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In the headlines...

⚽️ Following widespread backlash, FIFA reversed its World Cup water bottle ban and will allow fans to bring refillable water bottles into stadiums.

💼 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, which was much higher than expected.

⛪ Pope Leo XIV received a seven-minute standing ovation after he demanded respect for migrants in the first-ever papal address to Spanish lawmakers.

Environment

A rare, endangered bee species received new protections in six US states

Distinct for their rusty-colored patch in their middle section, on males only, the rusty patched bumble bee used to be found in about half of U.S. states — now only 13 states have recorded sightings, and in 2017, it became the first bee species to be listed as federally endangered.

To help the bee recover, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 1.5 million acres of land across five states as critical habitat for the bee.

While it doesn’t establish new protected areas or reserves, the designation does impact “development or other actions” involving planning, permitting, and implementing projects that could impact the bee’s survival.

Why is this good news? The announcement is being hailed as “essential to the survival of one of America’s most imperiled pollinators,” and pollinators are essential not only to the larger ecosystem, but the food supply we all depend on.

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More Good News

​The world’s largest wildlife overpass is nearing completion over a 10-lane freeway in California. The bridge, which is set to open in early December, is already attracting hummingbirds to its vegetation areas.

​Stevie Nicks donated $3 million to USC medical school to recognize the voice doctor who cared for her throughout her career. The donation supports the creation of an endowed chair in otolaryngology at USC’s Keck School of Medicine in honor of Dr. Joseph Sugerman.

​The Gullah Geechee people of the American Southeast are keeping the indigenous art of basket weaving alive. Sweetgrass basket weaving is an enduring cultural tradition tied to enslaved African communities of the 18th century.

​Papua New Guinea has officially barred fishing and all destructive human activity from an ocean area the size of the U.K. The world’s largest marine protected area is estimated to be home to over 700 reef fish species and over 300 species of hard coral.

​As flooding worsens across the country, Britain is turning to beavers to help. The animals are part of an unlikely effort that’s both bringing back species that vanished help Britain adapt to climate change.

​After a crocodile crushed his only functional arm, a diver is back in the ocean to fight plastic pollution. Alain Brandeleer started a “Running for the Ocean” initiative, a 20-kilometer race in Brussels where more than 250 participants raised funds to help intercept 1 million plastic bottles.

Animals

This ‘turtle-sniffing dog’ searches miles of New York woods to save endangered species

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good progress

The US sees a record start to 2026 for energy storage

According to new data from the United States Energy Storage Market Outlook report, the U.S. added 9.7 gigawatt-hours of new energy storage capacity in the first quarter of 2026 — a capacity that is up 32% from the previous year.

Across the country, Texas, Arizona, and California remain the leaders in top utility-scale storage markets, but 13 states now have explicit energy storage targets that are helping with storage acceleration. Most notably, Georgia, Iowa, and Mississippi are “most improved” when it comes to storage growth in the last quarter.

With this new data, industry experts estimate that more than 610 gigawatt-hours of energy storage installations will occur by 2030.

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More Good bits

📺 “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” is on YouTube, and it goes wayyyy back.

🦎 Conservationists are saving a dazzling blue gecko.

🦭 The unbridled joy of a rescued seal eating their first fish. (Reels)

🎓 Congrats to all graduates! From kindergarteners to 72-year-olds.

🍦 I-scream, you-scream, we-all-scream for free ice cream for kids.

🤼 Cheering on wrestlers isn’t hard “when you’ve got a library card!”

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