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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Kim. Today is Friday, January 10, 2025.
And we begin with TikTok having its day and likely final say in front of the nine justices of the U .S.
Supreme Court. This morning, arguments will be heard over whether the app's ties to China pose a national security risk serious enough to order a historic ban.
A decision is expected to come quickly because if the court agrees with Congress's position that TikTok is a threat, the app could be forced to shut down in the U .S.
or find a new owner in just nine days.
You all know TikTok is tops with teens, with 17 % saying they use it almost constantly.
The company that owns TikTok and its supporters say banning it would violate First Amendment rights to free speech.
Schools out again in Los Angeles today for some 600 ,000 students as multiple fast -moving blazes rage across the region.
The New York Times is reporting as of yesterday, 29 ,000 acres had burned.
The equivalent of nearly 22 ,000 football fields.
Entire neighborhoods are gone and among the thousands of homes lost or damaged include those of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal.
Not surprisingly, the business of Hollywood is taking a backseat to safety.
Last night's Lakers Hornets game was postponed.
Production on the TV shows Abbott Elementary and The Price is Right is suspended.
Movie premieres are delayed and Sunday's Critic Choice Awards is getting bumped for two weeks.
Universal Studios Hollywood remained closed as of yesterday, but Disneyland, which is located to the south in Anaheim, has so far stayed open.
President Carter has now been laid to rest next to his wife, Roslyn, at their former home in Plains, Georgia.
At Mr. Carter's state funeral yesterday, President Biden eulogized him as a man who never let the ties of politics divert him from his mission to serve and shape the world.
And that he did. Even though he was president of the U .S., his most important job was helping others.
Our junior journalist reports.
Hi, Kenews. This is Briggs.
And today, I'm bringing you a story about a very important charity called Habitat for Humanity.
That was a huge part of President Jimmy Carter's legacy.
This charity was started in the 1970s with the goal of helping families build affordable houses.
This group has built over 4000 homes in 14 countries and has over one hundred thousand volunteers.
Their most prominent volunteer for 35 years was President Jimmy Carter.
President Carter was a humanitarian and advocate for people in need.
And his wife, Roslyn, were not only involved in the fundraising aspect of the charity, but were also hands -on volunteers working side by side, building houses all over the country.
President Carter once said, when we left the White House, we could have done anything.
But our choice was to volunteer as habitat workers.
And that's been a life -changing experience for us.
The Carter's first project was a week -long event in 1984, when they worked to build housing in New York City for 19 families.
Since then, the Carter Work Project hosts an annual week -long Habitat event.
They celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2024 and will continue this fall in Austin, Texas.
President Carter's mission continues today and cements his legacy, not only as a great leader, but a great person who touched the lives of many, both through politics and charity.
Thank you, Briggs. With just 10 more days in office, President Biden is gearing up for a new role.
Great -grandfather. On Wednesday, Mr.
Biden's granddaughter, Naomi, gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named William, in Los Angeles.
The president and Dr.
Jill Biden visited the hospital while in town.
Mr. Biden was photographed cradling his great -grandson.
At 82, he's believed to be the first sitting U .S.
president to hold this title.
Cars are getting a whole lot cooler.
At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, automakers showed off wild new tech, from a three -wheeled solar -paneled wrapped electric car that charges on the go, to AI -powered voice assistants that carry a full -on conversation.
Other futuristic gadgetry include Hyundai's holographic windshield that projects speed and safety alerts directly onto the glass, and BMW's iDrive system, which offers a personalized panoramic display on the car's lower windshield, with color, apps, and entertainment visible only to passengers.
And for those who dread long car rides, relief is in sight.
New interior lighting technology promises to reduce motion sickness by keeping passengers' equilibrium in check.
Still to come, a whale's epic trek that has scientists buzzing.
But first, we want to wish a happy 8th birthday to Pia and Vicente Lomb of Coral Gables, Florida.
We're told Pia loves all things Italian, including cappellini pasta and musical theater, especially her group led by Mrs.
Feel. And Vicente is all about fighter jets and his flag football team, the Mustangs.
Happy birthday, Pia and Vicente, now today's Kid News Quiz.
Where is TikTok pleading its case today?
Before the nine justices of the Supreme Court, what homebuilding organization is closely linked with the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter?
Habitat for Humanity.
The fires in L .A. have now burned at least how many acres?
Twenty -nine thousand, the equivalent of about 22 ,000 football fields.
How many wheels does a new solar panel -wrapped car have?
Three. And in our Kid News kicker, talk about going the distance.
A humpback whale recently shattered records, migrating over 8 ,000 miles across three oceans, around 3 ,000 miles more than previously recorded routes.
First spotted near the Pacific coast of Colombia in 2013, it was later discovered in 2022 in Zanzibar, Africa.
According to Darren Croft, executive director of the Center for Whale Research, the whale covered a distance equivalent to swimming from London to Tokyo and then partway back.
Scientists aren't sure about the why behind this epic journey.
Many believe it could be tied to shifting ocean conditions due to climate change.
They are sure it's the same animal, though, thanks to Happy Whale, a citizen science site that uses photos and AI to track them.
Thanks again to the Long Family of Coral Gables, Florida, for sponsoring today's quiz.
Happiest of birthdays to Pia and Vicente!
And hello to their teachers, Ms.
Gonzalez and Mrs. Sieg.
And we want to shout out our other Kid News classrooms.
Mrs. Landis and her Bulldogs at Memorial School in McMinville, Oregon.
Ms. Utes and her Dolphins at Bridgeport School in Valencia, California.
And Mr. Erdmann and his Mavericks at PrepNet Virtual Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Thanks for listening, everyone.
Have a great weekend, and we'll see you back here for more Kid News Monday morning.
