CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Wednesday. This is CNN STUDENT NEWS. We`re going to get things started today with different forms of extreme weather. First up, fire. This one in California has burned more than 30,000 acres, but firefighters have it around 60 percent contained. And some people who were told to leave their homes because of the fire have been allowed to go back.
Different story, with this blaze in the mountains of New Mexico, it`s only burned around 8500 acres, so significantly less than California, but it was also less than ten percent contained yesterday.
From fire now to water. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers have topped their banks in some places, flooding areas along their paths. Water`s broken through two levies, barriers that are designed to hold back flood waters.
This is CNN`s Martin Savidge. Last August he was standing in the basin of the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee. It had dried up then because of a severe drought. Now, Martin Savidge again as water from the Mississippi rushes across the road and over his feet. The river has gone out 44 feet in the last five months.
101 high school students and eight chaperons were kicked off a flight from New York to Atlanta. That much, both sites can`t agree on, but the accounts of what led to this happening are where we are getting some very different stories.
It happened on an early morning AirTran flight on Monday, before the plane left the ground. The airline says the students wouldn`t stay seated, some were using their mobile devices after being asked not to. And when the group wouldn`t follow the requests of the flight crew, including the captain, they were asked to leave the plane. One of the chaperons says, everyone in the group listened when they were told to sit down and turn off their phones, although some of the students might have had to be told twice. Another chaperon said none of the students were especially loud or disruptive. The opinion of the students and chaperons is that the flight crew overreacted. The airline`s view is that the group was violating safety regulations.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today`s first "Shoutout" goes out to Mrs. Silvestri`s (ph) current events class at West Warwick High School in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The dinosaur triceratops lived during what geologic period? Was it the Cretaceous period, Paleozoic era, Jurassic period or Pleistocene epoch? You`ve got three seconds, go!
Triceratops are classified under the Cretaceous period around 65 to 145 million years ago. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout."
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AZUZ: Triceratops are believed to have been one of the last flightless dinosaurs. When you picture one, you probably think of the three horns on its head or that big bone in the back of its scull. A rancher in Wyoming came across a lot more than just that one bone recently. The scientist whom he told about it, say it`s one of the most complete skeletons ever found of the triceratops. And it`s not just one. Three of them were found together in one spot. That`s interesting, too. One researcher says before now there wasn`t much evidence that triceratops moved in groups. These dinosaurs were plant eaters, but they were targeted by hungry predators like tyrannosaurs rex and scientists say the bones indicate that a t-rex is probably how these three triceratops died.
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AZUZ: De-extinctioning might not sound scientific, but that`s what those who want to do it, call it. It`s a movement to try to bring back species that humans helped make extinct, like the dodo bird or Tasmanian tiger. It`s not known whether people had anything to do with the demise of the woolly mammoth. But a recent discovery in Siberia has brought more weight to the debate over de-extinctioning. The mammoth is so well preserved by ice that some scientists think they might be able to clone it.
According to a professor at the University of California, that`s one possible way to de-extinct an animal. Cloning takes DNA from extinct animal cells, creates an embryo, and has a similar living animal carry and give birth to it. In the case of the mammoth, they`d probably use an elephant. Scientists tried this with an extinct type of ibex (ph) a while back. It died just after it was born, but some are awfully attempted to try again with the mammoth. It kind of brings back a question from "Jurassic Park", though -- even if scientists could clone the extinct animal, it`s not clear ethically if they should.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a scientist, I`m conflicted about whether we should or should not bring an extinct species back to life, but it`s hard to stop science and to start progress -- stop progress. And particular when there is something that these cool and cultivating of people`s imagination as the opportunity to bring something back to life.
Critics argue that extinct species were meant to be that way for a reason, and some biologists and wild life experts fear that if we have the ability to clone whatever goes extinct, we won`t try very hard to preserve the endangered species and threaten habitats we currently have.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today`s "Shoutout Extra Credit" goes out to Mr. Sharcross (ph) classes at North Lake School in Silver Lake, Oregon. What company`s founder made the animated cartoon "Steamboat Willie"? Was it Warner Brothers, Disney, Cartoon Network or Pixar? Rewind the clock to three seconds and go.
"Steamboat Willie" featuring Mickey Mouse was created by Walt Disney, as well as a pair of famous parks. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout Extra Credit."
(END VIDEO CLIP) * AZUZ: They say money can`t buy happiness, but you`re going to need more of it to get into the happiest place on earth -- Disney is now charging $95 a ticket to get into Orlando`s Magic Kingdom. And $92 for Anaheim`s Disneyland. And visitors between three and nine years old better have some magic in their piggy banks. They`ll need $89 in Florida and $86 in California. This is where "I love you, Mom," can really help out. The price increase isn`t as dramatic as that kiss that woke up Snow White. It`s up $6 in Florida and $5 in California. And Disney isn`t the only popular resort asking visitors to rub their magic money lamps. Universal Studios just raised their Orlando ticket price to $92. A Disney spokesman calls the company`s prices "a great value," particularly when you look at the breadth and quality of attractions and entertainment we offer. And the special moments guests experience with out cast." But they don`t include lunch. And the Magic Kingdom cheeseburger can set you back 14 bucks. Bottom line: Disney`s getting more expensive. There are discounts available for multi-day passes and membership rewards, but without a little planning in saving for a trip there, getting through Disney`s gate could turn your carriage into a pumpkin.
All right, when Theresa Goines worked with juvenile offenders, she saw how hard it was for some of them to get jobs. She started the program that offers at risk young people professional training, then gives them an opportunity to put those skills to work. That`s why she is a CNN hero.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I used to get into trouble. I was selling drugs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was domestic violence in our home. I didn`t see a future for myself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once I had a record, I felt I was not going to be able to get a job. All right, well, I`ll just go back to doing what I used to do.
THERESA GOINES: You guys are the ones that know better than anybody - - you`re the ones that have to change.
I worked as a juvenile corrections officer, often the young people who get out ready to start a new life, we put them back in exact same environment, and they will come back to jail.
Witnessing that over and over, I could not do something about it. I`m Theresa Goines, I started the Old Skool Cafe, a supper club run by at-risk youth they give them the skills and the opportunity to change their lives.
Everybody needs to be paying attention. (inaudible) is going to set up serving.
Our program survives four months of hands-on training.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There`s one where you can say, oh, excuse my reach.
I`m -- (inaudible) jump in and learn. If they complete that successfully, they get a chance to apply for an employee position.
We`re excited to have you on a team and really proud of you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We do the hiring, we do firing, we do reviews, you know what it means to have a sense of urgency. We are a team player.
GOINES: I want them to keep riding up in leadership and management.
Them of the restaurant is 20s, 40s, Harlem Renaissance. I see my role as being support staff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I used to just make (inaudible) and grilled cheese. And now I`m clicking everything on the menu ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of opportunity, I know this will help me stay out of trouble.
GOINES: The core of it is giving them hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m going to be my own boss.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m going to be an entrepreneur.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going to be successful.
GOINES: When that light goes on, whatever they do, they are on their way to fly (ph).
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AZUZ: In football, a long snapper really just has one job. Apparently, Zach Smith was looking for more of a challenge. Cross court shots, or snaps are one thing, but how about through both windows of a car and knocking over one of your friends? On the football field, a long snapper has to get the ball back less than 20 yards. This is farther. In the fall, Zach will take his talents from YouTube to USC. The move to college ball can be a rough transition, but for Zach, it will probably be a snap.
Who knows, maybe he`ll go from being an online sensation to an o-lign (ph) sensation, assuming the stars align. We`re having a bowl with these puns, but it`s time for us to take a hike, just two shows left in the school year, we hope you`ll join us for the first one of those tomorrow. Have a great day.