A) SNOW TROUBLE-VO TOPS

TRAVEL TROUBLES.

OLD MAN WINTER IS PUTTING A HURTING ON MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AS METEOROLOGISTS ARE CALLING THIS ONE HISTORIC.

B) TRUCK ARRIVES-TRX VO TOPS

TRUCKING IN THE DOLLARS AND THE FANS.

THE BOSTON RED SOX AND NOW THE MINNESOTA TWINS ARE BEGINNING TO PREPARE FOR SPRING TRAINING AS BUSINESS OWNERS ARE HOPING TO SEE DOLLAR SIGNS.

C) LA MANHUNT-TRX VO TOPS

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN FEAR.A FORMER COP IS TARGETING NOT ONLY POLICE BUT THOSE WHO HE CLAIMS HELPED END HIS CAREER.

AND NOW WE'RE GETTING A NEW LOOK AT HIS MANIFESTO THAT CONTAINS BIZARRE REFERENCES TO A FLORIDA FOOTBALL ICON.

NEWS AT 11:00am OPEN-CLIP

LIVE LOOK AT SNOW-SAT LIVE TRX

THE STORM WHICH IS BEING CALLED EPIC AND DANGEROUS IS BEARING DOWN ON MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.CAUGHT IN ITS PATH ARE CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, AND BOSTON.

YOU'RE LOOKING LIVE AT ADLIB.

JIM ON BLIZZARD-WX CTR

"Clearing skies through the day"

The showers that moved in overnight and early this morning were associated with a weak cold front currently sweeping across the peninsula. Through the mid day hours, clouds will continue to linger across our skies with a nice clearing trend from north to south throughout the afternoon. Despite the passage of a weak cold front, afternoon highs will warm into the upper 70s to 80° 80s as we add in a bit more sunshine for the second half of the day.

Once the front clears Southwest Florida, a slightly cooler and drier airmass will begin to filter down the state. You'll notice the change early Saturday morning as lows will have bottomed out in the upper 50s here in town with lower to middle 50s across our inland and northern cool spots.

High pressure will be building in for the weekend and this will set the stage for a beautiful Saturday under mostly sunny skies. Even though temperatures will recover into the 80s, our afternoons will feel quite pleasant with comfortable humidity values. Our mainly dry weather pattern will stay firmly in place through the first half of the week with plenty of sunshine and highs in the lower to middle 80s.

TOSS TO DANIELLE-SAT LIVE TRX

AS THE NORTHEAST PREPARES FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF SNOW, WIND, AND RAIN.HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WE'RE ALSO BRACING FOR THE EFFECTS.

IN THE HEIGHT OF TOURIST SEASON.AIR TRAVEL IS SLOWLY GRINDING TO A HALT AS FLIGHTS TO AND FROM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE CANCELLED.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS-LIVE VU

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS-VO

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS-SOT

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS-LIVE VU

TOSS TO STACEY-OC OMNI TRX

WHILE THE WINTER BLAST IS GRINDING AIR TRAVEL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TO A HALT.THINGS ARE MUCH WORSE FOR THOSE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM.

THE MONSTROUS, POSSIBLY HISTORIC BLIZZARD HAS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IN ITS PATH.

IT'S JUST BEGINNING TO UNFOLD AT THIS HOUR ACROSS THE NORTHEAST AND IT COULD BE MORE THAN A DAY BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER.

NE SNOW-SAT LIVE IN TRAFFIC OR MON IN TRAFFIC

MORE THAN 23-MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ARE DEALING WITH A BLIZZARD WARNING.

NE SNOW-PKG

school bus overturned nats

THIS IS THE REASON WHY MANY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND. AN

OVERTURNED SCHOOL BUS ON A SNOWY ROAD IN MICHIGAN. FORTUNATELY, ONLY TWO

STUDENTS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.IT'S ALL PART OF THAT STORM THAT WILL

BECOME A NOR'EASTER.

AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY, NO ONE IS TAKING THIS STORM LIGHTLY.

Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts - Accumulation is expected to be

swift, heavy and dangerous.

More than 2500 FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLEDLOGAN AIRPORT AND AMTRAK between

new york and Boston -- IS SHUTTING DOWN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.AND CITIES ALL

OVER THE REGION are SUSPENDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston - Stay off the streets of our city, basically

stay home.

THE RUN ON GAS.

NE SNOW-TRAFFIC

AS MORE MISERABLE WEATHER SLAMS THE REGION, THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY WILL BE FURTHER HAMPERED BY HIGH WINDS, COLD TEMPERATURES AND MORE BEACH EROSION.

NY STOCK EXCHANGE OPEN-TRX SAT LIVE

Stocks are edging higher in early trading after a report showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in December.

YOU'RE LOOKING LIVE AT THE BIG BOARD ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.

TOSS TO CLIFTON-TRX VO TOPS BOXES

ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK a lot LIKE SPRING.

THE FIRST SIGN THAT BASEBALL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER JUST ARRIVED AT JET BLUE PARK IN LEE COUNTY THIS MORNING.

AND that's NOT ALL.THE TWINS TRUCK ALSO PULLED INTO TOWN.

SO WHAT'S NEXT FOR BASEBALL FANS AS SPRING TRAINING GETS OFF TO AN EARLY START?

TRUCK ARRIVES-REM LIVE

THE TRUCK GOT HERE JUST BEFORE7:00 THIS MORNING.

IT WAS FULL OF GEAR.

EVERYTHING FROM BATS AND BALLS. TO GUITARS.

WE TALKED TO THE TRUCK DRIVER HERE EARLIER.

TRUCK ARRIVES-SOT VO

Al Hartz, truck driver

"The baseball equipment is maybe half the load."

"I've got tricycles, bicycles, playpens, golf equipment, sometimes hunting equipment, musical instruments."

CREWS SPENT SEVERAL HOURS UNLOADING AND ORGANIZING THE GEAR.

TWINS TRUCK-VO TOPS

LISTEN TO THIS.

ON HIS WAY DOWN HERE. THE DRIVER OF THE RED SOX TRUCK RAN INTO THE DRIVER OF THE MINNESOTA TWINS TRUCK IN GAINSVILLE.

WE ASKED IF THEIR MEETING WAS CIVIL.

TWINS TRUCK-SOT VO

one of the other allied agents in chicago knew the man and here he walks in the door and there he is. Any rivalry going on there? Not bad, you know, it's part of our job. Get the stuff here and get it unloaded.

THE MINNESOTA TWINS TRUCK STARTED TO GET UNLOADED AT 9:00 THIS MORNING.

TRUCK ARRIVES-REM LIVE

TOSS TO NICK-OC TRX

POLICE SAY A MAN WHO USED TO WEAR A POLICE OFFICER'S UNIFORM IS TARGETING AND KILLING FELLOW OFFICERS ACROSS the los angeles area.

AN ALL OUT MANHUNT CONTINUES AT THIS HOUR FOR CHRISTOPHER DORNER.

RIGHT NOW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD TO URGE EXTREME CAUTION.

LA MANHUNT-PLASMA

INVESTIGATORS ACTUALLY RECOVERED THE SUSPECT'S VEHICLE IN A WOODED AREA THURSDAY.

BUT AUTHORITIES SAY CHRISTOPHER DORNER IS STILL ON THE LOOSE

LA MANHUNT-VO TOPS

THIS MORNING, THE MANHUNT HAS MOVED TO THIS MOUNTAIN

ARMED OFFICERS SWARMING A POPULAR SKI RESORT.BIG BEAR. AFTER DORNER'S

TRUCK WAS FOUND HERE LATE THURSDAY.

AUTHORITIES SAY IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS DRIVEN RIGHT OFF A CLIFF.

IT WAS A SMOLDERING WRECK. BUT NO BODY INSIDE.

POLICE SAY THEY FOUND TRACKS LEADING AWAY FROM THE CAR. BUT NO SUSPECT.

THEY HAVE SEARCHED THROUGH THE NIGHT.

MORE THAN 400 HOMES. ONE BY ONE.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THE 33-YEAR-OLD FORMER COP IS SEEKING REVENGE.

A MOTIVE SPELLED OUT IN A MANFESTO POSTED ONLINE.

LA MANHUNT-SOT

"Of course he knows what he's doing; we trained him. He was also a member of

LA MANHUNT-PLASMA SS PLASMA

AS FOR THAT MANIFESTO.WE'RE LEARNING SOME INTERESTING DETAILS TODAY.

REPORTS CLAIM IT INCLUDES RAMBLINGS ABOUT VARIOUS TOPICS.IN ONE HE DISCUSSES TIM TEBOW SAYING.

"TEBOW, I REALLY WANTED TO SEE YOU TAKE CHARGE OF AN OFFENSE AGAIN AND THE GAME.

YOU ARE NOT A GOOD QB BY TODAYS STANDARDS, BUT YOU ARE A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO KNOWS HOW TO LEAD A TEAM AND WIN.

YOU WILL BE "TEBOWING" WHEN YOU REACH YOUR NEXT TEAM. I HAVE FAITH IN YOU."

HE ALSO CLAIMS TO BE IN FAVOR OF STRICTER GUN CONTROL.

TEASE ONE-----

SPEED, POLICE, AND A WILD ENDING.

WE HAVE ALL THAT AND MORE AS A POLICE CHASE ENDS IN A FIREBALL.

PLUS.A café BECOMES A DRIVE THRU ALL THANKS TO SOME BAD DRIVING.

A) CA POLICE CHASE-2 SHOT VO

B) CAR VS CAFE-VO TOPS

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-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.

"Clearing skies through the day"

The showers that moved in overnight and early this morning were associated with a weak cold front currently sweeping across the peninsula. Through the mid day hours, clouds will continue to linger across our skies with a nice clearing trend from north to south throughout the afternoon. Despite the passage of a weak cold front, afternoon highs will warm into the upper 70s to 80° 80s as we add in a bit more sunshine for the second half of the day.

Once the front clears Southwest Florida, a slightly cooler and drier airmass will begin to filter down the state. You'll notice the change early Saturday morning as lows will have bottomed out in the upper 50s here in town with lower to middle 50s across our inland and northern cool spots.

High pressure will be building in for the weekend and this will set the stage for a beautiful Saturday under mostly sunny skies. Even though temperatures will recover into the 80s, our afternoons will feel quite pleasant with comfortable humidity values. Our mainly dry weather pattern will stay firmly in place through the first half of the week with plenty of sunshine and highs in the lower to middle 80s.

CA POLICE CHASE-VO TOPS

ONE OF THE WILDEST ENDINGS TO A POLICE CHASE YOU WILL EVER SEE.

TAKE A LOOK. A HIGH-SPEED POLICE CHASE IN LOS ANGELES ENDED IN A FIERY CRASH.

POLICE SAY THEY WERE PURSUING A SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER WITH SPEEDS REACHING MORE THAN 100 MILES AN HOUR.

THE CAR SKIDDED OUT OF CONTROL, SLAMMED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND BURST INTO FLAMES.

CAR VS CAFE-SS VO IN PLASMA

AND JUST LIKE THAT WE KICK OFF FRIDAY'S B BLOCK AT ELEVEN.

MORE MUST SEE VIDEOS.CHECK OUT THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CAPTURING THE DRIVER OF AN S-U-V SMASHING INTO THE SIDE OF A BROWARD COUNTY RESTAURANT.

CAR VS CAFE-PKG

THE 70-SOMETHING DRIVER OF THIS CAR JUST HAPPENED TO END UP AT HAVANA'S CUBAN CUISINE, AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL.

She was distraught, partly in shock, disoriented.

AND LUCKILY UNINJURED--- EVEN THOUGH SHE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE PLOWED INTO THIS SUNRISE BUSINESS JUST AS BARTENDER EDWIN PEREZ WAS PREPPING FOR THE DINNER CROWD.

I was cleaning right here.

BUT THEN HE WAS JUMPING--- FOR HIS LIFE--- AS YOU SEE RIGHT HERE ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO--- NIMBLY DODGING THE OUT-OF-CONTROL SUV. HE ALSO IMPRESSED HIS BOSS.

Oh he is athletic--- Olympic style.

CAR VS CAFE-ONCAM

SHELDON FOX REPORTING.

NO WORD YET ON ANY CITATIONS THE DRIVER MAY RECEIVE.

RAY RICE FALLS-VO TOPS

HE MAY BE A SUPERBOWL CHAMPION BUT RAY RICE DIDN'T LOOK VERY GRACEFUL IN THIS APPEARANCE.

TAKE A LOOK.NEW VIDEO IS SURFACING SHOWING BALTIMORE RAVENS PLAYER RAY RICE FALLING FROM A STAGE DURING THE TEAM'S VICTORY PARADE THIS WEEK.

HE CLAIMS THE FLOAT STOPPED SHORT AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED HIM TO FALL.

WHALE SWIM-TRX VO TOPS

A DOLPHIN SWIM TOUR GROUP GOT A WHALE OF AN UPGRADE OFF THE COAST OF HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND.

THE OWNER OF THE TOUR COMPANY SAYS EVERYONE HAD JUST CLIMBED OUT OF THE WATER FROM SWIMMING WHEN A HUMPBACK WHALE APPROACHED.

TEASE TWO----

IS NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE SUGAR COATING?

CHRISTIE: Yeah. I'm basically the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen in your life.

BUT WHAT ARE DOCTORS NOW SAYING.

CAN YOU BE OVERWEIGHT AND STILL BE CONSIDERED HEALTHY?

A) FAT AND HEALTHY-2 SHOT SOT VO

FAT AND HEALTHY-PLASMA

WE'VE ALL BEEN WARNED.SLIMMING DOWN MAY ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE.

A PUBLIC BATTLE IS ESCALATING BETWEEN REPUBLICAN NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE AND A FORMER WHITE HOUSE DOCTOR.

THE BIG QUESTION: CAN YOU BE OVERWEIGHT AND HEALTHY.

FAT AND HEALTHY-PKG

IT ALL STARTED WHEN NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE MADE "LIGHT" OF HIS MUCH TALKED ABOUT WEIGHT PROBLEM.

"I've made jokes about you. Not just one or two. Not just ongoing here or there, intermittent, but --

BUT IN A WIDELY PUBLICIZED CNN INTERVIEW.

A FORMER WHITE HOUSE DOCTOR SAID SHE'S WORRIED HE COULD DIE IN OFFICE.

"I worry that he may have a heart attack. That he may have a stroke.it's almost like a time bomb waiting to happen unless he addresses those issues."

BUT CHRISTIE FIRED BACK, CALLING HER A HACK.

HE SAYS HE'S HEALTHY - DESPITE HIS WEIGHT.

CHRISTIE: Dave, my cholesterol's normal, believe it or not.

DAVE: That's pretty good. And what about your blood sugar?

CHRISTIE: Blood sugar. Also normal.

DAVE: Also normal?

CHRISTIE: Yeah. I'm basically the healthiest fat guy you've ever seen in your life.

"SO, WHO'S RIGHT? CAN YOU BE OBESE AND HEALTHY? WELL, DOCTORS TELL CNN EVEN IF YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD SUGAR ARE NORMAL, BEING THAT OVERWEIGHT IN AND OF ITSELF IS BAD FOR YOU."

EVEN IF YOUR ARTERIES AREN'T CLOGGED, BEING OBESE CAN ENLARGE YOUR HEART, WHICH CAN LEAD TO HEART FAILURE.

AND ALL THAT WEIGHT CAN PUT A STRAIN ON YOUR KIDNEYS, CAUSE GALL BLADDER AND PANCREAS PROBLEMS AND SLEEP APNEA, WHICH CAN ALSO HURT YOUR HEART.

ONE RESPECTED STUDY FOUND THAT BEING MORBIDLY OBESE CUTS EIGHT TO TEN YEARS OFF YOUR LIFE.

THAT'S COMPARABLE TO THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING.

EVEN CHRISTIE REALIZES BEING HEAVY ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU.

"So far, up to 50 years old, I have been remarkably healthy. My doctor continues to warn me my luck is going to run out relatively soon. So, believe me, it is something that I am very conscious of."

IF CHRISTIE *WANTS* TO BE PRESIDENT AND *WANTS* TO LOSE WEIGHT BEFORE HE GETS TO THE WHITE HOUSE, DOCTORS TELL CNN HE COULD DO IT.

THEY SAY THE DIET PLAN MIGHT LIKELY INCLUDE DRUGS, LIQUID DIETS OR BARIATRIC SURGERY.

AND JUST LIKE THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE, IT WOULDN'T BE EASY.

TEASE THREE------

E-MAILS THAT WERE MEANT FOR THE BUSH FAMILY'S PRIVATE EYES ARE BEING MADE PUBLIC.

SOME REVEAL THE FAMILY BELIEVED FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H-W BUSH WAS VERY CLOSE TO DEATH.BUT THEY'RE ALSO REVEALING SOME SURPRISING COMMENTS MADE BY OUR FORMER GOVERNOR.

PLUS.THIS WOULD BE A DAMPER ON OUR WEEKEND.

AN ASTEROID IS SET TO BARREL EXTREMELY CLOSE TO EARTH.GOING BETWEEN US AND OUR SATELITES.

B) ASTEROID MISS-VOTOPS

NEWS AT 11:30am OPEN-CLIP

ASTEROID MISS-2 SHOT

DON'T CONSIDER THIS A COUNT-DOWN TO DOOMSDAY, BUT ON FEBRUARY 15TH AN ASTEROID IS GOING TO COME PRETTY CLOSE TO EARTH.

ASTEROID MISS-PKG

ASTEROID 2012 DA14 IS ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD, AND IT'S HEADED RIGHT FOR US, OR RIGHT NEAR US, BUT BEFORE YOU START WORRYING ABOUT THIS.

It's a meteor shower.

KNOW THAT NASA SAYS THIS:

The close approach of this object 2012 DA14 on February 15th in nothing to worry about. Its orbit is very well known, we know exactly where it's going to go, and it cannot heat the earth.

WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD PUT TO REST, LETS CHECK OUT SOME SCIENCE ON THIS BAD BOY. FIRST OF, THE ASTEROID IS CRUISING ALONG ITS 17,455 MILES PER HOUR. THAT'S FAST. BUT NOT AS FAST AS ROCKETS HAVE TO GO IN ORDER TO ESCAPE EARTH GRAVITY AND GET IN THE SPACE. SPEAKING OF GRAVITY, IT'S GOING TO GIVE THE ASTEROID A LITTLE EXTRA PULL AS IT PASSES BY. SO, AS THIS THING IS CLOSER TO EARTH, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO GET FASTER. JUST HOW CLOSE IS DA14 GOING TO GET WHEN IT PASSES BY ON FEBRUARY 15TH? MORE THAN 17,000 MILES AWAY FROM THE PLANET. BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND, THAT'S CLOSER TO EARTH THAN A LOT OF GPS OR TV SATELLITES. DON'T WORRY, NASA SAYS, THERE ISN'T MUCH CHANCE IT'S GOING TO HIT THOSE SATELLITES EITHER.

ASTEROID MISS-ONCAM

CARL AZUZ REPORTING.

SUPER DOME OUTAGE-VO

NEW AT ELEVEN.

A POWER COMPANY SAYS THE CAUSE OF THE SUPER BOWL BLACKOUT WAS A FAULTY DEVICE THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO PREVENT A FAILURE OF ELECTRIC CABLES LEADING TO THE SUPERDOME.

OFFICIALS OF ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS SAY THE DEVICE, CALLED A RELAY, HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE STADIUM FROM A CABLE FAILURE BETWEEN THE COMPANY'S INCOMING POWER LINE AND LINES THAT RUN INTO THE STADIUM.

PYTHON HUNTERS-ONCAM

THE EVERGLADES PYTHON HUNT TURNS INTO A RESCUE AS TWO MEN BECAME "STRANDED AND DISORIENTED".

INVESTIGATORS IN BROWARD COUNTY SAY THEY FOUND THE TENNESSEE MEN 15 MILES WEST OF U-S 27 THURSDAY.

A HELICOPTER LANDED AND TRANSPORTED THE TWO MEN TO NEARBY RESCUE UNITS.

OH POND DEATH-VO

A MAN DIED AFTER TRYING TO SAVE A BOY FROM AN ICY POND IN OHIO.

INVESTIGATORS IN OHIO SAY THE 30 YEAR OLD MAN JUMPED INTO THE WATER TO SAVE HIS FIVE YEAR OLD NEIGHBOR.

RESCUERS PULLED BOTH FROM THE WATER TWO HOURS LATER.

THE MAN LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL, WE'RE TOLD THE BOY IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

BUSH HACKING-SS

A COMPUTER HACKER HAS APPARENTLY GAINED ACCESS TO PRIVATE EMAILS SENT BETWEEN FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THE SMOKING GUN REPORTS, THE EMAILS SPANNED SEVERAL YEARS INCLUDING THE WEEKS THAT THE ELDEST BUSH WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

ONE EMAIL CLAIMS FUNERAL PREPARATIONS WERE UNDERWAY FOR THE 88 YEAR OLD.

ANOTHER EMAIL FROM FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR JEB BUSH SAID QUOTE.""HOW KIND HE WAS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HE HELPED RESTORE HIS SORDID REPUTATION. A VERY TOUGH THING TO DO BUT WITH KINDNESS, DAD PROBABLY HELPED BILL CLINTON THAN ANYTHING HE HIMSELF HAS DONE."

LEGAL SUICIDE-VO

SIX STATES ARE NOW LOOKING AT MAKING PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDES LEGAL.

BILLS LEGALIZING AID-IN-DYING ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN CONNECTICUT, VERMONT, NEW JERSEY, KANSAS, HAWAII AND MASSACHUSETTS.

THERE ARE ALSO BILLS RELATED TO THE ISSUE UNDER CONSIDERATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, ARIZONA AND MONTANA.

IRS FRAUD-SS

I-R-S TAX RETURN FRAUD IS SPREADING LIKE A VIRUS HERE IN FLORIDA.

THAT'S HOW ONE U-S ATTORNEY DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM OF THIEVES USING THE IDENTITIES OF OTHERS TO COLLECT THEIR TAX REFUNDS.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THE NUMBER OF I-R-S I-D THEFT INVESTIGATIONS TRIPLED IN 2012.

THE I-R-S SAYS ITS INVESTIGATIONS PREVENTED $20 BILLION IN WOULD-BE FRAUDULENT REFUNDS.

PENSION BILL-ONCAM

A PROPOSAL TO END GUARANTEED PENSIONS FOR NEW TEACHERS, STATE AND COUNTY WORKERS AND OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAS BEGUN MOVING THROUGH THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.

IF APPROVED, IT WOULD REPLACE TRADITIONAL DEFINED BENEFIT PENSIONS WITH INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS SIMILAR TO 401'S FOR EMPLOYEES HIRED AFTER 2014.

SUPPORTERS CLAIM THE SWITCH WOULD SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

CHEATING COWBOYS-VO

DID THE DALLAS COWBOYS CHEAT THEIR WAY INTO THE SUPERBOWL?

ONE FORMER PLAYER CLAIMS THE PLAYERS ON THE TEAM USED OINTMENT FOR HORSES TO HELP THEIR PLAY.

EX-COWBOYS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN TONY CASILLAS TOLD A DALLAS RADIO STATION THAT THEY USED D-M-S-O IN THE 1990S.

HE CLAIMS VETERINARIANS USE THE MEDICATION TO PUT ON HORSES' MUSCLES.

GAS PRICES-CG

ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER JUMP IN GAS PRICES AS DRIVERS WONDER WHEN IT WILL ALL END.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF REGULAR CLIMBED ONE PENNY FROM YESTERDAY TO $3.57.

ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE DRIVERS ARE PAYING $3.64.

HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WE'RE SHELLING OUT, $3.68.

EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT JUNIOR PARADE-VO

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND?

THIS SUNDAY THE CITY OF FORT MYERS WILL HOST THE EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT JUNIOR FUN RUN AND JUNIOR PARADE.

HERE'S VIDEO OF LAST YEAR'S JUNIOR PARADE.

THIS YEAR THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATING ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY.

IN ADDITION TO FLOATS AND MARCHING BANDS, THE JUNIOR PARADE GIVES AREA CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THEIR CREATIVITY.

THE JUNIOR FUN RUN KICKS OFF AT 1 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.

THE PARADE STARTS AT 2-30.

EVERGLADES SEAFOOD FEST-SSTOPS-SS

AND IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR SOME SEAFOOD, THIS IS YOUR WEEKEND.

THE EVERGLADES SEAFOOD FESTIVAL KICKS OFF IN EVERGLADES CITY TONIGHT AND RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY.

THIS IS A COOL AERIAL PHOTO OF THE EVENT IN YEAR'S PAST.

THERE YOU'LL FIND LIVE MUSIC, CRAFTS, AND FRESH SEAFOOD TO TASTE.

TEASE FOUR-----

COMING UP ON THE NEWS AT ELEVEN.

WE SPEAK LIVE WITH TODAY SHOW ANCHOR NATALIE MORALES TO SHED NEW LIGHT ON WHAT'S NORMAL BETWEEN COUPLES.

DO YOU STROLL INTO WORK A LITTLE LATE OCCASIONALLY?

HAVE TROUBLE COMING UP WITH AN EXCUSE?

NATALIE MORALES-2 SHOT

A NEW BOOK EXPLORES WHAT NORMAL IS WHEN IT COMES TO RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ROMANTIC PARTNERS.

NATALIE MORALES-SAT LIVE SS

In a new book that explores what normal is when it comes to relationships between romantic partners;

Natalie Morales sits down with one of the authors of The Normal Bar, Chrisanna Northrup and her husband Mark Northrup.

The couple opens up to Morales about how the revealing survey results helped save their 15-year marriage.

THEN coming up on Rock Center with Brian Williams, hear more from Chrisanna Northrup and her husband Mark about how they changed their life.

The Normal Bar-you look at why people cheat

-close friends getting close

-old flames

-business trips

If you are interested, Natalie Morales and Chrisanna Northrup will be available for

satellite interviews today, Friday, February 8th, between 1130am - 1230pm ET.

THERE IS NO CHARGE TO BOOK A WINDOW, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT kim.grabina@nbcuni.com to do so.

SOCIAL MEDIA: With Valentine's Day just a week away ask your viewers to weigh in on the topic of love,

REIF OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-WX WALL

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.

"Clearing skies through the day"

The showers that moved in overnight and early this morning were associated with a weak cold front currently sweeping across the peninsula. Through the mid day hours, clouds will continue to linger across our skies with a nice clearing trend from north to south throughout the afternoon. Despite the passage of a weak cold front, afternoon highs will warm into the upper 70s to 80° 80s as we add in a bit more sunshine for the second half of the day.

Once the front clears Southwest Florida, a slightly cooler and drier airmass will begin to filter down the state. You'll notice the change early Saturday morning as lows will have bottomed out in the upper 50s here in town with lower to middle 50s across our inland and northern cool spots.

High pressure will be building in for the weekend and this will set the stage for a beautiful Saturday under mostly sunny skies. Even though temperatures will recover into the 80s, our afternoons will feel quite pleasant with comfortable humidity values. Our mainly dry weather pattern will stay firmly in place through the first half of the week with plenty of sunshine and highs in the lower to middle 80s.

SOLOMON QUAKE FOLLOW-VO

AFTERSHOCKS ARE RATTLING THE SOLOMON ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AFTER WEDNESDAY'S 8 POINT 0-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI.

THE CONTINUED JOLTS ARE PREVENTING RELIEF WORKERS FROM REACHING VILLAGES WHERE AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

THIS MORNING'S 6.6-MAGNITUDE AFTERSHOCK DAMAGED ROADS ON THE ISLAND'S MAIN TOWN OF LATA.

LET BABIES CRY-OC NATS SOT VO WIPE

HERE'S AN UNPLEASANT THOUGHT.EXPERTS SAY PARENTS SHOULD LET THEIR BABIES DO THIS.

nats of crying baby

"Mothers who rush to their babies in the middle of the night because they are crying are doing a disservice to their babies. they're interfering with their babies ability to learn to self soothe the way the rest of us do."

doctor WEINRAUB SAYS BABIES WHO HAVE TROUBLE FALLING BACK TO SLEEP ARE GENERALLY FUSSY, HAVE OVERLY ATTENTIVE MOTHERS AND ARE BREAST FED. USED TO FALLING ASLEEP IN THEIR MOTHER'S ARMS.

LET BABIES CRY-SOT VO

"It's very painful it's tugging at your heartstrings but you have to say that's my baby and she's learning a new skill."

FPL RATE HIKES-ONCAM

THE STATE'S CONSUMER ADVOCATE IS APPEALING A BASE RATE INCREASE FOR FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT.

THE DEAL COULD ADD NEARLY 10 DOLLARS TO AVERAGE MONTHLY BILLS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

HORSE MEAT-VO WIPE

SOME BEEF LASAGNA PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FROM STORES IN THE U-K AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THEY CONTAINED MORE THAN 60 PERCENT HORSEMEAT.

IT'S THE LATEST REVELATION IN A GROWING SCANDAL SURROUNDING THE USE OF HORSEMEAT AND THE MISLABELING OF MEAT PRODUCTS IN EUROPE.

HORSE MEAT-SOT VO

We're requiring all manufactures and all retailers to test all of their processed beef products to make sure they are free from contaminants, and to report those findings back to us starting next week."

BANK HEIST-VO WIPE

CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

A MASKED HOLLYWOOD INSPIRED ROBBERY SPREE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE SURVIELLANCE VIDEOS SHOWING BANK HEIST FEATURING A NUN IN A MASK, A GUN IN HAND.

BANK TELLERS IN THE CHICAGO AREA ARE FORCED AT GUNPOINT TO HELP A BOYFRIEND- GIRLFRIEND BANDIT TEAM EMPTY A SAFE

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY NAVAHCIA EDWARDS WAS INSPIRED BY THE BEN AFFLECK HEIST FLICK, THE TOWN.

BANK HEIST-SOT VO

"People will see something in a movie and tend to try to imitate It in real

lifeso it didn't surprise me."

DIRT MEALS-VO

DISHING UP THE DIRT.

THE CHEF AND OWNER OF A FRENCH RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL TOKYO IS SERVING SOIL.

FROM SOIL SOUP TO SOIL SORBET AND SWEET DIRT GRATIN, A SIX-COURSE, SOIL-BASED MEAL COSTS ABOUT 107 DOLLARS.

THE SUPPLIER DELIVERS ABOUT TWO POUNDS OF DIRT TO THE RESTAURANT EVERY DAY.

THE SOIL HAS BEEN PRE-CHECKED FOR HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.

LATE FOR WORK-SS

SO WHAT WAS YOUR EXCUSE THE LAST TIME YOU SHOWED UP FOR WORK LATE?

CAREERBUILDER ASKED EMPLOYERS TO SHARE THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS EXCUSES FROM TARDY EMPLOYEES.

HERE ARE THREE: I DROPPED MY PURSE INTO A COIN-OPERATED NEWSPAPER BOX AND COULDN'T RETRIEVE IT WITHOUT CHANGE, WHICH WAS IN MY PURSE.

MY CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE THE BREATHALYZER SHOWED I WAS INTOXICATED. AND MY ANGRY WIFE FROZE MY TRUCK KEYS IN A GLASS OF WATER IN THE FREEZER.

TEASE FIVE-----

DESPITE RISING FUEL PRICES THERE ARE DEALS TO BE HAD WHEN IT COMES TO AIRLINE TICKETS.

A) SAVING ON AIR FARES-2 SHOT VO

DOG SHOW-NATS TOPS VO

nats of dog running on treadmill

IN NEW YORK CITY FINAL PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY AS DOZENS OF CONTESTANTS AND THEIR HANDLERS GET READY FOR THE 137TH ANNUAL WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW.

SEVERAL OWNERS AND THEIR PRIZED PETS GOT TO MINGLE AT A MANHATTAN HOTEL.WHILE SOME MANAGED TO GET IN A WORKOUT.

SAVING ON AIR FARES-2 SHOT TRAFFIC

WELL FLYING THIS WEEKEND MAY BE QUITE THE CHALLENGE IF YOU'RE HEADED UP NORTH.

BUT WHEN THE WEATHER COOPERATES THERE ARE WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR NEXT FLIGHT.

SAVING ON AIR FARES-PKG

AIRLINE MERGERS CAN MEAN GOOD NEWS FOR CONSUMERS. YOU'LL PROBABLY BE FLYING

ON A NEWER AIRCRAFT

THE BAD NEWSWITH LESS COMPETITIONAIRFARES CAN CLIMB.

GENEVIEVE BROWN SHAW

Just over the last few years airfare has risen as much as 20%.

RISING FARES ARE VERY MUCH ON THE MIND OF THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY TODAYMADELINE

AND HER 3 SONS AND DAUGHTER.HOPING TO FLY FROM HONOLULU TO ONTARIO,

CALIFORNIA FOR A FAMILY REUNION AND LOOKING AT NEARLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS A

TICKET.

NATS: That's too much! Paula help us.

SO WE ASKED ABC NEWS DOT COM'S TRAVEL EXPERT, GENEVIEVE SHAW-BROWNFOR HELP.

FIRST TIPTHE RODRGUEZ FAMILY IS BETTER OFF BUYING TWO TICKETS AND THEN THE

REMAINING THREE TICKETS *SEPARATELY*.

FINDING ALL 5 SEATS TOGETHER CAN COST YOU MORE THE CONVENIENCE OF SITTING

TOGETHER.

Paula Faris: You have to be willing to break up the family potentially.

Genevieve: Right.

TIP #2: WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER THAT IT'S BEST TO FLY ON WEDNESDAY, THE

LEAST POPULAR DAY TO TRAVELBUT, WHEN'S BEST TO BOOK? TURNS OUT IT'S

TUESDAYS AT 3PM

GENEVIEVE SOT:

That's when airlines typically release their sale fares so they tend load

their systems around that time.

TIP #3: NEXT, USE SITES LIKE HIPMUNK.COM AND KAYAK.COMWHICH ALERTS YOU OF

ANY DROPS IN FARE BUT BUY YOUR TICKET DIRECTLY WITH THE AIRLINEOFTEN CHEAPER

THAN A MIDDLE MAN.

G: Airline is paying between 10 and 25 dollars commission /, so it's really

in there best interest to get people to book on their own site. They do it

through promo codes, they offer deals through facebook and twitter

AND, FINALLYBE FLEXIBLE THE RODRIGUEZES WERE LOOKING TO FLY WITH A LAYOVER

TO ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA. WE FOUND THEM A NON-STOP FLIGHT GOING DIRECTLY TO

LOS ANGELES -- JUST 60 MILES AWAY FORALMOST $2,000 LESS.

Madeline nat-Maybe I will be able to make that family reunion. And that's

TOSS TO NOON TEASE-2-SHOT PLASMA

NBC 2 NEWS AT NOON IS NEXT!

NEW AT NOON TEASE-ON CAM AT DESK

THANKS GUYS.

HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT NBC-2 IS STAYING ON TOP OF NEXT AT NOON.

THE NORTHEAST IS BRACING FOR A REAL WALLOP FROM OLD MAN WINTER.

A MAJOR SNOW STORM IS ON ITS WAY --

AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE ITS IMPACTING FLIGHTS.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.NEXT AT NOON.

PLUS.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL --

THE RED SOX EQUIPMENT HAS OFFICIALLY ARRIVED IN FORT MYERS --MARKING THE START OF A VERY EXCITING SPRING TRAINING SEASON!

WE'RE LIVE FROM JET-BLUE PARK WITH ALL THE EXCITEMENT.

WE ALL LOVE A NICE HOT PLATE OF LASAGNA --

BUT YOU MAY NOT WANT TO EAT THIS KIND IF YOU KNEW WHAT WAS ACTUALLY INSIDE OF IT!

THE MYSTERY MEAT THAT KEEPS CAUSING CONTROVERSY.

AND.

DRAMATIC VIDEO OF A WOMAN.SLAMMING INTO A GATE AT THE AIRPORT.

AUTHORITIES ACCUSE HER OF BEING DRUNK BEHIND THE WHEEL -- WITH SOME PRECIOUS CARGO IN THE BACKSEAT.

B) RED SOX TRUCK ARRIVES-VOTOPS

C) HORSE MEAT LASAGNA-VOTOPS

D) MOM DRUNK CRASH AIRPORT-VOTOPS

CLOSE-2-SHOT PLASMA