A huge orca pod showed-off for whale watchers in Active Pass off the shores of Galiano Island in Canada.
They posted the video on YouTube, complete with whoops of excitement from the people gathered.
Lucky Whale Watchers: Dozens of Orcas Show Off
Kristin Chenoweth Pulls Teacher From Audience for a Stunning Duet
When Kristen Chenoweth called a fan out of the audience to help with a fun duet, she didn’t know the lady was a stupendous voice coach.
Sarah Horn is now a YouTube sensation, thanks to the surprise duet August 23 at the Hollywood Bowl.
You’ll get tears in your eyes watching this performance, a song from Wicked with the heartfelt refrain, “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
(WATCH the video below and READ the full story at People.com)
SHARE the awesome moment with your musical pals…
CBS, Time Warner Cable Reach Agreement, End Blackout
American football fans will be glad to hear that CBS reached a new broadcasting rights agreement Monday with Time Warner Cable, ending a month-long blackout of the network’s shows at several major markets in the country.
More than 3 million cable customers in eight markets, including New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas, had been unable to watch the nation’s No. 1 prime-time network, or its pre-season football games, since the blackout.
Rim Fire Near Yosemite is 70% Contained
Near Yosemite National Park the stubborn Rim Fire, one of the largest wildfires in California’s history, is 70% contained, the U.S. Forest Service said Monday night.
With rain and cooler temperatures in the forecast, firefighters who have toiled tirelessly for days will likely make further gains in the coming days.
SHE DID IT: Diana Nyad Completes Historic Cuba to Florida Swim
This time, neither storm, jellyfish, nausea, nor utter fatigue could keep 64-year-old endurance swimmer Diana Nyad from achieving her lifelong ambition of conquering the Straits of Florida.
Nyad today became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, willing her way to a Key West beach just before 2 p.m. ET., nearly 53 hours after jumping into the ocean in Havana for her fifth try in 35 years.
After swimming more than 100 miles in open seas, Diana had three things to say at the finish line: “One is we should never, ever give up. Two is you never are too old to chase your dreams. Three is it looks like a solitary sport, but it’s a team.”
(WATCH the video below or READ the story from CNN)
Police Thank Homeless Man Who Came to Officer’s Aid
Officers at a San Francisco police station Friday thanked a homeless man who came to the aid of a colleague who was attacked when she tried to make an arrest.
After four days of looking for Ryan Raso, San Francisco police finally found him. The 35-year-old was a wanted man; not as a suspect, but as a hero.
Florida to Call on Labrador Retrievers to Stem Giant Snail Invasion
Florida officials trying to eradicate the Giant African Land Snail, one of the world’s most destructive invasive species, plan to deploy a new weapon in the battle – Labrador retrievers.
On Wednesday, officials said that since the start of an aggressive extermination campaign they have collected 128,000 of the snails, which can grow as big as rats and devour plants as well as the stucco and plaster on buildings in a hunt for calcium they need to grow their big shells.
Boy’s Touching Plea on Craigslist to Help Mom Battling Cancer
Twelve-year-old Devon Melton overheard his mother’s desperate phone call. She was crying because the family faced financial troubles due to her recent bout with cancer and husband losing his job. The boy decided he wanted to do what he could to help.
His plan to raise money through a garage sale has attracted much attention after a touching post on Craig’s List asking people for free stuff so he can sell it:
10 Year-old Hero Saves Girl, Says ‘Just Doing What’s Needed’
When their teacher asks the students in his class, ‘What did you do on your summer vacation,’ ten-year-old Austin Beach will have them all gaping with wide eyes.
On July 18, his family was vacationing in Destin, Florida. It was Austin’s birthday and he couldn’t wait to dive into the pool. When he did, he discovered a toddler limp at the bottom of the pool.
Man Who Returned Ring No Longer Homeless: ‘I Feel Human Now’
“His spirit has been rejuvenated,” said Sarah Darling, who accidentally dropped her engagement ring in Billy Ray Harris’ donation cup in February. Harris returned the ring, and the story inspired donors around the world.
Since the fateful day that Darling’s ring landed in his cup, Harris’ life has take a 180 degree turn
Fortune 500 Firm Teams With Carolina Nonprofit to Help Urban Families
Volunteers with Sow Much Good say their newly-constructed micro farm on land leased by Martin Marietta will help improve the health of families who don’t have access to the fresh vegetables available in affluent neighborhoods of Charlotte.
The Charlotte-based non-profit grows and sells chemical-free vegetables to residents living in urban neighborhoods — at five to fifteen percent below typical grocery store price.
GNN Celebrates 16th Birthday with New Website
I just wanted to let everyone know that yesterday I marked the 16th anniversary since I pushed the button to launch the Good News Network around the world.
It is particularly sweet because I am redesigning the site this summer with all new software and hope to unveil our brilliant work at the end of the month.
Australia, Canada Dominate Top Ten ‘Most Livable Cities’ List
Melbourne, with its beautiful parks, enviable healthcare, and Australian coastline, has been ranked the world’s most livable city for the third year running.
In fact, Australia dominates the list prepared by the Economist with four cities in the top ten – Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth. Three Canadian cities also made the list with Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary ranking number three, four and five.
Vienna, Austria was ranked the second most livable city and Helsinki, Finland was the other European city in the top ten, taking the number 8 spot.
Auckland, New Zealand was rated number 10.
(READ the story from the Daily Mail)
Photo: Vancouver in July 2013
Meet a Superhero With a Soft Touch
31-year-old Jonathan Stoklosa, who has Down syndrome, is a young man with incredible power – both to lift the spirits of shoppers at his day job, and to bench press 400 pounds, amazing all at a local gym at night.
Jon is an incredible powerlifter. Not an incredible Special Olympics powerlifter – just an incredible powerlifter, period. He competes in regular matches, often placing in the top three.
A Meeting of Minds Between a Judge And the Man He Sent To Prison
A 23-year-old bank robber who stood before a federal judge 13 years ago asking for leniency and vowing to change did change – after a long sentence in federal prison. Now the two are conversing in public, on equal footing, about how long the sentence should have been.
The ex-con’s remarkable ascent began in the prison law library, where he became not only a good jailhouse lawyer but also a successful Supreme Court practitioner.
Shon Hopwood wrote a book about his experience called, Law Man: My Story of Robbing Banks, Winning Supreme Court Cases, and Finding Redemption
(READ the story from the NY Times)
Photo of Marine Wife Carrying Amputee Husband Goes Viral
A photo of a Marine’s wife carrying her wounded warrior husband is an inspiring example of people coping with and making the best of life.
Jesse Cottle said sometimes it is just how they get around.
He and his wife, Kelly, were having photos taken during a family weekend when everyone gathered in the water.
Jesse, a double amputee, then took off his prosthetic legs and hopped on Kelly’s back so she could carry him in.
They had no idea what would happen when the photo was posted online to Facebook.
(READ the story from RTV-6, the IndyChannel)
Photo credit: Sarah Ledford / ShutterHappy Photography™
At 105, Feisty Edythe Has 36K Facebook Fans and Still Drives
At 105 years old, Edythe Kirchmaier is still as smart and engaging as she was at 65.
She is the oldest user on Facebook and for her birthday she asked for 105,000 “Likes” on the page of her favorite charity. Her Facebook friends already number 36,000 and they made her wish come true, tallying more than 124,000 “Likes” for the medical nonprofit Direct Relief.
“It’s overwhelming,” said the tech-savvy great-grandmother. “I never thought I’d make that much of an impression on people.”
She is also still driving a car — a new Honda gifted to her by an anonymous stranger after appearing on the ELLEN show. In all her decades of driving, she said, she has never gotten a ticket or citation.
(WATCH the video from TODAY or READ the story on MSNBC)
Feds Will Not Block State Marijuana Laws
The Obama administration said Thursday that it would not challenge laws legalizing marijuana in Colorado and Washington state as long as those states strongly restrict sales to minors, prevent exports to other states and keep it off of federal lands.
The memo, which was welcomed by proponents of marijuana legalization, directs federal prosecutors to focus on eight areas of enforcement rather than spending time targeting individual users.
UPDATED: Born Without Arms, Legs, Nick Vujicic Gets Married
One of the most inspiring people in the world, Nick Vujicic, a well-known motivational speaker born without arms or legs, got married last year.
He overcame incredible odds to live a relatively normal, but at times extraordinary, life.
(GNN featured his 2011 Video and Book Here)
He and his 25-year-old wife were married on Valentine’s Day 2012 and the couple gave birth to their first child six months ago.
Their baby Kiyoshi has “all ten fingers and all ten toes” and his photo was posted on Nick’s Facebook Page.
(WATCH the video below from CBS Sunday Morning)
[This article was updated with current information on Nick’s family]
Giving New Life to California’s Struggling Sea Lion Pups
January was traditionally a slow period for sea lions at the San Pedro care center. But nearly 50 sea lions had come in, more than twice than the year before. In February, 105 were admitted. The next month, nearly 240.
It was the same in care centers from San Diego to Santa Barbara, all inundated with the months-old emaciated pups that had washed up on shore.