Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Tell us what you’ve been reading at info@reasonstobecheerful.world and we just might feature it here. In otter news This year marks 50 years since Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) began its efforts to reintroduce otters to the state’s waterways. Once a common sight, Colorado’s river otters were extirpated by the early 1900s due to unregulated trapping and pollution. Now, according to a Colorado Public Radio story shared by RTBC Executive Editor Will Doig, there are clear signs that the species is on the upswing, but CPW is asking Coloradans for help tracking appearances of the elusive, playful creatures via the citizen science platform iNaturalist. iNaturalist has a strong track record when it comes to such efforts: Read our 2022 story about how its users are unearthing new species, tracking invasive species and making incredible discoveries. Will says: I never knew that Colorado’s rivers were once chock full of otters! And yes, I realize that charismatic animals get a disproportionate share of conservation attention, but still: SO CUTE. Ghost busting You apply for a job. You sweat through an interview or two or five. You wait. And — crickets. In Ontario, this silence is now illegal: As Positive News reports in a story shared by Contributing Editor Geetanjali Krishna, the Canadian province has passed a law requiring companies to let candidates know whether or not they got the job. Employers who “ghost” job candidates face fines of up to $100,000 CAD (about $73,000 USD). Geetanjali says: Found this story about Ontario’s latest law that penalizes companies for ghosting job candidates really interesting because, let’s face it, all of us have either experienced it, or know someone who’s been ghosted. There should not be any need to legislate what is simply good professional behavior, but perhaps it’s a sign of our times that such a law is even necessary. What else we’re reading These Countries Embrace E.V.s to Avoid Oil Price Shocks — shared by Editorial Director Rebecca Worby from the New York Times Why millions of adorable bees are emerging from this cemetery — shared by Geetanjali Krishna from Grist America the Undammed — shared by Contributing Editor Michaela Haas from the New York Times Preserving pollinators is good for health — and income — shared by Rebecca Worby from NPR In other news… We’re thrilled that a RTBC story by Contributing Editor Michaela Haas — about how former Navy SEALS and other veterans have found a new sense of purpose in ocean conservation — is a finalist for the L.A. Press Club Awards in the category of health and science solutions journalism.  The awards will be announced in June at the 2026 SoCal Journalism Awards gala. The post What We’re Reading: Otter-Spotting on Colorado’s Rivers appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.