People Doing Good

Stories of people making a difference in the world

Person wearing black clothing, gray gloves, and a black face mask with a purple eyemask design sits on a rooftop overlooking a nighttime cityscape with numerous lights.

An EMT is dressing up as 'The Roanoke Raven' to save his city: 'If it takes wearing a superhero mask to do it, let’s do it'

By day, he’s already a hero. By night, he’s a different kind of hero.

A mountain lion walks through tall grass and brush at night, looking toward the camera with a kill visible in the lower right corner.

Family sells 136-year-old farm to make way for wildlife crossing deemed 'a lifeline' for mountain lions

The I-5 wildlife crossing would bridge the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula.

A large group of people standing in ocean waves at a beach with a blue sky above. A banner reading "SKINNY DIP" is visible among the group.

Worldwide 'skinny dip day' boosts body positivity and raises thousands for charity

A collective $61,000 has been raised under the adage: “Get naked for a good cause.”

Mamdani sits in a classroom looking at a kid that's out-of-focus and out-of-frame

Mamdani, NYC public schools invest $67.5M in special education amid federal budget cuts

New York City’s $67.5 million investment in preschoolers comes as families and advocates worry federal changes could make special education services even harder to access.

A tiny sea turtle hatchling is held in human hands above sand, with seaweed visible in the background.

Man goes viral for saving wayward baby sea turtle 'the right way'

A popular TikTok video shows a man helping a baby sea turtle hatchling find its way back to shore.

A raccoon looks up from inside a metal storm drain grate. Small green plants grow nearby on the concrete surface.

Firefighters free raccoon trapped under sewer grate in 'jaws of life' rescue mission

After the first responders had completed the job, the masked critter ran back to its natural habitat.

A man in a dark polo shirt and orange snorkel gear stands in shallow ocean water holding a wooden rake-like tool, with traditional fish traps visible in the background across the water.

New Indonesia roadmap aims to protect Indigenous knowledge for biodiversity

Indonesia is developing a roadmap to recognize and protect Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation, aligning with its commitments to international frameworks.

Two porcupines with quills raised interact closely at night, captured on thermal camera at 14°C/57°F on 08/03/2025.

Porcupines are disappearing in Oregon. Libraries are loaning trail cameras out to locals who want to help save them

To access a trail camera, locals must be signed up to participate in one of the state’s citizen science studies.

A woman wearing a Hurricane Rowing jacket smiles at the camera with an inset photo showing her rowing on open water, representing her participation in ocean rowing.

Kelsey Pfendler becomes fastest person of any gender to row solo from California to Hawaii

She finished in 43 days, 17 hours, and 55 minutes. The American is also the youngest woman to row the route solo.

A photo collage of a shark swimming underwater, a nun and three girls posing for a photo together, a dog inside a cage with an open book in the foreground, a man signing a document with a woman behind him, and a forest

Good News This Week: July 4, 2026 - Pets, Cameras, & Rainforests

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

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get engaged

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce kick off wedding weekend by donating $26M to charity

The couple still has yet to confirm their nuptials, but it seems they’re in the mood to celebrate something big.

A white dog in a shelter kennel sits attentively while a volunteer reads from a book

Volunteers read aloud and play music for shelter pets amid fireworks on July 4th

Volunteers are gearing up for their sixth-annual “comfort sessions” at their local animal shelter.