Good morning, everyone. I want to start with our good news update. This Sunday tradition matters, and a full news briefing will be coming later this afternoon. Happy Easter to all who celebrate!
I would love for you to share one piece of good news from your own life in the comments. Big or small, personal or professional. This is how we build something real. A community that stays informed and lifts each other up.
My good news this week is both personal and professional. Personally, my daughter is now 10 days old, and it has been an incredible blessing. Everyone is healthy and doing well, and I’m truly grateful to all of you for your support in helping me get here. Professionally, we are growing. Just this week, we reached tens of millions of people with accurate, fact-based reporting. No clickbait. No AI images. Just the news.
Before getting into the rest of the updates, I know many of you reached out about Trump’s Easter post this morning. I saw it, and I also saw how parts of the media covered it. In my view, there is a tendency to downplay or normalize behavior that is not normal. If any other president posted something like that, it would be treated very differently. That is exactly why independent journalism matters. I don’t have anyone telling me what I can or cannot say, and I will call things as I see them. And, this post was unhinged and beneath the office of the Presidency:
Here’s some good news:
- An 8-year-old boy celebrated the end of his leukemia treatment by ringing the hospital bell and joyfully dancing down the hallway. The moment marked the completion of a difficult journey and was captured as a powerful, uplifting scene. His celebration included a cartwheel, highlighting both relief and excitement after beating cancer. The story reflects resilience and the emotional significance of reaching remission.
- A 2-year-old toddler from Ohio is thriving after successfully beating cancer with the help of a liver transplant donated by his aunt. The life-saving procedure marked a major turning point in his recovery. His story highlights both medical progress and the impact of family support during serious illness.
- A 12-year-old boy battling stage-4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma raised $2,000 to create and deliver 124 Easter baskets to children in hospitals. Nathan Yuill organized the effort to bring joy to other kids facing serious illnesses, ensuring nearly every patient received a gift. The baskets were distributed at Providence Alaska Children’s Hospital and a nearby medical center, filling carts with donations from the community. His act of kindness highlights resilience and a desire to help others even while going through his own treatment.
- An autistic bowler named Matt Sipes achieved his first perfect 300 game, fulfilling a lifelong dream after years of dedication and competition. A former collegiate bowler who recently joined the Professional Bowlers Association, he has spent more than a decade honing his skills in leagues and national tournaments. Bowling provided him with a sense of focus, belonging, and purpose, helping shape his personal growth. He hopes his achievement will inspire others on the autism spectrum to pursue their passions and believe in what’s possible.
- A rescue rabbit named Morty has captured attention for his surprising skill at playing Jenga despite not having thumbs. Once neglected and suffering from a parasite, he was rescued, treated, and later adopted into a caring home where he now thrives. Morty enjoys an active, playful life and has become known for his impressive Jenga abilities. The story highlights both his recovery and the positive impact of rescue and adoption.
- A recycling initiative in Japan is turning used diapers into new ones, helping reduce landfill waste in towns like Shibushi and Osaki. The process involves collecting, sanitizing, and breaking down diapers into reusable materials like pulp, plastic, and absorbent polymers. The recycled pulp is now being used to produce new diapers, marking a major advancement in waste management. Officials hope to expand the program nationwide as part of efforts to significantly cut trash and extend landfill life.
- A 3,500-year-old wooden loom preserved by a fire in a Bronze Age settlement in Spain has given researchers rare insight into early textile production. The fire helped protect key components like wooden frames, clay weights, and plant fibers, allowing scientists to reconstruct how the loom functioned. The discovery sheds light on the “textile revolution,” a period of technological and economic change in fabric production. Evidence also suggests that weaving was likely a cooperative activity within the community.
- New research shows that Native Americans were making and using dice more than 12,000 years ago, thousands of years earlier than previously known examples from other parts of the world. These early dice, made from bone and designed to produce random outcomes, were used in structured games of chance across multiple regions in North America. The findings suggest that concepts related to probability and randomness may have originated much earlier and outside the Old World than once believed. Researchers also believe these games played an important social role, helping different groups interact, exchange goods, and build relationships.
- A 16-year-old Florida teen discovered a rare 6-inch megalodon tooth while diving for fossils near Sarasota during spring break. The massive tooth comes from one of the largest sharks to ever exist, a species that could reach up to 60 feet in length. He found it while exploring shallow waters with his father on a guided fossil-hunting trip. Experts say finds like this are uncommon, making it a remarkable discovery for a young diver.
- An 8-year-old girl from the Netherlands had her “Sweet Monster Train” drawing turned into a real train design after winning a national competition. Her artwork, featuring colorful and friendly monsters, was applied to the exterior of an intercity train with help from a professional illustrator. The contest, organized by the national railway, aims to inspire children’s creativity and imagination. She later attended the unveiling and saw her design brought to life on a full-sized train.
- An Oakland artist is turning broken car window glass from local break-ins into handmade earrings, transforming damage into something positive. Using a small kiln, she melts the safety glass into unique, floral-inspired designs while helping keep waste out of landfills. Community members often alert her to new break-ins so she can collect the glass and repurpose it. Her work has gained attention for combining sustainability with creativity and resilience.
- Endangered palm cockatoos in Australia have successfully hatched a chick in an artificial nest for the first time, marking a breakthrough in conservation efforts. Scientists developed specially designed tree hollows to mimic the rare natural conditions these birds need to breed, which can take centuries to form. With fewer than 2,000 remaining, the species has struggled due to habitat loss and limited nesting sites. Researchers say this success could help protect not only the cockatoos but other species that rely on similar habitats.
- A retired woman in Vancouver has become known as a “teddy bear doctor” for repairing hundreds of beloved stuffed animals. She restores everything from minor damage to major repairs, often tracking down matching materials to preserve each toy’s original look. Beyond the craftsmanship, she values the emotional stories behind the items, many of which have been passed down for generations. Her work helps preserve not just the toys, but the memories and connections they represent.
- A 78-year-old widower in England had his roof repaired for free after being scammed by contractors who took his money and left the job unfinished. After hearing about the situation, another roofer stepped in with his team to complete the work at no cost. The man had been pressured into paying far more than the original quote and was left with a damaged roof. The act of kindness helped restore both his home and some trust after the ordeal.
- A 24-hour streaming channel from the San Diego Zoo is bringing live animal experiences to children in hospitals who are unable to visit in person. The program, now available in more than 400 hospitals across multiple countries, offers real-time animal footage and educational content. It has had a positive impact on young patients, helping comfort and engage them during treatment. The initiative has also expanded to reach other facilities, increasing access to wildlife experiences worldwide.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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