Blue Sky Times: Adoption, Validation, Fat Bear Update 

As the fall months and darker skies are upon us, it can be a daunting task to see the blue skies right above the clouds. The news column is here to remind you goodness continues to exist in the midst of gray days. Here are this week’s best good news stories. 

Adoption fees waived

Chicago Animal Care and Control hosted an event in collaboration with the Bissell Pet Foundation called “Empty the Shelters.” The event encouraged higher adoption rates by waiving the adoption fee which usually comes with the adoption process, according to a poster shared in Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s newsletter. 

The event ran Oct. 1-15 and was open to anyone looking to adopt an animal from the shelter. The Bissell Pet Foundation is a national organization that collaborated with more than 345 organizations in 42 states to bring this event to life, according to their website. 

“Empty the Shelters” promised anyone who adopted a pet during those 15 days to pay no more than $50 to take their new pet home.

Parental Validation 

Drew Weissman was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discoveries that ultimately lead to the development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. When he received the news, he immediately called his parents to let them know of his accomplishments, CBS News reported.

His parents, 91-year-old Hal and 90-year-old Adele, were overjoyed with the news. In an interview with CBS, Weissman said his parents always believed he could accomplish this. 

“Oh, how fabulous,” Adele said. “I don’t know what to say. I’m ready to fall on the floor. You kept saying, ‘No, no. It’s never going to happen.’ And you did it.” 

Weissman has been studying RNA for 30 years at the University of Pennsylvania. He and his collaborator Katalin Karikò, who was also awarded the Nobel Prize, have been nominated before for their work but didn’t expect to receive the award for the vaccine for another five years. 

“Congratulations, sweetheart,” Adele said on the phone call. “You’re the product of our hearts, Drew. Congratulations and you deserve it.”

Fat Bear Week Winner

After a week of intense competition, has been crowned the winner of Fat Bear Week, an event hosted every year by Alaska’s Katmai National Park. The competition, based on a weeks-long voting bracket, included 12 brown bears pitted against each other. 

Grazer’s cubs have grown and left the nest, giving her extra time to gorge herself on salmon from the rivers in the national park, according to an article from Smithsonian Magazine. 

Grazer received a record-breaking 1,328,783 votes from participants, according to a tweet from Katmai National Park. Not only did Grazer win, but she is now well-prepared for a cold Alaska winter, according to the tweet. 

Have a wonderful week everyone and remember, as Cat Stevens once sang, “Now I’ve been smiling lately / Thinkin’ about the good things to come / And I believe it could be / Something good has begun.”

Featured image by Lilli Malone | The Phoenix

This story was written by Isabella Grosso, Lilli Malone, and Hunter Minne