Daily editionFriday, October 9th, 2026
Good morning, Fort Lauderdale.
The 5AM Fort Lauderdale Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of October.
Community
Families in Fort Lauderdale can enjoy several free Halloween celebrations this month, including the Riverwalk Fall Festival at Esplanade Park on Saturday, Oct. 17 & LauderBOO at Snyder Park on Saturday, Oct. 24.
More events across South Florida offer seasonal fun for all ages.
CBS News MiamiRead more
Business
Disney announced its new cruise ship the Disney Believe will start its first voyage in December 2027 from Port Everglades, offering four night cruises and five night cruises to the Bahamas & Caribbean islands as part of a fifteen year tourism agreement.
WSVN 7NewsRead more
Education
Carly Dorfman from Parkland was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer after she pushed for a mammogram.
She used her recovery time to revamp her KIDnection enrichment program by launching national training classes and an online language course that help parents teach sign language (a key tool for early communication).
WSVN 7NewsRead more
Health
Local breast cancer survivor Maria Velez, who underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation after a mammogram in (2022), now works with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness on early detection and the power of community support.
WSVN 7NewsRead more
A South Florida doctor noted that while the U.S. birth rate has fallen, more women over 35 (mature pregnancies) are giving birth due to changes in lifestyle and improved health options.
Local trends may signal evolving family planning choices.
CBS News MiamiRead more