New 4 Rivers Drive-Thru + Police Shoot Mental Health Veteran

Up and at 'em, Orlando! Let's get this Friday, August 13th started. Here's everything worth knowing today in town.

In this issue, you'll learn about a tragic COVID-19 death, the death of a veteran suffering from a mental health crisis, a murder case lacking evidence, Winter Park requiring weekly COVID-19 tests at a steep cost to taxpayers, and more. Now, let's get started.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 90 Low: 77.

Here are the top stories today in Orlando:

1. Winter Park will require unvaccinated employees to get tested weekly starting September 20th. The rapid COVID-19 tests are estimated to cost between $20,000 and $25,000 a month and would be administered by the Winter Park Fire Department. (Click Orlando)

2. A Florida mom in Brevard County held her newborn for only minutes before dying of COVID-19 days later. (Click Orlando)

3. Police officers from the Orlando Police Department and Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies shot and killed a 73-year-old veteran, who was having a mental health crisis on Thursday morning. (Orlando Weekly)

4. Prosecutors for the State Attorney’s Office say they don’t have enough evidence to charge a man arrested for the shooting death of a woman at a Kissimmee hotel Red Carpet Inn last month. (WFTV)

5. Local barbeque chain 4 Rivers Smokehouse is opening a new location in Orlando’s SoDo district and will be the first location to have a drive-thru. (FOX 35 Orlando)

5G is going to change the way we live, and Verizon is building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G will make life better for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. Thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Orlando!

Today in Orlando

• OGA Spirit Day - Wear an OGA shirt or black/gold. (all day)
• Legion Baseball scholarship applications due to National Headquarters. (all day)
• The Big Weekend - Big Brothers Big Sisters. (7:00 AM)
• Baby Goat Yoga at Wildflower Farms. (9:00 AM)
• Megacon Orlando at Convention Center. (10:00 AM)
• Celebration's Food Truck Friday & Movie Night. (5:00 PM)
• 2021 Ozone Hip Hop Fest. (7:00 PM)
• Winter Garden's Friday on the Plaza. (7:00 PM)
• Live at Timucua: Duane Eubanks Quintet (in-person). (7:00 PM)
• Live at Timucua: Duane Eubanks Quintet (live stream). (7:30 PM)
• Camp Cosplay at Crystal Lake. Official MegaCon Friday Afterparty. (8:00 PM)
• Shake it Off- Taylor Swift Dance Party at Neon Beach. (9:00 PM)

Orlando Patch Notebook

• Universal Orlando Resort: "The feet! I told you about - I told you to - I told you - didn't I tell him about the feet? (: @augustomalta)" (Instagram)
• Universal Orlando Resort: "I to the I shrink the I grab the I sit on the Only the real MVPs of the account will know this. ..." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "Giveaway alert⁠ ⁠ Hilton Garden Inn Orlando Downtown and Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown recently opened ..." (Instagram)
• Visit Orlando : "Sliding down an island in the sun. : @christian.mov" (Instagram)
• Orlando Police Department: "KNOW YOUR SRO: In August we're highlighting some of our 53 SROs working in Orange County Public Schools across City o..." (Facebook)
• Valencia College: "If you take classes at Valencia College Downtown, why not start your semester smoothly and avoid traffic hassles — by..." (Instagram)
• Nature Conservancy in Florida: "Meet one of the Nature Inspires Art Contest judges, Petra Royston! Petra is a member of the judges panel for our stat..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Police Department: "HOMEGROWN: Born & raised in Parramore & Washington Shores, Ofc Makeson Chery now lives in Pine Hills. With the suppor..." (Facebook)
• The Florida Aquarium: "What’s the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? Tortoises have more rounded shells and turtles have flatt..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Police Department: "RIGHT NOW: Deputy Chief Jose Velez is joined by Orange County Sheriff's Office, Florida Sheriff Mina to brief the pub..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: "Next week, I was scheduled to deliver my annual State of the City address. There are many reasons to be optimistic ab..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "DRIVE SAFE: A #rollover crash involving multiple vehicles, including this truck and trailer, blocked traffic on I-4 E..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "TRAFFIC ALERT: I-4 EB at Colonial Drive is blocked by a multi-vehicle crash. Our partners at Orlando Fire Department ..." (Facebook)
• Central Florida Zoo: "Would you do this? Explore your WILD side with a day of adventure at Seminole Aerial Adventures! Reserve your flig..." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "Where we are vs. where we started⁠⁠Look at all of that growth in Creative Village! Steven Madow #TBT #DTO50" (Facebook)
• City of Orlando - Government: "Remember not wearing masks, traveling more freely and not having to social distance? We do too! #ThrowbackThursday Le..." (Facebook)
• Orange County, Florida : "**UPDATED** #IGotMyShot COVID-19 vaccine trailer schedule: Friday, August 13: Orlando Police Department (1250 W. So..." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "Adventure is out there Where are your favorite downtown spots to explore?" (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "RIGHT NOW: OPD’s Media Relations team is headed to the scene of an officer-involved shooting in the 3100 block of Cas..." (Facebook)
• Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida: "With the suspension of onsite volunteer opportunities, including our Meal Serve program, we will see an increase in o..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "DRIVE SAFE: A #rollover crash involving multiple vehicles, including this truck and trailer, blocked traffic on I-4 E..." (Facebook)
• City of Orlando - Government: "“The vaccine has given us a life preserver. Let’s not throw it back. Instead, let’s use it, protect one another and c..." (Facebook)
• City of Orlando - Government: "Prepare for the unexpected by always having an extra charger handy. Keep your phone on low power mode to save your..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: "Something that District 5 Commissioner: Regina Hill and I can now add to the completed part of our elected official b..." (Facebook)
• Downtown Orlando: "It's wonderful to see David thriving personally and professionally, as well as making a difference in our community a..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "DRIVE SAFE: A #rollover crash involving multiple vehicles, including this truck and trailer, blocked traffic on I-4 E..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "DRIVE SAFE: #backtoschool is in full swing! As everyone tries to settle in to new routines, we're asking drivers to c..." (Facebook)
• Ciudad de Orlando: "¡Amway Center está contratando! Traiga su resume y venga preparado para entrevistas este sábado 14 de agosto de 12-4 ..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: "Thanks to Pam's hard work and passion, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida has helped mak..." (Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. 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 orlando@patch.com.