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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.
I'm Tori.
Today is Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
And we begin with a huge sigh of relief in Orange County, California, home of Disneyland.
The explosion everyone feared after a giant tank of toxic chemicals began overheating late last week apparently is not going to happen.
Methyl methacrylate is a highly flammable industrial solution that, under certain conditions, could trigger a runaway reaction where it starts generating its own heat, which is exactly what happened.
About 50000 residents in and around Garden Grove, just five miles from the happiest place on earth, were evacuated over the weekend as officials braced for the worst.
But the temperatures came down and a crack at the top of the tank released some of the pressure.
A smaller spill or explosion is still possible.
However, the nightmare city flattening scenario appears to be over.
The chemical in question is used to make strong lightweight, transparent components for aircraft, like cockpit canopies and windows.
If you were on the road yesterday between noon and 5 p.m., you had an awful lot of company.
AAA said that was the hotspot for anyone trying to get home from their holiday adventures.
And while the rain in much of the country dampened plans, high gas prices apparently didn't.
A record 39 million Americans still travel by car, even though gas is averaging 451 a gallon nationally and in California 612.
And there was some very different kind of driving over the weekend from a bunch who normally don't worry about gas prices or crowded roads.
Swedish race car driver Felix Rosenquist won the 110th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday in what turned out to be the closest finish in the race's history, winning by 00233 seconds or just half a car length.
Meanwhile, Catherine Legge's bid to become the first woman to complete the famed motorsports double racing, both in the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day, ended early and unsuccessfully when she crashed on lap 18.
The double can only be attempted if a driver finishes the 500, which she did not.
SpaceX pulled off another milestone Friday, launching its biggest, most powerful Starship yet, on a test flight from the southern tip of Texas.
The rocket carried 20 Mach Starlink satellites, releasing them midway through the hour-long flight that stretched halfway around the world.
There was some engine trouble along the way, but the spacecraft still reached its intended destination in the Indian Ocean, where it went out in a ball of flame the expected result when a rocket plunges into the ocean at high speed.
NASA is counting on an upgraded version of this lander to eventually serve as the vehicle that will carry four astronauts from moon orbit down to the lunar surface.
That's scheduled to happen in 2028.
Critics may be lukewarm, pun intended on the latest Star Wars adventure, but The Mandalorian and The Grogu still seems to have the force on its side.
The franchise's first release in seven years pulled in about 100 million, making it the top film over the holiday weekend.
That's an impressive debut by most standards, but many had expected more from a Star Wars film.
Still, audiences seemed to be enchanted, giving it an 88 score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Other big screen weekend winners included Obsession, a supernatural horror film.
Michael, the biopic tracing Michael Jackson's rise to fame, and The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is still doing well in its third weekend.
Still to come.
If there was ever proof, the lettuce you bought from the grocery store is farm fresh.
This is it.
But first a big shout out to Lucas of Dallas Texas, who wrapped up school and celebrated his birthday last week.
Lucas, your mom dad, sister Eliana and brother Theo love watching you play soccer and baseball, dance and do gymnastics.
And they can't wait to watch the World Cup with you this summer.
Now, today's Kid News Quiz.
How many residents were evacuated from Orange County, home of Disneyland in California, due to a chemical emergency?
50,000.
What is the current national average price of a gallon of gas?
451.
In California, it's 612.
Sweden's Felix Rosenquist won the closest finish in the history of what race?
The Indianapolis 500.
Which movie won the holiday weekend box office?
The Mandalorian and The Grogu.
In today's Kid News Kicker.
When a farmer in Western Australia recently prepped a steak and salad dinner for his housemates, he found a different kind of green inside his bag of store-bought lettuce.
Oh bro, there's a frog in here!
His roommates didn't believe him and accused him of quote taking the mick, which the Associated Press reports is Aussie slang for attempting to fool someone.
Quickly though, they hopped on board and nicknamed their very much alive visitor Greg, who apparently hitched a ride from eastern Australia, snacking on lettuce and breathing through the bag's ventilation holes along the way.
Greg was released into a local pond to go on his froggy way, while the store that sold the lettuce apologized and gave the housemates another bag amphibian-free.
Thanks again to the Gwyn Torres family of Dallas, Texas for sponsoring today's quiz.
Happy belated birthday to Lucas, who's known for his shenanigans.
And hello to his teacher, Ms.
Preston, and all his friends and fellow Green Hill Hornets.
And shout-outs for our other awesome teachers and classrooms Mrs Hale and her students who love kid news, with all our hearts and big brains at Fabian in Portland Oregon.
Mrs. Miller and her warriors at War Road Public in War Road, Minnesota.
Mrs Burton and her Blue Devils at Martinsburg North Middle School in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Ms
Johnson and her Tuva Toros at the Tuva in Tucson, Arizona.
Thanks for listening.
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Have a great day.
We'll see you back here for more Kid News tomorrow morning.
