A) MINDY FUNERAL-VO TOPS

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ARE SAYING THEIR FINAL GOODBYES TO MINDY MCCREADY.

THE FORMER COUNTRY STAR IS BEING LAID TO REST IN FRONT OF HER FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND FANS.

B) WINTER STORM-TRX VO TOPS

ROUND TWO AND THIS STORM IS ABOUT TO DELIVER A KNOCKOUT PUNCH TO MILLIONS OF TRAVELERS.

ALL THIS AS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COULD EXPERIENCE SOME ACTION TOO.

C) DEADLY CHASE-TRX VO TOPS

AND A HIGH SPEED CHASE CAUGHT ON CAMERA TAKES A DEADLY TURN AS POLICE STOP IT IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.

NEWS AT 11:00am OPEN-CLIP

RADAR LOOK-RADAR AND BOXES

OMNIOUS STORMS ARE LURKING TO OUR NORTH AS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON THE RADAR.

A LINE OF STORMS ARE RUNNING THROUGH THE SUNSHINE STATE.

BUT WHAT WILL WE SEE COME THIS AFTERNOON?

FIRST WX-WX CTR

Our stretch of dry weather will come to an end today as a band of rain moves into Southwest Florida this afternoon, signaling the arrival of a cool front that will take a couple days to push all the through.

We'll start the morning with a little patchy fog, but visibility should be much improved compared to the last several mornings. We'll notice some low clouds around early today along with some periods of sunshine, but clouds will be on the increase this afternoon as the cool front comes marching our way.

A broken band of showers will start moving in from the Gulf of Mexico by the mid afternoon, and there might also be a few embedded thunderstorms as well. The good news is this rain will be weakening as it moves in, so we don't anticipate the severe weather threat that areas to our north are experiencing today. As far as rain totals are concerned, most spots should pick up a quarter inch or less.

As we go through the night, some lingering showers will be possible, particularly over southern portions of the viewing area around Collier County. Because the front will take some time before making it all the way through Southwest Florida, clouds and even a few showers will hang around through our Wednesday, keeping daytime highs in the mid to upper 70s.

By Thursday we should notice at least some partial clearing as the cool air starts filtering in. Highs Thursday should only reach the mid 70s after starting with lows in the mid 50s. Friday will be a few points cooler with highs only climbing into the low 70s.

By the weekend, our weather really starts to get chilly. Highs Saturday and Sunday will likely only reach the 60s, and overnight temperatures will fall into the 40s. What's more, clouds and a few showers might even keep our weather a bit cooler Saturday through early Sunday before we see more sunshine by Sunday afternoon. Models are even hinting at temperatures as low as the low 40s and 30s by Monday morning!

TOSS TO ANCHOR-NATS TOPS VO TRX

nats of whipping winds

ITS BEING CALLED ROUND TWO.

THE SECOND WINTER BLAST IN A WEEK IS TAKING AIM ON THE HEARTLAND AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TAKING ANY PRISONERS.

THESE ARE THE SCENES ACROSS THE MIDWEST THIS MORNING.

WINTER STORM-VO IN TRAFFIC

A DEADLY WINTER STORM IS MOVING FROM TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA THROUGH THE

MIDWEST AND UP TO NEW ENGLAND.

THIS IS THE SCENE EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS KANSAS.

THE NATIONAL GUARD THERE HAS BEEN CALLED OUT.

WINTER STORM-PKG

A FEROCIOUS BLIZZARD BURIED THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES UNDER MORE

THAN A FOOT OF SNOW.

IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, 19 INCHES OF SNOW FELL, BLOWN BY GUSTS OF UP TO 77 MPH.

MOS - Amarillo, TX

"see what it's like so far. here we go."

IT'S A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

SO MANY DRIVERS WERE STRANDED THE NATIONAL GUARD HAD TO BE CALLED IN.

IN OKLAHOMA, WHITEOUT CONDITIONS CLOSED ALL HIGHWAYS IN THE PANHANDLE.

IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, I-40 WAS SHUTDOWN, FORCING TRUCK DRIVERS TO WAIT

OUT THE CONDITIONS.

MOS Daniel Barefoot, Driver in New Mexico

"it costs money to sit still and it costs money to run that thing empty, you

know as far as fuel. so hopefully they get it cleared up."

THE MONSTER STORM EVEN BROUGHT HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.

NATS - wall falls off side of bldg in Austin, TX

LOOK AT THIS BUILDING IN NORTH TEXAS. THE WINDS THERE SO FEROCIOUS IT PEELED

BRICKS FROM THE SIDE OF A BUILDING.

mos rosemary frazier in austin, tx

"it sounded like someone had run into the building and it was falling apart.

"

TODAY THE STORM IS HEADED FURTHER NORTHEAST ALTHOUGH THE HEAVIEST SNOW

IS FORECAST FOR THE MIDWEST.

FROM OKLAHOMA TO MAINE, 19 STATES ARE UNDER STORM WATCHES AND WARNINGS

.

KANSAS -- WHICH BARELY RECOVERED FROM LAST WEEK'S MONSTER STORM -- IS

BRACING FOR EVEN MORE PUNISHMENT.

MOS Elton Horne, City Maintenance Coordinator, Williamsburg, KS

"we've had a nice winter so far and now the last two weeks here, it's like

gee."

NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHICH ALREADY HAS A FOOT ON THE GROUND, IS GEARING UP.

MOS Ashley Mayo, Deerfield, NH

"this is crazy, i don't like the winter."

TODAY, THERE'S WORRY ABOUT MORE THAN SNOW. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND

WINTER STORM-TRAFFIC MITTO

THE BIGGEST TRAVEL HEADACHE FOR THE COUNTRY APPEARS TO BE CHICAGO WHERE HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS THERE ARE BEING CANCELLED.

TAKING A LOOK AT FLIGHTS HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.ADLIB.

AS ALWAYS ITS BEST TO CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINES BEFORE HEADING OUT.

NY STOCK EXCHANGE OPEN-TRX SAT LIVE

stocks appear to be rebounding on Wall Street after steep declines yesterday.

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

SWFL JOB FAIR-CG

NEW AT ELEVEN.

A JOB FAIR IS TAKING PLACE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WORKS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY IS HOLDING A JOB FAIR TODAY RIGHT NOW UNTIL ONE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE JOB FAIR IS FOR CONSTRUCTION JOBS.

EMPLOYEES EXPECT TO HIRE 38 PEOPLE INITIALLY, 100 PEOPLE WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS AND 200- TO 00 LONG-TERM

TOSS TO CLIFTON-OC 2 SOTS VO

THANKS TO THIS ARGUMENT.YOU COULD SEE PROBLEMS AT AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

These cuts do not have to happen. Congress can turn them off any time

"I think that the president needs to stop trying to scare the American people

WASHINGTON CAN'T AGREE TO STOP LOOMING BUDGET CUTS AND THAT COULD WREAK HAVOC WITH YOUR TRAVEL PLANS.

AIRPORT BUDGET-REM LIVE

AIRPORT BUDGET-VO

TO START, THE FAA WILL BE CLOSING DOWN 100 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTERS, INCLUDING PUNTA GORDA, PAGE FIELD AND NAPLES MUNICIPAL.

THE FAA WILL ALSO FURLOUGH THE MAJORITY OF ITS EMPLOYEES ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS.

AIRPORT BUDGET-2 SOTS VO

Larry Fogerson, Part-time resident "I'm not in favor of those cuts, in fact I think it's a man made crisis to forward a political agenda."

AIRPORT BUDGET-REM LIVE

ACCORDING TO THE FAA, DELAYS AT LARGER AIRPORTS LIKE CHICAGO OHARE COULD AVERAGE ABOUT 90 MINUTES.

SOMETHING THAT WOULD TRICKLE DOWN TO SMALLER AIRPORTS LIKE RSW HERE.

THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT THE FAA WOULDN'T START IMPLEMENTING THOSE CHANGES UNTIL APRIL, GIVING WASHINGTON MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION.

BULLET HOLES IN CAPE-OC SOT VO WIPE

A CAPE CORAL WOMAN SAYS HER KIDS AND GRANDKIDS WERE SOUND ASLEEP WHEN SOMEONE STARTED SHOOTING INTO HER HOME.

Sot: 00:31 "Cleaning out my refrigerator I was sitting on a little chair and there was a bullet hole."

NOEL CALL WAS ASLEEP AT THE TIME ALONG WITH HER KIDS AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN INSIDE THIS SOUTHWEST TENTH STREET HOME.

SHE TELLS NBC2 SHE WOKE UP ONCE FROM A LOUD NOISE.SHE THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD FALLEN OFF THE BED…ONLY TO LATER REALIZE SOMEONE HAD SHOT AT HER HOUSE.

BULLET HOLES IN CAPE-SOT VO

00:51 " I really don't understand this I could see if may be myself of anyone was involved in some shady lifestyle but that's not the case"

POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE SHOOTER.

FCATS WRITING-OC-BNR

YOUR CHILD MAY BE WORKING A LITTLE HARDER TODAY.

MANY PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN OUR AREA ARE GETTING READY FOR TODAY'S FCAT WRITING TEST.

THE TEST IS FOR 4TH, 8TH AND 10TH GRADERS.

THERE ARE INCREASED SCORING EXPECTATIONS AND BECAUSE OF THAT - STUDENTS WILL GET MORE TIME - 60 MINUTES, INSTEAD OF 45.

FL EXECUTION TONIGHT-2 SS

A MAN WHO MURDERED A FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER GETS HIS EXECUTION DELAYED.

PAUL HOWELL WAS SET TO DIE BY LETHAL INJECTION TODAY IN STARKE.

HOWEVER, A FEDERAL COURT IS CONSIDERING A LAST-DITCH APPEAL.

HE WAS CONVICTED OF MURDERING TROOPER JIMMY FULFORD IN 1992 IN NORTH FLORIDA.

HOWELL HIRED A DRIVER TO DELIVER A GIFT-WRAPPED MICROWAVE OVEN WITH THE PIPE BOMB INSIDE TO TWO MARIANNA WOMEN.

FULFORD STOPPED THE DRIVER FOR SPEEDING EAST OF TALLAHASSEE.

SPRING TRAINING TODAY-SS

TWO OF OUR THREE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS ARE IN SPRING TRAINING ACTION HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE TAMPA BAY RAYS TAKE ON THE HOUSTON ASTROS THIS AFTERNOON IN PORT CHARLOTTE.

THE MINNESOTA TWINS WILL BE HEADED UP NORTH TO TAKE ON THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

TEASE ONE----

A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT COMES TO A SCREECHING HALT.

nats of pit manuever

A TEENAGE WOMAN SUSPECTED OF GOING ON A DRUNKEN RAMPAGE.IT MUST BE THE B BLOCK.

WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A WILD RIDE TO SHOW YOU WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS RAMPAGE.

nats of girl yelling at judge and giving him the finger

A) TROOPER HIT-2 SHOT NATS VO

B) JUDGE FLIPPED OFF-NATS TOPS VO

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.

Our stretch of dry weather will come to an end today as a band of rain moves into Southwest Florida this afternoon, signaling the arrival of a cool front that will take a couple days to push all the through.

We'll start the morning with a little patchy fog, but visibility should be much improved compared to the last several mornings. We'll notice some low clouds around early today along with some periods of sunshine, but clouds will be on the increase this afternoon as the cool front comes marching our way.

A broken band of showers will start moving in from the Gulf of Mexico by the mid afternoon, and there might also be a few embedded thunderstorms as well. The good news is this rain will be weakening as it moves in, so we don't anticipate the severe weather threat that areas to our north are experiencing today. As far as rain totals are concerned, most spots should pick up a quarter inch or less.

As we go through the night, some lingering showers will be possible, particularly over southern portions of the viewing area around Collier County. Because the front will take some time before making it all the way through Southwest Florida, clouds and even a few showers will hang around through our Wednesday, keeping daytime highs in the mid to upper 70s.

By Thursday we should notice at least some partial clearing as the cool air starts filtering in. Highs Thursday should only reach the mid 70s after starting with lows in the mid 50s. Friday will be a few points cooler with highs only climbing into the low 70s.

By the weekend, our weather really starts to get chilly. Highs Saturday and Sunday will likely only reach the 60s, and overnight temperatures will fall into the 40s. What's more, clouds and a few showers might even keep our weather a bit cooler Saturday through early Sunday before we see more sunshine by Sunday afternoon. Models are even hinting at temperatures as low as the low 40s and 30s by Monday morning!

TOSS TO DANIELLE-VO BOXES

A FORMER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA LEGEND BEING LAID TO REST IN HER HOME TOWN.

THE FUNERAL FOR MINDY MCCREADY IS TAKING PLACE THIS AFTERNOON.

MINDY FUNERAL-REM LIVE

WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

THEN.NBC2 HAS LEARNED THE FAMILY WILL OPEN TODAY'S FUNERAL SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

MINDY FUNERAL-VO SS

CLOSE TO ONE THOUSAND FRIENDS, FANS AND LOVED ONES ARE EXPECTED TO COME OUT THIS AFTERNOON FOR MINDY MCCREADY.

INVESTIGATORS SAY MINDY DIED OF SUICIDE ON THE FRONT PORCH OF HER HOME IN ARKANSAS ON FEBRUARY 17th.THE SAME PLACE HER BOYFRIEND SHOT HIMSELF TO DEATH A MONTH BEFORE.

MCREADY WAS MORE THAN A SINGER.SHE WAS A MOTHER OF TWO BOYS, 6 YEAR OLD ZANDER AND 10 MONTH OLD ZANYNE.

MINDY FUNERAL-SOT

MINDY FUNERAL-REM LIVE

IM TOLD 100 FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE HERE TODAY.

THE FAMILY IS NOT RELEASING WHERE OR WHEN THE BURIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD.

TROOPER HIT-NATS TOPS VO

nats of trooper's car spinning out vehicle

CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

TAKE A LOOK.AN 18-YEAR-OLD FLORIDA WOMAN WAS ARRESTED NEAR ORLANDO ACCUSED OF HITTING A TROOPER AND THEN DRIVING AWAY.

THIS IS VIDEO OF OFFICER SPINNING OUT HER CAR IN A PIT MANUEVER TO MAKE THE ARREST.

TROOPER HIT-SOT VO

Nats. "Can you explain to me what I did wrong?? You crashed into a trooper and you left the scene, yes, but I couldn't stop because the car in front of me stopped. Doesn't matter you can't hit a a trooper and leave."

JUDGE FLIPPED OFF FOLLOW-SS VO IN PLASMA

WE HAVE MORE INTENSE VIDEOS COMING YOUR WAY IN THE B BLOCK AT ELEVEN.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THIS FACE AND FINGER.A young lady FACED A JUDGE IN MIAMI ONLY TO FLIP HIM THE BIRD.

WELL NOW SHE FACED ANOTHER JUDGE THIS WEEK.

JUDGE FLIPPED OFF FOLLOW-PKG

A woman who flipped off a judge and later apologized appeared in court for

an update on her progress in a drug rehabilitation program.

Penelope Soto appeared in drug court with her family and her attorney on

Monday. The judge congratulated the soft-spoken 18-year-old on her progress.

"You are supposed to be doing as many drug tests at the moment as NAs , so you will have to pick those up," said the

judge, "but eight out of eight, perfect, that's very good, congratulations."

On Feb. 4, Soto appeared before Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat after

she was arrested of possession of a controlled substance. He doubled her

bond when she laughed, then gave her 30 days in jail when she made the

gesture with her middle finger.

Soto later apologized, saying she was high on Xanax at the time. Rodriguez-

Chomat dropped the charge and let her go home.

Per her release from jail on the possession of a controlled substance charge

, Soto must participate in a drug rehabilitation program for at least one

year. The program consists of drug tests, counseling, and narcotics

anonymous sessions.

An official with the drug rehabilitation program said Soto's family was very

involved in her treatment.

"Your smiling now which I didn't see before. I wish you well in the program.

Congratulations again," said the judge.

If Soto completes the drug rehabilitation program, her charges could be

JUDGE FLIPPED OFF FOLLOW-ONCAM

TAMIKA BICKHAM REPORTING.

FISH TANK SMASH-VO TOPS

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO.

MASSACHUSETTS POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A MAN WHO BROKE INTO A PET SHOP AND APPARENTLY PURPOSELY SMASHED A FISH TANK.

YOU CAN SEE HIM USING WHAT LOOKS LIKE A PIPE TO BREAK A 180-GALLON REEF TANK.

DOZENS OF FISH WERE KILLED IN THE BREAK-IN.

DEADLY CHASE-TRX VO TOPS

A HIGH SPEED CHASE COMES TO A DEADLY END IN UTAH.

YOU CAN SEE THE WILD SCENE UNFOLD BEFORE A HELICOPTER CREW.

POLICE CHASED A BLACK PICKUP TRUCK AT SPEEDS UP TO 110 MILES AN HOUR.

THE VEHICLE'S TIRES WERE SPIKED, AUTHORITIES THEN PERFORMED A PIT MANEUVER AND WERE ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO SPIN OUT. THAT'S WHEN POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT ENGAGED THEN IN A STANDOFF.

OFFICERS SHOT THE MAN SEVERAL TIMES, KILLING HIM.

NJ STREET RACING-TRX VO TOPS

MORE MUST SEE VIDEO IN OUR B BLOCK.

MAJOR ROADWAYS IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY ARE TAKEN OVER BY ILLEGAL STREET RACERS.

YOU CAN SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERING ALONG HIGHWAYS AROUND THE NEWARK AIRPORT.

AS QUICKLY AS IT BEGINS. IT ENDS.

LOOK AT EVERYONE RUSH BACK TO THEIR OWN CARS.

TEASE TWO-----

SOME PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH THIS DECISION.PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION OR RENT?

PF: Is this something that could ruin you financially?

Cari: Absolutely. We're worried about losing our home

A) DRUG SAVINGS-2 SHOT SOT VO

DRUG SAVINGS-CHROMA

MILLIONS OF US FACE STICKER SHOCK WHEN WE PAY FOR OUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.

TO PAY FOR THEM, ABOUT A THIRD OF US WILL CUT BACK ON ENTERTAINMENT, DINING OUT, EVEN GROCERIES.

DRUG SAVINGS-PKG

CARI AND ANDREW FROM LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA ARE LIVING ON THE EDGE.

PF: Is this something that could ruin you financially?

Cari: Absolutely. We're worried about losing our home.

LIKE SO MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES, THEY NEED AND PAY FOR SEVERAL PRESCRIPTION

EVERY MONTH. LIKE HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE.

PLUS, CARI HAS CROHN'S DISEASE - AND GETS MONTHLY INFUSIONS. THEIR SON,

JARED, IS ON A GROWTH HORMONE.

THEN, THEIR WORST NIGHTMARE.

SUDDENLY, THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD THEM THEY WON'T COVER ALL OF IT. NOW

THEY'RE FACING A $20,000 DOLLAR BILL EVERY MONTH.

PF: Are you guys afraid right now?

Cari and Andrew: Yes. Yeah.

SO WE BROUGHT IN MICHELLE KATZA HEALTH CARE ADVOCATE.

TIP #1. CHECK YOUR BILL - LIKE YOU DO AT A RESTAURANT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT

- THERE ARE CODES FOR YOUR DRUGS. AND OFTEN THEY GET THEM WRONG. WE FOUND

ONE OF THOSE WRONG CODES-fixed itAND IMMEDIATELY SAVED THEM $1,200 DOLLARS.

TIP #2 ARM YOURSELF WITH THIS APP. CALLED LOW RX. AND HERE'S WHY.

DID YOU KNOW DRUG PRICES FLUCTUATE LIKE GAS PRICES?

PF: Different pharmacies can charge different prices for the same drug?

MK: Right.

THE APP TELLS YOU THE AVERAGE PRICE OF YOUR DRUG, INCLUDING GENERICS. THEN

ARMS YOU WITH THE ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF EVERY PHARMACY IN YOUR AREA.

WE FOUND ONE OF CARI'S DRUGS$100 DOLLARS CHEAPER.AT COSTCO.

WHICH BRINGS US TO TIP #3 EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER, YOU CAN *STILL*

FILL PRESCRIPTIONS AT THOSE BIG WHOLESALERS

PF: If I'm not a member, I can still have my prescription filled here? No

questions asked?

Paul: that's correct.

PF: and that's by law?

Paul: Yes.

TIP #4. NEGOTIATE IT TURNS OUT, IF YOU GO TO THOSE SMALL MOM AND POP

TEASE THREE-------

TERROR FROM THE GRAND STANDS.

These people really serious. Sprint Tower, Section Zero, Row 30. We need help, bigtime quick.

NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HEAR FROM THE NASCAR FANS WHO BARELY ESCAPED FLYING CAR PARTS TO CALL 9-1-1 BEGGING FOR HELP FOR FELLOW RACE FANS.

PLUS SHE WAS ON OF THE BEST STORIES OF THE ACADAEMY AWARDS.

A) NASCAR 911-2 SHOT SOT VO

B) ONION APOLOGY-VOTOPS

NEWS AT 11:30am OPEN-CLIP

RADAR LOOK-RADAR TOPS 2 SHOT

IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE.STORMS CONTINUE TO SWEEP THROUGH FLORIDA.

BUT WHAT CAN WE SEE HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN THE COMING HOURS?

WE'RE TRACKING RAIN AND CHANGES COMING TO OUR TEMPERATURES.

FIRST WX-WX CTR

Our stretch of dry weather will come to an end today as a band of rain moves into Southwest Florida this afternoon, signaling the arrival of a cool front that will take a couple days to push all the through.

We'll start the morning with a little patchy fog, but visibility should be much improved compared to the last several mornings. We'll notice some low clouds around early today along with some periods of sunshine, but clouds will be on the increase this afternoon as the cool front comes marching our way.

A broken band of showers will start moving in from the Gulf of Mexico by the mid afternoon, and there might also be a few embedded thunderstorms as well. The good news is this rain will be weakening as it moves in, so we don't anticipate the severe weather threat that areas to our north are experiencing today. As far as rain totals are concerned, most spots should pick up a quarter inch or less.

As we go through the night, some lingering showers will be possible, particularly over southern portions of the viewing area around Collier County. Because the front will take some time before making it all the way through Southwest Florida, clouds and even a few showers will hang around through our Wednesday, keeping daytime highs in the mid to upper 70s.

By Thursday we should notice at least some partial clearing as the cool air starts filtering in. Highs Thursday should only reach the mid 70s after starting with lows in the mid 50s. Friday will be a few points cooler with highs only climbing into the low 70s.

By the weekend, our weather really starts to get chilly. Highs Saturday and Sunday will likely only reach the 60s, and overnight temperatures will fall into the 40s. What's more, clouds and a few showers might even keep our weather a bit cooler Saturday through early Sunday before we see more sunshine by Sunday afternoon. Models are even hinting at temperatures as low as the low 40s and 30s by Monday morning!

STAND YOUR GROUND-2 SHOT

TODAY MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF FLORIDA TEEN TRAYVON MARTIN'S DEATH.

HE WAS SHOT BY GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, WHO CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE.

STAND YOUR GROUND-PKG

nats

ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE KILLING OF UNARMED FLORIDA TEEN TRAYVON MARTIN THAT SPARKED PROTESTS AND RALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY -

nats

THERE IS NOW A RENEWED FIGHT OVER THE CONTROVERSIAL STAND YOUR GROUND LAW, THAT COULD MAKE HIS KILLER, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN - A FREE MAN - ONCE AGAIN.

"Can you start a fight, lose the fight and then claim stand your ground?"

MICHAEL SKOLNIK, OF THE TRAYVON MARTIN FOUNDATION BELIEVES STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS ARE INEFFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPEALED.

"It promotes vigilantism. It promotes the idea that you go out there and you take care of the situation and don't listen to police - don't listen to law enforcement."

LATE LAST WEEK, A TASK FORCE COMMISSIONED BY FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PUBLIC OUTCRY RETURNED ITS FINAL REPORT, SUPPORTING THE LAW. IT ASSERTS ". ALL PERSONS WHO ARE CONDUCTING THEMSELVES IN A LAWFUL MANNER HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO STAND THEIR GROUND AND DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM ATTACK."

"All Stand your Ground is, is a form of the self-defense defense, but it gives the defendant a lot more ability to use self defense because self defense is so broadly defined in Stand Your Ground."

"You can do away with the statue and just look to common law."

ZIMMERMAN'S LEGAL TEAM, LED BY ATTORNEY MARK O'MARA, HAS SIGNALED THEY'LL ARGUE NOT THE CONTROVERSIAL STAND YOUR GROUND BUT BASIC SELF DEFENSE.

"He was allowed to do exactly what he did which was, be in reasonably fear of great bodily injury and resist with deadly force."

WEEKS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED START OF THAT "STAND YOUR GROUND" HEARING, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING SEVERAL COMPETING BILLS, RANGING FROM INCREMENTAL CHANGES TO STAND YOUR GROUND TO FULL REPEAL. SOMETHING SKOLNIK ACKNOWLEDGES WILL NOT BE EASY.

"We're in for the fight. We know that when America changes, we have difficult growing pains. These are difficult growing pains."

WTC ANNY-VO

IN A LITTLE LESS THAN AN HOUR A CEREMONY WILL BE HELD TO MARK THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

ITS TO HONOR THE SIX PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THE 1993 BLAST IN A GARAGE BELOW ONE OF THE TWIN TOWERS.

MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE INJURED.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE WILL BE OBSERVED AT 12:18 - THE MOMENT WHEN A TRUCK BOMB WAS DETONATED.

BALLOON CRASH-VO

A HOT AIR BALLOON CARRYING TOURISTS CRASHED IN EGYPT THIS MORNING AFTER EXPLODING IN MID AIR.

INVESTIGATORS SAY 19 ASIAN AND EUROPEAN TOURISTS WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH.

THE DEAD WERE FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, JAPAN AND HONG KONG.

ONE TOURIST AND THE PILOT REPORTEDLY SURVIVED.

ECON SURVEY-SS

EXPERTS NOW SAY THE BIGGEST DRAG ON THE ECONOMY IS THE CONTINUED BUDGET IMPASSE IN WASHINGTON, NOT THE SLOW PACE OF CONSUMER SPENDING.

THATS ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY.

TWENTY-THREE OF THE 37 ECONOMISTS SAY THE BUDGET STALEMATE IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN SLOWING THE ECONOMY. T

GUN CONTROL THIS WEEK-ONCAM

THE DEBATE OVER GUN CONTROL IS HEADED FOR THE SENATE.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE COULD BEGIN CONSIDERING FOUR GUN CONTROL BILLS AS SOON AS THURSDAY.

THE LEGISLATION INCLUDES PROPOSALS TO BAN MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS, CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL GUN TRAFFICKING, AND IMPROVE SCHOOL SECURITY.

RIGHT TO BE STUPID-OC SOT OC

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYS THAT AMERICANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE STUPID.

KERRY MADE THE COMMENT WHILE DISCUSSING FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND TOLERANCE IN AMERICA TO A GROUP OF GERMAN STUDENTS THIS MORNING.

In America you have the right to be stupid, if you want to be, and you have the right to be disconnected to somebody else if you want to be. And we tolerate it and somehow we make it through that. Now I think that's a virtue. I think that's something worth it fighting for."

CHRISTIE NOT INVITED-ONCAM

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE ISN'T BEING INVITED TO THE CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE.

THATS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT.

SOME CONSERVATIVES HAVE CRITICIZED CHRISTIE FOR PRAISING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RESPONSE TO SUPERSTORM SANDY DAYS BEFORE LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

THE OUTSPOKEN GOVERNOR LATER SLAMMED LAWMAKERS FROM HIS OWN PARTY FOR DELAYING EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR SANDY VICTIMS.

NASCAR 911 CRASH-OC SOT VO

WE ARE NOW HEARING SOME OF THE 9-1-1 CALLS FROM NASCAR FANS WHO WITNESSED THAT HORRIFIC CRASH AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY OVER THE WEEKEND.

Yeah, listen we're in Section Zero. Section O. There's two seriously injured people here, okay. They've been calling for paramedics and nobody's shown up.

Okay.

Okay this is from the crash. These people really serious. Sprint Tower, Section Zero, Row 30. We need help, bigtime quick.

Okay, they're on their way sir.'

Okay, thank you very much. Bye.

THE CRASH INJURED AT LEAST 28-SPECTATORS, SEVERAL CRITICALLY.

TOYOTA PRIUS-VO

AN AUTOMOTIVE LAB IN VIRGINIA IS NOW URGING FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATORS TO INVESTIGATE THE TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER A COMPLAINT THAT THE STEERING CAN FAIL.

NEW DOCUMENTS CLAIM, THE CAR OWNER HAD COMPLAINED HE HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND THE STEERING FAILED ON HIS 2005 PRIUS.

NO CRASHES OR INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

A PROBE COULD AFFECT ABOUT 561-THOUSAND OF THE GAS-ELECTRIC HYBRIDS FROM THE 2004 THROUGH 2009 MODEL YEARS.

MISSING AMERICAN COUPLE-VO

AUTHORITIES IN PERU HAVE LAUNCHED A SEARCH FOR A CALIFORNIA COUPLE REPORTED MISSING WHILE ON A BIKING TRIP THROUGH THE COUNTRY.

THE FAMILIES OF GARRETT HAND AND JAMIE NEAL SAID THEY LAST HEARD FROM THE PAIR ON JANUARY 25TH.

SECURITY CAMERA IMAGES FROM A BUS COMPANY APPEAR TO SHOW THEM WAITING TO BOARD THE BUS.

BOTH OF THEM ARE 25 AND FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

ONION APOLOGY-VO 2 SS

THE ONION IS APOLOGIZING FOR CALLING THE 9-YEAR-OLD STAR OF "BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD" A VULGAR AND OFFENSIVE NAME ON TWITTER.

THE SATIRICAL NEWSPAPER ON SUNDAY REFERRED QUVENZHANE WALLIS WITH AN EXPLETIVE INTENDED TO DENIGRATE WOMEN.

THE COMPANY TOOK TO FACEBOOK TO APOLOGIZE.IN PART SAYING, "NO PERSON SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO SUCH A SENSELESS, HUMORLESS COMMENT MASQUERADING AS SATIRE."

THE APOLOGY ALSO GOES ON TO SAY,"MISS WALLIS, YOU ARE YOUNG AND TALENTED AND DESERVE BETTER. ALL OF US AT THE ONION ARE DEEPLY SORRY."

RUSSIA METEOR-VO

MORE FRAGMENTS OF THE METEORITE THAT STREAKED ACROSS THE SKIES OVER RUSSIA HAVE BEEN FOUND.

THE LARGEST CHUNK TIPPED THE SCALE AT NEARLY FOUR POUNDS.

IT WAS ONE OF DOZENS OF FRAGMENTS FOUND BY A SKI TEAM.

THE METEORITE FELL TO EARTH ON FEBRUARY 15TH, LEAVING BEHIND A TRAIL OF SMOKE AS IT RACED THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.

TEASE FOUR----

IF YOU LIKE TO DOWNLOAD VIDEOS OR MUSIC FROM HOME.LISTEN UP YOU MAY BE WATCHED MORE CLOSELY.

THE NEW MOVE THAT SOME INTERNET COMPANIES ARE DOING TO MAKESURE YOU'RE STAYING WITHIN THE LAW.

PLUS.

"They were run into trees. They were beaten. They played Russian Roulette with them. They stood them up in mock firing squads."

YOU'VE HEARD OF THE SIX AMERICANS WHO WERE RESCUED DEPICTED IN THE FILM ARGO.

B) ARGO MONEY-SOT VO

ARGO MONEY-PLASMA

NEWLY-CROWNED OSCAR WINNER "ARGO" IS THE STORY OF A MISSION TO RESCUE SIX AMERICANS DURING THE IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS.

BUT 52 OTHER AMERICANS ENDURED MORE THAN A YEAR IN CAPTIVITY -- AND FOR SOME OF THEM THE STORY STILL IS NOT OVER.

ARGO MONEY-PKG

IT'S NOW CELEBRATED AS THE STUFF OF MOVIE LEGEND-- DEPICTED IN THE BEST-PICTURE OSCAR-WINNING MOVIE 'ARGO'.

A RISKY SCHEME TO GET SIX AMERICANS, PRETENDING TO BE A CANADIAN FILM CREW, OUT OF POST-REVOLUTION IRAN.

"The only way out is the airport. You build them new cover identities, send in a Moses, he takes them out on a commercial flight."

BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKED FOR STEVEN LAUTERBACH, THIS IS WHAT THAT BLIGHTED PERIOD OF AMERICAN HISTORY WAS LIKE FOR HIM.

"I had a drinking glass which was- a glass, it had the embassy seal on it. I broke it and I slashed both wrists."

LAUTERBACH WAS ONE OF 52 AMERICANS WHO NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO ESCAPE.

THEY WERE HELD HOSTAGE FOR 444 DAYS BY THE IRANIAN REGIME, INSIDE THE U-S EMBASSY AND AT IRAN'S MOST NOTORIOUS PRISONS.

LAUTERBACH SAYS HE SLIT HIS WRISTS TO TRY TO GET OUT OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

IT WORKED. BUT SINCE HE AND THE OTHER HOSTAGES WERE RELEASED IN JANUARY 1981, LAUTERBACH'S HAD OTHER PROBLEMS.

BRIAN: "What have you gone through?"

LAUTERBACH: "It's never really behind you. I've had various nightmares. In my most frequent nightmare, somehow the agreement has been abrogated and we were going back into captivity. I get feelings of panic and sort of claustrophobia sometimes."

LAUTERBACH AND OTHER FORMER HOSTAGES had sought COMPENSATION FROM IRAN FOR THEIR ORDEAL. A LITTLE OVER 4-MILLION DOLLARS EACH.

"They were run into trees. They were beaten. They played Russian Roulette with them. They stood them up in mock firing squads."

"FOR YEARS, THE HOSTAGES TRIED TO SUE THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT. BUT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE ALGIERS ACCORDS-- THE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE U-S AND IRAN WHICH GOT THEM RELEASED-- THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRIED TO HELP- BUT COULD NEVER GET U-S COURTS OR THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO AGREE TO MOVE AROUND THE ACCORDS, EVEN THOUGH THE HOSTAGES CONTEND, THAT DEAL WAS MADE WITH A GUN TO AMERICA'S HEAD."

NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO GET MONEY FROM FINES COLLECTED FROM COMPANIES THAT VIOLATE THE TRADE EMBARGO AGAINST IRAN.

FORMER HOSTAGE PHIL WARD, WHO WAS A C-I-A AGENT IN TEHRAN IN 1979, WON'T SEE ANY OF IT.

"He became alcoholic. He became estranged from his community and even his family. And on October 22nd, he took his own life."

ATTORNEY TOM LANKFORD'S TRYING TO GET COMPENSATION FOR WARD'S RELATIVES.

HE POINTS OUT- OTHER AMERICANS WHO WERE HELD HOSTAGE UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES DID WIN REPARATIONS FROM IRAN-- LIKE TERRY ANDERSON, WHO WAS HELD FOR SEVERAL YEARS BY IRAN'S PROXY IN LEBANON, HEZBOLLAH.

5 FT SNOW DRIFTS-VO TOPS

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SCENES LIKE THIS.WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS IS FROM?

YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOMEONE'S HOME IN TEXAS.

YES DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS SOMEONE CAPTURED FIVE FOOT SNOW DRIFTS COVERING THE FRONT OF THEIR HOME.

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.

Our stretch of dry weather will come to an end today as a band of rain moves into Southwest Florida this afternoon, signaling the arrival of a cool front that will take a couple days to push all the through.

We'll start the morning with a little patchy fog, but visibility should be much improved compared to the last several mornings. We'll notice some low clouds around early today along with some periods of sunshine, but clouds will be on the increase this afternoon as the cool front comes marching our way.

A broken band of showers will start moving in from the Gulf of Mexico by the mid afternoon, and there might also be a few embedded thunderstorms as well. The good news is this rain will be weakening as it moves in, so we don't anticipate the severe weather threat that areas to our north are experiencing today. As far as rain totals are concerned, most spots should pick up a quarter inch or less.

As we go through the night, some lingering showers will be possible, particularly over southern portions of the viewing area around Collier County. Because the front will take some time before making it all the way through Southwest Florida, clouds and even a few showers will hang around through our Wednesday, keeping daytime highs in the mid to upper 70s.

By Thursday we should notice at least some partial clearing as the cool air starts filtering in. Highs Thursday should only reach the mid 70s after starting with lows in the mid 50s. Friday will be a few points cooler with highs only climbing into the low 70s.

By the weekend, our weather really starts to get chilly. Highs Saturday and Sunday will likely only reach the 60s, and overnight temperatures will fall into the 40s. What's more, clouds and a few showers might even keep our weather a bit cooler Saturday through early Sunday before we see more sunshine by Sunday afternoon. Models are even hinting at temperatures as low as the low 40s and 30s by Monday morning!

OH SCHOOL SHOOTING-VO

AN OHIO TEEN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING THREE CLASSMATES IN A HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA PLANS TO PLEAD GUILTY TODAY.

AN ATTORNEY FOR 18-YEAR-OLD T.J. LANE WON'T SPECULATE ON THE DETAILS OF A PLEA DEAL.

INTERNET PIRACY-ONCAM

INTERNET USERS WHO ARE ILLEGALLY SHARING MUSIC, MOVIES OR TELEVISION SHOWS ARE GOING TO START TO RECEIVE WARNING NOTICES FROM THE NATION'S FIVE MAJOR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS.

THE COPYRIGHT ALERT SYSTEM WILL PROMPT AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO NOTIFY A CUSTOMER WHOSE INTERNET ADDRESS HAS BEEN DETECTED SHARING FILES ILLEGALLY.

JACKSON LAWSUIT-VO

A JUDGE HAS TENTATIVELY RULED A LAWSUIT ACCUSING A CONCERT PROMOTER OF CONTRIBUTING TO MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH CAN GO TO TRIAL.

THE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY JACKSON'S THREE CHILDREN AND HIS MOTHER, AGAINST HIS CONCERT PROMOTER A-E-G LIVE.

THE JUDGE HAS ORDERED DOCTOR CONRAD MURRAY TO MEET WITH JACKSON LAWYERS NEXT MONTH FOR A DEPOSITION.

MURRAY WAS CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN JACKSON'S 2009 DEATH.

RODMAN IN NORTH KOREA-VO WIPE

AN EYE OPENING VISIT.

FORMER N-B-A STAR DENNIS RODMAN IS IN NORTH KOREA ALONG WITH THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS.

NORTH KOREA DICTATOR KIM JONG UN IS SAID TO BE A HUGE BASKETBALL FAN.

RODMAN IN NORTH KOREA-SOT VO

"It's my first time, I think it's most of these guys' first time here, so hopefully everything's going to be OK , and hoping the kids have a good time for the game."

HOLLYWOOD MINUTE-ON CAM

JANET JACKSON, CHRISTINA APPLEGATE AND ANDY SAMBERG ALL UPDATE THEIR RELATIONSHIP STATUSES, WHILE LINDSAY LOHAN FALLS FOR CHARLIE SHEEN.ON SCREEN, THAT IS.

HOLLYWOOD MINUTE-PKG

MS. JACKSON IS NOW A MRS.

A REP FOR JANET JACKSON CONFIRMS SHE IS MARRIED TO BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN WISSAM AL MANA.

IN A JOINT STATEMENT TO "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY" THE COUPLE SAID THEY EXCHANGED VOWS LAST YEAR IN A QUIET, PRIVATE CEREMONY.

THE STATEMENT WAS IN RESPONSE TO RUMORS THAT THE TWO WERE PLANNING AN EXTRAVAGANT WEDDING.

THEY SAID THEIR WEDDING GIFTS TO EACH OTHER WERE DONATIONS TO FAVORITE CHARITIES.

THIS IS JACKSON'S THIRD MARRIAGE.

LOVE IS CERTAINLY IN THE AIR IN HOLLYWOOD.

ACTRESS CHRISTINA APPLEGATE AND MUSICIAN MARTYN LENOBLE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE AT A PRIVATE CEREMONY OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE PAIR HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TOGETHER.

AND ANDY SAMBERG IS PLANNING HIS OWN NUPTIALS.

A REP FOR THE FORMER "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" STAR CONFIRMS HE'S ENGAGED TO HIS GIRLFRIEND, MUSICIAN JOANNA NEWSOM.

THEY'VE BEEN DATING FOR FIVE YEARS.

LINDSAY LOHAN IS MAKING A CAMEO ON THE SMALL SCREEN.

A REP FOR THE ACTRESS SAYS SH'E'LL BE APPEARING AS HERSELF IN AN UPCOMING EPISODE OF CHARLIE SHEEN'S F-X SITCOM, "ANGER MANAGEMENT."

ONSCREEN, LOHAN WILL BECOME ONE OF SHEEN'S CHARACTER'S THERAPY PATIENTS, AND THE TWO WILL DEVELOP A "ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP."

72 IS NEW 30-ONCAM

WE'VE ALL HEARD 40 IS THE NEW 20.BUT RESEARCHERS NOW CLAIM 72 IS NOW THE NEW 30.

A NEW STUDY FROM GERMANY CLAIMS MEN IN 1800 WOULD HAVE SIMILAR LIFE SPANS TO THOSE OF THE EARLIEST HUNTER-GATHERER HUMANS.

TEASE FIVE------

A COMPANY CHANGES ITS POLICIES TO TEST EMPLOYEES LOYALTY.

For me it's God, family and yahoo in that order.

BUT DOES THE BAN ON WORKING FROM HOME SPELL AN END TO FAMILY VALUES IN THE WORKPLACE?

A) YAHOO JOBS-2 SHOT SOT VO

GAS PRICES-CG TOPS

GAS PRICES ARE HOLDING STEADY ACROSS THE BOARD.

RIGHT NOW YOU'LL FIND PRICES AROUND 3-90 ON AVERAGE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE NEWEST NUMBERS FROM TRIPLE-A.

YAHOO JOBS-2 SHOT TRAFFIC

IS WORKING AT HOME A DYING CONCEPT?

YAHOO'S C-E-O RECENTLY DROPPED A BOMBSHELL ON HER EMPLOYEES, SHAKING UP THE INTERNET SEARCH GIANT'S CULTURE.

EMPLOYEES WORKING AT HOME WILL NOW HAVE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE. OR QUIT!

YAHOO JOBS-PKG

MARISSA MAYER NAMED ONE OF FORTUNE MAGAZINE'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN SAYS SHE HAS TO RUTHLESSLY PRIORITIZE.

For me it's God, family and yahoo in that order.

MAYER WHO FAMOUSLY - OR INFAMOUSLY- DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK - RETURNED TO WORK TWO WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH, IS SHAKING UP THE DEBATE OVER WORK- LIFE BALANCE ISSUES.

IN THIS MEMO, FIRST OBTAINED BY THE TECH BLOG ALL THINGS D, YAHOO'S HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR OUTLINES A NEW POLICY - NO MOREWORKING FROM HOME.

"TO BECOME THE ABSOLUTE BEST PLACE TO WORK, COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION WILL BE IMPORTANT, SO WE NEED TO BE WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE. THAT IS WHY IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE ARE ALL PRESENT IN OUR OFFICES."

WORKERS CURRENTLY TELECOMMUTING HAVE UNTIL JUNE TO EITHER GET COMFY WORKING OUT OF THE OFFICE OR LEAVE.

YAHOO'S NEW POLICY WAS RIPPED BY SOME COMMENTATORS.

RICHARD BRANSON - CEO OF VIRGIN SAID THE DECISION SEEMS BACKWARDS. AT A TIME WHEN REMOTE WORKING IS EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EVER. ADDING "YOURS TRULY HAS NEVER WORKED OUT OF AN OFFICE, AND NEVER WILL."

BLOGGER LISA BELKIN WRITING FOR THE HUFFINGTON POST SEES IT AS A DIRECT DIG AGAINST WORKING PARENTS:

" I think it's backwards, I think it's the direct opposite of what she should have done."

AND CEO ERIC HOLTZCLAW OF MARKETING COMPANY LADDERING WORKS. SAYS NOT ONLY DOES HE LET HIS EMPLOYEES WORK FROM HOME, HE LOGS TIME AWAY FROM THE OFFICE AS WELL.

"I am always more efficient when I work from home, and working from home or working from a third location, so I do a lot of writing and I think that if you work in a coffee shop, and some of those kind of places you'll get more inspiration."

MAYER IS BUCKING THE TREND.

9 AND HALF PERCENT OF WORKERS WORKED FROM HOME AT LEAST ONE DAY A WEEK IN 2010.

THAT'S UP FROM 7 PERCENT IN 1997.

BUT HER DECISION DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE BLUE.

SHE CAME FROM GOOGLE A COMPANY THAT LIKES THE COLLABORATIVE ATMOSPHERE WHEN WORKERS HAVE FACE TO FACE TIME AND SHE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURNAROUND FOR YAHOO.

WE REACHED OUT TO YAHOO BUT THE COMPANY DECLINED TO COMMENT.

THE WEBSITE BUSINESS INSIDER DID TALK TO SOME YAHOO EMPLOYEES AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE UPSET.

TOSS TO NOON TEASE-2-SHOT PLASMA

NBC 2 NEWS AT NOON IS NEXT!

NEW AT NOON TEASE-ON CAM AT DESK

NEXT AT NOON - WEATHER A BIG STORY FOR US - AND FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE NATION.

WE'RE WATCHING THE RADAR - JIM WILL SHOW US WHAT'S HEADED OUR WAY TODAY.

ANOTHER STORM BURIES THE MIDWEST!

NEXT AT NOON - KANSAS, MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA - WE DETAIL THE BIG BLIZZARD, THAT'S DROPPED MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW.

HIGHWAYS CLOSED, POWER OUTAGES.

NBC2 TAKES YOU ON A TOUR!

ALSO AT NOON - MINDY MCCREADY IS LAID TO REST IN HER HOME TOWN.

WE'LL TAKE YOU LIVE TO WHERE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FANS ARE SAYING FAREWELL TO THE TROUBLED COUNTRY STAR.

ALL EYES ON WASHINGTON - AND THAT MESSY BUDGET IMPASSE.

NBC2 ON TOP OF IT - AND HOW THE MASSIVE SPENDING CUTS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - ESPECIALLY AT OUR AIRPORTS.

NEXT AT NOON - WE'LL TAKE YOU LIVE TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL.

PLUS -

SOT Francine Fitzgerald, Garrett's Mother--20:13:35 How is my son getting by, how is my son eating, how is my son traveling

through peru without eating???

A FRANTIC MOTHER - DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS - AFTER HER SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND VANISH, WHILE VACATIONING IN PERU.

NOON TZB) weather-votops

NOON TZC) mccready-votops

washington budget-votops

couple missing in peru-sottops vo

CLOSE-2-SHOT PLASMA