The wildfire burning in Alberta, Canada, is the largest to hit Jasper National Park in a century, but if there’s one thing Nice News is going to do, it’s provide you with the glimmers of hope amid such dark moments. One of those glimmers is Colleen Knull, an 18-year-old firefighter who heroically helped rescue 16 hikers from the park. Then there’s the mother bear and her two cubs who managed to survive the blaze by sheltering in place, an example of wildlife’s “extraordinary instincts.” Continue looking for the good — it’s always there.
No, this is not too good to be true! In some central Texas cities, low-income families of four or fewer people could be eligible to receive a brand-new home on their lot for free. Alternatively, they can opt to have their existing property repaired. The innovative project comes from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program in an effort to help families living in poor conditions make their housing safe and livable — a standard that’s often out of reach, especially with high home improvement prices. This way, the cities are able to remove substandard housing and prevent families from having to make costly moves off their lots. “It’s a fabulous program for those that are needing a fresh start, especially for elderly folks whose homes get into such poor conditions you wonder how people can actually live this way,” Karen Walker, a home program manager who has worked with the state to secure funding and oversee new builds, told NBC affiliate KCEN-TV.
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Picnic Tables Are Becoming Poetry Installations at National Parks
Library of Congress
Last year she unveiled verses that will be launched into space, but U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón’s latest project has a more earthly destination. Limón is inviting the public to share in the connection between art and nature with “You Are Here: Poetry in Parks,” a series of installations in a handful of the country’s national parks. The project, which formally kicked off during National Poetry Month in April, transforms picnic tables into public works of art at seven parks — spanning Florida to California — and made its debut in June at Massachusetts’ Cape Cod National Seashore. Each features a piece from a historic American poet whose work “connects in a meaningful way to the park,” per the Library of Congress. “It may seem easier to surrender to the overwhelm of the world’s challenges right now, but I believe that singing out, offering something back to the Earth, noticing our connection to the planet, could help us all move forward together in a powerful way,” Limón said in a statement, adding: “Above all, this project is about rising to this moment with hope, the kind of hope that will echo outwards for years to come.” This story is also an opportunity to remind you that tomorrow is the anniversary of the passing of the Great American Outdoors Act, which means entry fees are being waived across public lands.
Humanity
This Camp Is a Safe Space for Children With Addiction in Their Families
At Camp Mariposa, children participate in the quintessential activities (nature hikes, crafts, and horseback riding), but they also learn important tools for processing addiction in their families. The goal is to help them understand addiction while also breaking its cycle, as research shows children with parents with a history of addiction are more likely to develop substance abuse issues themselves. And it appears to be working. A six-year study found that 94% of the camp’s participants had not gotten high, per CBS News. “We’re teaching kids not only what addiction is and that it’s a disease and how substances really hijack the brain, but then we follow that with coping strategies,” Renee Mezér, director of the Camp Mariposa location in Pennsylvania, told the outlet. Since the program launched in 2007, about 3,500 campers between ages 9 and 12 have come through. Beyond the support sessions and teachings on drug and alcohol prevention, campers learnan important lesson: No matter what they’re going through, they’re not alone. “I never knew anybody else who had the same kind of experience as me before I came here,” said 11-year-old Madison Timmons, a third-year camper.
In Other News
It turns out tulip trees are made up of a completely new type of wood that could be a tool in the capture and sequestration of carbon.
Pep in your step: About 6 in 10 adults are walking for pleasure, according to a recent survey.
The Sleepy Bookshelf Podcast You may think it a sign of boredom if you start snoozing while listening to a podcast, but this is an example of one where falling asleep is the goal. The host has a soft, soothing voice that’s perfect for dozing off to — and her British accent doesn’t hurt. My favorite is when she reads Jane Austen novels, but there’s a range of other options to choose from, including Anne of Green Gables, Oscar Wilde’s short stories, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. — Rebekah Brandes, Assistant Editor
In 2011, Afrika Owes was incarcerated at a women’s facility on Rikers Island in New York. Thirteen years later, she returned — but this time, to speak to young women about what life can look like on the outside. Over the past decade, Owes pursued an education, became a mother, and graduated from law school: “I came back in a much more powerful situation,” she said.
Sha’Carri Richardson hasn’t lost a 100-meter race yet this year, and here’s hoping today’s Olympic semifinals (and finals) won’t be any different. Since Jamaican Shericka Jackson dropped out of the event, Richardson, 24, is heavily favored to win, but will still face a fierce competitor in Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, also racing for Jamaica. Richardson, a hero in her hometown of Dallas, has weathered a tumultuous path to these Olympics after losing her opportunity to compete in the last ones, but she’s assured the public that she’s ready. “I’ve grown,” the athlete told reporters after winning the 100-meter final at the trials in June. “[With] a better understanding of myself, a deeper respect and appreciation for my gift that I have in the sport, as well as my responsibility to the people that believe in and support me.” The semifinals will begin at 1:50 p.m. ET, followed by the finals at 3:20 p.m. — here’s a reminder on how to tune in to the Games.
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