Comment on New year, same economy | Sheneman cartoon

Three weeks after leaving the Florida Senate because of term limits, Lauren Book is running to return to Tallahassee. “Quite simply, my work is not done,” Book said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Residents deserve bipartisan solutions to the real problems our communities face, and as one of the most effective Democratic members of the Florida Senate in recent history, I have a proven track record of working across the aisle to achieve meaningful results.” Book, a Broward Democrat, filed paperwork on Monday to run for a different state Senate seat than the one she vacated. The move has been the subject of discussion among political insiders, and was expected.

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB, Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli warplanes struck central Beirut and the city’s southern suburbs on Tuesday, raising smoke over the Lebanese capital ahead of a planned vote by Israel’s leadership on whether to accept a U. S.-brokered ceasefire aimed at ending more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah militants. The Israeli military issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold.

Turkey, cocktails and a side of tribal politics. A recipe for Thanksgiving disaster? As relatives you may see only once or twice a year swoop in for the holiday, some Thanksgiving hosts are getting nervous, desperately trying to figure out seating charts that separate those who can’t get enough of the recently elected/former president from those who have already had a bellyful of the man.

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Married couples across the U. S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings. But some advocates for women worried as old comments from now Vice President-elect JD Vance circulated during the presidential campaign opposing no-fault divorce.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My brother is intelligent, educated, well-spoken and has a responsible job. He is also openly racist, misogynistic and homophobic — all for religious reasons, of course. To his credit, he never brings these subjects up, but if they do come up, he’s not at all bashful about articulating his bigoted views. His response to criticism is that he’s just as entitled to his opinions as liberals are to theirs, and he’s just as entitled to express his opinions as liberals are to express theirs.

Following an encouraging starting debut in Saturday’s romp of Football Championship Subdivision lightweight Charleston Southern, FSU rookie quarterback Luke Kromenhoek likely will start again Saturday against rival Florida, coach Mike Norvell indicated. With that declaration comes a dab of history. For the first time in at least 40 years — and potentially longer — the Gators-’Noles showdown will feature two true freshman quarterbacks.