Headlines

A man who grew up poor and fatherless and barely finished high school went on to open 54 Burger King restaurants across three US states; his foundation has since donated more than $2 million

Gullo got his start as a night manager at Burger King. Over the years he built up his business interests and eventually established a franchise empire in three states. John Gullo’s story of overcoming a poor, fatherless childhood in a rough Italian neighborhood of Buffalo, New York to becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist is…

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A San Antonio storm knocked out power and damaged homes; one barber simply moved his chair outside and kept cutting customers’ hair

Martinez moved a barber’s chair outside the shop and continued cutting customers’ hair. (Photo: TPR) A powerful storm knocked out power and damaged homes across San Antonio on Friday night, but a barber refused to close his shop. Texas Publilc Radio reported that with no electricity, he moved his barber chair outside and continued cutting…

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Melinda French Gates donated $10M to Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival, bringing the total to $20M, here’s where the money will be going

Trust the women in the world to make change and they will. Singer, songwriter Olivia Rodrigo successfully concluded her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Festival on Saturday, August 29, in Irvine, California. The star-studded event included performances from artists such as Stevie Nicks, Karen O, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Bikini Kill, Rachel Chinouriri, Garbage, The Breeders and…

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Alaska used rotenone to eliminate invasive pike from an entire lake; the pike vanished, and 6,836 Arctic char were later stocked to rebuild the native fishery

In a remote corner of Southcentral Alaska, state biologists carried out a dramatic restoration: they treated an entire lake with rotenone, a plant-derived piscicide, to wipe out an invasive population of northern pike. After the treatment, post-surveys confirmed the pike were gone. The next step was rebuilding what had been lost. In June 2013, the…

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In 1934, Black cave guide Matt Bransford sold his 14-room Mammoth Cave hotel and land for just $3,000, far below market value; the family then moved 20 miles away as the national park took shape

Matt Bransford and a glimpse of Mammoth Cave National Park Deep below the forests of Kentucky is a world of water, stone and centuries-old human history. Mammoth Cave National Park has the world’s longest known cave system, but its story is about far more than underground passages. It’s also a story about indigenous exploration, enslaved…

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In 2024, a developer paid $4 million for 83 acres outside Yosemite; two years later the US is considering a land swap for a private access road through the park

The National Park Service is examining whether a land exchange can be carried out under federal law A Nevada-based developer is seeking a land exchange that could allow a private road to be built through Yosemite National Park, giving access to an 83-acre property just outside the park. The Trump administration is considering the proposal,…

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Rare manatees are turning up along the Texas coast this summer; some are lingering in busy marinas for freshwater, prompting warnings to boaters

manatees (representative image) This summer, an unusual visitor has been making waves along the Texas coast: the Florida manatee. Multiple sightings have been reported from Galveston to Port Mansfield, with some of the gentle giants lingering in busy harbours and marinas to drink from freshwater outflows. As temperatures soar, wildlife officials say the warm Gulf…

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Maine students and residents planted 12,000 dune-grass stalks after two 2024 storms washed away dunes; in 2026, volunteers returned with 20,000 more to rebuild the beach

University of New England students plant dune grass at Biddeford Pool beach in Maine. A beach in Biddeford Pool, Maine, is being rebuilt with the help of dune grass. In March 2026, University of New England students and local volunteers planted 20,000 stalks across about 20,000 square feet, continuing a restoration effort that began after…

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In 2005, a couple bought a 2,300-acre Napa ranch for $8 million; after a 17-year battle over plans for vineyards, the land was bought for $24 million and is becoming a public preserve

2,300-Acre Napa Ranch Bought for $24M After 17-Year Vineyard Battle For years the fate of a large swath of Napa Valley wilderness has been tied up in competing visions: neat rows of vineyards or a continuous landscape for wildlife to roam. Now, after a long legal and environmental fight, the 2,300-acre property is headed for…

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