February '25 Good News

All states have introduced "right to repair" laws -- . "Right to repair" bills guarantee the right to obtain repair manuals and other documents, tools (if needed), replacement parts, and diagnostic data. Apart from that it also bans the use of technological protection measures which allow only authorized technicians to repair something
A bill providing students with free breakfast before school has been passed in Arkansas, regardless of if they qualify for free or reduced meals
Alabama healthcare is now required to cover postpartum depression screenings, it will be a mandatory part of postnatal care. The Alabama Department of Public Health will provide resources on their website
Leonard Peltier, Native American activist, has been freed after almost 50 years of imprisonment
Mitch McConnell will not run in 2026 elections
Kansas Democrats propose a $15 minimum wage
California bill would allow the victims of wildfires and other weather disasters, and their insurance companies to sue oil companies

University of Cincinnati takes down "biological" bathroom signs and apologizes after protests erupt
9.3% of US adults identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Since 2023 there's been a 0.9% increase in trans identifying people, 0.6-0.8% increase in gay and bisexual identifying individuals
Montana blocks anti-trans law describing "biological" gender
New Jersey court has ruled against policies outing transgender students
New rent control bill passed by the Washington House will cap it at 7%
In a first of its kind: Philadelphia Whole Foods workers have unionized
Medical first: a fetus has received life-saving medication for spinal muscular atrophy while in the womb. Children with SMA usually die by the second birthday. However, this child is currently 2 and a half with no symptoms
The American Institute of Physics found playing classical music leads to more stable and predictable fetal heart rhythms
FDA approves the smallest heart pump for use in children. It does not require the chest to be opened up to install it

France has banned forever chemicals from products including cosmetics and clothing. Exposure to forever chemicals has been proven to increase chances of certain cancers, reduced fertility, and weakening the immune system
Brussels, Belgium have imposed sanctions on Israel
An abandoned Spanish prison has been turned into a center with a soup kitchen, shelters and gathering spaces
Nigeria gets 120 artifacts back from the Netherlands
A new rice cultivar reduces methane emissions by 70% while yielding high numbers. It is currently awaiting the Chinese government to register it as a new type

The Sombrero ground lizard have gone from having fewer than 100 individuals living in the wild in 2018 to there being more than 1,600 individuals
17 Mountain Bongos arrived in Nairobi, Kenya for reintroduction. Mountain Bongos are the one of the largest and rarest antelope species with less than 100 individuals in the wild. For at least 3 months, the 12 females and 5 males will stay in an isolation facility in order to get acclimated
The Omiltemi rabbit has been rediscovered after 120 years
Volunteer discovers new fuzzy sunflower species at the Big Bend National Park in Texas

200 olive perchlets have been released in Victoria, Australia. These fish were last seen in the wilderness back in 1929
Endangered forest owlet spotted 3 times during camping trip at the Melghat Tiger Reserve
New algae species Streptofilum arcticum could be used to make more eco-friendly sunscreen
Branchiostegus sanae is a new species of deep sea-dwelling fish. It is named after San from Princess Mononoke

After almost 36 years of being unnamed scientifically, the Sicklefin Redhorse (Moxostoma ugidatli) has been named after the Cherokee people who have known the fish for centuries
Over 2,500 bison have been returned to the Great Plains via the Tanka Fund
The Waimiri-Atroari people and conservationist Fernanda Aba build wire or rope bridges to help monkeys and other wildlife to cross safely
A collaboration between researchers from Hosei University (Japan) and White-bellied Heron Conservation Center (Bhutan) leads to 2 White Bellied Heron chicks being successfully reared. Fewer than 100 individuals live out in the wild
Uveitis treatment for horses may be used for people in the future. Uveitis is the leading cause of blindness and act the same in both species
Indian grey wolf gives birth to 8 pups in Karnataka's first wolf sanctuary. The estimated amount of wolves in the area is about 40-45. Overall, there are about 3,000 Indian grey wolves left
Oyster blood-like cells are proven to kill antibiotic resistant bacteria, and strengthen antibiotics used for golden staph infections, pneumonia, scarlet fever, and strep throat. No signs of the AMPPs (antimicrobial proteins and peptides) causing harm to human lungs
Second ever night parrot egg is discovered in Australia. The nocturnal parrot had been considered extinct 100 years prior
22 Darwin's frogs born at the London Zoo. Conservationists relocated them from Chile to escape deadly chytrid fungi