🌱 Upcoming Orange County Elections + MLB Lockout Impacts Area Businesses

Hello, neighbors! It's me again, Carlos Hernandez, your host of the Orlando Daily.

First, today's weather:

Sunshine and humid. High: 84 Low: 65.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. An Orlando Veterans Affairs worker in Florida was charged Friday in connection with an elaborate scheme in which he used fake online identities to coerce a pre-teen girl into sending him nude photos that he later circulated to her classmates. 45-year-old Thomas Zayas is accused of the act. (Orlando Patch)

2. Rollins College and the Rollins Museum of Art are unveiling a new sculpture this week, commissioned by alumni Barbara and Ted Alfond, for the museum's Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art. The sculpture is by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare. An unveiling celebration will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 24. (Bungalower)

3. There are a number of upcoming Orange County elections in the cities of Apopka, Belle Isle, Maitland, Winter Park and the town of Oakland have elections on Tuesday, March 8th. The town of Eatonville has an election on Saturday, March 5th. (Click Orlando)

4. Cities such as Lakeland, Florida about 40 miles outside Disney were planning to have MLB Spring Training games starting February 26 before dozens of games were cancelled due to a MLB lockout. Rollins College Business professor Brian Walkup says local businesses stand to lose the most from the cancellations. The Florida Sports Foundation estimates the entire Spring Training season brings in about $687 million to the Sunshine State. (WMFE)

5. The United Faculty of Florida at UCF council raised concerns over UCF President Alexander Cartwright's unilateral appointment of Provost Michael Johnson in a late January statement. "The absence of a national search denies the university community an opportunity for dialogue and input for a critical position at the university," the council said in the statement. (NSM Today)

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Today in Orlando:

• Wine Down Wednesday at Publix GreenWise Market at Water Street Tampa. (4:00 PM)
• Introduction To Smartphone Photography at The Florida Museum Of Photographic Arts. (5:00 PM)
• Organization Committee Meeting at Ivanhoe Village Main Street. (5:30 PM)
• Water Polo Vs. Lake Nona at Lake Highland. (6:00 PM)
• Sarah Shook & The Disarmers With Will Quinlan And The Holy Slow Train at Crowbar. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Check out this mural: Sueños Naranja is a 5-story mural located on the EA building in Creative Village at 515 West Amelia Street. (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department Chief Rolón joined local law enforcement and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to announce an additional resource to call in tips with Crime Stoppers. (Facebook)
• Orlando indie duo Sales has announced a North American tour kicking off in September at the Abbey. (Twitter)
• Orlando photographer John Deeb will exhibit large-scale work outdoors at Winter Park Tennis Center on Friday. It will consist of 55 photo prints. (Twitter)

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Events:

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• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 11)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 12)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 13)
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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.