Best News of Last Week
It’s Erica with your new dose of Feel Good News — stories to remind us the world’s not so bad after all.
1. A nonprofit has erased more than $40 billion in medical debt across the U.S. People don't apply, they simply receive a letter saying their debt is gone, including one woman whose $3,200 medical bill was wiped away
In 2018, Jessica McIntyre faced a challenging situation after developing postpartum eclampsia, leading to significant medical debt from her hospital stay. Despite having health insurance, she owed thousands due to her plan's coverage limits. Eventually, McIntyre fell behind on payments, and her debt was sold to a collections agency, negatively impacting her credit score. In 2022, she received surprising news from a nonprofit called Undue Medical Debt, which had erased her remaining $3,200 debt, significantly improving her financial situation. Undue operates by purchasing unpaid medical debts for a fraction of their value and eliminating them without requiring an application from recipients. The issue of medical debt in the U.S. is widespread, with a 2024 report estimating that Americans carry over $220 billion in such debt. North Carolina has a high rate of medical debt, affecting 13.4% of adults, and many suffer despite having insurance due to high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. In 2024, a collaboration between Undue and North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services aimed to address medical debt more holistically, requiring hospitals to relieve debts for low-income patients and preventing them from selling such debts to collections. This initiative helped erase $6.5 billion in medical debt statewide. Additionally, local fundraising efforts, like a campaign by Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, further contributed to debt relief, raising over $22,000 to eliminate significant amounts of medical debt in the community. These initiatives highlight a growing recognition of the burden of medical debt and efforts to provide assistance to those affected.
2. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces "Click to Cancel" rule to rid NYC of subscription traps and junk fees
Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City has introduced a groundbreaking "Click to Cancel" rule aimed at protecting consumers from subscription traps and hidden fees. This regulation mandates that businesses must allow customers to cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up for them. The initiative was announced in collaboration with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and is expected to save New Yorkers approximately $162.5 million annually. The rule is designed to help consumers avoid financial burdens from persistent subscriptions, such as gym or hotel memberships. Mayor Mamdani criticized the business practices that complicate the cancellation process, stating that if sign-ups can be done with one click, cancellations should be just as straightforward. Failure to comply with the rule could result in civil penalties for businesses. However, concerns remain about the enforcement of the rule and its associated costs. A similar federal rule had been proposed but faced legal challenges.
3. A restaurant owner found $12,000 hidden in an old cabinet. Instead of keeping it, he tracked down the previous owner, who needed it during a serious health battle
A South Carolina restaurateur, Sak Yiengjuntuek, owner of Lemongrass Vietnamese Pho & Thai Cuisine in Myrtle Beach, has been celebrated for returning $12,000 found in an old cabinet to its previous owner. After a neighboring store's fire caused power outages, Yiengjuntuek was clearing out leftover furniture when he discovered a sunglasses case filled with cash. Shocked, he recognized it belonged to the former proprietor. Although initially struggling to contact him due to a disconnected number, Yiengjuntuek eventually reached out live on air with WLBT3, receiving an emotional response from the owner, who was facing health challenges. His act of honesty has garnered him local recognition, and he hopes to inspire others to do the right thing and uphold honesty in their own lives.
4. Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen at scale 7-2-2026
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a device that addresses both plastic pollution and hydrogen production using sunlight. As hydrogen demand increases, the majority of current hydrogen production relies on natural gas, which contributes to environmental concerns. The new device breaks down plastic waste, converting it into hydrogen in a sustainable manner. This innovative solution builds on the team's previous work on a solar-powered reactor that utilized expensive semiconductor catalysts, which limited scalability. The new device is larger, easier to produce, and employs a cost-effective paint sprayer method to apply light-absorbing materials and catalysts. Tested outdoors, the reactor efficiently extracts hydrogen from plastic bottles and plant biomass. While the production method is now more affordable, the hydrogen generated remains too costly, necessitating improvements in reactor efficiency and durability. The findings are outlined in the journal *Nature Chemical Engineering*.
5. 18 donkeys have kept Doñana National Park in Spain free of wildfires for 9 straight years by grazing dry scrub daily where vehicles cannot reach. Doñana sits at the heart of one of Europe’s most vital wetland ecosystems. It shelters Iberian lynxes, endangered birds, and hundreds of migratory species
In Spain, donkey firefighters have successfully protected Doñana National Park from wildfires for nine years by grazing on dry scrub that could potentially fuel fires. This initiative, started in 2014 with 18 donkeys from the El Burrito Feliz association, utilizes the animals' eating habits to maintain the landscape, especially in areas inaccessible to vehicles. Doñana, a vital ecosystem home to endangered species, has notably avoided wildfires during a period of increasing fire activity across Spain. Donkeys are particularly effective for this task due to their unique digestive system, allowing them to consume and transform tough vegetation into energy, which in turn diminishes fire risks over time. Grazing supports fire prevention while also restoring agricultural practices lost to mechanization and rural depopulation. Efforts to replicate this model are emerging in other regions, such as Catalonia, where additional donkey programs are reporting similar successes in fire prevention. Moreover, the program benefits from collaborations with volunteers and military support, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive wildfire management strategy that includes land management and early detection measures. Overall, the reintroduction of donkeys for fire prevention demonstrates a sustainable and efficient approach to ecological restoration and wildfire management in Spain.
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That's it for last week :)
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