Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? It began as an occasion for honoring soldiers who died in the Civil War, and was named after the tradition of laying wreaths, flowers, and flags on their graves, a custom that remains today. Following World War I, Memorial Day was expanded to commemorate all who lost their lives while in military service and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Though you may associate it with barbecues and the first stirrings of summer, it’s at its core a day of remembrance — learn some ways to celebrate.
Inaugural Class Graduates From First Tribally Affiliated Med School
Oklahoma State University
It’s graduation season, which means that everyone from kindergarteners to doctoral students are donning caps and gowns. But one recent graduation in Oklahoma was extra special — and historic. The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation is the first tribally affiliated medical school in the country, and it celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class of 46 students earlier this month. “These students here are going to make a generational impact,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told the students days before graduation, per PBS. “There is such a need in this state and in this region for physicians and this school was created out of a concern about the pipeline of doctors into our health system.” Hoskin was referring to the severe shortage of rural and Indigenous doctors in the U.S. — only 0.3% of active physicians are Native American, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Approximately 20% of the OSU class is Native, hailing from 14 different tribes. “We knew we’d need to identify students who had a desire to serve these communities and also stay in these communities,” said Dean Natasha Bray. Hear from the recent graduates and read more about why the school is so important.
The Easy Way to Protect Your Family’s Personal Data
Lots of people have security systems to protect their homes, but are you protecting your data — and your family’s data — on the internet? Social Security numbers, contact information, addresses, and other personal details can be commodities for many companies, putting you at risk of scams, fraud, and identity theft. Incogni is here to serve as your online security system. The automated service removes your personal information from databases — and it just launched family plans that allow you to add four additional people to your account so you can protect your loved ones. Nice News readers will automatically get a special 50% discount when they sign up.
Everyone should have access to the great outdoors — and the National Park System is taking note of that. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee hosts a series of programs offering adaptive outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, kayaking, and camping, for people with disabilities. “The programs allow individuals with disabilities and their families and community to move beyond the pavement to explore and enjoy the Smokies,” Emily Davis, a public affairs specialist with the park, told The Washington Post. The adaptive equipment includes kayaks with outriggers to prevent tipping and all-terrain wheelchairs for easier maneuvering, the outlet reports. These activities are designed for people with disabilities to connect with nature while enjoying time with loved ones. “It’s not just about making something accessible,” said Mark Bogosian with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. “It’s about making it inclusive, so that the entire family and friends can be part of it.” Check out a guide to the most accessible national parks in the U.S.
Environment
New Partnership Poised to Protect Tortoises in the Mojave Desert
Tortoises living in a 3.5 million-acre area of California’s Mojave Desert will soon receive greater protections thanks to a new partnership that includes state, local, and federal government agencies, conservation groups, military organizations, and more. The land was named a sentinel landscape, a designation aimed at promoting sustainability around military installations and ranges. In addition to bringing various interested parties together, the title gives the area priority when it comes to certain grant funding, the Los Angeles Times reports. “Coming together as a partnership, we thought, would make the coalition and the cooperation more effective than everybody chipping away and working independently in their own backyard,” said Ken MacDonald, with the Desert Tortoise Council conservation group, adding: “[It’s] to be more effective in conserving and recovering the desert tortoises, and that’s pretty much it. Just team up and take care of these critters.” The tortoises in the Mojave are vulnerable to car collisions, human development, drought, and predators like coyotes and ravens. Phil Murray, an encroachment manager for the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, said the new coalition will address these threats, including by building fencing and wildlife crossings and rehabilitating the reptiles’ habitat.
As anime grows in popularity, Sony is launching an academy dedicated to developing top talent in the Japanese animation space.
Thai villagers searching for mushrooms in a wildlife sanctuary came upon a mysterious sculpture that could date back to between the 6th and 11th centuries.
After a woman lost her engagement ring on the New York subway, a ticket clerk and transportation officers stepped up to find the missing jewelry.
Something We Love
Nordic Knots Anyone with a flair for Scandinavian design will fall in love with Nordic Knots’ stock. The rug designs are both simple and interesting, adding a touch of luxury to any room. Nice News founder Sean Devlin has one and loves it (and they’re all 15% off for Memorial Day weekend).
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Inspiring Story
“I’m going to do it for him”
Coming straight from his father’s funeral, Texas high schooler Alem Hadzic delivered a poignant valedictorian speech at his graduation that touched not only the audience and his fellow students, but also people across the country who watched the video. “It’s so comforting. Strangers are sharing their experiences with me so that I don’t feel so alone,” he said.
Photo of the Day
ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi
Last week, the European Space Agency released five new images taken by its Euclid space telescope that display “unprecedented” views of the universe. The one above showing the galaxy cluster Abell 2390 features more than 50,000 galaxies and “a beautiful display of gravitational lensing.” Check out the other images.
What’s Your Ritual?
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