Autism in the spotlight, autonomous vehicles in U.S. cities, and the multiplied influence of one fifth-grade teacher. Plus, New Zealand’s most popular bird, Cal Thomas on balancing the budget, and the Thursday morning news

Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate

Additional support comes from Asbury University — where students are known, supported, and prepared to lead. Customized visits available. asbury.edu/visit

From Barnabas Aid. The ministry of Barnabas Aid is to provide help for our brothers and sisters where they are suffering the most. The projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders on the ground. We also partner with gleaning organizations across North America, sending dehydrated food to the neediest countries, including recently to Haiti and Cuba. More at barnabasaid.org

And from WatersEdge, offering church building loans that are ministry-backed, ministry-built, and ministry-bound. watersedge.com/loans