Are you having fun reading the news this morning? A recent report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that 18- to 24-year-olds from around the world are more interested in a bit of fun in their news diets compared to consumers over 55. For the purposes of the survey, “fun” was defined as satire and things that make them laugh. While we can’t speak for the other outlets out there, we certainly hope Nice News meets that mark for you all from time to time. See what else the report found.
Must Reads
Dance as medicine: For some Parkinson’s patients, therapy looks like doing the tango
Welcome to the (YouTube) Neighborhood, Mister Rogers!
Fotos International/Courtesy of Getty Images
Everyone’s favorite cardigan-wearing host is headed to YouTube. Starting this summer, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood will have its first dedicated YouTube channel, where viewers can watch select episodes of Fred Roger’s beloved show for free, as well as repurposed clips, shorts, and compilations. YouTube didn’t even exist when the final episode aired in 2001, but the show’s messages of empathy and neighborly love are as timely as ever. To carry that legacy forward, Fred Rogers Productions teamed up with Little Dot Studios to meet the new generation of kiddos right where they’re at — a gesture we imagine Rogers himself would have loved. “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood continues to inspire viewers young and old across four generations,” Paul Siefken, president and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions, said in a statement. “We’re excited to partner with Little Dot Studios on this new YouTube channel that will make the wonder, kindness, and human connection of the series more discoverable and accessible than ever.” While we wait for the channel to launch, you can watch some episodes of the show here.
Together With Incogni
The Truth About Scam Calls
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“It’s About Time”: Health Insurers Expand Coverage for Doula Care
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Decreased rates of postpartum depression, preterm births, and cesarean sections are just some of the science-backed benefits of having a doula. So it’s no wonder insurance companies are increasingly getting on board with reimbursement and coverage of the maternal care service. Since 2013, at least 26 states plus Washington, D.C., have begun requiring Medicaid coverage for doulas, according to the National Health Law Program’s Doula Medicaid Project. And this year, UnitedHealthcare became the first major insurer to start adding a doula benefit, aiming to reach 7.2 million members with eligible employer-sponsored plans by Jan. 1, 2027. “We think that doula care is an important step in improving health care outcomes for women going through pregnancy and delivery and postpartum, especially for women of color,” Margaret-Mary Wilson, the chief medical officer for UnitedHealth Group, told NBC News. Denise De Los Santos, an OB-GYN in San Antonio, added: “I think it’s about time we do something to help moms.”
Humanity
Doc Follows Artisans in 6 Countries to Highlight the Value, Beauty of Handcrafted Items
Courtesy of Artist & Nomad
In the sun-drenched High Atlas Mountains of central Morocco, a collective of women — some accompanied by their young children — gather to weave. Together they prepare wool yarn on a loom, then sit in close quarters talking, singing, laughing, and bringing a blanket to life, a process that will take weeks. They’re craftspeople preserving ancient cultural traditions, and scenes of their daily work, and the work of others like them, are captured in the new nonprofit documentary Handmade Future. In addition to the women of the Numedia Tabudrart Cooperative, the film follows artisans in five other countries who are protecting their heritage while up against profit-draining intermediaries and the ever-growing threat of cheap mass production. “I wanted to explore the exploitation artisans face and the various examples of both positive and negative middlemen. However, during the editing of the film it became very clear that a much bigger and more hopeful message was emerging,” director Kirsten Dickerson said in an email to Nice News. “When we interviewed Cynthia [Main], the broom maker of Kentucky, she said that she believed in a ‘handmade future.’ I immediately knew that was the film’s theme and later made it the new title.” That hopeful message involves the inherent beauty and sense of connection in creating and interacting with items made by humans, with intention. Watch the trailer and learn more about some of the featured artisans.
In Other News
A bipartisan bill aims to cap monthly insulin costs at $35 for Americans with private insurance (read more)
When a sperm whale gave birth, fellow females came together to protect the calf, a rare video showed (read more)
Flower power: At an annual gathering, snowdrops remind admirers that life can flourish amid adversity (read more)
In a mind-bending first, scientists transported volatile antimatter in a box truck — go along for the ride (read more)
Seattle and Las Vegas could landNBA teams, as league owners recently approved expansion bids (read more)
Inspiring Story
Music for the mind
In honor of International Day of Happiness earlier this month, The Kids Mental Health Foundation partnered with celebs like Alexandra Daddario, Mayim Bialik, and Andy Grammer to curate a playlist full of mood-boosting songs. “We want to show kids that even their idols use music to bring joy to their day,” said Ariana Hoet, the foundation’s executive clinical director. She added: “We are reminding families that even small, daily habits — like hitting play on their favorite song — can boost a child’s mental wellness.”
Photo of the Day
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
At age 109 (yes, you read that right), Arthur Green — a World War II and Korean War veteran and lifelong baseball fan — threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day last week. Watch the moment.
Celebrate Sleep Awareness Month With TribeTokes
March is National Sleep Awareness Month, and to celebrate, TribeTokes is offering a free CBD/CBN sleep gummy with all orders. These gummies support your body’s melatonin production instead of replacing it — no grogginess, no dependency, just sleep. Use code CBNSLEEPGUMMY to take advantage of the freebie.
