Good morning and welcome to Kid News, sponsored in part by the Nicholas B Ottaway Foundation and its commitment to quality journalism.
I'm Kim.
Today is Wednesday, April 29th, 2026.
And we begin with the young man who went first in the NFL draft, putting his money where his heart is.
Within hours of signing on with the Raiders, former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza turned around and gave 500000 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of his mom Elsa, who's been battling the disease for decades and is often seen in the stands or on the sidelines in a wheelchair.
My mom has taught our family strength, resilience, and positivity, he said when making the donation.
She's the reason we fight and the reason we believe we can do something bigger than ourselves.
Together, we can bring us closer to a cure and a future free of MS.
Fernando's donation will fund research at the University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine.
The US split from Great Britain 250 years ago, this July 4th, and that's part of why King Charles is here to help mark that momentous moment in world history.
In his much anticipated address to a joint session of Congress yesterday, he acknowledged that the countries had differences then and differences now, but that they've always found ways to come together and have created an unbreakable bond.
He also drew laughs when he said he wasn't here to undo results of the Revolutionary War.
Tensions are currently running unusually high due to the war in Iran, but Buckingham Palace has repeatedly said the king does not and will not get involved in foreign policy or day-to-day.
The King is helping to celebrate America's upcoming birthday, and so are many US airlines.
Southwest was the first to roll out a new paint job introducing Independence One at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport earlier this week.
According to CNN, the plane is red, white and deep blue and displays a massive 1776 across the front cabin windows and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness toward the back.
Its first flight was Monday night to Dallas, and it's now part of the regular fleet.
American Delta and Alaska are expected to follow suit with special semi-quincentennial plane paint of their own.
Given the chatter in your classroom or carpool, this might come as a surprise.
We're all talking a whole lot less than we used to.
According to a new report by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Arizona, our daily word count in 2019 was 11900, down 28 from more than 16000 words in 2005.
How'd they figure that out?
By reviewing 22 studies in which more than 2000 participants aged 10 to 94 recorded audio of their daily lives.
All spoke less, with young people losing the most words.
The researchers say texting played a role, but so did things like fewer multi-generational homes and even the rise of self-checkout.
Linguistics professor Valerie Ridland told the Wall Street Journal that the trend isn't good, but all hope is not lost.
She pointed to parents' efforts to delay kids' smartphone use, the resurgence of landlines, as well as the push to ban devices in schools.
Taylor Swift certainly isn't short on words or actions.
And right now she's taking on artificial intelligence.
The singer just filed three trademark applications tied to her voice and likeness, both of which have been used in AI generated content without her permission.
According to Forbes, she wants to make sure it's really her when we see and hear, hey, it's Taylor.
Trademarking one's own voice is a new legal strategy and hasn't yet been tested in court.
Ms.
Swift is also looking to guard a well-known image of her from the last tour, one that shows her holding a pink guitar with a black strap, wearing a multicolored bodysuit with silver accents and boots.
The pop star already owns more than 50 trademarks related to her name and album titles, as well as key lyrics like This Sick Beat and We Never Go Out of Style from her 2014 hits Shake It Off and Style.
Still to come, a supersized visitor by the name of Chonkers sets up shop in San Francisco Bay.
But first the Wilson family of Coto de Caza California, wants to give a belated birthday shout-out to Brittany.
The woman who anchors their world, is a world-changing podcast superhero and the bestest mom ever.
Josiah, Ileana, Toby, and Wesley love you always.
Happy birthday, Brittany.
Now, today's Kid News Quiz.
Top draft pick, Fernando Mendoza, immediately donated how much to multiple sclerosis research in honor of his mom.
$500,000.
Which airline was the first to roll out a plane painted to honor America's 250th birthday?
Southwest.
A new study found that we're doing what less than we were a decade ago?
Talking.
What is Taylor Swift trying to do to protect herself from AI?
She's trademarking her voice and image.
In today's Kid News Kicker.
It takes a lot to wow San Franciscans, but Chonkers, the sea lion, seems to have succeeded.
He is at 2000 pounds and 10 feet long massive even for his own stellar species, which is typically found off the coast of Washington and Alaska.
But about a month ago he made the trip south, swam into the bay and made himself at home on tourist-friendly Pier 39.
Viral videos show that when this supersized sea lion launches himself onto a dock of his choosing, of course It sounds like an oak tree crashing.
And the much smaller 700-pound California sea lions that were there first are launched into the drink.
But, as the Wall Street Journal reports, they also cuddle, which is a social trait science refers to as being thigmotactic.
Maybe it's because the little sea lions don't have much of a choice.
Chonkers is going to do what Chonkers is going to do.
Humans, however, are giving him a wide berth.
Even small sea lions have been known to bite swimmers and sink boats.
A big thanks to the Wilson family of Cote de Caza, California, for sponsoring today's quiz.
And a big hello to the hero of their family, Brittany, who celebrated a birthday yesterday.
Now, shout-outs for our Kid News classrooms.
Mr. Core and his tigers at Prince of Wales in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Ms.
Simpson's Star Players in Room 400 at Collierville in Collierville, Tennessee.
Mrs. Gesner's Hawks at St.
Jane Francis de Chantal School in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. LeBlanc and her tigers at Biddeford Middle School in Biddeford, Maine.
And Mrs. Tarini's Leahy Lions at Thomas J. Leahy in Greenlawn, New York.
Thanks for listening.
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Have a great day and we'll see you back here for more Kid News tomorrow morning.
