🌱 Brightline Crash + New Sprouts Farmers Market Stores + School COVID-19 Cases Rising

Welcome back, Miami! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right. Here's what's happening today in Miami.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and nice. High: 72 Low: 55.

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Here are the top five stories in Miami today:

1. Two people have been hospitalized without life-threatening injuries after a Brightline train collided with an SUV in Miami. It is one of several crashes that have occurred recently involving Brightline trains. City of Miami Police and Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene of the crash along North Miami Avenue and 20th Street at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. (WSVN)

2. Fort Lauderdale police officer James McDowell has been charged with three counts of grand theft and one count of organized scheme to defraud. Detectives say an investigation found several instances where McDowell signed on to work off-duty details while still working his regularly scheduled shift at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, leading to hundreds of billing hours of fraud. (CBS Miami)

3. Sprouts Farmers Market is moving into South Florida with several new locations including a location at Dania Beach, Oakland Park, Kendall and more. Sprouts is known for fresh fruits and vegetables as well as poultry, beef, eggs, pork, and seafood with a focus on healthy and organic food. (Miami New Times)

4. 37-year-old Fidel Clemente been arrested after police said he ran an illegal post-surgery recovery center out of a home in southwest Miami-Dade. He was arrested on two counts of operating an assisted living facility without a license. (NBC Miami)

5. COVID-19 cases are on the rise at Miami-Dade County schools. More than 500 COVID-19 cases have been reported among Miami-Dade County students and staff since the end of winter break. 297 students have tested positive for COVID-19 while 242 cases were reported among staff as of Thursday. (Miami Patch)

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Today in Miami:

• Hiplet Ballerinas at Miami-Dade County Auditorium. (10:00 AM)
• Friday Fundays at Little River Branch Library. (3:00 PM)
• Teen Gaming at Miami-Dade Main Public Library. (3:00 PM)
• Russian Dumplings- Handmade Pelmeni, A popular Russian Dish. Virtual. (4:00 PM)
• Music in the Park at Gulfstream Park Village. (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools has received 16 applications for Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent. (Facebook)
• 40 Hialeah residents protested rent increases on Wednesday night. The protest occurred after residents were informed of a 65% rent increase for February 1st. (CBS Miami)
• At Miami-Dade County Public Schools' Saturday Academy, students engage in meaningful and purposeful instruction with their teachers for approximately four hours. Those interested can contact their child's school for more specific information regarding Saturday Academy. (Facebook)
• Four of the 11 Oath Keepers indicted for seditious conspiracy “to oppose by force the execution of the laws governing the transfer of presidential power” are Floridians. (justice.gov)

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Events:

• What No One is Telling You about Funerals/Burial & Cremation Friday Jan 14, 6 pm EST (January 14)
• Coconut Grove Artisanal Market (January 14)
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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another 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.