1

Did you know your dog may be listening to your voice even when it’s sleeping?

Dogs hold a remarkable knack for tuning into human emotions. Witnessing their ability to sense our moods and see how they react is astonishing. Whether it’s a nudge of their nose when we’re feeling down or their tail wagging excitedly to mirror our joy, their empathy and understanding go beyond mere animal instinct.

This deep-seated connection, honed over thousands of years of companionship, attests to the beautiful symbiosis and understanding that can happen between different species. Even though we’ve always known how close we can get to dogs, a new study shows that connection goes even further than we knew.

2

Bus driver sparks conversation with quiet passenger and the five words he said changed their lives

A Milwaukee bus driver noticed a familiar passenger while driving the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) public bus on October 13, 2018, five years ago.

Natalie Barnes had seen the rider named Richard before, but something was different this time. He was unusually quiet. During her break, he approached Barnes while she was alone. That’s when he uttered five words that would change their lives: “I am officially homeless now.”

3

Kind thrift store worker finds $5,000 in a donation bag, tracks down the owner to return it

Pick of the Litter is a thrift store that sells various second-hand items, including clothes, household items, art, jewelry and watches, books, records and musical instruments.

Oliver Jolis, Pick of the Litter’s owner, was organizing a bag of donated clothes when something unexpected happened. “Money just started falling out,” Jolis told CBS News. “It kept falling and falling. I was like, ‘This is a decent amount of money here.’”

4

What parents can do to prepare for if their teens express suicidal thoughts

A teen expressing suicidal thoughts can be terrifying as a parent. There’s not really a handbook for it and sometimes you’re not even the first to know. Teens are at a unique stage in their lives, stuck between adulthood and childhood. They’re trying to figure out their place in the world while navigating massive hormonal changes, more challenging work at school, social group pressures, and adults constantly asking what their future plans are.

When you add in the extra layer of sexual orientation outside of heterosexual norms, teens can feel immense pressure they’re not fully equipped to handle on their own. But because of their stage of development, secrecy is fairly common, even if you have a close relationship with your teens.

5

Drew Barrymore draws controversy after bringing her talk show back during industry strike

Drew Barrymore’s signature brand of empathy has come into question for the 11,000 members of the Writer’s Guild of America currently striking after she resumed production for her talk show.

Both the Writer’s Guild and the Screen Actor Guild, otherwise known as SAG-Aftra, have yet to reach fair negotiations with major studios and streaming companies like Disney and Netflix, and because of that, productions have come to a halt. And productions that continue to work while struck (with a few specific exceptions) are considering violating the strike rules, aka “crossing the line.”