Ancient Meteorite Boosted Life on Earth, Scientists Say

An ancient meteor four times the size of Mount Everest may have actually helped life on Earth thrive, scientists say. The meteorite, S2, hit our planet 3.26 billion years ago and was massive - up to 200 times larger than the one that killed the dinosaurs. Researchers discovered rock evidence in South Africa showing how this impact led to a tsunami and boosted nutrients for early life forms in the ocean depths. The study has gained unexpected global attention, with experts excited about its implications for understanding our planet's history and origins.

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Immigrant Heroes In Comic Books are Inspiring a New Classroom Curriculum

Since 2006, the Carnegie Corporation of New York has celebrated the Fourth of July with something a little different: a comic book series called Great Immigrants, Great Americans, featuring the stories of naturalized citizens and the extraordinary ways they’ve shaped the country. Now, thanks to a new partnership, these real-life stories are making their way into classrooms across the country. This summer, Carnegie teamed up with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to bring the comics to middle and high school students nationwide. Instead of handing schools a finished product, they invited teachers from across the U.S. to help design classroom resources based on the series. “I’m really pleased and excited that Carnegie wanted to bring in teachers… rather than create something on their own and have teachers react to it,” said Emily Kirkpatrick, NCTE’s executive director, in an interview with K-12 Dive. “That’s something that I wish a lot of other entities in our world would model.” Each comic book opens with a simple message: “In this comic book, naturalized U.S. citizens tell their immigrant stories in their own words: how they built careers, fled war zones, united with family, found belonging, created a new home, and made America a better place.” The stories vary widely — and intentionally so. One highlights Mona Hanna, a pediatrician and public health advocate whose research helped uncover the Flint water crisis. Born in the United Kingdom after her family fled Iraq’s Baath regime, Hanna later moved to the U.S. and dedicated her career to protecting children’s health. “It’s impossible for me to separate me from my background,” she writes in her comic. “The circumstances that shaped me led me to advocate for children. My story is an immigrant’s story.” Visually, each character is drawn in bold, superhero style — capes, power poses, and all. It’s an eye-catching design choice meant to reflect the courage and resilience behind each story. “We know that the more that an individual reads, the better a reader they become,” said Kirkpatrick. “So one of the most important things an educator can do is find the type of content that’s most attractive to a student.” For teachers, the series offers more than just compelling reading material. It’s also a practical tool to connect classroom lessons to identity, history, and civic engagement — especially for students who may see parts of their own family story reflected on the page. “This is really important, especially when we’re seeing so much turnover in the teaching profession,” Kirkpatrick added. “We need to find new and novel ways to encourage and engage teachers, and NCTE really sees evidence that we’re on to something.” The comic book project and its new classroom expansion come at a time when the stories of immigrants are often politicized — or erased entirely. But through this creative blend of storytelling, art, and education, teachers are finding a way to bring those stories front and center, where students can read, reflect, and see that greatness often begins with a journey.

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Eating Two Kiwis a Day May Boost Your Skin From the Inside Out, Study Finds

Adding more vitamin C to your diet this winter might not just help fight off colds — it could also quietly improve your skin. Researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand found that people who ate two kiwis a day for eight weeks saw significant increases in skin vitamin C levels, along with signs of enhanced skin density and cell renewal. Both are linked to collagen production, which plays a key role in maintaining firm, healthy skin. “We were surprised by the tight correlation between plasma vitamin C levels and those in the skin,” said lead author Margreet Vissers in a university news release. “This was much more marked than in any other organ we have investigated.” Twenty-four healthy adults in New Zealand and Germany participated in the study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Each ate two kiwifruits daily for eight weeks while researchers monitored their blood and skin vitamin C levels, as well as changes in skin function using imaging and lab tests. By the end of the study, skin density had increased by nearly 50%, and cell turnover rose by about 30%. The researchers were especially interested in how efficiently vitamin C from food made its way into the skin — something they say hasn’t been shown this clearly before. “Our study shows that the skin is extremely good at absorbing vitamin C from the blood circulation,” Vissers said. “It reaches all layers of the skin and is associated with measurable improvements in function.” Vitamin C is already a familiar ingredient in skincare products, often promoted for its role in collagen production and its antioxidant effects. But since the nutrient is water-soluble, topical applications don’t always absorb well through the skin’s outer layers. That’s why researchers wanted to explore whether dietary sources might be a better way to deliver the nutrient where it’s needed. The answer appears to be yes — though, as the researchers note, the benefits may not be immediately visible. “Because the improvement in density was on a cellular level, any cosmetic improvement would be difficult to appreciate with the naked eye,” said Dr. Brian Toy, a board-certified dermatologist at Providence Mission Hospital in California, who was not involved in the study. Toy called the findings interesting, especially the idea that diet might influence skin function. However, he pointed out that the study didn’t show measurable improvements in skin elasticity or protection against UV damage, and it only included a small group of people who already had relatively low vitamin C levels. “If a patient suffers from low vitamin C, dietary changes and supplement use would be advised regardless,” Toy told Fox News Digital. Healthy adults are advised to consume about 250 milligrams of vitamin C per day to maintain proper plasma levels. Because the body doesn’t store vitamin C, researchers emphasized the importance of getting it regularly through food. While this study focused on kiwifruit, the researchers said similar benefits could come from other vitamin C–rich foods like citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, and broccoli. The research was partially funded by Zespri International, a major kiwifruit producer. But Toy noted that industry funding is common and said the Journal of Investigative Dermatology is a reputable, peer-reviewed journal. Though two kiwis a day likely won’t replace your skincare routine or reverse aging overnight, researchers say the findings add to growing evidence that what you eat can influence your skin — in ways you might not immediately see, but that matter underneath.

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A New Gel Created by Researchers in Montreal is Helping People Regain Their Voices

A team of researchers at McGill University has developed a new injectable hydrogel that could one day help people recover from vocal cord injuries more effectively — and with fewer repeat procedures. The new material, described in the journal Biomaterials, shows early promise as a longer-lasting alternative to current voice restoration treatments. In preclinical tests, the gel stayed intact for weeks, giving damaged vocal cords more time to heal. Voice loss can become permanent when scar tissue forms on the vocal cords, a common result of injury. While injectable fillers are used today to help restore the voice, they tend to break down quickly in the body. That often means repeated injections, each of which increases the risk of further damaging the already fragile tissue. A Stronger, More Stable Gel The hydrogel is made from natural tissue proteins that are first processed into a powder, then transformed into a gel. To enhance its durability, the team used a chemical technique called “click chemistry” — a method that acts like a molecular glue, locking the gel together at a microscopic level. “This process is what makes our approach unique,” said co-senior author Maryam Tabrizian, a professor in McGill’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Nanomedicine and Regenerative Medicine. “It acts like a molecular glue, locking the material together so it doesn’t fall apart too quickly once injected.” A Common, Overlooked Condition Vocal cord injuries are more common than many people realize. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, around one in 13 adults experiences a voice disorder each year. Older adults, people with acid reflux, and smokers are particularly vulnerable, as are professionals who use their voices constantly — such as teachers, singers, and radio hosts. “People take their voices for granted,” said co-senior author Nicole Li-Jessen, an associate professor in McGill’s School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. “But losing it can deeply affect mental health and quality of life, especially for those whose livelihoods depend on it.” Li-Jessen, who also holds a Canada Research Chair in Personalized Medicine of Upper Airway Health and Diseases, brings a personal understanding of the issue. As a trained pianist and clinician-scientist working closely with vocal performers, she’s seen the emotional and professional toll voice loss can have. What’s Next The team plans to further study the hydrogel using computer simulations to better understand how it behaves inside the human body. If those simulations confirm its stability and safety, the next step will be clinical trials in humans. The goal is a minimally invasive treatment that can reduce the need for repeat procedures and offer lasting support to people recovering from vocal injuries. The study, titled Clicktetrazine dECM-alginate hydrogels for injectable, mechanically mimetic, and biologically active vocal fold biomaterials, was authored by Mika Brown, Hideaki Okuyama, Ling Li, Zhen Yang, Jianyu Li, Maryam Tabrizian, and Nicole Li-Jessen. It was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Canada Research Chair research stipends.

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Firefighters Rescued a Golden Retriever From an Icy Pond in a Dramatic New Year’s Day Save

A golden retriever named Phoenix is safe and warm after a dramatic rescue from a frozen pond in Rhode Island that kicked off the New Year for firefighters with a reminder: no ice is safe. The dog fell through the ice on Little Maschaug Pond in Westerly just before 9 a.m. on January 1, while out on a morning walk with its owner. According to the Misquamicut Fire Department, Phoenix had wandered toward the center of the pond, where the ice gave way. His owner could only watch helplessly from the shore. Firefighters from Misquamicut and neighboring departments were on scene within minutes, outfitted in bright red and orange ice rescue suits. Tethered with safety ropes, they crawled across the dangerously thin ice as it cracked and broke beneath them. Photos and video show chunks of ice floating around them as they reached the struggling dog. “Volunteers were on scene within minutes and located Phoenix, a golden retriever, struggling in the water and unable to move with his owner safely on shore,” the Misquamicut Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. Backup came from the Watch Hill Fire Department, which brought additional gear. Crews also deployed an inflatable rescue boat and staged equipment along the shoreline in case the situation worsened. “Members from both fire departments quickly donned ice rescue suits and entered the pond, making a swift and successful rescue,” the post continued. Once Phoenix was pulled from the water, firefighters carried him back to shore, where emergency medical personnel checked both the dog and the rescuers for signs of hypothermia. Everyone was reported to be doing well and didn’t require medical treatment. The response drew immediate praise online, with hundreds of people commenting on the fire department’s post. “God bless you for saving that pup,” one Facebook user wrote. “Responders like you remind us that there is good and kindness.” Another added, “We are all so lucky to have such great fire and rescue departments. A very lucky dog!” The department used the moment to issue a seasonal warning about the dangers of frozen water bodies. “No ice is ever safe,” officials said, adding that even with training and proper equipment, ice rescues are risky. The incident marked the first emergency call of 2026 for the Misquamicut Fire Department. “All of the Chiefs from MFD and WHFD extend kudos to everyone involved for their quick response and teamwork this morning,” the department said.

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Why Padael is Set To Become One Of The Fastest-Growing Sports By 2026

A few decades ago, padel was little more than a niche pastime, born from one man’s frustration over a lack of space to build a tennis court. Today, it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world — and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. From buzzing clubs in southern Spain to new venues opening across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, padel is booming. What was once a modest hobby played behind glass walls has exploded into a global sensation, with tens of millions of people picking up a racket and stepping onto the court. Padel’s origin story begins in 1960s Acapulco, Mexico. Enrique Corcuera, a tennis enthusiast, didn’t have the room to build a regulation court. So he improvised. He built a smaller court with surrounding walls that kept the ball in play — and unintentionally created an entirely new game. One of his friends, Spanish aristocrat Alfonso de Hohenlohe-Langenburg, visited Corcuera’s home, tried the new sport, and was immediately hooked. In 1974, he built the first two padel courts in Marbella, Spain. From there, the game spread quickly throughout Spain and into Argentina, Uruguay, and other Spanish-speaking countries. Today, padel is played in over 130 countries. According to the International Padel Federation (FIP), more than 90 of those countries now have organized federations. Why It’s Taking Off The appeal is simple: padel is accessible, fun, and highly social. Most often played in doubles on a compact court about a third the size of a tennis court, padel keeps the ball in play longer thanks to the glass walls, which allow for rebounds and make rallies more forgiving. “It’s relatively easy to move the ball from one side of the court to the other,” says Francis Calvache, a padel coach and the highest-ranked player in Spain’s Almería province. “And because there are also walls, you have the chance for the ball to bounce back and not lose it, unlike in tennis.” The rules are easy to learn, even for beginners, and games often favour tactics and positioning over pure power. That makes it appealing to all ages — from young children to retirees. Padel’s popularity isn’t limited to elite clubs. In Spain, it’s everywhere: in apartment complexes, public parks, and beach towns. In the coastal village of San José, for instance, a group of local women meet every Friday morning for casual games. None of them has taken a formal lesson, but rallies are spirited and full of laughter. “It reminds me of when I used to play bat and ball on the beach,” says María Jesus, one of the players. “It brings me back to those beach moments with my family in summer.” The sport’s growth has been helped along by its affordability. Compared to tennis courts, padel courts are cheaper to build and maintain, and more players can rotate through in a day. That’s made the sport especially attractive to private sports clubs and local governments looking to promote community health. Spain remains the powerhouse of the professional game. As of 2025, seven of the top ten male players in the world are Spanish. But other countries are quickly catching up. Argentina continues to be a major contender, while growth across Europe, the Middle East, and North America is accelerating. In the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association says over 400,000 people played padel at least once in 2025 — a number that’s climbing fast. For a sport born out of limited space, padel is expanding with remarkable ease. As demand increases, more clubs are popping up in cities that just a few years ago had never heard of the sport. It’s fast-paced, beginner-friendly, and doesn’t require years of training to enjoy. Whether you’re a seasoned tennis player or just looking for a new way to spend an hour with friends, padel offers something unique — and clearly, the world is taking notice.

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Piano Teacher and Her Pup Go Viral on TikTok — One Soothing Song at a Time

When Kara Baldus-Mehrmann sits down at her piano, her dog Bradford knows the routine. As soon as the music starts, the fluffy white pup climbs into her lap, closes his eyes, and sways to the sound. Together, the two have become one of TikTok’s most comforting corners of the internet — a place where music, calm, and canine charm come together. “It’s the dream,” says Baldus-Mehrmann, a longtime jazz piano instructor at Washington University in St. Louis. “And I didn’t realize that my sweet dog angel would be a part of getting my music out there.” Baldus-Mehrmann first began uploading videos with Bradford during the COVID-19 lockdown. Teaching her university students remotely from a basement piano, she noticed Bradford liked to sit with her while she played. Her students loved it. A friend encouraged her to post a clip to TikTok, and it didn’t take long for one video — a song from Amélie — to go viral. That moment sparked a wave of support and interest that hasn’t slowed down. Her account now has more than 175,000 followers and nearly 5 million likes, with near-daily videos of her playing song requests while Bradford rests, blinks, and sways — almost meditatively — in her lap. “He believes he is a lap dog,” she jokes. Baldus-Mehrmann has been playing piano since the age of 5. “It’s all I’ve ever known,” she says. A passion for jazz led her to study jazz piano in college, followed by a master’s in jazz performance. She’s been teaching for over 20 years. Bradford came into her life 13 years ago, when she rescued him at just 12 weeks old. Now, the pair are inseparable, and their gentle, music-filled videos have reached audiences far beyond their hometown. Even celebrities have taken notice — singer SZA commented “I LOVE BRADFORD,” while Charlie Puth called him a “great listener.” The official Pixar account chimed in too, especially when she played the theme from Up. “I’m just amazed by the musicians that follow me,” she says. “I think I need to collab with more people.” But the account isn’t just about music. It's grown into a small online refuge — something Baldus-Mehrmann says she's especially grateful for after sharing news of Bradford’s cancer diagnosis a few years ago. She wasn’t sure whether to go public with it, but the outpouring of support was overwhelming. “Everyone’s like, ‘I’m thinking good thoughts for you,’” she recalls. “That part has been really lovely — all the good vibes.” The relationship flows both ways. She regularly gets messages from followers saying her content helped them through hard days or provided a few minutes of peace from the nonstop doomscrolling that defines most timelines. “It’s a joyful thing no matter what’s going on in their day,” she says. “They can just rest and breathe easy, look at [his] sweet face, and listen to some piano.” Bradford is now up for a Pet Lovers’ Choice Award in the macroinfluencer category — a nod to just how many people he’s reached. And while she has a few big ideas in the works, including a possible children’s book inspired by Bradford, Baldus-Mehrmann says her focus is on staying true to what works. “I’m just letting him be a bright spot in the social media world,” she says. “Whatever it evolved into, I’m so grateful.”

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Texas Teacher Adopts Former Student’s Baby After Life-Changing Facebook Message

Kaci Spampinato has always believed in being there for her students — but she never imagined it would lead to adopting one of their children. In 2014, the longtime Texas teacher got a Facebook message asking if she had any baby items to donate. That small request would change her life forever. The baby belonged to one of Spampinato’s former students — a teen she hadn’t seen since 2009. They’d lost touch after the student moved foster homes. But when another teacher reached out to say the young woman had just given birth and needed help, Spampinato didn’t hesitate. She gathered baby supplies and brought her sons along to reconnect. “I don't know if you remember me,” she told the young mom, “but I'd love to come and see you.” The student did remember her — clearly. They spent the afternoon catching up, and before leaving, Spampinato handed over her phone number: “If you ever need anything, let me know.” A few days later, the young mom called, saying things had become unsafe in her apartment complex. Spampinato and her husband, Mike, welcomed her and the baby into their home. It was during that visit — swimming in the backyard — that the young woman asked a life-altering question: “Do you think you and Mike would adopt him?” What she didn’t know was that Spampinato had recently suffered a miscarriage. “We're believers,” Spampinato said. “And I had always said, ‘If God wants me to have a baby, he’s gonna drop one in my lap.’ And he did.” Initially, the baby's biological father wasn’t on board. The couple returned home, and Spampinato assumed the conversation was over — until weeks later, when she got another call. Child Protective Services was at the apartment. “She said, ‘Do you still want him?’” Spampinato rushed over with her husband and mother. With the caseworker present, they packed up the baby and brought him home. After a home study and legal proceedings, the adoption was finalized on February 25, 2015. The little boy, Kash, officially became part of their family. Spampinato, now 49, says she’ll never forget holding Kash for the first time. “There was no expectation whatsoever to adopt him at that time,” she said. “But when I put him up on my shoulder, I just kind of knew.” Kash fit right in. Her eldest son, Kade, was already a young adult, but her younger son Krew was just a few years older than Kash. Her extended family rallied immediately, including her parents, who already had a deep connection to adoption — Spampinato has an adopted brother. “It just was so natural and organic,” she said. “You can’t help but think that he was placed perfectly with us.” As Kash has grown up, he’s started to ask questions. Once, while driving past a hospital, he said, “Mommy, remember when I was in your belly?” Spampinato gently reminded him he wasn’t, then showed him a photo of his biological mother. “He looked at her and said, ‘I wub her.’ And I said, ‘I wub her too.’” She’s kept in touch with his birth mother when possible. Kash occasionally likes or comments on photos of Kash online. Spampinato always makes sure her son knows the decision to place him for adoption came from love. “We always say, ‘They loved you more than anyone could ever love you because they knew what was best for you.’” Spampinato recently shared their adoption story on TikTok in hopes of connecting with other adoptive families — and inspiring others, especially educators, to recognize their power to change lives. “Maybe another teacher sees this and thinks, ‘What kind of impact am I having on my students? Do they know someone is there to love them?’” Every year, the family celebrates Kash’s adoption day on February 25 with his favorite meal: creamy mac and cheese. Now 11, Kash loves to fish and hopes to join his high school’s fishing team one day. “He is exactly what we needed,” Spampinato said. “He asks inquisitive questions. He is a deep thinker. He's just a lover of life — and we sure love him.”

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The Green Hornet Strikes Again! Celebrates 85 Years as a Superhero Pioneer

Long before the Avengers assembled and Batman brooded in IMAX, one masked vigilante was setting the standard for on-screen superhero action — and confusing audiences with his oddly complex backstory. On January 4, 1941, The Green Hornet Strikes Again! hit theaters as the second film serial for a character who wasn’t from DC or Marvel, but from the golden age of radio. Eighty-five years later, it still holds up — at least, in its own peculiar way. Originally created in 1936 by Fran Striker and George W. Trendle, the Green Hornet started life as a radio hero. Unlike many of his peers, he wasn't born in a comic book panel but in the sound booth, alongside a swirling score and pulpy narration. By 1941, he was so popular he was already getting a sequel — something few radio characters achieved at the time. The Green Hornet Strikes Again! followed a successful first serial, but with a notable change: the lead role of Britt Reid was recast. Out went Gordon Jones (whose voice had been dubbed over by original radio actor Al Hodge), and in came Warren Hull, offering a slightly smoother, friendlier Hornet — think George Clooney Batman versus Val Kilmer Batman. For those unfamiliar, the Green Hornet is not, as many assume, a DC Comics creation. Instead, he exists in the same narrative universe as The Lone Ranger — literally. Canonically, Britt Reid is the grandnephew of the Lone Ranger, which makes The Green Hornet one of the earliest examples of a shared superhero universe. Interconnected mythologies and convoluted backstories? The 1930s were already doing it. Watching the 15-part serial today feels like stepping into a time capsule — complete with cliffhangers, villains in fedoras, and narration that treats every fistfight like a national emergency. It’s repetitive, sure, and the plot doesn’t move much from episode to episode. But there's an undeniable charm in its structure: the Hornet blackmails crooks by pretending to be one himself, and somehow the double deception holds up. Unlike later heroes, the Green Hornet wasn’t exactly invincible. In fact, he gets knocked around quite a bit — a deliberate narrative stall to keep the serial's pacing nice and slow. But that just adds to the pulp appeal. He may don a gas gun and a sleek mask, but Britt Reid often feels more like a tired beat reporter than a superhero, and somehow that makes him more believable. The serial also carries unexpected sci-fi undertones. Though grounded in crime noir, it was cut and co-directed by veterans of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, and the influence shows. It even uses a text crawl recap before each episode — a detail that would later become iconic thanks to Star Wars. Compared to the 1966 TV revival starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee, the original Hornet is slower and stiffer. Keye Luke plays Kato solidly in the 1941 version, but Bruce Lee’s presence in the later series redefined the role — and arguably overshadowed the Hornet himself. Still, The Green Hornet Strikes Again! deserves credit. It helped translate a radio icon to the screen, cementing the viability of superheroes in visual media. It’s campy. It’s slow. But it laid the groundwork for nearly a century of superhero storytelling. If you’re looking for tight pacing and complex character arcs, this isn’t it. But if you appreciate pulpy dialogue, noir aesthetics, and the strange, looping charm of Golden Age storytelling, the Green Hornet still has a sting. Eighty-five years on, that’s not a bad legacy.

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After 1,064 Days in a Shelter, Bobby the Greyhound Finally Finds a Home

For nearly three years, Bobby the greyhound watched as dog after dog left the shelter for a new life. He stayed behind, day after day, overlooked and waiting. That wait finally ended this week. After 1,064 days at Woodside Animal Welfare Trust in Plymouth, the six-year-old rescue dog has been adopted — just in time for the new year. Bobby’s new owner, Peter Hart, said the decision to adopt him came the moment he saw his photo. “When I found out he'd been here for three years I couldn't believe it,” Hart said. “That's a long time for a dog to be in kennels.” The pair met at the sanctuary and immediately bonded. “We went and sat in his kennel,” Hart recalled. “It took him a few minutes and then he jumped up on the couch and flumped on me.” Shelter staff said Bobby’s story is one they’ve been hoping to rewrite for a long time. Since arriving at Woodside in February 2023, Bobby has watched hundreds of dogs come and go. He was repeatedly passed over — likely due to a combination of age, coat colour, and the mistaken belief that greyhounds need high levels of exercise. He also wasn’t fond of sharing his toys, which didn’t help. Despite that, staff at the shelter believed Bobby had potential — and just needed the right person. Now, with Hart, he seems to have found it. “We are over-the-moon,” said senior manager Debbie Haynes. “We've been waiting such a long time for Bobby to find a wonderful home and we are so delighted that he finally has.” The trust described the match as instant. Bobby and Hart “hit it off” straight away, and he officially went home on Tuesday. For Bobby, it’s the end of a very long chapter. For shelter staff, it’s the happy ending they’d been hoping for.

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Delaware Wipes Out $19M in Medical Debt For More Than 18,000 People

More than 18,000 Delaware residents will end the year with a lighter burden — and less medical debt — thanks to a first-of-its-kind state initiative. Governor Matt Meyer announced this week that nearly $19 million in medical debt has been eliminated so far as part of Delaware’s new medical debt relief program. The effort is funded through a $500,000 investment in the state’s FY 2026 budget and carried out in partnership with Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit that purchases and cancels unpaid medical bills. “With this first $19 million in debt wiped away, we’re showing what’s possible when states invest in practical solutions to deliver real relief,” said Meyer. “We’re already helping over 18,000 Delawareans sleep easier this holiday season, and we look forward to more good news in 2026.” The nonprofit works by purchasing bundled medical debt portfolios from hospitals and debt collectors at steep discounts — often for pennies on the dollar. On average, $1 can erase about $100 of medical debt, according to the governor’s office. To date, 18,145 people across Delaware have had a portion or all of their qualifying debt erased. The goal is to reach up to $50 million in medical debt relief statewide in the coming months. “There is no application process,” said Undue Medical Debt President and CEO Allison Sesso. “Eligibility is based on financial need.” Residents who qualify will receive official notification letters in the mail confirming that their medical debt has been abolished. The first round of letters is being sent between December 19 and 23, and will serve as a receipt of debt cancellation. “Medical debt is both a financial and emotional burden; no one chooses to get sick, be in an accident, or have a chronic condition,” Sesso said. “This partnership will provide welcome relief to families facing financial hardship simply from seeking necessary care.” The Delaware initiative joins a growing wave of local and state governments exploring medical debt relief as a public health and economic strategy — tackling one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy in the U.S. and providing a path toward greater financial stability for thousands of families.

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