Washington – October 19, 2026 -- Nearly three in four Americans (74%) now own at least one pet, and 98% of pet owners report at least one health benefit from it, according to a new benchmark survey from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI).

Another 15% of Americans plan to get a pet. Multi-pet homes are common: 64% of owners report more than one pet. The survey counted an average of three pets per household across all pet types, and 2.2 when only dogs and cats are counted.

Peekskill, N.Y. – October 19, 2026 -- Families weighing homecare options can now listen to the relaunched "Embracing Angels" podcast, hosted by Robert Dalton, CEO of Angels on Call Homecare, with an opening episode that explains private-pay home care.

The podcast widens its focus beyond end-of-life care

Embracing Angels first launched in 2024 with a focus on end-of-life experiences. The new run covers aging, caregiving, and long-term care more broadly.

MIAMI – October 19, 2026 -- Drivers in Miami can get a car wash and a scare on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 5 to 9 p.m., when El Car Wash at 6695 W. Flagler St. turns its tunnel into a "Tunnel of Terror." Every car that goes through gets two free tickets to House of Horror Haunted Carnival, while supplies last.

Blue Ridge – October 19, 2026 -- Owners of vacation rental cabins in Blue Ridge, Georgia, can expect fees to vary by property size, service level and rental demand, according to a new HelloNation article featuring real estate expert Nathan Fitts of Nathan Fitts & Team.

Austin, Texas – October 19, 2026 -- Fans heading to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix can now drink in the shade of a 17-foot-tall cowboy hat, complete with a fully operational bar underneath. Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and Austin-based Westernwear brand Tecovas unveiled the "World's Largest Cowboy Hat" at the track, and Guinness World Records officials certified it on-site on October 19, 2026.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- Parents and school administrators are being urged to take three steps against social media-related school violence threats after a so-called "National Day of School Violence" spread online this week.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- Parents can cut the risk of teen drug poisoning by setting app permissions, locking down privacy settings and talking openly about fentanyl, according to the Organization for Social Media Safety. The group says its own testing found it takes about three minutes to connect with a drug dealer on social media and receive a "menu" of drugs for sale.

Rochester, N.Y. – October 19, 2026 -- Families comparing schools in the Rochester area have a new data point: The Harley School has been named the #1 Best Private High School and the #1 Best Private K-12 School in both Monroe County and the Rochester area on Niche's 2027 Best Schools list.

Harley's STEM programs rank #2 on Niche's list

Niche also ranked Harley #2 for Best High School STEM Programs. According to the school, that is the highest ranking for any private school in the area.

Ypsilanti – October 19, 2026 -- Eastern Michigan University is offering eligible students a $4,000 scholarship to join its Marching Band, and students do not need to major in music to qualify.

The scholarship pays $1,000 a year for four years

The award is open to all students who meet the marching band requirements, whatever their academic major. Only about 40% of band members are music majors. Students from disciplines across the university make up the rest.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- The anonymous messaging app NGL has passed 15 million installs in recent weeks, and a child-safety advisory now urges parents to keep their kids away from such apps.

Anonymous messages have been linked to teen deaths

These apps let users message others without revealing who they are. The advisory says that ability is exploited by people who want to cyberbully, defraud, or molest.