Will California’s roads soon be made of recycled plastic?

Good News Notes: “Plastic bottles by the side of a road are a common sight, an unseemly reminder of how often consumer products are discarded carelessly. Now some of those bottles may become part of the road. A Northern California company has devised a process that integrates recycled plastic into road repaving, an innovation that…

Viola Davis Wants to Help Food-Poor Kids

Good News Notes: “Childhood hunger hits close to home for Viola Davis. The Oscar winner, 55, who grew up in poverty, is working with No Kid Hungry to bring awareness to the hunger crisis during the coronavirus pandemic. ‘This was an issue before COVID,’ she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. ‘It’s just that stakes are much higher…

Therapy llama is helping vulnerable groups in Oregon get through pandemic

Good News Notes: “Caesar the llama has had a busy few months. He’s been “leading” virtual story time with students, recording birthday videos, and even attending protests near his farm in Jefferson, Oregon. Caesar is part of a growing trend known as llama therapy, which has become a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable populations,…

Venice Film Festival to Return With Masks and Without Blockbusters

Good News Notes: “The Venice Film Festival announced the lineup on Tuesday for its 77th edition, setting out precautions including temperature checks and new outdoor screening sites for what will be one of the first large international festivals held since the coronavirus pandemic began. This year’s festival will run from Sept. 2 to Sept 12,…

Brees doubles COVID-19 donation to $10 million

Good News Notes: “New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees upped his contribution to communities in Louisiana impacted by the coronavirus pandemic from $5 million to $10 million. Brees and his wife, Brittany, announced Monday that their commitment is in direct response to the pressing need from healthcare centers and communities hit hard by COVID-19.” View…

Salt Lake City School District offers students free telehealth services

Good News Notes: “Concerned by student mental health issues exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, Salt Lake City School District is partnering with a Utah support group to provide free telehealth services to students. ‘We know that right now many of our students are dealing with depression, anxiety, peer struggles and other mental health issues,” said…