🌱 Raising Cane’s Lake Nona + Ava MediterrAegean + Downtown Orlando S.A.F.E. Program

Welcome back, Orlando! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. These are the most important things going on in Orlando today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with a shower. High: 64 Low: 55.

Are you a local business owner or marketer in Orlando? We love connecting local businesses with our amazing readers. Learn more here.

Here are the top five stories today in Orlando:

1. Orlando City Council signed off Monday on making $500,000 available to downtown businesses and building owners to make security upgrades. The money will be available through the S.A.F.E., or Safety Awareness For Everyone program. The money can be used for devices such as identification scanners, metal detection systems, and security cameras. (WESH)

2. Ava MediterrAegean finally has an opening date in Winter Park. The Greek-inspired restaurant will open on February 1st. Chef Keith Bombaugh will be the new executive chef with experience at Miabelle in Washington D.C. and 3 Michelin-starred Alinea in Chicago. (Bungalower)

3. Orange County plans to revisit a 1-cent sales tax increase to develop mass transit and expand the Lynx and SunRail lines as the population grows. Similar proposals failed in Osceola and Volusia counties in the past. (Fox 35 Orlando)

4. Florida’s biggest Christian music festival, Rock The Universe, returns to Universal Orlando Resort this weekend. Performers include Grammy Award-winning Casting Crowns, for KING & COUNTRY, and Dove Award-winning Crowder. Visitors can take part in several worship experiences throughout the weekend. (WFTV)

5. Louisiana-based chicken tender chain Raising Cane’s has filed an application in Lake Nona to place a restaurant at 12049 Pioneers Way. A location in Kissimmee was also presented in the original plans. There is no set opening date. (Orlando Weekly)

From our sponsor:

Today's Orlando Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com.

Today in Orlando:

• Tai Chi in the Garden at Mead Botanical Garden. (10:30 AM)
• Wildflower Farm's Fables on the Farm. (11:00 AM)
• Rollins College Women's Basketball at Embry-Riddle University. (5:30 PM)
• Orlando Magic Vs. LA Clippers at Amway Center. (7:00 PM)
• Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Black Nurses Rock Orlando awarded scholarships to two of Orlando Health's team members to support their nursing education: Renide, RN, with Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital, and Shantelle, certified medical assistant with Orlando Health Cancer Institute. (Facebook)
• UCF students and alumni from various fields designed a nanotech space suit material overlay for astronaut exploration. (UCF)
• There is a health caution for Lake Formosa due to the presence of blue-green algae based on a water sample. (Twitter)
• Camping World Stadium is giving away tickets to the Orlando Bad Bunny concert on Twitter. (Twitter)

Loving the Orlando Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business featured in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another 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.