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In the headlines...

​Bruce Springsteen released a protest song called “Streets of Minneapolis” to condemn the violence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis and memorialize the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

At a gathering of mayors in Washington, D.C. a group of Republican mayors condemned the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement, saying “our cities are no longer safe.”

Ecuadorian Consulate staff blocked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from entering the consulate, and the South American nation filed a formal diplomatic protest.

Art & Culture

The knitting pattern for ‘Melt the ICE’ hats has raised $250k for Minnesotans

On January 15, Minnesota yarn shop Needle & Skein encouraged knitters and crocheters across the country to take part in a project inspired by resistance to Nazi Germany in the 1940s.

They’re calling them “Melt the ICE” hats, and the shop is selling digital patterns for $5 for both knitters and crocheters to make their own, and since launching the project, they have raised over $250,000 through the sale of the patterns.

All of the funds are being donated to STEP Emergency Assistance, which provides legal aid and rent assistance to those in a suburb of Minneapolis, and the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, “a coalition of 32 philanthropic leaders rooted in communities most impacted by immigration-related harm.”

Even better: Countless crafters have posted their projects online and have directed followers to buy red yarn from Minnesota-based shops or other independent businesses that are using the surge of shoppers to donate a percentage of sales to Minnesota organizations, too.

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More Good News

​Yale is waiving all costs for undergraduates from families earning less than $100k. The new policy also promises to waive tuition — but not all costs — for those with annual incomes under $200,000.

​At a new North Carolina restaurant, every smash burger sold goes toward fighting childhood cancer. Zeke Smash was inspired to give back by its namesake, a six-year-old who was diagnosed at three months old with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia, a rare, aggressive blood cancer in which bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells.

​Three Bob Ross paintings sold for over $1.2 million in support of public television following funding cuts. It was the second sale of the artists’ works, and the first in this set sold for $787,900 — 13 times more than the high-end estimate for the piece, which was done live on air during a 1990 episode of “Joy of Painting.”

​Shane Hollander’s Team Canada fleece from “Heated Rivalry” is being released in real life — and it gives back to charity. Fans were desperate to buy the jacket worn at the fictional Olympic Games in the series, and now, it’s being made by a Canada-based, independent clothing brand, which will donate 10% of the proceeds to a charitable organization.

Interesting story

Experts say 2026 is the year of ‘in-person’ gossip: ‘Our caveman brains are unprepared for the speed of social media’

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good data

New study: No-alcohol and low-alcohol beers — and dry pubs — are on the rise

As people look to drink less alcohol or cut it out of their routine completely, interest in low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beers has grown significantly over the last decade.

In fact, a new survey from the British Beer and Pub Association shows that 86% of pubs across England now serve no- and low-alcohol beer.

And as the demand grows, so does the market. Mainstream companies like Heineken and Guinness have offered up “zero point zero” alternatives to popular brews, and breweries like Athletic Brewing Company and BERO have devoted their entire line-up to non-alcoholic craft brews.

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More Good bits

🥪 Listen: You have to eat. This will make it easier.

🦇 Batman is here, and he has demands.

❤️ Women’s rights are under attack globally, but there’s still hope.

🌳 We need to find and protect the climate change safe havens.

🗓️ Black History Month starts on Sunday — let’s celebrate intentionally.

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