Twenty years ago, YouTube’s first video went viral—captivity still pays the price   

NEW YORK, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Twenty years ago today, YouTube released its first-ever video: a now-iconic 19-second clip titled Me at the Zoo. In it, co-founder Jawed Karim stands in front of an elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo, casually commenting on what he finds “cool” about elephants. The video has since amassed more than 350 million views and become a milestone in internet history.

But as YouTube celebrates this anniversary, World Animal Protection is calling attention to the deeper—and darker—reality behind the video’s setting: the suffering of wild animals held in captivity.

To mark the moment, World Animal Protection partnered with Happiness Brussels Agency and Bine Studio AI studio to release the video Us Still at the Zoo, a haunting new video that follows the story of Sumithi, an Asian elephant, and elephants like her, blending archival footage with AI-generated visuals, the video draws a powerful contrast between 20 years of global progress and the unchanged, confined lives of captive elephants.

Cameron Harsh, Programs Director, World Animal Protection, US states:

“Elephants aren’t here to entertain audiences,” said Cameron Harsh, Programs Director at World Animal Protection U.S. “They’re intelligent, social, and dynamic individuals who deserve to roam free, not live confined in small spaces. Whether taken from the wild or born in captivity, elephants suffer deeply when denied a natural life. We can’t allow another 20 years of this cruelty.”

Sumithi died after 48 years in captivity. While it’s too late to free her, it’s not too late for others—including Joyce.

Joyce, an African elephant, was brought to the US from the wilds of Zimbabwe in the 1980s after hundreds of elephants were killed in the government’s elephant culling operation. Since arriving in the US alongside 62 other orphaned elephants, Joyce has suffered a traumatic history of performances, isolation, and stress, regularly passed around between zoos, circuses, and other captive attractions around the US. Joyce is currently living in captivity at a Six Flags amusement park in New Jersey.

World Animal Protection is actively campaigning for Six Flags to release Joyce and the four other elephants at the theme park to accredited sanctuaries and to shut down its elephant exhibit for good. Moving Joyce and the other elephants to reputable sanctuaries offers them the best opportunity to live out her remaining years in peace, surrounded by nature and free to roam.

Take action and help release Joyce

About World Animal Protection 

World Animal Protection is a global organization working to end animal exploitation. We expose cruel systems, promote animal-friendly alternatives, and influence policy change. For 75 years, we’ve been rewriting the story for animals.

Working across almost 50 countries with offices in 12, we are the only global animal advocacy organization with general consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and all its subsidiary bodies It enables us to engage with and influence global decision-makers. We prioritize animals in farming and wild animals exploited for use in entertainment, as pets, and in fashion.

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SOURCE World Animal Protection

Rio Rancho Public Schools’ high school students will receive college-level instruction from Central New Mexico Community College faculty in the new high school’s cutting-edge trades and technology labs.

RIO RANCHO, N.M., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, Rio Rancho Public Schools (RRPS) proudly hosted the grand opening of RioTECH, a state-of-the-art Career Technical Education (CTE) high school designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in skilled trades and technology. The new school is the result of years of planning, construction, renovation, and a strong partnership with Central New Mexico Community College (CNM).

RioTECH will serve up to 250 RRPS high school students, grades 10-12, offering a full slate of academic and career-focused instruction all on one campus. Unlike traditional CTE programs that often require travel, RioTECH students will complete all coursework at the new school, allowing for seamless integration of technical training and core academics.

The school features cutting-edge labs for welding, plumbing, carpentry, HVAC, and electrical trades, as well as several fully equipped information technology labs to support students pursuing careers in computer science, cybersecurity, digital media, and more. These learning environments are designed to simulate real-world workplaces, giving students hands-on experience with industry tools and technology.

Through a robust dual credit partnership with CNM, RioTECH students will also have the opportunity to take college-level CTE courses tuition-free. These classes lead to industry-recognized credentials, certificates, and even associate degrees—setting students on a path toward gainful employment or continued education right after graduation.

“The opening of RioTECH is a true game-changer—not just for our students, but for the future workforce of New Mexico,” said RRPS Superintendent Dr. V. Sue Cleveland. “This school reflects the district’s unwavering commitment to providing students with real-world skills, hands-on learning experiences, and clear pathways to high-demand careers right here in our own community. It’s about empowering our students to succeed while also strengthening the economic future of our region. This is education with purpose, and we couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities ahead.”

“On behalf of CNM, we’re excited to be partnering with Rio Rancho Public Schools to expand access to high-quality education and hands-on training in trades and technology fields that are essential for economic development,” said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. “Our collaboration provides students with college-level instruction from CNM faculty right in their high school environment. We can provide a powerful head start on launching successful careers — in the classroom and through work-based experiences, like internships – or through continued degree-attainment. On either path, they’ll be moving quickly toward life-changing careers while helping grow Rio Rancho’s economy.”

The vision for RioTECH has been years in the making. From architectural design to curriculum development, it has taken a dedicated team of educators, administrators, and community partners to bring this innovative concept to life.

“Watching this project come together has been inspiring,” said RioTECH Principal Dr. Kristopher Johnson. “We’re excited to welcome our first students and to be part of shaping a new model for high school education—one that’s rooted in relevance, hands-on learning, and real-world outcomes.”

Attendees of the grand opening were provided guided tours of the new school, giving industry partners, community members, and members of the media a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art facilities. 

RioTECH will be open to students for the 2025-2026 school year. For more information, visit https://www.rrps.net/o/riotech.

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SOURCE Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTM) (“ConnectM” or the “Company”), a high-growth technology company on the leading edge of the energy economy, today announced it received a notice (the “Letter”) from Nasdaq on April 17, 2025, notifying the Company that it is not in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) periodic reporting requirements for continued listing, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), because the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the “2024 10-K”), was not filed with the SEC by the required due date.

As previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 10, 2024, on September 4, 2024, the Company received a notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company’s listed securities failed to comply with the $50,000,000 market value of listed securities (“MVLS”) requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(A) (the “Rule”) based upon the Company’s MVLS for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the Notice. The Company was provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until March 3, 2025, in which to regain compliance.

As previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2025, on March 7, 2025, the Company received another notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company had not regained compliance with the Rule. Accordingly, its securities were subject to delisting unless the Company timely requested a hearing. The Company timely requested a hearing. The hearing request stayed any suspension or delisting action pending the completion of the hearings process.

With respect to the Letter, the Company has advised Nasdaq that it intends to file the 202410-K within the very near term and thus requires only a limited further extension of time for the filing of the 2024 10-K. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will ultimately regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing or that Nasdaq will grant the Company a further extension to regain compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing.

About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.

ConnectM is a constellation of companies powering next generation equipment, mobility and distributed energy—thus enabling a faster, smarter transition to a modern energy economy. The Company delivers an advanced, proprietary Energy Intelligence Network platform designed to empower residential and commercial service providers and original equipment manufacturers, to optimize energy efficiency, enhance operational performance, and support sustainable innovation. Leveraging technology, data, artificial intelligence, and behavioral economics, ConnectM aims to lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions globally.

For more information, please visit: https://www.connectm.com/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding our future financial performance and our strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this press release are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2024. Such filing identifies and addresses other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ConnectM is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact:
Investor Relations
Dave Gentry, CEO
RedChip Companies, Inc.
1-407-644-4256
CNTM@redchip.com

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SOURCE ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.