Photo: John Cameron / Unsplash (CC0)
In Squirrel News today, homicides in London have fallen dramatically, especially in young adults; New York City introduces a free care programme for 2-year-olds with hopes for expansion within the city and across the state; and a cafe in Oregon is a cherished cornerstone of the deaf community.
The London police and mayor now say it is one of the safest cities in the world due to a twin approach of smarter and more focused work by officers and greater diversion efforts by youth workers. Homicides of under-25-year-olds have fallen dramatically from a peak of 69 in 2017 to just 18 last year.
Source: The Guardian
Free ‘2-care’ will launch in New York City’s highest-need neighbourhoods this fall with a gradual expansion planned for all parts of the city over four years. The Governor announced a financial commitment to the first two years and her support for expanding free childcare and preschool throughout the state over time.
Source: The City
Close to completion and due to open early this year, the new bridge connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, but not just cars will be crossing. The paths for bike riders and foot traffic will connect to a network of trails on both sides of the Detroit River.
Source: Good News Network
Called Skovsporet, or “The Forest Trail”, the development is now home to 36 student apartments in the town of Holstebro, Denmark. A Danish affordable housing organisation worked with a 3D building group using sustainable materials and methods while keeping 95% of the surrounding trees intact.
Source: Good Good Good
In partnership with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, New Jersey eliminated an additional $86 million in medical debt for 53,000 of its residents at the turn of the year. The programme has helped more than 828,000 New Jerseyans since its onset in August 2024.
Source: New Jersey 101.5
In France, the market share for refurbished phones is 20%, twice that of Europe in general. Certideal has built a reputation as reliable and trustworthy, but they are also a social solidarity company. One initiative is their academy that teaches tech refurbishing skills to people in career transition or reintegration.
Source: Euronews
At the Woodstock Cafe in Portland, Oregon, the waitstaff take orders in sign language from deaf community members, students learning ASL, and hearing customers using a transcribing microphone. Offering events like game night and the weekly ‘Sign Squad’, it is a beloved place for staff and guests alike.
Source: AP News
Braver Angels conducts workshops across the US, facilitating conversations about societal divisions. Identifying ‘the Four Horsemen’ of polarisation as stereotyping, dismissing, ridiculing and contempt, they give participants an opportunity to examine their part in the divisions and to build bridges.
Source: The Spokesman-Review
Africa’s largest national park, Virunga Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was established a hundred years ago to protect mountain gorillas. Once critically endangered, their numbers have been rebounding, and last weekend a newborn set of twins was spotted with their mom.
Source: The World
Until recently, most of Kigali’s natural wetlands were degraded from farming and no longer offered flood protection. The city changed course a decade ago, and five ambitious restoration projects will come together this year in 36 miles of parks, bike lanes, walking paths, and biodiverse wetland that will lead stormwater back to sea.
Source: Yale Environment 360
