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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Tori. Today is Monday, January 6, 2025.
We're glad to be back.
And we begin with a likely day off from school if you live anywhere between Kansas and Washington, D .C.
Ice, wind and snow are pummeling the eastern seaboard this morning, just days after walloping the nation's midsection.
For some, it could be the biggest winter storm in a decade.
And hot on the heels of this mess comes an arctic blast that could plunge temperatures 30 degrees below normal starting tomorrow, cold enough to possibly trigger a repeat of that only in Florida phenomenon of falling iguanas.
Low overnight temps put the tropical tree -loving lizards into a temporary state of paralysis that causes them to lose their grip on branches and tumble out, sometimes onto cars and people.
The condition doesn't last long though.
As soon as the sun rises and the mercury climbs, the rigid reptiles snap right back to life, shake off the fall and go about their business as if nothing happened.
Bad weather or not, both chambers of Congress will meet today to count electoral votes and certify, meaning officially confirm, the results of the 2024 presidential election.
This constitutional requirement always takes place on or around January 6 is largely ceremonial and must be completed before the inauguration of the new president, in this case, Donald Trump, on January 20.
For the next few days, attention will be on a former president as a week -long final salute to Jimmy Carter is now underway.
The humble peanut farmer who rose to the most powerful office on earth passed away at the age of 100 on December 29.
Saturday as motorcade traveled through Plains, Georgia and paused at his boyhood home on its way to the Carter Center in Atlanta where he now lies in repose so the public can pay respect.
Tomorrow he'll be flown to Washington, D .C.
and transferred to a horse -drawn caisson for a procession at Pennsylvania Avenue to the Rotunda of the U .S.
Capitol. He'll lie in state until his funeral on Thursday, which President Biden has declared a National Day of Mourning.
U .S. flags are to fly at half -staff in Mr.
Carter's honor through January.
After the state funeral, the nation's 39th president will be returned to Georgia for a private memorial at the same church where he taught Sunday school, then buried next to Rosalind, his wife of 77 years, on the grounds of his home in Plains.
It's a big day in the Big Apple.
This morning marks the first rush hour test of congestion pricing, a first -of -its -kind program to charge drivers extra to enter the city during its busiest hours.
The new $9 fee is intended to get more people to commute by trains, subways, and buses.
Some European cities already use congestion pricing, and cities in the U .S.
are watching New York's attempt closely.
There wasn't a toll, as far as we know, on the Dinosaur Highway.
That's what researchers are calling a series of massive dinosaur prints dating back to the Middle Jurassic period 166 million years ago.
The find was made at Dewar's Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, and includes over 200 footprints, some from giant sauropods and others from the fearsome megalosaurus.
The prints were spread across five tracks, the longest stretching nearly 500 feet.
As one of the involved scientists told CBS News, the discovery is mind -blowing.
You can step back in time and get an idea of what it would have been like, these massive creatures just roaming around, going about their business.
The discovery will be featured in the BBC television documentary Digging for Britain, which airs on Wednesday.
In other Kid News notes, a 23 -year -old surfer may have just ridden the biggest wave in history.
Alo Sliber of Santa Cruz, California caught a towering 108 -foot monster in nearby Half Moon Bay on December 23, and it's all on video.
If confirmed, it'll blow out the current world record of 86 feet.
Still to come? Can you guess what the most popular toy in the world is?
Remarkably, it costs less today than when it debuted in 1968.
But first, today's Kid News quiz.
How much below normal will temperatures drop in some US cities starting tomorrow?
30 degrees. Both chambers of Congress will do what today?
Certify the 2024 election.
Where will former President Jimmy Carter lie in state tomorrow?
The Rotunda of the US Capitol.
How big was the potentially record -setting wave ridden in Half Moon Bay, California?
108 feet. In today's Kid News kicker, were hot wheels part of your holiday haul?
If so, you weren't alone.
Research firm Circana says the little collectible cars are the best -selling toy in the world.
According to The Washington Post, Mattel makes and sells 22 .5 hot wheels per second, or 709 million cars per year.
Why? Probably because the target audience is so big.
An analyst for UBS tells the paper the cars appeal to both kids and collectors.
What's more, they're expensive.
Many start at $1 .25, which means they actually cost less now than they did in 1968, when they sold for $0 .69.
When adjusted for inflation, in today's economy, that would be $6.
Not all hot wheels are affordable, however.
Some cost more than real cars.
Case in point, the 1969 pink rear -loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb.
According to AOL, it's the crown jewel of hot wheels collectibles and is valued at $175 ,000.
Before we go, we want to get back to shouting out our teachers who may or may not have a snow day today.
Mrs. Holloway and her Hawks at Hardy Middle School in Washington, DC.
Ms. Blake and her Bumblebees at Carthage in Carthage, North Carolina.
And Mrs. Miller and her Lions at Lions Park in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Thanks for listening and thank you to all our generous donors who supported us with an end -of -year contribution.
If you forgot not to worry, we're a non -profit that needs and appreciates your support year -round.
Have a great day. We'll see you back here for more kid news tomorrow morning.
