Reporting The Good News

Steve Hartman Takes A Look Back At The Year's Nicest Stories

(CBS)  Because it never leads the news and because war, scandal and planet melting always make for catchier headlines - it's easy to forget all the good stories that happen every year.

Nice simple stories, like the one about Nola Ochs, who graduated college this year at age 95.

"I lived on a farm, am a mother, a grandmother, great-grandmother," she told CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman in May. "I had plenty to do but the yearning didn't go away."

Or the story about Nick Graham who bought the neighborhood grocery store when no one else would.

"This community has been struggling for the past few years," he said last December. "It's kind of been in a downward spiral and I didn't want to see that continue."

There is also the uplifting story of actuary John Ninomiya who decided to do something no one else in this country had ever done.

There are so many good news stories out there and if you look hard, there are even a few great news stories. So for this holiday weekend we've decided to highlight three of those - three of the best news stories Hartman could find, starting in Louisiana.

Last August, Hartman visited a teenager who mowed the lawn at New Orleans City park and helped grow the community's optimism.

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Story: Weeding By Example

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In May he found a brain surgeon who, years ago, crossed the border from Mexico illegally, is now removing tumors and preconceived notions about illegal immigrants.

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Story: The Amazing Dr. Q

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In October, Hartman met a man whose very first car not only wins at antique car shows but also keeps the memory of his first and only love alive to him and to all who come see the show.

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Story: Running On The Memories

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True love that really is best in show; striving to cure brain cancer and be forgiven a trespass; and restoring a city park and a community's spirit.

Good news is about our neighbors, our country and our loved ones. Hopefully hearing it helps us all feel a little better about ourselves, which may be the best news of all.

[nelsonwalt]

I have been a fan of Sunday Morning for more than 20 years. This morning, November 25, 2007, I saw a program that made my heart sing...Finally, a segment about GOOD NEWS! These days the news is filled with the war, fires, neighboorhood and drive-by shootings, and the like. Rarely do we see good news featured. Well done Sunday Morning, Well done indeed! How about a weekly segment about some good news for a change? This country needs some good news at this time in our history. It certainly gets my vote! Thanks for all the great years of Charles Karualt, and now Charles Osgood.

Thanks,

Walt Nelson

[bonniegrim]

You have, as usual made my Sunday Morning! Your Good News stories were enlightening and did, make me feel good about myself and humanity in general. Thank you, and Happy Holidays.
Bonnie Grim
San Diego, CA

[pmferrel]

Thank you CBS news and Steve Hartman for bringing some positive news to mainstream TV. For months we have been deluged with information about war, oil prices, mortgage fallouts, and a "sluggish economy", which all in turn has led to a challanging business environment for small buisiness owners like ourselves. When this morning''s paper came out and the good news of strong Christmas sells reports were on page three instead of the "bad" news covering the ftont page, well I found it frustrating. How encouraging and heartwarming to hear the report of "good news" on the Sunday morning show. I felt so encouraged, that I am now thinking of ways to give back to my community. It only takes one person to make a difference. Thanks!

[otownguy63]

I want to thank Steve Hartman and the CBS News Sunday Morning team for giving me some good news for a change. With all the news focused so much these days on what''s wrong with this world, it''s refreshing to know that you are taking the initiative to help show us what is right about it. I have been a devoted fan of Sunday Morning on CBS ever since it first aired with Charles Kuralt. One of the reasons I take time to watch this program is because of stories like these. That, as well as the end of the program when you show us the beauty of nature and wildlife. Here''s a suggestion for you. Take the best of all of those scenes through the years and compile them into a DVD. I guarantee you that it would sell. If anything, you could donate half the profits (or all) to one of our many wildlife or national park organizations. Imagine, the sights and sounds of nature as captured so magnificently and brilliantly by your team compiled into one collection. A little musical interlude in between??? What a great gift in more ways than one. Thank you Sunday Morning!

Duane Fioravanti
Orlando, Florida

[czeh1]

Ditto Ditto. I hope CBS will make Good News a weekly segment. Gosh knows, we need it.

Thanks for such a great job every week.

[delenna1]

The Good News segment was fantastic. I LOVED it! News reporting is unbalanced at best. The steady diet of, "all bad...all the time" is killing us. The truth is, there is much good news to report in America as well. The Good News feature may actually serve to inspire more people to go for it and do something positive for their world. Please consider making this segment a regular feature. CBS Sunday Morning is one of my family''s favorite shows. Adding The Good News as a regular segment, would make your show even better. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Kathy Dustman
Lake Geneva, WI

PS-I sent this email directly to CBS but wish to post the positive comment here as well.

[rileyinmn]

I loved this segment. Can we get it every week? Or better yet as part of every news show? Can''t get enough good news these days.

[swannc]

Thank you so much for the good news! We REALLY enjoy hearing this!!

[lauramaier1]

We loved Steve Hartman''s "Good News" segment! Please include him in your broadcast every week! We always try to watch the Friday CBS Evening news to see his good news segments. We are just sorry that we have to pick between 3... we want to see all his stories. Keep it up... we will keep watching and telling our friends to watch also!
Tom and Laura Maier