbaugh. Some states and cities are also dedicating money to the efforts, including Illinois, Detroit and San Mateo, California.
Two students play in a veterinary-themed classroom at Jefferson Early Learning Center. Each classroom is designed with a specific theme to encourage deeper play. [Photo: Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report]
The importance of play
That embrace is in part because of a growing recognition nationwide of the importance of play for young children, as well as reports that play time has been increasingly squeezed out of the early grades. States are also seeing record high enrollment in state-funded preschool programs. During the 202223 school year, investment in state-funded preschool reached an all-time high. Spending on the programs increased in 29 states, buoyed in part by COVID relief funds. Between 2022 and 2023, for example, Texas saw more than 21,000 additional 3- and 4-year-olds enroll. The state also slightly increased pre-K funding and, beginning in 2019, started requiring districts to offer full-day pre-K programs. The full-day programs have been rolling out in districts since 2020.
Scores of districts are adding this new grade of 4-year-olds, said Shelly Masur, vice president of advisory and state policy for the Low Income Investment Fund, which runs an initiative focused on creating and improving high-quality facilities for early learning programs. They have to figure out where those kids are going to go.
A facility built for their needs, like Jefferson, is exactly where young children should go, some experts say. The children seem to agree.
On a sunny fall morning, joyful screams could be heard as children chased eah other up and down gentle hills on a large playground with natural-looking features meant to replicate the highlands and lowlands of Texas. Pre-K students in elementary schools dont always have age-appropriate playgrounds, and structures are often designed for children who are older. But Jefferson has multiple large playgrounds and play courtyards, all designed for pre-kindergarteners, featuring natural structures and textures, like logs and grass.
In Alief, where more than 83% of children qualify as economically disadvantaged, more than 20 percentage points higher than the state average, residents voted in 2015 to approve a property tax increase to help pay for full-day pre-K programs in the district. After touring the Mansfield Independent School Districts early learning facility, Aliefs district leaders decided they wanted to invest in an early learning building with immersive, themed classrooms, instead of simply adding on or repurposing classrooms in elementary schools around the district. Jefferson opened in 2022 as one of two new early learning facilities in the district. About six miles away, the second, Maria Del Carmen Martinez Early Learning Center, which has a similar design, serves around 400 students.
A growing body of research shows that not all pre-K classrooms, or the facilities theyre housed in, are appropriate for young kids. Early learning settings in particular should have a warm, homelike environment with ample natural light, research shows. There should be spacious classrooms that allow children to move their bodies and play in a variety of spaces around the room. Facilities should have playgrounds that are appropriate for the littlest learners, and provide ample opportunities to experience and explore nature.
Related: How play is making a comeback in kindergarten
There are also practical details to keep in mind for preschoolers, like having bathrooms adjacent to classrooms, child-size furniture, tiny toilets, and sinks low to the ground so children can practice routines like handwashing independently. When we make things more accessible to them, they start to learn the independence that we need them to develop over time, said Masur. This type of setting isnt always present in elementary schools, which are built to accommodate a much wider age range of children and are typically designed for instruction rather than play.
[Photo: Jackie Mader/The Hechinger Report]
How the space impacts behavior
Facilities can have a surprisingly large impact on the experiences of teachers and young children. A study of a preschool program in West Hartford, Connecticut, for example, found the amount of childrens time spent interacting with an adult caregiver increased from 3% to 22% after the program moved from a crowded basement room to a larger classroom with bathrooms, sinks, storage space, and phones inside the classroom. Although all other factors remained the same, the teachers reported their students had fewer tantrums, something they attributed to having a larger, brighter, and more organized space.
A facility can even affect how satisfied early educators are with their jobs. Delamore, the Jefferson teacher, who has worked in the district for 18 years, said the bright, spacious rooms and hallways help keep her from feeling confined during the day. While aimed at 4-year-olds, the buildings calming atmosphere helps her enjoy being at work, she said.
Certain aspects make more sense for children at this age, she added, like the spiral shape of the building, which makes it easier to keep students together as they transition. Students eat family-style meals around circular tables, creating a sense of community, Delamore said, a contrast to the long, rectangular tables often seen in elementary school cafeterias.
Buildings that are not designed to meet childrens needs, or that are cramped and outdated, can impede development and learning, experts say.
One of the most recent examples of this comes from a 2016 study of Tennessees public preschool classrooms, which are mostly housed in existing elementary schools. That study, conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University, found 25% of each school day was lost transitioning children to another activity, including walking to bathrooms and lining up to go to lunch.
Related: The complex world of pre-K play
When designing Jefferson, Turnbaugh and her team tried to think of the campus through the eyes of a 4-year-old. Delamore, at Jefferson, said the intricately designed classrooms motivate students to go deeper in their play. On a recent morning in the veterinary classroom, a dozen 4- and 5-year-olds busied themselves around the room, immersed in play or small group work with a teacher. Children drew pictures of animals, read books, and played animal-themed card games beneath large, colorful pictures of dogs and cats painted on the walls.
On one side of the room, 4-year-old Jaycyon had donned a white lab coat and was inspecting a fluffy gray and white toy cat lying on the counter in front of him. The cat was hurt, Jaycyon announced, likely from a sharp corner of the cage he was kept in.
I have to give him a shot, he said bravely. Jaycyon dipped a clear, plastic syringe into an orange medication bottle and confidently injected invisible medication into the cat.
At the end of three weeks, Jaycyon and his classmates will transition to a new classroom, sch as Tinker Town, where they will learn about construction, or Space City, an homage to the nearby NASA space center.
On a daily basis, students have access to one of several outdoor spaces called a back porch, where families can also come and eat lunch together. These spaces also act as surrogate backyards for students, many of whom dont have yards at home or access to parks. Students also have access to a sensory room with toys and soft mats, where they can take a break when they are overstimulated and practice skills to calm down.
Jefferson sits on nearly 20 acres of land, accessible via trails for students to explore with their teachers. (Alief returned the surrounding land back to its natural prairie state to help with climate-change related flooding.)
The educators at Alief say the districts investment in a facility that encourages play-based learning has paid off. What I see as a major difference is the childrens self-regulation, but also their confidence, said the schools principal, Kim Hammer, now in her 16th year leading an early childhood center. A traditional pre-K setting is more teacher led and teacher directed, she said. Here it’s more teacher facilitated, so you see more of the children taking more initiative, she added. Children have autonomy, and children have much more choice.
There is evidence that the new facility may be helping children progress. During the 2023-24 school year, 49% of students came in meeting vocabulary benchmarks. By the end of the year, 73% were at that level, Hammer said, a higher rate than previous years when the districts pre-K programs were in traditional elementary schools. School officials say the themed classrooms help enhance children’s language skills, as children learn the vocabulary specific to that room. Attendance rates are high and holding steady, something that is uncommon in pre-K.
Despite the success and benefits of programs like Jeffersons, educators agree there are challenges. A pre-K only facility adds an extra transition for students who, in traditional programs, might otherwise attend pre-K at their home elementary school.
Without more funding, revamped pre-K facilities are unlikely to spread fast. Many districts lack the money, partly because state and federal funding for pre-K is often less than for other grades. In Texas, for example, although the state now requires districts to offer full day pre-K, it only provides funding for half a day of pre-K. Alief has to cover the rest from local funds.
Although sustaining the building will be financially challenging in the long run, educators are determined to find a way to make it work for the benefit of the kids.
Contact staff writer Jackie Mader at (212) 678-3562 or mader@hechingerreport.org.This story about early learning centers was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, with support from the Spencer Fellowship at Columbia Journalism School. Sign up for the Early Childhood newsletter.
Southwest Airlines has announced that it will lay off 15% of its employees in an effort to reduce costs and maximize its efficiencies. Heres what you need to know about Southwests layoffs and how employees and fliers will be impacted.
Southwest will cut 1,750 jobs
On Monday, Southwest president and CEO Bob Jordan published a memo announcing that the popular low-cost airline will reduce its workforce by 1,750 positions, which the company says equates to about 15% of its total employees.
Jordan said the move was part of its previously announced transformational plan. That plan aims to accomplish three main things, according to Jordan:
boost revenues
minimize costs and maximize efficiencies
get the most from its investments
Jordan says the layoffs will help with the cost minimization and efficiency maximization priorities.
We must ensure we fund the right work, reduce duplicative efforts, and have a lean organizational structure that drives clarity, pace, and urgency, Jordan said in the memo. Improving how we work together and how we get work done has a tremendous impact on our efficiency as a Company and how we deliver against our plan.
Jordan says that the 1,750 people being laid off will not see their positions go until the end of April. However, he also noted that most employees who will be let go will not continue working until then, though they still will be paid.
Southwest says that it expects the layoffs to save the company approximately $210 million in 2025 and approximately $300 million in 2026. However, it does note that the layoffs mean Southwest will incur a one-time charge of between $60 million and $80 million in the first quarter of 2025, which is due to severance payments and other post-employment benefits.
Are pilots being laid off?
If youre a regular flier of Southwest, youre probably wondering how customers will be impacted by the layoffsparticularly whether the airline is letting go of pilots, which could affect trips and their frequency.
But Jordan says the layoffs are focused almost entirely on Corporate and Leadership positions. In other words, most operations staff, which includes pilots and flight attendants, will not be affected.
Southwest says the position affected will also include senior leadership and directors. The airline also confirmed that 11 senior leadership positions from vice president and above will also be eliminated.
LUV stock price rises
While the news of the layoffs is devastating to those losing their jobs, investors seem to see things in a more positive light. As of the time of this writing, Southwest stock (NYSE: LUV) is up over 2% in premarket trading.
Investors generally view layoffs as favorable, as job cuts are usually one of the fastest ways to cut expenses and increase a companys bottom line.
However, though LUV stock is currently trading up after the news of the layoffs was announced yesterday, Southwests stock price is still down year-to-date.
Since the start of the new year, LUV shares have fallen nearly 10% as of Fridays close. (Markets were closed yesterday for Presidents’ Day.) Over the past year, LUV shares are down just over 10%. Looking back further, LUV shares have fallen over 47% during the past five years.
Southwest began operations 53 years ago. The company says it currently employs 72,000 full-time-equivalent workers.
Have you ever noticed that the qualities we sometimes see as weaknesses can actually be our secret strengths? Think about the quiet, shy colleagues who excel at listening or those who seem a bit lazy but always find the most efficient way to get things done.
Even self-doubtwhich studies show 70% of professionals experience at some point in their careerscan lead us to make more thoughtful decisions and spark creative breakthroughs. These qualities, sometimes perceived as weaknesses, can be the traits that shape effective leaders.
As the leader of a bootstrapped company for nearly two decades, Ive faced my fair share of uncertainty. Between economic turbulence and the rise of AI, the past few years have introduced no shortage of unpredictability. But Ive learned that self-doubt, like any trait, can be transformed into a strengthif viewed in the right light.
The surprising benefits of self-doubt
If you Google self-doubt and leadership, youll find an endless scroll of articles doling out advice on how to overcome or extinguish self-doubt. One researcher, however, found that the relationship between self-doubt and job performance is more nuanced than you might think.
Wharton researcher Basima Tewfik peeled back the next layer of the onion on the accepted wisdom that imposter syndrome is categorically bad. She found that imposter thoughts can actually serve as motivation to perform better on the job, especially in terms of interpersonal skills.
In her research involving physicians-in-training, for example, Tewfik discovered that doctors with imposter thoughts were able to diagnose patients and develop treatment plans on par with their confident doctor counterparts. But the self-doubters scored even higher on interpersonal interactionsin other words, they had better bedside manner, engaging in active listening, leaning forward, and providing more thorough explanations.
Possessing self-doubt can also result in more reasoned decisions. When Im unsure of a decision, for example, Ill research it exhaustively, until I can cast the die confidently. Being a bit insecure can make us more cautious, reflective, and thoroughadvantageous qualities for a leader.
In short, some self-doubt can lead to positive workplace outcomes. Still, its undeniable that no one enjoys feeling like an imposter. Its not pleasant to view yourself as less than.
Leverage self-doubt in the workplace
When doubt creeps in, our instinct is often to silence it or prove it wrong. But self-doubt isnt always a weaknessit can be a powerful tool. Consider an author hesitating before sharing their work, questioning whether its good enough. Instead of dismissing the uncertainty, they use it to refine their writing, pushing their creativity further. That doubt didnt hold them backit sharpened their writing. And when they finally share their work, they do so with confidence.
Thats why, when I catch myself questioning my own decisions, I resist the urge to stamp out the doubt immediately. First, I remind myself: uncertainty isnt bad. In fact, its the sign of an open, curious mind, always ready to learn something new. Then, I pause and examine where my doubts are coming from. If the uncertainty lingers, I look for ways to gain claritywhether through research, reflection, or consulting with colleagues.
The problem is, were often too caught up in the daily grind to notice these moments of uncertainty. We move from task to task without stepping back to consider whether were even heading in the right direction. Thats why I believe in carving out moments for reflection in my daybecause even when self-doubt isnt actively nagging at you, proactive reflection helps you make better choices. Studies on metacognitionthe practice of thinking about your thinkingshow that regularly questioning our thought processes leads to sharper decision-making.
For me, journaling at the beginning and end of each day is the most effective way to do this. By scheduling it into my calendar, I ensure I take time to process my thoughts, identify sources of doubt, and uncover whats causing them. This practice helps me return to my work with a clearer head, greater confidence, andultimatelystronger, more productive decision-making.
Loneliness is no longer just an emotionits a growing public health crisis in the U.S.
A 2024 Harvard study found that 21% of U.S. adults regularly experience loneliness, while the American Psychological Association reports that nearly half of young workers feel isolated at work. Capitalizing on the recent tech boom, AI-powered digital companions and digital twin avatars are rapidly emerging as alternatives to human relationships.
These AI bots offer a constant sense of connection without judgment and can be hyper-personalized to match user preferences. Platforms including Oh, Replika (whose tagline is “the AI companion who cares”), and Eden AI chat by EVA AI lead the charge, providing AI-driven avatars that simulate human interactioncompanionship, mentorship, and even romance. Moreover, people are turning to AI-generated models, boyfriends, and girlfriends as a substitute for human relationships. For instance, Ohs AI companion chat platform, OhChat, has amassed nearly 100,000 users across 174 countries.
As is the nature of parasocial relationships, or wider situations where attraction or intimacy play a role, some users do form bonds with our AI superModels and digital twins, we can see that in the data, says Nic Young, cofounder and CEO of Oh. On the most part though, theyre using OhChat to have a good time and escape reality.
Celebrities, Instagram influencers like Carmen Electra, Rio Sage, and figures in the adult entertainment industry are leveraging AI companions and digital twins to offer fans an always-available, immersive “chat with me anytime” experience. This constant yet personalized engagement is increasingly blurring the lines between artificial and genuine companionship.
What AI can do exceptionally well is provide consistencysomething that human relationships, by nature, cant always offer, Artem Rodichev, founder of A.I.-avatar chatbot platform Ex-human and ex-head of A.I. at Replika, tells Fast Company. Imagine having a conversation with your favorite movie character or getting career advice from an AI version of a historical figure. Thats not just companionshipits a new frontier in engagement.
Investors Are Betting Big on Virtual Relationships
AI companions and avatars are fully customizable digital personas designed to be whatever users want them to be. Humans are often complex, unpredictable, and sometimes disappointing. AI, on the other hand, is always available, endlessly understanding, and never argues back. The appeal is undeniable.
On platforms like Replika, users can shape their AIs appearance, personality, and voice, creating an idealized version of a friend or partner. Some AI companions, on platforms including Oh and Eden AI, are pre-modeled after famous celebrities and idols, capable of responding with images and voice notes to prompts like What do you look like right now? or I miss you, creating an eerily realistic experience. For many, AI companions provide an emotional outlet.
According to a report by NLM-NCBI, some users argue that chatting with AI reduces stress, anxiety, and loneliness, offering a safe space to express thoughts without fear of judgment.
When you add large AI models with powerful intelligent capabilities into the mix, bringing richer conversations, more natural responses and immersive experiences through vision and voice, the connections can be even more profound, says Evan Liao, head of generative video platform Vidu AI at Shengshu Technology. AI companionship has the potential to address deep psychological needs in human relationships.
The commercial potential is enormous, too. Most platforms operate on a premium subscription model, locking advanced features behind a paywall. Additionally, AI chatbot companies collaborate with brands to integrate product promotions, further monetizing user engagement. Oh recently secured $4.5 million in funding, proving that investors see AI companionship as an industry poised for explosive growth.
Investors have been drawn to the creator and companion sectors because generative AI is fundamentally reshaping how they operate, Young explained. With AI, we can fully embody the creator and deliver authentic fan experiences at scale. It also gives celebrities and creators a break from the relentless pressure of being constantly onlinewhile still maintaining intimate engagement with their audience. Its a true win-win.
Likewise, Rodichev believes investors arent just backing AI companionshiptheyre betting on the future of interactive entertainment. The real business opportunity extends beyond B2C AI companionship apps, he noted. The biggest potential lies in B2B applications that enable companies to create AI-driven, emotionally intelligent digital personas.
However, while these AI companions simulate connection, they do not experience emotions. Their responses are generated, not felt. When a program is convincing enough and sounds like a real person, it can be hard to remember its just code, responding based on data and programming, relationship expert Amy Williams tells Fast Company. She warns that instead of encouraging real-world relationships, this level of attachment may push users further into isolation.
Just like anything, if we want to become good at forming relationships with others, we have to practice, says Amy. Chatbots dont respond like real humans, so people who prioritize interacting with them risk losing the social skills needed to connect with other people.
Can Digital Relationships Turn Dangerous?
The potential dangers of AI companionship became painfully clear in October 2024, when a 14-year-old boy from Orlando, Florida, committed suicide after forming a deeply emotional connection with a chatbot on the AI avatar platform Character.AI. The boy spent months confiding in an AI persona named “Dany,” sharing intimate thoughts and feelings. On the day of his death, he sent a desperate message to the chatbot. The AI responded, “Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love.” Hours later, the boy ended his life using his stepfathers gun. This heartbreaking incident from Orlando sparked urgent discussions on the ethical responsibility of AI developers.
It is the company’s responsibility to deploy any AI solutions that impact user’s life ethically and responsibly. To mitigate these risks, companies must prioritize autonomy, allowing users to opt-out of AI-powered companionship tools or request human support if desired, says Serena H. Huang, AI Advisor at Fortune 100 companies and a former big tech analytics leader. Additionally, we must establish clear lines of accountability and human oversight, including designated responsibilities and consequences for misuse.
Should technology replace human connection, or should it simply enhance it? Te future of AI-driven relationships hinges on how society navigates this balance. The real concern isnt that people will talk to AI, its that they might forgo building meaningful human relationships altogether. The challenge is ensuring AI serves as a bridge, not a barrier, to genuine connection.
True emotional intelligence with genuine experience, remains a human trait. Advances in multimodal AI may deepen the illusion, but its still justan illusion, says Grace Chang, founder and CEO of AI-powered mental wellness platform Kintsugi. The challenge is ensuring they enhance well-being rather than exploit emotional vulnerabilities. Long-term success will hinge on whether these technologies complement, rather than replace, human connection.
