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The stories near you
• WUFT News: Hundreds of students forced to live in temporary hotel rooms, possibly left homeless after delay in promised housing. "On Sept. 16, several hotels across Gainesville were sold out for the UF versus Tennessee game. But for many students in Gainesville, that meant packing up their stuff and looking for a new place to live."
• WUFT News: UF drops to No. 6 among public universities on new US News rankings, climbs to No. 28 among all national universities. "UF’s new president, Ben Sasse, has said he wants to de-emphasize rankings because each ranking organization’s methodology can change suddenly, affecting a school’s arbitrary score."
• Florida Storms: A tropical system may impact Florida this weekend. "Parts of the Sunshine State will likely see an increase in the rain and wind this weekend as an area of disturbed weather may turn into a tropical system."
• WUFT News: Gainesville Regional Utility maintains power for customers amidst severe weather events. "Students were slammed with excessive heat warnings and a hurricane within the first two weeks of classes."
• Mainstreet Daily News: ACSO arrests eighth grader for bomb threats. "A 13-year-old eighth grader was arrested on multiple charges after she confessed to emailing bomb threats to Kanapaha Middle School and Buchholz High School early Monday morning."
• WUFT News: Florida turkey hunting season in full swing amid national shortages. "Florida isn’t experiencing the same turkey decline as other southeastern and midwestern states, meaning its turkey hunting season can essentially remain the same."
• WUFT News: From dance to research, celebrating the wide range of Hispanic culture. "From dancing to researching butterflies, scientists and artists displayed the wide influence of Latinx culture to mark Hispanic Heritage Month at the 11th annual Viva Museum, hosted by the Florida Museum and Gainesville Latino Film Festival."
• The Alligator: ‘We just can’t keep up’: Starbucks stores across Gainesville undergo a pumpkin spice crisis. "Since pumpkin spice and other fall flavors were released in stores Aug. 24, many Starbucks locations across Gainesville and UF have experienced significant shortages of syrups on several occasions, according to employees and customers."
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Around the state
• News Service of Florida: Florida sports betting fight is heading to the US Supreme Court. "In a case that could reshape gambling in Florida, owners of two pari-mutuel facilities told a federal appeals court they intend to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on whether a deal giving the Seminole Tribe control of sports betting throughout the state violates federal law."
• NPR: With about 1,500 ghost orchids left in Florida, groups sue to list it as endangered. "Ghost orchids grow in just a few places in Florida and Cuba. There are only about 1,500 left in Florida, and they are under threat from habitat loss and poachers. Now they are also the subject of a federal lawsuit."
• Florida Politics: State employees to get new paid maternity, family leave benefit. "New maternity and family leave benefits announced Monday make Florida the state employer with the 'most robust' paid leave policy for mothers who give birth — at least in the Southeast, officials say."
• News4Jax: Gov. DeSantis gives $1,000 bonuses to first responders for third year in a row. "Eligible recipients of the first responder recognition bonus payments are police officers, sheriff’s deputies, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and firefighters employed by local governments throughout the state."
• Associated Press: HBCU classics are like a family reunion in the Black community. "HBCU Classics are a beloved staple in the Black community. More than just competitions, they are a gathering point for fellowship as well as a means to spotlight and celebrate the rich history tied to HBCUs."
• WMFE-Orlando: Can climate change-related heat bring on more mosquito-borne diseases? "A team dressed head-to-toe, donning breathing masks, and armed with a motorized spray pack of insecticide spread out around a west Orlando neighborhood setting up an aerosol treatment barrier and knocking down any blood-sucking, disease-carrying insects."
• WUSF-Tampa: A deal is expected to keep the Tampa Bay Rays playing in St. Petersburg. "The city of St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rays and Pinellas County are making an announcement Tuesday at 10 a.m. that a deal has been finalized to build a new stadium for the team at the current site of Tropicana Field."
• WMFE-Orlando: Disney's Country Bear Jamboree closed briefly due to actual bear. "A Florida Black bear that climbed a tree at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was captured Monday after causing some parts of the theme park to close temporarily."
From NPR News
• Law: Hunter Biden sues IRS over release of his tax records
• National: Debris has been located in search for the F-35 jet that went missing
• Politics: Breaking with tradition, U.S. senators may now wear pretty much whatever suits them
• Business: Generac is recalling around 64,000 generators that pose a fire and burn hazard
• National: Should menstrual products for women on college campuses be free?
• National: A former Navy SEAL went to college at 52. His insight led to a new class
• Art: A Danish artist has been ordered to repay a museum after delivering blank canvases
Kristin Moorehead curated today's edition of The Point.