MIAMI BEACH – October 27, 2026 -- Patients in South Florida choosing a hospital for stomach and bowel surgery now have a data point: Mount Sinai Medical Center ranks first in the state for gastrointestinal surgery, according to Healthgrades, the site Americans use to search for doctors and hospitals.

Mount Sinai lands in the top 5 in Florida across six categories

Beyond its #1 spot in gastrointestinal surgery, the hospital placed #3 for cranial neurosurgery. It ranked #5 for cardiac care, cardiology services, neurosciences and stroke care.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Veterans with a federal VA rating can often add state property tax exemptions, income tax breaks, tuition waivers for dependents and housing help, but almost none of it is automatic. Most state benefits require a separate application, and the rules differ widely from state to state.

Federal compensation is only the floor

According to VetsForever, a veteran-founded organization, each state runs its own rules and deadlines on top of the federal baseline. Depending on where you live, that can include:

Florida – October 24, 2026 -- Disney's Carousel of Progress is closed for now, and its overhauled version is set to debut in late spring 2027 with new voices for Mom and Dad, an Audio-Animatronics Walt Disney, and four new time periods.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston step in as Mom and Dad

Host Neil Patrick Harris announced the casting at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Disney Legend Jamie Lee Curtis and Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston will voice the family's mother and father. Harris also previewed one new scene, set in the 1980s.

Orlando, Fla. – October 19, 2026 -- Evermore Orlando Resort is running a holiday program from Thanksgiving through January 1, 2027, with beach days, races, a foam party and a New Year's Eve lantern bash spread across its 1,100 acres.

Naples – October 16, 2026 -- Social Security and SSI payments for 76 million Americans will rise 3.6 percent in 2027, lifting the average retirement benefit by about $75 a month. Finance and insurance professional Bobby Garon says many retirees will see a smaller bump in their bank accounts than that headline suggests.

The 2027 COLA is the largest since 2023

The Social Security Administration announced the cost of living adjustment (COLA) on October 14. It is up from 2.8 percent in 2026 and is the largest since 2023's 8.7 percent increase.

Tamarac, Florida – October 16, 2026 -- Families weighing long-term care in South Florida have a new data point: Tamarac Rehabilitation & Health Center, operated by Sabal Health, ranked #20 among facilities with 100-149 beds on Newsweek's America's Best Nursing Homes list for 2027.

Newsweek and Statista screened 14,693 nursing homes

Newsweek compiles the list each year with global data research firm Statista. The 2027 edition highlights 1,325 of the nation's top nursing homes out of 14,693 analyzed.

Ocala – October 15, 2026 -- Whether a car dent can be fixed with paintless dent repair (PDR) depends on the paint, the metal and the dent's shape and location, not just its size. That is the message of a HelloNation article featuring Prescott Fairfield of Precision Dent Removal in Ocala, Florida.

Intact paint and flexible metal come first

PDR may be appropriate when the paint is intact and the metal underneath can be carefully reshaped. Stretched metal or similar damage can make repair harder, because the panel may no longer respond as needed.

Plant City, Fla. – October 15, 2026 -- Florida families weighing term against whole life insurance can now turn to a HelloNation guide that compares the two, from 10-, 20- and 30-year term policies to lifetime coverage with a cash value component.

Pace – October 14, 2026 -- Families planning extended RV trips can make daily life easier by checking campground features such as utility hookups, internet access and play areas before they book. Judy Brown, an RV Park Resort Expert at Vacay Village of Pensacola, outlines the practical amenities in a HelloNation article.

Chicago – October 12, 2026 -- Allstate customers hit by Hurricane Isaias can file claims around the clock and visit five mobile claims centers in Alabama and Florida for in-person help.

Customers can file claims 24/7 through five channels

Allstate asks customers with storm damage to file as soon as it is safe. Filing early starts the claims process and connects customers with support resources. Claims can be filed on Allstate.com, in the Allstate Mobile app, by calling 1-800-54-STORM (1-800-547-8676), through an Allstate agent or at a mobile claims center.