Wally, a beloved beaver who became a community favorite in Northern Virginia, was saved from euthanasia thanks to the efforts of thousands of supporters who rallied together through an online petition.

Wally first gained popularity at Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax County, where locals and visitors often saw him hard at work building dams. However, wildlife officials considered euthanizing him after concerns arose over flooding and tree damage caused by his dam-building activities.

The community swiftly stepped in, launching a petition that quickly gathered over 10,000 signatures. Advocates argued that the beaver’s positive impact on the ecosystem—creating wetlands and habitats for other wildlife—far outweighed any inconveniences.

Local officials eventually agreed, opting instead for a humane relocation effort. Wally will now be safely moved to a suitable habitat rather than being euthanized.

“This shows how much our community values wildlife,” said Julie Ames, the petition’s creator. “We’re thrilled our voices were heard.”

Residents celebrated the decision, highlighting how Wally’s survival symbolizes the growing awareness of peaceful coexistence with local wildlife.

A third eaglet hatched yesterday in the much-loved bald eagle nest near Big Bear Lake, marking a delightful moment for the growing number of wildlife enthusiasts who have been closely watching the family online.

The nest, located in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear, California, has been streaming live via the Friends of Big Bear Valley eagle cam. Observers were excited to witness the third chick hatch, a significant event considering that bald eagles usually lay two eggs, with three being somewhat unusual.

The parents, affectionately named Jackie and Shadow, are local celebrities among bird watchers. According to the Friends of Big Bear Valley, these parents have gained fame for their caring behavior, ensuring their chicks remain healthy and thriving despite the occasional harsh weather conditions.

“The hatch was smooth and perfectly timed,” said Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley. “It’s heartwarming to see this family continue to flourish.”

Wildlife experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a respectful distance, reminding the public that the best way to enjoy and protect these birds is by observing remotely via the eagle cam.

Viewers can continue to monitor the eaglets’ development, celebrating each milestone as the chicks grow into young eagles over the coming weeks.

In an era where digital streaming dominates, the closure of Video Stop marked the end of an era for Pocatello, Idaho. However, for one loyal customer, the spirit of the traditional video rental experience continues, thanks to the store owner’s thoughtful initiative.

For over 15 years, 35-year-old Christina Cavanaugh, who has Down syndrome and is mostly nonverbal, maintained a cherished routine of visiting Video Stop almost daily with her mother, Toni. This ritual was integral to Christina’s daily life, providing her with joy and consistency. The prospect of the store’s closure posed a significant disruption to her routine, causing concern for Toni about how to explain the change to her daughter.

Understanding the importance of this routine to Christina, Video Stop’s owner, David Kraning, decided to preserve a portion of the store’s collection. He dedicated a corner in his adjacent business, K & B Kwik Stop, to house these movies, ensuring Christina could continue her beloved visits. This thoughtful gesture not only maintained a sense of normalcy for Christina but also highlighted the deep bonds formed between local businesses and their patrons.​

Toni expressed immense relief and gratitude for Kraning’s actions, likening the news to “being sentenced to prison and then getting a reprieve.” She praised the community-oriented approach of Kraning and his staff, who have always been attentive to Christina’s unique needs, even training new employees on how to interact with her during checkout.

While the era of video rental stores may be fading, the compassion and dedication demonstrated by Kraning ensure that, for Christina, the magic of selecting a physical movie remains alive. This story serves as a heartwarming reminder of the impact local businesses can have on the lives of their customers, going beyond transactions to form meaningful, supportive relationships.

In an age where school budgets are often stretched thin, a small-town Wisconsin high school received an astonishing financial windfall from a former student. Osceola High School, nestled in the tight-knit Village of Osceola, recently learned that a graduate from the Class of 1947, Millicent “Milly” Lindahl, left the school $1.8 million—with more still to come.

A Gift from the Past

Superintendent Becky Styles recalls the moment she learned of the unexpected donation.

“We were absolutely dumbfounded by the amount,” she said. “This doesn’t happen in public schools very often.”

While Milly Lindahl—who later became Milly Chapman—was not widely known in the community, her legacy is now impossible to ignore. A look through old yearbooks revealed she was an active student, participating in the drama club, yearbook committee, school newspaper, and even serving as a cheerleader.

After graduating in 1947, Milly moved away and lived a private life in Maple Grove, Minnesota, with her husband. With no children or immediate family, she made a decision that ensured her name would live on in Osceola—leaving her estate to the high school that had brought her joy in her youth.

Remembering Milly

While details of her later life remain scarce, Superintendent Styles and the local historical society have pieced together a portrait of a woman who cherished her high school years.

“I think it was a place where she found herself, where she could be who she wanted to be,” Styles said. “It was one of the happiest times of her life, and that’s what she held on to.”

Milly and her husband lived quietly, seemingly well within their means. Though her name may have faded from memory in Osceola, her generosity ensures she will be remembered for generations to come.

A Lasting Legacy for Students

Now, the school faces a major decision—how to use the money in a way that honors Milly’s legacy. While many ideas have been floated, Superintendent Styles emphasized that the funds should have a long-term impact rather than being used for short-term needs.

Possible projects include:

• A student commons area to foster community and connection.
• A performance space named in Milly’s honor, recognizing her love of drama and school activities.
• Scholarships or academic programs to support future students.

Before making any final decisions, the school plans to involve the community and wait for the estate to be fully settled.

One thing is certain—Milly Lindahl’s generosity will shape the future of Osceola High School, just as her time there shaped her.

Scientists in Chile are exploring an innovative solution to provide drinking water to some of the driest cities on Earth—harvesting water from fog. Their research suggests that large-scale fog collection could be a sustainable water source for Alto Hospicio, a city in northern Chile that receives less than 0.19 inches (5mm) of rainfall per year.

A City in Need of Water Solutions

Alto Hospicio, perched on the edge of the Atacama Desert, is one of the most arid urban areas in the world. Many residents, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, lack access to a stable water supply and rely on expensive, trucked-in water for their daily needs. With underground aquifers—currently the region’s primary water source—being depleted by urban demand and industrial use, researchers see an urgent need for alternative solutions.

How Fog Harvesting Works

The concept of fog harvesting is simple but effective: a fine mesh net is suspended between poles, and as moisture-laden fog drifts through, water droplets condense on the mesh, collect, and funnel into pipes for storage. This method has been successfully implemented on a small scale in rural parts of South and Central America, and one of the largest existing systems operates in Morocco, capturing moisture from fog near the Sahara Desert.

Scaling Up for Urban Water Needs

Dr. Virginia Carter Gamberini, a researcher at Universidad Mayor, believes that expanding fog collection to a much larger scale could significantly bolster water security in cities like Alto Hospicio. Her team conducted extensive satellite image analysis and weather modeling to identify prime locations where fog harvesting could yield the most water.

The results were promising. Based on an estimated daily water collection rate of 2.5 liters per square meter of mesh, the researchers calculated that:

• 17,000 square meters of mesh could produce 300,000 liters of water per week, enough to replace the trucked-in supply for the city’s poorest communities.
• 110 square meters could meet the annual demand for irrigating green spaces in the city.
• The system could also support hydroponic farming, producing up to 44 pounds (20 kg) of vegetables per month using fog water.

A Natural Fit for Chile’s Coastal Cities

Alto Hospicio’s location along the Pacific coast provides the ideal conditions for fog collection. The city regularly experiences “camanchaca” fog—a dense, low-lying cloud formation generated when warm, humid ocean air moves over the cold Humboldt Current and is pushed inland by winds. With Chile’s unique geography, researchers believe that fog harvesting could be deployed in multiple coastal regions to supplement water supplies.

Dr. Carter and her team are now developing a fog harvesting map of Chile to identify other potential collection sites. They see this technology as a way to enhance urban resilience in the face of climate change, offering a sustainable and decentralized water source for communities struggling with water shortages.

Their findings were published in the journal Frontiers of Environmental Science, adding to the growing global interest in fog harvesting as a climate-adaptive water solution.

As urban populations expand and climate change intensifies water scarcity, fog harvesting could provide a practical, low-impact solution for cities in arid regions. With the right investment and infrastructure, this ancient technique could be the key to securing water for the future.