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Good morning and welcome to KidNews.
I'm Kim. Today is Friday, October 11, 2024.
And we begin with millions of Floridians still in the dark in the wake of Milton.
As expected, and on cue, the monster storm blew ashore as a Cat 3 near Sarasota Wednesday night.
But what wasn't expected was the surprising number of tornadoes it brought with it.
Even before landfall, dozens of wicked funnel clouds touched down throughout the state, ripping off roofs and downing power lines.
It's definitely out of the ordinary Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gansini told the Associated Press, hurricanes do produce tornadoes, but they're usually weak.
What we saw Wednesday was much closer to what we see in the Great Plains in the spring.
Milton made landfall just 13 days after Helene devastated the southeast, breaking the record for the shortest amount of time between two major hurricanes in Florida.
Recovery from both storms will take months, if not years.
Hurricanes aren't just a threat to humans.
Animals have to hunker down, too.
A team of 12 workers at Zoo Tampa volunteered to stay behind to ensure the safety and comfort of its animals as Milton tore through the area.
Caretakers moved larger animals, like elephants and giraffes, into sturdy hurricane -proof shelters and brought smaller ones indoors, stocking up enough food for animals and staff to last for weeks.
Following the storm, the zoo's Facebook page reported the facility sustained some damage due to the high winds, and the power was out.
But all 1 ,000 animals were safe and accounted for.
After eight years on the job helping capture 84 criminals and keeping the streets safe, a decorated police officer is hanging up his badge.
Apache, a canine police dog for the Indiana State Police, was honored with a full retirement ceremony this week after an incredible career.
Day after day, the dedicated pooch worked alongside Trooper Walter Butt and even got seriously wounded protecting his partner during a dangerous encounter.
Despite the injury, Apache made a full recovery and returned to work just three weeks later.
Apache now plans to enjoy his well -deserved retirement as a pampered pet with Trooper Butt and his family.
Also calling it a career, one of the greatest tennis players to set foot on the court, Rafael Nadal, aka the King of Clay, announced yesterday he'll be retiring from professional play after next month's Davis Cup.
Despite taking home 22 Grand Slam titles during his career, the last couple of years for the now 38 -year -old athlete have been rough due to injuries and hip surgery last year.
In a video message, Nadal reflected on his career and the difficult decision to retire, noting that in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.
It's beginning to feel a lot like Halloween.
With this year's spooktacular less than three weeks away, skeletons, bats, and black cats have been popping up in yards everywhere.
However, one family in Centennial, Colorado refuses to be outdone.
The Stricker family doesn't just decorate for Halloween.
They engineer a fog -filled, light -up, spooky spectacle that draws hundreds of spectators every year.
Joe Stricker tells the Denver Gazette, the idea to build a Halloween wonderland began after moving into the neighborhood 16 years ago and getting no trick -or -treaters.
Now, they go all out, and even with the whole family pitching in, their annual labor of love takes two weeks to create and cost more than $1 ,000.
But, he says, the smiles they get from both kids and adults make it all worthwhile.
Still to come, a new fast food menu item that has some people asking, where's the beef?
But first, today's Kid News quiz.
What was the biggest surprise from Hurricane Milton?
The number of strong tornadoes it spawned.
How did the team at Zoo Tampa keep their animals safe during Hurricane Milton?
By moving them indoors and sheltering with them, what was Apache's job before he retired?
Canine Police Dog Which tennis player, known as the King of Clay, just announced his retirement?
Rafael Nadal And in our Kid News kicker, McDonald's is flipping the script on a classic fan favorite.
For a limited time, it's offering the Chicken Big Mac, swapping out its all -beef patties for tempura -buttered chicken.
All the other Big Mac ingredients, sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and a sesame seed bun, stay the same, except this one holds the onions.
This temporary twist on the company's flagship sandwich comes as fast food chains race to satisfy the current chicken craze among customers.
It may come as a surprise, but according to McDonald's U .S.
President, the brand made famous by its burgers already sells more chicken than beef.
Fans of the original Big Mac can rest easy, though.
The famous burger that debuted in Uniontown, Pennsylvania in 1967 isn't going anywhere.
Before we go, shout -outs for our teachers, Ms.
Nelson and her Vikings at Vanguard Charter Academy in Wyoming, Michigan.
Mrs. Nieman and her Wolf Pack at Emerson Hubbard School in Emerson, Nebraska.
And Ms. Schroeder and her Elcats at Lake Mills School in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.
Thanks for listening, have a great weekend, and we'll see you back here for more kid news Monday morning.
