FEMA Extends Hurricane Claim Deadline

Florida residents have until Tuesday, Jan. 7, to apply for disaster relief from FEMA for damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Those affected can apply by stopping at a disaster recovery center or online at disasterassistance.gov.

The previous deadlines had been Nov. 27 for Helene and Dec. 11 for Milton. Separate claims need to be filed for each storm.

Thanksgiving Week Travel Tips

For those flying this week, the TSA recommends downloading the MyTSA app, which provides real-time wait times at Florida airports. You can access the app here.

The TSA reports that airline passenger traffic is expected to be up as much as 7% over last year, heading into the busiest travel season of the year.

If you’re considering traveling by train, Brightline will operate its normal schedule throughout the week, including on Thanksgiving Day. Beginning Thursday, the railway is offering limited-time savings.

For those driving during the holiday, the best day to travel by car is Thanksgiving Day, when traffic is lighter. The busiest days to drive are Tuesday and Wednesday.

List: ‘Best Roadside Restaurants in the South’

Two Florida restaurants are included in Southern Living’s “15 Best Roadside Restaurants In The South.” You can see the full list here.

Sebastian’s Roadside Restaurant was selected for its comfort food offered at reasonable prices. Established in 2013, this roadside standout is located in a 75-year-old Florida home.

Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo is the other Florida location on the list. Open since 1976, the restaurant is named for the original owner’s mother and specializes in fresh seafood and homemade key lime pie.

➤ Statewide: Flu cases remain low in Florida and across the country ahead of this week’s busy travel season, according to CDC data. (See Flu Map)

➤ Meanwhile, the State Surgeon General issued a recommendation against community water fluoridation, citing risks associated with fluoride exposure. Seventy percent of Florida residents receive fluoridated water. (More)

➤ Royal Palm Beach: A candlelight walk was held Saturday to honor Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller, who were killed while conducting traffic enforcement on Thursday. A third deputy, Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, was injured and remains in critical condition. (See Photos)

➤ Boynton Beach: Built in 1907, the Andrews House, the city’s oldest home, was demolished on Monday. The house had been converted into a museum, which closed in 2011. (See Photo)

➤ Polk County: The Sheriff’s Office is holding a funeral for Mack Lavelle Proctor, a previous “John Doe” murdered in the county 52 years ago. Proctor’s identity was recently determined by cold case detectives, who will serve as pallbearers. (More)

➤ Brevard County: Health officials are monitoring wildlife around a Titusville country club after a rabid fox was found there. (More)

➤ Miami football improved three spots to No. 8 on this week’s AP Top 25 poll. The official College Football Rankings will be revealed tonight. (See Poll)

➤ The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 123-118 in a thrilling overtime battle. (Watch Highlights)

➤ Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will return to practice this week with hopes of being able to start on Sunday against the division-leading Houston Texans. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW 

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➤ Florida is one of more than 20 states with a child poverty rate of 14% or higher, according to U.S. Census data. (See Map)

➤ Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland wants the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to bankroll an aviation training center to prepare people to work as aircraft maintenance technicians and air traffic controllers. (More)

➤ The Sunshine State has three of the top 10 job-magnet suburbs everyone wants to move to in 2024, according to moveBuddha.com. Winter Garden lands at No. 4. (See Report)

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➤ A West Palm Beach woman created an A.I. “husband” named Jack after the end of a long-term relationship left her feeling lonely. (See Details)

➤ Former Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak was appointed to serve as president and CEO of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Miami Host Committee. (More)

➤ Alachua County has called Rodney Long its Thanksgiving hero for nearly two decades. The former city commissioner spearheads the Strike Out Hunger Food Giveaway in Gainesville. (See Photos)

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Do you stuff your turkey?

1. Yes
2. No

Monday’s Results:

What type of cranberry sauce do you eat on Thanksgiving?

1. Jellied out of a can: 25.9%
2. Fresh or homemade: 23.4%
3. No cranberry sauce: 19.3%
4. Whole canned berries: 16.3%
5. With another fruit: 15.1%

What type of cranberries are grown in Florida?

Show me the answer