CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: First up today on CNN STUDENT NEWS, J.J.`s Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, closed early on Tuesday. People there smelled a strong gas odor, about an hour later, this is what J.J.`s looked like: an explosion ripped the roof off. The whole place burst in the flames. At least one person was killed then, another body was found yesterday. At least 15 people were injured. Hospital spokeswoman shared one person`s memory of what happened.
JILL CHADWICK, UNVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL: He said that he remembered the smells of gas, the explosion and the roof collapsing. And I asked him how he got out, and he said there was no door for me to walk through. He said it was just rubble.
AZUZ: Authorities are trying to figure out what happened. They think it might have had to do with the leak in an underground natural gas line. This kind of natural gas used in homes and businesses is called methane. It doesn`t have any natural odor. Companies actually add a smell to the gas so that you can know something`s wrong, like at J.J.`s. People smell gas and call authorities out to check on it. If you ever do smell natural gas, either at home or at a restaurant, don`t stick around. Experts say, you need to get out and then call the gas company. Don`t know the number? Call 911. Some other safety tips, especially around the house -- if your stove uses natural gas, look for that blue flame. It means it`s working correctly. Also, only use your stove or oven for cooking. Don`t turn it on and leave it running to try to heat the house. And always make sure you have at least one fire extinguisher around, and make sure that works.
Kansas City officials were hoping to finish searching through the rubble of J.J.`s restaurant before a massive winter storm hits the area, and this isn`t just Missouri. 18 states were under some kind of watch or warning yesterday. Forecasts were predicting 18 inches of snow in Kansas, whiteout conditions in Nebraska and Missouri, heavy rain and possible flooding down around Louisiana and Alabama. Winter weather was making driving dangerous. A 26-car pileup in Wisconsin tied up traffic for hours. Snow in the Midwest might not sound that strange, but California? You might think sunshine, palm trees. Not this week. This video is from Sacramento on Tuesday. A snow storm started on the West Coast, and it`s pushing its way across the country. At least the dog doesn`t seem to mind the weather too much.
April is financial literacy month. We just didn`t want to wait for it on our blog. When it comes to money, we asked, if you tend to save more or spend more, look at this. 50/50, not often we see that. Nate says, it`s easier to spend money, but hard to save it. If you have the self control, it will pay off in the long run. Ben says his financial habits depend on his income. If he`s making money, he`ll spend more, if he`s not, he`ll save more. From Mariko, "I`m still young and I`d like to go shopping. It`s hard not to spend money, especially when you have more than $5." Kamren writes, "By saving money, we`re giving the impression that we aren`t going to use the saved money ever, so why not just spend it now?" Seraphina tends to save more, because you never know when having it will be useful, or if you have to buy a gift for someone on short notice." And Paxton writes, "Handling money well" is when you have a balance between spending and saving, so you don`t end up with no money or not enough things that you need."
A lot of you, seniors might be focused on getting through May wrapping up high school, moving on to whatever comes next. Zach Sobiech is determined to make it through May as well. He doesn`t know what comes next, and neither do his doctors. They don`t think he`ll live past May because of cancer. The way Zach reacted to that news is what`s incredible.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Spend some time with Zach Sobiech, and you will find yourself surrounded by music. This is Zach`s release. He began playing guitar when he was 12. A year later, Zach was diagnosed with a life-threatening form of cancer, than last summer, doctor said the outlook was getting worse. That cancer had spread to Zach`s lungs. And then gave him until this May to leave.
ZACH SOBIECH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Waiting on the death -- and that was just really like -- it was a nightmare kind of thing, with, you know, you just didn`t really want to accept it. You`re in complete denial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That denial has now turned to determination -- a determination to make the most of the time he has left, and with that has come something extraordinary. Zach wrote and recorded the song called "Clouds." He wrote the song as a thank you to everyone who has stood by him during his battle with cancer.
ZACH SOBIECH: That`s me expressing my feelings, you know. Every time I listen to it I go back to yeah, it`s (inaudible), and all these people are here for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The song has more than 2 million hits on Youtube, and listening to the lyrics, it sounds like a good-bye.
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LAURA SOBIECH, ZACH`S MOM: I know what he`s saying, he is my son, and -- but to see how it`s affected so many other people has been really incredible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zach`s mom Laura said the first time she heard "Clouds," she cried. Not because of what the future holds, but because of how proud she is of Zach.
LAURA SOBIECH: I was in awe. I mean I just had no idea that that`s what was going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The song has become so popular that music giant BMI flew Zach and his family to New York City and signed him to a deal last month. As exciting as that is, Zach`s heart really is at home.
He`s performed the national anthem at Stillwater basketball games with friends Sammy Brown and Reid Redmond, the trio also makes up the band a firm handshake and they perform diversity theater to help raise money for cancer research.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Zach is doing what he can with what time he has. Creating awareness for osteosarcoma and telling his story through music.
Through all the chemotherapy and surgeries, there one thing cancer can never take away from Zach, a legacy that has touched the hearts of millions.
LAURA SOBIECH: It`s not that we don`t think about the future, because we do. But we don`t live there, we live here, and that`s where we -- we keep it.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this legit? The right to assemble peacefully is in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It`s true! Among other freedoms, Amendment One protects the right of the people peacefully to assemble.
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AZUZ: 150 years ago, a peaceful and massive assembly came together in the nation`s Capitol. As part of our Black History month coverage we`re looking back today at the march on Washington.
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AZUZ: In the summer of 1963 the civil rights movement was in full swing, but there were still divisions, even among those in the movement. The Civil Rights Act, the bill that guaranteed voting rights and prohibited discrimination, was going nowhere in Congress. There was disagreement among some civil rights organizations as to how to move forward and a little active support from President John F. Kennedy. Organizers decided to hold a march and rally in the nation`s Capitol and make it appear as harmonious as possible to send out a positive call for change. On August 28th, 1963, about 200,000 people marched in a political rally known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. There were prayers, songs, speeches. Among those who delivered messages was John Lewis, a student leader who is now a congressman from Georgia. Artists including Bob Dylan, John Baez and Josephine Baker performed for the crowds. But the person who really captured the nation`s attention was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr who delivered his famous "I Have a Dream Speech" in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial.
Dr. King said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." These words inspired the marchers and gave Americans a new way to think about the struggle for civil rights. Historians consider the March on Washington a success, because it had a big impact on national opinion. Soon afterward, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, promising equal voting rights, prohibiting discrimination in public places and employment and starting a movement to desegregation of public schools and universities.
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AZUZ: March on Washington, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Greensboro Four, that`s what we`ve talked about during Black History month. What are you talking about in your classes? If you`re on Facebook, that`s where we`d like you to tell us, Facebook.com/cnnstudentnews.
Now, we are going to end today with a three pointer. First up, this Youtube video of a coach`s half court shot.
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AZUZ: OK, good start. How about this Youtube video of a girls` high school game. This might start as a long pass, but watch this: it ends up in the basket. Only two points, though, since it bounced inside the three point line.
This last one is going to be a slam dunk. A sea otter who dunks. His trainer says the slam is Eddie the Otter`s go to move. It`s also his only move. You`d better start working on a jumper, Eddie, or else your playing career could be washed up. All right as long he`s having the ball, who are we to say what he ought to do? The shot clock is running down on today`s show. Teachers, you have unlimited time, though, to share you feedback about it. So, we hope you`ll do that at cnnstudentnews.com and then meet us right back here tomorrow. Bye-bye.
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