Locusts Can 'Sniff' Out Human Cancer

Researchers at Michigan State University are developing a new approach to early detection of cancer. They say they're "hacking" the locust brain to use it for disease diagnosis. The method is using the insect as a biological sensor to detect cancer cells. It's a frontier in science that experts say is practically unexplored. The team says locusts can "smell" the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells. This research could provide the basis for devices that use insect sensory neurons to enable early detection of cancer using only a patient's breath.

Read More

New Camera Traps Capture Surge In Sumatran Tiger Sightings

In a rare conservation success story, a population of critically endangered Sumatran tigers is not just surviving but thriving in one of the few remaining strongholds on the island of Sumatra — and it’s happening outside Indonesia’s national park system. Researchers working in the Leuser ecosystem, a vast and diverse forest region in Aceh province, have documented what appears to be one of the healthiest tiger populations on the island. Their findings, published in Frontiers in Conservation Science, highlight the power of long-term monitoring and local protection to safeguard the future of this elusive big cat. Using infrared-triggered camera traps set up over three survey periods between 2023 and 2024, the team captured 282 usable images of Sumatran tigers — nearly triple the number collected in earlier surveys. Stripe pattern analysis allowed researchers to identify 27 individual tigers, including 14 females, 12 males, and one unknown. “We documented a robust tiger population, apparently among the healthiest on the island,” said Dr. Joe Figel, a conservation biologist working with Indonesian wildlife and forestry agencies. “For those on the ground, the onus now falls on us to double down and adequately protect them.” The research focused on provincially protected forests in the northern stretches of Leuser, rather than the better-funded Gunung Leuser National Park. These areas receive fewer central government resources, yet they have proven crucial for tiger conservation. Key to the findings was a steady increase in monitoring effort: 34 cameras were deployed between March and May 2023, 59 between June and December 2023, and 74 between May and November 2024. This multi-year approach allowed researchers to gather data on survival rates, breeding activity, and tiger movements. “Multi-year camera trap monitoring is critically important for estimating key tiger demographic parameters such as survival, recruitment, tenure, and population growth rate,” said Figel. “With these data — and only with these data — can we even begin to evaluate conservation efforts.” The cameras not only confirmed the presence of adult tigers but also documented breeding success. Three different sets of cubs were photographed during one six-month session in 2023, and two tiger brothers captured together as cubs were later spotted separately as adults — a strong sign of survival and dispersal. The Leuser ecosystem itself is an ideal habitat. Spanning an area three times the size of Yellowstone National Park, it includes lowland, hill, and montane forests. About 44 percent of it remains classified as intact forest landscape. That, combined with relatively strong ranger patrols and community involvement, helps explain the area's ecological resilience. “Thanks to the work, activities, and support of government agencies, local Acehnese and Gayo communities, donors, and other researchers, Leuser has maintained important patches of lowland and hill forests where, in Sumatra, tiger prey densities reach their highest levels,” said Figel. Globally, tigers have lost between 90 and 95 percent of their historical range due to poaching, habitat loss, and depletion of prey. But the results from Leuser offer a rare glimmer of hope. Only three previous surveys in all of Sumatra — all in national parks — had ever identified more than 10 individual tigers in a single study. The current survey eclipsed that benchmark, despite being conducted outside a national park. It also sets a new baseline for future tiger monitoring and conservation strategies, including optimal camera spacing and survey timing. The team hopes their findings will help improve protocols and reinforce the case for supporting provincially managed conservation areas, not just those under national protection. For a species on the edge of extinction, that local focus may be its best shot.

Read More

This 101-Year-Old WWII Veteran was Just Honoured with a Surprise Medal Ceremony

Marie Warren didn’t expect a ceremony in her honour at 101 years old, but on Thursday, a room full of fellow veterans and community members made sure she knew her wartime service hadn’t been forgotten. Warren, a Second World War veteran who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) from 1942 to 1945, was recognized at the Waterford Retirement Residence in Barrie, Ontario. The event came together after local veterans learned that two of her military medals had gone missing. It all started during a Service of Remembrance held at the residence on November 4. Warren attended the event wearing her WAAF forage cap and told the group she would have worn the rest of her original uniform — which still fits — if only she could find her medals. That was all the spark the community needed. “A plan was spawned at that time to obtain a replacement set of medals for her,” said Bill Sergeant, president of the RCAF Association 441 Huronia Wing. Warren originally enlisted in Toronto at the age of 18 and was stationed in Ottawa during the war. For her service, she had received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal — both of which were replaced and presented during Thursday’s ceremony. Col. Wesley Cunningham of 16 Wing Borden did the honours, handing Warren her medals during what Sergeant described as a “very special” event. “The smile on our 101-year-old WAAF veteran, Marie Warren, says it all,” Sergeant said. “You made her day.” The WAAF played a vital role during the war, supporting the Royal Air Force in non-combat roles such as intelligence, communications, meteorology, and aircraft maintenance — positions that were essential to the military’s operations but often overlooked in postwar recognition. Warren’s story, and the community’s response, is a reminder that even decades later, acts of service deserve to be remembered — and celebrated.

Read More

These Teens Built a Lyme Disease Breakthrough Using CRISPR—and Took on the World

At a public high school outside Atlanta, a group of teenagers may have just edged closer to solving one of medicine’s most elusive problems: how to detect Lyme disease early, when it’s easiest to treat. Their primary tool? CRISPR, the revolutionary gene-editing technology that has reshaped biology labs across the world. And the team from Lambert High School wasn’t doing it for a grade—they were doing it to try and win iGEM, a global competition known as the Olympics of synthetic biology. To get there, they had to beat the odds. They weren’t just up against the limits of high school science—they were going up against some of the most well-funded and ambitious student teams in the world, including from China, where synthetic biology is now a national priority. In Lambert’s biotech lab, the work is nothing short of professional-grade. Senior Sean Lee guided 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker through a CRISPR test in progress, showing how the students amplify DNA samples to hunt down elusive signs of Lyme infection. His teammate, Avani Karthik, broke down the science behind their novel detection system. “When that guide RNA is recognized, the protein gets activated and it collaterally cleaves or cuts everything around it,” she said. Even Whitaker admitted it went right over his head. Their project tackled two major challenges in Lyme research: diagnosis and treatment. Lyme disease affects nearly half a million Americans each year, but testing during the first two weeks of infection often fails to detect it. Lambert’s solution zeroed in on a protein marker generated by the infection. With CRISPR, they isolated DNA strands where that protein hides and used a strip-based test—similar to a COVID or pregnancy test—to reveal its presence within days. That alone would be impressive. But the students didn’t stop there. They also developed software to model how CRISPR could be used to treat Lyme, replacing antibiotics with genetic targeting to destroy the bacteria that causes the disease. Their biotech teacher, Kate Sharer, called it “high risk, high reward” science—and admits she couldn’t keep up with the students. “They teach me. Are you kidding?” The students at Lambert have access to a college-level lab, thanks to funding from taxpayers and private donors. It’s one of Georgia’s top-performing public schools, with a competitive STEM culture to match its athletic one. About 100 students apply for 10 spots on the iGEM team each year, and selection is brutal. Applicants must write a research proposal, take an exam, go through an interview—and be willing to sacrifice evenings, weekends, and sleep. With just weeks before the competition, the team pulled all-nighters writing code, analyzing data, and building a website for the judges. They got results. Their test detected Lyme just two days after infection. And in simulations, their treatment approach showed early promise. “This thing could help save lives,” said senior Claire Lee. Then came the real test: presenting their work at the iGEM 2025 Grand Jamboree in Paris, where more than 400 student teams gathered from around the world, including 120 from Asia—and just 14 from U.S. high schools. For Avani, it was her third iGEM appearance. “Almost every single one” of the other projects blew her away, she said. High school students presented solutions to grow crops on Mars, develop eye-drop treatments for cataracts, and fight indoor mold with engineered enzymes. Lambert was competing against elite teams like Great Bay from Shenzhen, China, which eventually took the grand prize. But the American students still had reason to celebrate: they were nominated in five categories and took home the award for Best Software Tool—a huge accomplishment considering the scale and stakes. They also finished in the top 10 high school teams globally—the only American team to do so. The rest of the list was dominated by China, with one team each from South Korea and Taiwan. Drew Endy, a Stanford professor and one of iGEM’s original founders, said Lambert’s test for Lyme disease could be a legitimate breakthrough. “This year they appear to have developed a better diagnostic for Lyme disease than anything I’ve seen before,” he said. “It’s not only applicable to Lyme disease, but anything you could find in your blood.” That’s not just school science fair talk. With more development and real-world testing, their work could save lives. Back in Georgia, Janet Standeven—who founded Lambert’s iGEM program—has been trying to bring this kind of synthetic biology education to schools across the state. But after securing federal funding, the program was nearly derailed when the Trump administration cut it, citing diversity, equity, and inclusion concerns. A judge restored funding temporarily, but its future beyond 2026 remains uncertain. “I was devastated,” she said. “Anybody that's involved in this work at the high school level realizes this is necessary work.” If America wants to stay competitive in science and biotech, iGEM’s founders believe it starts with students like the ones at Lambert. “It’s urgent,” Endy said. “It’s profound.” For now, Lambert’s iGEM team is back home, exhausted but proud. “We thought our project was amazing,” said Avani. “But it’s what the judges think at the end of the day.” This time, the judges thought it was one of the best in the world.

Read More

Statue Unveiled in England Honours Woman Who Escaped Slavery and Found Freedom

A new statue in the northern English town of North Shields is honouring the extraordinary life of Mary Ann Macham, a woman who escaped slavery in the United States and made a new life for herself in Britain nearly two centuries ago. The bronze figure, created by local artist Keith Barrett, now stands at the top of the Riverside Embankment Walkway overlooking the sea — not far from where Macham once lived after arriving in North Shields in the 1830s. She died there in 1893 at the age of 91. Macham’s story is one of remarkable survival. Born into slavery in Middlesex County, Virginia, in May 1802, she was the daughter of an enslaved woman and the grandson of a white estate owner. After the death of her aunt, who raised her, she was sold by a relative at age 12 and sent to a farm where she lived under brutal conditions alongside 200 other enslaved people. For 17 years she endured regular whippings and torture. One night, she pried her way out of a locked room and fled, hiding for weeks in the woods while slave hunters and dogs searched for her. She was eventually helped by a network that aided enslaved people in escaping — first smuggled aboard a ship to the Netherlands, and then on to Britain via Grimsby, Hull, and York, before arriving in North Shields. There, she was taken in by the Quaker Spence family, who wrote down her account of the escape. She went on to marry a local man and live out the rest of her life in the town. Her story had largely faded from public memory until it was rediscovered by chance. Teacher Steph Towns and her grandmother came across Mary Ann while researching Britain’s ties to slavery. “I saw a picture of Mary Ann and, well, that really led us down quite a bit of a trail,” said Towns. A social media post about their findings caught the attention of Nina Brown, a trustee at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre in North Shields. "The story was so amazing I just thought we've got to share this more widely," Brown said. "She was just such a remarkable and brave woman." That led to a broader public awareness campaign, including an exhibition at the centre focused on Macham’s life, and a headstone placed on her previously unmarked grave in Preston Cemetery. North Tyneside Council later commissioned the statue to commemorate her resilience and legacy. Sculptor Keith Barrett said he wanted the statue to reflect both “a place of great pain” and a message of “human liberation, of breaking the chains.” He added, “I feel that this is something universal that many people will understand.” The unveiling has drawn praise from local residents and advocates for inclusive history education. Among them is Deborah, a Newcastle student who two years ago petitioned the UK government to include more Black British history in the national curriculum. She had been surprised to learn there were Black individuals living in the UK centuries ago because, she said, “we never ever talk about it.” She called the new statue “a step in the right direction,” saying it can help people better understand why cities like Newcastle look the way they do today. “The fact that it is in a public place where anyone can come and see it… I think that’s important.” For a woman who once hid in the woods to escape bondage, the public tribute in the centre of the town she called home is a powerful full-circle moment.

Read More

Couple Gets Married in Cardiff with Help from Reddit Strangers

Most couples agonize over wedding guest lists. Harmony Elmy and Seán Mauremootoo skipped the stress entirely—and invited strangers from Reddit instead. The couple, both in their early 30s and based in Norwich, decided to elope to Cardiff, a city they’ve loved since their time living in Worcester. With no interest in planning a traditional wedding, they opted for something simple and meaningful, choosing to be witnessed by two people they’d never met before. Under UK law, two witnesses are required for a legal marriage. So Seán posted on Reddit a few months before their wedding date, August 1, looking for volunteers. He didn’t expect much, but the response was “overwhelming.” Ruairi and his friend Sam answered the call. Seán said they felt like a natural fit from the start: “They were so accommodating, asking thoughtful questions—like what they should wear. I told them, ‘As long as you're not in a wedding dress, you're fine.’” The ceremony was held at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. Their first dance took place in a nearby park to Waterloo Sunset, as passersby congratulated them and took photos. A concert by Faithless happening nearby added an unexpected dose of energy and attention. “It felt very glamorous for what we thought would be a low-key affair,” said Seán. After the ceremony, the newlyweds celebrated in their own style: fish and chips on Penarth Pier, a carousel ride, and a Mr Whippy ice cream in Cardiff Bay. They also stopped for an escape room challenge, where staff surprised Harmony with a bouquet of flowers. Dinner followed at CasaNova, where another couple—Rob and Ruth—quietly paid their bill. The strangers shared that they had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. “That gesture was incredibly touching,” said Seán. The pair first met while studying at Queen Mary University of London, living in the same halls and taking the same course. Their relationship grew naturally, Seán said, from friendship to dating, to moving in together—even doing long distance at one point. When it came time to propose, Seán created a homemade escape room—one of their shared hobbies. They knew a traditional wedding wouldn’t suit them, and their families were supportive of the plan. Their parents tuned in via video call to watch the ceremony. But it was the people of Cardiff who made the day unforgettable. “Cardiff has always meant a lot to us but this made it even more meaningful,” said Seán. “The love and kindness from strangers made the day even more special.” Instead of a traditional wedding cake, they shared a Welsh cake. And despite planning everything to be low-key, they say they wouldn’t change a thing. “It was a really lovely day with perfect weather,” said Seán. “We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Read More

Noninvasive Imaging May Replace Finger Pricks for People With Diabetes

A team at MIT has developed a noninvasive blood glucose monitor that could spare millions of people with diabetes from having to prick their fingers multiple times a day. The device, which uses a technique called Raman spectroscopy, analyzes how near-infrared light scatters off molecules in the skin to measure blood glucose levels—without needing to break the skin or insert anything under it. In a recent study published in Analytical Chemistry, the MIT researchers reported that their shoebox-sized device provided glucose readings comparable to commercial continuous glucose monitors, which require a small wire to be implanted just under the skin. Since then, they’ve built a wearable version and are now testing it in a small clinical study. “For a long time, the finger stick has been the standard method for measuring blood sugar, but nobody wants to prick their finger every day, multiple times a day,” said Jeon Woong Kang, a senior research scientist at MIT and the study’s senior author. “If we can make a noninvasive glucose monitor with high accuracy, then almost everyone with diabetes will benefit from this new technology.” Most diabetes patients still rely on blood draws or under-the-skin sensors to monitor glucose levels. Those who use continuous monitors must replace the sensor every 10 to 15 days, and many experience skin irritation. The MIT team hopes its work can lead to a more comfortable, reliable option that’s easier to use. The underlying technology isn’t new, but until recently it hadn’t worked well for glucose tracking. Raman spectroscopy can reveal the chemical makeup of tissues by observing how light scatters after hitting different molecules. But in the case of glucose, the signal is faint and easily drowned out by other molecules in the skin. In 2010, researchers at MIT’s Laser Biomedical Research Center showed they could estimate glucose levels by comparing Raman signals from interstitial fluid with a reference blood glucose measurement. That method was accurate but clunky. Now, the team has found a way to directly measure glucose by adjusting the angle of the incoming and outgoing light, filtering out background noise and capturing a cleaner signal. The latest study involved a small prototype device used in tests with a healthy volunteer at the MIT Center for Clinical Translation Research. The subject rested their arm on a window of the device while a near-infrared beam passed through the skin. The process took about 30 seconds per reading, with measurements taken every five minutes over a four-hour period. To simulate a glucose spike, the subject consumed two 75-gram glucose drinks. The device’s readings tracked the changes in blood sugar in line with two commercially available monitors, suggesting similar levels of accuracy. One of the major innovations in the new model is that it no longer requires a full Raman spectrum, which typically includes about 1,000 bands. Instead, it focuses on just three key bands—one corresponding to glucose and two for background—which dramatically reduces the complexity and cost of the device. “By refraining from acquiring the whole spectrum, which has a lot of redundant information, we go down to three bands selected from about 1,000,” said Arianna Bresci, the study’s lead author and an MIT postdoc. “With this new approach, we can change the components commonly used in Raman-based devices, and save space, time, and cost.” That reduction in complexity has allowed the team to shrink the hardware significantly. The next-generation prototype is about the size of a cellphone, and a version the size of a watch is currently in development. The device is now being tested in healthy and prediabetic volunteers, with plans for a larger clinical study next year that will include patients with diabetes in collaboration with a local hospital. The team is also working to ensure accuracy across a variety of skin tones, a known challenge in optical-based health monitoring devices. The research is backed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Korean Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs, and South Korea–based biotech company Apollon Inc., whose researchers also contributed to the study. If successful, the technology could represent a major leap in diabetes care—turning what is now a painful and often inconvenient process into something as simple as shining a light.

Read More

Mexican Government Raises Minimum Wage And Proposes Shorter Work Week

Mexico is hiking its minimum wage and taking steps to shorten one of the world’s longest workweeks, a dual effort by President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration to tackle inequality and improve quality of life for workers. Starting in January, the minimum wage will rise 13 percent to 315.04 pesos per day, or about $17.27, Labor Minister Marath Bolaños announced Wednesday. For workers in northern border zones, where wages are typically higher, the daily rate will jump to 440.87 pesos. It’s the latest in a string of wage increases supported by Mexico’s leftist government. President Sheinbaum said the 2026 raise will mark a total increase of 154 percent in minimum salaries since 2018. At her morning press conference, Sheinbaum said the decision was reached through consensus with business leaders, the finance ministry, and the central bank. “For years it was said that the minimum wage couldn't go up, that it would cause inflation, that there would no longer be investment in the country, foreign investment — and we are at a record level of foreign investment,” she said. Sheinbaum, who took office in 2024, has continued the wage policies of her predecessor and political mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Both leaders have argued that minimum wage hikes have helped reduce poverty in Latin America’s second-largest economy. The wage announcement comes amid signs of economic strain. Mexico’s economy contracted 0.3 percent in the third quarter, the first year-on-year decline since 2021. Sluggish industrial output and ongoing uncertainty over the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have weighed on growth, as have volatile trade policies out of Washington. Still, the government is pushing ahead with a broader labor reform agenda. On Wednesday, officials said they would introduce a bill to gradually reduce the legal workweek from 48 hours to 40 by 2030. Under the proposed plan, the limit would drop by two hours each year starting in 2027. That would bring Mexico closer in line with international norms. According to OECD data, the average Mexican worker logged 2,193 hours in 2024 — more than any other country in the organization. Trimming the workweek was one of Sheinbaum’s signature promises during the 2024 campaign, but the proposal has faced resistance from business groups worried about higher labor costs. By sequencing the reduction over several years, the administration hopes to win broader support. Whether the plan passes Congress remains to be seen, but Sheinbaum appears committed to rebalancing the scales for Mexican workers — even as economic headwinds continue to build.

Read More

Dressed-Up Dogs Impress Judges In Festive Parade

More than 600 people — and plenty of pups — gathered in festive spirit on Sunday for the annual Christmas Dog Parade at The Valley in Evesham, where holiday costumes stole the show. Dogs in antlers, elves, baubles and sleighs marched alongside their owners as the popular event marked what many locals see as the unofficial start of Christmas. Organisers handed out medals to every four-legged participant, but the biggest cheers were reserved for the event’s overall winners: a group dressed as the Polar Express, complete with a Father Christmas and a handmade wagon. “We were blown away by the outfits,” said Phil Maclean, retail director at The Valley. “People have been planning and making their outfits for months.” Maclean said this year’s parade benefited from dry weather and continued to grow in popularity. “It’s a highlight for us at The Valley,” he said. “A wonderful way to bring our community together and celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives.” The parade has built a loyal following over the years, with returning families often going above and beyond in the costume department. Maclean recalled a standout entry from 2023: “One family went Aladdin-themed and even had a magic carpet.” While every entry is welcome, Maclean admitted he has a soft spot for group efforts. “My personal favourite is always when dogs are part of families that go all in.” The Valley, located near Stratford Road in Evesham, promotes itself as one of the most dog-friendly destinations around, with nearby countryside walks and a free dog agility course available in warmer months. The holiday celebrations won’t end with the parade. Other events on offer this season include a festive trail featuring hand-built brick penguins and a winter solstice sunrise walk on December 21. Both are free to attend. For many locals, it’s not just about the costumes or the prizes. It’s about community, creativity, and kicking off the holiday season with wagging tails and cheerful crowds.

Read More

Indonesia Celebrates First Locally Born Giant Panda Cub, a Symbol of Cross-Border Conservation

Indonesia just welcomed a new kind of citizen — and he’s got fur, tiny paws, and a growing global fanbase. Taman Safari Indonesia, a zoo and conservation center in West Java, has announced the birth of the country’s first locally born giant panda cub. The baby male, named Satrio Wiratama — or Rio, for short — was born on November 27 to 15-year-old mother Hu Chun, and is already showing strong signs of good health. In a statement released Sunday, the zoo called the birth “the result of a long-term international cooperation program that has been ongoing for a decade,” highlighting a conservation partnership with China that brought Hu Chun and her mate, Cai Tao, to Indonesia in 2017. “The name symbolizes the hope, resilience, and shared commitment of Indonesia and China in protecting endangered species,” the zoo said. Rio is currently being kept under round-the-clock supervision in an incubator at the zoo’s panda facility in Cisarua, about 70 kilometers from Jakarta. According to officials, the cub is nursing well, gaining weight, and already vocalizing — all strong indicators of early health. Over the next month or two, Rio is expected to develop more motor control, begin growing fur, open his eyes, and start regulating his body temperature — all crucial steps for newborn pandas, who are born nearly hairless and weigh just a few ounces. At this stage, the public won't be able to view him. “Taman Safari Indonesia will continue to prioritize the health and welfare of the mother and her baby, and invites the public to join in praying for the baby panda's development so that it remains healthy and safe in the early stages of its life,” the statement read. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto formally announced the baby’s name on Thursday during a meeting with Wang Huning, a top Chinese political advisor. The moment also served as a gesture of goodwill, underscoring China’s ongoing “panda diplomacy” — a decades-old practice of loaning giant pandas to zoos around the world as symbols of cooperation and cultural ties. The pair of adult pandas living in Indonesia, Hu Chun and Cai Tao, reside in what the zoo has described as a “palace-like” habitat built specifically for them at Taman Safari. Since their arrival eight years ago, staff have worked closely with Chinese counterparts to monitor their health and encourage breeding — no small feat, given how notoriously difficult pandas are to breed in captivity. There are fewer than 1,900 giant pandas living in the wild, mostly in the mountainous forests of China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Conservation efforts ramped up in the early 2000s amid concerns over habitat destruction and shrinking populations. These efforts, including improved breeding programs and expanded reserves, led to giant pandas being reclassified from “endangered” to “vulnerable” by Chinese authorities in 2021. “The living conditions of China's rare and endangered species have seen notable improvements amid the country's active efforts on biodiversity protection and ecological restoration,” China’s State Council Information Office said at the time. Keeping baby pandas alive has been a central challenge for researchers and zookeepers alike. Newborns arrive pink, blind, and helpless. For weeks, they rely entirely on their mothers — and their caretakers — for survival. As 60 Minutes reported in 2020, raising a panda cub requires intense, hands-on care and meticulous planning, especially in the first few months. That’s why the birth of Rio isn’t just an exciting milestone for Indonesia — it’s a moment of celebration for panda conservationists around the world.

Read More

Amber Renae Brings Joy to HomeGoods Shoppers With Her Unique Closing Announcements

Amber Renae isn’t trying to go viral. She’s just doing what she’s always done—bringing energy and joy wherever she goes. The 38-year-old actress and mother of two moved from Dallas, Texas to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in August 2025. It was a big family shift that meant saying goodbye to her beloved job teaching middle school theater. Between filming self-tapes and auditioning for new roles, Renae realized she needed something more than just waiting for callbacks. She needed something that was hers—something upbeat, consistent, and filled with people. So she applied at HomeGoods. It wasn’t about making ends meet. It was about staying grounded while navigating the uncertainty of a new chapter. “When I thought about where I’d actually enjoy spending my time, especially during the holidays, there was only one store that made perfect sense,” she told PEOPLE. Renae picked up shifts on weekends, usually working evenings. But she didn’t stop being a performer just because she was wearing a name tag. She turned the store’s closing announcements—those typically robotic reminders about the time—into theatrical mini-performances. Sometimes she’d sing them. One holiday-themed remix of “Jingle Bells” racked up more than 500,000 views on social media. Her coworkers took notice. So did the customers. “Some would say ‘it’s just a small-time job,’ but I think you should have pride in every single thing you do,” Renae said. “That’s my style.” Each night, HomeGoods makes several announcements leading up to closing: 30 minutes before, then 15, then five, and finally the last one telling customers the store is shut. That last one is where Renae shines. “I usually do the special singing one once we reach the very last announcement,” she said. “The customers that are there by that last one have always loved it, just like social media does. They cheer and leave with huge smiles on their faces.” At a time when customers and workers alike often feel rushed or disconnected, Renae has managed to turn the end of the shopping day into a shared moment of delight. Her coworkers now look forward to hearing what she’ll come up with next. Some even pitch in with holiday-themed ideas. It’s become a small but meaningful team tradition. “No matter what job I’ve ever had, in between shows or contracts, I always perform,” she said. “Teaching middle or high school theatre? Perform for my students. Property manager for student housing? Perform for my staff. Working as a cashier at HomeGoods? You better believe I’m gonna find a way to perform.” Her attitude reflects something deeper than just showmanship. For Renae, performance is a form of connection—a way to meet people where they are, even if it’s just for a moment. “This country can be so divided sometimes. I want to bring people together. I want to give them a different experience while shopping,” she said. “Maybe when they go home, something I said to them will stick or make them be kind to the next person.” Being upbeat isn’t always easy. She’s honest about that. “I’m tired all the time,” she admits. But she doesn’t let it stop her. “Life is short, and you shouldn't waste any day or any situation,” she said. “You never know when something could change your life for the better.” Her message is simple: show up fully, even in the small things. Whether it’s behind a cashier’s counter or in front of a classroom, Renae treats every moment as a stage. “My goal, at the end of the day, is to always be a light and shine bright,” she said. And for shoppers at her local HomeGoods—she is.

Read More