Every day the Good Good Good team collects the best good news in the world and shares it with our community. Here are the highlights for this week!
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The Best Positive News We’re Celebrating This Week —
More than 1,000 people gathered at a vigil and rally to honor Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old man shot and killed by an ICE agent
All across the state of Minnesota, there were vigils organized to remember and honor the life of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed by a Border Patrol agent.
In Minneapolis, more than 1,000 people gathered in Whittier Park, then marched to the site where he was killed. The site has transformed into a makeshift memorial filld with candles and flowers — and is les than two miles from Renee Good’s.
In subzero temperatures, neighbors were handing out warm food and drinks both homemade and from local restaurants, and local businesses stayed open to give people somewhere to warm up.
Why is this good news? Alex Pretti should still be alive. While the vigil filled with both his neighbors nearby and all across the state shouldn’t have had to happen at all — it’s a powerful display of unity, care, and community in the midst of unbelievable tragedy.
This state just made it easier to save endangered animals, simply by checking an extra box on your taxes
After a friend died in a preventable crash, this Montana man began his own 24/7 taxi service for the elderly
Daniel Foley’s friend, an elderly and disabled man, was on doctor’s orders not to drive. But he decided to go out on an errand anyway, and ended up in a head-on collision, losing his life, and killing a 32-year-old woman.
Foley — a former school bus driver, truck driver, and public bus driver, with over 12 years of professional experience in the Hamilton, Montana valley — wanted to prevent future tragedies like this.
What emerged was Giddy-Up Rides, Foley’s own 24/7 taxi service for disabled and elderly neighbors — or anyone else who needs a safe, reliable ride.
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Knitters are protesting ICE presence in Minnesota with red hats, inspired by another historic act of resistance
Minnesota yarn shop Needle & Skein is encouraging knitters and crocheters near and far to take part in a project inspired by resistance to Nazi Germany in the 1940s, when “Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of protest against Nazi occupation of their country.”
Within two years, the organizers wrote on social media, the Nazis had made the hats “illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute.”
The shop shared a $5 knitting or crochet pattern for their “Melt the ICE” hat, with all proceeds going to local immigration aid organizations to distribute the funds to those impacted by the actions of ICE.
Why is this good news? Whether attending protests or joining rapid response networks, Minnesotans are finding so many ways to resist the presence of ICE in the state — and this form of craftivism, or the act of using handicrafts, art, and textiles as a form of activism, is one of those ways.
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‘Unwinding’ with screens might actually make you more stressed. Here are 4 things to try instead
A Vietnamese restaurant in Minneapolis sheltered protesters from tear gas — and fed them pho
When ICE agents shot and killed civilian Alex Pretti on January 24, Minneapolis’s Nicollet Avenue faced immediate chaos. A pair of news reporters and presumed protesters were ushered into a nearby restaurant by its owner, Tracy Wong, to escape tear gas and “less lethal” bullets.
In a video going viral on social media, Wong can be seen ushering people through the door, shouting, “Come in, come in. This is my home.”
Despite feeling “very scared” herself, Wong proceeded to care for her guests by making them pho and encouraging them to continue welcoming others into her space.
Spain approved a measure that gives undocumented migrants a legal way to stay in the country
Yesterday, Spain unexpectedly issued a decree giving hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants a way to stay in the country legally.
It allows undocumented people already living in Spain to apply for temporary residency permits, a move which the government described as crucial for the country that would have an impact “on our social cohesion, well-being, and also on the economy.”
The move from Spain runs contrary to immigration crackdowns in other countries, like the United States, Britain, Greece, and Italy.
What’s the nuance? Activists say that while Spain has indeed been welcoming to immigrants, it’s been particular to Latin Americans who already share the country’s language, religion, and culture. They say that kind of warm welcome has not always extended to migrants from Africa.
→ Read more (Gifted link)
Language barriers make it hard for immigrants to navigate the US healthcare system. This comic book is a lifeline
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Buddhist monks surpassed the halfway mark of their ‘peace walk’ despite the winter storm
In late October, a group of 19 Buddhist monks and their canine companion set off for a 2,300-mile trek across the United States, calling for peace. Their journey will end with a gathering at the United States Capitol, where they’ll share remarks about healing and unity with the public.
Soon after passing the halfway mark in North Carolina, they were hit with freezing temperatures and snow as a winter storm rolled through the Southeast U.S. But their mission and message were undeterred.
As they shared in an update, the winter weather in North Carolina was just one obstacle to overcome on their mission: “We cannot demand that life only bring us comfortable conditions.”
The United Kingdom and nine other European countries are building the world’s largest ‘clean energy reservoir’
In a landmark pact to turn the North Sea into a “clean energy reservoir,” a coalition of 10 European countries have agreed to accelerate the rollout of offshore windfarms that directly connect to their various countries through subsea cables.
The plans are expected to provide 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power, enough to power 143 million homes.
The plans involve collectively building 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity every year between 2031 and 2040. More than 100 companies have signed on to an industry declaration with a promise to reduce costs and create 91,000 jobs.
Why is this good news? While the U.S. is a powerful force in the clean energy transition, the rest of the world is proving it will move on regardless of its rollbacks on clean energy. Ten countries coming together to build a powerful network of clean energy supply sets a remarkable precedent for the industry — it’s expected to attract €1 trillion in investments.
Minnesota has one of the highest concentrations of Korean adoptees in the United States. Here’s how they’re protecting each other during ICE raids
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Minneapolis cafe vows to be 100% free to ‘everyone except ICE’ as long as agents are in MN
Modern Times Cafe is located six blocks from where George Floyd was killed in 2020, three blocks from where Renee Good was killed earlier this month, and just a neighborhood away from where Alex Pretti was killed on Saturday, January 24.
And while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues what local officials call an “occupation” in the city, owner Dylan Alverson decided to do what he can in support of his community.
Beginning January 26, “until the occupation of Minneapolis is over,” the cafe is operating as a free, donation-based restaurant: “I am sick of generating money for the soldiers in our streets and for a government that won't protect us — a government who is actively inflicting daily harm on its citizens.”
→ Read more
The knitting pattern for ‘Melt the ICE’ hats has raised $250k for Minnesotans
On January 15, Minnesota yarn shop Needle & Skein encouraged knitters and crocheters across the country to take part in a project inspired by resistance to Nazi Germany in the 1940s.
They’re calling them “Melt the ICE” hats, and the shop is selling digital patterns for $5 for both knitters and crocheters to make their own, and since launching the project, they have raised over $250,000 through the sale of the patterns.
All of the funds are being donated to STEP Emergency Assistance, which provides legal aid and rent assistance to those in a suburb of Minneapolis, and the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, “a coalition of 32 philanthropic leaders rooted in communities most impacted by immigration-related harm.”
Even better: Countless crafters have posted their projects online and have directed followers to buy red yarn from Minnesota-based shops or other independent businesses that are using the surge of shoppers to donate a percentage of sales to Minnesota organizations, too.
Experts say 2026 is the year of ‘in-person’ gossip: ‘Our caveman brains are unprepared for the speed of social media’
→ Read more
New study: No-alcohol and low-alcohol beers — and dry pubs — are on the rise
As people look to drink less alcohol or cut it out of their routine completely, interest in low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beers has grown significantly over the last decade.
In fact, a new survey from the British Beer and Pub Association shows that 86% of pubs across England now serve no- and low-alcohol beer.
And as the demand grows, so does the market. Mainstream companies like Heineken and Guinness have offered up “zero point zero” alternatives to popular brews, and breweries like Athletic Brewing Company and BERO have devoted their entire line-up to non-alcoholic craft brews.
More good news of the week —
Faith leaders traveled from across the country to Minnesota to urge ICE to “go in peace.” Where faith leaders could not travel to Minnesota, they are carrying out their own forms of resistance, including fasting in solidarity.
Former professional basketball star Andrew Ogilvy came out as gay. In an interview as part of the NBL's fourth annual pride round, Ogilvy shared that he had been married to his long-time partner for 18 months after the pair met while the center was playing for the Sydney Kings in the 2013/14 season.
A new hepatitis B drug could help functionally cure some patients. It could become the first treatment that can help “functionally cure” patients chronically infected with hepatitis B, meaning they can stop taking daily pills — a goal that so far has been elusive.
Tafadzwa Mandiwanza just made history as the first female paediatric neurosurgeon in Ireland. Mandiwanza grew up in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe and always wanted to be a doctor.
A baby tree kangaroo was just born and its “pouch cam” is offering insights for one of the world’s most endangered species. In the wild, Goodfellow’s tree kangaroos can only be found in the dense tropical rainforests and deciduous forests of Papua New Guinea, where their survival has been threatened by widespread deforestation due to logging, mining, and palm oil plantations.
After vanishing for more than a century, an ancient species is thriving again at Cape Cod National Seashore. Horseshoe crabs are 445-million-year-old arthropods that serve as a vital food source for countless turtles, birds, and fish on the Atlantic Coast, and the seashore has been hard at work bringing them back from the brink.
The “grandmother” of Juneteenth was just honored with a new Barbie doll. Opal Lee, now 99, famously completed a long-distance walk at the age of 89 from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., in order to raise awareness about Juneteenth.
A new combination drug is raising hopes for survival for patients with a stubborn cancer. (Gifted link) More than 80% of patients who got the therapy were still alive without their cancer spreading after nearly three years, compared with 30% of patients in a control group who received a standard treatment, the clinical trial found.
A judge ruled a wind farm off Martha’s Vineyard can continue construction. (Gifted link) Construction was already 95% complete when the Trump administration ordered it to stop, and this ruling is now the fourth legal setback that the administration has suffered in its quest to slow the country’s offshore wind industry.
Dave Matthews Band announced a pledge to plant 1 million trees on its newly announced summer tour. The band is continuing its partnership with the Nature Conservancy, which will result in a total of 7 million trees planted since 2020.
California is now the first state to join the WHO’s disease network after the U.S. withdrew. The announcement came just one day after the U.S.’s withdrawal from the WHO became official after nearly 80 years of membership, having been a founding member of the organization.
The Mayor of Milan said ICE agents were “not welcome” at the Winter Olympics. Thousands of Italians signed petitions demanding the agency be barred from entry after the Trump administration announced plans to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents a security role at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.
An NHL team is selling “Heated Rivalry” jerseys and donating the proceeds to an LGBTQ+ hockey league. “You can go into any store and get any name you want printed on a jersey. … So, we just did what our fans were doing anyway and just made it a little bit easier for them.”
Hundreds of Target employees signed a letter urging the company to bar ICE from its stores. More than 275 employees signed a letter to Target leadership telling it to “do the right thing” and outlining four steps they say the company should take in response to ICE.
Researchers developed a new blood test that could help lead to early diagnosis and prevention of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that causes persistent digestive symptoms, pain, and fatigue, significantly affecting quality of life. Its incidence among children has doubled since 1995, and rates continue to rise.
California advanced legislation that would allow for lawsuits against federal agents. The legislation creates a clearer pathway for residents to take legal action against federal agents for excessive use of force, unlawful home searches, interfering with a right to protest, and other violations.
Yale is waiving all costs for undergraduates from families earning less than $100k. The new policy also promises to waive tuition — but not all costs — for those with annual incomes under $200,000.
At a new North Carolina restaurant, every smash burger sold goes toward fighting childhood cancer. Zeke Smash was inspired to give back by its namesake, a six-year-old who was diagnosed at three months old with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia, a rare, aggressive blood cancer in which bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells.
Three Bob Ross paintings sold for over $1.2 million in support of public television following funding cuts. It was the second sale of the artists’ works, and the first in this set sold for $787,900 — 13 times more than the high-end estimate for the piece, which was done live on air during a 1990 episode of “Joy of Painting.”
Shane Hollander’s Team Canada fleece from “Heated Rivalry” is being released in real life — and it gives back to charity. Fans were desperate to buy the jacket worn at the fictional Olympic Games in the series, and now, it’s being made by a Canada-based, independent clothing brand, which will donate 10% of the proceeds to a charitable organization.
