In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about a new study showing the positive health impact cash has on poorer families, a campaign to move capital into Black-owned, eco-friendly banks, and how Poland managed to produce 29% of its power from renewables in 2024.
Research shows tuberculosis rates drop when those in poverty are given cash
A growing body of evidence suggests that economic programmes which give money to poorer families can have major health benefits. A recent study argues that this approach can work when it comes to the world’s deadliest infectious disease: tuberculosis.
“Bank Black & Green” is redirecting millions away from fossil fuel industries
The campaign hopes to move capital to Black-owned banks that actively commit to not funding the mass incarceration or fossil fuel sector – and is already seeing results.
Poland produces 29% of power renewables in record year
Despite remaining the European Union’s most coal-dependent country, Poland has sped up efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in recent years. Aside from almost one third of energy coming from green sources in 2024, the region also installed the third-highest number of new solar capacity in 2022.
All municipal buildings in Chicago now run on renewable energy
As of January 1st, all Chicago city buildings are powered entirely by green energy – including international airports, fire stations, libraries, and City Hall itself.
Seaweed might be the answer to the sustainable antibiotic problem
A lab in Norway is working on an innovative new methods to make antibiotics: training bacteria to eat the sugars found in seaweed, which can then be used as a foundation for vitamins, medication, and more.
10 million trees to be planted, replacing those destroyed by hurricanes in the US
The Arbor Day Foundation has released a statement announcing their intention to plant at least 10 million trees over the next four years in six states impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee.
US newspapers are deleting old crime stories, offering subjects a ‘clean slate’
A wave of local publications across the US are considering requests to wipe or edit old articles to give their subjects a fresh start. A handful of newspapers have in recent years launched programmes to review their archives and remove names or delete certain stories to protect the privacy of individuals involved in minor crimes.
As Minnesota bans phones in schools, a club helps teens with the transition
With screens so deeply imbedded into the everyday lives of students, removing them overnight might pose a number of challenges. A nonprofit organisation – LifeMore, ScreenLess – is encouraging discussions on screen use, accountability, and mental health to make the change easier.
It’s no secret that growing tourist numbers mean an increase in irresponsible behaviour – but more and more destinations are bringing in a rewards system for thoughtful visitors. From free ice cream to affordable ski passes, tourists who pick up litter, take public transport, and volunteer on conservation projects are set to experience a number of perks.
Kansas’s native grasslands formed about 12,000 years ago – but the land has been badly neglected over the centuries. Grassroots projects to change this are gaining traction: Mike Moddrell bought 320 acres in southwest Douglas County twenty years ago, and the land is now thriving.
