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• Fresh Take Florida: US Blames Iran For Sending Threatening Emails To Democrats In Florida. "The Trump administration’s top U.S. intelligence chief blamed Iran late Wednesday for sending threatening emails to Democratic voters in Florida this week that were made to appear to come from the violent, far-right group Proud Boys.  The emails directed voters to cast ballots for President Donald Trump or 'we will come after you.'"

• NPR News: Not Just Florida: Voters In Alaska Also Receive Emails Warning ‘Vote For Trump Or Else!’ "There have also been reports of similar emails being sent to voters in Arizona and Pennsylvania, but local officials in those states have not made any statements announcing investigations."

• Associated Press: No. 10 Florida, Mullen plan to resume practice next week. "No. 10 Florida is planning to return to its football facility Monday, nearly two weeks after the program shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak."

• WUFT News: 'None of Us Are In the Same Place': Theaters Improvising To Stay Active Amid COVID-19. "Steven Butler says he tried to keep the Actor’s Warehouse open in Gainesville for as long as he could. The old church doors had been shut since March, and with little income coming in, the community theater had exhausted its options to maintain the space. On Sept. 30, the 9-year-old theater said goodbye to the former church building at 619 NE 1st St."

• WUFT News: Light Up Ocala Rescheduled For November 2021 Due To Pandemic. "Light Up Ocala is a community event that attracts thousands to downtown Ocala annually. Due to the pandemic, the Ocala City Council has agreed to reschedule the event for November 2021."

• WUFT News: Alachua County’s Inaugural Poet Laureate Turns Passion Into Public Service. "In January, Stanley Richardson, 58, became Alachua County’s first poet laureate. He’s also founder of a nonprofit that encourages people to express themselves through the spoken word."

• Gainesville Sun ($): GPD inspector named Clemson police chief. "Chief Inspector Jorge Campos from the Gainesville Police Department has been selected to become police chief in Clemson, South Carolina, ending a 28-year career with the agency."

• Associated Press: Sheriff: Deputy Shot Man Who Pointed Rifle During Standoff. "A sheriff's deputy fatally shot a 61-year-old man who investigators say pointed a rifle at law enforcement officers early Wednesday, ending a 12-hour standoff in Hernando County."

• WUFT News: Student-Run Instagram Shops Thrive During Coronavirus Pandemic. "Many clothing stores across the country shut their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing University of Florida students who run Instagram shops with an opportunity to reach new customers and expand their businesses."

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Around the state today

• Associated Press: Florida Health Officials Question COVID-19 Death Data. "Florida health officials held off of releasing their normal coronavirus update Wednesday as they announced a more thorough review of all fatalities reported to the state."

• WLRN: South Florida Teachers Are Making Their Own Personal Protective Equipment — Against District Rules. "A recent policy from the School District of Palm Beach County bans homemade desk shields, citing fire codes."

• Florida Politics: Rick Scott calls for cruises to resume. "The current CDC no-sail order extends through the end of October 2020, and the Senator clearly believes even that is too long to wait without usable guidance to bring the sector back. '150,000 jobs in Florida,' Scott said. 'Just tell the cruise industry, come up with a plan of how they can get back to work safely.'"

• WFSU: Visit Florida Expands Marketing Efforts To Rebound State's Tourism Industry. "Visit Florida is expanding its marketing efforts after the coronavirus severely impacted the state’s tourism industry. The agency is hoping to convince tourists within driving distance of Florida to vacation in the Sunshine State."

• News Service of Florida: Florida Secretary Of State Laurel Lee Blasts Attempt To Scuttle Constitutional Amendment. "With millions of votes already cast in the November general election, Secretary of State Laurel Lee late Tuesday asked the Florida Supreme Court to reject a last-minute attempt to kill a proposed constitutional amendment that would overhaul the state’s primary-election system."

• WLRN: Florida Plan Would Ease Wetlands Permitting. That's A Problem, Environmentalists Say. "The state has been looking into assuming control of the federal wetlands permitting program off and on since 1992. Wednesday, the EPA held the first of two public hearings on the state application submitted in August."

• Bradenton Herald ($): Piney Point is a threat to Tampa Bay. Buchanan says it’s time to get help from the EPA. "Growing pools of contaminated wastewater are threatening Tampa Bay, and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is urging the federal government to get involved."

• WUSF: Hillsborough Schools Announce $38 Million In Raises While Teacher Cuts Loom. "The Hillsborough County Public School District announced a tentative plan Tuesday to raise starting pay for new teachers, just a week after saying that hundreds of teacher jobs would be cut."

• WFLA: Family finds two-headed snake in Palm Harbor home. "The snake, a southern black racer, was found at the home of Kay Rogers in Palm Harbor, wildlife officials said. The rare phenomenon is called bicephaly. Bicephaly happens when a developing embryo begins to separate, but fails to split into twins, leaving both heads conjoined onto a single body."

From NPR News

• Health: CDC Reduces Consecutive Minutes Of COVID-19 Exposure Needed To Be A 'Close Contact'

• World: A Look At Coronavirus Outbreaks Outside The U.S.

• World: Pope Francis Calls For Same-Sex Civil Union Law In New Documentary

• Politics: Anxious Democrats Don't Trust Biden's Lead. His Campaign Is Fine With That

• Business: Oil Jobs Are Big Risk, Big Pay. Green Energy Offers Stability And Passion

• Business: Google Lawsuit Marks End Of Washington's Love Affair With Big Tech

• Business: Quibi, Short-Form Streaming Service, Shutting Down

• Business: GM Reintroduces Hummer As Fully Electric Truck, 1st Model Will Sell For $112,595

• National: U. Of Michigan Students Under Stay-In-Place Order, But Football Can Still Kick Off

About today's curator

I'm Ethan Magoc, a news editor at WUFT. Originally from Pennsylvania, I've found a home telling Florida stories. I’m part of a team searching each morning for local and state stories that are important to you; please send feedback about today's edition or ideas for stories we may have missed to emagoc@wuft.org.