Volunteens: We are the St. Jude Volunteens from Memphis, Tennessee, and Channel One News starts right now.
Arielle: Thanks to the St. JudeVolunteens for kicking us off. We have got more with them a little later on.But first up, there was some bad news announced this week for Obamacare, the national health insurance program. There is going to be a big increase in cost in many parts of the country.
The latest estimate from the federal government is that the average Obamacare plan — the most popular choice — will cost about 22 percent more in 2017 than it did in 2016. But it will be different from state to state: for example, a 145-percent spike in Phoenixto a 4-percent decrease in Indianapolis. The government says it will offer tax credits to help cover the cost.
The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires all Americans to get medicalinsurance or pay a fine.The law has mixed reviews and is still controversial. About 20 million people now have health insurance that didn't before, according to recent studies, but costs have gone up. And some states only have one company that offers plans to the public.
Okay, next up, the Nation's Report Card is in for science, and it looks like you guys have been hitting the booksbecause scores are up. Two key groups that are getting better scores in science are fourth- and eighth-grade students. Both groups saw a four-point increase since the 2009 test results.
Almost all racial and ethnic groups also made gains, and the black–white–Hispanic divide narrowed. At grade 12 scores were the same since 2009 for all ethnic groups.But high school boys in grade 12 continue to outpace girls by five points in science test scores, and that was also the case back in 2009.
Now, yesterday, we told you about the trend of ballot selfies — people taking pictures of themselves while voting. Even Justin Timberlake got in on the action. But it is illegal to do that in more than a dozen states.So we asked you, should ballot selfies be allowed? And you guys were pretty split. Fifty-one percent of you said yes, while 49 percent said no.
Jeremiah said, "Yes, because people should have free speech.”
Mika said, "We must encourage voting, and posting ballot selfies on social media does just that."
Jacob says, "I think that it should not be allowed; it will get people to change votes."
And Dayton said, “Taking selfies is compromising the idea of keeping your vote private."
Thanks for weighing in, guys.
Okay, coming up next, a new shift in our country's relationship with Cuba.
Arielle: Demetrius is here now for this next story. For the first time in 25 years, the U.S. made a pretty big move at the United Nations yesterday.
Demetrius: Yeah,Arielle. Now, this move could have a huge influence on America's future relationship with Cuba, even making it easier for American students to learn about their Cuban neighbors across the sea.
A rare sighting — a ship flying the American flag entering a Cuban port. Twenty-two American students came to the Cuban capital of Havana for their Semester at Sea program.
Student: There is a lot of history with Cuba. I heard that the people are amazing from friends and family that have been here before.
Demetrius: The students will participate in a community service project to help bridge the gap between the United States and Cuba.And yesterday, in New York, the U.S. government was doing its part at a United Nations General Assembly.
Ambassador Samantha Powers: For more than 50 years, the United States had a policy aimed at isolating the government of Cuba.
Demetrius: That policy was an embargo — a ban on American companies doing business with Cuba. It was put in place back in 1960; it was meant to cripple the Cuban economy after it sided with the Soviet Union against the U.S. during the Cold War. And for more than 50 years, the U.S. would continue to support the embargo until yesterday's U.N.General Assembly.
Powers: Today, United States will abstain.
Demetrius: Choosing to abstain, or not vote, was a symbolic way to show that the Obama administration no longer supports the embargo, even though it is still a law and supported by Republicans in Congress. And it is up to Congress to end it.
Powers: Abstaining on this resolution does not mean that the United States agrees with all of the policies and practices of the Cuban government — we do not.
Demetrius: The Cuban government has been accused of serious human rights violations and cracking down on free speech. But it is a step to mending relations between the two countries, who are just 90 miles apart.
DemetriusPipkin, Channel One News.
Arielle: Thanks,Demetrius.
Okay, next up,Keith introduces us to one group of teens that make the impact of a lifetime.
Arielle: Okay, yesterday, we brought you a story about a teen battling cancer — just one of the thousands of kids across the country in the fight of their lives.Today, Keith Kocinski is back at St. JudeChildren’s Hospital with a group of teens who are making the lives of young cancer patients a whole lot easier through volunteer work and the gift of hope.
Emily Hines: Definitely one of the most difficult parts emotionally is not being able to be home and be with your friends or — I miss my dog a lot, and you just miss laying in your own bed and being in your own home.
Keith: Sometimes young people struggling with cancer are just looking for something normal.
Channing: I look up to these children.I think they are, like, extremely brave in what they do.
Keith: And young people like Channing, from Denver, Colorado, are friends for these patients away from home. He is one of 32 teens who spend a couple weeks here during the summer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, as part of the Volunteen program.
The program, open to teens ages 16 to 18, allows them to gain valuable experience exploring future career opportunities in research and clinical care while hanging out with families and kids undergoing treatment.
Randa Spears: They like the Volunteens because they are young and they're fun and they’re energetic, and they easily get down to their level.
Keith: Seventeen-year-old Morgan from Nashville, Tennessee, gave up part of her summer vacation to be here and follow a dream of volunteering at St. Jude.
Morgan: Because anything I could be doing at home doesn't compare to what I'm doing here. It makes you sad, of course, when you see a kid without hair, and they don't have enough strength to really walk, so they're being wheeled around in a wagon, but at the same time, like, this place is so full of hope.
Keith: For Volunteen Traja, this program hits even closer to home.
Traja: My little brother was born in 2004, and when he was born, we found out that he had sickle cells.
Keith: Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that causesTraja's brother,Treyton, to live with pain.
Treyton: It started, like, throbbing, and then it hurts more. Then, like, when I try to take medicine, it don't really work, so I had to come here.
Keith: And with help from doctors at St. Jude, his symptoms are now pretty mild.
Traja: St.Jude has given so much to me, my family, my brother.And so when this program came along, and I knew that they had the Volunteen program and I was of age to do the program, I was definitely excited.
Keith: And over those two weeks,Traja and the Volunteens went on their own journey, learning more about themselves and the power of how a friendship away from home can make the world of difference for young people fighting to survive.
Patient: It’s awesome, like, to have my peers. Like, we’re probably around the same age, and to have you all, like, invest time in me — that’s really cool.
Keith: However, the time came for the Volunteens to say good-bye, but not before they put on their final patient event.
Traja: We’re about to see patients! It’s our big bash!
It was the biggest patient activity that we had. And that was definitely, like, so fun to see all the patients and things like that. It was so emotional because I formed so many bonds with the people in such a short amount of time.
Keith: Being here, has it changed your perspective on life at all?
Morgan: These kids, they’re just — they’re so dynamic, and they have so much to offer. They're not just sick kids in wheelchairs; they’re children. They have a different energy here. If these kids can get diagnosed, you know, with Stage 4 cancer, and they're able to run through these halls and to want to still make a Mickey hat, you know, with us at a craft table — that my life is pretty good, and that being able to be with these kids has made it even better.
Keith: As the day comes to an end, the Volunteens do what they always do to say good-bye.
Volunteens: St. Jude, St. Jude, St. Jude Volunteen!
Keith: Keith Kocinski, Channel One News.
Arielle: Great story,Keith.
And if you want to find out how you can make an impact, head to ChannelOne.com to check out five ways students can help St. Jude’s cause.
Okay guys, it is time to head out, but we will catch you right back here tomorrow.
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