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NEWS AT 6PM HEADLINES-SOTTOPS

***New at 6:00***

Scathing Report

A SCATHING REPORT ABOUT A NAPLES BASED HOSPITAL CHAIN MAKES NATIONAL HEADLINES.

"Both said they were told by HMA and it's ER Staffing company M-Care, that if they didn't start admitting more people to the hospital, they'd lose their jobs."

TONIGHT, H-M-A, WHICH OPERATES FOUR HOSPITALS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, DELIVERS A COUNTER-ATTACK TO THE REPORT IT CALLS BOGUS.

***New Tonight***

Christine's Legacy

"She was a special person. She touched the hearts of many. All had come to say goodbye to Christy."

THE MOTHER GUNNED DOWN IN FRONT OF HER TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE A CAPE CORAL DAYCARE IS REMEMBERED.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE SEE HER PICTURE AS HER FATHER TELLS THE COURT WHY HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND SHOULD BE ON DEATH ROW.

***NBC2 Investigators***

Tracking Your Tax Dollars

THE STATE WANTS TO DUMP THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS INTO COUNTY JAILS.

NEWS AT 6PM OPEN-CLIP

HMA REACTION TO 60 MINUTES STORY-2SH-(2)SS-VO-OC

TONIGHT, A NAPLES-BASED HOSPITAL CHAIN FIRES BACK FOLLOWING AN SCATHING REPORT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

GOOD EVENING, I'M KELLIE BURNS.

AND I'M PETER BUSCH.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES HAS FIVE HOSPITALS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TWO IN COLLIER COUNTY.

TWO IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY AND ONE IN LEHIGH ACRES.

BUT TONIGHT, THE ENTIRE CHAIN IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

60-MINUTES AIRED AN INVESTIGATIVE STORY-- CLAIMING H-M-A PRESSURES DOCTORS INTO ADMITTING PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, REGARDLESS OF MEDICAL NEED, TO SIMPLY MAKE MONEY.

AS NBC2'S GABY FLEISCHMAN REPORTS ALL NEW AT SIX--

HMA REACTION TO 60 MINUTES STORY-BNR-PKG

IN JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES--

A NATIONAL SHOW PUT A NAPLES-BASED COMPANY'S CARE INTO QUESTION--

CLOCK CLICKING

THE SIXTY MINUTES REPORT FOCUSED ON ACCUSATIONS FROM MORE THAN 100 CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES--

ACCUSING 'HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES' OF PRESSURING ITS DOCTORS TO ADMIT PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF MEDICAL NEED--

A WAY TO FILL HOSPITAL BEDS AND BOOST PROFITS.

NATS FROM 60 MINUTES

LONG-TIME NURSE AND AN H-M-A PATIENT GREG GARMAN SAW THE EPISODE--

HE WAS RECENTLY ADMITTED TO THE HMA OWNED CHARLOTTE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FOR CELLULITIS IN HIS RIGHT LEG.

HE SAYS HE WAS RELEASED BEFORE BEING COMEPLETELY HEALED -- AND DAYS LATER ENDED UP BEING ADMITTED TO THE PEACE RIVER MEDICAL CENTER-- ALSO OWNED BY H-M-A.

"I didn't expect to be admitted a second time."

WHILE NEITHER CHARLOTTE HOSPITAL WAS FEATURED IN THE 60 MINUTES REPORT; THE ALLEGATIONS WERE ENOUGH TO MAKE GARMAN QUESTION WHETHER HE ACTUALLY NEEDED TO BE ADMITTED.

" 28:17 It seems to me that they wanted the money to take up that bed that I didn't need to."

HMA DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS--

POSTING A VIDEO TO DEFEND THE COMPANY'S PRACTICES.

"We don't and have not directed, pushed, coerced any inappropriate activity in our hospitals."

HMA ALSO RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING: "60 MINUTES RELIED ENTIRELY ON DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEES."

THEY SAY THE REPORT "FAILED TO IDENTIFY A SINGLE PATIENT WHO HAD BEEN INAPPROPRIATELY ADMITTED" AND

THAT "ADMISSIONS RATES. WERE IN-LINE WITH NATIONAL NORMS."

THEY ALSO SAY THE REPORT FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH QUALITY OF CARE.

GARMAN SAYS HE GOT GOOD CARE--

BUT NOW ISN'T SURE IF IT WAS ACTUALLY NECESSARY.

"I wouldn't want to go back to one of their facilities again."

HMA REACTION TO 60 MINUTES STORY-(2)CG-OC-BNR

TONIGHT, THE FLORIDA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS REACTING TO THE STORY--

SAYING, THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION WILL BE DETERMINED IN TIME. NO PHYSICIAN

SHOULD ADMIT A PATIENT FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN MEDICAL NECESSITY."

FOR IN-DEPTH COVERAGE ON THIS STORY YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, NBC DASH TWO DOT COM.

DUNN PENALTY PHASE-VO-WIPE

TONIGHT, THE MAN CONVICTED OF KILLING HIS WIFE INSIDE A CAPE CORAL DAYCARE FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME--

WE'RE SEEING PICTURES OF ROBERT DUNN'S ESTRANGED WIFE, CHRISTINE.

A JURY FOUND DUNN GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER LAST WEEK FOR SHOOTING HIS WIFE TWICE IN A TINY BATHROOM IN FRONT OF SMALL CHILDREN - INCLUDING THE COUPLE'S TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER.

TODAY - THE JURORS HEARD TESTIMONY TO HELP THEM DECIDE: LIFE IN PRISON OR THE DEATH PENALTY.

DUNN PENALTY PHASE-SOTVO

"she wasn't prom queen or on the honor roll, but we couldn't have had a more perfect daughter"

"he was very quiet, he was lost. he was - he didn't really have friends that I remember."

TOSS TO STEVE-trxSOTVO-SS-DBX

5206 "it's pretty wild to see what kinda of construction they're doing.

THE NEW MATLACHA BRIDGE IS FINALLY UP.

NOW CREWS ARE TEARING DOWN THE BRIDGE TO PINE ISLAND.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY, ADMIT THEY'RE USED TO ALL THE NOISE.

NBC2'S STEVE CAMPION IS LIVE WHERE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE RACING TO GET THE JOB FINISHED ON TIME.

MATLACHA BRIDGE DEMOLITION-REMLIVE

CONTRACTORS TELL ME -- WHAT WOULD TAKE DAYS ON LAND TO DESTROY WILL TAKE WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS TO BREAK APART OVER WATER.

MATLACHA BRIDGE DEMOLITION-BNR-PKG

TAKE NATS

WITH EVERY CUT

TAKE NATS

AND EVERY PUSH AND PULL

-- CREWS SLICE THROUGH THE OLD MATLACHA BRIDGE.

TAKE NATS

THE JACKHAMMERING DRAWS CHEERS FROM THOSE NEARBY.

Ahren Surgent, Gulfside Marine Service

5030 This is a welcomed change from the piling driving."

WORKING AT THE BRIDGE'S BASE -- AHREN SURGENT With Gulfside marine services SEES THE PROGRESS DAY BY DAY.

Surgent 5024 "When the project first started, they were driving pilings in. That was actually shaking the ground much louder than this. This

HE'S LEARNED TO TUNE OUT -- THE JARRING CONSTRUCTION SOUNDS.

Surgent

5101 "After as long as they've been building the bridge. It doesn't bother us. We shut the door if we need to make a phone call."

TAKE NATS

Weighing in at 22- thousand pounds -- contractor archer western tell us these concrete slab must be delicately taken down.

FOR THOSE LIVING WITHIN EYE SHOT -- THE DEMO IS A SIGHT TO SEE.

Beverly Dobbins, Lives next to the bridge

5604 "it's disruptive but not bad."

BEVERLY DOBBINS TELL US -- FOR THE PEOPLE ON MATLACHA -- THE BRIDGE CARRIES WITH IT A TON OF MEMORIES.

TAKE NATS

DOBBINS

5704 "I'm anxious for them to get the old one torn down to see what it's going to look like. It's going to be different again."

CREWS PLAN TO WORK FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY 2013 -- TO TEAR DOWN BRIDGE.

TAKE NATS

PIECE BY PIECE -- THEY RAze A ROAD WHICH ONCE BRIDGED TWO SOUTHWEST COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

Surgent

MATLACHA BRIDGE DEMOLITION-REMLIVE

IN THE COMING WEEKS -- PARTS OF THIS OLD BRIDGE WILL TAKEN TO THE WATERS OFF CHARLOTTE COUNTY AND SUBMERGED -- ADDED TO AN ARTIFICIAL REEF THERE.

DOCTOR'S PASS DREDGING-VO-WIPE

TONIGHT, OFFICIALS TELL US A RECIPE FOR DISASTER IS BUILDING AT A POPULAR WATERWAY IN NAPLES.

TROPICAL STORMS FROM LAST SUMMER PUSHED LOADS OF SAND INTO DOCTORS PASS.

THE WATERWAY IS SO SHALLOW, BOATERS ARE AT RISK OF BOTTOMING OUT OR RUNNING INTO OTHER BOATS.

IT'LL COST 800-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DREDGE THE PASS.

DOCTOR'S PASS DREDGING-(2)SOTVO

MAYOR JOHN SOREY/NAPLES1:49:51 "There's unlimited projects but limited resources so it will be a challenge."

AL KATZ/NAPLES MOORINGS BAY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE2:00:45 "We're concerned somebody could come in, not have local knowledge and run on ground."

PRIVITIZING EMERGENCY GROUND OPS-trxONCAM

AS LEE COUNTY DETERMINES WHAT TO DO WITH ITS AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE; ONE COMMISSIONER IS ENTERTAINING THE IDEA OF PRIVATIZING GROUND E-M-S SERVICES.

SO FAR.THE PUBLIC'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN LESS THAN POSITIVE.

PRIVITIZING EMERGENCY GROUND OPS-BNR-PKG

WITH A PLAN TO EITHER GO INTO A PRIVATE OR PUBLIC-PRIVATE WITH AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THE COUNTY; COMMISSIONER FRANK MANN SAYS THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO LOOK AT GROUND E-M-S SERVICES TOO.

03:49 "We have been given an opportunity now to explore other ways of providing helicopter service first off, and it looks like an excellent chance we're going to save 2 to 3 million dollars when that process is all over."

MANN SAYS THERE'S POTENTIAL TO INCREASE THAT SAVINGS BY ABOUT 2 MILLION BY PRIVATIZING GROUND E-M-S SERVICE TOO.

05:04 "With 2 to 3 million that we might be able to save with air ambulances then we're starting to chip away at that huge 30 million dollar deficit that we have."

AFTER MANN'S APPEARANCE OVER THE WEEKEND ON A TALK RADIO PROGRAM DISCUSSING THE ISSUE, A PETITION HAS BEEN STARTED TO STOP THE PRIVATIZATION.

IT'S ON CHANGE DOT ORG

SO FAR IT HAS 63 SIGNATURES.

MANN IS TAKING THE EFFORT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

04:52 "We haven't even taken proposals on on it so it's a little silly and premature for them to start panicking."

OTHER COMMISSIONERS ARE ALSO TAKING A LOOK AT GROUND E-M-S SERVICES.

"We're looking tomorrow to purchase 10 new ambulances to strengthen our ground services." Cecil Pendergrass

MANN IS AGAINST THE PURCHASE.

HE SAYS THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW NEEDS TO BE ABOUT SAVING MONEY.

05:15 "We are forced to look at these things or raise taxes, and I'm not going to do that."

THE ISSUE WILL LIKELY COME UP IN TOMORROW'S COMMISSION MEETING.

COUNT ON US TO BE THERE.

CURTIS SMITH ROAD NAMED-VO-WIPE

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL VOTE TONIGHT ON WHETHER TO RENAME EVANS AVENUE TO HONOR A LOCAL HERO.

THERE IS A PUSH TO NAME A STRETCH OF EVANS -

FROM M-L-K SOUTH TO EDISON AVENUE.

"CURTIS SMITH AVENUE"--

SMITH WAS A FORT MYERS GROUNDSKEEPER WHO DIED IN 19-98. TRYING TO SAVE A YOUNG BOY, HIS FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER FROM DROWNING IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

THAT BOY IS NOW 23.

CURTIS SMITH ROAD NAMED-SOTVO

If it hadn't been for him letting my son use his life jacket, he probably wouldn't be here today.

GENTSCH IN COURT-VO-SS-VO

THE FORT MYERS MAN ACCUSED OF PRACTICING VETERINARY MEDICINE WITHOUT A LICENSE WILL BE SENTENCED NEXT YEAR.

LARRY GENTSCH PLEADED NO CONTEST IN COURT TODAY.

PROSECUTORS SAY HIS WIFE AMY ALLOWED HIM TO PERFORM SURGERIES ON PETS WITHOUT A LICENSE AT "DR. AMY'S ANIMAL HOSPITAL."

AMY WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS PROBATION AND A 500-DOLLAR FINE.

COLLIER DEPUTY FIRED-ONCAM

THE COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FIRED A DEPUTY BECAUSE HE PURPOSELY TURNED OFF HIS PATROL CAR'S DASHBOARD CAMERA.

AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION FOUND CORPORAL MICHAEL SKALA DID THAT AT LEAST TWICE DURING INCIDENTS, DESPITE KNOWING IT'S AGAINST POLICY.

THE FIRST TIME WAS DURING AN ARREST, WHEN THE SUSPECT RAN AWAY FROM DEPUTIES AND GOT HIT AND KILLED BY A PASSING TRUCK.

HE DIED.

FLORIDA TEACHER REPORT CARDS-ONCAM

REPORT CARDS FOR FLORIDA TEACHERS ARE OUT AND AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS TO SEE.

THE FIRST STATUS REPORT OF THE YEAR AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE.

IT HAS INFORMATION FOR THE last SCHOOL YEAR. ALL THIS BECAUSE OF A NEW LAW.

THE REPORT WILL CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS, AND PERSONNEL, AND GIVE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS A GRADE

CHARLOTTE FILM PUSH-VO-WIPE

WITH THE HARBOR, THE BEACH AND THE CITY LIFE - CHARLOTTE COUNTY IS PERFECTLY SUITED FOR A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE.

TO HELP PROMOTE THE AREA AS A FILMING DESTINATION, CHARLOTTE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HIRED A FILM DIRECTOR.

JERRY JONES HAS SPENT THE PAST 27 YEARS WORKING IN SIMILAR POSITIONS ACROSS THE MIDWEST.

CHARLOTTE FILM PUSH-SOTVO

Jerry Jones, Director of Film, TV and Digital Media"You're trying to look at it as best you can through the eye of the director, the art designer of the cinematographer."

THE PART-TIME JOB PAYS 27-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.

TEASE ONE-ONCAM

IF THE STATE GETS ITS WAY, COUNTY JAILS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COULD BE FILLED TO CAPACITY.

AND THE NBC2 INVESTIGATORS ARE LEARNING YOU WOULD HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL.

PLUS. A FORT MYERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS TEACHING A VALUABLE LESSON THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE CLASSROOM WHERE LITTLE KIDS ARE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.

TZ1 A) TTD~JAIL MONEY-VO-WIPE

TZ1 B) ALLEN PARK RED KETTLE DRIVE-VOTOPS

TZ1 C) FORECAST TEASE-STC

STOCKS-CG

ROBERT VAN WINKLE FORECAST OPEN-CLIP

ROBERT AT HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY-VOTOPS

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.

WARM START TO DECEMBER

Is it actually December? Just curious because it sure doesn't feel like it! We've had a nice string of 80°+ weather, and with no cold fronts headed toward Southwest Florida this week, the warmer than normal weather will be here to stay for a while.

Daytime highs today will be a few notches above average with most places warming up into the low to mid 80s Tuesday afternoon. That comes after waking up to temperatures in the lower 60s.

Like the last few days, winds will be pretty swift out of the east from 5-15 mph with the occasional gust up to 20 mph. Winds should begin to relax a little by Tuesday, so conditions won't be quite as breezy starting tomorrow.

Thus, with a mostly clear sky, light winds, and cool temperatures - expect patchy fog in the morning.

Our sky will stay mostly sunny through the day with some clouds mixing in with the sunshine during the afternoon. Moisture will be very limited, so rain chances will be slim at best.

INVESTIGATORS OPEN-CLIP

TOSS TO DAVE-2SHOT

ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.

THAT'S HOW SOME DESCRIBE A PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE WAY FLORIDA HOUSES ITS PRISONERS.

THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CUT IT'S BUDGET, BUT AS THE NBC 2 INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER. THE MONEY IT SAVES WILL HAVE TO BE PICKED UP BY FLORIDA COUNTIES.

TTD~JAIL MONEY-CELL-REM

THE STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICE TELLS ME THIS IS A BUDGET EXERCISE.

TTD~JAIL MONEY-PKG

CELL DOOR BEING UNLOCKED

THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR 5600 INMATES IN STATE PRISONS TO BE RELEASED AND SENT BACK TO COUNTY JAILS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAYS IT WOULD SAVE THEM $47.7 MILLION A YEAR.

BUT THE MATH SHOWS THE COUNTIES AFFECTED WOULD HAVE TO PAY $100-MILLION DOLLARS. MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT THE STATE WOULD SAVE.

NOT INCLUDED IN THAT COST IS INMATE MEDICAL CARE, STAFFING AND RENOVATIONS TO HOUSE THE PRISONERS.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT CALDWELL SAYS WHILE THE PLAN MAY NOT BE IDEAL IT HAS THE STATE LOOKING TO SAVE.

FULLSCREEN // 01:22 We ask every department to look for 10% of their budget. How can they cut 10% of their budget and they came up with various suggestions. 01:27

WHILE COLLIER HASN'T CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS YET TO KNOW WHAT IT WOULD HAVE TO PAY.

AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY WOULDN'T COMMENT.

LEE COUNTY TOLD US IT WOULD SEE 95 ADDITONAL INMATES.

THAT'S AN ADDED $1.9- MILLION DOLLARS FOR INMATE EXPENSES.

ADDITIONAL EXPENSED THE COUNTY ISN'T OPEN TO SPENDING.

TTD~JAIL MONEY-CELL-REM

ON AVERAGE THERE ABOUT 18-HUNDRED PRISONERS HERE EACH DAY.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

TEDDY BEAR TOSS-NATVO-WIPE

SATURDAY NIGHT WAS THE ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TOSS AT THE EVERBLADES GAME.

HUNDREDS OF STUFFED ANIMALS AND TOYS WERE COLLECTED. AND TODAY. DELIVERED BY THE PLAYERS TO GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN SOUTH FORT MYERS.

BLADES ON BEARS-SOTVO

ART OF THE OLYMPIANS-ONCAM

ART OF THE OLYMPIANS-NATVO-WIPE

JUST AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF FORMER OLYMPIANS AND CELEBRITY ATHLETES ON HAND FOR TODAY'S PRACTICE ROUND AT THE COLONY GOLF CLUB.

OLYMPIAN SOUND-SOT-WIPE

MUSCHAMP SPEAKING-VOTOPS

ANOTHER "CELEBRITY" IS IN TOWN TONIGHT. FLORIDA GATORS COACH WILL MUSCHAMP WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE CARRIGAN ALL-STAR CLASSIC BANQUET IN FORT MYERS.

RED SOX TICKETS-ONCAM

MIKE NAPOLI SIGNS-VOTOPS-WIPE

IF YOU'RE IN A TENT AND WATCHING US RIGHT NOW. GOOD NEWS. BOSTON HAS REPORTEDLY AGREED TO A DEAL WITH FREE AGENT CATCHER MIKE NAPOLI.

LEBRON SPORTSMAN-VOTOPS

PARTING THOUGHTS-ONCAM

GIVING TREE-SS

THERE IS STILL TIME LEFT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE NBC-2 GIVING TREE.

WE'RE TEAMING UP WITH THE FORT MYERS EDISON KIWANIS CLUB-- TO GIVE GIFTS TO THOUSANDS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SENIORS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

JUST GO TO ANY PERKINS RESTAURANT.

ALLEN PARK RED KETTLE DRIVE-ONCAM

STUDENTS AT ALLEN PARK ELEMENTARY IN FORT MYERS HAVE ORGANIZED A WEEK LONG EVENT TO BENEFIT THE SALVATION ARMY.

--

ALLEN PARK RED KETTLE DRIVE-PKG

CLOSE-4SHOT