Awe-Summer at Legoland + Orlando Pride Supports Transgender Kids

Good Morning. My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Orlando area.

In this issue, you’ll learn about a surplus of vaccines in Central Florida, a local sports team rallying for transgender children, a credit union expanding in Central Florida, and more.

Today’s weather: The high is 94 and the low is 75 with scattered thunderstorms. The chance of rain is 60%.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Orlando:

1. A toxic algae bloom was detected Wednesday from a sample taken from Lake Jesup in Seminole County as blue-green algae blooms continue to pop up in Central Florida waterways. (Click Orlando)

2. Pharmacists in Central Florida say that they have too many COVID-19 vaccine doses and not enough patients as demand declines. They want state officials to take action to keep the vaccines from going to waste. (Fox 35 Orlando)

3. Orlando Pride Captain Ashlyn Harris is leading the team in supporting transgender children. The team visited the Pulse Memorial and Museum last Friday night and connected with Equality Florida, which advocates for LGBTQ equality. It hopes to continue fighting for rights after Governor DeSantis signed legislation banning transgender sports participation and vetoed LGBTQ funding at the state level. (Orlando Sentinel)

4. Jacksonville-based Vystar Credit Union is planning several new Central Florida locations. It has more than 765,000 members and assets that total $10.8 billion. (Orlando Business Journal)

5. Legoland Florida is launching its six-week “Awe-Summer'' celebration on Saturday. Events are included with Legoland admission and run through August 8th. (Orlando Sentinel)

Today in Orlando:

• Open Skate at Astro Skate Orlando. (1 p.m.)
  
• Learn CPR & First Aid with Winter Park Fire-Rescue (6 p.m.)
  
• Tuesday Night Run at Ten10 Brewing Company. (6:30 p.m.)
• Diversitastic! Dining: Puerto Rico in Kissimmee. (7 p.m.)
• San Jose Earthquakes at Orlando City SC. (7:30 p.m.)
• Diverse Word Open Mic at Downtown Credo. (7:30 p.m.)

Orlando Patch Notebook:

• Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings wrote an Op-Ed supporting restricting protests in neighborhoods, which is currently under consideration by the county.
• The National Nurses United Union held a rally at Osceola Regional Medical Center on Monday demanding an end to the nationwide nursing shortage.
• Starbucks is eyeing a former restaurant space in College Park.
• Florida ranks 28th in the nation for COVID-19 vaccinations for ages 12 and up.
• The IRS has opened a non-filer portal for child tax credit registration. The credits will begin in July.

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That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Orlando. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: orlando@patch.com.

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Orlando area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.