NBC News

If you’ve watched even a few minutes of figure skating at the Winter Olympics, chances are you’ve seen Benoît Richaud.

He is the tall, slender, bald man sitting beside what feels like every athlete in the “kiss and cry” area, waiting as their scores flash across the screen.

One moment, he’s next to American Maxim Naumov. The next, he’s with France’s Adam Siao Him Fa. Then Canada’s Stephen Gogolev. Then Mexico’s Donovan Carrillo. And each time, he is wearing a different national team jacket.

That constant presence is no coincidence.

Richaud is the choreographer for 16 competitors in Milan: 12 singles skaters and four pairs from 13 countries. There is no rule preventing a coach or choreographer from working with athletes representing different nations. So he simply adjusts his wardrobe accordingly.

“I just come with all of the jackets and then I make quick changes,” Richaud told NBC News. “The people from the federation or team leaders, they help me and we make quick changes and that’s how it goes. Sometimes it’s quite slow and sometimes it’s quite crazy when it’s one after the other one.”

On one stretch, he might wear Mexico’s colors for Carrillo, then quickly switch into Japan’s jacket for Kao Miura. Later, he could be racing to remove Georgia’s colors after supporting Nika Egadze, before pulling on red, white and blue for Naumov.

For Richaud, the effort is deliberate.

“I know some coaches want to wear normal clothes,” he said. “But I think the Olympic Games is a special moment where you also need to cherish the difference of people. I think it’s something beautiful. Every different country has different cultures. When I go on the screen, I want to promote that.”

From “Nobody” to Olympic Mainstay

It was not always this way.

A former competitive skater from Lyon, France, Richaud never placed higher than seventh at the World Junior Championships. When he turned to coaching in 2013, the start was slow.

He had just one 25 minute session during his first week. “It was like that for the first four weeks of work,” he said.

“I didn’t start with high-level skaters because I was a nobody,” he explained. “My first job was literally working with people who were 70 years old. I started with a grandmother. I was teaching old people how to skate.”

Gradually, his reputation grew. He began working with Latvian standout Deniss Vasiļjevs at the junior level. Success followed. Word spread. Over the past decade, Richaud has become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the sport.

He attributes his rise to a mindset that embraces risk.

“I’m not scared. I’m not scared at all,” he said. “It means that I do whatever I want, and I never try to please judges or people. If we want to do a crazy idea, we do it. I always find a way to make things happen.”

“One of my big powers is that I do things very differently, and it’s all connected to fear. I want to push our sport forward and change the styles, change the way people think and see figure skating.”

Skating for More Than Scores

For Richaud, innovation is personal.

He has spoken about wanting to create routines that would draw in non-skating fans, including his own father. “I lost my dad, and I always think about making him fall in love with skating,” he said. “Nobody cares about skating where I live, and I always think about those people.”

That emotional connection has been especially powerful this week.

Naumov, now 24, lost his parents in a plane crash outside Washington, D.C., last year and nearly stepped away from the sport. Instead, he is now competing in the Olympic men’s singles final.

Richaud calls his perseverance “amazing.”

“He wanted to leave the sport, and now he’s making his dream come true, which was also the dream of his parents,” he said. “There’s something very unique about him. And knowing that he struggled so much, and to be able to do that, I think it’s just pure respect.”

Before each performance, Richaud offers final words of encouragement. Afterward, he sits beside his skater in the kiss and cry, sharing the tension of the score reveal.

Then he disappears into the corridors of the arena. There is another skater about to take the ice. 

And another jacket waiting to be zipped up.

The Coach With 10 Jackets: Benoît Richaud Is Everywhere at the Winter Olympics

Black News

Before she was choreographing halftime shows for Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Bad Bunny, Charm La’Donna was a three-year-old in Compton learning to dance. By kindergarten, she was already performing solos. Now, she’s one of the most in-demand choreographers in music — and the Emmy-nominated creative force behind some of the most memorable Super Bowl halftime performances in recent years.

La’Donna’s style doesn’t fit neatly into a single category. “Hybrid” is how she describes herself, blending hip-hop, krumping, ballet, jazz, and everything in between into a signature movement language that’s both high-impact and emotionally charged.

“I love the work that goes into creating the art for whoever to see,” she told The Grio. “You’re talking to the little girl who used to choreograph in her room by herself, and now I see my work all over the world.”

That journey took her through the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and eventually into the orbit of renowned choreographer Fatima Robinson, who mentored her early on. It wasn’t long before La’Donna was leading choreography for some of the most-watched performances on Earth.

Her credits are stacked. The Weeknd’s 2021 halftime show. Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 set. Bad Bunny’s 2026 debut. Beyoncé’s now-iconic “Beyoncé Bowl.” In each one, La’Donna’s choreography carried her signature mix of storytelling and athleticism, drawing from both her formal training and lived experience.

What makes her work stand out is how it’s tailored to each artist. La’Donna builds trust with performers, studying their rhythms and quirks, and creating movement that feels organic — even as it electrifies stadium crowds and television audiences alike.

“I’ll probably still be up there dancing when I’m 60,” she said.

Despite her global reach, she hasn’t strayed far from her roots. She teaches, mentors young dancers and talks often about building an “empire of all arts” that lifts up future creatives. Her choreography might be seen by millions, but she’s still that little girl from Compton — only now, the stage is a lot bigger.

Meet the Choreographer Behind  Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance

ESPN

American curler Rich Ruohonen made history Thursday in Milan, becoming the oldest U.S. Winter Olympian ever at 54 years old.

He took the ice during the final moments of the U.S. men’s 8–3 loss to Switzerland. With the Americans down 8–2 and the game effectively decided, Ruohonen was brought in for a single end and helped the team put one point on the board before they conceded.

"It's awesome. It's hard to do it in that situation when we're getting beat," Ruohonen said after the match. "I would have rather done it when we were up 8-2 instead of down 8-2. I really appreciate the guys giving me a chance."

Ruohonen passed a record that had stood for more than 90 years. The previous oldest American Winter Olympian was Joseph Savage, who was 52 when he competed in pairs figure skating at the 1932 Lake Placid Games. The oldest American Olympian at any Games remains Thomas Scott, who was 71 when he competed in archery at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis.

A longtime figure in U.S. curling, Ruohonen has been serving as the alternate for skip Danny Casper’s team in Milan. That squad earned its Olympic berth by beating five-time Olympian John Shuster’s team at the U.S. trials and later winning a last-chance qualifier to claim a spot at the Games.

For Ruohonen, the moment was bittersweet—a personal milestone set against a difficult match. But it’s also a reflection of the long path he’s taken in curling, and a rare Olympic honor that few athletes at any age ever get to experience.

At 54, Rich Ruohonen Becomes Oldest U.S. Winter Olympian

People

A Sarasota special operations team carried out a dramatic high-rise rescue on February 9, using a construction crane to lower a patient from the 17th floor of a building under construction.

The patient, who had suffered a medical emergency after a fall at the site on Quay Commons in Sarasota, was safely brought to the ground in a Stokes basket, accompanied by a first responder, and transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Their current condition has not been disclosed.

The Sarasota County Fire Department’s Special Operations team was praised for their “quick thinking and intricate training” during the incident, which was captured on video. The footage shows the patient and rescuer being carefully lowered by crane — a high-angle maneuver rarely seen outside of training drills.

“These are high-risk, low-frequency events, and that’s why constant practice is critical,” Sarasota County Emergency Services said in a statement.

The department’s Special Operations unit includes 60 highly trained personnel who spend hundreds of hours preparing for everything from chemical spills and structural collapses to machinery extrications and rope rescues.

“In this line of work, the training never stops,” the agency said.

The rescue comes as Sarasota County continues to expand its capabilities, including the construction of a new fire training academy to further support specialized operations.

“Their commitment to excellence ensures they are ready to assist Sarasota County residents and visitors no matter the challenge,” the department said.

📸 Sarasota County Emergency Services via Storyful

Special Ops Team Rescues Patient from 17th Floor of High-Rise Building

The Guardian

A loyal dog who spent 10 years beside his late owner’s grave has inspired a new state law in São Paulo, Brazil, that allows pets to be buried alongside their humans.

The legislation, already nicknamed the Bob Coveiro (“the Gravedigger”) Law, was signed this week by São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas. It formally recognizes the deep emotional bond between people and their pets, and permits the burial of dogs and cats in family plots, provided the grave rights belong to the pet owner’s family.

Bob, the long-haired mixed-breed dog at the heart of the story, gained national affection for his steadfast loyalty. After his owner died in 2011, Bob refused to leave her grave in the Taboão da Serra cemetery, about 20 kilometers from São Paulo’s city center. Despite repeated attempts by relatives to bring him home, Bob always found his way back. Eventually, cemetery staff adopted him, building a kennel for him on site and caring for him for the rest of his life.

Beyond guarding the grave, Bob became something of a gentle mascot. Nicknamed “the Gravedigger,” he was known to follow funeral processions, often carrying a ball in his mouth, offering what many mourners saw as a small gesture of comfort in times of grief.

In 2021, Bob was fatally hit by a motorcycle after leaving the cemetery grounds. There was no legal provision for animals to be buried in human graves at the time, but the city council made an exception. Bob was laid to rest next to his former owner.

Public reaction was overwhelming. The local NGO Patre, which works with stray animals, led a successful crowdfunding campaign to install a statue of Bob in the cemetery. The plaque beneath it reads: “Our tribute and gratitude for your lessons in love and loyalty. In the face of grief, [Bob] taught us to ‘offer little balls’ and attention when others need it most.”

The new law’s co-author, conservative state deputy Eduardo Nóbrega, wrote online: “Anyone who has lost a pet knows: it’s not just an animal. It’s family.”

He added that the new rules offer a more affordable and meaningful option than cremation, which can be costly and often forces families to dispose of remains in undignified ways.

São Paulo is not the first state in Brazil to legalize pet burials in human cemeteries. Similar laws are already in place in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, and a federal bill is currently awaiting debate in Congress.

The issue hasn’t been without resistance. In Paraná’s city of Apucarana, councillors initially opposed the idea in 2024, calling it inappropriate for “sacred ground.” But after public debate, the proposal passed.

For supporters, the Bob Coveiro Law is about more than burial rights — it’s a tribute to the bond that defies words, and sometimes, even death.

This Dog Who Guarded His Owner’s Grave for a Decade Just Inspired a New Burial Law in Brazil

Talker News

Whipsnade Zoo is celebrating a colourful new arrival: a rare François’ langur baby born on February 1 — and he’s turning heads with his vibrant orange fur.

The endangered monkey, born to 10-year-old mom Nguyen and 9-year-old dad Wang, is part of an international conservation breeding program aimed at saving the species, which numbers fewer than 2,000 in the wild.

Unlike the sleek black coats of adult langurs, infants are born a vivid orange — a striking contrast that serves a purpose. “It’s an evolutionary quirk thought to allow parents to easily spot their youngsters when they’re being cared for by other members of the troop,” said a zoo spokesperson.

Amanda Robinson, Whipsnade’s section manager of primates, said the first clue came not from staff but a curious visitor. “We knew Nguyen was expecting, but when we completed our morning rounds on Sunday, she hadn't given birth yet,” Robinson explained. “Only an hour later, when a visitor began asking us questions about an ‘orange monkey,’ we knew that could only mean one thing!”

The baby’s birth is more than just adorable — it’s significant. Native to China and northern Vietnam, François’ langurs are threatened by illegal hunting, particularly for their meat and use in traditional medicine. As a result, managing healthy zoo populations is seen as a vital safeguard against extinction.

“Sadly, it’s estimated that only 2,000 of these primates remain in the wild, so every birth is a ray of hope for the species,” Robinson said.

The newborn's vivid colour won’t last long — it will gradually darken to match the rest of the troop — so visitors are encouraged to stop by soon. “I’d definitely recommend coming to see him in his home at Monkey Forest whilst he's still tangerine,” said Robinson.

Bright Orange Baby Monkey Born at UK Zoo Offers Hope for Endangered Species

USA Today

Golden retrievers took center stage — and every street corner — in Golden, Colorado, on Saturday, as thousands of dogs and their humans gathered for the annual Goldens in Golden event.

The free celebration, held each February near International Golden Retriever Day (February 3), has become the world’s largest unofficial gathering of the famously friendly breed. This year’s turnout set a new record: 5,500 golden retrievers and more than 16,000 people descended on a city with a population of just over 20,000.

The morning kicked off with golden retrievers posing for group photos under the city’s iconic Welcome Arch — three separate times. Tumbleweeds of golden fur collected in the streets while crowds cheered on dogs in a fashion show, and voters cast ballots in a “Golden Election” that crowned a golden retriever named Cash as the new Canine Mayor.

For Maddi Smith, who brought her golden Davis from Loveland, Colorado, the event is about more than photos. “I just feel in love with how kind they are, how cuddly. They’re just your best friend,” she said. “They’re born without mean bones.”

Some dogs hitched rides on their owner’s shoulders when the streets got crowded. Others played in a park designated for puppies or mingled in a “senior zone” for older dogs near a fire hydrant sign.

Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg said it’s “probably one of the happiest days in the city all year.”

“You see a lot of happy people and pets,” she said. “Golden retrievers are very friendly dogs. They also seem to have very friendly and community-minded owners that come out with them to the event.”

Fans came from 44 U.S. states and nine other countries, including Canada, Australia, France, and Argentina. What started in 2019 as a local winter event to boost foot traffic has grown into a major tourism draw.

“The first quarter has for a long time been one of the slowest times in Golden and for our small businesses,” Weinberg said. “Some of our businesses say that this day is their busiest day of the year.”

Hotels, restaurants, and vendors all saw a boost. At one bar, two golden retrievers sprawled across the floor in front of the bathroom, forcing patrons to pet them before passing — earning the nickname “the golden gate.”

This year’s event expanded to accommodate the surge: pet-friendly shuttles ran from remote parking lots, vendor areas were spread throughout the city, and festivities stretched from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

First-timers Charla Cameron and Maria Loredo traveled from San Diego as a retirement gift for their 11-year-old golden, Monty, a former bed bug detection dog. “It’s amazing,” Cameron said. “It’s cool to see an event catered to dogs.”

Others, like Jonathan Carley from Thornton, Colorado, came to celebrate his birthday with his golden Bubba. “I couldn’t think of a better place to be,” he said.

Rescue groups were also well represented. Maeve and Miles, two goldens adopted from Colorado-based shelters, showed off matching flower garlands and wagged their way through the crowd.

Even some non-golden breeds tried to sneak in — two black Labradors came in disguise, wearing golden manes to blend in.

Ashley Bailey, who made the trip from Ogden, Utah, with her goldens Cinder and Lottie, summed up the event in four words: “This is so much fun.”

And in a town named Golden, for one day every year, it really does feel like goldens rule the world.

City of Golden Turns Into a Sea of Fur As 5,500 Golden Retrievers Take Over for Annual Celebration

GoodGoodGood

What if, instead of building a wall to keep people out, we knit a blanket to welcome them in?

That’s the question Los Angeles artist Jayna Zweiman posed back in 2017, when she launched the Welcome Blanket project in response to the Trump administration’s plans for a U.S.–Mexico border wall. Her idea was simple but bold: collect 2,000 miles worth of handmade blankets — the same length as the proposed wall — and give them to immigrants and refugees as a gesture of warmth, humanity, and belonging.

She hit her initial goal fast. Thousands of crafters sent in packages, helping her surpass 6,000 blankets in record time.

So she made the goal even bigger.

Now, Zweiman wants to gather enough blankets to encircle the globe — 24,901 miles in total. That would take an estimated 36,521 lap-sized blankets, each measuring 40 inches by 40 inches. So far, she’s received around 8,000.

“Taking part in Welcome Blanket is a tangible way to recognize and celebrate our global humanity,” Zweiman writes on the project’s website. “My hope is for Welcome Blanket to become a new American tradition and for every refugee family to receive this symbolic and practical gesture.”

Crafters can knit, crochet, sew, or quilt their blankets. Some are displayed in galleries before being sent to resettlement organizations, while others go directly to families. Each comes with a letter or message from the maker. Some are stitched into the fabric, like a square that reads, “you belong here,” or a hand-sewn tag that simply says, “welcome home.”

Zweiman is no stranger to crafting as activism. She also co-founded the Pussyhat Project, the sea of pink hats that became a symbol of protest during the Women’s Marches in early 2017. It’s one of the largest crowd-sourced art projects in history.

“[My] innovations in craftivism have been rooted in design strategies to make spaces and systems for people to connect through craft,” Zweiman explained.

Welcome Blanket takes that vision and expands it. In a time of polarized immigration debates and hard borders, this project asks something gentler: What would it look like to respond with care? To send a message — stitched, square by square — that says, you matter?

The blankets aren’t just practical. They’re powerful. And as long as there are people willing to pick up yarn and needles, this global gesture of welcome keeps growing.

Blankets Instead of Barriers: How This Artist Aims to Wrap the World in a Warm Welcome

Good News Network

On her 29th birthday, Shedly Appolon nearly lost everything — her life, and that of her unborn child. Instead, thanks to a quick-thinking stranger, she’s now holding her newborn daughter and calling her a miracle.

Appolon was driving along I-95 in Martin County, Florida, when she started feeling dizzy behind the wheel. Moments later, her car veered off the highway and plunged into a nearby pond.

Confused and scared, she called her fiancé and told him she was “in the water” before the phone went dead. Meanwhile, her car was tilting forward, water rising through the footwells and the doors sealed shut.

“I tried to open my driver’s side door and my passenger door, but they were both submerged in water, so I couldn’t get out,” Appolon told WPBF. “I started feeling water on my feet. So, I started to panic a little.”

As the car filled with water, Logan Hayes — a complete stranger — didn’t hesitate. Witnessing the scene unfold, he shed extra layers of clothing, sprinted to the edge, and dove in.

He reached the car just in time.

“When he swung that door open, I was like, you are an angel,” Appolon said.

Experts say opening a car door once it’s submerged is nearly impossible. The water pressure makes it far too difficult unless you act quickly before the car goes under, or you break the glass. Even that requires tools and composure most people don’t have in a moment of panic. Hayes managed to beat the water, unlocking the back door just before it was too late.

Emergency responders rushed Appolon to the hospital, where doctors decided to perform an emergency C-section due to the trauma and stress. Her baby, Ivory, was born seven weeks early, weighing just under 1.8 kilograms.

Her fiancé, who had rushed to the hospital after that panicked phone call, arrived shortly after the delivery. Ivory, now safe in her parents’ arms, is being called a “miracle baby” by Appolon — a fitting title after the events of that day.

Hayes said he doesn’t feel like a hero. “I was just happy to be at the right place at the right time,” he told local media.

Right place, right time — and just in time.

Heroic Bystander Saves 8-Month Pregnant Woman from Sinking Vehicle – She Gave Birth Hours Later

BBC News

It took more than three decades, but Bee Costello-Bates finally walked across the stage to receive her university degree.

Costello-Bates, who lives in Hereford and now works as a journalist, completed her Bachelor of Arts in Politics at the University of Bristol back in 1993. But at the time, she skipped graduation—her father had just received a devastating diagnosis, and the moment never felt right.

"Not attending my graduation ceremony was always at the back of my mind, and it was something I regretted not doing, especially after seeing my nieces and nephews graduate and enjoy the experience so much," she told BBC News.

On Wednesday, that regret was put to rest. With her 11-year-old daughter and husband cheering her on, Costello-Bates finally donned a cap and gown at the Wills Memorial Building, officially collecting her degree.

The moment came full circle in more ways than one. After years in journalism and public relations, Costello-Bates reconnected with her alma mater through the Bristol Mentors scheme, a programme that pairs current students with alumni mentors. Her involvement led to mentoring students like Holly Smithurst, a history and Spanish graduate who was interested in journalism.

Smithurst described Costello-Bates as “a real inspiration.”

"Bee went above and beyond to support me. Her advice and knowledge were absolutely amazing, and she went through all the options available to me," she said. "It's great that she's graduating, and I hope she has a wonderful day."

Costello-Bates said mentoring has become "one of the most fulfilling experiences" of her career.

Imogene Halsey-Dudley, the university’s head of alumni engagement, said the school is grateful for her ongoing support.

“These students are from underrepresented groups and often face wider challenges than their peers, and the help given by mentors like Bee is invaluable,” she said.

From missing her own milestone to helping others reach theirs, Costello-Bates’ return to Bristol wasn’t just about a diploma—it was a moment of joy, reflection, and giving back.

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