The Optimist: Two 20-somethings in a Capitol Hill romance ‘found love in a hopeless place’

This West Virginia pastor defied the odds to create a diverse congregation; How to save the prairie, acre by acre; Bette Midler: The people's diva; This architect returned to his former Indiana high school — and created an award-winning STEM program; She's a registered farmer — and she's only 6 years old; Firefighters launch tense rescue after pet tortoise traps pet dog in underground burrow; He spent almost 50 years alone at 10,000 feet. His hobby helped shape climate research in the Rockies.; How a one-legged turkey and her friends in Virginia were saved from the dinner plate; Pa. commissioners denied funds to a library that hosted an LGBTQ group. So citizens stepped in. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sign up for this newsletter Read online Stories that inspire.     (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) A Capitol Hill romance: 'Found love in a hopeless place' Andy Eichar and Gloria Nlewedim were both 20-something legislative staff assistants when they first encountered each other on a Rayburn House Office Building elevator. By Sydney Trent ●  Read more »   This West Virginia pastor defied the odds to create a diverse congregation The Rev. Darrell Cummings's approach to faith helped him build a distinctive church in an overwhelmingly White area. From the Magazine ●  By Nora Edinger ●  Read more »   How to save the prairie, acre by acre Kansas's vital ecosystem is rapidly shrinking. Its future depends on private landowners like Lorna Harder. From the Magazine ●  By Sarah Spicer ●  Read more »   Bette Midler: The people's diva From Dolores De Lago to "Dolly!" to "Beaches," the stellar career of Kennedy Center honoree Bette Midler spans decades and genres. By Peter Marks ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   This architect returned to his former Indiana high school — and created an award-winning STEM program Tarik El-Naggar's students recently took every top prize at a state architecture competition. From the Magazine ●  By Victoria St. Martin ●  Read more »   She's a registered farmer — and she's only 6 years old Kendall Rae Johnson is breaking barriers in an industry that has long been White- and male-dominated. The Lily ●  By Julianne McShane ●  Read more »   Get breaking news alerts, offline reading lists and more. Download the app   ADVERTISEMENT   Firefighters launch tense rescue after pet tortoise traps pet dog in underground burrow The two animals aren't exactly the best of friends. By Sydney Page ●  Read more »   He spent almost 50 years alone at 10,000 feet. His hobby helped shape climate research in the Rockies. Billy Barr began logging snowfall to keep busy. His curiosity and dogged determination have made important scientific contributions along the way. By Karin Brulliard ●  Read more »   How a one-legged turkey and her friends in Virginia were saved from the dinner plate As many Americans prepared to feast on Thanksgiving turkey, this is the story of the ones that got away — thanks to a vegan farmer who rescues animals from cruelty cases. By Dana Hedgpeth ●  Read more »   Pa. commissioners denied funds to a library that hosted an LGBTQ group. So citizens stepped in. Fundraising campaigns have brought in $40,000 for the small library. "I think in the end, it's brought the community together behind tolerance and kindness." By Sydney Page ●  Read more »     We think you'll like this newsletter Check out A Better Week for a 7-day email course that will help you conquer your calendar, get more done and find time for the things you care about. Sign up »

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