🌱 Pulse Shooting Remembrance + Two Children Struck By Lightning

Good morning, Orlando! It's me, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Orlando Daily. Let's get this day started off right, with a quick guide to everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

First, today's weather:

An afternoon thunderstorm. High: 91 Low: 77.

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Here are the top five stories today in Orlando:

1. Trans advocacy groups are preparing for a legal battle against Florida Governor DeSantis as the State of Florida has moved to deny Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming healthcare. Florida Surgeon General and secretary of the Florida Department of Health, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who was appointed by Governor DeSantis, led the move to deny coverage, with advocates charging that "junk science" was used as justification. It is the latest of many battles between the LGBTQ community and the State of Florida. (Orlando Weekly)

2. Two children are in the hospital after neighbors said they were struck by lightning Friday afternoon. One of the children recovered while another, who was wearing metal braces, turned blue and had severe burning around her mouth. (WFTV)

3. Orlando's ICON Park will have its popular attraction, The Wheel, in rainbow colors today to honor the Pulse shooting victims. Icon Park says a portion of ticket sales will be donated to the onePULSE Foundation. (WESH)

4. Orlando police are investigating two incidents of rape they say happened in the last three weeks. Police say one of the victims described the suspect as being in his late teens or early 20s with a tattoo on his left shoulder. Authorities are asking the public for help locating the suspect. (WESH)

5. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a proclamation ordering flags in Florida to be flown at half-staff today to commemorate the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016. The governor's proclamation also asks all Florida residents to pause for a moment of silence at 9 a.m. today to honor the victims of the attack. (Fox 35 Orlando)

Today in Orlando:

• Mennello Museum’s Free Family Day. (8:30 a.m.)
• 49 Bells Ceremony at First United Methodist Church Of Orlando. (11:45 a.m.)
• Cars And Cocktails Charity Car Show at Lake Nona Wave Hotel. (noon)
• For Us, By Us: A Tribute To Those Surviving & Fighting for Change at Walt Disney Amphitheatre At Lake Eola Park. (1 p.m.)
• Yoga And Wine Makes Everything Fine at Swirlery. (1 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• On the anniversary of the Pulse shooting, public tributes will take place, including at the Orange County Regional Historical Center on Central Boulevard in downtown Orlando. Crosses honoring all 49 victims will be on display from noon to 5 p.m. today at the museum, which is offering free admission during this time. (Osceola News-Gazette)
• The 19th, an independent newsroom, has a story up on "What it means to remember the Pulse shooting in the era of ‘Don’t Say Gay’.” (The 19th)
• A critically-acclaimed musical has returned to Orlando's Renaissance Theatre Company to mark the remembrance of the shooting at Pulse Nightclub. "From Here" tells one person’s story of what it was like living in Orlando during the difficult times of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The last showing is today at 3 p.m. (Click Orlando)
• OnePULSE foundation founder and Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma spoke to WMFE about the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation in Florida saying, “...It's painful, but this is a very resilient community and the young people we have behind us are even more resilient, and they are going to step up and be heard. And if we, you know, if this community can achieve those goals one time, they can do it again. So, I know that my heart while it hurts, it can be overcome." (WMFE)
• John Collazo will be opening a new restaurant concept under his Bad As’s umbrella called Bad As’s Burgers in the former home of Kathi Rolls in Curry Ford West. (Bungalower)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— 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? Contact me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com