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Today's top Florida stories

• Fresh Take Florida: Florida’s college football stadiums have been packed, but so far no apparent pandemic outbreaks. "College football stadiums across Florida with tens of thousands of non-masked, screaming students and boosters packed closely together have so far resulted in no recognizable community outbreaks amid the pandemic, according to infection figures on the state’s biggest campuses."

• The Alligator: Alachua County Public Schools bomb threats persist despite arrests. "Three students were charged Wednesday with making bomb threats at Eastside High School, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s office. The incident marked the seventeenth threat against Alachua County Public Schools since Aug. 19."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Surging natural gas prices will cause GRU electric bills to increase. "Gainesville Regional Utilities customers could soon see their electric bills increase even more than the 7% rate hike that kicked in last week. The company, like others throughout the state, is planning to increase its fuel adjustment charge portion of the bill due to major spikes in the cost of natural gas."

• News Service of Florida: Could Florida erase the federal grants awarded to cover defiant districts' penalties? A decision may come soon. "The State Board of Education will meet Thursday and is considering disciplinary action against school boards that set student mask mandates to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

• Spectrum News: Citrus County residents wade through record rainfall this rainy season. "To date, engineers have recorded about 50 inches of rain from June to September. The last time Citrus County averaged close to 50 inches of rain was during the 1960 wet season, and before that was in 1945."

• Florida Politics: Gwen Graham confirmed as Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education. "A former Congresswoman from North Florida and 2018 candidate for Governor officially has a new role. The U.S. Senate confirmed Gwen Graham Wednesday to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs for the Department of Education."

• WUSF: How to manage 'disruptive' school board meetings? Sarasota can't agree. "Foul language, threats, debates over mask-wearing, arguments over 'critical race theory,' and accusations of political interference with the curriculum are commonplace during public comment periods at school board meetings across the country. But what can be done without trampling on the right to free speech."

• Politico: Florida GOP demand puts DeSantis in awkward spot: Audit Trump’s 2020 win. "The Republican Party of Lake County near Orlando last week adopted and sent a resolution to the governor, top legislators and other elected officials that demanded a full audit of the entire election. The move dovetails with a bill filed by a GOP legislator from the same county who wants the Florida Legislature to order a review."

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From NPR News

• Health: The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests

• Health: COVID deaths leave thousands of U.S. kids grieving parents or primary caregivers

• National: A U.S. judge blocks enforcement of Texas' controversial new abortion law

• Climate: You can now search for flights on Google based on carbon emissions

• Science: New brain maps could help the search for Alzheimer's treatments

• World: If You Love Potatoes, Tomatoes Or Chocolate Thank Indigenous Latin American Cultures

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.