🌱 1,700 Miami-Dade Teachers Sick + Miami Testing Site Hurdles + 3G Networks Sunset

Welcome back, Miami! Let's get you started this Wednesday with everything you need to know going on in Miami today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny with a shower. High: 79 Low: 68.

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Here are the top five stories in Miami today:

1. Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said some 1,700 teachers called in sick on Tuesday and he expected that number to go down by the end of the week. Carvalho said he was not sure how many of the sick teachers were out because of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. (CBS Miami)

2. Hospital data has become the latest battleground on a COVID-19 information war with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio attacking hospital data and downplaying increasing hospitalizations. Hospital leaders pushed back on the attempts to downplay the difficult situations they are facing as the omicron COVID-19 variant sets case records. (WFTV)

3. A well-known Black activist was arrested on Tuesday at a press conference held by Governor Ron DeSantis in Jacksonville. Ben Frazier of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville is charged with trespassing and will have to appear in court, according to a report obtained by Tampa Bay Times. Frazier said, "What about the voice of the people? The governor is afraid to meet with the people." (Creative Loafing Tampa / Tampa Bay Times)

4. The new Miami Marine Stadium COVID-19 testing site was plagued with technical issues on Tuesday morning. The internet service went down at one point, but was restored later according to Mayor Francis Suarez. The site will eventually offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the public as well. (NBC Miami)

5. 3G networks in Florida will be ending service by the end of 2022. If you have an iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S4, or older model you might not have mobile service in Florida by the end of the year. Devices will also be unable to place emergency 911 calls after the 3G service halts. (Florida Patch)

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Today in Miami:

• Business Roundtable Series at Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. (8:30 AM)
• Minute to Win it Wednesdays at Edison Center Branch Library. (2:30 PM)
• Women of Tomorrow Meeting at Maritime & Science Technology Academy. (3:00 PM)
• Video Game Night at West Flagler Branch. (4:30 PM)
• The Three Kings Parade at Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. (4:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Florida reported 51,644 new COVID-19 cases to the CDC on Monday. 85,635 infections were added over the weekend. 5,299 people were admitted to hospitals with COVID in Florida on Monday, up from 4,485 on December 31st. (WPLG Local 10)
• Miami Beach is hosting movies under the stars tonight at SoundScape Park with a screening of "The Truman Show" at 8 p.m. (Twitter)
• Miami HEAT says Max Strus is no longer in health and safety protocols and has rejoined the team. (Twitter)

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Events:

• Coconut Grove Artisanal Market (January 7)
• A SOULfilled Revitalizing Sundays Transformational Retreat and Vision Board Party (January 9)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll see you around.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.