SUMMARY: The historic Ruskin Family Drive-In in Tampa Bay is being revitalized after sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Milton, including the destruction of its iconic screen. Community support has surged, with local residents and businesses rallying to help. ABC Action News reporter Shawn Daly notes that this beloved drive-in, opened in 1952 by Ted and Karen Freewalt, has seen previous storms but faced unprecedented challenges this time. Generous donations, including plywood from 84 Lumber and contributions from a GoFundMe campaign, have poured in. The drive-in, cherished by many, plans to reopen this Thanksgiving, continuing its legacy with a “Hollywood ending.”

It’s not easy being a drive-in movie owner in Florida, especially when a nasty storm like Hurricane Milton blows through. An outdoor theater like the Ruskin Family Drive-In Theater has no place to hide. “He didn’t take pity on us,” said owner Karen Freiwald.

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SUMMARY: In Florida, vote-by-mail requests have surpassed those from the 2016 election, reaching 3.52 million ballots sent compared to 3.35 million then, a 5.07% increase. However, this is still down 27.3% from 2020, where 4.48 million ballots were cast by mail during the pandemic. Registered Democrats currently lead with 42.3% of mailed ballots, followed by Republicans at 36%. Early voting, which began on October 22, saw 1.31 million Republicans and 681,035 Democrats participating. In 2016, 18.4% of mailed ballots were not submitted, highlighting an ongoing trend in absentee voting.

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SUMMARY: After hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated Pinellas County, Florida, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri reported that 91% of looting arrests involved individuals in the country illegally. Following evacuation orders affecting 500,000 residents, the county faced extensive storm damage, with over 40,000 homes and 1,000 businesses impacted. During a period of increased patrols, deputies arrested 45 people for various crimes, primarily from Central and South America. The sheriff also highlighted the rise of unlicensed contractors scamming victims and noted ongoing undercover operations to prevent further exploitation. He warned potential thieves that they would face severe consequences if caught.

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