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SHOW OPEN-CLIP

TOSS TO JOELLE-2 SHOT

THE POWERBALL CRAZE IS OVER!

HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA- THERE WASN'T A BIG WINNER-

BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SMALL WINNERS.

SO HOW MUCH WAS SPENT IN SALES AND WHERE IS IT NOW?

WE SENT NBC-2'S JOELLE PARKS DIGGING FOR ANSWERS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

POWERBALL IMPACT ON FLA-TFX CTR MITTO

LAST NIGHT'S DRAWING BROUGHT IN 51 POINT 5 MILLION DOLLARS IN SALES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA,

ONE STORE IN LEE COUNTY- SOLD NEARLY 21-THOUSAND IN TICKETS!

IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ECONOMIC BOOST-

POWERBALL IMPACT ON FLA-PKG

Nat

Beep lottery machine, says 'sorry not a winner'

Wednesday was not Eric sterns lucky day.

Sot Eric stern, lee county resident

" I didn't win, so I'm still working."

But 765-thousand Floridians did win.

Not the 587 million, but prizes ranging from 4 dollars to 2 million dollars.

And it's not just people that came out on top.

Sot yogi Patel, right way food mart

When powerball goes up, it does help, not only commission, we also make money from people who buy drinks or they come with the kids who want candy or something to purchase."

Stores get paid 10 cents for every 2 dollar powerball ticket they sell.

If they sell the big winning tickets- they get 1 percent cash redemption.

Sot yogi

If they win we win."

But what about taxpayers?

Sot Gary Jackson, dir of regional economic research institute fgcu

" I don't think there's a lot of economic boost unless someone wins and spends a lot of it in the area."

where it does have an impact- education.

Last year the money received from the fl lottery was only enough to run the lee county school district for a day and a half after being distributed statewide.

But *this powerball alone will put 57.9 million toward education.

Take ss

here's the breakdown-

50 percent goes to prizes,

5- retailers

2 percent vendors-

and just 1 percent to the state for operating expenses.

The other 41 percent to schools.

Still some argue instead of lottery tickets- people should spend their money on local goods and services.

Sot Gary

It's the individual deciding where do they get the its benefit bc they're making the decisions.

But buying local-

doesn't offer an opportunity for millions.

Sot Eric

POWERBALL IMPACT ON FLA-TFX CTR MITTO

POWERBALL WAS SO POPULAR, THE FLORIDA LOTTERY'S WEB SITE JUST CAME BACK AFTER CRASHING FROM TOO MANY HITS BETWEEN LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING.

POWERBALL BREAKOUT FACTS-CG

A FEW BUSINESSES THAT SELL LOTTERY TICKETS REAPED A FINANCIAL WINDFALL.

THE STORE OWNERS THAT SOLD THE WINNING 2-MILLION DOLLAR TICKETS--

EACH RECEIVE 5-GRAND.

STORES THAT SOLD THE 1-MILLION DOLLAR WINNING TICKETS--

GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE TOP TEN STORES SELLING TICKETS WERE ALL PUBLIX GROCERY's.

TOSS TO HEATHER-ON CAM

CALL IT A POLITICAL "POWER LUNCH".

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS FORMER RIVAL MITT ROMNEY--

ATE TOGETHER TODAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

NBC2 ANCHOR HEATHER TURCO IS IN THE STUDIO WITH DETAILS.

PRESIDENTIAL POWER LUNCH-PLASMA MON

IT WAS THEIR FIRST FACE-TO-FACE MEETING SINCE THEIR LAST DEBATE.

PRESIDENTIAL POWER LUNCH-PKG

FROM MUDSLINGING.

"talk is cheap but a record is real and it's earned"

"every time you've offered an opinion, you've been wrong"

TO MEAL SHARING.

"the president is having lunch as we speak with Governor Romney"

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY BROKE BREAD AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY.

THE PRESIDENT FIRST MENTIONED MEETING WITH HIS FORMER POLITICAL RIVAL IN HIS VICTORY SPEECH ON ELECTION NIGHT

"In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward."

TODAY, THE PRESIDENT KEPT HIS ELECTION-NIGHT PROMISE -- AND KEPT IT PRIVATE.

THE TWO WERE THE ONLY MEN IN THE ROOM

"its a private lunch, and we're going to keep it at that"

SINCE THE ELECTION, THE PRESIDENT HAS PRAISED ROMNEY'S MANAGEMENT SKILLS, LEADING TO SPECULATION THAT PERHAPS ROMNEY IS IN LINE FOR A JOB OFFER.

BUT THE WHITE HOUSE PUT COLD WATER ON THAT IDEA.

"there was not an agenda on that kind of proposal, that im aware of"

THE CIVIL SIT DOWN IS A SHARP CONTRAST TO THE COMBATIVE CAMPAIGN.

"You cut permits and licenses on federal land and federal waters by half"

"Not true, Governor Romney"

PRESIDENTIAL POWER LUNCH-PLASMA MON

FISCAL CLIFF UPDATE-VO WIPE

32-DAYS AWAY FROM THE FISCAL CLIFF--

AND STILL NO DEAL.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SAY MEETINGS ARE TAKING PLACE "AROUND THE CLOCK" TO FIND A SOLUTION.

BUT HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER SAYS THEY'RE NOT MAKING PROGRESS.

FISCAL CLIFF UPDATE-SOT, ON CAM

"I'm going to do everything I can to avoid putting the American economy, the American people through the fiasco of going over the fiscal cliff."

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID SAYS IT'S TIME FOR REPUBLICANS TO PUT AN OFFER ON THE TABLE.

UNEMPLOYMENT COSTS-VIDBOX

THE COST OF UNEMPLOYMENT IS A KEY FACTOR IN THE FISCAL CLIFF DEBATE.

JOBLESS AMERICANS COLLECTED MORE THAN 500-BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS!

THAT INCLUDES BENEFITS PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES.

BUT FEDERAL CHECKS ARE SLATED TO *STOP* AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

WHETHER THEY CONTINUE--

SANDY HIGHER TAXES-VO WIPE

HURRICANE SANDY IS GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR YEARS TO COME.

THE GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY--

SAY HIGHER TAXES ARE "INEVITABLE" TO PAY TO FIX THE DAMAGE.

EVEN WITH FEDERAL AID PICKING UP 75-PERCENT OF THE TAB--

SHORE TOWNS FROM RHODE ISLAND TO NEW JERSEY ARE ON THE HOOK FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!

LEADERS SAY THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE--

SANDY SCHOOL LOOTING-VO TOPS

MEANWHILE POLICE IN NEW YORK ARE STRUGGLING TO STOP LOOTING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS.

THEY HIT A SCHOOL IN QUEENS LAST NIGHT AND TOOK OFF WITH OVER 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT.

THIS SCHOOL IS JUST ONE OF 30 THAT THIEVES RANSACKED.

PRES H W BUSH HOSPITALIZED-VO

FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H-W BUSH IS IN THE HOSPITAL.

DOCTORS ARE TREATING HIM FOR BRONCHITIS.

HIS CONDITION IS *NOT* LIFE THREATENING--

BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS HIS PERSISTANT COUPH COULD DEVELOP INTO PNEUMONIA.

DUMP TRUCK TRAIN WRECK-VO

A TRUCK DRIVER IS DEAD TONIGHT AFTER HE COLLIDED WITH AN AMTRAK TRAIN NEAR ORLANDO.

WITNESSES SAY THE DUMP TRUCK BROKE APART AND BURST INTO FLAMES SECONDS AFTER THE CRASH.

THERE ARE *NO* ARMS AT THAT CROSSING--

FAMU LAWSUIT-VO, SS

THE LAWSUIT FILED BY ROBERT CHAMPION'S FAMILY FACES A CRITICAL HURDLE TOMORROW.

A JUDGE WILL DECIDE IF THE LAWSUIT HAS ANY MERIT.

THE FAMILY IS SUING FLORIDA A&M--

CLAIMING THE SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SON'S DEATH.

THE SCHOOL WANTS THE LAWSUIT THROWN OUT.

CHAMPION DIED LAST YEAR--

DURING A HAZING RITUAL ON A SCHOOL BUS.

FLA GRADUATION RATES-CG

MORE BAD NEWS FOR FLORIDA'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

IT HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST GRADUATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS ONLY 71-PERCENT OF FLORIDA'S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GRADUATE.

ONLY *FIVE* STATES DO WORSE--

AMONG THEM ARE NEW MEXICO AND GEORGIA.

THE STUDY SAYS THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORS WHY--

A FOCUS ON TESTS AND BUDGET CUTS.

THE CALCULATIONS LOOKED AT GRADUATION RATES FOR A "STANDARD DIPLOMA"--

LOHAN ARRESTED-VO

ACTRESS LINDSAY LOHAN IS OUT OF JAIL.

AGAIN!

THIS IS HER WALKING OUT OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT EARLY THIS MORNING.

COPS ARRESTED HER AROUND FOUR THIS MORNING--

AND CHARGED HER WITH THIRD DEGREE ASSAULT.

BONUS OVER XMAS PARTY-VO

WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE--

PARTY OR CASH?

IF YOU'RE LIKE MOST--

YOU WANT THE COIN!

A RECENT SURVEY FOUND THAT 73-PERCENT OF AMERICANS SAY HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTIES CAN BE FUN--

BUT THEY'D RATHER HAVE A BONUS!

ON AVERAGE--

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

IT'S BEEN 3-WEEKS SINCE DAVID PETRAEUS RESIGNED AS HEAD OF THE C-I-A.

TONIGHT--

WE'RE GETTING OUR FIRST LOOK INTO WHY HE HAD THE AFFAIR--

AND WHAT HE THINKS OF HIS WIFE.

AND INDIANA POLICE STOP A MOVING VAN AT A TRUCK STOP.

WHAT THEY FOUND INSIDE--

TZ1 A) PETRAEUS LETTER-VO WIPE

TZ1 B) KIDS IN BOX TRUCK-VO TOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

PETRAEUS LETTER-ON CAM

WE'RE LERNING NEW INSIGHT TONIGHT--

INTO THE AFFAIR BETWEEN DAVID PETRAEUS AND PAULA BROADWELL.

PETRAEUS WROTE HIS LONG-TIME FRIEND AND MENTOR--

GENERAL JAMES SHELTON A LETTER.

IN IT--

HE ADMITS--

HE "SCREWED UP ROYALLY".

PETRAEUS LETTER-PKG

IT'S BEEN ALMOST THREE WEEKS SINCE DAVID PETRAEUS STEPPED DOWN AS HEAD OF

THE CIA AFTER ADMITTING HE HAD AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR.

AND NOW WE'RE HEARING FROM THE FORMER FOUR STAR GENERAL HIMSELF.

IN A PERSONAL LETTER TO ONE OF HIS FORMER MENTORSPETRAEUS WAS CANDID.

he said 'dear jim, i can't thank you enough for your note; kind words and

support. i can't tell you how much it all meant. i screwed up royally. i

paid the price, appropriately.

LONG RETIRED BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES SHELTON SAYS HE'S BEEN FRIENDS WITH

PETRAEUS FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

HE REACHED OUT TO HIM AFTER THE SCANDAL BROKE AND SAYS THAT LAST WEEK,

PETRAEUS RESPONDED WITH THIS NOTE.

team petraeus will survive though. i have obviously created an enormous

difficulty for us

PETRAEUS HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS WIFE HOLLY FOR 38 YEARS. THEY MET WHEN HE

WAS A STUDENT AT WEST POINT - AND HER FATHER WAS THE COMMANDANT THERE.

IN HIS LETTER TO SHELTON, PETRAEUS WRITES THAT HOLLY IS QUOTE 'ONCE AGAIN

DEMONSTRATING HOW INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE I WAS TO MARRY HER."

PETRAEUS' ADMISSION OF AN AFFAIR WITH HIS BIOGRAPHER, PAULA BROADWELL,

SHOCKED WASHINGTON AND THE MILITARY.

and i don't think he was expecting to happen what happened.

SHELTON SAYS HE NEVER MET BROADWELL BUT HE SPOKE TO HER ON THE PHONE AS SHE

WORKED ON HER PETRAEUS BIOGRAPHY. HE'S THANKED IN THE BOOK'S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SECTION AS BEING "WONDERFULLY HELPFUL."

HE TOLD ABC NEWS HE FOUND THE 40-YEAR OLD WEST POINT GRAD ENGAGING.

a-i don't think she wove a web around dave and dragged him in, i don't

PETRAEUS LETTER-TAG

KAREN TRAVERS REPORTING.

SHELTON SAID HE BELIEVES PETRAEUS MADE A ONE TIME MISTAKE--

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

THERE'S VERY LITTLE 24-HOUR MEDICAL CARE IN EASTERN COLLIER COUNTY.

BUT THAT MAY SOON CHANGE!

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A MOVE TO BUILD A NEW HOSPITAL--

THAT SERVES PEOPLE IN GOLDEN GATE--

AVE MARIA AND IMMOKALEE.

PLUS--

TZ2 A) NEW COLLIER HOSPITAL-VO WIPE

TZ2 B) GEORGE STANDUP-SOT TOPS

ROBERT WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT 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.

A FEW MORE CLOUDS FRIDAY

Thursday turned out to be a gorgeous day with a decent medley of sun and clouds. As we near the week's end, those clouds will grow in number.

High pressure is strengthening over the Carolinas, and that's causing our winds to pick up. Those brisk winds are able to bring clouds from the Atlantic into southwest Florida. That's what we saw on Thursday, and we'll see it for another day on Friday. However, there's an area of energy anchored just off the Texas coastline. That area will sail eastward and will help give us even more clouds to end the week.

So we have clouds coming from both the east and the west, and well, that makes for a mostly cloudy Friday. That's what we're forecasting along with lows in the upper 50s bouncing back to the low 80s come the afternoon.

Those clouds are short lived, and they will quickly erode for your weekend. Partly cloudy skies will hover over the area for Saturday and Sunday. Looks like a fabulous couple of days! We'll see more of the same Monday and Tuesday, too.

Another cold front will approach Wednesday into Thursday of next week. I expect it to fade away as it approaches, and that means our weather will remain quiet.

Temperatures will continue to be in the upper 50s around daybreak, and lower 80s can be expected for daytime highs.

TOSS TO RICK-VO

PEOPLE LIVING IN EASTERN COLLIER COUNTY SAY THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO DRIVE MORE THAN AN HOUR TO GET TO A HOSPTIAL.

NOW THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING HELP.

NBC 2'S RICK RITTER JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM OUR COLLIER COUNTY MOBILE NEWSROOM TO EXPLAIN.

NEW COLLIER HOSPITAL-LIVE

NEW COLLIER HOSPITAL-PKG

EMERGENCY HEALTH ISSUES.

Tim Moore/Ave Maria Reisdent/1:20:20 "I've seen a number of incidents where the older population here is in trouble."

ONES THAT HAVE MANY EASTERN COLLIER RESIDENTS QUESTIONING HOW SERIOUS THEY REALLY ARE?

Tim Moore/Ave Maria Resident/1:21:13 "Should I or should I not make the drive to Naples?"

IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT'S LEFT LOCAL COMMUNITIES DESPERATE, SOME DRIVING AN HOUR JUST TO GET TO THE CLOSEST HOSPITAL.

Susan Moore/Ave Maria Resident/1:24:18 "It feels pretty ridiculous."

BUT ONE THAT COULD SOON CHANGE.

STUDIES SHOW THAT RESIDENTS IN AVE MARIA, IMMOKALEE AND GOLDEN GATE ESTATES ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A NEARBY HOSPITAL--AND HELP IS ON IT'S WAY.

Blake Gable/1:17:10 There's clearly a need, it's a glaring need and I think this is a perfect opportunity."

SPEARHEADED BY A LOCAL DEVELOPER AND CEO OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S HEALTHCARE NETWORK--OFFICIALS ARE IN THE BEGINNING PHASES OF PUTTING A HOSPITAL RIGHT IN THE AREA.

Blake Gable/1:15:25 "We've had a number of discussions over the past year, we decided to pull the trigger."

WHILE MANY DETAILS ON THE HOSPITAL REMAIN UNCLEAR---RESIDENTS ARE THRILLED TO SEE THAT SOMETHING IS FINALLY IN THE WORKS.

NEW COLLIER HOSPITAL-LIVE

EXTERNAL BABY HEART-VO WIPE

REMEMBER THE GIRL BORN IN TEXAS WITH HER HEART *OUTSIDE* HER CHEST?

DOCTORS GAVE HER THE SLIMMEST CHANCES OF LIVING.

GOOD NEWS--

NOW DOCTORS SAY SHE MAY BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

DOCTORS PERFORMED A GROUND BREAKING MEDICAL PROCEDURE THAT TOOK OVER 6-HOURS.

FIVE WEEKS AFTER SURGERY--

EXTERNAL BABY HEART-SOTVO

"She's made it this far and I know within time just gotta be patient and within time she'll be home she'll be home with our family."

AUDRINA'S CONDITION IS EXTREMELY RARE.

ONLY EIGHT IN EVERY ONE MILLION BABIES ARE BORN WITH IT--

AROMATHERAPY BENEFITS-VO

NEED ANOTHER EXCUSE TO GO TO THE SPA?

DOCTORS SAY THOSE ESSENTIAL OILS USED FOR AROMATHERAPY--

MAY LOWER YOUR RISK FOR HEART PROBLEMS!

RESEARCHERS STUDIED HEALTHY--

NON-SMOKING SPA WORKERS--

WHO WERE EXPOSED TO THOSE ESSENTIAL OILS.

THEY FOUND THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE WENT *DOWN* JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE START OF THE STUDY.

THE EFFECTS LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR.

BUT DOCTORS FOUND ONCE THEY LEFT THE AROMA ROOM--

TEASE THREE-2SHOT

TWO PARENTS ARE IN JAIL FOR CHILD ABUSE.

POLICE SAY THEY DROVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF A MOVING VAN!

AND CONSERVATION 20/20 IS TRYING TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC TRUST.

IT UNVEILED A 16-POINT PLAN.

NBC2 WANTS TO KNOW IF THE PLAN HAS A CHANCE TO SUCCEED.

THOSE STORIES COMING UP.PLUS ALL NEW AT SIX--

TZ3 A) 20 20 CHANGES-VO WIPE

AHEAD AT 6-BANNER

A) GABY STANDUP TEASE-SOT

NORWAY BOMBING VIDEO-VO TOPS

A DISTURBING VIDEO HAS SURFACED IN NORWAY.

IT SHOWS MASS MURDERER ANDERS BREIVIK--

JUST MOMENTS BEFORE HE DETONATED A BOMB IN OSLO, LAST YEAR.

YOU CAN SEE BREIVIK CALMLY WALK AWAY FROM THE VAN--

THEN SET OFF THE EXPLOSION!

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ANGLES OF THE BLAST.

THE BOMBING KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE--

AND WAS THE BEGINNING OF A KILLING SPREE--

THAT KILLED 69 OTHERS.

KIDS IN BOX TRUCK-VO WIPE

THE PARENTS OF SEVEN CHILDREN ARE IN JAIL TONIGHT--

AFTER TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF A MOVING VAN!

-

POLICE GOT A TIP AND STOPPED THE VAN AT A TRUCK STOP IN INDIANA.

THE FAMILY WAS MOVING FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO CALIFORNIA.

TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE FRONT WITH THEIR PARENTS--

THE OTHER FIVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK--

WITH ONLY A SLEEPING BAG!

KIDS IN BOX TRUCK-SOTVO

"definitely cold out, you can seem my breathe right now, I can't imagine being in that truck you know all crammed together with just a sleeping bag.

OHIO BULLY 30 DAYS IN JAIL-VO

A 43-YEAR OLD BULLY IS GOING TO JAIL.

A JUDGE SENTENCED BILL BAILEY TO 30-DAYS IN JAIL.

FOR CONSTANTLY MAKING FUN OF A GIRL WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.

ALL OF HIS ACTIONS WERE CAUGHT ON CAMERA BY INVESTIGATORS.

BAILEY DIDN'T SPEAK MUCH IN COURT--

BUT HANDED THE COURT A LETTER APOLOGIZING TO THE GIRL AND HER FAMILY.

FIGHT IN COURT-VO

A FIGHT IN A MILWAUKEE COURTROOM OVER A SENTENCE.

THE JUDGE SENTENCED A MAN TO JUST ONE YEAR IN JAIL--

FOR HITTING AND KILLING A 6-YEAR OLD BOY WITH HIS CAR.

THE VICTIM'S FAMILY SCREAMED "MURDERER!" INSIDE THE COURTROOM--

AND THAT'S WHEN THE FIGHT BEGAN.

LIVE AMMUNITION ON PLANE-VO WIPE

A PASSENGER ON A FLIGHT FROM MILWAUKEE TO DETROIT MADE AN UNUSUAL DISCOVERY.

HE FOUND AN *UNUSED* SHOTGUN SHELL LYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE PLANE!

THAT FORCED DELTA TO REMOVE ALL THE PASSENGERS FROM THE PLANE--

AND COPS CHECKED THE PLANE FOR OTHER AMMO.

THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

DELTA RE-SCREENED THE PASSENGERS THEN SENT THEM ON THEIR WAY--

ABOUT 2-HOURS LATER.

LIVE AMMUNITION ON PLANE-SOT, ON CAM

"With all the security that you think is in place these days, how do these things happen?"

DELTA APOLOGIZED--

20 20 CHANGES-2SHOT

THE COUNTY'S LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM--

HAS NEW GUIDELINES *BEFORE* SPENDING YOUR TAX DOLLARS ON FUTURE PURCHASES.

NBC-2'S GEORGE SOLIS REPORTS HOW THOSE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM--

20 20 CHANGES-PKG

1

CONSERVATION 20/20 HAS SPENT MORE THAN 300 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE LAST 16 YEARS. TO BUY LAND FOR PRESERVATION.

THE COUNTY PAID MORE THAN 11 MILLINON DOLLARS FOR THIS LAND CALLED PRAIRE PINES IN NORTH FORT MYERS.

BUT the PROGRAM IS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. AN AUDIT BY THE CLERK OF COURTS FOUND THE COUNTY PAID TOO MUCH FOR SOME OF THE 117 PROPERTIES PURCHASED.

CHARLIE GREEN IS EVEN LESS EXCITED ABOUT A NEW SOLUTION TO MAKE SURE IT doesn't HAPPEN ANYMORE.

01:51 "I was not overly thrilled with the results that came out of it." Charlie Green, Clerk of Court

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECENTLY ADOPTED 16 RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE CONSERVATION 20-20's BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE TO CHANGE HOW THE COUNTY BUYS AND MAINTAINS LAND.

06:18 "In order to restore the public's confidence in the program "Karen McGuire, Director of County Lands

"The goal of the 16 recommendations goes beyond just restoring the public faith in the program but also making sure properties already preserved like Prairie Pines stay that way if the program goes under." GS

THE COMMITTE RECOMMENDS A FREEZE ON NEW PURCHASES OF PROPERTY UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

AND EVENTUALLY LETS THE *PEOPLE DECIDE IF THE PROGRAM IS WORTH KEEPING.

16:02 "We felt like the promise in the beginning was that the voters would get a say in the future of this program and we think that the voters of Lee County will see how successful this program has been." Noel Andress, Blue Ribbon Committee

VOTERS WILL GET TO DECIDE IN THE 2016 GENERAL ELECTION.

OPPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM WERE HOPING THE PROGRAM WOULD COME UP FOR A VOTE SOONER.

SELL THE 6PM-2SHOT

AHEAD AT SIX--

STATE DEMOCRATS JUST FILED SEVERAL MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THE VOTING DISASTER THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS MONTH, NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

OUR CHAD OLIVER IS BREAKING DOWN THE BILLS.

AND THERE ARE HUGE PLANS FOR A TINY ISLAND NEAR FORT MYERS BEACH.