🌱 Surterra Wellness + Dr. Scott Rivkees To Brown University + Holiday Travel Boom

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

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 76 Low: 54.

Here are the top stories today in Orlando:

1. Holiday Travel: Expect the busiest travel days at Orlando International Airport to be on Saturday and Sunday with nearly 300,000 passengers expected to pass through the terminal. The number nears the record number on the same day two years ago before the pandemic. (WESH)

2. A former Steak ‘n Shake building in the Milk District is in the permitting process for a new medical marijuana dispensary, according to permits. It will be home to Surterra Wellness Center. No opening date is available at this time. (Bungalower)

3. Florida Republican Rep. Brad Drake has filed “free speech” legislation that would require the state or its licensing boards to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a health care provider’s social media posts caused harm to a current patient before revoking or threatening to revoke a license, certificate, or registration. The bill states Florida Department of Health or its licensure boards would be liable for up to $1.5 million to any doctor who suffers direct or indirect damages as a result of an unsuccessful regulatory effort. (Creative Loafing)

4. A Florida man is accused of striking a woman with a sock full of rocks to steal her purse Monday, authorities said. 28-year-old Ricky Williams is charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery. (WFTV)

5. Dr. Scott Rivkees, who led Florida’s initial response to the coronavirus pandemic as head of the Florida Department of Health, has accepted a job at Brown University. He will work with the university on pandemic preparedness. (WMFE)

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Today in Orlando:

• Wall Crawl's Winter Wonderland Santa Crawl. (9:00 AM)
• Gingerbread Houses at Publix Aprons Cooking School at The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips. (10:00 AM)
• Deck the Seas at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. (11:00 AM)
• UCF Knights Football vs. South Florida Bulls Football at Bounce House Stadium. (3:30 PM)
• Observatory & Planetarium Experience at Orlando Science Center. (8:30 PM)

Orlando Patch Notebook

• Visit Orlando: "Sunsets like these are here one moment, gondola the next. 📷 : @smilejeni" (Instagram)
• Valencia College: "On Monday November 22nd, The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort (a Marriott brand), in cooperation with the Valencia Hospitality Society, donated 180 pounds of turkey to the Levy-Hughes Boys & Girls Club, located in the Parramore comm..." (Instagram)
• Orange County, Florida: "Please note our Barnett Park COVID-19 Testing & Vaccination Services will be CLOSED for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday. Operations will resume on Saturday 9 am." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "Behind the scenes of Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker👀 During this holiday production, the audience takes a magical journey with Clare, as she travels with the Chocolate Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy. This urban holiday producti..." (Facebook)

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• Flagler Auditorium Presents Last Child - Aerosmith Experience (November 27)
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• Black Friday to Cyber Monday Sale on Virtual Running and Walking Events! (November 29)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 6)
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You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow morning for another update. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? You can contact me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com.