🌱 Vrbo Citrus Bowl Draws Thousands + Seminole County Adds COVID Testing Site Today

Happy Monday, Orlando! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started off right. Here's what's happening today in Orlando.

First, today's weather:

Cooler; breezy in the morning. High: 63 Low: 51.

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Here are the top five stories today in Orlando:

1. Florida kids younger than 5 years old may be able to receive their first shot in the first half of 2022 following Pfizer's timeline, according to Forbes. Pfizer and BioNTech said they expect to submit an application for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine under 5-year-olds in the first half of 2022. (Florida Patch)

2. Seminole County is opening a fifth COVID-19 testing site starting today at the Sanford SunRail Station. Demand continues to be very high for COVID-19 testing as Florida logs record cases of the virus. All of the county sites require appointments. (Click Orlando)

3. A bill filed in the Florida House would bring law enforcement agencies in to help hospitals identify unidentified patients and allow social workers to make decisions about patient care. Data shared would include fingerprints, palm prints, and facial images. Hospitals have been blocked by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 so far, meant to prevent hospitals from accessing people's private medical information. (Florida Politics)

4. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at a public event in South Florida on New Year’s Eve at Miami Baptist Church in West Kendall. He did not address the current COVID-19 surge and a reporter was blocked from asking him questions. (WPLG Local 10)

5. Thousands packed into Camping World Stadium on Saturday during the Vrbo Citrus Bowl, to see the Kentucky Wildcats face the Iowa Hawkeyes. Local businesses in the area said the game helped them as they seek to recover from pandemic lows. (WFTV)

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Today in Orlando:

• Design Zone Traveling Exhibit at Orlando Science Center. (10:00 AM)
• Open Skate Aat RDV Ice Den. (12:00 PM)
• Audubon Park's Community Market. (5:00 PM)
• Spider-Man Trivia at Pour Choice Taphouse. (7:00 PM)
• Open Fencing at Orlando Fencing Sports Center. (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Ding Tea has opened its first bubble tea shop in Orlando at The Mall at Millenia. (Tasty Chomps)
• Five of the 10 cities that experienced the biggest jumps in median one-bedroom rent year-over-year are from the Sunshine State, including the top three — Miami, Tampa, and Orlando. (The Real Deal)
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park has now reopened. (ThrillGeek)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with your next 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.