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Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS | Get the local news and weather where you live from 5NEWS. Covering Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and all of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Recalls

Yes, there is a ground beef recall, but not for beef sold at grocery stores

Money

Yes, the average Thanksgiving meal this year is more affordable than last year

Cheaper turkey prices nationwide have helped the overall cost of a Thanksgiving dinner come down from a record high in 2022.
Medicare

No, traditional Medicare doesn't offer grocery cards or other non-medical benefits

Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are private health insurance plans not run by the government like traditional Medicare, may offer grocery cards.
Winter Guide

No, drinking alcohol doesn’t help you stay warm in cold weather

Contrary to popular belief, drinking an alcoholic beverage doesn’t help keep you warm in the cold. It actually cools you down instead.
Holiday

Safely thawing your Thanksgiving turkey: 5 VERIFIED tips

How long should you thaw your Thanksgiving turkey in the fridge or water? Is it safe to defrost it in the microwave or at room temperature? Here's what we found.
Holidays

No, hot food doesn’t need to cool down before going in the fridge

U.S. food and health agencies say it’s a myth that hot food shouldn’t go in the refrigerator.
Holiday

VERIFYING which Thanksgiving foods are safe for pets

Much of the Thanksgiving meal is dangerous for pets because of fats, oils, spices, seasonings and other ingredients that can be toxic to them.
Holidays

No, eating turkey does not make you sleepy

Eating a few slices of turkey isn’t enough to put you to sleep on Thanksgiving. Instead, experts say eating a lot of carbs can help induce that post-meal nap.
Holidays

Refrigerated Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to eat for 4 days

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the Monday after Thanksgiving is the last day people can safely eat refrigerated leftovers.
Recalls

Yes, there is a recall on nearly 12 million pounds of meat and poultry products over listeria concerns

BrucePac is recalling roughly 6,000 tons of ready-to-eat meals sold at Walmart, Target and other stores because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.
Health

No, raw milk is not safe to drink

Over the years, people online have spread the idea that raw milk can improve gut health and treat allergies. But these are myths.
Project 2025

What we can VERIFY about Project 2025’s plans for the Head Start program and free school lunches

VERIFY readers asked us if Project 2025 plans on cutting the Head Start program and free school lunch. It’d eliminate Head Start and reduce the free lunch program.