The week's good news: March 28, 2019

(Image credit: Russell Makofsky via AP)

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1. World War II veteran, 95, is running across the United States — for a second time
2. Kenyan educator who gives most of his salary to students in need wins $1 million global teaching prize
3. Mother-daughter pilot duo delight passengers during recent Delta flight
4. After losing his sight, golden retriever gets a 'seeing-eye' puppy
5. This 8-year-old refugee is a New York chess champion

last updated 28 March 2019

1. World War II veteran, 95, is running across the United States — for a second time

When jogging around his neighborhood just didn't cut it anymore, 95-year-old Ernie Andrus decided to run across the country. "I was running three days a week, but it's the same old thing," the World War II veteran told CBS News. "And I just got a little bored." On March 16, Andrus set off from Saint Simons Island, Georgia, for San Diego, California, a journey he expects to finish after his 100th birthday. This isn't the first time Andrus has made the trek — in 2016, he became the oldest person to ever run across the U.S., dashing from San Diego to Saint Simons Island, a feat that took three years to complete. Andrus is using his runs to bring attention to the LST 325 Ship Memorial in Evansville, Indiana. Andrus served on an LST during the war and wants to raise enough money to get the ship to Normandy for a D-Day memorial.

Peter Tabichi already knows what he's going to do with the $1 million he received upon being awarded the 2019 Global Teacher Prize on Sunday. The 36-year-old science teacher from rural Kenya will donate some of it to his school, with the rest going to feed the poor. Tabichi, a Franciscan friar who topped 10,000 other teachers nominated for the award, already gives away 80 percent of his salary to students who otherwise couldn't afford uniforms or books. "Africa's young people will no longer be held back by low expectations," he told BBC News. "Africa will produce scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs whose names will be one day famous in every corner of the world. And girls will be a huge part of this story." Despite the challenges of teaching at an underfunded school, Tabichi has provided his students with an excellent education; several have competed in international science competitions and now attend college.

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Capt. Wendy Rexon and her daughter, First Officer Kelly Rexon, are having fun flying the friendly skies together. Upon boarding a recent Delta flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Dr. John R. Watret, the chancellor of Embry-Riddle Worldwide Aeronautical University, learned that the plane's pilot and first officer were a mother and daughter team. Watret was thrilled, as he feels there "has to be more diversification in the industry," he said in a news release. "It's crucial and one of the key factors we focus on." Watret and a few other passengers chatted with the Rexons before the plane took off, and he learned flying runs in the family: Kelly's sister is a pilot, too. Watret says the industry will strengthen as more women join the workforce, and Kelly "had a great role model for becoming a pilot — her mother. It's good for aviation and inspiring for us all."

Maverick is more than just Charlie's best friend — he's also his "seeing-eye" puppy. Charlie and Maverick are golden retrievers, both owned by Adam and Chelsea Stipe of Mooresville, North Carolina. Charlie is almost 11 years old, and due to glaucoma, his left eye was removed in 2016 and his right in 2017. He still loves to play and go on walks, but sometimes he needs some help getting around. That's where Maverick comes in. Maverick joined the Stipe family in January, and now 4 months old, he walks next to Charlie, guiding him where he needs to go. Chelsea told NBC Philadelphia that Maverick also assists Charlie when he loses track of a toy, picking it up and dropping it in front of him. It took Charlie a bit of time to get used to Maverick, but now, they're inseparable. "They're both pretty crazy and special," Chelsea said. "They're definitely our entertainment."

In one year, Tanitoluwa Adewumi went from not knowing anything about chess to becoming New York's newest champion. Adewumi, 8, started learning the game last year at school. Adewumi and his family came to New York City from Nigeria two years ago, seeking religious asylum. Adewumi's coach, Shawn Martinez, told NBC New York once he started teaching the third-grader, he "could just tell this game was for him." After countless hours of practicing, the undefeated Adewumi won his age group in the New York State Primary Chess Tournament earlier this month. He now has a place to display his huge trophy: His family had been living in a homeless shelter, but a GoFundMe started last week raised enough money to get them into permanent housing. Adewumi is gearing up for the national championship in May, and is inching closer to his goal of becoming "the youngest grandmaster in the world."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.