United States

A large brown bear standing in rushing water.

Animals

Hefty Winner

October 7, 2026

A brown bear named Backpack was crowned (not literally) 2026 Fat Bear Week champion on September 29. Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament. It takes place online via Explore.org, a nonprofit that operates live nature cameras. People vote for…

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A highway marked with a large route shield stretches toward the horizon beneath a fiery sunset.

Transportation

Miles of History

October 1, 2026

Picture this: You’re driving on the open road. The windows are down, and you’re singing along with the radio as hills, mountains, and deserts fly by. Road-trippers can experience this on Route 66. It’s one of the most famous roads…

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Two baseball players in black uniforms celebrate on the field, one running toward a kneeling teammate with her arms outstretched.

Sports

Queens of the League

September 23, 2026

On September 22, the Los Angeles Queens won the final game of the 2026 Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) Championship. This makes them the first champions of the league, which debuted in August. The WPBL Championship was an exciting race…

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A girl sits at a desk, practicing handwriting.

Education

Cursive Comeback

September 3, 2026

Do you know how to write in cursive? Can you read it? Many young people answer no to both questions. That’s why a growing number of states have started to make cursive instruction mandatory. This was a surprise to Andy…

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A young baseball player wearing a helmet kneels on a base.

Sports

Women Play Ball

September 3, 2026

On August 1, Mo’ne Davis tore across home plate to score a run. It wasn’t just any run: It was the first run scored during a Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) game. The WPBL is a new pro baseball league…

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A man in a yellow sports jersey leads four kids walking in a line on a tennis court.

Sports

Go Bananas

September 1, 2026

On August 23, a Savannah Bananas player leads fans around a tennis court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, in New York City. The zany baseball team helped kick off the 20…

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A shopper stands in front of a grocery store case filled with cartons of eggs.

Food and Nutrition

High-Risk Eggs Recalled

August 31, 2026

A major egg recall is underway in the United States. On August 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upgraded the recall to the highest risk level. More than 1.5 million eggs were labeled Class I, with a high…

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A city skyline glows at night as two beams of blue light shine straight into the sky.

History

25 Years After 9/11

August 31, 2026

September 11, 2001, is remembered as a tragic day. Nearly 3,000 people died in the largest terrorist attacks in United States history. Each year on September 11, people honor the victims. This year is the 25th anniversary of those events.…

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Collage of young spelling bee contestants on stage showing a range of emotions, including surprise, concentration, excitement, and relief, during a national spelling competition.

People

The Great Spell-Off

May 29, 2026

Shrey Parikh, 14, is the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. Shrey traveled from his home, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, to Washington, D.C., to compete in the bee. He was one of 247 competitors between the ages of 9 and…

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Dry resevoir surrounded by rocks and dry brush in a desert landscape.

Weather

Drought Alert

May 15, 2026

The U.S. experienced its worst spring drought on record last month. The dry conditions have caused alarm among farmers, from wheat growers in Kansas to vegetable producers in Georgia. The drought could have a severe impact on major agricultural crops. …

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