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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Kim. Today is Thursday, September 19, 2024.
And we begin with a shy, smelly bird, thought to be the world's rarest of its kind, getting a big boost in New Zealand.
The hoi ho, or yellow -eyed penguin, won the country's Bird of the Year competition this week following a fiercely fought election filled with meme wars and celebrity endorsements from the likes of zoologist Jane Goodall and amazing race host Phil Cogan.
More than 50 ,000 people, or about 10 % of New Zealand's population, voted in the poll securing a landslide win for the stinky little guy.
Officials from Forest and Bird, the magazine that runs the poll, said the spotlight couldn't have come at a better time, as this iconic penguin is disappearing before our eyes.
It was a big moment for the U .S.
economy. The nation's central bank, known as the Federal Reserve, cut interest rates yesterday for the first time in four years.
Interest rates determine how much it costs to borrow money for things like homes, cars, and credit cards.
And while most expected a quarter percent drop, the Fed went big and opted for a surprising half percent.
According to the Associated Press, that decision suggests that the country's most important financial institution feels more confident about the health of the U .S.
economy. Two more cuts are expected before the end of the year.
For Amazon workers, one of the few perks of an otherwise disastrous pandemic is coming to an abrupt end.
The company's CEO announced Monday that he expects his employees to return to the office five days a week, starting in January.
Currently, they're allowed to work from home twice a week.
Part of the reason, according to an internal memo, is that the company believes it's easier for employees to brainstorm when they're together in person.
Amazon joins UPS, Boeing and JPMorgan Chase in calling back at least some of their workers to the office full -time.
America's oldest living president got a pre -birthday celebration Tuesday night.
Jimmy Carter turns 100 on October 1st, but his family and supporters didn't want to wait that long to throw him a party.
Organizers chose Atlanta, Georgia's oldest concert hall to celebrate Mr.
Carter's centennial, noting the Fox Theater is four years younger than he is.
According to The Guardian, Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden sent well wishes, and entertainers, including John Stewart and Bob Dylan, congratulated him via video.
Mr. Carter viewed the festivities from home, where he's been in hospice for more than 18 months, and told his grandson last month he's determined to live at least until the election.
Georgia Public Broadcasting plans to air the concert on Carter's birthday in a few weeks, and his relatives say he will be in front of the TV watching.
Also being celebrated, Toys, the National Toy Hall of Fame, has announced its 12 -2024 finalists.
They include balloons, the trampoline, Hess toy trucks, My Little Pony and Transformer figures, remote control vehicles, the stick horse, Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks, Apples to Apples, Phase 10, Sequence, and the Pokemon trading card game.
According to KGW8 News, the three receiving the most votes from the public, historians and toy experts will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in November.
Fans can vote for their favorites from now until next Wednesday at ToyHallofFame .org.
Still ahead, is it a toy or a car or a little of both?
That story ahead. But first, we want to wish a happy 16th birthday to water polo player and swimmer Riley Ho of San Mateo, California.
Riley, your mom, dad, Max, Molly and Moby all hope your big day is as special as you are.
And so do we. Now today's quiz.
How much did the Federal Reserve announce its cutting interest rates?
A half a percent. What kind of bird won New Zealand's bird of the year?
The hoi ho or yellow -eyed penguin.
What company is the latest to require workers to return to the office five days a week?
Amazon. Which American president turns 100 on October 1st?
Former President Jimmy Carter.
In today's Kid News Kicker, what happens when a toy is no longer a toy?
F1 driver Lando Norris found out when he took LEGO's first full -size, fully functional McLaren P1 sports car out for a spin around the Silverstone Circuit track in the United Kingdom last week.
Twenty -three specialists from McLaren and LEGO spent more than 8 ,000 hours building the model car, using a total of 342 ,817 LEGO Technic pieces.
LEGO says it is the company's first big build capable of steering and traveling further than any LEGO model before it and features a total of 768 LEGO motors.
According to The Athletic, Norris said it felt like a car, but that he took it easy as he noticed the side mirrors wobbling a bit as he drove.
Thanks again to the Ho family of San Mateo, California for sponsoring today's quiz.
Happy 16th birthday to Riley Ho and hello to all his friends and teachers, especially Mr.
Carter at Junipero Serra High School.
And hello to our Kid News classrooms, Mrs.
Sharps Jaguars at Junction City School in Junction City, California, Mrs.
Reichert's Patriots at Lester B.
Summer School in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and Mrs.
Moore's Bears at Horse Branch School in Horse Branch, Kentucky.
Thanks for listening.
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