🌱 Orlando ER Nurse Makes Home Testing Site + FL Abortion Ban + COVID Scam Alerts

Happy Thursday, people of Orlando! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 73 Low: 52.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. An ER nurse in Waterford Lakes community has created a COVID-19 testing site in her driveway for $50 a test. The idea came up after difficulties getting a COVID-19 test. WKMG has reached out to Orange County to see if the nurse has proper permitting for the site. (Click Orlando)

2. Universal Orlando employees will be required to be fully vaccinated or tested weekly starting next month, an effort to protect employees and guests from COVID-19. Universal Orlando says the new policy is an effort to comply with federally mandated OSHA regulations. The theme park and resort operator says it will initially provide free testing on site for team members. (WMFE)

3. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis voiced support Wednesday morning for a Republican-led bill that would ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeks of pregnancy and signaled that he would sign it if it landed on his desk. (Click Orlando)

4. A Brevard County man was arrested after police say he fired a gun because he was angry over workers doing maintenance on his apartment. 66-year-old Phil Robins is facing a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. (Fox 35 Orlando)

5. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement recently shut down three fraudulent websites that were attempting to steal driver license information from residents using COVID-19. The Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued over 30 scam alerts to consumers during the pandemic. (Tallahassee Patch)

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Today in Orlando:

• Mayor Buddy's Book Club Session. Virtual. (4:00 PM)
• Longwood's Food Truck Night at Reiter Park. (5:30 PM)
• Proposed West Bus Compound Community Meeting at Edgewater High School. (6:00 PM)
• Lady Braves Soccer vs. East River @ East River. (6:00 PM)
• Open Fencing at Orlando Fencing Sports Center. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Jurassic Park River Adventure is now closed for a scheduled temporary refurbishment and will not reopen until January 29, making this a closure of three full weeks. (Inside The Magic)
• Winter Park's decades-old Central Park stage will get a makeover. (Orlando Weekly)
• Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled more cruises this week including a number of cruises sailing out of Florida. (Orlando Weekly)
• The Florida Police Chiefs Association, (FPCA) Winter Conference is being held in the City of Orlando this week. (Facebook)
• Classic rock music is coming to Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts' new Steinmetz Hall with Kansas on Sunday, January 30th. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 22)
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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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.