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Football is reuniting the Paradise community one year after fatal Camp Fire
Few things can invigorate a community like sport. A true testament to the community-building power of sport comes from Paradise, California, where firefighters finally extinguished the Camp Fire that all but destroyed the town one year ago. Although hardly anything in Paradise has been rebuilt, Read More...
These former gang rivals are helping Dallas youth escape gang violence
Antong Lucky and Def D had nearly identical childhoods: both were raised in underprivileged neighborhoods in Dallas, both experienced gang violence at an early age, and both had family members who were in gangs. There was, however, one notable difference: they were raised one mile apart, in Read More...
You could soon own a solar-powered car with a 450 mile range
Solar-powered cars have long been an icon of the far-off future, but soon enough, you could actually own a solar car—one that powers itself rather than relying on a charger. This week, Dutch clean mobility company Lightyear debuted its long-range prototype, the Lightyear One, with a range of Read More...
Munich-based startup Lilium has proven its electric air taxi can fly
During the Spring, we published a story about Lilium, the flying taxi startup hailing from Munich. At that point, the startup had just managed to have its electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft hover above the ground. Now, just months later, Lilium has proven its flying taxi was Read More...
Microsoft is backing plans to build a high-speed rail in the Pacific Northwest
Imagine it’s derby day between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers, with the treasured Cascadia Cup on the line between these two MLS franchises and their passionate fanbases. In years past, the Timbers Army has caravanned up I-5 in a crawl, facing traffic as they leave the Rose City and Read More...
You must see this powerful image of black med students at a former plantation
"I don't think as a kid I ever saw a minority physician.” These are the words of Russel J. Ledet, a second-year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. Ledet is an African American, and like many of his peers, he grew up in a community where he rarely saw black people in Read More...
Experts say vegans must be aware of B12 deficiency. Here’s how to avoid it
We’re proud of our Optimist readers who eat a vegan diet. That’s why we feel excited to share stories about the latest tips and trends within the vegan community. With that in mind, experts lately have been warning that people eating a vegan diet need to make sure they get enough B12 - because Read More...
This coffee shop chain plans to become zero waste by the end of 2020
People’s strong love for coffee, combined with our western society’s throwaway culture, sends an overwhelming amount of waste to landfills, putting a serious strain on the environment. And while finding a sustainable alternative to the disposable coffee cup has proved difficult, the ultimate Read More...
After years of steady decline, monarch butterfly populations are rising once more
The number of monarch butterflies doing their annual migration through California reached record lows last year, but according to several volunteer counts, there are significantly more butterflies this year. The Xerces Society’s Western Monarch Count Resource Center, which provides daily Read More...
Los Angeles joins movement to eliminate late fees for overdue library books
When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided to eliminate library late fees from Chicago Public Libraries back in October, the impact was immediate. Within three weeks, the number of overdue books returned increased by 240 percent. People who couldn’t afford to pay late fees were encouraged to Read More...