A snowstorm in the northwest dumped two feet of snow closing schools and government offices

A hospital started a program to help patients with chronic pain manage symptoms without opioidsA retail store announced it would donate a portion of holiday sales to a children’s charity

A heavy rainstorm caused a landslide that blocked a major highway for several hoursA study found that reading aloud to young children improves their language developmentThe government announced plans to upgrade public restrooms in parks and transportation hubs

A museum acquired a painting by a famous impressionist artist for its permanent collectionA local farm started selling fresh eggs and honey at a weekly farmers market

Engineers built a new dam to provide flood control and hydroelectric power to a region

The postal service announced it would extend holiday shipping deadlines to accommodate late shoppersA major film studio announced it will release 20 new movies next year including several sequels to popular franchises

The national economy grew by 3.5% in the last quarter exceeding economists’ expectationsA local library opened a new digital section offering free access to e-books audiobooks and online databases

Engineers developed a new type of solar panel that is 60% more efficient than current modelsA famous athlete announced their retirement from professional sports after a 25-year career citing health issues

(责任编辑：郎朗)

• ·A tech company released a language-learning app that uses gamification to make learning fun
• ·The country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 percent the lowest in 20 years
• ·A bakery won first place at a regional food festival for its apple pie
• ·A city launched a bike-sharing program with 250 bicycles at 20 stations
• ·The national soccer team qualified for the World Cup after winning their final qualifying match against a rival
• ·A city banned smoking in public parks to protect non smokers
• ·A city banned smoking in outdoor dining areas of restaurants
• ·A government agency redesigned its website to make it easier for users to apply for benefits and access resources
• ·A study revealed that excessive use of social media can increase anxiety in young adults
• ·A community organized a 5K run to raise money for a local animal rescue shelter
• ·The national soccer team qualified for the World Cup after winning their final qualifying match against a rival team
• ·A coffee shop began offering bring your own mug discounts to reduce disposable cup waste
• ·Local schools installed new security systems including cameras and access control doors
• ·Scientists warned that rising ocean temperatures are causing coral reefs to die at an alarming rate
• ·Students from a university won a national science fair with their environmental project
• ·A new species of plant was discovered in a tropical rainforest