Good News Headlines 7/22/2024

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Paris Mayor Swims In Seine As River Is Cleaned Up Just In Time For Olympics

by Kim Willsher, The Guardian

It has been the dream and promise of Paris mayors for decades and a nightmare for Olympic organisers: could the Seine be cleaned up enough to swim in and hold triathlon and other events? For the last 100 years and up until a few days ago, the answer seemed to be no. On Wednesday, however, the city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, kept her promise that it would be and she would be one of the first in. To cheers and applause, she led a group of about 100 officials, athletes and local people by donning a swimsuit and taking a dip in the river after a barrage of tests showed it was finally safe. “It’s a dream day … and the sun is out,” Hidalgo said after performing a respectable crawl 100 metres downstream in water measured at 20C (68F).

Families In Tiny Texas Town Have Adopted 77 Hard-To-Adopt Kids Inspired By Their Baptist Church Leaders

by Andy Corbley, Good News Network

On the 4th of July, over 2,000 theaters across America ran the film adaptation of the incredible true story from a small town in Texas that adopted 77 of the most at-risk children from the regional foster system. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, recounts how the voice of God led a pastor and his wife to adopt two children, and then to convince the congregation in the town church to follow their lead. It wasn’t a large community, but nevertheless, the 77 children found families within the 23 households of Possum Trot, Texas. Oprah, the Today Show, and Good Morning America all jumped on the story, but it was years later when Hollywood director Josh Weigel and his producer wife Rebekah approached Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife Donna Martin did the story make it to the silver screen.

‘Goldmine’ Collection Of Wheat From 100 Years Ago May Help Feed The World, Scientists Say

by Robin McKie, The Guardian

A hundred years ago, the plant scientist Arthur Watkins launched a remarkable project. He began collecting samples of wheat from all over the globe, nagging consuls and business agents across the British empire and beyond to supply him with grain from local markets. His persistence was exceptional and, a century later, it is about to reap dramatic results. A UK-Chinese collaboration has sequenced the DNA of all the 827 kinds of wheat, assembled by Watkins, that have been nurtured at the John Innes Centre near Norwich for most of the past century. In doing so, scientists have created a genetic goldmine by pinpointing previously unknown genes that are now being used to create hardy varieties with improved yields that could help feed Earth’s swelling population.

Navy Exonerates Black Sailors In Deadly 1944 Port Blast. Families Say It Was Long Overdue.

by Minnah Arshad, USA Today

Civil rights leaders and families of World War II veterans celebrated the long-awaited exonerations of 256 Black sailors who were wrongfully convicted after the 1944 Port Chicago explosion, a disaster that shined a light on deeply entrenched racial disparities in the military. On July 17, 1944, during World War II, more than 4,600 tons of ammunition detonated on a cargo ship at a munitions pier in Port Chicago, California. The blast killed 320 people, most of whom were Black, and injured about 400. Shocks from the blast caused widespread damage to buildings in surrounding communities, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. While white officers were given hardship leave after the devastating explosion, Black sailors were ordered back to work.

A California Medical Group Treats Only Homeless Patients — And Makes Money Doing It

by Angela Hart, KFF Health News

They distribute GPS devices so they can track their homeless patients. They stock their street kits with glass pipes used to smoke meth, crack, or fentanyl. They keep company credit cards on hand in case a patient needs emergency food or water, or an Uber ride to the doctor. These doctors, nurses, and social workers are fanning out on the streets of Los Angeles to provide health care and social services to homeless people — foot soldiers of a new business model taking root in communities around California. Their strategy: Build trust with homeless people to deliver medicine wherever they are — and make money doing it. “The biggest population of homeless people in this country is here in Southern California,” said Sachin Jain.