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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Kim.
Today is Wednesday, February 4th, 2026.
And we begin with a 13-year-old boy from Australia saving his family with what's being called a superhuman swim.
Austin Appleby was paddleboarding and kayaking with his mom, brother and sister off the country's western coast Friday when the calm waters suddenly turned rough, flipping their boards, filling the kayak with water and dragging them out to sea.
With little choice, Austin left the others to swim two and a half miles to shore to get help.
Two hours in, he had to ditch his life jacket.
He wasn't making enough progress, and he told reporters he was scared.
I just said, all right, not today, not today, not today.
I have to keep on going.
Two more hours of swimming through shark-infested waters, no less.
He reached the beach, called emergency services and asked them to send out helicopters, boats and planes, which they did, finding the rest of Austin's family all wearing life jackets, clinging to a paddleboard which was now more than eight miles from land.
Ironically, Austin's dad told the rescue commander that his son had recently failed a swim test.
Well, the commander responded, make sure you have that teacher call me.
And this is why you do a dress rehearsal.
After putting Artemis II through a pre-flight practice run that lasted until early yesterday morning, the flight team determined that its massive moon rocket is not yet ready to fly.
Several issues emerged, including hydrogen leaks.
Instead of blasting off this weekend as hoped, the earliest possible launch is now March.
Safety is paramount.
This mission will send four astronauts on a record-setting 10-day loop around the backside of the moon, taking the crew farther from Earth than any humans have gone before.
If you want to throw your money into the world's most famous fountain, it's going to cost more than the coins you toss.
As of Monday, Rome is charging 2 euros, or 240 in the US, for the Trevi Fountain tradition, which is said to guarantee a return trip to the ancient city.
The fee only applies to visitors who walk down the stone steps to get close to the water.
Those who hang back in the surrounding square don't have to pay, but some are trying to duck the new rule by chucking the coins from a distance, which could result in someone getting beamed from behind.
City officials say they'll combat the bad tourist behavior with extra patrols.
The stated goal of the charge, which doesn't apply to locals, is to thin crowds and help fund the 300-year-old monument's upkeep.
Elsewhere in Italy, the Winter Olympics begin quietly today with curling, an event that doesn't tend to get too many eyeballs.
The not-quite-ready-for-prime-time sports continue tomorrow with more curling and some luge before ramping up with marquee medal events this weekend.
Up in the mountains, Mother Nature's getting a helping hand.
Ski event organizers say they're pumping out about 2 million cubic meters of faux snow to make up for what climate change has taken away.
Among those planning to put it to good use, legend Lindsey Vonn who, despite completely rupturing her ACL and damaging her meniscus during a fall last week, says she will do everything in her power, including wearing a knee brace, to make it to the starting gate for her first race on Sunday.
The opening ceremony for the Games begins Friday at 2 p.m.
Eastern.
Call it sports nirvana.
In addition to the Olympics, this weekend also brings us Super Bowl Sunday.
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks touched down in the Bay Area on Sunday, met with the media Monday night and today begin team practices.
Kickoff is 3.30 p.m.
Pacific time with the Seahawks' 4.5-point favorites.
For some, the commercials will be the highlight.
Each 30-second spot is selling for as much as $10 million.
For others, the halftime show.
But this time around, the pregame show might also be a draw.
NBC has announced it will broadcast part of it live from Alcatraz Island, once home to that infamous federal prison.
The island is now a national museum, visited by one million people a year, but never before has it been used as the backdrop for a live TV show.
Still to come.
A manufacturing mistake makes an otherwise forgettable stuffed horse sell like hotcakes.
But first Kyle and Mandy of Texas want to shout out their four kids for being compassionate, kind and all-around awesome.
Grant is into Harry Potter, Pokemon and chess.
Emma loves volunteering at the animal shelter, building Legos and reading.
Ben can be found playing tennis, swimming and solving math problems.
And Abby digs Bluey, her stuffies and ballet.
Now, today's Kid News quiz.
How far did an Australian 13-year-old swim to save his family?
Two and a half miles through shark-infested waters.
NASA's much-anticipated Artemis II moon mission is delayed until at least when?
March.
What's the name of the famous attraction now charging for a coin toss?
The Trevi Fountain in Rome.
30-second Super Bowl commercials are reportedly selling for how much?
Up to $10 million.
In today's Kid News Kicker, Labooboos have some accidental competition.
A 360 stuffed horse that was manufactured as a Chinese Lunar New Year toy is now all the rage.
After a manufacturing glitch, sewed its mouth on upside down.
That turned the happy horse into what looks like a very sad horse, and it's gone viral on social media as a symbol of the burnout felt by many Chinese workers.
According to the New York Times, the hashtag for crying horse has 190 million mentions and the stuffy is flying off virtual shelves with more than 15000 ordered daily.
The shopkeeper who originally sold it ramped up production but still can't keep up with demand.
She even turned down an interview with the Times, citing exhaustion.
Chinese Lunar New Year is the country's biggest holiday.
It's coming up on February 17th.
Thanks again to Kyle and Mandy of Texas for sponsoring today's quiz.
And hello to Grant, Emma, Ben, and Abby.
Now to our awesome kid news classrooms.
Mrs. Alessandra and her sharks at Shroth School in Wanamasa, New Jersey.
Mrs. Commons Crew at Central in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Ms.
Willis and her Jaguars at Timber Creek in Raymoor, Missouri.
And Mrs. Sparks Superheroes at R.E.
Thompson Intermediate in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
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