🌱 Mayor Demings Tests Positive for COVID-19 + Brightline Brevard County Connection

Morning, neighbors! It's me again, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Orlando Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and comfortable. High: 78 Low: 59.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Demings has mild symptoms, according to the county. He is fully-vaccinated and has received a booster shot. (Click Orlando)

2. The City of Orlando has partnered with KPMG on an Emergency Rental Assistance program. The city filled their funding gap with the help of Orange County, but that deal has now expired. City residents will be able to apply for rental relief funds again starting on February 1st, 2022. (Bungalower)

3. Brightline started running qualifying trains between Brevard County and West Palm Beach on Tuesday. It marks an important step to connecting Central Florida to South Florida. There will be no passengers during this phase and trains will run at only 60 mph. (WFTV)

4. Orange County Medical Director Dr. Raul Pino has been placed on administrative leave after encouraging employees to get vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19. The Florida Department of Health says Dr. Pino was placed on leave because, "the decision to get vaccinated is a personal choice that should be free from coercion and mandates from employers." (WMFE)

5. Joan Bailey is retiring from Edgewood Children’s Ranch after more than 20 years an employee. She started her work at Edgewood at the end of August 2001, just weeks before 9/11. Bailey found the connection to the ranch through the Windermere Rotary Club. (West Orange Times & Windermere Observer)

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Today in Orlando:

• School Board Rule Development Workshop & Work Session at Orange County District. (1:00 PM)
• Garden Bros Circus at The Florida Mall. (4:30 PM)
• 3rd Thursday Gallery Hop at Downtown Arts District. (6:00 PM)
• Movie Night And Conversation: Selma at Kathleen W. Rollins Screening Toom 128 Rollins College. (6:30 PM)
• Gametime's Play Your Way Thursday at GameTime Ocoee. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Orange County Mayor Demings released a statement on Dr. Pino, "Dr. Raul Pino has been our trusted partner and friend throughout the pandemic ... It is my fervent hope that Dr. Pino returns to work on behalf of the residents of Orange County soon." (Twitter)
• U.S. Soccer has selected Orlando to host the final home 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at Exploria Stadium. It will be USA vs. Panama. (Twitter)
• Camping World Stadium is hosting a job fair at Amway Center next Tuesday, January 25th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Twitter)
• Florida Department of Transportation secretary Kevin Thibault has been chosen to run Orlando International Airport. (Orlando Sentinel)

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That's it for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.