NPR

Naloxone and Narcan

U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives

| By | -, Good News Links

For the first time in decades, public health data shows a sudden and hopeful drop in drug overdose deaths across the U.S. National surveys compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already show an unprecedented decline in drug deaths of roughly 10.6% last year. That’s a huge reversal from recent years when fatal overdoses regularly increased by double-digit percentages.

U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives Read more

Saint Mary Lake

The U.S. national park system gets a $100 million grant, the largest in its history

| By | -, Good News Links

The National Park Foundation has received the largest grant in its nearly 60-year history, a $100 million gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. The money will fund four key priorities, including creating opportunities for young people to visit the parks and conserving threatened ecosystems and wildlife. The foundation also plans to use the money to tell a more comprehensive version of U.S. history, including the “experiences of communities whose voices and contributions have not been fully told as a part of the American story.”

The U.S. national park system gets a $100 million grant, the largest in its history Read more

Portrait of native american woman smiling on camera with city park in background - Indigenous girl outdoor

U.S. Federal Communications Commission adopts an alert system for missing Indigenous people

| By | -, Good News Links

This new alert code, according to the federal agency, would be similar to the nationwide Amber Alert system and will help law enforcement agencies across the country to issue timely alerts to the public through cellphones, televisions and radios. The new “MEP” alert code is part of the efforts to address disparities in searching for and locating thousands of missing Indigenous persons in the U.S., who are at higher risk of being victims of violence, homicide, and of going missing, the FCC said in a news release.

U.S. Federal Communications Commission adopts an alert system for missing Indigenous people Read more

Good news for public health, picture of a virus

New twice-yearly shot to prevent HIV achieves 100% success rate in late-stage trial

| By | -, Good News Links

In this double-blind, randomized study of 5,300 cisgender women in South Africa and Uganda, 2,134 got the injection and the others took one of two types of daily PrEP pills. The trial from California-based company Gilead Sciences began on August 2021 and, so far, not a single woman who received the injections has contracted HIV. The participants who received either of the oral PrEP options, Truvada and Descovy, had infection rates of about 2% — consistent with the infection rates of oral PrEP in other clinical trials.

New twice-yearly shot to prevent HIV achieves 100% success rate in late-stage trial Read more

Montpelier, Vermont

Vermont becomes first U.S. state to require oil companies to pay for climate change damages

| By | -, Good News Links

Vermont has enacted a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by climate change after the state suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather. The funds could be used for upgrading stormwater drainage systems; upgrading roads, bridges and railroads; relocating, elevating or retrofitting sewage treatment plants; and making energy-efficient weatherization upgrades to public and private buildings.

Vermont becomes first U.S. state to require oil companies to pay for climate change damages Read more

Inside United Methodist Church building

United Methodist Church lifts bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings

| By | -, Good News Links

Delegates overwhelmingly approved the changes, 692 to 51, during the United Methodist Church’s General Conference. Shortly after the vote, spontaneous celebrations erupted on the conference center floor. Hundreds of people began cheering and singing. One of the hymn lyrics distinguishable in the crowd was, “You are a child, you are a child of God.” The UMC is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the U.S., with over five million members and 29,000 churches.

United Methodist Church lifts bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings Read more

Buddha statue in the dark

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to return looted ancient art to Cambodia and Thailand

| By | -, Good News Links

Thirteen of the works are being returned to Cambodia in concert with an investigation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York and Homeland Security. Among the works are a large head of Buddha made of stone in the seventh century, and a tenth century sandstone goddess statue from the Koh Ker archaeological site.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to return looted ancient art to Cambodia and Thailand Read more

Close up on the eye of a Black child

California creates nation’s first ‘Ebony Alert’ to find missing Black children

| By | -, Good News Links

Senate Bill 673 will create the “Ebony Alert” system for missing Black children and young women. When activated, the proposed system – similar to Amber or Silver alerts — would inform people of missing Black children and young women between the ages of 12 to 25.

California creates nation’s first ‘Ebony Alert’ to find missing Black children Read more

Start typing and press enter to search