A large crowd gathered in Annapolis in freezing weather to greet 19 monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center after their 108-day, 2,300-mile Walk for Peace; the monks paused in Annapolis before returning to Fort Worth.
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia spoke at spring training about the death of his daughter, Sterling Sol Vesia, who died shortly after birth on Oct. 26, and described wide support from teammates, opponents and fans as he begins grief counseling and returns to pitching.
Montgomery County Animal Services will hold a reduced-fee 'Find Your Better Half' event Feb. 14–15 for dogs over 40 pounds; adoption fees vary by age and adoptions are first-come, first-served.
A long-term study of about 198,473 adults found that healthy versions of both low-fat and low-carb diets were linked with lower risk of coronary heart disease, while unhealthy versions were linked with higher risk.
The California Fish and Game Commission approved threatened-species protections for mountain lions across multiple coastal and mountain ranges, making it illegal to harm them and requiring habitat safeguards. The move follows a 2019 petition by conservation groups and a formal recommendation from the Department of Fish and Wildlife in December 2025.
Giving Hearts Day 2026 reported a preliminary $30.4 million raised for nearly 650 nonprofits, bringing the event's 18-year total to about $256 million, and four charities — New Life Center, YWCA Cass Clay, Farm Rescue and Great Plains Food Bank — each raised more than $1 million.
1 Horse At A Time Draft Horse Rescue is running a capital fundraiser with a $100,000 goal to build an indoor arena; monthly meet-and-greets in Corvallis begin in April and the annual fundraiser is scheduled for September 26, 2026.
Snowpack across much of the Western US is well below normal this winter, and officials say that shortfalls threaten spring runoff for the Colorado River Basin — used by about 40 million people — while raising wildfire concerns as states try to agree on water-sharing terms.
Butters, an adult male Domestic Short Hair cat sponsored by New Directions Community Credit Union, is available for adoption through Precious Paws Rescue Center and is house-trained, neutered, and up-to-date on vaccinations.
Colorectal cancer cases are rising in younger adults in Canada, with an estimated 26,400 diagnoses in 2025. The article reports that Barry Stein, a stage 4 survivor and leader of Colorectal Cancer Canada, described his diagnosis and highlighted five behaviours the piece links to higher risk, including skipping screening and a sedentary lifestyle.
