It's the Brian Larry Show on WNYC. Good morning again, everyone.

Now we'll turn to two stories that relate to kids and their parents that might be top of mind as another school year starts next week.

In recent years, youth sports have quietly morphed from free community gatherings into a big

business with private leagues and one-on-one trainers capitalizing on a growing impulse

to frame a child's athleticism as a ticket to their future. Are you part of this?

Parents listening right now? So if you are a parent or a recent high school athlete, let's say,

or even younger, you probably know this to be true. Sports can get you the scholarship you need to

attend college, maybe even if you get into the college of your dreams, rather than some

college less of your dreams, it's because sports made a difference for you. That's been true

for a long time now. But the stakes are getting even higher as the Trump administration

chips away at funding for higher education, trying to reduce the amount of Pell grants for

low-income students, for example. And related in Parent Kid News, last Tuesday, the American Academy

of Pediatrics issued COVID-19 vaccine guidance contradicting that, contradicting that of Health

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

You may remember back in May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its

recommendation that kids under six months and older should get COVID shots.

Kennedy said that move was based on, quote, good science.

But the Academy of Pediatrics says young children should continue to get the shots

because they are still at risk of severe cases of the disease.

And they publish some stats showing how many children still get hospitalized because of COVID.

In response to that, last Tuesday, RFK Jr. posted on X that the group is gauging in a

quote, paid a play scheme to promote commercial ambitions of the American Academy of Pediatrics,

...