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.
A research team identified a 45-base ribozyme, QT-45, that can assemble copies of RNA strands and—rarely and slowly—produce a copy of its own sequence; the enzyme works by joining short RNA fragments and copies with about 95% fidelity.
A Dutch study of more than 65,000 adults followed for four years found that replacing 60 minutes of TV with more active pursuits was associated with an 11% lower likelihood of developing major depression, with larger reductions reported for middle-aged adults and for longer time swaps.
UW-Madison is asking students to report their vaccination status for measles and several other diseases after a campus measles case was found; the university says reporting is required but vaccination is not.
DeKalb County School District has proposed closing or repurposing 27 schools in response to declining enrollment, and the district board is scheduled to vote on a final plan in the fall.
