Tom: Hey, guys, I am Tom Hanson. It is Monday,April 9. Let’s see what is making news.
First up today, we head to the Middle East country of Syria, where some reports say the Syrian government carried out a chemical attack against an area held by rebels.Using chemical weapons is against international law and considered a war crime, and now many leaders, including President Trump, are speaking out.
Rescuers say a chemical gas attack targeted the rebel-held town of Douma, a few miles from Syria's capital. They said at least 48 people were killed. At this point it is not clear who carried out the poison gas attack or if these videos are accurate, but many blame Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.
Secretary Steven Mnuchin: This appears to be another horrible example of the Assad regime — and just incredibly targeted.
Tom: And President Trump called out Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Twitter, writing, "President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big priceto pay." Both Syria and Russia have said they had nothing to do with the attack and called it a hoax by rebels to gain sympathy because they are losing the war.
The Syrian civil war began in 2011. Saturday's attack comes days after President Trump said he would be withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria.
Senator Susan Collins: It is so important that the president ramp up the pressure and the sanctions on the Russian government because without the support of Russia, I do not believe that Assad would still be in office.
Tom: The U.N.Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Syria today, and President Trump is scheduled to meet with senior military leaders.
Okay, moving on. I have got a question for you guys: How many continents are there? Seven, right? Well, what if I told you No. 8 may be on the way? Take a look at this.
It is a groundbreaking development in Africa. This giant crack in the Earth recently opened up almost overnight — 50 feet deep and, at its widest, 65 feet across — slicing through a highway and terrifying many who live in this area just west of Nairobi,Kenya.
Some believe it is a sign the continent is splitting in two,ever so slowly. So what caused it? Well, it depends on who you ask.
Ben Andrews: We're seeing a crack that, in all likelihood, formed over many thousands of years or hundreds of thousands of years.
Tom: Some scientists, like Ben Andrews, a geologist with the Smithsonian Institution, believe the crack was recently exposed by a rainstorm. But he says it was created by movement of the Earth's tectonic plates, sections of the Earth's crust that move about one inch every year. In 50 million years, he says Africa will look like this, creating a new continent.
Andrews: Fortunately, this does not occur instantly, so we're many tens of millions of years away from having two continents.
Tom: Other scientists, like earthquake geologist Wendy Bohon, agree that Africa is slowly splitting in two, but she thinks the gash was something called a fissure.
Wendy Bohon: They're the result of heavier torrential rains that come and wash away large portions of the dirt in the ground. To me it looks pretty cut and dry. It wasn't the result of the tectonics; it was the result of the weather.
Tom: Crazy stuff,
All right, next up, it is time to turn the tablesand get your take on a story we did last week about plastic straws.
We told you about some restaurants and cities banning plastic straws and replacing them with paper straws. It is an effort to cut down on plastic waste that is polluting our oceans.And the numbers show thatif we don't do something, by 2050there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
So we wanted your take, and we asked you, should plastic straws be banned? Sixty-six percent of you said, “Yes — ban them.” But 34 percentof you still want those plastic straws.
Zaid said: "Yes, we don't want to trash the ocean. It's mayhem; let's ban them for good."
Ella said, "If we don't start thinking green, then we will suffer greatly."
Kaymon was hesitant. He said: "Yes, but paper straws dissolve in your mouth and taste gross."
But Jacob said, "No, it should be up to the restaurants to decide."
Okay, coming up, I know owning a home is probably the last thing you guys are thinking about, but I think we are going to change your mind about that.
Tom: All right, so April is Financial Literacy Month, which is basically just a fancy way of saying "understanding how money works."So we are taking a look at the importance of saving up.Keith Kocinski shows ushow investing a little money can definitely pay off big in today's Generation Money.
Emily BrownMijailovic: Hi,I'm Emily Brown Mijailovic, and we are herein Lakewood, Ohio. And this is where I live and is also my rental property.
Keith: Twenty-eight-year-old Emily Brown Mijailovic is what you can call a millennial money-making house hunter. She owns this home, and she just snatched up the home next door.She is pretty much running the entire block.
Mijailovic: The harder you work and the harder you get through it, the more you have control of your life.
Keith: That doesn't mean she lives on easy street. Being a landlord is not always glorious living.
Mijailovic: It’s not all fun and games — this is real. I don’t know what’s in here, even.
Keith: So how did she get to be a homeowner? Well, by saving up her money.
When did you start saving money, and where did the idea come from?
Mijailovic: Imean, I sat in high school,and I said, “Gosh, what am I gonna do?”I said, “My GPA is not amazing.”And you know what? I just got out there, and I worked hard, and I never gave up.
Keith: She even opened a retirement account when she was just 18.
Mijailovic: The more that you can put away at an early age, the more you will have later and be able to enjoy your life and relax.
Keith: After high school she moved on to Baldwin Wallace University, taking out loans to pay for her education.Not only did she persevere, she repaid her school loans and bought a home by age 25.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 20 percent of Americans own their home by25, the lowest level in almost two decades.So how has Emily been able to separate herself from the pack?
Mijailovic: Being on a budget is a lot of fun, and I never thought I’d ever say that in a million years.
Keith: What is a budget? Well, it is pretty simple. It is an estimate of your income and expenses for a certain period of time.
It is like this: You make $300 a month delivering pizza — that is your income.You pay $50 a month for your cellphone, $30 forcoffee, 200 for your new carand 20 for the Dwayne Johnson Fan Club. Don't judge — you can get some killer workout tips from The Rock. Anyway, those are called expenses. When you add them up, it equals $300. Good news — you are staying within your budget, but you are not saving.
Mijailovic: I've seen people go out and just spend way over the money that they have, and they don't even really have anything to show for it. Unfortunately, when your car dies, it doesn't give you a warning.
Keith: I hate to say it, but you can probably lose the coffee and the Dwayne Johnson Fan Club. That saves you $50 a month and 600 Washingtons a year.You can even use the money for something that will benefit you in the future, known as investing.
Emily was able to do just that by staying within her budget. She lives modestly, driving around in her dented SUV, but she has invested in not one, but two houses before 30.
Mijailovic: Never give up. Because a lot of people I think count themselves out. You gotta stand up for yourself and say,“You know what? I don't care what my IQ is, I care that I'm gonna work hard and I'm gonna do the best I can.”
Keith: Emily says she doesn't really care about being rich, just wants to be financially stable. She hopes to continue buying more property and one day buy a car without a dent.
Keith Kocinski, Channel One News.
Tom: Great story.
And did you catch Words in the News? Millennial:those born between about 1980 and 1996 and the first generation to come of age in the new millennium, a.k.a. the 2000s.
All right, it is Monday, which means it is time for the Next Big Thing.
Okay, we are grabbing a bite to eat in this week's Next Big Thing, but before we dig into that idea, let's hear what you thought about last week's.
We told you about a thrilling new way to scope some sweet views — glass attractions. So is it the next big thing? Seventy-four percent of you said, “Yes — my turn!” Twenty-six percent of you said, “No — chickening out on this one.”
Class: This is Mr. Bailey's class from Norwayne Middle School in Creston, Ohio, and we think glass attractions are the next big thing!
Class: We are Mrs. Robinson's expo class, and we are from Parsons Middle School in Parsons, Kansas, and we think that the glass attractionsare the next big thing!
Class: We are Ms. Oliver's sixth-period class from Mitchell County Middle School in Camilla, Georgia, and we think glass attractions are not the next big thing!
Tom: Great responses! Thanks for sending those in.
All right, now, April is also Earth Month, and to help us celebrate, Cassie joins us with a delicious and eco-friendly Next Big Thing.
Cassie: That is right, Tom. It is a tasty alternative to plastic waste. Check it out.
These utensils may look a little different; that is because you can eat them.
About 40 billion plastic utensils are used just within the United States a year, enough to circle the Earth more than 150 times.A majority of these utensils are only used once and then thrown out. Indian company Bakeys wanted to change that by creating cutlery that you can eat.
Man: I am a man on a mission.
Cassie: The utensils are made from three types of cooking flour. They are available in three flavors: plain, sweet or savory.
While the company claims its utensils are delicious, you don't have to eat them. If you decide the taste is not for you, no problem! They breakdown quickly in any environment.
So are edible utensils the next big thing? Head to ChannelOne.com to voteand leave us a comment.
Tom: Yeah, I am totally curious what they taste like. And also be sure to send us your video responses to .
All right, we have reached the last course on today's show, but we will see you right back here tomorrow.
1 | Page