Episodes
10.18.2019
Oct 18 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Friday, October 18th, 2019 and we begin with… A dog of a different color and a bird of a very fine feather. In Colorado, a momma Great Dane just gave birth to nine puppies — and one of them arrived sporting deep green fur. It’s happened before but only a handful of times around the world. The headline-grabbing hue is due to a chemical in the body called biliverdin which is the green pigment found in liver fluid. Sometimes, as in this case, the biliverdin dyes the pup a shamrock shade while in the mom’s womb. It’s not dangerous, and although cool to look at, eventually fades over time. Two-thousand miles away, in Florida, it’s the blush of a bird making news. A teacher in Port St. Lucie found a cardinal in her backyard. Not the garden variety red one; a one-in-a-million yellow one. She’s photographed it and nicknamed it Sunny. Bird experts say they’ve only documented 12 in the entire United States. Sometime today, two astronauts are scheduled to take that much hyped, and long overdue, all-female walk in space. As we’ve reported here on KidNuz, NASA had to cancel it earlier this year when it realized it didn’t have two suits in the right size. Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will venture outside the International Space Station to replace a power controller that failed over the weekend. Ms. Koch is also on track to set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. If she stays in orbit for 328 days, as planned, she will eclipse the former record of 288 days. Retired astronaut Scott Kelly is the overall leader. He spent 340 days in space. In International News this morning.. Don’t mess with Londoners on their way to work. Climate activists found that out the hard way when they stormed three stations and climbed on top of trains yesterday. Commuters didn’t take kindly to the protest and pulled many of them back to the platform by their legs. Dealing with demonstrators who glued themselves to the train doors was a bit stickier. For that, those headed to work had to wait for police to arrive and pry the protestors off the subway car. The group has been disrupting London planes, trains and roads for a week to demand faster action on climate change. While the National League champs get to rest up and relish their pennant win, it’s quite a different story in the American League. The Bomb cyclone weather system that descended on the northeast this week with wicked winds and heavy rains delayed game 4 to last night, and essentially condensed the rest of the schedule. That means, if the Yankees- Astros showdown goes to 7 games, they’ll play Friday in New York, Saturday and Sunday in Houston, and only have Monday off before the World Series starts on Tuesday. The Washington Nationals say.. they’re ready and waiting. One of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet will remain free to all. Earlier this year, there had been talk – and a lot of support – for requiring paid reservations to visit Lombard Street in San Francisco. Two million people a year show up to drive the so-called Crookedest Street in the World, creating massive traffic jams in the area and frustrating locals who call it home. A ‘toll’ of $10 per car made it all the way to the governor’s desk but this week, he said no. In issuing the veto, Governor Newsom said it simply wouldn’t be fair to those who want to visit the street, but can’t afford to do so. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz Quiz: What is expected to take place today, 220 miles above earth? The first all-female spacewalk. What unique colors showed up on two animals this week? A great Dane was born green, and a yellow cardinal showed up in Florida. When does the World Series start? Next Tuesday. What city is feeling the heat from climate activists? London, where protestors have targeted planes, trains and automobiles. In one for the road this morning: He could be driving a Ferrari or a Maserati, or pretty much any car he wanted. But the quarterback for the Saints says his preferred method of transit.. is green. For home games, Teddy Bridgewater – now filling in for the injured Drew Brees – pedals his beach cruiser to and from the stadium. He says doing so allows him to skip game day traffic .. and gives him some quiet time. Maybe not for much longer. Now that the cat is out of the bag, Bridgewater can expect company on his ride. In fact, he’s invited any interested New Orleans fans, known as Who Dat Nation, to join him. As we head in to the weekend, we want to give big KidNuz birthday shout-outs to Noah from Fort Worth, Texas and Seth from Charlotte, North Carolina who both celebrate tomorrow.. and Shane from North Olmstead, Ohio who welcomes a new year on Sunday. Thanks for listening and don’t forget to take our week in review quiz and we’ll see you back here for more KidNuz Monday morning. The post 10.18.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.17.2019
Oct 17 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Thursday, October 17th, 2019 and we begin with…. …an earworm of a song getting credit for a team’s unexpected success in the post season. The Washington Nationals are headed to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. And for that, fans and players alike are tipping their hat to “Baby Shark.” Back in May, the team’s record was just 19 and 31. Shortly thereafter, center fielder Gerardo Parra made it his walk up song because he needed a personal slump-buster, his daughter loved it, and he thought it might help lighten the mood in the stadium. It worked. The fans made “Parra Shark” T-shirts and chomped and cheered their team all the way to the National League Pennant. The Nationals will play either the Astros or the Yankees in Game 1 of the Series next Tuesday. 300-thousand kids in Chicago get to play hooky today. The city’s mayor cancelled all classes ahead of an expected strike by school teachers. At issue: a demand for higher pay, smaller class sizes and more support staff. The teachers also want social change, like help for the nearly 17,000 students who are homeless and additional funding for affordable housing. While both sides continued to negotiate through yesterday, the union’s president has alerted parents to prepare for the walkout. While that strike begins, another comes to a close. The United Auto Workers have reached a tentative deal with General Motors to end their month long strike. Details are still being worked out but it looks like more than 48,000 union workers will get raises and bonuses as part of the agreement. GM is also expected to add thousands more union jobs, maintain its employees’ health plans and invest billions of dollars to improve operations. Local UAW leaders are meeting in Detroit today to review the deal. A trip to the stars just got a lot more stylish. Space tourism company Virgin Galactic has partnered with Under Armour to produce a high-tech, high-fashion jumpsuit. Passengers who pony up $250,000 for the 90-minute ride to the edge of space will each receive a personally tailored one-piece, blue and gold body-hugging number, complete with national flag and name badge. The suit also comes with secret pockets for carrying keepsakes and special underwear to keep voyagers comfortable during temperature swings. After experiencing delays in getting off the ground, the company expects the first flight to blast off sometime next year. As of today, more than 600 people have signed up. It’s a tale of man’s best friend finding friends in high places. Floyd, a massive 190 lb mastiff, went hiking along Utah’s Grandeur Peak trail with his owner on Sunday. But what should have been a 3-hour hike turned into a 10 1/2 hour ordeal. Floyd cut his paws and, basically, he was just plain pooped. Bottomline: He refused to take another step. With no cell service, Floyd’s owner planned to brave the frigid temps overnight and get help in the morning. Instead, hikers who had passed them along the way alerted rescuers, who showed up with a giant stretcher and carried Floyd all the way down the mountain. They thought they might have to strap him down, but no sir. Floyd was so grateful for the lift, he didn’t so much as flinch. Several mastiff owners say they can totally see their dog ‘pulling a Floyd’ because that breed is just a bunch of -very big – babies. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now, our KidNuz quiz. What will be included in Virgin Galactic $250-thousand dollar ride to the edge of space? A customized high-tech, high fashion jumpsuit. Why did Floyd, the 190lb mastiff need to be rescued from a mountain in Utah? Because he injured his paws and was tuckered out from a big hike. Why are 300,000 students staying home today in Chicago? Because the mayor canceled classes in anticipation of a teachers’ strike. What popular song is being credited for some of the Washington Nationals’ success? “Baby Shark”. And in one for the road…It looks like space fashion is suiting up to be big business. This week, NASA also rolled out not one, but two new designs for its planned missions to the moon in 2024. Closer to more traditional astronaut garb, both have their own high tech improvements. One bright orange suit, to be worn during launch and re-entry to Earth, will come equipped with oxygen in case of depressurization. The other red, white and blue suit is dubbed the “exploration extravehicular mobility unit”. The suit’s flexibility promises more comfort and movement to the male or female astronaut who takes the next “giant leap for mankind.” Thanks for listening! Today’s birthday shout-outs go to Lucia and Nicolas in Seattle, Washington, Natalie in Dallas, Texas, and an extra special birthday wish to Jack in Poulsbo VA, whose dad is on active duty with the U.S. Navy and can’t be home with him today. Happy Birthday, from all of us and we hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 10.17.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.16.2019
Oct 16 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Kim. Today is Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 and we begin with.. ….an out of this world idea gaining traction with scientists. The project involves building an elevator… in space. It’s a concept first floated by a Russian engineer in the late 1800s. Since then, most versions have the cable starting at the equator and running directly to a space station. But now, two scientists think they’ve found a better approach. Instead of of cable stretching skyward from earth, they’re proposing it start at the moon and hang down. Astronauts would launch to lower orbit, a ‘space tug’ would taken them to the cable, and from there they’d “elevator” to the moon. The cost would be in the billions, but space engineers say it could be up and running.. in just 12 years. Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area got a timely reminder that they live in quake country. A 4.5 magnitude shaker hit about 20 miles outside of the city Monday night, was felt in all nine counties.. and even as far away as Lake Tahoe. No injuries were reported and damage was minor. Coincidentally, tomorrow is International Shakeout Day. Your school might be among the thousands across the U.S. and around the world that will mark the 30th anniversary of the Bay Area’s Loma Prieta earthquake with a preparedness drill. The message is “drop, cover and hold” – meaning drop to the ground, take cover under a desk or table, and hold on until the shaking stops. In all, more than 22 million people are expected to participate. The NBA’s most famous player just waded into the mess with China – and created one of his own in the process. On Monday night, Lebron James told reporters that the Rockets General Manager Dave Morey was ‘misinformed’ when he tweeted support for pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong- and then double-downed by saying that sometimes free speech can quote “have a negative side.” That touched a nerve on the island, where demonstrators are fighting China for the very right to speak freely. As of yesterday, Lebron was in full damage control mode. His comments made it appear as though he was siding with a communist country infamous for its human rights violations — but very friendly to his bank account. Lebron is the face of Nike which, like the NBA, does big business in China. Most everyone loves google maps. Except, perhaps, those living on the Italian island of Sardinia. In the past two years, 144 emergency calls have been reported – all of them from tourists who ended up someplace other than where they had hoped to be. The issue, apparently, is that the app shows ‘goat tracks’ as normal roads, leading unsuspecting drivers seeking an out-of-the-way beach onto a path only big enough for an animal. Local shepherds have had to join fire departments in some of the rescues. Exasperated islanders are now begging visitors to stop using the app, going so far as to put up no-google signs and issue public service announcements. Google maps says it’s working on a fix. One of the two celebrities caught up in the college admission scam is now facing the consequences.. of cheating. Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman reported to jail in Dublin, California yesterday to begin her 14-day sentence for paying someone to proctor her daughter’s SAT and correct her answers. After she’s released, Ms. Huffman will spend one year on supervised release, do 250 hours of community service and pay a 30-thousand dollar fine. The other actress, Full House star Lori Loughlin, is fighting the charges and remains free on bail. And that’s it for KidNuz this morning. Now our KidNuz Quiz: Where should you not use google maps? On the Italian island of Sardinia. What science fiction staple might be reality in a few years? An elevator in space. What shook up the San Francisco Bay Area Monday night? A 4.5 magnitude earthquake Which actress is now in jail for cheating on her daughter’s SAT? Felicity Huffman. In one for the road this morning: Never underestimate the influence you might have on someone else. 100 people descended on a corner in Wilmette, Illinois to celebrate the 80th birthday of an elementary school crossing guard. Alec Childress has been minding his intersection for 14 years, and kids who had moved on to middle school, high school, and even college made sure to make it back for the celebration. His signature phrase, “Peace, I gotcha” to everyone who walks by came back at him like a boomerang. Dozens and dozens of yard signs were planted nearby, all of them reading: “Peace, WE gotcha.” Today’s KidNuz shout outs go to Mrs. Lucas’s 7th & 8th grade class at Inwood Christian School in Inwood, Iowa and we wish a very Happy Birthday to Mason from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Thanks for being loyal KidNuz listeners! We hope you’ll all be back for more KidNuz.. tomorrow morning. The post 10.16.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.15.2019
Oct 15 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Tuesday, October 15th, 2019 and we begin with…. … more sleep for California kids in grades 6-12. The Golden State now has a first-in-the-nation law requiring later start times for public schools. Starting in the fall of 2022, middle schools can’t ring the bell earlier than 8am, and high schools must wait until 8:30. Supporters point to research that shows kids who get more sleep are healthier and do better in school. Opponents don’t necessarily argue the science, but believe each school district should decide for itself what is best for its students. They also worry that later start times mean working parents won’t be able to drop their kids off in the morning.. and after-school activities may get pushed later into the evening. It’s the biggest stage yet for the Democrats who want to be President. Tonight, at Otterbein University in Ohio, 12 candidates will face off for their fourth debate. This time, the event will include every candidate who qualified, instead of splitting the massive field over two nights. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will be centerstage, reflecting their lead in polls, while lower-performing candidates will be placed towards the wings. The playoffs are in full swing, and so too is speculation that Major League Baseball has ‘un-juiced’ its balls for the post-season. After a year of record setting home runs, the expectation was that the playoffs would continue the streak. But they haven’t. According to Baseball Prospectus, the number of home runs anticipated in October is off 50 percent if you compare it to the rate of the regular season. Science consultant Rob Arthur says the data comes from MLB’s own pitch tracking system, and he reportedly confirmed it by looking at how many homers you would expect to see based on exit velocity, launch angle, and park effects. His suspicion: Changes were intentionally made for the playoffs to reduce long balls. The theory is getting a lot of play in the media. So far though, baseball officials have ‘no comment.’ A black hole tops Business News this morning. And Fortnite fans you know just what we’re talking about. In what is being called an ingenious marketing strategy, the game collapsed inward over the weekend, sucked the entire island into the abyss, and left millions and millions of players staring at the result: A big screen, a little black hole, and no ability to play whatsoever. It was almost as if the game never existed. Not surprisingly, parents were overjoyed – and many couldn’t resist videotaping the resulting meltdown of their Fortnite loving kids. Now, though, it appears it was all part of the plan to wrap up Season 10 and build excitement for what’s next. Word is, that new reveal could come as early as today. There are three young women and three new records you should know about this morning. First, 15-year-old tennis sensation Coco Gauff won her first pro event, the WTA Tournament in Austria, making her the youngest to win a professional singles title since 2004. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei not only won the Chicago Marathon, but did so in world record time, running the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 4 seconds. And that’s more than a minute faster than the previous record. And Simone Biles did what we all expected her to do: She became the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in the sport’s history. She exited the World Championships in Germany with 25 medals, one more than she needed to own the crown outright. That’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz Quiz: What’s the latest speculation around playoff baseball? That the balls have been modified to allow fewer home runs. What law did California just pass? Public middle schools and high schools will have later start times. In what sports did three young women set records over the weekend? Gymnastics, tennis and running. How many Democratic presidential candidates will be included in tonight’s debate? 12, everyone who qualified. In one for the road… the story of a little boy and a really big fish. 8-year-old Jayden Millauro and his dad were fishing south of Sydney, Australia when Jayden got the bite. At the end of his line, was a giant Tiger shark. Jayden only weighs 88 pounds but with the boat’s captain holding on to the back of his harness, the youngster managed to reel in a 692-pound whopper. Unofficially, his catch is 5 pounds heavier than the shark caught by another junior fisherman two decades ago. If it gets verified, Jayden and his catch will own the new world record in the small fry category. This morning, our KidNuz birthday shout-outs go to Benjamin from Mountain View, California and Molly and Addy from Findlay, Ohio. Thanks for listening everyone. Parents please reate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll see you back here for more KidNuz tomorrow morning! The post 10.15.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.14.2019
Oct 14 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. It’s Monday, October 14th, 2019. And we begin with.. A holiday and its controversial history. Today, the 2nd Monday in October, has long been dedicated to marking Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas back in 1492. Columbus was an Italian explorer who set sail across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a faster route to the Far East but ended up arriving in the area of the Bahamas, which they called the New World. Columbus Day was first recognized by the US government in the 1930s, but 3 states — Alaska, Hawaii and South Dakota — no longer observe it as a holiday because of Columbus’ treatment of Native Americans. And many cities have stopped referring to today as Columbus Day. They now call it Indigenous People’s Day. Regardless of what it’s called, most schools and offices are closed today, but stores are generally open. An amazing feat was accomplished over the weekend. A runner from Kenya is the first person ever to run a marathon, which is 26.2 miles long, in under 2 hours. Eliud Kipchog actually finished the race in 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds.. an achievement considered one of the ultimate milestones in athletic performance. The 34-year old said afterwards that he was the happiest man and added he hopes to have inspired many by showing there are no limits to what humans can do. In business news… you may have heard about the trade war between the United States and China.. it’s been going on for a while. Now there’s finally a sign of improvement as both sides have agreed to the first phase of a deal to end their dispute. This means US President Donald Trump is suspending his threatened 30% tariff hike which would have gone into effect tomorrow and would have made items being shipped from China into the US more expensive for Americans to buy. It’ll take a few weeks to work out the details so the deal could be signed next month when both Mr. Trump and China’s president are scheduled to attend a summit in Chile. Holy guacamole! The Pokini family from Hawaii have landed in the Guinness book of world records after growing the world’s heaviest avocado. It tips the scales at 5.6 pounds and it’s huge! Juliane Pokini says it’s about the size of her 12-year old son’s head. And they didn’t do anything special to the plant, just trimmed it now and then though she confesses at one point she didn’t think it would survive after their son pulled it out of its pot twice. Once it was officially declared a record breaker, the family celebrated by cutting it open and making enough guacamole for about 20 people. We’ve all been told about the need to limit our screen time. But a new study published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, finds that not all screen time is the same. When it comes to impacting school performance, television viewing and video games are considered the worst. But studies on other screen time, like playing on phones or surfing the internet, didn’t seem to have a negative impact on kids’ achievement. A child psychiatrist in New York says this new report is important because it separates out the screens most closely associated with leisure time.. from those used for schoolwork. But the doctor emphasized it’s still important for kids to limit their use of technology and parents to step in if they can’t. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now the KidNuz quiz: What year did Christopher Columbus arrive in the Americas? 1492 Which two countries have made progress to end a trade war? The US and China A man from Kenya is the first person to do what? Run a marathon, all 26.2 miles of it, in under two hours. How big was the record-setting avocado in Hawaii? It weighed 5.6 pounds and was about the size of 12-year old’s head. In one for the road: The Nobel Peace Prize was announced on Friday.. and the winner was a person most of us have never heard of. Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, was given the huge honor for his work in restoring peace talks with neighboring Eritrea. The deal reached last year between the 2 nations in east Africa ended 2 decades of a ‘no peace no war’ stalemate. The Nobel committee acknowledged that much work still needs to be done in the unstable country but Mr. Ahmed has started important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future. Thanks for listening. A few KidNuz birthday shouts today: Hannah from Wyoming Michigan is 11, Ezra from Memphis Tennessee is 8 and Clara from Fall Church Virginia is also celebrating a birthday today. Have a great day.. and parents you can sign up your kids for a birthday shout out by joining the KidNuz club on our website. We hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 10.14.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.11.2019
Oct 11 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Friday, October 11th, 2019 and we begin with… … a pre-Halloween fright bubbling up from the swamps of the southeast. The creature is sometimes referred to as a Frankenfish —but its official name is a “snakefish” – because it has the head of a snake, and the body …of a fish. Creepier still, it can grow to three feet long, breath air… and walk on land. Frankenfish are native to China, Russia, North Korea and South Korea, but the populations are growing in North America. It’s been found in 14 states and just now, for the first time, in Georgia. The creature is considered an invasive species, meaning dangerous to an area’s native wildlife, and has no known natural predators. Georgia wildlife officials are urging anyone who sees one to catch it and report it immediately. The final piece of the playoff puzzle came together last night when Houston punched their ticket to American League Championship Series by taking down Tampa Bay. The Astros won’t get much rest. Game one against the New York Yankees is tomorrow. On the other side of the Majors, it’ll be the St. Louis Cardinals against the Washington Nationals for the National League crown. For Washington, it’s their first shot at the pennant since the team left Montreal, as the Expos, in 2005. Game One of their seven game series is tonight. The next stop for two of these four teams will be the World Series which gets underway Tuesday, October 22nd. By now, someone in the world has received the rarest of early morning phone calls: The call letting them know they’ve won the Nobel Prize for Peace, one of the most prestigious honors on the planet. As the name suggests, the award is given to an individual or group that has done the most in the past year to promote peace or better our world in some way. Front runners in 2019 include climate activist Greta Thunberg, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and the organization “Reporters without Borders.” Past recipients include Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Former Presidents Obama and Carter, and Pakistani education advocate Malala Yousafzai who was just 17 when she won 5 years ago. Are you in on the scrunchie secret? Maybe you’re part of it? If so, you’re probably none too happy with a North Carolina mom who “Facebook-outed” the meaning for parents everywhere. Emily Covington says she couldn’t figure out why hair ties were turning up all over her home, especially since she has a son, not a daughter. After pressing him for answers, she got one – the scrunchie is the new symbol of a teenage crush. A girl will give it to a guy to wear on his wrist and he, in turn, is expected to share his hoodie. The trend apparently got its start in the Jenny Han book-turned-Netflix hit series “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.” Much to the chagrin of her son, Emily’s post has gone viral. As expected, Simone Biles cemented her status as a gymnast in a class all her own. She won her fifth world title in Stuttgart, Germany yesterday and did so by her largest margin ever. She now has 22 world medals, one shy of the record held by Vitaly Scherbo of Belarus. Simone will have four opportunities to top him this weekend during individual events for the floor, balance beam, uneven bars and vault. That’s it for KidNuz. Now our KidNuz Quiz. What are the 4 baseball teams competing in the championship series for both leagues? The Yankees and the Astros in the American League, the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals for the National League. What big honor was announced overnight? The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. What’s the name of the creature that has Georgia wildlife officials worried? The snakefish, also known as a Frankenfish. Gymnast Simone Biles just won.. what? Her fifth World Championship title. In one for the road: You have to hand it to some Pennsylvania squirrels – who thought they found a great place to store nuts for winter. It wasn’t such great news, though, for Holly Persic of Pittsburgh. She was out running errands when her car started making funny noises and she smelled something burning. She pulled over and popped the hood, only to find 200 walnuts, some of them roasting on the engine block. Holly and her husband think their neighborhood squirrels have been using their car as a storage facility for about a month. Before we go, we have lots of KidNuz birthdays to recognize this morning. Happy 11th to James from Lancaster Pennsylvania! George from San Diego is 8, Carey from Redwood City, California and Ollie from Sag Harbor, New York both turn 7 and Audrey from Salt Lake City celebrates her 6th. Happy birthday everyone, remember to take our week in review quiz and we hope to see you all back here for more KidNuz on Monday morning. Georgia Frankenfish, Baseball’s Final Four, Peace Prize, Scrunchie Secret, Simone’s Fifth and Totally Nuts! The post 10.11.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.10.2019
Oct 10 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Thursday, October 10th, 2019 and we begin with… … nearly a million California customers in the dark, possibly for days. Pacific Gas and Electric or PG&E is shutting off power to parts of 34 counties to reduce the risk of wildfires. With very dry conditions, and wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour, there’s the risk that live power lines could get knocked down and start a fire. So, the utility company took the precaution of shutting off power, in stages, across parts of northern, central and coastal California, starting early yesterday morning and continuing through today. This is the largest preventative outage in state history. And even after the windy weather passes it could still take several days to fully restore power once safety inspections are completed. Weather whiplash of a different kind is hitting with a vengeance right now in the central US causing a massive drop in temperature in some places. Denver had a high close to 80 degrees yesterday, but it’s plunging down to 20 degrees tonight. Winter storm warnings and watches are in effect in the north-central Rockies and northern Plains where up to 12 inches of snow is predicted. And that could have a significant impact on travel, both on the roads and in the air. Sporadic power outages are possible too. In political news, Senator Bernie Sanders says he’s going to make some changes to his presidential campaign. It’s not surprising after the 78-year old politician had a heart attack last week. Sanders said for the sake of his health, he’ll slow his pace and no longer hold 3 to 4 rallies and 5 to 6 meetings a day. He acknowledges that voters will likely take his age and health into account when they vote but he is firm that he is not planning to drop out. Sanders is the oldest of the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination, followed by Joe Biden who is 76 and Elizabeth Warren who is 70. Bindi Irwin, the Australian conservationist who won Dancing with the Stars a few years ago, is providing some fascinating new details about her upcoming wedding. The 21-year old is the daughter of famous “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin who passed away back in 2006. So at her nuptials which will take place at the Australian Zoo, Bindi has decided to walk down the aisle.. with a koala. Waiting there will be her longtime boyfriend, American wakeboarder Chandler Powell. The 2 met 6 years ago at a zoo, when Bindi was giving Powell and his family a tour. And Bindi says this will be one day that she will not wear khaki… she’ll wear a traditional white wedding dress. No wedding date has been set. Here’s yet another reason why it’s really NOT a good idea to take someone else’s stuff. Some cold-blooded thieves stole a large duffel bag.. that was full of live snakes. Reptile breeder Brian Gundy had just given a talk and animal presentation Saturday at a library in San Jose California. While getting his car in a parking garage, Brian left the reptiles in a sealed bag in a no-parking zone. When he returned just minutes later, the bag was gone. Inside.. 4 pythons and a blue skink lizard. Brian doesn’t think the thieves knew what was inside and he’s really worried about the animal’s whereabouts, fearing the bad guys will just abandon them. Brian has filed a police report and hopes the garages surveillance camera will help identify the snake snatchers. That’s it for KidNuz. Now, the KidNuz quiz: Why is Bernie Sanders slowing down the pace of his presidential campaign? For the sake of his health, after having a heart attack last week. How much is the temperature dropping today in Denver? 60 degrees, going from 80 yesterday, down to 20 tonight. What was inside a duffel bag stolen outside a San Jose Library? 4 pythons and a lizard. Who will escort animal conservationist Bindi Irwin down the aisle on her wedding day? A koala. In one for the road: A little more about Koalas. They are often called koala bears, but are actually marsupials, which means the koala moms carry their babies in a pouch on their tummies until the little ones are a year old. They are native to Australia, are about 2 ½ feet tall and weigh 20 pounds. They have 6 opposable ‘thumbs’ on each paw, which helps them stay up in eucalyptus trees. That’s where they munch on a lot of leaves when they’re not sleeping, which is about 18 hours a day! Thanks for listening.. in fact we want to acknowledge a big milestone.. we’ve now been downloaded more than a quarter million times! And you can help us keep growing by telling your friends and teachers about KidNuz, plus subscribe, rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. And we hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 10.10.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.09.2019
Oct 09 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Kim. Today is Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 and we begin with…. …Ellen DeGeneres teaching the world a life lesson. The comedian clapped back – in the nicest way possible – to those trolling her for sitting and laughing with Former President George W. Bush at a football game last weekend. On the surface, they make an unlikely pair: Ms. Degeneres is very liberal, Mr. Bush is equally conservative. And while some believe their differences mean they shouldn’t spend time together, Ms. Degeneres thinks otherwise. In a videotaped response to social media criticism, she said ”I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different, and I think we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different. … Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I am not going to be friends with them. When I say be kind to one another, I don’t mean only the people that think the same way you do. I mean be kind …to everyone.” It’s nerve-calming news for high school students and their parents. The ACT college entrance exam just announced 3 big changes: First, students unhappy with their scores will be allowed to retake individual sections, rather than have to de ja vu the whole thing again. Don’t want to wait so long to see how you did? The ACT has an answer for that, too – it’s rolling out an online version at certain testing centers, which means results will be available in days, not weeks. And finally, officials have bought in to the benefits of super-scoring. Kids will now be able to combine section scores from different tests to create a more appealing composite, or total. The changes take effect with the September 2020 test date. If you’ve always wanted to name a moon, now’s your chance. Researchers from the Carnegie Institute of Science say they’ve discovered an additional 20 moons orbiting Saturn, bringing its total to 82 and pushing Jupiter’s 79 to runner up status. The previously unknown moons are all similar in size, spanning about three miles across, but 17 of the 20 have a retrograde orbit, meaning they’re basically doing their own thing and orbiting “backwards.” If that gets your lunar juices flowing, take note. The contest to name one of the newbies is now open and runs through December 6th. Details can be found at carnegiescience.edu. The NBA is feeling the Hong Kong heat this morning. As you know from KidNuz, the city is at a near standstill as thousands protest the growing influence of Communist China in the region. Add to that a tweet from the GM of the Houston Rockets, and you’ve got a firestorm. On Friday, Daryl Morey posted support for the pro-democracy demonstrators. China took exception, and quickly scrapped plans to show two pre-season games on State run TV. Chinese celebrities and sponsors followed suit and bailed on anything to do with the NBA. All told, billions of dollars are at stake. The head of the NBA says he’s going to try to undo the damage, but only to a point. Adam Silver reportedly has no intention of apologizing for the tweet. Mr. Morey, Silver says, was simply exercising his first amendment rights to free speech. Are you ready to let go … of your legos? If so, the maker of the iconic building blocks wants you to do so in the greenest way possible. To keep the toys out of the trash, where the plastic can damage the environment, Lego is testing a recycling program. Customers can print out a mailing label from its site, dump their Lego bricks in a box and ship them back to Lego… for free. The company will then clean the pieces and send them off to Teach for America, a nonprofit that will donate them to classrooms across the United States.… and to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston for after-school programs. If the pilot program is successful, it may expand the recycling beyond the US next year. That’s if for KidNuz this morning. Now our KidNuz Quiz: Which college entrance exam is making big changes? The ACT, which will soon allow partial retakes, super scoring, and on-line test taking. Who just reminded the world that it’s ok to be different? Comedian Ellen DeGeneres What is Lego hoping you’ll do with your old blocks? Recycle them for free What league is feeling the heat from China? The NBA after a tweet supporting the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. In one for the road: Within the next 24 hours, Simone Biles could enter the record books as the most decorated gymnast … ever. She heads into the individual finals at Worlds with 21 medals, tops for any female, and is now just two shy of tying male gymnast Vitaly Scherbo of Belarus. His record of 23 will likely fall before the sun sets tomorrow in Stuttgart, Germany where Simone could win 5 more: one in each of four events and one for the all-around title, for which she is essentially a shoe-in. Yesterday, she led the women to their fifth consecutive ‘team’ championship and over the weekend, she nailed a triple double in her floor routine, a move so ridiculously hard that USA Gymnastics has named it the “Biles II” in her honor. Thanks for listening. Please rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts and tune back here for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 10.09.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.08.2019
Oct 08 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Tuesday, October 8th, 2019 and we begin with…. …Super Typhoon spinning toward Japan. The storm began on Saturday as a tropical depression, then morphed into a tropical storm. But it’s what happened between Sunday and Monday – that’s alarming weather watchers. Hagibis added 100 miles per hour to its wind speed which now clocks in at a staggering 160. This level of rapid intensification is the highest recorded by meteorologists since 1996. Hagibis is still four days away from landfall, likely as a less powerful storm though ten inches of rain are predicted in parts of Japan. A Super Typhoon by the way, is like a Category 5 hurricane. In fact, hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon but it’s called a typhoon in the Northwest Pacific .. and a hurricane in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific. NASA’s first all-female spacewalk is back on. As you may remember, back in March, 2 women were set to make history until NASA discovered a wardrobe malfunction. Both needed a medium sized space suit but only one was available. Flash forward to October 21st when Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will finally make that ceiling-shattering stroll in space. Their mission: to install lithium-ion batteries to improve the station’s power supply. It will be one of ten spacewalks scheduled during these final three months of the year to improve the aging International Space Station. It’s a big city with even bigger, bragging rights. For the third year in a row, Conde Nast Traveler magazine has named Chicago as the Best Big City in America. Despite its frigid winter temperatures and bone-chilling winds, readers praised Chi-town’s first-rate restaurants, museums and architecture in their votes. They also cited the city’s well-known reputation for having “some of the most pleasant people you’ll find anywhere.” Rounding out the top 10: Minneapolis at #2, then Boston, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., San Diego, New York, Pittsburgh, Honolulu and San Antonio. Last week, we reported that 95-year-old Jimmy Carter, America’s oldest living president, would be spending this week building homes for Habitat for Humanity. Then, on Sunday morning, the former Commander in Chief took another fall in his home. The injury, resulting in 14 stitches and a black eye, may have held some less hardy souls back. But, not only did Mr. Carter make it onstage at Sunday night’s opening ceremony in Nashville, he confirmed his plans to work on the porches for all 21 homes being built. Sporting an Atlanta Braves cap, he also put in a plug for his favorite baseball team, who lost to the Cardinals last night 5-4 in extra innings. If you like getting prizes, you’re not alone. And this week, some of the world’s most accomplished members of society will be awarded the Nobel Prize. It’s given out to individuals who’ve made big contributions or discoveries in areas like medicine, literature, peace and economics. The awards kicked off yesterday with three scientists from the U.S. and Britain sharing the Prize in medicine. Their research on how oxygen interacts with human cells could help fight cancer and other serious diseases. In addition to the high honor, the three winners will split the $918,000 cash prize. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now, our KidNuz quiz. How many Habitat for Humanity homes does President Jimmy Carter plan to help build this week? He and his wife hope to work on all 21 of them. Why was the first all-female spacewalk delayed last March? Because NASA only had one medium sized spacesuit. What city is considered the “Best Big City” in America, by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine? Chicago received the most votes for the third year in a row. Which Nobel prize was awarded yesterday? The Nobel Prize in Medicine was given to three scientists from the U.S. and Britain. And in one for the road…The first Nobel Prizes were awarded back in 1901, after Swedish engineer Alfred Nobel created and funded them in 1895. In addition to the nearly million-dollar cash prize, the honorees – known as “Laureates”, also receive a diploma and a gold medal. Seventeen-year-old Pakastani human rights activist Malala Yousafzai [YOU-soff-zie] holds the record as the youngest winner, back in 2014. The oldest: 96-year-old physicist, Arthur Ashkin, who won just last year. Thanks for listening! Today’s birthday shout-out goes to Conner from Bend, Oregon who turns 7 today. Have a great day, Conner! And parents, please rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you tune in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 10.08.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more
10.07.2019
Oct 07 2019
Good morning and welcome to KidNuz. I’m Tori. Today is Monday, October 7th, 2019 and we begin with… A bit of a speed bump for Disney’s newest attraction. Passengers on board the just-opened aerial cable car known as the “Skyliner” at the park in Orlando, Florida had to be rescued by cranes and ladders over the weekend. Some were stuck – mid ride – for up to three hours. Disney officials won’t say what the problem was, only that the system experienced “unexpected downtime.” Apparently, execs were ready for just such a breakdown. Each gondola is reportedly equipped with an emergency kit. Inside, according to sources: water, glow sticks, a notebook and, should nature call, containers so you can take care of business, neatly. The Skyliner runs six miles and connects four hotels to the two theme parks. For those old enough to remember, it’s similar to “the Skyway” that flew above the Magic Kingdom from 1977 to 1999. As of today, the nation’s top court is back in business in Washington DC for what could be an explosive new session. On the Supreme Court’s docket: several hot button issues from immigration to the Second Amendment. And for those lawyers who plan to argue a case in front of the 9 Justices, it’s time to learn a new rule. Until now, oral arguments tended to be free-for-alls, with attorneys trying to make their case while the Justices interrupted at will, peppering them with questions or asking for clarification. Now, the white light rules. Lawyers will have two full minutes to say their piece, without fear of getting sidetracked. Once the light on the lectern illuminates, though, all bets are off. Four kids from Roseville, California are being hailed this morning for their investigative Nancy Drew-like skills. When the pint-sized sleuths saw police and helicopters out looking for a 97-year-old woman missing from their neighborhood, they hopped on their bikes and joined the search. In the end, it wasn’t the trained experts who found Glenneta, it was 10-year-old Logan Hultman and his friends, who promptly called 9-1-1 and connected the elderly woman with trained rescuers. The city’s police department gave the junior search team a shout-out on its Facebook page – and Logan’s dad calls it “a real Goonies moment.” The baseball playoffs are in full swing with all four match-ups on the schedule today and two of them- Houston/Tampa Bay and New York/Minnesota games could be series-enders if the Astros and Yankees come out on top. Win or lose, though, the Twins are hosting one of the best story lines of the season. Over the spring, Randy Dobnak drove for Uber while trying to pitch his way out of the minors. The call-up finally came on August 9th, he clinched the Twin’s central division game on September 26th, got married four days later, and pitched against the Yankees on Saturday night. Before he lost that game, he called it ‘the best week of my life.’ Even after, and despite taunts of ‘uber, uber’ from the crowd, he expressed appreciation, calling the moment ‘pretty special.’ It was a marching band without a football team.. and a football team without a marching band. Fortunately, they found each other. Forest Area high school in Michigan suspended this year’s football program because not enough kids signed up. That left its band with no one to play for. Since nearby Glen Lake had football, but no music, Glen Lake invited the Forest Area band to come play for them. The group rallied, quickly learned the Lakers’ fight song and livened up the Glen Lake sidelines for a team that it barely knew. It was a win-win regardless of the final score. But that went the way of the movies, too. The Lakers won, with an assist from their visiting band. And that’s it for KidNuz. Now the KidNuz Quiz: What is back in session today in Washington DC? The Supreme Court, after a long summer recess. Who found a missing 97-year-old woman in California? A group of kids on bikes. What broke down in Disney World? The new Skyliner cable car What was major league pitcher Randy Dobnak doing just last spring? Driving for Uber. In one for the road: The NFL and time pieces apparently don’t mix. Injured Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sported an Apple Watch on the sidelines last week and was promptly hit with a 5-thousand dollar fine. The reason: because it’s a “smart” watch and can send and receive messages, which is a big no no on the field. Roethlisberger says he forgot he had it on and plans to fight the fine. Thanks for listening! Parents, you can like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and it really helps if you can rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you tune back in for more KidNuz tomorrow morning. The post 10.07.2019 appeared first on KidNuz....more