Episodes
11.15.2019
Nov 15 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Friday, November 15th, 2019 and we begin with… .. a 9-year-old in Belgium redefining the word prodigy. Instead of being in the 4th grade like his friends, Laurent Simons will become the world’s youngest ever college graduate when he gets his degree in Electrical Engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology next month. More remarkable, he only started the program in March. He has an IQ of 145 and a photographic memory that allows him to master subjects in days instead of months. Next up is a PhD and a degree in Medicine, which he reportedly wants to use to develop artificial organs. Why so smart? His parents have no idea, although his mom credits the overwhelming amount of fish she ate while pregnant. If one tail is good, two must be better, right? We don’t know, but it sure is an attention-getter. A 10-week-old puppy by the name of Narwhal may be the first dog born with a second wagger hanging from its forehead. Mac’s Mission in Missouri is used to unusual rescues, but even this one caught them by surprise. They took Narwhal to a vet, who said the extra tail was likely the result of something going wrong in the womb. Even so, there’s reportedly no medical reason to have it removed. In fact, the vet is encouraging whomever adopts Narwhal –to keep it. He said Narwhal is perfect just the way he is and will be a great example that it’s ok to be different. Aunt Becky may have reason to worry. The judge deciding the fates of those caught up in the college cheating scandal just handed down his harshest punishment yet: 6 months in jail. And it went to a dad whose crime looked a whole lot like that of accused Full House actress, Lori Loughlin. The real estate executive sentenced on Wednesday paid 450-thousand dollars to get two of his kids into USC as fake athletic recruits. In issuing the ruling, the judge called Toby MacFarlane a ‘thief’ who stole seats from two deserving students. Loughlin reportedly paid even more than MacFarlane to get her two daughters into USC, also for sports they didn’t play. She’s pled not guilty and will be back in court in January. The Breakfast of Champions, it’s not. But Twinkies have found their way to your cereal bowl, regardless. Thanks to a collaboration between Hostess and Post, you can now make a morning meal.. of your after-school snack. The boxed version reportedly looks and tastes like the real deal, just smaller and minus the cream inside. Most likely, your reaction to this story has everything to do with your age — and your sweet tooth. A serving of Twinkies cereal contains 16 grams of sugar. According to Business Insider, a healthy breakfast shouldn’t have more than 10. It could be an awkward Thanksgiving for an NBA star and his dad. Austin Rivers plays for the Houston Rockets, his father Doc Rivers coaches the Clippers. When their two teams faced off this week, the friendly father-son competition led to a late game family feud. Coach Rivers didn’t like a call and started sparring with an official. Austin saw it, could tell his dad was getting more and more heated and, instead of coming to his dad’s defense, actually begged the ref to bounce him. The ref did and within minutes, Coach Rivers was headed to the locker room. Austin cheered the ejection, then pretended to hold a phone to his ear , indicating his dad should call him. How long will the grudge last? Apparently not long. Doc Rivers has already called the situation “hilarious.” That’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz quiz: How old is the youngest college graduate? Laurent Simons of Belgium is 9. What’s so special about Narwhal the puppy? He has two tails, one on his butt, the other on his head. How many grams of sugar are in a bowl of Twinkies? 16.. 6 more than recommended. What’s the longest sentence so far in the college admissions scandal? 6 months, just handed to a dad from Southern California. In one for the road: How soon is too soon to put up holiday decorations? A Texas family expecting a new baby just found out. They pulled out their inflatable snowman, reindeer and Santa Claus helicopter on November 1st, hoping to get the hard stuff out of the way in case the stork came early. Their homeowner’s association wasn’t moved by the reason and sent them a letter to pack it up until closer to Christmas. The family said bah humbug, no — and they apparently have the backing of their neighbors, many of whom dug in to their own attics earlier than expected to deck the halls in solidarity. So far, no further word from the homeowner’s association. Today’s birthday shout out goes to Tres in San Juan Capistrano, CA. And celebrating birthdays this weekend will be Cameron in Union City, California, Wesley in Hamilton, Ohio, Primrose in San Francisco, Aedan in Atlanta, Claudia in Madrid, Natalie in Columbus and Suri in Sugar Land, Texas. Thanks for listening and we’ll see you back here on Monday morning! The post 11.15.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.14.2019
Nov 14 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Thursday, November 14th, 2019 and we begin with…. … An incredible case of lost and found in a forest. A tiny, silvery creature with the head of a mouse and the body of a deer has been spotted for the first time in a generation. It’s called the silver-backed Chevrotain and is native to South Vietnam. Local villagers found the odd-looking animal first and convinced zookeepers to come out and see for themselves. And that they did, with cameras in hand. Interestingly, the Chevrotain has both fangs.. and hooves…and soaking wet, probably only weighs about 10 pounds. Scientists know next to nothing about this rare species and had feared it was lost forever. Now that it’s been rediscovered, researchers are taking steps to protect it. Never stop believing in second chances. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played a down since 2016 but this weekend, he’ll take center stage at a private workout set up by the NFL. As a San Francisco 49er, Kaepernick ignited a national firestorm by kneeling during the National Anthem to bring awareness to social injustice. The Niners cut him loose and when no other team stepped up to sign him, he accused the league of collusion – or a secret plan – to keep him off the field and out of the headlines. This season, with several quarterbacks either injured or not playing well, there’s reportedly renewed interest in his skills. According to Kaepernick: he’s been “in shape and ready… for 3 years.” It’s a day off for the Impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill, but that doesn’t mean there’s no political news to report. Sometime today, yet another Democrat may throw his hat into the 2020 election. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is expected to announce his candidacy by video or social media message. Although he’s missed the filing deadlines to appear on the primary ballot in two states, he thinks he could be the candidate who unites both liberal and moderate voters. If an airplane flight is in your holiday plans, you might want to keep your shoes.. on. “Gross”, “So dirty” and “disgusting” are just a few of the more than 1000 comments about a snapshot gone viral. Over the weekend, someone posted an anonymous photo of two grimy feet resting on a fellow passenger’s headrest –just inches above their face. Gross out factor and common courtesy aside, airplanes are known carriers of mold, yeast and the E. Coli bacteria, reason enough to keep your feet – and as many body parts as possible – covered. According to a consumer watchdog study done last year, the top 5 dirtiest places on a plane are, in order; seat belts, tray tables, washroom handles, seat pockets and headrests. Much of an Italian city famous for its waterways is underwater. More than 85% of the normally dry parts of Venice are flooded following an exceptionally high tide – or “acqua alta.” Officials are reporting up to six feet of standing water in some places, causing catastrophic damage to some businesses and museums – including St. Mark’s Basilica, the city’s most famous church and home to countless works of art. Schools remained closed yesterday as residents and tourists navigated city streets in thigh high rain boots. This is reportedly the worst flooding since 1966. The town’s mayor blames the unusual event on the effects of climate change. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now, our KidNuz quiz. The newly rediscovered silver-backed Chevrotain looks like a combination of what two animals? It has the head of a mouse and the body of a deer. Why does quarterback Colin Kaepernick believe he’s been kept out of the NFL for three years? Because he kneeled during the National Anthem to protest social injustice. What happened aboard an airplane that has thousands of people grossed out? A passenger dangled a pair of dirty feet on top of another passenger’s headrest. Which Italian city has been hit with the worst flooding in more than 50 years? Venice, Italy. In one for the road…Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg is on the move again. After 2 ½ months in the U.S., the now famous activist set sail yesterday to attend next month’s U.N. Climate conference in Europe. The meeting was supposed to take place in South America but was moved at the last minute to Spain. Vowing not to fly, the tenacious teen put a call out on social media to anyone with plans to sail across the Atlantic. An Australian family stepped up. Turns out they have a 48-foot catamaran, a baby, and a million subscribers following their #boatlife on YouTube. And for a few weeks, they’ll have the world’s most famous climate activist on board, too. Before we go.. our birthday shout outs today go to Madison in San Francisco, Lauren and Isaac in Bethesda, Maryland, Aaditya in Menlo Park, California, Maizie in Atherton, California and Eli in Hamilton, Bermuda. Thanks everyone for listening! And we hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.14.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.13.2019
Nov 13 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Kim. Today is Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 and we begin with… … the nation’s political movers and shakers fixated on the House of Representatives this morning. There, witnesses in the impeachment inquiry of President Trump will be qrilled in public for the very first time. All the television networks are expected to cover the proceedings and each will provide its own instant spin on the testimony. And even though Democrats and Republicans are at odds heading in to today’s hearings, they do have one thing in common: Both hope it will sway public opinion in their direction. A new poll, however, suggests that’s unlikely. According to CBS, of the Americans who are following the story about President Trump’s conversation with a foreign leader, three quarters say their mind is already made up. The nation’s oldest living President is on the mend.. again. 95 year old Jimmy Carter had brain surgery yesterday to relieve pressure caused by bleeding from a series of recent falls. The procedure took about an hour, and reportedly went well. Doctors at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta say he’ll stay as long as needed for observation, but they’ll have no further comment until he’s released. Mr. Carter’s 92 year old wife Rosalynn is by his side. In Business News, Those hoping to download the much-hyped Disney+ streaming app, got Wreck it Ralph instead. And we’re not talking about the movie. Almost as soon as the service launched yesterday, it crashed, reportedly because so many people were trying to access it at the same time. Thousands of would-be customers took to social media to vent their frustrations; many couldn’t download, others couldn’t even log in. The company says it’s aware, demand exceeded even its highest expectations, and that it would work quickly to resolve all the issues. Seattle loves it sports. Sunday night, Emerald City fans cheered on their men’s professional soccer team with such gusto, that the celebrations registered as earthquakes. Nearby seismographs were triggered a total of three times, each within seconds of a Sounders goal. Scientists say it wasn’t the yelling that moved the needle, but the synchronized jumping of the fans in the stands. And it’s not even a first for Seattle. Marshawn Lynch triggered a quake when he scored a touchdown for the Seahawks in 2011, and it happened again during a Monday Night Football match in 2013. At first, meteorologists thought 140 temperature records could fall in the arctic blast that descended on the United States this week. Now, they’re doubling that number. More than 300 cities might hit new lows as this Siberian front marches east. 200 million Americans are in its icy grip, a foot of snow is expected in some places, and more than a thousand flights have been canceled. Forecasters say it’ll be tomorrow – at the earliest – before the mercury begins to climb again. Last week, it was the treadmill routine of an overweight tabby grabbing headlines. This week, it’s the jailbreaking abilities of Quilty the cat. Quilty is apparently guilty of helping his fellow rescue cats escape the comfortable sleeping quarters of the Friends For Life shelter in Houston. According to overnight surveillance video, Quilty has – on at least 3 different occasions – jumped up and down until he pops open a door handle. Then, he and 15 or so of his closet cat friends spend the night in a shelter free-for-all. Staff put him in solitary while they Quilty-proofed the place, and that turned out to be his ‘permanent’ ticket out. His smug “I’m smarter than you” mug while sitting alone went viral, offers to adopt flooded in, and he’s already been matched with a forever home. And that’s it for KidNuz this morning. Now our KidNuz quiz: What’s happening in the nation’s capitol this morning? The first public hearings in the Impeachment inquiry. What did Disney’s new streaming service crash? Too many people tried to access it at the same time. Sports fans in what city triggered earthquake sensors with their celebrating? Seattle, as the stadium cheered on its Sounders soccer team. How many temperature records could fall in this week’s arctic blast? 300 cities could hit new lows. In one for the road: For the better part of a decade, a message in a bottle bobbed in the waves of the Atlantic. 10 year old Max Vrendenburgh (VREE-den-berg) tossed it in the waters off Massachusetts in 2010 with a note reading “I like apples, the color blue, cars and outer space. Please write back.” Last month, that bottle came ashore in the south of France and the finder obliged. Not only did he respond, but he included a map pinpointing where the bottle landed. Now 19, Max and his new French friend, G. Dubois (doo-bwah) plan to stay in touch, but in a slightly more high tech way: via instagram. Our teacher shout-out today goes to Ms. Emily’s 5th grade class at United Community School in Charlotte, NC. Thanks for listening! Parents, please remember to rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts and we’ll see you back here for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.13.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.12.2019
Nov 12 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 and we begin with…. A classic tale of turning lemons into lemonade. A 9 year old boy who got in trouble for doodling in class, now has a job.. drawing on the walls of a local restaurant. Joe Whale, from the northwest corner of England, always got scolded by his teachers for drawing on the whiteboard whenever he finished his work. His parents solution; sign little Joe up for an after-school art class. Those art instructors were so blown away by the boy’s talent, they posted his work on Instagram. That’s how a local restaurant owner discovered Joe and hired him. At first Joe thought he’d simply be doodling a small framed picture, but when told he could draw all over a large white wall, he was more than happy to oblige. A 33-year old orangutan, who was granted ‘legal personhood’ in Argentina, has just settled into her new home in Florida. Sandra first captured the world’s attention in 2015, when, after living in captivity for 20 years at the Buenos Aires Zoo, a judge declared her a non-human being. This unprecedented ruling gave the animal… basic rights including life, freedom and a presumption of no harm. Since there were no safe places for Sandra in her home country, she was moved to the special center for apes in Florida where the director says Sandra is settling in nicely with about 4 dozen other orangutans and chimpanzees. The country of China is taking a big step to prevent addiction to online video games. According to government rules issued a few days ago, game companies cannot let players younger than the age of 18 play on their online game networks between 10pm and 8am. This new rule is also intended to improve the physical and mental health of children and teens. And it will impact of lot of people since China is the world’s largest video game market, with 626 million video game players. A 75-year old mystery has finally been solved. A US submarine, the Grayback, was one of the most successful subs during World War II, when it sailed out of Pearl Harbor for its 10th combat patrol in January of 1944. But it disappeared as it was heading to Japan. After the war, the US Navy tried to figure out the Grayback’s location, but it relied on a flawed translation of Japanese war records that was one digit off in the latitude and longitude of the spot where the Grayback was expected to be. An amateur history buff doing some research on US subs recently discovered the error. The new location coordinates were passed on to an underseas explorer who just located the Grayback under the Pacific Ocean near Okinawa Japan. The sounds of chirping birds can be quite pleasant, but scientists have recently discovered the loudest bird song in the world which is not pleasant at all. The white bellbird lives in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and its shrieking call has clocked in at a deafening 125 decibels, which one scientist says is like putting your head next to a speaker at a rock concert. The experts who measured these calls said it sounds like someone banging on metal, like a blacksmith. How these birds, which are the size of a pigeon, manage to make such a loud sound can be explained by their diet. They apparently eat fruit the size of golf balls, swallowed whole, so they can open up their beaks wide enough to make such a deafening sound. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now the KidNuz quiz; Where did a young English boy get a job, drawing on the walls? At a restaurant What is the name of the 33-year old orangutan now living at a center for apes in Florida? Sandra What is the new rule in China, aimed at reducing online gaming for children? No minors can take part in online gaming networks between 10pm and 8am. How loud is the white bellbirds cry? 125 decibels. In one for the road… Are you a neat-nik.. or a bit of a slob? No judgment.. both characteristics are featured in the stars of a new children’s book. It is written by Marie Kondo the author of the bestseller, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. Her new picture book is called “Kiki and Jax.. the Life-Changing Magic of Friendship”. Kiki is a squirrel who has way too much stuff, and Jax is a very organized owl who likes things just so… and their different styles cause a few problems. But some simple solutions help them work things out so they can stay friends. Before we go, our KidNuz birthday shoutout goes to… Bennett in Mooresville, TN.. and 2 teachers shout-outs, to Mrs. Fuerst ‘s 1st/2nd Grade in Mitchell, SD and Mr. Larson’s 2nd Grade class in Jordan, MN Thanks for listening. And we hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.12.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.11.2019
Nov 11 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Monday, November 11th, 2019 and we begin with… Much of the country taking a day off from school and work to pay tribute to the 20 million Americans who’ve served in our military. Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day, coincides with the formal end of fighting in World War 1, which came at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. President Trump will mark the day by speaking at the start of the Veterans Day Parade in New York City, which is considered the country’s biggest. And this year, it could also be among the coldest. A bone-chilling weather front is expected to sweep across the U.S. from New Mexico to New Jersey with freezing temperatures stretching as far south as parts of the Gulf Coast. Meteorologists say more than 140 records could fall in the next few days. Will your Insta be among the chosen ones? This week, the company is expanding its test of hiding “likes” to users here in the United States. You’ll know you’ve been randomly selected if your counts suddenly disappear from public view. For now, it’s only temporary. Instagram launched the experiment to see if it can lessen the social pressure that comes from watching and waiting for the approval of others. It’s already been tested in 7 other countries, including Canada, Australia, Japan and Italy. It only happens a few times a century and, with the right eyewear, you can catch it happening this morning. The planet Mercury will pass directly between Earth and the Sun starting at 7:35 am Eastern time. The Mercury Transit, as it’s called, will last about five and a half hours and appear as a tiny black dot gliding diagonally across the center of our star. Weather permitting, everyone but those in Asia and Australia will get a good view. As a reminder, never stare directly at the sun. Telescopes or binoculars with solar filters are recommended, but eclipse glasses are reportedly also okay. Still can’t see it? Space.com is providing a live feed on its website. While we’d soon expect the field of Democrats running for President to shrink, there’s now word it may actually grow by one. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – who earlier this year said he would not join the race – has reportedly changed his mind because he doesn’t think any of the current Democratic candidates can win. Aside from being mayor of the nation’s biggest city, he’s also a self-made billionaire who would not need to raise money for his run. Although Mr. Bloomberg hasn’t commented on the reports, he’s already filed papers to enter the primary in Alabama. Lebron James says he’s on a personal mission to prove he is not washed up at the age of 34. And so far, so good. Over the weekend, he became only the third player in history to score at least 20 points in one-thousand regular season games. In doing so, he joins the likes of Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Karl Malone. Two other greats, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, never reached that milestone. Prior to the start of the hardcourt season, James worked on his off-court game. He spent up to 12 hours a day for three straight months filming the movie Space Jam 2. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz quiz. Today is Veterans’ Day. What else is it called? Armistice Day to mark the armistice – or agreement -that ended World War I. What might disappear in the U.S. from some social media feeds this week? Your “likes” on Instagram as part of a test to reduce the stress of social media. What rare event is happening today? The Mercury Transit, which happens when Mercury passes directly between the Earth and Sun. Who might add his name to the list of Presidential candidates? Former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. And in one for the road.. even if you’re not into cars, this is pretty cool. An Illinois man just Macgyver’d Batman’s sweet ride from scratch. It includes a Boeing jet engine that shoots fire out the back, the entire body of the car can lift and rotate 360 degrees, and it has all the dashboard gadgets you’d expect from the Caped Crusader. Facebook is having a field day with the replica. But, even though it’s the spitting image of the Batmobile, don’t call it that. Due to copyright issues, the owner can only refer to it as a “big black car” that can do some pretty nifty tricks. Before we go, our birthday shoutouts today go to: Piper in Chicago, IL, Jude in Opelika, AL, Eliza in Chesapeake, VA, Robert in Leakwood, KS, Yesenia in Belvidere, IL. And to everyone else, thanks for listening and we hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.11.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.08.2019
Nov 08 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Kim. Today is Friday, November 8th, 2019 and we begin … With proof that some things are bigger than football, even in Texas. Sherman High’s team had just walloped its rival West Mesquite. Instead of celebrating with his team, Senior Gage Smith asked opposing player Ty Jordan if they could take a knee together, right there on the gridiron. Gage played flag football with Jordan over the summer, knew his mom was sick, and wanted to reassure his on-field challenger of his off-field respect and empathy. A photo of the impromptu moment is making the rounds on social media, with both boys getting a legion of new fans. Their moms are also enjoying the response: Gage’s mom says she’s proud of her son, and Ty’s mom says she was left speechless by the gesture and is buoyed by the good wishes she’s now getting from all over the country. Yesterday we told you about the super smart teen who found a workaround for blind spots in her mother’s jeep. Today, we’ve got two more award-winning science ideas to share. The top prize for the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge went to 14 year old Californian Kara Fan, who invented a first aid ‘liquid bandage’ that reduces the risk of superbug infections. Second place went to 13 year old New Yorker Caroline Crouchley – who may have just one-upped the hyper loop design by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Caroline’s idea is to build transportation tubes next to existing train tracks. Magnetic shuttles would travel through these tubes, connected via magnetic arm to the regular trains traveling on the regular tracks. Not only is her system less expensive, but it’s also more eco-friendly because the magnetic trains wouldn’t need diesel or electric motors. Floating in space 220 miles above earth is no reason not to vote. Flight engineer Andrew Morgan spent Election Day this week on board the International Space Station, but still made sure to exercise his civic duty. Before blast-off, he sent in a federal post card application. Election officials from his home county in Pennsylvania then sent him a ballot via email with a secure password. Dr. Morgan checked his boxes from space and emailed it back a few weeks ago. The head of voter registration for his county says he’ll accommodate just about any voter request, so long as he has the means to do so. As for Dr. Morgan, his ballot will be ‘officially’ counted today. We’re not sure what it does to a fido’s self esteem, but a pet cafe in China is under fire this morning for dying its resident dogs to look like giant pandas. Pandas are a source of national pride for China, and the move by the cafe is a marketing stunt to get more people in the door. The cafe also offers a dying service for those who want to bring in their own pets, turn them into panda look-alikes, and take them home. The owners say that the coloring is safe, but the animal rights group PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says that’s not true and that the coloring can harm the dog’s skin. It’s not China’s first time taking heat for this kind of stunt. A few years ago, pet shops there sold dogs dyed to look like miniature tigers. It wasn’t your average yard sale. The social media message posted by troubled singer Chris Brown was simple: “First come, first served.” And that they did. Hundreds of people camped out outside his Tarzana, California home overnight this week hoping to get their hands on the stuff he no longer wanted. Brown’s security staff staggered entry into the property, only 20 people at a time were allowed in and, once there, shoppers only had 10 minutes to pick through his cast-offs and pay. Neighbors already unhappy with their famous neighbor weren’t keen on the crowd — or the police helicopter that circled overhead. But by all accounts, the sale was seamless. The singer reportedly plans to donate some of the proceeds to charity. That’s it for KidNuz this morning. Now our KidNuz quiz: What did a winning high school football player do before celebrating? He took a knee with a rival to honor the boy’s mom. What two teenage science experiments are in the news? A new liquid bandage and a hyper loop design that might be better than Elon Musk’s. How did a flight engineer aboard the Space Station cast his ballot? By secure email. What is a Chinese cafe doing to dogs? Dying them to look like pandas. In one for the road: NASA is nothing if not patient. Just this week, the space agency opened previously sealed rock samples brought back from the moon in 1972. Scientists waited, knowing that future advances in technology would allow them to study the rocks in ways not possible all those years ago. In all, the Apollo missions brought back 100-thousand different samples. Ironically, Apollo 11 yielded the fewest because NASA wanted to minimize the risks astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong faced, since they were the first to ever touch the moon’s surface. Our birthday shout-outs today go to Molly in Wilmington, DE., Charlie in North Wales, Pennsylvania, Will from Sovereign Harbor in Eastbourne, in the UK and Caitlin from Delray Beach, Florida. And Caitlyn in Boca Raton, Florida is turning 10 on the 10th! Thanks for listening and we’ll see you back here for more KidNuz Monday morning! The post 11.08.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.07.2019
Nov 07 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Thursday, November 7th, 2019 and we begin with…. A college student paying off his student loans – a dozen donuts at a time. Since Krispy Kreme doesn’t have a shop in Minnesota, twenty-one-year-old Jayson Gonzales decided to fill the void— and his wallet. Every weekend for months now, he’s been making an 8-hour round trip donut run to a store over the border in Iowa. Then, armed with over 100 boxes and thousands of Facebook followers, he’d resell the sugary stash for more than double his cost. When corporate got word of Jayson’s side hustle, they threatened to shut him down over quality concerns. An online outcry and some negative publicity later, Krispy Kreme changed its tune. Not only is Jayson now an “independent operator” for the company, it even sweetened the deal with a 500-dozen donut donation. Next on Jayson’s to do list: getting a business license and not surprisingly, a bigger car. In political news… the date is now set for public hearings to begin in the impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump. The first witnesses will take the stand on Wednesday; expect gavel-to-gavel coverage on all the television networks along with lots of expert commentary. For sure, it’ll be high drama. Democrats want to make a case for the President’s removal from office while Republicans will continue to insist this is much ado about nothing. And if you’ve ever watched a Congressional hearing before, this one will look very different. Instead of Republican and Democrats taking turns asking questions in 5-minute blocks, House members will instead have staff members to do the job and give them up to 45 minutes at a time. It pays to pay attention in the car, even when you’re not the driver. Eighth grader Alaina Gassler noticed that her mom didn’t like driving the family’s Jeep Cherokee, because the car’s blind spots obstructed her view. Alaina did some research and discovered that A-pillars – the posts between the windshield and front windows – may be responsible for hundreds of thousands of accidents per year. Using a webcam, projector, 3D printed adapter and retro-reflective fabric, the whip-smart teen figured out how to eliminate the blind spot by projecting what’s normally hidden from view onto the pillar itself. She submitted her project to a nationwide science competition…and won a top prize. The 14-year-old is $25,000 richer and looking to patent her design. From a distance, they look like thousands of giant eggs waiting to hatch. But the gray and white frosty orbs covering a beach in Hailuoto, Finland are actually giant ice balls. This weird weather phenomenon occurs when turbulent water comes ashore, agitating layers of slushy ice. The waves spin the ice in place, causing smooth balls to form, one supercool layer at a time. Visitors to this remote island say they’ve seen this happen before – just not to this degree. Heroes and friendships come in all shapes, sizes… and ages. 72-year-old action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger and 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg took a recent spin together around Los Angeles on e-bikes. The “Terminator” star shared pictures of the duo on social media, called Greta one of his heroes, and even admitted to feeling a bit “star struck” when the pair first met at a climate conference in Austria earlier this year. Schwarzenegger is no stranger to environmental activism. Back in 2006, as governor of California, he signed a groundbreaking law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now, our KidNuz quiz. What inspired the blind-spot elimination invention of a teen scientist? Her mother didn’t like driving their Jeep Cherokee. How is a Minnesota student earning money to put himself through college? By reselling Krispy Kreme donuts that he buys in neighboring Iowa. When will President Trump’s public impeachment hearings begin? The first two witnesses take the stand next Wednesday. What two environmental activists took an e-bike ride together in Los Angeles? Gretta Thunberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In one for the road…Riders on a Bay Area subway train to San Francisco got quite a surprise on Tuesday when a pony climbed aboard. The brown and white mini horse, named Sweets, is a service animal with all the proper paperwork. Most people were entertained by the unusual passenger, snapping and sharing pictures on social media. One Twitter user said she wouldn’t mind the train delays nearly as much if there was always a pony on board. Before we go.. a boatload of birthdays to celebrate today: Cedric in North Olmstead, Ohio, Layli in Reston, Virginia, Gadea in Vienna, Virginia, Abbott in Johns Creek, Georgia, and Keian in Noblesville, Indiana. Happy Birthday, everyone! We’d also like to give a KidNuz shout-out to Ms. Mercer’s 3rd and 4th grade class in Spaniard’s Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. Thanks for listening! And we hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.07.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.06.2019
Nov 06 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Wednesday, November 6th, 2019 and we begin with… …A reminder that winners never cheat, and cheaters never win. A British teenager who’s made 2 million dollars playing Fortnite has just been banned from the platform -for life – for using software designed to rig the system. YouTube star Faze Jarvis admits to adding ‘aim-bots’ to his game —which give players an unfair accuracy advantage – and even created videos teaching other players how to do it, too. Because Fortnight’s rules specifically forbid the use of such software, the company gave him the boot. Faze gave a tearful YouTube apology to his millions of followers and is now begging Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, to reconsider his ban. A heads up for girls who play soccer.. According to the University of North Carolina, when it comes to concussions, the sport is as dangerous for girls as football is for boys. A study that looked at 20 high school sports found girls on the pitch receive more than 8 concussions per 10-thousand practices and games, a rate second only to football. Heading the ball is reportedly responsible for 25 percent of girls’ soccer concussions, while half are due to collisions with other players or the turf itself. Interestingly, boys’ soccer had a much lower rate of concussions than girls, possibly because girls have smaller necks that are more susceptible to trauma. Hormones, and the likelihood to report injury, could also factor in to the numbers. NFL players for the Giants and the Cowboys enjoyed an unscheduled time-out during Monday night football, thanks to a wayward black cat that zipped onto the field near the end of the 2nd quarter. Refs called for a delay, while stadium security and New Jersey State Troopers tried in vain to corner him. Or her. The cat wasn’t having any of it and announcers resorted to doing a play by play on its run through the end zone. Eventually, the tabby tired of its 2 minutes of fame and ran into one of the stadium tunnels. Giants officials say strays live in the complex and all this cat coverage is a lot of fuss over nothing. Tell that to the Cowboys, who went on to win the game, with that moment being a turning point. The team tried to make a play for its good luck black cat on their way back to Dallas, but the Giants said no. In space news this morning, An asteroid the size of a double-decker bus just skimmed surprisingly close to Earth – and NASA almost missed it. The agency says its trackers didn’t pick up the space rock’s arrival until the day before — and barely had enough time to calculate its orbit and determine it was harmless. During its flyby, the asteroid passed within 65-thousand miles of Earth, which is three time closer than we are to the moon. NASA admits it wishes it saw this one coming sooner, but says not to worry. As best as it can tell, no large object is due to make contact with Earth for several hundred years. The theft and return of Wizard Rock in Arizona is apparently having a rippling effect. A youngster who took a rock as a souvenir from the Great Smokey Mountains along the North Carolina/Tennessee border has just mailed it back to park rangers with an apology. Karina said she loved the park so much, she wanted something to remember it by, but ended up feeling guilty instead. Rangers posted her note with a big thank you and applauded her for becoming a steward -or caretaker – of the park. They also promised to return it to the area from which she took it and assured her that the salamanders that live underneath it are as appreciative as they are. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz quiz: Why did a teenager get banned from Fortnite? For using -and promoting – software that helps players cheat. What sport causes almost as many concussions as football? Girls soccer. What cause a two-minute timeout in a game between the NY Giants and Dallas Cowboys? A black cat running around the field. How big was the asteroid that passed close to Earth this week? The size of a double decker bus. In one for the road: The Milwaukee Bucks basketball team is grossing out its own fans. Instead of your standard kiss cam, the Bucks recently started showing video of people diving into their hotdogs and nachos, but in reverse. The result.. is said to be hurl-inducing. The video played backwards makes those in the stands look like they’re throwing up their concession stand favorites. And to make matters worse, their courtside food habits are being shown on the largest centerly-hung hung video screen.. in the NBA. Before we go, our birthday shout-outs today go to Addison in Gilbert, AZ and Shriya in San Ramon California. And a big hello to Miss Vitale and Miss Duffy’s 5th grade class at Harding Elementary in Kenilworth, NJ. Thanks for listening everyone and we’ll see you back here for more KidNuz tomorrow morning! The post 11.06.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.05.2019
Nov 05 2019
Good morning, and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Tuesday, Nov 5th, 2019. And we begin with.. Better late than never. A city official in Chicago says hundreds of overdue library books have been returned in the last three weeks. That’s a 240 percent increase and there’s a simple reason why. The city decided to eliminate overdue fines at all public libraries. Many people who owe a fine are afraid to go to the library, and these fines lead to the loss of not just books, but also patrons. Chicago is now the largest city in the US to get rid of these fees.. but they’re certainly not the only one. Salt Lake City and Boston Public Libraries have the same rules in place.. with Boston just making the change last Friday. This is Election Day in the U.S. It’s considered an off-year election, because there are no national races to decide. Those elections to determine all the members of the House, a third of the Senate and the US President will take place next year. But there are still some big races at stake today. Voters in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi will choose a governor. And the state legislative elections will be held in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia, as well as for the New Jersey General Assembly. Plus a lot of citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local elections will also occur. Schools have been closed this week in India’s capital city.. because of really bad air pollution. A measurement of air quality in New Delhi was recently recorded at 900. The U.S. government says people can begin to experience side effects when that number is over 50. Flights have been cancelled due to poor visibility and the 46 million people who live in and around the city were advised to stay indoors with the windows closed. The cause of this foul air is due largely to farmers burning their old crops to make way for new ones as well as too many cars, construction and many fireworks from the recent Hindu festival of Diwali. Some of the firefighters battling flames in southern California got a special treat over the weekend. They were served a tasty turkey dinner by a generous group of people that included actor Matthew McConaughey. The Oscar winner, along with the group Operation BBQ Relief, helped make 800 turkey dinners for more than 20 firehouses in the Los Angeles area. McConaughey says the group wanted to shine a light on the incredible efforts of the first responders and hopefully inspire others to get involved and help in their community . This is whey cool – and a far cry from cheez whiz in a can and slices wrapped in plastic. For the first time in history, an American cheese is a World Champion. Rogue River Blue from southern Oregon beat out 38-hundred entries from 42 countries at the World Cheese Awards. And as far as cheese goes, this win was pretty dramatic. Rogue was tied with an Italian cheese at the end of the final judging— and a tie breaking vote was required to determine the ultimate winner. One of the judges called the champion cheese a taste party with sweet and spicy notes. Not surprisingly, those notes aren’t cheap. A 5-pound wheel is $235, or about $47 a pound. Have you ever tried a down-ward facing dog, or a cobra, or an eagle pose? These are popular yoga positions, and in England, a new program is introducing yoga into schools. And so far it’s getting rave reviews, especially for children with social and emotional challenges. The yoga instructors focus on techniques that promote a sense of calm and can help students manage their behavior. One headmaster says the yoga practice has had a profound impact on many children who seem to be more at peace with themselves and their surroundings. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now, the KidNuz quiz; Why are so many late library books being returned in Chicago? The city is no longer charging a fine for overdue books. Why are schools closed in the Indian capital of New Delhi? Because of very bad air quality. What is the name of the American cheese that was just named the best in the world? Rogue River Blue What new school activity is helping some school children feel calmer in England? A program that teaches yoga. In one for the road: If you’re a fan of peanuts, then Dothan Alabama is where you want to be. That’s because the city is hosting what it calls the world’s largest celebration of the popular legume. The National Peanut Festival opened Friday and continues through next Saturday with rides, exhibits, music and agricultural competitions. The festival draws an estimated 200,000 people, and the site isn’t hard to find: A 24-foot-tall peanut marks the entrance. Before we go, today’s birthday shout outs go to William in West Lafayette, Indiana and Jack in San Francisco, CA and a special classroom shoutout to Mrs. Alvarez’s 5th Grade class in Van Wert, Ohio Thanks for listening. We hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.05.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
11.04.2019
Nov 04 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Monday, November 4th, 2019 and we begin with… .. a Long Island high school football coach benched for running up the score. Plainedge beat South Shore 61-13, a result so top heavy it triggered Nassau County’s “Lopsided Scores Policy.” The rule requires a coach who beats another by more than 42 points to explain how he or she tried to avoid getting in the end zone or through the uprights. In this case, Coach Shaver couldn’t. Plainedge was up 35 points at the start of the 4th quarter, and he kept his best players on the field anyway. Interestingly enough, the opposing coach said he was fine with the way the game went down. The county, however, wasn’t. The Lopsided Scores Policy has been in effect for three years, but this is the first time it’s been enforced for a varsity game. Today, sports and politics will intersect when the World Series champions make a stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The nation’s capital celebrated the Nationals big win with a parade on Saturday and, in a few hours, the party will continue at the White House. While champion team visits have been standard practice for most administrations, President Trump has disinvited several winning teams after members criticized him or his policies… and some teams and players have, on their own, opted not to attend for political reasons. So far though, it seems as though most of the Nationals players have accepted today’s invite. If you think there’s been a lot of political news lately, just wait. November 3rd, 2020 – exactly one year from yesterday- is Election Day. And for Presidential hopefuls, that means the window of opportunity to get the attention of voters is rapidly closing. Late last week, one candidate realized his time was up. Beto O’Rourke of Texas dropped out, leaving 17 Democrats still in the hunt for the nomination. Expect more to fold though in the next few weeks. On the Republican side, Mr. Trump does have a few challengers, but with rare exception, the sitting President always wins his party’s nomination. Even astronauts need sweets. Over the weekend, in one of the more interesting cargo launches, an oven rocketed to the International Space Station. The crew will use it to test what impact high heat and zero gravity have on the shape and consistency of chocolate chip cookies. Of course, the donor of the dough also hopes the experiment will make the long stay in space a bit more enjoyable. Also sent skyward, Lamborghini car parts, so the luxury auto maker can see how its carbon fiber holds up in space, and a new-fangled vest to protect the astronauts from radiation. Space travel is also factoring in to the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Over the weekend, organizers flight-tested a bunch of new balloon characters, including a redesigned Snoopy-as- an-astronaut to honor the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Also making their debut, Sam and Guy from Netflix’s new “Green Eggs and Ham” show, and Smokey the Bear to honor the 75th birthday of the wildfire prevention mascot. It all looks like fun and games, but holding on to these balloons is hard work. They’re filled with so much helium, up to 90 people must be tethered below each one as it marches through the city. And leading the team, is a trained balloon ‘pilot’ who walks ahead of the character, backwards, for the entire parade. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz quiz. Why was a high school football coach benched? He ran up the score on an opponent. Who will visit the White House today? The World Champion Washington Nationals. What happens one year from yesterday? The 2020 Presidential Election. How many people hold on to each balloon in the Macy’s ThanksgivingDay parade? Up to 90 to keep it from blowing away. In one for the road: Wizard Rock is back. All the publicity surrounding the disappearance of the one-ton fan favorite from a national forest in Arizona apparently paid off. As quietly as thieves made off with the black and white local landmark, they returned it. Park officials don’t know who it was and really don’t care. They’re just glad that it’s back — and are mulling a new location where more people can see it and, presumably, keep an eye on it. Before we go.. a few big Kidnuz birthday shout oust to Kennedy in Bethlehem, PA, Tyler in Portola Valley, CA and Audrey in Abuja, Nigeria. Plus a Kidnuz greeting to Miss Audrey Butt’s 6th grade class at Cabot Academy in Western Bay, Newfoundland Canada. Thanks for listening. We hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 11.04.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more