First African Nation to Eliminate River Blindness Treated Millions with Ivermectin to Achieve Great Success

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Oct 21, 2025

A boy pulling a canoe on the Niger River - credit, Mohamed Yves Diarra CC BY-SA 4.0.

Everyone remembers during the COVID years the sudden demonization by major media outlets of Ivermectin. Now, one of the most-used medicines on Earth, just helped Niger to become the first country in Africa to eradicate a debilitating parasitical disease.

Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is spread via the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus transmitted through black flies which breed near fast-flowing rivers. At its ugliest, it can cause severe skin disfigurations, permanent blindness, and epilepsy.

Present in 26 African countries as well as parts of Brazil, Venezuela, and Yemen, its transmission was severely reduced in the Americas following wide-scale distribution programs of Ivermectin starting in the 1980s called the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP), managed by the World Health Organization.

This wide-scale Ivermectin treatment has continued until present day, such that this year, on World Neglected Tropical Disease Day (Jan. 30th), Niger was confirmed and honored as the first African country to eradicate onchocerciasis, which they achieved through 4decades of Ivermectin administration, an activity that also eradicated the elephant man disease lymphatic filariasis.

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, but with simple strategies and an effective medicine, was able to replicate the success seen in much wealthier countries like Colombia and Mexico.

Though dry in many places, the Niger River is a major African river system that is a hotbed for tropical diseases. The report lauded the country’s strong national disease control leadership in the program and cross-border partnerships in helping to eliminate the two diseases.

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Senegal has also ended the mass treatment phase and is moving into a period of monitoring and targeted response that Niger successfully navigated during its journey to eradication.

“This achievement highlights the power of strong public–private partnerships and the impact of coordinated efforts between communities, governments, and stakeholders,” reads a report on the program published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record.

“The MDP, the longest-running large-scale medicine donation program in history, has been central to this success, providing a model for other global health initiatives.”

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Don’t Miss the Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight Under a Moonless Sky

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 21, 2025

Halley's Comet as seen from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory - NASA.

During the nights of October 20th and 21st, the Earth will experience the peak stream of the Orionid Meteor Shower, a particularly active shower where viewers can see between 10 and 20 shooting stars per hour.

Especially advantageous this year will be the Orionids’ appearance at the time of the New Moon, meaning no natural light pollution will ruin the cosmic show.

The event is called the Orionids merely because the shooting stars appear like they’re emanating from the constellation of Orion. In reality, the constellation has nothing to do with the shooting stars, which instead come from the debris trail of a comet.

Each meteor stream is like this: named for a constellation, but generated by these high-speed and rocky dust bunnies.

In the case of the Orionids it’s actually the famous Halley’s Comet. As the Earth passes through the stream of debris flung off Halley as it travels through the solar system, those pieces burn up in Earth’s atmosphere and create the shooting star phenomenon we see in the sky.

To find the Orionids tonight or for the next couple of nights when activity is highest, go to a dark open space in a rural area, and find the constellation Orion—which is easy because you can look for his belt. From there look 40 degrees up towards the southern zenith of the sky, bundle up, and enjoy the show.

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“The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.” – Richard Nixon

Quote of the Day

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Oct 21, 2025

Quote of the Day: “The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.” – Richard Nixon

Photo by: Papaioannou Kostas

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Good News in History, October 21

This Day In History

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Oct 21, 2025

85 years ago today, Ernest Hemingway’s novel For Whom the Bell Tolls was first published. A story about a young American volunteer who joined the government of Spain as a guerrilla fighter during the Spanish Civil War, a conflict that was widely viewed as a dress rehearsal for the Second World War because the Italian Fascists and German Nazis were supporting an overthrow. READ more about this seminal work… (1940)

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Vitamin K Used in ‘Groundbreaking’ Prospective Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 20, 2025

man brain Alzheimers study health-pubdomain-Bret Kavanaugh — Bret Kavanaugh

Vitamin K, an essential nutrient that prevents blood cots and aids in bone health could also be an effective long-term treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

A Japanese study team took the molecule, created a novel, altered form and used it to improve the transcriptions of cells into neurons at a rate 300% higher than controls.

If replicated in humans, such an effect would slow or even reverse the progress of diseases like Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s, and would be one of the first to be demonstrated to do so.

Though possessing of this neuroprotective effect, naturally-forming vitamin K compounds like menaquinone-4 are likely not substantial enough to prevent the onset and progression of these diseases.

In a groundbreaking study published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, researchers from the Department of Bioscience and Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan synthesized 12 different vitamin K analogues that included a metabolite of vitamin A called retinoic acid, and a methyl ester side chain.

This analogue exhibited “a three-fold higher neuronal differentiation activity,” meaning it stimulated neuronal progenitor cells in mice to form new neurons.

This novel form of vitamin K interacted heavily with the cellular receptor for metabotropic glutamate (mGluRs) which is known to be very involved with neuron intercommunication, and which if inhabited in mice, creates behavior alternations similar to those seen in dementia patients.

DEMENTIA DRUG RESEARCH:

“Our research offers a potentially groundbreaking approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases. A vitamin K-derived drug that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or improves its symptoms could not only improve the quality of life for patients and their families but also significantly reduce the growing societal burden of healthcare expenditures and long-term caregiving,” the authors concluded their study by writing.

Vitamin K, being a safe and tolerable naturally-occurring essential nutrient, would have enormous advantages for drug manufacturers looking to capitalize on this research for a dementia treatment.

While any form of the molecule would have to be proven efficacious as a treatment, safety trials would be very straightforward as the compound already has established safety and supplemental doses.

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The Remains of Saint Francis to Be Displayed on the 800th Anniversary of the Animal-Lover’s Death

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 20, 2025

The oldest surviving depiction of Saint Francis - credit, Free Art License

The mortal remains of Saint Francis of Assisi are to be placed in public view as a tremendous invitation to prayer and gratitude 800 years after the man’s death.

Having been sealed in a reliquary beneath the Basilica bearing his name in Assisi, Umbria, for hundreds of years, they’ve never been on display for the millions of pilgrims that visit the city.

But with recent approval from the Holy Father Leo XIV, his remains will be transferred from the tomb below the Basilica to the foot of the Papal altar in the lower church from February 22nd, to March 22nd, 2026.

“This exposition, rooted in the Gospel theme of the seed that dies to bear fruit in love and fraternity, invites us to reflect on the life of the Saint, which continues to bear fruit 800 years later and still inspires humanity along the path of peace, fraternity, service to the poor, joy, and care for creation,” reads a statement from the Sacro Convento, reported by Vatican News.

The patron saint of Italy, of animals, and of the home of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francesco is one of the most important figures of the Catholic Church, and “one of the foundational figures of Italian identity.”

Those were the words Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose government recently saw a bill passed successfully through Parliament to designate the feast day of Saint Francis (October 4th) as a national civic holiday.

Born in 1181 or ’82, and passing away in 1226, Saint Francis founded the Order of Friar’s Minor, one of the longest monastic orders in Catholicism. His monastic life was characterized with a unerring love and duty of care for all of God’s creations, including animals, which of course isn’t necessarily ordained by the covenant with God.

Important theologians, including Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, reinforced the longest-standing position on animal welfare and ecology in Christianity that animals are part of God’s creation but are not equal to Man; and that in fact, Man is called to subdue the Earth, all that dwells upon it, and bring them under his dominion.

But starting with St. Francis, multiple saints, including his disciple Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Brendan, Saint Brigit, and Saint Columba, preached to, protected, or taught on the care and protection of the natural world.

San Francesco’s love of nature extended beyond animals, and included “Sister Moon, Brother Sun,” the four cardinal elements, and even “Sister Death.” In short, the Francis doctrine called Man to look after Creation as a whole, and that for this reason, noted the recently-deceased Pope Francis who took his Papal name from the Saint, he is loved by millions of non-Christians who recognize that the dominion of Man over of the Earth is that of a good steward, not an exploitative tyrant.

Visitors are expected to flock to Assisi for the exposition, entitled “San Francesco Lives,” and while free of charge, visitors and pilgrims are asked to reserve their entrance time at the Basilica, which GNN can report first hand is not exceptionally large.

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Boy Throws Jimmy Carter-Themed Birthday Party – Gets Surprise from His Favorite President’s Daughter

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 20, 2025

Ryan with his birthday cake and Carter for President t-shirt - credit, Courtesy of Lauren Ramos

A boy in New Jersey who has established a strange fandom over the former president Jimmy Carter, has just enjoyed his 5th Birthday.

And while little Ryan is fond of ninjas, dinosaurs, and Spiderman, his mother Laura Ramos surprised him with a Jimmy Carter-themed bash complete with ‘Carter for President’ memorabilia, a life-size cardboard cutout, and birthday cake frosted with the president’s likeness.

But why, and how, is a young boy from New Jersey the biggest fan of a deceased former president from Georgia who held office more than 30 years before he was born?

Ryan’s mom Lauren Ramos explained to the Atlantic Journal Constitution that it began on a Presidents Day when the boy was 3. She showed him a grid chart of all the presidents to have ever lived, and Carter immediately struck his interest.

Ramos later bought him a book about Carter, and Ryan loved learning about the man’s humble background.

“He just loved how much he helped people. He loved that he built houses for Habitat for Humanity,” Ramos said. “He wants to build houses when he grows up.”

@parenting.be.like Thank you, Andrea! 💙😂🥹🫶🏼 #jimmycarter #fyp #singlemomlife #funny #funnykidsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Parenting be like what?

As Ryan’s 5th Birthday was approaching, Lauren began preparing and planning for the Jimmy Carter theme, documenting her creations and ideas on TikTok and garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

Those videos also attracted the attention of one Ms. Amy, Jimmy Carter’s daughter, who sent Ryan a swag bag from the former president’s 100th Birthday celebration, that included a tote, pins, and a hat.

Ryan on his big day – credit, Courtesy of Lauren Ramos

For the celebration, Ryan wore his Carter for President t-shirt, and blew out the candles on a cake with Carter’s likeness expertly crafted in frosting. Ryan and Carter share the birthday month of October, and the standing cardboard cutout of the president received well-wishes on his birthday.

ALSO CHECK OUT: 50-Year White House Groundskeeper is Surprised With Elm Tree Planted To Honor Him For 200 Years–Watch

There was also a digitally-rendered image of Carter and Ryan standing side by side with birthday hats on to hang on Ryan’s wall.

At school, Ryan brought his book about Jimmy Carter to read on the president’s special day, when former peanut farmer would have turned 101 years old.

MORE PRESIDENTIAL LEGACIES: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Celebrate 75 Years of Marriage Today

Presidential legacies are sensitive issues often falling prey to bipartisan vitriol, but one supposes Carter couldn’t have hoped for anything better: that a young man 1,000 miles away who never lived a day during his administration could still be touched by it.

“That’s another question we’re getting, like, ‘Are you from Georgia?’ No, we live in New Jersey,” Ramos said, laughing.

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Flock of Goats Hits the Slopes of Vermont Ski Resort as Eco-Friendly Landscaping Option – WATCH

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Andy Corbley

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Oct 20, 2025

The goats arrive – credit, Jay Peak Resort

Is there a faster way to ruin someone’s morning than by putting a team of landscapers with mowers and blowers next door at 8:00 a.m.?

Well for the neighbors of Jay Peak Ski Resort in Vermont, that’s a headache they’re no longer forced to suffer, as the resort has taken on a flock of sheep and goats to manage the vegetation on the slopes during the summer months.

Nicknamed the “Chew Crew” on the line of merchandise sold to the animals’ adoring fans, the 150 small ruminants keep weeds and other overgrowth in check whilst reducing erosion, cutting back on fossil fuel use, mimicking natural seed dispersal, and best of all, doing the job in silence apart from the occasional bleating and baying.

It can take months of mowing and weed-whacking to get the slopes ready for winter ski season. But so far this year, Jay Peak has opened their 385 acre-mountain property to landscaping by goats and sheep, which administrators described as an easy decision.

The animals were hired from Cloud Brook Grazing, a farm from a small town about 65 miles north of Jay Peak. Vermont’s Agritech Institute has provided a sophisticated digital fencing system that quickly establishes virtual borders for each ski slope and prevent the goats from overgrazing or wandering off.

The project is in a trial period, where the flock will chew down 25 acres under the watchful eye of the institute, and Cloud Brook’s shepherd dog Helios. If it proves effective, the plan is to bring the flock back next year with a greater area of work.

“The goats are great at the trees and the goldenrod and the other types of brush, but the sheep really do well with the grasses,” Adam Ricci, owner of Cloud Brook Grazing, told Vermont Public Radio. “So by mixing the two together, we get everything covered pretty well.”

Helios the dog – credit, Jay Peak Resort

If the animals begin to stray from the work area, they receive an irritating, high-pitched noise from the collars they wear. If they continue on, they receive a mild electric shock.

SKIING STORIES: Family-Owned Vermont Ski Resort Offers the Common Man 1,200 Acres of Powder for $100

Another advantage to add to the goats’ resume is that it allows Jay Peak to avoid using pesticides.

“It’s good for the environment,” Andy Stenger, director of mountain operations at Jay Peak, also told Vermont Public Radio. “And it didn’t take a lot of convincing for us to hop on board with it.”

Nor did it take much convincing for Dan Smith, executive director of the Agritech Institute, who admitted that he had been skiing at Jay Peak for decades.

Nor did it take much convincing for the Chew Crew, who happily meander and munch their way through the pasture in the mountain sunshine, mowing down blackberry, poison oak, and other nasty plants without a care in the world.

WATCH the work begin below…

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“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quote of the Day

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Oct 20, 2025

Quote of the Day: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo by: Papaioannou Kostas

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Good News in History, October 20

This Day In History

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Oct 20, 2025

Tom Petty Album Cover-Released — Fair use

75 years ago today, Tom Petty, was born in Gainesville, Florida. As an 11-year-old he met Elvis Presley, which sparked his love of rock and roll. As a guitar-playing singer-songwriter, he was one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, with over 80 million records sold worldwide powered by mega hits like “American Girl,” “Won’t Back Down,” and “The Waiting (Song)”. READ more… (1950)

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Tiny Ring Bearer Dozes Off in Mini Sports Car ‘Driving’ Down the Aisle During Wedding – WATCH

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Oct 19, 2025

Video grab of a wedding in Heilongjiang, China where ring bearer falls asleep for his entrance in a mini car – SWNS

This is the adorable moment a young ring bearer fell asleep behind the wheel of a mini sports car while making his entrance at a wedding.

The wholesome scene left guests giggling on September 23 in Heilongjiang, China.

Video footage shows the little boy, fast asleep with his head tilted back, being driven by remote control up the aisle in a toy car.

Laughs rang out as the car slowly approached and the tot was supposed to deliver the rings to the bride and groom.

The clip ended with the groom gently waking the boy.

He reportedly was blinking in confusion before being scooped up and carried off the stage—to cheers and applause from the amused guests. WATCH the video below…

Check out This Chuckle: Farmers Invite Live Jazz Band to Play Moosic for Cows–And it’s Adorable

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Sixth Tiny Home Village is Ending Homelessness for Veterans Across the US: ‘This place saved me’

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Oct 19, 2025

Tiny Home Village – Veterans Community Project (VCP)

This week, the nonprofit Veterans Community Project (VCP) broke ground on its sixth tiny home village, this time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to offer more military veterans a fresh start with housing and individualized care.

Each 240-square-foot home is part of a larger community designed to help residents regain stability and independence.

Since its founding in 2018 when they welcomed their first residents in Kansas City, VCP has helped hundreds of vets transition out of homelessness.

VCP has set a new standard for how cities can address veteran homelessness, with its 85% success rate for vets who complete the program successfully and transition to sustainable permanent housing—all in an average of 335 days.

So far in 2025, 29 veterans have ‘graduated’ from a VCP tiny home into their own permanent housing, and dozens of vets have been welcomed into the 6 tiny home communities and are now working with on-site case managers for comprehensive assistance.

The six villages are located in Glendale, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Longmont, Colorado; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; St. Louis, Missouri, and, now, Milwaukee, Wisconsin— which when completed, will bring the total to 240 homes.

Model tiny home in Milwaukee – Veterans Community Project (VCP)

Co-Founder Bryan Meyer, a combat Marine vet, attended the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday.

“Today is the start of generational change. Once these homes are built, I hope each of you are able to drive by with a sense of pride and ownership in the years ahead—because you are telling Veterans that Milwaukee refuses to let them go through it alone.”

HOUSING GOOD NEWS: Millionaire Builds 99 Tiny Homes to Cut Homelessness in His Community–He Even Provides Jobs On Site for Them

Throughout the day, community members toured the 240-sq-foot model home to get a glimpse of what vets will experience when they move into one of the 40 tiny homes.

The homes will all be built on foundations, connected to city utilities, and include a full kitchen, bath, and living area. Some of the unique features are designs that use PTSD-informed principles that promote healing.

“The rooms are arranged in a barracks-style layout that feels familiar and safe,” says the VCP website.

VCP tiny home village – Veterans Community Project

A Village Center will be built where residents will work with their on-site VCP case manager to address underlying housing barriers and work toward individual goals that can really get them back on their feet.

In his closing remarks at the groundbreaking, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said, “These tiny homes are more than a roof overhead and a safe place to sleep at night, they are a foundation that will help restore dignity, stability and community for those who have sacrificed so much for all of us.”

REAL GRATITUDE FOR VETS: Military Veterans Who Lost Limbs Receive Mortgage-Free Homes to Honor Their Service

“I have no doubt that our Veterans will be in good hands.”

Army combat veteran Dave Myers couldn’t agree more. He had never heard of VCP when his life was spinning out of control three years ago, addicted to drugs after returning home from war. He now smiles recalling a judge’s words ordering him to become a volunteer after he got clean in prison:

“He told me, ‘You’re going to spend so much time with these guys that they’re either going to love you or hate you … I hope it’s the former, and that they offer you a job after.’”

A year later, that was indeed the case. Dave is now a full-time operations employee at VCP and is fulfilling his dream to help Veterans. “I was able to connect with our residents in some ways that not a lot of other people can. I’ve been in their shoes.”

“This place saved me,” he said proudly.

MORE TINY HOME NEWS: Texas Tiny Home Community Thrives With 2,000 Neighbors: Easing Homelessness in Austin

Funding for the $11.7 million Milwaukee Village includes $2.5 million in contributions from the State of Wisconsin, as well as funding from regional partners including the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.

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Sea Turtles Rebounding Worldwide as Nests and Habitat are More Protected, Says 2025 NOAA Study

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Oct 19, 2025

Olive ridley sea turtles nesting on Costa Rican beach – Credit: NOAA Fisheries / Michael Jensen

Once hammered by overhunting and habitat loss, sea turtles have persevered with new protections and conservation efforts—and a new study has found their populations are still rebounding, even as oceans change.

“Sea turtles are a shining light of marine conservation with recoveries of many nesting populations,” said Marine Science Professor Graeme Hays at Deakin University in Australia.

Scientists at the University joined NOAA Fisheries researcher Jeffrey Seminoff to review the status of all seven species of sea turtles around the world.

They found most sea turtle populations rebounding worldwide, with more turtles nesting at beaches with stronger protections in place. For instance, artificial lighting that can confuse baby turtles trying to find the ocean has been reduced or removed in many locations, and many regional fisheries have adopted measures to avoid catching turtles.

The findings published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity can help biologists shape fishing seasons to reduce the risk of mistakenly catching sea turtles in fishing nets.

“When I think of sea turtles, the first word that comes into my mind is resilience,” said Jeffrey Seminoff, a research scientist who specializes in sea turtles at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. “Give them a chance to thrive and they will take advantage of it.”

People and governments now value turtles

Seminoff said the increasing numbers of sea turtles around the world also reflect a change in public values. Younger generations don’t see turtles as commodities to hunt and sell, and former poachers in some places now lead tours to view nesting turtles as a part of ecotourism that provides alternative work for villagers.

The decline of Caribbean and other sea turtle species around the world has been curbed, thanks to countries more widely protecting the species with laws such as the Endangered Species Act in the United States instituted in the 1970s and 1980s.

DID YOU KNOW? Unanimous US Senate Votes to Protect Sea Turtles and Dolphins from Driftnets in the Last Spot That Allows Them

This new review of data from nesting beaches around the world show “significant population increases were three times more common than significant decreases,” the scientists wrote.

They analyzed almost 300 different records of turtle numbers over time, finding “a generally encouraging picture of stable or upward trends across species and subpopulations.”

Compared to 2024, “significant increases were six times more frequent than significant decreases.”

For instance, four of five regional populations of green sea turtles are increasing, including a 500% increase in eggs laid in the Seychelles.

Most nesting sites—including the largest loggerhead maternity ward in the Mediterranean—also showed sharp increases for that species, some by nearly two orders of magnitude. For example, between 2008 and 2020 the annual number of loggerhead nests increased from around 500 to 35,000 in Cape Verde in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Less information is available about hawksbill, olive ridley, Kemp’s ridley, and flatback turtles, but most show increases in individual populations—and a recent GNN article documented thousands of olive ridley turtles taking over their nesting beaches in India.

Leatherback turtles, the largest of all sea turtles, are struggling most, with several populations in decline. These turtles can grow to the size of a small vehicle and often migrate thousands of miles across the oceans in search of prey in between nesting seasons.

Climate change is warming oceans and nesting beaches. However, new evidence shows that loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean may be starting to nest in cooler areas. “If newly colonized sites are in cooler locations than previous sites, the population could be buffered against future warming,” said the team. Turtles could also begin nesting at some beaches earlier in the year, for example, before temperatures warm up.

Turtle Tech Solution: New Technology for Saving Endangered Sea Turtles Uses Decoy GPS Eggs to Catch Poachers – And it Works

There are two exceptions to these positive trends. Pacific leatherback turtles—which make a treacherous round-trip migration from Indonesia to feed along the Pacific Coast of North America—are declining. Rare leatherbacks in the Caribbean are also on the decline. Climate change affects sea turtles, scientists said, but many populations are now in better shape to weather the impacts.

Seminoff said the bottom line is this: “When you stop hunting and otherwise harming species and they regain their ecological foothold, they can again become a thriving part of the marine ecosystem”.

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Girls Volleyball Team Buys Beloved Custodian a Car to Repay Him for All He’s Done–Watch the Texas-Sized Surprise

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Oct 19, 2025

Abel Rodriguez with Community High School Lady Braves volleyball team -submitted

After learning that their beloved high school custodian did not have a car of his own, a girls volleyball team started fundraising so they could provide one—and the surprise moment captured on video couldn’t have been more wholesome.

For years, Abel Rodriguez has been a huge supporter of the athletic programs at Community High School where he works in Collin County, near Dallas, Texas—and the Community ‘Lady Braves’ volleyball team has become his biggest supporter.

“He’s just really helpful, honestly,” said Addee Kuenstler. “He supports us through everything. He’s our biggest cheerleader.”

Recently, the team realized his transportation situation was making Rodriguez’s life a lot tougher after he stayed at the school until 1 a.m. waiting for somebody to pick him up.

So, they set up a GoFundMe campaign for him and raised more than $3000 the first day. Soon they had $9,000 to put him in a new ride—and a local dealership, Group 1 Ford of Rockwall, heard about their efforts and stepped on the gas pedal to turn the students’ good deed into reality.

The teens also showed wisdom by involving another local business—the J.R. Arey State Farm Agency—who added auto insurance coverage and gas money.

It all culminated in an amazing scene outside the school Wednesday afternoon, as Abel was “called outside for an emergency” and instead of cleaning up a mess he saw over 100 people cheering for him and chanting his name, unveiling his new car. (See the video below…)

Abel Rodriguez surprised by Community High School Lady Braves volleyball team-submitted

“I’m so happy with the community,” he told NBC’s KXAS News, holding back tears. “I love you. I love you forever, guys.”

“Seeing the actual car here is just such a miracle,” said Jorryn Collins, who told NBC they wanted to repay him for all that he’s done for them.

When the big surprise came, Rodriguez and everyone involved realized that Community High School is really living up to its name.

And, it was the happiest drive home of Abel’s life…

MORE COOL SURPRISES:
• Tourists Surprise Driver with His First-Ever Safari –Buying a Ticket So He Could Go, Instead of Waiting in Car (Watch)
• 1,500 Bikers Show Up to Escort Bullied Teen to Prom in Spectacular British Convoy: ‘I don’t feel alone anymore’

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“The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.” – Chief Joseph

Quote of the Day

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Oct 19, 2025

Quote of the Day: “The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.” – Chief Joseph

Photo by: Ricardo Gomez Angel

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Good News in History, October 19

This Day In History

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Oct 19, 2025

One of the ten views of Lingbi Rock - fair use

5 years ago today, the high-profile sale of a Ming Dynasty artwork brought the world not only into contact with the most remarkable painting of a stone ever made, but also the depth of the Chinese relationship with the natural world. Called Ten Views of Lingbi Rock, the painting sold for $77 million at auction, the highest ever for a Chinese classical painting. READ all about the painting… (2020)

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Rescued Dog Becomes the Rescuer: Family Pup Saved from Shelter Guides Officer to Missing Grandmother

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Nathan Frederick

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Oct 18, 2025

Once upon a time this dog had been injured and helpless, but a Florida rescue shelter never gave up on him. Now, it was his turn to return the favor.

Back in 2019, Eeyore the dog had been hit by a car and taken to L&R Rescue near Pensacola with a badly broken femur. Euthanasia was discussed, but the organization opted to pay for an expensive surgery to repair the bone, instead.

Veterinarians performed a difficult procedure that repaired Eeyore’s fracture using bone plates to improve his stability. He stayed in the shelter until his pain subsided and he was able to walk again on his own. In all, the rescue spent thousands on Eeyore’s recovery.

And last month, the investment in Eeyore paid dividends.

At around 10:30 p.m. on September 25, a distraught elderly man called into the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office because his wife was missing.

She had been out walking Eeyore, a “granddog” that belonged to their son. Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour, and she still hadn’t returned. Deputy Devon Miller soon arrived on the scene to take his statement.

“She never takes more than 10 or 15 minutes. It’s almost an hour now!” the man told Miller in body camera footage that was released by the department. (See the video below…)

Miller got a brief description of the woman and Eeyore and went back into the dark to search. Eeyore showed up within minutes, trotting out toward her patrol car.

“Hi baby, where’s your mama?” Deputy Miller cooed.

Eeyore seemed to understand the command and quickly turned to lead Miller across a yard, past a house, and onto a golf course in back. Just a few feet away, the woman was lying on the sidewalk.

The 86-year-old was in the midst of a medical emergency, though alert and conscious.

Another Good Dog: Stray Dog Saved From ‘Death Row’ Turns into Brilliant Detective, Sniffing out Lost Animals

Deputy Miller told her that Eeyore guided her the whole way there.“I was in front of that house right there, and then the dog ran up to me.”

“The dog brought you?” the elderly lady asked. “He wouldn’t leave! He kept coming back to me… And I’m not even his owner; I am his grandmother.”

“Oh, you’re such a good boy,” Miller said to Eeyore.

LOOK: Man is Shocked to Find His Dog Giving a Baby Koala a Piggyback Ride

Paramedics arrived soon afterward and transported the woman to the hospital where she was on track to a complete recovery.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office eventually shared the footage on social media where Eeyore tallied up many “Good boys,” likes, and positive comments.

Media requests about Eeyore’s story poured in from across the world as people wanted to learn more about the heartwarming story and the animal shelter’s compassion.

The rescued dog became the rescuer… What a good boy, indeed.

PEOPLE NEED A HERO –So Share This Pawsome Story on Social Media…

New Way of Supercharging Prostate Cancer Treatments Can Weaken Tumors at Cellular Level

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Oct 18, 2025

Prostate cancer treatment could be “supercharged” by a new way of weakening malignant cells, say scientists.

A new “vulnerability” in prostate cancer cells that could improve treatment for the second most common cancer in men worldwide (second only to skin cancer) was discovered by an international team of researchers.

They found that two enzymes – PDIA1 and PDIA5 – play a crucial role in helping prostate cancer cells to grow, survive, and resist treatment. They act as “molecular bodyguards” for the androgen receptor (AR), which is a protein that fuels the cancer.

When PDIA1 and PDIA5 are blocked, the AR becomes unstable and breaks down, leading to the death of the cancer cells and tumor shrinkage in both lab-grown cells and animal models.

The researchers also found that combining drugs that block PDIA1 and PDIA5 with enzalutamide – a widely used prostate cancer medication – significantly boosted the treatment’s effectiveness.

“This is an exciting step forward,” said Professor Jianling Xie, the lead author of the study.

Although treatments such as hormone therapy and AR-targeting drugs have helped many prostate cancer patients, resistance to the therapies is a major challenge. The new discovery could help overcome that hurdle and improve the survival chances of men with advanced prostate cancer, say scientists.

MORE BREAKTHROUGHS: Scientists Discover Simple Supplement That Causes Prostate Cancer Cells To Self-Destruct

“We’ve discovered a previously unknown mechanism that prostate cancer cells use to protect the androgen receptor, which is a key driver of the disease,” said study senior author Professor Luke Selth, of Flinders University in Australia.

“By targeting these enzymes, we can destabilize the AR and make tumors more vulnerable to existing therapies like enzalutamide.”

Dr. Xie, who started the research whilst at Flinders University, says that the combination therapy worked well in patient-derived tumor samples, and in mice, suggesting “strong potential” for future clinical trials.

“Our findings show that PDIA1 and PDIA5 are not just helpers of cancer growth but they’re also promising targets for new treatments that could work alongside existing drugs.”

The study, published last week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), also found that PDIA1 and PDIA5 also help cancer cells manage stress and maintain energy production—and blocking them causes damage to the cells’ mitochondria – the parts of the cell that generate energy – and leads to oxidative stress, which further weakens the cancer.

“It’s like cutting off both the fuel and the engine at the same time,” said Xie.

“This dual impact of hitting both the AR and the cancer’s energy supply makes these enzymes especially attractive targets.”

LEARN MORE: New Way of Treating Aggressive Prostate Cancer Shows ‘Promise’ in Cedars-Sinai Phase III Clinical trial

Prof. Selth cautioned that more work is needed to make sure treatments are safe and effective for use in patients.

Visitors Gaze on Parthenon Free of Scaffolding for the First Time in 200 Years

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Good News Network

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Oct 18, 2025

Scaffolding-free view of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece – SWNS, 2025

Stunning images show the ancient Parthenon temple scaffolding-free for the first time in 200 years.

Visitors to the marble wonder found in Athens, Greece, can finally enjoy a clear view without scaffolding for the first time in two centuries.

The removal of the latest iron cage – erected about 20 years ago on the temple’s western façade – happened earlier this month revealing a clear view of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

“At least two generations have not seen the Parthenon visually free,” said Greece’s culture minister Lina Mendoni.

“To see the Parthenon completely free, as it stands today, is something that has not happened for at least 200 years.”

The monument was built in the 5th century BC on top of the Acropolis to honor Athena, the patron goddess of the city, following a victory over the Persians.

MORE GOOD NEWS IN GREECE: Myth Collides With History in Greece Where Tiles Found Marked ‘Odysseus’ Confirm Hero Worship of Homer’s Trojan War King

However, those wanting to see the pristine view need to be quick because work is scheduled to continue on the historic structure in November with another set of scaffolds being constructed for further conservation.

LOOK: How a Chatty Motorist Led to One of the Biggest Finds in Greek Archaeology–the Lost 2,800-year-old Temple of Artemis

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Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ by Rob Brezsny

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Oct 18, 2025

Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of October 18, 2025
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
I’m pleased to inform you that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to make a big wish upon a bright star. But I must also tell you how important it is to be clear and exact. Even a slight error in formulating your wish could result in only a partial fulfillment. And aiming your plea at the wrong star could cause a long delay. Sorry I have to be so complicated, dear Libra. The fact is, though, it’s not always easy to know precisely what you yearn for and to ask the correct source to help you get it. But here’s the good news: You are currently in a phase when you’re far more likely than usual to make all the right moves.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
During World War II, Scorpio actor and inventor Hedy Lamarr developed frequency-hopping technology to prevent enemies from jamming torpedo guidance systems. Her solution rapidly switched radio frequencies in hard-to-intercept patterns. The technology was so advanced that no one could figure out how to fully adopt it until years later. Engineers eventually realized that Lamarr’s invention was essential for WiFi, GPS, and cell phone networks. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, you, too, have the potential to generate ideas that might not be ready for prime time but could ultimately prove valuable. Trust your instincts about future needs. Your visionary solutions are laying the groundwork for contributions that won’t fully ripen for a while.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
I guarantee you won’t experience a meltdown, crack-up, or nervous collapse in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. What unfolds may bring a similar intensity, but in the opposite direction: a personal breakthrough, a cavalcade of illumination, or a surge of awakening. I urge you to be alert and receptive for relaxing flurries of sweet clarity; or streams of insights that rouse a liberating integration; or a confluence of welcome transformations that lead you to unexpected healing. Can you handle so many blessings? I think you can. But you may have to expand your expectations to welcome them all.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
In 1959, a Swedish engineer named Nils Bohlin designed the three-point seatbelt, revolutionizing car safety. Working for Volvo, he insisted the design must be made freely available to all car manufacturers. Bohlin understood that saving lives was more important than hoarding credit or profit. Capricorn, your assignment now is to give generously without fussing about who gets the applause. A solution, insight, or creation of yours could benefit many if you share it without reservation. Your best reward will be observing the beneficial ripple effects, not holding the patent.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Your exploratory adventures out on the frontiers have been interesting and mostly successful, Aquarius. Congrats! I love how you have avoided tormenting yourself with self-doubt and roused more boldness than you’ve summoned in a long time. You have managed to ignore useless and superstitious fears even as you have wisely heeded the clues offered by one particular fear that was worth considering. Please continue this good work! You can keep riding this productive groove for a while longer.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
In Korean tradition, mudangs are shamans who endure a personal crisis or illness and emerge with supernatural powers. They perform rituals to seek the favor of spirits. They heal the ancestral causes of misfortune and ensure good fortune, prosperity, and well-being for the people they serve. I don’t mean to imply you’re following a similar path, Pisces. But I do think your recent discomforts have been like an apprenticeship that has given you enhanced capacity to help others. How will you wield your power to bless and heal?

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Life is tempting you to tiptoe to the brink of the threshold of the rawest truth, the wildest beauty, and the most precious love. Your ancestors are conspiring with your guardian angels to lure you into the secret heart of the inner sanctum of spiritual truth. I am totally sincere and serious. You now have a momentous opportunity—a thrilling opening to commune with subtle powers that could provide you with profound guidance.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
In the forests of America’s Pacific Northwest, “nurse logs” lie fallen but fertile. These dead trees host seedlings, mosses, and new saplings that rise from their decaying trunks. I regard this as a powerful metaphor for you, Taurus. Something old in you is crumbling, like outdated beliefs, outmoded duties, or obsolete loyalties. Part of you may want to either grieve or ignore the shift. And yet I assure you that fresh green vitality is sprouting from that seemingly defunct thing. What new possibility is emerging from what was supposed to end? Resurrection is at hand.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
A deeper, wilder, smarter version of love is beckoning you from the horizon. Are you ready to head in its direction? I’m not sure you are. You may semi-consciously believe you already know what love is all about, and are therefore closed to learning more. It’s also possible that your past romantic wounds have made you timid about exploring unfamiliar terrain. Here’s my assessment: If you hope to get exposed to the sweeter, less predictable kinds of intimacy, you will have to drop some (not all) of your excessive protections and defenses. PS: At least one of your fears may be rooted in faulty logic.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Princess Diana transformed the British monarchy because she insisted that royal duty should include genuine emotional connection. Her generosity wasn’t merely ceremonial but was expressed through hands-on charity work. She had close contact with youth who had nowhere to live. She walked through minefields as part of her efforts to rid the planet of that scourge. She hugged people with AIDS at a time when many others feared such contact. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward,” she said. Her ability to maintain grace while remaining emotionally authentic reflected a genius for blending strength with sensitivity. Can you guess her astrological sign? Cancerian, of course. Now is a perfect time for you to draw inspiration from her example. Express your wisely nurturing energy to the max!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Certain African lions in Kenya have no manes. Scientists theorize it’s an adaptation to heat or a reflection of extra aggressive hunting strategies. But symbolically, it challenges expectations: Is royalty still royalty without the crown? I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I suspect you will soon be asked to explore your power without its usual accouterments. Can you properly wield your influence if you don’t unleash your signature roar and dazzle? Will quiet confidence or understated presence be sufficiently magnetic? Might you radiate even more potency by refining your fire? I think so. You can summon strength in subtlety and majesty in minimalism.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
During the next nine months, you will face a poignant and potentially inspiring choice: whether to wrangle with an endless tangle of mundane struggles, or else to expand your vision to the bigger picture and devote your energy intensely to serving your interesting, long-term dreams. I hope you choose the latter option! For best results, get clear about your personal definition of success, in contrast to the superficial definitions that have been foisted on you by your culture. Can you visualize yourself years from now, looking back on your life’s greatest victories? You’re primed to enter a new phase of that glorious work, rededicating yourself with precise intentions and vigorous vows.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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