🌱 Kissimmee Breakdancer Goes Global + OPD Hires 10 + Former UCF Football Star Killed

Happy Wednesday and Happy December, people of Orlando! Let's get this day started off right. Here's what's happening around town today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 77 Low: 57.

Here are the top stories in Orlando today:

1. The Orlando Police Department added 10 new officers to the force while some agencies across Florida are facing staffing shortages. The department says they received more than 2,000 officer applications this year. (WFTV)

2. Former University of Central Florida (UCF) football star Otis Anderson Jr. was killed in a double shooting in Jacksonville around 9:30 p.m. on Monday. Investigators said that shooting was a domestic incident and said they don’t believe anyone else was involved. (Click Orlando)

3. AAA says Florida gas prices could drop by up to 25 cents per gallon due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant and the impact it could have on future fuel prices. However, it will take time for gas prices to trickle down to consumers. Oil fell sharply on Friday after news of the variant came out. (Florida Patch)

4. Kissimmee's Isis Granda is among the best at breaking or breakdancing as it was once known. 26-year-old Granda qualified for the knockout round at last month's Red Bull BC One All Star event in Gdansk, Poland and won the Red Bull BC One Cypher USA 2021 competition in August. Granda is originally from Ecuador and settled into Central Florida last year on a visa. (Osceola News-Gazette)

5. Central Florida research labs are preparing in case they are needed for coronavirus vaccine testing in the coming months for the Omicron variant. Accel Clinical Research in DeLand says it is ready to hold trials. Moderna recently said a new vaccine could be ready to go in 100 days if needed. (Fox 35 Orlando)

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Today in Orlando:

• Christmas My Way at Winter Park Playhouse. (2:00 PM)
• Boys Varsity Wrestling vs Oak Ridge - Colonial High School. (5:00 PM)
• Food Truck Nights at Evolve Church. (5:30 PM)
• Rollins College Women's Basketball vs Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) (5:30 PM)
• I-Drive’s Holiday Tree Lighting. (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Universal Orlando Resort: "Can't get enough of the Holiday Tribute Store? Neither can we!" (Instagram)
• Nature Conservancy in Florida: "Molly Franken’s watercolor piece titled, Echoes, was awarded honorable mention in the Nature Inspires Art Contest. Molly writes that Echoes is “an abstract but definitive portrait of Florida’s underwater ecosystem.” We’re thrilled to hav..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: "Susie and I have received our COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. We want to continue protecting ourselves from the serious impacts of the virus and play a role in moving our community forward." (Facebook)
• Orlando Food & Travel Guide: "Just in time for lunch - The Reubenesque! A brand new exclusive sandwich for Orlando Foodie Forum members at @pammiessammies in Historic Downtown Winter Garden - why Reubenesque? This sandwich has a slight twist - made with house s..." (Instagram)
• City of Orlando - Government: "December 3rd is our annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando. Come hang out and watch holiday performances, shop at the holiday market, eat from food trucks and get your holiday photos in front of the trees an..." (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update! If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? Reach out anytime to carlosreportsnews@gmail.com.