530PM NBC2 |
530PM NBC2 |
HERE ARE THE TOP STORIES WE'RE TRACKING AT 5:30--
CHANGES AT V-R LABS.
JEFF KOTTKAMP STEPS DOWN AS C-E-O OF THE HEALTH DRINK MAKER, BASED IN BONITA SPRINGS. HE LEAVES AS THE COMPNAY FACES SCRUTINY OVER A 5 MILLION DOLLARS GRANT BY TAXPAYERS TO CREATE JOBS. JOBS THAT SO FAR, DO NOT EXIST.
AT SIX, WE SHOW YOU HOW MUCH THE FORMER LT GOVERNOR MADES IN HIS SHORT STINT AT THE HELM. AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COMPANY NOW.
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DRUG AGENTS STORMED A NAPLES PHARMACY!
THEY SHUT IT DOWN AND HAULED OUT BOXES OF EVIDENCE.
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AND SWEETBAY IS SHUTTING DOWN FOUR STORES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. AND MORE THAN 30 ACROSS THE STATION.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE OUT OF WORK. THREE IN COLLIER COUNTY AND ONE IN PUNTA GORDA.
TONIGHT AT SIX--
REACTION FROM SHOPPERS WHO HAVE TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO GO.
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THE LARGEST INSURANCE COMPANY IN FLORIDA IS IN HOT WATER TONIGHT --
A NEW REPORT ON CITIZENS INSURANCE UNCOVERS WASTEFUL SPENDING.
THIS IS A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
NBC2 INVESTIGATOR JENNIFER TRAMMELL HAS BEEN COMBING THROUGH THE REPORT.
JEN -- WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
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GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT ASKED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LOOK INTO *EXCESSIVE TRAVEL EXPENSES.RACKED UP BY CITIZENS' EMPLOYEES.
THE INSPECTOR UNCOVERED THINGS LIKE A WEEKEND STAY IN BERMUDA.
AND A DINNER CHECK THAT ADDED UP TO ALMOST ONE-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
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ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT FROM THE CHIEF INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THE COMPANY CHARGED WITH PROVIDING "AFFORDABLE PROPERTY INSURANCE" --
HASN'T APPLIED TO SAME "AFFORDABLE" PHILOSOPHY TO EMPLOYEE TRAVEL.
THE INSPECTOR REVIEWED ABOUT 350 BUSINESS EXPENSE REPORTS.
EMPLOYEES RACKED UP MORE THAN ONE-POINT-THREE MILLION IN TRAVEL EXPENSES OVER THE FIRST HALF OF 2012.
FOR THE MOST PART, THEY FOLLOWED CITIZENS' POLICIES.BUT THOSE POLICIES ARE OUT OF LINE WITH STATE TRAVEL RULES.
PULL QUOTE
".THE POLICIES WERE AMBIGUOUS AND LACKED SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THAT TRAVEL WAS NECESSARY AND CONDUCTED IN THE MOST ECONOMICAL MANNER."
FOR EXAMPLE.CITIZENS' POLICY REQUIRES EXPENSES TO BE "REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE". BUT DOESN'T SPECIFY WHAT THAT MEANS.
AND THE INSPECTOR GIVES EXAMPLES OF EXPENSES THAT WILL CONTINUE IF CITIZENS ISN'T REQUIRED TO FOLLOW STATE TRAVEL LAWS.
FULLSCREEN WITH BULLETS
IN BERMUDA LAST APRIL.
THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER UPGRADED HER DELUXE ROOM TO "GOLD" STATUS.BRINGING THE COST TO $633 PER NIGHT.
AND THERE'S NO EXPLANATION WHY SHE CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL ON A FRIDAY FOR A MONDAY MEETING.
IN ANOTHER CASE.THE FORMER PRESIDENT TOOK A LIMO FROM HIS HOUSE TO THE AIRPORT FOR 114 BUCKS.
AND A DINNER BILL FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT PEOPLE INCLUDED ALCOHOL.AND TOTALED 918 DOLLARS.
THE REVIEW SHOWS THESE PURCHASES WERE "EXCESSIVE" BY STATE STANDARDS.BUT WITHIN CITIZENS' POLICIES.
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AND, THIS AFTERNOON -- FLORIDA'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JEFF ATWATER RELEASED A STATEMENT, SAYING: "This culture of excess and poor judgment is unacceptable, and Floridians deserve better."
GOVERNOR SCOTT WANTS THE POLICIES TO BE UPDATED UPDATED.
LOOKS LIKE THAT *WILL HAPPEN.
WITHIN THE LAST HOUR -- CITIZENS CEO PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THE COMPANY WILL TIGHTEN POLICIES TO BETTER COMPLY WITH STATE TRAVEL STANDARDS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
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NEW DETAILS TONIGHT ON A STORY WE FIRST BROKE TODAY AT NOON.
FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT IS CHANGING HIS MIND ABOUT FLORIDA ELECTION LAW.
THE SAME LAW MANY BLAME FOR LONG LINES AT THE POLLS LAST NOVEMBER.
NBC 2's DAVE ELIAS IS LIVE TO EXPLAIN.
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GOVERNOR SCOTT WANTS MORE TIME AND RESOURCES FOR EARLY VOTING.
HE WANTS TO EXPAND EARLY VOTING, ADD MORE POLLING SITES AND REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THE BALLOT.
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SCOTT REDUCED THE NUMBER OF EARLY VOTING DAYS IN 2011 FROM 14 TO 8.
BUT NOW WANTS TO REVERT BACK TO 14 AFTER LONG LINES IN LEE COUNTY AND
OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE LEFT MANY WAITING AND SOME UNABLE TO VOTE AT ALL.
THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO CALLING FOR SHORTER BALLOTS, INCLUDING SHORTER EXPLANATIONS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SUPPORTS HIS IDEAS WITH A FEW OF THEIR OWN INCLUDING CREATING ON-LINE VOTER REGISTRATION.
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"That's something that other states have implemented that have saved other states money and have made the voter registration process more efficient and accurate and we'd like to see that implemented here."
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FIFTEEN OTHER STATES CURRENTLY HAVE ON-LINE VOTER REGISTRATION.
THE LEAGUE IS ALSO CALLING FOR SPECIAL VOTING FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED SO THAT THEY WON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE.
LIVE IN THE STUDIO, DAVE ELIAS NBC 2.
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MANY OF THE NATION'S MAYORS ARE MEETING IN WASHINGTON D-C.
THE MAIN FOCUS THIS YEAR IS ON GUN CONTROL AND THE DEBT CEILING.
PHILLY'S MAYOR--
SAYS IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO PUT ASIDE POLITICS AND FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THE FISCAL CRISIS FACING THIS COUNTRY.
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We not only have dealt with cuts, all of us have already been to the fiscal cliff and back. Right? We dealt with this two, three years ago. The Federal Government, quite honestly, is just really kinda getting around to it and the Congress. Welcome to the Great Recession.
THE MAYORS CONFERENCE RUNS THROUGH SATURDAY.
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THE LINE-UP AT THIS YEAR'S CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE--
IS A GOOD INDICATOR OF WHICH REPUBLICANS ARE PREPARING FOR A WHITE HOUSE RUN IN 2016.
HEADLINING THE SPEAKERS--
FLORIDA SENATOR MARCO RUBIO.
THE C-P-A-C IS THE LARGEST GATHERING OF CONSERVATIVE LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS.
IT TAKES PLACE IN MARCH.
CONGRESSMAN PAUL RYAN AND SENATOR RAND PAUL ARE ALSO SPEAKING.
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NOW TO THAT TRAGIC LOVE STORY--
TURNED BIZARRE HOAX OUT OF NOTRE DAME.
THE SCHOOL'S STAR LINEBACKER--
MANTAI TE'O--
SAYS HE WAS THE VICTIM OF AN EMBARRASSING PLOT.
HIS DEAD GIRLFRIEND--
A WOMEN HE MET ONLINE--
NEVER EXISTED.
BUT AS DIANA PEREZ REPORTS--
THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS--
IS TE'O TOTALLY INNOCENT?
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IT'S A BIZARRE HOAX THAT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED.
WE WATCHED AS NOTRE DAMES STAR LINEBACKER - MANTAI TE'O - PLAYED THROUGH THE
LOSS OF THE GIRLFRIEND HE MET ONLINE TO LEUKEMIA.
MANTAI TE'OSix hours ago I just found out my grandma passed awayand you take
the love of my life.
TURNS OUT THAT GIRLFRIEND, LENNAY KAKUA WAS A FABRICATION - THE STORY, A LIE
- REPORTEDLY PERPETUATED BY AN ACQUAINTANCE OF TE'O.
THE ATHLETE INSISTING IN A STATEMENT THAT HE'S THE VICTIM.
To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke
and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating.
TIM BURKE AND HIS TEAM AT DEADSPIN DOT COM BROKE THE STORY.
PERSUADED TO DIG DEEPER AFTER A TIP.
BURKE SOT: "We googled the name, no results for LENNAY KEKUA
THEY COULDNT FIND ANY RECORDS OF HER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
BURKE SOT: We looked up the funerals in Carson, California/no one by that
name had been buried there."
AND THEY ARE ARENT CONVINCED OF TE'O INNOCENCE.
SOT:.WHY WOULD SOMEBODY GO TO SUCH GREAT LENGTHS TO HOAX HIM LIKE THIS?
BUT HE DOES HAVE SUPPORTERS.
NOTRE DAME IN HIS CORNER.
Jack Swarbrick/athletic director at the University of Notre Dame
This was a very elaborate, very sophisticated hoax.
TYLER MOREHEAD/NOTRE DAME STUDENT
I truly believe that Manti was duped into this fake relationship. I think
that he genuinely that this person LK was a real being.
HIS HOMETOWN ON HIS SIDE TOO.
Miller: We know Manti. And we know that he wouldn't do that.
AND NOW NEV SCHULMAN, THE MAN BEHIND THE SHOW AND DOCUMENTARY - CATFISH -
ABOUT INTERNET DATING HOAXES WANTS TO HELP.
HE REACHED OUT VIA TWITTER.
"I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. IT HAPPENED TO ME.LETS TALK.
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DIANA PEREZ REPORTING.
OFFICIALS AT NOTRE DAME LAUNCHED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION--
WHEN THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE HOAX A MONTH AGO.
BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY THE SCHOOL OR TE'O WAITED SO LONG TO TELL THE TRUTH.
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LANCE ARMSTRONG LOST ANOTHER MEDAL TODAY.
THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE STRIPPED THE CYCLIST OF HIS 2000 BRONZE MEDAL.
EVEN THOUGH THE I-O-C HAS NO PROOF LANCE *DOPED* OR DID ANYTHING WRONG--
THE COMMITTEE SAID HIS "CONFESSION" IS PROOF ENOUGH.
OPRAH WINFREY'S INTERVIEW WITH ARMSTRONG AIRS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW ON HER TELEVISION NETWORK.
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BOEING'S TROUBLES ARE FILTERING DOWN TO AIRBUS.
BURING A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY--
AIRBUS'S PRESIDENT SAYS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE BATTERIES ON BOEING'S DREAMLINER--
WILL *NOT* PROMPT CHANGES AT HIS COMPANY.
THE F-A-A GROUNDED ALL BOEING 7-87's LAST NIGHT.
AFTER SEVERAL PLANES CAUGHT FIRE OR LEAKED FUEL.
ENGINEERS THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE RE-DESIGNED LITHIUM BATTERY.
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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40-YEARS--
AMERICAN AIRLINES HAS A NEW LOGO.
THIS IS IT--
THERE'S AN AMERICAN FLAG ON THE TAIL--
WITH THE WORD "AMERICAN" WRITTEN IN SILVER ACROSS THE BODY OF THE PLANE.
AFTER A TUMULTOUS YEAR INVOLVING BANKRUPTCY AND A PILOTS STRIKE--
THE COMPANY'S PRESIDENT SAID IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR A NEW LOOK.
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"Ah, we're going to come out of this restructuring strong, with a competitive cost structure, a strong balance sheet, and so now is really the time to turn the page and move the company forward."
AMERICAN HOPES TO EMERGE FROM BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION NEXT YEAR.
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THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS REBOUNDED A BIT LAST YEAR--
TOTAL FORECLOSURES WERE DOWN 3-PERCENT IN 2012.
WHILE "OVERALL" FILINGS ARE DOWN SOME 36-PERCENT FROM THE 2010 PEAK.
FORECLOSURE RATES IN SOME STATES ARE STILL GOING *UP*
FLORIDA AND GEORGIA ARE GOING UP--
*AND* HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF 2012.
LAST YEAR CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA WERE NUMBER ONE.
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THE SHOOTING STUNNED THE NATION!
12-PEOPLE KILLED WHEN A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE INSIDE A COLORADO MOVIE THEATRE!
TODAY THAT THEATRE RE-OPENS--
DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND HEAR FROM THE GUY WHO SAYS THIS 15-FOOT GREAT WHITE CIRCLED HIS BOAT.AND EVEN NUDGED IT.
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IT'S AN EMOTIONAL DAY IN AURORA, COLORADO.
THE MOVIE THEATRE--
WHERE THE 12-PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND DOZENS MORE INJURED--
IS RE-OPENING.
THE STATE IS CALLING IT THE "RIGHT THING TO DO".
BUT VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES WANT THE THEATRE TORN DOWN.
LEIGHANN GREGG IS IN COLORADO.
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WITH A NEW NAME AND A NEW LOOK, TONIGHT, A MOVE TO RETURN THIS THEATER TO ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.
THE CITY OF AURORA DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 2000 MOVIE TICKETS TO VICTIMS, FIRST RESPONDERS, HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS TO ATTEND A REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY AND THE RE-OPENING.
GONE ARE THE NEON LIGHTS AND PURPLE HUE SEEN HERE IN EARLIER MONTHS ON THE THEATER'S FACADE.
REPLACED BY A MORE NEUTRAL GREEN. PART OF A RENOVATION PROJECT.
INSIDE, THEATER 9, ONCE THE SCENE OF HORRIFIC CARNAGE IS NOW A DIGITAL THEATER WITH A WALL TO WALL AND CEILING TO FLOOR SCREEN.
DESPITE THE RE-DESIGN, SOME SAY THIS WILL ALWAYS BE A HAUNTING REMINDER OF THE CRIMES COMMITTED INSIDE.
"We decided we're going to celebrate Alex's life. That's what we're going to do. We will be at places Alex would have been."
SHOOTING SURVIVOR HARELL BROOKS AGREES.
"I don't want it to be something holding me back from moving on.
AND TONIGHT, ONE MORE STEP IN A LONG AND DIFFICULT PROCESS.
THE SUSPECT, BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL AFTER A HEARING LAST WEEK, IS SCHEDULED TO ENTER A PLEA IN MARCH.
CLOSE TO EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE SHOOTING
IN AURORA, COLORADO. I'M LEANNE GREGG. NBC NEWS,
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FLORIDA TAXPAYERS COULD SAVE 1-BILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR!
ONE GROUP SAYS IT'S EASY TO DO--
AND TODAY OUTLINED HOW THE STATE CAN PUT YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO BETTER USE!
AND IT'S CALLED MODERN DAY SLAVERY.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN FLORIDA--
AND TODAY THE STATE'S TOP COP LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE.
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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.
COOLER WEATHER SOON
A cold front will quick come over, and it'll give us a little cloud cover with a small chance of a shower this evening. The rain showers forecast should not last all evening and move through quickly.
I expect that most places will receive less than ¼ inch of rain tomorrow. The winds will increase by late day and southwest Florida boaters should be aware that the weather this morning will be nice, but it will turn windy and rough by the end of the day.
The aforementioned cold front coming in today won't bring a lot of rain; however, we will certainly notice a drop in temperatures for the next several days
Our highs in the 70's will quickly drop back to the 60's by sunset and we are going down to 50 degrees by Friday morning.
The extended outlook for the weekend looks cool with variable clouds overhead. High temperatures both Saturday and Sunday will be in the 70's and overnight lows throughout the area will noticeably cooler this weekend.
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A government WATCHDOG GROUP KNOWN AS TAX WATCH SAYS IT CAN SAVE FLORIDA TAX PAYERS MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS.
NBC2'S HEATHER TURCO IS HERE TO BREAK DOWN THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
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SAVING MONEY IS NOT EASY.
HOWEVER, IN THE LAST 4 YEARS ALONE, FLORIDA TAXWATCH HAS SAVED AT LEAST THREE AND A HALF BILLIONS DOLLARS OF OUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS - ADDING MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS IN COST-SAVING OPTIONS FOR LAWMAKERS THIS YEAR.
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TASK FORCE CHAIR JOHN ALEXANDER, CEO OF ALICO, INC - ALONG WITH TASK FORCE MEMBERS, PRESENTED THE REPORT TODAY IN A NEWS CONFERENCE IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE TASK FORCE HAS PRODUCED A TARGETED LIST OF 25 EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH ADDRESS KEY AREAS OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
ONE KEY RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE FLORIDA'S OUTDATED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.
ALSO HEADLINING THE LIST IS REWARDING STATE EMPLOYEES FOR REDUCING OPERATING EXPENSES THROUGH THE STATE'S SHARED-SAVINGS PROGRAM--
INCREASING THE COLLECTION OF REMOTE INTERNET SALES TAXES--
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"Because in every IP address, that's every computer in the world, there is a designator that says where you are and it designates computers ordering over the Internet that are located in the state of Florida."
AND CHANGING THE STATE'S HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENT MODEL.
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FLORIDA TAXWATCH IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT TAXPAYER RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG HEAD-QUARTERED IN TALLAHASSEE.
IT'S MADE UP OF 20 VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS FROM SOME OF FLORIDA'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS.
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HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS KNOWN AS MODERN-DAY SLAVERY.
AND FLORIDA HAS THE THIRD HIGHEST RATE OF THE DESPICABLE CRIME IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
MANY OF THE VICTIMS ARE TEENAGE GIRLS--
FORCED INTO THE SEX TRADE.
EVEN THOUGH FLORIDA'S STRENGTHENING LAWS AND CREATING HARSHER PENALTIES--
THE TRADE CONTINUES TO EXPAND HERE.
SO TODAY THE STATE LAUNCHED A NEW CAMPAIGN TO CREATE AWARENESS.
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"We have now established safe houses across the state to treat these young ladies, most of them are young ladies, when they have been trapped intothis horrendous crime and to create an opportunity for them to get their lives back and get freed from the perpetrators who have attacked them and have imprisoned them for years."
THE STATE SAYS PREDATORS VIEW FLORIDA AS ONE OF THE BEST LOCATIONS TO GET VICTIMS.
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SOON YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET SMALLER BILLS OUT OF THE ATM
BANK MACHINES CAPABLE OF DISPENSING ONE AND FIVE DOLLAR BILLS--
ARE POPPING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
CHASE AND P-N-C ARE ROLLING OUT THE NEW MACHINES.
THEY MAY SOON DISPENSE COINS!
THE NEW A-T-MS ARE FREE FOR CUSTOMERS.
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IT TOOK A TEAM EFFORT.BUT A CALIFORNIA MAN JUST PAID HIS TAX BILL IN *COINS*!!
"I had to borrow some money. I've missed a few payments on my home to pay for my taxes for this piece of property. My grand-kids' piggy banks, my daughters' piggy banks, my money , my change and a lot of people have offered to help a bit."
LARRY GASPER OWED 14-THOUSAND-DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAXES.
AFTER COLLECTING ALL THE MONEY--
HE ROLLED ALL THE COINS HIMSELF--
AND PACKED THE 14-GRAND IN THE BACK OF HIS CAR TO PAY OFF HIS DEBT.
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PADDLE SPORTS ARE POPULAR THESE DAYS.
SO THE COAST GUARD WANTS TO MAKE SURE ANYONE HEADING OUT--
KNOWS WHAT TO DO--
AND DOESN'T BREAK THE LAW!
WE'L SHOW YOU HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ENFORCE SAFETY ON THE WATER.
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THIS IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY.
AFTER FOUR DAYS IN LABOR--
AN ELEPHANT DELIVERED HER JUMBO BUNDLE OF JOY!
THEY DO IT BY RUNNING--
AND THE BABY LITERALLY PLOPS TO THE GROUND!
THE MOM WAS IN LABOR FOR OVER 100-HOURS!
SHE WAS ALSO PREGNANT FOR NEARLY 2-YEARS!
WE'RE TOLD THE LITTLE BOY IS DOING JUST GREAT!
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IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME ENCOUNTER MOST COULD LIVE WITHOUT.
BUT TO AUSTRALIAN FISHERMEN GOT AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL ENCOUNTER--
WITH A GREAT WHITE SHARK!
THAT SHARK IS ABOUT 15-FEET LONG--
AND WATCH AS IT CIRCLES AND NUDGES THE BOAT!
THE MEN WERE NERVOUS TO SAY THE LEAST--
BUT JUST COULDN'T LEAVE.
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the adrenaline was kicking in and you don't think sensibly when you have a great white shark swimming around your boat.
THE MEN SAY THE SHARK HUNG AROUND FOR ABOUT 10-MINUTES--
BEFORE SWIMMING AWAY.
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RED TIDE IS BEING REPORTED OFF COLLIER COUNTY BEACHES.
ACCORDING TO OUR NEWS PARTNER, THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS--
DEAD FISH HAVE WASHED ASHORE ON NORTH NAPLES BEACHES, AS RED TIDE LINGERS OFFSHORE.
WATER SAMPLES COLLECTED EARLIER THIS WEEK SHOWED RED TIDE AT VERY LOW LEVELS AT VANDERBILT BEACH AND SEAGATE--
AND AT LOW LEVELS AT THE NAPLES PIER AND SOUTH MARCO BEACH.
RED TIDE IS AN ALGAE BLOOM THAT CAN KILL MARINE LIFE AND CAUSE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WITH EMPHYSEMA AND ASTHMA SHOULD AVOID THE BEACHES WHEN THERE'S A RED TIDE BLOOM.
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ALL NEW AT 5:30-
PADDLE SPORTS ARE GAINING POPULARITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.
FROM CANOES TO KAYAKS TO PADDLEBOARDS--
GETTING OUT ON THE WATER HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.
BUT THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY RULES TO PRACTICE ANY OF THESE SPORTS.
NBC2S JOELLE PARKS JOINS US LIVE FROM RIVERSIDE PARK IN BONITA SPRINGS--
TO EXPLAIN A NEW INITIATIVE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE ON THE WATER- JOELLE?
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Going on out the water in one of these can be fun,
But do you know what to do if something goes wrong?
What if another person gets out of control?
For the first time The u-s coast guard auxiliary is stepping up to answer theses questions.
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Nats customers
Aaron Thomas sees all kinds of customers as a guide for calusa ghost tours.
Sot Aaron Thomas, calusa ghost tours kayak guide
2:09:11-18
"i get everybody from teenagers to senior citizens, it's such a wonderful sport."
Part of his job- teaching safety on the water.
Sot Aaron
2:10:54-04
A lot of folks think, oh it's just a kayak, I'm in shallow water, I really don't be to know safety but with the mangroves it can get like a maze back here"
To help with that-
The us coast guard auxiliary is teaching the dos and donts of paddle sport for the first time.
so what do you need to hit the water?
Sot Jim Mayer, us coast guard auxiliary commander
2:2:24-36
A life jacket, a whistle, a bottle of water, and sunscreen, without those items a boater can get into trouble, but we also cover being a smart kayaker before you leave the dock."
Sot Aaron
2:12:02-12
Our currents run quite strong, they weather conditions int he summer can change on a dime, especially if you don't know what you're doing. It's all about proper planning."
Part the organizations planning-expanding their services.
Sot Jim
2:4:06-17
Currently the coast guard auxiliary offers safe boating patrols, out on the water providing information and answering questions in a non law enforcement capacity, that's on a power boat. Eventually that will be done on a kayak."
Right now- there little to no enforcement on small rivers, creeks and canals.
By patrolling in a kayak or on a paddle board,
Auxiliary members will be able to continue their mission in a different capacity,
And alert law enforcement to problems if they arise.
Sot Jim
2:4:48
We can prevent accidents and keep more people alive."
Patrolling the imperial river and other paddle sport hot spots,
Something this guide is looking forward to.
Sot Aaron
2:9:01-08
It's a great spot, it's a hidden gem here in Bonita springs, I just love sharing this river with folks that come down."
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The class is taking place on Saturday February 2nd at wiggins pass.
If you want more information-
Head to our web site.
Nbc-2.com
Click on newslinks.
Reporting live in bs, Jp.
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AHEAD AT SIX--
BREAKING NEWS. FORT MYERS BANK ROBBED WITHIN THE LAST HOUR.
WE'LL GET YOU LIVE TO THE SCENE.
AND A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COLD CASE JUST WARMED UP QUICKLY.
DETECTIVES BELIEVE THEY FOUND THE REMAINS OF A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN MISSING FOR 20 YEARS.
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