RYAN: Happy National Love Your Pet Day! Today is about giving some extra attention to our animal friends, pampering them, and maybe even sneaking them some additional treats after dinner. We’re not just talking cats & dogs either, so if your pet has thick, fluffy fur, slimy, scaly skin, or a full coat of feathers, today is their day! Did you know that most U.S. households have at least one pet? And, even though there are more cats than dogs in the United States, families actually have more dogs than cats as pets! Which is why, I rescued and adopted a kitten. Who is yet to be named! We can’t celebrate National Love Your Pet Day without giving a special shout out to The Ten News cat: Midnight! <SFX Cat Meow> Kap & Owen, make sure to throw some extra sardines on her dinner tonight for us!

PAM: I’m gonna _____________ for my dog, ___________ today. (INSERT A SHOUTOUT OR ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR DOG PAM!) We know one dog that’s definitely getting some extra love today, and that is Monty, the giant schnauzer! Last Tuesday, Monty was crowned ‘Best in Show’ (the most prestigious prize a doggo can win in the U.S. dog show world) at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The Westminster Dog Show judges canines based on how closely they represent the written description of their breed's standard. After coming close to winning the past two years, Monty beat six other finalists and became the first of his breed to win the award. The 5-year-old giant schnauzer took home a trophy, ribbons, and “wagging” rights and has officially retired from showing for a well-deserved break!

RYAN: I could use a well-deserved break…Speaking of which, has it felt like you, your family, and your friends can’t catch a break from coming down with a cold or the flu? That’s because this winter virus season is the most intense we’ve seen in 15 years, one indication being the percentage of doctor’s office visits for flu-like symptoms. Two weeks ago the number of visits peaked higher than any winter flu season since a swine flu pandemic that hit the U.S. in 2009 - 2010. The CDC estimates that there have been at least 24 million flu illnesses so far this season. Schools have even been forced to shut down in some states, like The Godley Independent School District in Forth Worth, Texas, which closed for three days after 650 students and 60 staff were out sick. So, Ten’ers, remember to wash those hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and let your grown-up know if you don’t feel well before heading to school.

PAM: Up next is a marketing mishap. TikTok viewers are reacting to a prebiotic soda brand, Poppi, and their recent marketing campaign. Poppi sent out branded vending machines to 32 influencers, who then posted about it on TikTok. People watching these videos weren't happy and called out the brand for sending the machines to rich influencers instead of giving them to dorm rooms for college students or hospitals for doctors and nurses. Even Olipop joined in to poke fun at its competitor, even making a claim that the machines cost $25k each. Poppi has since responded, saying that the “falsely reported number was not only fabricated but inflated by 60%”. The brand’s co-founder & Chief Brand Officer also shared a video captioned “We love our Poppi community 💗tell us where they should go next👇” and stated that “one of the things that has made Poppi so successful is that we listen to you and our community, we can always learn and do better.”

RYAN: While Poppi works on their comeback, a North Carolina mom is working hard to honor the recent plane crash victims in Washington, D.C. On January 29th, American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army helicopter, taking the lives of all 67 aboard both aircrafts. Of those 67 passengers, 28 of the victims from flight 5342 were a part of the figure skating community, including 11 young athletes, 4 coaches, and 13 family members.

PAM: Christine Cheeseman, an ice skater and mother of a 12-year-old ice skater, was at an ice rink when she learned of the tragedy and decided to honor the victims in a way that is close to her heart. Through her newly formed effort called “Skates of Hope”, Cheeseman is gifting ice skates to skaters in need. She currently uses Instagram to secure donations and hopes to one day turn it into a non-profit organization, and any monetary donations she receives through Skates of Hope would go to the families who lost loved ones in the crash.

RYAN: And now, a quick break!

RYAN: Hey Ten’ers, I still haven’t come up with a name for my new kitten. Here’s what I know: he’s a male, he’s 11 weeks old and he’s got orange fur. Also, he prefers to sleep on my shoulder or on my head. Do you have any ideas for a name for him? Grab your grown -up and leave us a review or comment, or send us an email: hello@thetennews.com and we might shout you out on the show! Speaking of, let’s get back to it.

PAM: Aaaaand we’re back.

<SFX WHAT in the WORLD is HAPPENING? SFX News Theme>

PAM: The war between Russia and Ukraine will reach its 3-year anniversary on February 24. The conflict began when Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine to prevent it from joining NATO. And, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his people have been fiercely defending their nation since the invasion began in 2022. The United States has also shown its support by stationing approximately 20,000 extra troops in Europe and committing over $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the war began. This is in addition to security assistance from other NATO countries, all with the goal of providing Ukraine with the necessary support to defend itself. But, things may be about to change for Ukraine as President Trump is pushing to end the war through negotiations with Vladimir Putin. He has spoken with both leaders and emphasized that Ukraine would be included in any deal to end the war. President Zelensky has made it very clear that “Ukraine will not accept a peace deal struck between the US and Russia without Kyiv’s involvement.”

RYAN: Alright, we gotta get… <SFX OUT… OF… THIS… WORLD!> Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid to determine the likelihood of it crashing into Earth in 2032… While it may sound scary, the probability is low and currently stands at about a 1 in 47 chance, or 2.3%. Astronomers have named the asteroid 2024 YR4 and say it could be as large as a football field. That’s a pretty big NEO or near-Earth object, but it’s nothing like the rock that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. 2024 YR4 is currently heading away from Earth, and the next time that astronomers will be able to closely monitor it will be in 2028. By that time, they will be able to get a closer look and better determine its orbit and trajectory. If they discover that the chances of it hitting Earth have increased, there are precautions that NASA can take to protect the planet. For example, during NASA’s 2022 DART mission, the spacecraft successfully nudged an asteroid off course or other experimental ideas like using a laser to vaporize a portion of the asteroid.

PAM: With this next story… <SFX Let’s get weird… wild! And a little waaacky.> There’s about a 1 in a million chance that a human will be swallowed by a whale in their lifetime.

RYAN: That is still more likely to happen than winning the lottery…
PAM: Well one unlucky kayaker has lived to share his experience. Adrian Simancas was kayaking in Bahia El Aguila in the Strait of Magellan when a humpback whale swallowed him. His father, who was kayaking with him, caught the terrifying moment on video, which shows the whale rolling to the water's surface with its mouth wide open, swallowing Adrian. Just moments later, you can see the whale’s tail break the surface as it dives deeper into the water, and the kayaker, along with his kayak, reappears after being freed from the whale's mouth. The kayaker said that his ‘real fear set in after resurfacing, fearing that the whale would hurt his father or that he would die in the cold waters.’ Luckily, he was able to make it over to his father’s kayak, and they both returned to the shore without any injuries.

RYAN: Luckily he got spat out and didn’t have to exit through the whale’s other hole…

RYAN: Now let’s talk about something very serious: climate change…and COW FARTS. <SFX cow fart> You thought I was joking, but I’m not. Cow farts are actually not great for the environment. Cows' diets include eating nothing but grass, which ferments in the rumen (a compartment of a cow’s stomach) and naturally produces methane (a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more potent than CO2).

PAM: Then what happens?

RYAN: Take a guess!

PAM: When a cow burps or farts, methane is released into Earth’s atmosphere?

RYAN: That’s right! While some farms use food additives to help reduce the animal’s methane production, the Pirbright Institute in the UK is conducting a three-year study to develop a ‘cow fart vaccine’ as part of the solution. The effort is supported by $9.4 million from Jeff Bezos's climate change philanthropy, Bezos Earth Fund, and involves the UK’s Royal Veterinary College and AgResearch, an agricultural innovation lab in New Zealand. The study aims to develop a ‘proof of concept’ that can be used to develop an actual drug. In order to work, “the vaccine would need to produce antibodies that bind with bacteria in the rumen that produce the methane and stop them from doing so,” according to John Hammond, the director of research at The Pirbright Institute.

PAM: And for our 10th thing you need to know…let’s go to our Trivia Master, Owen.

OWEN: Thanks Pam! Pennies have made headlines recently… And Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is credited for designing the first American penny, but do you know which U.S. President is featured ON the penny?

Is it:

George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Herbert Hoover
Or, Ulysses S. Grant?

OWEN: The answer is… B! President Abraham Lincoln became the first president featured on a U.S. coin in honor of his 100th birthday. Our current president wants the U.S. Mint to stop producing new pennies because it costs more than 2 cents to make the 1-cent coin. The U.S. Mint, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, shared in its annual report that it lost $83.5 million on nearly 3.2 billion pennies that were produced in 2024. This marks the 19th year in a row that the unit cost for pennies has been above its worth.

PAM: This isn’t the first time that the U.S. has debated getting rid of the penny. In 2013, President Barack Obama stated that while it wouldn't be a huge savings for the government, “anytime we’re spending more money on something that people don’t actually use, that’s an example of something we should probably change.” While Trump has ordered the production to stop, Congress oversees the Mint’s operations and authorizes coin manufacturing.

OWEN: We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next for the one cent coin.

PAM: And that was Ten Things You Need to Know.

RYAN: Pam I am OBSESSED with my little kitten! When he’s curled up he looks like a little cinnamon roll! <SFX Kitten Meow> Wait! We didn’t figure out what I should name him!

PAM: Ahhh you’re right! There were so many things that I needed to know that I forgot! Maybe the Ten’ers will help?

RYAN: Hopefully! Remember: If you have an idea of what I should name my orange cat, leave us a review, comment or send us an email at hello@thetennews.com! <SFX iphone email received> Oooh, I just got one… wanna hear it?

PAM: I do, but we still have to give Ten News Snaps to some of our listeners.

RYAN: And also…a quick note for the grownups!

<SFX: Ten News Snaps>

PAM: An unnamed Ten’er left us a review on Apple podcasts and said, “Great Black history episode! We enjoyed listening and shared with our social media friends!”

RYAN: Thank you so much unnamed Ten’er! I really enjoyed doing that episode! We also got in another great LEGO comment, 9 year old Ridge sent this in all the way from Honolulu - “I just completed my biggest build yet - The Daily Bugle”! I love all things Spider-Man, and I’m so happy with this build! There are even donuts! Check it out! Love you Ten News!!” Thanks Ridge! The photos that your mom sent were really cool. Keep at it!

PAM: And we got another review from a Ten’er named Stephen… he said, “My dad is Brian “Not Ryan” Douglas.” Thank you Stephen, your dad is a tremendous editor!

RYAN: Hello, son of Brian “Not Ryan” Douglas. Believe it or not, my Dad, Stephen Willard, spells his name with a PH also!

PAM: Well, that’s it for today!

RYAN: “The Ten News” is a co-production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts, and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.

PAM: The Ten News creative team is cuddling with their pets and furry friends and includes Tracey Not a Crooks, Adam the Great Bambino Bernard, Brian NOT Ryan Douglas and Carson Not So Harry Potter. Big thanks to Owen, Not Slowin Down for Anybody.

PAM: Our Production Director is Jeremiah “On Fyaah” Tittle, and our Executive Producers are Donald “Albright Albright Albright” and show creator Tracy Takes the Leeds Kaplan. I’m Ryan Willard.

PAM: And I’m Pamela Kirkland, thanks for listening to the Ten News.

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