Students: We’re Mrs. Waxman’s homebase from Wachter Middle School in Bismarck, North Dakota, and we’re running into Channel One News right now.
Azia: Thanks, guys. Love that song.
Now, first up today, we are hitting the road. Federal officials are considering a plan to install a device on new trucks and other large vehicles that would limit how fast they can go. Under a new proposal, the top speed would be about 68 miles an hour. And that is because speed is a key factor in the growing number of traffic deaths in the U.S.
According to a new report, traffic deaths have surged 18 percent over the last 2 years. More than 19,000 died in the first half of 2016 alone.
Deborah Hersman: Our complacency when it comes to highway fatalities is killing us.
Azia: Deborah Hersman is the former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board and now runs the National Safety Council.
Hersman: We've seen speed limits going up across the nation — we know that's adding to the death toll — and then, finally, distraction — all you have to do is walk out near a roadway; you can see distracted pedestrians, distracted drivers.
Azia: While traffic deaths have historically been on the decline, this surge comes as more Americans are driving due to low gas prices and an improving economy. Federal regulators are still trying to understand what is behind the sudden change in traffic deaths, including a 13-percent rise in deaths among cyclists, 10-percent increase for pedestrians and young drivers. Deaths are on pace to end the year up nearly
10 percent.
Okay, next up, obesity and eating disorders: two problems that definitely affect teens. Now a new study is shedding light on how to prevent them, and the shift is moving away from focusing on teens and instead to their parents.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens whose parents encourage them to eat healthy and be physically active are less likely to have an eating disorder and also less likely to engage in unhealthy diet behaviors. The study also recommends parents discourage teens from dieting, skipping meals or using diet pills.
Over the past 30 years, the rate of child obesity has more than doubled, and the rate of teen obesity has gone up four times — although in recent years, the spike has settled a bit.
And the study stresses that family involvement is key. Compared to just focusing on teens, so the recommendations say, families should have dinner together, promote positive body image and avoid talking about body weight.
Okay, next, the MTVVideo Music Awards took over New York City's Madison Square Garden last night, and we have got the highlights.
The VMA preshow did not disappoint with red carpet — well, white carpet — glam. The moon man brought together some epic performances, including Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas and Britney Spears' return to the VMA stage.
But it was definitely Rihanna's night as she accepted MTV's prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
Rihanna: No, my success is not my own, you know. It’s my family’s; it’s my fans’; it’s my country’s; it’s the Caribbean as a whole; it’s women; it’s black women!
Azia: The video of the year went to Beyonce's “Formation.”
Beyonce: I dedicate this award to the people of New Orleans. God bless you guys. Thank you.
Azia: Okay, after the break, the battle over a swimsuit that ended up in court.
Azia: Now, this next story is about a swimsuit controversy in France that is making headlines around the world.The debate was so fierce it ended up in court, and Demetrius has the verdict.
Demetrius: Yeah,Azia, the burkini — a full-body swimsuit — was banned in several French beach towns, but it became a trigger point, with people arguing over a woman's right to wear what she wants and French values.
After a week of burkini backlash, looks like it is back on the beach.
Woman: I’m here because my body is a temple, and it’s not a battleground.
Demetrius: The burkini is a bathing suit worn by some Muslim women that covers most of the body. It is a play on words combining two extremes: the burqa— a loose, full-body garment worn by a very small number of Muslim women — and the bikini— the two-piece swimsuit.
More than a dozen French cities banned the burkini, calling it a religious display that is not compatible with French values. But on Friday that ban was overturnedand is expected to lead to the lifting of bans in all 30 coastal towns that had it in place.
France's highest court agreed with the argument that the ban was a "serious and clearly illegal violation of fundamental freedoms." Activist Marwan Muhammad says it effectively banned devout Muslims from the beach.
Marwan Muhammad:This impact is huge politically because it sends a clear message to the political elite that you cannot stigmatize part of the population just because of their religion.
Demetrius: Before the court's ruling, the ban was in the spotlight because images like this went viral on social media: police surrounding a Muslim woman in a headscarf and forcing her to disrobe. It triggered a fierce debate worldwide about women's rights versus France's stout defense of secularism — the belief that religion should not play a role in government or other public parts of society.
Lola Helded: I feel like this is like a modern-day oppression, and it's sad because, out of everything, they decided to focus mainly on what women wear.
Demetrius: For some beachgoers, the decision was a victory.
Woman: France has more important things to worry about. The fact that they cancelled the ban is fantastic.
Demetrius: But one town's mayor doesn't see it that way. Lionnel Luca said the ruling would only heighten tensions.
Lionnel Luca: I hope they're satisfied. The rampant Islamization is progressing in our country.
Demetrius: Nice and the regions around it put the burkini ban in place after an ISIS-inspired terror attack last month killed 86 people. Local leaders argued that the burkini was a risk to public order. But the burkini's inventor, Australian Aheda Zanetti, said her design was never meant to symbolize any political or religious statement.
Aheda Zanetti: This is a swimsuit that represents freedom and sun and surf and happiness and swimming and leisure — family happiness.
Demetrius: In other words, pretty much just what everyone else wants when they go to the beach. Demetrius Pipkin, Channel One News.
Azia:We have got a Next Big Thing that is perfect for those summer scorcher days. But before we dive in, let's see what you thought about last week's.
We told you about cupping, an ancient Chinese medicinal practice used by some of the top stars at the Summer Olympics. So is it the next big thing? Forty-three percent said, “Yes — sign me up for the cups!” Fifty-seven percent said, “No — I'll pass on the glass.”
Abby said, “Yes, if athletes can do it, why can't I?”
Gianna said, “No, I think it's cool, but if you are sore, you should just get a massage.”
Mia said, “I think it looks dangerous on the skin.”
And Christiana said, “That's cool, but still really gross.”Thanks for weighing in!
Okay, this next NBT is super simple, but genius, making it easier to be safe while catching some rays. Check it out.
Slathering on sunscreen can be a pain, especially if you don't have a friend around to help. But imagine this. You step into a booth, select how much coverage you want, and then enter your height, throw on a pair of disposable shades and, 10 seconds later, a fine mist of sunscreen covers you from head to toe, delivering an even distribution.
The base rotates so you don't miss a spot, and the process is quick. The inventors hope it will be another tool against skin cancer.
Right now there are a couple of machines on the market. Some have spray guns; others have an open booth. And you might be seeing them in water parks, hotels, public pools and beaches as early as next summer.
So are sunscreen booths the next big thing? Head to ChannelOne.com to vote, and don't forget to leave us a comment or send a video to .
And we have got you covered with what you should know before you soak up the sun.Here are 5 Things to Know about sunscreen.
5 Things to Know about sunscreen:
One, doctors say you should always wear sunscreen outside, even if you are in the shade.
Two, the risk of getting melanoma — the most serious form of skin cancer — doubles if you have had five or more sunburns.
Three, SPF, or sun protection factor, is how many times longer it takes your skin to burn than it would without sunscreen.
Four, health officials recommend using sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection. But don't worry about going above 30 SPF — higher than that doesn't give you much more protection.
And five, put on sunscreen 20 minutes before going in the sun, and use lots of it — about one and a half ounces for your entire body. Reapply every couple of hours or sooner if you are swimming, even if it says water resistant.
All right, guys, that is all for now. Have a great day, and we will see you right back here tomorrow.
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