Fourth Grader Hailed as Hero After Bus Crash
An 11-year-old boy who survived Friday's fatal tour bus crash in Arizona is being called a hero by the firefighters and paramedics who responded to the scene. They heaped praise on the boy who put others before himself after the horrifying crash. Oscar Rodriguez was traveling to California from Mexico with his father and sister when the bus crashed. The bi-lingual Oscar helped paramedics who were facing a language barrier with most of the passengers, taking position alongside the rescue ...

Former Homeless Man Wins $250K in Lotto
Life hasn't been easy for a 37-year-old Boise insurance agent who at one time lived in a homeless shelter. He has won $250,000 in the Idaho Lottery and says he won't forget those who helped him get back on his feet. Watch the video below, or at Clip Syndicate... ...

Student, Teacher Want State Tax Forms Changed to Make it Easy to Help Homeless
An inspiring collaboration between a student and teacher could lead to an easy way to raise thousands every year for food pantries and homeless shelters, without any added manpower or volunteer hours. The two want to give tax payers the option of donating, similar to the check-off box ... already on tax forms. Good News Network supporter Palma C. sent this story, saying it is "a great example of service and systemic change!" (READ the story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune) ...

US Grants Asylum to German Homeschoolers, Others May Follow
A US judge granted German homeschoolers asylum in January after ruling they faced persecution in Germany, where the practice is punishable with fines or imprisonment. The US Home School Legal Defense Association says other German families are exploring political asylum in the U.S. (READ the story in the CS Monitor) Photo courtesy of Sun Star ...

Haitian Girl Back in Dad's Arms, Thanks to New UNICEF Effort to Reunite Families
95 percent of children separated from their parents in an earthquakes or other disaster can be reunited with a loved one who is able to care for them if humanitarian groups just take the time to do the search. In Haiti, seven weeks after the deadly quake, UNICEF has launched an effort to locate surviving relatives for children in Port-au-Prince, hoping to keep them out of struggling orphanages. A TV crew documents the efforts that reunite a little girl with her father. Watch the video b ...

Youth Saves Hundreds of Chilean Islanders After Sounding Alarm
A 12 year-old girl saved the lives of scores of inhabitants of Juan Fernandez archipelago, 373 miles from the Chilean coastline, when she sounded the alert following an earthquake. A Giant tsunami wave descended on their islands -- an after-effect of the devastating 8.8 earthquake that struck Concepcion, in central-southern Chile on Saturday. "According to La Tercera newspaper, the child, named Maritna Maturana, learned about the strong quake through her grandfather, a mainland resident ...

Elementary Kids Raise Thousands for Wheelchairs, Instead of Selves
From doing extra chores to collecting from the Tooth Fairy, elementary students spent the last month fundraising, as a sort of New Year's resolution to be kind and generous. The $4,520 collected isn't going to a school program, though. Teachers asked students to look beyond their needs and support the Free Wheelchair Mission, a California nonprofit organization that sends specialized wheelchairs to countries around the world. In the end, the children felt so good about themselves, with t ...

Dog Survives 40 Days Stranded in Mnts. Without Food
A strong-willed dog has returned to its owner after surviving 40 days in the freezing wilderness of the Santa Cruz Mountains without food. Buck, a black lab, got lost near his home on January 6th. His owner assumed he'd been swept up in a swollen river during a rain storm, but on February 16th, his neighbor heard whimpering while hiking in the mountains and found the weak, emaciated dog stranded on a patch of dry river bed. Buck lost 50 pounds as he lay in the cold without food for more th ...

Top Dog: UK Honors Heroic Bomb-Sniffing Pup (Video)
Treo, a black lab trained by the British Army has earned top military honors for his bomb-sniffing duty in Afghanistan. For 8 years, the dog located scores of bombs concealed by the Taliban, saving countless lives. Treo now gets to retire and live a comfortable life. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC... ...

Argentinian Meets Son Stolen From Him in War 33 Years ago
The search is finally over for Abel Madariaga, whose pregnant wife was taken by Argentine security forces 33 years ago. After decades of doubt and loneliness, Madariaga has found his son. "I never stopped thinking I would find him," the 59-year-old father said, squeezing his son's arm during a packed news conference Tuesday. (READ More in the Toronto Star) ...

Make Sure to Get All Your College Tax Credits and Deductions
As tax deadlines approach, college students and their parents take note: new tax rules may help you keep more money in your pocket. Taxpayers who paid college tuition or interest on student loans for themselves or their children should ensure they are taking advantage of tax savings, says Sallie Mae, the nation's leading saving, planning and paying for education company. IRS changes enacted as part of last year's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus package may help make t ...

Instructor to the World! Math and Science Whiz Shares Lessons via YouTube
A math and science whiz kid is now devoting his life to the tutoring of people around the world using YouTube videos. Salman Khan is a natural-born teacher, who left a job as a hedge fund analyst in Boston three years ago. His Khan Academy now has 1000+ videos on YouTube covering everything from basic arithmetic and algebra to differential equations, physics, chemistry, biology and high finance -- all of which were recorded by the affable Khan. It started as an online tutoring session for ...

U.S. Unveils $2.2 Billion Great Lakes Fix
The Obama administration has developed a five-year blueprint for rescuing the Great Lakes, a sprawling ecosystem plagued by toxic contamination and invasive species. The plan envisions spending more than $2.2 billion (U.S.) for long-awaited repairs after a century of damage to the lakes, which hold 20 percent of the world's fresh water. "We're committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation," Lisa Jackson, head of the Environ ...

Family Dog Kept Missing 3-Year-old Girl Safe, Warm
A family dog is credited with keeping a little girl safe when she spent the night outside in 30-degree temperatures Friday after wondering off. The local sheriff credits the dog, a Queensland Heeler, with 3-year-old Victoria Bensch's survival. (Read AP story or watch the video at ABC-15) ...

How To Check Tires for Hidden Dangers
Old tires (more than 5 years old) are sold as "new", because the outside tread looks untouched. However, tires, like milk, have a shelf life after which they can be dangerous -- even deadly -- for drivers.  For instance, an ABC New investigative team found some Walmart stores selling 12 year old tires as "new."   The next time you buy tires, make sure you know how to read the code on the side of the product. Numbers engraved in rubber on a tire wall will tell you when they were ...

Top 5 Superhero Animals
From Planet Green TV comes this rundown of their picks for the Top 5 animal rescues of the decade. An angel Dog, a pig who gets attention on the highway to rescue its owner and a goat warmer are three of the "Planet 100 Top 5 Superhero Animals." Watch the video below... or on YouTube. ...

14 Year Old Makes a Difference for Rwandan Girls
Jessica was only a sixth grader when she learned that most girls in Rwanda are orphans, and they don't have the money or materials to attend school. Over the next several years, she rallied her classmates to raise money for rural Rwandan girls through bake sales, tee shirt sales and donation drives. After a recent front page article in the Seattle Times caught the attention of Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, he donated $25,000, bringing her total to $75,000 raised in three years. The ...

Survey Shows 3 Out of 4 Girls Happy With Their Bodies
According to a national survey released by the Girl Scouts on the eve of New York City’s legendary Fashion Week, most girls are happy with their bodies and reject thin fashion models as unrealistic. According to a Girl Scouts of America press release, the survey of 1,002 girls ages 13 to 17 "comes amid continuing controversy over super thin models who are dangerously underweight, (and charges that) the fashion industry’s preference for waif-like women has led to models engaging in ...

iPhone App Opens World to Boy with Communication Disorder
8 year-old Andrew has Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a developmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction. On an almost daily basis, his family and teachers at school would see Andrew cry, bite on his thumbs and lash out as if in pain. But he was unable to let them know what was wrong. But a new iPhone application Andrew uses on an iPod has opened the doors to Andrew's mind: offering icons he can press like, "I'm hungry" and "I want to sit on your lap." Since Andrew star ...

Jennifer Credits 4-Legged Companion for her New Lease on Life
Jennifer Francis credits her steadfast four-legged companion with saving her life: her mental health assistance dog, Spirit. She and Spirit are proof that the burden of mental illness can be made lighter with the help of a specially trained service dog. Spirit is not just any working dog. Trained by Hamilton-based Encouraging Paws Service Dogs (encouragingpaws.com), she knows more than 50 commands that help keep Francis safe. (Read more in the Toronto Star) ...

Updated Sweethearts Candies Include Phrases Like 'Text Me'
Today is Valentine's Day, and for kids, it means Sweethearts candies —  those little heart-shaped wafers with phrases like "LETS KISS" and "MY BABY." Now, for the first time in 145 years, the candies have been revamped, with brighter colors, bolder flavors and current expressions like "TWEET ME", "TEXT ME", and "YOU ROCK". (Continue reading at NPR.org ) ...

Samaritan Teens Shovel Entire Block for Free
A trio of teens made one Milwaukee neighborhood feel a lot warmer. They cleared almost an entire block of snow for free! These boys never asked for a penny, and view shoveling as more than a chore. Rasheed said, "We're just out here doing good deeds. No charge." Rahagee says, "I want to be a little more helpful, all around good Samaritan." Watch the video below, or read the story in the LA Times ... And, read more about these three Shoveling Samaritans in a follow-up story at WITI-T ...

Farmer Makes Huge Manure Valentine Heart For Wife
For his wife this Valentine’s Day, a farmer has created a half-mile wide arrow-pierced heart recognizable from the sky over southern Minnesota. Following plans he jotted on scratch paper, Bruce Andersland drove his tractor and manure spreader across the white snow in the special shape for his wife, Beth. (Read more at the Albert Lea Tribune) Photo credit: Darren Schone, Minnesota Aviation  ...

Bo In the Snow (White House Photo)
<img src="images/stories/pets/bo-in-the-snow-wh-photo.jpg" alt="bo-in-the-snow-wh-photo.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 349px; height: 233px" title="bo-in-the-snow-wh-photo.jpg" class="border" height="233" width="349" />Bo, the Obama family dog, plays in the snow in the Rose Garden of the White House, in this official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

U.S. Study Shows Dramatic Drop In Child Abuse
The U.S. appears to be trending towards being a safer place for children, with researchers reporting a striking 26 percent decrease in the incidence of child abuse and neglect between 1993 and 2006. The mammoth study, congressionally mandated and completed by the federal government&nbsp; documents an unprecedented and dramatic decrease in incidents of serious child abuse, especially sexual abuse. Experts hailed the findings as proof that crackdowns and public awareness campaigns had made head ...

3 Year-old Gives Prosthetic Leg to Haiti
A 3 year-old girl was watching the news on TV in New Mexico when she heard there were children who lost their limbs. She ran to her bedroom closet to fetch her own prosthetic limb -- one that she had outgrown -- and told her mom she wanted to give it to a child in Haiti. ...

UPDATE: Ice-floe Dog Joins Crew of Ship that Saved him
A dog rescued from the Baltic Sea after braving a 75-mile journey on an ice floe has joined the crew of the Polish research ship that saved him, the captain said Friday. The Sea Fishing Institute which owns the ship sent a bowl and a squeaking toy, and the scientists on board brought dog food. Numerous calls were received from people offering money to feed the dog or wanting to adopt him. (Continue reading AP story at MSNBC) ...

Britain to Pay People to Install Solar Panels on the Roof
Families can earn &pound;900 a year by installing solar panels on their roofs as part of a new Government scheme to pay people to generate their own electricity. Under the deal, which starts in April, households will be paid for electricity fed into the grid from renewable technologies such as solar, wind or energy from waste. The most attractive rate of return will be on solar panels, which for an average sized three bedroom home could earn households &pound;25,000 over 25 years. (Co ...

3-Year-old Dials 911, Saves Grandmother
A three-year-old boy had only learned to dial 9-1-1 a few days earlier but was able to use that new skill with aplomb when his grandmother suffered a stroke. Doctors said she probably would not have survived if the little boy hadn't called for help. Listen to his calm demeanor while talking with the dispatcher, from ABC-TV, KFSN... RELATED: Teach Kids How to Dial 911 ...

Oscar the Cat Predicts Patients' Time to Die: New Book from U.S. Scientist
US scientist David Dosa was sceptical when first told about Oscar the cat, who lived in a nursing home and regularly predicted patients' deaths by snuggling alongside them in their final hours. But Dr Dosa's doubts eroded after he and his colleagues tallied about 50 correct calls made by Oscar over five years, a process he explains in a book that will be released tomorrow, Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat. The feline's bizarre talent astounds Dr Dosa, b ...

Soles for Souls in Haiti
For the past 2 weeks, 7-year-old kids in an Alabama elementary school have has been obsessed with shoes, frantically collecting as many as they can for donation to the victims of Haiti's earthquake. From sneakers to sandals, the kids know it's not the sole that matters, but the difference made in the souls wearing them. A warehouse in nearby Roanoke, Alabama is the base of operation for Soles 4 Souls, a charity that donates a pair of shoes every nine seconds to needy people around th ...

Nurse, Haitian Boy Forge Bond Out of Tragedy
An E.R. nurse is returning to US relishing her unexpected connection with a 5-year-old boy. She cared for him in the days following his rescue from the rubble, after being buried in his home for 9 days. She was the only one who could get him to smile in the weeks following the death of his parents in the earthquake. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC... ...

Dog Rescued From Ice Block in Baltic
Adrift on an ice block in the Baltic a dog was pulled to safety by passing sailors after surviving temperatures below freezing for several days. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC... ...

Boy, 7, Raises $200,000 for Haiti
Seven-year-old Charlie Simpson from London has raised more than &pound;136,000 ($220,000) for Haitian earthquake survivors. Charlie hoped to raise just &pound;500 for UNICEF's earthquake appeal by getting sponsors and cycling five miles around a local park. He posted a simple fundraising page at JustGiving.com, and the donations started flooding in. More donations began pouring in after the story caught the attention of the British media -- with many cheering Simpson past the &pound;100,0 ...

Helicopter Rescues Dog From Swollen California River (Video)
Epic storms have swollen waterways in California and much of the country was riveted by the rescue of a dog that got trapped on a strip of concrete along the storm-swollen Los Angeles River. A rescue worker was lowered by helicopter to where the dog struggled. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC... ...

Photo of the Week: 18-Day-old Infant Rescued After 8 Days in Haiti
Elisabeth, an 18-day-old infant, rests in a tent hospital after spending eight days trapped in her home before being rescued during earthquake relief efforts. The newborn had just nursed and been put to bed when the quake struck, collapsing the walls of her 2nd floor bedroom before her mother could reach her upstairs. Born only two weeks earlier, the infant was trapped for a week, still in her bed. With the ominous absence of any crying, her mother, Micheline Joassaint, had long g ...

Teen Soccer Player Exhibits Grace Despite Losing a Leg at Car Wash Event
Spending two minutes with teen soccer player Bree McMahon will remind you there is adversity, like when doctors say you'll never walk again, but also that there is grace in the face of adversity, like when you get out of your wheelchair, grasp your crutches and wobble across the football field on your loaner leg, in front of a crowd. Like a celebrity, Bree was honored during Senior Night at her Orlando high school, her jersey retired by the team she was fundraising for, when she was rammed i ...

Haitian Orphans Arrive in US, United With Families
Haitian orphans who survived the harrowing earthquake are arriving in the U.S. -- entering their new homes and lives with adoptive families -- in Kansas City, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, NY. The U.S. Homeland Security department eliminated red tape for their travel home. Watch the Reuters video below, or at Voxant... &nbsp; ...

Man Gives Puppy Mouth-To-Mouth After Fire Rescue
Three dogs are safe after being rescued during an apartment fire in Houston this week. Firefighters took action once they realized three dogs were stuck in one of the units. After the dogs were rescued, their owner gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to one, a tiny puppy. (Watch the video or read the story in KTRK-Houston) ...

Donations for Haiti Pour in at Fla. Fire Station (Video)
From water to generators, Miami firefighters have collected an assortment of goods for the relief effort in Haiti. As they dropped off their contributions, Floridians expressed the importance of sending help to the Caribbean nation immediately. Watch the video below from YouTube... ...

UPDATED: Search Dogs Mobilize Around Globe to Help Haiti
In the wake of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake this week, search and rescue dogs from New York City, trained under the FEMA program are on their way to Haiti, as well as multiple search teams from California and Texas. Additionally, search dogs around the world are poised for action, boarding planes and rushing to the disaster zone where they're badly needed. (Baltimore Sun) The Washington Examiner reports that a 72-member search and rescue team made up mostly of Fairfax County, VA Fir ...

Great-Grandma Writes 2139 Letters To Troops
A 92-year-old great-grandma has written more than two thousand letters to troops over the past two years. Each letter is four pages long and unique to each soldier. Her letter-writing to servicemen began more than one half century ago. (Watch the video below, or at CNN) ...

Youth Volunteerism at All-Time High
Fifty-five percent of U.S. teenagers volunteered during a recent year, led by the nation's education system where 68 percent of kindergarten through 12th-grade schools now offer or recognize community service opportunities for students. Want to encourage your own kids to volunteer? It's not just people in need who benefit: Experts say helping others can offer young people a host of rewards, from a stronger sense of community to improved self-esteem. Plus, volunteering can help bulk u ...

Kid's Cancer Touches Garbage Men's Hearts
A 12 year-old girl who had beaten cancer when she was younger, annually designs holiday cards to help raise money for pediatric cancer research. The card she created this year was given to the two men who haul trash, along with ten dollars. On that day, the garbage truck pulled over to a stop, while the men inside talked about the girl whose name was listed on the back of the card, along with her picture. Then, after a few minutes, they returned to the family home. They had something f ...

Dog Saves Boy, 11, from Cougar Attack
A retriever protected 11-year-old&nbsp; Austin from a charging cougar during a bloody, against-all-odds confrontation Saturday in Canada. "The cougar came (from) about five feet away and made a big jump (at Austin)," Forman said Sunday in an interview. "Angel jumped in between and took on the cougar." The dog was injured, but is expected to recover. (Read more in the Toronto Star) Also, watch this morning's Today Show report below, or at MSNBC ... ...

Boy Establishes Food Bank for Pets
With the number of homeless pets nearly doubling compared to last year, a nine-year-old boy decided to take action. Thanks to his Central Florida Animal Pantry, the only one of its kind in the state, a lot of pets are no longer in need. The response has been overwhelming, with pet stores, schools and people in the community all donating food. During a recent week in December Zach Wilson gave away 1,800 pounds of food in bags and cans. In the future, he wants to open a sanctuary for disable ...

Teen Gives Up Gifts So He Can Help Homeless Vets
Jake Shaffer was 11 years old when he asked his parents if, instead of Christmas gifts for him, he could bring 100 bagged lunches to the homeless veterans living under the bridge in his hometown of Houston. Today, four years later, he expands his mission every Christmas, still giving up his own gifts for the chance to deliver hundreds of gifts and thousands of dollars he has collected for the DeGeorge House for homeless vets on the occasion of their annual holiday dinner. Watch the Making ...

Good News Giggle: Photo of the Week
<p> <img src="images/stories/holidays/christmas-lights-ditto-house.jpg" alt="christmas-lights-ditto-house.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 390px; height: 195px" title="christmas-lights-ditto-house.jpg" class="border" height="195" width="390" />Are you tired of trying to outdo your neighbor's Christmas lights display? Maybe you don't want to give in to the pressure of spending a whole weekend putting up lights? </p> <p> Do what this household did... </p>

Man Finds Apt Filled with Christmas Gifts, but Packages Aren't What They Seem
It's Christmas morning, and I found this funny Christmas prank in the news that made me laugh out loud!! Hope this tickles your funny bone! (Yahoo News, Canada) &nbsp; Geri, Thanks for all your efforts with this great website.&nbsp; Wishing you a fabulous Merry Christmas and a wonder-filled New year with every blessing finding its way to you! ...

Fifteen Year Old, a Hero to Minnesota Homeless
Peter Larson, 15, sleeps outside in subfreezing weather in Minnesota in his campaign to raise money for the homeless and has been doing it since he was 6. Over the years he has raised about $185,000. Every November and December since he was a first-grader, Peter has camped out for a cause&mdash;experiencing what it's like to sleep in Minnesota's frigid air while raising money to help homeless people stay warm in affordable housing in the Minneapolis suburbs. &nbsp;"I do thi ...

Obama Girls Talk About Christmas - with First Lady and Bo (Video)
First Lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, delivered some Christmas cheer along with Bo, the family dog, to children in a local hospital. Bo barked at Santa, while the three answered questions, like "What did you get the president for Christmas?" Watch the AP video below, or at Clip Syndicate. ...

Brazil Justice Rules for US Dad in Custody Battle
A five year court battle to retrieve his son appears to be over for a New York man. Brazil's chief justice on Tuesday ruled in favor of David Goldman who has pursued a grueling international battle to gain custody after his ex-wife died in Brazil. Watch the video below, or at Clip Syndicate... ...

Rudolph the Dog Inspires Compassion in Schools (Video)
Blind and deaf, a little dog who didn't seem to have much of a future finds a purpose helping to teach children about compassion. Named Rudolph, the little dachshund inspires lessons in elementary schools that many lead some children away from bullying in the future. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC... &nbsp; ...

Boy Finds, Returns Stolen Purse Containing $1,900
Santa is keeping a North Carolina kid on the 'Nice list' for his recent decision to turn in $1,900 to the police. The boy scout found a stolen purse while helping to plant trees along a river. Happily for purse's owner, the handbag was stolen from her car, but the thief didn't find the $1,900 stuffed in a zipped pocket. The 11-year-old was given a $100 reward, which he shared with his mother. (Continue reading local report in the Greensboro News-Record) ...

Snowed-in Bride Helped by Drivers
Owners with four-wheel-drive vehicles came to the aid of a snowed-in bride and her 40 guests, driving them to the church on time, ensuring the wedding went ahead despite the weather. Karen Rawlins, 42, had feared she would have to cancel her wedding to John Lee, 35, because of the snow, but following an appeal on BBC Radio Kent, listeners helped transport them to the church in a remote village. Following the service the new Mrs Lee said: "It was a dream come true." (Continue reading, a ...

Faith the Dog Inspires With Two Legs (Video)
Spend some time with Faith the Dog, who was born with only two legs but still walks with dignity, and you will see why Faith's owners say their animal offers inspiration for all, including military families who may have loved ones injured by conflict.&nbsp; Watch the video below, or on Clip Syndicate. ...

Dog Leads Owner a Half Mile to Drowning Baby
A newly-adopted dog out for a walk, suddenly bolted, pulling his owner for a half mile down the street arriving at a baby on the ground who wasn't breathing. The Florida woman then proceeded to revive the baby with CPR, while her frantic mother said the child had been drowning in the bath tub. It turns out the dog had been trained in child rescue but hadn't passed the course, and was put up for adoption! Watch the incredible KVVU report below, or at Clip Syndicate... ...

Actor Cuyle Carvin Stars in Free Coloring Book to Promote Healthy Lifestyle
"Growing up I was very fortunate to live with a family and in a community that gave me the opportunity to have a healthy life style. There are so many kids who don't have the same chances I had," said film and television actor Cuyle Carvin. Now the star has found a creative vehicle for being a healthy role model: He became a cartoon character in a free coloring book for kids. He teamed up with illustrator David Hudon and writer Fred M. Grandinetti, both from Massachusetts, to produce the ...

Photographers Volunteer to Make Free Holiday Family Portraits for Soldiers Far Away
What better way to make our soldiers feel at home than by providing them with a beautifully photographed and printed portrait of the ones they love and miss the most? Professional photographers and image manufacturers have teamed up to send 10,000 free family portraits to deployed soldiers around the globe this holiday season in the the Portraits of Love project. The call went out from the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) for volunteers and got 400 members ...

Solar-powered Christmas Lights – a Festive Way to Go Green
Solar Christmas lights let homeowners save electrical power and brighten the holiday season while going green. If you decorate with outdoor lights, you might be interested in the wide variety of solar-powered decorative lights available online. Some are rather pricey, and solar-powered lights may not shine as brightly as the ones you're used to, but they save electricity (and fossil fuels that are burned to make that electricity) and lower your power bill. (Continue reading in the CS Monit ...

Dilly the Deer Sleeps on Bed as Ohio Family Pet (Video)
An Ohio family is living with a Deer in the house. They rescued it after its mother abandoned the fawn, then, blind and sickly. Now, Dillie, the growing deer, eats almost everything in sight around the happy home and even sleeps on the bed. Watch the video below... &nbsp; Or, watch the video at CBS... ...

Roto-Rooter Crew Rescues Trapped Dog
On Thursday, a Roto-Rooter crew used their drain equipment to help find a dog trapped in a foxhole in Upstate New York. After locating the dog with a tiny camera, they eventually helped a group of firemen dig out the 8-year-old jack russell terrier called Bella. Watch the video below, or at Clip Syndicate. ...

Goats Give Sickly Foal a Reason to Live
Two pet goats befriended a little orphan foal who previously was sickly and dying.&nbsp; With the new friendship, the foal's health immediately improved and now they&rsquo;re one big happy family -- with the goats jumping like horses, and the young horse head-butting. Watch the wonderful video from WPTZ in New Hampshire. ...

Boy Collects One Thousand Socks for Needy Kids
11 year-old Tanner asks everyone he meets to consider what life would be like without socks. Launching a holiday sock drive to benefit needy children in Orlando, so far, he's collected more than 500 pairs -- and he's hoping for more by his Dec. 14 deadline. In the wake of a recession, he decided to give people a small economical way they could help others. "Instead of spending $20 or $30 [on Toys for Tots], it would be $1 or $2 [for socks]," he said. Tanner, who is in a lull between ...

Lucky Dog Survives Iraq Bombing (Video)
A miracle of survival in Baghdad among horrific bomb blasts this week: A man who was presumed dead stunned neighbors when he returned to his toppled home to find his pet dog remarkably unharmed in the blast. The dog had been chained to the roof, which had collapsed into rubble, and was met with enthusiastic petting from the man. Watch the video below, from Clip Syndicate... Thanks to James Pavoldi for submitting the link! ...

Eighth-grader Gives Holiday Teddy Bears to Sick Children
In the home of eighth-grader Jason O'Neill, teddy bears are everywhere. They're white, black or brown. They sit on chairs, tables, counter tops and the floor. Thanks to O'Neill, a young entrepreneur who started his own charitable company at age 9, they're all going to sick children for Christmas. (READ MORE, or Watch at NBC San Diego) ...

Google Will Mail Free Holiday Cards For You
Every year around this time people start thinking about the annual holiday email they send to friends and family members and co-workers. But there are still those -- who really appreciate seasonal greetings, think, grandma -- who have remained in the pre-digital age of snail-mail. Normally you would go to a store, choose a card, wait in line to pay for it, go to the post office, pick up some stamps, and drop it in a mail box, but this year, you can just go online and fill out a form and ask ...

A Lift for NY Spirits: Stray-bullet Victim Making Miraculous Recovery
A gift for a grateful city, a reason to rejoice. Vada Vasquez - the 15-year-old Bronx girl felled a stray bullet - is making a miraculous recovery. She can already write and comprehend what is said to her.&nbsp; Doctors say she will make a "full functional recovery" and could be back in school in a matter of months. (Read the story in the NY Daily News) Photo courtesy of Sun Star ...

Girl and her Great-grandfather Share Bond of Thanks That Runs Both Ways
Keke, a wiry girl of 11, and her great-grandfather, Tony Bruce have been together since she was two months old. At the time, people told him he was too old to take care of the girl, whose mother, then 16, was not able to raise her. Today, they ride buses every day together for more than 3 hours, traveling to her school and to his job helping people at a non-profit group. For him, the holiday has become a high point, a time when he revels in the logistics of getting turkeys to the same p ...

Hero Schoolboy, 12, Rows Boat to Help Police Save Drowning Suspect
A boy of 12 was hailed a hero yesterday for rowing two policemen out to save a drowning drugs suspect. He heard shouts as he stepped off his school bus and saw the fugitive's head bobbing in the water. He jumped into his rowboat to help... (Read more at the UK Sun) ...

Engagement Ring Found After Fall From Hot Air Balloon
After saving money for a year to buy an engagement ring for his planned hot-air balloon marriage proposal, James Ng watched as his diamond plummetted 500 feet into the forest below. He proposed marriage to his beloved anyway, and after touching ground again, set about to find the ring. Luckily, the 26 year-old pastor had hidden the 1-carat diamond ring in his camera case, so it was easier to find. He used Google maps to plot the flight path and marked off search grids. On the sevent ...

Gaza Doctor Lost 3 Children to Violence, but Preaches Peace
In January, during the final hours of Israel's three-week war in Gaza, a pair of Israeli tank shells blasted through a bedroom on the third floor of the doctor's home, north of Gaza City. The strike ended the lives of three of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish's daughters, but he stubbornly refuses to submit to the anger. Instead, taking advantage of the notoriety that has inevitably come his way, Abuelaish continues to promote peace to Jews, Arabs and anyone who will listen &#150; as many seem ea ...

Prison-trained Puppies Help Troops -- and Convicts
Prisoners are paired with puppies in a ground-breaking program to train service dogs for injured war veterans. The program, Puppies Behind Bars, develops confidence and healing in both the soldiers and convicts. Inmates in seven different facilities teach 78 different commands to service dogs and also train explosive-detective dogs for use in airports and law enforcement.&nbsp; So far, the program, founded by Gloria Gilbert Stoga, has graduated hundreds of animals since 1998. On her ...

Girl Grants Elderly People their Dying Wishes
Pleasant? Check. Well spoken? Check. Grants elderly people's dying wishes? Check. Helen is under the covers, in bed with lung cancer at the age of 89. And nearby, serving her a gourmet Chinese meal is thoughtful, pleasant, well-spoken Caitlin Crommett, who just turned 16. (Continue reading in Orange County Register) Photo courtesy of Sun Star; Thanks to Nancy R. for sending the link! ...

Russia Launches Program to Save Tigers Worldwide
Vladimir Putin has made headlines by championing the endangered Siberian tiger &mdash; posing with a cuddly cub and placing a tracking collar on a full-grown female in the wilds of his country's Far East. Now Russia is helping plan an ambitious program it hopes can double the global tiger population by 2022. - AP (Continue reading AP story on MSNBC) ...

Facebook Alibi Gets Teen Out of Jail
At the time the armed robbery in Brooklyn happened, Rodney Bradford was 13 miles away at his father's apartment in Harlem. Lucky for Rodney, he was also on Facebook. Little did he know that updating his status would help get him out of jail. If he hadn't, Bradford, 19, might probably still be locked in a cell at Rikers Island. That critical piece of evidence, time and date-stamped on Rodney's page, proved crucial to establishing his alibi and getting the charges dropped. (Read more a ...

Google Search Reunites Father, Daughter After 30 Years
The internet has made the world a smaller place once again as a father located his daughter after a search of nearly three decades. The daughter decided one day to type in her name to see what a Google search would turn up. The website, www.aprilbecker.com, created by the father using the girl's name, appeared and led to a hearfelt reunion. (Video and story at CBS Atlanta) ...

Teen Elected Mayor in Iowa Town
Colton Morman, 18, won the election for mayor Tuesday in tiny Dawson, Iowa, by a vote of 29-21. Morman said that being the next mayor -- a post from which his grandfather is stepping down -- might be good experience for a future career in law. Mostly, he said, he just wants to help people. "I just want to do something to give back," he said. "I've been here all my life." Watch the video below, or read more from KCCI-TV... ...

16-Year-old Loses Legs, Finds a Cause: CNN 2009 Heroes
Jordan Thomas was an active 16-year old athlete when he lost his legs in a boating accident while on vacation. He was rushed to the hospital where he met other amputees who weren't as fortunate as he. "I just remember seeing so many kids who didn't have parents, didn't have health care," he said. "I just knew that the future was grim for them." The top-of-the-line prosthetics Thomas was fitted with -- the ones that helped him return to the golf links -- cost about $24,000. He learned tha ...

Obamas Hand Out Halloween Treats to Military Families
Marking their first Halloween at the White House, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama honored military families at a Halloween party last night, doling out presidential candy and dried fruit mixes to more than 2,000 trick-or-treaters. Even the secret service agents were in costume --&nbsp; one dressing as Chewbacca! Watch the AP video below... &nbsp; ...

Child Hides Love Notes for Family Before She Dies
Six-year-old Elena left love notes behind for her family before losing her battle with childhood brain cancer. The Today Show talked to her parents and sister about finding the notes through the years, and the most recent one, found years after her death. Inspiring video below, or at MSNBC... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

New Obama Family Portrait Unveiled; Michelle Hula Hoops
I liked these photos that came out of the White House last week. First, the official Obama family portrait; second, from a health fair presided over by the First Lady, Michelle 'hula hoops' with children to promote health and fitness. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Below, watch the video from the health fair featuring pictures of the First Lady running the obstacle course among the 100 elementary students in attendence. (She also jumped rope, double dutch.) &nbsp; ...

Cancer Survivor, 9, Funds Support Dog for 2-Year-old
After two years of surgery and chemotherapy for a brain tumor, a nine-year-old girl wanted other kids with cancer to have a gentle companion like her dog, Coco. So she embarked on a fundraising campaign of her own invention to pay for feeding and training companion dogs for kids like her. Recently she watched as a 2-year-old cancer survivor met for the first time with the gentle black Labrador named Lucky Bug. A women's prison within Colorado's Department of Corrections trained both t ...

Girl Adopted as 'Imperfect,' Goes for Gold
Diana and Kent Johannes spent nearly a month in the summer of 1995 shuttling between an orphanage in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and the office of the region's adoption officials, who couldn't understand why the couple wanted to adopt a cute little girl missing her left arm below the elbow. The officials kept asking the same questions, and the Johanneses kept shaking their heads. Why do you want an "imperfect" child, the officials wanted to know, suspecting the couple of wanting to sell her body p ...

Top CNN Heroes 2009: Boys Cart Portable Schoolroom to Reach Landfill Kids
Efren Pe&ntilde;aflorida grew up in a Filipino slum near the city dump, but vowed to better his life through education. In 1999, while in high school, he recruited friends to reach out to slum kids as an alternative to gang membership, always rampant on-campus. They began a feeding project for the children who scavenge for left-overs and spoiled food in the dump site. They supported their effort by selling old newspapers, bottles, and recycled products. Today, the teens cart a portab ...

Boy Donates $15,000 from Soda Tabs Collected Since Cancer Treatments
Now 18, Carl has collected hundreds of thousands of aluminum tabs from beverage cans, all turned into cash to donate to the Ronald McDonald House that helps families of cancer patients through long stays at hospitals. He's been doing it since he was ten, donating over $15,000 to the family room at the children's hospital in the cancer ward. Watch the Making a Difference video below, or on MSNBC...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Ballet Dancer Raised by Two Dads Living the Dream
Eleven year old James Gibson-Jones, appears destined for some species of ballet greatness, having been snapped up by the National Ballet of Canada this fall after just two years of lessons. Young James probably would not have joined the National Ballet School this year if his two dads, Thomas Jones and Rob Gibson hadn't adopted him seven years ago. He and his biological half-brother Brandon were removed from a home plagued by abuse, addictions and mental-health issues when ...

Canadian Soldiers Adopt Lone Monkey in Kanduhar
A little monkey named Lucy has become the apple of the eye of a group of Canadian soldiers working out of Kandahar Airfield. Lucy is believed to be a rhesus monkey - native to Afghanistan, neighbouring Pakistan and several other countries - and mysteriously appeared back in July as a pet at an Afghan guard station just outside of the main coalition base in southern Afghanistan. Since then, she has been all but adopted by the Canadian soldiers who stop by the guard station on ...

Hero Equestrians Give Strength to Disabled (Video)
A therapeutic riding center, Hearts and Hooves operates with volunteers near Little Rock, Arkansas to allow people with disabilities to experience "the sensation of independent movement, of strength and muscular support, on the back of a horse." The result is a strong sense of confidence born anew in these kids and adults. Watch this Hero Central segment from yesterday's THV-11 newscast... Visit Hearts and Hooves for more information. ...

Recession Ends in 79 Metro Areas in the US
The recession finally ended in August in one out of every five metro areas in the United States, especially in the Midwest and Great Plains, according to the latest Adversity Index from Moody's Economy. This is the first month this year when any metro area has moved from recession into the "recovery" category, indicating that the economy grew from six months earlier. Check the list for your area... (Continue reading at MSNBC) ...

10 Year-old Tsunami Girl Recognized for Saving Families
Abby Wutzler, aged 10, ran along a beach in Samoa warning people of a tsunami when she saw the sea recede. She was given a special award for bravery as her actions had helped save her family and others on the beach. Her teacher, who had taught her about the warning signs of tsunamis, also received an award. (Read the story in the New Zealand Herald) ...

In New Orleans, New Home Floats To Withstand Floods
Brad Pitt&rsquo;s Make It Right Foundation will unveil a house today in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood that was largely wiped away by&nbsp; Katrina floodwaters. The house is different from others that were rebuilt after the hurricane: It floats. The Float House is a new model for flood-safe, affordable and sustainable housing that is designed to float securely with rising water levels. It is the brainchild of Morphosis Architects and its founder, Thom Mayne, winner of ...

Urban Philly Teens Compete for $10Million X Prize for Hybrid Car Design
Students from a team at West Philadelphia High School are the only teenagers in a field of about 90 teams from around the world hoping to win the $10 million Automotive X Prize for their innovative hybrid car designs. The prestigious international competition requires entrants to build cars that get at least 100 miles per gallon, can be mass-produced, and are safe and reliable. The urban teens are hot off the heels of other impressive wins for their Hybrid X team. The field of contestan ...

Only Film Clip of Anne Frank Surfaces on YouTube
On July 22 1941, before her family had gone into hiding, Anne Frank is captured on film during the next door neighbor's wedding festivities. She is leaning out of the window of her house in Amsterdam to get a good look at the bride and groom. It is the only time Anne Frank has ever been captured on film. The couple gave a copy of the film to Anne Frank's father. (Read more at Mashable) ...

Now a Model Student, Fire Nearly Took his Life at 8 Years-old
When Kevin Stroughter was 8 years old, he was burned over more than 80 percent of his body. He was given a 50-50 chance of survival. Now 17, he credits athletics for helping him overcome the physical and psychological challenges of being a burn victim. The California senior at San Juan High School is a solid student and one of the best athletes on campus. He'd much rather talk touchdowns, rebounds and 100-meter races than scar tissue, skin grafts and the past. "I don't want to look back. ...

Teaching Self Respect in Casa Blanca Slum
When high school teens from Chicago are connected with community service workers in Morocco, they learn some lessons about giving and hope. They meet one young woman from the slum who is studying chemistry in University, even while living with her family in a mere box, seven feet wide, and sleeping in shifts. Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Lost Dog Gathers Clues to Find its Family (Video)
Over the last 20 years, the Love Me Tender animal rescue in central Tennessee has rounded up more than 1,000 abandoned dogs. And although most are timid and untrusting, one Rottweiler named Ella was notably different. "I could just tell right away she was somebody's baby. She just didn't act like a stray dog to me," said Kathy Wilkes-Myers, who found the dog a few months ago. The dog's demeanor convinced her there was more to the story. So she did some detective work, and what ...

How One Family Eliminated $106,000 of Debt
Frugality and hard work led to a debt-free lifestyle in five years for Russell and Kathy Hildebrandt of New Richmond, Wis., who successfully paid off $106,000 in credit card and personal debt. Several steps were key to making the plan work. They eliminated discretionary spending. She began buying generic food and shopping at thrift stores for clothing purchases. They stopped exchanging Christmas and birthday gifts with each other and their relatives. (Continue reading on MSNBC) & ...

How to Clean Up a Compact Florescent Light Bulb
You know the old joke &hellip; how many (fill in the blank) does it take to change a light bulb? All kidding aside, the real question is &hellip; how many people does it take to clean up a broken CFL. Be extra diligent with the Compact Florescent Lamp (CFL) light bulbs. Yes, they use 75% less energy than the incandescent light bulb and come in all sizes and shapes now. But be cautioned, CFLs require special care in handling when inserting into the socket and then extreme careful removal whe ...

Texting-crazy Kids Can Still Spell, Study Finds
Parents, some news 2 make u LOL! New research suggests that teens who seem to mangle the English language while instant messaging aren't losing the ability to spell. Adults have long worried that teens who pepper their online conversations with shortened words like 2day and gr8 and abbreviations like rotfl (rolling on the floor laughing) and bf (boyfriend) will eventually forget how to write a proper sentence. But a study from the University of Alberta suggests that there's no connectio ...

7-Year-old Autistic Girl Belts out National Anthem for Huge Crowds
Doctors told parents of autistic child&nbsp; that she may never learn to speak. But music unlocked the door, when, at age five, she heard the National Anthem. She now opens major sporting events performing her pitch-perfect rendition of the song. Gina's social skills and schoolwork have improved too. Read the story at CBS News or watch the video below... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

We Taught Our Car to Run on Used Fryer Oil
Learn how a young couple converted their car to run on old fryer oil from local restaurants. They save money, almost never fill up at the gas station anymore, and leave the environment cleaner. (Video needs to load)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

A Paw and a Prayer: Pilots Save Shelter Animals
Lady Di is a lovely purebred collie with a pleasant disposition, just like many of dogs dumped at shelters which euthanize animals by the dozens every week because they lack enough would-be owners. But she is one of the lucky dogs. She got a plane ride away from death row when shelter workers knew she stood a better chance somewhere else. Donating their time, planes and fuel, volunteers in Pilots N Paws fly these pets away from overwhelmed shelters to communities where they'll stand a bette ...

(New Video) Dad Hugs Instead of Yells When Daughter Throws Ball Back
In Philadelphia a man makes a great catch of a foul ball, leaning over the rail in the upper deck. After receiving high-fives from those nearby, he hands the ball to his little daughter. The toddler promptly throws the ball back on the field. The reaction of her dad was priceless -- a perfect role model for parents everywhere... &nbsp; ...

5 Creative Uses for Coffee
Made too much coffee? Got extra grounds? Before you throw it in the sink, consider one of these ideas. It even keeps away ants. I will have to try that... Brought to you by AltUse.com. (Continue reading at Mother Jones) ...

Farmers Markets Double Nationwide with White House Next Location
On September 17th, 2009, a Fresh Farm Market will open by the White House in Washington, D.C.-- just weeks after President Barack Obama wished for a market during his national forum on health care. Recognized as a benefit for farmers, consumers and ultimately the health of the community, the growth of farmers markets has been slow and steady. In 1994, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized 1,755 fresh produce markets across the United States. Now, there are more than 4,685. (Con ...

Shelter Dogs Learn New Tricks, Helping More Dogs
An animal trainer in Chicago runs a theater performance group part-time that demonstrates how shelter dogs loved and trained by their owners make splendid pets. (Photo, right, shelter dogs are trained by aqarium staff at Shedd Aquarium)&nbsp; Watch the Nightly News video below, or at MSNBC...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

This High School Starts at 10 a.m.
How great is late? "I like it &ndash; I feel more rested," says 16-year-old Tiffany Gerro. "I feel so much better. It's awesome, I love it," adds Grade 11 student Mike Stuckless. This year, the teens at Toronto's Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute are starting classes an hour later than everyone else in the city as part of a pilot project to determine if getting some extra sleep actually improves not just their attendance, but their grades. And so far, so good. ...

Teenager Invents £23 Solar Panel That Could Solve Energy Needs With Human Hair
[Update from Geek.com] It appears the solar panel created from human hair may be among many things in this world too good to be&nbsp;true. According to a debunking website, human hair could never be used in such a fashion to generate the kind of voltages&nbsp;as being shown&nbsp;and the author of the debunking site suspects a silicon based solar panel or a battery may be hidden within the human hair solar panel. Thanks to our readers who picked up on the hoax and let us know about ...

National Day of Encouragement September 12 Honors Teens Making a Difference
The Encouragement Foundation, sponsor of this year's National Day of Encouragement, launched its "7 Days Across America" campaign to showcase the impressive actions of today's youth. The tour, which began September 5 in San Francisco, will conclude in New York City awarding a $5,000 college scholarship on its third annual National Day of Encouragement, September 12.&nbsp; "'7 Days Across America' was created to challenge the negative stereotype of teenagers today," said Andrew Baker, execu ...

Groups Bring Men Together to Help One Another Leave Troubled Pasts
Men-in-Motion is part of a growing network of groups across the District and Prince George's County that provides parenting support and therapy to men, many of them ex-offenders, through roundtable discussions. "The main thing is that we give each other hope," said Karl Andrews, an outreach worker for the National Center for Children and Families, which sponsors the weekly meetings aimed at providing men with parenting skills. (Continue reading in the Washington Post) Photo courte ...

Good Idea! Doggies Get the Pool for Final Day of Season
The dog days of summer ended last night with the second annual Pooch Plunge. The Albert Oakland Pool opened solely for dogs. The event invited owners and their small dogs during the first half and families with larger pooches during the last. Owners tossed balls and toys to entice dogs into the water and to promote exercise. (See photos and story at KOMU.com -- Watch video at the Missourian) ...

Paraplegic Finds Love With Online Dating Site
It was always the first thing Dan Powell wrote in e-mails to prospective dates -- that he was in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the chest down. But for one perennially single woman, Dan offered a realm of possibilities unrealized before. After their first meeting in a restaurant, they spent the next two weeks writing long e-mails and talking on the phone for hours at night. And through that dialogue a connection that hadn't materialized during their first meeting began to appear. He made her la ...

Toddler Lost in Yukon Gets to Keep Dog He Followed
A two-year-old boy lost in the Yukon bush overnight after wandering away from his family's campsite will get to keep the dog he followed. The toddler wandered away from a campsite north of Ross River, Yukon. The boy, from Kamloops, B.C., apparently trailed after a dog, which stayed with him throughout his 25-hour adventure. The family pet was given to the boy after he was rescued by the inspired owner. (Continue reading at CBC) ...

Foldable Electric Bike Great for Commuting
Are you in the market for a foldable, electric bike? The Yike Bike's makers describe it as a clean and efficient electric bike that can be charged by electricity, great for commuters using public transport because it can easily be folded. Watch the video below, or at ClipSyndicate...&nbsp; ...

Lowest Natural Gas Prices in 7 yrs Good News for Consumers
Natural gas prices and retail electric rates are moving in tandem &mdash; steadily downward. Thanks to plunging natural gas prices, many Texans can secure electric rates that are 25 to 40 percent lower than what they were paying last summer. Rates had soared as a result of spiraling prices for natural gas, which is burned to generate much of Texas&rsquo; electricity, but now have sunk to their lowest price in more than seven years in futures trading. This should lower gas prices around t ...

An Idea for Helping Local Elementary Schools
Schools are being forced to slash budgets, lay off teachers, and yet are expected to do more to educate our children. What could we do about it? What can one family possibly do to change any of it? Today we made a painting and donated it to a local public elementary school. We decided, as a family, to work on the project for the library. I helped draw the design , my wife Sandi and our 7-year old granddaughter CC then put their talents to work. The finished work took about 10 hour ...

Four-Year-Old Girl Helps Build Water Well for Needy
Four-year-old Heather Bailey saw an interview with a grandma and her grandchildren about their difficulties obtaining clean water and decided she wanted to help. She told her mother she wanted to sponsor a well and her parents promised they would match any money Heather wanted to give. Initially, the four-year-old thought $25 was enough to build a well. But when she learned it would cost more than $1,000, she said she wanted to build the whole well and began fundraised with a lemonade st ...

Youngest to Sail Around the World Arrives Home (Video)
17 year old Mike Perham was greeted to a hero's welcome when he arrived in Portsmouth, England after a nine month trip around the world. He very much missed getting a hug every now and then... Watch the video below, or at Clip Syndicate ...&nbsp; ...

Stuttering Kids Savor a Camp that Makes them Stars
Camp Our Time focuses on the performing arts. Campers aged 8 to 19, are boys and girls, racially and socially diverse, with two common bonds: an unshakable stuttering problem and the courage to go on stage anyway. Most of the kids are the only stutterers at their schools and vulnerable to teasing. At the non-profit lakeside camp in the Catskill Mountains, where even the founder/director is a stutterer, acceptance is the watchword as the campers plunged daily into workshops and rehearsals f ...

Seniors and Toddlers Enjoy Shared Day Care Center
An intergenerational daycare service in California provides child care and senior care in a shared environment. ONEgeneration Daycare helps seniors to continue living at home with their loved ones by providing a safe, supervised haven during the day. They, in turn, help care for and feed the young children, ranging in age from 6 weeks to 6 years. The New York Times created a slide show featuring the elders and children in joyous and touching moments. (Thanks to Elvin A., a new GNN sub ...

A Girl's Journey from Dollar-a-day Malawi to Elite US Prep School
In an unlikely journey that most girls in Malawi can only dream of, a 16-year-old from a rural village spent the summer attending Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. She's one of 17 girls who go to secondary school in Malawi thanks to scholarships from Advancing Girls' Education in Africa (AGE), a small nonprofit organization founded four years ago with donations from Christian Science Monitor readers. She wants to use her time at Exeter in pursuit of her goal: helping to ease the ...

Teen Raises $62,000 Sends Playground to Siberian Orphanage
Before being adopted, Alex lived the first year of his life at a hospital for abandoned children in Siberia. Now, as an Eagle Scout, the teen rallied his community to raise $62,000 for the purchase and shipment of a new playgound to replace what used to consist of a single metal swing and an unkempt sandbox. (Read the story in the Baltimore Sun) Photo courtesy of Sun Star&nbsp; ...

Dog Takes New York Art World by Storm
Tillamook Cheddar is one talented canine, showing off his talents, painting up a storm in a New York studio and making a pretty penny to boot. Watch video (with ad) below, or at ClipSyndicate ...&nbsp; ...

US Soldier Coaches Pregnant Wife Through Labor -- From Iraq!
Thanks to the Freedom Calls program, a soldier was able to coach his wife through labor and delivery&nbsp; -- from Iraq. The organization uses cameras and satellites to hook up 2,000 families every month, allowing them to be together virtually for important occasions. Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC ... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Autistic Teens Master Social Cues, Find Friends
Autism is a poorly understood brain condition which affects the way people communicate and interact with others. In the PEERS class (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relationship Skills) autistic teens are learning to work around their challenge. Watch the video below or at TheNewsRoom.com...&nbsp; ...

Chihuahua Rescues Neighbors from Fire
A tiny Chihuahua's yapping is credited with waking up neighbors in an Oregon apartment complex on Tuesday as a fire broke out. "Jack started barking and I told him, 'Go back to sleep,' but he wouldn't give up and I saw all the flames and woke my husband up." (Read the story in WFIE-14 News) ...

6 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Built By Teenagers
These teens are making vehicles that run on everything from solar to soy! - Luke Laborde turned a 32 mpg gas-burning Bradley GT II kit car into a fully electric ride for just about $10,000. - Five kids from West Philly&rsquo;s high school auto shop class, ex-gang members and high school dropouts built a soybean-powered race car that gets 50+ mpg. - An 8th-grader built a solar-powered 4-wheeled bike with GPS and iPod dock. - Andrew Angelloti, after saving up $6,000 as a part time lifeg ...

Last Signed Document by Abe Lincoln Found at Flea Market?
Bruce Steiner may have stumbled upon the last signature of Abraham Lincoln in the bottom of a box of assorted papers he purchased at an Ohio Flea Market. Steiner, 56, a self-proclaimed Civil War buff, recalled when he first laid eyes on the signature, dated the fateful day a bullet from John Wilkes Booth's Derringer ended Lincoln's life. He thought it couldn't be real... (Continue reading in the Morning Journal) ...

Pet Bird Helps Recover Lost Macaw from Zoo
A performing macaw that flew the coop in San Diego's Zoo Saturday was missing for days until it was rescued by a family with a little help from their pet macaw. Curly, a 10-year-old trained green-winged macaw, had been missing since Saturday night when he flew away after being startled while performing in the popular program &ldquo;Soar &mdash; A Symphony in Flight.&rdquo; Meanwhile, Chad McManamy was in his front yard on Palmetto Way on Sunday night with his pet harlequin macaw Charlie ...

30000 Pairs of Jeans Hauled to D.C. Sets Recycling Record
To keep old clothes out of landfills and to recycle them for home insulation in disaster areas were the motivating factors galvanizing National Geographic Kids to set a new world record for the most items of clothing collected for recycling -- more than 30,000 pairs of jeans in one haul. (Read more and see photo in Washington, DC. AP story) ...

Squirrel Pops into Family Photo
Melissa Brandts and her husband were exploring in the Banff National Park in Canada when they stopped to take a scenic photo of themselves using the timer on their camera. They had their camera set up on some rocks when a curious little ground squirrel appeared, intrigued by the noise from the focusing mechanism centered himself right in the picture frame. Melissa called it a once in a lifetime moment, "We were laughing about this little guy for days!!" (From National Geographic)& ...

Cat Catches the Daily Bus for Four Years
A 12-year old cat has caught the bus regularly from his own yard for four years. He waits in line behind the passengers, hops on, and travels the whole bus route, past pastures and business districts, exiting several hours later at his own stop. "Casper has travelled an estimated 20,000 miles but Mrs Finden says because he is getting old the drivers often have to shuffle him off at the right stop," reports the Telegraph. His owner just found out where he's been going during afternoons ...

5-Year-Old Helps Feed 18,000 People
5-year-old Phoebe became sad after seeing a hungry person holding a cardboard sign on the street. She decided she wanted to help feed people and knew that she could raise money by recycling because her family traded cans for cash on the weekends. She wrote to 150 friends and family members asking for their cans or donations. Bags of cans and money began pouring in. Collecting a nickel per can she wildly exceeded her goal of raising one thousand dollars and donated it all to the San F ...

Dog Found After 9 years, 1,200 Miles Away
A flea-bitten dog rescued from a squalid Melbourne backyard is to be reunited with her overjoyed owner - nine years after disappearing from its Brisbane home 1,200 miles away. And 17-year-old Chloe Rushby, who was only eight when her best mate disappeared, can't wait to have Muffy back in her arms. Continue reading from the Australian Herald Sun, or watch the video below... Thanks to Trig for submitting the story from Down Under! &nbsp; ...

She Baked Her Way Out of Foreclosure
Angela Logan faced foreclosure on her home if she couldn't raise the $2,500 mortgage payment. Her crusade to bake and sell a "Mortgage Apple Cake," along with assistance from the Bake-a-Wish Foundation, helped her keep her home. Watch the video below from the Today show, or see it at MSNBC ... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Small Cars Get Good Marks in Crash Tests
Small in stature, a group of 2009 two-door cars are providing good safety value to car shoppers, according to crash tests released last week. The Ford Focus, Volvo C30, Chevrolet Cobalt and Honda Civic all received high marks. Watch the AP video below, or read the story at Seattle P-I. &nbsp; ...

Bankruptcy Forsaken Adoptions Restored
A Toronto-based mining company has donated $100,000 to keep an Ethiopian orphanage afloat, giving hope to Canadians in the process of adopting children living there. Many companies have offered donations to help would-be parents, left heartbroken when Imagine Adoption filed for bankruptcy July 13. However, the large donation given by Yamana Gold Inc. should be enough to keep the Addis Ababa facility afloat. It currently houses 43 children already matched with potential Canadian parents ...

Cats Provide the Perfect Answer to Combat Stress -- by the Hour (Video)
A new cafe concept is taking hold in Japan. Paying by the hour, stressed-out workers get a chance to play with friendly cats in a bid to unwind from the toils of everyday life in the big city. Watch the AFP video below, or at Clip Syndicate...&nbsp; &nbsp; ...

2 Young Hannahs Meet for a Cause
Two girls with the same name met Tuesday with a purpose. Hannah Zeigler, 10, went to a wig shop in Newport Beach, Calif. to donate her hair. While she was there she met Hannah Powell-Auslam, a girl as young as she, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, when she was 10. (Continue reading in the OC Register) Thanks to Elysse for submitting the link!&nbsp; ...

Same-name Couple to Wed After Facebook Meeting
This October, Kelly Hildebrandt will marry a man who has the very same name as her own, thanks to a late-night search on Facebook. Last year she was curious and plugged her name into the popular social networking Web site&nbsp; just to see if anyone shared it. She found one match, Kelly Carl Hildebrandt, so she sent him a message, "Hey, we have the same name!". "He is just everything that I've ever looked for," she said in an interview. Watch the cute NBC video below, or co ...

Ohio Boy Sells his Toys to Help His Family (w/ Video)
An 11-year-old Ohio boy is selling all his toys and using the proceeds for a good cause: helping his unemployed father. Zach McGuire is selling his toys to raise money for his family, which like others across the country, has bills piling up and a home in jeopardy. Watch the CNN video below, or read the story at CNN... &lt;br&gt; ...

Dog Licks Woman Helping her Find Brain Aneurysm
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that dogs and cats can sniff out cancer. What about blood clots? When a Maltese poodle began furiously licking Mary Phillips' right temple as though it had been smeared with bacon grease, it was a clear sign to the hospice nurse that her headache was serious. The unlikely gesture, Phillips said, convinced her to go to the emergency room where doctors discovered a brain aneurysm the size of a walnut. She's been a hospice nurse for 14 yea ...

Dog Wet Nurse Saves Panda Cubs in China (Link fixed)
Two red panda cubs abandoned by their mother shortly after birth at a north China zoo are now healthy and content thanks to the milk and care given by a dog that was brought in from a nearby farm, zoo workers said Thursday. The dog had given birth three days before the mother panda. (Read the story and see the cute photo at LA Times) ...

Kindness Sticky Notes are Contagious for High School Class
Katherine Cornthwaite's Grade 10 class went silent when she read aloud a small story about a garbage collector's kindness, from the newspaper. Her class's focus on the story prompted a 20-minute discussion about acts of kindness. "I thought,`I can't leave this,'" she says. She passed out red, yellow and green blank sticky notes and asked them to jot down their own kindnesses. "I told them if they filled my bulletin board, I'd give them a pizza party." Last month, she anted up ...

Calif. Teen Arrives Home Youngest Person to Sail Solo Around World
More people have gone into space than have sailed solo around the world. But the obvious maritime dangers didn't stop 16 year-old Zac Sunderland from reaching for his dream. He set off from California 13 months ago in his 36-foot sloop, Intrepid, before he even had a license to drive. He met storms, maybe pirates, and barely slept, but today the homeschooler has achieved his goal - one that can never be taken away. He became the first person under the age of 18 to sail solo-circumnavig ...

Healthy Cheap Eats Do Exist
Has the recession cut heart-healthy seafood and leafy greens out of your budget?&nbsp; There are healthy, cheap eats, and new research shows how to get the most nutrition out of every buck. http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/667520 ...

Girl, was 15, Pregnant and Homeless, Now Studying History at Cambridge
At 15, Jade Norman was pregnant and living in a homeless hostel. She had broken ties with her parents and the father of her baby, and had dropped out of school. Against all the odds, Jade&rsquo;s determination won out and now she is among the academic elite, studying history at Cambridge University, changing her own children's futures. (Read her story and see photos at UK Sun) College courtyard at Cambridge, by Andrew Dunn (free CC license)&nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Hiker Lost in Bush for 12 Days Found Alive
A British teenager lost for 12 days while hiking in Australia's Blue Mountains was found alive and well yesterday, just hours before his father &ndash; who had all but given up hope of seeing him again &ndash; planned to fly back to England. (Continue reading in the Star)&nbsp; ...

The Youngest Faces in Philanthropy
Zach Bonner, who walked to Washinton D.C. for the homeless, is just a kid. At 11, he's one of cadre of child philanthropists who seem to be growing in number and visibility as corporations and colleges reward their efforts to help others. Children's faces have long been used to promote fundraising campaigns for March of Dimes, muscular dystrophy and other causes. But now they aren't just poster children anymore; some -- although no one tracks how many -- have become high-profile CEOs ...

Tot Survives 8-Mile River Run on Toy Truck
A 3-year-old boy was unhurt and apparently unfazed after he floated 12 kilometres down a powerful British Columbia river riding atop his plastic 4-wheeler truck. His family had taken him camping.&nbsp; Read the CTV story or watch the video below. Photo by Adam Reaburn, ENERGETICCITY.CA Warning: Video has some sad news tacked on the end. ...

Black Teen Pilot Flies into Record Book
A 15-year-old Los Angeles girl from the tough streets of Compton has become the youngest African-American female pilot to fly solo cross country. She got the opportunity to learn to fly through a program that serves underprivileged kids, one of many nationwide. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC ... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Florida Students Create Clean Water System for Storm-Wrecked Haiti
What started off as a science project at Gulliver Prep in Florida will soon provide clean drinking water to people in Haiti. After hearing about the deadly storms ravaging the region, a team of 13 biomedical sciences and engineering students invented a solar-powered water purification system that would work well in that country. They'll be sending it to a hospital when the school year starts. (Continue reading in Miami Herald) Image courtesy of Sun Star ...

Fla. Boy Completes Walk to D.C. for Homeless
11 year-old Zach Bonner finally made it to D.C. Thursday, climbing the steps of the U.S. Capitol and completing his walk from Tampa, Florida - a 1,225 mile trek - on behalf of homeless children. Zach's Little Red Wagon campaign continues to raise money and awareness of homelessness and already has a new goal on the horizon, walking from Tampa to Los Angeles. "You don't have to be all grown up. No matter how old or how young you are, you can make a difference. There's all kinds of ...

Boy Saves Gorillas, One Egg at a Time
When James Brooks got a chance to meet the gorillas at the Toronto Zoo, it was definitely the highlight of his day. He is the founder of a charity that helps protect the rare eastern lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo through support for a group of widows and schoolchildren living nearby The widows run a poultry farm, which generates income and provides food for the local children. As of June, the project had raised $1,961.52 &ndash; enough to buy 7,846 eggs from the f ...

Squirrel and Builder Friend are Inseparable (Video)
A squirrel has built up a close relationship with a builder who found him when he was only a week old. Nutty even showers with his surrogate "mum", Tony in the UK, and goes to work with him. Watch the video from the BBC, or on YouTube below...&nbsp; ...

Crime is Plummeting Across N. America, Yet No One Knows Why
Four years after the "Summer of the Gun", Toronto police Chief Bill Blair is celebrating a nearly 30 percent overall drop in crime. "We have experienced crime reduction numbers in this city that are without precedence anywhere in North America," Blair said. But, this downward trend in crime statistics is being documented in cities across Canada and the United States. The most recent study by Statistics Canada shows double-digit declines in Criminal Code offences in Winnipeg, Van ...

4-Year-old Phenom Dazzles Tennis World (Video)
Mi Lines is only four years-old but she's already taking the tennis community by storm. The Australian tot&nbsp; has been playing for four years already and is amazing to watch. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC. &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Numerical Wonder Happening Today After Noon
Today, just after 12:30 p.m. (wherever you are), a once in a lifetime numerical wonder will happen. The alignment of numbers in date and time will read 12:34:56 07/08/09. (That's "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9")&nbsp; For Europeans, who record the date starting with the day, this phenomenon will not occur until August 7, 2009.&nbsp; Watch short MSNBC Video below. ...

Google Street Maps Helped Identify Muggers
Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men after the alleged muggers were identified on a picture taken at the crime scene by Google's internet map service. On a lark, the young tech-saavy teen who was mugged searched for the exact location of the scene using Google's street photos and actually saw the pair (with their faces blurred out) walking along in the image.&nbsp; He went to the police who requested from Google the original unblurred photo... (Read the story in th ...

17-yr-old Scales Everest Becoming Youngest Ever to Climb the 7 Summits
At 17-years-old, Calif. native Johnny Strange is the youngest person ever to conquer the tallest summits on each of the seven continents. After topping the final peak last week, Strange e-mailed family and friends to say: "Never let anyone stifle your dreams no matter the feat, for if you have the heart and the courage, impossible is nothing." He shouts another message from the mountaintops as well. A sign he carried to the Mt. Everest peak read, "Stop Genocide." Watch the Kati ...

Postal Worker, Wife Adopt Kitten Found in Mailbox
An 8-week-old kitten discovered abandoned and famished&nbsp; in a mailbox was adopted by a postal worker, and his wife who named it: P.D., for "Postage Due." "My husband's cat died suddenly over a year ago, and it's been only recently that he's indicated that he might be ready to adopt another cat," Stuart said. (Read the details on Boston..com) (Thanks to Pearl for submitting the story on June 22!) ...

Imprisoned Felons Help Care for Unwanted Cats (Video)
Indiana prisoners are serving as foster parents to 59 cats and kittens waiting for adoption and hoping for a second chance, after the local shelter had no more room. One inmate, convicted of involuntary manslaughter, said caring for the animals in 8-hour shifts makes him feel better about himself.&nbsp; Watch the video below, or watch on NCB here.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Urban High School Achieves Rare Feat: No Dropouts
In a city where dropout rates are always among New Jersey's highest and test scores are among the lowest, one experimental school, Camden's MetEast High School, opened in 2005, had zero drop-outs among its first graduating class this year, and a college acceptance letter in each of their hands. The class sizes are small, educators are called "advisers," not teachers, and they stick with the same group of students all four years. As important, classes are built around the idea that students ...

Boy Graduates From High School and College - in Same Week
Chase Abrams started taking college classes at the same time he began high school. The next thing he knew, he had two caps and two gowns. Abrams was involved in the Pre-Accelerated College Enrollment program at Cal Sate Los Angeles. With his busy schedule, he didn't miss any of the fun of high school, though maybe a little bit of sleep. Watch the inspiring video below, or read it here at NBC. (Thanks to another GNN supporter who sent this story as well!)&nbsp; ...

Family Finds Money Clip of NBA Player (Video)
A Colorado family returns a silver money clip containing $360, a driver's license, and a credit card to Memphis Grizzlies millionaire player Marko Jaric, four months after Jaric apparently dropped it. Honesty is the best policy for this family, even when that amount of money would be significant for them, and not so much for Jaric. Video may take a moment to load, or read the story at NBC-2. .. ...

Homeless Girl Finally Has a Home: Harvard
She is known as the "smart girl". . . the girl who landed at Jefferson High School only 18 months ago. What her friends did not know is that she has been homeless for years. But not anymore. Her plane left for Harvard the day after graduation. As long as she can remember, Khadijah Williams has floated from shelters to motels to armories in Los Angeles with her mother. She has lived out of garbage bags among pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers. Every morning, she upheld her dignity, ma ...

Man vs. Wild Helps Boy Survive Night Lost in the Woods
When he realized he'd been separated from his family on a weekend hike in a northern Utah forest, 9-year-old Grayson Wynne's thoughts turned to one of his favorite television shows, "Man vs. Wild". On the show, host and adventurer Bear Grylls places himself in extreme wilderness conditions and shows viewers how to survive the sticky situations. The first thing Grayson did was leave a trail using pieces of his clothing...&nbsp; (Read the survival story on ABC News) ...

Lost for 12 years, a Prodigal Father is Found
After a Los Angeles Times columnist wrote about Eddie Dotson -- a 67-year-old man living in an elaborate shelter under a freeway overpass -- two people wrote emails saying they had been looking for their father for years. "I just received word of your story published in the LA Times about my father. My brother and I have been looking for him for over 12 years. This is the happiest day of my life!" "Eddie Dotson is my father. . . . Thank you very much for speaking so kindly about him; he ...

Life Lessons from Labradors
Teachers come in all species. Two of my greatest teachers were a pair of Labrador pups. They arrived in time to witness my prolonged and painful recovery from the loss of my 27-year marriage through divorce, and the deaths of my two previous labradors, Shadow and Licorice. Six weeks before the new pups were conceived, I lost my animal soulmate, Shadow. His death left a gaping hole in my heart that I couldn'&rsquo;t heal. Without his brother by my side, I simply would not have been able to co ...

Town called Vulcan Saved Itself Becoming a Sci-fi Destination
Before hitching its fortunes to the Starship Enterprise, the southern Alberta town of Vulcan had dropped out of warp speed and appeared to be drifting into anonymity. It wasn't far from being a ghost town, a place where nobody "boldly goes". The hotel on the main strip was boarded up. Many other businesses in the town of 1,942 people were also shuttered. Now, thanks to word-of-mouth from loyal Trekkers who keep coming back, ever-expanding attractions, and a boost from actor Leonard Nimoy ...

Harvest Time in Michelle Obama's Garden (Video)
The First Lady hosted a harvest party in the White House garden today with the students from Bancroft Elementary to celebrate their hard work. The 5th graders helped start the organic kitchen garden back in March. Yesterday, with help from the First Lady, they got to prepare a healthy meal with produce fresh from the garden. More than 90 pounds of produce has been harvested so far. Some of it has been used for meals at the White House, but much of it has gone to area soup kitchens. ...

14-Year-Old Discovers Rare Supernova in Nearby Galaxy
"Coincidentally, the youngest person to ever discover a supernova found one of the most peculiar and interesting supernovae ever," said Alex Filippenko, leader of the University of California, Berkeley supernova group, which monitors thousands of relatively nearby galaxies. "This shows that no matter what your age, anyone can make a significant contribution to our understanding of the universe." Even a 14-year-old girl. Congratulations to Caroline Moore! (Read more at WOOD-TV) ...

Anti-Stab Knives Debut in Britain
Most knives used in attacks are from the kitchen. But soon, the first "anti-stab" knife will go on sale in Britain&nbsp; designed to work like normal on vegetables, but be ineffective as a weapon. The knife has a unique "combination tip" pairing a dull rounded front edge with a blade for cutting that is tucked underneath. (Read more in the BBC) ...

Tiny Puppy Survives Flush Down the Toilet (Video)
A toddler wanted to clean the familiy's new puppy so he placed him in the toilet and flushed. Luckily, a plumber was ready to help, sending a small camera into the pipes to locate the worn out pup (under the neighbor's property). The four-week old puppy, named after the company who came to the rescue, is doing fine. &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Dog Saves Two from Burning Orlando Duplex
A service dog smelled a fire overnight and alerted his hearing-impaired owner of the danger. Roscoe jumped on the bed to wake him after a fire broke out in the Orlando duplex. The man then ran next door, awoke his neighbor and pulled him out of the burning building. (From the Orlando Sentinel) ...

1000 Fresh Produce Carts Deployed to Poor NYC Neighborhoods
In a new citywide effort to encourage street vendors to bring fresh vegetables and fruit to low-income neighborhoods, New York City has approved 1,000 new mobile food carts for neighborhoods in the five boroughs that have long been isolated from traditional supermarkets, grocery stores and farmers&rsquo; markets offering fresh produce at reasonable prices. So far, 200 of the carts are now on the streets, though it will take a while to determine whether there is enough demand to keep all ...

A Hopeful and Tolerant New Generation
Two years of research on the attitudes, values and behavior of Canada's teens uncovered hopeful trends: For instance, today's teens have more "close friends" than any previous generation but they can be continents away; they consider it wrong to park in a spot reserved for the disabled; they have a better relationship with their parents; and they're not nearly as sex-crazy as people think. Most teens engage in sex about as often as seniors. Fifty-six per cent say they never engage in se ...

NY Conductor Delivers Baby on the Train
A New York City transit conductor says she went to catch a train and caught a baby instead. Bretta Sykes helped a woman who went into labor in a subway train at a lower Manhattan station. Watch her tell the story of what happened... (Video may take a moment to load.) ...

Obama Writes Note for Girl Missing School
President Obama turned on the charm at an event in Wisconsin when an audience member told the president that his daughter was missing school to come hear him speak about healthcare reform. He asked if she needed a note for the teacher, and then obliged, writing, "She's with me." Video may take a moment to load...&nbsp; ...

7 Secrets to Outsmart Your Supermarket
Is your grocery store conniving, manipulative and scheming? Most supermarket chains use certain tactics to get you to spend more money on extras that you don&rsquo;t really need&mdash;tactics that affect your wallet, your weight, and your health. On your next trip, be prepared to fight back. Read 7 tips in this Atlanta Journal-Constitution Better Health blog. ...

Power To Change, Encouraging Users to Shut Down Idle PCs
A new campaign by global electronics brand HP is encouraging people to turn off their computers when they go to bed or leave work. They've created a cool desktop widget that tracks your impact on the environment, along with the cumulative effect of all the users around the world. For instance, right now 5,359 people have downloaded the green desktop reminder, and shut down their computers enough to simulate 59 cars taken off the road. Not only are these emissions kept out of the atmospher ...

Family Pays it Forward After Son is Killed
Parents who lost their son to street violence are now giving back to the community with a new student scholarship created with the loving donations of family and friends. "When our son died, the community was so supportive," Zenobia Drakeford said. "We decided to take that and pay it forward for a child to continue their education."&nbsp; (To see the full story, visit DelawareOnline.com) ...

Bamboo School is Earthquake and Hurricane Safe
Traditional brick school facades could become a thing of the past as educational institutions aim for sustainability. Take, for example, the first U.S. school building constructed entirely of sustainable bamboo: The 1,200 square foot building in Maui, Hawaii, uses bamboo that has twice the compression strength of concrete and a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel. That means it's an ideal material for hurricane and earthquake-prone areas. In 1991, 20 bamboo houses b ...

Dog Jumps at Chance to Be Mom to Orphaned Kittens
It was a sad day when Colleen and Robert's 1-year-old black cat, Velvet, was killed by a car near their farm house and left behind four orphaned kittens. But a faithful friend, an Australian Shepherd named Lakota, stepped in and made it her duty to help them.&nbsp; (Rest of the story from MSNBC) ...

Spelling Bee Champ Crowned (Video)
Thirteen-year-old Kavya Shivashankar of Olathe, Kan., has claimed the title of the nation's top speller. Kavya aced the word 'Laodicean' Thursday night to win the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee. Video below may take a moment to load... ...

Class of Katrina Graduates Know How to Give Back (Video)
Instead of being crushed by the weight of a historic storm, these kids rose above it and, in some ways, because of it. These high school seniors were freshmen when Hurricane Katrina hit. They learned big lessons and went on to make a difference in others' lives.&nbsp; Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC ...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Dying Bulldog Saves Owner From Fire
A man's decision not to end his terminally ill bulldog's life ended up saving his own. Scott Seymour said his dog, Brittney, awakened him with her barking early Saturday in time for both of them to escape from his burning house in Grand Rapids. (Continue reading AP story at MSNBC) ...

Americans Honor War Dead on Memorial Day
President Barack Obama is among the Americans observing Memorial Day, a national holiday to honor those who have died in military service to the country. The president will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Military Cemetery just outside Washington, D.C. The cemetery holds the remains of more than 300,000 people, including veterans from all the nation's wars. Parades, ceremonies and motorcycle events are also being held across the United States. ...

Boy, 6, Takes Wheel After Dad Passes Out
A 6-year-old boy grabbed the wheel of his family's pickup truck when his father passed out from low blood sugar, steering several blocks -- even turning -- to keep the vehicle from crashing, police said. The kindergartner leapt into his father's lap so he could steer and see out the windshield. (See the photo and continue reading story from AP) Unrelated photo: courtesy of Sun Star&nbsp; ...

Look What a Boy Can do About Hunger (Video)
Over the past four years, 11 year-old Taylor Graham has earned nearly $30,000 from his annual book drive. Everybody knows him in Forence, Oregon because he doesn't keep the money. He uses it to buy food to donate to local food banks -- 52,000 pounds of food so far. Watch the Making a Difference video below, or with the NBC player... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Pup Falls into Drain, Rescue Begins (Video)
A tiny puppy walking the neighborhood in Omaha, Neb., gets trapped in a storm drain, prompting a full-scale rescue by local animal officials. Cookie the shitzou ended up safe in his family's arms. Watch the video below, or at the News Room...&nbsp; ...

Mothers in Crisis Turn to Temporary Parents
After resolving to leave a violent partner, single moms want to make a fresh start. But they feel trapped tending small children if they have no family support or child care. A nonprofit group, Safe Families for Children, allows such women to get on their feet without having to worry about what would happen to their children. Safe Families places these children with volunteer families, on a temporary basis &mdash; from one day to a year or more. Parents can approve the caretakers, see ...

Luggage Comes Home After Miracle Landing
Passengers on a US Airways flight that ditched in the Hudson River in New York are starting to get their luggage back - dried, cleaned and neatly packed. The plane had sunk with their personal belongings.&nbsp; Many&nbsp;thought they would never see their possessions again. But this month, thanks to a concerted effort by US Airways, Flight 1549 passengers are starting to get special deliveries of FedEx boxes containing over 36,000 dried and cleaned belongings, including wallets, handbag ...

Man Rescues Ducklings From Ledge... and Other Duck Rescues
It's that time of year again, when humans step in to save baby ducklings from busy highways or storm drains or ledges. A businessman in Spokane, Washington stopped what he was doing yesterday to help a dozen day-old ducklings down from a ledge near his office, and then escorted the entire brood to water with their mother duck leading the way. Video below may take a moment to load...(or watch it here) Also, Maxine Hillary sent this AP story from Washington, DC about firefighters wh ...

Teen Fights To Find His Own Foster Family
He is an exceptional student with a near perfect SAT score, but 17-year-old Alex Chivescu needed to find a foster family who would be willing to accept him into their home, or be moved from the school district -- and away from friends -- that had served him so well during troubling times. To a couple dozen foster parents in the region he wrote the most important letter of his life. Watch the CBS News video below, or read the story from Steve Hartman here. &nbsp; ...

Teens, Parents Getting Along Better Than Ever: Study
A new national study in Canada says teens are experiencing better ties with their parents "than any teen cohort in the past 30 years." Teens are reporting a greater degree of understanding between themselves and their parents: just 39 per cent are troubled about not being understood, compared to 58 per cent in 1992. Weekly arguments are down from 52 percent a decade ago to 42 per cent. Close to 80 percent of youth are receiving high levels of enjoyment from their moms, 75 percent from d ...

Solar Satellite Dish Gets 1,000 Channels and Heats Your Home
If you're going to buy a satellite dish, why not get one that can heat water and cool your home? That's the thinking behind evice, which consists of a honeycomb-like layer of hexagonal mirrors placed on top of a satellite dish. The system comes outfitted with a PVC tube, receiver, and evacuated tube--so it can both receive TV signals and concentrate sunlight onto an optical collector to heat water. The $300 dish generates more energy than a standard water heater.&nbsp; (Read more fro ...

The i-house: A New Plug-and-Play Green Home For Under $100K
Clayton Homes' new industrial-chic "i-house" is about as far removed from a mobile home as an iPod from a record player. The solar-powered, energy efficient prefab house features decks and bamboo floors, and was conceived as a moderately priced "plug and play" dwelling for environmentally conscious homebuyers. It went on sale nationwide Saturday with its presentation at the annual shareholders' meeting of investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire-Hathaway Inc. in Omaha, Neb. "This is truly a ...

Scout Proves There's No Dream Too Big
It started, with an ordinary teenager who never dreamed of doing anything extraordinary. A boy scout who, like many of us, didn&rsquo;t know what he was capable of accomplishing until he tried. For his Eagle Scout project he wanted to tackle something bigger -- something folks would benefit from for years to come. And, he loved his brother, who was developmentally disabled, yet active, so an idea grew in his mind... (Read the story in Greensboro News-Record) Photo courtesy of Sun ...

Homeless Couple Marry in Dream Wedding Thanks to Church
The two were homeless and met on the streets in Washington, D.C. nine years ago. They felt instant chemistry. The couple frequented a weekly Bible study and meal program run by Grace Episcopal Church (right). It was there that Dante White, 28, revealed to a parishioner how much he wished he could afford to marry the woman who had brought light into his life on the streets. "Everyone at the church feels strongly that you don't need to have money to get married," said Margare ...

Fla. Boy, 11, Walking to D.C. for Homeless Kids
Zach Bonner has already walked farther and done more for charity than many grown-ups. Now he's about to make good on his vow to walk more than 1,200 miles from Tampa to Washington to bring attention to and raise money for the plight of homeless kids in the United States with his 'My House to the White House' trip. (Read about Zack in this AP story via MSNBC) Watch Zack tell the story in his own words: ...

A Week of Thanks for Teachers From Senior Class
Garinger High School teachers are getting a week of festivities &ndash; ice cream, a cookout, gift bags, candles and personal notes &ndash; courtesy of senior class president Aisha Lulendo. The 18-year-old raised $850 for the events by selling T-shirts and asking classmates for $5 donations. (Read more and see the photo in the Charlotte Observer) Photo courtesy of Sun Star&nbsp; ...

Newlyweds Turn Back Clock on Deforestation
Newlyweds in Indonesia are planting trees under a program to replenish forests. Couples agree to plant 10 trees before they marry. But if they divorce, they must plant 50 more. (Read more at CNN.com) Photo courtesy of Sun Star&nbsp; ...

No Acceptance Letters from Colleges? Don't Panic
While some students are rejected from colleges everywhere, the more common scenario is for a student to be sitting on multiple wait-lists but to have no firm offer in hand. Thankfully there is a great resource out there. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) compiles an annual list of schools that still have openings after May 1; go to www.nacacnet.org. Read more great tips for students without college acceptance letters in the Charlotte Observer. ...

Devices Could Help Children With Autism to Speak
Imagine feeling ill and being unable to tell anyone what hurts. Or longing for pizza on your eighth birthday but ending up with Chinese takeout because you couldn't explain what you wanted. These are the kinds of frustrations, experts say, that are faced by the more than 1 in 150 children in the United States who have a diagnosis of autism. The solution to some of those problems could be the push of a button away. (Read about the devices in the Washington Post) ...

Students Raise Money to Free 120 Enslaved People
When Eric Ensey traveled to India this year, he shook the hand of a man who was freed from bonded labor by the money his teenage students had raised in Sammamish. "If you hadn't helped us," the Indian millworker told the American middle-school teacher, "we would have died in the rice mill." Fundraisers for charity are a staple of school life, but Ensey and his students have taken that work in an unusual direction by raising tens of thousands of dollars to help free enslaved peopl ...

"Biggest Baby Shower" Helps Struggling New Parents
Bottles, blankets and pacifiers are on the way to help families struggling to raise their newborn babies. Students from Warren Township High School and others in the community collected nearly 2,000 items as part of the 4th annual "Biggest Baby Shower" project charity drive. (Continue reading at The Daily Herald) ...

Fourth Grade Class Grows Food for 300 Homeless (Video)
Ten year old Katie started growing cabbage in her garden, but thanks to a big idea that came to her after raising a very big cabbage, she is now feeding hundreds of homeless people with fresh produce, which her fourth grade class helps with. Watch the video below, or with MSNBC video player ... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Chihuahua Blown-away by 70-mph Winds Reunited with Owners
Tinker Bell has been reunited with her owners after a 70-mph gust of wind picked up the six-pound Chihuahua and tossed her out of sight. They credit a pet psychic for guiding them to a wooded area nearly a mile from where they last saw their precious 8-month-old pup. (Read details and see photo from AP at Yahoo News) ...

Growth in Food Stamp Allotment Boosts Economy
Some families saw April food-stamp allotments grow from $176.00 to $200 thanks to the stimulus package. . . This humble program may deliver the single biggest bang for the stimulus buck, boosting the economy by $1.73 for each dollar spent, according to an analysis last year by Moody's Economy.com. And that was just one of the places the money started to flow this month as the vast machinery of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act cranks into gear. (Good story in Newsday) ...

Miracle Baby Survives Cold Night in the Woods
Read this story about a 1 year old baby found alive after spending a night in the woods in Quebec. It's still pretty cold here. The fact that he survived and was in good condition is, I think, a miracle!&nbsp; (Read the story in Toronto Star) ...

State Honors Teen and his Good Idea, Governor Signs the Bill
A 17-year-old Colorado Springs student involved in search and rescue was honored Friday for his efforts behind a law that allows emergency crews to train for free in state parks, rather than paying prohibitive fees. (Continue reading in Politics West, the Denver Post)&nbsp; ...

Broward Students are Heroes Halfway Around the World
They tossed pies, served spaghetti and walked miles to raise nickels, dimes and quarters. It added up to $93,450.14 -- enough to build 11 schools in Kenya. ''Can I just say, oh my gosh,'' said Marc Kielburger, chief executive director of Free the Children, a Toronto-based organization that works with children around the world. ``I'm speechless.'' Kielburger, attending a celebration at Piper High School on Thursday, said that when Broward students first started ...

Internet Breakthrough Could Allow Millions to Trace Ancestors to 16th Century
A new comprehensive collection of documents covering everyday life in London over more than 400 years is being scanned and made available on the internet, including parish registers, wills, land deeds, workhouse documents and school records.&nbsp; The digitization project, which is expected to take until 2010 to complete, will enable millions of people in Britain and abroad to trace their roots further back than ever before. (Read more in the UK Telegraph) ...

12-year-old Girl Fires Perfect Game Against Boys
A baseball first in Bayonne, New Jersey: A 12-year-old, Mackenzie Brown, is the first girl in Bayonne Little League history to throw a perfect game. She retired all 18 boys she faced on Tuesday. She'll get to throw out the first pitch at Citi Field on Saturday when the New York Mets host the Washington Nationals. Read or watch the story at MSNBC, or watch the video below... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Middle Schoolers Want to be the "Kindest School in Maine"
With thousands of acts of kindness under their belts and plans for many more, Biddeford Middle School students are showing they&rsquo;re serious when they say they want to be the &ldquo;kindest school in Maine.&rdquo; (Read the story in the Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Courier) Photo courtesy of Sun Star&nbsp; ...

Earth Day Special: Schoolkids Sell Recycled Products to Raise Money for New Solar Panels
20 years ago, children in American classrooms only drew pictures of the planet and animals to commemorate Earth Day. Today, ecologically-friendly activities are visceral and students fan out selling recycled paper products to help rescue wild animals and raise money for new solar panels that will power their school. Pilgrim School in Los Angeles really knows how to celebrate Earth Day. Truckloads of recycled bathroom tissue and paper towels, compostable trash bags and non-toxic household cl ...

Despite Abuse Otter the Dog Loves Life (Video)
A neighborhood woman adopted a special needs dog and spends time caring for it every day.&nbsp; The dog displays unending love toward her, despite being terribly abused as a puppy by his prior owner. A Good News Network member, Peggy Ijams, made this video about her neighbor, "an angel who walks among us", and calls it a tale of forgiveness. (Read also this Pawtucket Times story about another GNN member, Herb Weiss, who adopted a special needs dog with a host of problems. Weiss and ...

The Uplifting Truth About Britain’s Youth
Only 9 per cent of adults believe young people make a positive contribution to their local communities, says a new study in the UK. But, according to experts, the media's vilification of all young people is unfounded. "Reading the great British press, it would be easy to think that all our teenagers are involved in gangs and wielding knives. There is a problem with youth crime in some parts of the UK, but teenagers are more likely to volunteer than any other age group, while nearly ...

Highway Deaths Drop to Lowest Level Since 1961
The number of Americans killed on U.S. highways last year was the lowest since 1961, the Department of Transportation announced Monday. The rate of deaths on U.S. highways also hit a record low last year -- 1.28 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from 1.36 in 2007, the department said in a news release. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood credited more widespread seat belt use for the drop.&nbsp; High gas prices may have also played a roll, taking more dr ...

Obama Hosts His First WH Easter Egg Roll (Video)
<img src="images/stories/holidays/obama-easter-roll.jpg" alt="obama-easter-roll.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right" title="Pres. Obama greets kids for the Easter egg roll at the WH" class="border" height="195" width="288" /> <p> President Barack Obama and his family hosted hundreds of children on the South Lawn today for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.&nbsp; </p> <p> Watch the video below showing the president helping a tiny girl who was having trouble moving her egg. </p>

The Wait is Over: Obamas Choose First Dog
It's decided: the Obamas have chosen a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog to be the first pet. It was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and fulfills the president's election night promise to his daughters.&nbsp; They named it Bo, after Bo Diddley, and Michelle's father, whose nickname was Diddley.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; (White House photos of Bo- arriving at the White House, and greeting the first family) &nbsp; &nbsp; (Video below may take a moment to load.) ...

2-Legged Dog Inspires Others (Video)
A tiny dog that was born without front legs is wowing and inspiring others. Her simple desire to get from one place to the next led her to learn to walk on her two hind legs. Watch the video below, or with the CNN video player ...&nbsp; ...

Rent-a-Granny Creates Family Ties (Video)
A new "grannies-for-rent" service in Poland brings together elderly people without families, and people who miss having real grandparents. A local University for the Elderly set up the program, which aims to benefit people from all generations. &nbsp; ...

Small Town Creates Its Own Stimulus Package
While most of America waits for federal stimulus money to make its way into wallets, one small town on the Colorado plains has taken matters into its own hands by launching its own economic recovery plan. Spend $300 in the city of Lamar on anything but groceries, pharmaceuticals, booze or your utility bills, and the city will give you a gift certificate good for $30 at any store in Lamar. Shoppers can save up receipts until they have $300 worth of purchases. The offer runs through the mon ...

Legless 6-Year-old Runs in Marathon (Video)
Cody the six-year-old got his new legs last year but recently learned how to run - in a joyful hop - just in time to join his parents in a charity run for the hospital that helped him. Watch the video below, or at MSNBC's website... &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Dog Overboard Found Four Months Later Surviving on Island
A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said. The dog was believed to have drowned and the Griffith family was devastated. But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away, and began the sort of life popularised by the TV reality show "Survivor." Belonging to an Australian cattle dog breed, ...

Facebook Friend Saves a Life Across the Ocean
A British teenager&rsquo;s suicide note on Facebook sparked a transatlantic rescue mission which saved his life. The 16-year-old boy&rsquo;s threat to kill himself, sent to a girl 3,600 miles away, in Maryland, America, was the starting point for an extraordinary race against time. When she read his private post at 11.30pm on Wednesday night his American friend told her parents, who called the local state police. The only details they were given were his name a ...

Recyling Hero Crowned (Video)
Jennifer Gold recycled at home with her family, but when she realized her school lacked a recycling program, she took action. She got tired of seeing overflowing trash cans filled with plastic bottles or glass, and decided to do something. She become known in her school as "the Recycling Girl" for her efforts to get bins organized and kids to change their habits. (Watch the video on NBC San Diego) &nbsp; ...

Nine Lives: Cats' Central Nervous System Can Repair Itself And Restore Function
Scientists studying a mysterious neurological affliction in cats have discovered a surprising ability of the central nervous system to repair itself and restore function. A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports that the restoration in cats of myelin &mdash; a fatty insulator of nerve fibers that degrades in a host of human central nervous system disorders, the most common of which is multiple sclerosis &mdash; can lead to functional recovery. (Read ...

Parrot Saves Choking Toddler's Life
In Denver Colorado, a parrot named Willie saved a toddler from choking on her breakfast, by screeching, "Mama, baby! ... Mama, baby!" when there was no one else in the room. While her sitter, Meagan Howard, was in the bathroom, 2-year-old Hannah Kuusk began to choke. Willie, began shrieking as she&rsquo;d never heard before and started flapping his wings, until she ran into the room, looked at Hannah and saw that the child&rsquo;s face was turning blue. Meagan performed abdominal thru ...

City Scraps Transformed into Gold for Area Farmers
San Francisco is leading the way in producing high-quality compost to fertilize regional crops. In one year, 105,000 tons of food scraps and yard trimmings - 404 tons each weekday - get turned into 20,000 tons of compost for 10,000 acres farmed by Bay area growers. &nbsp; About 2,000 restaurants, 2,080 large apartment buildings and 50,000 single-family homes have embraced the city's environmentally friendly green bins. The scrap is turned into gold, a rich compost that boosts the reg ...

U.S. Consumer Mood Improves Again Says Gallup
Gallup&rsquo;s Consumer Mood Index increased by 10 points last week, bringing its improvement to 35 points over the past three weeks. For the first time since consumers&rsquo; mood began moving in a positive direction recently, daily consumer spending also increased -- by $9 last week. (Read the full story at Gallup) Photo courtesy of Sun Star&nbsp; ...

Jasmine the Greyhound, 'Mother Theresa' of Dogs
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had clearly been abused. In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for Animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need. They named her Jas ...

Prisoners Baby-Sit Toddler Found on Md. Highway
A prison work crew baby-sat a 2 1/2-year-old boy who was spotted Friday running along the center lines of a rural Maryland highway, with trucks loaded with gravel rumbling by. The six minimum-security inmates shared their lunches with the toddler, who apparently wandered away from home, and played with him while authorities located the parents and investigated, said Correctional Officer Gary Kershner, who was overseeing the prisoners. (Read the full AP story via WTOP News in Washington ...

Teen Raises $14,000 for Medical Expenses to Treat Neighbor Child
Two years ago 5-year-old Annie suffered a massive seizure caused by undiagnosed Addison&rsquo;s Disease. Inspired by the call to "act as if what you do makes a difference,&rdquo; Bothell High senior Jenn Lund, 18, organized an auction this year that yeilded $14,000 to help pay for treatment of the child's brain damage. Photo Bothell High senior Jenn Lund, Annie Sullivan and Jean Sullivan, by Fumiko Yarita / Bothell-Kenmore Reporter (Read about the inspired teen who created Annie's A ...

11 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions
46 million of us itemized tax deductions last year claiming nearly 1 trillion dollars' worth of deductions. But, in itemizing, the opportunity for mistakes is almost unlimited. It's all too easy to miss a trick and pay too much. Check out the 11 most-overlooked tax deductions, along with four new ones this year that are certain to be overlooked by far too many taxpayers. Claim them if you deserve them, and cut your tax bill to the bone. (Read the article in Kiplinger.com) ...

Free Appliance Repair Helps in Tough Economy
Amid tough economic realities, one website is doing its part to help consumers save money. RepairClinic.com offers free repair help, including detailed drawings of each of the appliances, along with careful how-to explanations for most major appliance repairs. With the average professional&nbsp; repair costing $100-200, or more, free repair help provides families with much-needed relief. The online retailer of appliance parts also offers more specific advice from their free &ldquo;Repai ...

Thai 'Spider-Man' to the Rescue on Window Ledge
A Bangkok firefighter dressed up as the comic book superhero Spider-Man to rescue an eight-year-old boy who had climbed on to a third-floor window ledge. The unusual disguise was successfully used to coax the boy, who is autistic, from his dangerous perch. (Photo and story from the BBC) Thanks to Grace for story tip! ...

School Girls Collect 100 Dresses for Children Across Town (Video)
Elementary school girls in Orlando collected more than 100 dresses to create a boutique of giving for girls less fortunate from across town. The idea was inspired by the storybook, The Hundred Dresses, in which a girl is taunted for wearing the same dress to school every day. The Riverdale fifth grade girls set up a boutique and acted as personal shoppers helping to pick out the perfect dress for their invited guests. Watch the video below, or see it at Orlando Sentinel... (Thanks t ...

Obamas Break Ground on New White House Vegetable Garden (Video)
In an effort to convey the importance of healthy foods, First Lady Michelle Obama joined 26 elementary schoolchildren wielding shovels, rakes, pitchforks and wheelbarrows to break ground on a new vegetable and herb garden for the White House -- the first since Eleanor Roosevelt&rsquo;s victory garden in World War II. In the coming weeks they will return to plant the lettuces, berries, herbs, and other produce that will be used in the White House kitchen. The video below may take a moment ...

Teens Capture Images of Space with $100 Camera and Balloon
Teenagers armed with only a $100 camera and latex balloon have managed to take stunning pictures of space from 20-miles above Earth.&nbsp; Proving that you don't need Google's billions, the four Spanish students managed to send a camera-operated weather balloon into the stratosphere to take atmospheric readings and photographs. The Catalonia team completed their incredible experiment at the end of February this year. (Read full story in UK Telegraph) ...

Woman Honored as Hero for Saving Abused and Sick Dogs (Video)
Tracy Moser spends all her money and time saving unwanted or ill puppies from abandonment and death. She was honored by the local media as a "hometown hero." Video below may take a moment to load...&nbsp; ...

Eco-Village Prospers as Green Alternative to Urban Sprawl
An eco-village community in Palmetto, Georgia was founded on principles of farm-to-table cooking, & green building techniques. The high-tech eco-village with Organic farm is surrounded by forests with galleries, yet includes boutiques, shops and restaurants as part of the village community. (Read the full article at CNN) &nbsp; ...

Solar Courses Open New Pathway for Unemployed (Video)
In 15 states, free community college programs are turning laid-off electricians and construction workers into green collar professionals who install solar panels on roofs. Nevada is considering a bill that would retrain 3,000 workers and create jobs for them, using a solar lab as a way for the unemployed to reinvent themselves. Watch the "Seeking Solutions" video below, or at the NBC website. &nbsp; &nbsp; ...

Obama Effect? Blacks Optimistic in Spite of Economic Struggles
African-Americans are more optimistic about their financial outlook next year than the general population is, even though they say they're struggling more with credit card debt, according to a new poll. In the poll. Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Black Union poll finds that 58 percent of African-Americans said they expect their household financial situation to improve next year, while only 30 percent of the general population thinks that.&nbsp; (Read the full report in McClatch ...

Survey: Americans are Optimistic Despite Recession
A new study shows that Americans are optimistic that their economic prospects will improve within their lifetime and from one generation to the next. This, despite data that shows the United States has less economic mobility than many other industrialized countries. The survey released by the Pew Economic Mobility Project shows most Americans still believe that hard work will be rewarded regardless of family background or economic conditions. "Despite the economic crisis we're i ...

11-yr-old Girl Shaves Her Head for Africa
An 11 year old girl has shaved her head to raise money to build a school in Uganda. Her goal is to raise donations&nbsp; of $10,000 through her family's website, DivinePurposUnleashed.com. (Although, at this time of posting, I couldn't find anything about this on the site) Watch her talk about her hopes and her hair on YouTube: Thanks to Harry Tucker for the link... ...

Hero Dog Saves Family and Neighbors From Fire
Eight families were saved from a fire in the middle of the night by "Ace," a german shepard-mix dog who would not stop barking. The Brooklyn mutt hero sounded the alarm for the fire within the Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstone and continued until all were out of the building to safety. (Read full story from 1010wins.com) Thanks to Twitterer WebAddict for the link!&nbsp; ...

Good Samaritans Lift Car From Pinned Puppy
'"I've never seen anything like this," said an official from the animal control unit, who responded to the accident. A young dog named Jenna had been hit by a car and was pinned underneath. Six people came to her aid lifting the car and moving it back to free her from the vehicle. She was then taken to a vet hospital and is expected to recover. A wonderful story of people coming together to help an animal in need. (Read more in Star Gazette) ...

5-Year-Old Cool Under Pressure When Dad Falls
Tyler Lofton, 5, knew just what to do when his dad fell off a ladder and was knocked unconscious and bleeding, reported WCVB-TV in Boston. The kindergartner was cool under pressure and without hesitating, he ran for the phone and dialed 911. "My dad fell out of the attic and his face and hand is bleeding. Come real fast, OK?" Tyler told the 911 operator. Then, he comforted his 2-year-old brother, who was crying, while he waited for them to arrive. (Read full story or watch video at WLWT- ...

Wild Baby Deer Cozies up in Michigan Couple's Home
Baby the wild deer has adopted a family in Michigan, coming and going as she pleases, stepping inside their kitchen to feast on goat milk and other snacks. The couple found the fawn in the woods, abandoned by her mother and since they were already wildlife rehabilitators, they decided to take her in. Video below, from&nbsp; WSJV, may take a moment to load: ...

Obama Surprises Daughters with New Swing Set
First daughters Malia and Sasha Obama "squealed with delight" when presented with a big surprise after school yesterday: a brand-new swing set. While the girls were at school, the Obamas had the playset installed on the south lawn within sight of the Oval Office. It includes three swings, a tire swing, a slide, rope ladders and a tent. A shiny plaque proclaims it to be &ldquo;Malia and Sasha&rsquo;s Castle.&rdquo; (AP has story and photos from the White House) ...

Sales Tax Deduction Encouraging Car Sales
A new federal incentive allows car and truck buyers to deduct the sales tax on vehicles purchased between Feb. 17 and the end of the year -- just the encouragement some buyers needed to commit to a purchase. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the first good news the automotive industry has had in long time,&rdquo; said James T. Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve talked to a number of dealers around the state and they said they&rsquo;ve actually seen a ...

After 9 Years, Missing Dog Returns to Family
A German shepherd named Astro who has been missing from his family for more than 9 years is finally home, thanks to the microchip embedded in the dog before his adoption from a shelter. The family had even moved three times after the dog left home. (MSNBC.com has the story) ...

Tiny Hero Steers Mom to Safe Stop (Video)
A Philadelphia 8-year-old is being called a hero after he helped his pregnant mother, who lost the ability to see while driving, steer her car through a mile of traffic intersections until he could find a safe place for her to stop. (Video may take a moment to load) Photo courtesy of Sun Star. ...

Renew Your Wardrobe for Free With Clothing Swaps
Typically women use 20 percent of their clothes 80 percent of the time. The reason? Sometimes it's just hard to let go. But, the idea to host clothing swaps between friends or local women is gaining momentum. Suzanne Agasi is the diva of clothing swaps having hosted 175 events while maintaining a website devoted to her events www.clothingswap.org. "People hold on to clothes that don't really fit or look good because it was expensive," she said. "They are painful to get rid of, but it's time ...

Hero Dogs Donate Blood to Save Canine Lives (Video)
Blood donations save lives - even dogs' lives. At the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank in Severna Park, Maryland, owners can bring their dogs in to make donations on a monthly basis. Regular donors like Ray Hindle's dog Oscar are canine heros. They ensure a supply of the life-saving blood is ready in case of emergencies. (Video may take a moment to load)&nbsp; ...

Do Kids Really Need Homework?
A precocious 11-year-old in the 5th grade, Ben Berrafato, is challenging one of America's most endearing and widely held beliefs, eloquently arguing against the need for homework. He may be right, say experts like the author of The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting Our Children and What We Can Do About It. (Video may take a moment to load) ...

Family Invites in Others During Hard Times
The Frankel family has opened their home and hearts to others in need of a place to live. Together they have created an extended family of relatives related by blood and by circumstance. The family started taking in people before the economy soured, and now they say they are weathering the downturn better than some. . . (Read more at CNN.com) (Photo courtesy of Sun Star)&nbsp; ...

In Japan, Foster Parents Blaze an Unpopular Trail
The government is looking for more families like the Sakamotos, who have braved criticism for their decision to raise foster kids. Not easy in Japan, a country where blood ties and traditional family structures are paramount, home settings have begun to trump institutional care in officials' views of what's best for children who face abuse or abandonment. And now, the government is revamping its foster-care system to increase the number of caseworkers and better promote the option for fa ...

Russian Kids Get Better With Pets (Video)
While animal therapy is nothing new and has been used for decades throughout the world to treat disabilities, in Russia it's still relatively rare. One of the few programs offering help and hope to hundreds of children with mental, physical and emotional problems is to be found in a small Siberian village. Reuters video below may take a moment to load. ...

Foreclosure Help is On the Way
A plan has been announced to help keep homeowners in their homes. Until March 4, when the doors open, there are other agencies to help mediate interest rates with your mortgage company.&nbsp; (2 Videos and text from WJRT-TV Flint, MI) &nbsp; ...

Students Learn About Kindness
School officials in Dallas-Fort Worth are launching a communitywide initiative to encourages kindness, especially toward new students who may be eating alone at the lunch table. They hope to include businesses and faith-based organizations in a "chain of kindness". They have joined a nationwide effort called, Rachel's Challenge, named for a student killed in the 1999 school shootings at Colombine, CO who wrote a "Code of Life", a recipe for changing the culture at schools. (Read more in ...

Crews Rescue Cat From Top of 6-Story Freeway Pillar
A cat was rescued from a six-story concrete pillar below the East Freeway in Houston when a local resident spotted the feline after hearing its frantic cries last week. (With video, Houston News, TXCN.com) ...

Send a Live Singing Telegram For Valentine's Day for $5
A company based in Boston and Bangalore offers a cool way of sending a Valentine or Birthday wish to someone special in the United States. Send live singing telegrams from India to any mobile phone or land line for only $5.&nbsp; TajTunes.com features an original lineup of songs written by Boston songwriters. The songs are quirky, fun, and out of the ordinary and the sender receives a digital recording of the song, including the recipient's reaction, after the call is made. ...

Boy Scout's Skills Save Elderly Couple From Poisoning (Video)
Boy Scout Zach Sizemore saved an elderly couple from carbon monoxide poisioning. The couple was slowly being poisioned by carbon monoxide from the generator used to heat their home. MSNBC has the video report. (Video may take a moment to load.) ...

Oldest Dog Ever to Win Best of Show
At the Westminster dog show, the top dog was also the oldest dog ever to win -- by two years. Ten-year-old Stump took best in show honors Tuesday night. The Sussex spaniel had been retired and had almost died in 2004. His handler said he decided to show Stump one last time, almost on a whim. - NPR&nbsp; (Read more at CBS News) Video below may take a moment to load.&nbsp; ...

Science Confirms the Serious Need for Play
Free, imaginative play is crucial for normal social, emotional and cognitive development. It makes us better adjusted, smarter and less stressed. Playing appears to help with language development and improves problem solving. In the absence of play, children miss learning experiences. (Read more in Scientific American) ...

Dog Adopts Monkey as its Own (Video)
A two year-old pomeranian chose to become a loving mother to one baby orphan monkey. The two are inseparable -- mother nursing, baby traveling on her back and the pair sleeping together. The Reuters video may take a moment to load... ...

Buck the Wonder Dog Survives 6 Months Alone in Montana Winter (w/ Video)
Six months and forty pounds-lighter, Buck was found wandering in the Montana wilderness after being separated from his family on a road trip. This brave retriever survived on his own in one of the worst winters Montana has had in the past three decades. (Read story at KOMO) Video below may take a minute to load... ...

Teen Drug Use on the Decline in US, Europe, Canada
Kids on both sides of the Atlantic are smoking less pot and going out less often with friends at night, a study of 15-year-olds in 30 countries found. The double declines occurred in the United States, Canada and mostly European countries from 2002 to 2006. The trends are likely related, since other research has found that kids who spend many evenings out are more likely to smoke dope than homebodies. (AP story bia WWLP.com) &nbsp; ...

Silver Lining For Homeowners (Video)
There's good news for homeowners facing foreclosure; as Bill Whitaker reports, a bill has been approved allowing bankruptcy judges to order banks to reduce mortgages. (Video may take moment to load) ...

Blue Collar Family of 10 Opens Door to Four More in Need
NPR "buried the lead" in its story of a working family with 8 kids trying to make ends meet. The real inspiring facts come in the middle of the radio report as we learn that this family, already financially strapped, agrees to take in 4 boys whose dad has just committed suicide. Hear the audio tale at NPR. (Photo courtesy of Sun Star)&nbsp; ...

Don't panic about your 401(k) losses. Here's why.
Before anyone mistakes the current market slump for a reason to drive us back into pensions, consider that historically the stock market recovers and even rallies well before the job market bottoms out. So out-of-work Americans who have a 401(k), including myself, should take heart. (Continue reading at Christian Science Monitor) ...

Two High School Students Save Neighbor
<img src="images/stories/health/rockin-seniors.jpg" alt="rockin-seniors.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 100px; height: 67px" title="senior" class="border" height="67" width="100" />Two Pennsylvania teens used good judgment and CPR skills to save their elderly neighbor, who had collapsed on the driveway earlier that day. <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/01/two_cedar_cliff_students_save.html" target="_blank">(Central PA News)</a>

Obama to Washington: Snow Wimps! (Video)
In a humorous moment, President Obama paused to gently needle Washington for all but coming to a halt after a dusting of snow and ice. He says his kids laughed too, saying school would never be cancelled back home in Chicago, and the seven-year-old commented that they would even be marched out for recess! (Video may take a moment to load) ...

Rural Alabama Town to Receive Running Water (Video)
After their wells had dried up more than three years ago, residents of a rural Alabama town are about to receive something they have not had in quite some time - running water.&nbsp; ...

Millionaire Leaves Business to Create Sanctuary for Doomed Cats (Video)
One man has made it his mission to create a Shangri-La for unwanted and troubled cats. As Richard Schlesinger reports, sometimes animals with the worst of problems can bring out the best in people. And, following your passion can lead to 550 animal adoptions, 150 of those, for special needs cats. ...

Teen Pulls Toddler from Burning Home
The Houston fire department said they plan to nominate the entire Preciado family for a neighborhood hero award after they charged into a burning building to save a toddler trapped by flames. For putting another's safety ahead of their own, the family is being hailed as heroes, especially the 16 year-old boy who kicked in the window and found the 1 year-old. (KHOU.com has video, story and photos) ...

DVD Teaches Autistic Children About Smiles
A new DVD teaches autistic children how to recognize emotions like happiness, anger and sadness through the exploits of vehicles including a train, a ferry, and a cable car. It is the brainchild of Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University.&nbsp; About a decade ago, Baron-Cohen suggested that autism &mdash; which is much less likely to afflict girls &mdash; might be an extreme version of the typical male brain. Men tend to understand the world via ...

Atlanta Kids Get Inaugural Surprise (Video)
A group of students at Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy thought they'd just be performing their song 'Dear Obama' at a news conference on Wednesday. But after finishing the song, the kids got a big surprise. See the song in the video below; the surprise comes at the end. ...

The Flying Car Takes Off
It&rsquo;s every kid's dream, but one such kid grew up an inventor and made his dream a reality. Gilo Cardozo created the world&rsquo;s first bio-fueled flying car, a machine that can drive like a car and fly like an airplane. On Wednesday, Cardozo and adventurer Neil Laughton will set off in the flying car from London. They will make an amazing 42-day expedition that will take them through the Sahara to Tombouctou. A convoy of support vehicles will accompany the team every step of the way ...

African Orphans Experience First Christmas Thanks to Florida Cancer Victim
John E. Halgrim died last year of a brain tumor at 15. But his wish to build an orphanage in Africa survived thanks to his generous neighbors in southwest Florida. Thanks to them, orphaned children woke up Dec. 25 and found presents under a Christmas tree for the first time in their lives. Read the firsthand account of the squeals of joy and their favorite present of all at The News-Press, Fort Myers. ...

140 Year Old Lobster Set Free
Last week, the prospect that a 140-year-old lobster confined to a tank inside a New York seafood restaurant would ever see his ocean home again were bleak at best. Now, George, the 20-pound crustacean, will get a second shot at life after the good folks at City Crab and Seafood agreed to ship the lucky lobster to Maine, and release him back into the wild.&nbsp; As long as George remains in Maine, he won't have to worry about ending his life in a pot of boiling water. Fishermen are barred fr ...

Lessons From UK's 'Tightest Man'
In times of financial hardship, it helps to have a role model like the father who was named by a UK TV show 'The Tightest Man In Britain'. He has worn the same shoes since 1987, does not visit the cinema or pub, and insists, "A lot of people can learn from me." He did pay cash&nbsp; recently (&pound;540) for a new HD TV after his 14-year-old model broke. If you want to read about how tight someone can be, the full story is on BBC. ...

First British Baby Born Without Cancer Gene (Updated w/ Video)
On Friday, the first baby in Britain to be screened for a deadly breast cancer gene while still an embryo was born safely in London. The parents didn't want to pass on the gene that would have ensured cancer in 80% of offspring. The technique used to ensure that the girl would be born free of the cancer gene is called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and has been used previously in Britain to prevent babies being born with more than 60 inherited disorders, including cystic fibrosi ...

9 Year-old Saves Girl from Pitbull Attack using Martial Arts
The study of Brazilian&nbsp;Jiu-Jitsu gave a 9-year-old California boy the confidence he needed to do what most adults wouldn't: He approached an attacking pitbull and proceeded to lock it in a "rear neck choke hold", saving a girl who was being viciously bitten by the dog. "I don't know if anyone could have acted so quickly and especially a little kid." said his grandfather. (Video and story at KGET-TV, Bakersfield) ...

Adoptive Parents Visit Guatemala to Give Back (Updated with Link)
Last month, a group of American adoptive parents traveled to Guatemala to donate $30,000 worth of food, toys, clothes, and shoes to 1,000 poor indigenous families. What started as a simple service trip for a handful of women who had bonded as they all went through the Guatemalan adoption process at the same time has snowballed into Helping Mayan Families, an effort that raised more than $30,000 worth of supplies to help provide free medical and veterinary clinics, Christmas baskets of ...

Despite Naysayers, Scout Earns Every Merit Badge Spurred On by Grandmother
Even though his Scoutmaster said it couldn't be done in the time remaining, a Lond Island teen managed to earn all 121 merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts of America. His inspiration came from his grandmother who was dying and said, "Why don't you try to earn every one?" In the latter months of his quest, his grandfather accompanied him in tasks for woodworking and plumbing, bringing his grandmother along in spirit as witness to this rare achievement. Play the inspiring interview below... ...

UPDATE: Once a Homeless Man Now Independent and Hopeful for 2009
One inspiring story in 2008 featured an entrepreneur whose heart was moved by a homeless man trying to sell newspapers to earn a living. The businessman started a website to raise money for one year, which helped Troy to move into an apartment. I came across this updated story about the journey of both men and where they are now. Troy is in need of a part-time job in Chicago that would supplement his newspaper business. You can find him every Sunday at the True Temple of Solomon church, on 7 ...

Santa Paws Delivers Doggy Stockings in VA Neighborhood
Every December, a 27-year U.S. Postal Service letter carrier walks his route as Santa Paws, delivering more than 100 doggy stockings, with each pooch's name careful written across the cuff. He packs them with rawhide candy canes, dog cookies and biscuits, along with an ornament -- different each year -- that features a photo of the dog taken with his 35 mm film camera. (The Washington Post features Arnold's good deed w/ photos) (Photo: Mini, the Santa Schnauzer via www.dogster.com) ...

Less Money Doesn't Mean Sad Christmas for Some Kids
After their daddy lost his job, three kids in Alamo, Georgia were told that as the economy was not so good and Santa had so many needy kids to help this year, gifts would be scarce. The 6-year old said, "Mama, it doesn&rsquo;t matter if we have any gifts under the tree or not. All that matters is that we are together, that we are happy and a family." Read about how several families are appreciating Christmas even more, thanks to handmade decorations and traditions that don't cost much money: ...

Teens Trudge in Frigid Cold for Kids on Other Side of Globe
All throughout December, high school students walked to school in the frigid Minnesota temperatures (zero degrees) to symbolically "walk in the shoes of thirsty children" who have no clean water access near their homes, and to raise money to do something about it. "The Wayzata Walk for Water, initiated by three Wayzata High students, kicked off a districtwide effort to raise enough money to provide an elementary school in the Philippines with a water system." (Read the inspiring story in ...

Ten Signs of Peace on Earth: The Children's Culture Connection
The good news that is the common thread running through children in war-torn Iraq or poverty-laden India, is that they all still have hope. And Dina Fesler, the founder of Children's Culture Connection has discovered that when we give American children a taste of the world's cultures, it helps them connect with kids who have very little, and empowers them by showing that they, in fact, can make a difference in the lives of others. When news of economic recessions and crazed holiday shoppers m ...

Wish Comes True for Boy With Cancer to Meet President Bush
A 12 year-old boy with brain cancer was granted his wish by the Make-a Wish foundation -- to meet with President Bush. He has some advice for parents of kids with cancer, too: "It's going to be alright." ...

Couple Brings Christmas Cheer to Needy
A non-profit organization, run entirely by a couple from inside their home, bring Christmas to families every year who might not experience the holiday&nbsp; -- helping people like Iris Holloway who has not only lost her job, but recently was diagnosed with bone cancer. <a href="http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=9560676&nav=menu681_2" target="_blank">(See video and photos with the story on Oklahoma's News9)</a>

Dog Rescued From Frozen Missouri River
Black Eagle firefighters scaled a railroad trestle to rescue a dog that had fallen through the ice into the freezing Missouri River this afternoon. The male dog was able to muster up enough strength to bite down on a rope thrown. (Great Falls Tribune.com w/ photo) ...

‘Operation Christmas Child’ Brings Cheer to Neediest Children Around the World
The annual &lsquo;shoebox&rsquo; campaign led by the Salvation Army - &lsquo;Operation Christmas Child&rsquo; is the world&rsquo;s largest children&rsquo;s Christmas project. Since 1990 the project has sent a message of Christmas joy from the UK to more than 60 million boys and girls throughout the world. The last month has seen the 2008 campaign in full swing with homes, schools, workplaces and community groups throughout the land ransacking their cupboards to locate any shoe boxes that h ...

Don't Stress Over Holiday Guests: 5 Tips
The chance to see your family and friends is truly one of the best parts of the holidays. But hosting family members and friends in your own home can also be one of the most stressful parts of the holidays. Trying to make everything perfect for guests can only add to your stress. However, with some simple planning, you can have a stress-free time while hosting the ones you love. (Detroit News and GetButtonedUp has the article) ...

Toddler's Santa Wish To Bring Daddy Home Comes True
Three Year old Kensley Penney has been a Good Girl this year.&nbsp; So good in fact that Santa, with some help from the Pentagon granted her wish to bring Daddy home for Christmas.&nbsp; This is the video. Very Very heartwarming.&nbsp; There is nothing more sincere and real than a young child's heartfelt emotion.&nbsp; (Photo courtesy of Sun Star) ...

Young Girl Donates Spa Winnings to Disabled Friend
A teenager brought her mum to tears when she donated competition winnings to her disabled friend. Bethany Turnbull won a pampered night in a spa but gave away the prize offered to her as "the town&rsquo;s most deserving teenager," proving that the town's choice was perfect. (Read more about this selfless act in UK's Northern Echo) ...

Dog Pulls Injured Dog From Highway Dodging Traffic
Footage from a traffic camera overlooking a busy freeway in Santiago, Chile captured a dog performing a heroic act &mdash; pulling an injured friend from oncoming traffic. The hero dog dodges out to drag the severely injured canine across lanes of traffic as cars swerve around it. Rescue workers arrive to help the dog in the end. . .&nbsp; A reminder that kindness extends beyond humans. (Video below) ...

10 Healthy Ways to Save Cash Now
Does the bailout boogeyman have you hiding under the bed? Whether we live on Wall Street, Main Street, or Sesame Street we&rsquo;re all affected by the financial pinch. The following minor lifestyle adjustments not only ensure better health, they will ease your anxiety as well as your pocket book. (Photo, right, by Sun Star) Cut the Caffeine.&nbsp; One fewer latte a day won&rsquo;t kill you.&nbsp; A grande every day is running you upwards of $1000/year.&nbsp; Brew a batc ...

Enjoy the Holidays While Treading Lightly on the Planet
The Christmas Tree at the U.S. Capitol is decorated with strands of energy-efficient LED lights, as are the White House trees and the Colorado Spruce in Rockefeller Center. Modern LED lights last ten times as long as other bulbs, and use75 to 90 percent less energy, saving you money on the electric bill. With a little bit of effort you and your family can enjoy the holiday and help save the planet at the same time.&nbsp; Read the article below about more ways to enjoy a green holiday ...

Animals Teach At-Risk Students to Succeed (Video)
A school in Brewster, NY relies on a rare breed of teacher to help at-risk students. From working on the on-campus farm, to training assistance dogs for the disabled, Green Chimneys four-legged teachers help special needs students learn about patience and responsibility. Now the students, once discipline problems, have become successful. ...

Study Suggests Good Cheer May Spread Itself
When you're smiling, the whole world really does smile with you. A paper being published Friday in a British medical journal concludes that happiness is contagious &mdash; and that people pass on their good cheer even to total strangers. American researchers who tracked more than 4,700 people in Framingham, Mass., as part of a 20-year heart study also found the transferred happiness is good for up to a year.&nbsp; (Full Associated Press story at Yahoo!) (Photo courtesy of Sun Star) ...

Protect Your Phone Numbers From Unwanted Telemarketers
With recorded telemarketing calls on the rise, make sure that your U.S. mobile phone number and home numbers are protected from unwanted solicitors with the help of the government's Do Not Call Registry. The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation&rsquo;s consumer protection agency. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.&nbsp; It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five years. You must call fr ...

Inexpensive Ways to Save on Your Home Energy Bill
Energy prices are the silver lining in today's dark economic cloud because utility bills are finally shrinking. Here are five FREE things you can do to cut your electricity use; five inexpensive ways to lower your power bill; and five steps that you may think are saving&nbsp; money, but which actually cost you -- like the use of space heaters. Read these and other very useful tips here, in The Dallas Morning News. (Photo by John Stone, eyeclectic.net) ...

Bright Spot in Holiday Sales? Online Shopping
One bright spot on the holiday retail landscape will be online shopping. Despite economic downturns, internet sales are expected to rise by 12 percent this year. That means more business for shipping companies like UPS and FedEx and web IT companies. Job opportunities exist there, as well as in the field of tax preparation. Happy shopping and happy job hunting from the Good News Network. (Info gathered from the CBS Early Show) ...

Coffee Customers Pay It Forward Like Never Before
Even in these tough times, it is becoming "downright common" for Starbucks customers at this drive-thru window to pay the bill for the car behind them. One cashier has even seen 15 cars of kindness in a row... KUSA reports in this video from Loveland, Colorado that even in Wal-Mart people are paying it forward... ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Embedded video from &amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.cnn.c ...

Encouraging People to Buy High-Efficiency Toilets
<i>Manitoba is trying to encourage people to stop flushing so much water and money away. The province has announced a new WaterSmart conservation program that will provide rebates to people who buy dual-flush, high-efficiency toilets.</i> (<a href="http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Manitoba/2008/11/12/7390251.html" target="_blank">The Winnipeg Sun</a>)

Woman Plunges Nine Stories, Walks Away
A Ukrainian woman who plunged 100 feet from her ninth floor flat survived without injury because she fell into a giant vat of grapes that cushioned her fall. (<a href="http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3083048.html" target="_blank">Ananova has a few more details)</a>

Extra Cash? Turn in Your Techno-Junk for Money
As a hungry grad student, Brandon Mendelson can sum up his financial status in two painful words: &ldquo;broke&rdquo; and &ldquo;desperate.&rdquo; He needed quick cash to help cover his living expenses, so he turned his techno-trash into digital gold. Mendelson scanned his campus at SUNY Albany and saw possible salvation in the trash stream. Not beer bottles or discarded newspapers. Today&rsquo;s garbage: his, and his friends' digital debris. ...

Man Follows His Dream of Twine
James Frank Kotera wants to make his town of Highland, Wis., famous. He heard a voice one night that told him to make the world's largest ball of twine. Steve Hartman asks him why. ...

Elementary Students Join in Pennies for Peace Program
Elementary students recognized the sacrifices veterans have made for freedom on Tuesday, and pledged to make some sacrifices of their own. Through the Pennies for Peace program, the Lynchburg, Virginia students plan to donate their own money to fund school construction in war-torn areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Despite the economic tough times, Altavista teacher Ann Shortt, who helped coordinate Tuesday&rsquo;s assembly, said students and staff plan to work together to raise $12,000 by Febr ...

Parrot Saved Girl's Life With Warning
A babysitter's parrot is being credited with helping save the life of a 2-year-old girl who was choking at a Denver area home while the sitter was in the bathroom. The parrot started screaming and flapping his wings and saying 'mama baby' "over and over and over again."&nbsp; (w/ video at CBS4Denver.com) ...

Six Steps for Raising a Charitable Child
While the culture of giving may be foreign to most children, it&rsquo;s easy to train your own little ones to be compassionate. Here are six shortcuts for raising a charitable child, from birth and beyond. (Read the article at Razoo.com) ...

Websites Help to Stretch Your Holiday Budget
In an economic downturn the internet is especially effective as a tool to help you stretch the value of your dollars this holiday season. Here is a list of websites that can help you research products, compare prices and find bargains that fit your budget. Leading the way is ConsumerWorld.org, author of the following list of "Top 5 Shopping Tools for Sore Wallets". The website, www.consumerworld.org, is a public service, non-commercial guide that receives no compensation from any of the si ...

Dogs Refuse To Leave Owner's Side
Two golden retrievers refused to leave the side of their Colorado owner even after 26 days, when he died in the fields having wondered away from home. Such devotion reminds us why dogs are known as Man's Best Friend. Click the small arrow at the bottom to watch the video, or read the report at WZZM. ...

Most Valuable Player Has Down Syndrome (Video)
14-year-old Patrick Nicholson&nbsp; has Down Syndrome, but that hasn't stopped him from making a difference as assistant coach for his high school football team. Spirited kid and wise coach equals inspiring video! We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please chec ...

Hero Dog Nearly Dies Saving Kittens From House Fire
In Australia a terrier has surprised and delighted fire-fighters by refusing to leave a litter of newborn kittens caught in a raging house fire. Smoke in the Melbourne house was so thick that, at first, firefighters thought they had spotted a soft toy. On closer inspection it was revealed that they had found Leo the dog, who had refused to leave the house choosing instead to guard a cardboard box containing 4 new-born kittens. (Read the story in Reuters News) Watch the Video Below... ...

High School Rallies Around Student Cancer Patient
As Milton Hershey School Senior Chloe Mellott wages a courageous battle against cancer, her school family is coming together in a show of support. Students, employees, and alumni will gather for a 24-hour event to honor Chloe and kick off a year-long fundraising effort to raise money in Chloe's name for the American Cancer Society. The School community is hoping to raise $100,000. ...

Fishing Boat Catches Dog in North Sea
Cairn terrier Freddie blundered into the water after getting lost in fog while out for a walk with his owner.<br /> But instead of swimming to shore he headed out into the North Sea.&nbsp; (<a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1849266.ece" target="_blank">The UK Sun has story and photo</a>)

Autistic 8-Year-Old Gets Black Belt
began Tae Kwon Do lessons as a way to help him deal with his autism, keep him active, enrich communicate skills, learn discipline and the like. Two weeks ago he earned his black belt with a performance that included breaking two boards - one with a kick, the other with an elbow. Justin's achievement show others that greatness can come through difficult circumstances. (Read the story in the Hammond Times, serving Northwest Indiana ) Thanks to Lou Storiale, who is good friends with the Patel f ...

Surprise Bounce in Existing Home Sales to 13-Month High
US existing home sales rose by an unexpected 5.5 percent in September to the highest level in 13 months, as buyers were attracted by falling prices, an industry survey showed Friday.

Military Hospital Opens for Dogs Wounded in War
A $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened Tuesday at Lackland Air Force Base, offering a long overdue facility that gives advanced medical treatment for combat-wounded dogs. (AP story at CNN.com) ...

With Bees Dying by the Billions, Teens Protect Pollinators
Millions of Monarchs will begin arriving in Mexico this week in an annual migration that includes thousands traveling through Michigan&rsquo;s Upper Peninsula and some of the butterflies can thank Marquette and Native American teens for their future survival. The Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project in Marquette was created to protect pollinators like butterflies because billions of honeybees are dying across the world &ndash; especially in the Midwest &ndash; in a syndrome called &ldquo;Colony Co ...

Solar "Balloon" Creates 400x More Energy Than Solar Cell
The new Solar &ldquo;Balloon&rdquo;&nbsp; by Cool Earth is a concept that creates an &ldquo;inflatable plastic thin-film balloon, which acts as a solar concentrator that, upon inflation, focuses sunlight onto a photovoltaic cell. The design produces 400 times the electricity that a solar cell would create without the company&rsquo;s concentrator.&rdquo; Liverpool is the site for the new prototype's production plant. (Clean Technica.com) ...

Soldier's Dog Brought to the U.S. From Iraq (Video)
A black puppy decked out in a red, white and blue bandanna jumped out of his crate and wagged his tail at the airport Monday, three flights and two days after leaving Iraq en route to his new home with a U.S. Soldier, whom he helped get through the worst of times. ...

Hiker Rescued After One Week (Video)
A rescue dog found granola wrappers which lead him and his handler to an injured hiker who had been missing for one week. CBS speaks to both the hiker's father and rescue team led by a trained rescue dog. ...

Drivers are Ecstatic as Gas Prices Drop Significantly (Video)
Gas prices haven't been this low since last October. The Energy Department said the national average is now $2.91 after oil prices plummeted 50% in the past month. As CBS reports, drivers are doing double-takes. ...

Elderly Woman Charged After Taking Boy's Ball (Video)
Police near Cincinnati, Ohio arrested and charged an 89-year-old woman after she refused to return a neighbor's football that ended up in her yard. I'm not claiming this is literally good news, but I wanted to get your thoughts on the story. (I can't post videos in the Forum yet,&nbsp; otherwise I would have put it there for discussion!) ...

Girl with Down Syndrome Voted Homecoming Queen
Life has become more magical for Anne Jennings, a 17-year-old with Down syndrome, who was crowned homecoming queen at Libertyville High School in Illinois this month. (<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-down-syndrome-queen_18oct18,0,970777.story" target="_blank">Great photos and story in the Chicago Tribune</a>)

Pioneering Italian Carbon-Neutral Farm
<i>A range of new technologies is being installed at a pioneering carbon-neutral farm in the central region of Umbria as part of an experiment to cut its CO2 emissions to zero over the course of the next year.</i> (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7669522.stm" target="_blank">BBC News</a>) <i>Thanks to Elizabeth for submitting the link.</i><br />

Dogs Greet Soldier Returning Home After 14 Months (Video)
How could you not cry watching this joyous reunion between a soldier and his dogs. ...

Lighter Colored Homes and Rooftops Could Slow Global Warming
Painting homes a lighter shade does more than save money on A.C. If all urban rooftops in warm climates were white, they could slow global warming by up to 11 years, a new study finds. (Christian Science Monitor) ...

India's Humble Rickshaw Goes Solar
<img src="images/stories/business/solar-rickshaw.jpg" alt="solar-rickshaw.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 132px; height: 89px" title="solar rickshaw" class="border" height="89" width="132" />It's been touted as a solution to urban India's traffic woes, chronic pollution and fossil fuel dependence, as well as an escape from backbreaking human toil: A state-of-the-art, solar powered version of the humble cycle-rickshaw promises to deliver on all this and more.<br />

US Gas Prices Down Nationwide
<br /> <img src="images/stories/homelife/traffic-sm.jpg" alt="traffic-sm.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 96px; height: 72px" title="traffic" class="border" height="72" width="96" /> The average price of regular gas has dropped 35 cents over the past two weeks to $3.31 a gallon. The cheapest gas is in Wichita, Kansas, at $2.79 for a gallon of regular. Analysts say the prices could drop even lower with crude oil prices falling below $80.00 a barrel. (Video below)<br />

Cancer Sniffing Dog Saves Woman
Scientific evidence has confirmed the ability of dogs to smell cancer. Now, a foster puppy returned the favor to a North Texas woman who rescued the dog from an animal shelter. Peanut sniffed out her cancer and alerted the woman to its location. (Video may take time to load) ...

Puppy Rescued from Well After 3 Hours
A Texas puppy fell into a 75-foot deep well and it took firefighters more than 3 hours to get it out using a pulley system they devised. (Read the story at KLTV or watch video below) ...

Silver Linings in the Economic Crisis (w/ Video)
There may be a dark cloud over the economy, but it does have a silver lining, explains a financial journalist, beginning with gas prices. Floridians and Virginians are now paying under $3 per gallon. Vera Gibbons also points to housing sales, higher rates for savings (your money can earn 3-4%; compare at Bankrate.com), and lower prices predicted for holiday gift-buying. ...

Pending Home Sales Rise Unexpectedly
<img src="images/stories/buildings/solar-home.jpg" alt="solar-home.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right" title="solar-home.jpg" class="border" height="78" width="123" />The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in August, jumped 7.4 percent, and is 8.8 percent higher than August 2007. Lower interest rates and bargain home prices pushed the August total to the highest level in 14 months.

New Ford Car Key Lets Parents Limit Teen's Speed
<img src="images/stories/homelife/ford-key.jpg" alt="ford-key.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 300px; height: 200px" title="ford-key.jpg" class="border" height="200" width="300" />Talk about a back-seat driver! Ford Motor Co. has created a device which allows parents to control how fast their teenagers drive, limits the volume on the car radio and makes sure their seat belts are fastened. It's called "MyKey"...

Service Dog Helps Soldier With Post Traumatic Stress (Video)
As one soldier deals with the trauma of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, he's finding the treatment he needs from an unlikely source -- a service dog that was trained by prison inmates. "Yankee" keeps Jim calm in trying times. ...

Man Decorates Basement with $10 Worth of Sharpie Pens
This makes me want to start doodling on my walls. . . A central Kentucky man decorates his cream color walls with Sharpie drawings of columns, bookshelves and more. Great panoramic (VR) photos at the Lexington Herald-Leader website... (Tip: Make the picture move faster by grabbing and dragging with your mouse) ...

1875 Pound Pumpkin Headed for World Record
A Taunton Massachusetts man is an extreme gardener, growing a 1,800-pound pumpkin, according to his estimate, that he plans to have weighed Oct. 11. He&rsquo;s going for a spot in the Guinness World Records. (Taunton Daily Gazette) Refresh your page if you don't see the photo of the pumpkin patch ... Thanks to Sun Star for the link. ...

Boy Helps Family Friend To Safety After Yellow Jacket Attack (Video)
A boy is being called a hero for saving a family friend who was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets while the two were hiking high in the hills. The 14 year-old hiked two miles back to the truck only to find the cell phones not working. ...

Help Animals Suffering in the Wake of Hurricane Ike
As Gulf Coast residents face the aftermath of the massive Hurricane Ike, animals face just as much bewilderment and peril as the humans they love, if not more. Animal rescue teams are performing land and water rescues, recovering companion animals who had to be left behind during evacuations, treating injured animals, running emergency shelters, and reuniting animals and their families. As of September 15, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has been on the scene working t ...

Clever Boy, 3, Praised for Saving Mother
A three year-old British boy dialed emergency services for his mother after she collapsed from an epileptic fit and remained undeterred when the phone cut out, finding and dialing a second mobile phone to ensure help would come. (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7627133.stm" target="_blank">BBC story plus video</a>)

Boy Saved From Hanging by Two Quick Thinking Schoolgirls (with Video)
A five year-old English boy managed a lucky escape after he became entangled with a rope swing around his neck. Two clever girls managed to free the dangling boy just in time. (BBC News has the story and video) Photo courtesy of Sun Star ...

Dog Dials 911 to Get Help for Owner
<img src="images/stories/pets/dog-on-white-bkgrd.jpg" alt="dog-on-white-bkgrd.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 120px; height: 142px" title="dog-on-white-bkgrd.jpg" class="border" height="142" width="120" />Police say a service dog trained to use the phone called 911 and got help when his Scottsdale, Ariz., owner suffered a serious seizure. Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd, used his teeth to press programmed buttons until a 911 dispatcher came on the line.

TV Star's Death-Defying Tortoise Escapes Recycling
A tortoise belonging to Welsh comedienne Ruth Jones is recuperating at home after a lucky escape from a recycling plant. The Fifty five-year-old tortoise, Tom, was rescued by staff before being ground up by a recycling machine after the pet had vanished five weeks earlier from home. He must have crawled into the bag. (Edie.net has the story) ...

Lost Cat Returned Home After Nine Years
<img src="images/stories/pets/cat-in-hat.jpg" alt="cat-in-hat.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right" title="cat-in-hat.jpg" class="border" height="152" width="195" /><i>A British couple have been reunited with their missing cat after nine years of believing she had been killed by a car. The 15-year-old ginger cat disappeared in 1999 and was found less than half a mile from her home. </i>(<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26640652/" target="_blank">Reuters via MSNBC.com</a>)

National Day of Encouragement- September 12
A visionary group of teenagers in Arkansas identified the biggest problem facing youth and society today -- the lack of encouragement. The students felt the best solution for addressing the root of many negative problems today was to confront the discouragement first, and to empower one another through words and acts of inspiration and support. They launched a national day of encouragement and chose September 12&nbsp; in hopes of balancing the discouraging feelings of 9/11. ...

Firefighter Saves Cat With Mouth to Mouth
A firefighter broke new ground Tuesday when he saved a house cat with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He had rescued the cat from a burning, second-floor apartment in New Bedford "and it really needed air and it couldn't wait," he said. (Read the story in SouthCoastToday.com or watch the raw video) ...

Pooch Comes to Helpless Neighbor's Aid
<i>A little dog -- a fluffy white bichon frise&nbsp; --&nbsp; helped lead owner to an elderly neighbor who collapsed in a nearby apartment.</i> The <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26661563/" target="_blank">Associate Press reports on MSNBC.com</a>.<br />

What are the Odds? Son Gets Same Dorm Room as Dad
The father of a Michigan State University student said fate landed the 18-year-old in the same dorm room his dad stayed in 30 years ago. Rich Robell, 50, said he was shocked when his son, Mike, received his room assignment at Emmons Hall, B310.

Son Spots Dad on TV, 5 Years After Family ‘Cremated’ Him
Five years after a British man and his family cremated and held a wake for his dad, John Renehan spotted his father on television, alive. It turns out the man had suffered a head injury, lost his memory, and was in a home. Meanwhile, authorities mistakenly identified the remains of another man who had died wearing similar clothing to the family's lost father. (Daily Mail.co.uk) &nbsp; ...

Americans Adopt HIV-Positive Kids from Ethiopia
More and more American parents are driven by a desire for social change and confidence that the disease is more manageable than ever before. Margaret Fleming, who has three children diagnosed as HIV-positive in her own brood of 12 children, said she wanted to make a difference in the world. (AP story via Christian Science Monitor) ...

Scoutmaster’s Zeal Inspires Generations
He is an 86-year-old with the vigor of a man in his 30s. He can hike over five miles without breaking a sweat and rappel a 60-foot tower with a ready smile. But nothing makes him smile like the boys in Troop 73. It&rsquo;s Josiah&rsquo;s one true calling. He knows what scouting can mean in the life of a boy because he knows what it meant in his own. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) ...

Restoring Old Barns to Preserve American Landscape
As barns fade from the rural American landscape, efforts are being made to preserve them. A fieldstone barn started to crack in the 1990s, and when residents of Chase, Wis., (pop. 2,082) had the opportunity to collectively purchase and restore the 1903 building &ndash; one of only a handful of stone barns left in the state &ndash; they jumped at the opportunity and obtained a loan from the local bank to buy it. (Christian Science Monitor) ...

Labor Day Special: Boy's Lifelong Dream to Drive Garbage Truck Comes True
Ever since he was a boy, this third grade homeschooler has been fascinated by garbage trucks. He wrote a letter to the city waste operators and got a surprise he will never forget. On this Labor Day in the US, enjoy this video about a working man, the honor he received when for doing his best and how he passes it on to the next generation. ...

Men Choose Romance Over Success
"Men were more likely than women to give priority to a romantic relationship when asked to choose between a relationship and their career, education and traveling," according to a new study that challenges our preconceptions of women as more likely than men to prioritize people and relationships. (Science Daily.com) (Photo courtesy of Sun Star) ...

Diaper Saves Baby's Life in Fall
A disposable diaper halted the fall of an 18-month-old baby from a third-floor window Tuesday night and saved his life in Recife in northeastern Brazil, local media reported Wednesday. According to reports the diaper got hung up on a nail.

Lone Accountant Beats IRS
It took seven years, but Charles Ulrich did something many people dream about, but few succeed at: He beat the IRS in a tax dispute. Not only that, but tax experts say potentially millions of other taxpayers could benefit from his victory. (Associated Press via MSNBC) ...

Abandoned Baby Kept Alive, Safe by Mother Dog and Her Brood
A newborn baby abandoned outdoors in the Argentinian winter by her 14-year-old mother was found being kept warm by a farmer's dog that moved it under cover and placed it alongside her brood of puppies. (BBC has a video and story) ...

Living With Humans Has Taught Dogs Morals, Say Scientists
Human's inclination to invest dogs with human-like states of mind isn't as unscientific as it might appear for scientists are now suggesting that canines are becoming more intelligent and are even learning morals. They say the fact that dogs' play rarely escalates into a fight shows the animals abide by social rules. Dogs are not just able to 'speak' to us - they can also understand some aspects of human communication. (Full report at Daily Mail) ...

Ways to Save on Everyday Spending
The Consumer Reports Money Lab recently uncovered hidden savings in everyday spending that could save consumers up to $500 per month &mdash; in places you might not think to look. This article reveals where you can find the savings. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) (Photo courtesy of Sun Star) ...

Bullied Teen is UK's Top Slimmer Losing 97 Pounds
A UK teen was the object of bullying weighing 280 pounds (127 kg). But now he has lost 97 pounds (44kg) and become the country's top "Slimmer", named for the weight-loss club to which he turned for help in his bid to lose weight and ease the pain encountered at school. "Jack says his character's changed completely since losing weight and eating healthier: My confidence and self-esteem has gone way up. Before, it was nonexistent." Here is the story from Slimming World: Eighteen year old ...

Man Gets Lucky With $3 Million Lottery Mistake
Forgetting your glasses can have happy consequences. A mistake in his usual lottery ticket numbers proved lucky for an Indiana man who won $3 million in the Hoosier Lottery. &lsquo;It pays to be blind,&rsquo; joked the Ind. grandfather who entered wrong number...

Brothers’ Winnings Benefit Animal Rescue Group
Two Georgia brothers, 13, and 9, raised more than $1,200 for an animal rescue group last year and this month they increased that amount substantially with a $5,000 donation, thanks to a parenting magazine, which held a Littlest Volunteers Contest. Their burgeoning natural dog biscuit business over the past two years has earned for charity $1,700 so far. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) To order biscuits: woofemdowndogbiscuits.com. ...

Group Builds Fences to Free Dogs Chained in Yards
The Coalition to Unchain Dogs has built fences to unchain 101 dogs in the past 17 months, giving sunnier dispositions to unhappy pets in the Raleigh-Durham area. "Cash," for example, on right, has spent most of his life chained up in the yard -- but not for much longer -- thanks to some of the more than 100 volunteers who erect the fencing and pay the costs. (MyDurham.com) Check out their website for more stories of compassion and watch the inspiring video below: www.unchaindogs.net ...

Homeless Vet Reunited with 'Soul Mate' he Thought was Euthanized (Video)
A homeless disabled vet left a heartbreaking letter along with his dog on the sidewalk of the Granada Hills pet clinic. The writer poured his heart out about his loving companion, Kaiser, having suffered with a stroke. The manager at the clinic lost all emotional reserve in this case and could not bring herself to euthanize the animal. Instead she used money from a fund set up to help animals like Kaiser, and set about to reunite the two friends. (Click here to read the story from the LA Ti ...

Relief for Consumers: Prices Falling
After sprinting to record levels this spring, the prices for basic commodities have now fallen 20 to 30 percent. Prices are now lower on staples such as rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans. Also down are prices for metals such as aluminum, zinc, and copper. The commodity almost everyone follows &ndash; oil &ndash; is off nearly 20 percent as well, dropping Friday to its lowest level since May 1. (Christian Science Monitor) (Photo by Elan Sun Star) ...

Clinton To Honor In-School Anti-Obesity Efforts
"Former President Clinton is honoring 43 schools for their anti-obesity efforts, including one that banished candy from its building and another that offers a student fitness club." (<a href="http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0808/541764.html" target="_blank">Associated Press via WJLA-TV 7</a>)

12-Year-old with HIV Opens World AIDS Conference with President
A 12-year-old AIDS activist from Latin America took the stage Sunday night with the Mexican president and U.N. Secretary-General to open the 17th International AIDS Conference. A rarity in the region as a young person who admits she has the disease, Keren Dunaway-Gonzalez, edits a children's magazine on the virus. (<a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/242/story/105139.html" target="_blank">Associated Press article - via Observer</a> )<br /> <br />

(Updated w/ Video) Golden Retriever Adopts 3 Tiger Cubs at Kansas Zoo
Lots of people wrote in telling me to link to the photo and story of the Golden Retriever nursing three newborn striped tiger cubs that were abandoned by their mother. Editor's note: Over the years I've published plenty of these inter-breed nursing situations, usually cats and dogs doing the nursing -- of opossums, raccoons, rabbits, and even tigers. Humans follow the same patterns today. Some mothers abandon babies, many more looking to adopt them. We are sorry. The content item you requ ...

Peru's Women Unite in Kitchen, Solving Food Crises
With food prices on the rise, 'community kitchens' provide half a million Lima residents with affordable daily meals. These 5000 kitchens "are no charity", rather a "vehicle for collective action, giving women self-esteem" and a way to overcome political and economic shortfalls. (Christian Science Monitor) ...

Cat Stuck in a Pipe? Roto-Rooter to the Rescue
A kitten was rescued from his snag inside an outdoor drainage pipe near Cleveland by the plumbing service, Roto-Rooter. Workers used a drain snake with remote camera to locate the animal and worked for 4 hours on recovery. The kitten was adopted on the spot by Larry, one of the rescuers, who says he plans to name the kitten "Roto." Well, last week's rescue, it turns out, is not unusual for the plumbing company. In April another feline distress signal went out from Harrisburg, after firemen ...

AMBER Alerts on the Decline
Every state but Alaska has issued at least one AMBER Alert &mdash; a public announcement of a child abduction using the media, email and traffic signs &mdash; since Texas launched the first program in 1997. But the number of alerts has been dropping off, and state officials say that&rsquo;s not a bad thing. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the number of alerts has declined in the past three years. There were 275 issued nationwide in 2005, ...

9-Year-Old Toy Philanthropist Still Going Strong
"Ashlee Smith, the 9-year-old who started to collect toys for kids who have lost everything in fires, is now about to become a nonprofit entrepreneur earning "501(c)3" status. She started out when the Angora fire hit last year, destroying many homes in South Lake Tahoe. Having lost all her toys in a house fire once, Ashlee, the daughter of a firefighter, said she knew how it felt and wanted to help. (Nevada Appeal) This is from our local paper and right in our back yard, so we'll be bringing ...

Dying Eight-Year-Old 'Marries' His School Sweetheart
An eight-year-old boy who had set his heart on 'marrying' his school sweetheart achieved his final wish the day before he died of childhood leukemia. (Daily Telegraph) Karen wanted to pass this link along, saying, "I stumbled on this story and it brought tears to my eyes. It made me want to start searching for more "good news" and I was delighted to find your site." ...

Peacock Hitches Ride with Pair Along Pa. Roadway
Animal lover Jerry Dimick was driving with a friend in northeast Pennsylvania when he saw a beautiful peacock standing on the side of the highway, cars speeding past. He was determined to find the bird a safe place to stay. He picked it up and, and with no room in the back of his pick-up truck, Jerry planted the peacock in the front seat. "The bird was sitting in between the two of us. He sat there," Dimock added. So far, the peacock's new foster father has had no luck with the Game Commission ...

Pet Rabbit Alerts Family to Fire (Video)
A pet rabbit is credited with saving a couple from a raging fire that swept through their home in the southern Australian city of Melbourne early Thursday after scratching on their bedroom door. ...

A Family Gives Up It's Dream Home to Downsize for the Less Fortunate
What could cause a family living in a mansion to give it up, selling their home and downsizing their life in order to give a million dollars to charity? The urging of their teenage daughter. NBC's John Larson reports on the Salwens, an Atlanta family who sold their 6,000-square-foot dream home to help people who are less fortunate and redefine the American dream.&nbsp; ...

NASCAR driver Donates Bulletproof Vests for Police Dogs
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is donating money for bulletproof, stab-proof vests to be provided to police dogs in Indiana and four other states, including Georgia. (<a href="http://www.ajc.com/pets/content/pets/stories/2008/07/22/tony_stewart_vest.html" target="_blank">Atlanta Journal-Constitution)</a>

Oregon Girl Starts Website to Feed Dogs Displaced by Foreclosure
A young Oregon girl has started an online movement to feed some unexpected victims of a failing economy, abandoned dogs. Like FreeRice.com, FreeKibble.com, donates a small amount of food every day that you come to the website and click. A Bow-Wow Trivia question appears every day. Whether you answer correctly or not, freekibble.com and its corporate sponsor provide 20 pieces of kibble to animal shelters -- a total of 500 pounds of food in the month of May, 5 million pieces o ...

Dutch House Cat Adopts Rejected Red Panda (Video)
A zookeeper's house cat has adopted a baby red panda abandoned by its mother and is nursing the cub along with her own kittens. (If only humans took care of each other like this!) We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please check back! ...

Married Couples Who Play Together Stay Together
"Most couples know their marriages are happier when they make time to have fun. But fun can fall by the wayside in a trying economy. Now research from the University of Denver supports the idea that finding moments to be together free of financial, family or other stresses &mdash; just to have fun together &mdash; is not an indulgence." (Continue reading at USA Today) ...

Dog Returns Home Five Years - 850 Miles - Later
A family's beagle who wandered off in Queens in 2003 was brought to an animal shelter as a stray 850 miles from home in Georgia. The family was reunited thanks to the dog's identity chip.&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152008/news/regionalnews/returns_5_yrs___850_miles_later_119921.htm" target="_blank">New York Post)</a>

Study: World Getting Happier
Overall, the world is getting happier, according to a World Values Survey, done regularly by a global network of social scientists. It found happiness to be on the rise since 1981 in 45 of 52 countries analyzed. Some of the optimism is attributed to economic growth in previously poor countries, democratization of others, and rising social tolerance for women and minority groups. The happiest country is Denmark. The US ranked 16th.&nbsp; (MSNBC.com has the story) ...

DC Mural Project Covers up Graffiti
A city-funded project to cover graffiti launched this weekend in DC as six teenagers began creating images of "a trumpet player, a girl playing a guitar and a diploma-clutching graduate to cover a huge 50-foot-long brick wall. Over the coming year, 12 murals of aerosol art will be commissioned across the city and painted by local teens using a type of oil paint that repels the spray paint typically used by taggers." (Washington Post has the story and another photo) ...

D.C. SmartBike Revolution (Video)
DC is the first city in the nation to start a cycle sharing program like those in Paris and Barcelona. The new bike rental program, ideal for commuters, costs just $40.00 per year to join. We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please check back! ...

Website Gives Best Gas Prices in Your Area
With so many people concerned about saving money on gas, the usefulness of this web site, www.gasbuddy.com, is incomparable. Give them your U.S. zip code or Canadian province, and see a list of the lowest gas prices found in your area. In my Virginia suburb, Costco indeed has the best prices, which is why there is always a crowd at their pumps. Elsewhere on the web is this list of 18 Tips for Raising Your Fuel Efficiency. Most you may be familiar with, but it serves as a rem ...

Reading to Dogs Gives Homeless Kids New Reason (Video)
A homeless shelter helps kids learn to read better by bringing in a dog to listen to their reading aloud. It's a program that combines kids and dogs in a unique way. When the kids begin reading to the pooch, their reading enthusiam soars. We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-Janua ...

High School Students Leading a 48 State Voting Drive
Run to Vote combines the sport of track and field with your pledge to vote in 2008. A nonpartisan voting drive led by students and teachers from Granville Central High School in Stem, North Carolina, the Run to Vote team is traveling through 48 states to register people to vote, and collecting pledges to participate in the election this November. For every person that registers to vote or pledges to vote, one of the teachers, or volunteers from the team, will run the equivalent lap on a quarte ...

Family Relationships More Important Than Income
A new study has found that having strong family relationships makes people happier than having a high income provided that basic economic needs are met. (read the full story at WebMD) ...

Ten Tips for Summer Learning
<img width="267" src="images/stories/classroom.jpg" alt="classroom.jpg" height="200" style="float: right; margin: 5px; width: 267px; height: 200px" title="Learning can take place in the summer even when class isn't in session" />Schools may be empty during the summer, but learning can continue. California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell gives his top ten suggestions of how to keep children learning during the summer.

Video Conference Calls for Military Families in Honor of July 4th
Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York, TANDBERG, and the Freedom Calls Foundation are offering video conference calls for military families in honor of July 4th. The event will take place at 31 locations across the United States on July 1st, 2008. &nbsp; ...

Aerial Pesticide Spraying of Urban Areas Suspended
California officials on Thursday abruptly canceled a state program to spray chemicals to combat crop-eating moth in urban areas after months of public uproar over its unclear effects on the environment and human health. (<a href="http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_13098.cfm" target="_blank">Organic Consumers report</a>)

Tornado oddities: Toilet Paper Unwinds and Rewinds
Have you ever heard the story about the tornado that sent a blade of grass through a window, and a delicate china teacup across the yard without breaking? Here are several more oddities from a recent tornado in Minnesota that will make the hair on your neck stand up... (<a href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=456&sid=1413925" target="_blank">Associated Press report on WTOP</a>)

Heisman Trophy Winner Learned About Life And Faith From His Father
<p> Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow learned about life and faith in God from his father Bob, who instilled in Tim a sense of duty to help others. </p> <p> &nbsp; </p> <p> &nbsp; </p> <p>We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please check back!</p>

Family is Everything
An Alabama couple adopted 12 children -- black, white, Latina, and biracial. Nine of them have special needs... None of that bothered the Gardners. Neither did predicted problems. "Once you fall in love with a child, that's your child, and all the fear just goes away," Bev says. "Once we heard the terrible stories, we couldn't say no."&nbsp; (<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0616/p18s01-lifp.html" target="_blank">Christian Science Monitor</a>)

Baby Zebra Heals Broken Leg With Help From Cats
A still-nursing baby zebra fell off a truck in Georgia and was abandoned. He broke his leg as a result. Now, cats in the Noah's Ark rehabilitation center have befriended him and actually helped heal his nerve endings -- the way they rub around his leg to show affection.&nbsp; The scared little animal has been through so much, but has found some peace.&nbsp; His name is EVIDENCE. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) ...

Fawns Saved by C-Section
<p> Although the mother doe couldn't be saved, a conservation officer knew there was hope for her unborn fawns. He took the inhured mother to a vet where the fawns were successfully delivered by c-section. (<a href="http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080623/fawns_rescued_080623/20080623?hub=TopStories" target="_blank">CTV has the story and photos</a>)<br /> </p> <p> &nbsp; </p> <p> &nbsp; </p>

5 Silver Linings of High Gas Prices
We all want to scream about the miseries of high gas prices... But, are there any "silver linings" in which we can find solace? In fact, there are five silver linings brightening the black clouds of high oil prices. Instead of feeling totally stressed at the pump, learn about the ways that life is already improving thanks to $138-per-barrel oil. ...

Pets Can Cut Your Heart Risk in Half, Aid in Recovery
A new study that followed 4,500 adults between the ages of 30 and 75 years showed that having a cat for a pet can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke by just under 50 percent. (Full story at Natural News) Read heartwarming news stories in our PETS section. ...

Randy Jackson: Dad Of The Year (Video)
The National Father's Day Council names Randy Jackson from American Idol and Mark Shriver from Save The Children as Fathers Of The Year. They speak to Harry Smith about their charitable efforts. We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please check back! ...

Family Rescued From Toy Dinghy
<div id="ds-firstpara" class="ds-firstpara"> A WOMAN and three children were rescued yesterday after they were blown out to sea in a toy dinghy without paddle or lifejackets. (<a href="http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Family-rescued-from-toy-dinghy.4140398.jp" target="_blank">Scotsman has the rescue story</a>)<br /> </div>

Creative Fundraising by High Schools for Uganda's Neediest Kids
One Atlanta high school student has helped raise money for Darfur refugees and tsunami survivors, but his best effort comes after seeing a documentary about children in Uganda, pulled into service as soldiers or slaves. He rallied to the cause thanks to the filmmakers' non-profit fundraising effort Schools for Schools, supporting "a series of schools in northern Uganda, places of hope and human values, where children can be educated or reeducated."&nbsp; (Read about the great local efforts in th ...

Fire Hero Dashes into Blazing House Three Times to Save Pal
A hero tenant burst into a burning flat three times in a desperate attempt to rescue a man still inside. Terry Collyer, 41, fought back intense smoke and flames after realising his neighbor was unconscious in his bedroom. "I kicked the door in but there was so much smoke, I couldn't breathe. I went downstairs twice to get my breath back." (Read the heroic tale at B&D Recorder) ...

Socializing Can Help Elderly Women Stay Sharp
"Socializing with friends and family can do more than lift the spirits of elderly women &mdash; it can improve cognition and might help prevent dementia, according to a new study."&nbsp; (Science Daily has the full story) ...

Dog Finds Maternal Instincts with Batch of Orphan Kittens
The family dog was a "certified cat-hater," who never had puppies of her own. That all changed when four abandoned kittens were found in the shed. "Now the dog has become their adopted mom, nursing them four to six times a day even though she has never been pregnant." (<a href="http://starbulletin.com/2008/06/04/news/story04.html#full" target="_blank">Wonderful story and photos on StarBulletin.com</a>)

Red Cross Swim Lesson Sticks, Helps Save a Life
A fearless 6-year-old slipped into the deep end of the pool and quickly realized she was in trouble. &ldquo;I frantically used one hand to try to keep myself afloat. I was waving the other one for help.&rdquo; Audrey will never forget that day, neither will her rescuer, 4-year old Abby Burgason. Seven years ago, the two girls learned a life-saving lesson during a Red Cross Learn-to-Swim class at their community pool in Wickenburg, Arizona. The class is designed to introduce children, ages 4-7 ...

The Silver Lining of High Gas Prices in America
For decades in Europe, prices at the pumps have been double what they were in the US. Their cars are smaller, bikes a viable commuter choice. Today, as gas prices double from what they were last year, Americans are beginning to change their habits, look to smaller cars -- and hybrids -- and consider more public transportation options. Maybe there is a silver lining in higher oil prices... (I know I have checked my tire pressure, changed the air filter -- which made a big difference -- and drive ...

My Hero Calls Me Mama
<img src="images/stories/kids/chance-painter.jpg" alt="chance-painter.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 138px; height: 200px" title="Chance is a two-year-old painter" class="border" height="200" width="138" />Chance was named before his birth, not knowing how fitting it would be. Born after only 28 weeks of gestation, the baby -- and his mother -- faced the grim possibility of not surviving. When preeclampsia struck, their fate rested in the hands of God.

'Guerdon' Crowns 13-year-old Spelling Bee Champ
The new National Spelling Bee champion is 13-year-old Sameer Mishra who aced "guerdon," a word that appropriately means "something that one has earned or gained." Take a look at the many oddball words aced by this boy to earn his cup...(Video) ...

World's Biggest Group Hug
Thousands of students from 10 Ottawa high schools think they may have squeezed into the Guinness Book of World Records with the world's biggest group hug last month.

Obama Offers Students Pointers on Public Speaking
Senator Barack Obama gave some pointers on public speaking to two eighth-grade students in a Denver classroom after listening to their presentations on what they'd learned this year at the Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts. His constructive and positive comments were helpful and warm. Check out&nbsp; Obama's advice in this sweet Associated Press story. ...

Heroic Wiener Dog Saves Stranded Owner (Video)
A wiener dog barked continuously until neighbors finally called the police who arrived at the sidewalk where the commotion started when the elderly women walking with her dog had fallen and couldn't get up.<br /> <br /> <iframe src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/24775251#24775251" frameborder="0" height="339" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe>

Dog, Cat and Rat Best Friends
Gregory Pike shows the world what is possible. His large dog carries around a cat on his back, who carries a rat on her back. He lets people take photos of the trio all day long on a city street corner. He wants to send the message that it shouldn't be that hard for humans to "all get along" in peace. (YouTube video&nbsp; from Bison Films)&nbsp; Thanks to Andrea P. for sending me a great musical link on the subject! ...

Cinderella Prom for a Homeless Teen
"Homeless teen Bonita White is not one to dwell on sorrow or let the jagged edges of life get in the way of her joining so many other teens celebrating prom this spring... Bonita has been taking two buses most every day to a $7-an-hour job at a Burger King near Chesterfield to pay for this night to shine." She said, "I know what it takes to do things. I'm good at making things happen. I really don't like to be seen as just another struggling teen." (Read her story -- and see her great dress ...

Teen Takes Mom to the Prom
A Florida teen gave his mom an experience she never had, a date to the high school prom. Raymond asked his mom to be his date because he knew how much she regretted not going to her own senior dance. (Video and story at KARE-11) ...

Jigsaw Puzzles by Autistic Artists
The symbol for Autism, a jigsaw puzzle piece, means more, now that a Hawaii-based jigsaw puzzle company is looking for autistic artists for its new fundraiser, The Autism Puzzle Project. The company, Connections, whose slogan is, Jigsaw Puzzles for Healing, has launched a project to create a line of jigsaw puzzles featuring art by Autistic adults and children that will be used to raise awareness of Autism and also raise funds for various organizations supporting Autistic individuals and their ...

Tiny Car Provides Big Safety in Crash Tests (Video)
The pint-sized 2008 Smart car evokes the simple question: 'How safe is it?' The micro car, the smallest car for sale in the U.S., offers a good level of safety, according to crash tests conducted by the insurance industry. ...

Let's Set The Record Straight on Childhood ADHD: 5 Things No One Else is Telling You
ADHD has become such a popular diagnosis these days. It is labeled as a disorder, when in fact many of the symptoms of ADHD can be seen as strengths in adults and children. Just what is ADHD and what does it really mean? It's time we set the record straight and get really clear about one thing: Children with ADHD (as well as adults) are just as capable of being successful as the next person.&nbsp;&nbsp; ...

Lemonade Stand Sends Loving Relief to Burma
<img src="images/stories/kids/lemonade-for-burma.jpg" alt="lemonade-for-burma.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 220px; height: 313px" title="lemonade-for-burma.jpg" class="border" height="313" width="220" />Molly Long decided to take the concept of a childhood lemonade stand to the international relief level last weekend. After seeing a picture of a homeless child in Burma, Molly decided to put her resources to work to help children who were affected by the cyclone in Burma.

Teen Returns $100,000 in Cash Found in Parking Lot
A Utah teen found a bank deposit bag containing over $100,000 in cash in a University parking lot on his way to work. He returned the money by calling campus police, and they rewarded him with a "thank you scholarship", $20.00 and a dozen M&M cookies.<br /> <br /> <script src="http://thenewsroom.com/mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=V2310560&m=473556&w=300&h=325" language="javascript"> </script>

12 Yr-old With Leukemia Uses Wish to Help Others
Marisa Monbrod is an inspiring young girl with leukemia in remission who made a very unusual wish to the Make-A-Wish Foundation: to travel to West Virginia's Appalachian region giving supplies and sharing her faith with to those who have little. This story is from the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake. ...

7 Positive Trends to Relieve Your Worries and Calm Your Fears
Good News Network founder in 1997 Women's World photo Given so much bad press about teens beating each other up, getting pregnant at 15 and going to rehab, or the fears that small kids are being poisoned from toys in China, mothers need some good news on Mother's Day! Here are 7 reasons to be RELIEVED if you are a parent in 2008. These positive trends should calm your worries, and give you seven reasons to be happy on Mother's Day. 7 Positive Trends for Teens, Moms and Kids: ...

Indiana Prison Program Aids New Mothers (Video)
Indiana has begun a new prison program designed to help new mothers improve their parenting skills and bond with their babies. The state is one of only six to have a prison nursery program. ...

12 Year Old Artist Prodigy Paints Pictures of God (Video)
CNN reported on a child artist prodigy who, despite being raised in an athesitic home, describes her vivid visions from the age of four as coming from God. Thanks to Marylyn K. for submitting the story! (I found the CNN video on YouTube, after the original version on CNN.com was unavailable.) Join the Good News Network at noon on Sunday, May 11 (Mother's Day) for the unveiling of fantastic prizes and giveaways to mark the launch of the Good News Network member ...

Four-Legged Heros Honored for Saving Lives of Owners, Infant
How many people owe their life to a loveable pet? The Purina Animal Hall of Fame this week honored five incredible dogs as heros for saving the lives of an infant, two men and two women, heralding their remarkable stories of persistence, loyalty and spirit. With acute hearing, fierce loyalty and keen sense of smell the five 2008 inductees were able to save the lives of human beings and place 'Best in Show' at the 40th anniversary ceremony in Toronto. ...

How to Recycle Those Threadbare Duds, Schedule a Pick-Up
Just because that old shirt you used to love is too threadbare to wear anymore doesn't mean it has to end up in a landfill, reports the Christian Science Monitor. "Consumers don't understand that there's a place for their old clothing even if something is missing a button or torn," says Jana Hawley, a professor of textile and apparel management at the University of Missouri-Columbia. "Ninety-nine percent of used textiles are recyclable." Nonprofits like Goodwill and the Salvation Army are gr ...

'Hero' Paperboy Helps Save Woman on Route
A nine-year-old paperboy in Sycamore, Illinois felt something was wrong with one of his customers. His intuition turned out to be correct, and help came just in time to save the woman. ...

Young Engineer Launches Stair Aid at 16
A young engineer set up the <a href="http://www.stairsteady.net/" target="_blank">StairSteady</a> company when she was only 16 to market her innovative idea, a simple device to assist people to go up and down stairs when they don't need an expensive chair lift. She won an award for her invention, which she designed for her teacher's father who had suffered a stroke. (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7375486.stm" target="_blank">See the neat story and photo at BBC</a>)

Kids Help to Save Trees Canceling Thousands of Catalogs
Teachers and students got together to help the environment, elimate waste and save trees by "opting out" of 4,100 catalogs using a free online service. 500,000 people nationwide have signed up on www.catalogchoice.org to opt out of five million catalogs so far. You'll need to enter your name, address, customer number, and e-mail address to opt out of many of your catalogs. Save the trees!&nbsp; Watch the Today Show Video Thanks to Meredith P. for submitting the story! ...

Bakery Gives Wheatberries to Customers to Grow Local Flour
A Massachusetts organic bakery joins the 'local food' movement and its effort to cut global warming by distributing free wheatberries for customers to grow in small plots at home. Using wheat grown locally instead of in South Dakota cuts CO2 emissions and saves fuel. <a href="http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/?p=3018">The Groovy Green Blog</a> has the story.

Boy Scout Turns In $800 he Found, Gets Good Karma in Return
An 11-Year-old Michigan boy scout found a wallet in a parking lot containing $800 in cash. It took only a second to decide to return it because he knew how the owner must have felt. That same day he had lost his own wallet with the $45.00 in allowance money he'd saved. (Here is the story with photos) The local police wanted to reward him and collected money. Instead of pocketing the money, he asked for a pizza party for the whole scout troop!&nbsp; Well, the good karma he'd created with all thos ...

Electric Car for the Masses to Hit US Market Next Year
"A low-priced electric car for the masses will be introduced in the U.S. by the end of next year.&nbsp; The battery-powered Think City will be able to travel up to 110 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of about 65 mph, the company said. It will be priced by its Norwegian automaker below $25,000."&nbsp; (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-think22apr22,1,4269330.story" target="_blank">From the LA Times)</a> <br />

Travel Picks: Top 10 Forgotten Spots of Paradise
Here's a list of top 10 places to find paradise on earth, from the white-sand beaches of Kauai to untouched lakes and mountains of Patagonia. Travel Picks covered at Reuters.com Lifestyle section. ...

Help Wanted: Pub Companion for Elderly Man, $14 per Hour
Mike needed someone to accompany his elderly father on visits from the nursing home to his favorite pub. He received a slew of responses to his job posting in the local paper offering 7 pounds ($14) per hour, but finally decided on a retired doctor and military man. Mike wants to give his father "some of his old life back." (Associated Press via MSNBC) ...

Dog Nurses Motherless Kittens (Video)
<img src="images/stories/pets/dog-nurses-kittnes.jpg" alt="dog-nurses-kittnes.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 92px; height: 69px" title="Dog Nurses Motherless Kittens" class="border" height="69" width="92" />Kittens from three litters are being nursed by a dog at a shelter in Iowa after the babies lost their mother. (Video)<br /> <br /> <script src="http://thenewsroom.com/mash/swf/voxant_player.js?a=V2185587&m=452335&w=300&h=325" language="javascript"> </script>

Tips for Improving Gas Mileage 30% or More
"Gas prices have reached record highs again. Would you like to improve your fuel economy by 30 percent or more without buying a new car? Try slowing down -- and installing a dashboard-mounted display that tells how much gas is consumed each time you push your pedal to the floor when the light turns green..." Read the story at Phileadelphia Inquirer and check out www.ecomodder.com, a site dedicated to high fuel efficiency. ...

'Youngest Inventor' Patents Broom
"A boy of five is thought to be the UK's youngest person to patent an invention after coming up with a labor-saving broom to help his father sweep leaves." (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7350341.stm" target="_blank">BBC News</a>)

Dog Crosses Desert, Mountains and Somehow Gets Back Home
"A dog that ran off during a road-trip rest stop apparently made her way nearly 80 miles across Nevada's high desert and two mountain ranges returning home a week later." (<a href="http://www.ajc.com/search/content/shared-gen/ap/Feature_Stories/ODD_Lost_Dogs_Journey.html" target="_blank">Associated Press)</a>

Abandoned Pup Rescued From Remote Island (Video)
A cocker spaniel named Snickers was rescued from a remote island in the Pacific Ocean thanks to efforts by a cruise ship and the humane society of Hawaii after his owners abandoned him when a rescue boat refused to take the dog onboard. ...

Say No to Cookie Dough! Raise Money for Youth Groups and Schools With Inspiration
Do you have way too much cookie dough in your freezer? Do you have magazine subscriptions that go unread month after month? A Seattle company has created an new way for private schools and church groups to raise money quickly. Seattle based Affirmagy recently launched a fundraising division called Positively Fundraising. ...

Students Bent on Fighting Racism and Encouraging Cultural Diversity
<img src="images/stories/countries/flag_of_canada.png" alt="flag_of_canada.png" style="margin: 5px; width: 263px; height: 139px; float: right" title="flag of Canada" class="border" height="139" width="263" />A group of students in Nova Scotia bring the fight against racism to their school by encouraging people to embrace cultural diversity organizing a mini-United Nations. (<a href="http://www.trurodaily.com/index.cfm?sid=124942&sc=68" target="_blank">Truro Daily News</a>)

"The Best Job I have Ever Had in My Life"
"After the sudden death of her 26-year-old daughter left five grandchildren in her care, a Detroit woman and her husband returned to Africa to raise their new brood and watch the coconut trees grow. But the universe had other things in mind for Viola Vaughn and she started a school for hundreds of girls who were falling through society's cracks." (CNN Heroes) Thanks to Alyssa Holiday for sending the story! ...

Boy With Autism Helps Save Mom in Labor (Video)
On the first day of April, which is "Autism Awareness Month", an eleven year-old Salt Lake City area boy reacted to an emergency with mature awareness, despite his autism. He found help for his mom in the nick of time. ...

Scrub Your Floor and Chase Away Depression
<p> "Working up a sweat while performing household chores may not just improve the cleanliness of your home, but your mental health too, a survey suggests. Just 20 minutes of sustained exercise a week - from cleaning to jogging - can impact upon depression, the British Journal of Sports Medicine study found." (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7338644.stm" target="_blank">Get the full story at BBC News</a>) </p>

Boy, 11, Steers School Bus Out of Semi's Path
"An 11-year-old boy who steered a runaway school bus to safety said he took the wheel because the vehicle was rolling toward a semi. Other children on board during Monday's crash were "freaking out," screaming and hollering, but David Murphy decided he had to do something." ...

5th-Grader Points Out Mistake at Smithsonian
"Is fifth-grader Kenton Stufflebeam smarter than the Smithsonian?" He was hailed as correct after he informed the staff of the national museum that they had mistakenly used the phrase Precambrian Era to describe a unit of time. His teacher back in Kalamazoo, Michigan had taught him that the proper term is otherwise... (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23926074/?GT1=43001" target="_blank">Associated Press via MSNBC</a>) <i>Thanks to Ro for the story tip!</i>

Man Wrestles Croc to Rescue Wife
"A woman has been rescued from the jaws of a saltwater crocodile in Australia after her husband jumped onto its back and forced it to flee." (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7327984.stm" target="_blank">Read it in the BBC News</a>)

Physically Challenged Kids Build Skills at Go-Karting
Physically challenged children gathered in a suburb of Mumbai, India, to compete in the only contest of its kind, the Hakone Go-Karting and rock climbing championship for physically challenged kids. The 8th annual event was a rare opportunity for differently-abled children to competing in challenging sports like Go-Karting and Rock-Climbing. The Planet Powai Community Newspaper reports , "Many of these children experienced karting for the first time during the practice session and were truly del ...

Father Released From Prison To Visit Dying Daughter
"An imprisoned father went to his dying daughter's bedside Wednesday, a visit federal authorities allowed only after being deluged with letters and phone calls from across the nation." (KETV-Omaha) This story speaks to the needless heartache of our drug laws, jailing those who commit victimless crimes (and providing hardened criminals for company), rather than rehabilitating them -- and letting them recover in halfway homes near their dying family members... What do you think? Thanks to Gra ...

Boy, 5, Saves Choking Grandmother With Simple Trick
A little boy saved his grandmother who was choking on jello by giving her a simple trick he'd learned in school-- raising your hands over your head.&nbsp; <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6039330" target="_blank">(ABC News from Atlantic City offers the story and video)</a>

Teen Sends 14,000 Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to Troops
For US troops in Iraq, a teenager in New Jersey is sending shipments of Girl Scout Cookies as a reminder of home. She calls it "Operation Cookie." (Full story from WCBS ) ...

Message in a Bottle is a Real Blast From the Past
"A Seattle student's school project to learn about oceans comes full circle 21 years, 1,735 miles later in Alaska along a quite beach along the Bering Sea." (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23770574/" target="_blank">AP story via MSNBC)</a>

Wheelchairs Keep Disabled Pets Moving
This is a really sweet story about how tiny--or not so tiny--wheelchairs are giving disabled pets a new lease (or should that be 'leash'?) on life.&nbsp; (<a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5huHuIM1x0d7rDkF3IbMPrxC_riLAD8VKEDDO0" target="_blank">Associated Press w/ photos</a>) <i>Thanks to Sondra for submitting this!</i>

Child's Last Wish Is Selfless Act (Video)
A boy with a terminal illness was granted his last wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and though the 10-year-old won't be able to enjoy it, many in his hometown will benefit from his wish. ...

Home Makeover Tips for Less Than $150
British TV host, Sarah Beeny, gives her top tips on how to spruce up your kitchen and living room with small changes - all for under $150.00 - instead of spending a ton of major improvements. Watch here for part II for bedroom tips.&nbsp; (UKs Daily Mirror.uk ) Note: &pound;1 is equal to $1.50... ...

Mother Saves Seven Children by Tossing Them From Second Floor of Burning Home
"A Montreal mother tossed her seven children one by one from the second-story window of their burning townhouse as flames and smoke closed in. Some of the kids landed in a snowbank, while one was caught by the first neighbor at the scene, who was roused by the 34-year-old mother's screams.The entire family survived." (<a href="http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jh6H3ua8ZkPON5e4j969GH4G6w5g" target="_blank">The Canadian Press)</a>

Healthier Hearts for Cat Owners
"Cat owners have a lower risk of a fatal heart attack than feline-spurning counterparts, a study suggests. Cat ownership was related to a 40% lower risk of suffering a fatal heart attack." (BBC Mews has the story) ... Little joke there! ...

Girl Scout Cookies Bound for Troops Overseas
"Girl Scouts are sending 635 boxes of cookies they collected for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cookie-relief project has adopted soldiers in remote locations to and let them know they weren't forgotten." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) ...

Firefighter Uses CPR to Save Tiny Dog
"A firefighter performed mouth-to-nose resuscitation and revived a small dog he found lifeless inside a burning mobile home."

America's Favorite Couple? You Decide.
They met in 2000 at a kidney dialysis clinic. They had both been diagnosed in their teens with end-stage kidney disease. Both had had kidney transplants that failed, and needed thrice-weekly dialysis treatments. Before she even knew his name, he knew in his heart he would marry her. Now they are competing to become "America's Favorite Couple." (<a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/stories/2008/03/05/couple_0305.html" target="_blank">Atlanta Journal Constitution</a>)

Water Shortage Inspires Atlanta Kids to Activism
"Their aim had been to save the world. But now, huddled around a kitchen table in Atlanta, three teenagers explain that they've scaled things back a little. Their new goal: help rescue Atlanta's dwindling water supply. The trio of high school juniors are part of a water awakening among metro Atlanta youth." (<a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/stories/2008/02/25/greenkids_0226.html" target="_blank">Atlanta Journal Constitution</a>)

Baby’s Got Book! Tot Shocks Parents by Reading
<span class="textMed">It&rsquo;s hard to imagine, but at just 17 months Elizabeth Barrett is already reading. She shows her amazing <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23556514" target="_blank">talent live on TODAY</a>. "</span>Way back when she was 13 months old, she read her first word, &ldquo;corn.&rdquo; She just pointed at the word and read it. She also signed the word in sign language." (Video or text)

3-Year-old Calls 911 When Mom Faints
A little three-year-old girl dialled 911 after her mother fainted in front of her eyes. (<a href="http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080311/911_girl_080311/20080311?hub=TopStories" target="_blank">Canadian Television -CTV</a>)&nbsp; <i>Thanks to Shelley for the link!</i>

9-Year-Old Dials 911, Saves Mom's Life (Video)
A Nine-year-old stayed calm, dialed 911 and gave rescue officials all the information they needed to help his mother who had collapsed unconscious. Listen to the 911 call and see the interview with the bashful boy. The family hopes by sharing their story, other youngsters will learn from Shawn's quick thinking. ...

Kitty Survives Far-flung Journey Crossing Ocean as Stowaway (Video)
A scrawny black and white kitten was the only survivor of her family which made a trip across the Pacific Ocean in a shipping crate. She was found inside a spooled steel coil when the crate was opened in Cleveland. ...

How to Build a House for £4,000
"A &pound;24 million funding package was put together earlier this year to help first-time buyers in Scotland to build an eco-friendly home for as little as &pound;4,000." (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7275312.stm" target="_blank">BBC News</a>)

Doctor Takes on Plight of Women Around the Globe
Today is International Women's Day, which recognizes the contributions of women around the world, like Dr. Helene Gayle, president of CARE, an aid group fighting global poverty in Africa by helping women change their financial circumstances one dollar at a time. (<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87940099" target="_blank">Listen to the radio segment on National Public Radio</a>)

Teen Athlete Triumphant and Proud of her Amputated Legs
To Jessica Long, not having legs isn't a disability -- even with all of the pain. It's an opportunity. The teen swimmer is a world-champ, despite being born without bones in her lower legs. "If I had the option, I would choose to be this way," she says. "I think it's cool to be able to inspire people and be a role model," as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Elite Swimming Team. "If I had legs, I probably wouldn't be involved in swimming." "I don't think I can imagine my life with legs. ...

Most Romantic Marriage Proposal by Man Named Casanova
"This may go down as the most romantic marriage proposal in years. Brad Casanova &mdash; yes, that&rsquo;s his REAL last name &mdash; pulled off a proposal involving a 17-destination scavenger hunt, a nearly seven-hour ordeal that took three months of planning, in order to give the woman of his dreams a memory to last a lifetime." (Asheville Citizen-Times) Thanks to Linnea L. for the submission! ...

Teen With One Arm Takes Team to State Playoffs (Video)
A Salt Lake City high school boy with one arm led his baseball team to a state title last year and now has risen, again, above all expectations becoming one of the high-scorers on his basketball team which made it to the state semifinals. Porter Ellett earned first team all-state honors as a senior baseball player and the MVP award as a junior.&nbsp; (KSL-TV) ...

Kids Paint Clothes for Paris Fashion Runway
At Paris Fashion Week, rebel British designer Vivienne Westwood thumbed her nose at convention, enlisting primary school pupils to hand-paint her designs with an eco-friendly theme. Westwood, in bright red hair, says kids can "Just go at it" when asked to paint snakes on a silk dress... (Just close your eyes for the first 10 seconds when the video flashes like a strobe, which can be irritating!) We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abr ...

Beauty Salons Tackle Domestic Abuse (Video)
A new program is tackling domestic violence by enlisting the help of beauty salons. Employees are educated on how to spot and help abuse victims. Bianca Solorzano reports.<br /> <br /> <p>We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please check back!</p>

Hero Dog Bitten Defending Little Girl
"Roary the Staffordshire bull terrier turned lifesaver when he saw a deadly brown snake rear to strike three-year-old Ebony Davis. The dog jumped on the 1.5-metre snake, bit it and swung it clear of Ebony and her father in the backyard. Its bravery nearly cost him his life." Read the full story with dramatic ending at Australia's Herald Sun. Thanks to Jessica for sending the link! ...

Youth Work to Raise More Than $100,000 for Famine
"More than 200 teenagers this weekend built cardboard houses on muddy ground, where they slept the night so they could begin to understand poverty and famine. In the past four years, their church, St. John's Episcopal Church, has raised more money than any worldwide for hunger-relief." The teens contribute much to that effort. (<a href="http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/506860.html" target="_blank">Charlotte Observer</a>)

12-Year-Old Kicks Out Window to Save Siblings From Fire
"As flames consumed her home and prevented her parents from rescuing her and two younger siblings, a quick-thinking 12-year-old girl saved the other children Saturday by kicking out a second-story window and helping them down, firefighters said." She was honored in a ceremony later (that story here).&nbsp; (Orignial Associated Press story via CNN) ...

Marine Saves Iraq Dog Giving it New Florida Home
It all started with simple acts of kindness toward an abused and injured dog, just one more victim in the war in Iraq. Then, Marine Maj. Brian Dennis informed his family of his intention to adopt the homeless mutt. "This dog who had been through a lifetime of fighting, war, abuse ... is going to live the good life." (Tampa's BayNew9.com) Thanks to Adrianne J. for the link! ...

Blind Cat And Dog — The Best Of Friends
"Born completely blind and shunned by his owners, an alsatian puppy had a tough start to life." But since a family adopted the dog after hearing the story, he has became best of friends with their blind cat. See the photo and story on The Daily Mail Thanks to Jessica for sending the link. ...

New Drug Helps Dogs With Cancer
A new cancer vaccine treatment for dogs with melanoma can prolong life for pets and may well help humans with the same disease. (Video) <br /> <br /> <embed src="http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/cs_api/get_swf?swfHome=eplayer.clipsyndicate.com&va_id=521288&wpid=3132" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="260" width="320"></embed>

US Kids Deliver Playground Pump to Thirsty School in Africa
American children became inspired to help African kids turn on the faucet for the first time and find clean water. US kids raised $14,000 to send a new playground water pump that with rotation of the merry-go-round delivers water to the township. "I finally get to do something big in the world. I'm not just a small person in society," says 9 year-old Liam Keran. (Wonderful MSNBC video)&nbsp; ...

Write Your Love On the Eiffel Tower
Since its launch on Valentine's Day 2006, a French company has arranged creative marriage proposals and&nbsp; public declarations of love for couples planning romantic trips to Paris. The company, ApoteoSurprise, will project an image onto the base of the Eiffel Tower featuring the photo of a bridegroom-to-be, along with a personal proposal, while lovers enjoy a candlelight cruise along the Seine. ...

Finding Love Getting Easier in Rural Areas
Catering to rural Americans, a unique online matchmaking service, FarmersOnly , launched in 2005 has brought together some 85,000 lovers (of tractors) seeking companionship. The business has also made some money for its entrepreneurial founder. (AP report via MSNBC) ...

Aputee, 9, Fufills His Dream to Run and Play
"A brave young boy decided to have his right leg amputated in November to avoid a lifetime in a wheelchair and so that he could run and jump like normal kids. On Friday, glowing with pride, Nick Nelson showed off his new prosthetic leg and the mobility and freedom it has given him. With the cameras rolling, 9-year-old Nick made a grand entrance, scampering across the TODAY Show&rsquo;s New York studio." (Video from MSNBC) ...

A Tax We Could All Benefit From
"In 2002, Ireland passed a tax on plastic bags; customers who want them must now pay 33 cents per bag at the register. Within weeks, plastic bag use dropped 94 percent. There was an advertising awareness campaign and within a year, nearly everyone had bought reusable cloth bags, keeping them in the backs of cars." They became socially uncool. (New York Times) ...

14-Year-Old Boy Saves Drowning Woman (Video)
It was lucky for a woman who tried to save her dog from drowning in an icy pond that one 14-year-old boy was wondering by and&nbsp; able to save both of them from a frozen end. Also, you can read this account (and see a photo) at the Daily Camera. ...

Family to Adopt Dog Partner of Slain Marine Son
"A U.S. military dog whose handler and best friend was killed in Iraq got a new assignment for the New Year -- retirement with honors in Mississippi to live with the young Marine's family." They had lobbied hard for months to adopt the dog, whose relationship with their son was so strong, it took several Marines to pull it away so that medics could attend the soldier's body. (CNN.com) ...

Fewer People Trashing U.S. Roads, Beaches
Americans are tossing less litter despite the fact that there are more people on the roads. "Experts estimate that deliberate trash-tossing has fallen about 2 percent a year since the mid-'70s in communities where it's been measured." (Frank Greve, McClatchy News Service) ...

Boy, 9, Averts 70 mph Crash After Mom Blacks Out
"A nine-year-old boy steered his mother's car to safety across three lanes of traffic when she blacked out at 70mph." (<a href="http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2707244.html?menu=news.quirkies.heartwarmers" target="_blank">Ananova.com</a>)

Teen Brothers Answer Kittens' Cries For Help
<img src="images/stories/pets/sleepykitten.jpg" alt="sleepykitten.jpg" style="margin: 5px; width: 125px; height: 112px; float: right" title="sleepykitten.jpg" height="112" width="125" />Two teenage boys took it upon themselves to rescue two kittens who were trapped in a below-ground sewer.&nbsp; The boys then adopted them. (<a href="http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB6BLXSJ2F.html" target="_blank">Tampa Tribune with amazing photo</a>) <i>Thanks to Jessica for the tip!</i><br />

Donor Gives $130 Million to Bangladesh
An anonymous donor has given $130 million to the nation of Bangladesh to help rebuild after a cyclone destroyed schools and homes along the southern coast. The donation, which came through the Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank, is being called by Bangladesh, the single largest donation ever made by an individual to the country. (<a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gn7MkVzfiqTqVY7dvSbB_lNuJwDgD8UG949G1" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>)

Cell Phone Can Read Documents for Blind
A Nokia cell phone loaded with software can take pictures of a document, like a ten dollar bill, and translate it into a vocal description. In addition it can be used for a restaurant menu, phone book or fax.&nbsp; (<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GadgetGuide/wireStory?id=4198673" target="_blank">Associated Press via ABC.com</a>)

Woman Searching for Father Discovers She's Been Working In His Home
A Vietnamese woman, Tran Thi Kham, 40, travelled to Taiwan in 2005 hoping to find her biological father. For seven months while she searched for him, she was working in his own home. Then, the man opened a bag she had left behind and found keepsakes of which only he would know the meaning.<i> (Thanks to Shannon G. for the tip!)</i><br />

A Black Cat is Good Luck for Family
"A cat's caterwauling during a pre-dawn house fire may have saved the lives of five family members, a firefighter said. A woman awoke to hear the family's black cat howling and screeching from the garage, where it spends its nights. She went to investigate her pet's cries." (<a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/01/23/1249801-cats-caterwauling-may-have-saved-family" target="_blank">Newsvine</a>)

5-Year-Old Charges Into Burning Home, Rescues Brother
"<span>A Greenville, Texas preschooler is being hailed as a hero after he charged back into his burning home to save his 3-year-old brother." <br /> (<a href="http://www.mineralwellsindex.com/statenews/cnhinsall_story_022093240.html" target="_blank">Mineral Wells Index</a> )<br /> </span>

Blind Seal at LA Zoo Ready to Meet Visitors (Video)
<img src="images/stories/animals/blind-seal.jpg" alt="blind-seal.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 170px; height: 155px" title="Alfred the seal at the LA Zoo" height="155" width="170" />A&nbsp; blind harbour seal named Alfred debuted at the LA Zoo, which took him in after he was rescued off the coast of New Jersey nearly a year ago. Watch LA news video or<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/080120/K012004AU.html" target="_blank"> read CBC report</a>.

11-Year-Old's Idea to Become Law (Video)
Florida restaurants usually throw out perfectly good food that 11 year-old Jack Davis figures can feed the hungry and the homeless. To make that happen, he is trying to reverse a Florida law and provide protection for restaurants from being sued if anyone who ate the food became ill or developed food poisoning. It's called the "Lending a Helping Hand" act. Watch video below or click to see the ABC News Report ...

Iraqi Boy Sends Messages of Peace in a Bottle
Iraqi teen and his friends work towards peace by sending peace messages in bottles down the Euphrates River. The 14 year-old says he loves all the people of Iraq and hopes to encourage brotherhood among the sects with messages of peace. (<a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2008/01/21/damon.iraq.message.in.bottle.cnn" target="_blank">CNN Video</a>)<br />

Couple Reunited After 60 Years Apart Since the War
"When Anna Kozlov caught sight of the elderly man clambering out of a car in her home village of Borovlyanka in Siberia, she stopped dead in her tracks, convinced her eyes were playing tricks. There, in front of her, was Boris, the man she had fallen in love with and married 60 years earlier. The last time she had seen him was three days after their wedding, when she kissed him goodbye and sent him off to rejoin his Red Army unit." (Daily Telegraph) ...

Firefighters Praised for Icy Dog Rescue
"Let other folks retire to warm climates," said a Wisconsin resident whose poodle was rescued, after it had fallen through the ice, by a firefighter rescue unit with self-inflating wetsuits and ropes. "I'm spending the rest of my days where the weather may be cold, but the hearts are warm." (Associated Press has the story of the rescue of Buddy) ...

Boy Saves Friend's Life In Class
A first grader from Granite City, near St. Louis, used his seven years of life experience to save his classmate from choking to death with the Heimlich maneuver. (<a href="http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=138200" target="_blank">Video and story from KSDK</a>)

First Snow for 100 Years Falls on Baghdad
The people in Baghdad delightedly woke up early on Friday morning to watch the extraordinary snowfall on their neighborhoods for the first time in memory. Jubilant children and elderly gathered in the yards and on the roofs and some in the streets dancing. Thanks to Shannon G. for the tip! ...

Dog's Bite Saves Boy and Pals From House Fire
"A black Labrador that bit a 13-year-old boy's foot repeatedly, waking him up, is being credited with saving the boy and two of his friends from a house fire." (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22557666/" target="_blank">Associated Press via MSNBC)</a>

Maldives President Saved by Boy Scout
<img src="images/stories/kids/Boy%20scout_logo.png" alt="Boy scout_logo.png" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 100px; height: 115px" title="Boy scout logo" height="115" width="100" />An attempt to stab the president of the Maldives was thwarted Tuesday when a 15-year-old boy scout grabbed a knife from the would-be attacker.

11-Year-Old Survives Avalanche With TV Show Tips
An 11-year-old boy survived an avalanche after having been completely buried under the sliding snow for 33 minutes. When Max Zilvitis of Park City, Utah, was found, he had no pulse and wasn't breathing.

Kid-friendly Sweden Aims to Better Families With Parenting Classes
<img src="images/stories/homelife/baby-in-diapers.jpg" alt="baby-in-diapers.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: right; width: 146px; height: 106px" title="Sweden seeks to better families with more parenting classes" height="106" width="146" />Already considered one of the best countries for raising children, Sweden aims to better its record by offering even more classes to help mums and dads improve their parenting skills.

Diners Find Rare Pearl in Plate of Clams
"A Florida man was halfway through a plate of steamed clams when he chomped down on something hard &mdash; a rare, iridescent purple pearl. It could be worth thousands." (Associated Press) ...

Top Ten Pet Stories of 2007
I compiled this list for the Ellen DeGeneres show and suggested they ask their audience to vote (with&nbsp; cheers) for the Top Pet Hero of 2007. Which would you choose?&nbsp; All these stories were featured in our PETS category, under FAMILY LIFE. (right, Oscar the cat senses when nursing home patients will die) 10) Shepherd Rescues Crash Victim by the Collar A stray German Shepherd dragged a bloodied woman up to the highway, and let her lean against him so she could flag a passing mo ...

Woman Loses Ring in Fudge, Gets It Back
An Indiana woman has recovered a diamond ring she accidentally sold in a batch of fudge. The white gold and diamond ring her mother left her 15 years ago was sold at a bake sale inside her donated fudge.

U.S. Teen Brings New School to Cambodia
Hundreds of Cambodian villagers welcomed the arrival of a new school Wednesday, a gift from an American teenager who raised $52,000 after reading about the hardships of growing up in Cambodia." (AP via MSNBC) Thanks to GNN member JenX, whose DailyMitzvahBlog is highlighting one good deed each day for an entire year. She said in her post about the teenager and the school: We can all help improve children&rsquo;s access to education. At no cost: click on Greater Good&rsquo;s The Liter ...

Students' View of Brain Power Can Help Grades
"Some students think of their intelligence as something fixed, carved in stone. A new scientific study shows that if you teach students that their intelligence can grow and increase, they do better in school." (Text or audio clip from NPR) Thanks to Ellen M. for the link! ...

Internet Video Service Connects Families and Troops
Jason's twin brother is serving his second tour in Iraq this holiday. "He's my brother and my best friend, but I rarely got to hear his voice." Now, U-Stream lets families connect through webcams online. (CS Monitor ) ...

Dealing With Drought, Georgians Get Creative
Amidst the worst drought in one hundred years, Georgians are learning the importance of conservation and finding innovative ways to reuse water. (<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1219/p03s03-ussc.html" target="_blank">CS Monitor</a>) <em>Submitted by Steve G.</em>

Update: Poodle and Pit Bull Live Happily Ever After
&quot;There's a happy ending to the tale of Vincent, the poodle who fell madly in love with Angel, the abused pit bull, at their foster home (linked from GNN-i). After the story appeared in the newspaper homeowners stepped up willing to take both dogs.&quot; (A-J Constitution) Thanks for the follow-up, Steve G.! ...

Little Girl Saves Whole Family From Fire
&quot;Firefighters are calling a 7-year old girl a hero for saving her whole family.&quot; She knew what to do because the fire department had taught her first grade class. (<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&amp;id=5840217" target="_blank">ABC7News</a>) <i>Thanks to Jim K. for submitting the story!</i>

Cat Alerts Homeowner of Roof Fire
Here's another great pet story (including video), sent by Jim K., about a cat who notified his owner of a fire. (<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&amp;id=5837537" target="_blank">ABC.com</a>)<br /> <br />

Charitable Gift-Giving Growing in Popularity
Socially responsible gifts are growing popular in Canada, where people have everything they need and family members turn to charities to buy what are sometimes called 'gifts that give twice'. These include gifts that lay eggs, produce milk and provide shade and grow fruit in developing countries, particularly for families in need. GNN-i reported on the Heifer project, a charity that is perfect for holiday giving is the Heifer Project. (Full story of Candian Giving: CBC) ...

'Spider-Boy' Becomes A Real Life Hero
&quot;A five-year-old boy dressed as Spider-Man became a real life hero when he saved a baby girl from a burning house in Brazil.&quot; (<a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1292608,00.html" target="_blank">Sky News</a> w/ Video) Read to the end<i>; Thanks to Andrew N. for sending the link!</i>

Indonesian Grandmother Spreads Green Ways in Smoggy Jakarta
A 77-year-old grandmother who has been teaching green ways for almost 30 years to 218 neighborhood families: Homes are shaded by potted plants, bins encourage waste separation and residents recycle their garbage.

7 Year-End Moves That Could Lower Your Tax Bill
Even though taxes for 2007 aren't due until April 15, 2008, tax experts say now's the time – before Jan. 1 – to make the financial moves that can lead to big savings on tax day. (<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1203/p13s01-wmgn.html" target="_blank">CS Monitor</a>) <i>Thanks, Steve G., for the helpful link!</i>

Wedding Band Saves Man's Life
<span class="art_p_body"><i>Steve G. sends</i> <i>this</i>: &quot;A</span>nother reason why married men live longer.&quot; <span class="art_p_body">Police said the shopkeeper's wedding band deflected the bullet and saved his life during a robbery. (<a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ivg-Gtb2jdHyAZXSR7UOBNcxcCCwD8T9I1D81" target="_blank">AP Wire</a>) <i>Thanks to Alton who also submitted this.</i><br /> </span>

Florida Foster Mom Is Honored for 20 Years of Love
Eleanor Hall recieved Florida's Point of Light award for fostering more than 150 children and adopting eight, all as a single mother. (<a href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/nov/29/bartow-foster-mom-hailed-florida-point-light/" target="_blank">TBO Tampa</a>)<br /> <br />

Homeless Poodle and Pit Bull Find True Love, But Need Home Where Beauty Can be with Beast
&quot;Vincent didn't care about their differences. He was in love and that was that. Sure, some might call it &quot;puppy love.&quot; They are, after all, dogs. But Vincent doesn't seem to care that he's a well-coiffed, 12-pound poodle and his love, the object of his adoration, is a 40-pound pit bull mix.&quot; (A-J Constitution) Steve sent this with the hope that we hear a happy ending for this doomed couple -- someone willing to adopt the beauty and the beast... ...

Dog Saves Owner from the Same Fire Twice
&quot;An abused stray dog adopted by an Idaho City resident turned out to be twice a hero, saving Candace Jennings a second time from a raging house fire in the middle of the night after Jennings risked her life to go back into the home to get keys belonging to other people.&quot; (<a href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/219441.html" target="_blank">IdahoStatesman</a>) <i>Thanks to Kim S. for the link!</i>

EU Says China's Progress on Toy Safety is Encouraging
China has made considerable progress in taking actions to ensure the safety of toys and other exported products, the European Union (EU) consumer chief said on Thursday.

Tired of Dry Thanksgiving Turkey? Cook it Upside Down
I just gave my Aunt Jane a full-proof recipe for roasting a turkey that will produce juicy breast meat every time. She was relieved to hear of such a solution, saying, &quot;They hate my turkey -- it's always so dry.&quot; If you, too, are looking for a better turkey recipe, check this out: I have been serving a wildly successful Thanksgiving meal for my extended family every holiday for 15 years, and one of my secrets is roasting the turkey upside down... (photo: Geri and her son both love to ...

Third Grader Saves Fellow Student With Heimlich
&quot;A third-grader who said he learned the Heimlich Maneuver from a cartoon on TV, has been hailed as a hero after performing the life-saving technique on a friend.&quot; (<a href="http://www.news4jax.com/news/14652643/detail.html" target="_blank">News4Jax</a>) Thanks to new GNN-i member Naomi for the link!

Dogsled Team Has the Blind Leading the Not-Blind
&quot;Isobel, a six-year-old husky cross, has all the great qualities of a sled dog. She loves to run, has strength and endurance, and works well alongside the other dogs. It takes a while for visitors to notice that she is completely blind.&quot; (<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/071118/K111802AU.html" target="_blank">CBC</a>)

India Youth Spurring Locals to Trade Plastic Bags for Eco-Friendly Sacks
Every month more than 100 kilos (one quintal) of polythene bags are used to carry offerings into the famous Ram temple of Orchha. The bags end up choking cows, piling up in the soil as litter, and clogging drains causing waste water to overflow. Now, Indian youth from Orchha are campaigning for a polybag free town and giving pilgrims eco-friendly bags to carry instead. ...

The 7 Pitfalls of Single Parenting
Back in August during my book giveaway, I featured The 7 Pitfalls of Single Parenting. The winner wrote to let me know how much he loved the book: (From Gary) &quot;I got to read 18 pages so far and LOVED IT. I can't imagine the great effect you have on the lives of those in your immediate circle -- you have touched mine in a most positive way, from far away. Sending that book has already made a very good change.&quot; . . . Today is the official launch of my friend, Carolyn Ellis's book, The 7 ...

Couple Who Lost Three Children Expecting Triplets
&quot;In May, Lori and Chris Coble’s three children were killed in a car accident. But now they can smile again, because Lori is pregnant with triplets.&quot; (Video and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21767764/?GT1=10547" target="_blank">story at MSNBC</a>) <i>Thanks, Steve for the great link!</i>

Thief-Biting Alsatian Named Bravest Dog in Britain
&quot;A crimebusting Alsatian dog has officially been named the bravest animal in Britain after winning the UK Animal Hero award.&quot; The owner also wins kudos for adopting and training the &quot;untrainable dog.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2007/11/05/deco-the-thief-biting-wirral-alsatian-is-the-bravest-in-britain-64375-20061421/">Liverpool Daily Post</a>) <em>Thanks to Andrew for the find.</em>

Radio Host Spreads Gospel of Debt-Free Living
Steve Ghent sent this story in about an inspiring motivational radio host who is an evangelist for helping people get out of debt. (<a href="http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/11/09/ramsey_1110.html" target="_blank">AJ Constitution</a>)

Mythbusters Producers Reward Hero of Train Rescue
&quot;The producers of MythBusters said they plan to present Julian Shaw with merchandise in a &quot;hero pack&quot; to honor his good deed.&quot; The 14-year-old punk rocker used what he had learned from the TV series MythBusters to save a 54-year-old from a freight train. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mythbusters-hail-hero/2007/11/09/1194329470352.html">Sydney Morn Herald</a>)

Schoolboy Julian's Lifesaving MythBuster Moment
&quot;Mark O'Dwyer owes his life to a 14-year-old punk rocker and an edgy television science program. The 54-year-old was waiting at a train station when he fainted and toppled from the platform onto the tracks below, as a freight train bore down on him.&quot; (<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/11/08/1194329387281.html?s_rid=theage:top5" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald</a>)

Green Roofs Start to Sprout on Urban Homes
&quot;Low-maintenance sedum cuts energy costs as well as greenhouse gases. Flowers and baby sedum on the flat roof will retain about half the rainwater that falls on it.&quot; (<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1031/p13s02-lign.html" target="_blank">CS Monitor</a>) <i>Thanks to Steve G. for the link.</i>

Child Gives More When Asked for a Dollar
A 5 year-old boy in Fort Worth, Texas named Benjamin was asked by his father to go get a dollar out of his bank to give to the Church on Sunday. What he gave was an example to all of the natural generosity of children...

Boy's Wish Saves Lives But With Tragedy
&quot;During an evening walk early last year, eight-year-old Tom Galley told his mum that he wanted to save people's lives. Only days later, his parents were able to carry out their little boy's wishes -- but unfortunately in the most tragic circumstances.&quot; Through organ donation, Tom saved the lives of four other people. (<a href="http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22558601-2862,00.html" target="_blank">Australia Herald-Sun</a>) <i>Thanks to Andrew for the inspiring link.</i>

Dog, Cat Honored for Saving Families
Two pets featured on the Good News Network were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: The dog who performed actions similar to the Heimlich maneuver that forced a piece of food out of a choking Maryland woman and a cat who woke a family in Indiana before they were overcome by carbon monoxide. (<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071102/ap_on_fe_st/odd_animal_rescues" target="_blank">AP</a>)

3-Year-Old Survives Plane Crash
A 3 year-old child survived a plane crash thanks to her Grandfather's excellent care in protecting her for the flight.

Halloween Candy is Safe, After All
Once again we set out on Halloween to de-bunk the myth that trick-or-treat candy is in need of an x-ray before our children are allowed to dig in. (See our Oct 1999 GNN-i report) Fact: There has never been a single confirmed serious injury from “tainted treats” having been altered by a stranger since fears began spreading among the public in the late 50’s... ...

How to Protect Yourself From Latest Credit Card Scam
I received a warning today of a telephone scam involving credit cards. I always check <a href="http://www.Snopes.com" target="_blank">Snopes.com</a> to see if email stories are true. They verified this one is true, but not new. The warning contains excellent advice for avoiding scams, so I am passing it along to you on the Good News Network. This slick sting can fool even the smartest consumer because they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want...

Pets Remain Priority for Displaced Californians Fleeing Homes From Wildfires
&quot;Californians who couldn't bear leaving home without their pets found shelters willing to accommodate the animals along with the people.&quot; (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305676,00.html" target="_blank">FoxNews</a>) <i>Thanks to Ed Smith for the link.</i><br />

Ex-Studio Exec Plays Noah in Malibu Fire
The animals may not have been in pairs, but a former Hollywood mogul could be called Noah for leading his 200-plus menagerie to safety from raging wildfires.

Girl, 9, Pens Book to Help Other Kids With Grief
&quot;A nine-year-old girl whose father died of a brain tumour has had her self-help book about how to cope with death published.&quot; (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/7059589.stm" target="_blank">BBC</a>)

Couple Get Wedding Pix After 27 Years
An Ohio couple, just before their 27th anniversary, finally got the wedding photos they could not afford when they married. <i>Thanks to David for the link! </i>(see below; or at <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/23/1044724-couple-get-wedding-photos-after-27-years" target="_blank">NewsVine</a>)

Boy Saves Mom's Life With Heimlich Maneuver
A nine-year-old New Brunswick boy is being hailed as a hero for saving his mom's life after she choked on a piece of pear.

Autistic Teen Found Alive in Woods After 4 Days
&quot;An autistic 18-year-old lost in the wilderness for four days was found sleeping under a bush Thursday, weak but apparently fine, and reunited with his family, searchers said.&quot; (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21366794/" target="_blank">AP</a>)

Mom Sends 80,000 cans of Silly String to Troops
80,000 cans of Silly String are on their way to troops in Iraq &mdash; where they can help save lives, thanks to a New Jersey mom. (<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071016/ap_on_re_us/silly_string" target="_blank">AP</a>)

Loss of Leg Doesn't Stop Hunting Dog
&quot;A champion pointer hunting dog, can run, swim and jump despite the loss of a leg after she was accientally run over by her owner, who agonized over whether to put her down.&quot; (<a href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/apusnews/story/182838.html" target="_blank">AP</a>) <i>Thanks to Kim S. for the link.</i>

Golden Retriever Nurses Stray Kitten (Video Update)
&quot;Honey, a golden retriever from Stephens City, Va., hadn't given birth in 18 months, but the cries of Precious, an orphaned kitten, made her a mother again.&quot;<i></i>

Big Brother Saves Boy, 4, from Deadly Dog Attack
&quot;He saved his little brother from being mauled to death but 11-year-old Jack Payne says he is no hero. But four-year-old Ben Payne - the victim of the terrifying dog attack in Sydney's west - knows different.&quot; (<a href="http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22573507-910,00.html" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph</a>) <i>Thanks to Andy S. for the link!</i>

10-Year-Old Boy Returns Wallet with P18,500 Cash
&quot;A 10-year-old boy from a poor family in Dagupan City received praise from local police and city officials for showing honesty in turning over to authorities a wallet with P18,500 cash that he found last week.&quot; (<a href="http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008775196" target="_blank">AHN, Philippines</a>) <i>Thanks to Andrew for the link!</i>

$6 Million to Stray Dog Relief in Taiwan
A Taiwanese businessman will donate $6 million over the next three years to a relief program that cares for stray animals. The fund will be used to ramp up neutering campaigns to reduce the number of stray animals, while providing better medical treatment for the homeless animals. (<a href="http://www.chinapost.com.tw/headlines/2007/10/10/49534/Taiwan-tycoon.htm" target="_blank">China Post</a> ) <i>Thanks, Andrew!</i>

Girl, 9, Gives Savings to Buy Toys for Hospital
A 9-year-old donated her savings of $50 to a local hospital Wednesday after her experience as a patient there was so warm. She became the youngest donor in the hospital's history to give other children the same experience. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.gilroydispatch.com/news/contentview.asp?c=226895">Gilroy Dispatch w/ photo</a>) <em>Thanks to Andrew for the link!</em>

Update: VIDEO of Teens Who Wore Pink Against Bullying
Two Nova Scotia students are being praised across North America for the unique way they turned the tide against a fellow student bullied for wearing pink. (CBC) ...

Cell Phone Revolution Eases Burdens in Haiti, Caribbean
In a country where most people live without paved roads, running water or even electricity, there's one modern convenience that more than a quarter of the people are enjoying: a cell phone. Cell phones are connecting Haitians in unheard-of ways, touching their lives and bringing convenience to those used to hard living.

4 Yr-Old Hero Saves Mum and Baby From Fire
F<span id="main1">our-year-old Bayley Dunford saved his mum and baby sister's lives when a fire broke out at their home early in the morning and the boy was the only one to wake and respond. </span>(<a href="http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=156130&amp;command=displayContent&amp;sourceNode=242285&amp;home=yes&amp;more_nodeId1=156139&amp;contentPK=18560306" target="_blank">Lincolnshire.co.uk</a>) <i>Thanks, Andrew!</i>

Couple Celebrates 80th Anniversary
&quot;An Alabama couple recently celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary, in one of the longest marriages of the Guinness Book of records.&quot; (<a href="http://www.charlotte.com/weird/story/302783.html" target="_blank">AP</a>) <i>Thanks to S Ghent for submitting the link.</i>

High Schoolers Don Pink to Stop Bullying
&quot;Two students at a Nova Scotia area high school fought back against bullying recently, unleashing a sea of pink after a new student was harassed and threatened when he showed up wearing a pink shirt. &quot;I&rsquo;ve stood around too long and I wanted to do something.&quot; (Chronicle-Herald.ca <a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2007/09/students-stand-.html" target="_blank">via blog</a>)

Chiropractor Helps Relieve Pain in Injured and Ailing Animals
&quot;A chiropractor for 16 years, Dina LiVolsi gives adjustments to humans near Pittsburgh, but also has been treating four-legged patients, mostly dogs and horses, for sore backs for the past eight years.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07259/817309-54.stm">Post-Gazette</a>)

Dog Saves House from Fire
An Oregon resident credits his labradoodle, Henry, with saving his neighbor's house from a fire. (Video)

Eating Local Produce on a Food-Stamp Budget
&quot;As Food &amp; Nutrition Educator, I lead monthly gardening, cooking, and food preservation classes at low-income housing sites. Most participants are single mothers faced with the enormous challenge of preparing healthy meals on a &quot;food stamp budget.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070917/OPINION04/709170353/1024/OPINION04">Times Argus</a>) <em>Thanks to Francisco S. for the link!</em>

Firefighters Save Donkey from Well
Firefighters in a Minnesota community rescued a donkey that had fallen down an old dry well, working hours on the complicated procedure.

Teen Pulls Elderly Woman off Track of Oncoming Train
Tom Foust saw the train lights in the distance and knew it was time to stop arguing with the elderly driver, whose white Lexus was stuck on railroad tracks. As his two friends pounded on the car windows, yelling for her to leave the car, Foust, 17, unclipped the seat belt and carried her to safety with seconds to spare. He shielded her body from flying debris as the Lexus was &quot;eviscerated.&quot;

Kids Grant Lifetime Wish to Their School Janitor
&quot;A 72-year-old North Carolina school custodian was treated to a surprise trip to San Francisco courtesy of some enterprising and generous fifth graders. His lifelong wish was granted when they raised over $2000 to send him and his wife to the city by the bay. 'Every time I think about it, it makes me cry almost,' he said.&quot; (<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&amp;id=5609659" target="_blank">ABC 11-TV</a>)

Surfer Rescues Dog Swept off by High Waves
A surfer rescued a dog that had been swept from a pier into Lake Michigan. (story/photo <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gtHya9ZAS-bk5ZycgVJGQ7In9rCw" target="_blank">AP</a>)

Teen Pens Book of Hope Prior to Major Surgery
A Dallas teen struggling with life-threatening illnesses has written an e-book called, &ldquo;Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day - Lessons from a Wish Child&rdquo; about life&rsquo;s struggles and what you can do to stay strong and hopeful. She actively creates in place of physical activity, drawing and also writing a column in her high school newspaper. (Courier-Gazette) Thanks to Vickie for the tip! ...

So Cal's First LEED Certified All-Solar Multi-Family Community
&quot;Trendy Orange County's first all-green new-home community, opened its sustainable all-solar model homes to the public this weekend.&quot; (<a href="http://www.enn.com/green_building/article/22850" target="_blank">ENN)</a>

Kitten Almost Became Part of Cement Stairs
&quot;Construction workers at a high school were shocked to find a small kitten trapped beneath concrete that was being poured to secure a set of stairs.&quot; It was treated for dehydration, shaved and released. The worker who found it decided to take the kitten home and name it 'Stone.' (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbs46.com/news/14023650/detail.html">WGCL Atlanta</a>, with photo) <em>Thanks to SG for submitting!</em>

Dog's Bark Leads to River Rescue
&quot;Smooch the collie began barking incessantly Sunday morning when outside in the Amityville River, an empty kayak drifted toward the Great South Bay. A man and woman struggled in the water trying to catch up.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.1010wins.com/pages/639116.php?contentType=4&amp;contentId=656811">WINS 1010</a>)

Web Sites Provide Big Savings on College Textbooks
Because the average first-year college student today spends over $900 on textbooks, Web sites have sprung up offering price-comparison tools that help save 50 percent or more. Innovative book rental programs are also popping up around some schools. And, to tackle the root of the problem, 27 states have introduced legislation to force a change at the level of colleges and publishing houses.

Lace Builds Structure for Rio's Poor (Video)
In Rio's biggest favela, a cooperative focuses on improving the lot of local women, while also giving a boost in stature to Brazilian handicraft. These poor women are proving that luxury items like lace and embroidery can be created by the humblest of all. (Video)

7-Year-Old Raises $650 for Hospital
Grace Ann LaCarte, 7, decided to <a href="http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/08_24_girl_donates_to_childrens" target="_blank">sell her toys</a> and stuffed animals at a garage sale to help raise money for sick kids. She gave the proceeds, $650, to a man named Albert Lexie who, himself, has <a href="http://www.kevweb.com/albert/index.htm" target="_blank">donated all his money</a>, from shining shoes at the hospital twice a week, to the Children's Hospital Free Care Fund. $130,000 to date!

'House of Plastic Bottles' Rises in Serbia
A retired Serbian physics professor has built a house with plastic bottles in the place of bricks, using 14,000 containers his students collected as litter from the countryside. The plastic bottles offer great insulation!

Weeding by Example: New Orleans Boy Inspired to Help Rebuild
<p> Steve Hartman tells the tale of a New Orleans boy determined to help his community rebuild, even if it means doing it one blade of grass at a time, mowing and weeding land untouched since the hurricane... (Video) </p>

As an Energy Saver, the Clothesline Makes a Comeback
&quot;<span class="photoCutline">A clothesline&nbsp;&mdash; or 'Right to Dry'&nbsp;&mdash; movement is growing. Some states have introduced legislation to override clothesline bans, which are often instituted by community associations.&quot; (<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0824/p01s03-ussc.html" target="_blank">CS Monitor</a>)<br /> </span>

Helping Kids Thrive After Divorce (Video)
Innovative programs in some states are requiring parents seeking separation to keep the focus on what is good for the children. A Bill of Rights for kids prohibits involving the children directly in the conflicts of the parents. (CBS Early Show link was lost) Check out this resource, a free 28-page special report that features four secrets to successful parenting after divorce, at ThriveAfterDivorce.com. ...

Jewish-American Kids Donating Money to Build Playgrounds in Israel
&quot;<span id="text">Eleven playgrounds are being built in Kiryat Shmona thanks to contributions from the Jewish community abroad. However, the money did not come from wealthy adults, but from children who have reached bar and batmitzvah age and are donating the money they received as gifts.&quot; (<a href="http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/About/Press+Room/Jewish+Agency+In+The+News/2007/2/may21ynet" target="_blank">Jewish Agency</a>)<br /> </span>

'Miracle Dog' Makes It Out Alive (Video)
Rescuers used a backhoe to save a 14-year-old dalmatian trapped in a storm drain for four days. (Video)

Garbage Strike Turns Many to Composting
&quot;With Vancouver's garbage strike entering its 30th day today, many households are turning to composting as a way to reduce the family footprint.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9b8a2014-1bb4-4d78-bf7a-9ab89a8624b6">Vancouver Sun</a>) <em>Thanks to Ryan for link.</em>

Poll: What Makes Teens Happy? Family Ties
&quot;Spending time with family was the top answer to what makes teens happy, according to an extensive survey — more than 100 questions asked of 1,280 people ages 13–24 — conducted by The Associated Press and MTV on the nature of happiness among America's young people.&quot; (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20322621/wid/11915773?GT1=10316" target="_blank">NY Times</a>) <i>Thanks to Daniel for submitting.</i>

U.S. Breastfeeding Rates Rise to Record High
&quot;The percentage of U.S. mothers who breastfeed their babies has reached the highest level on record amid mounting evidence that it provides many health benefits to the child, U.S. officials said Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control noted that it also conveyed health benefits to women, including decreased risk for the most common form of diabetes, ovarian cancer and breast cancer.&quot; (By Will Dunham, Reuters) ...

Lifeguard Dogs Trained to Rescue Swimmers
With 400 deaths per year resulting from drowning off the Italian coast, officials need all the help they can get. Now, labrador retrievers are lending a paw through a new training program for 25 lifeguard dogs that utilizes their natural ability to know when a human is in danger... (<a target="_blank" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6940000/newsid_6948900/6948925.stm?bw=bb&amp;mp=rm&amp;asb=1&amp;news=1">BBC Video</a>) <em>Thanks, Andrew... very cool!</em>

Summer Camp Where Military Kids Can Relax (Video)
At Camp Purple, children of military parents make instant friendships with other kids whose parents are deployed overseas, who have experienced the same worries and problems they have. (Video)

Dog Leads Police to Stranded Owner
"A man who had been missing in New Hampshire since Sunday was found alive Tuesday afternoon after his dog led rescuers near his location." (<a href="http://www.wmur.com/news/13891971/detail.html" target="_blank">WMUR-TV </a>with video) <em>Thanks to new member Laura for submitting the link.</em>

Cat Survives House Fire by Wedging into Sofa
Much to the amazement of fire fighters, a family's cat, which was thought to have perished in a fire, was discovered alive wedged inside the sofa. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20254032/">AP</a>)

Milwaukee Youth Rally for Peace and Positive Media
Hundreds of Milwaukee kids were involved Friday in the fifth annual Rally For Peace, both promoting a message of stopping violence in the community and trying to change the way the city thinks of Milwaukee youth by countering negative portrayals in the news media. (video from WITI-TV; text here) ...

9-Year-Old Oregon Boy Steers Big Rig to Safety
In yet another example of what kids are capable of when called upon to do the extraordinary, a nine-year-old boy steered a tractor-trailer (hauling over 100,000 pounds of lumber) to safety when his father lost consciousness behind the wheel. Read about it in the Oregonian, or watch the video from CNN. ...

Teen Rescued After Dangling from Cliff
She went to retrieve a flip-flop about 20 feet below a ledge, with a &quot;straight drop-off into the abyss below.&quot; &quot;Not knowing how much longer the root was going to hold, officers quickly formed a human chain to retrieve the dangling girl instead of waiting for Los Angeles County firefighters to arrive.&quot;(<a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/9029327.html" target="_blank">DailyBreeze.com</a>)

Teen Falls 6 Stories, Walks Away
Steve wanted to share this news flash about a teen falling out of a hotel balcony. It's good to hear about amazing things happening. (<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2007/08/06/sc_teen_falls_6_stories_walks_away/" target="_blank">AP</a>)

Gender Gap Narrows as College Graduation Rates Rise
Washington D.C. – University graduation rates continue to rise in the U.S. while more of those beneath a cap and gown are female as the higher education gender gap narrows. (click for chart and details)

Teen Turns Trash into Computers for Needy Families
Fifteen-year-old Jacob Komar rebuilds old computers that are destined for the landfill and gives them to needy families. "I started Computers for Communities in 2001 when I was nine years old. I acquired computers that were being discarded from a local school. Then I refurbished and distributed them to families in my community that could not afford to have a computer at home. What a great feeling to see the smiles on those kids' faces. I felt like I was Santa Claus!"... ...

Jessica the Hippo, A Most Unusual Family Pet (Video)
Although hippos kill more humans than any other mammal in Africa, Jessica the hippopotamus has become part of the family in a South African home, even roaming into the kitchen for a snack. She eats with the family's dogs before going up river to cavort with a pod of wild hippos. She always returns home to the game warden who found her washed up after a flood when she was only one day old. (Sky News) 3:05 - Thanks, Anthony, for the link to this &quot;priceless&quot; video! ...

Boy Sells Lemonade to Buy Service Dog for Brother
I was very touched by this story about a boy who is selling lemonade to help raise money to buy a service dog for his brother who suffers with diabetes. I just had to share with you the Web site. It also contains a video about this inspiring little boy and what he is attempting to do for his brother. Talk about brotherly love! (<a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/family/13761297/detail.html" target="_blank">WSB-TV</a>)

Chihuahua Saves Baby from Rattlesnake (Video)
A couple living on a farm near Masonville, Colo., said their 1-year-old grandson was rescued from a rattlesnake by the family's chihuahua. Play video or click 'Read more' for full UPI article. ...

Cat Senses Final Hours of Elderly Patients
I came across a wonderful story about a cat who snuggles up beside citizens of a nursing home four hours before they die. It's happened so often that nurses now know when to call family members and let them know when their loved ones are near death. Oscar's story is in the Providence Journal. Also read the New England Journal of Medicine article on Oscar. ...

Puppy Born with Heart-Shaped Mark Brings Luck and Celebrity
A chihuahua puppy has become Japan's latest heartthrob after he was born with a heart-shaped mark on his coat. The dog, named &quot;Heart-kun,&quot; was born in May to a breeder and pet shop owner, who believes the puppy has brought her luck. She's even won the lottery. (Click for VIDEO or read Reuters) Thanks to Christophe in France for the link! ...

Teen Trends Look Positive
The Chicago Tribune editorial board might have been reading the Good News Network. Today they added together the positive trends in the lives of American teens and were surprised to find that teenagers are &quot;growing more careful and responsible.&quot; GNN-i has covered the decline in teen drug use and the drop in numbers of teens having sex, drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco. The Tribune's nod to teens includes a high-five for increasing the rates of high school graduates. Thanks to Andr ...

Girls' Team Returns from Africa with Opened Eyes
Traveling abroad for a teen, especially to Africa, can &quot;jump-start a lifetime of social and moral awareness.&quot; For a D.C. girls' soccer team, a trip to South Africa opened their eyes to the poverty and HIV/AIDS epidemic burdening girls their age who faced them on the soccer field. After returning home, the American teens are already thinking about what they can do next year to continue their involvement. (Wash Post) Thanks to Jim S. for the link! ...

Baby Panther Adopted and Nursed by Dog (Video)
A rejected baby panther in Serbia was adopted by a dog, who feeds the cub as if she were her own, licking and nursing the panther along with a litter of pups. ...

Celebrities Whose Babies Use Cloth Diapers
As a follow-up to our Dave Matthews story that he uses cloth diapers for his new son, Celebrity Baby Blog has compiled a list of celebrities whose babies wear cloth. The article also reminds people that cloth diapers, these days, are not the kind used for my son 16 years ago, with clumsy clips, nor the first generation model that used pins... ...

Third Graders Helping to Stop Childhood Hunger
Baking cookies and selling brownies don't seem like solutions that could end childhood hunger, yet, thanks to the Great American Bake Sale Campaign, 5.3 million nutritious meals and snacks were served to low-income children paid for by proceeds from the bake sales all across the country. Garrett Wiehler and Damon Halvis, both soon-to-be third graders from Monrovia, Md., are hosting their third annual Garrett &amp; Damon Stop Hunger Now Bake Sale tomorrow. Baking cookies and selling their brownie ...

The World's Fastest Broadband Goes to 75-Year-Old
To show that you can build a low-price, high-capacity Internet line over long distances, a Swedish IT guru has equipped his mother's PC with the fastest connection on the planet. The 75-year-old will be able to download a full, high-definition DVD in just two seconds. (<a href="http://www.thelocal.se/7869/20070712/" target="_blank">Sweden's The Local</a>) <em>Thanks, Andrew!</em>

Locks from Group Haircut Donated to Kids with Cancer
&quot;Fourteen silver scissors sliced through 24 students' ponytails at a Chicago-area school assembly on Monday. The girls shook their heads from side to side and giggled. And then each of the students, clutching their just-shorn locks in their hands, raised their fists in the air.&quot; In total, 31 adults and kids cut off their hair for Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that creates wigs for children who have lost their hair because of cancer. ...

Young Scholars Tell the President "No" on Torture
141 Presidential Scholars were being honored recently at the White House. After the president told them that it was important in their future careers to treat others as they would like to be treated and to make choices they would be able to live with, they handed him a letter signed by close to 50 of the students that read...

Dog Nurses Kitten Found Under SUV Hood
Ever since a stray kitten was found under the hood of a moving SUV in Texas and brought home, it has been nursing from a 3-year-old with heightened maternal instincts -- a dachshund named Lillie. (<strong><font color="#255ea8"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3360384&amp;CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312">ABC</a></font></strong>) <em>Abigail S. sent this story for all you GNN readers!</em>

Teenagers Use Internet to Raise $300K for Darfur
&quot;In a campaign to raise money for the people of Darfur, two high school students, using social networking sites Facebook and MySpace, have raised more than $300,000 from students at 2,000 high schools, showing the strength of banding together over the Internet.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-06-12-darfurstudents_N.htm">USA Today</a>)

Students Feed Homeless Despite City Warnings
&quot;For nearly two years, students, parents and staff at the Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School have handed out food and supplies to the homeless once a week on the sidewalk near JFK Plaza in Philadelphia.&quot; But last Thursday the new city manager asked them to stop and sent police to the scene. The school refuses to give up their program which has sparked discussions on the best way to help the homeless... (Inquirer) ...

Study: Men Talk Just as Much as Women
One goal of the Good News Network is to break stereotypes of society that no longer serve. &quot;An article in this week's issue of Science blasts the popular myth that women are more talkative than men.&quot; After listening to the daily chatter of almost 400 college students, a new study that claims to be the first of its kind found the rate of talking was nearly equal. &quot;The stereotype of the 'female chatterbox and silent male' needs to be debunked. Not only because women are harmed by it ...

Teenage Saviour of Dhaka's Slums
&quot;A teenage resident of one of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka&#39;s poorest slums who transformed the area through concern for fellow residents is preparing to leave - as she is now to go to university.&quot; (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6222974.stm">BBC</a>)

A Greener Way to Grow Green Lawns
Summer is here and you want to roll in the green grass with your loved ones, so have you considered letting go of those 40-pound bags of chemical fertilizers and bottles of scary weed killers? Let your grass out of its chemical prison so it can spread its roots. Here's how:

Mute Boy Cured by Fire Crew
<span class="norm12">&quot;A BOY who barely spoke for ten years has been cured &mdash; by the Fire Brigade.&quot; (UK&#39;s <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007270468,00.html" target="_blank">The Sun</a>) <em>Thanks, Andrew!</em><br /></span>

Kellogg to Curb Marketing of Foods to Children
Froot Loops, Apple Jacks and Pop Tarts are a few of the breakfast foods that young children will no longer see advertised on TV unless the foods can be reformulated to meet specific nutritional guidelines for calories, sugar and fat. Under pressure from watchdog groups, The Kellogg Company announced the voluntary change today and also said it would &quot;stop using licensed characters or branded toys to promote such foods unless they meet the nutrition guidelines.&quot; (NY Times) ...

How to Get Closer to Your Dad (Book Review)
Like many people's relationship with their father, mine has never been very close. Yet, if he died today I would be very sorry I didn't ask him more questions. That's why I am glad to have met Stuart Gustafson, who co-wrote the new book, Questions to Bring You Closer to Dad. I met him at the National Publicity Summit in New York in March. After looking at his book, I telephoned my father last week. We talked happily for an hour, or more, about his time in the U.S. Marines and what it was like fo ...

Flushed Diamond Ring Retrieval Called a Miracle
A 98-year-old woman accidentally flushed her $8,000, 1.6-carat diamond wedding ring down the toilet in the middle of the night two months ago, but thanks to the Olympia Public Works Department agreeing to take a look, the ring was found and delivered back to the woman who wrote a letter that motivated them to help. &quot;I believe in miracles,&quot; she wrote... (The Olympian) ...

Infants Have 'Amazing Capabilities' That Adults Lack
&quot;Soon after birth, infants are keen and sophisticated generalists, capable of seeing details in the world that are visible to some other animals but invisible to adults, older children and even slightly older infants, such as...&quot; <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livescience.com/health/070524_infant_intelligence.html">(Live Science</a>)<em>Thanks to Sergio Orozco for the link!</em>

Student Saves Choking Teacher, Performs Heimlich Without Knowing How
&quot;Georgia fifth grader, Lester Knauls, Jr., has never seen someone perform the Heimlich maneuver. No one ever taught him first aid techniques. But, when he saw his teacher, Shirley Hines, choking Tuesday, his instincts took over ... The teacher was pointing to her back to get him to slap it ... but somewhere in the back of his mind, Knauls heard a voice tell him to do something else.&quot; (Clayton News-Daily) ...

The Rise -- and Rise -- of Consumer Power
A growing tide of health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers are prepared to stop buying products and even protest when companies fail to meet standards, from prices and food labelling to sourcing and ingredients. This week, vegetarians in the UK prevented an animal product from being added to Mars chocolate bars. (BBC) Thanks to Andrew in the UK for the link! ...

Boy Who Slept in Trash Bin is Student of The Year
"At one point, he slept in a trash bin to stay warm outside of Jackson, Miss. Today this eleven-year-old is student of the year," thanks to hard work and a caring relative. "There were times when he told me he'd like to go back to living on the streets because it was easier for him." (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18825202/" target="_blank">AP</a>)

13-Year-Old CEO Mixes Fun with Science
&quot;The buzz on the expo floor of the big technology conference yesterday was about Silicon Valley gaming startup Elementeo and its precocious 13-year-old founder and chief executive, Anshul Samar. 'We inject fun into education,' the fast talking entrepreneur confidently proclaimed, touting his new fantasy role-playing board game which he believes will change the way kids learn chemistry.&quot; (VentureBeat) For example, a card representing Sulfur (right) is a character in an army of chemical ...

Boy Gets Heart Transplant Thanks to Cell Phone
Hospital officials in Pennsylvania tried to contact a family awaiting a heart transplant. Their son's organ had arrived and he needed to get to surgery immediately. The mom's cell phone was turned off due to attendance at a jazz concert, so the sheriff's department called Sprint Mobile to track the family's phone using global positioning. When the concert was stopped, and the family's name announced, the boy was whisked away in the nick of time, while the crowd offered a standing ovation. (CNN) ...

Building a Better Bike Lane
&quot;Flat, compact and temperate, the Netherlands and Denmark have long been havens for bikers. In Amsterdam, 40 percent of commuters get to work by bike... New measures designed to shift bike commuting into higher gear include the construction of new parking facilities that can hold up to 10,000 bikes... The rest of Europe and some cities in the U.S. are paying close attention, seeking advice from Amsterdam on developing bicycle-friendly infrastructure and policies.&quot; (Wall Street Journal) ...

Steal Shipping Containers Find New Life as Homes
Inexpensive and abundant, old shipping containers are turning into good looking affordable housing! NBC-TV's Roger O'Neil reports on the container-housing which is purported to be &quot;hurricane-proof, fire-resistant, and there's not a termite to be found.&quot; (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18475601/" target="_blank">MSNBC</a> w/ video option) <em>Thanks to David in the UK for the great link!</em>

Kidney Donation to Hubby Ends Divorce Plans
A couple on the verge of divorce remain married after 17 years after the wife offered to donate her kidney to her estranged husband who was in need of transplant. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18487796/">AP</a>)

10 Year-Old Hero Runs for Help to Save Mom
&quot;An Illinois boy is being hailed as a hero Wednesday night. Ten-year-old Steven Tice Bravely sprung into action when he was in a car accident in Mt. Carmel with his mom Tuesday, and he may have saved her life.&quot; (<a href="http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=6427387&amp;nav=3w6o" target="_blank">WFIE-14</a> with video)

Girl, 2, Comes to the Rescue after Mother Passes Out
&quot;A two-year-old girl saved her mother after she collapsed by telling the emergency operator their name and address and tending to the woman as they waited for an ambulance. The girl's mother managed to dial 999 before drifting in and out of consciousness. She heard her daughter calmly telling the operator her mother's name and address.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2067470,00.html">Guardian</a>)

Four-Year-Old Calls 911 to Save Mom
"A toddler in Alaska knew to call 911 when his mother collapsed and lost consciousness, thanks to a children's board book his grandmother had sent several months earlier.&quot; (AP) Buy the book: It's Time to Call 911: What to Do in an Emergency ...

Boy Gives His Savings to Homeless Hero (Video)
A ten year-old boy went to the tent site of a homeless man to give him all the money he'd saved for eight months in appreciation for the man's heroic rescue of two downed pilots. Joshua was inspired by the story on television and was determined to help the hero who he says &quot;shouldn't be living in there.&quot; He gave $100.00 to the man, who was once a roofer but had lost his job. His current gig washing cars doesn't pay enough for rent... (CBS4) ...

Kid Chairs City's Most Successful Walk for Diabetes
Six thousand people walked in Charlotte on a four-mile trek to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes. It was the largest turnout in 17 years of events with proceeds expecting to total $1.8 million&nbsp;&mdash; one of the most successful in the U.S. The most spectacular fact is that this year's organizer was 16 years old! Andrew Leggett said it was difficult to keep up with his schoolwork. (Charlotte Observer) Thanks to SG for submitting the link! ...

Maryland Boy Scout Earned Every Merit Badge Available
&quot;It's not easy making Eagle, the highest honor in Boy Scouts. You need at least 21 merit badges and only 2 percent of Scouts get that far,&quot; wrote Paul Duggan in The Washington Post. But James Calderwood, a Maryland teen, has earned 121 merit badges&nbsp;&mdash; one in every category available... Check out the inspiring photo of James in his decorated uniform. ...

Mother Grabs Boys From Car as it Hurtles Towards a Cliff
A family's car was rolling toward a 250-foot cliff with two boys still playing inside. &quot;Somehow Mrs. Davis raced to their side, reaching in through the door and fighting with the straps and safety seats. She pulled the boys to safety a split second before the pick-up plunged over the cliff.&quot; (London's Daily Mail - photos) Thanks to GNN fan Chris Manners for submitting the link! ...

Pit Bull Dies Saving 2 Women From Cobra
A pit bull terrier named Chief died saving two women from a cobra attack in the Philippines. &quot;The snake entered through an opening in the family&rsquo;s kitchen and struck twice at the women. Twice, the dog dashed from a corner and shielded them.&quot; At the dog's funeral, a local pit bull club president addressed what he said was a misperception about the breed, &quot;They are not natural-born killers; they are gentle and very loyal to their ...

Malaysian Saves 100 from Sinkhole
&quot;A Malaysian man paying a late-night visit to the toilet has saved about 100 people from being buried in the rubble of their homes, reports say.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6535481.stm">BBC</a>) <em>Kindly submitted by Andrew Norris.</em>

Cat Saves Family From Poisonous Fumes
A 14-year-old Indiana cat saved a family whose home was filling with deadly&nbsp;&mdash; though odorless&nbsp;&mdash; carbon monoxide. In the middle of the night, Winnie the cat jumped up and down wildly, while screeching madly, to spur the family into action. (AP via <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17972624/" target="_blank">MSNBC</a>)

Schoolgirl Hero Acted on Common Sense to Save Busload
&quot;A Queensland schoolgirl who police say may have saved the lives of a busload of students with her quick wits and steely nerve has shrugged off her bravery, saying it was just common sense.&quot; (...and, it was. She was raised on a farm, operating machinery, so downshifting the bus to first gear as the driver slumped was her first move.) Brisbane Times has two reports here, and here. ...

Dog Saves Woman's Life With Heimlich Maneuver
A woman was in danger of choking to death alone in her Maryland residence when her golden retriever came to the rescue. &quot;Toby suddenly got up on his hind legs, pushed her to the ground and began jumping up and down on her chest. Incredibly, his efforts&nbsp;succeeded.&quot; (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_9211.aspx">CityNews</a> with photo)

New U.S. Alliance Pushes to Update the Light Bulb
A coalition of industrialists, environmentalists and energy specialists is announcing next week a campaign to eliminate America's use of incandescent light bulbs within 10 years. It will press for government-enforced efficiency standards to make the old-bulb technology obsolete. (After all, it dates back to the introduction of the telegraph and steam locomotive, which have long since been replaced by better technology.) -NY Times Here's a short video (:34) graphically describing the huge dif ...

Not Even Homelessness Deters Nine-Year-Old's Devotion to Her School
Boston public schools' first <em><strong>Absolutely Incredible Kid</strong> </em>prize goes to a Latina third-grade girl who will do whatever it takes, even hour-long travel on public transportation, to attend school and learn English. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/03/16/not_even_homelessness_deterred_9_year_olds_devotion_to_her_school/">Boston Globe</a>) <em>Recommended and submitted by Linnea Linton!</em>

Ga. Trucker Claims Half of $390 Million Lottery
A Georgia trucker who lives with his mother is $80 million richer (after taxes) now that he has won the lottery. Ed Nabors, 52, says he will work at least two more days, but then, &quot;Do a lot of fishing.&quot; He will also buy a new house for his daughter. (Full story plus video of Ed answering questions - MSNBC) ...

Blind Kid Uses Echo-Location to See, Live Active Life (Video)
Benjamin Underwood, 14, had cancer in his eyes that stole his sight at age two. But he doesn't &quot;see&quot; himself as blind. He plays just like other kids &mdash; basketball, skating, video gaming, karate &mdash; and he uses echo-location to see. His mother taught him there were no impossibilities and led the way to his amazing life. Here he is interviewed on Ellen kicking off a series called People You Should Know. (YouTube Video) ______________________________________________ __ ...

Cat Walks 4 Months to Return to Owner
A New Zealand cat traveled 150 kilometres on its own, crossed a river and journeyed for four months to be with her owner after disappearing while on a family holiday last October. "In what was surely an astonishing feat of navigation, Molly (who wore no tags) somehow found her way back to the home in Hamilton she had lived in for only three weeks." (msn news)&nbsp; ...

Man Buys Rare Copy of Declaration of Independence for $2.48
A man bought a rolled-up, yellowing parchment in a Nashville thrift shop for $2.48 that turned out to be a rare, 184-year-old copy of the Declaration of Independence worth probably a quarter million dollars. Bargain hunting pays! (<a target="_blank" href="http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=bizarre&amp;id=5063734">AP</a>)

Climber Saved by Technology -- and a Good Dog
Here's a story of a group of climbers who did everything right and, as a result, survived a 500-foot slide down the side of Mt. Hood and a night of &quot;hellacious&quot; winds and snow. Not only did they bring along cell phones and mountain locator units to be sure they could be found in case of emergency, they also brought along Velvet, a black Labrador who lay across them during the freezing night and is credited with quite possibly having saved their lives. (AP story) ...

Students Encourage New Yorkers to Sit on Stoops Again
Stoops, otherwise known as the front steps, used to be busy with families hanging out and kids playing. Today stoops are empty. Three New York Design students, who were mapping a neighborhood, noticed an elderly guy sitting alone who complained no one ever says hi anymore. So, the trio began a campaign with 100 neon flyers instructing people to SIT HERE. Their Web site receives comments from those nostalgic for stoop culture, like &quot;Whenever we played tag with friends, the stoop was always B ...

Organic Clothes Not Just for Hippies Now
Buying organic is becoming a global phenomenon and because &quot;it takes a third of a pound of pesticides to produce one cotton T-shirt,&quot; organic cotton is becoming a sensible choice for consumers &mdash; and the big clothing chains that follow their lead. Target, H&amp;M, Nike, Wal-Mart, and now, Victoria's Secret are all jumping on the organic cotton bandwagon ... (right, organic &quot;Double V Yoga Top&quot; by Gaiam, $15.99) ...

Crash Victim Says Dog Saved her Life
A stray German Shepherd dragged a bloodied woman up to the highway so drivers would be able to stop and help after her car careened down an embankment 50 yards distant. (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16952774/" target="_blank">AP</a>)

Dog and Family Reunited After Six Years
Lost a pet? Don't give up hope. This golden retriever was recovered six years after he wandered away from his family, thus the miracle of Web sites for adoptable and lost pets. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16872028/">AP</a> photo/story)

Rottweiler Raises Two New-Born Lambs
A Rottweiler named Molly is &quot;showing her softer side, using her maternal instincts to help rear two lambs&quot; that had been born with complications on an English farm -- and she is fiercely protective... (photos and story by <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/6321827.stm" target="_blank">BBC</a>) <em>Thanks to member MJ Allen for the link!</em>

Teen Buys Grocery Market to Save Small Town
With help from a nonprofit agency and $10,000 he saved from doing odd jobs, a 17-year-old boy from Truman, Minnesota, is stocking the empty grocery shelves on Main Street to try to revitalize the dying town. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16830084/">KARE-TV</a> produced this news report and Video for NBC)

Home is a Haven for Guinea Pigs
&quot;I immediately fell in love with her,&quot; Karen said about Abby. &quot;She was absolutely gorgeous and she just started snuggling and kissing my ear as soon as I picked her up.&quot; Since that day in 2002, Karen and her husband, Steve, have opened their home for, and rescued, hundreds of guinea pigs. They find new families to adopt them in the Cincinnati area... ...

Homegrown Power a Fix for Energy Crunch and Global Warming
Homegrown electricity could be one ingredient used to combat the 21st century&rsquo;s expected energy crunch, easing the load on electrical grids with a system called &ldquo;net metering,&rdquo; now legal in 34 states. Net metering works by enabling electricity customers who make their own power to actually sell to, as well as buy from, their utility companies... ...

Dad Rescues Baby Whose Pram Rolled into River
&quot;A father was still emotional yesterday after diving into the Waikato River to save his baby daughter. Jared Bruning, 26, said he thought five-month-old Holli was dead as he dived into the water after her pram rolled off a river path and plunged down a 10-metre cliff into the water.&quot; (photo with story- <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/3934023a6579.html" target="_blank">Waikato Times</a>, New Zealand)

India Teen's Honey Business Example for Girls
&quot;A single box of honey was all it took to transform Anita Kushwaha, a petite teenager from a nondescript village in Bihar, into a successful entrepreneur who countered gender bias to become a role model for millions of girls in India.&quot; She boldly fought and convinced her parents not to marry her off so she could take on the male profession of beekeeping. (The Hindu) ...

The Green Cleaning Guide to British Housekeeping
&quot;Is it really true that you can get your house clean using only lemons, baking powder, vinegar&nbsp;&mdash; and plain old water? A british reporter rolls up her sleeves and, with some expert help, puts the theory to the test.&quot; A hilarious look at what happens when a green auditor comes to your home with eco-friendly alternatives for all your nasty chemical products. (Guardian) Thanks to Paul Tingen for the link&nbsp;&mdash; He should send us a British-American dictionary for translatio ...

Police Close Motorway to Rescue Kitten
&quot;Six lanes of full-speed, weaving, Auckland traffic&quot; kept rescuers away from a kitten cowering under the center median strip until, in an unusual move, police blocked off the road for a few minutes to grab the little guy, &quot;which had been stranded for more than an hour.&quot; Nice photo, video only shows cat on the desk. (<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/3931592a11.html" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>)

Soldier Gives Surprise Visit to his Fifth Grade Angels
&quot;Brianna Cart had no way of knowing how much her efforts would matter&quot; when she sent goody packages and letters to a U.S. soldier in Iraq. Now she does, after he popped into her elementary school for a surprise visit to thank her in person. He described how the gifts helped him, his whole unit and even the children back in Iraq. (Ithaca Journal) ...

Guinea Pig Saves Choking Dog at Shelter
&quot;Snowball, an albino Guinea pig at the Humane Society shelter of Harrisburg, is being called a hero in the rescue of a choking pit bull-mix puppy.&quot;&nbsp; In Harrisburg, PA, a &ldquo;resident&rdquo; guinea pig at the West Shore shelter of the Humane Society saved the life of a choking puppy by alerting staff members. They heard frantic squealing and shuffling from the cage of Snowball, an albino guinea pig that shared a hallway with Bianca, a deaf white pit bull mixed puppy. When staff ...

Alpha Achievers Celebrate Decade of Success for Young Black Men
<img width="135" vspace="0" hspace="0" height="86" align="right" alt="" src="images/stories/kids/alpha-achievers.jpg" class="border" />Alpha Achievers are celebrating 10 years of encouraging academic excellence among ethnic minority male high school students in Howard County, Maryland. The program was started by the historically black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, whose efforts have led to reductions in school drop out rates and teenage pregnancy among black youth...

Firefighters Save Exhausted Horse From Mud Pit
&quot;A frightened horse was comforted by firefighters in Oregon who administered oxygen and used portable lamps to warm the shivering animal as they fashioned a sling and used manpower to pull her from a mudhole.&quot; (story includes multiple photos and video: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.komotv.com/news/local/5045336.html">KOMO</a>)

Farm Helps Homeless Horses
In the rolling hills of California lies a horse sanctuary where &quot;lucky animals are given a second chance at life.&quot; Jennifer Johns has rescued more than 1,200 horses from Canada ranches since 1999 and placed them into loving homes, including many foals that otherwise might have been sold for horse meat. (Santa Maria Times) ...The farm still has horses from Alberta for adoption and welcomes volunteers. Here is their Web site with photos. ...

Flowers - A Cure for Winter Blues?
For those who may experience the winter blues in the cold dark months ahead, a new study reveals fresh flowers can be a natural remedy to enhance moods and increase energy. The behavioral research study, conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, revealed that people feel more compassionate toward others, less depressed and anxious, and have more energy when fresh-cut flowers are present in the home... ...

Houston Class Donates and Wraps 400 Presents for Families in Need
The British School of Houston has a very special science teacher whose idea of a merry Christmas includes giving lots of presents to families in need so they can experience the joy too. For the fourth year in a row, she has inspired her students to raise thousands of dollars &mdash; this year, more than $7,000 &mdash; to provide a merry Christmas to less fortunate families in the Houston area. And they don't stop there... ...

Youth Worldwide Raise $40,000 to Help Orphaned Chimps
Orphaned chimpanzees in Africa will get a new place to rest their heads thanks to the remarkable efforts of hundreds of young people. Members of the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots program raised $40,000 in 2006 for a new care facility at the Institute's Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, a refuge for more than 120 orphaned chimps whose mothers and families have been killed by illegal poaching... ...

Four-Year-Old in Power Ranger Garb Foils Robbery
A robber in Durham, North Carolina, was holding a gun to five-year-old Mary Long's head when a three-foot-tall Mighty Morphin Power Ranger leapt into the room. &quot;Get away from my family,&quot; four-year-old Stevie Long shouted, punctuating his screams with swipes of his plastic sword and hearty &quot;yah, yahs.&quot; (story on News and Observer, Video on The View) ...

Man's Best Find! Katrina Victim, Dog Reunited
When Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast last year, Steven Cure lost his house, his possessions, but worst of all, his best friend. Rocky was adopted as a puppy back in 1999 and the closest thing to a child in Steven's life. &quot;I knew he was alive, I never gave up.&quot; said Cure, 51&nbsp;&mdash; who had to move from New Orleans. Then, a few weeks ago, Cure received a phone call that almost knocked him off his feet... (photo and reunion story at New York Daily News) ...

Nine-Year-Old Drives Car to Safety After Mom Passes Out
A nine-year-old riding in the car with his mother noticed she was swerving, and pretty soon she'd passed out. Jimmy Stevens &quot;jumped from the front passenger seat of his family's Kia onto his mother's lap and pulled the car to the side of the road and put it in park. Then, he dialed 911 and talked to dispatchers until help arrived.&quot; Now Jimmy wants to be a police officer because he's excited by the feeling of helping people. (Star-Telegram) ...

Kids Helping Animals for the Holidays
Elementary School students are filling the stockings of needy puppies and kittens at the Animal Rescue League this month with donations of dog biscuits and chew toys, decorating a &quot;giving tree&quot; at their school with gifts of dog and cat food, leashes and grooming brushes. (Des Moines Register has the story and cute photo) ...

Quick Thinking Hero Catches Tot From Window
&quot;If I had delayed one more second, she would have fallen to the ground,&quot; Jaimen Ortiz said in Spanish, at a ceremony honoring his quick reactions that saved a toddler from certain injury in a Virginia neighborhood. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16185536/">AP</a> with photo)

Letters to Santa Flood Alaskan Town
120,000 letters arrive yearly from dozens of countries having made their way to the small town of North Pole, Alaska. &quot;They usually get a reply and a North Pole postmark in a holiday effort that has delighted children all over the world for decades.&quot; (AP) ...And, here are a few excerpts from Santa's letters from children... curious about the facts and eager to show they've been good. (AP) ...

Car Reaches 1 Million Miles Then Retires
<img width="136" height="104" align="right" alt="" class="border" title="Durable car" src="http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/images/stories/homelife/corbley-saab.jpg" />If you were told that a car was driven 1 million miles before its retirement by the happy owner, which make of car would you guess it to be? <br /> <br /> Think of all the stories you've heard about long-lasting automobiles, which brand is the most rugged? You KNOW it's not an American car, right?...

Dogs Make a Difference for Autistic Children
&quot;Monique Clement said she wasn&rsquo;t going to cry while viewing a video of her children interacting with a dog trained to help autistic children, but she couldn&rsquo;t hold back the tears...&quot; Founded in 2000, the non-profit North Star Foundation has placed over 50 dogs with families dealing with cancer and autism. Max, right, a golden retriever, will help a young boy to deal with his severe separation anxiety and autism. (The State newspaper in South Carolina ...

Hero Dog Digs Snow Tunnel To Save Couple
Check out this link to a story about a German Shepherd-timberwolf pet that saved an elderly couple in New York from freezing by digging a 20-foot tunnel to shelter after a sudden snow storm trapped them outside&nbsp;&mdash; photos included. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.wnbc.com/news/10467999/detail.html?rss=ny&amp;psp=news">WNBC.com</a>)<em><br /> </em>

Sweet Tired Kitten (Video :30)
Watch this sweet kitty for 30 seconds and sprout a smile! <object width="425" height="350"> <param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2GWPOPSXGYI" name="movie" /> <param value="transparent" name="wmode" /><embed width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2GWPOPSXGYI"></embed></object>

Photo Students Volunteer to Shoot Portraits for Homeless Families
For homeless people, posing for family portraits can seem like a luxury. But students from a Santa Clara University photography class traveled to shelters and volunteered to shoot portraits, delivering the power of images that tug on the heart. &quot;The students give prints to the residents, who plan to send them off to relatives or tuck them away until they can hang the portraits on walls of their own.&quot; (Christian Science Monitor) ...

Town Rescues Dog from Icy Waters
North Dakota townspeople gathered around a frozen pond where Brutus, a seven-year-old Keeshound/ Samoyed dog struggled to pull himself from the numbing cold waters onto the ice. They cheered as two men grabbed a boat across the road and made their way toward the exhausted Brutus... Read the heart-warming story about a town that came together, donating all their winter coats, to help save a neighbor's pet. (Minot Daily News) ...

Toy Rating System for Parents of Children with Disabilities
The Holiday Season is upon us and toy shopping can be daunting for family members searching for a perfect toy to give a child with a disability. Not only do they want a toy that will bring joy to their child, they need to find toys that will accommodate special needs. Enter Ableplay.org, a toy rating system and Web site that provides comprehensive information for parents, special educators, therapists and others looking for the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilities... ...

Dogs and Cats Comfort the Homeless, and the Vet Who Volunteers
&quot;There are those who volunteer at food banks to nourish people in need. And there are those, such as Dr. Stanley Coe, a retired veterinarian, who nourish the souls of people by volunteering to keep their best friends&nbsp;&mdash; and sometimes only companions&nbsp;&mdash; healthy. The pets, he says, &quot;probably give some people a reason to live.'&quot; (photos and full story at Seattle P-I.com) ...

Teen Hailed as a Hero for Teddy Bear Project
People magazine named 16-year-old Taylor Crabtree one of its top five heroes of 2006 for creating a nonprofit that has raised more than $100,000 to purchase teddy bears for 23,000 young cancer patients at 300 hospitals throughout the nation. Taylor has been doing this since age seven, when she was inspired during her grandmother's bout with colon cancer. (San Diego Union-Tribune) ...

From Russia with Love: Orphan Sisters are Reunited
Two teenage sisters who had been pulled from an abusive home in Russia were united with their two younger sisters who'd already been adopted by a Utah mom, and who also grew up in an abusive family. The Simmonses now enjoy a large, happy home with nine children, six of whom are adopted. Heart-touching story and photos of the Russian sisters in Deseret News. ...

Halloween Candy Safe, After All
<img src="http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/images/stories/holidays/pumpkin.gif" align="right" height="82" width="100" />It is time we de-bunked the myth that trick-or-treat candy is in need of an x-ray before our children are allowed to dig in. (Reprinted from Oct 1999 GNN story) Fact: <i><u>There has never been a single confirmed serious injury from “tainted treats” having been altered by a stranger since fears began spreading among the public in the late 50’s</u>...</i>

A Commune for Grownups
ElderSpirit is an experimental community of older adults committed to spiritual growth, caring for one another, respect for the earth, and service to the larger community. The ElderSpirit Community is an ideal place to retire for the citizens over 55 years old who built this cohousing neighborhood in Abingdon, Virginia. A second ElderSpirit Community is in planning stages because the waiting list for residents is so long... ...

Tough New Law Protects Indian Women From Domestic Violence
<em>A landmark new law seeking to protect women from domestic violence has come into effect in India. The law also bans harassment by way of dowry demands and gives sweeping powers to a magistrate to issue protection orders where needed. Domestic violence, under the new law, includes &quot;actual abuse or the threat of abuse whether physical, sexual, emotional or economic.&quot;</em> (<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6086334.stm" target="_blank">BBC</a>)

Doctors Orders: Kids Should Play More
<img width="100" height="78" border="0" align="right" class="border" src="http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/images/stories/kids/arm_in_arm.jpg" alt="arm_in_arm" title="arm_in_arm" />A new study by doctors is calling for changes in kids' over-scheduled lifestyles with more time in the school day for recess. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says free and unstructured play is healthy and &mdash; in fact &mdash; essential for helping children develop into resilient young adults...

Bush Signs Bill to Leave No Pet Behind in Evacuations
A recent poll found that 61 percent of pet owners say that in an emergency they would refuse to evacuate their home if they could not take their pets with them. On Friday President Bush signed the PETS Act (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards) to help ensure that Americans will never have to confront the choice between personal safety and that of their animal companions... ...

Dogs and Cats Can Sniff Out Cancer
Many people believe that animals can predict natural disasters or household pets can forewarn their owners of imminent seizures or illness, like the service beagle who can save his owner's life, a diabetic, by smelling his dangerous blood sugar levels. Lately, several reports in the news highlighted cases of dogs or cats sniffing out cancer in unsuspecting owners. They stick their noses or paws into the afflicted area and won't stop nudging until the owner is moved to do something about it. ...

Veteran Claims $200M Powerball Jackpot
<img width="100" height="72" border="0" align="right" title="powerball_iowans" alt="powerball_iowans" src="http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/images/stories/homelife/powerball_iowans.jpg" class="border" />A Gulf War veteran and his wife who works at Wal-Mart were living paycheck-to-paycheck, but this week they stepped forward to claim a $200 million Powerball jackpot. <br /> <br /> They plan to share their good fortune with their families, their church, and their community, Fort Dodge, Iowa...

Infant saved from plunge
A Denver woman walking to her car came upon the unimaginable: A crying eight-month-old baby dangling off a balcony three stories above a cement sidewalk, hanging on by one hand. &quot;I thought someone was on the other side of the railing holding on to her,&quot; Mary Bussey said. But it was the girl's tiny fist clinging to the railing... (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5036225,00.html">Rocky Mountain News</a> - Submitted by Fred)

Seven-Year-Old Raises Money For Animal Shelter
A 7-year-old boy who lost his eye to cancer is undergoing exhausting chemo therapy, but he still found the energy to raise money for a local animal shelter. Ben's best friend is his dog, Polly, whose strength and friendship gives him the energy to carry on and inspired in him the desire to help other animals. (KansasCityChannel.com) ...

Pets Orphaned by Lebanon War Airlifted to U.S.
<blockquote> <em>Some 300 homeless dogs and cats, many left behind by owners who fled Lebanon during the Hezbollah-Israel war, are headed to new sanctuaries in the United States for adoption, thanks to Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. </em>(photos and video from <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14997834/" target="_blank">AP</a> on MSNBC)<br /> </blockquote>

Organic Towels, Sheets Made from Bamboo
&quot;Bamboo is the hottest new ingredient in everything from flooring to furniture and dishware.&quot; Even fashion! ... Designers are now using the quick-growing plant's fibers in their fabrics. In fact, &quot;luxurious new fabrics made from the fibers of bamboo, soy, corn, seaweed and even pineapple, are all coming on the market.&quot; Why? Because they are easily renewable and grown without using pesticides. Best of all they're soft... ...

Police Cheered in Rescue of Drowning Kitty
<blockquote> <em><span><span>Racing against time and the elements, a </span></span>Bridgeport, Connecticut, </em><span><span><em>police officer plunged beneath the city streets Tuesday afternoon to save a bedraggled kitten caught in a storm sewer.</em> (Photo and story </span></span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_4366814">Connecticut Post</a>) </blockquote>

15-Year-Old Amputee Shines On Stage as Dancer
Natalie decided at 13 she wanted to be a dancer. Only problem was one of her legs was artificial below the knee. She started taking classes at Georgio's American Dancer Centre but never told the instructor about her prosthetic. Eight months later, her teacher was stunned to learn the truth. Natalie danced better than other girls with two legs and won a spot in the senior company. She never gave up her dream and now stands out as &quot;one of the dancers with the most rhythm and grace.&quot; (D ...

Boy Starts Doggie Treats Business to Aid Homeless Kids
<em>"Taylor Berey, a Phoenix seventh-grader has been baking and selling organic dog treats to raise money to send homeless children to the zoo... " So far, Taylor has raised $5,800 selling one-pound bags of treats for $7 each, and the orders are still pouring in ...</em> He will take 800 students to see the animals, have lunch and, with the money left over, buy them a treat.

Rescuers to Carry Oxygen Masks for Pets
In Appleton, Wisconsin, emergency responders have a new tool to save the lives of members of your family ... your pets. Oxygen masks intended for use on dogs, cats and other small animals will be carried on six fire trucks and 13 Gold Cross ambulances thanks to a persistent alderman and eager pet owners who donated the money necessary to buy the mask kits at $49 each. (Appleton Postcrescent) ...

Need a Lightbulb? Change the World
Compact fluorescent lightbulbs have come as far as cell phones since the mid 80's while still maintaining their high efficiency. What that means is: If every one of 110 million American households bought just one CFL bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. One bulb swapped out, enough electricity saved to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island ... ...

16-Year-Old Researcher Attacking Cancer
<blockquote> <em>Shivani Sud isn&rsquo;t waiting for college to make an impact in the field of medicine. For that matter, she isn't even waiting for her high school graduation. The 16-year-old North Carolina student already has developed a system to improve the way chemotherapy attacks cancer cells.</em> (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.wral.com/health/9749730/detail.html">WRAL</a>)<br /> </blockquote>

Inspiration Point: Teen Years are Some of the Best to Parents
I am the director of The Natural Child Project , a psychologist, and author of The Natural Child: Parenting From the Heart. I envision a world where all children are treated with dignity, understanding, and compassion. When asked about the notorious teen years I am often interrupted midway through my statement, &quot;My son is 15 and has brought me nothing but ...&quot; ...

Trapped Cat Tugs At Hearts Of Four Youths Who Rescue It
Frantic cries rose from a sewer drain that was quickly filling with water. Four boys found a cat hanging on for dear life. They couldn't reach it by themselves but figured out a way to help. With a happy, but also a very surprising ending, this story will cheer all pet-lovers. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/0819gr-qckitties0818Z6.html">Arizona Central</a>)

Eliminating Customer-Infuriating Plastic Clamshell Packaging
Great news about those horrible plastic shell encasements that seem to require super-human strength&nbsp;&mdash; and stabbing motion with scissors&nbsp;&mdash; to extract anything from their clutches. Costco will begin to use recycled cases that are easy to open, helpful for our environment and soothing of customers nerves. I LOVE Costco! (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/costco_eliminat.php">Treehugger</a> has details, and photo of angry unwrapper)

10-year-old Turns $100 into $43,000 for Habitat for Humanity
A 10-year-old boy took a challenge from his pastor to take $100 and do some good with it. (The reverend actually handed out $100 bills to people in the congregation telling them to report back on the good it produced.) The boy who took the $100 was determined to help the homeless. So, he spent the money on paper and postage to begin a letter-writing campaign ...

'Me Generation' becomes 'We Generation'
As baby boomers turn 60 they are transforming what we think of the process of aging. The period of retirement used to mean stagnation, degeneration of body, and waiting for the arrival of social security checks. The emerging model embraces personal growth, giving back and continued employment. These hallmarks of the new retirement have the potential to reshape the economy and society to everyone's benefit. (USA Today) ...

At-Risk Teens Care for Homeless Dogs
Kids caught in the juvenile detention system in Albany, Georgia, have a chance to change their outlook on life by caring for and training homeless dogs. Project Hero coordinator Marty Harris says she's seen a positive change in the young people's lives: &quot;A lot of them have not grown up with a nurturing aspect toward animals, so by helping them to understand how to work with animals and care for animals they learn to care for other human beings.&quot; (WALB News) ...

Dog Raises Squirrel As Her Own
The animal kingdom knows how to get along with each other&nbsp;&mdash; even if individuals look different, or reside across the border. CBS news in Iowa featured a story and photos of a dog who has adopted an orphaned baby squirrel and who is contentedly nursing it through its infancy. (<a target="_blank" href="http://keyetv.com/watercooler/local_story_202225704.html">CBS</a> )

Six-Year-Old Rescues Mom in Calm 911 Call
This is not so much a story about a hero, although the family is indebted to the six- year-old for hailing an ambulance when his mother collapsed from a heart attack; and all the emergency dispatchers are raving of the boy's brilliance in time of crisis. This is an illustration that teaches the importance of calmly relating the procedure (of dialing 911) to your children, so they can perform it properly when the time comes. I loved reading about the competence of this boy, and imagining the same ...

Grease Is the Word: Fill It Up With Fry Oil
Some diesel cars, like the Volkswagen Jetta, are speeding happily along the highway fueled only by vegetable oil from restaurants that was previously used for deep-frying ...

Willy the Cat Suspected as Gardening-Glove Thief
<strong>Carolyn</strong> submitted this story, to which we both say, HILARIOUS! ... A lady in New York awoke last week to find a pink and white garden glove missing from her porch ... She had no doubt who was the culprit ... (AP <a target="_blank" href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2219109">story and photo</a> of 1-year-old kitty with stash of garden gloves) <br />

Stay Cool but Save Electricity (and Money)
With this week&rsquo;s heat wave, demand for electricity is reaching peak levels in many parts of the country. The really good news is that there are many simple, no- and low-cost tips to become more energy efficient. Here are nine tips plus info on receiving tax credits you didn't know you could earn just by making your home more efficient ... ...

Lower 9th Finally Gets Mail Delivery
Imagine not having postal service in your town for 11 months. That's what it's been like for remaining and returning residents of the lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans &mdash; until this week. Mail was restored, and it sure felt good for residents. This route's letter carrier moved back from Texas&nbsp;&mdash; where he'd been living since evacuation&nbsp;&mdash; to help rebuild the city. (USA <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-17-mail-ninth-ward_x.htm">Today</a>)

Using Only Her Arms, Teen Swims Across Lake Ontario
A 15-year-old became the first disabled woman to swim across Lake Ontario. Jenna, who has cerebral palsy, swam from Baird Point, N.Y., to her Ontario home town of Kingston using only her arms. Her marathon, dubbed the Kid 4 Kids Marathon, raised more than $50,000 for the Kingston YMCA Penguins, a swim team for physically disabled children and their siblings. (Toronto Globe and Mail) ...

Girl and Her Parrots Flee Together as Refugees
A young Tamil girl fled to India with thousands of others, leaving everything behind. Everything except her two affectionate parrots. Indian officials finagled legal entry for the birds and welcomed the relief they provided from the normally tense job of screening refugees for terrorist ties. The incredible journey of the refugee parrots, <a target="_blank" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5176174.stm">picture and story,</a> featured on BBC.

Man Dives into Burning House and Rescues Woman
&quot;A UK man who risked his life to save a woman from a blazing flat has been chosen for a top bravery award.&quot; Many people every year save neighbors from fire. Here is just one example. Often they choose not to call themselves a hero, instead claiming it was a natural act that they'd gladly do again. We are all connected at heart and act to save others as if they were ourselves. He rushed to the building, kicked the front door down and ran up the stairs, choking back the smoke ... &quo ...

World's First Anti-Suicide Bomber Dog
K9 magazine reports the electronics firm Samsung has trained, and donated to UK troops in Iraq, the world's first anti-suicide bomber dog. The three-year-old Labrador was trained in Korea to &quot;detect the specific explosive substances that are used in self-detonating bombs used by suicide bombers.&quot; If there could be a whole army of these dogs trained and deployed throughout the Middle East, suicide bombings might become a thing of the past. (K9 ) ...

Got Breast Milk? New State Law Celebrated
A recent Alabama law says a woman may breast-feed her baby in public or private anywhere she has a right to be. More than 38 states have similar laws. (All 50 states should codify this common sense right. Further, they should encourage their new moms to breast-feed, in order to deliver all the health benefits possible to each child&nbsp;&mdash; a proven increase in both mental and physical advantage.)

Pa. Workers Rescue Puppy From Sewer Pipe
AP reports that a Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, landscaper loaned police a backhoe so they could dig an 8-foot hole to rescue a cute seven-week-old puppy who'd spent the morning stuck deep inside a sewer pipe. (photo and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/9448489/detail.html">story</a>)

HERO Youth Ambassadors to Serve African Orphans, Schools Hit by AIDS
The HERO campaign strives to better the lives of children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Today it launches its HERO Youth Ambassador Program by bringing 12 teens to Namibia and South Africa to make a difference in HIV/AIDS-affected communities. The Youth Ambassadors will spend a month with their peers working in schools and communities that have been hit hard by the health crisis &hellip; ...

Lighting the Key to Energy Savings for Homes, Businesses
A global switch to efficient lighting systems would trim the world's electricity bill by nearly one-tenth. &mdash;New Study from the International Energy Agency (IEA) For the individual, the most obvious switch to make is from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent systems (CFLs), marketed in many countries as &quot;energy-saving bulbs&quot;. . . ...

Black and White Twins
<blockquote> <em>Both Kylie and her partner Remi Horder, 17, are of mixed race. Their mothers are both white and their fathers are black. &quot;It doesn't matter to us&nbsp;&mdash; they are just our two gorgeous little girls.&quot;</em> ...Check out this gorgeous family <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=377839&amp;in_page_id=1770&amp;in_a_source=&amp;ct=5">photo</a> in the Daily Mail!<br /> </blockquote>

12-Year-Old Surgeon Certain to Cure Cancer
Akrit is an incredible boy, aged 12, living in India who performed his first sugery at seven. Now he works with 76 adults on his theoretical cure for cancer. He sees his duty as stopping &quot;all the suffering in the world.&quot; He is sure of himself, compassionate of others, and for the sake of all declares, &quot;I won't waste my talent.&quot; (UK Mirror, photo of the boy here) ...

Man Finds Wife's Ring at N.J. Garbage Dump
Sanitation workers helped a man find his wife's wedding ring inside a truckload of garbage. Such digging in the heat of summer was easier because the man used yellow bags for his trash... (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/06/20/ap2829023.html">AP</a>)

Best Friends Day - June 23
Eighty-nine percent of Americans believe animals are our best friends and we have a moral obligation to protect them. The Best Friends Animal Society believes that we can create &ldquo;A better world through kindness to animals.&rdquo; So this weekend, June 23&ndash;25, Best Friends is inviting people across the country (and the world) to perform acts of kindness for animals and share those experiences with others on their Web site. Thirty-nine pages of good deeds are recorded on the site s ...

Dog's Quick Dialing Saves Owner
A service Beagle named Belle is an amazing animal that has been trained to call for help if Kevin Weaver's diabetes spirals out of control. Belle's sense of smell is so acute that she can sense his blood sugar levels. On the day Kevin collapsed onto the floor, the Beagle pulled down the cell phone from the table where it always rests and bit into the number 9, which dialed 911 &hellip;

Girl Becomes Superhero For a Day
Most days, six-year-old Aubrey Matthews spends her energy fighting a brain tumor growing behind her eyes. But the first-grader managed to foil crimes and chase an arch-nemesis through Boise on Friday, serving the city as the superhero &quot;Star&quot; with assistance from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho. (story here, photo here) I hope she can use her newly experienced super powers to shrink that tumor. Some kids are using their imaginations, and video games, to blast the cancer cell ...

Neglected Horses Get Second Chance
Bryce and Chris LeJeune have started the nonprofit Second Chance Equine Association to help a growing number of abandoned and neglected horses, ponies and donkeys in the Pennsylvania area. The long-time horse owners have formed a network of eight foster homes to help care for these animals. The LeJeunes may be an inspiration for networking in other areas and offer advice as to how to get started. Their phone number was in the Tribune article: 724-423-7175 ...

Becoming a Father Enhances Brain Function
New findings by brain researcher Kelly Lambert, professor and chair of the psychology department at Randolph-Macon College, suggest that fatherhood may change more than just a man's lifestyle&nbsp;&mdash; it may actually cause lasting benefits in his brain. (ScienCentral.com) ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Check out their outstanding video news story (1:27) about the male California Deer Mice who became more cap ...

Dads in Animal Kindom Stay Home to Nurture
&quot;From insects to fish to small mammals and even humans&quot; — Exemplary fatherhood is common in the animal kingdom... &quot;There are more and more examples popping up of males stepping up and doing as much or even more than females in parental care,&quot; said Jeffrey French, a professor of psychology and biology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. &quot;We see a wide variety of species showing biparental or even exclusively male parental care.&quot; (Pioneer Press, MN) ...

Wedding Registries for Charity
A growing number of couples who get married later in life find they don't need wedding gifts to furnish their home nor want gifts that provide a more lavish lifestyle. Instead, they are setting up gift registries for charities. New Web sites make it easy for couples to collect money for their favorite causes&nbsp;&hellip; ____________________________ ______________________________________________ For instance, Justgive.org offers to engaged couples a Charitable ...

Hope I Die Before I Get Old: Study Finds Older People Happier Than Anticipated
Back when he was 20 years old in 1965, rock star Pete Townshend wrote the line &ldquo;I hope I die before I get old&rdquo; in his anthem for the 60's: &ldquo;My Generation.&rdquo; But a unique new study suggests that Townshend may have fallen victim to a common, and mistaken, belief: That the happiest days of people&rsquo;s lives occur when they&rsquo;re young. In fact, the study finds, both young people and older people think that young people are happier than older people &mdash; when in ...

EPA Plans to Phase Out Use of Pesticide
A pesticide commonly used on apples, pears, nuts and other crops will be phased out in the United States after lawsuits and complaints by farm workers and environmental groups. AZM will be banned for use on apples, blueberries, cherries, pears and parsley in 2010, and &quot;beginning next year on nuts, nursery stocks and Brussels sprouts.&quot; (AP) (I don't know about anyone else, or about the facts in the case, but I do know this sounds like good news for families and their health. Most peo ...

Cats to Compete in Reality TV
Ten cats in search of owners, chosen from shelters around the country, will compete for loudest purr, most prolific sleeper and who can catch the most toy mice. Kitties who get the boot will be adopted into permanent homes. (right, orphan Opry) The show was created by the cat food company, Meow Mix, and will air on cable's Animal Planet beginning June 16 (9:00 PM). Viewers can go to the Web site and vote off one feline contestant each day, which sends them to a new home. (Reuters) ...

Designer Unveils Off-Road Wheel Chair
The K2 has three wheels&nbsp;&mdash; two large ones at the front that can take mountain bike tyres&nbsp;&mdash; and a smaller one at the back... The company says it is ideally suited for off-road use but can be just as useful in towns and cities too. The K2 is extremely light&nbsp;&mdash; with the quick-release wheels&nbsp;&mdash; and can be folded up in about eight seconds. (BBC ) ...

Pet Cat Chases Black Bear Up Tree
Never underestimate your own potential. No matter your size. <br /> <br /> A territorial Tabby cat, who doesn't like strangers in his yard, chased a bear up a tree&nbsp;&mdash; twice.<br /> (<a target="_blank" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060609/ap_on_fe_st/cat_scares_bear">AP has a photo!</a>)

Maiden Marriage Comes at 80 for Oregon Woman
Please go to the Oregon Statesman Journal for a <a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060609/NEWS/606090317&amp;SearchID=73247232735426" target="_blank">wonderful story</a> about a maiden marriage for a woman who is 80-years-old. Swept off her feet by a twice-widowed man nine years her senior, it is a real heartwarming story. (<em>Submitted by Patricia H.</em>)

Twelve Amazing Teens Changing the World
After receiving nearly 1,500 nominations for its 2006 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes program, 12 inspiring kids have been recognized for their outstanding efforts to change the world. The heroic stories of this year's Huggable Heroes range from Welland Burnside, 18, starting Suitcases for Kids, so that children moving from one foster home to another wouldn't have to carry their belongings in black garbage bags, to Maggie Fazenbaker, 14, of New Mexico, whose project called Operation So ...

Providing Foster Care for Deployed Troops' Cats
Army Staff Sgt. Aeyne Anne M. Dizicksa's cats are her family, so their welfare was her top priority when she faced deployment: &quot;I knew that if I had them to return to, everything else was irrelevant&nbsp;&mdash; just another passing episode in my life.&quot; She was given only a few days' notice before her activation in January 2005. Luckily she discovered Operation Noble Foster, which has provided more than 3,000 deployed servicemembers with individual foster homes for their cats unt ...

Idle Computers Get To Work on Cancer Cure
More than 60,000 people are donating idle computer power to a project that is ultimately trying to find cures for diseases like cancer and AIDS. The number-crunching power of all those PCs working together is the equivalent of one supercomputer. If the research team can increase that number tenfold, major scientific breakthroughs are possible. . . ...

Gay Couples Parent Just Like Everybody Else
Hearing the voices recently insisting that it is best for a child to grow up with one father and one mother reminds me of a powerful documentary that aired this January on MTV called, I Have Gay Parents. Part of the ThinkMTV series entitled True Life, I Have Gay Parents follows three teens through their every day lives in a riveting look at what it means to have gay parents. REVIEW Hope is an adopted dark-skinned girl growing up on Staten Island with two white dads. She is preparing to leave ...

Sanctuary Cares For Hundreds of Misfit Pigs
An 80-acre sanctuary near Phoenix is a refuge to more than 400 pigs, casualties of the potbellied pig craze of the 80's and 90's. Some were abused, some neglected and many abandoned. Sometimes their owners had been duped by pig marketers promising chic and tiny pets before actually delivering animals that grew rapidly becoming unmanageable. The sanctuary is funded entirely by donations and energized by the concern and caring of Mary Schanz. (read more of this AP story at abc15.com) ...

German Shepherd Carries Two Baby Ducks in Mouth to Safety
A spokesman at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, commented on recent behavior by a Scottish German shepherd: &quot;The fact is, the actions of this dog have saved the lives of these animals, as once they are lost from their mother they would be picked off quite easily by scavengers...The dog is a modern day Rin Tin Tin, and to pick them up in his mouth without harming them is quite something... To then try and wash them is just amazing behaviour.&quot; (The Scotsman) ...

Chihuahua Adopts Baby Possums
A nursing Chihuahua with two new puppies has become a foster mom to five more babies&nbsp;&mdash; tiny possums that lost their mother. Now all seven are nursing and snuggling together. (Union Leader ) Oddly, a baby possum showed up on our doorstep yesterday during daylight hours&nbsp;&mdash; see photo&nbsp;&mdash; I think I may call animal rescue. ...

Lemonade Stand Raises $13K for Kids' Cancer Cure
In Arizona, a 5-year-old, his friends and family raised money to help find a kids' cancer cure. Benny, diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2003, has gone through chemotherapy, radiation and bone-marrow transplants. As he succumbs to the cancer, Benny wants to make sure that other children don't have to endure his pain in the future, his father said. (visit the AZ Star ) ...

'How I've longed to hold my miracle quads'
A wife in England gave birth on March 23 to babies that were &quot;monochorionic quads,&quot; an extremely rare occurrence meaning that four identical babies all shared the same placenta. A nice story about how the parents are caring for them and even they can't tell the babies apart!! The quadruplets&nbsp;&mdash; Ellie, Georgina, Holly and Jessica Carles&nbsp;&mdash; were conceived naturally at incredible odds... This week, the girls were allowed home&nbsp;&mdash; which meant their moth ...

Boy, Six, Saves Kid Brother from Cougar
The Canadian Press reports on a 6-year-old boy from British Columbia whose instincts for both bravery and responsibility for a younger brother overcame his fear as he faced a crouching cougar in his back yard. His father tells the story like this: &quot;He just heard something. He looked around, and crouched down coming at him about five feet away was this cougar. Rather than take the three steps and run in the house, he turned and ran, I don't know, another 40 to 50 feet past the cat to g ...

Mexican Artisans Turn Trash Into Fashion
It began as a way to clean up the environment and make something useful&nbsp;&mdash; and perhaps profitable. The products ... women's clutches, shoulder bags and hip belts created out of candy wrappers, potato chip bags and cookie packages, are now selling on Web sites and in upscale U.S. boutiques for up to $200 apiece. The nonprofit Group for the Promotion of Education and Sustainable Development (Grupedsac) develops initiatives near Mexico City to help lift the residents in poor com ...

Mr. Rogers on Living With Punks in Your Neighborhood
I heard an amazing segment with Mr. Rogers on NPR's This American Life the other week. Davy Rothbart is a radio documentarian who visited Mr. Rogers in his studio. Davy brought stories from his own neighborhood in West Chicago, stories of un-neighborly conflict and distrust &mdash; to see what kind of advice Mr. Rogers could give him. The conversation was a jewel in Davy's life&nbsp;&mdash; just like it is now in my own. Mr. Rogers died in February of 2003 ... Can you say, Hero? Search on ...

Segways Replace Wheelchairs, Increase Mobility
Segways, the two-wheeled transporters, are replacing wheelchairs for some who have trouble walking but still want to move around taking up as little space as possible. <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0518/p20s01-stct.html" target="_blank">For example,</a> this father of the bride who wanted to stand, not sit, during his daughter's wedding ceremony used a Segway and looked all the more dignified ... <p>&nbsp;</p>

Teen Inventors Win $50,000 Turning Bacteria into Power Supply, Herbal Extract to Kill Infections
Great kids abound. They can tackle any problem in the world today. Last Friday the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for high school students showcased the world's best young scientists and inventors competing for (US) $4 million in awards and scholarships. One of the three winners, 16-year-old Madhavi Gavini, from Mississippi, tried to find a way to kill the pathogen that causes secondary infections often leading to death in patients with compromised immune systems, such as can ...

There's No Workforce Like Home
Business Week <a target="_blank" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12595164/">Online</a> asks, If you want to help keep jobs in this country, serve customers better, and lower your costs, why don't you hire new mothers who want to stay home with their kids? Telecommuting allows top companies to &quot;tap an accomplished but underutilized talent pool.&quot;

$1,714 in Katrina Insurance Money Lost, but Returned by 10-Year-Old
This is a great little story of Tyler Bunch, an African-American boy living in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who found more than $1,700 cash in an envelope on the side of the road. Nearby, the 10-year-old found a checkbook with a man's name on it. He knew he should turn in the money, even though he wanted a new Game Boy. It turns out that after he did the right thing the man awarded him with $100, and he also received a $200 gift certificate from Wal-mart. He got his Game Boy! The cool thing is the ...

195 Miles Per Gallon, Zero to 60 in Four Seconds... The Electric Supercar is Here
When you think of an electric car, you may imagine a vehicle that provides no power, no safety, no range, and taking forever to recharge. Now, think of George Clooney buying a new kind of electric car, a model that shatters all the stereotypes. Introducing . . . the Tango. Why would Clooney buy a Tango? Along with jaw-dropping Porsche-esque performance, the Tango is good for the environment. Its fuel cost is eight times better than that of a typical gasoline car, amassing the equivalen ...

Afghan Women Start Businesses, Help Reconstruct a Torn Nation
According to Microfinance Times, 75 percent of all active microcredit borrowers in Afghanistan are now women, many of whom use their loans to start businesses. Beauty parlors, tailoring shops, and bakeries are just some of the enterprises these women now own. Their efforts, observers say, are indispensable in the struggle to reverse decades of deprivation in Afghanistan. (Yahoo News) ...

Nine-Year-Old Student Donates Money to UN To Aid Darfur Victims
New York&mdash; A nine-year-old student from Newark, New Jersey, has presented a money order for $128 to the United Nations relief effort in Darfur after touring the UN Headquarters in New York. &ldquo;My name is Junius O. Williams,&rdquo; the youngster wrote on Friday in a letter addressed to Secretary-General Kofi Annan detailing his contribution and asking that it be used &ldquo;for clothing&rdquo; . . . ...

Good Neighbors in Espanola, NM
It is not common to hear good news about Espanola, so I thought I would tell your readers this story. A few weeks ago, on a Saturday evening when we were not at home, a car came around the corner and knocked down about 25 feet of the coyote fence in the back of our house. A week later, after breakfast, we noticed a car parked by the broken fence and a man and a woman were throwing new latillas up on the rocks in our yard. We thought to ourselves that the people who knocked the fence d ...

Elderly Cancer Patient Finds Strength in Friendly Goose
An Idaho man finds inspiration and strength in daily walks with &quot;Mr. Waddles,&quot; and has outlived his doctor's predictions. Check out this feel-good story on MSNBC, and the <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12520033/" target="_blank">great photo</a>. Such a tale reminds us that what is in our heads and hearts is more important than what is in our bodies.

Common Ground Found on What Makes American
<div> <blockquote> <em> Despite heated debate over illegal immigration, there is more uniting the country on the issue of national identity than dividing it.</em><br /> <span> </span> </blockquote> </div> We are more open and tolerant than we were in previous decades with a greater acceptance of multiculturalism, says a new survey covered in the <span class="text"><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0425/p03s03-ussc.html" target="_blank">CS Monitor</a>.</span><br />

Rhode Island Embarks on Statewide Broadband
America's smallest state is seeking to become its first to offer a wireless broadband network from border to border. Reuters reports on the innovative ideas hatching out of Rhode Island's plan to drape the state with a wireless broadband network, such as linking up restaurants with the Health Department. (It may only cost residents $20 per month?) I know if North Carolina sported wireless broadband in the mountains I would have saved a lot of gas money and spent many more enjoyable hours ...

Plug-In Hybrids Get 100+ MPG
CalCars, a nonprofit organization that promotes so-called &ldquo;plug-in hybrids,&rdquo; has added batteries and plugs to several Toyota Prius hybrids, getting gas mileage as high as 130 miles per gallon. (the online technology publication <a target="_blank" href="http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=16595&amp;hed=Plug-In%20Hybrids%20Get%20100+%20MPG">Red Herring</a>)

Indiana Kids Deliver Easter Miracle to Church Crippled by Katrina
Hurricane Katrina buried a Mississippi Catholic church under 10 feet of mud and water last August. People in the community had so many needs that cleaning a church building would have to wait. And it remained untended until a group of high school students from a Methodist youth group in Avon, Indiana, selflessly gave up their spring break to ready the church for an Easter resurrection. For three straight days, the kids scrubbed, scraped and scoured the walls, floors and seating, reports Josh Duk ...

Recycle Your Cell Phone and Ink Cartridges
EARTH DAY SPECIAL&nbsp;&mdash; TAKE ACTION&nbsp;&mdash; Check out these two great Earth Day ideas brought to our attention by World Changing.com: The Recycle My Cell Phone campaign offers a quick and easy way to help reduce the more than 65,000 tons of dangerous waste created by the discarding every year of 2 million cell phones. They even offer schools and nonprofits a way to make money ($1 per phone) by collecting and sending in bags of phones. Campaign yourself by sending a letter through ...

Kids on Spring Break Rowdy but Responsible
Rowdy Kids Make Good for Damage A homeowner in South Padre Island, Texas, was dismayed to find the rear windshield of her 2004 Buick was smashed in, with glass scattered everywhere. The mysterious perpetrator, presumed to be a Spring Breaker, left $200 worth of 20-dollar bills on the car's back seat, along with a note reading &quot;Here you go. I'm sorry.&quot; (AP reported the Story) ...

Cat Saves Life of Newborn Baby
A newborn baby in Germany owes its life to a cat's persistant meowing after the infant was abandoned on a doorstep while temperatures fell to around zero degrees. The cat would not stop its loud wake-up call until someone checked to see what was the matter and found the baby. Police in Cologne <a target="_blank" href="http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&amp;storyid=2006-04-17T140529Z_01_L15718549_RTRUKOC_0_US-GERMANY-CAT.xml">called the cat a hero</a>.

Two Extra Days for Filing Taxes this Year
The tax deadline for U.S. taxpayers this year is Monday, April 17th. Since April 15th (the normal deadline) falls on a Saturday, the IRS is giving you an extra two days to file your returns... good news for all of us procrastinators.<br /><br />If you need more time, you will want to file for an extension. Click read more for easy instructions. <p> </p>

Mango Moon Yarn: Benefits Nepali Women, Hollywood Stars
Margaret Martin is a Performance Development Specialist and she loves her work. But it is her hobby that brings her life into balance. &ldquo;Knitting and crocheting are both really fun and relaxing to me,&rdquo; says Margaret. &ldquo;As it turns out, they seem to be taking me to another exciting place.&quot; &quot;I knit ponchos, scarves, and shawls &mdash; very simple! In the process of making these as gifts for my friends, I&rsquo;ve discovered a special yarn made from the recycled silk ...

Child's school doesn't offer the course you want? Enroll Online, attend from home
Does your child want to take a course in Latin, Marine Science or Contemporary Irish Literature&nbsp;&mdash; but your local school doesn't offer it? The popularity of online coursework is catching on. Florida and Utah are leading the way in the US with tens of thousands of students enrolled in online courses for children in grades K-12. There are other reasons for schooling online: medical or discipline challenges keeping kids away from school, the desire for a more flexible schedule, more o ...

Head Off Allergies: Expose kids to pets and dirt early
If you are a mom or dad, and feel guilty about not cleaning your house often enough, relax. You've been doing the best thing for your kids' health! From the Yahoo News story, which includes informative links: &quot;What we've learned is that it may, in fact, be important to be exposed early on to a sufficient quantity of allergy-causing substances to train the immune system that they are not a threat,&quot; says Andy Saxon of the University of California-Los Angeles.&quot;Between the ages of ze ...

Fair Trade Enthusiasm in UK
Counties in the UK are eagerly adopting Fair Trade resolutions. Their school kids are being taught that what their families buy can help lift people out of poverty. Meet 19-year-old Hannah Baily, a passionate advocate and steering group chairman for Free Trade for Carlisle City, featured in the Whitehaven / Cumbria local paper, the News and Star: (link submitted by Contributing Editor, Tif Short) She&rsquo;s passionate and eloquent about the problem: &ldquo;I really feel that young people in ...

Dogs Rescue Owner, Signal Help with Flashlight
MORGAN COUNTY, Ind.&nbsp;&mdash; A minute longer in the cold and a diabetic man walking his dogs may not have survived his collapse in a cornfield. Thanks to his dogs, one who provided warmth by laying on the fallen man, and one who waved a flashlight in his mouth, a deputy sheriff standing on the roadside was able to see the distant signal and provide assistance. Photo and story of one man's best friends, named Dusty and Butch. ...

Daring Rescues by Kids
Rescues are selfless acts. They occur when people are moved to act by an unspoken sense of connection to others. Take a look at these heroic rescues by young people. One boy, 12-year-old Louis Humpage of the UK, dove into massive waves bashing against a sea wall to rescue his 11-year-old friend, Charlie, who'd slipped off the algae-covered wall. And, four Wisconsin high school seniors charged into a minivan to rescue a family from the black-smoked interior minutes before it went up in flames ...

Boy Returns $19,000 Cash Found at LAX
GNN-i member joy314 submitted this story and I want to feature it, even though the incident occured last August. It is really impressive that this Baltimore youth had the integrity and compassion to be able to return a wallet containing so much cash. It was found in an airport parking garage where the owner, on his way to Vegas, had lost it. ...

Science Confirms Humans Naturally Helpful
What is human nature? Are we basically good, evil, or a little of both? Philosophers have debated this throughout the ages, but today science delivers some definitive news. Humans are naturally altruistic. In Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, a window has been opened into human behavior. Experiments involving prelinguistic and just post-linguistic children as young as 18 months showed the toddlers to be freely and voluntarily helpful in situations where the exper ...

Six months after Katrina, Kitty Reunited with Owner
A 7-pound black kitty named &quot;Cupcake&quot; proved to be tough and streetwise prowling the devastated New Orleans neighborhood for six months in search of food following the evacuation of her family. She never strayed far from her home until animal rescuers found her owner and reunited Cupcake with the teenager now living in Atlanta... AP reports and files a wonderful photo of the happy girls. &quot;Animal rescue groups have rescued more than 1,200 former pets living as strays in New Orle ...

Summer Vacations, Cheering Orphans, and Host Couples
To California, North Carolina, and Virginia, the Summer Miracles program brings orphans from Russia, Kazakhstan and Columbia for summer vacation with host families. Through carnival rides, picnics, swimming, and horseback riding, these kids often experience the best moments of their lives.The adults who sign up for the program, through KidSave International, fall in love with children and often are inspired to adopt. More than 1,300 children have participated in the Summer Miracles program. Ne ...

Valentine To Your Kids
Thoughtful article on how to love your kids on Valentine's Day... We need these 14 tips or reminders to help us remember to show children love, which is much more important than just saying it. I like number eight from the American Academy of Pediatrics: &quot;A pet can make children&nbsp;&mdash; especially those with chronic illnesses and disabilities&nbsp;&mdash; feel better by stimulating physical activity, providing constant companionship, and enhancing their overall attitude.&quot; N ...

Story of Angels and Heroes
July 2, 2005&nbsp;&mdash; To some people, a hero is someone who can fly and has super strength, and to others it&rsquo;s a person who has saved another person&rsquo;s life. To this young girl, a hero is simply someone who has touched her forever. If you think about it, there&rsquo;s some point in your life when your best friend is your hero. Maybe it&rsquo;s something they did themselves or something they did for you, but all your friends are amazing in some way. Just a thought. Candice McC ...

Honoring Youth Heroes
June 3, 2005&nbsp;&mdash; Kids everywhere are helping out around communities. These children have done things such as volunteering, raising money for patients with cancer, even helping out at the local YMCA. Whatever the reason may be, whether it&rsquo;s to help the ill or just to put a smile on someone else&rsquo;s face, it&rsquo;s nice to know that children can make a difference in the world. &quot;This year North Star was overwhelmed by nominations for the award,&quot; Lindsey Murtagh, m ...

Neighbor Saves Yorkie in a Pool
June 2, 2005&nbsp;&mdash; The neighbor couldn't even swim, yet she jumps in to save her friend's dog. In Florida, a 64-year-old was pet sitting her friend's 14-year-old Yorkshire terrier, when she found the dog floating in the pool. Without knowing how to swim, she jumped into the pool and retrieved the lifeless body. ...

Stray Dog in Kenya Saves Abandoned Baby
From May 2005, a wonderful story of animal rescue from the Associated Press. A mama is a mama and shows the nurturing instinct whether she is a dog or a human. An abandon infant is carried home and nestled among a litter of puppies... ...

Heroes for Danny
Everyone could use a helping hand every once in a while, and for Danny Harkins, this was a perfect time for a helping hand. Without the three boys there to help, he could have died. Thankfully, some people are kind enough to watch out for one another and keep everyone safe. . . Check out the picture of Danny hugging his heroes! Free registration is required by the Union paper in Nevada County, California, to read this story, the rescue of Danny, a boy with Down Syndrome. (submitted in 2005 by ...

PET TIP
PET TIP Leave a laminated note in your window that &quot;two cats and a dog live here&quot; for the fire department IN CASE OF RESCUE. (submitted by Emma Belcher) ...