uplifting news

Read recent happy news and other uplifting news stories from around the world on Newser.com

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Wildlife Workers Dress as Bears for a Really Cute Reason

A 2-month-old baby bear is being raised by disguised human handlers

(Newser) - Humans dressed as bears aren't a particularly creative Halloween costume, but humans dressed as bears are kind of a creative way to help a little bear cub find his way back to the wild. As NBC News reports, the humans at the San Diego Humane Society are putting on...

Girl, 13, Breaks Attacker's Ankle Using Martial Arts

Police searching for suspect in May 6 attack in California

(Newser) - A 13-year-old girl in California who trained in jiu-jitsu used her skills to fend off an attacker, now wanted by police. The girl, whose name has not been released, was walking home from school in Carmel-by-the-Sea on May 6 when a man stepped out from between two vehicles, trying to...

College Boasts of Its Youngest Graduate Ever

Alisa Perales began California community college at age 8, will leave with 2 associate degrees at 11

(Newser) - Any parent would be bursting with pride at their child earning a college diploma. For the Perales family, that pride at Alisa Perales' graduation has been taken up a notch, for one standout reason: The student from San Bernardino, California, is only 10 years old. Crafton Hills College says in...

Carnival Ship Rushes to the Rescue in Remote South Pacific

The Splendor rushed to pick up 4 people, 3 dogs on disabled catamaran near New Caledonia

(Newser) - A cruise ship almost halfway through its eight-day adventure in the South Pacific made a startling discovery on Thursday as it plowed through ocean waters: a disabled catamaran with four people and three dogs on board. USA Today reports that the Carnival Splendor, which had departed from Sydney on Monday,...

A Twister Killed Her Sisters. Now, a Move Into Meteorology

Aria Vargyas, 20, survivor of 2013 tornado in Oklahoma, studies meteorology in college

(Newser) - In a story that seems inspired by the plot of Twisters , a college student who survived a massive tornado more than a decade ago that killed her two little sisters is now learning how to predict the same type of extreme weather that upended her town and family. Per CBS...

Fisherman Uses Drone to Save Girl From Drowning

He dropped flotation device to girl struggling in rip current at Florida beach

(Newser) - A teenage girl in Florida might not be alive today if Andrew Smith hadn't made the last-minute decision to go shark fishing at Pensacola Beach. Smith, who can't swim or kayak because of a seizure disorder, uses a drone to drop baits. Last Thursday, he used it to...

This Guy Just Ran 2.3K Miles, With Mom on His Mind

UK athlete William Goodge sets world record for running across Australia in 35 days

(Newser) - After five weeks and more than 2,300 miles on foot, William Goodge ended up at Sydney's Bondi Beach Monday and broke the world record for running across Australia—every stride powered by the memory of his late mom. The 31-year-old British athlete earned his Guinness accomplishment by...

Professor Bequeaths Millions —to Her Students
Professor Bequeaths Millions
—to Her Students
in case you missed it
May 17, 2025 4:30 PM CDT

Professor Bequeaths Millions —to Her Students

New College of Florida professor Cris Hassold's students were very dear to her, per NYT

(Newser) - A retired art history professor died in Florida in 2020 with a $2.8 million fortune and not much family of her own—at least not blood-related. But as Hank Sanders writes at the New York Times , Cris Hassold, who taught at New College of Florida for 50 years, considered...

Camper Missing 3 Weeks Survived 'Solely Off of Leeks'

Tiffany Slaton, 28, found Wednesday in a cabin in California's Sierra Nevada

(Newser) - A camper who vanished almost three weeks ago during a blizzard in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range reportedly managed to survive alone in a cabin, eating only leeks—until a snowplow cleared a path that brought the property owner to her door. "Dad, I'm alive," 28-year-old...

Hostage's Family Reacts to His Release: 'You Look Unbelievable'

Video emerges of 21-year-old Israeli American reuniting with mom, others after 584 days in captivity

(Newser) - On Monday, Hamas released the last living American-Israeli hostage , 21-year-old Edan Alexander, and now there's video of his emotional reunion with his family after 584 days in captivity, reports Mediaite .
  • Footage: In the clip posted by Axios' Barak Ravid, the New Jersey native is seen smiling as he's
...

Pilot to Baggage Handler: 'You Saved My Life'
Pilot to Baggage Handler:
'You Saved My Life'
in case you missed it
May 11, 2025 1:25 PM CDT

Pilot to Baggage Handler: 'You Saved My Life'

Glasgow Airport employee Craig Potter named a 'super hero' for choking intervention

(Newser) - As an airport baggage handler, Craig Potter knows how to handle all sorts of cargo, and apparently emergencies, too. The 36-year-old was on the tarmac of Scotland's Glasgow Airport in December when a pilot ran off a plane in panic. "He was violently choking and patting on his...

Escaped Dog's 17 Months on the Run Comes to an End

Valerie the miniature dachshund safely captured Friday on Kangaroo Island

(Newser) - After 529 days in the Australian wilderness, Valerie the miniature dachshund can finally get back to her cozy life. The "princess" dog who escaped from her owner while visiting a Kangaroo Island campsite in November 2023 was "safely rescued" Friday, the Kangala Wildlife Rescue says, per the BBC...

Harmonica Version of the National Anthem Goes Viral

LA Kings had a class of senior citizen musicians render 'The Star-Spangled Banner'—twice

(Newser) - Some senior citizen harmonica players are having a bit of a moment: In an era where the US national anthem is getting booed at various NHL games , the AP reports that the Los Angeles Kings brought out something that went on to become much more viral than ridiculed. On Monday...

$1M Lottery Winner: 'I'm Not Homeless Anymore!'
Homeless Man
Hits $1M Jackpot
Apr 17, 2025 9:45 AM CDT

Homeless Man Hits $1M Jackpot

'I'm not homeless anymore!': Un-IDed Californian needed money, deserved it, says store manager

(Newser) - A $1 million scratch-off lottery ticket went to a person who not only "deserved it," but "actually needed it," according to the manager of the California store where the ticket was sold. The unnamed winner, a regular customer at Sandy's Deli-Liquor in San Luis Obispo,...

Toddler Lost in Cougar Country Is Saved by Furry Friend

Buford, a rancher's pet, spotted accompanying the Arizona boy after 16 hours

(Newser) - A large search party involving multiple law-enforcement agencies couldn't locate a missing toddler who wandered away from his home in bear and cougar country on Monday. Thankfully, a rancher's dog did. On Tuesday morning, about 16 hours after the 2-year-old had disappeared from his home in Seligman, Arizona,...

Town Helps Bookstore Move, One Book at a Time

'Book brigade' passed books hand to hand in small Michigan town

(Newser) - Residents of all ages in a small Michigan community helped a local bookshop move each of its 9,100 books—one by one—to a new storefront about a block away. A "book brigade" of around 300 people stood in two lines on the sidewalk in downtown Chelsea on...

Dog Teaches Other Dogs to Save Avalanche Victims

In the Italian Dolomites, Zen and other pups are tasked with rescuing those buried on the slopes

(Newser) - Zen, a 5-year-old border collie, circled around a mound of snow as he picked up a scent, his quick movements signaling to his handler that someone was buried deep below. Zen has been a rescue dog for three years, and on this day he was helping train 20 other dogs...

Dying Man's Mission: Serve Others in All 50 States

Doug Ruch, 55, of Texas is using his final months to perform community service across US

(Newser) - Doug Ruch's story falls into the "uplifting yet bittersweet" category—meant to inspire, but with a looming ending. The 55-year-old Texan was told by doctors he likely has between a year and 18 months to live, after finding out earlier this year that his prostate cancer had metastasized....

Inmates Reunite With Pups They Helped Train

Prisoners at San Quentin who raised canines to be service dogs are reunited with their furry students

(Newser) - Hugs, tears, barking, and tail wagging abounded at San Quentin's prison when two black Labradors reunited with the incarcerated men who helped raise them to be service dogs. The emotional reunion brought together Chase Benoit, Jared Hansen, and the 2-year-old dogs they helped train: Wendel and Artemis. The encounter...

Eagle Who Tried to Hatch a Rock Gets His Dad Wish
Eagle Who Got His
Wish to Be a Dad Dies
UPDATED
Mar 24, 2025 4:00 AM CDT

Eagle Who Got His Wish to Be a Dad Dies

Murphy wanted to be a father so bad that Missouri sanctuary let him foster 2 eaglets

(Newser) - Murphy, the bald eagle who won hearts in 2023 when he tried to incubate a rock, has died at age 33. The Missouri sanctuary where the raptor lived ultimately allowed him to foster an eaglet, which was released into the wild, and he later fostered a second eaglet, which is...

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