🌱 Orlando Journalist & 9-Year-Old Girl Murdered + Apopka Hiring Fair

Hey, everybody! I'm here with your Thursday edition of the Orlando Patch newsletter, filled with all the local information you need to know right now. Today you'll find these stories and more:

• An Orlando journalist and a young girl were killed in Pine Hills on Wednesday and two others were also injured
• City of Winter Park is hosting its 44th Annual Winter Park St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 5
• Community Health Centers - Apopka is hosting a health care hiring event on Feb. 28

But first, today's weather: Record-breaking temperatures. High: 90 Low: 66.

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Here are the top stories in Orlando today:

1. An Orlando journalist from Spectrum News 13 and a 9-year-old child were killed and two others were also shot in a series of shootings in Orange County's Pine Hills on Wednesday afternoon. Police said reports of the incident came in at around 4:05 p.m. It is unclear why the victims were attacked. "I want to acknowledge what a horrible day this has been for our community and our media partners," Orange County Sheriff John Mina said during a news conference. (Orlando Patch)
2. City of Winter Park is hosting its 44th Annual Winter Park St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. The Grand Marshal this year will be Meredith McDonough from WESH. Sponsors include Fiddler's Green Irish Pub & Eatery, Irish American Cultural Society of Central Florida, Winter Park Rotary Club, and more. (Bungalower)
3. A 17-year-old student in Flagler County has been arrested after allegedly kicking and punching a Flagler County school employee who took away the student's Nintendo Switch, according to authorities. The incident happened Tuesday morning and was captured on surveillance footage. (Click Orlando)
4. Timucua Arts Foundation in Orlando is marking the end of Black History Month this weekend with an event called "A Joy-Filled Noise." The event will run on Friday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 26 and tickets are now available for $7.50. Timucua is located at 2000 S. Summerlin Ave. (Orlando Weekly)
5. Community Health Centers - Apopka is hosting a health care hiring event on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. The hiring event will be held at 225 E Seventh St., Apopka. There will be on-site interviews for full-time roles including LPN, RN, Care Team Nurse, Pharmacy Tech, Dental Assistant, and more. (The Apopka Voice)

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Today in Orlando:

• Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Bozanich Photography Collaborative. (10 a.m.)
• Gardening In Containers-In-Person Class at UF IFAS Extension Orange County. (10 a.m.)
• Book Buddies at Southwest Branch Library. (5 p.m.)
• Network After Work Orlando at Bitters & Bottles. (6 p.m.)
• Thornton Thursdays at The Veranda At Thornton Park. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Orlando Police Department shared: "Day 2 of OPD SWAT in Dubai: We finished 6th in Tuesday's event and sit 5th overall. Nicely done! The Orlando SWAT Team is currently in Dubai competing in the UAE SWAT Challenge." (Orlando Police Department via Facebook)
• Orlando Fire Department shared: "OFD congratulates District Chief David Harris on retiring with 25 years of service. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the Orlando Fire Department." (Orlando Fire Department via Facebook)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer shared: "Rest in Peace, Dr. Hitt. Former University of Central Florida President John C. Hitt passed away earlier this week. He left an incredible impact on our community." (Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer via Facebook)
• Audubon Park Garden District shared: "Stardust Video & Coffee is such an integral part of what makes this community so special." (Audubon Park Garden District via Facebook)

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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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orlando Patch newsletter? Contact me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com