Coming up next on NewsDepth.

The federal government shut down at the beginning of the month, but what does a government shutdown mean?

Abbey explains.

We take a hike on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, and we learn about the effects of invasive species in our environment.

NewsDepth is now The US government is closed as of October 1st at midnight.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Gabriel Kramer.

Thank you for joining us.

The U.S.

federal government has officially shut down due to Congress's failure to pass a funding bill.

The primary point of contention is health care policy, with Democrats pushing to reverse Medicaid cuts, while Republicans argue the debate is misplaced for a funding deadline.

Medicaid is a government program that provides health insurance for adults and children with low income.

With the government shut down, nonessential federal workers are staying home.

Wthout them, some government functions are on hold.

Other government agencies continue to operate with a smaller staff, meaning longer wait times and less customer services.

Amy Kiley has this look at what the shutdown means for various government agencies.

The federal government is now shut down.

It's out of money because Congress can't agree on a funding plan.

The main sticking point is health care.

Democrats want to reverse Medicaid cuts and stop enhanced Obamacare subsidies from expiring.

We need to stop these premiums from going up dramatically.

They're arguing in a December policy debate for a September funding issue.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates about 750,000 federal workers face furloughs.

It says they'd otherwise make $400 million a day.

Essential employees must work without pay.

Social security checks will come in.

National Weather Service they'll still be producing forecasts or talking about the Department of Veterans Veterans Affairs.

Those will still be open.

Medicare will still be going on, and unemployment insurance will, in fact, still be reaching the people who, of course, need it most.

The State Department might be slow to issue passports.

The military remains in place, but just under half of civilian defense employees are furloughed.

National parks have skeleton crews.

The FDA says food inspections are affected.

As for transportation, about three quarters of FAA staff are working without pay.

A central issue in the last shutdown.

Thank you, Amy.

At the time of this episode taping, the federal government is still shut down.

But when you're watching this episode, the news might be different.

So we want to encourage you to pay attention to other news sources as well that can help you stay up to date with all the information.

In today's Politics on Point, Abbey breaks down the concept of a government shutdown.

She helps us understand how disagreements in Congress over spending priorities can lead to a pause in government services, and we learn about the real world consequences from delayed paychecks for federal workers to reduce access to public programs and services.

Imagine your family has a weekly budget to spend on things you need and activities you enjoy.

Your family usually plans how to spend this money.

Each week they decide how much goes to food, games, toys, and other important things.

Now let's say you can't agree on how to divide the budget.

Maybe someone thinks more should go to games and others think more should go to food because you can't agree.

You decide not to spend any money at all for a little while until they figure it out.

A government shutdown is a bit like that.

The government also has money set aside to do important things like running schools, keeping parks open, and helping people.

But sometimes the people who make the decisions and the government can't agree on how to spend that money.

They might have different ideas about what's most important.

A government shutdown occurs when the federal government temporarily stops all non-essential functions and activities, due to a lack of approved funding for government operations.

This typically happens when the legislative body, such as Congress, fails to pass the spending bill or a budget that fund government agencies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year.

A spending bill, also known as an appropriations bill, is a piece of legislation proposed and passed by Congress that authorizes the government to spend money on specific programs, agencies, projects, and activities.

A government shutdown results in the closure of various government services and facilities affecting federal agencies, national parks, museums, research programs, immigration services, tax processing, and other non-essential government operations.

Essential services related to national security, public safety, health care, and other critical functions usually continue to operate during a government shutdown.

Places like national parks, museums, and monuments may close temporarily so families can't visit them during the shutdown.

Some government workers may not be able to go to work, or may have to work without getting paid until the government starts working again.

Getting a new passport or visa might be delayed because the offices that process these documents may be closed or have reduced staff.

Processing of tax refunds may be delayed, which means people might have to wait longer to get their tax money back.

And certain government websites may not get updated or may not be available during the shutdown, making it hard for people to get information or services online.

A government shutdown ends when the legislative body approves the necessary funding through a budget agreement, or a continuing resolution, allowing the government to resume its operations.

It's important to remember that a government shutdown is temporary, and once the government starts working again, things go back to normal and these services and operations resume.

Thank you for the explainer, Abbey.

What do you say we take a field trip?

The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail that runs from Cleveland down to just south of Canton, is almost a metaphor for northeast Ohio itself.

The Canal and the attached trail were once a vital commercial and economic center for the state in the 1900s.

However, just like Northeast Ohio's industry, it struggled in the 50s and 60s.

The Canal and its pathway have experienced many challenges.

Zaria takes us down the Towpath for this week's Know Ohio.

The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail is one of the most enduring features of Northeast Ohio.

It stretches for 101 miles from the Canal Basin Park in downtown Cleveland to Canal Lands Park and Zoar, Tuscarawas County.

But what was the original purpose of the trail, and how has it influenced the state throughout its history?

Even the name of the trail reflects its past.

The modern trail is practically the same as the one where mules would tow canal boats up and down the canal.

The canal itself was built from 1825 to 1832.

It was built out of a need for connection.

In those days, Ohio was isolated from the economic centers of the East Coast, like New York.

When the canal was finished, it connected Lake Erie to the Ohio River, fueling Ohio's industry and broader American expansion to the west.

In addition, the canal contributed to the creation and development of many villages, towns, and cities.

It was hugely influential in creating Ohio as we know it today.

But the canal didn't operate forever.

In the early 1900s.

It was devastated by the Great Flood of 1913 due to torrential rains across the Midwest.

The Cuyahoga, Muskingum, Scioto and Licking rivers all experienced flooding, which made the canal unusable.

This brought an end to the commercial history of the canal, but its story didn't end there.

Two men were crucial to the revival of the canal.

Ralph Regula and Al Simpson.

Regula was the solicitor of Navarre Village, and Simpson was a reporter for the Canton Repository.

A solicitor is a type of lawyer who serves as a top legal official for a village, town or city.

In 1964, the two men walked along the overgrown and damaged Towpath Trail, spurring their desire to make it a beautiful recreational space.

A series of articles by Simpson was the beginning of the revival of the canal area, and in 1996, 32 years after Regula and Simpson took that walk on the canal trail, the U.S.

Congress passed legislation creating the Ohio and Erie Canal Way National Heritage Area to celebrate the landscapes and towns along the canal.

Legislation is what laws are called before they are passed by Congress and enacted by the president.

This legislation was actually sponsored by Congressman Regula, the former Navarre Village solicitor who first took the walk along the canal in 1964.

You could say he kept on digging until he finished the job.

Today, the Towpath Trail is used for a wide variety of different activities and is easily accessible to the public.

Biking, hiking, and running are all popular activities on the trail.

There are even places to camp near the trail.

The trail goes across northeast Ohio through Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas counties.

The trail is one of the best ways for Northeast Ohioans to enjoy the beautiful natural landscapes the area has to offer.

Thank you for the stroll, Zaria.

For our write-to-us this week.

We'd love to hear all about your favorite hiking spots.

Do you like walking on the towpath or do you prefer a more secluded trail?

Students can share their answers by sending us an email to NewsDepth@Ideastream.org, or by filling out our inbox form online at NewsDepth.org.

Last week, we learned that NASA is launching a new crewed mission to the moon, with the goal of eventually sending someone to Mars.

One of you watching just might be the first person to walk on Mars.

So what would your space speech be?

Finley from East Woods Intermediate School in Hudson, just landed on Mars and said, oh my goodness, I'm on Mars.

I can't believe it.

I never thought I could be brave enough to do this ever.

In my entire life.

I think that would be my wild reaction too, Finley.

Tanay, from Avon Heritage Elementary in Avon is two steps ahead and already thinking about encountering life on Mars, one step for humankind and one huge step for the whole universe and aliens.

If you are out there, Eliza from Independence Middle School in Independence jumped off the spaceship and was too stunned to speak.

If I was the first on Mars, I would say nothing because I would be shocked that I was on Mars.

But after that I would say something like, yay!

We are the first people on this planet.

Gabi from Falls-Lennox Primary School in Olmsted Falls.

Wants all of us to feel as inspired as she is, this is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Because I love the space.

I hope someday this inspires you to try new things.

And Isaiah from Saint Gabriel Consolidated School in Glendale has a message for all the students back on Earth.

Dear NewsDepth.

My speech for landing on Mars would go like this.

I'm Isaiah, a sixth grader who used to just look at this planet through my glasses.

Now I'm standing here.

We came from Earth and now we landed here together.

This proves that the biggest walls we see are only in our heads.

To every kid back home look up, 99% of our universe has been unexplored.

We can come together and explore the unexplored.

I think space exploration has a bright future with all of you future astronauts out there.

For our poll last episode, we wanted to know which moon you gravitate toward.

Let's see which your favorite moons are by checking out the results of this poll.

Okay.

Wow.

32% of you said nothing beats our very own moon.

About 30% of you voted for Ganymede in Jupiter.

19% of you said your favorite as Callisto, also orbiting around Jupiter.

Well, 15% of you said you look up to Saturn's moon Titan.

I like Titan, I think Titan's a good one.

and another 4% of you voted for Io.

The third biggest moon around Jupiter.

You know, it's been a while since we caught up with NewsHound's older brother, Lalo, the news lizard.

He usually works behind the scenes here at NewsDepth.

But every once in a while, we like to bring him in front of the camera too.

It's time for petting zoo.

Hi there.

Lalo.

Sorry to interrupt your lunch break.

Did you find a cool animal story this week?

Oh, it's about a man that formed an unbelievable friendship with a raccoon.

This raccoon just came walking up to me, just strutted up, stood there, looked at me, didn't run, didn't do anything else.

I just right mesmerized by her ability to get that close to me.

Then the next night, the critter came back and every day that followed, he quickly became something like a raccoon whisperer.

To see how their friendship is blooming, click the petting zoo thumbnail at the bottom of this episode page.

great job, Lalo, and thank you for the story.

Onto some more furry news.

The annual Fat Bear competition has come to a close, and a new chunky champion has been crowned.

The Katmai National Parks fat Bear Week contest celebrates Bears bulking up for hibernation and educates the public on their survival needs.

Hibernation is the period when an animal or plant goes to sleep to survive through the winter.

Patrick Cornell shows us the 2025 winner, appropriately named Chunk.

After a full week of voting for the biggest and bulkiest brown bears from Alaska's Katmai National Park, we have our pound for pound pre hibernation hotness bear 32. known as chunk.

Fitting!

Explore.org crowning the champion on X writing Chunk the Chunkster, 32 Chunk.

All hail the new King of the Brooks River.

The yearly Fat Bear Week contest pits 12 brown bears in a ferocious March Madness style bracket, allowing the internet to vote to determine which burly bear they like best in the 2025 final.

Chunk took home the victory by a wide margin, winning by more than 30,000 votes.

His tale, appealing to voters as the roughly 1,200 pound chunk suffered a broken jaw and had to adapt his eating style to account for the injury.

The contest also helps educate people on the importance of brown bears popping up before hibernating during the harsh Alaskan winter.

So while only one champ got a crown, explore.org notes fat bears are successful bears.

So really, they're all winners.

Great job bulking up, chunk and Patrick, thank you for the story.

The animal world lost a great scientist and activist last week.

Doctor Jane Goodall.

Goodall made her name as the world's leading expert on chimpanzees.

But her work helped us understand ourselves as much as animals.

Tom Foreman takes a look back on Goodall's life and transformation from scientist to activist.

Jane Goodall's love of animals began at an early age, My dream when I was 11 years old, I would grow up, go to Africa and live with animals and write books about them.

And of course, everybody laughed at me.

We didn't have any money.

And finally I was the wrong sex.

Girls didn't do that sort of thing.

But that didn't matter to legendary paleontologist Louis Leakey.

After hiring Goodall as his assistant, he sent her to what is now Tanzania in 1960 to study chimpanzees in the wild.

With no formal scientific education.

Goodall conducted her research unlike anyone else, giving the chimps names.

Observing humanlike behavior, even gaining acceptance into chimp society.

Her unconventional methods led to several landmark discoveries.

Among them, the chimps used tools and ate meat just like us.

Our findings for scientists to redefine humankind and reconsider what really separated us from our closest cousins.

They are not just objects, not just things that they have personalities, minds and feelings.

Goodall would earn a Ph.D.

from Cambridge University and be named a Dame of the British Empire.

And through her institute, she became a tireless advocate for animal rights and the environment.

One of Goodall's proudest accomplishments?

Creating a youth program called Roots and Shoots to bring up a generations of children around the world, to be better stewards of the planet and to be more loving of each other.

Even in her later years.

Goodall spent 300 days a year on the road preaching her message.

But no matter where she went, nature was never far from her mind.

Wherever I am, I can close my eyes and imagine myself in the forests, living with the most fascinating beings out in the forests.

I dreamed of doing some writing, which I love a little bit of teaching, which I enjoy.

I mean, what better life could anybody have?

Thanks, Tom.

In this next story, we dive into the murky waters of central Florida as scientists tracked the spread of invasive swamp eels.

An invasive species refers to a non-native organism that has been introduced to a new environment, often by human activity, and is causing harm to the native ecosystem.

These invasive eels are wreaking havoc on local ecosystems and encroach on new territory during major flooding events.

Let's take a look at the lake electrification techniques used to track and capture the eels.

Today we're going after Asian swamp eels.

These are long, eel like fishes that will be up in the rocks and vegetation, and they are introduced and potentially causing some ecological problems.

So if you get one of those yeah, it looks like a snake.

We first discovered them in the central Florida area in 2023.

And since that time we've been identifying additional lakes that have established populations in them.

This is a multi partner effort to do this type of surveillance to get an idea of their current distribution in the area.

We'll go one direction.

You go the other.

Yeah.

Yeah.

We have a tool called the Flood and Storm Tracker where we look at post flooding conditions and the potential for movement of non-native species like our Asian swamp eels.

There is potential.

Once a population is established in one lake, they can be spread to other lakes through those flood actions.

It gives us an idea of, potential spread and, consequences.

The impacts of these introduction by identifying where populations are and potentially how many are there and are they recruiting.

Are they reproducing in those lakes?

We produce an electrical field around the boat through, an anode and a cathode.

So you saw the booms out in the front, and then we have metal wires that trail behind them.

The electricity comes out of the front of those booms.

And allow that electrical field around the boat to temporarily stun the fish, allowing us to sample them, and release them unharmed.

Got it.

It's a small shock that, allows them to come to the surface and allow us to sample them.

We are continuing to do research on the swamp eels, looking at some diet studies.

Some of our partners, including Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Army Corps of Engineers, they're also participating, doing, various studies to understand more of the life history of these.

And, prevention is, you know, not releasing animals that don't belong in the wild.

Whether being a pet or through live food.

Florida is not the only state that's dealing with an invasive species.

A lot of us have noticed the spotted lanternfly taking over Ohio.

And in fact, a lot of the plants we see every day are not native.

In today's spot on science, Jeff tells us all about the invasive species and how they got here.

Did you know that many of the plants, animals, and insects you see each day are not native to America?

We call them weeds, invaders, or specifically invasive species.

Nearly 1000 plants and animals now in Ohio were not here when just Native Americans lived here.

They were brought by European settlers.

Sometimes on purpose, like the European starling introduced in the 1890s and sometimes by accident, like the zebra mussel brought into the Great Lakes by ships from Europe in the 1980s.

Many of the common plants around us are invasive.

Garlic mustard.

Honeysuckle.

Knotweed.

Barberry.

Loosestrife.

Their names are great, but their impact on ecosystems not so great.

Many invasive species take over native habitats and squeeze out local plants and animals.

They do that because they often don't have natural predators to control populations.

One way to slow the spread of invasive species is to only plant native species when you do gardening and landscaping.

Many invasive started off as decorative plants but escaped into the wild and wreaked havoc in the environment.

Invasive insects have caused the near extinction of several native trees, including the American chestnut, American elm, and ash trees.

New invaders are threatening our beautiful beach and hemlock trees.

Invasives are arriving all the time.

The Asian spotted lanternfly is the latest.

It's now invading Ohio, where it's threatening grapevines and fruit trees.

It's important to learn which plants and animals around you are native and which are invasive, so that you can help native plants and animals survive in their struggles with aggressive newcomers.

Thanks for that spot on science, Jeff.

That brings us to our poll for the week.

Have you noticed any invasive species in your neighborhood?

Fly over to our poll page to vote.

You can choose between.

Yes, I have seen invasive species.

Or, No, Haven't noticed any.

We're almost out of time for this episode of NewsDepth.

But we can't leave without hearing all about this week's A-plus award winners.

When I think back to my art classes from when I was your age, I know I'm kind of old.

When I think about my art classes, I remember doing a lot of work with things like clay, paint, charcoal sketches.

But what I never did was this I never designed a float for parade that combined character education, a bit of engineering, some upcycled materials, and a whole lot of artistic talent.

Recently, we met with some students at the Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights.

They built amazing floats for a festival called parade the Circle that incorporated some upcycled materials, messages that were communicated using icons, symbols and imagery, along with some amazing engineering.

When you upcycle something, you reuse something to create a new product.

Eric told us that the messaging on the float was meant to inspire future students to be great.

The messages all fell into specific categories like drama, music, nature and idea.

The students worked with a local artist to design giant owls whose heads moved, that featured hundreds of feathers that were decorated with icons.

The IWA Warriors did not work alone in this project.

They had the help of senior citizens in their community.

From the Benjamin Rose senior Center, located in the old Brooklyn section of Cleveland, who also made feathers.

The owl used upcycled ramen bowls for eyes, and a lot of the feathers were made from old toilet paper rolls, while others were pieces of cloth that had creative message designs on them.

Lottie told us that the secret to the moving head was using old computer cables and a broomstick to make it move She also told us that each owl had a different head and each seemed to make different expressions, which is pretty cool.

Magdalene told us that she really enjoyed building the float, because she had to think outside of the box to communicate using icons rather than words.

Callia added that one of the cool things about using icons is that people can come up with their own meanings of the messages, and that makes it really personal to the audience.

Luke really captured at all, when he shared with us that it's really important to be able to pass on messages, stories and wisdom to younger generations.

This week's A-plus award goes to the amazing artists and engineers at the Incarnate Word Academy.

Keep up the great work.

That's a wrap for today's show.

But you can keep the conversation going because we always like to hear from you.

And there are plenty of ways for you to stay in touch with us.

You can write to us.

We're at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Our zip code here is 44115.

You can email us at NewsDepth@Ideastream.org.

Plus, you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

Hit subscribe if you're old enough so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm Gabriel Kramer.

See you next week.

NewsDepth is made possible by a grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.