🌱 Big Bounce America Coming Soon + Stiffed Key West Bartender Reports Alleged Arsonists

Rise and shine, Miami! I hope you are having an excellent week. Let's get you all caught up to start this Wednesday, January 12th off on an informed note. Here's everything going on today in Miami.

First, today's weather:

A shower; breezy in the a.m.. High: 73 Low: 65.

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Here are the top five stories today in Miami:

1. The City of Miami shared that new COVID-19 walk-up testing sites are now available to residents daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both PCR and rapid testing are being offered. Locations include Grapeland Park, Little Haiti Community Center, Regatta Park, Shenandoah Park, Miami Riverside Center, and West End Park. (Miami Patch)

2. Centner Academy, a Miami private school continuously in controversy, says it won't "promote critical race theory, gender fluidity or the mainstream narrative surrounding COVID, all hot topics that many schools are now choosing to teach as factual rather than as the theories they are." The Florida State Board of Education banned the teaching of critical race theory in June, but there is also little evidence it is being taught in schools. (Miami Patch)

3. The Big Bounce America is heading to South Florida with stops in Boca Raton and Miramar in late January. The traveling event has four inflatables meant for adults including one that stands 32 feet tall and includes giant slides, basketball hoops, and ball pits. Tickets are now available online. (WPLG Local 10)

4. A tourist left an impression at a Key West bar by ordering drinks three times on New Year's Eve without leaving a tip. That enabled the staff to easily track him down after police released webcam video showing vandals setting fire to a Christmas tree at the iconic Key West Buoy. Bartender Cameron Briody of Irish Kevin's identified the accused by searching credit card slips. (NBC Miami)

5. A possible jailhouse exposure to COVID-19 in the days leading to his release on bail nearly cost accused PPP fraudster Valesk Barosy of Fort Lauderdale an extra two weeks behind bars. His attorneys said the factors were outside the control of Barosy who posted a $200,000 bail bond and the judge ultimately agreed. (Miami New Times)

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Today in Miami:

• DJ Basics for Beginners at Miami-Dade Main Public Library. (3:00 PM)
• MAST Basketball vs ICSC at Maritime & Science Technology Academy. (3:30 PM)
• Video Game Night at West Flagler Branch (4:30 PM)
• Family Movie Matinee at Little River Branch Library. (5:00 PM)
• Food Trucks Wednesday North Bay Village. (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Miami HEAT have re-signed guard Kyle Guy and forward Chris Silva to 10-day contracts using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance. (Instagram)
• All Miami-Dade County schools and facilities will close for Martin Luther King Day. (Facebook)
• Miami-Dade county employees have 80 hours of COVID leave available on top of regular sick pay if out with COVID, isolating, etc. It expires in January 2024. Unions have agreed. (Miami-Dade County)

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Events:

• Coconut Grove Artisanal Market (January 14)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— 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.