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Good morning and welcome to KID News.
I'm Kim.
Today is Monday, January 5th, 2026.
We're excited to be back and we begin with the leader of another country handcuffed and headed to court in New York City.
U.S.
Special Forces stormed Venezuela over the weekend to capture and arrest that nation's president, Nicolas Maduro, on charges.
He was unfairly elected and worked with dangerous groups.
His wife was also taken into custody.
Both deny the allegations and are being held in a Brooklyn jail until they answer to a judge, which is expected at noon Eastern time today.
Reaction to the action has been mixed.
Many Venezuelans are celebrating Mr Maduro's ouster, while the international community and protesters here in the US oppose the decision to use military force.
The final numbers aren't yet in, but they're expected to be doozies.
AAA predicted a record number of you would travel more than 50 miles from home between Christmas and New Year's.
If they're right and the crazy weather we had didn't mess with plans.
More than 122 million Americans hit the roads and took to the skies.
That would be a 2.2% increase over last year, which was, at the time, its own record breaker.
Times Square times two.
Just before midnight on July 3rd, a full six months after the ball dropped for New Year's Eve, a second drop will be held to kick off the nationwide party marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Technically it's called a semi-quincentennial celebration, quincentennial meaning 500 and semi being half of that.
And when the ball drops in July, it'll be the first time since 1907 that it does so on a date that isn't December 31st.
Sources say the nation's birthday hoopla will include red, white and blue confetti, patriotic music and fireworks.
Fun fact about the ball it's only not been lit or dropped twice in its 119-year New Year's Eve history.
It was left dark in 1942 and 1943 because of wartime blackout restrictions.
Tesla is no longer king of the EV.
Chinese automaker BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, stripped Tesla of its title by selling the most electric vehicles in 2025.
BYDs aren't available in the US.
Most of its sales were in Europe and Latin America.
Still, the headlines aren't all bad for Elon Musk.
A Washington state driver by the name of David Moss just made news for driving his Tesla Model 3 from one coast of the US to the other without ever touching the wheel.
Mr Moss used the company's new state of the art full self-driving update and didn't disengage the system even once.
The trip was 2,732 miles from Los Angeles to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
It took just under three days, along with nearly 30 stops to charge.
Mr. Musk's response?
Cool.
Posted to X. Their names are Katrina and Charlie, but Batman and Robin may be more fitting.
Just before the holidays, the brother-sister duo from Ohio teamed up to help save their bus driver's life.
Eight-year-old Katrina was the first to notice something wrong and ran to the back to get her seventh-grade brother Charlie, who she says on the inside may be scared but on the outside is calm and concentrated.
Charlie didn't disappoint.
He used the bus's radio to alert their school, while an eighth-grader called 911.
According to ABC News, the driver had shown all her regular riders how to use the radio, just in case.
And after a short stay in the hospital, it was quite thankful they remembered.
As the school's superintendent said in a statement, the actions of these students were truly outstanding.
They remained calm, communicated clearly and helped one another in a situation that could have been much worse.
Their families should be incredibly proud.
Still to come, the biggest, baddest roller coaster on the planet opens to the public.
But first we want to wish a happy 2026 to Carter, Molly and Charlie Kent of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Your family hopes you have a great first day back at school and want you to know that they are proud of your work in the classroom and in all your sports.
Happy New Year, Carter, Molly, and Charlie.
Now, today's Kid News Quiz.
The president of what country is under arrest and facing charges in the U.S.?
Venezuela.
For the first time in history, a second Times Square ball drop is planned.
When will that happen?
Just before midnight on July 3rd to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday.
What company is the new EV sales leader?
Chinese automaker BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams.
Whose life did an Ohio brother and sister save? their school bus driver.
In today's Kid News Kicker, looking for a thrill?
The world's tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster is now ready for riders.
The only downside, you'll need a passport.
Falcon's Flight opened on New Year's Eve at the Six Flags Park in Kidia, Saudi Arabia.
Park officials say the coaster reaches the same height as a 60-story building, is 26 miles long and hits a top speed of 155 miles an hour.
Clearly not for the faint of heart.
And for added fright, there's a 525-foot drop.
If that doesn't float your boat, the park has four other rides, also billed as record-breaking.
Thanks again to the Kent family of Charlotte, North Carolina, for sponsoring today's quiz.
Hello to Carter, Molly and Charlie and shout-outs to their teachers and friends at Christ Church Preschool and Charlotte Country Day School.
And hello to our Kid News classrooms.
Mrs Puff and Kiwi the Turtle at Easterly Parkway in State College Pennsylvania.
Ms.
Polden and her Jolly Jaguars at Pearl's Anchor in Milpitas, California.
Ms.
Warren at St.
Gerald's School in Oaklawn, Illinois.
And Mrs Popov and her Rick at Achievement First Providence Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island.
Thanks for listening and thank you to all who generously donated to our end of year campaign.
Please listen in as we acknowledge you in the weeks ahead.
Have a great day and we'll see you back here for more kid news tomorrow morning.
