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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Tori. Today is Monday, September 23rd, the first full day of fall, 2024.
And we begin with the six week sprint to election day officially on.
Early in person voting is now underway in Minnesota, Virginia and South Dakota.
And a dozen more states will open for early balloting in mid -October.
In the last presidential election, 69 % of Americans opted to get their votes in before election day, which this year falls on November 5th.
The latest CBS News polling suggests the presidential race is extremely tight, with current Vice President Kamala Harris holding a slight national lead over former President Donald Trump.
It's time to make room for a second moon.
In less than a week, scientists say a space rock called Asteroid 2024 PT5 will get caught in Earth's gravitational pull and, like our familiar moon, will orbit our planet.
But this galactic guest won't stay long.
It's only expected to hang around for 56 days from next Sunday, September 29th until November 5th when it'll return to orbiting the sun.
The incoming mini moon is 10 meters wide, which is about 33 feet, roughly the size of a city bus, too small and too dim to be spotted with the naked eye.
The fan who braved a melee to grab Shohei Ohtani's history -writing 50 -50 ball knows he's in the driver's seat.
According to KTLA, the Dodgers offered him $300 ,000 to hand it over on the spot, but he said no and bolted from the stadium.
Shohei's big moment came amid a jaw -dropping athletic performance.
Not only did he invent a new category, 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in one season, but he did so while side hustling more history.
He went 6 -for -6 in Thursday's game with two doubles, three long balls, two steals and 10 RBI.
Of the 23 ,359 players who've made it to the majors, he's now also the only one to hit three homers and steal two bases in a game.
In other sports news by unanimous votes, Asha Wilson is the WNBA's Player of the Year and Caitlin Clark is the league's Rookie of the Year.
The awards are handed out annually by the Associated Press.
Asha, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces, became the first player in league history to score more than 1 ,000 points in a season.
Caitlin, who reps the Indiana fever, broke the league's single -season assist mark, scored the most points ever for a rookie, led her team to their first playoffs and helped lift the league to record ratings and attendance.
For the second time this year, a China Zoo is in hot water for trying to hoodwink its panda fans.
Instead of real bears, the park paraded Chow Chow Dogs died to look like the real deal.
Park visitors only realized they were being fooled when one of the fakes began to pant and bark.
Zoo reps first tried to bend the truth, saying the animals were panda dogs before confessing to their canine crime.
Unhappy guests demanded their money back.
When asked why they did what they did, Zoo officials said simply, because we don't have any real pandas.
This is The One with the Auction.
Yesterday marked 30 years since the first episode of the TV show Friends aired and to mark the occasion, a bunch of show memorabilia is hitting the auction block.
Probably the most recognizable, the orange couch from the fictional Central Perk coffee shop.
Also up for grabs, knick -knacks from Ross's apartment, Monica's business card, and clothes worn by the cast.
The creators told the Today show that they are forever approached by pre -teens asking if there will be more episodes.
Their answer is always the same.
No, no, and no. The show ran for 10 seasons and has been watched more than 100 billion times in reruns.
Fun fact, Friends was almost called something else.
Working titles included Insomnia Cafe, Across the Hall, 6 of 1, and Friends Like Us.
Still to come, a teenager who is now internet famous for his voice sets his sights on Simon.
But first, today's kid news quiz.
Which 3 states just opened up early in -person voting for the presidential election.
Minnesota, Virginia, and South Dakota.
Earth will soon get a second what?
A second moon, but just for 56 days.
Who won the AP Awards for WNBA player and Rookie of the Year?
Asha Wilson and Caitlin Clark respectively.
What did another Chinese zoo die to look like Pandas?
Chow Chow Dogs. In today's kid news kicker, a 13 -year -old who hasn't had so much as a single singing lesson is wowing the world with his talent.
This is Sawyer McCarthy of Columbia, South Carolina belting out the national anthem at a minor league baseball park.
That performance not only brought the crowd to tears, it raced around the internet.
The McCarthy family has now heard from people in South Africa, Australia, Germany, Canada and New Zealand, all of them floored by the young man's voice and his back story.
Sawyer is blind and sometimes struggles to communicate, but not when he sings.
Now he's hoping to take his gift to America's Got Talent.
His only concern? One of the judges, Simon Cowell, adding, Before we go, shoutouts to our kid news classrooms, Mrs.
Gilson and her Bobcats at Willow Grove in Pisinas, California.
The Rauch Family Homeschool in Lebo, Kansas.
And Mrs. Sawyer and her Panthers at North McGuffin in Saliersville, Kentucky.
Thanks for listening.
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We'll see you back here for more fun, fresh news tomorrow morning.
