First solar canal project is a win for water, energy, air and climate in California

Good News Notes: “Mounting evidence suggests the western United States is now in its worst megadrought in at least 1,200 years. Groundwater supplies are being overpumped in many places, and the dryness, wildfires and shrinking water supplies are making climate change personal for millions of people. As an engineer, I have been working with colleagues on a way to both protect water supplies and…

KFC Is About to Launch a Vegan Fried Chicken Bucket at More than 4,000 Stores

Good News Notes: “On January 10, KFC will launch its first plant-based chicken option nationwide at its more than 4,000 locations. The new Beyond Fried Chicken was created in partnership with vegan brand Beyond Meat to replicate KFC’s famous fried chicken but without animal products. Beyond Fried Chicken can be ordered à la carte in…

Canidae, Petco partner on in-store kibble refilling solution

Good News Notes: “In partnership with Petco, Canidae has designed and launched the company’s first Kibble Refill Station in Petco’s Carmel Mountain Store in San Diego. The new program is intended to transform the way kibble is purchased by enabling pet owners to buy kibble through an in-store, self-serve merchandiser, using reusable kibble bags. Each…

KFC Just Launched Oatly Vegan Ice Cream in China | VegNews

Good News Notes: “International fast-food giant Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) just added Oatly’s vegan ice cream to its menus across China. The chain now offers Oatly’s oat milk-based ice cream in two classic flavors, Strawberry and Chocolate, and describes the flavor as “refreshing and dense.” The new oat milk ice cream options come in single-serve…

Nonprofit Organizations Offer Free Produce for Food-Insecure Families Across SoCal

Good News Notes: “Organizations are opening a world of produce for food-insecure families across Southern California. Nonprofits like Seeds of Hope and the Pico-Union Project are under an umbrella of groups with Food Forward at the top. Rick Nahmias is the founder of Food Forward, a nonprofit organization that brings fresh surplus fruits and vegetables to people experiencing food insecurity…

California spending billions to house homeless in hotels

Good News Notes: “When homeless outreach workers first visited her encampment under a Los Angeles highway overpass last fall, Veronica Perez was skeptical of their offer of not just a bed, but a furnished apartment complete with meals, counseling and the promise of some stability in her life. “They said they had housing for me,…

Nevada County animal rescue groups see surge in fosters, adoptions

Good News Notes: “Stuck at home during the pandemic shutdown, Nevada County residents reacted in much the same way as the rest of the nation. They took up new hobbies, they binge-watched their favorite shows and they learned how to Zoom. They also adopted new family members. All over the country, animal shelters have reported…