hopebuilding
@hopebuilding.bsky.social
I read a lot and share stories, especially those focused on solutions. I blog at Hopebuilding.blog and on Substack at Seeing Like A Local.
A judge on Saturday ordered the U.S. to release 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from a Texas detention center where they were taken after being detained in a Minneapolis suburb last month
Judge orders 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his dad released from ICE detention
A judge has ordered the U.S. to release a father and 5-year-old son who were taken into custody during the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
apnews.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:43 PM
A judge on Saturday ordered the U.S. to release 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from a Texas detention center where they were taken after being detained in a Minneapolis suburb last month
The Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine has been rolling out Ontario’s first hospital-based homelessness and eviction prevention program. ...the program uses donations to pay off eligible UHN patients’ rent arrears, or to pay first and last month’s rent so a patient can access housing.
‘This is preventative medicine.’ Toronto hospital starts $1-million fund to help patients with rent
‘This is preventative medicine,’ says Dr. Andrew Boozary with the University Health Network, as research shows a link between evictions and worse health outcomes. The fund will help patients on a case...
www.thestar.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine has been rolling out Ontario’s first hospital-based homelessness and eviction prevention program. ...the program uses donations to pay off eligible UHN patients’ rent arrears, or to pay first and last month’s rent so a patient can access housing.
The large-scale rewilding efforts across Chile and Argentina stand out as compelling case studies of what’s possible when bold vision, private capital, and ecological urgency collide.
What Next Generation Leaders Can Learn From The Tompkins’ Legacy
When I think about some of the most impactful conservation wins of our time, the global ivory bans, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, or Canada’s phaseout of open-net salmon farms immediately sur...
sevenseasmedia.org
January 31, 2026 at 7:55 PM
The large-scale rewilding efforts across Chile and Argentina stand out as compelling case studies of what’s possible when bold vision, private capital, and ecological urgency collide.
In this new world, Carney’s “middle powers” have real economic clout, and, if they can combine and trade together, that gives them the power to hold off the hegemons.
Michael Ignatieff: Rules of engagement with our American friends have changed. Canada must decide what it wants
Amid Trump's outbursts, it’s worth remembering that our relations have survived explosions of presidential fury — and near fisticuffs — in times past.
www.thestar.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:43 PM
In this new world, Carney’s “middle powers” have real economic clout, and, if they can combine and trade together, that gives them the power to hold off the hegemons.
From Capitol Hill to small towns: issues once seen as party-line are now being questioned even by Republican voters. DW traveled to Hanover, Virginia, where some residents are opposing plans to build an ICE facility.
Protests over US immigration plan erupt in GOP stronghold
From Capitol Hill to small towns: issues once seen as party-line are now being questioned even by Republican voters. DW traveled to Hanover, Virginia, where some residents are opposing plans to build ...
www.dw.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:31 PM
From Capitol Hill to small towns: issues once seen as party-line are now being questioned even by Republican voters. DW traveled to Hanover, Virginia, where some residents are opposing plans to build an ICE facility.
Amid these incidents, social media has been flooded with a mix of authentic eyewitness videos and AI‑generated fakes, complicating efforts to understand what actually happened. ....DW Fact check investigated several viral clips.
Fact check: Are ICE fakes trying to drown out real videos?
Deadly ICE raids and a surge of deepfake videos are making it harder than ever to tell real violence from AI‑generated fiction. Our investigation reveals how false clips drown out evidence of fatal en...
www.dw.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Amid these incidents, social media has been flooded with a mix of authentic eyewitness videos and AI‑generated fakes, complicating efforts to understand what actually happened. ....DW Fact check investigated several viral clips.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the killing of Minneapolis resident and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis this month.
Department of Justice opens civil rights investigation into killing of Alex Pretti • Minnesota Reformer
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the killing of Minneapolis resident and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents in Minnea...
minnesotareformer.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:28 PM
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the killing of Minneapolis resident and ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis this month.
A local health official said at least 26 people had been killed in the attacks, which the Israeli military said had targeted Hamas commanders.
Israel Launches Deadly Strikes in Gaza, as Rafah Border Is Set to Reopen
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:24 PM
A local health official said at least 26 people had been killed in the attacks, which the Israeli military said had targeted Hamas commanders.
The move was the third time the Trump administration has tried to expedite arms shipments to Israel by going around the review process for weapons sales.
Trump Officials Bypass Congress to Push Billions in Weapons Aid to Israel
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:23 PM
The move was the third time the Trump administration has tried to expedite arms shipments to Israel by going around the review process for weapons sales.
Last year, Russia’s oil and gas revenue fell by almost a quarter, according to the Finance Ministry. The Kremlin is resorting to tax increases and deficit spending to bridge the gap.
Russia’s Oil Revenue, the Lifeblood of Its War Machine, Is Plummeting
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Last year, Russia’s oil and gas revenue fell by almost a quarter, according to the Finance Ministry. The Kremlin is resorting to tax increases and deficit spending to bridge the gap.
"The GOP and the Trump administration will not be able to execute the Golden Dome air-defense project in full. It is exorbitantly expensive, and completing it would require plundering Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — the entire social safety net — to make the numbers work."
Why Golden Dome Makes America Less Safe
When Defense Becomes Destabilization
theconcis.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:18 PM
"The GOP and the Trump administration will not be able to execute the Golden Dome air-defense project in full. It is exorbitantly expensive, and completing it would require plundering Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — the entire social safety net — to make the numbers work."
US businesses and schools went on strike on Friday to protest federal immigration tactics. The strikes are meant to force a 'national shutdown' to put pressure on the Trump administration to pull immigration enforcement ages from US cities.
US students, businesses, and Hollywood lead 'national shutdown' strike against ICE and CBP | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:59 PM
US businesses and schools went on strike on Friday to protest federal immigration tactics. The strikes are meant to force a 'national shutdown' to put pressure on the Trump administration to pull immigration enforcement ages from US cities.
This week I would like to draw attention to the truly unimaginable situation on the ground in Ukraine as Russia has weaponized the coldest winter in years.
Frozen
This week I would like to draw attention to the truly unimaginable situation on the ground in Ukraine as Russia has weaponized the coldest winter in years.
tanjamaier.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:38 PM
This week I would like to draw attention to the truly unimaginable situation on the ground in Ukraine as Russia has weaponized the coldest winter in years.
Culture bearers will be sharing the streets with hundreds of state and federal officers, a larger law enforcement presence than most of the rest of year.
Culture bearers brace for increased law enforcement presence for Mardi Gras
With Mardi Gras comes heightened security and law enforcement measures largely concentrated where most people gather like downtown and the parade routes Uptown.
veritenews.org
January 31, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Culture bearers will be sharing the streets with hundreds of state and federal officers, a larger law enforcement presence than most of the rest of year.
"The crucial detail buried in the celebratory coverage: only 2,500 delegates cast ballots, a mere sliver of the party's over 600,000 registered members. This means Poilievre's leadership was ratified by less than 0.5% of the Conservative membership...."
CALGARY: Poilievre Clings to Power After Show-of-Hands Support From Tiny Fraction of Conservative Members
Endorsed by a fraction of a percent of his own Party, Poilievre's “renewed” mandate relies on platitudes over policy.
provincialtimes.ca
January 31, 2026 at 6:29 PM
"The crucial detail buried in the celebratory coverage: only 2,500 delegates cast ballots, a mere sliver of the party's over 600,000 registered members. This means Poilievre's leadership was ratified by less than 0.5% of the Conservative membership...."
The Assembly of First Nations is warning First Nations individuals to be wary of crossing the border into the United States in response to immigration enforcement raids and the detention of some Indigenous people.
AFN warns members to be cautious in U.S. following ICE actions
The Assembly of First Nations is warning First Nations individuals to be wary of being in the United States in response to ICE raids.
www.aptnnews.ca
January 31, 2026 at 6:21 PM
The Assembly of First Nations is warning First Nations individuals to be wary of crossing the border into the United States in response to immigration enforcement raids and the detention of some Indigenous people.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed a $4.5 million contract with BI2 Technologies last fall for a system that allows agents to identify people in the field by scanning their irises using smartphones
archive.ph
January 31, 2026 at 6:20 PM
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed a $4.5 million contract with BI2 Technologies last fall for a system that allows agents to identify people in the field by scanning their irises using smartphones
"There were no clear pathway for Washington to “reward” Belgium’s political class openly. I have no interest in listing alternatives. All that needs to be said is this: the Trump administration is operating well beyond its depth, and the tell is how sloppy the signaling has become."
The Day U.S. National Security Gave Itself Away
Washington Is Playing Games — Its Allies Are Taking Notes
www.theconcis.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:13 PM
"There were no clear pathway for Washington to “reward” Belgium’s political class openly. I have no interest in listing alternatives. All that needs to be said is this: the Trump administration is operating well beyond its depth, and the tell is how sloppy the signaling has become."
One attendee at Friday’s protest said the company’s deal undermines its reputation in the tech sector: “As a Canadian success story, it’s abhorrent that they’re upholding what’s going on in the states by working with ICE.”
January 31, 2026 at 6:09 PM
One attendee at Friday’s protest said the company’s deal undermines its reputation in the tech sector: “As a Canadian success story, it’s abhorrent that they’re upholding what’s going on in the states by working with ICE.”
Reposted by hopebuilding
“This isn’t a moment, it’s a movement”
January 31, 2026 at 1:25 PM
“This isn’t a moment, it’s a movement”
The canals of Amsterdam can be dangerous for its stray cat population, with 19 cats drowning in the first six months of 2025.
Amsterdam Builds Cat-friendly Staircases Along Its Canals | DailyGood
The canals of Amsterdam can be dangerous for its stray cat population, with 19 cats drowning in the first six months of 2025. After Amersfoort, in neighboring U
www.dailygood.org
January 31, 2026 at 6:06 PM
The canals of Amsterdam can be dangerous for its stray cat population, with 19 cats drowning in the first six months of 2025.
Reposted by hopebuilding
Thank you! ✊💚 Danish veterans, many of whom fought alongside U.S. troops, stage a silent protest as they march from Kastellet to the American embassy in Copenhagen.
January 31, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Thank you! ✊💚 Danish veterans, many of whom fought alongside U.S. troops, stage a silent protest as they march from Kastellet to the American embassy in Copenhagen.
A 2018 study of Nebraska’s program found participation was associated with a 28% reduction in recidivism within three years of the initial offense and a 39% reduction in returns to prison custody within 20 years over the 20-year period of the study.
How Missouri Prisons Allow Mothers And Infants To Nest For Months | DailyGood
Missouri’s prison nursery program allows eligible women to live in prison with their newborns for up to 18 months. Women must have no more than 18 months
www.dailygood.org
January 31, 2026 at 6:04 PM
A 2018 study of Nebraska’s program found participation was associated with a 28% reduction in recidivism within three years of the initial offense and a 39% reduction in returns to prison custody within 20 years over the 20-year period of the study.
The home will remain permanently affordable as part of the community land trust, which will maintain ownership of the land to bring down the price and require future homeowners to sell at an affordable rate.
Missoula philanthropist sought to enhance Missoula’s affordable housing before her death
Known for living a simple, frugal life, Ethel MacDonald left behind a legacy of giving ‘to others not as lucky as me.’
montanafreepress.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:58 PM
The home will remain permanently affordable as part of the community land trust, which will maintain ownership of the land to bring down the price and require future homeowners to sell at an affordable rate.
The protests are part of a “no work, no school, no shopping” strike that activists pushed for nationally in order to pressure ICE over aggressive tactics it and other federal agencies have used in Minneapolis and elsewhere since President Donald Trump took office for his second term last year.
Montana businesses close, shift operations to participate in national strike over ICE activities
Participation appeared to be focused around Missoula, Bozeman and Helena.
montanafreepress.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:56 PM
The protests are part of a “no work, no school, no shopping” strike that activists pushed for nationally in order to pressure ICE over aggressive tactics it and other federal agencies have used in Minneapolis and elsewhere since President Donald Trump took office for his second term last year.