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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Kim.
Today is Thursday, November 6th, 2025.
And we begin with an AI remix for Coca-Cola.
After the company's holiday ad fizzled last year, it went back to the drawing board and says this time it nailed it.
The old spot called the holidays are coming was a throwback to a classic 1995 advertisement featuring Coca-Cola trucks driving through various snowy landscapes populated by AI-generated objects, animals and people.
That did not go over well with audiences, who said it looked fake and took work away from real-life actors and artists.
Fast forward to this week, when Coke released a new AI ad with the same concept, but no people in it other than Santa.
This year, the craftsmanship is 10 times better, a Coca-Cola executive told The Hollywood Reporter.
Last year, it was difficult to get those expressions from animals, so we had to use human faces.
Now, technology has evolved to where we can.
Koch says the desired effect is that of a Madagascar-like modern animated movie and that the best compliment will be if viewers can't even tell it's AI.
Votes are still being counted, but most of the big races have been called after Tuesday's election.
Democrats notched big wins in governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey.
In New York City, 34-year-old Zoran Mamdani beat out former Governor Andrew Cuomo to become the youngest mayor to hold that office in a century.
In Texas.
The Texas Tribune reports Republicans appear to have succeeded in passing 17 amendments to the state's constitution dealing with a wide variety of issues, including taxation, water and medical research.
Some Southwest passengers are going nuts over the prospect the company may serve pistachios on board.
The airline announced it will offer the tree nuts in honey-roasted and salted flavors in the extra legroom section of its planes beginning in late January.
According to the Washington Post, the announcement prompted confusion and concern from hundreds of travelers, questioning why the airline would risk serving nuts in a confined space where there could be people with life-threatening nut allergies.
In a statement, Southwest said flyers can choose an alternative snack, but did not say whether additional safety precautions would be taken to protect customers from stray nuts or residue.
IDs in the Golden State are getting a glow-up.
California Department of Motor Vehicles announced all driver's licenses and identification cards going forward will feature a new design with an all-caps font and scenes of redwoods, poppies and the state's coastline.
According to SFGate, the change is the first since the real ID was implemented in 2018.
DMV director, Steve Gordon, says that, although some customers may want the new version, there's no need to replace old IDs until they expire.
He says fees for the new ones will remain the same.
Instagram's new age-gating plan is under fire from an unusual foe.
The Motion Picture Association, which represents film industry, studios and streaming services, has demanded the social media platform's parent company Meta, stop using the PG-13 rating to describe its new content policy for teens.
The MPA has worked for decades to earn the public's trust in its rating system, said an MPA lawyer in a letter to Meta last week and added that the PG-13 label is a registered certification mark owned by the Motion Picture Association.
According to NBC News, Meta responded saying the company is aware social media isn't the same as movies, but that it made the change to support parents and hopes the two sides can come to an agreement.
Still ahead, a government worker getting through the shutdown by turning dogs into dough.
But first, today's Kid News quiz.
What company is revamping an AI-generated holiday ad that fell flat last year?
Coca-Cola.
Who won the race for New York City mayor?
Zoran Mamdani.
Which state is changing the look of its driver's licenses and ID cards?
California.
What has Southwest Airlines announced it will serve that has some customers upset?
Pistachios in the extra legroom section of its planes.
In today's Kid News Kicker, a government worker furloughed by the shutdown, is living out a lifelong dream.
Isaac Stein usually works as a lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service.
But while waiting for the shutdown to end and his job to resume, he's opened up a hot dog stand on a corner of his Washington DC neighborhood.
It's called Shyster's Dogs and charges $10 for a dog and a drink.
But Stein says he reserves the right to charge customers an extra buck if they order a hot dog with the wrong toppings, which he says is anything but mustard and sauerkraut.
Stein told NPR he's always wanted to be a hot dog vendor and opted for selling concessions as a child while his friends were playing sports.
He says he looks forward to getting back to his IRS job, but adds I'm definitely not giving this up.
This is going to be a weekend project, I think, for life.
And now, shout-outs for our teachers.
Ms.
Bulkin, soon-to-be Mrs. Peterson's 7-1 Spartans from Salem Middle School in Cary, North Carolina.
Mrs. Bloom's Junior Panthers at Pinckneyville School in Pinckneyville, Illinois.
Mrs. Davis's Yetis at Reunion School in Commerce City, Colorado.
And Ms.
Schaefer's Cardinals at Arroyo Seco in Santa Clarita, California.
Thanks for listening.
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