Farmer Turns Down $26M for Her Land

An 82-year-old Kentucky farmer rejected a $26 million offer from an unnamed artificial intelligence (AI) company that wanted to convert part of her family’s 1,200-acre property into an AI data center campus.

Ida Huddleston’s family has farmed the land in Mason County for generations, including growing wheat during the Great Depression to help keep bread lines running. Her daughter, Delsia Bare, summed up the family’s position: “Stay and hold and feed a nation. $26 million doesn’t mean anything.“

The unnamed company offered roughly $60,000 per acre, about 10 times the going rate, for a planned 2,000-acre facility. A local group has filed a lawsuit challenging the rezoning.

“What I’ve got here, I want to pass it down,” Ida told a local news station. “What God told me to do was to keep it until I was through with it and then pass it on to the next generation.”

School Learns Sign Language for Deaf Student

Seven-year-old Ben O’Reilly is deaf and the only deaf student in his school district in Campton, New Hampshire, a state without a dedicated school for the deaf. His aide said Ben felt isolated and “very alone” at school, with virtually no one he could communicate with.

That changed when classmates started picking up a few signs, then decided to learn sign language together. Eventually, teachers across the school joined in, using sign language even when Ben wasn’t around. Today, nearly every student and staff member at Campton Elementary knows at least some sign language.

Ben’s adoptive parents were overwhelmed by the effort. “I could barely breathe,” his mom told CBS News. His aide said the difference has been remarkable: “You could just watch his world open up with communication.” Watch the video.

Bald Eagles Hatch Easter Chicks

Bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow welcomed their second chick on Easter Day in Big Bear Valley, California, the day after their first eaglet hatched.

Both chicks are healthy and feeding, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley, which livestreams the nest to more than 1.2 million Facebook followers and is among the most-watched wildlife cams in the country. The chicks, nicknamed “bobbleheads” at this stage, are just beginning to feed.

The hatchings come after the pair lost an earlier set of eggs this season. The happy news also arrives as a $10 million fundraising deadline looms to protect the eagles’ habitat. A 63-acre stretch of lakefront less than a mile from the nest is slated for a housing development and marina, and conservationists warn the construction could drive the pair from the area.

The group hopes to purchase and permanently protect the land before the July 31 deadline.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ When a 68-year-old Domino’s delivery driver in Idaho realized his store was out of Diet Coke, he stopped at a nearby shop and bought it himself to fulfill an order. The moment, caught on a Ring camera, went viral, launching a GoFundMe that has raised over $45,000 for his retirement. (Watch Video)

➤ After 20 years of chronic hiccups that escalated to daily, unrelenting episodes with acid reflux and vomiting, a 52-year-old man was finally cured when doctors in China used a targeted electric current on the nerve controlling his diaphragm. (See Details)

➤ Bricks for the Blind, founded by a 28-year-old blind man, has created free accessible instructions for over 540 Lego sets, inspiring Lego to launch its own audio and braille instructions. (More)

➤ Dozens of trucks, cars, and motorcycles rolled through a small Wisconsin town for a parade honoring a truck-obsessed 2-year-old who is facing open-heart surgery. The community also donated toys and books to help him through recovery. (More)

➤ While stepping off her school bus, a 12-year-old spotted her Georgia home engulfed in flames and immediately ran to the front door, screaming for her two older brothers to get out. Both escaped unharmed, with one having been asleep directly above the burning garage. (More)

➤ An 80-year-old widow from California decided to start a new life in Tennessee—a state she’d never once visited when a Walmart employee took her in, started a GoFundMe, and is helping her find a permanent home. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Tired of wasting weekends scrubbing with hoses or bulky pressure washers? HydroX5 makes cleaning effortless. This cordless, jet-powered washer blasts away grime, moss, and dirt in seconds. Lightweight yet powerful, it works with any water source—bucket, faucet, or hose—delivering impressive, mess-free results every time. (LEARN MORE)

A father returns from Baghdad and is greeted by his daughters in an emotional reunion.

video via Rebecca Sweet WBIR- Facebook

My teachers told me I’d never amount to much since I procrastinate a lot.

I told them…

Flying together with our sponsor

Unexpected vet bills can cost hundreds—or even thousands—but MetLife Pet Insurance helps protect your wallet when it matters most. Plans start at around $7/month for cats and $16/month for dogs, with up to 90% reimbursement on covered visits, helping you save big when emergencies strike. Check your rate and get covered before the next surprise hits. LEARN MORE

“They say I went the extra mile, but for goodness’ sake, it was no big deal. Well, now I might go to Hawaii. Actually, I’d rather go to Melba.“

— Dan Simpson, Domino’s delivery driver, on the viral act of kindness that led to thousands in donations ahead of his retirement.