>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm veronique. here's this week's top story. >> this report is brought to you by a grant from the connecticut tobacco & health trust fund.

>> while tv commercials for cigarettes have been banned for more than 40 years, tobacco companies are still finding ways to advertise their products, especially to teens. joining me to discuss this are gustavo torrez and magi linscott. they dedicate their time to keeping kids and teens tobacco free. welcome. >> hi! thank you so much for having us. >> yes, thank you. >> magi, let's start with how tobacco companies are advertising, since they're not allowed to do so on tv. >> since they're not allowed to do so on tv, we see them advertising in other ways. every time you open up a magazine or walk into a convenience store, those messages, the tobacco advertisements are right there. and they're really, really eye-catching, especially to youth and teens. teens are definitely being still marketed to and targeted in different ways. we're just seeing it a little bit different nowadays. >> in 2009, president obama passed the tobacco control act, which put new restrictions on tobacco marketing to minors.

so how are they getting around those restrictions? >> well, as magi started to allude to, they're just finding new ways to market their product towards young people. there's the slick advertising advertising their products. as magi was mentioning, when you go into convenience stores, we can't go into a convenience store today without seeing these advertisements all over the door at eye level of youth. the product placement -- tobacco being placed right by candy, right by the counter. and then these new emerging products the tobacco industry is rolling out, like e-cigarettes and sweet and flavored cigars. we have e-cigarettes in flavors like gummy bear and cotton candy. obviously we know who the tobacco industry is marketing with those products. >> and they spend a lot of money on advertising to do so. can you give us an idea on how much they spend? >> yeah. the tobacco industry spends $8.8 billion a year in marketing their products. that's about $24 million a day

and $1 million every single hour. and over the last 20 years, we've done a lot of really great work, and we've been able to reduce youth smoking rates over half. but in connecticut, we still have 13.5% of youth who still smoke, so there's definitely a lot of work we still need to do. >> yes, there is. and you guys refer to something called a "replacement smoker." what is that, exactly? >> so, this may sound outrageous and crazy, but a tobacco company essentially compared young adults, youth, to replacement smokers to replace the half a million people who die each year due to tobacco use. and so, that's just pretty outrageous, you know, calling a whole generation replacement smokers. and so that's where the "not a replacement" campaign kind of came into fruition, and it essentially kind of harnesses the power of the selfie, and it kind of gets youth to take their

own selfie statements saying that they are not replacement smokers, that they're so much more than that, that they're musicians and athletes and dancers and readers. and it really highlights how diverse our generation is. >> well, that sounds like a great campaign. what else can teens do to help stop this? >> well, the biggest thing is speaking up, having a voice. that's the great part about the work magi was doing in florida. she saw an issue, and she spoke upup about it. and she's the one, with her group, created this amazing "not a replacement" campaign, which any young person can get involved with by going to kickbuttsday.org. they can download a selfie statement, they can upload it through social-media channels. so, just by taking a stand is one of the first ways that we really want to encourage young people across the nation to really join in. >> and just to add to that, you know, there are youth who are currently, you know, doing state-house rallies and talking to their legislators about

tobacco-free issues, something as simple as going to your school's health club or taking the time out of your day to print out a selfie statement. simply by just caring about the issue, youth are doing a lot to make a change. >> gustavo, magi, this is a lot of great information. thank you so much for joining us. >> thank you so much. >> thank you so much. >> studies show that 90% of adult smokers began smoking while in their teens or younger. that's why it's so important for us to be aware of their advertising tactics -- so we never start smoking. but if you know someone who does, they need to stop. so, share this number -- 1-800-quit-now. they even have a special program just for teens. >> i'll tell you why tiny ticks can be such a big problem.

>> we're always told that we should enjoy the great outdoors. but as scott reports, we also need to be careful. >> whether it's your backyard or a hiking trail in a national

park, you have to beware of the wildlife. [ bear roars ] well, things like bears, mountain lions, gators, and snakes are obvious. i'm talking about a critter that's so small, it's often hard to see. >> [ screams ] >> yes, i'm talking about ticks. and dr. sheila nolan's an expert. she's a from the maria fareri children's hospital at westchester medical center. so, why are ticks trouble? >> so, not all ticks are trouble. certain ticks can carry diseases that they can transmit to people, and those are the ticks that are trouble. >> what sort of diseases can they carry? >> so, it depends on where you live. certain ticks can cause diseases such as lyme disease. another one is rocky mountain spotted fever. and there's lots of other diseases that you see throughout the country, just depends on where you live. >> so, how can we avoid being bitten by ticks? >> so, ticks like to live in wooded areas, long, high, grassy areas. when you're going into those areas, you should wear long sleeves, long pants.

you should tuck your pants into your shoes and socks, and wear bug spray, spray bug spray, preferably one that has deet in it. and light-colored clothing is also something good so if the tick is on your clothing or starting to crawl, then you can easily identify it and pick it off. >> okay, so we do all that. are we done? >> no. the most important thing is to check yourself to see if any ticks have gotten on your skin. ticks like to crawl on, and they bury themselves a little bit under, 'cause they're looking for your blood and they want to feed on your blood. so, the main thing to do is to look. if you see that a tick is just crawling, you can pick it off and remove it. >> okay, so we find one of these blood suckers on us. what do we do? >> if you see that a tick has started to -- is attached and it's not easy to take off, then what you need to do is get a tweezers and gently and slowly pick it at the body, the fattest part of it, and slowly remove

it. >> so, how can you tell if you have a disease from a tick? >> so, tick illnesses can present in lots of different ways. you'll see rashes with some, fevers with others. the main thing to do is, if you've been bitten by a tick, once you've removed the tick and you are concerned that it's been on your skin for a long period of time, because it takes time for the tick to be able to actually transmit a disease, you can bring it to your doctor. you can call your doctor and let them know that you have a concern. if you do remove the tick and are going to bring it to your doctor, put it in a ziplock plastic bag just in case, per chance, it's still alive. [ chuckles ] you don't want it crawling away on you. but then, the main thing to do is, if you feel ill, if you are concerned about certain symptoms, is to give your doctor a call. >> so, are ticks such a problem that we should really be worried about going outdoors? >> no. you need to be able to go outdoors, and not all ticks will transmit diseases, so if you follow the good precautions and

make sure you do tick checks, then you should be just fine. >> well, i'll keep all that in mind. thank you, doctor. >> you're welcome. >> so, before you go into a risky area, you might want to make a checklist of the doctor's dos and don'ts and "tick" off each one. for "teen kids news," i'm scott. >> for most of us, the common cold is all too common, but here's something you probably didn't know. coughing can be more than just a nuisance. it can actually hurt you. in fact, if you cough too hard, you could crack a rib, and that's nothing to sneeze at. >> using brushes and paint, students have created a touching tribute to our men and women in uniform. my report is coming up.

>> the men and women of america's military put their lives at risk to keep us safe. a lot of us take their service and sacrifice for granted, but not the kids at one school in brooklyn. eric has the story of their ongoing effort to honor fallen heroes. >> we've reported before about

mckinley junior high school. what started as an unusual art project has grown over the years. the last time we visited the school, the students were unveiling a tribute to the heroic first responders on 9/11. the hallway art wasn't simply for decoration. it was also for education. one of the teachers behind the project realized that many students were growing up unaware of a very important part of our recent history -- the terrorist attacks on september 11, 2001. >> they knew nothing about 9/11, and we decided we're gonna change it. we're gonna do a mural 270 feet long that will explain the whole thing. >> that part of the project was finished back in 2012, but they didn't stop there. >> thank you for giving me the opportunity... >> recently, guests gathered at the school once again. and this time, in addition to

police officers and firefighters, there were representatives from the military on hand. that's because the newest mural created by the students honors the men and women of our armed forces. it begins with the flag of heroes above the doorway and continues all the way down the hall. >> the 6,000 names that are on these walls here are the soldiers who died in iraq and afghanistan helping to keep our country safe from terrorists. >> each name was carefully painted by hand. >> we worked on the mural for eight months. there's a lot of hard workers here. >> a lot of the work was done early in the morning, before classes started. >> the leaves -- we've made them go and float into the names, symbolizing the rebirth and the memory of the soldiers, because

they're still within us in our hearts. >> and like the soldiers they're honoring, the artists wear their own special version of dog tags. >> it shows that you've been working on the mural and that you have the courage to work on it and make a difference. >> and it's supposed to, once again, represent hope, freedom, everything the soldiers fight for. >> i've been in combat five times, and every time you deploy and you're away from your family, away from, actually, the united states, a lot of time, you wonder if people really care and if people are actually thinking about you. it makes me feel much better when i see things like this. >> i have deployed, too, and it brings memories back just to see these names on the walls. and to see some of the paintings that they have done -- it's remarkable. what really impressed me the most is that our kids are taking the time to do this. >> this is truly incredible to

think that basically sixth through eighth graders did all this. you know, just to know that the younger generation really, you know, appreciates the sacrifice of those who have gone before them is really humbling. >> at the school assembly earlier that morning, one of the guests sang a song she had written. >> ♪ my memory of you will never fade ♪ the song is about what it means to never forget. and what the words really indicate is that the people who we've lost still exist in our lives. they're not forgotten, and that's what this song is all about. ♪ you sacrificed that day ♪ you're gone but not forgotten ♪ ♪ and no matter how many years ♪ my memory of you will never fade ♪ >> i really want to honor these people, and i want to learn more. >> ♪ disappear

>> the mural project has been going on for more than 10 years. recently, they've chosen a new hallway to honor the first responders of superstorm sandy. for "teen kids news," i'm eric. >> this important message is brought to you by the national road safety foundation. ♪ [ text messages whooshing ] [ bonk! ] [ whooshing continues ] [ bonk, bonk ] [ sloop! ] [ crash! ] >> don't go anywhere. there's lots more to tell you about on "teen kids news."

>> here's another report in our series on first-aid basics. >> okay, so, i come in from playing outside, and i find there's a tick on me. what do i do? >> don't panic. ticks are mostly just an ugly nuisance. but we do want to get rid of them. so take a pair of tweezers, grasp it near the head, as close to your skin as you can, slowly and firmly pull until it lets go. then put it in a sealable container -- i'll tell you why in a second. meanwhile, wash the area with soap and water. apply antiseptic or antibiotic ointment. and look for symptoms like rash, flu-like symptoms, or joint pain. if you experience any of those, go see a doctor and bring that tick you saved with you. they're gonna want to analyze

it. >> so, what are they checking for? >> well, ticks carry illnesses like lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever. >> how do we avoid ticks? >> well, they like to be in the woodsy areas and high-grass areas. so if you know you're gonna be in that kind of environment, wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and preferably make them light-colored so you can see the dark tick and if it's attached to you. also, pull your hair back in a ponytail and wear a cap. don't forget your insect repellent. >> and every time you come home, you should check yourself and your pets carefully. and don't wait -- time may be tick-ing. for "tkn," i'm emily. >> this contest reminder is brought to you by the national underground railroad freedom center in partnership with the american public education foundation. if you can draw, paint, or take a photo, then listen up. the picture freedom art contest is for you. sponsored by toyota, the contest is open to students in grades 9 to 12. all you have to do is submit original artwork that you feel

honors the importance of freedom. you can find the contest rules and how to enter at freedomcenter.org. there's also a link on our website. the prize for first place is $3,500. the second-place winner gets $2,000. and third place gets $1,000. there are also lots of $100 prizes. the winning artwork will be on display at the national underground railroad freedom center in cincinnati, ohio, during the month of july. the contest deadline is may 20th, so get those entries in. good luck! >> a dutch firm and a software company are creating a robot that can build bridges. using technology similar to what printers use, the robot shoots out cords of molten steel in intricate patterns. once the steel hardens, the robot moves forward and shoots out more molten metal. it's like a train building its own tracks. the first test will be over an amsterdam canal in 2017. >> coming up, we go to the

circus, and i get to meet an elephant.

>> who doesn't love the circus? alexa visited one that bills itself as having a lot of "soul." >> when you go to the circus, you expect to see acrobats, wild animals, andnd other incredible acts from faraway countries. as zeke explained to me, the universoul circus certainly has all that. >> we bring different people from china. we bring them from africa. we bring them from brazil. we bring them from france. jean claude -- he's out of france. we go to africa. we go all over the world. [ hip-hop music plays ] >> what makes this circus different from other circuses? >> what makes it different to me is that it's more interactive. you're not just sitting out there looking at the show. you actually become a part of the show. we get kids in the audience dancing.

that's one of my thrills. >> as one of the co-hosts, zeke interacts with the audience throughout the show. he even plays simon says, but with a bit of a twist. >> simon says open your legs like this, bend down. simon says arms out to the side. simon says wiggle your fingers like this. simon says swim like this. and we going, bump, da-bump, da-dun, da-dun, da-dun, da-dun, dun, and that's a swag surf. you got it. simon says swag surf! bow! alexa, you got it. boo-ya! >> ever wonder why circuses have rings? it's because the ring is the best way for riders to do tricks on cantering horses. why did you want to join the circus? >> well, i'm glad for the opportunity to showcase my country's talent and to do different stuff at the same time. >> so, you actually get to ride this elephant behind us? what's that like?

>> yes, i do. it's different, because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. it's a little challenging. the elephants have a mind of their own, but it's a great opportunity. this is my beautiful elephant. >> in addition to riding an elephant, she's also a caribbean dancer and showgirl. so, what does it take to be a showgirl? >> first, you need one of these beautiful headpieces. >> wow. >> can i put it on you? >> i would love that. wow! this is big. i feel like a bird. could you teach me some of the moves you do on the elephant? >> sure. i can teach you one or two moves. >> maybe i can practice them on the ground while you go on the elephant. [ both laugh ] >> hit, hit. you got that? hit, hit. pose. around. >> just watching her made my head spin. i was happy to make the elephant's acquaintance from safely on the ground.

hi. wow, and that's its nose? >> this is the trunk. aikea. >> can i pet it? aikea. wow. [ chuckles ] it's so -- it's pointing its nose at me. it's so big and pretty. i love the headpiece that it wears. it's so glittery. this circus not only prides itself on being interactive and entertaining, it's also proud of the messages it sends to kids in the audience. we got educational things where we have a kids' pledge where we do a motto thing where we keep them to stay away from drugs, love your family, and always believe in yourself. and anything in life that you want to accomplish, you can accomplish. >> part traditional circus and part cultural celebration, the universoul circus is all fun. for "teen kids news," i'm alexa.

>> hope you enjoyed this week's program, and we hope you join us again next week for "teen kids news." see you. >> write to us at info@teenkidsnews.com