Welcome to the Good News Roundup for September 14, 2026
Population boost for the world’s only flightless parrot
There’s some positive news out of New Zealand, where the critically endangered Kākāpō had a record-breaking breeding season.
The unique bird – the world’s only flightless and nocturnal parrot – only breeds every two to four years, when native rimu trees produce large numbers of berries. Their population has been significantly impacted in the past by introduced predators.
A recovery program was launched in 1995 with just over 50 birds – but this season another 90 chicks have been added to the population, pushing the total to 325.
Read more and see pictures of this incredible bird here
Save the Children launches new program to boost reading levels in the US
Children across select rural communities in the US will now have access to free ‘book vending machines’ as part of a national movement to boost reading skills.
The Learn Without Limits program has been launched by Save the Children, providing books to children in communities across California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas and Washington to choose, and keep.
The program also encourages people to spend time reading with kids, and support efforts to provide more books and resources to communities that may not otherwise have that opportunity.
Read more about the program here.
The cost of MND treatment in Australia dramatically reduced
Australians living with motor neurone disease (MND) will now have cheaper access to treatment, with a particular drug added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The cost of the drug – Tofersen (Qalsody) – will drop from almost $29,000 per script, to just $25.
It’s used as a targeted treatment option for specific patients by aiming to slow the progress of the disease and help patients maintain function for longer.
Read more here.
Nashville Airport to honour Dolly Parton
In what many will likely see as a fitting tribute, Nashville International Airport is a step closer to being renamed in honour of the late Dolly Parton.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted 6-0 in favour of the proposed modification of the airport’s name, although the exact wording has yet to be determined.
The board says the vote is the first of many steps, and they’re working with relevant parties to determine how best to incorporate Dolly Parton’s name and legacy.
Read the statement in full here.
