Politics & Government Good News

Ways that people, organizations, and governments are fighting to strengthen democracy in the United States and around the world

Large electrical distribution cabinets with colored wiring and circuit breakers line a concrete floor beneath an industrial ceiling with cable trays and fluorescent lighting.

New NJ law requires data centers to report water and energy use: 'They will not operate in the shadows'

The law requires operators to disclose total energy consumption, energy used for cooling and IT equipment, peak daily water use, water sources, and backup power supplies to the state Board of Public Utilities twice a year.

Men at a solar farm, fixing and tending to solar panels

Amid Europe's record-breaking heat and drought, solar power made it possible to cope

Europe’s solar panels produced 17% more power during the summer’s heat waves than they normally do, stabilizing the grid as afternoon cooling demand climbed.

Inside a retail store, a mannequin wears a blue plaid shirt and olive pants while standing near display tables with folded clothing. A large red directory sign on the left lists store sections numbered 1, 2, and 3. Large windows show a parking structure outside.

West Virginia gives 54K low-income families a $200 school clothing allowance

In a new twist in the handling of the program, some low-income children who didn’t apply for the money have now received the back-to-school financial assistance.

A tabby cat sits in bright sunlight on a concrete surface, with its eyes closed. Behind it stands a yellow brick building with windows and green foliage to the left.

Why Nebraskans are campaigning for a statue of a cat outside the state's Capitol

State senators will formally pitch the statue for feedback this week.

A dark wooden log cabin with a steep pitched roof covered in moss sits among tall trees in a dense forest. The cabin has horizontal log walls, small windows, and wooden steps leading to an entrance, with a wooden deck visible on the right side.

Maryland's newest state park opens this week: '55K acres free to the public'

Savage Highlands State Park was a former privately held woodland resort in Garrett County. Now, it's home to yurts, cabins, and campsites at a much lower price.

A pregnant person wearing a white shirt and jeans holds their bare belly with both hands.

Arkansas Medicaid now covers doula care, complying with law meant to improve maternal health

Coverage begins on September 1, 2026, complying with 2025 law aiming to improve maternal health outcomes.

Aerial view of a highway with two tunnels carved through a forested mountainous area. A long freight train travels on parallel tracks alongside the highway through the dense coniferous forest.

Washington State wildlife overpass celebrates major victory: '10,000 crossings and no roadkill'

Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 sees a ‘wild’ milestone 12 years after it initially opened to animals.

A large black tire stands upright in a field of yellow and purple wildflowers against a clear blue sky.

California's new 'tire efficiency' rules aim to save drivers $1B a year, reduce 2M tons of carbon emissions

The nation’s first tire efficiency standards target an overlooked drag on fuel economy that can cost drivers more at the pump.

A wooden pier extends into blue-green water beneath a sign reading "THE PORT OF NEWPORT PUBLIC FISHING PIER" with a crab illustration. A steel bridge spans the water to the left, with forested hills and residential buildings visible across the water.

Humpback whale entanglements are on the rise. Oregon is trying innovative 'rope-free crab traps' to help

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts new rules to enforce vessel monitoring system and to begin testing pop-up gear in state’s Dungeness crab fishery.

A photo collage of an aerial view of a neighborhood, an aerial view of a solar farm, people celebrating in front of a car with a hydrogen engine, the driveway of of the Anythink Nature Library, and a collage of national park signs documented by the organization Save Our Signs

Good News This Week: August 15, 2026 - Otters, Libraries, & Signs

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

iPhone displaying a "Social Media" folder with nine app icons: Facebook, Instagram, X, Messenger, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Bluesky, TikTok, and Pinterest.

New Jersey's new 'big tech' law aims to regulate kids' social media use: 'Worse than big tobacco'

The new law limits data gathering and bars some algorithmic recommendations.

Two firefighters in yellow shirts stand on a dirt road watching a wildfire with heavy smoke billowing through a forested area with tall evergreen trees.

Just weeks before wildfires hit Spokane, the city practiced a mass evacuation. The drill paid off

Rather than asking residents to imagine what they would do during an emergency, community drills allow them to practice it.