A once-homeless man who moved to Idaho from New York City after the 9/11 attacks has won $250,000 in the Idaho Lottery. Anthony Castro, who lived in homeless shelters for a period of time, says he has donated some money to his church and will invest and save the rest.

Ecuador became the second country in the Western Hemisphere to stop the transmission of onchocerciasis, a parasitical infection commonly known as river blindness. The Carter Center, armed with medication donated by Merck, spearheaded a program to eliminate the disease, which afflicts the poorest of the poor in Africa and South America.

U.S. highway deaths have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1950s. The Transportation Department said Thursday that its projections show traffic deaths declined nearly 9 percent in 2009 to fewer than 34,000. That's the lowest level since 1954.

It turns out money can buy happiness -- if money is spent on an experience and not merely a possession. Additionally, a group of studies show, the enjoyment that comes from an initial experience increases over time.

The global elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission could be achieved within five years, and the spread of malaria and tuberculosis could be curbed significantly in the coming years, the U.N.'s Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced. The fund does warn, however, that continued success will depend on donations by governments and relief agencies.

Jerry Nelson, a cigarette-smoking professional photographer and Vietnam vet, is gearing up to bicycle cross-country for homeless veterans. The 54-year-old advocate will embark March 19 on a journey from Asheville, N.C., to California to raise $10,000 for the Asheville Homeless Network.