Forest Acres, S.C. – October 29, 2026 -- Before paying for a repair call, homeowners whose furnace has stopped working can run through a handful of simple checks that often fix the problem, according to a new HelloNation article.

The guide advises staying calm and ruling out minor issues before assuming a major failure. In Forest Acres, where temperatures can shift quickly, a malfunctioning heating system can cause discomfort if it is left unaddressed.

Start with the thermostat

An incorrectly set or unresponsive thermostat can stop a furnace from running. The article says to make sure it is set to heat and adjusted above the current room temperature. HVAC experts, including those at Mid-State Heating and Air LLC, frequently see thermostat problems as an early cause.

Austin – October 29, 2026 -- Most international travelers still pack both cash and plastic: 71% use local-currency cash abroad and 69% use a physical credit card, according to a new Upgraded Points survey of 1,500 adults who traveled internationally in the past 12 months.

The respondents included 1,000 U.S. adults and 500 adults from other countries. They answered questions about payment methods, cash habits, credit card use, airport currency exchanges and confidence with exchange rates.

Cash in the local currency is still in most wallets

More than 8 in 10 travelers (81%) carry cash in their destination's currency. Of those, 64% use it at street vendors, markets or small businesses, 55% use it for tips and other customary cash payments, and 53% keep it for emergencies.

Few people load up on it at once. About 44% exchange enough cash for several days, while 26% exchange enough for the full trip.

ORLANDO – October 29, 2026 -- Florida families facing food insecurity can get help with Thanksgiving dinner through The JOY FM's T-Shirts for Turkeys food drive, which Del-Air Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric is sponsoring as presenting sponsor again this year.

Listeners, businesses and community groups collect turkeys and gift cards

The drive brings together The JOY FM listeners, community organizations and business partners. They collect turkeys, along with monetary or grocery gift card donations, so local families can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. The radio station's Florida footprint includes Orlando, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Sarasota.

Del-Air became the drive's first presenting sponsor in 2025

In 2025, Del-Air became the first presenting sponsor in the drive's 21-year history. Employees across the company are taking part this year.

LOS ANGELES – October 29, 2026 -- EBONY has named six honorees to its 2026 Power 100 Court, who will be celebrated on stage at the EBONY Power 100 Gala on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Hollywood Palladium. Kirk Franklin will open the show, and T.I. will close it with live performances.

Six honorees span space, finance, media, music and sports

This year's Court includes:

• Grammy-winning singer and actress Brandy
• Byron Allen, founder of Allen Media Group
• Flau'jae Johnson of the WNBA's Seattle Storm
• Keith Lee, digital influencer and culinary tastemaker
• Lena Waithe, Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and actor
• Victor Glover, NASA Astronaut Emeritus

The Court represents the honorees whose work most fully embodies this year's theme, "The Stories We Shape." Each member will receive a dedicated tribute and accept the honor in person on the Palladium stage.

Berlin – October 28, 2026 -- A four-part documentary podcast called "Die Party ist vorbei" ("The Party Is Over") examines how safe sex-positive parties really are. All episodes arrive in ARD Sounds on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

One night leads from the club to the courtroom

The series follows Hannah (name changed), who goes to a sex-positive party looking forward to an evening of freedom. Her night ends in the emergency room and later in court. Her story raises wider questions: What happens when boundaries are crossed at these events? What do awareness concepts achieve, and who is responsible?

Munich – October 28, 2026 -- Orlando offers winter sun beyond the theme parks, with outdoor adventures, art festivals running from January 15 to March 1, and open-air dining, according to tourism board Visit Orlando.

Wekiva Springs and Gatorland put the adventure outdoors

Wekiva Springs State Park lets visitors swim in crystal-clear water, kayak and try stand-up paddling. At Gatorland, the Screamin' Gator Zip Line runs more than 300 meters over alligators and crocodiles.

The Harry P. Leu Gardens add a butterfly garden and about five kilometers of walking paths.

Two art festivals fill the winter calendar

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs from January 15 to March 1. It combines visual art, food and performing arts.

IMMERSE Fest, held February 19-21, 2026, turns ten blocks of Downtown Orlando into an interactive art festival with live performances and immersive installations.

Mainz – October 28, 2026 -- Two new episodes of ZDF's "Terra X: Chemie des Kochens" (Chemistry of Cooking) air on Sunday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Both are already available in the ZDF streaming portal.

Two new films follow the hit episodes "Feuer" and "Wasser"

The episodes are titled "Erde – wo Geschmack entsteht" (Earth – Where Flavor Begins) and "Luft – die unsichtbare Zutat" (Air – The Invisible Ingredient). Dr. Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim investigates the often overlooked forces that shape the aroma, texture and taste of food.

Truffles, sourdough and cream puffs anchor the questions

Why do truffles smell so intense? Why does sourdough bread rise? How does a cream puff get its characteristic hollow? Nguyen-Kim shows that the decisive processes often happen out of sight, deep in the soil or in the air.

NIIGATA, Japan – October 28, 2026 -- Skiers and snowboarders can ride three linked resorts in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, from Saturday, December 26, 2026, when YUZAWA SNOW LINK opens for the 2026-2027 winter season.

Tokyo is 71 minutes away by bullet train

GALA Yuzawa Station can be reached in as little as 71 minutes from Tokyo on the Joetsu Shinkansen. That makes the area workable for both day trips and overnight stays, and visitors can pair time on the snow with sightseeing in the surrounding area.

Three resorts share one connected ski area

YUZAWA SNOW LINK joins Yuzawa Kogen, GALA Yuzawa, and Ishiuchi Maruyama. The ski area offers 45 courses, from beginner to advanced. Each resort has its own mountain scenery and its own mix of difficulty levels, so skiers and snowboarders of different abilities and interests have options.

Beyond the slopes, the snow-covered mountain landscapes are part of the draw.

Clearwater – October 28, 2026 -- FASTer Way's reimagined app now includes Lumi, an AI guide that logs a meal from a photo or a short description, with the average meal taking less than 30 seconds.

Lumi turns a snapshot into a logged meal

A member photographs their plate or summarizes what they ate. Lumi identifies the food, calculates the macros and logs the meal automatically, with no searching or manual entry.

Members also share their dietary preferences. Lumi then creates recipes and ready-to-use shopping lists designed to hit their macro targets.

Lumi learns from every meal, workout and glass of water

The AI draws on everything a member logs, including meals, workouts, daily steps and water intake. It uses that data to suggest workouts, recommend meals and track progress in real time.

PALM BEACH GARDENS – October 28, 2026 -- Residents of The Country Club at Mirasol in Florida can now play pickleball year-round in a climate-controlled setting. The club has opened an 18,000-square-foot indoor complex that it describes as one of the largest dedicated indoor pickleball facilities in a South Florida country club community.

Seven regulation courts anchor the new facility

The complex has seven regulation-size courts. It also has a viewing area, a lounge, and dedicated retail and stretching areas.

It adds to the six outdoor courts at the club's family-friendly Sports Complex.