🌱 Econ Soccer Complex Testing Site Reopens + Ripley's Orlando Reimagined + Missing Woman

Happy Tuesday, people of Orlando! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny. High: 80 Low: 63.

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Here are the top five stories today in Orlando:

1. Orange County reopened its COVID-19 testing site at Econ Soccer Complex on Monday to assist overwhelmed testing sites. The site is set to offer free PCR and Rapid COVID-19 tests 7 days a week, except New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. (Click Orlando)

2. Missing person: Osceola County deputies are searching for a missing woman last seen around an Econolodge on West U.S. 192, according to a tweet issued Monday. Rebecca Joleyne Scholz is blonde and has green eyes and is described as being 5-foot, 4-inches and weighing 150 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222. (Click Orlando)

3. An investigation is underway in Lake County after a man threatened to plant a bomb at a T-Mobile store in Lady Lake. 73-year-old Donald Brown is being charged with trespassing of an occupied structure (after warning) and making a false report concerning planting a bomb. (WFTV)

4. Medics recovered the body from a canal on Christmas Day of a deceased male believed to be 14-year-old Vensly Maxime, a Crestwood Middle School student who was reported missing by his family on Dec. 22. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner's Office and an investigation is underway. (WESH)

5. Ripley’s Orlando used its extended COVID-related closure to completely reimagine the Orlando odditorium. The changes include a space-themed room with props inspired by and used at Florida’s historic spaceports. (Orlando Weekly)

Today's Orlando Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Orlando!

Today in Orlando:

• Open Skate at RDV Ice Den. (12:00 PM)
• Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Site. (3:00 PM)
• Blue Swan Boulders Rock Climbing Class. (6:30 PM)
• Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic. (7:00 PM)
• Immersive Van Gogh (Peak) at Orange County Convention Center. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Florida COVID-19 hospitalizations rose 75.7% over 14 days and 49.3% over 7 days, according to the Florida Hospital Association. (Twitter)
• COVID-19 rapid at-home test kits will be distributed at a drive-thru event on Wednesday, at the Seminole State College Sanford/Lake Mary campus. (Twitter)
• The Gasparilla Bowl game, with the UCF win over the Florida Gators drew 3.201 million viewers to ESPN - trailing only NFL Thursday Night football (7.898m). (Twitter)
• Water disconnections for non-payment are set to resume on January 1st, 2022 in Seminole County. (WMFE)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday. 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.