The Air Force is expecting a busy year for Space Coast rocket launches

The 45th Space Wing, which manages the Eastern Range that includes Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, has set a goal of securing 48 launches a year. Rockets by SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Boeing in the form of NASA's future Space Launch System, and others like submarine-launched Trident missiles would make the goal a reality by 2020. [Source: Florida Today]

See also:
» A scrappy competitor to SpaceX and Blue Origin just secured a crucial and historic launch site in Cape Canaveral
» Blue Origin shares new video for planned New Glenn rocket launches from Cape Canaveral
» Why SpaceX is ramping up its Florida staff while cutting hundreds of workers in California

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Diane McFarlin

The Dean of University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and former Gainesville Sun Editor shares her journalism and publishing experiences.: "Having empathy is critical to be successful, particularly in the workplace, and particularly if you aspire to be a leader. You have to be sensitive to what other people are experiencing and feeling — and the way to do that is to observe." [Source: Florida Trend]

Gov. DeSantis asks Legislature to end marijuana smoking ban

Gov. Ron DeSantis called on the Florida Legislature to repeal a ban on smoking medical marijuana and make it easier for businesses to participate in the market, warning that if lawmakers do not act he will cease to defend provisions of a medical marijuana law that have been challenged in court. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Outdated Florida malls are fading in 2019, making way for the rise of new entertainment districts

New projects are transforming the way people shop, dine and entertain themselves in Florida as consumers shift away from malls and big-box centers. It’s the next evolution for developers after watching online outlets erode traditional brick-and-mortar sales to finally crush some stalwart retailers as 2018 came to a close. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

New documentary 'The Swamp' explores how Florida land rush reshaped the state

It was one of the nation’s last unpopulated frontier, a subtropical wilderness that seemed to many inhospitable, and certainly unbuildable. But in the early decades of the 20th century, Southern Florida became the setting of one of the country’s most storied land rushes and development booms. [Source: Curbed]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Silver Airways begins nonstop flights to Daytona Beach from Fort Lauderdale [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Auto racing season begins Jan. 26 in Daytona Beach, and Silver Airways can help South Florida fans avoid more than three hours of driving on Interstate 95. The Fort Lauderdale-based airline announced the beginning of daily non-stop flights on Thursday.

› Esports, startups plan for major push in Central Florida in 2019 [Orlando Sentinel]
A push by city leaders, business groups, universities and high-profile businesses such as the Orlando Magic and Electronic Arts will promote the region as a competitive video gaming hub in 2019, hoping to lure major events here.

› Jacksonville-based Rethreaded featured on ‘Project Runway’ [AP]
A Florida-based company featured on the television show “Project Runway All Stars” is kicking off a new line of leather accessories as part of an effort to help survivors of human trafficking.

› Threat to Miami economy from stock trouble, shutdown — and robots — is limited, experts say [Miami Herald]
Don’t worry about the South Florida economy...yet. That sentiment prevailed Wednesday at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s annual South Florida Economic Summit. For Wells Fargo economist Charlie Dougherty, Florida and South Florida’s economies are enjoying momentum many other U.S. regions would kill for.

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› Another South Florida city wrestles with scooter craze [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Electric scooters might be all the rage in Fort Lauderdale right now, but they’re not welcome next door. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is making it clear: Keep your scooters out of our town.

› Opioid death rate plunges 41 percent in Florida county at center of epidemic [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Almost three years after Palm Beach County officials set out to combat the opioid epidemic, it looks like their efforts are paying off: The State Attorney’s Office reports there were 326 opioid deaths in 2018, down from 558 in 2017. That’s a 41 percent decline.

› Forget field trips. Miami Beach is bringing museums and performing arts into schools. [Miami Herald]
Although Miami Beach is home to numerous museums and performing arts centers, schools don’t always have the time and money to take their students on field trips. Now, Miami Beach is bringing those institutions into local public schools and making them part of the curriculum.

› As Washington gridlocks, Jacksonville air traffic controllers feel the pinch [Florida Times-Union]
Chris Iresabal doesn’t care what you think about the border. He doesn’t care what you think about immigration. What Iresabal cares about, the reason he was handing out pamphlets Wednesday at Jacksonville International Airport’s baggage carousel No. 8, is aviation safety.