Five Questions With Lakeland Fire Dept. Chief Gary Ballard

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami cornerback Damari Brown appeared ready to play before the Hurricanes’ game against Wake Forest, but he did not take the field. Brown, who has been out with an injury since Week 1, warmed up and was dressed in full uniform before UM’s game against Wake Forest but was on the sideline in a hooded sweatshirt during the game. Brown, an American Heritage alum, got significant playing time as a true freshman in 2023 and was expected to play a large role this year before suffering an undisclosed injury against the Gators in the opener.

MIAMI GARDENS — There’s a very real chance that Sunday’s game between the Dolphins and Patriots could be a trap game. It has all the elements for the Dolphins. A so-called trap game is when you look past your current opponent (New England), usually a bad team, and look ahead to the next opponent (Green Bay on Thanksgiving), usually a good team. You fall into the trap of overlooking your current opponent and lose. The Dolphins say there’s no chance of that happening. The Dolphins (4-6), who likely need to win five of their remaining seven games to earn a wild-card playoff berth, maintain their sole focus is on the Patriots (3-8). The Dolphins have won back-to-back games and they’re riding high, buoyed by a mixture of confidence and strong performances. “The mindset is obviously we’re in playoff football right now,” wide receiver Tyreek Hill said.

Katy Read | (TNS) The Minnesota Star Tribune MINNEAPOLIS — Dariia Misko sounded remarkably calm as she described her life in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she frequently hears what sounds like popcorn popping in the distance. The sound is attacks by military drones from Russia. “I have repeatedly heard explosions and the work of air defense,” said Misko, a 26-year-old Ukrainian studying for a master’s degree in psychology at a university in Kyiv.

Stephanie Yang and Xin-yun Wu | (TNS) Los Angeles Times TAIPEI, Taiwan — Amid China’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, queer influencers are using creative strategies, subtle hashtags and coded language to stay one step ahead of social media censors and provide much-needed support to the community. A decade ago, LGBTQ+ communities were gaining greater visibility and acceptance in China’s traditionally conservative society.

Stephanie Zito | (TNS) Bankrate.com Key takeaways —Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses travelers for prepaid expenses when their trip is canceled or interrupted due to circumstances beyond their control. —This coverage only applies in specific situations such as illness, injury, natural disasters or financial defaults by travel providers. —Optional coverage options, such as “cancel for any reason” or “interrupt for any reason” insurance, can provide more flexible coverage but come with a higher cost. —Many top travel credit cards include trip cancellation and interruption insurance as a cardholder perk. Whether you get travel insurance through a policy you purchase or from a travel credit card, you’ve probably noticed that most plans include a trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefit. This perk is one of the most common travel insurance benefits and also one of the most valuable.

By Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju Thanksgiving used to mean one thing: A long day in the kitchen, pots bubbling and every oven rack occupied. But in 2024, hosts are finding ways to reclaim their holiday time without sacrificing the feast. It turns out, ordering Thanksgiving takeout isn’t just an option – it’s becoming the new normal. Gone are the days when hosting Thanksgiving meant hours in the kitchen, orchestrating a dozen dishes while trying to keep every detail just right.