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This Small Town Is Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees With Open Arms
More than 50 Ukrainians are expected to arrive in Jasper, Alta., over the next few weeks. Local families are opening their homes and businesses to the refugees. A retired school teacher in Jasper is organizing the aid effort. She spends hours speaking with Ukrainians overseas, helping them navigate their way out.
Score (98)
Cafe Thrives By Taking Orders In Sign Language, Celebrated By Deaf Community
At a small café in southeast Portland, the primary language isn’t English—it’s American Sign Language. And for many in the Deaf and hard of hearing community, that’s what makes Woodstock Cafe feel like home. Owned by CymaSpace, a nonprofit dedicated to making art and culture accessible to the Deaf community, Woodstock Cafe offers more than just lattes and pastries. It’s a hub of connection, identity, and employment—where ASL is the norm and inclusion is baked into the atmosphere. “For a lot of people, the cafe becomes their stable place. It’s their rock,” said Andre Gray, one of the team members who helped open the cafe, speaking through ASL. The cafe doesn’t exclude non-signers. Customers who don’t use ASL can place orders via a microphone that transcribes their speech onto a screen. But inside, ASL takes the lead. Staff communicate with each other and customers in sign, and the space regularly hosts ASL meetups and events—like “Sign Squad” on Tuesdays, a social night that brings together people across the hearing spectrum. For many, it’s more than a hangout spot. It's a lifeline. “It’s so eclectic,” said Amy Wachspress, who began losing her hearing nine years ago and now primarily lip-reads. “There are just so many different kinds of people from all different backgrounds. And the one thing we have in common is that we sign.” That shared language has turned the cafe into something rare: a place where Deaf culture is centered and celebrated. Gray said people have moved across the country just to work there—opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing workers can be limited, especially in customer-facing roles. The cafe’s impact extends to families, too. Wachspress recalls a deaf toddler brought in by his hearing parents who wanted him to feel part of a community. “He was just so beside himself excited when he realized that you could communicate with people using sign,” she said. “We were all so touched.” CymaSpace had once planned to expand into adjacent buildings to create a Deaf Equity Center. That effort stalled after a change in presidential administration led to funding cuts, Gray said. Still, the organization hopes to revive the idea with private funding and a future crowdfunding campaign. “It gives power to the community as opposed to a fear of signing,” Gray said. “We, as a community, are so proud of who we are.” Inside Woodstock Cafe, that pride is everywhere—from the quiet rhythm of hand movements to the joy on a child’s face as they realize they’re understood.
Score (97)
Why a Swedish Company is Giving Employees Money And Time Off For Friendship Hour
Making friends as an adult isn’t easy. Between packed work schedules, family responsibilities, and the digital distractions that dominate modern life, maintaining real-life connections often falls to the bottom of the list. But one company in Sweden is trying to change that—during work hours. Apotek Hjärtat, one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains, has launched a pilot program called Friendship Hour, giving employees 15 minutes a week—or an hour a month—of paid time to focus on their friendships. Whether that means texting an old friend, making a phone call, or even meeting in person, the goal is simple: reduce loneliness and make space for connection. The program is part of a broader push by the Swedish government to enlist companies in tackling what the World Health Organization has described as a global public health concern: loneliness. “I’m really tired when I go home. I don’t have time or energy to meet my friends,” said Yasmine Lindberg, one of 11 employees currently taking part in the trial. A mother of teenagers and a pharmacy worker, she admitted feeling “quite lonely” in the years since her divorce. Now, with Friendship Hour, she has a dedicated pocket of time—along with a 1,000 kronor (about $100 USD) annual stipend to spend on social activities. It’s not life-changing money, but Lindberg says it’s helped give her the push she needed. “I feel happier,” she told the BBC. “You can’t live through the internet like most people do these days.” The initiative was developed in partnership with mental health charity Mind, and builds on earlier findings that even brief, meaningful conversations between pharmacists and customers helped employees feel less isolated at work. Apotek Hjärtat’s CEO, Monica Magnusson, said they wanted to test whether a similar approach could work internally—and early results are promising. Self-assessments from participants have shown a boost in life satisfaction since the program began in April 2025. Though it’s still too early to commit to a wider rollout, the company is optimistic. “We try and see what the effects are from having the opportunity to spend a bit of time every week on safeguarding your relationships,” said Magnusson. Sweden’s Health Minister Jakob Forssmed has praised the idea but stopped short of promising government support. Still, Apotek Hjärtat is pushing forward. The company is part of “Together Against Involuntary Loneliness,” a business coalition formed by Forssmed in 2023 that includes about 20 major Nordic companies, including IKEA. “It’s quite a different approach to working together,” Magnusson said. “Collaborating as companies in an area where you just let competition go, and instead try and figure out ‘how can we tackle this common obstacle that we have?’” In Sweden, “friskvård” benefits—tax-free wellness allowances—are already common, often covering fitness classes or massages. Some companies even offer a dedicated “wellness hour” each week. Friendship Hour builds on that idea by adding social wellbeing to the definition of health. Mind’s Secretary General, Rickard Bracken, summed up the philosophy behind the initiative: “A text message to check on the situation may be seen as a small gesture, but can mean a lot in the long run.” Experts agree that loneliness is a complex, often structural issue—but programs like this may help lower the threshold that makes it hard for adults to nurture friendships. And at a time when connection feels increasingly out of reach, 15 minutes a week may be just enough to start making a difference. “We want to give [employees] knowledge and tools to better prevent this for themselves and those close to them,” said Magnusson. “In our business, we encounter loneliness daily.”
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Score (95)
Detroit Launches a Cash Program For New Moms to Fight Child Poverty
A groundbreaking cash-assistance program for expectant mothers is coming to Detroit, aimed at easing the financial burden of raising a child and helping families out of deep poverty. Democratic Mayor Mary Sheffield announced Monday that the Rx Kids program, run by Michigan State University, will launch in Detroit within her first 100 days in office. Sheffield, who made history last week as Detroit’s first female mayor, called the expansion a critical step toward improving health and financial outcomes for the city’s youngest residents. “Half of our children are living in poverty,” Sheffield said, flanked by mothers and their children at a press conference. “That means that too many of our children are entering life’s journey burdened by financial hardship before they even take their first steps.” Rx Kids offers a one-time $1,500 payment to pregnant women, followed by $500 per month for the first six months of the baby’s life. There are no income requirements; pregnant women simply need to verify their pregnancy and sign up online. Families are encouraged to use the money for essentials like rent, food, diapers, baby formula, transportation, and medical care. Originally launched in Flint in 2024, Rx Kids has since expanded to 20 cities across Michigan. By the end of January, that number is expected to rise to 28. The program is administered by a nonprofit and funded by a combination of private donations, corporate contributions, and government support. In Detroit, about $9 million has been raised for the program so far, with an additional $2.5 million still needed. The city itself has committed $500,000 annually over the next three years. The state of Michigan has pledged $250 million in its 2026 budget to help expand the program statewide. Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and founding director of Rx Kids, called it a “bold public health effort to improve outcomes.” “When our babies don’t have everything they need, that hurts them. It makes them sick,” Hanna said Monday. About 34% of Detroit’s 639,000 residents live in poverty, according to U.S. Census data. The city’s median household income is around $39,200, compared to more than $72,000 across the rest of Michigan. With no strings attached, the program is designed to provide stability during one of life’s most financially and emotionally intense periods. If successful in Detroit, officials hope it can serve as a model for how cities can take direct action to fight childhood poverty and support new parents from day one.
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Georgia High School Senior Accepted Into 52 Colleges, Secures $1.8M in Scholarships
Jada-Symone, a high school senior from Atlanta, Georgia, is heading into graduation season with a problem most students would love to have: deciding between 52 college acceptance letters and $1.8 million in scholarship offers. The 17-year-old attends Wheeler High School in Marietta, where she’s known for her drive, discipline, and laser focus on her future. She plans to major in business and enroll in a 4+1 program, which will allow her to earn both a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration in just four years. She’s already ahead of the game. Thanks to a heavy course load and advanced credits, she’ll enter college as a sophomore. Jada-Symone’s ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology. She wants to combine her knowledge of business and psychology to improve workplace culture and performance. Her impressive college list includes Florida A&M, Howard, Tennessee State, Alabama State, LSU, Michigan State, Clark Atlanta, Clemson, and Ohio State, among others. “She’s always been focused,” said one of her teachers. “You could tell from day one that she had big goals, and she’s putting in the work to reach them.” Friends and family say her determination has never wavered. Now, with dozens of schools to choose from and substantial scholarship offers on the table, she’s weighing her options carefully. Wherever she ends up, her story is already inspiring students across Georgia—and beyond.
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New Pocket-Sized Allergen Detector Debuts at CES, Promises Peace of Mind—but Questions Remain
After a close call with food allergies at a restaurant in Italy, one family got lucky. Others aren’t so fortunate. In the U.S. alone, someone ends up in the emergency room every 10 seconds due to a food allergy reaction. That urgency is what led French entrepreneur Bénédicte Astier to develop Allergen Alert, a handheld device designed to detect allergens in food—no lab, no guesswork, just a few minutes and a button. Astier’s motivation was personal. “When my daughter Margot went into anaphylactic shock, I experienced what too many families know all too well: the fear that life can change because of a single meal,” he said in a press release. “That moment of awareness is where Allergen Alert was born.” Unveiled this week at CES 2026, the device is pitched as the first of its kind to offer lab-level allergen testing in a pocket-sized form. It uses disposable, single-use pouches—each reportedly under $10—that run a self-contained analysis when inserted into the device. Add a food sample, close the pouch, insert, and press start. Results are delivered in minutes, with no lab equipment or technical knowledge required. The idea is undeniably appealing for people living with food allergies or celiac disease. Ingredient lists and restaurant staff are helpful—but they’re not infallible, as anyone who’s ever been reassured a dish was “nut-free” can attest. Still, despite the buzz, the product has yet to answer some key questions. For starters, it’s not clear which allergens the device can reliably detect. Peanut? Almond? Shellfish? Gluten? The company hasn’t published any peer-reviewed data on its detection accuracy or thresholds—critical information for those with highly sensitive allergies. There’s also no mention of regulatory approvals, meaning it’s not classified as a medical or diagnostic device. That’s important, especially for users who might make life-or-death decisions based on the results. Affordability may also be an issue. While the company touts its disposable pouches as costing “less than $10,” that could still add up quickly for anyone who eats out regularly. A dollar per meal might be manageable. Eight or nine dollars per test? Less so. To its credit, Allergen Alert says it’s working with allergists, food safety experts, and allergy patients during development. It’s also exploring broader applications like environmental monitoring and water testing, hinting at a more expansive vision for the platform. But until we see third-party testing or real-world trials, skepticism is warranted. There’s no doubt the concept fills a major gap—giving people with allergies a way to take control when menus, labels, and human error fall short. But whether Allergen Alert can truly deliver on its promises remains to be seen. Pre-orders are expected to open later this year. For now, the tech is exciting. But for families like the one in Italy—or anyone relying on its results—certainty matters more than hype.
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Inside Angola Prison, a Father-Daughter Dance Brings Hope, Healing and a Second Chance at Fatherhood
At Angola, the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, nearly all of the men inside are serving time for violent crimes. Many will never leave. But for a few hours on one emotional day, 29 incarcerated fathers were allowed to be something else entirely: just dads. Dressed in tuxedos inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary, the men took part in the prison’s first-ever father-daughter dance. It was a rare moment of grace and connection in a place better known for its harshness. One of the participants, Leslie Harris, is serving time for armed robbery. His daughter, Kanyell, is now 17. He’s been gone for 15 of those years. "I apologize for all the years I missed in her life and I hope she forgives me and I'll make it up to her with this dance," Harris said. When Kanyell saw him standing there in a tuxedo, she broke down. “I cried so bad, because he looked handsome,” she said. “It was very special.” The dance was organized by God Behind Bars, a prison ministry that works with churches and correctional staff to bring moments of human connection to incarcerated men and women. Founder Jake Bodine said the event was for the daughters, but just as importantly, it was for the fathers too. "I think that some people are never told what they're worth or that they have value," Bodine said. “Things like this—faith-based programming, educational resources, family reunification—all of those things are what promote change.” He described the event as a way of “washing the prison off” the men. “The ego, the hardness, the callousness of anything that might be on the heart or the mind had literally just melted away,” he said. None of this would have been possible without the support of assistant warden Anne Marie Easley. She approved the unprecedented event because, as she put it, “the children of inmates are forgotten about, and we have to remember that they're doing time right along with their fathers.” While some may question whether the men deserve a moment like this, Bodine’s response is direct. “I’m not there to advocate for their sentence or for justice, but I am there to advocate that you have purpose beyond this moment.” That message was clear in a letter Harris wrote to his daughter after the event. “I understand the pain and fear I have caused by not being there,” he wrote. “I’m committed to making amends any way I can. I ask for the opportunity to show that you are my everything.” The impact was so powerful that Easley has already invited God Behind Bars back—for a father-son event next.
Score (97)
Study Finds Helping Others May Keep Your Brain Young
Lending a hand might be one of the best things you can do for your brain. A new study has found that older adults who regularly help others—whether through formal volunteering or casual support for friends and neighbors—experience significantly slower cognitive decline. According to researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Massachusetts Boston, the rate of cognitive aging was reduced by roughly 15 to 20 percent among those who regularly engaged in helping behavior. “What stood out to me was that the cognitive benefits of helping others weren’t just short-term boosts but cumulative over time with sustained engagement,” said Sae Hwang Han, a social scientist at UT Austin. “And these benefits were evident for both formal volunteering and informal helping.” The study, published in Social Science & Medicine, analyzed nearly two decades of data from more than 31,000 Americans over the age of 50. Participants answered phone surveys about their health, lifestyle, and cognitive abilities, as well as how often they volunteered or helped others. While the study is observational and doesn’t prove direct cause and effect, the association between helping behavior and brain health was clear—and it held steady over time. One of the more surprising findings: informal helping, like checking in on a neighbor or offering a ride to a friend, had cognitive benefits on par with structured volunteering roles. That challenges the common assumption that only socially recognized roles carry long-term benefits. “Informal helping is sometimes assumed to offer fewer health benefits due to its lack of social recognition,” said Han. “It was a pleasant surprise to find that it provides cognitive benefits comparable to formal volunteering.” The sweet spot appears to be two to four hours of helping others per week. Researchers note that going beyond that might carry diminishing returns, as the physical or mental load of caregiving could outweigh the benefits. Still, in a world where dementia rates are climbing and scientists are searching for modifiable risk factors, this adds one more option to the list. Like physical exercise, helping others may keep the brain active and socially engaged—two key ingredients for healthy aging. The study also found a drop-off in cognitive scores when people stopped volunteering or helping others, suggesting consistency matters. “There’s a strong case here for ensuring that older adults have opportunities to give back,” Han said. “Many older adults in suboptimal health often continue to make valuable contributions to those around them, and they also may be the ones to especially benefit from being provided with opportunities to help.” In other words: when it comes to aging well, it might be just as important to lend support as to receive it.
Score (97)
Researchers Discover Rare 'Fairy Lantern' Plant Species in Malaysia, Potentially Critically Endangered
It looks like something out of a fantasy novel, but it’s very real—and very rare. A new species of “fairy lantern” has been discovered in the Malaysian state of Selangor, tucked beside tree roots near a popular riverside picnic area. Officially named Thismia selangorensis, the tiny plant is only about 10 centimeters tall and is part of a mysterious genus of underground-dwelling, fungus-feeding plants that rarely emerge above ground. And when they do, they bloom with bright, umbrella-like flowers that have earned them their nickname. “It exists—right here, in this small corner of the world, and nowhere else,” said botanist Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah in a statement. “Understanding its presence is the first step towards ensuring that this extraordinary plant is not lost before many people even know it exists.” So far, researchers have found fewer than 20 individuals of T. selangorensis, putting it on the brink of being classified as critically endangered. The discovery was published in the journal PhytoKeys in November 2023. A plant without chlorophyll Fairy lanterns, or Thismia species, are strange even by botanical standards. Unlike most plants, they don’t have green leaves or use sunlight to make food. Instead, they leech nutrients from underground fungi in a parasitic process known as mycoheterotrophy. About 550 plant species worldwide use this strategy, making them entirely dependent on fungi—and, in turn, on the complex forest ecosystems that support those fungi. The new Malaysian species was first spotted by naturalist Gim Siew Tan, who came across the peach-colored flowers in a riverside forest. Their umbrella-like structures, called mitres, featured three tall antenna-like appendages rising from the center. Tan posted photos to iNaturalist, a citizen science platform. That’s where Siti-Munirah, a botanist at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, saw them. She quickly realized they had found something new. Further surveys by the research team confirmed the find. The plant’s distinct flowers, coral-shaped roots, and location near riverbanks helped set it apart from the 120 other known Thismia species. Only two had ever been documented in Selangor before. “This discovery shows that significant scientific finds are not limited to remote jungles,” said Siti-Munirah. “They can also be made in ordinary environments where constant human activity leaves little room for expectation.” Vulnerable from the start Despite its magical appearance, T. selangorensis may be under threat already. It’s tiny, fragile, and grows near heavily used public trails, making it vulnerable to trampling and floods. Its reliance on very specific conditions—shade, moist soil, and healthy underground fungi—means any disruption to the habitat could be fatal. Botanist Michal Sochor, who wasn’t involved in the study, told The New York Times the species’ large mitre might help shield the flower from water or debris. The tall antenna-like structures could also be used to release scent or chemicals during flowering, though much about the plant’s biology is still unknown. The research team hopes awareness will help protect it. “The most important effort now is to raise awareness about this species,” said Siti-Munirah. Conservation efforts will likely require cooperation from government officials, forest departments, and the local public. The team has provisionally classified the species as critically endangered under international criteria. For now, the plant remains where it was found—hidden in plain sight in a small Malaysian forest, and possibly unlike anything else on Earth.
Score (98)
A Lost Puppy Rescued from the Countryside After a 4-Hour Search, Thanks to Drones and Volunteers
A nine-month-old chihuahua named Poppy is safe and back home after disappearing for four hours on a chilly afternoon near Devizes, Wiltshire. Poppy had been spooked in a freak accident while out walking on Roundway Hill on 3 January. She bolted and vanished into the countryside, sparking growing concern as daylight faded and temperatures began to drop. Her owner, Annie Sheppard, quickly turned to social media, and the community responded. Dozens of volunteers arrived on the hill to help. Among them were search experts from RSPCA Wiltshire Mid branch and two volunteer groups—Drone SAR for Lost Dogs and Search and Scan—who brought a drone to scan the landscape from above. “We were concerned about losing the light,” said Jess Scull from the RSPCA. “But we all worked together and between the drone from Drone SAR for Lost Dogs and the ground support from Search and Scan, we found out which field she was in and managed to keep eyes on her.” Poppy’s small figure was eventually spotted hidden in long grass. Using the drone footage and updates from the ground team, volunteers were able to guide Sheppard to her puppy’s location. “It was made possible thanks to the amazing teams who gave their time, expertise, dedication and calmness when I was struggling to keep it together,” Sheppard said. Both Drone SAR for Lost Dogs and Search and Scan offer their services for free. Drone SAR operates across the UK with over 7,000 volunteers, including drone pilots, searchers, sniffer dogs, and trap operators. “Because we all worked together and listened to each other, that dog was able to be reunited quicker than most,” Scull said. Poppy is now home with her beagle brother Buzz—and will soon be wearing a GPS tracker on her collar to prevent future scares. “Overall, the kindness, knowledge, equipment and fantastic teamwork from these guys made such a difference,” Sheppard said. “I will never forget it. It truly reminded me how incredible people can be when it matters most.”
Score (98)
Hospital Technician Uses X-Ray Machine to Help Woman Locate Lost Heirloom Rings
When Susan Sinnwell showed up at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Iowa for a routine X-ray, she wasn’t expecting to leave in tears—of gratitude. Sinnwell had removed a pair of cherished rings before her scan, wrapping the heirlooms—passed down from her grandfather—in a napkin for safekeeping. But after the appointment, the napkin ended up in the trash. “It made kind of a funny sound when it hit the bottom of the garbage bin,” she later recalled. But the noise didn’t register at the time. By the time she realized what had happened, the napkin—and the rings—were long gone. She called the hospital, hoping against hope they could help. They did more than that. Craig Buskohl, the imaging manager who had taken her X-rays, jumped into action. He teamed up with the hospital’s waste management crew to track down the missing jewelry. Together, they faced a mountain of roughly 60 garbage bags, which they scanned one by one with metal detectors. Any bag that triggered a beep was set aside and moved to the hospital’s ambulance garage, where Buskohl was waiting—with a portable X-ray machine. They spent 45 minutes scanning trash bags. “It was really rewarding,” Buskohl told CBS 2 Iowa. “Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to find them—but we did.” Sinnwell was stunned when she heard what the team had done. “When he told me how many people helped and everything they did, I just couldn’t believe it,” she said, holding back tears. “This is the best place for care.” Hospital staff say the story is a reminder that care goes beyond medicine—and sometimes includes a mobile X-ray machine, a few metal detectors, and a determined team digging through garbage to make things right.