The Best Good News Stories You Missed This Week

From scientific breakthroughs to quiet acts of kindness, this week brought a flood of good news worth celebrating. Here are some of the highlights: Hollywood legend Jane Fonda has revived a piece of American history. Nearly 80 years after her father, Henry Fonda, and stars like Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland created the Committee for the First Amendment to defend free speech during the McCarthy era, Fonda relaunched it “in the most frightening moment of my life.” More than 550 actors, musicians, and filmmakers — including Viola Davis, Natalie Portman, John Legend, and Pedro Pascal — have already joined. A spokesperson said the move was inspired by “the onslaught of attacks on free speech from the current administration,” calling the effort a united stand against censorship and intimidation. As the group put it, “The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be.” In Florida, scientists are turning to nature to fight climate change. Researchers from the University of Miami have planted hybrid “Flonduran” corals — bred from Florida, Honduran, and Cayman Islands species — to help reefs survive rising ocean temperatures. It’s the first time such corals have been planted in U.S. waters. More than 90 percent of the coral off the Florida Keys has died in recent years, and rebuilding reefs is essential not just for marine life, but for protecting coastlines from hurricanes and storm surges. Spain also offered a model for sustainability. Thanks to a rapid expansion of wind and solar power, the country’s wholesale electricity prices were 32 percent below the EU average in the first half of the year. In 2019, fossil fuels set Spain’s electricity price 75 percent of the time; now, it’s just 19 percent. Globally, solar and wind energy together grew by 400 terawatt-hours in the first half of the year — more than the world’s entire increase in power demand. For the first time, renewables generated more electricity than coal, proof that fossil fuels can indeed be replaced while demand keeps rising. Good news also came from health and fashion. In New York, a new law will make “scalp cooling” treatments — which help chemotherapy patients keep their hair — mandatory for private insurance plans to cover. The therapy costs thousands of dollars out of pocket, and advocates say the change will help cancer patients hold on to “some sort of normalcy” during treatment. At the same time, Vogue publisher Condé Nast announced that none of its magazines — including The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and GQ — will feature new animal fur in editorial or advertising content. The policy, years in the making, follows pressure from animal rights groups and mirrors earlier moves by Elle and several European countries that banned fur farming. On the environmental front, a group of 50 volunteers in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest spent a day restoring 35 miles of trails destroyed by Hurricane Helene. Their work, supported by a $60,000 grant, reopened vital sections of the forest while relieving an understaffed ranger service. In science and medicine, promising news emerged from multiple fronts. The Wolbachia method — which introduces harmless bacteria into mosquitoes to prevent them from spreading dengue — cut infections by 77 percent in Indonesian trials. Doctors in the U.K. also reported the first successful treatment for Huntington’s disease, slowing progression by 75 percent and giving patients “decades of good-quality life.” Meanwhile, engineers in Switzerland created solar-powered furnaces to recycle high-quality steel, and researchers in Arizona built a solar drying tower that can process four tons of food waste at a time while producing clean drinking water. Elsewhere, communities continued to show up for one another. When U.S. immigration authorities ordered Vermont resident Juan De La Cruz to an ICE check-in, 200 friends and neighbors arrived to support him. He was allowed to stay while his asylum case proceeds. And in Fort Collins, Colorado, construction began on a $23 million “homeless resolution center” designed to help residents permanently transition out of homelessness. Even the natural world got a few wins. A world-first vaccine is being rolled out to save young elephants from a deadly virus. In Australia, recovering seagrass beds are helping sea turtles bounce back from soft-shell syndrome. And in Kenya, villagers successfully stopped a multinational mining project that threatened their sacred caves. From solar furnaces to coral restoration and compassionate communities, the week proved that progress — in science, policy, and humanity — is alive and well.

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Six-Year-Old Girl Saves Harvard's Axolotl Research With a Heartfelt Donation

When Jessica Whited’s Harvard lab lost nearly all its government funding, the future of her groundbreaking axolotl research was suddenly in doubt. Her team at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute had been studying the salamander famous for its almost mythical ability to regrow limbs — a trait scientists hope could one day lead to breakthroughs in human limb regeneration. But months ago, federal funding cuts left the lab in a precarious position. Then came an unexpected lifeline — from a six-year-old in Springfield, Massachusetts. Marianne Cullen, a bright-eyed first-grader with a deep love for axolotls, learned about the lab’s work and decided she wasn’t going to sit idly by. “There’s more to them than just being cute,” she told CBS News. “They can grow back any limb… and there’s way other animals that need saving, but this one is my destiny to save.” Marianne took matters into her own hands. She created a PowerPoint presentation, launched a fundraiser, and raised $1,000 for Whited’s lab. Her parents, Kathleen and Robert Cullen, were floored — but not entirely surprised. “She said, ‘I want to raise money for axolotls,’” her dad recalled. “She took it kind of to the next level, honestly,” her mom added. For Whited and her team, it was more than a donation. It was a jolt of energy at a time when morale was low. “It definitely had a positive effect on everyone in the lab,” Whited said. “Everybody was just flabbergasted.” She wasn’t exaggerating. It wasn’t the amount that struck them — it was the source. “Sometimes you know who’s fighting for you in life, and sometimes you don’t,” Whited said. “And that’s always the time when you just pause and be like, ‘Wow.’” Since then, a federal court ruling reinstated the lab’s funding — though it’s still unclear whether that decision will hold. But whatever happens, Whited says Marianne’s gift will continue to motivate her team. Marianne, meanwhile, remains committed. When asked why she felt responsible for the axolotls, she replied simply: “Not a lot of people get how important it is to save this animal.” At six years old, she may be the youngest donor Harvard has ever had — but she just might be the one with the biggest heart.

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Community Raises $30K To Support Candy Vendor With Cerebral Palsy Working 6 Days A Week

For nearly ten years, Staten Island’s Andy has quietly become a local icon — not for what he sells, but for how he shows up. Six days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Andy pushes his candy cart up and down Hylan Boulevard, often in challenging weather, always with a smile. Living with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his motor skills, speech, and coordination, he still logs more than 50 hours a week, treating the sidewalk like a full-time job — and his customers like old friends. Now, the community that Andy has inspired is giving back. Jennifer Remauro, a Staten Island resident who says Andy reminds her of her late brother who also had cerebral palsy, launched a GoFundMe campaign to show Andy just how much he’s appreciated. “This isn’t charity,” she wrote. “It’s an investment in someone who is truly spectacular.” Remauro’s words struck a chord. Within days, the fundraiser surged past $30,000. Andy has been a fixture at the intersection of Narrows Road South and Hylan Boulevard for nearly a decade. His day starts at 5:30 a.m. — loading his cart, heading to his corner, and setting up for a full day of work. It hasn’t always been easy. He’s faced robberies, bitter winters, and a pandemic that temporarily wiped out his commuter base. But he never stopped showing up. What started as a man selling snacks became something more. Over the years, he’s built a quiet web of community — commuters who wave, kids who stop for candy, and neighbors who simply admire his resolve. Now, Remauro wants Andy to receive something he rarely takes: a break. She hopes the money will allow him to enjoy a small vacation, treat himself, or just rest knowing how many people are rooting for him. She plans to deliver every dollar and every message of encouragement to Andy personally before Christmas. “Your contribution is more than just money,” she wrote. “It’s a message of respect and appreciation that he will be able to read and cherish.” After years of pushing through with quiet determination, Andy’s getting pushed forward by something else: gratitude.

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Sonia Raman Makes History as First Indian American Head Coach in WNBA with Seattle Storm

Sonia Raman didn’t plan to become a professional basketball coach — let alone make history doing it. For years, she was deep in the world of corporate law, armed with a doctorate from Boston College and a steady job at Fidelity’s risk and compliance division. Coaching was just a side passion, something she fit in during evenings at Wellesley College or over the summers. But in 2008, she took what she calls a “calculated risk” — and walked away from law to pursue coaching full time. That leap has now landed her one of the top jobs in women’s basketball. On October 28, Raman, 51, was named head coach of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, becoming the first Indian American head coach in league history. “I actually really loved my day job at Fidelity,” she told CNBC, “but I think [my] passion was with coaching. Basketball just kept pulling me back in.” That pull started in college. Raman had walked onto the Division III team at Tufts University, but a major injury sidelined her junior year. Rather than tune out, she leaned in — breaking down game film, studying opponents, and offering her teammates notes. “My love of the game started to really evolve into the lens of a coach,” she said. After college, coaching remained in her life — sometimes youth teams, sometimes college squads — even as she pursued law school and climbed the corporate ladder. By day, she advised nonprofits on retirement plans. By night, she raced from the office to the gym, changing clothes in the car and diving into practice. For years, that dual life worked. But when MIT offered a unique opportunity — a head coach role paired with compliance responsibilities — Raman took the plunge. The pay cut was steep, but the impact, she said, was priceless. “I felt like I was betting on myself,” she said. “I also just felt like I was impacting people’s lives in a way that was much more fulfilling to me than anything I had done before.” She coached 12 seasons at MIT, earning two conference coach of the year titles, before making another bold move — joining the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies in 2020 as an assistant coach. From there, she moved to the WNBA’s New York Liberty before being tapped to lead the Storm this fall. Raman said leaving her legal career was the hardest decision she’s ever made — but one that challenged her to live by the same mindset she preaches to her players. “If I’m going to preach a growth mindset, if I’m going to preach getting better every day and embracing failure,” she said, “then I need to live that.”

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Italy Celebrates As 2,000 More Centenarians Join the Ranks

Italy is celebrating more centenarians than ever — but the country’s rapidly aging population is also raising alarms. According to new data from Istat, Italy's national statistics agency, more than 2,000 people turned 100 in 2025, bringing the total number of centenarians to 23,548. That’s up from 21,211 in 2024 and more than double the number reported in 2009. The overwhelming majority of those reaching the milestone — 82.6% — are women. That trend holds among older age brackets too: of Italy’s 724 semi-supercentenarians (aged 105 and up) and 19 supercentenarians (aged 110 and over), most are women. Among them is 114-year-old Lucia Laura Sangenito of Campania, who turns 115 later this month. She is currently the oldest person in Italy and the third oldest in Europe, behind Ethel Caterham in the UK and Marie-Rose Tessier in France. Italy’s oldest man, Vitantonio Lovallo, turned 111 this year. The boom in centenarians isn’t unique to Italy. Across the EU, the number of people aged 100 and over is expected to reach nearly 500,000 by 2050 — up from just under 100,000 in 2019. France, Italy, and Greece currently lead the EU in per capita centenarians. In the UK, the number has doubled over the past 20 years, from 8,300 in 2004 to 16,600 in 2024. In Italy, the regions with the highest concentration of centenarians relative to population include Molise, the Aosta Valley, and Liguria. Sardinia also stands out. In 2004, it was recognized as one of the world’s original “blue zones,” areas where people tend to live unusually long lives. The mountain town of Perdasdefogu in southeastern Sardinia holds two Guinness World Records related to longevity: one for the combined age of nine Melis siblings (818 years), and another for having the world’s highest density of centenarians — eight among a population of 1,778. While genetics, active lifestyles, and social bonds all play a role, many experts credit Italy’s Mediterranean diet as a key factor in longevity. Combined with a relatively strong healthcare system and close-knit communities, it has helped many Italians live well past 100 — and stay active doing it. Take Anna Possi, who turns 101 this month and still works as a barista in a lakeside town near Lake Maggiore. “I’ll keep going so long as my health permits,” she told The Guardian last year. Or Candida Uderzo, who had her driver’s license renewed at 100 in 2022. She’s one of at least four Italians to pass their driving test after turning 100, including Luciano Gulmini, who renewed his permit in 2024. But while the stories are inspiring, Italy’s demographic reality is stark: the country is aging fast, and not enough children are being born to balance it. In 2024, only 370,000 births were recorded — the lowest since Italy’s unification in 1861. That’s placing mounting pressure on pensions and the national healthcare system, even as centenarians become a growing — and celebrated — part of Italy’s social fabric.

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Hospital Crochets Octopuses To Comfort Premature Babies

At Cleveland Clinic Children’s NICU, some of the tiniest patients are getting a surprising new source of comfort — hand-crocheted octopuses. The soft, colorful toys aren’t just cute. Their coiled tentacles are designed to resemble umbilical cords, helping premature babies feel more secure during their hospital stay. The idea, which started in Denmark in 2013, has since made its way to hospitals around the world, and now, to Cleveland. Jaclyn Thaxton, a registered nurse at the Cleveland Clinic NICU, said the team took time to carefully review safety standards before introducing the crochet companions. “We found that not only are the crocheted animals safe, but their tentacles can help stabilize a baby’s vitals during painful procedures,” she said. The octopuses are made entirely by volunteers, who follow strict guidelines: they must use 100 percent cotton yarn, avoid any attachments or decorations, and wash the toys at high heat to ensure they’re safe for newborns. Once completed, each one is given a name — often by the baby’s family or siblings. “At each bedside, we have a naming card,” Jaclyn explained. “A lot of times our siblings aren’t able to be very involved with the care of their new sibling, so we encourage families to let them name the octopuses. If there aren’t siblings, it’s also something fun for the respiratory therapists, nurses, and caregivers to get together and name a baby’s octopus.” So far, more than 500 of the handmade toys have been crafted for babies in the unit. And for families navigating the stress and uncertainty of a NICU stay, it’s a small, joyful way to feel more connected — one tentacle at a time.

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Dog Finds Purpose And Wins 'Superdog' Award After Rejection From Five Homes

Once labeled “too much to handle,” a high-energy rescue dog is now helping crack down on wildlife crime across the UK — and earning global recognition for it. Henry, a 10-year-old Springer Spaniel, was rejected by five different homes before finding his footing — and his calling — with Louise Wilson, founder of Conservation K9 Consultancy. Today, he’s a certified wildlife detection dog working alongside the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). “He’s got so much energy and drive — once we gave him focus, he found his purpose,” Wilson told the BBC. That purpose? Putting his powerful nose to work. Henry can detect seven specific wildlife scents, including protected birds of prey and endangered hedgehogs. His ability to sniff out feathers, droppings, and nesting materials is now a vital part of police investigations into wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction. “If we don’t recover anything, the investigation grinds to a halt,” said Detective Inspector Mark Harrison of the NWCU. Henry’s work often provides the evidence needed to move forward. In October, his efforts earned him the title of Animal of the Year from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which honored him at its 25th Animal Action Awards in London. Dogs like Henry are part of a growing movement in conservation science, where highly trained detection dogs help researchers locate elusive species in the wild. Because they find biological traces instead of the animals themselves, the process is non-invasive and far less disruptive to delicate ecosystems. Their work isn’t just about data collection — it’s about keeping ecosystems intact. Illegal wildlife crime can have ripple effects, leading to population collapse, biodiversity loss, and even food insecurity. The United Nations has warned that climate change and habitat destruction are accelerating the decline of endangered species, making work like Henry’s even more urgent. Wilson is one of several trainers across the UK working to expand the use of detection dogs in conservation and anti-poaching efforts. Similar programs have seen dogs sniff out everything from invasive plant species to plastic pollution. “We need creative tools to meet today’s environmental challenges,” Wilson said. Henry is living proof of how a second chance can make a life-changing — and planet-saving — difference.

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Timothée Chalamet Earns Grammy Nomination For A Complete Unknown Bob Dylan Soundtrack

Timothée Chalamet can now add Grammy nominee to his growing list of accolades. The 29-year-old actor was officially nominated in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category for his work on A Complete Unknown, the 2024 biopic where he played a young Bob Dylan. The nominations were announced Friday, ahead of the 68th Grammy Awards, set for February 1, 2026, at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. Chalamet didn’t just portray the legendary singer-songwriter onscreen — he also sang Dylan’s songs himself, often recording vocals live during filming. His performance earned widespread acclaim, including an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe nod, and a Screen Actors Guild Award win. Directed by James Mangold, A Complete Unknown follows Dylan’s rise through the American folk scene in the 1960s. Alongside Chalamet, the film featured Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, with both actors also performing their own vocals for the soundtrack. Other nominees in the same soundtrack category include albums from F1® The Album, KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners, and Wicked. This isn’t Chalamet’s first musical venture. He sang as Willy Wonka in 2023’s Wonka and famously rapped as “Lil Timmy Tim” in a viral high school video. Earlier this year, he hosted Saturday Night Live, where he performed a Dylan-inspired medley of “Outlaw Blues,” “Three Angels,” and “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.” Chalamet also stars in the upcoming Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie and set for release on Christmas Day, and is set to return in Dune: Part Three, currently in development. This year’s top Grammy nominee is Kendrick Lamar with nine nods, followed by Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff with seven each. Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and Sabrina Carpenter earned six nominations apiece. For Chalamet, the Grammy nod marks a new chapter — and one more genre he’s managed to master.

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Rescue Team Saves Dog 7 Days After Car Crash Ejection

In an incredible tale of survival and luck, a dachshund named Chewie is back with his family after spending seven days alone in the Wyoming wilderness. The drama unfolded after a serious car accident sent him flying from the vehicle. Chewie's owner, Amanda Lohr, 33, was driving with her boyfriend from Kokomo, Indiana, to Portland, Oregon. Their journey took a devastating turn on Interstate 80 near Rawlins when a semi-truck collided with their 2005 Buick Century. The crash caused the car to roll multiple times before landing in a ditch. Lohr suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Her boyfriend sustained a neck fracture and required airlifting to Casper for more extensive care. Sadly, their cat Newt did not survive the crash. Initially, they believed Chewie had also perished after being thrown from the car. But just as Lohr began coming to terms with her losses, she received unexpected news: Chewie was alive. "I was really happy because I had been mourning for more than a week," Lohr shared with Cowboy State Daily. Her daughter cried tears of joy upon hearing that their beloved pet had survived. Chewie’s rescue story involves some good-hearted strangers who went out of their way to help. Kenny Coomes, a FedEx driver who first spotted Chewie along the highway, set up a live trap hoping to catch him safely but had no success initially. Days later, Scott and Kodi Allred were traveling through Wyoming to visit their son at the University of Northern Colorado when they saw Chewie running along the same road near Elk Mountain. They managed to catch him after pulling over and giving chase. With no tags on Chewie, the Allreds drove an hour to Laramie where staff at a Humane Society scanned his microchip and identified him as Lohr's dog. Coomes followed updates on Facebook and described the reunion as “a miracle.” "This is a miracle and I am so happy he was found," Lohr wrote in a Facebook update expressing her relief and gratitude. "That puppy is my best friend and I can’t wait to have him back with me." To ensure Chewie's safe return home, Coomes coordinated with another FedEx driver who volunteered to bring him back to Indiana. Reflecting on how everything came together perfectly for Chewie’s rescue and return, Coomes remarked that it felt like divine intervention played a role. The story of how this little dachshund defied all odds serves as both heartwarming news for animal lovers and testament to human kindness across stranger lines—showing how compassion can lead to extraordinary outcomes even in dire situations like these.

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Brave Boy Saves Kids From Burning ATV, Three Years After Rescuing Brother From Drowning

A 12-year-old boy from Oklahoma is being hailed as a hero after rescuing three children from a burning ATV just moments before it exploded. Roman Goodnight was driving his younger siblings and a family friend to their bus stop in Coweta, Oklahoma, on the morning of October 27 when their ATV suddenly caught fire, according to the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office. Despite recovering from a broken foot, Roman didn’t hesitate. “He began shouting for everyone to get out,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. One of the children — a 6-year-old family friend — was struggling to open the rear door. Roman immediately rushed to help her. “I had to crawl through it to the back, to open the door, open for her and to get her out,” Roman told CBS affiliate KOTV. “It was really hard to get her out because her bag was stuck on the thing.” After helping the younger kids out of the ATV, Roman told them to run. His brother and the family friend made it to a nearby barn, but his sister froze in place near the back of the vehicle, where the fuel tank and engine were located. That’s when Roman turned back toward the flames. According to officials, he ran to his sister and urged her to flee to a nearby house for safety. He didn’t leave the scene himself until all three children were clear of the ATV. Moments later, explosions erupted from the burning vehicle. “Roman’s quick thinking and selfless actions ensured that every child made it out safely before the ATV was fully engulfed,” the sheriff’s office said. “His bravery and composure under extreme pressure prevented what could have been a devastating tragedy.” Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott praised Roman’s courage, saying, “We are incredibly proud of him and thankful for the safe outcome of that morning. His actions will not be forgotten, and he stands as a true example of what it means to be a hero.” Authorities also noted that this wasn’t Roman’s first rescue. Three years earlier, when he was just 9, Roman saved his younger brother from drowning after the child fell into a pool at a family gathering. “Roman’s heroic instincts, calm under pressure, and unwavering concern for others’ safety are remarkable for someone his age,” the sheriff’s office said. Speaking with KOTV after the fire, Roman said it took a moment for everything to sink in. “I felt really, really proud of myself for getting everyone out and getting them to safety and inside the house,” he said. All four children escaped without injury. The ATV was destroyed. But thanks to Roman’s fast response, a terrifying morning ended without tragedy.

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Scientists Celebrate Stunning Recovery Of Endangered Creature, Urge Further Conservation Efforts

The green turtle is making a comeback. Once hunted to the brink of extinction for their meat, eggs, and shells, green turtles are now listed as a species of "least concern" — a major upgrade from their previous "endangered" status. The shift comes after decades of global conservation efforts. Countries around the world stepped in to protect turtle nesting sites, regulate hunting, and prevent turtles from being accidentally caught in fishing nets. The result? A 28 percent rise in green turtle numbers since the 1970s, according to Mongabay. “It underlines that marine conservation can work, there is hope, and we should rightly celebrate it,” Brendan Godley, a conservation scientist at the University of Exeter, told Mongabay. “Sharing some ocean optimism,” he added. Dr. Nicolas Pilcher from Malaysia's Marine Research Foundation told the BBC that this milestone should be seen as motivation to push even harder for species recovery. “We must use this win as a catalyst to achieve numerous other wins,” he said. Green turtles are among the few large plant-eating animals in the ocean, helping to maintain healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs. Their recovery doesn’t just benefit marine biodiversity; it helps entire ecosystems — and by extension, people — thrive. As climate anxiety and biodiversity loss dominate headlines, the resurgence of the green turtle is a reminder that conservation works. It's not just turtles either: the elusive vaquita porpoise has been spotted in Mexico’s Gulf of California, Partula snails have reappeared in French Polynesia, and even gray wolves are showing up in parts of California. More than 170,000 species have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature for its Red List of threatened species. While many are still in danger, experts say this latest development is a reason to keep going. And for anyone looking for a symbol of hope, you could do worse than Crush, the easygoing green turtle from Finding Nemo, riding the currents once again — this time, buoyed by science and human effort.

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