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What Went Right: A Roundup of This Week's Best News
Tired of seeing negative headlines dominate your news this week? We've got just the cure. Good news is all around us, and we believe it's just as important as any other headline. Some of the most positive stories this week include one of Europe's last wild rivers becoming the continent's first wild river national park, and new studies about the types of food that can prevent Alzheimer's. And that's not it - a new proposal in London aims to turn part of a car-park into a vertical farm!
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Robert Redford Remembered as an Actor and Environmentalist as Hollywood Tributes Roll In
obert Redford, the iconic actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, passed away Tuesday morning at 89 after a career that transformed both Hollywood and independent cinema. Stephen King was among the first to respond, calling Redford “part of a new and exciting Hollywood in the ’70s and ’80s.” Critic Richard Roeper praised Redford’s body of work in a sweeping list: “A classic 1960s rom-com. An all-time great Western. A legendary caper film. An enduring survivalist tale. A spy thriller for the ages. THE greatest journalism film. A brilliant political satire. A glorious baseball fable. What a library. What a legacy. RIP Robert Redford.” Robert Redford’s legacy was not confined to Hollywood. He was also a lifelong environmental activist, using his platform to advocate for conservation and climate action. He supported renewable energy initiatives, fought against oil drilling in sensitive areas, and worked closely with organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council. Through Sundance, he also highlighted films that tackled urgent ecological issues, making environmental advocacy as much a part of his public identity as acting and directing. Ron Howard remembered him as “a tremendously influential cultural figure for the creative choices made as an actor/producer/director & for launching the Sundance Film Festival which supercharged America’s Independent Film movement. Artistic Gamechanger.” Redford’s influence reached far beyond his own films. As founder of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, he gave independent filmmakers a global stage. Actress Marlee Matlin credited that legacy directly: “Our film, ‘CODA,’ came to the attention of everyone because of Sundance. And Sundance happened because of Robert Redford. A genius has passed. RIP Robert.” Redford’s career was lined with accolades. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1980 for his debut “Ordinary People,” and was nominated for Best Actor for “The Sting.” He later earned directing and producing nominations for “Quiz Show” and received an Honorary Oscar in 2002. His awards shelf also included a BAFTA, three Golden Globes, a SAG Life Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama, and an Honorary César. He will be remembered for iconic roles in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” “All the President’s Men,” and “The Natural,” as well as for creating space for new voices in film. Jake Tapper, William Shatner, Piers Morgan, and countless others joined the tributes, reflecting the breadth of his impact across entertainment and culture. Robert Redford leaves behind not just classic films, but an enduring legacy as one of Hollywood’s most influential figures.
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From Hobby to Legend: How This CrossFit Athlete Became the Fittest Woman on Earth
Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr didn’t set out to become the most dominant athlete in CrossFit history. But 12 years after stumbling into her first workout, the Australian mother and sporting powerhouse now holds an unprecedented eight CrossFit Games titles — two of them since giving birth to her daughter, Willow. “Words can’t describe it,” Toomey-Orr said after her latest win at the 2025 CrossFit Games in New York. “It never gets old, even after all these years.” Her journey began in 2013, when she briefly stepped away from competitive sports to focus on university. Her partner, Shane Orr, suggested she try CrossFit to complement her running. What started as a hobby turned into a full-blown career. Within a month, she entered her first CrossFit Open and by 2015, she had qualified for the CrossFit Games — finishing second in her debut year. She placed second again in 2016, but broke through in 2017 to claim her first title. Then came a streak of dominance: six consecutive wins from 2017 to 2022, setting a new standard in the sport. Toomey-Orr stepped away in 2023 to give birth to Willow, but returned the following year to win her seventh crown. Now, in 2025, she’s sealed her eighth — the most of any athlete in CrossFit history. “It’s not something I anticipated going into this journey,” she said. “It’s pretty wild and pure joy.” CrossFit Games director Dave Castro called her achievements “unprecedented.” “Tia is unprecedented. Her legacy, if she ever gets around to retiring, will be the way her dominance changed an entire sport forever,” he said. Beyond CrossFit While CrossFit is where she’s made her name, Toomey-Orr’s athletic résumé goes far beyond the sport. She competed in weightlifting at the 2016 Rio Olympics, won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and even qualified in the two-woman bobsleigh for the 2022 Winter Olympics — although she wasn’t ultimately selected due to rankings. Earlier this year, she also set a world record in the Women’s Doubles at HYROX Houston, an indoor fitness race known as the “World Series of Fitness Racing.” But throughout it all, her most consistent strength has been the team behind her — starting with her husband and coach, Shane Orr. “He’s been beside me every step of the way,” she said. The two met as teenagers, and Orr put aside his own ambitions as a CrossFit athlete to focus fully on coaching her. Together, they’ve built the most successful partnership the sport has ever seen. Family First, Always Since Willow’s arrival, Toomey-Orr has had to balance motherhood with her training — a challenge she openly embraces. “My life was all about the world championships and dedicating a lot of my time and energy to our craft,” she said. “I definitely think I found a challenge of juggling that parent-athlete balance and sometimes that gets put aside to be Willow’s mum, and that’s OK.” Now two years old, Willow is a regular at competitions — and even stole the show during this year’s Games. “I looked up at the jumbotron and there she is on my dad’s shoulders cheering for me,” Toomey-Orr said. “It brought a tear to my eye. It’s something I will remember forever.” Still More to Come? With eight titles under her belt, Toomey-Orr hasn’t ruled out going for a ninth — or even a tenth. “There are a lot of people trying to convince me,” she said. “The thing is, if I go for nine I’ve got to go for 10.” For now, though, she’s content staying in the moment — proud of what she’s built, grateful for the support of her family, and hopeful her story inspires others, especially parents. “At the end of the day, I could just simply stay at home and be with Willow and be a mum, but I’m still really enjoying the journey that we’re on,” she said. “If she can come along with us and spend every single day with us, as long as it’s good for her and it’s a healthy environment, that’s all that really matters.”
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A Lost Painting Looted by the Nazis was Just Found Hanging on a Wall in a Real Estate Listing
A painting stolen by the Nazis during World War II has finally been turned over to Argentine authorities — but not before a tip-off, a real estate listing, and a series of coordinated police raids. The artwork, Portrait of a Lady by 18th-century Italian painter Vittore Ghislandi, had long been missing. It was looted from Dutch Jewish art dealer Jacques Goudstikker during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. After decades of dead ends in Europe, the painting resurfaced in a most unexpected place: the wall of a living room in Argentina. A Dutch investigative outlet spotted the painting in an online real estate listing for a home in Mar del Plata, a coastal province in Argentina. The news organization contacted the real estate agency, which in turn alerted authorities. But when police arrived at the property, the painting was gone. That tip prompted four simultaneous raids last Monday across different locations in Mar del Plata. One of them targeted the home of Patricia Kadgien, daughter of Nazi official Friedrich Kadgien, who fled to Argentina in 1951 with looted assets, including currency, diamonds, and stolen or forcibly sold artworks. Kadgien had been tasked by the Nazi regime with transporting valuable goods to Switzerland, where the country’s neutrality shielded him from extradition. He eventually settled in Argentina, and according to court documents, Portrait of a Lady was among the items he brought with him. The painting had belonged to Goudstikker, who tried to hide his collection — including works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh — beneath a canal house in Amsterdam before fleeing the Nazis. But many of his artworks were discovered and either stolen outright or sold under duress. Goudstikker kept meticulous records in a black notebook, which has been key to modern-day efforts to track down and reclaim the collection. Those efforts are now being carried forward by his daughter, Marei von Saher. She’s spent years searching for more than 1,200 lost pieces. Her attorney told USA TODAY that Portrait of a Lady was likely sold to Friedrich Kadgien by the Nazis in 1944. When Argentine police arrived at Kadgien’s daughter’s house, they found a tapestry of a horse hanging where the painting had previously been. Marks on the wall and a hook suggested that a framed painting had been recently removed. During the raids, authorities seized several other artworks, some potentially dating back to the 18th century. Patricia Kadgien and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, were placed under house arrest. According to prosecutors, they may face charges for failing to voluntarily surrender the artwork. Eventually, their lawyer turned the painting over to Argentina’s National Public Prosecutor’s Office. “It is encouraging that the painting is now with the authorities and that it is no longer missing,” von Saher said in a statement. “I am relieved that it’s now in a safe and secure place.” Portrait of a Lady is just one item among an estimated $2.5 billion in artworks, jewelry, and other property looted by the Nazis in the 1940s. Today, that stolen wealth is estimated to be worth closer to $25 billion. For von Saher and other descendants of Nazi victims, recovering even a single piece offers both justice and closure. In this case, it took decades of searching, a lucky real estate listing, and an international effort — but one painting is finally back on the right path.
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Ohio Couple Celebrates 78 Years of Marriage: The Secret? No Secrets
After 78 years of marriage, Thomas and Ernestine Price still make each other smile. The couple from Columbus, Ohio recently celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary, marking a love story that began when they were just kids and has since grown to include five generations of family. They first met in 1940 when Ernestine, then 11, moved to Columbus. Thomas was already friends with her cousin, and the moment he saw her, he made a bold prediction: “I’m going to marry that girl.” They started dating as teenagers under the watchful eyes of Ernestine’s sisters and relatives, a custom at the time. Their courtship lasted through World War II, when Thomas served in the Navy. While he was overseas, the two kept in touch through handwritten letters. Ernestine was still in high school, but the distance didn’t weaken their bond. Thomas returned home in 1946. The next year, on Mother’s Day, he proposed. They were married on September 10, 1947, right on the front porch of Ernestine’s house. Together, they built a life in Columbus, raising three children—one son and two daughters. Over the years, their family grew to include nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren. In their younger days, they loved going roller skating and to the movies. These days, their focus is on each other’s health and staying safe, spending quiet time together at home. Asked about the key to such a lasting marriage, Ernestine didn’t hesitate: “No secrets between the couple. That’s not going to work because everything comes out sooner or later.” Even now, after nearly eight decades, the love is still there. When Ernestine asked her husband if he would marry her again, Thomas replied, “Yeah.” She smiled and said, “Oh, you would? I think I’ll keep you, too. How about that?”
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There's a Secret Molecule In Guava That Could Combat Liver Cancer
Most modern medicines can trace their roots to nature, and a new discovery from the University of Delaware could add another to the list. William Chain, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and his research team have developed a way to recreate a cancer-fighting molecule found in guava fruit. Their work, published in the international journal Angewandte Chemie, could make future treatments for liver cancer more accessible and affordable. “The majority of clinically approved medicines are either made from a natural product or are based on one,” Chain said. “But there aren’t enough natural resources to make enough treatments. Now chemists will be able to take our manuscripts and basically follow our ‘recipe’ and they can make it themselves.” The breakthrough comes through a process called natural product total synthesis, which allows scientists to create naturally occurring molecules from widely available, low-cost chemicals. This means researchers no longer have to rely on harvesting rare plants for small quantities of material. The molecule in question is known to combat liver and bile duct cancers, which are among the fastest-growing cancer types worldwide. According to projections, one in 125 people globally will face a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, during their lifetime. In the United States, more than 42,000 people are expected to be diagnosed in 2025 alone, with over 30,000 deaths. Current five-year survival rates for late-stage liver cancer are under 15 percent, and treatment costs reach into the billions each year. For Liam O’Grady, a doctoral student in Chain’s lab and the article’s first author, the significance lies in opening the door for global collaboration. “We are the first ones to pave that road, and other people can repave it any which way. Find the shortcuts if they have to. But since we entered into that unknown territory, I think we helped shed light on this unknown pathway that can get us there. And I think that’s the cool part,” he said. By publishing their synthesis pathway, the Delaware team has given scientists worldwide a practical “recipe” to mass-produce the guava-derived molecules. The team is now working with the National Cancer Institute to test the compound’s effectiveness against other forms of cancer. If successful, the research could lead to a new generation of therapies, combining the wisdom of nature with the precision of modern chemistry.
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Scientists Are On The Verge of Decoding Leonardo da Vinci's DNA
For more than 500 years, Leonardo da Vinci has stood as the ultimate symbol of Renaissance genius. Now, an international team of researchers is edging closer to revealing something no one has ever seen: the genetic code of the man behind the Mona Lisa. The Leonardo DNA Project, launched in 2016 and coordinated from The Rockefeller University in New York, has brought together historians, geneticists, and archaeologists to tackle an audacious goal: reconstructing the DNA of Leonardo da Vinci. Their latest findings, outlined in a new book published in Italy, suggest they are closer than ever to succeeding. The book, Genìa Da Vinci. Genealogy and Genetics for Leonardo's DNA, is the culmination of 30 years of work by scholars Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato of the Leonardo Da Vinci Heritage Association. Published with the support of the Municipality of Vinci, the research traces Leonardo’s family back to 1331, spanning 21 generations and more than 400 individuals. The genealogy proved more than an academic exercise. By identifying 15 direct male-line descendants of Leonardo’s father and half-brother, researchers were able to collect DNA samples. Six descendants underwent genetic testing, and scientists found matching segments of the Y chromosome, the genetic marker passed virtually unchanged from father to son. “Further detailed analyses are necessary to determine whether the DNA extracted is sufficiently preserved,” said David Caramelli, coordinator of the project’s anthropological and molecular aspects and director of the Department of Biology at the University of Florence. If the Y chromosome identified in the living descendants can also be traced in bone remains excavated from a Da Vinci family tomb in Vinci, it could unlock the ability to compare genetic material directly with traces found on Leonardo’s manuscripts, notebooks, and even his artworks. That, in turn, could allow scientists to build the first genetic portrait of one of history’s greatest minds. Archaeologists Alessandro Riga and Luca Bachechi of the University of Florence are leading excavations at the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci, where bone fragments linked to Leonardo’s grandfather and uncles have been unearthed. One specimen has already been radiocarbon dated and subjected to preliminary DNA analysis. Early results suggest it belonged to a male relative of Leonardo, but further testing is underway. The implications stretch far beyond curiosity. If DNA fragments can be sequenced, scientists may uncover insights into Leonardo’s health, vision, and even causes of death. Forensic tools could reveal traits such as left-handedness or dietary patterns. The research could also reshape how disputed artworks are authenticated, with biological evidence complementing traditional art history. “Even a tiny fingerprint on a page could contain cells to sequence,” said Jesse H. Ausubel of The Rockefeller University and director of the project. “21st-century biology is moving the boundary between the unknowable and the unknown.” The project has also revived attention on Leonardo’s family life. Vezzosi and Sabato’s research sheds new light on his mother, Caterina, who archival evidence increasingly suggests was a slave in the household of a wealthy Florentine banker. It also reveals his grandfather Antonio was not just a farmer but a merchant with connections to Spain and Morocco. In Vinci itself, another surprise has surfaced. A large charcoal drawing discovered on a fireplace mantle in a building once linked to Leonardo’s family may be an early work of the artist. Dubbed the “Unicorn Dragon,” it depicts a fantastical creature with a horn, claws, scales, and wings reminiscent of Leonardo’s later anatomical sketches. Local authorities have planned scientific analysis and restoration of the work. The book goes further, hinting that Leonardo may have anticipated concepts of epigenetics, centuries before the term existed. In his writings on heredity, he reflected on how diet, blood, and parental behavior could influence children — observations that echo debates in modern genetics. For the people of Vinci, the research represents more than science. It is a way to reconnect with their most famous son. “Our goal in reconstructing the Da Vinci family’s lineage up to the present day, while also preserving and valuing the places connected to Leonardo, is to enable scientific research on his DNA,” said Vezzosi. The findings will soon feed into a digital archive, a planned documentary, and even an international film project. But the scientific ambition remains at the heart of the work. If researchers can recover enough fragments of Leonardo’s DNA, they will have a chance to give the world its first genetic portrait of the Renaissance master. “This is not just about the author of the world’s most famous painting,” said Ausubel. “It’s a challenge to redefine the limits of historical knowledge and cultural heritage.” For Vinci, the Tuscan village where an illegitimate child named Leonardo was born in 1452, the chance to hear his “genetic voice” across the centuries is a source of pride — and a reminder that the mystery of da Vinci is far from solved.
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This Boy Sacrificed His Foul Ball To Fulfill a Grandmother's Lifelong Dream
At a Phillies game earlier this month, an unexpected play off the field turned into the highlight of the night. On September 10, 80-year-old Donna Morey was celebrating her birthday at the Phillies vs. Mets game with her family. Sitting near the third baseline, she had one wish: to finally bring home a foul ball after years of attending games. That chance came in the fifth inning when 9-year-old Phillies fan Jameson Pennings caught his very first game ball. He tossed it back and forth with his dad, admiring the scuffs like it was a treasure. But before the game ended, Jameson decided to give it away. Morey recalled the moment. “I was really absolutely amazed because he overheard my daughter talk to the ball girl about next foul would she consider giving it to me for my birthday. All of a sudden, this boy says to his dad, ‘I want to give that lady my ball,’ and his father says, ‘Are you sure about this,’ and the little boy looked at the ball in his glove and says yeah. They got up from their seat, came right over to me and handed me the ball.” Jameson’s dad, James, captured the exchange in a Facebook post. He wrote that they had bought seats next to the ball girl hoping for a game ball, and Jameson finally caught one in the fifth inning. But after hearing Morey’s birthday wish, “Jameson put his head in his knees briefly, stood up and gave the ball to the Birthday Girl.” After the game, Morey asked Jameson to sign the ball and posed for photos with him. “We found out she had been attending Phillies games for quite some time and had never gotten a game ball,” James wrote, adding, “Sorry proud Dad moment!!” For Morey, the kindness of a stranger made the night unforgettable. “I was just blessed to be at this one with him, really, I think it was meant to be,” she said. And in a fitting ending, Jameson didn’t leave empty-handed. The Phillies’ ball girl handed him another foul ball in the ninth inning, making the night special for both families. His parents, Eve and James, said they couldn’t be prouder of their son. “Me being his mom makes me kind of emotional because, oh my God, we’re doing something right and everybody saw it,” Eve said. What started as a simple night at the ballpark turned into a once-in-a-lifetime memory, reminding everyone that sometimes the best plays happen in the stands.
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Strangers Embrace Letters: One Dad Becomes a Father Figure to Thousands
A simple TikTok has grown into something far bigger: a global letter-writing project that connects dads with people searching for a father figure. The Dad Letters Project launched in July, sparked by Rosie Paulik’s video asking if anyone might want a letter from her dad, Buz Ecker. At the time, Ecker had just finished a doctorate but was feeling “aimless” and low, she told ABC News and The Washington Post. Knowing his lifelong love of writing letters — he had sent her thousands throughout her life — Paulik suggested he share that gift with strangers. The response was overwhelming. What started with one dad is now a team of four “Dad Staff Writers” who mail handwritten notes to people around the world. Each letter is different — some offer advice, others encouragement or simply a joke. “Sometimes, you just need a dad to remind you that you’re doing great, to offer unsolicited life advice, or to tell you a joke so bad you have no choice but to laugh. It’s like a hug, but on paper,” the project’s website says. Ecker said he now writes to people who have lost their fathers, never had one, or feel estranged from their families. “It’s very gratifying to be people’s fathers who don’t have one,” he told the Post. “And it’s very gratifying to write a letter to people who have never gotten a letter from a father.” Demand has been so high that the project has extended beyond the summer. “People wanted to hear from a dad. They wanted to hear from a father figure,” Paulik told ABC News. For many, the charm lies in the tangible act of receiving mail. “So many people don’t receive anything in the mailbox besides maybe coupons and bills,” Paulik said. “They are coming up with words to say for you, they’re putting the address on the envelope, putting a stamp on it and sending it out. It’s so authentic and special.” What began as one daughter’s way of lifting her dad’s spirits is now filling mailboxes with comfort, and in some cases, giving people the fatherly words they’ve been missing all their lives.
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Sprint Sensation Gout Gout, 17, Set To Shine At World Athletics Championships
Gout Gout may only be 17, but the young sprinter is already making waves on the international athletics scene. The Australian teenager has captured global attention with his blistering speed and is now set to compete in the 200-meter event at this year's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The competition's first heats are scheduled for Wednesday, and Gout is eager to make his mark. "I've earned my place to be here," he told reporters on Monday, according to Reuters. "Obviously, these athletes are stronger, bigger, older, more experienced, but I know that I have the ability to go out there and do my thing. At the end of the day, we're all running 200 meters, and regardless of how old you are, when you stop on that line, it's all about who's fastest." Gout burst onto the track scene in 2022 with a remarkable 10.57-second finish in the 100 meters at just 14 years old. He later drew even more notice by completing a 200-meter race in 20.60 seconds at last year’s World Athletics U20 Championships. This time was notably quicker than a young Usain Bolt's performance as a 15-year-old in 2002. More recently, Gout broke his own Australian record for the 200 meters by clocking in at 20.02 seconds during his first senior race abroad in June. Despite these achievements, he's focused on achieving a new personal best and has ambitions of breaking the elusive sub-20-second barrier for the distance. Although he recorded a time of 19.98 seconds earlier this year, it wasn't recognized as an official record due to wind conditions that favored runners. "I definitely think PB-ing (personal best) regardless of where I come is definitely a big success," Gout shared with reporters in Tokyo. "And hopefully if I can make it at the semi that's even greater. And then if I make it into the final, that's a big success." As one of the fastest teenagers globally, Gout has had to adjust to life under the spotlight. Comparisons to Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt have become common; Bolt himself praised Gout's performances so far. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo also believes that Gout has significant potential. "It's definitely crazy," Gout remarked about his newfound fame. "I’ve had people with their grandparents come up to me wanting photos … I’ve had a baby; her mother wanted me to sign her forehead." Despite these sometimes unusual fan requests, he finds joy in inspiring others through his journey from obscurity to prominence. With anticipation building around his performance in Tokyo, all eyes are now on Gout as he lines up against some of athletics' most seasoned competitors. a true test for this rising star aiming for greatness on one of sport's grandest stages.
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How Prairie Farmers are Saving Our Most Threatened Ecosystem
A few months after wildfire tore across May Ranch in Lamar, Colorado, Dallas May spotted the first signs of recovery: thin shoots of grass poking through blackened soil. “It was a moonscape,” May said of the aftermath. “Everything was charred and gone.” The 2022 fire, driven by winds up to 113 km/h, killed livestock, burned 42 miles (68 km) of fencing, and wiped out vegetation along the creek. But soon, the land revealed its resilience. Needle-and-thread grass, a species May had barely noticed before, began to sprout. Over time, other grasses emerged from seeds stored in the soil. “We had an entire natural seed bank,” he said. For decades, May and his family have managed their ranch to allow native habitat to thrive alongside cattle. That balance is increasingly rare on the Great Plains, one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Less than 40 percent of the region’s 550 million acres of historical grasslands remain, and about two million acres vanish each year to cropland or development. Ranching, when managed carefully, can help preserve what is left. Grazing cattle suppress woody plants and invasives, and mimic the ecological role bison once played. “Grazing is probably one of the most essential functions that you need to appropriately manage grassland,” said Rich Schultheis of Playa Lakes Joint Venture, a bird conservation group. Without ranchers, he added, “we would be in such a worse place.” The loss of prairie has been devastating for wildlife. Populations of grassland birds have plunged by 53 percent since 1970, a decline of 700 million birds. With only 21 percent of Great Plains grasslands never disturbed, protecting intact habitat is critical. Unlike farming, ranching typically leaves native vegetation untouched. That suits the grasses, which evolved with regular disturbance from fire and grazing. May’s family runs about 600 mother cows — roughly half the number the land could support. The smaller herd means less pressure on the grass, and more left over for wildlife. “If you allow the cattle to be part of the ecology, rather than dominating it, they are a benefit to it,” May said. But raising fewer cattle cuts into profits. May has filled the gap through conservation partnerships. He placed a conservation easement on the ranch, giving up rights to future development in exchange for tax credits. The decision, once controversial among ranchers, gave the family long-term security. “When the solution comes from a community, the solution is more durable,” said Maggie Hanna, who leads the Central Grasslands Roadmap Initiative. The ranch also participates in Ducks Unlimited’s carbon credit program and is certified bird-friendly by the National Audubon Society, which puts its label on beef from participating ranches. “We need to be able to keep ranchers ranching, and the only way to do that is through their finances,” said Audubon program manager Dusty Downey. Evidence suggests these approaches pay off. Grazed land retains more moisture, making it more drought resilient, Downey noted. Botanists have documented 248 plant species on May Ranch, including 50 types of grasses. Endangered black-footed ferrets have begun breeding there, and rare birds like the eastern black rail migrate through its wetlands. Still, challenges remain. May has worked on reintroducing lesser prairie chickens, but broader habitat loss has stymied success. And recovery from the fire has been difficult. The loss of fencing disrupted his breeding program for pure-bred Limousin cattle, costing the ranch income. Even so, signs of renewal encourage him. Beavers that vanished after the fire returned to rebuild dams once water flowed again. Grass now carpets fields that were once ash. “To me, that is the key to sustainability,” May said. “Keeping things there where they can recover on their own.”