It’s Tuesday, Orlando. With Debby on its way out, we should see a mostly cloudy one today with a few showers popping up here and there. Highs will reach 92° with lows of 79°. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Orlando Health Expands into Alabama with $910M Deal

• Hurricane Debby’s Impact in Orlando and Across the State

Let’s dive in.

BUSINESS

Orlando Health Expands into Alabama with $910M Deal

What’s happening: Orlando Health is set to acquire a 70% stake in Birmingham-based Brookwood Baptist Health, expanding its footprint into Alabama. The deal, valued at over $910 million, marks the company’s first venture into the state.

The details: The acquisition includes five Birmingham-area hospitals and related facilities, totaling over 1,800 beds. The facilities include:

• Brookwood Baptist Medical Center (645 beds)

• Princeton Baptist Medical Center (505 beds)

• Walker Baptist Medical Center (267 beds)

• Shelby Baptist Medical Center (252 beds)

• Citizens Baptist Medical Center (122 beds)

The company’s partnership with Baptist Health System will see Brookwood Baptist Health rebranded as Baptist Health. Thibaut van Marcke, a senior VP at Orlando Health, will lead the Alabama operations.

Zooming out: Orlando Health's entry into Alabama aligns with its broader expansion strategy, following the company’s 2020 purchase of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg and its growing presence in Puerto Rico.

The big picture: Orlando Health, a 3,487-bed system, employs 29,000 people and operates 17 hospitals and multiple outpatient centers. The acquisition positions the system as a major player in the Birmingham healthcare market.

Read more here (Orlando Business Journal)

WEATHER

Hurricane Debby’s Impact in Orlando and Across the State

Driving the news: Hurricane Debby made landfall early Monday near Steinhatchee, impacting Central Florida with flight disruptions, power outages, and government closures.

Key impacts:

• Airport disruptions: Orlando International Airport saw significant impacts with about 220 flight cancellations and average delays of 45 minutes.

• Weather alerts: A tornado watch affected several counties, including Orange and Seminole, until 4 PM yesterday. Winds reached up to 39 mph in Orlando, accompanied by an inch of rain.

• Power outages: Over 107,000 customers across the state lost power. Central Florida counties like Lake and Orange experienced notable outages, but power restoration efforts reduced numbers by yesterday afternoon.

• Government response: Lake County shut down all government departments yesterday, with plans to reopen today. Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties reported no significant flooding on Monday.

• Community needs: OneBlood, still recovering from the recent ransomware attack, is urgently calling for platelet donations in the wake of the storm.

Read more here (Orlando Sentinel)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. Buca di Beppo, an Orlando-based Italian-American restaurant chain, filed for bankruptcy yesterday.

2. As the market took a hit, Orlando companies like Luminar Technologies, Marriott Vacations World, and Travel + Leisure Co. all dropped more than 10% yesterday.

3. Orlando coffee shop Credo will soon close its last location downtown after a rent hike made the business unsustainable. The company plans to look for a new spot in the area after ceasing operations at its existing location later this month.

4. Over $1 million in cocaine washed up on a Florida Keys beach Monday as Hurricane Debby made landfall.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

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