In the 1950s, Hugo Meyer began buying abandoned Vermont farmland to grow timber; his family has now helped permanently protect more than 18,000 acres from development

Growing up in Hardwick on a dairy farm, woods were a major part of Andrew Meyer’s life. He would often spend time camping and hiking around East Long Pond and as a kid, he visited logging jobs in the area of the Worcester Range with his grandfather or uncle. A history of sustainable timber management…

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They wore wigs and makeup to pose as NFL players; fake identities helped them secure nearly $20 million in fraudulent loans | World News

Image: AP Photo/Dave Martin Two Georgia men built an elaborate fraud scheme around one extraordinary deception, they pretended to be professional football players to convince lenders to hand over millions of dollars. Luther Davis and CJ Evins allegedly created fake companies, fabricated financial documents and identities, and even changed their appearance with wigs and makeup…

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Las Vegas developers bought 940 acres of former federal desert for $94 million; the site is set to become a 6,000-home community with first homes expected in 2028

For years, nearly 940 acres on the northern edge of Las Vegas sat as open federal desert, surrounded by some of Southern Nevada’s most striking landscapes. Now, the vast stretch of undeveloped land is set to become a new city-within-a-city, with plans for as many as 6,000 homes, schools, parks, commercial areas and dedicated housing…

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More than 1,000 volunteers built a four-bedroom house in just 50 hours; the unusual effort launched a 35-home community in San Antonio | World News

Building a four-bedroom home usually takes far longer than a single weekend, but more than 1,000 volunteers in San Antonio did it in just 50 hours. The unusual project, organised by Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio & Guadalupe Valley, brought volunteers, interns, family and friends together to build a home for single mother Yadira…

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In 2001, Hurricane Iris devastated southern Belize; the damage inspired Lisa Carne’s coral-restoration work, which has now outplanted over 100,000 corals

When Hurricane Iris tore through southern Belize in 2001, it left more than a battered coastline behind. The storm severely damaged the region’s coral reefs, including those around Laughing Bird Caye. For marine biologist Lisa Carne, the destruction became the starting point for a restoration effort that has since helped put more than 100,000 corals…

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Dating to 1898, Nipomo’s oldest church served the California town for over a century; 128 years later, its owners donated it to become a museum, event venue and visitor center

Part of the church will be used as a historical museum, while the church and its side yard will also serve as a venue for different events. Dating back to 1898, Nipomo’s oldest church has been part of the California town’s community life for more than a century. Now, 128 years after it first opened,…

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This snake grows a fake spider on its tail to lure birds; scientists scanned the bizarre appendage and found surprisingly normal bones inside

Spider-tailed horned viper (Image Credit: Omid Mozaffari) The natural world is full of animals that use mimicry to survive, but few examples are as unusual as the spider-tailed horned viper. Native to Iran, this elusive snake has evolved a remarkable tail tip that resembles a spider, complete with a bulbous body and dangling, leg-like structures….

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In 2013, actor Max Thieriot bought a roughly 90-acre Sonoma ranch; more than a decade later, this Hollywood retreat has grown into a working vineyard, farm and family retreat producing its own wine and food

Thieriot is now best known as the co-creator and star of the CBS drama Fire Country Actor Max Thieriot and his wife Lexi bought a roughly 90-acre ranch in west Sonoma County, California, in 2013, and over the past decade, the property has evolved into a working vineyard and family retreat. The ranch is located…

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Kansas student lost his class ring during a snowball fight with his future wife: 53 years later, when campus workers dug it out, the couple happened to be passing through the city

Kansas student lost his class ring during a snowball fight with his future wife: 53 years later, when campus workers dug it out, the couple happened to be passing through the cityWhat are the odds of finding something lost for 53 years? Very slim. Now imagine it being discovered when its owner was driving through…

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