Good Morning! On this day in 1942, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill flew to Florida for a vacation. While in Pompano Beach, Churchill visited the home of Edward R. Stettinius Jr., on Hillsboro Beach, for five days. Churchill came to the U.S. to meet with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Flying taxis and rocket launches dominate our Top Stories today, with some saying the age of The Jetsons has come to Florida.
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Daytona Beach 🌤️ 72/56° | Fort Myers 🌤️ 80/57° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 71/52° | Key West 🌤️ 75/68° | Miami 🌤️ 78/66° | Ocala 💨 75/51° | Orlando 💨 77/57° | Pensacola 🌤️ 67/58° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 79/57° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 67/50° | Tampa 🌤️ 77/57°
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Flying Taxis Could Take Off in 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working to bring an advanced air mobility network of flying taxis to the I-4 corridor in Central Florida by the end of 2026.
Similar to an Uber service, riders would request to be picked up and then transported to their destinations by air, rather than sitting in a car in traffic.
FDOT is building the necessary infrastructure to accommodate flying taxis across the state. The first phase is a stretch that includes airports from Daytona Beach through Orlando and to Sarasota.
Many unanswered questions remain, such as the potential cost of the services and the type of vehicles that will be approved by the FAA. In the coming months, FDOT plans to establish a headquarters in Polk County for the aerial highway network and test out the technology.
First Space Coast Launch After Record Year
A significant increase in rocket activity is expected at Cape Canaveral in 2026, with SpaceX launching its first Falcon 9 rocket of the new year from Florida yesterday.
The Space Coast saw a record 109 launches in 2025, surpassing the previous year’s total of 93. Beyond SpaceX and the potential for a Starship launch from Florida, both commercial and government launches are also expected to increase.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) plans to increase Vulcan rocket launches, aiming for about 20 missions in 2026. Blue Origin’s heavy-lift New Glenn rocket is expected to fly another mission early in the year.
NASA will continue with crewed missions, including the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station, also scheduled for early 2026. Broader Artemis plans for lunar exploration are on the horizon, as well.
Where to Retire in Florida
WorldAtlas chose its top eight cities in Florida to retire based on the New York Times naming the state the top retirement destination in the country.
In Volusia and Flagler counties, Daytona Beach and Palm Coast were highlighted for their beachside lifestyle, local state parks, music entertainment, and museums.
The Villages and Wesley Chapel master communities were selected for the array of amenities and activities offered to residents. Ocala was also featured for its green spaces, parks, and downtown market.
Port Charlotte was said to offer the best waterfront living on the Gulf, while Tampa was highlighted for its diversity and beaches. Gainesville, an inland city, was chosen for those seeking something away from the water and looking for top-notch medical care.
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➤ Orange County: A man was found dead at the Disney Springs Orange Garage on East Buena Vista Drive, a Walt Disney World property, on Friday night. The incident is being investigated as a possible suicide. (More)
➤ Jacksonville: On Saturday, the USS Delbert D. Black became the first ship of the new year to deploy from Naval Station Mayport amid heightened global tensions, with U.S. forces on alert in multiple regions following U.S. airstrikes carried out in Venezuela early Saturday. (More)
➤ Altamonte Springs: The city is testing technology and gathering data to demonstrate to state leaders that it is possible to turn recycled water into drinking water. (More)
➤ Tallahassee: The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected a proposal by Attorney General James Uthmeier that would have allowed certain state government lawyers to practice in Florida for up to three years without taking the Florida Bar exam. (More)
➤ Orlando: Members of the nonprofit group Casa de Venezuela gathered Saturday to celebrate Nicolás Maduro’s capture and share concern for what comes next. (More)
➤ Tampa: Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation gathered on the steps of the city hall on Saturday to protest the U.S. strike in Venezuela. (More)
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➤ The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will miss the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2019 after yesterday’s results determined that the Carolina Panthers would earn the NFC South tiebreaker and be declared division champions. (More)
➤ Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence passed for three touchdowns on Sunday in a 41-7 Jaguars win to set the franchise’s new all-time total touchdown record, with 38. The win also clinched the AFC South division title for the Jaguars, who hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC postseason. (More)
➤The Miami Dolphins were blown out 38-10 by the New England Patriots in their final regular-season game yesterday, finishing the year with a 7-10 record. (More)
➤Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh recorded his first-ever NHL hat trick with this second-period goal on Saturday, helping Tampa Bay to a 7-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. (See Goal)
➤The NBA has banned Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs’ pregame ritual of wearing his headband around his neck, citing uniform regulations and safety concerns. (More)
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➤ AAA said Florida gas prices closed 2025 at the lowest levels since the pandemic, with the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas at $2.74. As of Jan. 4, the average price in the state rose to $2.83. (See Map)
➤ Orlando International Airport (MCO) had over 350,000 passengers travel through the airport this past weekend, with Jan. 3 projected to be the single busiest day of the entire holiday period. (More)
➤ Amazon bought 45 acres of land in Titusville, signaling a growing interest in expanding its operations in the region. The tech giant acquired 90 acres in West Melbourne last summer. (More)
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➤ Billy Joel performed in Palm Beach on Friday for the first time since revealing he has a rare neurological disorder. He surprised the audience when he played alongside cover band Turnstiles to his hits Big Shot and We Didn’t Start the Fire. (See Photo)
➤ Fox News host Sean Hannity listed his Manalapan mansion for sale at $45 million, just one year after he bought it for $23.5 million. (See Photos)
➤ The Florida Key Lime Pie Festival, which started in 2012, will take place on Jan. 17 at Brevard Veterans Memorial Park Amphitheater in Merritt Island. The event features pie-eating and hula-hoop contests, along with key lime-flavored treats. (More)
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Flying Taxis Could Take Off in 2026
