Starbucks to Offer Parental Leave For Dads Too

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Jan 25, 2017

Starting in October, Starbucks won’t just be serving grande coffees – they’ll be serving up some pretty grande parental leave policies as well.

Benefit-eligible non-birth parents like dads, foster parents, or adopted parents will be able to take up to twelve weeks unpaid leave. This applies to workers both out of store and in store.

In accordance with the expanded policy, birth mothers working more than twenty hours a week will also be eligible for six weeks of 100% paid leave – a hefty raise from the original 67%. The expanded benefit additionally applies to the federally mandated 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Mothers working out of the store are eligible for a whopping 18 weeks paid parental leave.

MORE: D.C. City Council Approves Nation’s Most Generous Paid Leave Program

The new benefits closely follow the host of other perks they gave to their workers in July, including a 5% pay raise, relaxed dress code, and double the annual bean stock award for partners who reach two years of continuous service with the company.

“While we have made substantial investments in our partners, we want to continue to do more,” said Kevin Johnson, president. “This is one of many steps we are actively taking to evolve our benefits and create a Partner Experience that lives up to our aspirations.”

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After Fire Closes Restaurant, Owner Pays Staff to Volunteer For Others

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Steve Ghent

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Jan 25, 2017

When a faulty water heater caused a fire in the backroom of this restaurant, the employees were prepared to be out of their jobs.

But instead of a complete staff layoff, the management of El Moro Spirits and Tavern in Durango, Colorado decided to continue paying the employees their regular wages in exchange for giving back to the community.

The staff were paid to volunteer for local causes with the understanding that they would return to their normal jobs once El Moro reopened

Sarah Moxam, bartender and wine director, used her time to volunteer at the Community Connection’s Holly House, a non-residential day program for adults with developmental disorders. In addition, she gave an extra hand over the holidays to the Durango Community Recreation Center by providing “whatever was needed.”

Volunteer staffers also built lasting relationships and provided help to Colorado conservation via the San Juan Mountains Association and Christmas tree sale, the group’s largest annual fundraiser.

MORE: Mom Starts Packing 2 Lunches After Son Notices Student With Little Food Eating Alone

Others spent their time at a variety of organizations including Wolfwood Refuge, the La Plata County Humane Society, and the Sexual Assault Services Organization, among others.

By the time the store started planning their reopening, 36 of the 42 previous workers rejoined the staff.

“I definitely feel like we were well taken care of and we’re more of a family now. It’s a pretty wonderful thing to know they wanted to keep us around,” Moxam told The Durango Times.

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Flint Water No Longer Exceeds Federal Lead Limit

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 24, 2017

Michigan state environmental officials have just declared that the levels of lead contained in the city’s water supply has just fallen to below the federal limit.

The federal “action level” is 15 parts per billion – but now according to a letter from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to Flint’s mayor, the concentration has fallen to 12 ppb.

According to AP, these levels are fairly average for older infrastructures of similar size, however the city residents have been advised to continue using filters and bottled water until the water lines can be replaced in the coming years.

The state has reportedly budgeted $27 million for the replacement of 7% of its lead service lines by late June.

“This is good news and the result of many partners on the local, county, state and federal levels working together to restore the water quality in the City of Flint,” the department’s director, Heidi Grether, said in a statement. “The Flint water system is one of the most monitored systems in the country for lead and copper, and that commitment will remain to ensure residents continue to have access to clean water.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Linda Parton)

Norway Wants to Give Finland a Mountain For Its Birthday

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 24, 2017

The country of Finland is drawing ever closer to celebrating its 100th birthday in December – and the people of Norway are trying to pass on a big gift in its honor.

Retired Norwegian geophycist Bjørn Geirr Harsson recently sent a letter to his nation’s government proposing that in honor of their neighboring country’s birthday, they move their country’s border over 100 feet – in other words, give Finland a mountain for their birthday.

If the Halti mountaintop in North Toms was successfully gifted, Finland would not only have a new mountain – they would have a new highest point in the country.

“I saw that the highest point of Finland was in a hillside and the mountain was in Norway,” says Bjørn. “So I wrote a letter to the Norse Ministry and proposed that the gift from the Norwegian people to Finland should be the mountaintop.”

“All over the world you find countries that fight or make war to enlarge their countries, but in this case Norway is willing to give away a small part without anyone asking for anything return,” Bjørn added. “It is a gift from the heart of the Norwegians to Finland so we don’t expect anything back; we just want to give them something really nice when they celebrate 100 years as a free nation.”

MORE: Canada Welcomes Refugees At the Airport With Coats and Healthcare

The motion has received overwhelming support from the Norse people, however several politicians are reluctant because of the legal constraints; Article 1 of the kingdom’s constitution states that Norway is “indivisible and inalienable”.

But the nation’s citizens believe that in such a time of increased global tensions, the gift would come as a historic gesture of international friendship.

David Freid, director of the short film Battle for Birthday Mountain which documents the debate, hopes that his movie will raise enough awareness and support for the gift, that the Prime Minister will back down on her resistance.

(WATCH the movie below)

Battle for Birthday Mountain from MEL Films on Vimeo.

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Nepal Goes All Out to Protect the Snow Leopard’s Future

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 24, 2017

Nepali officials have just announced the groundwork of the Snow Leopard Conservation Action Plan 2017-2021: a strategy that will hopefully secure the future of the elegant mountain cat.

The $3.15 million plan uses several approaches that will ensure at least 100 snow leopards of breeding age will populate all of the country’s regions by 2020. These approaches involve improving habitat and corridors through stronger cooperation across landscape boundaries as well as mitigating violent inter-community engagement. Officials also plan on cracking down more seriously on wildlife crimes and poaching.

“Snow leopards are the guardians of the water towers and the indicator of the health of the ecosystem,” Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the WWF. “Thus it is not just the responsibility of a handful of snow leopard range nations to protect the snow leopard habitat. It is the need of everyone who needs clean air and water.”

The project, created by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation in collaboration with several other experts and officials, has also created several responses to different climate change scenarios that will preserve the snow leopard’s habitat.

“Together, these two plans will bolster Nepal’s efforts to ensure that snow leopards thrive, even in the face of complex challenges like climate change,” said Ghana Shyam Gurung, Senior Conservation Director for WWF Nepal. “We are honored to play a key role in this critical government effort and will continue our support to save this beautiful cat.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Tambako the Jaguar, CC)

3 Pups Rescued From Hotel Rubble Offer Hope for Firefighters (LOOK)

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Good News Network

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Jan 24, 2017

These three adorable Abruzzo sheepdogs were rescued from the rubble of a hotel five days after it was engulfed by an avalanche in Central Italy.

The pups have given hope to the fire department that there will be more air pockets protecting survivors within the rubble of Hotel Rigopiano.

The dogs were immediately taken to a veterinarian to be checked over and verified as healthy.

The avalanche came after several earthquakes struck the surrounding area of Abruzzo. Though there is extensive damage already done, nine hotel guests have already been found and rescued.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share This Pawesome Story With Your Friends (Photos by the Vigili Del Fuoco)

Little Boy Empties Piggy Bank For Mom Who Had Just Been Robbed

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 24, 2017

Dawn Pritchard was horrified to wake up on Sunday morning only to find that someone had stolen her bank account information and drained all of her funds – her 6-year-old son, however, wasn’t about to let her panic alone.

Dawn had received an email saying that someone had made a $330 charge at a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Eugene, Oregon. The mother, who lives in Sykesville, Maryland, was aghast when she found several other charges of the same nature.

But once she had gotten off of the phone with the bank, her son Warren handed her an envelope labeled “To: Mom, From: Warren”. Inside was his own hefty gift of two dollars – quite a fortune for a youngster like Warren.

“I was just so upset and frustrated,” Dawn told the Good News Network. “My account was completely emptied. But as soon as I opened the envelope and saw that he had put his own money in there for me, all the negativity drained away. I’m beyond proud of him.”

Dawn says that Warren topped off the sweet gesture with a home made “sandwich” and the bank assured her a refund by the end of the week.

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends (Photo by Dawn Pritchard)

One Factual Dose Can Help Immunize Public Against Misinformation

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Good News Network

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Jan 24, 2017

In medicine, vaccinating against a virus involves exposing a body to a weakened version of the threat, enough to build a tolerance.

Social psychologists believe that a similar logic can be applied to help “inoculate” the public against misinformation, including the damaging influence of ‘fake news’ websites propagating myths about climate change.

A new study compared reactions to a well-known climate change fact with those to a popular misinformation campaign. When presented consecutively, the false material completely cancelled out the accurate statement in people’s minds – opinions ended up back where they started.

Researchers then added a small dose of misinformation to delivery of the climate change fact, by briefly introducing people to distortion tactics used by certain groups. This “inoculation” helped shift and hold opinions closer to the truth – despite the follow-up exposure to ‘fake news’.

The study on US attitudes found the inoculation technique shifted the climate change opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike.

Published in the journal Global Challenges, the study was conducted by researchers from the universities of Cambridge, UK, Yale and George Mason, US. It is one of the first on ‘inoculation theory’ to try and replicate a ‘real world’ scenario of conflicting information on a highly politicized subject.

“Misinformation can be sticky, spreading and replicating like a virus,” says lead author Dr Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist from the University of Cambridge. “We wanted to see if we could find a ‘vaccine’ by pre-emptively exposing people to a small amount of the type of misinformation they might experience. A warning that helps preserve the facts.

MORE: Most Complete Study to Date Says Marijuana Can Treat Addiction, Mental Health

“The idea is to provide a cognitive repertoire that helps build up resistance to misinformation, so the next time people come across it they are less susceptible.”

To find the most compelling climate change falsehood currently influencing public opinion, van der Linden and colleagues tested popular statements from corners of the internet on a nationally representative sample of US citizens, with each one rated for familiarity and persuasiveness.

The winner: the assertion that there is no consensus among scientists, apparently supported by the Oregon Global Warming Petition Project. This website claims to hold a petition signed by “over 31,000 American scientists” stating there is no evidence that human CO2 release will cause climate change.

The study also used the accurate statement that “97% of scientists agree on manmade climate change”. Prior work by van der Linden has shown this fact about scientific consensus is an effective ‘gateway’ for public acceptance of climate change.

CHECK OUT: Dogs Dream About How Much They Love Their Humans, Says Harvard Psychologist

In a disguised experiment, researchers tested the opposing statements on over 2,000 participants across the US spectrum of age, education, gender and politics using the online platform Amazon Mechanical Turk.

In order to gauge shifts in opinion, each participant was asked to estimate current levels of scientific agreement on climate change throughout the study.

Those shown only the fact about climate change consensus (in pie chart form) reported a large increase in perceived scientific agreement – an average of 20% points. Those shown only misinformation (a screenshot of the Oregon petition website) dropped their belief in a scientific consensus by 9 percentage points.

Some participants were shown the accurate pie chart followed by the erroneous Oregon petition. The researchers were surprised to find the two neutralized each other (a tiny difference of 0.5 percentage points).

MORE: Costa Rica Has Been Powered Only By Renewable Energy For 122 Days

“It’s uncomfortable to think that misinformation is so potent in our society,” says van der Linden. “A lot of people’s attitudes toward climate change aren’t very firm. They are aware there is a debate going on, but aren’t necessarily sure what to believe. Conflicting messages can leave them feeling back at square one.”

Alongside the consensus fact, two groups in the study were randomly given ‘vaccines’:

A general inoculation, consisting of a warning that “some politically-motivated groups use misleading tactics to try and convince the public that there is a lot of disagreement among scientists”; and a detailed inoculation that picks apart the Oregon petition specifically. For example, by highlighting some of the signatories are fraudulent, such as Charles Darwin and members of the Spice Girls, and less than 1% of signatories have backgrounds in climate science.

For those ‘inoculated’ with this extra data, the misinformation that followed did not cancel out the accurate message.

CHECK OUT: The US and China Join 196 Other Nations in Paris Climate Agreement

The general inoculation saw an average opinion shift of 6.5 percentage points towards acceptance of the climate science consensus, despite exposure to fake news.

When the detailed inoculation was added to the general, it was almost 13 percentage points – two-thirds of the effect seen when participants were just given the consensus fact.

The research team point out that tobacco and fossil fuel companies have used psychological inoculation in the past to sow seeds of doubt, and to undermine scientific consensus in the public consciousness.

They say the latest study demonstrates that such techniques can be partially “reversed” to promote scientific consensus, and work in favor of the public good.

CHECK OUT: Farmer Returns 700 Acres of California Coast to Native American Tribe

The researchers also analyzed the results in terms of political parties. Before inoculation, the fake negated the factual for both Democrats and Independents. For Republicans, the fake actually overrode the facts by 9 percentage points.

However, following inoculation, the positive effects of the accurate information were preserved across all parties to match the average findings (around a third with just general inoculation; two-thirds with detailed).

“We found that inoculation messages were equally effective in shifting the opinions of Republicans, Independents and Democrats in a direction consistent with the conclusions of climate science,” says van der Linden.

“What’s striking is that, on average, we found no backfire effect to inoculation messages among groups predisposed to reject climate science, they didn’t seem to retreat into conspiracy theories.

“There will always be people completely resistant to change, but we tend to find there is room for most people to change their minds, even just a little.”

(Source: University of Cambridge)

Click To Share This Story With Your Friends – Photo by Kagenmi

Elderly Cancer Patient Surprised With Trip to His Beloved TV Show (WATCH)

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 23, 2017

Richard Cunningham has made sure to never miss an episode of the Price Is Right – but now for the first time ever, he’s going to be watching from the stands.

When Richard’s granddaughter Alexis Hileman heard that her grandpa was recently diagnosed with leukemia, she wanted to do something special for the retired school teacher.

“With Grandpa’s chemo treatments and doctors visits in between, I try to send a little gift every now and then to add a smile to his day,” says Alexis. “As I was doing just that, I asked my mom for suggestions on a little gift and she sarcastically said, ‘Oh well you know his lifelong dream is to attend The Price Is Right.’”

Inspired, Alexis contacted JetBlu explaining the situation.

“I honestly didn’t expect anything from it, but God knew. Within a simple weeks time, 5 different JetBlue employees were contacting me, Grandpa’s doctors were beyond helpful, and our family had an ongoing group conversation figuring out the details.”

The airline donated two free plane tickets to Los Angeles for Richard and his wife to finally attend an episode of the Price is Right on February 27th.

WATCH: 80-Year-old Stun Music Store With Shredding Guitar Solo #TBT

After Richard’s family put together a surprise video explaining the gift, they played the footage for the unsuspecting senior during his church service – and he was amazed.

“Grandpa has planned his day around The Price Is Right for 45 years. He makes sure to not miss a show,” Alexis told Good News Network. “He’s still in absolute shock and can’t believe he is going. All he can say is this feels like a dream.”

The family is currently rallying for Richard to be a contestant on the show, however their campaign apparently requires more traction in order to gain attention. They’re also raising money through a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for gas, food, and souvenirs.

(WATCH the video below)

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Oregon Man Rebuilds Furniture and Better Future For Refugees

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Good News Network

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Jan 23, 2017

Refugees fleeing the destructive war plaguing their homeland already have to undergo a strenuous admissions process in order to seek asylum in the United States – once they arrive, however, they’re given very few tools to get by in American society.

That’s why Sparrow Furniture is welcoming migrants with open arms as they seek meaningful employment in Salem, Oregon.

Sparrow Furniture – a business that repurposes and refinishes furniture, lighting, and decor – will help refugees adjust to their new city by providing them with work, job training, and English lessons.

WATCH: Even Though These Villagers Were Poor, They Saved Thousands of Lives

After one to two years of training and language development, the business’s founder Luke Glaze says that Sparrow Furniture will then help their refugee workers move onto other employment opportunities where they can experience upward job mobility.

In order to kick off the organization’s mission, Glaze created a Razoo crowdfunding campaign of $50,000 for necessary renovations on their workspace, an abandoned warehouse donated by the Salem Church Alliance. Once they secure the necessary funds, Sparrow hopes to hire 2-3 employees within the first few months.

So far, the page has raised $12,500 and welcomed dozens of comments in support of the cause.

Glaze says refugees in the city have already responded by dropping off resumes and inquiring about employment.

“Ultimately our goal is to hire as many refugees as possible,” Glaze says. “Our business model shows we could hire up to 15 people in three years.”

Salem Church Alliance is also sponsoring other cohesive local resources to aid refugees, such as social services, a free medical clinic, and a community center.

Another Salem business, The Northwest Hub, has expressed interest in using their business model to teach refugees how to repair and build their own bikes for transportation.

MORE: Syrian Refugee Saves Ontario Wedding With Master Sewing Skills

“Salem’s response to refugee resettlement has been great,” Glaze says. “The community has really wanted to help and to organize themselves to assist refugees.”

While more than two dozen state governors asked President Obama not to admit Syrian refugees in 2016, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown tweeted in November 2015 that Oregon would continue to accept asylum-seekers.

“They seek safe haven and we will continue to open the doors of opportunity to them,” Brown tweeted.

(WATCH the video below)

Sparrow Furniture Introduction Long from Salem Alliance Video on Vimeo.

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Project to Plant 3 Million Trees, One For Every Resident of the City

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 23, 2017

This project is aiming to plant 3 million trees – one for every man, woman, and child – over the course of the next 25 years.

The movement known as City of Trees has already planted about 95,000 trees in the Greater Manchester area in England. The organization believes that by reforesting their district, they can create healthier communities; tackle climate change; reconnect kids to the natural world; and provide essential habitats for wildlife.

The project’s website also cites the economic and academic benefit of expanded greenery; timber and forest related industries in northwest England are worth roughly $550 million, employing 69,000 people. Exposure to nature has also been shown to improve cognitive development of primary school children.

“In terms of health… woodlands can do great things in terms of air pollution reduction… [and] can help to screen for noise pollution,” City of Trees director Tony Hothersall told BBC. “They can also help cities and towns become more resilient to climate change both in terms of things like reducing the urban heat island effect and also reducing things like risk from surface water flooding.”

You can read more about the City of Tree’s project or donate to the cause by visiting the organization’s website.

Grow Some Positivity: Click To Share (Photo by City of Trees)

Dog Chained Up For 15 Years is Finally Freed (WATCH)

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Good News Network

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Jan 23, 2017

This senior dog named Bear is waking up to a whole new life this morning; one that is comforting, warm, and filled with the love and attention that had been absent throughout his entire life up until this point.

Having spent 15 years chained up to a dog house in a Suffolk County, New York backyard, doing his best to survive harsh winters with little to no care, one call to the animal rescue group Guardians of Rescue changed his life and helped him find freedom.

”We received a call about a dog in need of a dog house,” stated Robert Misseri, founder and president of Guardians of Rescue (GOR). “But when we got there, it was even worse than that. That’s when we discovered the poor dog had spent his whole life attached to a heavy chain. We knew then and there that we had to do something to make a difference in that dog’s life, and so we did.”

GOR spoke with the dog’s owner, who agreed to surrender the canine to the rescue group. The group happily took ownership of the hound – who they report was all bark and no bite – and decided to ensure that the rest of his life will be lived in comfort.

Bear was cut free from his heavy chain, loaded into the front seat of a pickup, and was taken to the spa for proper grooming. From there, the group will find him a loving forever home where he can enjoy the time he has left.

“Our mission is to help rescue as many animals as we can, but we can’t do it without the help of the community,” added Misseri. “One phone call from someone in the community set the wheels in motion that have changed Bear’s life. That’s a true success story and why we exist.”

WATCH: Stolen Dog Can’t Contain Himself When Reunited with Man After 2 Years

Guardians of Rescue has a new show called “The Guardians,” which airs on Animal Planet on Saturday’s at 10 pm EST.

The community can assist GOR by watching out for pets in need and contacting the organization when they see animals in distress. Guardians of Rescue provides medical care, food, shelter, and foster-home placements. They are also instrumental in providing service dogs to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

(WATCH the video below)

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Unique Charter School Offers Impressive Second Chance for Adults

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Steve Ghent

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Jan 23, 2017

Gary Moore had to drop out of school at 11 years of age to take care of his baby sisters, and no one seemed to have noticed or bothered to find out what happened to his education afterwards.

Now, according to the Christian Science Monitor, the 27-year-old baker is picking up where he left off in school by working towards his diploma at a charter Indiana high school for adults that gives grown-ups a second chance – and some a first chance – at graduation.

Moore is one of almost 30 million adults who are searching for their ticket into a workforce that increasingly requires a diploma.

The Excel Center, founded by Goodwill Industries, caters specifically to adult learners. It differs from most adult education recovery programs by providing classes with in-person instructors – and not a computer monitor – as well as an academic coach.

The coach helps each student with academics, childcare, and transportation issues, as well as anything that interferes with their education. Most importantly, the coaches develop relationships with students so that someone knows and cares whether they are in school or not.

Teachers, staff, and academic life coaches all share a common goal: changing their local communities through education of the individual. Recently, 688 students in central Indiana changed their lives by earning a diploma through the Excel Center.

MORE: 94-Year-old Graduates College Online with Bachelor’s and 4.0 GPA

Goodwill has also started schools serving 3,500 different students in South Bend, Indiana; Austin, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Washington with another 20 locations in consideration.

And these programs are not just handing out diplomas. In Texas, students are expected to earn their diploma and a trade certification, along with passing state standardized tests. Upon enrollment at the Excel Center, however, 64% of students were unemployed. After graduation, 80% are employed or continuing on to college.

Each graduate also represents enormous savings for taxpayers. Welfare payments, food stamp, criminal justice costs, and medical care add up to about $235,000 per person over the course of their lifetime. Multiply that by millions for those who don’t have a diploma, are not in school, underemployed, or unemployed and that figure easily reaches the trillions.

WATCH: Man Breaks Down in Tears When Graduating Girl Asks Him To Be Her Dad

The bigger picture benefits for society looms even larger because of the “generational impact”, since most parents who graduate are more likely to have a child that graduates. The vast majority of Goodwill adult students have reported since their own enrollment, their children have improved in school as well.

As the charter schools have begun to expand across the country, many Chambers of Commerce acknowledge that an educated and trained workforce is one of the biggest assets in attracting industries and jobs to an area.

But for Moore, he’s the most excited about graduation.

“When you’re denied something, you want it even that much more. I don’t want to cry, but it’s certainly going to mean everything,” he tells The Christian Science Monitor.

Multiply The Good: Click To Share (Photo by Newman University, CC)

Healthy Concession Food is a ‘Game Changer’ for High Schools

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Good News Network

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Jan 22, 2017

Concession stands at school sporting events are often overlooked by those advocating for healthy school food. However, a new study highlights how concession stands can benefit from adding on healthy items.

“We found that an average of 77% of students purchased healthier foods when they were available and that revenue also increased when a variety of healthy items were available,” says the study’s co-author Brian Wansink. “This a game changer for both schools and healthier students.”

In 2014, researchers from the University of Iowa and Cornell University teamed up with a booster club president in charge of running the concession stand at a large high school to publish their findings on how the addition of healthy items to the school concession stand impacted sales. They found that the addition of 8 new healthy items, which complied with the USDA Smart Snacks guidelines, accounted for 9% of concession stand sales. Overall sales also increased by 4%.

“While these findings were positive,” says co-author Helena Laroche, “We really wanted to know how students felt about the change, so we conducted a follow-up survey to gauge their satisfaction.”

314 students responded to the survey, which asked them to indicate whether the availability of healthy foods was important to them or not. The researchers split the survey responses based on the students’ answer to this question and found that both groups purchased healthier foods and were more satisfied with the offerings. Among those who valued the availability of healthy items, 79% reported purchasing at least one new healthy item. Of those who did not believe it was important to offer healthy foods, almost as many 76% reported purchasing at least one healthy item during the school year. Furthermore, the latter group indicated being more satisfied with the variety of foods offered and the former more satisfied with the healthfulness and taste.

The researchers stress the importance of sending students a consistent message that health is important by offering healthy items wherever food is offered or sold.

Good News Is Also Good For You: Click To Share – Source: Cornell Food and Brand Lab, Photo by Mary Harrell Leonard

Watch Mother Resuscitate Baby Deer with 8 Minutes of CPR

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 22, 2017

Even though this baby deer had stopped breathing after falling into a pool, this rescuer was not about to give up on it.

The owner of the pool, who happened to be a doctor, had reportedly pulled the deer from the water just before her daughter started filming the dramatic episode.

The woman desperately performed CPR on the fawn for eight minutes before it finally coughed and spluttered awake.

Relieved, the unidentified mother dried the fawn with a little pink towel before the critter rejoined her own mother at the edge of the forest.

(WATCH the video below)

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Dental Office Will Offer Dental Care to the Uninsured for One Day

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 22, 2017

Two days out of every year, this office is offering free dental care to any adult uninsured Queens residents in New York.

The Steinway Family Dental Center designated February 3rd, 2017 to be Free Dental Day. The staff will cover basic services such as cleanings, fillings, oral exams and X-rays as well as guidance on proper brushing, flossing, and other dental care techniques.

Between 10AM and 3PM, the office will be accepting walk-ins, however it is advised to make an appointment in advance since the slots fill up quickly. The Steinway workers reportedly say that they usually see as many as 40 patients in one day.

“Free Dental Day is an emotional one,” says the dental office. “Seeing patients who haven’t been to the dentist in years receive their cleaning or finally get rid of that tooth pain is indescribable.”

“We’ve had plenty of success with Free Dental Day in the past and we are really looking forward to giving back to the community once again.”

Smile!: Click To Share With Your Friends (Photo by Connor Lawless, CC)

Man Plunges Under Ice 3 Times to Save Wife Trapped in Lake (Video)

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McKinley Corbley

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Jan 22, 2017

Kevin Wiseman often plows paths in the backwoods of Quebec for a local snowmobile club, but the good deed turned into a traumatic event on Wednesday’.

Kevin and his 40-year-old wife Audrey Berndt were riding their snowcat through the Canadian wilderness when they took a turn onto what they thought was an empty field. By the time they realized it was actually the frozen McMullin Lake, near Val-des-Monts, it was too late.

The couple tried to turn back, but the snowcat plunged through the ice. The vehicle sunk 12 feet before it hit the bottom and the cab started filling up with icy water. When Kevin was unable to punch through the windshield, he head-butted the glass until it broke.

WATCH: Tightrope Walker Scales Ski Wire to Rescue Dangling Man

He resurfaced only to find that his wife was still trapped underwater.

Kevin dove back into the freezing waters three different times before he finally found Audrey and hauled her onto dry land.

“Something in my head said, ‘You are going back under. You’re staying there, if you don’t have your wife,’” Kevin told CBC.

The couple knocked on a nearby cabin door for help. The owner of the cabin, who happened to be a nurse, was able to take care of their wounds and give them warm clothes while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Berdnt was taken to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia, however she was released after a few hours and declared healthy.

“I call him my hero. If not for him, I would not be here,” said Audrey.

(WATCH the video below)

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Sweetest Moments From the Obama Years In Photos (2009-2017)

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Good News Network

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Jan 21, 2017

As we say goodbye to Barack Obama and his family after eight years in their home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable photos taken by Pete Souza, the official White House photographer…

As a father, President Obama was ‘a natural’ around children of all ages…

Hailing from Chicago, the Obamas were no strangers to snow…

The whole family played in the snow—including Bo, the family’s Portuguese Water Dog, shown here romping in a blizzard on the south grounds.

Snowball in hand, the President chases Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on the White House colonnade.

The Jokester-in-Chief: “We were walking through a locker room when White House Trip Director Marvin Nicholson stopped to weigh himself on a scale. Unbeknownst to him, the President was stepping on the back of the scale, as Marvin continued to slide the scale lever. Everyone but Marvin was in on the joke.”

This pizza shop owner became a celebrity overnight when the traveling press corp captured images of Scott Van Duzer picking up the president in a bear hug…

And who can forget this moment, when Obama fired a marshmallow cannon in the East Room designed by a young participant in the annual White House Science Fair… Watch the video

One day Sasha crawled into the office, and Souza followed her. She hid behind the sofa, and when she reached the far end, jumped up and yelled, to spook her dad.

Michelle and Barack watch the Fourth of July fireworks from the roof of the White House…

Touching hands on the railing of a boat during a tour following the Gulf oil spill…

The president, wearing a tiara with Girl Scouts visiting the White House…

Visiting classrooms to promote science (and having a little fun)…

Meeting a staffer’s daughter right down on the floor…

And, who didn’t enjoy his dancing and singing?

Crooning ’Sweet Home Chicago’ with B.B. King…

He didn’t mind rolling up his sleeves, recalls photographer Souza: “White House valets had moved the sofas in the Oval Office to accommodate the large number of press. When the photo-op ended, the President said to Vermont Gov. Douglas, ‘Let’s move the sofas back in place.’ Gov. Douglas didn’t quite know what to do as the President began lifting.”

Fixing a young man’s tie…

Returning to the Oval Office after going on a hamburger run for West Wing staffers. (White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Michelle made her mark, too, helping kids stay fit, planting and harvesting in her White House vegetable garden, and advocating for veterans…

To all the Obamas, We Will Miss You!

SHARE the photos to Say Farewell on your timeline…

No Need for Fillings: Alzheimer’s Drug Can Stimulate Tooth Renewal

By

Good News Network

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Jan 21, 2017

A new method of stimulating the renewal of living stem cells in tooth pulp using an Alzheimer’s drug has been discovered by a team of researchers.

Following trauma or an infection, the inner, soft pulp of a tooth can become exposed and infected. In order to protect the tooth from infection, a thin band of dentine is naturally produced and this seals the tooth pulp, but it is insufficient to effectively repair large cavities. Currently dentists use man-made cements or fillings, such as calcium and silicon-based products, to treat these larger cavities and fill holes in teeth. This cement remains in the tooth and fails to disintegrate, meaning that the normal mineral level of the tooth is never completely restored.

However, in a paper published in Scientific Reports, scientists from the Dental Institute at King’s College London have proven a way to stimulate the stem cells contained in the pulp of the tooth and generate new dentine – the mineralized material that protects the tooth – in large cavities, potentially reducing the need for fillings or cements.

The novel, biological approach could see teeth use their natural ability to repair large cavities rather than using cements or fillings, which are prone to infections and often need replacing a number of times. Indeed when fillings fail or infection occurs, dentists have to remove and fill an area that is larger than what is affected, and after multiple treatments the tooth may eventually need to be extracted. As this new method encourages natural tooth repair, it could eliminate all of these issues, providing a more natural solution for patients.

CHECK OUT: First Ever Quadriplegic Treated With Stem Cells Regains Motor Control in His Upper Body

Significantly, one of the small molecules used by the team to stimulate the renewal of the stem cells included Tideglusib, which has previously been used in clinical trials to treat neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. This presents a real opportunity to fast-track the treatment into practice.

Using biodegradable collagen sponges to deliver the treatment, the team applied low doses of small molecule glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) inhibitors to the tooth. They found that the sponge degraded over time and that new dentine replaced it, leading to complete, natural repair. Collagen sponges are commercially-available and clinically-approved, again adding to the potential of the treatment’s swift pick-up and use in dental clinics.

Lead author of the study, Professor Paul Sharpe said: “The simplicity of our approach makes it ideal as a clinical dental product for the natural treatment of large cavities, by providing both pulp protection and restoring dentine. In addition, using a drug that has already been tested in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease provides a real opportunity to get this dental treatment quickly into clinics.”

Click To Share This Jaw-Dropping Story With Your Friends – (Source and photo: King’s College London)

94-Year-old Graduates College Online with Bachelor’s and 4.0 GPA

By

McKinley Corbley

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Jan 21, 2017

Amy Craton didn’t see herself “just sitting around watching Netflix all day” in her old age, so she went back to school — and met her goal with timeless success.

The 94-year-old graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing and English, and did it while earning a perfect grade point average of 4.0.

Since she was unable to make it to New England for the graduation ceremony, SNHU President Paul LeBlanc, flanked by several staff members and faculty, flew out to her home in Hawaii to throw her a surprise party.

Craton had put a hold on her education in 1964 so she could raise her children full-time. When the senior decided to go back to school, she chose SNHU because it reminded her of her childhood growing up in the region.

“It feels good to graduate, to finish that part of my life, but I feel that I’m still on the road,” she said in an interview released by the school. “I have much more to learn.”

Which is why she’s already enrolled in a master’s degree program and studying daily assignments once again.

(WATCH the video below)

School’s Never Out: Click To Share the Inspiration – OR,