🌱 DeSantis Launches Attack On Disney + Leu Gardens Plant Sale

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in Orlando today.

First, today's weather:

Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 77 Low: 43.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. Harry P. Leu Gardens will host their annual plant sale today, March 12th, and Sunday, March 13th, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests will enjoy free admission to the gardens all weekend while shopping from over 50 growers and vendors who will showcase a variety of plants and plant accessories. (Bungalower)

2. Governor Ron DeSantis has leveled a scathing attack statement against Disney on the day after the company's CEO expressed "disappointment" in a controversial bill nicknamed the "Don't Say Gay" bill. DeSantis' press secretary quoted him saying, "How do they possibly explain lining their pockets with their relationship from the Communist Party of China? Because that’s what they do, and they make a fortune, and they don't say a word about the really brutal practices at the hands of the CCP." (WESH)

3. Dr. Raul Pino returned to work Friday as the head of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County following an investigation by Florida's inspector general into an email the doctor sent to staff about the rate of vaccinations within his department, according to FDOH. About a week after Pino's suspension, Florida's new Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo defended the decision. (Click Orlando)

4. The Epcot Experience, a preview center for the Walt Disney World theme park's upcoming attractions, will close Monday, March 14. It first opened in the Odyssey pavilion in 2019, highlighting projects announced for the transformation of Epcot and has received over 2 million visitors. (Spectrum News 13)

5. The Lake Nona Wave Hotel is one of the most exciting high-tech hotels to open this spring. The hotel features View Smart Windows which provide cooling and shade, one of the world's largest autonomous shuttle fleets, as well as Rosie, the hotel's robot butler, named after the Jetsons' housekeeper. Guest rooms are equipped The Restorative Bed by Bryte, which uses a pressure-release system to stop you from waking up during the night, and Smart Nora, a snoring aid that lifts your head when it detects snoring. These and other amenities await guests. (Orlando Magazine)

Today in Orlando:

• Yoga In The Garden at Mead Botanical Garden. (9:00 AM)
• Leesburg Arts Fuse Festival at Leesburg Center For The Arts. (10:00 AM)
• Irish Fest '22 at Suncreek Brewery. (12:00 PM)
• Much Ado About Nothing at Orlando Shakes. (2:00 PM)
• Movie Night: Black Panther at Z.L. Riley Park. (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13. Don't forget to set your clocks forward tonight. (News4Jax)
• The Florida Senate on Friday unanimously passed "Miya's Law," legislation that would improve apartment tenant safety in Florida. The law was proposed after the tragic death in Orlando of 19-year-old college student Miya Marcano. (Spectrum News 13)
• Orange County clerk's office is extending its hours to make it easier to get a passport. Go to its website for more details about locations, fees, and required documents. (Twitter)
• A west Orlando charter school Legends Academy plans to construct a new building and convert another one. The plans call for a new 22,190-square-foot, two-story classroom and administration building for its kindergarten through fourth grade campus and a 2,400-square-foot covered play area. (Subscription: Orlando Business Journal)

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Events:

• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 12)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 13)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow morning 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.