1. LATEST DEBATE

In a recent vice presidential debate in New York City, Republican candidate J.D. Vance and Democratic candidate Tim Walz talked about important issues. Vance tried to look calm and smart, making himself seem different from former President Trump, who he used to criticize but now supports. Some people think Vance did well, while others think he’s just pretending to be nice. Walz seemed a bit nervous at first, especially when asked about foreign issues. He even made a mistake by saying he was “friends with school shooters” instead of talking about the victims. But he did better when discussing things like climate change and immigration, saying that Trump didn’t help with immigration problems. Vance surprised everyone by saying people shouldn’t trust experts. This is part of a trend where some voters like simple answers instead of advice from experts. This can make it hard for people to agree on facts. After Vance’s strong performance, some people are wondering if Trump will want to debate again. They think Trump might worry that Vance could be better at debating in the future. In your own words, write a summary of this story about how the Vice-Presidential candidates did in their debate.

2. BELOVED BEAVER

A 2-year-old beaver named Nibi has been allowed to stay at the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Massachusetts instead of being released into the wild. The governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, helped make this decision because Nibi has become very popular and is loved by many people. Nibi was found as a baby and has never learned how to live in the wild, so the rescue center wanted to keep her safe. They plan to use her to teach people about beavers. Nibi's story became so popular that more than 25,000 people signed a petition to keep her from being released. Even though Nibi will remain at the rescue center, she has a big enclosure and plenty of space to roam around. The rescue team cares for her a lot and wants to ensure she is safe, especially with winter coming. They believe it’s best for her to stay where she feels comfortable. Draw a comic strip with Nibi as the main character. Try to include at least 2 facts from this story in your comic strip.

3. U.K. ACCOMMODATIONS

In the UK, deaf people will soon get to see movies with captions a day before everyone else, thanks to Paramount Pictures. They’ll start this new idea with the movie “Transformers One” on October 10, 2024. Other movies, like “Gladiator II” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” will also have special screenings for deaf audiences later. This is exciting because in the past, deaf people didn’t have many chances to see captioned movies at convenient times. Some movie theater staff are also learning sign language to better help deaf customers. Write 3-5 sentences about how this new plan helps create equality for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the UK.

4. PANDEMIC BUSINESSES THRIVING

During the Covid-19 pandemic, lots of people started new businesses, and many of those businesses have been very successful. One example is Hector Xu, who turned regular helicopters into drones that can be flown remotely. His company, Rotor Technologies, now has almost 40 employees. Like Hector, many people who were stuck at home during the pandemic used their free time to follow their dreams and start businesses. These businesses have created millions of jobs, and some experts think this could help the economy in the long run. Even though things like high interest rates are making it harder to borrow money, many of these businesses are still growing and finding ways to succeed. Entrepreneurs like Hector believe tough times help make strong businesses. If you were going to write a story about this topic, what are some questions you would ask to learn about It? Write down at least 3 questions that would help you learn more for writing your own story.

5. GRIMACE INSPIRES THE METS

The New York Mets are having an amazing comeback season, starting with a visit from Grimace, the purple McDonald’s mascot, who threw out the first pitch on June 12. After that, the Mets went on a seven-game winning streak, and fans called this time the “Grimace Era.” At first, the Mets struggled and started the season 0-5. Their new manager, Carlos Mendoza, believed the team was better than their record showed. They focused on staying positive, made roster changes, and brought in new players like José Iglesias, whose catchy song "OMG" boosted morale. Star player Francisco Lindor improved his performance, and the team had meetings to promote teamwork. A trip to London helped the players bond and boosted their confidence. Now, with only a few games left in the season, the Mets have a chance to make the playoffs. What do you think will happen next for the Mets? Write or draw your own predictions for the rest of the team’s season.