Hello sunshine. I'm Ky Wire. Welcome to
CNN 10. Happy Friday. I've got your news
for this Friday the 13th. And while
today's date might be thought to make
some people shiver and bring bad luck,
let's think of it a little less as scary
and more of a fright day for fun facts.
[music]
Did you know Friday the 13th may
actually just be a big old school
marketing scheme? There's a long list of
possible reasons why Friday the 13th is
considered unlucky. Most of them from
ancient history. One of the most common,
the biblical account of the Last Supper,
where 13 people died on a Friday just
before Jesus was crucified. [music] It
then evolved into a notoriously unlucky
day in famous works of literature,
folklore, and cinema. Old heads out
there might remember this dude. But one
group of people once made it their
mission to prove there's nothing to fear
about Friday the 13th. In 1936, a group
of 13 men in Philadelphia gathered at a
local restaurant to celebrate all things
quote unlucky. The trend [music]
continued into the '9s. In Chicago, in
New York, even London, they walked under
[music] ladders with umbrellas open
indoors. They smashed mirrors. They
spilled salt trying to prove [music]
that they would be just fine. The groups
uh were founded during the Great
Depression and members knew the press
would be there to get their photos of
their antics and that would create great
publicity for [music] the restaurants
and gathering spots they chose.
As the US and Israel's war with Iran
prepares to enter its third week, it's
having a major impact on one of the
world's most important energy sources,
oil. Rising tensions throughout the
Middle East have forced some of the
world's largest oil producing countries
to scale back production by at least 10
million barrels per day, spurring an
unprecedented disruption to global
supply chains. This week, the price of
oil hit $117 per barrel for the first
time in years. For context, uh the
average price was $73 per barrel right
before the war began. Here in the US,
gas prices have risen by more than 50
cents per gallon, and farmers are facing
surging costs for everything from fuel
to fertilizer. But Asia has been hit
particularly hard. The region depends on
the Middle East for 60% of its energy,
and countries from India to South Korea
have implemented emergency measures like
fuel price caps or even closing schools
and businesses in a bid to save energy.
So, what's driving this crisis? While
attacks on plants both in Iran and
throughout the region have played a
part, the single biggest factor is a key
body of water known as the Straight of
Hormuz. Each day, oil tankers typically
carry about 15th of the world's oil
through that straight as they leave the
Persian Gulf. It's only 21 mi wide at
its narrowest point, making it easy for
Iran to control. Since the war began,
the straight of Hormuz has effectively
remained closed, essentially part of a
pressure campaign. Iran has threatened
to attack any ships that pass through
it. This closure has even pushed member
countries of the International Energy
Agency and consortium of the world's
biggest oil producers to release 400
million barrels of oil into the global
market to try and offset the impact of
the shortage. A lot of moving parts with
this war and a long history. For more
context on the conflict in Iran, you can
jump back to last Friday's episode for
an in-depth look.
Pop quiz hot shot. Which of these is not
a primary ingredient in house plant
fertilizer? Nitrogen, phosphorus,
fluoride, or potassium.
If you said fluoride, way to grow.
Plants rely on nitrogen for green
growth, phosphorus for blooms and roots,
and potassium for strength. Fluoride, on
the other hand, can be toxic to most
plants.
Anyone ever have trouble keeping plants
alive, forgetting to water them, or
maybe they're just not in the right spot
for the right amount of sun? Well, what
if your plants could talk to you, tell
you exactly what they need? Students at
Spellelman College in Atlanta are
working to make that possible. They're
building an AI tool called Plant GPT.
Sensors in the soil track things like
humidity, light, temperature, and
moisture. The algorithm analyzes the
data and turns it into simple
personalized care tips and your plant
tells you like it is.
>> What are your humidity levels right now?
>> Soil is parched. I'm afraid
a trickle of water would be a kindness.
>> The original idea was really rooted in
this this concept of like would the
plant survive more likely if it has its
own voice and agency. The team hopes one
day the technology could go beyond house
plants and even help local farms monitor
crops. Some of the students say they
don't know much about plants, so Plant
GPT is perfect for them and it might
actually convince them to get plants of
their own. For Women's History Month,
we've been spotlighting trailblazers
who've created positive change in our
world. And today, let's learn about
Maggie L. Walker. Miss Walker made
history as the first black woman in the
United States to charter and lead a
bank. She also helped her community make
deposits in its own future. Walker grew
up in Richmond, Virginia. As a teenager,
she joined the Independent Order of St.
Luke, a black fraternal order formed
after the Civil War. These organizations
help black communities during
segregation by offering things like
economic and insurance services when
many institutions excluded them. In
1899, Walker became the group's leader
and promoted what she called cooperative
economics, encouraging communities to
pull their resources together, build
their own businesses, and support one
another financially. In 1903, that
vision led to the founding of the St.
Luke Penny Savings Bank, helping black
families save money, access loans, and
support blackowned businesses. Her work
helped turn Richmond's Jackson Ward into
a thriving center of black
entrepreneurship. and her legacy remains
a powerful example of communitydriven
progress.
Today's story getting a 10 out of 10 is
coming in hot. A small plane lost engine
power over Jupiter, Florida. And a
19-year-old pilot had just seconds to
act. With no runway nearby, he turned to
a stretch of highway into a makeshift
landing strip, safely pulling off an
incredible touchdown. Here's CNN
affiliate WPTV with this remarkable
story.
>> A rare sight on a stretch of Jupiter
Road caught on camera by bystanders.
>> First time in my life actually saw such
a crazy thing.
>> This cell phone video from drivers along
Panic Lane along West Indiantown Road
shows the moment 19-year-old Nico Bray
made a life-saving decision, not just
for his own, but for his passenger and
the bystanders below.
>> It could happen happen [music] so fast.
Bray, an experienced pilot, says he
trained for moments like this. He was
flying over Jupiter just before 2:30
when his plane lost power, forcing him
to make a decision he hoped he'd never
have to make.
>> And it hit me like, "No, this is real.
Like, I actually don't have any power to
climb right now. I need to I started
looking at the ground immediately, find
a spot to land, and uh once you're in
that position, you just execute."
>> He had to act fast, spotting Indiantown
Road below. He lowered the plane and saw
what could only be described by some as
a guardian angel. He was in a truck and
he was slowing people down. If you're
watching this, thank you, sir. I really
appreciate what you did.
>> As a flight instructor, while he's
trained for emergencies like this, he
says facing it in real life is a whole
different ballgame. His mother rushing
to her son's side. And it was at that
moment Bray says the seriousness of what
just happened hit him.
>> It's nothing without your family. You
know,
never take it for granted. You never
know in the last day you get to talk to
your parents or your family will be. So
when you get that time with him, enjoy
it.
>> Talking about the pride you have for
your son, right?
>> So much pride, but mostly thank God that
he's okay.
>> All right, almost time to go, but first
a very special shout out. A lot of you
have sent us a lot of packages. It's
further proof of why you make this the
best 10 minutes in news. Our wall of
friends brightens up my day every day.
Okay, we try our best to get to your
mail as fast as we can, but sometimes a
few get uh buried for a while, like this
one. It's uh it's from last semester. I
got a nice letter here. This is from
Coach Ash at Paulmyra High School in
Palmyra, Missouri. But they also sent
this shirt. And this is not just an
ordinary school spirit te. It's for JT's
journey. This campaign is dedicated to
their senior wide receiver and defensive
back JT Thomas. Back in September, JT
sustained a severe spinal cord injury
during a game. He was transferred to the
University of Missouri hospital where he
is still undergoing treatment. He
doesn't have use of his arms and legs
right now, but he is working hard every
day to get better. And his smile, his
spirit, and sense of humor, they're
still shining bright for all to see.
>> Shout out to my favorite nurse, Tyler.
Um, [music] he makes every day at work
better for me. Um, [music]
>> I just really enjoy his attitude about
everything and just a really strong kid.
>> Something helping him stay positive. All
of the incredible love and outpouring of
support from teammates and classmates.
Play that Friday music. Nadair Paul Myra
high JT, thank you for reminding us that
sometimes the worst of things can bring
out the best in us. Keep shining. Keep
inspiring. You are more powerful than
you know. Have an awesome weekend
everyone. I'm Koi Wire. and this is CNN
10. It's been a blessing to spend this
week with you.