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According to the State Bar of California, a little over half of applicants passed the July 2024 exam. Rhiannah Gordon was one of them.

Gordon, a single working mom of two young kids, was determined to transition to a career in law. Only once she returned home from her 9-to-5 day job and put her children to sleep, however, would she have the opportunity to study for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Despite her exhaustion, she persisted, and was eventually accepted at the University of California, Davis.

While in law school, Gordon juggled a full course load along with a job at the California Department of Transportation. She also had to accommodate her children, 12-year-old Flinn and 10-year-old Rhiley, into her busy schedule.

“I did everything I could to maintain the life that we had already established,” Gordon told TODAY in an interview. “I took them to their sports practices, I was at their games, but sometimes that meant if they looked up at me in the stands, my head would be in a book.”

The years of hard work have finally paid off.

In a recent video posted by Gordon, she sits anxiously at her computer, her two children pacing behind her in anticipation. The three of them are awaiting Gordon’s California bar exam results.

“Oh, my God,” Gordon says almost blankly, as if taken by surprise, when her results finally load. Once the shock dissipates and the realization sets in: “Oh, my God. I passed!”

Flinn and Rhiley crowd their mother, crying with joy and relief as they hug her. Gordon passed her bar exam on her first try.

“Black people face more barriers and obstacles,” Gordon continued. “So it was very important for me to make sure that my kids’ odds of being successful are as high as they can be. A parent’s education level contributes to that. I did this for them. They are my reason.”

In December 2024, Gordon attended her swearing-in ceremony and, today, she works for the California Department of Justice.

To keep up to date with her adventures, you can follow Rhiannah Gordon on Instagram and TikTok.

Rhiannah Gordon, a single working mom of two, was determined to transition into a law career, studying for her LSATs and attending law school while working a full-time job.

 

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Her hard work recently paid off: she passed her bar exam on her very first try, and celebrated the accomplishment with her two children.

 

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Gordon attended her swearing-in ceremony in December 2024 and currently works for the California Department of Justice.

 

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Rhiannah Gordon: Instagram | TikTok

Source: A single mom passed the bar exam on her first try. Her kids' reaction went viral

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READ: Single Working Mom Celebrates Passing Bar Exam on First Try With Her Kids in Heartwarming Video

Photo: Bárbara Fróes

It’s been established that art and craft activities positively impact mental health. It should come as no surprise, then, that arts and culture events are equally beneficial for physical and mental well-being.

New research conducted by Britain’s Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) demonstrates that attending or participating in an arts event, even if only occasionally or every few months, alleviates health symptoms such as pain, depression, and medication dependency, among others. Researchers revealed that music had a particularly strong link to an improved quality of life.

The DCMS study focused on 13 different groups of people, all of whom ranged in age from young to old. Evidence ultimately concluded that health and wellbeing improved when pursuing or attending activities related to the arts. A cited example was “Thursday at the Museum” drawing classes, during which participants over 65 years old reported greater life satisfaction after attending weekly for three months.

“Arts engagement has diverse and tangible effects on health,” Prof. Daisy Fancourt, the director of the WHO center and a co-author of the study, told The Guardian, “from supporting cognitive development and protecting against cognitive decline, to reducing symptoms of mental illness and enhancing wellbeing, reducing pain and stress, reducing loneliness, and maintaining physical functioning.”

By enhancing a participant’s overall well-being, arts and culture initiatives also reduce strain on the healthcare system. The participants of “Thursday at the Museum,” for example, created a financial dividend of £1,310 (about $1,643) per person, given that they felt better through the drawing classes and thus visited their doctors less frequently.

“[This] suggests that not only could further arts investment be valuable for individuals and the health service as part of a preventative health agenda, but also any cuts to arts funding or provision have to be considered a public health risk,” Fancourt continues.

These findings solidify just how relevant arts and cultural engagement is not only to individuals but entire communities. To learn more, check out DCMS’s full report.

A new study solidifies that participating in arts and culture events have positive health benefits.

Photo: Ardian Lumi

Musical participation was linked most strongly with a positive impact on people's quality of life.

Photo: Alev Takil

By engaging with arts and culture, people ultimately experienced better physical and mental health, reducing the strain on the healthcare system.

Photo: Mitchell Luo

Sources: Culture And Heritage Capital: Monetising The Impact Of Culture And Heritage On Health And Wellbeing; Consuming arts and culture is good for health and wellbeing, research finds

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READ: New Research Reveals That Participating in Arts and Culture Events Positively Impacts Physical and Mental Health

 

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Constructed in 1723, Old North Church is the oldest surviving church in Boston. Beyond its age, the colonial building is renowned for the two lanterns hung from its steeple in 1775 by Paul Revere as a warning of the British army’s approach. Nearly 250 years later, the church is now gaining recognition due to a significant restoration project.

Led by conservators Gianfranco Pocobene and Corrine Long, the project seeks to restore an 18th-century mural of angels painted across the walls of the church. The mural was painted in 1730 by John Gibbs, a member of the church’s congregation, and depicts 20 angel images, each rendered in playful poses and with cherubic expressions.

“John Gibbs painted them individually and they’re all in different poses, which gives them a really wonderful rhythmic kind of pattern across the surface of the church,” Pocobene told the Associated Press.

By 1912, however, the mural was covered with several layers of white paint during a renovation. Now, the resulting austerity and blankness strike church officials as historically inaccurate.

“For much of the church’s history, people who were coming here to the church would have seen those angels, would have seen the colorful interior,” says Emily Spence, the associate director of education at Old North Illuminated.

Indeed, the angels in the mural were, at one point, bathed in sandstone and teal tones to resemble stone sculptures. As a Church of England establishment, other decorative features retained a similarly dynamic and colorful character. These color schemes, according to Spence, are what set Old North Church apart from those managed by Puritans, the predominant population in the Boston area during the time.

The mural restoration, then, is an effort to salvage the church’s original identity. So far, Pocobene and Long have recovered eight of the mural’s 20 angels. The pair manually scraped seven layers of white paint with solvent gel and, after this, carefully cleaned the angels with cotton swabs to mitigate any potential damage.

“Whenever I go into a building with history, it amazes me to be surrounded with paintings or the decorations that were there originally,” Long states. “When it’s been repainted to be white, it takes away some of that majesty and some of that history.”

Another eight angels are slated to be restored by Spring 2025. To stay updated on this initiative, follow Old North Church on Instagram.

An 18th-century angel mural is being restored at Old North Church in Boston after being painted over in 1912.

 

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Old North Church is Boston's oldest surviving church and gained notoriety due to its role during the Revolutionary War.

Outside of Old North Church. (Photo: Ajay Suresh, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 2.0)

A plaque detailing Old North Church's historical significance. “The signal lanterns of Paul Revere displayed in the steeple of this church, April 18, 1775, warned the country of the march of the British troops to Lexington and Concord.” (Photo: Lady Rose MacClare, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 4.0)

The mural depicts 20 angel images, and so far eight have been recovered by the restoration team.

Old North Church's interior. (Photo: Victor Grigas, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 3.0)

Old North Church: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Source: Centuries-old angels uncovered at Boston church made famous by Paul Revere

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READ: 18th-Century Angel Mural Hidden for Over 100 Years Is Being Restored at Boston’s Oldest Surviving Church

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore's holiday portrait from space. (Photo: NASA)

For astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, this year’s Christmas is out of this world—literally. The two astronauts have been in space since June, and will be spending the holidays orbiting the Earth.

The pair was originally slated to return to Earth sometime in February, according to NASA. Earlier this month, however, NASA announced that the spacecraft set to retrieve Williams and Wilmore at the International Space Station won’t be ready for launch until late March 2025.

Despite this delay, the veteran astronauts are still soaking up the holiday cheer. In a festive portrait shared by NASA on December 16, Williams and Wilmore don Santa hats while speaking on a ham radio inside the Columbus laboratory module.

“The astronauts will spend Christmas and New Year’s Day taking time to relax, open gifts, share a meal, and talk to family,” NASA wrote in a Space Station blog post.

This isn’t the first holiday that Williams and Wilmore are spending away from Earth. In November, the astronauts celebrated Thanksgiving by watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and eating “Thanksgiving-ish” space food.

“We have a bunch of food that we’ve packed away that is Thanksgiving-ish. Some smoked turkey, some cranberry, apple cobbler, green beans and mushrooms and mashed potatoes,” Williams told NBC News.

Regardless of scheduling changes and being away from friends and family during the holidays, Williams and Wilmore are remaining positive and enjoying their time in space.

“We’re feeling good, working out, eating right—it’s just awesome,” Williams said during an NBC Nightly News interview. “We have a lot of fun up here too. People who are worried about us, really, don’t worry about us … we’re a happy crew up here.”

To stay updated on these outer-world adventures, visit the crew’s blog on NASA’s website.

Veteran astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been in space since June 2024.

Suni Williams speaking into the microphone during a HAM Radio session with students from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. (Photo: NASA)

Butch Wilmore performing maintenance work on the Plant Water Management (PWM) system. (Photo: NASA)

The pair is spending Christmas and New Year's Day in space, so they shared a festive portrait in anticipation of the holidays.

 

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Even though their return to Earth has been delayed to late March 2025, the astronauts are nevertheless enjoying their time in space.

 

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Sources: Station Crew Works Science Installs and Spacewalk Cleanup Before Holidays; NASA Adjusts Crew-10 Launch Date

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READ: NASA Astronauts Stuck in Space Share Festive Photo That’s Out of this World

Photo: Iñaki del Olmo

The first and oldest lending library in continuous existence in the United States is located in Franklin, Massachusetts. The Franklin Public Library opened in 1790 with the purpose of loaning books, free of charge, to its constituents. Centuries later, this central mission has not changed. In fact, libraries have only expanded the communal resources they provide, with branches across the U.S. now offering free health and wellness courses to visitors.

These health programs vary in content and form, and, as with other library resources, are available to anyone regardless of age, insurance status, or language skills. Classes range from fitness and cooking to conversation sessions about mental and physical health. Some libraries even lend out blood pressure monitors and kits as they would books.

AP recently investigated this growing trend, reporting on the courses found at several library locations across the country. A public library in Smithville, Texas, for instance, provides boxes of surplus food from local farmers and has developed a peer support group for those experiencing isolation. Another library in Milwaukee focuses on arming children and teenagers with information about nutrients and healthy diets, which takes the form of a weekly after-school program run by a local chef.

Mobile health clinics also travel the country’s libraries, inviting visitors to ask questions and learn more about their wellbeing.

“What we do is a Band-Aid on a broken (health care) system,” says Carolyn McCarthy, a nurse practitioner at a mobile health clinic.

Libraries boast a plethora of other free resources as well. Whether it be digital access to magazines or vast catalogs of music, movies, and TV, our library system serves an indispensable role within our democracy by providing free and accessible information.

Despite this, libraries are still vulnerable to budget cuts. New York’s Public Library, to name one, faced up to $58.3 million in cuts this year. The decision was luckily reversed due to intense public protest, and the full funding will be restored in the 2025 fiscal year.

Find your local library via the official government website and support their free programs and initiatives through your attendance.

Libraries across the United States are offering free health and wellness classes to visitors, regardless of age, insurance status, or language skills.

 

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These wellness resources further cement libraries as essential beacons of free, public, and accessible information.

A panorama of a research room taken at the New York Public Library (Photo: Diliff via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5)

Photo: Olena Bohovyk

Sources: Libraries are offering free health and wellness classes across the US; You Did It, NYC! Library Budgets Have Been Saved

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READ: Libraries Across the U.S. Are Now Offering Free Health and Wellness Courses to Visitors

 

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Many people have fun stories about how their favorite friendships began, but 24-year-old Jamal Hinton and 68-year-old Wanda Dench owe their unexpected 9-year bond to a simple twist of fate—a mistaken text sent to the wrong number. Back in 2016, Wanda Dench accidentally texted Hinton, inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner, thinking she was messaging her grandson. When they realized the mix-up, Wanda didn’t take back her invite—and they’ve been celebrating Thanksgiving together every year since.

When Hinton replied, “You’re not my grandma. Can I still get a plate though?” Dench didn’t hesitate, responding, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do…feed everyone.” Their heartwarming exchange quickly went viral, and Dench became affectionately known as the “Thanksgiving Grandma” for her generosity. Hinton, who was 17 at the time, made the hour-long trip to Dench’s home and joined her for Thanksgiving dinner. That simple gesture sparked a lifelong friendship, and this year, they celebrated their ninth Thanksgiving together.

Hinton was set to host Thanksgiving 2024, but the celebration was different this year due to Dench’s recent breast cancer diagnosis. Instead of their usual in-person gathering, they connected over a video call, allowing Dench to meet and chat with Hinton’s entire family while she rested at home during her chemotherapy treatments.

Despite having health struggles, Dench remains positive. “After the shock wore off, I met with the most wonderful people at the Breast Cancer Center,” she revealed. “Everyone was so kind, supportive and knowledgeable. My family and friends quickly came to my aid and have supported me through everything.”

Dench added, “I’ve learned a lot of life’s lessons through it all, but what I want to stress most of all is just because you may be older, we still have a life to live. After watching the Golden Bachelor last year that gave me hope that I could still find love in my senior years. So continue getting your checkups, and continue to live YOUR life!”

Both Hinton and Dench are hopeful they’ll be able to continue their Thanksgiving tradition and reunite in person next year. In the meantime, you can check out their video call below.

Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton’s Thanksgiving tradition began with a text to a wrong number—and it has continued every year since.

 

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Hinton was set to host Thanksgiving 2024, but the celebration was different this year due to Dench’s recent breast cancer diagnosis.

Excited to announce that I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year for Wanda and I! ✨ Looking forward to a day filled with good food, great company, and lasting memories. Year 9 coming soon! pic.twitter.com/HgDuJpjK8Y

— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 25, 2024

They connected over a video call, allowing Dench to meet and chat with Hinton’s entire family while she rested at home during her chemotherapy treatments.

Here is a special message from Wanda pic.twitter.com/KDTWktDPfN

— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) October 16, 2024

 

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Jamal Hinton: Twitter | Instagram
Wanda Dench: Twitter | Instagram

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READ: “Thanksgiving Grandma” Celebrates 9th Year in a Row With the Man She Accidentally Invited to Dinner

@coffeemilanocafe Dancing is good for the soul.. and a free coffee! This made our day! Thank you! #dancing #freedrinks #cafe #coffeeshop #event #fyp #restaurantlife #baristalife #barista #coffee #coffeetime #dancechallenge #viral ♬ original sound – Christina Dean

What would you do for a free coffee? In Middleboro, Massachusetts, a shop called Coffee Milano offers customers a very simple way to earn a cup of joe on the house—if you dance for five seconds on your way in, you get a free coffee. This unique deal has been taken up by locals, but the impromptu dancers have gained an audience much larger than expected thanks to the powers of social media. A compilation of the best moves has gone viral on TikTok.

The widely viewed video shows people of all ages rolling into the coffee shop. Set to “Macarena,” a woman kicks off her shoes to perform a bit of a moonwalk, following by a costumer that does an Irish jig. Some patrons coyly swing their arms, while others come in jumping with their friends. An older couple waltzes, and so does a mother with her toddler; while a woman gives her best John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever impression.  In the end, they are all winners—the shop never runs out of free coffee for their dancers.

Cafe owner Josh Rashid credits a different type of business for the idea. “We saw a pizza shop do it. And I'm like, ‘Let's do that for coffee,'” he told local station WBZ-TV. “Whoever shows up and dances gets a free coffee.”

The idea has since become a smash hit with customers; however, it isn’t an everyday deal. The promo is only available on certain days, and the owner plans to do it only once a month. These “dance parties,” as Rashid calls them, are not advertised that far in advance. The last time they celebrated one, the owner announced on social media with a post that simply said, “Come show us your dance moves!!” and placed a paper sign on his door over the weekend.

Even those who are perhaps too shy to bust a move but are around to catch the other dancing customers are getting an extra dose of joy in their day. “I come here every day for coffee in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. We need a little more softness in this world for sure,” says customer John Murrayn.

For Rashid, this idea is a way of bringing joy to those who need it most. “People absolutely love it. They were smiling,” says the shop owner. “You can dance away your day and have a cup of coffee with it.”

A cafe called Coffee Milano launched a unique deal for their customers—if they dance on their way in, they get a free coffee.

@coffeemilanocafe Thank you Town of Middleboro!! #coffee #latte #cafe #espresso #muffin #fyp #breakfast #middleboro ♬ original sound – Coffee Milano Cafe

This offer has been a smash hit among participants and even bystanders who are just around when dancing patrons show up.

@coffeemilanocafe It’s here again! Come show us your best moves THIS FRIDAY for a free drink! 12-3 PM! We hope to see you there #dancing #freedrinks #cafe #coffeeshop #event #fyp #restaurantlife #baristalife #barista #coffee #coffeetime #dancechallenge #viral #adventure #CapCut ♬ Withoutme伴奏 – 阿吉野马

Coffee Milano: Instagram | TikTok

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READ: Cafe Gives Free Coffee to Those That Come in Dancing and People Show Off Their Best Moves

 

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With an illustrious career spanning more than seven decades, Betty White (1922-2021) was an undeniable force within American show business. The legendary performer starred in countless movies and television shows, including the cultural mainstay The Golden Girls. In the coming year, USPS will release a postage stamp honoring White and her profound impact upon the entertainment industry.

The stamp features an illustrated digital portrait of White by artist Dale Stephanos and is inspired by Kwaku Alston’s 2010 photograph of the actor. The stamp itself was designed by Greg Breeding, an art director at USPS.

“An icon of American television, Betty White shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” USPS wrote in a statement. “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.”

Stephanos announced the stamp on his Instagram account last week, generating great excitement for the design. “I’d love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK,” he wrote.

The stamp joins many others slated to be released throughout 2025. Highlights range from stamps celebrating Lunar New Year and American vistas to musician Allen Toussaint (1938-2015) and artist Keith Haring (1958-1990).

“This early glimpse into our 2025 stamp collection demonstrates our commitment to providing a diverse range of subjects and designs for both philatelists and stamp enthusiasts,” Lisa Bobb-Semple, Stamp Services director at USPS, said.

Throughout her life, White received more than 20 Emmy nominations, winning eight of them across several categories. She was also awarded the Guinness World Record for the “Longest TV Career for a Female Entertainer” in 2014, a testament to her unprecedented legacy within American television.

This USPS stamp is the perfect encapsulation of White’s storied life and work, and offers a new and unique opportunity to celebrate her. More information about the Betty White stamp and other 2025 stamps can be found on the USPS website.

A Betty White stamp is being released by USPS in 2025.

 

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The stamp features a digital portrait of the revered comedic actor by artist Dale Stephanos, and has already been highlighted by TV host Seth Meyers.

 

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A post shared by Dale Stephanos (@dalestephanos)

The Betty White stamp joins many others slated to be released throughout 2025. Highlights include Lunar New Year, luna moth, and foliage stamps.

 

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USPS: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Dale Stephanos: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Source: U.S. Postal Service Provides Sneak Peek at 2025 Stamps

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READ: USPS Will Release Stamp Honoring the Iconic Betty White in 2025

Photo: sepavone/Depositphotos

Good news for those about to start the college application process. One of the most prestigious schools in the world, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has announced that it will make tuition free for all undergraduate students whose families earn less than $200,000 per year starting next fall.

This incredible news lifts the barrier for less economically privileged individuals. Additionally, students whose families make less than $100,000 per year will receive further help, as the university will also cover all other costs, such as housing, dining, and other fees, as well as offering an allowance for books and personal expenses. Eligible students whose families make between $100,000 to $200,000 can expect to pay a sliding scale, while families that make over $200,000 a year can still receive need-based financial aid based on their unique circumstances.

“The cost of college is a real concern for families across the board,” MIT President Sally Kornbluth said via a statement, “and we’re determined to make this transformative educational experience available to the most talented students, whatever their financial circumstances. So, to every student out there who dreams of coming to MIT: Don’t let concerns about cost stand in your way.”

This effort follows a movement to try to make higher education more accessible around the U.S. According to a press release, MIT is one of only nine colleges in the country that does not consider applicants’ ability to pay as part of its admissions process. “MIT does not expect students on aid to take loans, and, unlike many other institutions, MIT does not provide an admissions advantage to the children of alumni or donors.” About 18% of current MIT undergraduates are first-generation college students.

“We believe MIT should be the preeminent destination for the most talented students in the country interested in an education centered on science and technology, and accessible to the best students regardless of their financial circumstances,” says Stu Schmill, MIT’s dean of admissions and student financial services. “With the need-based financial aid we provide today, our education is much more affordable now than at any point in the past.”

Source: Undergraduates with family income below $200,000 can expect to attend MIT tuition-free starting in 2025

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READ: MIT Will Make Tuition Free for Families That Earn Less Than $200K Per Year

 

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Within the birding community, the “big year” challenge serves as an informal goal to encounter as many species of birds as possible within a calendar year and specific geographic area. This past October, however, the yearly challenge was compressed into a single day. Birdwatchers from more than 200 countries joined the October Big Day 2024 challenge, shattering world records by documenting over 7,800 species within just one day.

Hosted on October 12, 2024 by eBird, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin, and other birding organizations, this substantial event attracted nearly 748,000 participants around the world. Throughout the day, birders submitted a total of 61,986 images and 2,022 video recordings to the Macaulay Library, allowing scientific data to remain accessible for the birding community.

Colombia produced the greatest number of documented birds, an unsurprising accomplishment given that the country boasts the highest population of endemic birds on Earth. Italy witnessed a 93% increase in participating eBirders since the Big Day in 2023, with the Philippines clocking in as a close second at 89%. Africa also recorded more than 1,500 species for the first time ever.

The event collected close to 100,000 birding checklists via eBird. These checklists clearly illustrate global bird populations, offering ornithologists critical insights into conservation efforts and migratory patterns. Big Day events celebrate the diversity of birds, nature, and participatory science while collecting essential data for researchers.

“The amazing number of recorded species is a testament to the efforts of observers around the world and the resources created by the global birding community,” the eBird team writes. “Together, we’ve contributed data that will help inform the conservation of birds for generations to come.”

Mark your calendars: the next Big Day is coming up on May 10, 2025.

The October Big Day 2024, a significant birding event, attracted nearly 748,000 birders from more than 200 countries.

 

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Participants in the October Big Day 2024 challenge documented over 7,800 bird species in a single day, shattering a world record.

 

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At 1,240 species, Brazil was one of the countries that produced the highest number of documented birds during October Big Day 2024.

 

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Source: October Big Day 2024: Global Birding, Global Impact

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READ: Birders Shatter World Record by Documenting Over 7,800 Species of Birds Within a Single Day