DIRECTOR'S PAGE

HEADLINES------------

A MUDDY MESS LEFT BEHIND AS THE REMNANTS OF ISAAC MOVE FURTHER NORTH --

FIRST AT FOUR, THE FLOODING, THE FEAR AND THE FATIGUE AFTER THE STORM THAT'S CAUSED SO MUCH DAMAGE.

NBC2 IS LIVE TONIGHT WITH ISAAC'S IMPACT ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --

SEE HOW OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES HELD UP -- IN A LIVE REPORT.

AND THE SHARP RISE IN GAS PRICES -- HOW HIGH WILL IT GO?

1 isaac flooding-trxVOTOPS

2 fmb erosion-trxVOTOPS

3 gas prices-trxVOTOPS

WEATHER TOPS-trxHTC

BREAKING NEWS OPEN-CLIP

SEX STING BUST-SS

WE'RE STARTING WITH BREAKING NEWS FIRST AT FOUR--

AN ONLINE PROSTITUTION INVESTIGATION ORGANIZED BY THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS LANDED 89 PEOPLE IN JAIL.

PEOPLE FACING CHARGES INCLUDE A LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND WOMEN WHO TRAVELED TO THE STATE TO MAKE MONEY DURING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION TOOK PLACE OVER THE LAST WEEK.

NBC 2 DISCOVERED TWO MEN FROM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE AMONG THOSE ARRESTED.

ONE IS FROM NAPLES, THE OTHER, CAPE CORAL.

WE ARE WORKING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS UNDERCOVER OPERATION.

TOSS TO ELIZABETH-2SH-CG-OBX

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ALL WEEK.

THOSE GAS PRICES KEEP CREEPING UP, AND LAST NIGHT WAS NO EXCEPTION.

FOR THE NINTH STRAIGHT DAY, PRICES JUMPED, AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS NOW 3 DOLLARS AND 83 CENTS A GALLON.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE STATE AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S AVERAGE.

NBC 2'S ELIZABETH BILLINGSLEY JOINS US LIVE IN LEE COUNTY ---

ELIZABETH - WE HAVE A LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND COMING UP --

GAS PRICES-REM-LIVE

GAS PRICES-PKG

AS THE NUMBERS TICK BY -

DRIVERS FEEL THE PINCH AT THE PUMP.

19:16:06 it's just ludicruous. we're being robbed without a weapon 19:16:08

THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE LABOR DAY WEEKEND AT THE PUMP EVER - NATIONALLY GAS PRICES AVERAGE 3-83, THAT BEATS THE OLD RECORD OF 3-69 FROM 2008.

19:11:00 it's too high, you can't hardly buy it 19:11:01

TRIPLE A PROJECTS 33 MILLION DRIVERS WILL HIT THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND -

BUT WILLIE DENNIS WON'T BE AMONG THEM

19:11:14 we're going to stay around the house 19:11:16

HE'S GETTING 25 DOLLARS' WORTH TO CUT THE GRASS 19:11:20 we can't go no where 19:11:21

EXPECTS BLAME THE PRICE SPIKE ON AN EXPLOSION AT AN OIL REFINERY IN VENEZUELA -

- SUMMER BLEND FUELS

- AND ISAAC - GULF REFINERIES SHUT DOWN AS A PRECAUTION AGAINST THE STORM.

17:28 they've gone up a little bit more than we expected and that's because of Isaac and because of the oil production being off 25% 17:34

TRIPLE A PREDICTS GAS PRICES WILL DROP SLIGHTLY IN SEPTEMBER -- BUT ONLY AFTER THIS WEEKEND.

GAS PRICES-REM-LIVE

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE ABOUT 2-3 CENTS EACH GALLON ON THE ROAD -

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE,

LIGHTEN THE LOAD IN THE TRUNK,

AND DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

ALSO GO THE THE NBC-2 PUMP PATROL TO FIND THE BEST PRICES ON GAS IN OUR AREA.

MS FLOODING AERIALS-trxVOTOPS-WIPE

IN MISSISSIPPI, OFFICIALS KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON A CONTROLLED RELEASE AFTER ORDERING EVACUATIONS IN THE AREA YESTERDAY.

TOSS TO STEVE-VOTOPS-DBX

DAMAGE FROM ISAAC MAY BE MORE VISIBLE RIGHT NOW IN MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA BUT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ALSO FELT THE IMPACT.

ROUGH WIND AND WAVES SLAMMED OUR BEACHES, AND NOW IT'S TIME TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE WAS DONE.

NBC 2'S STEVE CAMPION CHECKED WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS AS THEY INSPECTED THE BEACHES TODAY.

FMB EROSION-REM-LIVE

THIS BEACH ALREADY NEEDED WORK LONG BEFORE TROPICAL STORMS ISAAC AD DEBBY.

FORTUNATELY ISSAC'S IMPACT IS

FMB EROSION-VOTOPS-WIPE

TODAY, INSPECTORS CRISS CROSSED LEE COUNTY FROM BOCA GRANDE TO BONITA BEACH --- HOPING AND WISHING THE DAMAGE WASN'T SEVERE.

THEY MARKED DOWN WATER LINES AND CHECKED OUT THE SAND TO SEE HOW THE BEACH FARED.

THEY EXPLAIN ISSAC DIDN'T WASH AWAY A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF SAND LIKE TROPICAL STORM DEBBY.

WE SAW LARGE PORTIONS OF BEACHES ON CAPTIVA WASH AWAY DURING THAT STORM.

FMB EROSION-SOT

Take sot

Den Kerkesner, Rebel Water Sports

FMB EROSION-REM-LIVE

NOW WHILE PEOPLE LOVE TO LIE OUT ON THE BEACH, THE COUNTY'S NATURAL RESOURCE DIVISION TELLS US KEEPING THIS SAND HERE IS CRITICAL FOR PROTECTION.

THEY SAY WHEN WAVES CRASH ON THIS SAND -- THE ENERGY IS SPREAD OUT NATURALLY. HOWEVER IF IT HITS A SEAWALL. IT BOUNCES BACK WHICH CAN MAKE EROSION WORSE.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY TELLS US THEIR BEACHES LOOK GOOD.

COLLIER COUNTY SAYS ITS TOO EARLY TO TELL -- THEY'LL BE OUT NEXT WEEK TO SURVEY THE SHORES.

ISAAC FLOODING-ONCAM

THE FIRST FULL DAY OF CLEAN-UP CONTINUES THIS AFTERNOON ALONG THE GULF COAST IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE ISSAC.HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER.

AND THE TASK OF GETTING THINGS "BACK TO NORMAL" IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

ISAAC FLOODING-PKG

THE STORM MAYBE GONE.

BUT EVIDENCE OF ISAAC'S FURY IS STILL SCATTERED ACROSS THE GULF COAST.

"We are now fully in the cleanup and recovery phase of this storm in the city of New Orleans. The bell has not rung on this storm, and it wont ring until we're finished."

AND JUST LIKE THE SLOW MOVING STORM. THE CLEAN-UP HERE, IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

AFTER TWO STRAIGHT DAYS OF DRIVING RAINS.

FLOOD WATERS STILL FILL SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT NEIGHBORHOODS.

"We'll continue to see localized flooding challenges because we do have such elevated levels in these rivers and bayous, quite frankly, and the water continues to accumulate from the rain."

POWER CREWS ARE JUST NOW BEGINNING WORK, TO GET CLOSE TO A MILLION CUSTOMERS BACK ON LINE.

FOR SURVIVORS. RECOVERY HAS BECOME AN ALL TO FAMILIAR FIGHT.

"I've been through it, you just pick up the pieces and move on."

THIS AFTERNOON - A DAY AFTER ACCEPTING HIS PARTY'S NOMINATION. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL MITT ROMNEY TOURED THE DEVASTATION.

quick sot with Romney when we get it

PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL VISIT MONDAY. ON THE EVE OF HIS PARTY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THOUGH THE FOCUS OF BOTH TRIPS ARE FAR FROM POLITICAL.

"We're not talking politics. It's not the right time to do that. We're solely focused on the hurricane, on recovery efforts."

AND THERE ARE EARLY SIGNS. THAT RECOVERY IS ON THE WAY

"It'll be back to normal. it may take a week or two, but it is what it is at this point." It's New Orleans.

THOUGH THE TASK HERE IS BIG.

AND WILL BE ANYTHING BUT EASY.

TOSS TO SAUNDRA-VO-DBX

A SEMI DRIVER IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL TODAY AFTER SLAMMING HIS RIG INTO A CANAL.

HIS TRUCK WAS SUBMERGED IN WATER, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO BREATHE BECAUSE OF A POCKET OF AIR.

NBC 2'S SAUNDRA WEATHERS WAS THERE AS CREWS RESCUED THE DRIVER.

SHE JOINS US LIVE IN COLLIER COUNTY.

CANAL RESCUE-REM-LIVE

WE'RE AT THE TOW YARD WHERE THAT SEMI IS BEING HELD. AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS AFTER IT WAS PULLED FROM THE WATER.

CANAL RESCUE-VOTOPS-WIPE

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PICTURES WE GOT FROM PEOPLE ON THE SCENE. YOU CAN SEE THE DRIVER BEING REMOVED FROM THE WATER.

GOLDEN GATE FIREFIGHTERS SAY THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND HIM THANKS TO SOME NEW UNDERWATER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT.

THE EQUIPMENT ALLOWS DIVERS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER UNDER WATER USING A SPECIAL FACE MASK WITH SPEAKERS AND A MICROPHONE.

CANAL RESCUE-SOTVO

Sot-05:45 Brian Beauvais-GG Fire

This gentleman is extremely lucky to e alive form what they were saying was an air pocket in the vehicle which is unless you watch tv, is extremely rare in real life that will ever happen.

CANAL RESCUE-REM-LIVE

THE DRIVER WAS AIRLIFTED TO LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND LATER RELEASED.

BIG BOARD-SAT-LIVE-TOPS

PG HARASSMENT RESPONSE-VO-OC

THE CITY OF PUNTA GORDA IS FIRING BACK AFTER A FORMER POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCED HER INTENT TO SUE THE CITY.

CHRISTY ARNOLD - NOW CHRISTY FEINBERG - SAYS THE POLICE CHIEF SEXUALLY HARASSED HER AND DISCRIMINATED AGAINST HER LEADING TO HER DISCHARGE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IN A RELEASE FROM THE CITY TODAY, IT DENIES THOSE ALLEGATIONS SAYING ARNOLD RESIGNED AND WAS TREATED FAIRLY AFTER RAISING HER CONCERNS.

THE CITY ISN'T DISCUSSING THE SPECIFICS OF THE CASE, BUT IS CONFIDENT THERE IS NO BASIS FOR A LAWSUIT.

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

A SMALL GESTURE OF KINDNESS FROM A YOUNG GIRL BLOOMS INTO A MASSIVE FUNDRAISER FOR THE GULF.

"I didn't expect it to take the wild crazy turn that it has."

STILL TO COME - HOW THIS TEENAGER USES HER PAINTBRUSH TO BRING THE OIL-FILLED GULF, BACK TO LIFE.

PLUS - A SPACE PIONEER IS LAID TO REST IN OHIO.

A) saving the birds-sotvo-wipe

B) flags halfstaff-votops

C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK-CG

IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE ONE AND ARE TRAVELING THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YOU CAN MAKE SURE YOUR CAR SEAT IS SAFE.

SATURDAY, CERTIFIED CHILD SAFETY EXPERTS WILL CHECK THE SEATS FREE.

ANYONE CAN SHOW UP TO THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN FORT MYERS - LOCATED ON MICHIGAN LINK AVENUE.

THE SEAT CHECK IS FROM 11 UNTIL 2 - PARENTS *ARE ASKED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

FLAGS HALFSTAFF-VO

TODAY, THE FIRST MAN TO WALK ON THE MOON IS BEING LAID TO REST.

A PRIVATE MEMORIAL FOR NEIL ARMSTRONG WAS HELD IN CINCINATTI, OHIO.

AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE LATE ASTRONAUT, PRESIDENT OBAMA ORDERED FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF TODAY.

WE FOUND SEVERAL OF THE FLAGS LOWERED AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-CLIP

FORECAST-WXWALL

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.

GREAT WEATHER THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND

What's number one on everyone's mind? Is it going to rain while I'm at the beach for Labor Day.

The chances of that happening are dwindling with each passing hour. Drier air is driving down from the east coast, and it's going to limit our rain coverage. Saturday looks to be the wettest of the next three days albeit will be below average. Areal coverage on Saturday will be 30% and it'll drastically drop to 10% Sunday before easing back up to 20% Monday.

So your weekend plays out like this - lots of sunshine each day - isolated thunderstorms Saturday, mostly dry Sunday, and very few storms on Monday. More sunshine and drier air means hotter temperatures, too, and they'll range from 90 to 95 degrees. Good news, all levels of the atmosphere are being hindered by the drier air which means it will not be as humid and heat indices will stay right at 100 degrees.

The same feature giving us a nice weekend will also play bumper ball with Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie. It's going to act as a buffer and keep them from messing with the U.S. They're what we call "fish" storms because they'll stay over the waters.

The big question in the forecast is when the moisture will return. A couple models bring it in Tuesday, and others bring it back on Wednesday. We're going to side on the former so expect and uptick in storms beginning Tuesday.

Our waters have been rough due to Isaac, but they'll simmer down beginning tomorrow morning.

TRAFFIC-trxTFC FDOT

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

TEASE TWO---------

IS THIS A LANDING STRIP?

NO, IT'S A CORNFIELD.

A) black hawk in cornfield-VOTOPS

BLACK HAWK IN CORNFIELD-VO

AN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A CORN FIELD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

NO ONE WAS HURT.

THREE SOLDIERS WERE TRAINING WHEN THE BLACK HAWK'S SENSORS ALERTED THE CREW THEY NEEDED TO LAND.

THE FARMER WAS HARVESTING HIS CORN AT THE TIME, AND THE BIZARRE SIGHT DOESN'T SEEM TO PHASE HIM.

SAVING THE BIRDS-VO-WIPE

MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE WORST OIL SPILL IN U.S. HISTORY, TEN NEW STUDIES ARE REVEALING THE LONG-TERM IMPACT.

THE GULF OF MEXICO'S ECOSYSTEMS ABSORBED THE MAJORITY OF FOUR-POINT-NINE-MILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL.

IT'S ESTIMATED 102 SPECIES OF BIRDS HAVE BEEN HARMED.

NOW, ONE YOUNG GIRL IS USING HER PASSION TO PAINT A DIFFERENT PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED, AND HELP SAVE SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT.

SAVING THE BIRDS-PKG

FROM THE OUTSIDE, TO THE INSIDE OF OLIVIA BOULER'S LIFE-SHE HAS GONE TO THE BIRDS! THIS 13-YEAR-OLD STARTED DRAWING THEM WHEN SHE WAS JUST 4 YEARS OLD

"I don't have a favorite, because it's not fair for the rest of them."

HER TWO PASSIONS COLLIDED WHEN THE OIL SPILL HIT THE GULF COAST.

OLIVIA PUT A PLAN TOGETHER.

"I just tried to list all my talents in my head. What would be the greatest thing to raise money? I though…art!"

SHE WROTE THE AUDOBON SOCIETY A SIMPLE LETTER THAT READS … I'M A DECENT DRAWER AND I WISH I COULD SELL SOME BIRD PAINTINGS.

"I didn't expect it to take the wild crazy turn that it has."

FOR EACH DONATION TO SAVE THE BIRDS, THEY IN RETURN GOT AN ORIGINAL OLIVIA PAINTING! IN ALL-500 PAINTINGS WERE PURCHASED. A-O-L STEPPED IN AND DONATED 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THEY TOO, GOT A PAINTING IN RETURN -THEN A SURPRISE CALL.

"Yeah, Just a random call. Yeah, Yeah, we want to do a book. I'm like a book!"

AND WITH THAT, OLIVIA BECAME AN AUTHOR, AND IS ON TOUR WITH A WORKSHOP TO HELP OTHERS DRAW BIRDS. SHE WANTS TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR KIDS TO STEP UP, AND DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING THEY BELIEVE IN.

"Kids, they believe in crazy things…reality has not yet set on their shoulders, so they can really get involved at a young age and they feel like they make a difference. They can see a future that sometimes adults can't because reality is like a fog and it's blocking their view."

OLIVIA SAYS WITHOUT HER PARENTS SUPPORT, HER EFFORTS WOULD HAVE GONE NOWHERE.

"What you do when you are upset, you can complain about it or do something about it."

"I wanted to help her realize her potential and dream."

AND WHAT A DREAM IT IS. IN ALL, THIS 13-YEAR-OLD HAS RAISED MORE THAN 250 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR GULF RECOVERY EFFORTS.

"I know it just looks like we're kids, but stepping up and taking action, it's really a huge deal."

TEASE THREE-ONCAM

A FORMER COLLEGE ATHLETE WILL SPEND THE NEXT 23 YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER.

A) huguely sentence-vo

HUGUELY SENTENCE-ONCAM

A FORMER COLLEGE ATHLETE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, GEORGE HUGUELY, WILL SPEND THE NEXT TWO DECADES IN PRISON, AFTER BEING SENTENCED FOR KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND, YARDLEY LOVE.

IT'S A CASE THAT MADE NATIONWIDE HEADLINES, AND HIS LAWYERS SAY THEY PLAN TO APPEAL.

HUGUELY SENTENCE-PKG

George Huguely was brought to court to hear his lawyers plead for the judge to cut in half the 26-year sentence recommended by the jury.

. for killing Yeardley Love, his on-again, off-again girlfriend in a stormy relationship -- like him, a college lacrosse player.

In the end, Judge Edward Hogshire did trim it back, but by just three years.

A sad end, the chief prosecutor said, for both families:

All I see is loss. It will be that way forever." :11

Yeardley Love's body was found two years ago, just two weeks.

. before both of them were to graduate from the University of Virginia.

Police said that after a day of drinking, upset about what he considered her infidelity, Huguely kicked through her bedroom door and wrestled with her, shaking her violently.

Prosecutors said it was intentional. His lawyers said it was an accident. They jury took a middle ground.

. finding him guilty of second-degree murder.

In court Thursday, three former students testified they saw Huguely act violently, including one lacrosse teammate who said Huguely attacked him in his sleep, beating his head, upset that he'd been intimate with Ms. Love.

Huguely himself addressed the court briefly Thursday, thanking members of his family for their support and telling Yeardley Love's family he was -- quote -- sorry for your loss.

Later, his family said in a statement that Yeardley Love's death was "an accident with a tragic outcome."

His lawyers say they plan to appeal:

HUGUELY SENTENCE-ONCAM

VIRGINIA HAS NO PAROLE - BUT GIVEN THE TIME HUGUELY HAS ALREADY SERVED IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL, AND IF HE GETS TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR,

TEASE FOUR-2SHOT

PARENTS, WANT TO KNOW HOW THOSE TACKLES ARE IMPACTING YOUR LITTLE RUNNING BACK?

FIRST AT FOUR - STEPS RESEARCHING ARE TAKING TO KEEP YOUR YOUNG ATHLETE SAFE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

REPUBLICANS HAD THEIR WEEK IN THE SUN WITH THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION IN TAMPA.

NOW, IT'S THE DEMOCRATS TURN.

A) helmet study-VO-WIPE

B) democratic convetnion-VOTOPS

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION-VOTOPS-2SH

THIS WEEK BELONGED TO REPUBLICANS AS THEY NOMINATED MITT ROMNEY AS THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN TAMPA.

NOW, DEMOCRATS GET READY FOR THEIR OWN CELEBRATION IN NORTH CAROLINA.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION-PKG

BEFORE SPLITTING UP TO CAMPAIGN, MITT ROMNEY AND PAUL RYAN PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON THEIR REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

sot: ryan

10:16:47 coming out of tampa we have give our fellow contrymen a very clear choice.

sot: romney

10:28:27You listened to the last guy running for president, he laid out what he wanted to do, he was unable to do it. It's time to give someone new a chance.

IN HIS SOARING SPEECH LAST NIGHT, ROMNEY DID NOT LAY OUT SPECIFICS.

sot: romney last nite

23:03:36 I have a plan to create 12 million new jobs.

NOR DID RYAN, WEDNESDAY. ON TAXES, SPENDING, MEDICARE.

AS CAMPAIGNING RESUMED, JOE BIDEN TOOK A SHOT

sot: biden

12:03:20 paul ryan has given a clear definition of vague commitments

A LOT OF BUZZ TODAY IS NOT ABOUT THE ROMNEY SPEECH

IT'S ABOUT CLINT EASTWOOD'S ODD CHAT

WITH IMAGINARY BARACK OBAMA

sot: eastwood/ talking to phantom obama

VIEWERS SAW THAT

INSTEAD OF MOVING TRIBUTES TO ROMNEY

sot: john harwood, cnbc, chief washington correspondent

13:04:38 What happened with Clint Eastwood is not going to decide the outcome of this campaign, but what it represents is a mistake at a big moment by the Romney campaign

TODAY, ROMNEY CHANGED HIS SCHEDULE TO VISIT LOUSIANA. WHERE BARACK OBAMA PLANS TO GO MONDAY. FOR A PRESDIENTIAL-STYLE TOUR OF THE HURRICANE ISAAC FLOOD ZONE.

sot: MRomney

TBA

MR OBAMA WENT TO FT BLISS TEXAS TO REMIND VOTERS HE KEPT HIS PROMISE TO END THE IRAQ WAR.TWO YEARS AGO TODAY

sot: obama

NEXT WEEK, IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S TURN IN A CONVENTION SPOTLIGHT.

THE TIME WARNER AREA IN CHARLOTTE IS ALMOST READY

THIS STATE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND FLORIDA ARE KEY BATTLEGROUNDS.WHERE BOTH SIDES WILL BE RIVITED TO THE POLLS TO SEE HOW MUCH OF A BOOST, IF ANY, ROMNEY GOT FROM THE RNC.

AIRLINE MERGER TALKS-ONCAM

AMERICAN AIRLINES AND U-S AIRWAYS COULD BE CLOSER TO A MERGER.

BOTH COMPANIES AGREED TO SHARE INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALLY -- HOWEVER, THE DEAL IS FAR FROM DONE THOUGH.

THE US AIRWAYS CEO HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A MERGER SINCE AMERICAN AIRLINES PARENT COMPANY, FILED BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION IN 2011.

IF THE TWO COMPANIES MERGE -- IT WOULD BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE PASSENGERS SEE ANY REAL IMPACT.

LAPD CRUISER STOLEN-VO

A TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD MAN LOST A LEG AND IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION THIS MORNING AFTER POLICE SAY HE TOTALED A STOLEN COP CAR.

YOU CAN SEE AERIAL FOOTAGE HERE OF THE CRASH THAT HAPPENED IN L.A.

POLICE WERE INVESTIGATING ANOTHER CRIME IN THE AREA-- WHEN THEY SAY THE MAN TOOK THE CRUISER ON A JOY RIDE.

NJ SUPERMARKET SHOOTING-VO

THREE PEOPLE ARE DEAD AFTER AN EMPLOYEE BEGAN SHOOTING AT A NEW JERSEY SUPERMARKET.

IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHILE THE STORE WAS CLOSED.

2 EMPLOYEES WERE KILLED AND THEN THE GUNMAN KILLED HIMSELF.

THE SHOOTER WAS IDENTIFIED AS TERENCE TYLER - AN EX-MARINE.

IT'S NOT KNOWN WHAT LED TO THE SHOOTING.

SANDUSKY BRICK-VO

ERASING MORE OF JERRY SANDUSKY FROM THE PENN STATE CAMPUS --

TODAY A BRICK WITH HIS NAME ENGRAVED ON IT WAS REMOVED BECAUSE OF VANDALISM CONCERNS.

THE BRICK, ON A WALKWAY, SHOWED SANDUSKY'S NAME, THE NAME OF HIS CHARITY AND THE YEAR IT WAS FOUNDED.

HARVARD CHEATERS-VO-WIPE

15 STUDENTS AT HARVARD ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CHEATING.

GET THIS -- THE COURSE WAS GOVERNMENT 13-10, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE CLASS WAS BEING INVESTIGATED.

THE FINAL TAKE-HOME EXAM WAS COMPLETELY OPEN BOOK, AND ALLOWED STUDENTS TO REFERENCE THEIR NOTES-- EVEN THE INTERNET.

BUT STUDENT COLLABORATION WAS NOT ALLOWED.

HARVARD CHEATERS-SOTVO

SWFL MCDONALDS HIRING-CG

PROOF THAT THE JOB MARKET IS TOUGH --

MCDONALDS RECENTLY HELD A HIRING DAY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --

MANAGERS TELL US THEY HAD MORE THAN 26-HUNDRED APPLICANTS.

THEY HIRED 336 PEOPLE.

A SIGN OF JUST WHAT JOB SEEKERS ARE UP AGAINST IN THIS ECONOMY.

NEW JOBS LOW WAGES-VO

A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT A MAJORITY OF NEW JOBS ADDED DURING THE NATION'S RECOVERY ARE LOW-PAYING JOBS.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MID-WAGE, MID-SKILL JOBS IS PART OF A LONG-TERM TREND THAT SOME HAVE DUBBED A HOLLOWING OUT OF THE WORK FORCE.

THE REPORT LOOKED AT 366 OCCUPATIONS.

HEALTH CLIP-CLIP

HELMET STUDY-ONCAM

RESEARCHERS AT VIRGINIA TECH ARE CONDUCTING A STUDY TO HELP IMPROVE THE PROTECTION THAT FOOTBALL HELMETS OFFER.

NOW THEY'RE BEGINNING TO STUDY THE TACKLES THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TAKE.

HELMET STUDY-PKG

THE TITANS ARE HOPING TO HELP REDUCE THE IMPACT OF HARD HITS THIS FOOTBALL SEASON

THEY'LL BE ASSISTING RESEARCHERS AT VIRGINIA TECH.

"We sent forms home for the parents to sign to sign them up to do it, so they know what's going on"

"We want to know for these age groups, how often how hard, and what directions are they hit during normal course of play"

PROFESSOR STEFAN DUMA AND HIS TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FIT EACH PLAYER WITH A SET OF ONE-THOUSAND DOLLAR SENSORS INSIDE THEIR HELMETS, WHICH PROVIDES THE DATA THEY NEED.

DUMA AND HIS TEAM HOPES THE TESTS WILL HELP THEM DESIGN THE SAFEST HELMET FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

"That's the best thing in the world we can do. If we can help build a better stronger safer helmet, that's just a plus for everybody."

"Everything about the child is different than an adult. A pediatrician will tell you that children are not small adults. And there are several reasons for that. It gets into the neck size, the head size, how the head forms, how the brain forms."

SO WHILE COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN A HELMET RATING SYSTEM, AND MANY HAVE OPTED FOR SAFER HEAD GEAR.

HELMET STUDY-ONCAM

IF YOU THINK AN ATHLETE MAY HAVE A CONCUSSION. DON'T ASSESS IT YOURSELF.

TAKE THE CHILD OUT OF PLAY.

KIDS EYE EXAMS-VO

KIDS CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM IF THEY CAN'T SEE WELL -- SO A COMPREHENSIVE EYE EXAM SHOULD BE PART OF THE BACK TO SCHOOL ROUTINE.

A NEW STUDY REPORTS THAT 60-PERCENT OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES SUFFER FROM UNDIAGNOSED VISION PROBLEMS.

HEALTH MATTERS-ONCAM

THE WARNING SIGNS ARE OFTEN THERE, BUT MANY WOMEN MISREAD THEM.

IT'S ONE REASON WHY HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF WOMEN IN THE U-S.

HEALTH MATTERS-PKG

SOMETIMES CALLED A LADY KILLER, 200-THOUSAND WOMEN DIE FROM HEART ATTACKS EACH YEAR. THAT'S A HIGHER FATALITY RATE THAN MEN. PARTLY BECAUSE MANY WOMEN DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE HEART DISEASE.

DR. STEVEN LEE/CARDIOLOGIST

RUNS:

14:13 Women can have the classical and the very typical symptoms as well, but they often don't. And so that becomes even more challenging for us.

WHILE WE MAY ALL BE AWARE OF CLASSIC PRESENTATIONS OF A HEART ATTACK.

DR. STEVEN LEE/CARDIOLOGIST

RUNS:

1:30 Someone who has a pressure or crushing type of chest pain and it typically radiates to the arms and its associated with shortness of breathe often times and sweating.

WOMEN MAY FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

DR. STEVEN LEE/CARDIOLOGIST

RUNS:

14:32 They may have symptoms on the right shoulder, symptoms going up to the jaw, it may go to the back. So its not necessarily the typical type of presentation.

THEY MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE NAUSEA, FATIGUE, FAINTING OR VOMITING. SOMETHING EASILY CHALKED UP TO STOMACH PROBLEMS.

DR. STEVEN LEE/CARDIOLOGIST

RUNS

3:53 Often times it can be very difficult for someone to sort that out at home.

AMY OSHIER/REPORTING

RUNS:

With such a wide span of potential symptoms, doctors are taking a different approach. Encouraging women to look at their risk factors and ward off potential problems.

DR. STEVEN LEE/CARDIOLOGIST

RUNS

15:46 The same risk factors apply to women as they do for men. We certainly play attention to the family history, smoking, cholesterol, high blood pressure, last but certainly not least, diabetes.

DESIGNATED TEXTER-VO-WIPE

CAN'T STOP TEXTING AND DRIVING?

THEN GET YOUR SELF A DESIGNATED TEXTER.

THIS RECENT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT SHOWS HOW DISTRACTED DRIVING CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

IT'S THE LATEST PUSH IN CURBING DISTRACTED DRIVING.

DESIGNATED TEXTER-SOTVO

"If Im driving and I need to find directions or ask my parents where they are, Ill just give my phone to someone in my car and ask them to do it."

"If Im driving with my mom or something, shell have me look stuff up on her phone for her."

TEASE FIVE-2SHOT

SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF PLANNING TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT AND MURDER ARE BACK IN COURT.

THIS TIME, EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AS FAMILY MEMBERS OF THEIR REPORTED VICTIMS LASH OUT.

DETAILS FROM THE COURTROOM, COMING UP AT FOUR.

PLUS -

""He made it very clear that he wanted to

kill me.""

THE CREATOR OF GIRL'S GONE WILD SAYS A VEGAS HOTEL TYCOON WANTS HIM DEAD.

A) ga militia trial-vo-wipe

B) wynn lawsuit-sotvo

C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

ALL NEW AHEAD AT 5:00-CLIP

PAUSE FOR AHEAD AT 5:00 CLIP

A PERFECT STORM OF CONDITIONS BEING BLAMED FOR A SPIKE AT THE PUMP.

TONIGHT AT FIVE --

THE THREE THINGS THAT ARE DRIVING UP PRICES AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND --

AND WHEN YOU CAN EXPECT THEM TO COME BACK DOWN.

PLUS --

ISAAC BROUGHT MORE THAN WAVES CRASHING ONTO OUR SHORE.

A) LABOR DAY GAS CLIMBING-NWSRM-VO

B) RESCUED LOGGERHEAD TURTLE-VOTOPS

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-CLIP

FORECAST-WXWALL

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.

GREAT WEATHER THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND

What's number one on everyone's mind? Is it going to rain while I'm at the beach for Labor Day.

The chances of that happening are dwindling with each passing hour. Drier air is driving down from the east coast, and it's going to limit our rain coverage. Saturday looks to be the wettest of the next three days albeit will be below average. Areal coverage on Saturday will be 30% and it'll drastically drop to 10% Sunday before easing back up to 20% Monday.

So your weekend plays out like this - lots of sunshine each day - isolated thunderstorms Saturday, mostly dry Sunday, and very few storms on Monday. More sunshine and drier air means hotter temperatures, too, and they'll range from 90 to 95 degrees. Good news, all levels of the atmosphere are being hindered by the drier air which means it will not be as humid and heat indices will stay right at 100 degrees.

The same feature giving us a nice weekend will also play bumper ball with Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie. It's going to act as a buffer and keep them from messing with the U.S. They're what we call "fish" storms because they'll stay over the waters.

The big question in the forecast is when the moisture will return. A couple models bring it in Tuesday, and others bring it back on Wednesday. We're going to side on the former so expect and uptick in storms beginning Tuesday.

Our waters have been rough due to Isaac, but they'll simmer down beginning tomorrow morning.

TRAFFIC-trxTFC FDOT

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

WYNN LAWSUIT-ONCAM

ALL BETS ARE OFF IN A HEATED LEGAL BATTLE IN LAS VEGAS.

THE CREATOR OF "GIRLS GONE WILD" IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT HIS FIGHT WITH HOTEL MOGUL STEVE WYNN--

CLAIMING THE HOTEL TITAN WANTED HIM DEAD.

WYNN LAWSUIT-PKG

JOE FRANCIS, creator, "Girls Gone Wild":

"I was afraid for my LIFE!"

He's known for creating those

salacious spring-break videos,

"GIRLS GONE WILD!"

But, this morning, Joe Francis

insists the ONLY person

who's GONE WILD is Steve Wynn

- the Las Vegas casino billionaire

who - FRANCIS claims -

WANTS HIM DEAD.

JOE FRANCIS:

"He made it very clear that he wanted to

kill me."

In an EXCLUSIVE interview with

ABC NEWS, Francis says Wynn sent

ominous, threatening e-mails

about him that were seen

by multiple people - including

legendary music producer

Quincy Jones.

JOE FRANCIS:

"In all caps, and then exclamation points -

like a crazy person's e-mail: 'I'm going to hit - I'm

going hit him in the back of the head

with a shovel and have him buried

in the middle of the desert.' "

The 39-year old is now entrenched

in a contentious court battle

with the Vegas hotel magnate.

Wynn is suing Francis for defamation.

He says Francis has been telling

people about the alleged death

threats - trying to ruin

his reputation.

Wynn says the allegations

are false, telling ABC NEWS,

"There has never been

any statement from Quincy Jones

or anyone else confirming

that this ever happened."

Jones was initially scheduled

to testify during the trial,

but he's since been excused

due to a medical condition.

Irwin Feinberg, LA trial lawyer

"For Wynn to win this case, he has to show that

Francis made statements against him that were

FALSE and that hurt him.

Uh, for Francis to win,

he has to show that the statements he made -

either DIDN'T make the statements, or if he made

them they were true, or if they weren't true,

they were somehow privileged."

This clash erupted more than 3 years ago

when Francis ALLEGEDLY racked up

a TWO MILLION dollar gambling debt

at one of Wynn's casinos.

JOE FRANCIS:

"The gambling debt never existed."

Wynn took him to court - not once but twice.

And now he's rolling the dice again.

JOE FRANCIS:

WYNN LAWSUIT-ONCAM

LINSEY DAVIS REPORTING.

FRANCIS HAS ASKED FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST WYNN.

ROBIN MOM PASSES AWAY-VO

THE MOTHER OF G-M-A TALK SHOW HOST ROBIN ROBERTS HAS DIED.

ABC NEWS OFFICIALS SAY HER MOM LUCIMARIAN ROBERTS PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT.

IT HAPPENED THE SAME DAY ROBERTS LEFT THE TALK SHOW, TO GO ON MEDICAL LEAVE.

ROBERTS MADE IT HOME TO MISSISSIPPI IN TIME TO SEE HER MOM.

DIANA DEATH ANNIVERSARY-VO

TODAY MARKS THE 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA.

DIANA AND HER BOYFRIEND WERE IN A CAR BEING CHASED BY PAPARAZZI IN PARIS WHEN THEY CRASHED IN THE PONT DE L'ALMA TUNNEL.

THE COUPLE AND THEIR DRIVER DIED.

A CORONER'S JURY LATER RULED THEIR DEATHS WERE THE CAUSE OF RECKLESS ACTIONS BY THEIR DRIVER, WHO WAS INTOXICATED, AND THE PAPARAZZI.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LINED THE STREETS OF LONDON FOR THE PRINCESS'S FUNERAL.

TORI SPELLING BABY-VO

TORI SPELLING WELCOMED HER FOURTH CHILD LAST NIGHT.

THE 39 YEAR OLD ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF HER SON ON HER WEBSITE.

THE BABY'S NAME IS FINN AND HE WEIGHED 6 POUNDS 6 OUNCES.

MADONNA IMPERSONATOR-VO

THERE'S A NEW MATERIAL GIRL AND SHE'S A BIG HIT IN SOUTHERN INDIA.

MELISSA TOTTEN IMPERSONATES MADONNA AND IS PLAYING TO PACKED HOUSES.

SHE LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE SINGING SENSATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE CROWD LOVES HER SHOW.

TOTTEN WENT ON A SEVEN CITY TOUR THROUGHOUT INDIA.

TEASE SIX-2SHOT

GRIEF AND ANGER SPILL OVER AS THREE SOLDIERS STAND TRIAL - ACCUSED OF DOUBLE MURDER.

"The man's daughter is dead!"

ONE FATHER DEFENDS ANOTHER AS HE TACKLES A SUSPECTED MURDERER TO THE GROUND.

A) ga militia trial-sotvo-DISS

FOUR AT FOUR-CGTOPS

1. Suspect kicks, beats K-9 while evading arrest

2. Hot, mainly dry holiday weekend

3. Trio accused of stealing from vacant bar

GA MILITIA TRIAL-TFC CTR

GRIEF AND ANGER SPILL OVER AS THREE FORT STEWART SOLDIERS APPEAR IN COURT AND THE SOLDIERS ARE TOLD THEY'RE FACING THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE CASE HAS TO DO WITH THE DECEMBER DOUBLE MURDER OF MICHAEL ROARK, A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD JUST LEFT THE ARMY -- AND HIS 17 YEAR OLD GIRLFRIEND, TIFFANY YORK.

GA MILITIA TRIAL-PKG

DESPAIR LIKELY SET THE STAGE FOR THIS SCENE - AS A FAMILY MEMBER LUNGED AT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS. A REMINDER THAT IN A STERILE COURTROOM, FACTS PRESENT LITTLE COMFORT FOR A FAMILY.

S/ Nicholas York/ Victim's brother:13 -:16

"They took something from me that's not replaceable."

NICHOLAS YORK WHOSE SISTER WAS MURDERED TOLD REPORTERS THAT HIS FAMILY CAME TO COURT BECAUSE THEY OWED IT TO THEIR LOVED ONE.

THIS IS HOW THE DAY BEGAN - WITH EACH SOLIDER APPEARING BEFORE THE JUDGE.THE FIRST 21 YEAR OLD ISACC AGUIGUI, CONSIDERED TO BE THE RINGLEADER OF A MILITIA GROUP THAT COMMITTED MURDER BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT ROARK WAS GOING TO BETRAY THEM.

Number six, Michael Roark, domestic terrorism, Tiffany York domestic terrorism

WHEN IT CAME TO REASONS WHY THE DEATH PENALTY IS BEING SOUGHT, THE MILITIA AND COVER UP WERE PART OF THE DECISION.

THE SECOND SOLDIER TO APPEAR - CHRISTOPHER SALMON WHO REPORTEDLY WAS THE ONE WHO SHOT MICHAEL ROARK THAT NIGHT LAST YEAR. MICHAEL'S FATHER BRETT VISIBLY SHAKEN AS THE DEATH PENALTY CHARGES WERE READ AGAINST SALMON.

BUT IT WAS THE APPEARANCE OF SGT. ANTHONY PEDEN THAT PRODUCED THE DRAMA. PEDEN WHO HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN A DOZEN MEDALS AND WHO WENT TO AFGHANISTAN TWICE.IS ALLEGEDLY THE ONE WHO SHOT YOUNG TIFFANY YORK TWICE IN THE HEAD.

TIFFANY'S STEPFATHER WESLEY THOMAS LUNGED TOWARD PEDEN ONLY TO BE STOPPED BY LAW ENFORCEMNT.HIS DAUGHTER'S DEAD.

ONE FATHER DEFENDING ANOTHER AS THOMAS WAS LED FROM THE COURTROOM.

S/ Nicholas York/ Victim's brother 1:40 - 1:44

"To be honest, I wish Wes would have gotten a hold of him, I wish I could get ahold of him."

NICHOLAS YORK SAYING HIS STEPDAD COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

S/ Nicholas York/ Victim's brother 1:49 - 2:07

"Well he just has a lot of anger built up because he's see what it's done to a a family how much stress it put us through, it just tore us all apart. We miss tiffanny tremendously, you'd never think she'd get tied up with these type of guys."

WHEN IT CAME TO THE REPORTED MOTIVE FOR THE KILLINGS YORK'S BROTHER STILL CAN'T GRASP IT.

S/ Nicholas York/ Victim's brother 2:13 - 2:27

GA MILITIA TRIAL-TFC CTR

AT THE TIME OF THE GROUPS ARREST, LAWYERS SAY THEY PLOTTED A NUMBER OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

THAT WRAPS UP THE FOUR.

GOODBYE-2SHOT

THE LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND BEGINS AND IF YOU'RE PLANNING A TRIP -- PREPARE TO SHELL IT OUT -- GAS IS 25 CENTS MORE A GALLON THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

NBC2 FINDS OUT WHY AND HOW YOU CAN SAVE.

END TIME-CREDITS