The week's good news: July 18, 2019

1. Photographer uncovers negatives for couple who lost their wedding pictures in wildfire

This is an early 20th anniversary gift they'll never forget. When the Camp Fire swept through Grass Valley, California, last fall, it completely destroyed Marc and Mary Taylor's home. They lost all of their possessions, including decades worth of photos. Hoping she could recover some of them, Mary Taylor got in touch with the photographer, Richard Briggs, who shot their wedding on August 14, 1999. Briggs was thrilled when he started digging around and found the negatives, telling KCRA that usually, photographers don't keep them for so long. "They were a little faded," he said, but his wife who is "excellent in editing" was able to bring back "the color and the life into the photos." The Taylors cried when Briggs gave them not only a new wedding album, but also the negatives. "It gave us a piece of something back after losing everything," Marc Taylor said.

KCRA

2. Rare sea turtles shatter nesting records in Georgia and the Carolinas

It's been a good summer for the giant loggerhead sea turtle. Scientists say the turtles have been laying eggs left and right in Georgia and the Carolinas, making over 12,200 nests — that's more than the previous high of 11,321 nests in 2016. The rare turtles make their way out of the Atlantic, crawl up the sand, and then dig their nests, laying about 100 eggs at a time. Their nesting season runs from May through August, and volunteers cover the nests with screens to keep predators away. The giant loggerhead sea turtle has been a threatened species since 1978, and scientists believe that two measures have been critical to their survival: states are monitoring the nests more than before, and since 1987, shrimp boats have had to use nets that include escape hatches for sea turtles.

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The Associated Press

3. 12-year-old designs bow ties for shelter dogs looking to be adopted

Darius Brown hopes that by helping shelter dogs and cats look their best, he's improving their chances of finding a forever home. The 12-year-old from Newark, New Jersey, makes snazzy bow ties that he donates to rescue organizations and shelters across the country. "It helps the dog look noticeable, very attractive," Brown told Today. Diagnosed with developmental delays as a toddler, Brown struggled with his fine motor skills until four years ago, when he started helping his sister, Dazhai Brown-Shearz, make hair ribbons. He soon started making and wearing his own bow ties, and he was often stopped by strangers who asked where he bought them. Now he sells the accessories through his company, Beaux & Paws. For every bow tie he sells, Brown makes a donation to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Today

4. This city is turning its bus stops into havens for bees

In the Dutch city of Utrecht, 316 bus stops have been transformed into urban oases for bumblebees and honeybees. The roofs are covered with sedum plants, which attract the bees, and they are also able to capture fine dust and store rainwater, The Independent reports. To make the bus stops even more green, the benches are made of bamboo and the lighting is energy-efficient. Utrecht is also taking major steps to improve its air quality. The city plans on having 55 new electric buses — powered by windmills — in operation by the end of the year, and wants its public transportation system to be "completely clean" by 2028. For residents who want to join the cause, Utrecht also has a program where people can request funding to turn their own roofs green.

The Independent

5. Strangers join forces on Twitter to find dress for girl with autism

Deborah Price turned to strangers on the internet for help, and they delivered. Price's friend was trying to find a specific dress for her daughter, Elise. Elise has autism, and will only wear a gray dress with a rainbow heart on the front. She bought the dress three years ago, and was worried about finding a replacement once Elise outgrows it. Thinking someone might have one in their closet they'd be willing to sell, Price tweeted a photo and hoped for the best. It didn't take long before people started responding. Some told her they found the dress on eBay but in the wrong size, and others offered to sew a replica. Finally, one girl said she owned the size needed, and wanted to send it to Elise. Price was "absolutely bowled over by the kindness of strangers," she tweeted, adding that the support "restores your faith in human nature."

CBS News