Subscribe to The Point to invite us into your inbox with the most important Florida news from Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.

The stories near you

• News4Jax: Community says ‘irreplaceable’ Lake City fire chief’s COVID-19 death ‘absolutely tragic.’ "Lake City Fire Department Chief Randy Burnham died Sunday after contracting COVID-19, the department announced."

• WFLA-Tampa: Hernando County deputy, father of 7, dies after being hospitalized with COVID-19. "Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis announced Sunday that one of his deputies died after contracting COVID-19. Nienhuis said Detective Tommy Breedlove, 54, died late Saturday night after recently being hospitalized with the virus."

• News Service of Florida: Appeal Spurs New Round of Battling Over School Masks. "An appeal filed Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration put on hold a Leon County circuit judge’s ruling against the state in a battle over school mask mandates — but attorneys for a group of parents quickly requested that the ruling be allowed to take effect."

• WMFE: Interview: Ocala Pastors Agree To Moratorium On Indoor Funerals And Memorial Services. "Twenty-seven pastors and six funeral homes in Marion County have signed onto a moratorium on indoor memorial services and funerals, holding them outdoors until the end of the year. They are hoping to keep their communities — mostly communities of color — safe amid the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths."

• Citrus County Chronicle: Wilton Simpson files to run for state ag commissioner. "Simpson represents Florida District 10, which encompasses much of Pasco and all of Citrus and Hernando counties. He has championed various environmental projects for Citrus County, including the cleanup of King’s Bay through Save Crystal River."

• This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York City and Virginia.
Were you or a loved one directly affected by the events that day? WUFT would like to hear your story and share it with others. Please email one of our reporters at noraoneill@ufl.edu if you would like to share your experience.

Do you value local journalism?

WUFT is here for you with vital coverage during complex times. We exist to serve north central Florida and are committed to keeping you up to date with the latest news from your community, the state and the world. If you’re able to do so, please consider making a donation to WUFT to keep us going strong. Support WUFT and your trusted journalism source.

Around the state

• Associated Press: A Florida Gunman Killed 4, Including A Mother Who Was Still Cradling Her Baby. "A man wearing full-body armor fatally shot four people, including a mother and the 3-month-old baby she was cradling, a Florida sheriff said Sunday. The shooter, a former Marine, then engaged in a gunfight with police and deputies before he was wounded and surrendered. An 11-year-old girl who was shot seven times survived."

• Miami Herald ($): In Florida, new COVID-19 cases have dipped among adults but not for people under 20. "...for at least one group of Floridians, the pandemic is still surging: People under 20, who made up nearly 1 in 3 of all new COVID-19 cases during the week ending Aug. 26."

• WJCT: St. Johns Public Schools See 25 Times As Many COVID Cases, Year Over Year. "Two and a half weeks into the school year in 2020, there were just five COVID cases among district employees. This school year, there were 89."

• WFSU: Florida Farmers Still Hurting Even After New Trade Agreement With Mexico, Canada. "According to a new report from the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida has been losing its market share for certain seasonal produce, while Mexico's market share for those same products has been rising. Fried agrees that Mexico is dumping."

From NPR News

• Health: Coronavirus FAQ: What's The Advice About Traveling In The Delta Variant Era?

• Health: 6 Tips For Coping With COVID Anxiety This Fall And Winter

• Health: 6 Strategies To Make Classrooms Safer As The Delta Variant Spreads

• Health: Across The COVID-Ravaged South, High-Level Life Support Is Difficult To Find

• National: Divers Are Investigating The Source Of Oil Spill Off The Coast Of Louisiana

• National: Why Ida Hit The Northeast So Hard, 1,000 Miles Away From Its Landfall

• National: Descendants Of The Enslaved Sheltered From Ida In A Historic Plantation's Big House

• Climate: Climate Change Is Threatening Komodo Dragons, Earth's Largest Living Lizards

• National: Gun-Maker Sued In Sandy Hook Shooting Wants The School Records Of Slain Children

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.