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Score (96)
Indigenous Histories and Futures Shine in This Photography Exhibition
A groundbreaking exhibition curated by Wendy Red Star is now at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. Featuring over 60 works by Native and Indigenous artists, "Native America: In Translation" explores themes of memory and identity through photography. The show offers a fresh perspective on Native American representation using lens-based art to capture histories and futures. On view until January 5th, this thought-provoking exhibit showcases intergenerational artists from various Native nations across the Americas.
Score (95)
The First “Sacred” Swans Arrive in the UK, Marking the Start of Winter Migration
The first Bewick’s swans of the season have landed in the UK, officially ushering in the start of winter at Gloucestershire’s WWT Slimbridge wetland reserve. Three swans—paired birds Heerlen and Olga, along with a solo traveler named George II—touched down early Sunday morning after completing their epic 3,500-kilometre migration from Arctic Russia. The arrival, just ahead of a cold snap and pushed by north-easterly winds, marks the first wave of what is expected to be many more Bewick’s returning to their long-standing winter refuge. “As a young visitor I appreciated the Bewick's swans flock at WWT Slimbridge,” said reserve manager Martin McGill. “But it wasn't until I began working on the reserve that I realised just how sacred these special birds were.” Bewick’s swans, known for their distinct black-and-yellow bills and smaller size compared to other swans, are considered an iconic presence at Slimbridge. Their annual return has been closely tracked for decades, beginning with legendary conservationist and WWT founder Sir Peter Scott in 1964. Since then, more than 10,000 individual swans have been recorded at the site. WWT Slimbridge has earned a reputation as one of the only places where visitors can get close to these birds, thanks to what McGill describes as “a relationship we’ve built on trust.” That trust, built up over generations of swans returning, has helped establish a deep connection between the reserve and its avian guests. Heerlen was first spotted at Slimbridge as an unpaired adult in December 2020. Olga arrived a year later, as a cygnet with her parents, Orkney Reed and Doodles. The two swans eventually formed a pair during the 2023–24 winter season, and now return together. Just a day after their arrival, eight more Bewick’s swans showed up on Monday, including a familiar name—Maisie, a Slimbridge regular since 2014. She was fitted with a tracker in 2015 and later paired with Maifeld in 2016. The two have been returning to Slimbridge every winter since, adding to the rich history of returning birds that make up the wetland’s seasonal soundtrack. In total, 11 swans have now arrived for the winter, including one cygnet. And this is just the beginning. For decades, the return of the Bewick’s swans has been part of Slimbridge’s winter spectacle—an enduring symbol of the colder months ahead and the powerful pull of migration instincts. As the weeks go on, conservationists expect many more to arrive, continuing a tradition that spans generations and connects Arctic Russia to the wetlands of southwest England.
Score (94)
Deputy Helps 70-Year-Old Resident Through Window as House Fire Rages
A sheriff’s deputy in Avon Park, Florida, helped a 70-year-old resident escape a house fire on November 18 by lifting the woman out a window to safety, bodycam footage shows. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office released this bodycam footage from Deputy Massey, which shows him responding to a house fire on Gobourne Street on Tuesday. The fire, which police said was caused by a cooking accident, can be seen burning at the back of the house while the woman attempts to exit through the window.
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Score (98)
‘They Got Us Through’: Cancer Survivor Now Volunteers at Food Project That Once Fed Her Family
When Lisa Parkinson was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, life quickly became unrecognizable. Her husband left his job to care for her, their two children couldn’t attend school clubs due to shielding, and bills kept piling up. “Things became quite difficult,” she said. “We still had bills to pay.” That’s when she turned to the Big Food Project in Blackpool — a network that redistributes surplus food from supermarkets and manufacturers to more than 125 foodbanks, schools, crisis services, and families across Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre. Now cancer-free for five years, Lisa is one of the project’s most dedicated volunteers, helping distribute food to families every Tuesday at Blackpool FC. It’s her way of giving back. “They helped me through a very dark time,” she said. “Now I feel as though it’s my time to help and give back.” Like many who first use a foodbank, Lisa said she wrestled with the decision. “I thought, ‘I don’t want to have to do this,’” she recalled. “I thought they’ll judge me, people will be thinking, ‘Oh, she does nothing.’ But they made me feel so welcome. We had a cup of tea, and I relaxed because there is a stigma about using foodbanks.” At the Big Food Project’s Blackpool FC hub, £8 gets you four bags of food — far more than you’d get at the supermarket, she said. It made a huge difference when her family needed it most. “It was 100% there for us,” Lisa said. “It was hard enough going through all the treatment as well as having two children. It was a massive, massive help.” The project, founded by Neil Reid, is still in high demand. Last week alone, the warehouse distributed enough food for 17,600 meals. Each Tuesday, Lisa helps supply food to 50 to 60 families at her venue — and the stories she hears are as heartbreaking as ever. “People will say to us, ‘Oh, it’s a lifesaver,’” she said. One person hadn’t had a cup of tea in a week because they couldn’t afford tea bags. Others get excited over a bottle of shampoo or nice shower gel. “It makes me sad,” Lisa said. “People who are working full-time or pensioners are still struggling to pay for food.” After three and a half years of volunteering, Lisa says the work is deeply personal — not just because of what it gave her, but because of what it continues to give others. “They got us through a very difficult time,” she said. “And now I get to help do the same for someone else.”
Score (94)
A 400-Year-Old Navigational Tool Has Finally Returned Home to the Isles of Scilly
A rare 16th-century navigational instrument has returned to the Isles of Scilly more than four centuries after it was lost at sea. The Pednathise Head astrolabe, dated 1568, was originally used by early explorers to measure the altitude of the sun or stars to determine latitude. Only around 120 such devices from that era are known to have survived. This particular astrolabe was recovered from a Spanish shipwreck off Pednathise Head in the late 1980s. Since then, it’s had a journey nearly as remarkable as the mariners who once relied on it. After being discovered in the wreck, it entered private collections and eventually made its way across three continents. At various times, it passed through the hands of an antique dealer, a New Jersey car salesman, and even the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Florida. Its true significance was finally recognized through a research program at Texas A&M University, prompting the Mel Fisher Museum to return the artifact to the Isles of Scilly. The Isles of Scilly Museum called the astrolabe’s return “a captivating chapter of maritime history full circle.” “We're thrilled to have this rare example of a mariner's astrolabe back on the Isles of Scilly and in the care of the museum,” said curator Xavier Duffy. “It's the object's remarkable journey and unlikely return that makes it truly special.” The astrolabe will be the centrepiece of a new maritime gallery set to open at the Isles of Scilly Museum in autumn 2026.
Score (97)
One of the World’s Rarest Birds Bounces Back, Thanks to Balinese Villages and Traditional Law
The Bali starling, a songbird once nearly extinct in the wild, is making a comeback — not because of government programs or international NGOs, but thanks to grassroots action by Balinese communities using centuries-old customary laws. In 2001, only six Bali starlings (Leucopsar rothschildi) were known to exist in the wild. Poaching, driven by demand from the exotic pet trade, had pushed the snow-white bird with a cobalt-blue face to the brink of extinction. Now, 20 years later, the wild population has rebounded to more than 500 — and the credit largely goes to local villages that took protection into their own hands. “All the people in our village are working together to secure this species,” said Made Sukadana, who heads a tourism group in Tengkudak village. “We plant fruit trees for the Bali starling and support a dedicated, passionate bird person who monitors daily.” That sense of community didn’t always exist. Earlier conservation efforts, including an 18-year campaign by the Tegal Bunder Breeding Center that released over 200 starlings into Bali Barat National Park, failed to prevent continued poaching. Many of the birds didn’t adapt to the wild or stayed too close to the release sites, making them easy targets. Rangers were outmatched by traffickers offering $4,500 a pair — more than a ranger’s annual salary. Even with stepped-up patrols, 78 birds were stolen from the breeding center. The turning point came in 2006, when conservationist and veterinarian Bayu Wirayudha proposed using the neighboring island of Nusa Penida, just 20 kilometers southeast of Bali, as a safe haven for the birds. With no established poaching routes and a close-knit population, the island offered a unique opportunity. Instead of relying on enforcement from above, Wirayudha and his team held face-to-face meetings with every village on the island. Eventually, the communities agreed to protect the Bali starling under awig-awig — traditional Hindu customary laws that must be approved by consensus and carry strict, community-enforced penalties. Under awig-awig, poachers aren’t just fined. They may face mandatory ceremonies, public service, and social accountability in a system that has proven far more effective than national wildlife laws. It worked. Former poachers on Nusa Penida became tour guides. Birdwatchers and ecotourism groups began to visit, bringing new income to the island. According to conservation data, anti-poaching compliance rose by nearly 1,200 percent. As the program’s success spread, other villages on Bali — including Tengkudak, Bongan, and Sibangkaja — joined in, creating their own community rules to protect the bird. “You get everyone in your community in a wild bird preserving culture, and it becomes self-regulating,” said Jessica Lee, head of avian species programs and partnerships at Mandai Nature. Once on the edge of vanishing, the Bali starling is now a symbol of how local traditions and community ownership can achieve what formal conservation often can’t. In protecting the bird, these villages are preserving not only a species, but a way of life — rooted in shared responsibility and respect for nature.
Score (98)
A North Philly Church is Using Solar Power to Cut Bills and Lift Up Its Neighborhood
A small church in North Philadelphia is proving that solar power doesn’t just cut carbon — it can help cover rent, ease financial strain, and build a more equitable community. One Hope Community Church has just completed a 27-kilowatt rooftop solar array that will not only meet its own energy needs but also generate enough excess power to give back. The church is using the savings to provide $600 annual energy grants to four local families and one nonprofit, effectively turning sunlight into financial relief. “This provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to learn about solar and benefit from solar and hopefully spread this thing across the entire city and maybe the entire state,” said Julian Burnett, community engagement manager at Solar States, the Philadelphia-based installer behind the project. Pennsylvania currently bans formal community solar programs — which allow residents to buy or lease a share of a solar array and receive credits on their electricity bills — but this project works around that by using private funding and a bit of creative thinking. In essence, the church becomes a mini-utility, using its rooftop to generate savings and share them. Funded by $75,000 in donations, the project is designed to keep energy dollars local and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It’s also a model for how clean energy can reach low-income neighborhoods, not just the wealthy homeowners who can afford rooftop installations. "People who are higher-income who can afford solar paneling, that's great,” said Charles Lanier, executive director of the Hunting Park Neighborhood Advisory Center. “But for our community, they're just struggling day-to-day to survive and pay their bills.” The church’s solar setup offsets its own electricity use, but what makes this initiative unique is its community benefit model. Rather than simply pocketing the savings, One Hope channels the surplus into real money for neighbors — a direct investment in energy equity. Clean energy advocates say these kinds of neighborhood-led projects are gaining traction across the U.S., especially in places like Chicago, where Green Era is turning food waste into renewable energy, and in Ohio, where neighborhood co-ops are sharing solar power among residents. Aside from helping households financially, the One Hope array will reduce climate-warming emissions, lower strain on the grid, and improve air quality in a part of Philadelphia that has long struggled with pollution and asthma rates. “This is an innovative way for solar to provide benefits to the community without violating the community solar rules,” said Burnett. With climate solutions often out of reach for families living paycheck to paycheck, the church’s effort shows that with enough creativity — and community support — solar can be for everyone.
Score (84)
This Portrait That Helped Save a Life Just Broke a Modern Art Auction Record, Selling for $236 Million
Gustav Klimt's painting "Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer" has made headlines by selling for an astonishing $236.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. This sale sets a new record for modern art, surpassing the previous high of $195 million fetched by an Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe last year. The 1.8-meter-tall masterpiece was created between 1914 and 1916 and captures the image of Elisabeth Lederer, a member of one of Vienna's wealthiest families before World War II. The Nazis plundered much from the Lederers when they annexed Austria in 1938, but left behind family portraits like this one, which they deemed “too Jewish” to bother taking. Ironically, this overlooked painting played a crucial role in helping Elisabeth Lederer survive during those perilous times. In an attempt to protect herself from Nazi persecution, Lederer fabricated a story claiming that Klimt was her father. Though Klimt had died in 1918 and wasn't Jewish himself, she managed with her former brother-in-law's help—a high-ranking Nazi—to convince authorities of her fake lineage. This deception granted her safety in Vienna until she passed away from illness in 1944. This artwork is one of only two full-length Klimt portraits still owned privately. Remarkably, it survived the devastating fire that destroyed numerous other works by Klimt at an Austrian castle. The painting recently belonged to Leonard A. Lauder, who amassed a massive art collection valued over $400 million before passing away earlier this year at age 92. Lauder was also known as the heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics fortune. During the same auction at Sotheby’s, five pieces from Lauder's Klimt collection were sold, amassing a total of $392 million. Despite the impressive figures involved and intense interest surrounding these sales, Sotheby’s chose not to disclose who acquired "Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer.
Score (94)
Denmark Sets One of the World’s Most Ambitious Climate Targets at COP30
Denmark has raised the bar at this year’s COP30 climate summit, announcing a new emissions reduction target that would place it among the most aggressive climate actors globally. The country now aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 82 to 85 percent by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. “Denmark must consistently remain among the most ambitious countries,” said Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, during Monday’s announcement. “We must once again show the rest of the world that it is possible to balance ambitious climate goals with a competitive business sector and social cohesion.” To back the target, Denmark is allocating 4 billion Danish kroner (about €535 million) to finance climate action. Aagaard emphasized that global instability should not be an excuse for climate inaction. “We have to prioritise climate action even in a time marked by war and conflict,” he said. “Targets, financing, and the measures needed to secure the additional reductions must go hand in hand.” The announcement reinforces Denmark’s standing as a global climate leader. According to the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), released Monday, Denmark ranks 4th worldwide in overall climate performance — the highest-ranked country on the list, as the top three positions remain unfilled due to no nation being fully aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals. Denmark scored “very high” in the renewable energy category, “high” in greenhouse gas emissions and climate policy, and “medium” in energy use. The index, which tracks 63 countries and the European Union, highlights Denmark’s leadership in offshore wind and strong progress in electric vehicle adoption. This is not Denmark’s first high bar. Back in 2020, the Danish parliament passed its first legally binding climate act, setting a 70 percent emissions reduction goal by 2030 — a target the country is on track to meet. Denmark is also aiming to become climate-neutral by 2045, five years ahead of the EU-wide target. The new 2035 target not only tightens Denmark’s timeline but puts pressure on other industrialized nations to act faster. Across the European Union, Member States recently finalized their own 2035 goal, committing to cut net emissions by 66.25 to 72.5 percent from 1990 levels. The EU is targeting climate neutrality by 2050, trailing Denmark’s 2045 goal. The United Kingdom, once hailed as the global frontrunner for emissions cuts, announced an 81 percent reduction target for 2035 at COP29 last year — though measured against 1950 levels. The UK was also the first G7 nation to phase out coal and currently ranks 5th in the CCPI, but its renewable energy rollout has not kept pace with top performers. Other European countries making significant progress include Luxembourg, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, all of which made the CCPI’s top ten. Norway and Sweden have also been praised for their renewable energy expansions, with Norway pledging to cut emissions by 70 to 75 percent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. “While we cannot yet attest to any country having very good climate mitigation performance overall, there are pioneers in some categories who are demonstrating ambitious performance,” said CCPI author Niklas Höhne. Denmark appears intent on leading by example — not only with strong rhetoric but with binding targets, financial backing, and an early timeline that will be closely watched by allies and competitors alike.
Score (96)
This TV ‘bad Guy’ Turns Real-Life Hero, Stops Possible Abduction in New Jersey
George Pogatsia has made a career playing tough guys and suspects on shows like Law & Order and The Sopranos. But outside his home in Jersey City, the actor took on a very different role — one that likely saved a young woman from a terrifying situation. The 55-year-old actor spotted a visibly intoxicated 19-year-old girl and her cousin being led down the street by a man they didn’t know. Pogatsia said the man, dressed in all black and standing over six feet tall, was insistent on taking the girl with him. “This guy was just insistent on trying to get this girl to go with him,” Pogatsia told NBC New York. “She was under five feet herself… and he took them by the hand and pulled them down the street.” It was Pogatsia’s wife, Yolanda, who first noticed something wasn’t right. She urged him to follow. As they trailed the group, the man reportedly told one of the women not to call police, warning that “they will detain you” — a threat Yolanda believes was meant to invoke fear of deportation by ICE. The situation escalated near Bowers Street, when Pogatsia saw the man lift the teen onto his shoulder. “That’s when I demanded that he put the girl down,” he said. On 911 recordings obtained by TMZ, Pogatsia can be heard tracking the suspect and confronting him. “Where you going, mother-----? Where you going?” he yells, before the man drops the girl and runs. “He dropped her like a sack of potatoes,” Pogatsia said. “Then he ran back this way and I chased after him.” Police soon arrived. The girl was shaken but safe. The man, however, escaped. Pogatsia, whose career often casts him as the villain, said this experience was a powerful contrast. “I usually play a bad guy, you know? But it’s a lot more rewarding to be a real-life good guy.” The actor’s actions earned praise — including a letter of appreciation from former President Donald Trump. Still, for Pogatsia, the real reward was stepping in when it mattered most. “It’s something I’ll never forget,” he said.
Score (98)
Disabled Dogs Earn 'Drivers License' At World's First Wheelchair-Friendly Park
In a quiet corner of the UK, a seven-acre sanctuary is rewriting the story for dogs who’ve often been overlooked. It's not just a dog park — it's a celebration of resilience on four wheels, three legs, or no vision at all. The park is the latest creation from Broken Biscuits, a charity founded more than 15 years ago by Cassie Carney. The organization has long championed the needs of disabled dogs, many of whom are passed over in shelters or euthanized due to the extra care they require. Carney and a devoted team of volunteers have been changing that — one set of wheels at a time. At any given moment, Broken Biscuits fosters at least a dozen paraplegic dogs. They also loan wheelchairs to pet owners who can’t afford the specialty equipment needed to give their dogs mobility. Their work extends beyond just logistics. The team also offers advice and education to those caring for disabled dogs, helping people understand that “different” doesn't mean less. This year, Carney wanted to go further. Inspired by years of advocacy and with the support of donors and volunteers, she opened what’s believed to be the world’s first dedicated dog park for disabled pups. It’s not a typical park. It has a race track and a skate rink designed specifically for dogs in wheelchairs — complete with a cheeky “learner driver’s test” for first-time users. There’s a café, small houses, and stables where shy or overwhelmed dogs can find a bit of peace. Hand-painted wooden signs mark the intersections, and the entire place is wired with 24/7 live cameras so owners and volunteers can monitor the dogs while they play. Carney’s friends and family built much of it themselves — digging trenches, painting murals, and installing fencing. Upcycled materials were used throughout. The whole project, like the dogs it was built for, is a mix of heart, creativity, and grit. "Tri-paws, blind, deaf, paraplegics, IVDD warriors, congenital birth deformities, amputees, and more: different is great," Broken Biscuits posted on social media. "Let’s celebrate it loud and proud." It’s the kind of place where dogs who’ve known pain get to know joy instead — chasing each other down a track, exploring at their own pace, or just soaking in a bit of sun. For the people who love them, it’s a space where disability doesn’t mean exclusion — it means community. And for Carney, it’s a long-time dream made real. Almost two decades of quiet dedication to dogs no one else would take, now echoed in the laughter of volunteers and the sound of wheels on grass.