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🎯 This Sunday, May 25th is the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, and leaders in the Black faith community are hosting a series of peaceful protests outside of Target stores to pressure the retailer to re-establish its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

🇺🇸 Monday is Memorial Day, a U.S. holiday intended to remember and honor military personnel who died in the service of their country, and is different from Veterans Day commemorations.​

On that note: There will be no Goodnewsletter in your inbox on Monday, May 27th, as our team will be commemorating Memorial Day. We will be back to filling your inbox with good news on Tuesday!

Environment

A U.S. House committee removed a budget bill amendment that would require the sale of nearly 500,000 acres of federal public land

When lawmakers added an amendment to a major budget bill that would have required the sale or transfer of around 500,000 acres of federal public land in Utah and Nevada — conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and citizens in general were outraged.

Now, under pressure from House Republicans who said they wouldn’t support the budget at all if it included the land-sale amendment, leadership from the House Rules Committee removed it — ensuring these lands stay protected.

The lawmakers and advocates both feared that it would lead to a new precedent for selling federal lands, and removing access for hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy them, and could lead to it happening elsewhere.

What’s the nuance? The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed the House and is now headed for the Senate. While it’s very good news that the land-sale amendment was removed, the bill still contains devastating cuts to health care, food assitance, and clean energy, adds to the national deficit, and contains major tax breaks for corporations and top earners.

→ Read more​

More Good News

​To demonstrate that “trans is natural,” drag queen Pattie Gonia unveiled the “largest-ever trans pride flag” at Yosemite National Park. It was also in response to the Trump administration’s actions against transgender individuals, which include excluding them from serving in the military, attempting to ban them from competitive sports, depriving them of gender-affirming care, and more.

​In a “game-changing” procedure, surgeons at UCLA Health performed the first-ever human bladder transplant. The transplant recipient was a 41-year-old father of four who had previously lost most of his bladder during a tumor removal process, leaving the remainder too small and compromised to work.

​A federal judge blocked President Trump’s executive order dismantling the Department of Education. The judge also ordered the agency to reinstate employees who were fired in mass layoffs, which the groups who brought the lawsuit said amounted to an illegal shutdown of the department, leaving it unable to carry out responsibilities required by Congress.

​Zoo keepers raised an endangered rockhopper penguin after it was born as part of a breeding program. Wild populations of the penguin species have declined by more than 57% in the last 27 years, and this European breeding programme is vital in creating a healthy and genetically diverse backup population in conservation zoos.

good progress

For the first time since the 1950s, Detroit is leading the state of Michigan in population growth

In a “historic turnaround,” the city of Detroit’s population grew for the second year in a row, jumping by around 12,500 people, after consistently declining for over 50 years.

It’s also leading the entire state of Michigan in population growth. The milestone demonstrates the city’s “comeback” after decades of people fleeing and the historic 2013 bankruptcy.

Some of the key factors in the city’s “surging growth” are improved neighborhoods, better city services, new job centers, crime reduction, and a “world class sports and entertainment district.”

→ Read more​

Reasons to be hopeful

Happy Friday 💗 This week, a subscriber wrote in and said:

“Currently, some scary news for me are related to the immigration policies from the current administration. As an immigrant myself, it’s very anxiety inducing sometimes.”

And that’s completely understandable. The headlines around immigration in the U.S. are very scary — thankfully, there are people making a difference.

As promised, here are some Helpers:

• Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was freed after his ICE arrest, is helping launch an initiative to assist other immigrants facing deportation.
• The Immigrant Legal Defense Center was recognized as California’s Nonprofit of the Year. The nonprofit provides pro bono legal services to immigrants facing deportation, ensuring nobody stands alone in court.
• At the Cannes Film Festival, actor Pedro Pascal shared his experience as an immigrant, defended immigrant protections, and said that without them, he doesn’t know “what would have happened” to him or his family.
• The community of Springfield, Ohio — once targeted by President Trump — is giving driving lessons to Haitian immigrants in their own language, and it’s improving road saftey.
• Two teachers in Tennessee are biking across a U.S. state to raise money for their classrooms and advocate for the rights of immigrant students.​
• Glennon Doyle’s book tour is supporting a nonprofit providing free legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. (Instagram Reels)

None of these are perfect solutions to the massive, scary problems and headlines we’re seeing — but they matter!

People are always helping.

More Good bits

🏪 Convenience stores just got more convenient.​

🚙 Science fiction (and the Jetsons) is now a reality.​

🚫 AI chatbots can’t claim First Amendment protections.​

🎖️ Good citizens get new recognition.​

👏 A conservative state is a model for universal pre-K.

What’s good?

The most-clicked story of the week was the one about the prison that once held suffragists being transformed into affordable apartments.​

Which good news did you enjoy reading most this week?

Reply to this email and let me know!

— Megan