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Woman Donates Ambulance Only to be Rescued by it 3 Months Later

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Good News Network
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This couple was so excited about winning a raffle, they donated an ambulance to their local hospital; which the woman was then rescued by 3 months later.

Beryl Good and her husband Doug were ecstatic about winning the raffle at St. John hospital’s in Warkworth on the North Island of New Zealand. The two celebrated their luck by further donating a new $180,000 ambulance to the hospital in November.

3 months later, Beryl slipped on her newly-painted front porch and broke her radius.

RELATED: Woman’s Wallet Returned 8 Years Later With Money Still Inside

71-year-old Beryl had never ridden in an ambulance before; so when she saw the emergency vehicle – fondly named Dobegoo as a combination of Beryl and Doug’s names – she was amazed.

“My husband (86) and I have never needed an ambulance but we always knew how important they were, especially with how fast our community is growing. It was a joke really when Dobegoo turned up,” Beryl told Stuff. “When I got picked up I was surprised it had already done 32,000km.”

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Injured Brothers Succeed Despite Being Victims of Drunk Driver

By
McKinley Corbley
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Everything changed for the Noble brothers when – after they were victims of a drunk driving accident – Justin became paralyzed and Matt suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Becoming a paraplegic made Justin unable to attend law school while Matt’s cognitive abilities prevented him from joining any work force. Without any work or prospective career opportunities, the incident wreaked havoc on their mental health.

But as fate would have it, Justin and Matt became aware that the other brother possessed the ability that they themselves lacked, making them ideal business partners.

RELATED: Teen Girl Uses ‘Crazy Strength’ to Lift Burning Car Off Her Dad

“The first year was the hardest,” Matt told Good News Network. “I don’t remember much of that year and Justin was in rehab for about 8 months of that year. My first memory was confusion and hopelessness. Once we were able to work, we tried several things – together and separately, but we have found that the best solution is together.”

In order to unite his sons with a common mission, Justin and Matt’s father Wayne Noble created Carolina Farmstead; a boutique woodworking studio located on their family farm in rural eastern North Carolina. The business’s furniture is all made using recycled local materials and certified as environmentally-friendly.

Since the business was created, Justin started working as the Operations Manager while Matt took on the role of Lead Craftsman – both fitting roles for their disabilities.

MORE: College Student Recycled Hotel Soap to Save Thousands of Cambodians From Disease

“This company is a dream come true for our family,” added Matt. “My parents worry about getting older and not being able to provide for us. This company can give my parents peace of mind for our futures and the future of my son, Noah. This business is all about keeping a family together and being strong following a devastating setback.”

“We quickly realized that we would have to work as a team,” Justin told Good News Network. “The accident left us with strengths and weaknesses that complement each other.  If you combine our strengths together it sort of makes us a whole person again. I depend on Matt to accomplish many physical tasks that I cannot perform and he depends on me to help him with things like planning and strategy.”

“We were completely devastated immediately following the accident. We both felt like there was nothing left to live for. What we learned was that while our lives are completely different we can still live full lives.”

The Noble brother’s work has since been nationally recognized on HGTV’s Love It or List It and in the PBS documentary and cooking series “A Chef’s Life”.

Click To Share This Inspiring Story With Your Friends (Photo by the Noble family)

U.S. Airlines Excel: Denied Boardings, Mishandled Bags at Lowest Rate in 26 Years

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Good News Network
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An annual report released today shows that airlines are substantially improving the service provided to passengers in the US. In fact, your chances of getting bumped from a flight or being told your bags were mishandled in 2016 were the lowest in 26 years, according to performance reports from The Airline Quality Rating.

Although Alaska Airlines came out on top, with Delta coming in at a close second and Virgin America third, seven of the 12 airlines improved in all four categories of quality, including bumping ticketed passengers.

Nine of the 12 airlines improved in three measurements – on-time performance, baggage handling and customer complaints. Airlines that performed better last year were Alaska, American, Delta, ExpressJet, Frontier, SkyWest, Southwest, Spirit and United. Those whose scores declined in 2016 were Hawaiian, JetBlue and Virgin America, which had historically high ratings.

RELATED: Passenger Plane Crashes and Burns – But Every Single Person Aboard Survived

“Delta has climbed its way back to be a close contender for No. 1, after recovering from merger complications for several years,” said study co-researcher Brent Bowen, dean of College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.

The Rankings of the Nation’s leading 12 airlines (with the 2015 ranking in parentheses):

1. Alaska (5)
2. Delta (3)
3. Virgin America (1)
4. JetBlue (2)
5. Hawaiian (4)
6. Southwest (6)
7. SkyWest (7)
8. United (8)
9. American (10)
10. ExpressJet (9)
11. Spirit (last)
12. Frontier (11)

On-time Performance – Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance (91.1 percent) for 2016, and Spirit had the worst (74.3 percent). Nine airlines improved their on-time arrival performance in 2016. Six of the 12 airlines rated had an on-time arrival percentage of better than 80 percent. On-time performance for the industry in 2016 was 81.4 percent, compared to 79.9 percent in 2015.

MORE: Police Rescue Over 6,000 Turtles in Largest Wildlife Bust in the Nation

Involuntary Denied Boardings – Hawaiian and Delta were the industry leaders in avoiding involuntary denied boarding incidents in 2016 with a rate of 0.05 and 0.10 per 10,000 passengers, respectively. ExpressJet (1.51) had the highest involuntary denied boarding rate per 10,000 passengers. Seven airlines improved their denied boarding rate in 2016. SkyWest recorded the greatest improvement. Overall, the industry had 0.62 denied boardings per 10,000 passengers in 2016, compared to 0.76 in 2015– the best rate since the AQR started in 1991.

Baggage Handling – Virgin America had the best baggage handling rate (1.03 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers) of all airlines, and ExpressJet had the worst baggage handling rate (4.31). Nine airlines had improved mishandled baggage rates in 2016. The average industry rate decreased from 3.24 in 2015 to 2.70 in 2016– the best rate in the 26 years of AQR.

LOOK: Hotel Not Only Returns Lost Toy, It Makes Photo Album of Bunny’s VIP Stay

Consumer Complaints – Southwest had the lowest consumer complaint rate (0.47 per 100,000 passengers) of all airlines. Spirit had the highest consumer complaint rate (6.74). Customer complaints per 100,000 passengers decreased from 1.90 in 2015 to 1.52 in 2016. The majority of complaints (73.5 percent) to the Department of Transportation were for flight problems (41.4%), baggage (12.0%), customer service (10.5%), and reservations, ticketing and boarding (9.6%).

The Airline Quality Rating, conducted by researchers at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is the nation’s longest-running study of airline performance and uses objective performance-based data.

See the full report, with details on each airline, at airlinequalityrating.com. You can also use a new feature where passengers can provide information and comments on the website about their personal flying experiences via the 2017 Airline Passenger Survey.

Fly This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by BriYYZ, CC)

All Cars Sold in Norway to be Electric by 2025

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Good News Network
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37 percent of Norway’s automotive market currently consists of electric and hybrid cars – but the northern nation announced a plan to accelerate that number to 100% by 2025.

Over the course of the next eight years, the Norwegian Parliament will prepare to ensure that all cars sold in that country will either be low or zero emission vehicles. They hope to achieve their goal by implementing a stronger green tax system with more financial incentives, rather than a total ban on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Since 1990, Norway has offered more than a dozen financial and lifestyle benefits to electric or hybrid car owners. These perks include priority highway access, a 50% reduced company car tax, annulled fees on toll roads and ferries, access to bus lanes, certain tax exemptions, and free parking in municipalities.

RELATED: California Breaks Solar Record, Generates Enough Electricity for 6 Million Homes

In order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of low emission vehicles, Norway plans on constructing at least one charging station for every 10 electric cars on the road, amounting to at least 50,000 by 2020.

Though it is unclear whether these charging stations would still be powered by fossil fuel or coal plants, there are nevertheless numerous environmental benefits to exclusively using hybrid or electric cars.

According to Sherry Boschert, author of Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America, using hybrids and electric cars that draw power from the traditional electric grid would drastically reduce the amount of nitrous oxide released into the air by 32% to 99%. Nitrogen oxides have proven to be very dangerous, with negative effects on people’s health as well as the environment.

Switching to low emission vehicles could also reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 17% to 71%, depending on the area.

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Bikes Made With Recycled Materials are Saving Tons of Plastic Every Year

By
Joao Freitas
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This artist has spent twelve years researching how best to recycle landfill materials; and his results have already become a great help to the environment.

After twelve years of research and development, Uruguayan designer Juan Muzzi patented the world’s first bike made entirely out of recycled plastic.

Muzzi’s Sao Paulo-based company, Muzzicycle, produces 10,000 bikes per month – and the expansive waiting list is an indicator of the bike’s ever-growing popularity. According to the company’s website, the company uses almost 16 tons of wasted plastic every year, translating to well over 5 tons of CO2 emissions saved from the atmosphere.

RELATED: Student Invents Biodegradable Packaging From Seagrass That Washes Up on Beaches

The bike’s construction requires 90% less energy than regular bike frames. They are also designed to be rust-resistant, more shock-absorbent, and even less jarring on the prostate and spine.

According to the designer, the next steps for Muzzicycle are increasing production capacity and developing a wheelchair with the same material. He plans to sell the wheelchairs at the same production costs to manufacture.

The company is also worried about generating income for the poorest of Brazil – currently, the plastic comes from different NGOs that collect the materials from the streets. These NGOs employ city residents – usually homeless – who make their living collecting these kind of recyclables.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Pope Opens Free Laundromat for Rome’s Poor

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Pope Francis has just opened an establishment for the homeless population of Rome can do their laundry for free.

“Pope Francis’ Laundry” opened its doors to the public on Monday. Six washing machines, dryers, and clothing irons were donated by Michigan-based appliance company Whirlpool, while the detergent and cleaners are being provided by Proctor and Gamble.

RELATED: High School Installs Washing Machines for Homeless Students

Located in the Trastevere neighborhood near the Vatican, officials say that they soon hope to also install showers and a barbershop within the facilities, making it a haven of free, valuable services to the poor people of Rome.

“Here is a concrete sign wanted by the office of Papal Charities: a place and a service to give concrete form to charity to restore dignity to so many people who are our brothers and sisters and who are called, with us, to build a city we can trust,” said Papal Almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski. “One of the greatest difficulties for those who live on the streets, along with that of finding food, a place to spend the night and public baths, is to wash and dry the clothes they wear, in many cases the only ones they own.”

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How to Achieve Your Goals By Honoring Your Life

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Kenneth Isom Barnes
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Each of us has moments when we start thinking very deeply about life; moments where we have to ask ourselves one question: Is this what I want to do with my life?

If your answer to that question is yes, then I congratulate you for doing what you think is best for you. Unfortunately, some of us can’t say yes to that question. Maybe we’ve had a series of bad turns that start us thinking about what else we could be doing to improve our lives. If you are in that situation, this might be of help.

I am sharing a few keys to life that have helped me through my own journey. No matter who you are, these are nuggets of wisdom that might cause you to grow.

1. Momentum is the most powerful force to propel oneself into accomplishing a goal. Momentum is usually used scientifically to describe the rate and acceleration of an object that is moving. But we can also use that term to describe actions within ourselves.

Constant action can lead to rewards and receiving rewards is a powerful incentive for continued action. The more you achieve, the bigger you can dream to achieve in the future. Momentum is powerful fuel for life, but it is always in a fragile state.

WATCH: She Offered an Armed Robber a Glass Of Wine, Completely Flipped The Script

By knowing the fragile state of momentum, you will start to develop enemies, some of whom may have been your dearest friends and family. Jealousy, envy, and fear will lead your enemies to place obstacles in your way and doubt in your heart. If they can only slow down your progress, then eventually you may trip and fall.

This is not unlike a talented actor who – during their first week in Los Angeles – books a series of amazing gigs, resulting in a huge burst of momentum. The following weeks and months may be filled with constant rejection, but the initial momentum can continue to power them onwards.

CHECK OUT: How Yoga Turns Your Bad Thoughts into Good Thoughts

However, most of us know the all too common story of actors who show momentum; they are descended upon by negative people and opinions; the internet will start to spew salacious rumors and lies; former associates might try to sell gossip. So many issues could serve to distract the actor and destroy their momentum. How I deal with this problem leads me to my second point.

2. Honor the pathway life has given you. A life’s journey can be filled with pain and heartache, but it can also have moments of joy, wealth, and the overcoming of adversity.

We honor so many things in our life, from our country to our historical figures. So why not take a time of self-reflection to honor your own journey? You are the culmination of a journey that started with your ancestors. You being here now deserves gratified celebration – especially since many other people have not been as fortunate. Each major event in your life is like a milestone marker; it is a marker that shows how far you have come.

MORE: Check Out This Yoga Studio Made Entirely of Salt

When you see from where you have arisen, it gives you the armor to deal with those who seek to stop your momentum. When you honor yourself, you will have humble gratitude for the journey that both you and your ancestors have undertaken.

3. You have to stop comparing yourself to others. I know this is a cliché statement, but I find it easy to lose sight of this simple message. Honor what you have and do not compare it to other people’s accomplishments or positions.

In my own mind, I illustrate this concept as a story where I am vacationing with travel companions on tropical islands.

We have spent a wonderful half day on an island, and my companions suggest going to another island that is about 1,000 feet away. There is a boat that regularly travels to the other island, but it only leaves at night. As my companions want to spend daylight hours on the other island, they collectively agree that swimming the short distance across the open ocean is the best option.

My story continues with the tiny detail that I am not a skilled swimmer. This leads me to a crossroads: should I attempt to swim? Am I a failure for not possessing the skills of others?

RELATED: Doing Yoga On A Rooftop Cleansed My Chakras (Learn To Do It At Home)

As I keep imagining the narrative, I do not attempt such a risky feat. Instead of sinking into self-degradation of my current limitations, I take a moment to offer gratitude for the honor of even being on such islands, surrounded by such beauty. I am grateful for even being given the possibility of finding hidden opportunities by having more time to explore.

You must go through life at your own ability and pace – you never know what may be waiting exclusively for you.

You can try to put these three points into practice one at a time so you do not feel overwhelmed having to do everything at once. Remember that you can adapt and change the previous points so they can fit better to your lifestyle and vision for life. Because, in the end, the main purpose of this advice is to improve your own life – not to force you into following my path.

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City to Offer Workshop on How to Raise Backyard Chickens

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Good News Network
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The city of Berkeley, California is hosting a free workshop on April 23rd about how to raise chickens in your backyard.

Since urban farming is becoming increasingly more popular because of its sustainability and ethical appeal, the Berkeley Animal Care center will be teaching participants about a host of important fowl issues, such as proper zoning, legality, housing chickens responsibly, and interacting with your birds.

Whether you’re already a chicken owner, or you’re interested in adopting your own fowl, the event is bound to informative for amateurs and professionals alike.

RELATED: Dementia Patients Live in the Moment, Become Touring Artists and Hen Keepers

If you’re interested in signing up for the workshop, be sure to RSVP, because spaces fill up fast.

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Support America’s Treasures and Enjoy Free Admission During National Park Week

By
McKinley Corbley
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April plays host to nature lovers’ favorite week of the year: National Park Week. And, free admission is part of the celebration.

Starting on April 16th and running until April 24th—a week that contains Earth Day—all national parks in the United States will be admission free. From Yosemite to the Grand Canyon, all 417 of the most beautiful landscapes in the country will be open to the public without any entrance fees, commercial tour fees, or transportation entrance fees attached.

Though camping and tour fees will still apply, all of the parks are opening their doors to accept visitors from near and far – and not just wilderness areas either. The event also encompasses historical sites like Gettysburg, Jamestown, the Wright Brothers Monument, and the homes of presidents, like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

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This summer in particular marks the 101st birthday of the National Park Service. To find a park near you, you can check out the National Park Service website.

You can also support the National Park Service’s mission in a host of ways; you can make a donation to help protect the over 84 million acres of land preserved by the organization; join the parks community, or renew your membership if you already have one; or buy a gift from the national parks gift guide.

Start Planning Your Trip Now: Click To Share With Your Friends (Photo by Todd Wendy, CC)

Why This Policeman Skateboards With Teens While On Patrol

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Good News Network
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Officer Craig Hanaumi may be considered the coolest cop in town, but he insists that he is just doing his job.

Whenever he is not patrolling the streets of Seattle, Washington, the Bellevue police officer is either playing trombone, doing jiu jitsu, or skateboarding.

WATCH: White Cop Stops a Black Teen – the Amazing Events that Followed

These activities are Craig’s way of forging positive relationships between law enforcement and the community and meeting civilians that he wouldn’t normally get to interact with otherwise.

Craig believes that natural participation in sports and recreation creates more meaningful bonds than conversation – and judging by the youngsters he is skating with in this video, his hunch is right on target.

(WATCH the video below)

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Student Invents Biodegradable Packaging From Seagrass That Washes Up on Beaches

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Good News Network
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This German college student has created a completely biodegradable packaging material made entirely out of seagrass, which simply washes up in heaps on the beach.

The seagrass is mixed with a binding substance contained inside the leaves before being pressed into a mold. The material is then baked until dry.

The chemical properties of the seagrass also provide added benefits – helping to keep the food bacteria free. Since the material is also completely renewable, Felix believes it could replace plastic packaging of foods in the future.

RELATED: Woman Hailed for Inventing Foldable Paper Bicycle Helmet

The design is the brainchild of Felix Pöttinger, a student at the Royal College of Art in London.

“It’s a natural waste material, and past research showed that it is highly resistant against mold,” Felix told Dezeen. “I’m only using the dead seagrass fibres that appear on the beaches of the Mediterranean coast, so there is no industrial harvesting process to harm the population of the seagrass or any living being.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends, OR   – Photo by Felix Pöttinger

Fans Score Big After Hockey Player Accidentally Knocks Over Their Beer

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Good News Network
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There might be a lot of rough play going on during hockey games, but the players are still stand-up gentlemen; and one fan named Ryan will attest to that.

Ryan was at a match between the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings with his friend Mike on Tuesday night when they went down to the glass barrier to watch the warm-ups.

That’s when Henrik Zetterberg, the left wing player of the Red Wings, started banging into the side boards as part of his warm-up. Mike’s pint of beer, which had been perched on the barrier, was sent flying to the ground as a result of Zetterberg’s practice.

RELATED: Hockey Star Ensures This Teen Gets Prom Date of His Dreams

“We knocked on the glass to show him what happened, as I got a kick out of it.” Ryan told the Ottawa Citizen. “Zetterberg started laughing!”

Well, this skater wasn’t about to let a fan’s brew go to waste.

“A few minutes later, he went over to the bench, grabbed one of his brand new game sticks and autographed it saying: ‘Sorry! I owe u one! (with his signature)’ He skated over and tossed it over the glass to us! How classy is that guy!!! Amazing!”

The Red Wings unfortunately lost 2-0, but Mike and Ryan scored the keepsake of a lifetime.

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Watch Man Dressed in Rags Giving Cash to Dozens of Startled Drivers

By
McKinley Corbley
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Every driver has seen a panhandler asking for donations from the window of a car – but not many have been offered money by a panhandler instead. That’s why Tim stood on a street corner in Phoenix, Arizona dressed in dirty clothes and holding a sign reading: “It’s better to give than to receive”.

An award-winning TV Director, Tim Owens had been laid off from a position during the previous week. After receiving his last paycheck, he decided that since he already felt secure with a house and family, he wanted to give away that money to other people.

But Tim knew that he didn’t want to simply hand out cash on a street corner dressed in a clean cut outfit. Instead, he wanted to accomplish more. He put on some disheveled clothes and pretended to be homeless to find people who were struggling, but don’t look like they are.

RELATED: Cop Goes Undercover in Wheelchair to Make Arrests, Finds Kindness Instead

“I knew I had to do something crazy. Not because of the theatrics of it, or not because of this self-fulfilling idea. It had to be a big and bold step in a way I would never forget it,” Tim told USA Today. “What if we flipped this and showed people that things aren’t always what they seem?”

When some of the drivers asked him why he was doing such a thing, he simply replied with: “My needs are already met.”

MORE: These Reverse Panhandlers Are Giving Money and Thanks on Street Corners

Though Tim filmed this video over three years ago, he has finally released it to the public in hopes of making people realize that it truly is better to give than to receive – and that it is better not to judge a book by its coveralls.

(WATCH the video below)

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Teens Are Instant Heroes For Saving a Boy Who Fell Off a Cliff

By
McKinley Corbley
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Two teen boys are being hailed as heroes after they rescued a child who had tumbled over a cliff and into freezing waters last Wednesday.

14-year-old Riley John and 16-year-old Seth Gerrin were wandering through Cope Park in Juneau, Alaska when they saw a 5-year-old boy fall down a 15-foot slope and hit his head on a rock in the stream below. As he was being carried away down the river, Riley jumped into the water and swam after the boy.

“He flew down and I was like ‘Oh my God, that’s a really far drop. He hit a rock really hard. He then fell into the water,” Riley told Inside Edition.  “I really don’t know what I was thinking. I reacted as fast I could.”

RELATED: Teen Girl Uses ‘Crazy Strength’ to Lift Burning Car Off Her Dad

Securing a grip on the water-soaked clothes worn by Mason Varner, he was able to pull the boy into a safer part of the river. When Riley’s strength failed, he then passed the body off to Seth, who ran Mason to paramedics.

The teens left before Mason’s mother Kristen Hemlock could properly thank them, but she later posted a plea on social media asking if anyone knew the identity of the boys. Riley’s grandmother saw the post in a Facebook group and responded to Kristen.

Riley and Seth were later honored during a financial fair at Yaakoosge Daakahidi High School. According to the Juneau Police Department Facebook page, government officials rewarded the boys with a Governor’s citation, among other goodies.

(WATCH the video below)

Inspire Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Juneau Police Department)

Man Helps Amputee Up the Stairs, Then Returns to Build Ramp

By
McKinley Corbley
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Jennifer Austin had long awaited the day that her husband would finally return from the hospital – but after weeks of time spent in the ICU, Don Austin arrived home on Friday only to find a frustrating obstacle standing in his way: the stairs to his front door.

Due to a host of health issues, Don had had his leg amputated below the knee. Though he had crutches handy, he still wasn’t strong enough to make it up the stairs to their house in Creston, Florida.

“There was no way I could get him up [the stairs] with the wheelchair,” said Jennifer. “There became a critical point where he ended up down on the concrete steps, and even with his mother’s help, there was not enough strength to lift him up.”

RELATED: Mailman Builds Ramp for Elderly Dog Struggling With Stairs

It was then that Steve Smith drove by in his car and saw the family struggling with the steps. He circled back and pulled into the driveway, asking if they needed help.

Steve then scooped Don up into his arms, carried him into the house, and put the man down on the couch.

“We were pretty emotional at that time and so grateful for this angel that took the time to help. But it didn’t end there.”

MORE: Stranger Buys $750 Plane Ticket for Distraught Father’s Child

Steve, who happened to also be a welder, then returned the next day with his father so they could build a wheelchair ramp for Don.

“This stranger saved the day for us twice within 24 hours. He also brightened our spirits that had become increasingly dimmed over the difficult months,” added Jennifer. “Like a breath of fresh air he is, and there is a sense of optimism back in our home because of his kindness. This stranger is now a friend.”

Click To Share This Sweet News With Your Friends (Photo by Jennifer Austin)

See this Mayor’s Meow-velous Reaction to Cat Upstaging His Interview

By
McKinley Corbley
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This online interruption is one of the most purrrrfect representations of stereotypical cat behavior on the internet today.

Nils Ushakov, the mayor of Latvia’s capital city of Riga, was giving a live online Q&A interview when one of his cats decided to interrupt the stream.

Nils is a self-professed animal lover who is the proud father of two cats: Kuzia and Muris. Though its unclear which of the felines interrupted his interview, it’s easy to tell that he is trained on how to respond to such incidents.

WATCH: Adorable Children Crash Dad’s Live TV Interview

One of the cats can be seen confidently ambling across the desk before stopping in front of Ushakov’s mug and dipping its head in for a sip of his tea.

The mayor then stares his cat down for several seconds before chuckling, gently brushing the house pet off of the desk, and sophisticatedly continuing his interview.

What a pawesome reaction.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Off-duty Cop Saves 3-Year-old Girl On the Way to His Wedding

By
McKinley Corbley
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John O’Rourke’s wedding day wasn’t just exciting because of the ceremony – he also saved the life of a little 3-year-old girl.

John had stopped into a Donuts To Go in Sanford, Florida for some breakfast before the big ceremony on March 28th. While he was waiting in line, he noticed a crowd of people hovering over a child; the girl was having a seizure and all of the onlookers were too shocked to call paramedics.

“It had to be a donut shop,” said O’Rourke. “You can’t make this up.”

John rushed over to the crowd and instructed someone to call 911. After briefly speaking to the emergency operator on the phone, he began giving the child CPR and chest compressions.

RELATED: McDonald’s Worker Jumps Through Window to Save Cop

By the time paramedics arrived, the girl had started breathing again and John was given a free box of donuts as a thank you for his heroic actions.

“I just sat in my car, for about 20 minutes, processing everything,” he said.

According to the Indiana University Police Department, no one at the wedding ceremony was surprised to hear about that morning’s events – not even his newly-married wife Virginia.

One officer was quoted saying: “You know John – he’s always at the right place at the right (or wrong) time.”

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In Midst of National Malaise, Brazil is First Team to Qualify For World Cup

By
Joao Freitas
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Magic is in the South American air now that Brazil has become the first soccer team in the world with a guaranteed presence in the 2018 World Cup.

While critics may be too busy crediting the success to Tite, the new Brazilian team head coach, soccer fans are simply enjoying the beautiful plays being performed on the field.

Despite the team’s poor results over the course of the last 15 years, Brazil has always been famous for their quality of soccer. But under the command of former coach Dunga, there was a very real possibility that Brazil – which has been the only country that has been present in every edition of the World Cup – would not be able to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia. Then in June 2016, everything changed.

RELATED: Anonymous Tip Saves Olympic Swimmer From Skin Cancer

A few months before the Olympics, Tite was hired to replace Dunga as the team’s coach. Tite started initiating deep changes; perhaps the most visible of which was ending the heavy dependency on Neymar, the team’s biggest star, to score. Positive results quickly became evident on the soccer field – and on the team’s position for the World Cup’s qualifying chart.

Now with eight victories in a row, the team under Tite’s leadership has not only gone undefeated, but they have also broken the previous record for the longest win streak that was set in the 80s.

MORE: Athlete Overcomes Depression and Brings Home Olympic Silver for Home Crowd in Brazil

Furthermore, under the new leadership, Brazil has scored a jaw-dropping average of three goals per game. The current 33 points in the qualifier guarantees the South American team’s presence and – more importantly – the country’s great soccer exhibitions in the 2018 World Cup. To make things even more special, Argentina – the country’s biggest sports rival – is running a serious risk of not qualifying next to Russia.

Despite the economic troubles, corruption scandals, and other hardships currently plaguing Brazil, the soccer team is back on track, bringing joy not only to Brazilians, but soccer fans worldwide.

Score Big With Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Dudu Troféu)

Airline Delights Thousands of Stranded Passengers with Free Pizza

By
Steve Ghent
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When these Delta passengers couldn’t make their flight, the airline instead decided to treat everyone to a bite.

Thunderstorms and tornado warnings caused almost 3,000 flights to be cancelled or delayed. So, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines decided to make it up to their passengers by ordering pizza.

More than 700 boxes of pie were delivered to passengers stranded in Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and other airports in the Southeast.

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Flight delayed passengers – many who were forced to sleep on floors and chairs – were surprised when air stewards began serving up thousands of pizza slices throughout the airport. The passengers were even more surprised when pilots got involved in handing out the slices too.

“It’s just a small gesture but it’s one that our customers do appreciate,” Delta corporate communications manager Michael Thomas told AJC. “We know it’s not fun to be stuck on the ground somewhere.”

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The feat can’t even be called unusual for the company; serving free airport food has almost become a Delta tradition. Delta went the extra mile last year by giving out doughnuts, pizza and drinks to passengers when over 2,000 flights were cancelled due to a power outage.

Social media was abuzz with people thanking Delta for providing the free meal – and most importantly, the great customer service.

Kristin on Twitter summed it up best: “Delta, I was a little mad at y’all for leaving me stranded in Alabama, but then y’all brought us pizza so we’re cool again.”

Fly This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Delta and Eric Salard, CC)

Judge Orders Chimp to be Freed From Zoo Enclosure in Historic Ruling

By
McKinley Corbley
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Animal rights advocates have long fought for the freedom of Cecilia the chimp – and now, she may finally be granted access to a better life.

Since two of Cecilia’s mates died, the chimp has lived all alone in a concrete cell at the Mendocino Zoo in Argentina, showing little energy or happiness. In light of the sordid living conditions, officials from the Great Ape Project and the Association of Officials and Lawyers for the Rights of Animals have collaborated to move Cecilia to an ape sanctuary in Brazil.

In a statement that was released by the Great Ape Project on Tuesday,  Judge Maria Alejandra of the Third Court of Guarantees of the Judiciary in the Argentinean State of Mendoza ruled that Cecilia was subject to non-human rights of health and happiness.

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The ruling is historic since Cecilia is one of the first apes to be given the same judicial rights as humans on the grounds that she is also a sentient being who is deserving of the same treatment.

Cecilia is currently undergoing quarantine for transportation to Brazil. Since she has been considered one of the most beloved residents of the zoo, there have been multiple claims of fraud over the ruling in order to prevent her transfer. She is, however, receiving constant police protection until she is ready to be moved.

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“It is not a question here of granting them the rights that human beings possess, but of accepting and understanding, once and for all, that these beings are sentient beings, who are subject to rights and who, among other things, assist them with the fundamental right to be born, live, grow, and die in the environment that is their own according to their species,” says Judge Maria Alejandra.

“They are not animals or great apes to be exhibited as a work of art created by man.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by the Great Ape Project)

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