Black Friday in South Florida: Dispatches from the front of the line

12:30 AM, Dadeland Mall All retail stores were expected to open at midnight. But as of 12:30 a.m., neither the Apple store nor jewelry stores Tous or Mayors were open. Nearly 150 people were waiting outside of Apple. According to Guest Services, stores that were not open by midnight would be fined.Meanwhile, the rest of the mall buzzed with eager families and couples. Many...

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What’s open and closed for Thanksgiving

Thursday is Thanksgiving. Here is a list of what’s open and closed for the holiday on Thursday and Friday. Federal offices: Closed Thursday State offices: Closed Thursday and Friday Miami-Dade and Broward county offices: Closed Thursday and Friday Miami-Dade and Broward courts: Closed Thursday and Friday Public schools: Closed Thursday and Friday Post offices:...

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Brooklyn Recovery Fund dishes out $250,000 in grants to boost Sandy victims

A fund set up to support Brooklyn's recovery from Hurricane Sandy has awarded its first round of grants totaling $250,000 to 26 neighborhood organizations. Launched by the Brooklyn Community Foundation with support from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, the Brooklyn Recovery Fund raised $1.5 million in less...

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Small Business Saturday: the anti-Black Friday

Don’t want to brave the Black Friday craziness? You can get a head start on your holiday shopping, snag some deals and support local merchants by participating in Small Business Saturday.Nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is focused on promoting small business owners nationwide. Since it was started in 2010 by American Express, the promotional...

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Former foster children give thanks for Casa Valentina

Every holiday season for the last six years, Lynn Hausmann hosts a Thanksgiving gathering for Casa Valentina, the residential and life skills program for youth aging out of foster care.It’s what you do, she says, for the people you love.“It’s simple — we are family,” says Hausmann, a member of the organization’s board of directors. “This is about opening your heart and home.”...

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Lindsay Lohan Explains Why She Cancelled on Barbara Walters

Lindsay Lohan is opening up about the now-infamous cancellation of her pre-arranged sit down with Barbara Walters.The actress stopped by for an interview with Tonight Show host Jay Leno on Tuesday, who pressed Lohan on the drama surrounding herself and the veteran news woman.Related: Walters on Lohan: 'She Has A Lot of Problems'"It's all good. I spoke to all the people that she works with," she said,...

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Black Friday comes early

Turkey-stuffed New Yorkers will jam the doors of the area’s biggest stores tomorrow night as the Christmas shopping season opens earlier than ever.Retailers like Macy’s, Best Buy and Kmart, which used to open early on Black Friday, are now opening on Thanksgiving night — leading some in the retail business to rename the holiday Gray Thursday.WalMart, Target...

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Hottest tech products of fall 2012

Every year we roll out our fall list of the products getting the most attention from readers, and every year it ends up being a list dominated by phones. But not this year. No, this time you guys are spicing things up with a surprising mix of products. Here’s what’s getting your attention right now. Sony Vaio Tap 20 Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good) ...

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In humbler times for state House Republicans, Will Weatherford sets a more moderate tone

TALLAHASSEE -- Few state institutions bear a more distinct imprint of recent Republican hegemony than the Florida House of Representatives.It launched the political career of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who served as its speaker four years ago. Its members have passed some of the most conservative bills in the nation. And since 2006, it has nurtured the career of Will Weatherford...

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Oprah: There's Never Been a Star Like Bieber

Over the past 30 years, Oprah Winfrey has gotten to know the biggest stars on the planet, including Paul McCartney and the late Michael Jackson, but she says no other star has risen to fame like Justin Bieber.VIDEO: Oprah Cautions Bieber Against Marrying YoungIn her upcoming interview with the Biebs, Oprah says that the major difference that makes Bieber's rise to stardom unique is the role that social...

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