The national space agency announced plans to send a new mission to explore Mars

Study reveals that family meals reduce childhood obesity ratesFlorist delivers free flowers to senior centers on Mother’s Day

Fire department gives away free fire safety kits to familiesBook publisher launches new series of adventure books for middle schoolersResearch finds that outdoor play improves motor skills in young children

Car dealership offers test drives of new hybrid vehiclesCommunity hosts festival with live music and local food vendors

Radio station holds fundraiser to support local animal shelter

Engineers create water filter that removes bacteria and contaminantsA library started a storytime program for toddlers that meets twice a week

A farm began using hydroponics to grow vegetables indoors year-roundA fire department purchased new equipment to improve its ability to respond to emergencies

A software company updated its privacy policy to give users more control over their dataA community organized a festival to celebrate the region’s cultural heritage

(责任编辑：Story Highlights)

• ·A study found that spending time gardening reduces stress levels in urban dwellers
• ·A severe drought in the western region has led to water restrictions with residents asked to limit water usage
• ·A local farm offered tours to teach people about how food is grown
• ·A city installed new traffic lights with countdown timers to improve pedestrian safety
• ·Scientists discovered that a certain type of mushroom can be used to clean up oil spills
• ·A pet rescue organization hosted an adoption drive that found homes for 120 cats and dogs
• ·Study shows that eating nuts daily lowers risk of heart disease in middle aged adults
• ·Doctors advised people with allergies to avoid certain types of pollen during the spring season
• ·Library hosts weekly story time sessions for toddlers and their parents
• ·A city installed new street signs with larger text to improve visibility
• ·A fire at a shopping mall caused damage to several stores but no injuries were reported
• ·The city council approved a plan to plant more trees in urban areas
• ·A study found that spending time in nature can reduce stress levels by up to 40% in adults.
• ·A local theater showed a foreign film series to introduce audiences to international cinema
• ·Bakery makes low carb bread for customers on special diets
• ·Local schools reported a 94% pass rate on state standardized tests this year