🌱 4 Orlando Restaurants Nab Michelin Stars + State Of Orange County

Hello, Orlando. I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Hope you all have a great day.

First, today's weather:

An afternoon thunderstorm. High: 90 Low: 74.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. Four Orlando restaurants earned a Michelin star on Thursday evening. The stars were awarded Thursday night by the French tire manufacturer during a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes in Orlando that included brands including Rémy Martin. The Orlando restaurants that received the prestigious honor are Soseki, Knife & Spoon, Capa and Kadence. (Click Orlando, Patch Orlando)

2. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings held his 2022 State of the County Address on Friday. The mayor said affordable housing and a proposed penny sales tax hike for funding transportation needs are among the top issues facing Orange County this year. (Subscription: Orlando Business Journal, Free: Fox 35 Orlando)

3. The University of Central Florida in Orlando will officially leave the American Athletic Conference for the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023 along with The University of Cincinnati and University of Houston, the AAC announced Friday morning. (Yahoo! Sports)

4. Travelers flying into the United States from international destinations will no longer have to present proof of a negative COVID test starting Sunday, a major shift from the White House. Orange County Mayor Demings said rolling back this testing requirement is good news for the local economy, especially the hospitality sector and celebrated the change after lobbying the Biden Administration to make the change. (WMFE)

5. Central Florida-based AdventHealth has purchased a portion of Clermont land that was part of a recent, larger sale from a developer. The health system purchased a 24-acre portion of the property for $5.75 million. AdventHealth said it has no immediate plans for the land. (Subscription: Orlando Business Journal)

Today in Orlando:

• Terrarium Fun at Harry P. Leu Gardens. (9:30 a.m.)
• 407 Food Fair at Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. (noon)
• The Food That Made Us | Orlando Day 2 at Festival Park. (noon)
• Filipino Freedom Fest And Malaya Market at East End Market. (4 p.m.)
• Rakim at Ace Café Orlando. (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Almost 100 cats and dogs are being dropped off at Orange County Animal Services each day, and fewer than half of them are being adopted, as shelters swell past capacity. The overcrowding is forcing three dogs into one kennel and the number of people surrendering animals keeps rising. (WESH)
• The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) unveiled two projects Thursday night that it said will help reduce crashes along a stretch of Orange Avenue, between Clay Avenue and Orlando Avenue. (Click Orlando)
• On Thursday, Starbucks workers in Orlando's Oviedo voted 24 to 6 to unionize with Starbucks Workers United, joining at least four other Starbucks locations in Florida. (Orlando Weekly)
• Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ricky Martin are set to headline a news conference in Orlando Tuesday, June 14, announcing a new Hispanic LGBT advocacy initiative. (Click Orlando)
• Victoria & Albert's at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will reopen on July 28, with reservations available starting on June 20. (WDW News Today)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll see you soon!

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orlando Daily? Contact me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com