DIRECTORS PAGE

HL1) WX HEADLINE-OMNITOPS

HL2) TAX FREE WEEKEND STARTS NOW!-TRX-VO

PLUS,

THE TAX FREE HOLIDAY WEEKEND STARTS NOW!

AND STORES ARE EXPECTING A HUGE RUSH OF SHOPPERS.

HL3) CHIK FILA SAME SEX KISS DAY-TRX-VO

AND SPARKING A FRENZY.

GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SUPPORT SAME SEX MARRIAGE,

NEWS TODAY OPEN-CLIP

GOOD MORNING-2SHOT PUSH

GOOD MORNING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND THANKS FOR WAKING UP WITH NBC-2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M CLAY MILLER.

AND I'M KRISTA FOGELSONG.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND,

WE'RE TRACKING THE TROPICS.

TRACKING ERNESTO-CLIP

5:02 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Today's Weather Story

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

A HOT AND HUMID FRIDAY

In our local weather, it is another warm and muggy morning. The set up for today is similar to the past few days. We will have plenty of sunshine all day. There will be isolated storms forming in the late afternoon and evening. Those will be mainly in the inland areas, but the ones that do form will be strong. High temperatures are headed into the lower 90s this afternoon, but humidity will send the heat index soaring to near 100 degrees. Through the next few days, tropical moisture will be feeding into Southwest Florida giving us higher rain chances for everywhere in Southwest Florida through the weekend and into the beginning of the week. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for highs and mid and upper 70s for lows.

TAX FREE WEEKEND IS NOW UNDERWAY-2SH-VO

SIX PERCENT -- JUST SIX PERCENT -- BUT IT ADDS UP! ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE TO SHOP

RIGHT NOW --- YOU CAN SAVE ON SHOPPING, ALL WEEKEND LONG.

THE TAX FREE WEEKEND STARTED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

YOU CAN SAVE 6 PERCENT ON ITEMS LIKE CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND SOME ACCESSORIES THAT COST 75-DOLLARS OR LESS.

ALSO CERTAIN SCHOOL SUPPLIES PRICED AT 15 DOLLARS OR LESS.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES COUNT AS 'TAX EXEMPT' CAN BE A LITTLE CONFUSING-- SO WE PUT THE ENTIRE LIST ON OUR WEBSITE

COLLEGE PARKWAY OVERPASS-TRX-SS-SUPER OVER SS!

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NBC-2 TRAFFIC ALERT ---

OVERNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION CREWS RE-OPENED THE CAPE CORAL BRIDGE OVERPASS.

THEY CLOSED THE OVERPASS AT MCGREGOR BOULEVARD AND COLLEGE PARKWAY.

GOLDEN GABBY-TRX-2SH-SOTVO

THE 2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS ARE NEARLY A WEEK OLD NOW.

AND THE FIRST SIX DAYS HAVE BEEN FULL OF HIGH MOMENTS AND MEMORIES FOR U-S ATHLETES AND FANS.

runs: 15!!! Gabby douglas wins gold!

AMERICAN GABBY DOUGLAS TAKES HOME THE GYMNASTIC WOMEN'S ALL-AROUND TITLE.

GABBY MADE HISTORY YESTERDAY, BECOMING THE THIRD STRAIGHT AMERICAN TO WIN ALL-AROUND.

THE 16-YEAR-OLD JOINS MARY LOU RETTON, CARLY PATTERSON AND NASTIA LIUKIN AS THE FOURTH U-S WOMAN TO WIN THE OLYMPIC ALL-AROUND.

PHELPS LOCHTE-VOTOPS

AND DRAMA IN THE POOL THURSDAY WITH THE LONG AWAITED SHOWDOWN BETWEEN MICHAEL PHELPS AND RIVAL RYAN LOCHTE, IN THE 200-METER INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY.

AND PHELPS WON THE GOLD, ADDING TO HIS EXPANDING MEDAL COLLECTION, THAT NOW STANDS AT 20, IT'S THE THIRD TIME HE'S TAKEN GOLD IN THIS EVENT AT THE OLYMPICS.

SONI WINS 200 BREASTSTROKE-VOTOPS

AND IN THE WOMEN'S 200 METER BREAST-STROKE,

REBECCA SONI BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN EVER!!!! TO BREAK THE 2-MINUTE 20-SECOND BARRIER.

PRIMETIME TONIGHT-SSTOPS-OC

MORE OLYMPIC COVERAGE IS COMING YOUR WAY AT 10AM.

AND BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR PRIMETIME TONIGHT STARTING AT 8 RIGHT HERE ON NBC-2.

AND NOW, FROM LONDON, WHAT MATT LAUER AND SAVANNAH HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU THIS MORNING ON TODAY.

COMIN UP ON TODAY OLYMPICS-SOTOPS

EARLY VOTING STARTS SATURDAY IN LEE AND CHARLOTTE-

IT'S DECISION 2012 -- AND EARLY VOTING BEGINS SATURDAY. TOMORROW. IN LEE AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES.

YESTERDAY WAS A TEST-RUN IN LEE COUNTY.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF THE ELECTRONIC MACHINES REALLY COUNT YOUR VOTE?

ELECTIONS WORKERS HOPE *THIS PROCESS PUTS YOUR MIND TO REST.

SAMPLE BALLOTS ARE MARKED. FED THROUGH. AND TALLIED.

THEN THE CANVASSING BOARD LISTENS TO MAKE SURE THE VOTES THAT CAME *OUT MATCH WHAT WENT *IN.

THEY ALSO TEST THE MACHINES ABILITY TO REJECT BALLOTS WHICH ARE MARKED TOO MANY TIMES.

EARLY VOTING STARTS SATURDAY IN LEE AND CHARLOTTE-

EARLY VOTING TOTALS IN COLLIER-CGTOPS

EARLY VOTING STARTED MONDAY IN COLLIER COUNTY

AND AS OF YESTERDAY, JUST OVER 34-HUNDRED PEOPLE CAST THEIR VOTE.

EARLY VOTING IN COLLIER RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 11TH.

CHICK FIL A SAME SEX KISS DAY-2SH-VO

LOOKING AHEAD --

CHICK FILA, BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT TODAY.

GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ARE PLANNING TO HOLD "NATIONAL SAME-SEX KISS DAY" AT THE FAST FOOD JOINT.

THE PLAN IS TO SHOW UP AT THE RESTAURANT,

KISS SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX,

TAKE A PICTURE OF IT,

AND POST IT ONLINE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CHICK FILA'S C-E-O, WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE.

LATCH ON RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT-1SH-TRX

ALSO HAPPENING TODAY,

IT'S BEING CALLED "THE BIG LATCH ON!"

AND MOTHERS ALL ACROSS THE WORLD ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

LATCH ON RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT-NEWSROOM

GOOD MORNING.

MOMS IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES.

AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.

LATCH ON RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT-VOTOPS

THOUSANDS OF WOMEN ARE ALREADY SIGNED UP TO BREASTFEED AT THE SAME TIME TODAY. *AND SATURDAY.

IT'S ALL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST MILK FOR DEVELOPING INFANTS.

THE LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS JOINING IN TODAY AT 10-30 A-M AT SIX LOCATIONS IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES.

LATCH ON RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT-NEWSROOM

AUGUST.BY THE WAY.KICKS OF NATIONAL BREASTFEEDING MONTH.

MANHUNT FOR RETHERFORD-OC-TRX-SS

HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT --

A MANHUNT IS ON HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FOR AN ACCUSED KILLER.

THIS IS BILLY RETHERFORD JR.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HE'S STILL ON THE RUN THIS MORNING.

HIS NEPHEW DUSTIN JAYES WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY TUESDAY.

THE TWO ARE ACCUSED OF KILLING SAN CARLOS RESIDENT DEBBIE STRIANO INSIDE HER HOME DURING A ROBBERY LAST TUESDAY.

YESTERDAY, ONLY OUR CREWS WITNESSED LEE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES AND US MARSHALS SEARCH TWO LOCATIONS IN THE SUNCOAST ESTATES AREA OF NORTH FORT MYERS FOR RETHERFORD.

THE LOCATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC.

THE FIRST WAS A CALL ABOUT A MAN WHO APPEARED TO LOOK LIKE RETHERFORD.

IT WAS NOT HIM.

THE SECOND WAS AT A SERIES OF VACANT HOMES, AND NO ONE WAS FOUND.

COLORADO SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURN-2SH-VO

TAKING A LOOK AHEAD,

STUDENTS IN AURORA, COLORADO RETURN TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.

WE'VE LEARNED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A RECOVERY PLAN IN PLACE FOR THEM ON THEIR FIRST DAY. IN RESPONSE TO THE DEADLY THEATER MASSACRE LAST MONTH.

AURORA'S SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS SAYS EXTRA PSYCH-OLO-GISTS AND COUNSELORS WILL BE ON HAND FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.

TEACHERS WILL EVEN BE GIVEN AN AGE SPECIFIC SCRIPT TO READ TO STUDENTS DURING THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE FIRST DAY.

SCHOOL LEADERS SAY THEY CONTACTED NATIONAL EXPERTS,

WHO SAY ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IMMEDIATELY, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE LATER ON.

FORECAST TEASE-OMNI

MEDAL COUNT-CGTOPS WITH MUSIC

BREAK FOUR 5:09:43

HIT TIME 5:09:43

5:12 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

5:12 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Full Forecast

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

A HOT AND HUMID FRIDAY

In our local weather, it is another warm and muggy morning. The set up for today is similar to the past few days. We will have plenty of sunshine all day. There will be isolated storms forming in the late afternoon and evening. Those will be mainly in the inland areas, but the ones that do form will be strong. High temperatures are headed into the lower 90s this afternoon, but humidity will send the heat index soaring to near 100 degrees. Through the next few days, tropical moisture will be feeding into Southwest Florida giving us higher rain chances for everywhere in Southwest Florida through the weekend and into the beginning of the week. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for highs and mid and upper 70s for lows.

7 TONS OF SALAD RECALLED-TRX-2SH-CG

AN NBC-2 CONSUMER ALERT THIS MORNING!

CHECK YOUR REFRIDGERATOR.

A POPULAR SALAD IS BEING RECALLED. 7 TONS OF IT!

"GARDEN FRESH FOODS" IS PULLING PACKAGED PASTA SALADS AND CHICKEN SALADS.

THE CONCERN IS THAT THE ONIONS IN THOSE PRODUCTS MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH LISTERIA.

IF YOU HAVE THE PRODUCT, THROW IT AWAY.

FORT MYERS WENDYS CARJACKING-TRXTOPS-OC-VO

AN NBC-2 CRIME ALERT IN LEE COUNTY.

TWO CROOKS DRIVE OFF WITH A WOMAN'S CAR!!! AS SHE WAS WAITING IN A WENDY'S DRIVE THRU.

DEPUTIES ARE NOW SEARCHING FOR THE THIEVES.

THIS WENDY'S IS LOCATED ON US-41 JUST SOUTH OF BOY SCOUT.

OFFICIALS SAY A MASKED MAN WEARING A HOODED SWEATSHIRT APPROACHED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR WHILE THE OTHER WALKED UP TO THE PASSENGER SIDE.

THE MEN OPENED THE CAR DOORS AND THE WOMAN RAN OUT SCREAMING "THEY STOLE MY CAR"

DEPUTIES SAY THE MEN WERE NOT ARMED.

CORRECTIONS OFFICER ARRESTED-VO

A CORRECTIONS OFFICER IS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS INTO THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL.

IT STARTED WHEN AN OFFICER GAVE 43 YEAR OLD TERRENCE RUSHING. A RANDOM PAT DOWN.

RUSHING ASKED TO USE THE RESTROOM.

THE OFFICER SAYS HE SAW RUSHING STASH MARIJUANA UNDER THE SINK.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE WAS DOING WITH THE DRUGS.

1 DEAD IN DOUBLE DECKER BUS CRASH-VO

TRAGEDY ON AN INTERSTATE TRIP.

LET'S TAKE YOU TO THE SCENE OF A BUS CRASH, ON I-55, NEAR LITCHFIELD, ILLINOIS.

FIRST RESPONDERS SHUT DOWN ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO RESPOND TO THE WRECK THURSDAY.

THE PACKED DOUBLE DECKER "MEGABUS" BLEW A TIRE AND SLAMMED INTO A BRIDGE SUPPORT PILLAR.

THE CRASH KILLED AT LEAST ONE PASSENGER, AND INJURED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN MORE.

DOG VERSUS PORCUPINE-2SH-VO

WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IS GOING TO BE SHOCKING,

BUT WE'LL TELL YOU NOW, THE DOG IS OKAY THIS MORNING.

THIS STORY JUST BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE THIS POOR BULLDOG.

BELLA THE BULLDOG CAME TO FACE-TO-FACE WITH A PORCUPINE.

THE PORCUPINE CAME SNIFFING AROUND THE FAMILY POOL IN OKAHOMA CITY. AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN BELLA WENT TO INVESTIGATE.

OPRAH'S NATURAL HAIR STIRS CONTROVERSY-1SH-SS

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN!

OPRAH GOES AU NATUREL!

AND BOY DO PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF OPINIONS ABOUT IT.

TAKE A LOOK.

"O," THE OPRAH MAGAZINE IS FEATURING ITS FAVORITE COVER STAR, WITH NO BLOW DRYER, NO FLAT IRON, JUST TIGHT CURLS FRAMING HER SMILING FACE.

MANY SAY THE LOOK TAKES YEARS OFF THE 58 YEAR OLD'S FACE. AND LOVE IT.

CHEETAH VERSUS USAIN BOLT-2SH-SS-VO

IT'S THE FASTEST LVING THING IN THE WORLD!

THE FASTEST CHEETAH ON EARTH HAS DONE IT AGAIN.

THIS IS "SARAH" FROM THE CINCINNATI ZOO, AND SHE CAN RUN 61 MILES PER HOUR.

CHECK HER OUT IN ACTION!

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SAYS SHE JUST BROKE HER PREVIOUS WORLD RECORD FOR THE 100-METER DASH. SETTING A NEW BEST TIME OF 5 POINT 9-5 SECONDS.

USAIN BOLT-VOTOPS

FOUR SECONDS SEPARATES SARAH THE CHEETAH FROM USAIN BOLT.

HE'S A JAMAICAN SPRINTER NOW COMPETING AT THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS.

CARS CRUSHED-2SH-VO

FLAT AS A PANCAKE.

AN ANGRY FARMER WAS ARRESTED AFTER WHAT HE DID TO A FLEET OF POLICE CARS.

YEA IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF ROAD RAGE.

LOOK AT THIS!

THE UPSET FARMER USED A MASSIVE TRACTOR TO FLATTEN MORE THAN HALF THE FLEET OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN VERMONT.

STATE POLICE PUT THE DAMAGE AT 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

POLICE SAY 34-YEAR-OLD ROGER PION WAS ARRESTED AFTER A LOW-SPEED CHASE IN HIS TRACTOR.

WHAT'S TRENDING-SS-SOTVO

TIME NOW TO SEE WHAT'S TRENDING.

THE VIDEOS AND STORIES GETTING THE MOST CLICKS ON THE WEB.

A SOUTH KOREAN RAPPER IS AT THE TOP OF THE BILLBOARD MUSIC CHARTS THIS MORNING. WITH HIS NEW HIT THAT'S NOW GONE VIRAL.

HERE IT IS.

rapper rapping

SO THAT'S WHAT THE KIDS ARE LISTENING TO THESE DAYS.

YES THAT HAS ALREADY GOTTEN ALMOST 11 MILLION HITS ON YOUTUBE.

OK SO HOT STREET LAMPS MELT-2SH-SS

CHECK THIS OUT KRISTA. IT IS SOOO HOT IN OKLAHOMA.

HOW HOT IS IT?CLAY.

IT IS SO HOT IN OKLAHOMA.

THE STREET LAMPS ARE MELTING!

THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA.

MORE HOT LAMPS-SS

ACTUALLY MANY RESIDENTS ON FACEBOOK QUESTION THE MELTING STREET LAMP, SAYING THAT RECENTLY. A NEARBY DUMPSTER CAUGHT FIRE, AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE MELTING. BUT NO ONE HAS COME OUT TO INVESTIGATE YET.

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

LIVE LONDON LOOK-SATLIVETOPS

BREAK FIVE 5:19:15

HIT TIME 5:19:15 AM

5:22 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

5:22 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Day Planner

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

A HOT AND HUMID FRIDAY

In our local weather, it is another warm and muggy morning. The set up for today is similar to the past few days. We will have plenty of sunshine all day. There will be isolated storms forming in the late afternoon and evening. Those will be mainly in the inland areas, but the ones that do form will be strong. High temperatures are headed into the lower 90s this afternoon, but humidity will send the heat index soaring to near 100 degrees. Through the next few days, tropical moisture will be feeding into Southwest Florida giving us higher rain chances for everywhere in Southwest Florida through the weekend and into the beginning of the week. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for highs and mid and upper 70s for lows.

TRAFFIC-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CHAR CO ENFORCEMENT

CHECKING THE ROADS RIGHT NOW--

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIPTOPS

TOSS TO BUSINESS PACKAGE-ONCAM

BLOOMBERG-PKG TO BREAK

THIS IS NOT THE VERBATIM OF WHAT THE REPORTER IS SAYING.

BREAK SIX 5:27:01 AM

HIT TIME 5:27:01 AM

HL2) TAX FREE WEEKEND-TRX-VO

PLUS,

IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO SAVE MONEY SHOPPING THIS WEEKEND.

HL3) GABBY GETS GOLD, WHAT'S NEXT?-TRX-VO

AND A HUGE OLYMPIC HEADLINE THIS MORNING --- AMERICAN GYMNAST GABBY DOUGLAS.

NEWS TODAY OPEN-CLIPTOPS

GOOD MORNING-2SHOT PUSH

GOOD MORNING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND THANKS FOR WAKING UP WITH NBC-2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M KRISTA FOGELSONG.

AND I'M CLAY MILLER.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

AND A HUGE OLYMPIC MOMENT EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING:

OLYMPIC MOMENT-SOTVOTOPS

runs: 15!!! Gabby douglas wins gold!

AMERICAN GABBY DOUGLAS TAKES HOME THE GYMNASTIC WOMEN'S ALL-AROUND TITLE.

WHAT'S NEXT OLYMPICS-CGTOPS

AND HERE'S WHAT'S NEXT ON DAY SEVEN OF OLYMPIC COVERAGE.

MICHAEL PHELPS AIMS FOR HIS 17TH GOLD IN THE 100 METER BUTTERFLY.

AND THE MEN'S CYCLISTS ARE IN HOT PURSUIT LATER TODAY, IN THE MOST EXCITING RACE OF THE OLYMPICS.

PLUS MISSY FRANKLIN MAY BE THE WORLD CHAMP IN THE WOMEN'S 200 METER BACKSTROKE.

TRACKING ERNESTO-2SHOT

NOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. WE'RE TRACKING THE TROPICS THIS MORNING.

TRACKING ERNESTO-CLIP

5:32 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Today's Weather Story

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

A HOT AND HUMID FRIDAY

In our local weather, it is another warm and muggy morning. The set up for today is similar to the past few days. We will have plenty of sunshine all day. There will be isolated storms forming in the late afternoon and evening. Those will be mainly in the inland areas, but the ones that do form will be strong. High temperatures are headed into the lower 90s this afternoon, but humidity will send the heat index soaring to near 100 degrees. Through the next few days, tropical moisture will be feeding into Southwest Florida giving us higher rain chances for everywhere in Southwest Florida through the weekend and into the beginning of the week. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for highs and mid and upper 70s for lows.

TRAFFIC-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, LEE CO ENFORCEMENT

CHECKING THE ROADS RIGHT NOW--

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

BACK TO SCHOOL TAX FREE SHOPPING-2SH-VO-SS(3)-BNR

SIX PERCENT --- IT ADDS UP!

AND AS OF RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SAVE ON SHOPPING, ALL WEEKEND LONG.

FLORIDA'S TAX FREE HOLIDAY STARTED JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT -- PERFECT TIMING FOR KIDS HEADED BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU CAN GET WITHOUT PAYING TAXES --

CLOTHING -- LIKE SCHOOL UNIFORMS -- SHOES, WALLETS, HANDBAGS, BACKPACKS -- EVEN DIAPER BAGS! EACH ITEM HAS TO BE 75 DOLLARS OR LESS TO APPLY.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES WILL BE TAX-FREE AS WELL -- THINGS LIKE PENCILS, NOTEBOOKS AND CALCULATORS -- BUT

EACH OF THOSE ITEMS HAS TO BE 15 DOLLARS OR LESS TO BE TAX-FREE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS *NOT ON THE LIST, TOO -- LIKE BRIEFCASES AND SUITCASES, JUMP DRIVES AND FLASH DRIVES -- AND THE LIST IS REALLY SPECIFIC.

WE PUT THE WHOLE THING ON OUR WEBSITE -- NBC DASH TWO DOT COM IN THE NEWSLINKS SECTION-- BE SURE YOU GO TO CHECK BEFORE SHOPPING.

PAM BONDI LIBOR INVESTIGATION-TRX-OC-SS-OC

NEW RIGHT NOW -- THE LIBOR EFFECT.

FLORIDA DEMOCRATS ARE URGING STATE ATTORNEY PAM BONDI,

TO OPEN A FORMAL INVESTIGATION,

INTO WHETHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR FLORIDA LOST ANY MONEY,

BECAUSE OF MANIPULATION OF THE GLOBAL INTEREST RATE BENCHMARK, KNOWN AS LIBOR.

BONDI SAID LAST MONTH SHE WAS REVIEWING THE ISSUE,

WHICH GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT HAS ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT.

BANKING REGULATORS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING ALLEGED WRONGDOING IN SETTING THE LIBOR RATE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

SEVERAL LARGE INVESTORS, SUCH AS MUTUAL FUNDS, HAVE STARTED INVESTIGATIONS,

IRS FRAUD RETURNS-VO

BOGUS TAX RETURNS.

IDEN-TI-TY THIEVES. FILING BOGUS TAX RETURNS.

GOT MORE THAN FIVE BILLION DOLLARS IN FRAUDULENT REFUNDS FROM THE I-R-S LAST YEAR.

AN INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT SAYS THE PROBLEM IS SO RAMPANT THE I-R-S COULD PAY OUT AS MUCH AS 21 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE THIEVES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM BY FILING EARLY.

PLANES FLY TOO CLOSE-VO

PLANES FLYING TOO CLOSE.

A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN A MANAGER AT A RADAR FACILITY,

AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS AT REAGAN AIRPORT,

LED TO THE INCIDENT.

U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD DISPUTES EARLIER CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE INCIDENT AS A "NEAR MISS."

LAHOOD SAYS THE PLANES WERE TRAVELING ON DIFFERENT HEADINGS AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES AND WOULD NOT HAVE COLLIDED.

ROMNEY TO REID PUT UP OR SHUT UP-TRX-OC-VO-OC

IT'S DECISION 2012,

AND IT'S A TAXING SITUATION.

MITT ROMNEY IS FIRING BACK AT DEMOCRATIC SENATE LEADER HARRY REID THIS MORNING.

ROMNEY DEMANDS REID BACK UP THE STORY HE'S BEEN PASSING AROUND THIS WEEK,

THAT AN INVESTOR WITH ROMNEY'S OLD FIRM, BAIN CAPITAL, TOLD HIM ROMNEY DIDN'T PAY ANY TAXES FOR 10 YEARS.

REID OFFERS NO EVIDENCE TO SUBSTANTIATE THE CLAIM - HE EVEN SAYS HE'S NOT SURE IT'S TRUE.

STRIANO SUSPECTS SEARCH CONTINUES-TRX-OC-SS(2) VO

NBC-2 STAYING ON TOP OF AN ACCUSED MURDERER, STILL ON THE LOOSE.

DEPUTIES ARE CHECKING ON TIPS, BUT THE SUSPECT IN A BRUTAL MURDER IS STILL ON THE RUN.

DEBRA STRIANO DIED IN HER THREE OAKS HOME LAST TUESDAY.

DETECTIVES THINK DUSTIN JAYE, AND HIS UNCLE, BILLY RETHERFORD, JUNIOR, ROBBED HER, AND KILLED HER.

DUSTIN IS IN CUSTODY.

RETHERFORD IS THE MAN ON THE RUN.

DEPUTIES AND U-S MARSHALS SEARCHED TWO PLACES IN THE SUNCOAST ESTATES AREA OF NORTH FORT MYERS THURSDAY, AFTER GETTING TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC.

ANTONIO THOMAS INDICTED-VO-SS (2)

THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A CAPE CORAL WOMAN WILL BE BACK IN COURT LATER TODAY.

ANTONIO THOMAS APPEARED IN LEE COUNTY COURT YESTERDAY MORNING-

HE'S CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE KILLING OF 61 YEAR OLD PHYLLIS STEIN OF CAPE CORAL ---

DURING A TEN DAY VIOLENT CRIME SPREE.

THOMAS' ATTORNEY ASKED TO POSTPONE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE UNTIL THIS MORNING,

WHILE HE READS AN INDICTMENT FROM A GRAND JURY.

THOMAS FACES 14 OTHER FELONIES.

PROSTITUTE BUST-VO

DEPUTIES HIT THE STREETS AND THE WEB TO TACKLE PROSTITUTION.

WEDNESDAY UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES DROVE ALL OVER LEE COUNTY, POSING AS JOHNS.

WHEN THEY FOUND WOMEN WHO THEY CLAIM OFFERED UP SEX FOR CASH, OTHER DEPUTIES CAME IN AND ARRESTED THEM ON THE SPOT.

AT THE SAME TIME, DETECTIVES HAD SET UP A STING ON THE INTERNET FOR WOMEN REPORTEDLY SELLING THEMSELVES ONLINE.

INMATES GRADUATE-VO-WIPE

SOME CHARLOTTE COUNTY INMATES ARE TAKING STEPS TO PREPARE FOR LIFE OUT OF JAIL.

THE FIRST STUDENTS FROM THE JAIL'S IN-TO-WORK PROGRAM GRADUATED YESTERDAY.

THE 8-WEEK COURSE TEACHES INMATES FOOD PREPERATION--

AND KITCHEN MANAGEMENT SKILLS.

NOW AS A CERTIFIED FOOD HANDLER--

INMATES GRADUATE-(2)SOTVO

it was a good experience. I learned some things I didn't know before and the certificate, I'm sure, will help me get a job out there.

it's pretty cool, they all worked hard for it.

ELDERLY WOMEN AND GUNS-2SH-VO

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU MESS WITH IN FLORIDA.

A GROWING NUMBER OF *OLDER* WOMEN ARE ARMING THEMSELVES.

IN FACT,

70-THOUSAND WOMEN. BETWEEN THE AGES OF 51 AND 65,

GOT CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMITS IN FLORIDA *THIS YEAR.

TOSS TO BREAK-2SHOT

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW ---

NEXT ON NBC TWO NEWS TODAY ---

MEDAL COUNT-CGTOPS WITH MUSIC

LONDON LIVE LOOK-SATLIVELOOK

AND A LIVE LOOK AT LONDON ON DAY SEVEN OF THE GAMES!

BREAK SEVEN 5:39:23 AM

HIT TIME 5:39:23 AM

DROUGHT LATEST-VOTOPS

WE'RE GETTING NEW INSIGHT INTO THE DROUGHT THAT'S PLAGUING MUCH OF THE COUNTRY.

THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION CENTER SHOWS EXTREME DRYNESS IN THE PLAINS AND MIDWEST.

SOME OF THE WORST CONDITIONS CAN BE FOUND IN KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA AND OKLAHOMA.

OVERALL, TWO-THIRDS OF THE U-S MAINLAND ARE EFFECTED WITH DROUGHT WITH ONE-FIFTH EXPERIENCING EXTREME DROUGHT.

5:42 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

5:42 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Weather Trends

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

A HOT AND HUMID FRIDAY

In our local weather, it is another warm and muggy morning. The set up for today is similar to the past few days. We will have plenty of sunshine all day. There will be isolated storms forming in the late afternoon and evening. Those will be mainly in the inland areas, but the ones that do form will be strong. High temperatures are headed into the lower 90s this afternoon, but humidity will send the heat index soaring to near 100 degrees. Through the next few days, tropical moisture will be feeding into Southwest Florida giving us higher rain chances for everywhere in Southwest Florida through the weekend and into the beginning of the week. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for highs and mid and upper 70s for lows.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION PROJECT?

CHECKING THE ROADS RIGHT NOW--

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

ART OF THE OLYMPIANS-TRXTOPS-PLASMA

THIS MORNING IT'S THE LAST IN OUR SERIES OF STORIES,

ABOUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA-BASED ART OF THE OLYMPIANS AND THEIR PRESENCE IN LONDON THIS WEEK.

THIS STORY. ABOUT HOW THE LOCAL NON-PROFIT IS PLAYING A ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASPIRING ATHLETE-ARTISTS.WHO MIGHT SOMEDAY DISPLAY THEIR OWN WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS MUSEUM.

ART OF THE OLYMPIANS-PKG

let's go watch volleyball.more nats of them talking

THEY LOVE SPORTS.

AND THEY LOVE.ART.

AND THEIR COMBINED SKILLS SCORED THEM A TRIP TO LONDON.WHERE THEIR OWN PIECES ARE SHOWCASED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THOSE OF FORMER OLYMPIANS.

i've been shy and timid for the first bit and i've been walking around and meeting these new people it opened my eyes to the leadership I could be

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT IT.

THINK OF IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COUNTRY.

you can go back to your community at 15, 17, 35 or 50 and given back

U.S.-BASED GLOBAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED THE CONTEST.

1968 HIGH JUMPING GOLD MEDALIST DICK FOSBURY TOLD THE KIDS IN LONDON ABOUT THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE.

ART OF THE OLYMPIANS-PLASMA

THANK YOU PETER BUSCH FOR THAT REPORT.

LATCH ON RECORD ATTEMPT-1SH-VO

LOOKING AHEAD THIS MORNING… IT'S A PRETTY INTERESTING WAY TO PROMOTE BREAST FEEDING.

STARTING AT 10:30. THE LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLANS TO PARTICIPATE.FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN BREAKING A WORLD RECORD FOR THE MOST NURSING CHILDREN LATCHED ON TO MOTHERS.

WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO TO 6 DIFFERENT WIC OFFICES THROUGHOUT LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES.

THE BIG LATCH ON WORLD RECORD, SET IN 2011, WAS 5 THOUSAND 6 HUNDRED 87.

16 DEAD FROM EBOLA VIRUS-ONCAM

MORE HEALTH NEWS FOR YOU THIS MORNING,

EBOLA IS HIGHLY INFECTIOUS AND KILLS QUICKLY.

AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S CLAIMED 16 LIVES IN UGANDA.

THE UGANDA MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS IT FEARS THE OUTBREAK WILL SPREAD.

WHILE THE DISEASE IS MOST LIKELY SPREAD BY CONTACT WITH BLOOD, THE COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT HAS CALLED FOR A BAN ON HANDSHAKES AND KISSING.

MARCO ATM FRAUD-SS

IF YOU'VE USED AN A-T-M ON MARCO ISLAND RECENTLY YOUR MONEY COULD BE IN THE HANDS OF THIEVES.

POLICE THINK CROOKS PUT A "SKIMMER" ON AN A-T-M SOMETIME BETWEEN JUNE SIXTH AND JUNE NINTH AT AN UNNAMED BANK BRANCH.

VICTIMS STARTED NOTICING UNAUTHORIZED WITHDRAWLS SUNDAY.

MONTHLY JOB NUMBERS TODAY-ONCAM

ARE THINGS GETTING BETTER OR WORSE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY?

TODAY THE ANSWER TO THAT WILL BECOME A LITTLE CLEARER.

THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT WILL RELEASE ITS JOBS REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JULY TODAY.

THE REPORT COMES AFTER THREE STRAIGHT MONTHS OF WEAK HIRING AND AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF EIGHT-POINT-TWO PERCENT.

EARLY VOTING STARTS SATURDAY IN LEE-OC VO OC

EARLY VOTING BEGINS SATURDAY. TOMORROW. IN LEE AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES.

ELECTION WORKERS IN LEE COUNTY TESTED THE MACHINES IN PREPARATION.

THEY TESTED THE MACHINES ABILITY TO REJECT BALLOTS WHICH ARE MARKED TOO MANY TIMES.

EARLY VOTING STARTED MONDAY IN COLLIER COUNTY

THIS WEEK MORE THAN 34-HUNDRED PEOPLE CASTED THEIR VOTE.

EARLY VOTING IN COLLIER RUNS THROUGH AUGUST 11TH.

CHICKENS IN BONITA ABOUT TO BE LEGAL-VO

LIVE CHICKENS ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING LEGAL IN BONITA SPRINGS.

THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED LAST NIGHT IN FAVOR OF A BACK YARD HEN PILOT PROGRAM.

WHERE THE CITY WILL ALLOW 25 PEOPLE TO KEEP HENS ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WITH RESTRICTIONS.

THE HENS MUST BE COOPED AND PEOPLE MUST ALSO STILL OBEY THEIR HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

AFTER 2 YEARS, THE CITY WILL REVIEW IT'S ORDINANCE AND EITHER ALLOW HENS OR NOT.

CHICKENS IN BONITA ABOUT TO BE LEGAL-SOTVO

STEPHEN MCINTOSH DISTRICT 1 COUNCILMAN 08:10-23 "We do a lot of things with our infrastructure that are very visible, like paving roads making sure water flows are good, but this is a more invisible piece where we allow people to start creating their own food sources."

NO FISHING AT BLIND PASS BRIDGE-VO

AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO FISH IN BLIND PASS.

CREWS ARE DREDGING IN THE CHANNEL THAT SEPARATES SANIBEL FROM CAPTIVA.

THEY'RE ASKING PEOPLE WHO FISH NEARBY, NOT TO CAST OFF THE BRIDGE.

THE COUNTY IS WORRIED FISHING LINES CAN GET CAUGHT UP IN THE DREDGING EQUIPMENT.

DEPUTIES SAY SO FAR, PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE NEW RULE.

IF YOU GET CAUGHT, YOU'LL FACE A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR FINE.

WAVV 101.1 TEASE-SSTOPS

IF YOU NEED TO WALK OUT THE DOOR - WE CAN STILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE KNOW TODAY -

FORECAST TEASE-OMNI

LONDON LIVE LOOK-LIVE LONDON

BREAK EIGHT 5:49:40 AM

HIT TIME 5:49:40 AM

5:52 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

5:52 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Full Forecast

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

A HOT AND HUMID FRIDAY

In our local weather, it is another warm and muggy morning. The set up for today is similar to the past few days. We will have plenty of sunshine all day. There will be isolated storms forming in the late afternoon and evening. Those will be mainly in the inland areas, but the ones that do form will be strong. High temperatures are headed into the lower 90s this afternoon, but humidity will send the heat index soaring to near 100 degrees. Through the next few days, tropical moisture will be feeding into Southwest Florida giving us higher rain chances for everywhere in Southwest Florida through the weekend and into the beginning of the week. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90s for highs and mid and upper 70s for lows.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-NAVI

CHECKING THE ROADS RIGHT NOW--

ALL CLEAR, COLLIER CO ENFORCEMENT

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

OBAMA TURNS 51 SATURDAY-ONCAM

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS HE HAS A SIMPLE WISH FOR HIS 51ST BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY:

FLORIDA'S 29 ELECTORAL VOTES.

THE PRESIDENT WAS SERENADED "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" DURING A CAMPAIGN STOP IN ORLANDO YESTERDAY.

OBAMA WTC BEAM-VO

THIS MORNING A SPECIAL STEEL BEAM IS NOW IN PLACE AT ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SIGNED THE ELEVEN-THOUSAND POUND BEAM, BEFORE A CRANE HOISTED IT TO THE 104TH FLOOR YESTERDAY.

THE BEAM WAS ALSO SIGNED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FIRST LADY DURING A JUNE VISIT TO THE SITE.

THE PRESIDENT WROTE, "WE REMEMBER, WE REBUILD, WE COME BACK STRONGER!"

ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER SITS WHERE THE TWIN TOWERS WERE DESTROYED ON SEPTEMBER 11TH.

3 BLIND MICE MUSIC MAN THROWN OUT BY UMP-2SH-SOTVO

THIS NEXT STORY IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS MORNING.

COACHES AND PLAYERS ARE TYPICALLY THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES TO BE THROWN OUT OF A BASEBALL GAME.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GUY IN CHARGE OF PLAYING MUSIC.

youre out of here WIPE -- derek dye was just ejected from the game, derek dye was just ejected from the game, that's awesome. awesome.

THAT'S RIGHT, THE UMPIRE EJECTED THE SOUND GUY.

THIS WAS AT A MINOR LEAGUE GAME IN DAYTONA.

THE D-J,

DEREK DYE,

PLAYED THE SONG "THREE BLIND MICE" FOLLOWING A QUESTIONABLE CALL.

SURPRISE AT SEAWORLD-2SH-SOTVO

FROM THE BALL PARK TO THE THEME PARK NOW.

THIS STORY WILL WARM YOUR HEART.

A FOUR YEAR OLD GIRL EXCITED TO SEE SHAMU GETS AN EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER SURPRISE DURING A TRIP TO SEA WORLD.

we have a special surprise, clapping

THAT IS THE FIRST TIME SPECIALIST ESPINOSA -- SURPRISed HIS DAUGHTER ALEXIS AFTER BEING DEPLOYED FOR A YEAR.

WHAT'S COMING UP AT 6-CLIPTOPS

1) ATM SKIMMER-SSTOPS

THIS MORNING A SCAM ALERT TO TELL YOU ABOUT--

CROOKS COULD BE STEALING YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT INFORMATION--

2) TAN MOM-SSTOPS

PLUS-- TANNING TURN AROUND.

DO YOU REMEMBER THIS WOMAN?

SHE BROUGHT HER DAUGHTER ALONG TO A TANNING SALON TO GET A DARK GLOW-- AND RECEIVED PLENTY OF BACK LASH FROM PARENTS.

3) SCHOOL TAX FREE-VOTOPS

AND FROM BELTS TO BACKPACKS, WE HAVE ALL YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL NEEDS COVERED.

END OF SHOW-LIVE ELEMENT AVAILABLE?

END OF SHOW CLIP-CLIP