December 23, 2018

NORAD Santa Tracker Will Still Run Despite Government Shutdown (Source: Fox News)
The government may be partially shut down, but that won't stop hundreds of volunteers dressed in Christmas hats and military uniforms Monday from taking calls from children around the world who want to know when Santa will be coming. The military says the NORAD Tracks Santa won't be affected by the government shutdown because it is run by volunteers Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado and is funded by the Department of Defense's budget that was approved earlier this year.

Now in its 63rd year, the Santa tracker became a Christmas Eve tradition after a mistaken phone call to the Continental Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1955. CONAD, as it was known, had the serious job of monitoring a far-flung radar network for any sign of a nuclear attack on the United States. (12/23)

Mass Layoffs in Central Florida Increase to Highest Level in 8 Years (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
More Central Florida workers lost their jobs in mass layoffs in 2018 than any other year since 2010, part of a startling nationwide trend even as the economy grows and unemployment plummets. More than 2,000 people in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties were laid off this year, according to reports to the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires employers to notify the state 60 days in advance when cutting more than 50 workers or 33 percent of their employees.

The trend has puzzled some labor market experts who say the low unemployment rate and booming economy should have companies in hiring — not firing — mode. But some industries such as brick and mortar retail are shrinking, automation is making some jobs obsolete and early warning signs of a recession could have companies looking to reduce costs, they said. (12/21)

SpaceX Launches GPS Satellite From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: SPACErePORT)
After multiple scrubs due to technical and weather issues, SpaceX on Dec. 23 launched the Air Force's latest GPS satellite to orbit from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. This was SpaceX's first national security launch and the Falcon-9 rocket's first stage was not recovered, as the Air Force has not yet approved the use of reusable rockets. (12/23)