15 Happy Headlines That Distracted Us From The Doom, The Gloom, And Whatever Elon Musk Is Up To
![15 Happy Headlines That Distracted Us From The Doom, The Gloom, And Whatever Elon Musk Is Up To](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/0/890680_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the year 2023! It's kind of been a wild ride so far, and it's only getting crazier. From the legalization of marijuana in Illinois to the end of conversion therapy in Utah, the world is changing faster than ever. We've seen Michael Jordan give an incredible donation to Make-A-Wish, a British couple get an unexpected windfall from the High Court, and a Ukrainian family finally reunited after nearly a decade. And that's just the beginning.
Let's take a look at some of the most interesting developments of the past few months. We've got a Universal Basic Income experiment in Chicago, a revolutionary gene therapy helping a 19-month-old in the UK, a chance for prior offenders to join the legal marijuana business in New Jersey, a Powerball winner donating every penny of his winnings to charity, and a TikTok video giving a family restaurant a much-needed boost. It's been an incredible few months, and it looks like the future is only getting brighter. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
Oh, the drama!
![CRACKED ELECTRIC CARS: NOW AS CHEAP AS REGULAR CARS, AND GETTING CHEAPER. Electric cars are becoming more and more affordable due to competition between companies, government assistance, and cheaper materials. Prices are already comparable to regular and even luxury cars, and they're only going to get cheaper. Tim BMW GROUP](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/7/890337.jpg)
Oysters saved.
![CRACKED MARYLAND INVESTS BIG BUCKS IN OYSTER RECOVERY. The Governor of Maryland has announced that the Oyster Recovery Partnership has been given $13.7 million in grants and a $9.1 million contract to help restore oysters, which is the biggest project of its kind in the world.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/6/890336.jpg)
Viral success story.
![CRACKED A TIKTOK VIDEO GAVE A FAMILY RESTAURANT A MUCH-NEEDED BOOST. A California woman posted a short video on TikTok which made a huge difference for her parents' Vietnamese restaurant in Santa Rosa. It's been seen by millions of people and has really helped the business out.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/5/890335.jpg)
Sometimes, the little guy can win.
![CRACKED A REGULAR JOE WON IN COURT AGAINST SPECTRUM. A man from Durango, Colorado, won a court case against mega communications company Spectrum. It was a huge victory for the guy, who had been dealing with poor service for 15 months, and he was awarded $814.85 plus court costs. CHA](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/4/890334.jpg)
Polio: still a problem in some places.
![CRACKED POLIO'S BACK-BUT THE WHO'S GOT A PLAN. The World Health Organization started an urgent plan to give 33 million kids in five countries in Africa the polio vaccine. This was because the virus had spread to Malawi and Mozambique, even though it had been mostly stopped in other places.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/2/890332.jpg)
Finally, progress.
![CRACKED UKRAINE: FINALLY GETTING A GLIMMER OF NORMALITY AGAIN. For three days in February 2023, Ukrainians had electricity all day and night, which hadn't happened since October 2022. This is thanks to better air defense, repairs to thermal power plants, and extra electricity imported from Slovakia. ZIR](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/9/890329.jpg)
Ketchup just keeps giving.
![CRACKED HEINZ: HELPING ONE MAN RECOVER FROM A MONTH OF KETCHUP-Y DOOM. Heinz is helping out a man who was stuck at sea for a month with just ketchup and spices. They're helping him get a new boat with the latest navigation tools. HEINZ HEINZ NET ESTP 1869 TOMATO TOMATO TIME KETCHUP KETCHUP 57 VARIETIES & 20 g - (1LB400) -](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/8/890328.jpg)
It's a start.
![CRACKED AFTER NEARLY A DECADE, 16 UKRAINIAN KIDS WERE FINALLY REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES. Since 2014, Russia has sent away more than 16,000 Ukrainian kids. In February 2023, 16 of these kids were able to go back to their families in Kyiv thanks to the help of the Save Ukraine charity. RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty OLOGICAL 2000 SEMINARY ОК LA](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/4/890324.jpg)
Weed-repreneurship blossoms in NJ.
![CRACKED IN NEW JERSEY, PRIOR OFFENDERS GET A CHANCE TO CASH IN ON LEGAL WEED. In New Jersey, people with prior marijuana convictions have been given the chance to join the legal marijuana business and make money to take care of their families. 16% of all marijuana licenses have been given to them.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/5/890325.jpg)
Expensive cure.
![CRACKED 19 MONTHS OLD AND HEALED, THANKS TO THE NHS. A 19-month-old from Northumberland was the first person to be cured on the UK's NHS with a revolutionary gene therapy called Libmeldy. This drug is the most expensive in the world, costing an incredible £2.8 million for a single dose.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/3/890323.jpg)
Free money for Chicagoans.
![CRACKED CHICAGOANS GET UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME IN AN EXPERIMENT. In Chicago and the surrounding area, they're funding an experiment that's the biggest of its kind in the US. 5,000 people from the city will get $500 a month for a year with no strings attached.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/6/890326.jpg)
Divided loyalties?
![CRACKED A BRIT LEFT HIS WIFE OUT OF HIS WILL, BUT THE HIGH COURT SAID 'NOT so FAST.' An 83-year-old man from the UK's West Midlands left his two sons with a million-pound inheritance, but the High Court swooped in and ruled that his wife of 66 years should get half of it. The The Royal Royal Courts Courts of of Justice Justice](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/7/890327.jpg)
High times indeed.
![CRACKED 2020: WHEN ILLINOIS SAID 'YES' TO WEED AND 'YES' TO JOBS. Since 2020, Illinois has seen a huge increase in jobs and cannabis sales due to marijuana legalization. There are over 100 dispensaries in the state, and sales have reached a record high of over $1.5 billion. EAGLE SCOUT EASTRICO DE GOM * LAVENDER - Tubbese - were -](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/3/890333.jpg)
MJ: generous and legendary.
![CRACKED MICHAEL JORDAN: STILL DUNKING, STILL GIVING. For his 60th birthday, Michael Jordan gave an amazing $10 million to Make-A-Wish, the biggest donation ever from one person. He's been granting wishes to kids around the world since 2008. NAME WAN 2020 adidas G](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/1/890331.jpg)
Utah: late to the party.
![CRACKED UTAH FINALLY ENDS CONVERSION THERAPY. In February 2023, Utah made it illegal for therapists to do LGBTQ conversion therapy, with Equality Utah supporting the law and providing guidelines for therapists.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/3/0/890330.jpg)