🌱 SeaWorld Orlando Opens To Manatees + Pom Pom's x Meng's Kitchen Pop-Up

Happy Monday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know today in town.

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 73 Low: 56.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria is hosting a pop-up today with Chef Asawin “AJ” Jockkeaw of Meng’s Kitchen and Chef Jack Jone (Tawa Chavitranurak) of Sea Thai from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pom Pom's opened its kitchen to third-party pop-up operators earlier in the pandemic and has had success with the cross-promotions. (Bungalower)

2. Orlando police are investigating a shooting at Majestic Event Center nightclub that left one person dead on early Sunday morning. Officers responded to a shooting call at 801 N John Young Parkway at 3:15 a.m. (WESH)

3. Florida Department of Citrus is doing a "Winter Wellness Campaign" promotion with Instagram influencers in a move to help struggling Florida farmers, including those in Central Florida's Lake Wales. The decline is blamed on "greening," or HLB (Huanglongbing). (Spectrum News 13)

4. SeaWorld Orlando is opening new pools to care for Florida manatees that are dying from starvation due to poor water quality in their normal habitat. The theme park announced Friday that it has added five 40-foot (12-meter) pools to accommodate up to 20 manatees within the two weeks. (Click Orlando)

5. Former Winter Park Police Chief Michael Deal is no longer facing a misdemeanor domestic violence charge at the request of the alleged victim. "I am requesting all charges be dropped along with allowing full contact," she wrote in an email to Deal's attorney, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "I am writing this to you on my own accord, after speaking in depth with [other family members] and praying deeply regarding all aspects of our case." (Orlando Weekly)

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Today in Orlando:

• Uprooting Prejudice Faces of Change Gallery at Orlando City Hall. (8:00 AM)
• Mardi Gras at FunSpot America. (10:00 AM)
• Ecology In Action Day at Lake Lorna Doone Park. (10:00 AM)
• Orlando City Council Meeting. (2:00 PM)
• Audubon Park Community Market. (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Central Florida Zoo wishes a Happy 9th birthday to Gage The Giraffe on Sunday. You can feed the birthday boy for a $5 donation when you visit the Zoo. (Instagram)
• Orange County Sheriff's Office is searching for Doujon Duwayne Griffiths, wanted for the September 2021 murders of Massania Malcolm and her baby. (Twitter)
• Orange County is saying Chúc mừng Năm Mới and wishing a safe and wonderful Tết to all residents who are enjoying the festivities this weekend. (Instagram)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow morning for 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.