Things To Do In SW Florida

Five Central Florida restaurants were shut down the week of April 21-27, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

Tamarind Indian Cuisine at 501 N. Orlando Ave. Suite 149 in Winter Park shut down on April 26. Inspectors found 14 violations, six of which were high priorities. Those violations included raw chicken stored over cooked fritters in a cooler, live roaches under dry ingredients in the dish area and non-grade paper towels lining samosas in a cooler. Officials revisited the restaurant on April 27. They found three violations, but none were a high priority. The restaurant met inspection standards.

House of Pho at 8261 S. John Young Parkway in Orlando shut down on April 22. Inspectors found 23 violations, four of which were a high priority. Those violations included roach and ant spray not used correctly, roaches in the prep and washing area, and storing pesticides near utensils. Officials revisited the restaurant on April 23. They found two violations, but none were a high priority. The restaurant met inspection standards. read more

By Jennifer Peltz and Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is moving toward reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The Justice Department proposal would recognize the medical uses of cannabis, but wouldn’t legalize it for recreational use.

The proposal would move marijuana from the “Schedule I” group to the less tightly regulated “Schedule III.”

So what does that mean, and what are the implications?

WHAT HAS ACTUALLY CHANGED? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Technically, nothing yet. The proposal must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and then undergo a public-comment period and review from an administrative judge, a potentially lengthy process.

Still, the switch is considered “paradigm-shifting, and it’s very exciting,” Vince Sliwoski, a Portland, Oregon-based cannabis and psychedelics attorney who runs well-known legal blogs on those topics, told The Associated Press when the federal Health and Human Services Department recommended the change. read more

Members of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions are expecting stronger numbers at the gate this summer, the trade association announced Tuesday.

IAAPA expects a 2% increase in theme park attendance in North America and a 7% uptick in consumer spending. The trend toward family-friendly entertainment and animal-oriented attractions should boost the industry, said Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of Orlando-based IAAPA.

Visitors’ increased willingness to spend on special occasions can bolster bottom lines, Wahl said during a presentation on the Bayside Stadium stage at SeaWorld Orlando.

“We have seen is that people are willing to spend more on the parks because they want to make those days extra special,” Wahl said. “You see that we have more and more upscale premier experiences where people are willing to actually spend.”

He pointed to front-of-line privileges, fine dining and animal encounters as attractive extras.

Discovery Cove introduces Flamingo Point for mixing, mingling read more

Walmart is closing its health centers and virtual care service after struggling to find success with the offerings, the U.S. retailer said Tuesday.

The company has three clinics in Orlando, two in Kissimmee, and one each in Ocoee, Sanford and Winter Garden, according to its website.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said that after managing the facilities it launched in 2019 and expanding its telehealth program, it concluded “there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue.”

Walmart had 51 health centers in five states, with the goal of helping people save money on their health care needs.

“This is a difficult decision, and like others, the challenging reimbursement environment and escalating operating costs create a lack of profitability that make the care business unsustainable for us at this time,” the company said in a statement.

A spokeswoman said reimbursement proved challenging “from all types of insurance.”

Walmart does not yet have specific dates for when its health centers will close, but said that it will share that information when it’s available. The company said that employees working at its health centers are eligible to transfer to any other Walmart or Sam’s Club location. read more

Jon Healey | Los Angeles Times (TNS)

LOS ANGELES — Those who obtained federally backed student loans from private banks can have some or all of their remaining debt forgiven by the Biden administration, but they need to act fast: The deadline for qualifying is Tuesday.

The relief is available for students enrolled in income-driven repayment plans or the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. It’s also available for some parents who borrowed through the Federal Family Education Loan program.

This is not a new initiative, however — instead, it’s the last chance to participate in one of the administration’s first and most successful efforts to reduce the mountain of student debt.

The Education Department launched the Income Driven Repayment One-Time Adjustment initiative in 2022 to address complaints about loan servicing companies losing track of payments, not giving borrowers proper credit for their work in public-service jobs, and steering struggling borrowers into costly forbearance or deferment programs instead of payment plans based on their income. read more