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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Tori.
Today is Wednesday, October 8th, 2025.
And we begin with trouble on the tarmac.
Barring any breaking overnight developments, the government shutdown is now in its eighth day and starting to take a toll on travelers.
Air traffic controllers are considered essential, meaning they're supposed to show up for work even when they're not getting paid.
But that doesn't mean they can't call in sick.
And that's what many are starting to do.
At Nashville International last night, a staff shortage forced its tower to severely limit flights, just a day after the one in Burbank, California went unstaffed for six hours.
More than a dozen major hubs are reporting sick outs and subsequent delays and cancellations, including Phoenix Denver Newark Chicago, Washington DC and Jacksonville Florida.
It's getting late in the calendar, but try telling that to Mother Nature.
Forecasters are now side-eyeing Jerry, the 10th named storm of the Atlantic season.
Reconnaissance planes will get more info when they fly into the system today, but weather experts are already predicting it could strengthen and morph into a hurricane within hours.
If it does, and even if it stays offshore, it could still kick up dangerous surf along the east coast of the US, as several other recent storms have done.
Just in the past week, nine homes along the Outer Banks of North Carolina collapsed into the sea from the wicked waves of Humberto and Imelda.
When in doubt, let kids figure it out.
That seems to be the thinking at a school district in California regarding how best to use AI in the classroom.
Educators in Mountain View, just south of San Francisco, allowed a group of students to tackle issues of AI cheating fairness, safety and privacy.
These tech interns, who are in high school but have been using AI for years, already gathered feedback from friends and fellow students to come up with the rules, then created their own chatbot to generate a draft policy for administrators.
A lot of times middle schoolers won't necessarily listen to adults saying things.
17-year-old Drew Vijay told the Washington Post.
But they might listen to us.
Speaking of AI, it's about to make finding Fido a whole lot easier.
New software coming to ring doorbell cameras next month will allow frantic dog owners to send up a digital bat signal to neighbors when their homebody pooch decides to bolt from the backyard.
Those neighbors will then have the option to opt in their cameras for a high-tech AI-driven search party with alerts whenever the missing dog is spotted.
According to USA Today, as soon as the dog is found, the cameras stop sharing info and the search party network disbands.
Amazon, which owns Ring cameras, will roll out a version for cats in the not-too-distant future.
And one of the most guarded of all recipes is the magic behind the finger-lickin' good crunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
But now a man claiming to be kin of KFC's founder, Colonel Sanders, is getting attention on TikTok for revealing what he says is the super secret list of 11 herbs and spices, along with measurements and cooking instructions.
Sanders' great-great-great-nephew apparently went scorched earth because of a beef, with his family and the company's marketing team.
This isn't the first time someone has allegedly leaked the seasoning secret, but those leaks are usually quickly debunked.
Judging by comments on social media, this one may meet the same fate.
Still to come, calling all Ghostbusters, your services are requested in Las Vegas.
But first, today's Kid News quiz.
The government shutdown is starting to cause what headache for travelers?
Airport delays.
What is the name of the latest Atlantic storm?
Jerry.
Ring cameras are setting up a search party network for what?
Lost dogs.
The super secret recipe for which finger-licking good food may have been leaked?
Kentucky Fried Chicken.
In today's Kid News Kicker, the oldest and possibly most haunted hotel in Las Vegas, is looking for one brave soul to spend a weekend searching for ghosts.
The El Cortez on the Old Strip first opened in 1941 and has reportedly seen it all from glitz and glam to mobsters and paranormal activity.
Now, in time for the Halloween season, it's hoping to capitalize on its reputation by holding a contest to see if the spooky stories are real.
One lucky person will be chosen to investigate the nooks and crannies of the building for any signs of the supernatural.
They'll be flown to Las Vegas.
Get 5000 for their courage and all the equipment they could possibly need.
Possibly need including an electromagnetic field meter, electronic voice phenomenon recorder and thermal sensors to detect unusual activity.
The ghost hunting contest runs through October 31st, with the spooky weekend taking place in early December.
It's shout out time now for our awesome educators, Mrs John and her Blue Jays at Neville Middle School in Neville, Texas.
Mrs. Bing Benson and her Falcons at Gus Franklin in Victorville, California.
Mrs. Matico and Ethan homeschooling in San Antonio, Texas.
And Ms.
Dillinger and her Beach Eagles at McDonald in Georgetown, South Carolina.
Thanks for listening.
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Have a great day.
We'll see you back here for more kid news tomorrow morning.
