North & Central America

Children eating school meal

Colorado voters approve tax increase on high earners to fund school meals, food stamps

By / / Good News For Humankind

Colorado has achieved a major victory for public health with the passage of Proposition MM. This landmark measure secures approximately $100 million annually for mental health and addiction services by limiting tax deductions for high earners making over $300,000. The revenue will expand access to care in rural communities and support critical crisis intervention programs. This decisive vote confirms a strong public commitment to progressive funding solutions, treating mental health as an essential service for all.

Nine nations commit to recognizing 395 million acres of Indigenous land by 2030

By / / Good News For Humankind

A landmark international coalition has committed to formally recognizing 395 million acres of Indigenous and traditional community lands worldwide. The nine countries making this pledge are Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Gabon, Guatemala, the Republic of Congo, Peru, and Venezuela. This massive commitment to land tenure security empowers millions of Indigenous and local people to be the primary stewards of their ancestral territories, ensuring the permanent protection of globally vital carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots.

Salmon jumping

Salmon reach Upper Klamath River Basin for first time in over 100 years

By / / Good News For Humankind

The Klamath River Basin is celebrating a profound ecological comeback. While salmon returned to the lower river immediately after dam removal in 2024, they have now reached the Upper Klamath Basin for the first time. This unprecedented migration, confirmed by tribal and state monitoring crews, has successfully opened nearly 400 miles of ancestral spawning habitat. This is the largest river restoration project in US history, led by the Yurok, Karuk, and Hoopa Valley Tribes.

Abigail Spanberger

Abigail Spanberger is elected Virginia’s first female governor

By / / Good News For Humankind

Virginia has reached a defining political milestone by electing Democrat Abigail Spanberger as the state’s first female Governor. This historic victory shatters a long-standing political barrier in the Commonwealth. Spanberger, whose platform centered on strengthening public education and expanding infrastructure, secured a clear mandate for pragmatic and inclusive governance. Her win is a triumph for political equity and mobilization, providing a powerful source of inspiration for women seeking political leadership nationwide.

Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani elected New York City’s first Muslim mayor in historic win for progressives

By / / Good News For Humankind

Mamdani’s decisive victory, achieved through powerful community organizing, signals an embrace of democratic socialism and progressive ideals in the nation’s largest city and beyond. The result stands as a clear repudiation of President Trump and conservative national narratives, demonstrating that an inclusive, equitable platform can successfully win the highest offices and inspire historic political participation. This triumph sets a powerful precedent for diverse, grassroots, progressive leadership nationwide.

Smokestacks polluting

New England’s last coal plant closes permanently

By / / Good News For Humankind

New England has secured a major win for the environment by officially going coal-free. The permanent closure of New Hampshire’s Merrimack Station, the region’s last coal plant, ends a major source of air pollution and CO2 emissions. This transition, enabled by strong investment in natural gas, wind, and solar capacity, proves that industrial economies can successfully retire large fossil fuel assets without compromising energy security. The move delivers significant public health benefits and sets a clear standard for climate leadership.

Insulin pen

California to become U.S. first state to sell cheap insulin through state-backed program

By / / Good News For Humankind

California has achieved a major healthcare milestone by launching a groundbreaking initiative to provide affordable, state-backed insulin. The pioneering CalRx program is contracting with a generic manufacturer to produce the medication, which it will sell at near-cost prices. This action is expected to drastically lower costs for the nearly $3.2 million residents living with diabetes. By intervening in the market, the state affirms that essential, life-saving medication must be affordable, setting a powerful national precedent for health equity.

Marina near Lake Muskegon and Lake Michigan

Michigan’s Lake Muskegon flourishing after years of pollution cleanup

By / / Good News For Humankind

A massive $84 million cleanup has led to the full ecological recovery of Lake Muskegon in Michigan. The lake was formally removed from the federal Areas of Concern list after decades of effort. This success restores the lake’s water quality and wildlife habitat, eliminating industrial contamination like sawdust and toxic sediment. The achievement is a powerful blueprint for environmental healing, proving that sustained public investment can fully revitalize damaged natural resources.

Jaguar

Mexico’s jaguar numbers up 30% since 2020 in conservation drive

By / / Good News For Humankind

Mexico is celebrating a major conservation success with a recent surge in its jaguar population, which increased by approximately 30% since 2010, according to the national census. This achievement is the result of strong national investment and strategic protection of habitat corridors. By reducing human-wildlife conflict through compensation schemes, organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society secured the future of this umbrella species.

View of Uber driver from backseat

Uber and Lyft drivers in California win the right to unionize

By / / Good News For Humankind

In a landmark moment for the gig economy, Governor Newsom signed a bill granting California’s ride-share and delivery drivers the right to organize and collectively negotiate. This historic law, a national first, empowers hundreds of thousands of workers to demand better wages and working conditions. The move creates a new model of sectoral bargaining, protecting labor rights within the digital economy while preserving the flexibility that platforms rely on.