🌱 Local Wanderer Grant + Truck Driver Shortage + Christmas Town

Up and at 'em, Orlando! Welcome to a new month. Let's get you all caught up to start this Monday, November 1st off on an informed note. Here's everything worth knowing today in town.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 79 Low: 64.

Here are the top stories today in Orlando:

1. Truck Driver Crisis: There are thousands of open trucker positions but no drivers to fill them. Florida holds 25% of the demand in the country and is feeling the impact as drivers retire and gaps appear causing prices to rise. Florida Trucking Association is attempting to deal with the problem by pushing to change federal law to allow 18 to 20-year-olds to drive trucks across state lines. (WESH)

2. The Orange County Library System has received an almost $50,000 grant from the The Institute of Museum and Library Services to expand its Local Wanderer Program. The program helps families visit educational and cultural institutions in Central Florida that may not otherwise have access due to finances. (WMFE)

3. It's The Most Wonderful Time: Christmas is starting early this year with Christmas Town coming Friday, November 12th to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. There will be a new firework show called “Holiday in the Sky” on Saturday nights and a select evenings. Holiday food and drinks will be sold for an extra charge in the theme park with options such as maple bourbon pecan pie, smoked brisket “totchos”, hot cocoa, "Mistletoe Margaritas", and more. (Orlando Weekly)

4. Unprecedented: The University of Florida is prohibiting three professors from providing expert testimony in a lawsuit challenging a new law that critics claim restricts voting rights, saying it goes against the school's interest by conflicting with the administration of Governor Ron DeSantis. The move is being criticized nationwide as a chilling attack on academic freedom and freedom of speech. (Click Orlando)

5. Winter Park unveiled their new “Rhythmic Colors” sculpture on Friday. Drivers passing through the area will notice the new piece of art between I-4 and the Fairbanks curve. (WFTV)

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Today in Orlando:

• Oasis Dental's Halloween Candy Buy Back. (11:00 AM)
• Colonialtown Neighborhood Center Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Site. (3:00 PM)
• Audubon Park's Community Market. (5:00 PM)
• STAND CTU's Family Class. (6:00 PM)
• Orange County Advisory Committee for Redistricting meeting at Colonial High School. (6:30 PM)

Orlando Patch Notebook

• Creative City Project: "REFLECT @juleskbee brought this amazing installation to life at IMMERSE 2021! Quay Hu" (Facebook)
• City of Orlando - Government: "Get your first COVID-19 shot or your booster shot at City Hall next month! See below to learn more. 400 South Orange Avenue - Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson Visit ocfl.net/vaccine for more info." (Facebook)
• Orange County Parks and Recreation: "We want to hear from you! Join @OrangeCoParksFL & @Comm_Bonilla for the #WedgefieldPark virtual meeting about a new dog park on Tuesday 11/2, 6-7pm; WebEx link will be posted on https://tinyurl.com/WedgefieldParkDogPark. Questions: parks@ocfl.net." (Twitter)
• CFX: "The E-PASS Walk-In Customer Service Center located at 525 S. Magnolia Avenue in Orlando is NOW Open! Center hours are M-F, 8 AM – 6 PM & Saturday, 9 AM – 1 PM. FREE Parking is available. For more information and detailed driving directions, please visit.." (Twitter)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some more 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? Email me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com.