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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Tori.
Today is Friday, October 17th, 2025.
And we begin with an unintended bear jamboree in Yellowstone.
Visitors to the park are feeling the effects of the government shutdown, as rangers who manage bear jams have been temporarily laid off.
As reported at SFGate, bear jams happen when bears wander near roads and block passing car traffic.
Without rangers to help move things along, park visitors are sometimes finding themselves precariously close to the wildlife.
Case in point, one photo showing a bear peering into a car window with its paws resting on the driver's side door.
For the bear curious, officials recommend people staying at least 100 yards away.
Thank you.
Thank you.
According to the New York Times, Smucker spent a billion dollars over the past 20 years to develop and market the frozen crustless pockets and is now demanding that TJ's destroy its entire supply of the similar version it launched over the summer.
Most at issue, it seems, is the shape and advertising.
Smuckers trademarked the round, pie-like design that shows a bite taken out of it, and Trader Joe's brand is apparently too close for comfort.
So far, no comment from TJ's, but one interesting fun fact.
While Uncrustables are super popular in schools, they're also a hit in the NFL, with players reportedly eating 80000 of them each season.
Remember the big August meeting in Alaska between President Trump and Russian President Putin that was supposed to end the war in Ukraine?
It didn't.
But the wheels toward peace might be rolling again.
Today, Ukrainian President Zelensky will visit the White House.
Next week, top-level U.S. and Russian advisers will meet.
And after that President Trump says he will travel to Budapest Hungary, for another sit-down with President Putin.
The exact timing of that summit is not yet known.
Big belts, big bouts, and Big Ben.
A five-day sumo showcase kicked off this week at London's Royal Albert Hall, bringing one of Japan's oldest sports to a new crowd.
Sumo is a centuries-old Japanese sport where two powerful heavyweight athletes try to push each other out of a small ring or make the other touch the ground with anything but their feet.
The wrestlers, called rikishi, wear a thick belt called a mawashi and not much else.
Spectators will also get to witness the sport's many traditions, like clapping, dramatic stomps and wrestlers tossing salt into the ring to ward off bad luck.
It's only the second time an exhibition like this has been held outside of Japan in 1,500 years.
The first was also in London back in 1991.
Also from London, that city's famous black cabs may soon share the road with robo-cabs.
Waymo says it plans to roll out self-driving taxis in London by 2026, starting with a few neighborhood test routes.
Even though the cars are packed with sensors and software to spot lanes, lights and pedestrians, the driverless cars will still need to undergo pre-safety trials and win UK regulators' approval before hitting the streets.
And Broadway's biggest cliffhanger isn't on stage, it's at the bargaining table.
Show producers and theater unions are in the midst of negotiating new contracts and if talks stall, a strike could disrupt performances.
Performers are asking for pay raises, increased health benefits, and improved working conditions.
Broadway is a big contributor to New York's economy, and over 30 members of Congress have signed a letter urging the parties to come to an agreement.
The last major strike took place in 2007 and, for the record, both sides say they want the show to go on.
Still to come, why mom and dad might need to share their Legos.
But first a message from one of our partners, Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that creates empowering after-school programs for girls in grades 3 through 8 so they can build confidence, form friendships and develop life skills.
Capping off each season a fun 5K that brings the whole community together to celebrate girls and their limitless potential.
Find a fall 5K near you at girlsontherun.org.
Now, today's Kid News Quiz.
How far away should visitors stay from bears in Yellowstone?
100 yards.
Smuckers is suing Trader Joe's over what product?
Its frozen, crustless PB&J pockets.
Where is President Trump expected to meet President Putin for a second summit?
Budapest, Hungary.
What are sumo wrestlers called?
Rikishi.
In today's Kid News Kicker, did you know that Legos makes sets for the adults in your life?
The company's latest offering is a 4154-piece tropical aquarium that looks like a real tank filled with colorful brick-built fish, coral and plants.
And with zero water, it never needs cleaning.
The aquarium is part of Lego's Adults Welcome Line, which includes 204 products designed for grown-ups who are interested in sensory fidget toys, artistic pursuits or continuing to build their Lego collection.
And while these kits are designed for adults, they just might need your expert help.
Before we go, it's shout-out time for our Kid News classrooms.
Mr. Parmalee and his Room 7 stars at Sunset School in San Francisco, California.
Mrs. Scott and her Falcons at Carson School in Sammamish, Washington.
Mrs. Hanson and her directed study students at New Athens Junior High in New Athens, Illinois.
And Mrs. Prohoda and her Blue Jays at Needville Middle School in Needville, Texas.
Thanks for listening.
Have a great weekend.
We'll see you back here for more Kid News Monday morning.