🌱 Kissimmee Car Crash + 2022 Run For The Cherubs 5K Coming Soon + Pet Dragon Warning

Rise and shine, Orlando! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on around Orlando today.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 71 Low: 51.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. The 2022 Run for the Cherubs 5K presented by Florida Race Day is happening on Saturday, February 5th. There is an in-person option for the run at St. Cloud Lakefront Park (1104 Lakeshore Blvd.) at 8:30 a.m., or a virtual do-it-on-your-own option as well. All Proceeds from the run will go directly to Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. (Osceola News-Gazette)

2. A 38-year-old Kissimmee man was killed early Thursday morning at 2:45 a.m. on Pleasant Hill Road at Granada Boulevard when his car crashed into a pond in Osceola County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The car struck a curb, traveled through a fence, and crashed into the pond where the driver died at the scene. (Click Orlando)

3. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings revealed during a coronavirus briefing on Tuesday that the 7-day positivity rate in the county has passed 40%. More infections means more opportunities for the virus to mutate yet again. (Orlando Weekly)

4. One person in Florida is among more than 40 people in 25 states who have been sickened with salmonella infections in an outbreak federal health officials have tied to pet bearded dragons. The reason it can spread quickly is because bearded dragons carry salmonella in their droppings. (Florida Patch)

5. A junkyard building in Orlando erupted in flames on Thursday morning, according to Orange County Fire Rescue. It happened at 9205 E. Colonial Drive and was under control by 11:30 a.m. The fire started from a welding spark. The building was evacuated and no injuries were reported. (Click Orlando)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Orlando:

• 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Luncheon. Virtual. (11:45 AM)
• Boys Soccer vs. Freedom @ Home at Boone High School. (6:00 PM)
• Wine and Dine: Spain at Publix Aprons Cooking School at The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips. (6:30 PM)
• Brew & View: Jumanji (1995) at Ivanhoe Park Brewing. (6:30 PM)
• The Memphis Motown Soul Experience at Merritt Island Performing Arts Center. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Orlando City SC has promoted Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira and extended contracts with both. (Instagram)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer visited the free COVID-19 testing site on Wednesday that City of Orlando is operating seven days a week in partnership with CDR Maguire at Camping World Stadium. (Facebook)
• The Central Florida Zoo's Bear House will be closed briefly from January 14th to January 21st as they work on new floors. Guests will still be able to see Florida black bears outside. (Instagram)
• Orlando Fire, like many fire departments, participates in the Safe Haven program. Any newborn can be dropped off at one of their 17 stations in the city of Orlando, with no questions asked and no charges filed. (Facebook)
• Join the City of Orlando Mayor's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission on MLK Day of Service (January 17th) to clean up Lake Fran and surrounding area trails that lead to the Carver Shores neighborhood. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• What No One is Telling You about Funerals/Burial & Cremation Friday Jan 14, 6 pm EST (January 14)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 22)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with 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.