In the headlines...

🩸 The FDA approved the first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, which could help patients begin the diagnosis process in a less invasive, more accessible way.

⚓️ A tide change and fast current could have played a role in the large Mexican tall ship crashing into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend, tragically killing two crew members.

LGBTQ+

Thousands of community members rallied to reinstate a trans teacher in California after they were fired

A high school teacher in Los Angeles, Henry Zahid, came out as trans in their second year of teaching. Despite resounding support from students and colleagues, he received notice earlier this year that he was fired from his teaching position.

They were terminated through a process called “non-reelection,” which includes reasons like “immoral or unprofessional conduct, conviction of a felony, or substance abuse issues.” None of those reasons applied to Zahid.

Zahid was determined to fight his “discriminatory” firing. And after two emotional addresses to the school district board, an investigation by the Equal Opportunity Section, and over 2,000 letters of support from community members, he has been reinstated.

Why is this good news? If not for Zahid bravely standing up to fight their wrongful termination, we probably would have never heard their story, and thousands wouldn’t have had the opportunity to stand behind them in support. Zahid’s story is a reminder that, as attacks like these continue, we all have the opportunity to stand up and fight back — and we won’t be alone.

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More Good News

​Researchers say “inverse vaccines” could be a “holy grail” treatment for autoimmune diseases. They are developing an approach that targets only the specific part of the immune system that’s gone rogue, known as “inverse vaccines” because they suppress a particular part of the immune system, rather than amplifying it, as existing vaccines do.

​Guyana’s parliament passed an oil pollution bill that holds companies liable for damages caused by oil spills. The country became Latin America’s fifth-largest exporter of oil last year, and this new legislation includes penalties for companies that don’t comply with regulations, including suspending licenses to explore and produce oil.

​Using COVID relief funds, a county and a nonprofit erased the medical debt of 310,000 residents of a Florida county. Similar to other local governments, Orange County commissioners approved a $4.5 million contract last August with Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt) to forgive bills totaling about $472.5 million.

​Measuring 130 meters long, the world’s largest battery-powered ship was launched by an Australian boatbuilder. Calling it “a giant leap forward in sustainable shipping” and the “most important” project it has ever done, the ship will carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles across the River Plate on the border between Argentina and Uruguay.

Housing

A prison that once held suffragists was transformed into affordable apartments a century later

→ Take a look inside​

good progress

Violent crime is falling rapidly across the U.S., driven by success in places like Baltimore

According to one analyst, 2025 is on track to be the least murderous year nationwide since the 1960s. That trend is being driven by cities like Baltimore.

So far this year, there have only been 45 homicides in the city— down by one-third from the same time last year. In all of last year, there were 199 total homicides — the fewest the city had seen in over a decade. In 2021, that figure was 344.

Experts and activists point to various explanations, both local and national, for the decline, but one unique to Baltimore was its local “Group Violence Reduction Strategy” that brought together community groups, prosecutors, and the police department.

→ ​​Read more​

More Good bits

📬 Want your representatives to do better? Send them your trash!​

🍹 A reusable straw that’s good for the environment and for keeping you safe at the bar.​

🦘 Adidas responded to animal rights activists.

🍪 N is for Netflix!​

👕 Thoughtful clothing that meets the needs of visually impaired people. (Video)

What’s good?

I was so excited to see even a “small” country stepping up to set a new precedent for holding polluters responsible for the damage their operations cause!

Which good news story inspired you most today?

I’d love to know what got you fired up — reply and tell me!

— Megan