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Good morning and welcome to Kid News.

I'm Kim.

Today is Friday, February 21st, 2025.

And we begin with an opportunity for students from

C to shining C to show their red, white, and blue. As you may know, July 4th, 2026, the United States

will celebrate its 250th birthday, also known as its semi-quincennial, marking 250 years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

To honor that day and its meaning, American school kids can enter a contest to win a field trip to the national park or landmark of their choice.

It's open for grades 3 through 12 and all you have to do is submit an essay, poem,

or drawing that answers the question, what does America mean to you? Teachers of applicants can

also win prizes. All the information can be found at America250.org. We put a link on our website,

and Tori just interviewed the woman behind the event and contest.

You can hear it when our special Kid News Convo's episode drops this weekend.

One of the longest serving senators in U.S. history is calling it a career.

Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced on his 80th birthday yesterday

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