Politics & Government Good News

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

Philadelphia is using AI cameras to keep bus lanes clear. Here's how they could be even more effective

More than 150 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority buses across Philadelphia are equipped with cameras that detect vehicles blocking bus lanes.

The upper half of The White House with the bright, blue sky in the background

4 ways states are putting guardrails around artificial intelligence, despite a lack of federal regulation

All 50 states have introduced various AI-related legislation in 2025.

In a new pilot program, this city will give homeless young adults $1,200 in cash every month for two years

A new guaranteed income pilot program in Boston aims to set an example for future policies.

A zoomed out shot of a city street in Helsinki, Finland. It is daytime and the road is sparse with cars and people.

Helsinki just went a full year without traffic fatalities — here's their secret

The Finnish capital went 12 months without a traffic-related death. It’s a milestone in the European Union’s mission to achieve zero traffic deaths by 2050.

Seattle announces plan to build 100 tiny homes, combatting city's homelessness crisis

The development of these new tiny home villages comes from a $6 million investment from the city.

A mockup of the Common Grounds apartment building in LA

LA contest challenges 350 designers to create cutting-edge affordable housing. The winners will actually be built

The “Small Lots, Big Impacts” design competition received 356 submissions from 36 different countries.

A view of a landscape with trees, hills and a river.

5 ways environmental law is changing in defense of the planet

While the dangerous effects of climate change continue to worsen, legal efforts to address a range of environmental issues are also on the rise.

Two green and blue tents sit on wooden palettes in a parking lot

As Trump aims to criminalize homelessness, this major US city has a different strategy: Pitching tents in parking lots

After opening its first “safe outdoor spaces” this spring, this city wants to make it even easier for homeless residents to get help.

A photo collage of people walking through a forest, a 'Welcome to Illinois' signage, a big tree, a column of windows with air conditioners, and multiple packages of Huggies displayed on a grocery shelf

Good News This Week: July 26, 2025 - Turtles, Hikes, & River Cowboys

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

A yellow 'Police Line Do Not Cross' tape plastered on a fence

Study finds most violent crime rates have fallen back to pre-pandemic levels

The number of homicides across the United States declined by 16% in 2024, continuing a recent downward trajectory, according to the latest crime trends report from the Council on Criminal Justice.

A yellow tape reads "police line, do not cross"

Homicide rates hit 'record lows' in these major cities, following broader trend in the US

Community interventions seem to be at the heart of the decline.

A photo collage of a bicycle's basket with a sign that says 'Road Open To' and various traffic icons below it, the first ever solar-powered railway tracks, a kid kayaking in a river, a tall bridge, and a screenshot from the movie 'Sinners' while a woman does Black American Sign Language on the bottom right of the screen

Good News This Week: July 19, 2025 - Dogs, Kayaks, & Sinners