Sports Takeover, Artemis II Returns, and BTS is Back!

Summary

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The Ten News: Sports Takeover, Artemis II Returns, and BTS is Back!

Date: April 16, 2026
Hosts: Pamela Kirkland & Ryan Willard

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Ten News is a fast-paced, fun roundup of the week's top stories for curious kids and their adults. The hosts dive into recent sports milestones, celebrate space exploration history, and report on the pop culture phenomenon of BTS's return. Alongside these headline topics, the show covers stories of resilience, creativity, environmental updates, and engaging trivia—all in a kid-friendly, upbeat tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sports Highlights

(Starts at 00:37)

• Golf:

  • Rory McIlroy wins the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, becoming one of only four players in history to win back-to-back Masters (Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods being the others).
  • McIlroy is now tied for second with Nick Faldo for most major wins by a European player, trailing only Harry Varden.
  • Quote (00:37, Ryan):

    "McIlroy has said he hopes to one day be considered the greatest European golfer of all time."

• WNBA News:

  • Sophie Cunningham, star for the Indiana Fever, is now the only active WNBA player who will also serve as a game commentator.
  • Hall of Famer Sue Bird is joining NBC Sports as a studio analyst, hosting feature stories throughout the season.

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2. Space Exploration: Artemis II Returns

(02:22)

• The Artemis II crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—safely returned to Earth, landing in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.
• This NASA mission is historic:
  • First humans to see the entire lunar far side with their own eyes.
  • First crew to launch aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule.
• Quote (02:22, Ryan):

  "The mission itself was a historic success as the four astronauts became the first humans to see the entire lunar far side with their own eyes."

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3. Pop Culture Spotlight: BTS is Back!

(03:21)

• Global K-pop sensations BTS have completed mandatory South Korean military service and launched a world tour, starting in South Korea.
• Over 40,000 fans braved the rain for the comeback concert; some waited outside just to hear new and old songs.
• The tour will span the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
• Memorable moment (03:25, Pamela):

  "BTS is officially back!"

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4. Environmental Science: The Singing Regent Honeyeater

(04:18)

• Scientists are working to save the endangered Regent Honeyeater, with only 250 left in the wild.
• Young birds are learning traditional songs from older birds in captivity to aid species survival.
• Reintroduced “singing” birds may help restore wild populations through proper mating calls.
• Quote (05:12, Pamela):

  "I've said it before and I'll say it again. Music makes the world go round."

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5. Royal Style: Queen Elizabeth II Centenary Retrospective

(05:46)

• On what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday (April 21), over 300 of her garments and artifacts are displayed at Buckingham Palace.
• Anecdote: The Queen famously wore a clear raincoat so her umbrella wouldn’t overshadow her appearance.

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6. Acts of Kindness and Resilience

• Barney Mullin’s Denny’s Milestone (06:28)

  • Celebrated 48 years as a Denny’s busser in Phoenix.
  • Restaurant donated 20% of birthday sales to a disabilities support nonprofit.
  • Mullin is recognized as a pillar by coworkers and customers.

• Tiny Home Builder in LA (07:12)

  • Osvaldo Medrano, formerly unhoused, built his own shelter and now constructs “tiny homes” (for $150 each) to help others facing homelessness.

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7. Science Update: The Hottest March on Record

(08:02)

• March 2026 broke heat records across the U.S.; it's part of the warmest year-long span on record.
• Human-driven climate change and a strong El Niño are set to make 2026 the hottest year yet.
• Quote (08:02, Ryan):

  "Some heat events that have happened are considered nearly impossible without it [human-caused climate change]."

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8. Sports & Superfans Trivia

(09:01)

• Trivia Segment (with Owen):
  • Question: Which baseball team is giving away Pope-themed hats to celebrate a famous superfan who became the first American Pope?
  • Answer: B) Chicago White Sox. (The new Pope, Pope Leo XIV, grew up near Chicago and attended World Series games.)
  • Fun moment (10:04, Ryan):

    "Let's go, go, go White Sox. And that was 10 things you need to know."

9. Listener Shout-Outs

(11:44)

• Listeners “Fire Country Fan” and “Bugaboo to you” are celebrated for loving the mix of fun and serious topics.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They are back. Yes. They're back baby.” (00:08, Ryan) – Playful mix-up between Artemis II and BTS returns.
• “I've already been practicing [BTS karaoke], so yes, yes I do.” (10:23, Pamela) – Hosts’ enthusiasm over BTS.
• “Music makes the world go round.” (05:12, Pamela)
• “After the cold winter we had, I didn't mind the March heat.” (08:48, Ryan)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Sports Highlights: 00:37
• Artemis II Splashdown: 02:22
• BTS World Tour: 03:21
• Regent Honeyeater Conservation: 04:18
• Queen Elizabeth Centenary Fashion: 05:46
• Denny’s Milestone (Barney Mullin): 06:28
• Tiny Homes for the Homeless: 07:12
• Record-Breaking March Heat: 08:02
• Trivia (Pope & White Sox): 09:01
• Listener Shout-Outs: 11:44

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains an upbeat, inquisitive, and friendly tone, addressing big events with approachable explanations and clear enthusiasm. The hosts strike a balance between humor and seriousness, making complex news topics understandable and engaging for younger audiences.

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Useful for listeners of all ages, this episode of The Ten News is a perfect way to catch up on world events, science, sports, and culture—in just a few minutes!

Transcript

[A]

Sending post landing command now. Splashdown confirmed.

[B]

Copy Splashdown. Waiting on DLDR.

[A]

They are back. Yes. They're back baby.

[C]

The Artemis 2 crew. I know that mission was so exciting.

[A]

Yes, it definitely was. But I was actually talking about bts.

[C]

Wait, they're done with their military service?

[A]

Uh huh.

[C]

So it's tour time.

[A]

Yep. Let's go. So we should probably start the show.

[C]

I hi, I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[A]

And I'm Ryan Willard. It's Thursday, April 16th.

[C]

This is 10 things you need to know.

[A]

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. We're swinging right into the wild world of sports. And in the wide world of sports, it was yet another exciting Sunday at the Augusta National Golf Club as the defending champion Rory McIlroy won the tournament known as the Masters. The winner is awarded with a special green jacket and McElroy won his second green jacket of his career. McIlroy is now just one of four greats in Masters history to win back to back. Among Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger woods, who was the last to do it in 2001 and 2002. He's also now tied for second with Faldo for the most major wins by a European player tried, trailing only Harry Varden. McIlroy has said he hopes to one day be considered the greatest European golfer of all time.

[C]

Over in the wnba, two new voices are joining the studio team this season. With a new media deal comes new talent, and among them is Sophie Cunningham, a standout for the Indiana Fever. Cunningham, who recently re signed with the team, will become the only active player commenting on the wnba. She'll be part of USA Sports WNBA NBA coverage whenever she's off the court and will also be a voice across the network's digital and social platforms. And then there's WNBA legend and hall of Famer Sue Bird. Bird will join NBC Sports as a studio analyst next month and will host a series of feature stories throughout the season, airing on TV and streaming on Peacock and other digital platforms.

[A]

All right, we gotta get out of this world. We gotta give a big welcome back to the Artemis II crew. The four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Cook and Jeremy Hansen, returned to earth at approximately 8:07pm Eastern Time on Friday, April 10, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California. Following the landing, the four crew members were helped out of the capsule and flown to the USS Johnson P. Murtha, a US Navy transport dock ship, for post mission medical evaluations. In addition to a safe return, the mission itself was a historic success as the four astronauts became the first humans to see the entire lunar far side with their own eyes. They're also the first to launch aboard NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion capsule. Pam, do you want to do the next one?

[C]

Yeah, let me think about that. Of course I do. BTS is officially Back Last Thursday, the global superstar K pop group kicked off their long awaited world tour in South Korea. After four years away, all seven members stepped back from the spotlight to complete South Korea's mandatory military service which requires all able bodied men between 18 and 28 to serve for up to 21 months. More than 40,000 fans from countries like Russia, the United States and Brazil gathered in the pouring rain to hear both old favorites and new tracks from their latest album. And even fans without tickets showed up lining up outside the stadium under umbrellas just to listen. This was just the first of the band's many stops on the tour, with more shows across the United States, States, Europe and Asia still to come.

[A]

Alright, while BTS is busy top of the charts, we've got birds teaching the next generation how to sing. With help from scientists, an endangered species known as the Regent Honeyeater is helping younger birds relearn their traditional song in an effort to aid the species survival. Scientists believe there are only about 250 Regent Honeyeaters left in the wild due to deforestation. This has caused the birds to be become more widely dispersed, leading to young male honeyeaters being unable to learn their mating song to attract mates or defend their territory. To fix this, scientists paired younger birds in captivity with older birds who already knew the song. After listening over time, the young birds learned the correct mating call in about three months. Researchers are now releasing some of these birds back into the wild in hopes of helping restore the species through song.

[C]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Music makes the world go round.

[A]

Maybe I should practice my karaoke songs.

[C]

Then maybe we should take a quick break.

[A]

All right, tenors, believe it or not, the school year is coming to an end soon. So we want to know, what topics do you want to hear about the most before the summer? Shoot us an email hello theten news.com or leave us an Apple review or a Spotify comment and we might have you on the show. Speaking of back to it, we're back

[C]

with news out of Britain. We're coming up on what would have been the icon Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday on Tuesday, April 21. To celebrate the monarch's life on her centenary. More than 300 of her garments and fashion artifacts are on display at the King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The show showcases the queen's style choices, telling the story of her reign and influence on British fashion. One of the most famous fashion statements Queen Elizabeth made was when she wore a clear plastic raincoat so that a black umbrella wouldn't detract from her public appearance.

[A]

Up next, another special celebration. Last week, Barney Mullin celebrated his birthday, and he also celebrated 48 years of working at Denny's, a popular breakfast chain here in the United States. Mullen has worked as a busser since 1978 after connecting with Laura Turner Homes, a local nonprofit that supports adults with developmental disabilities, and they helped him find the job. And to honor Barney on his birthday, the Phoenix Denny's, where he works, donated 20% of all sales to Laura Turner Homes. It was the perfect way to celebrate Barney, who's become a pillar of the restaurant as coworkers and customers recognize him for his work ethic, attendance and welcoming personality. Happy Birthday.

[C]

Also out West, a homeless man is making the most of what he has while giving back to others just like him. In Los Angeles, Osvaldo Medrano has built himself a home out of pieces of wood and sheet metal for the roof. Because of tough times, Medrano's life forced him to live on the street, but instead of seeing it as a setback, he decided to build a small home as a place to wash up, watch TV and sleep in a bed. He does have a job cleaning warehouses, but since building his small abode, he's started his own side hustle. Medrano now builds tiny homes for other unhoused people and sells them for about $150 each. So far, he's built and sold six homes, providing others with an alternative to living under their own roof rather than in city shelters.

[A]

All right, if you didn't feel it, March 2026 was the hottest March ever recorded across the US with temperatures exceeding historical averages and shattering daily and monthly heat records. April 25th to March 26th also marked the warmest 12 months on record. This phenomenon is largely driven by human caused climate change to the point that some heat events that have happened are considered nearly impossible without it. With that said, the European climate and weather service Copernicus and NOAA are forecasting a super strong El Nino and meteorologists expect this to further increase already hot temperatures worldwide, likely surpassing 2024 as the hottest year on record. I will say though, after the cold winter we had, I didn't mind the

[C]

March heat And for the last thing you need to know, let's go to our trivia master, Owen.

[A]

What is going on here?

[D]

Trivia on the 10 all right, tenors, here's a question that mixes sports history and a pretty surprising super fan. Which baseball team is giving away special Pope themed hats to celebrate a famous fan who became the first American Pope? Is it A, the New York Yankees, B, the Chicago White Sox, C, the Los Angeles Dodgers or D, the Boston Red Sox? Tenors, did you guess it? The answer is B, the Chicago White Sox. The new Pope, Pope Leo xiv, grew up near Chicago and is so such a big White Sox fan that he even went to a World Series game. And now the team is honoring him with special Pope hats at a game this August. What a awesome super fan.

[A]

Let's go, go, go White Sox. And that was 10 things you need to know. Not gonna lie, those Pope themed hats sound pretty cool.

[C]

They do. But I'm saving my money for a BTS army hoodie.

[A]

Want to do some BTS karaoke while we're waiting for them to hit the

[C]

us I've already been practicing, so yes, yes I do. After we give 10 news snaps out to some of our listeners.

[A]

But before that, here's a quick note for the grownups.

[B]

Hey 10 News listeners. As the school year starts wrapping up, a lot of families, especially homeschool families, are thinking about how to finish strong and maybe even keep learning going into the summer. And that's where IXL comes in. IXL is an award winning learning platform with interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K all the way through 12th grade. It's designed to fit right into your routine whether you're wrapping up end of year projects or just trying to keep your brain sharp over the summer break. And it's super flexible. You can practice a little each day, review tricky topics, or even get ahead for next year. No pressure. So whether you're finishing strong or trying to beat the summer slide, IEXCEL makes it easy to keep learning going. So make an impact on your child's learning and get Iexcel now. And TenU's listeners can get an exclusive 20% off Iexcel membership when they sign up [e-mail] 10. Visit Iexcel.com 10 to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[A]

It's time for 10 new steps.

[C]

A tenor named Fire Country Fan left us a five star Apple review and said, okay, first of all, this show is amazing. You have the perfect combination of humor and seriousness. Before finding this podcast. I had no way of finding out what was going on around me in the world. I love how you explain news at a kid friendly level. Love the show. Thank you so much Fire Country Fan. We're so honored that you love the show and appreciate your kind words.

[A]

And a tenor named Bugaboo to you also left us a five star Apple podcast review and said I love the 10 news and I love cats and I love the band Cat's Eye. Thank you Bugaboo to you. I also love the TED News and I really love Cats. But you know, I actually never heard of the band Cat's Eye. Thank you for the suggestion and two

[C]

extra notes for the grown ups. You can now get ad free versions of our episodes when you join the Tenors Club on our website.

[A]

And if you want to Help support the 10News, you can make a tax deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support.

[C]

The 10News is a co production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcasts and part of the airwave podcast network.

[A]

The 10News creative team is still geeking out over the Artemis 2 mission and and searching for BTS tickets and includes Tracy, Nada Crooks, Adam the Great Bambino, Bernard Ryan Not Ryan Douglas, the Duke of Earl, Davis and Carson not so Harry Potter. Big thanks to Owen. Not slowing down for anybody.

[C]

Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright. Albright Albright. And show creator Tracy takes the leads. Kaplan. I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[A]

And I'm Ryan Willard. Thanks for listening to the 10 news. Sam.