In 2019, high-profile missions will turn all eyes toward Florida's Space Coast

Though the Space Coast can expect to see fewer rocket launches this year, the potency of upcoming missions will turn all eyes toward the Eastern Range as teams inch closer to the first crewed missions to the International Space Station from American soil in nearly a decade. [Source: Florida Today]

Florida's growing population to impact post-Census redistricting

Florida's congressional lines are drawn by the state Legislature and subject to gubernatorial veto while its state legislative districts also are drawn by the Legislature, passed as a joint resolution, but not subject to gubernatorial veto. [Source: Florida Watchdog]

Column: Preserve more of Florida’s wilderness. It’s good for business.

Florida is in a relentless competition to attract and retain high-end businesses and the talent that supports them. Our quiver includes some common fiscal arrows — low taxes, less regulation and, in some cases, loads of taxpayer-funded incentives. Of course, luring and nourishing businesses is not all about finances. Quality of life matters. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

New year brings workers' comp changes to Florida

Businesses across Florida will begin to see lower workers' compensation insurance rates in 2019. Regulators have approved an overall 13.8 percent decrease. The decrease follows a 9.5 average rate reduction in 2018. [Source: WWSB]

Number of sex offenders living in Florida growing

A new state report says that the number of sexual offenders and predators living in Florida has risen by more than 50 percent in the last 13 years. Legislative auditors reported late last week that nearly 29,000 registered sex offenders and predators now reside in the state. That's an increase of 53 percent since 2005. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› First Coast sees record number of visitors in 2018 [Florida Times-Union]
Florida and the First Coast experienced another year of record-breaking tourist visits in 2018, keeping pace with the last half-decade of record-setting visitation numbers. Some figures still need to be collected in the last quarter of 2018, but the first three reporting quarters showed new high levels of tourism.

› Gas prices in Florida are lowest new year average since 2016 [WTXL]
We're starting out this new year with lower gas prices nationwide than the past three years, according to data from AAA. Florida's average price as of Tuesday is $2.15. And one business said these low prices are fueling success.

› FPL officially acquires Gulf Power [My Panhandle]
NextEra Energy Inc., the parent company of Florida Power & Light, announced early Tuesday that it has finished an earlier-announced deal to purchase Gulf Power from the Atlanta-based Southern Company.

› Certain flushed materials give JEA big headache [Florida Times-Union]
The fine folks at JEA are a bit too nice to put it so bluntly, but Jacksonville residents need to hear the truth: Stop flushing weird stuff down the toilet. All that grease, oil and fat they’ve been pouring down the drain? Don’t do that, either. JEA has to take care of the problems all that stuff creates on the business end of things.

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› A year-plus after Hurricane Irma, Florida Hospital Oceanside will be torn down [Orlando Sentinel]
Workers are preparing a Volusia County hospital for demolition more than a year after it was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Florida Hospital Oceanside spokeswoman Lindsay Cashio says that preparations have begun but the demolition won't be complete until summer.

› KISS restaurant Rock & Brews may be headed to Tampa Bay [Tampa Bay Times]
Wesley Chapel may be next in line for rock royalty — or one of their franchises, at least. Rock & Brews Restaurant, the American-style eatery with famous founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, is looking to open its first Tampa Bay location.

› Florida’s minimum wage is increased Jan. 1, but some workers say it’s not enough [Miami Herald]
Florida’s minimum wage will rise from $8.25 to $8.46 Tuesday, in accordance with a 2004 ballot amendment indexing the wage to inflation increases. The minimum wage for tipped workers will also climb, from $5.23 to $5.44 an hour.

› Orlando launch of UberTaxi, which lets Uber riders hail a Mears cab, delayed [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando Uber and taxi riders will have to wait a little bit longer for the launch of UberTaxi. The option, which allows riders to hail a cab from the Uber app, was supposed to be up and running by the end of 2018.