♪ JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND, EXTREME WEATHER ACROSS DOZENS OF STATES HOME TO MORE THAN 100 MILLION PEOPLE UNLEASHED TORNADOES AND FANNED THE FLAMES OF WILDFIRES AND DEADLY DUST STORMS.

THEN, HOW THE CHILDREN OF SUDAN ARE BURYING MANY IN A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR.

AND WHY A GROWING NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS ARE SWAPPING COLLEGE PLANS FOR TRAINING IN SKILLED TRADES.

>> THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED TRADESMAN AND I THINK THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS REALIZING YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE TO MAKE GOOD MONEY.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWS WEEKEND HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> IN 1995, TWO FRIENDS SET OUT TO MAKE WIRELESS COVERAGE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

NO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS, NATIONWIDE COVERAGE AND 100% U.S.-BASED CUSTOMER SUPPORT, CONSUMER CELLULAR.

FREEDOM CALLS.

♪ >> THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR.

♪ >> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN YANG.

A SECOND ROUND OF VIOLENT WEATHER IS BARRELLING ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UNITED STATES AFTER A DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE FRIDAY NIGHT.

THE STORMS HAVE SPAWNED VIOLENT TORNADOES AND FANNED WILDFIRES AND DUST STORMS THAT HAVE CLAIMED AT LEAST 17 LIVES AND DESTROYED SCORES OF HOMES.

MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT POWER ACROSS FIVE STATES.

MANY OF THE FATALITIES HAVE BEEN IN MISSOURI, WHERE AT LEAST FOUR TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS THERE'S A HEIGHTENED THREAT OF TORNADOES TONIGHT STRETCHING FROM THE DEEP SOUTH TO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

EARLIER I SPOKE WITH MATTHEW CAPPUCCI, SENIOR METEOROLOGIST AT MYRADAR, WHO'S IN MISSISSIPPI TRACKING THE STORMS.

I ASKED HIM HOW UNUSUAL A MULTI-DAY TORNADO OUTBREAK LIKE THIS IS.

MATTHEW: EITHER OF THESE TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS WOULD IN AND OF THEMSELVES, BE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

LAST NIGHT, WE SAW ROUGHLY 140 TORNADO WARNINGS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD WITH NUMEROUS FATALITIES AND AT LEAST 18 TORNADO WARNINGS SIMULTANEOUSLY READ LAST NIGHT WAS A BIG DEAL YET, THAT'S THE , APPETIZER FOR WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ALL DAY TODAY INTO THE EVENING WE HAVE A LEVEL FIVE OUT HOURS.

OF FIVE, A HIGH RISK, WHICH IS ISSUED LESS THAN 1% OF THE TIME.

IT IS A TOP TIER EVENT ANYWAY.

THE VERBIAGE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS USING IS DOWNRIGHT ALARMING WHEN THEY SAY THINGS LIKE VOLATILE, INTENSE LONG TRACK TORNADOES.

JOHN: EXPLAIN THAT AND WHY THEY ARE SO DANGEROUS.

MATTHEW: MOST TORNADOES ARE TOWARD THE LOWER END EF ZERO, ON OR TWO.

BUT WE ARE TALKING EF4, EF5, PLUS WINDS OF 160 MILES PER HOUR.

PLUS THESE SUPERCELLS, THE ROTATING STORMS, WILL BE SELF-SUSTAINED FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE ATMOSPHERE IS SO FAVORABLE FOR THAT THAT THESE TORNADOES CAN STAY ON THE GROUND FOR 15, 20, 30 MINUTES, MAYBE CLOSE TO AN HOUR, AND IN A FEW INSTANCES LEADING TO VERY LONG DAMAGE TRACKS.

JOHN: WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE, THE ENVIRONMENT, THAT MAKES THIS SO CONDUCIVE?

MATTHEW: YOU NEED TWO INGREDIENTS, PAINT OR JUICE, HOW WARM AND MOIST IS THE ATMOSPHERE, AND YOU NEED SPIN WHICH COMES FROM CHANGING WINDS WITH HEIGHT.

IT IS WARM AND HUMID WITH GULF MOISTURE WAFTING RIGHT NOW, SO THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY JUICED UP AREA AT THE SAME TIME, THE WINDS AT THE SURFACE ARE OUT OF THE SOUTH OR SOUTHEAST, BUT ALOFT THEY ARE MORE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST.

ANY STORM THAT GROWS TALL ENOUGH WILL FEEL THOSE CHANGING WINDS AND WILL ROTATE IN SOME CASES QUITE PROFUSELY.

JOHN: THIS INCREASE IN INTENSITY AND THTH LONG-LASTING STORMS, HW MUCH OF THIS IS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, OR IS ANY OF IT?

MATTHEW: IT IS NOT THAT CLOSELY LINKED TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, THE SPRING MONTHS EVERY YEAR TEND TO BE A REALLY ROUGH TIME.

WE HAVE THE INSURGENCIES OF GULF MOISTURE AND A LITTLE BIT OF LEFTOVER COLD FROM WINTER.

THOSE TWO SEASONS KIND OF BATTLE IT OUT DURING MARCH, APRIL, MAY.

REALISTICALLY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET BIG TORNADOES, IT'LL BE OVER MISSISSIPPI OR ALABAMA THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THAT SAID, WE DO KNOW THAT WINTERTIME EVENTS, WHEN THE ATMOSPHERE IS WARMING A LITTLE BIT MORE, TEND TO BE OVER ACHIEVING A BIT MORE THANKS TO THE WARMING ADVANCE -- ATMOSPHERE SO THERE IS A LITTLE ROLE, BUT REALLY IT IS THE TIME OF YEAR.

JOHN: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THOSE LIVING IN THOSE AREAS WHO ARE UNDER TORNADO WATCHES OR WARNINGS?

MATTHEW: WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION AHEAD OF TIME.

ORDINARILY FOLKS WAIT UNTIL A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BEFORE THEY SEEK SHELTER, BUT ON A DAY LIKE TODAY A NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT, , IF PEOPLE ARE IN A TORNADO WATCH, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO GET TO A SITE FIELD LOCATION SOME PLACE WITH A BELOW GROUND SHELTER EVEN BEFORE ANY WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

YOU NEVER WANT TO BE MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM A SHELTER ON A NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT READ THAT WAY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED, YOU CAN JUST DUCK AND COVER REAL QUICK AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOVING LOCATIONS.

IF YOU HAVE ELDERLY FAMILY, FRIENDS, LOVED ONES, CHECK IN WITH THEM.

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLAN.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

JOHN: TO HELP PEOPLE OUT WHEN THEY HEAR THESE WATCHES AND ALERTS, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WATCH AND A WARNING?

MATTHEW: A WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES TO FORM.

A WARNING MEANS WE ARE SEEING ONE ON RADAR OR IN PERSON, ONE IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.

WATCH MEANS WATCH OUT.

A WARNING MEANS TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW, SHELTER RIGHT NOW.

THE WARNINGS BUZZ ON YOUR PHONES.

NOW, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES CALLING THIS A PDS, OR PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THOSE TYPE OF WATCHES ARE ONLY ISSUED ABOUT 7% OF THE TIME, BUT YOU'RE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HIT BY A VIOLENT TORNADO.

JOHN: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND BE SAFE.

IN OTHER NEWS TALKS BETWEEN , ISRAEL AND HAMAS ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THE CEASE FIRE REMAIN STALLED.

HAMAS SAID IT WILL ONLY RELEASE AMERICAN-ISRAELI HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER AND THE BODIES OF FOUR OTHER CAPTIVES IF ISRAEL IMPLEMENTS THE LATEST U.S.-BACKED PROPOSAL.

HAMAS SAID TALKS ON THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CEASEFIRE WOULD HAVE TO BEGIN THE DAY OF THE HOSTAGE RELEASE, AND LAST NO LONGER THAN 50 DAYS.

ISRAEL WOULD ALSO HAVE TO RESUME THE FLOW OF HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA.

THIS AS ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES KILLED NINE PEOPLE IN NORTHERN GAZA.

A LOCAL WATCHDOG GROUP SAID THE DEAD INCLUDED THREE PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS.

U.S.

FORCES CARRIED OUT A SERIES OF STRIKES ON YEMEN'S CAPITAL SANAA IN AN EFFORT TO STOP HOUTHI REBEL ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL VESSELS AND U.S.

WARSHIPS IN THE RED SEA.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WARNED IF THE ATTACKS IN THE BUSY MARITIME CORRIDOR DON'T STOP, QUOTE "HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE."

MR. TRUMP ALSO WARNED IRAN TO STOP SUPPORTING THE GROUP.

A HOUTHI SPOKESPERSON SAID AT LEAST NINE CIVILIANS WERE KILLED AND NINE OTHERS INJURED.

EARLIER THIS WEEK THE HOUTHIS SAID THEY WOULD RESUME ATTACKS ON ISRAELI SHIPS IN RESPONSE TO ISRAEL'S BLOCKADE ON GAZA, BUT NO ATTACKS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

IN A HIGHLY UNUSUAL MOVE, THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPELLED SOUTH AFRICA'S AMBASSADOR.

IN A POST ON X, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO SAID AMBASSADOR EBRAHIM RASOOL IS "A RACE-BAITING POLITICIAN WHO HATES AMERICA."

THE AMBASSADOR HAD CRITICIZED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN A WEBINAR FOR A SOUTH AFRICAN THINK TANK.

SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SAID HE WANTS TO REPAIR THE RELATIONSHIP AND MAINTAIN STRONG TIES WITH THE U.S.

THIS IS THE LATEST IN THE ESCALATING DISPUTE BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SOUTH AFRICA.

LAST MONTH PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OFFERING WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS A RAPID PATHWAY TO U.S.

CITIZENSHIP, SAYING THEY ARE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

EARLIER, MR. TRUMP CUT OFF AID TO SOUTH AFRICA.

JOURNALISTS AT THE FEDERALLY-FUNDED NEWS OUTLET VOICE OF AMERICA HAVE BEEN PUT ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

IN AN EMAIL SATURDAY, STAFF WAS ALSO TOLD THEY MUST BE AVAILABLE TO RETURN TO WORK ON ONE DAY'S NOTICE.

THE AGENCY THAT RUNS VOICE OF AMERICA WAS AMONG THOSE DISMANTLED UNDER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED ON FRIDAY.

VOA WAS CREATED IN 1942 TO COUNTER NAZI PROPAGANDA.

DURING THE COLD WAR IT SOUGHT TO BRING NEWS TO PEOPLE BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN.

TODAY IT BROADCASTS IN MORE THAN 40 LANGUAGES TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE OF 427 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND, TWO STRANDED ASTRONAUTS ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO COMING HOME.

A NEW CREW IS HEADING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ABOARD A ROCKET NASA AND SPACEX LAUNCHED LAST NIGHT.

THEY'LL REPLACE ASTRONAUTS BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS, WHOSE ONE WEEK MISSION STRETCHED TO NINE MONTHS WHEN TECHNICAL ISSUES PREVENTED THEIR RETURN TO EARTH.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND," HOW CHILDREN ARE BEING VICTIMIZED IN SUDAN'S BRUTAL CIVIL WAR.

AND, WHY MANY FROM GENERATION Z ARE DITCHING COLLEGE FOR TRAINING IN SKILLED TRADES.

♪ >> THIS IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FROM THE DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON, HOME OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR WEEKNIGHTS ON PBS.

♪ JOHN: THIS WEEK, THE HEAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF - TOLD GLOBAL LEADERS THAT SUDAN IS NOW HOME TO THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AND MOST DEVASTATING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

NEW UNICEF REPORT SAYS 30 MILLION PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF HUMANITARIAN AID, MORE THAN HALF OF THEM CHILDREN.

MANY THEM FACE THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A DAILY BASIS.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT IN FEWER THAN TWO YEARS OF CONFLICT, "THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT RISK OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED" TO MORE THAN "12 MILLION PEOPLE OR 25% OF THE POPULATION."

ALI ROGIN SPOKE WITH UNICEF SPOKESPERSON TESS INGRAM WHO RECENTLY TRAVELED TO SUDAN.

ALI: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR FINDINGS FROM THIS REPORT?

TESS: THIS REPORT TELLS US THAT WE'RE FACING A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IN SUDAN WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

IT IS BEING USED AS A WEAPON OF WAR TO INSTILL FEAR IN COMMUNITIES.

THE DATA WE GOT FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS IN SUDAN SHOWS THERE HAVE BEEN 221 CASES OF RAPE PERPETRATED AGAINST CHILDREN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2024.

AND IF THAT ALONE ISN'T SHOCKING, TELLS US THERE ARE REALLY YOUNG CHILDREN AND NOT COHORT AS YOUNG AS ONE YEAR OLD.

AND THE CASES OF RAPE ARE BEING PERPETRATED RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

IT IS WIDESPREAD TERROR WAGED ACROSS SUDAN.

JOHN: TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE CIVIL WAR FUELING THIS SEXUAL VIOLENCE?

MATTHEW: WE KNOW THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE EXISTED, INCLUDING BEING PERPETRATED AGAINST CHILDREN IN SUDAN BEFORE THIS CONFLICT, BUT WE HAVE SEEN IT RESURGE AGAIN, AND WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OF ARMED MEN AS THEY COME INTO A CITY TAKING YOUNG GIRLS FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND HOLDING THEM AGAINST THEIR WILL WE HAVE SEEN FAMILIES FLEEING, THE FEAR OF THE VIOLENCE AND DEATH ONLY TO FIND THEMSELVES UP OR HANDED OR PUT IN HARM'S WAY.

AGAIN WHEN PEOPLE GET TO PLACES THEY THINK ARE SAFE, THEY ARE NOT EVERY THE VIOLENCE FOLLOWS THEM.

THAT IS CONSISTENT ACROSS MANY LOCATIONS IN SUDAN UP UNTIL TODAY.

ALI: WE HAVE A SOUNDBITE FROM A VICTIM YOU INTERVIEWED ON THE GROUND WE'RE CALLING HER OMNIA.

, AND SHE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT WHAT SHE WITNESSED WHILE SHE WAS ABDUCTED AND HELD AND MISTREATED BY ARMED GROUPS.

THAT INCLUDED WITNESSING ACTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> I ENDURED THIS SUFFERING AND TORMENT FOR 19 DAYS.

THROUGHOUT THE NINETEEN DAYS, THERE WERE DAILY RAPES.

EVERY DAY THERE WERE RAPES, EVERY DAY THERE WAS A CRIME.

DURING THOSE NINETEEN DAYS, I LIVED IN HELL.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS.

THEY SUBJECTED US TO INSULTS, HUMILIATION, FEAR, TERROR, AND STARVATION.

ALI: IS THAT SIMILAR TO OTHER STORIES THAT YOU'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE REGION?

TESS: I SPENT TWO WEEKS IN SUDAN SPENDING TIME WITH THESE INCREDIBLY BRAVE SURVIVORS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, THE CULTURE IN SUDAN BLAMES THE SURVIVOR AND NOT THE PERPETRATOR, FILLED WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

SO THEY LEAVE WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SOCIAL STIGMA AND FEAR OF RETRIBUTION.

IT IS INCREDIBLY BRAVE FOR THESE SURVIVORS TO SPEAK.

YES, I INTERVIEWED DOZENS OVER TWO WEEKS HEARING THEIR STORIES , ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, BUT THE CONSISTENT PART WAS COME IN MOST CASES, THESE ARE CHILDREN.

THEY ARE YOUNG WOMEN WHO WERE TRYING TO SURVIVE AN AWFUL VIOLENT CONFLICT, ONLY TO BE RAPED AND IN MANY CASES PHYSICALLY BEATEN, THREATENED OR THEY HAD LOVED ONES KILLED IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE YOUNGEST SURVIVOR I INTERVIEWED WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.

THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANYBODY, LET ALONE TO CHILDREN IN SUCH A VULNERABLE POSITION.

ALI: WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON THE WIDER SOCIETY?

YOU KNOW, THE RELATIVES, FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE VICTIMS.

IS THIS HAPPENING IN PLACES THAT PEOPLE FLEEING THE VIOLENCE ARE SEEKING SAFETY AND SHELTER?

TESS: PEOPLE IN SUDAN NOW LIVE IN FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WHAT IT HAS DONE IS, IS CREATES MOTIVATION TO RUN AND TO LEAVE WHEN CONFLICT DESCENDS ON PEOPLE'S CITIES.

IT CAUSES MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT ALONGSIDE THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT THE CONFLICT BRINGS, LIKE MALNUTRITION AND LIKE BOMBARDMENTS.

BUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ALSO CAUSING PEOPLE TO BE DISPLACED.

MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN.

FRONTLINE WORKERS TALKED ABOUT CASES WITHIN COMMUNITIES WHERE DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE LIVING.

THEY BEAEA IS DARK, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A LONG WALK TO A WATER IN POINT.

THOSE SORTS OF SITUATIONS, THEY'RE AGAIN VULNERABLE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

ALI: HOW IS UNICEF HELPING THE SURVIVORS OF THESE ASSAULTS?

MATTHEW: WE ARE WORKING ACROSS SUDAN TO BRING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES SURVIVORS NEED.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

WE'RE DOING ADVOCACY WITH THE PARTIES TO THE CONFLICT TO REMIND THEM OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW TO PROTECT CHILDREN.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON PREVENTATIVE METHODS, SUCH AS TRAINING SESSIONS AND AWARENESS SESSIONS FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS AND YOUNG GIRLS.

WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE TO TRY AND HELP THOSE FAMILIES WHEN THEY FLEE GET TO PLACES THAT ARE SAFER.

IF THAT FAILS AND WE AREN'T ABLE TO PREVENT THE RAPE, THEN WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, LIKE MEDICAL KITS FOR HOSPITALS AND THE OTHER LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT THAT PEOPLE NEED.

JOHN: TESS INGRAM -- ALI: TESS INGRAM WITH AN IMPORTANT LOOK ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND IN SUDAN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MATTHEW: THANK YOU -- TESS: THANK YOU.

♪ JOHN: AS THE AVERAGE COST OF COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES SOARS, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING DRAWN TO SKILLED TRADES.

IT'S PART OF A CAREER RE-THINK AMONG GEN Z, WHO'VE BEEN CALLED THE TOOLBELT GENERATION.

HERE'S SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT CHRISTOPHER BOOKER.

>> THERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF HARNESSES, SEE WILL HELP HIM DRESS OUT.

REPORTER: THE TASK IS SIMPLE ENOUGH, BUT ON A SECURITY HARNESS, AND CLIMB UP.

>> IDENTIFY THREE ITEMS YOU SEE UP THERE.

REPORTER: THIS EXERCISE PART OF AN INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

FOR STUDENTS IT IS A FIRST STEP TOWARD A CAREER IN SKILLED TRADES.

THE CERTIFICATE THEY GET FROM COMPLETING THE CLASS OPENS THE DOOR TO ANY TRADE THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN.

>> YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE AND THIS PROGRAM IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WILL GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR.

THEY CAN BUILD UPON THIS AND GET INTO MORE SPECIFIC TRAINING.

PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, HVAC.

>> HOW DID YOU MAKE OUT AT THE CAREER FAIR?

>> THOMAS STEWART, A RETIRED STEAM FIGURE AND MEMBER OF THE LOCAL 21, HAS BEEN AN ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR SEVEN YEARS.

SINCE COVID HE SAID THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WALKING INTO HIS COURSES INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.

THE RISE IS HAPPENING NATIONWIDE.

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN VOCATIONAL FOCUSED COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS RISEN BY NEARLY 16% SINCE 2020.

>> SOMEHOW WORD MUST HAVE GOTTEN OUT, AND I HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR YEARS, THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF SKILLEDMEN.

- - SKILLED TRADESMEN.

THEY ARE STARTING TO REALIZE THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE TO MAKE GOOD MONEY.

THEY CAN MAKE SIX FIGURES.

I'M TAKING IT NICE AND EASY.

REPORTER: THROUGH LOCAL 21 HE RECEIVES HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

IN ITS EFFORT TO KEEP ROSTERS FILLED, LOCAL 21 OFFERS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS TO TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE IN EVERYTHING TO DO WITH PIPES FROM PLUMBING TO SPANGLER'S.

>> WHEN THEY ARE AN APPRENTICE YOU GET TO A SCENARIO WHERE YOU WILL BE WORKING AND STUDYING.

>> EARN AS YOU LEARN.

WE LIKE TO SAY IT LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN WORK YOUR EIGHT HOUR SHIFT DURING THE DAY, AND USUALLY IT IS TWO, SOMETIMES THREE NIGHTS A WEEK YOU GO TO SCHOOL.

REPORTER: WHEN SOMEONE ENTERS THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TODAY RECEIVED BENEFITS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, FROM THE START.

REPORTER: HEALTH CARE, PENSION?

>> YES.

REPORTER: THE STORIES VARY FROM STUDENT TO STUDENT.

SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING RIGHT FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

>> AFTER HIGH SCORE WENT TO COLLEGE AT PENN STATE, SPENT ABOUT TWO YEARS THERE STUDYING DATA SCIENCE AND ASTROPHYSICS.

BUT EVENTUALLY I DROPPED OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

REPORTER: AFTER TIME AT HOME CARSON FOUND AN ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION AS A MACHINIST.

>> ORIGINALLY THEY HAD ME DOING ODD JOBS AROUND THE SHOP, TRYING TO FIND WHAT MY ROLE WOULD BE AND EVENTUALLY GOT MOVED ONTO THIS MACHINE.

REPORTER: AN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROCESS, COMPUTER NUMERIC CONTROL ALLOWS A MACHINIST TO CREATE COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED PARTS.

HE SPENT THE LAST YEAR WITH WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKING TO EARN A ROSTER OF CNC CERTIFICATIONS.

REPORTER: WHEN YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS PURSUIT OF A TRADE AT ALL PART OF THE CONVERSATION?

>> NOT REALLY, NO.

IT WAS MOSTLY ABOUT WHAT FIELD OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING I WOULD BE IN.

DATA SCIENCE WAS CLOSE TO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH THE PROGRAMMING, AND MAKING THINGS, BUT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY HANDS.

SOMETHING THAT LEFT ME WITH A PHYSICAL THING.

REPORTER: WHILE HE CAME TO THE TRADES AFTER TWO YEARS IN COLLEGE, STEWART SAYS THE RENEWED INTEREST HAS MADE ITS WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.

>> IN OUR DEPARTMENT IT WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT.

REPORTER: SARAH HALL IS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW YORK.

>> WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING IN LOCAL TRADESMEN, SHEET METAL WORKERS.

WE ARE TRYING TO BRING THEM IN SO WE AS ADULTS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TRADES SO WE CAN BETTER INFORM OUR KIDS ON WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

REPORTER: HAS THE SCHOOL STARTED TO OFFER MORE BY WAY OF WHAT WOULD BE HISTORICALLY CALLED VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CLASSES?

>> YES, WE WILL START DEMOLITION ON OUR 75 ACRES AND ARE BUILDING A CAREER TECHNICAL BUILDING.

REPORTER: SO YOU ARE REALLY ALL IN.

WHAT ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WITH PARENTS?

HAS THAT CHANGED?

>> PARENTS ARE OPEN BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND SAY, THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE PATH YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT FOR YOUR CHILD, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL NO MATTER WHAT, WE JUST NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.

I THINK PARENTS' PERSPECTIVE WILL CHANGE AS SOCIETY CHANGES.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO DEMYSTIFY THE TRADES.

REPORTER: IN 2023, HALL SAYS 11% OF WHITE PLAINS GRADUATES EITHER WENT TO THE MILITARY OR A TRADE.

LAST YEAR IT WAS 13%.

>> TOP-TIER COLLEGES ARE OVER $90,000 A YEAR.

SOCIETY SAYS YOU HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE.

HAVING A COLLEGE DEGREE DOES HELP YOU FINANCIALLY, HOWEVER, MONEY DOES NOT EQUAL HAPPINESS.

REPORTER: WITH REPORTS THE U.S. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ALONE WILL NEED TO ATTRACT OVER 450,000 TO MEET INDUSTRY DEMAND THIS YEAR, MANY IN GEN Z CAN FIND OUT OF HARRIS IS CORRECT.

FREE PBS NEWS WEEKEND, I'M CHRISTOPHER BOOKER.

♪ ♪ JOHN: NOW ONLINE, TWO AND HALF YEARS AFTER BECOMING THE FIRST STATE TO BAN ABORTION AFTER ROE V. WADE WAS STRUCK DOWN, MISSOURI ABORTION CLINICS ARE REOPENING THEIR DOORS.

ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR.

AND THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR THIS SATURDAY.

TOMORROW, A LOOK AT THE DOGE LAYOFFS AT THE FAA AND WHAT THEY COULD MEAN FOR AVIATION SAFETY.

I'M JOHN YANG.

FOFOALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR PBS NEWS WEEKEND HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER PROFESSIONALS ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT PBS NEWS WEEKEND.

CFP PROFESSIONALS WORK IN THEIR CLIENT'S BEST INTERESTS.

MORE INFORMATION AT LETSMAKEAP LAN.ORG.

>> THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS -- ♪ >> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> YOU ARE WATCHING PBS.