🏠 Modular Homes to Solve Homelessness

Good morning. It’s been a busy week so far. From a determined Ontario student building modular homes to fight homelessness, to a golden retriever’s icy rescue in Maine, these stories remind us how compassion and quick thinking can make a difference.

We look ahead to the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new symbol of connection between the US and Canada, and celebrate ZooTampa’s record-setting release of rehabilitated manatees, a hopeful milestone for wildlife conservation.

👉 P.S. When you upgrade to Good News Break Premium, you’re not just getting more good news. You’re helping support our mission to share hopeful, meaningful stories and spread more good in the world.

—Stephanie S

Eighteen-year-old Ribal Zebian from Ontario is tackling homelessness with innovation and heart. Inspired by rising housing costs and a desire to help his community, Zebian designed a modular tiny home system using precision fiberglass panels.

His shelters are insulated, weather-resistant, and can be quickly assembled in various sizes. Zebian plans to live in one for a year, experiencing every season to refine his design.

He believes these homes could be mass-produced to support the 1,800 homeless residents in London, Ontario. While not a complete solution, advocates say tiny homes are an important step forward.

Zebian’s determination shows how young minds can drive real change and inspire hope for the future.

A golden retriever in Maine gave its owners a fright after falling through a frozen pond. With no way to reach their pet, the family called 911, and firefighters rushed to the scene.

Rescuers in bright orange wetsuits carefully crossed the ice and pulled the dog to safety. Despite the freezing water, both the dog and the rescuers were unharmed.

The grateful but mischievous pup is now safe at home, though kitchen scraps are off the menu for a while.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Detroit and Windsor, is set to open in early 2026 after 20 years of planning. This striking new bridge will welcome not just vehicles but also cyclists and pedestrians, making it a rare international crossing for active travelers.

With the world’s longest steel-and-concrete composite deck for a cable-stayed bridge, it aims to ease congestion and link major highways seamlessly.

The bridge will also connect to local trail systems and parks, inviting visitors to explore both sides of the river and enjoy stunning views.

Financed by Canada, the $4.4 billion project celebrates the shared spirit of the two nations and honors hockey legend Gordie Howe.

ZooTampa set a new record in 2025 by releasing 26 rehabilitated manatees back into Florida waters, highlighting its vital role in manatee conservation.

The zoo’s David Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center has cared for over 615 manatees since 1991, with most returned to the wild.

A new state-of-the-art rescue facility will open in spring 2026, letting visitors witness life-saving care up close.

🔭 USA: January offers the best chance to see Jupiter and its four largest moons with the naked eye as the planet reaches opposition in the night sky.

🗽 New York: New York City recorded the lowest number of shootings in its history last year.

🔥 Switzerland: After a frantic call from his daughter, a father heroically saved 10 young people from a deadly New Year’s Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana.

🐝 Peru: Stingless bees in Peru’s Amazon become the first insects granted legal rights, protecting vital pollinators in a historic win for biodiversity.

🪸 Dominican Republic: Scientists are “replanting” coral reefs with lab-grown coral babies, a breakthrough giving new life to reefs devastated by climate change.

123 years ago today, Wind Cave National Park was established by Congress, becoming the sixth U.S. National Park and the first cave in the world to receive formal government protection. Located in South Dakota’s Black Hills, Wind Cave is now recognized as the densest cave system on Earth and one of the longest in the United States, with more than 150 miles of explored passageways.

For the Lakota people, the cave holds deep spiritual significance as a sacred emergence site. Above ground, the park preserves rare mixed-grass prairie and protects one of the nation’s few genetically pure, free-roaming bison herds. Below ground, Wind Cave is famed for unique mineral formations such as boxwork, first identified here and found almost nowhere else in the world.

Other notable January 9 events:

1768: Philip Astley staged the first modern circus in London.

1839: Daguerreotype photography was unveiled by the French Academy of Sciences.

1951: The United Nations headquarters officially opened in New York City.

2007: Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone.

— Jennifer Welwood

Every day brings amazing advances and uplifting moments that remind us just how wonderful the world can be. Here are five reasons why today is the best time ever to be alive:

🏝️ Solar Islands: Floating solar islands are generating clean power while reducing evaporation losses.

🌳 Rainwater Parks: Urban rainwater parks are managing floods while offering recreational green spaces.

🌱 School Gardens: Community learning gardens are teaching children about nutrition and sustainable farming.

🔥 Heat Mapping: Urban heat mapping with drones is guiding tree planting to the most vulnerable areas.

♻️ Plastic Fuel: Plastic-to-fuel technologies are converting waste into usable energy and reducing landfills.

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