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Good morning and welcome to KID News.
I'm Kim.
Today is Friday, May 8th, 2026.
And we begin with a rare disease called Hantavirus making headlines after several passengers on a cruise ship got sick.
Officials from the World Health Organization are saying that the health risk to the general public is low and are certain that this is not the start of a COVID pandemic.
Still, the outbreak is concerning and global.
So far, five confirmed cases have been linked to the ship.
According to CNN, others who disembarked or came into contact with the ship's passengers elsewhere are now being treated or monitored in at least eight countries, including the Netherlands, South Africa Singapore, the United Kingdom France Canada, the United States and Switzerland.
Hantavirus is normally found in the infected droppings of rodents and spreads to humans who breathe in those particles.
The strain currently making the news is called the Andes virus.
It's rare for it to spread from human to human, but researchers say not impossible.
After a dramatic comeback victory at last weekend's Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo will not be chasing horse racing history.
The Colts will skip next weekend's Preakness race, meaning there will not be a Triple Crown winner this year.
This will be the third time in the last five years that a Kentucky Derby winner has skipped the Preakness, as more trainers focus on keeping horses healthy for the long run.
However, his trainer, Cherie DeVoe, says Golden Tempo may still compete in next month's Belmont Stakes, the third race in the Triple Crown.
Ms.
DeVoe says the derby winner has been enjoying some light jogging, but still needs more time to rest after the race of a lifetime, and that his health, happiness and long-term future will always remain our top priority.
If your name is Michael, you're in good company.
The U.S.
Census Bureau just released new data from its 2020 survey of the most common first names in America.
Michael tops the list for males, skyrocketing up from its fifth place ranking in 1990.
In second place is John, followed by the classics James, David, and Robert.
As for the most common female name, Mary can make that claim to fame.
After that, it's Maria, Jennifer, Elizabeth, and Patricia.
Some names are becoming more gender neutral too, including Quinn, Emerson and Harley, which are used almost equally for boys and girls.
And while first names can rise and fall, last names barely budge.
Smith, Brown and Johnson have stayed near the top for more than 200 years.
What if a movie character looked exactly like you and nobody asked permission?
Actress Corianna Kilcher says director James Cameron used a photo of her when she was 14 years old to create the character Neytiri, one of the main blue Na'vi humanoids featured in Avatar.
The film and its sequel have made billions of dollars.
Now, Ms.
Kilcher is suing the director and the Walt Disney Company for digital exploitation, claiming she never gave permission for her likeness to be used.
According to the lawsuit, the director has acknowledged using her likeness as an inspiration, both privately and in interviews.
Mr. Cameron and Disney have not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
Baseball players are walking a lot more so far this season.
Major League Baseball recently added a computerized ball strike challenge system that allows players to ask a computer to double check close calls.
And pitchers are not loving it.
In the past, human umpires used to sometimes call strikes on pitches that barely missed the strike zone.
But the automated system measures pitches down to tiny fractions of an inch and refuses to be fooled.
Some players say hitters are now more willing to stand still and wait for a walk because they know they can challenge close calls.
Games are also getting slightly longer because of all the extra trips to first base.
Still to come, what moms say they want most for Mother's Day this Sunday.
But first we want to wish a happy eighth birthday to Dylan Braverman in Los Angeles California, one of the coolest Kid News listeners there is.
He's an amazing big bro to Pierce and an all-around athlete, throwing QB bombs for his flag football squad and helping his Encino Little League team tear it up in playoffs this week.
Go White Sox and go Dillon.
Now, today's Kid News quiz.
What movie franchise is at the center of a digital exploitation lawsuit?
Which animals are most commonly linked to hantavirus?
What new technology is leading to more walks in Major League Baseball?
Robot umpires.
Is the Belmont Stakes the second or third race in the Triple Crown?
Third, in today's Kid News Kicker turns out, the top thing many moms want for Mother's Day isn't flowers or fancy gifts.
It's a break.
A new survey of more than a thousand Americans found that, while most moms would like to go out and eat and spend time with family, almost all of them say they would like to not do chores for a day.
In addition to sleeping in, one in five moms say they'd also value a bit of me time.
The survey also found that handwritten cards were the most wanted gift, beating flowers and expensive presents, because moms said thoughtful gifts mattered more than pricey ones.
Thanks again to the Bravermans of Los Angeles for sponsoring today's quiz.
And happy birthday to Dylan, who reps the L with pride at school and is hard at work creating his own sports podcast.
Dylan, we can't wait to hear it.
Now it's shout out time for some of our Kid News classrooms.
Mr. Napier and his Blue Jays at Robinson in Hazard, Kentucky.
Ms.
Triteen's Fantastic Students at Our Savior's Lutheran School in Crookston, Minnesota.
Mrs. Munoz and Ollie the Owl at Old Orchard in Santa Clarita, California.
Mr. Marvel and Wesley the Wolf at Westside High School in Houston, Texas.
And Mr. Strungsteline's Beavers at Cumberland in Cumberland, Wisconsin.
Thanks for listening.
If you'd like to sponsor the quiz and squeeze in a shout out before the end of the year, visit our website at kidnewsorg.
Have a great weekend.
Make sure to celebrate your mom stepmom mother-in-law, grandmother or mom-like person in your life.
And we'll see you back here for more Kid News Monday morning.
