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GAINESVILLE — Florida starting receiver Vernell Brown III will miss his first Georgia game with a shoulder injury, leaving the Gators without one their most dynamic weapons and productive players.

The former Orlando Jones standout and tailback Jadan Baugh are tied with 726 all-purpose yards, including a team-high 451 receiving yards for Brown. Among the true freshman’s team-leading 32 receptions are three of UF’s four pass plays of at least 40 yards.

The 5-foot-11 ¼, 178-pound Brown has been a bright spot on an offense averaging an SEC-low 17 points against FBS competition. But he injured a shoulder during the Gators’ 23-21 homecoming win Oct. 18 against Mississippi State.

The ailment isn’t considered significant enough to sideline Brown for long.

Meanwhile, interim head coach Billy Gonzales, the Gators’ longtime receivers coach, also ruled out redshirt sophomore receiver Aidan Mizell. The absence of Brown and Mizell, a former Orlando Boone star, will require true freshman phenom Dallas Wilson, who has 11 catches and three touchdowns in three games, and UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant (15 catches, 214 yards, one score) to shoulder more responsibility.

Redshirt sophomore Tre Wilson will also receive more opportunities during a disappointing season featuring just 118 receiving yards on 18 catches. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman TJ Abrams, who averages 16.2 yards on six catches, also could have a larger role as the Gators aim to play more multi-receiver packages.

In addition to Brown and Mizell, backup tailback Ja’Kobi Jackson will miss his fourth straight game while true freshman Duke Clark is questionable. Redshirt freshman KD Daniels served as Baugh’s backup against Mississippi State.

Florida is due to return three starters in the secondary after three-year starting safety Jordan Castell and cornerback Cormani McClain sat out homecoming while cornerback Devin Moore left the game and returned with a sling on his right shoulder. Backup tight end Tony Livingston also is cleared after sitting out against Mississippi State.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

By Ilena Peng, Bloomberg News

Halloween is shaping up to be a test for the chocolate industry, as high cocoa costs threaten to accelerate a consumer shift toward cheaper and trendier sweets such as sour gummies.

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For candy makers, Halloween remains crucial — the holiday made up nearly 18% of annual U.S. candy sales last year, second only to Christmas. But chocolate makers have been passing along costlier input prices to consumers, and that’s leaving an opening for rivals — who have already seen a shift toward non-chocolate treats — to grab more market share.

It’s the latest example of demand destruction as the chocolate industry is grappling with high prices amid a precarious supply outlook. While cocoa futures in New York have slumped about 50% from a record set in December, they’re still historically elevated. Chocolate makers are hoping nostalgia during the Halloween season can offset the broader shift away from their products.

“Chocolate is chocolate,” said David Branch, a sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute. “We’re seeing less sales away from holidays and more sales during holidays. People are not buying it all the time, but when they want it, they want it.”

The problem is that, increasingly, they’re wanting it less often. Chocolate candy volumes dropped 6% in the 12 weeks ending Oct. 5, as the average price per pound jumped nearly 14%, according to data from consumer research firm Circana. Meanwhile, sales volumes for non-chocolate Halloween-themed candy — think Haribo sour gummy bats — rose 8.3% during the same period.

“I feel like it’s a weekly game between chocolate and non-chocolate, who’s winning that race,” said Sally Lyons Wyatt, Circana’s chief adviser for consumer goods and foodservice insights. Shoppers are still embracing chocolate despite the price increases, she said, but “it’s a jump ball almost between who’s going to get the shares right now.”

More than half of shoppers said they would prioritize gummy candies in their Halloween spending, and just shy of half said the same for hard candies, NielsenIQ researchers found.

Sugarfina, where gummies make up about 85% of its offerings, is selling out its product lines at a faster pace than last year, including a new tangerine-flavored “super sour” star that was gone by mid-October, according to Chief Executive Officer Scott LaPorta. The profitability of gummies has increased relative to chocolate as cocoa costs have risen, he added.

Haribo, best known for its gummy bears, is also seeing higher demand this year, said Hannah Curlee, the company’s seasonal brand manager. Higher chocolate prices have played a role, but gummies also provide a “seasonal creativity that chocolate can’t always match,” Curlee said.

Chocolate companies are fighting back with more promotions and seasonal offerings. They’re also taking action to keep prices down, using nuts and creams to cut back on costly cocoa ingredients.

Some of the biggest companies are stretching their broader portfolios. At Mondelez International Inc., owner of the Cadbury and Toblerone brands, gummies are the priority in the American market, said Chantal Butler, president of the company’s U.S. confectionery segment. Limited-time offerings like Halloween-themed Sour Patch Kids and Oreos “contribute significantly to the demand we see this time of year,” she added.

Still, the U.S. market in particular “is slower than we’ve seen in quite a while,” Mondelez CEO Dirk Van de Put said on an earnings call Tuesday. The company in response has launched more affordable products after its promotional strategy earlier this year “was not giving us the volume effect that we were hoping for,” he said.

Hershey Co. has new Halloween flavors and packaging in the gummy product lineup it launched last year in partnership with Shaquille O’Neal. That’s alongside ghost-shaped Twizzlers and “trickies” Jolly Rancher gummies with colors that don’t always line up with the expected flavors. Sugar-based sweet sales are stacking on top of chocolate sales, with few consumers explicitly choosing one over the other, according to a Hershey spokesperson.

Guittard Chocolate Co., a California-based chocolate company that sells largely to specialty candymakers, expects Halloween demand to be consistent with past years even as the industry works through cocoa supplies purchased earlier this year at much higher prices.

Some confectioners are coming out with new products to “take some of the pressure off” but consumers also require consistency in their favorite products — even at higher costs, said CEO Gary Guittard.

(With assistance from Kristina Peterson.)

©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

General Daily Insight for October 30, 2025

It’s time to molt old feathers. The intuitive Moon aligns with balanced Venus, teaching us to charm others, improve relationships, and turn tension into a deeper emotional understanding. Communicative Mercury sextiles transformative Pluto at 6:06 pm EDT — they show us how to embrace inner transformations that allow us to heal old wounds. Luna also supports bittersweet Chiron. In turn, this supports us to see our past pain as a healed lesson, not as a permanent wound. Let’s embrace who we’re becoming.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Learning updated information can put you in the presence of possible friends. You may be taking a class, going on a walking tour, or exploring the world with community members in another way. It’s important to learn from the context that you’re in together, but there’s also lots to learn from each other in the process. This is a key time for learning more about the world and putting yourself on the path to personal success, so keep your ears and eyes open.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

You know what — and who — is presently worthy of your trust. Depending on a steady friend or relative is a great way to build practical success. This person may be someone that has been in your life for a long time, someone who’s trusted you as you’ve already trusted them in prior experiences. There’s so much that you’re able to do on your own, but sometimes, you have to lean on someone else. Make sure you’re leaning on someone steady.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Like-minded people are possibly seeking you out. In turn, you might have been searching for friendships in which you can develop that strong sense of connection and belonging. Someone who could fit that category is likely to be entering your life at any moment. Of course, you probably have to put yourself out there rather than wait for this person to make themselves known. Remember, you’re likely to find them by the shared interests that you have. Seek out that special spark.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Long-held problems can begin melting away. It may be that you’re replacing negative habits with positive ones, allowing mistakes to become simply part of one chapter of life. Maybe you’re letting time heal sores that once prevented you from moving forward emotionally. It might seem almost too easy to watch those issues fizzle away, but you’ve already done the work to minimize them. You have broken up the boulders, and the universe is just sweeping away the remnants! Don’t hang onto outdated pain.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Your more vulnerable side is potentially ready to be seen. This is particularly relevant if you’ve been hiding yourself away or only showing parts of your personality, instead of showing your full self. Showing your soft side is brave! While you don’t have to reveal everything, keep your eyes peeled for chances to grow closer with people, close friends and shallower acquaintances alike, throughout your day. Being generous with your soul can comfort them and strengthen your connection. It’s okay to be sensitive.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Someone else could feel like home to you at present. Think back on those in your life who have shown up for you when others haven’t. Even if there’s been any less pleasant tension between you as of late, today represents an opportunity to work with them and find a way forward. Instead of continuing petty disputes or holding onto grudges, you can release whatever took place between you and see if there is a way to salvage your connection. Be open to healing.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You might be sending risky messages. The planets are emboldening you with cosmic courage, which isn’t automatically a bad thing. Their alignments are strengthening you to reach out to others, saying things that you might normally be too scared to verbalize. That being said, thinking before you speak is even more crucial than usual. While some uncertain olive branches will end in success, others may turn out quite disappointing. Before you leap, make sure you’re ready for the landing — wherever it may be.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Protecting your current connections is valid, but overly aggressive walls could be keeping additional connections locked out. It’s possible that you’ve closed off your friend circles, not wanting to invite anyone new onto the scene. Changing the dynamic with any additional influences can be intimidating. Don’t miss out on opportunities to make friends with great people. Otherwise, you might miss out on something amazing by guarding your ongoing friendships so intensely. Take a chance on someone new — you might love their energy!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You have the opportunity to express yourself more clearly, regardless of your recent surroundings. You might have been wishy-washy at one time, not letting others know what was really on your mind and maybe not knowing yourself. Today, though, you may have something vital to say. You’re speaking up for yourself! Once you feel the urge to vocalize something, try to speak up ASAP. If a decision is made before you take the chance to say something, you might regret remaining silent.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Your dreams have something to tell you at this time. It pays to have a dream journal where you can write down your dreams — the more you do, the more memorable they’ll become. You could record yourself speaking about your dream immediately after waking if you think you’ll lose details. Looking into the symbolism of your dreams can teach you a lot! It may even shape certain decisions that you’ve been thinking over. Look to your subconscious for the clues that you’re seeking.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

The support of loved ones should never go unappreciated. You can build or strengthen a positive network for yourself by simply spending time getting to know people that you encounter in day-to-day life. At some point, they could pop up right when you need them! Make sure that you’re showing gratitude for their assistance, and don’t forget to give back. You have to be a friend to have a friend, so make sure that you’re keeping a balance between give and take.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

New heights are calling your name! You might not be sure how to get there yet, but you know in your heart, presuming you continue on the road that you’re presently following, you’ll end up where you want to be. You never know when you’ll be provided with an opportunity by an unexpected benefactor, or what project of yours will lead to your work being seen on a larger stage. Keep putting yourself out there, and trust in the universe to strengthen you through uncertainty.

Everyone knows someone — or maybe is that person — who shuts their eyes tight during the scary parts of a horror film and forces their friend to go first in the haunted house.

Others avoid scary movies and haunted houses altogether during Halloween. In a study published in August, a team at the University of Colorado Boulder studied how people’s brains respond to threats and fear.

Brain cells in the interpeduncular nucleus glow green in a mouse’s brain after a shadow appears on the ceiling. (Photo courtesy of CU Boulder)

The researchers found that a group of neurons, called the interpeduncular nucleus or IPN, plays a role in controlling how people respond and adapt to threats. IPN is a brain circuit located in the midbrain near the brain stem. The team discovered that this circuitry is highly activated the first time a person sees a potentially threatening situation, but as soon as individuals realize there is no threat anymore, the IPN shuts down.

“The first time that you see a very scary movie and there is a scene that you are not anticipating, your IPN is going to be very activated,” psychology and neuroscience professor Susanna Molas said. “But if you see this movie, you re-watch the movie over and over across the same week, your IPN is going to start learning that the scary scene is not as scary anymore, and the IPN will be less active across repeated exposures. It’s the same if you go to a haunted house.”

The more frightened a person is, the more the IPN should be engaged, Molas said. It’s also possible that people who love haunted houses and have a high tolerance for scary movies might have a less active IPN. There may also be a cognitive aspect of the person having more rationale when dealing with spooky situations.

“I think that there is an interplay between natural threat responses, but at the same time, more cognitive assessment,” Molas said. “So it’s possible that some people have a different balance of the natural threat response versus thinking whether this situation is actually creating a danger or a harm.”

For the study, the research team exposed mice to a projected shadow periodically over three days that mimics the approach of an aerial predator. The mice’s instinct was to run away. The team used advanced imaging techniques to measure the mice’s brain activity during the threat. Molas said she was surprised by how quickly the mice adapted their behavior and stopped running away from the shadow.

“I was struck to see that by three days, the animals already understood that the threat is not a danger anymore,” Molas said.

Disruptions in the IPN circuit could also play a role in mental health conditions, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. About 19% of adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In a normal threat response, the IPN activity decreases once the brain identifies that there’s no real threat. With anxiety, the IPN remains active in anticipation of a negative effect happening in the future.Related Articles

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It’s important to understand the causes and some of the brain regions involved with anxiety so scientists can develop better, more specialized treatments for it, Molas said.

“Anxiety is a very prevalent disorder in our society and the neural circuits behind that are still not completely understood,” she said. “There’s been huge progress, but there are some brain areas that, like the IPN, have not been considered for many decades.”

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