DIRECTOR PAGE

TOSS TO LEIGH-TRXSS TOPS mapfly

BREAKING NEWS OUT OF CAPE CORAL.

A HORRIBLE CRASH BETWEEN AN SUV AND A MOTORCYCLE ON DEL PRADO BOULEVARD.

WE JUST RECEIVED A COUPLE OF PICTURES FROM A VIEWER-- TAKEN *MOMENTS* AFTER IT HAPPENED.

YOU CAN SEE THE FLAMES AMD SMOKE POURING OUT OF THE SUV--

THE CRASH HAPPENED AT THE CORNER OF NORTHEAST THIRD TERRACE.

NBC2'S LAIGH DANA IS THERE--

CAPE CORAL ACCIDENT-RTR2 (CELL REM), SS

CAPE CORAL ACCIDENT-RTR2-CELL REM

CAPE VET CHARITIES-2SHOT

CAPE CORAL'S MAYOR TELL NBC 2 CON ARTISTS ARE SWINDLING GENEROUS DONORS.

PEOPLE ARE PRETENDING TO BE VETERANS -- TO GET MONEY.

THEY COME INTO TOWN -- TAKE YOUR MONEY -- AND RUN.

CAPE VET CHARITIES-PKG

IT'S A BATTLE VETERANS CONTINUE TO FIGHT ---

3:30 no way of knowing where it goes 3:33 we do know it doesn't come to this community:35

PEOPLE DRESSED IN FATIGUES --

COLLECTING MONEY ALONG STREETS AND IN FRONT OF STORES.

PLEDGING TO HELP LOCAL VETERANS.

2:11 take that money and run and leaves the community:13

INVEST IN AMERICA'S VETERANS FOUNDATION VICE PRESIDENT DON GRAF SAYS THESE PEOPLE AREN'T HELPING ANYONE IN CAPE CORAL AT ALL.

2:15 we have never seen a dollar from the institutions that collected here or come here:21

MAYOR JOHN SULLIVAN SAYS IT'S A ON-GOING PROBLEM HE WANTS TO STOP.

58;44 stop ppl from coming in from outside making it look like a local org bc people are giving money thinking they are donating to a local vet group and they are not:54

HE WANTS TO REQUIRE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ASKING FOR MONEY BE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY CONGRESS.

00:12 its just not right for people to come here look local and collect money:16

LAST YEAR --

THE MAYOR SAYS AN ORGANIZATION FROM POMPANO BEACH SOLICITED MONEY IN FRONT OF A CAPE CONVIENENCE STORE.

A WOMAN MADE A BIG DONATION.

SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GIVING TO I-A-V-F --

BUT THE GROUP DOESN'T EVEN SOLICIT ON THE STREET.

00:34 its deceptive practices not good, no one wants to see residents taken for a ride:43

ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MONEY COULD GO TOWARD AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS TRULY HELPING OTHERS.

1:11 everything we do is for the community around us basically a comm org and a vets org:18

SEQUESTRATION DEADLINE-MITTOTOP, OC

THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN TO A DEADLINE FOR MASSIVE ACROSS THE BOARD GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS --

AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE CALLED IT A WEEKEND.

THERE ARE NO TALKS PLANNED UNTIL AFTER THE DEADLINE PASSES.

SEQUESTRATION DEADLINE-CAM99-RTR1

THEY'RE NOT TALKING IN WASHINGTON--

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS--

THAT WERE *NEVER* SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN--

SEQUESTRATION DEADLINE-TRX-PKG

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

CONGRESS IS ON THE BRINK OF ANOTHER MAJOR DEADLINE-- AND IT LOOKS LIKE OUR LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO BLOW RIGHT PAST IT.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR LEADERS TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN TO AVOID 85 BILLION DOLLARS IN AUTOMATIC BUDGET CUTS.

BUT THERE'S BEEN NO NEGOTIATION - AND LITTLE PROGRESS.

Pelosi SOT

unless GOP stops mindless across the board - you too could lose your job

Boehner SOT

we laid our cards on the table, now it's time for the Senate

FOR WEEKS, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN WARNING OF THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF

THE DRASTIC CUTS.

NAPOLITANO SOT

I don't think we can maintain the same level of security at all places

around the country.

Duncan SOT from WH briefing

Kids are going to get hurt. Kids are going to get hurt. That's just the

reality.

REPUBLICANS SLAMMED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR RESORTING TO SCARE TACTICS.

EVEN NEW YORK CITY MAYOR MIKE BLOOMBERG - A FRIEND OF THE WHITE HOUSE - TOOK

A SHOT!

Bloomberg SOT

There's a lot of posturing/Spare me. I live in that world. I mean come on!

LAST NIGHT PRESIDENT OBAMA SOFTENED HIS LANGUAGE A BIT.

Obama SOT

that this is not a cliff, but it is a tumble downward/ a lot of people may

not notice the full impact of the sequester.

BUT HE DIDN'T ENTIRELY BACK DOWN.

Obama SOT

SEQUESTRATION DEADLINE-CAM99-RTR1

JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO--

THE SENATE VOTED ON A REPUBLICAN MEASURE AND A DEMOCRATIC MEASURE--

MEANT TO REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC SPENDING CUTS.

BUT NEITHER PASSED--

POPE'S LAST DAY-TRXVOTOPS, 2 SHOT

POPE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH PERFORMED HIS FINAL--

AND PERHAPS MOST MEMORABLE ACT TODAY.

A RESIGNATION THAT'S *HISTORIC*--

AND COULD TRANSFORM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH--

AS OF THIS AFTERNOON--

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS OFFICIALLY WITHOUT A POPE.

"POPE EMERITUS" AS HE'S NOW KNOWN--

IS ALREADY TUCKED AWAY IN HIS RETREAT--

POPE'S LAST DAY-PKG

AFTER 8 YEARS AS POPE. A MODEST, SIMPLE WAVE, AND IT WAS OVER.

BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH CLOSED THE DOOR ON HIS

PAPACY AFTER SAYING GOODBYE TO HIS CLOSEST ADVISORS AT THE VATICAN.

ANOTHER, ALMOST HAPPY WAVE BEFORE BOARDING HIS HELICOPTER, AND THEN A LAP IN

THE AIR AROUND THE VATICAN AND A BEAUTIFUL, BLUE-SKYED ROME. EVERY STEP HE

MADE TODAY RECORDED BY DOZENS OF CAMERAS. NONE OF THIS HAS EVER BEEN SEEN

BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

SOT FATHER JOHN WAUCK / ABC NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: We are going to be living through right now an incredible historical moment

ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS - A POPE MEETING HIS SUCCESSOR. NOBODY - NOT EVEN

BENEDICT - KNOWS WHICH CARDINAL THAT WILL BE. BUT HE PLEDGED HIM UNCONDITIONAL OBEDIENCE. AND HE SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE MEN KNOWN AS THE CHURCH'S PRINCES - WHO WILL SOON CHOOSE THE NEXT POPE.

NATS - ITALIAN

THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS SHOULD BE LIKE AN ORCHESTRA HE SAID, AND ACT IN

HARMONY AND AGREEMENT.

THE CARDINALS MIGHT LOOK FOR A GOOD ADMINISTRATOR - A CONTRAST TO BENEDICT,

KNOWN AS A "PROFESSORIAL POPE". HE'S

CONSIDERED A LEADING THEOLOGIAN.

BUT DESPITE HIS LONG, DISTINGUISHED CAREER,

MANY BELIEVE HE SAVED HIS MOST POWERFUL LESSON - FOR HIS FINAL ACT.

POPE'S LAST DAY-TAG

BENEDICT'S APARTMENT IS NOW "SEALED--

THE SWISS GUARDS ARE GONE--

AND THE FISHERMAN'S RING WAS DEFACED.

BENEDICT IS NOW OFFICIALLY "POPE EMERITUS"--

CITIZENS REPORT-VO WIPE

ANGRY CUSTOMERS OF CITIZENS INSURANCE--

FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY.

THE SUIT ALLEGES CITIZENS "DEPRIVED CUSTOMERS OF DISCOUNTS"--

THROUGH AN "ARBITRARY RE-INSPECTION PROGRAM.

THAT LAWSUIT COMES ON THE SAME DAY--

AS CITIZENS RELEASED A DAMAGING REPORT.

INVESTIGATORS FOUND "MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MISCONDUCT"--

INCLUDING ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD--

PORN ON COMPUTERS--

SEX AFFAIRS AND USING COMPANY CREDIT CARDS AT A STRIP CLUB.

CITIZENS REPORT-SOTVO

"There's been a culture that's there that has been troubling. I don't know if that culture still persists. I think it's more of a culture of the past. That's my understanding. There's been some serious efforts to try to reform that."

WEATHERFORD EXPECTS STATE LAWMAKERS TO CONTINUE REFORMING CITIZENS--

FL ELECTIONS & NAACP-VO WIPE

FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE CHANGING THE STATE'S ELECTION LAWS THIS SPRING--

BUT CRITICS SAY THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

TODAY MEMBERS OF THE N-DOUBLE A-CP.

ACCUSED REPUBLICANS OF ENACTING ELECTION CHANGES IN 2011--

THAT DELIBERATELY KEPT CERTAIN VOTERS FROM CASTING BALLOTS.

FL ELECTIONS & NAACP-SOTVO

"One of the things that we firmly is that an additional day, the normal day for people of faith going to the polls needs to be reinstated and that's the Sunday before the election."

THE GROUP ALSO WANTS LAWMAKERS TO ALLOW VOTERS TO UPDATE THEIR REGISTRATION *ON* ELECTION DAY--

IF THEY HAVE MOVED ACROSS COUNTY LINES.

NEW FLORIDA APP-VO

NOW YOU CAN KEEP TABS ON SOME FLORIDA LAWMAKERS. ON YOUR SMART PHONE.

THE HOUSE UNVEILED A NEW MOBILE APP TODAY.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO READ BILLS--

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STATE LAWMAKER--

OR WATCH COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

BOEING 787 LATEST-VO

BOEING SAYS IT'S FOUND A WAY TO "PERMENENTLY" FIX THE TROUBLED DREAMLINER.

THE COMPANY PLANS TO ADD SAFEGUARDS--

AGAINST OVERHEATING AND POTENTIAL BATTERY FIRES.

BUT JAPANESE INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE YET--

THAT THE BATTERIES ARE CAUSING THE FIRES ON PLANES.

BOEING ENGINEERS ARE CURRENTLY IN JAPAN--

NJ SANDY FEMA FORMS-VO

IT'S BEEN NEARLY 5-MONTHS SINCE HURRICANE SANDY SLAMMED INTO THE NORTHEAST--

AND THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS SAY THEY STILL HAVE *NOT* RECEIVED ANY HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE--

BALMES THE "LONG FORMS" SUPPLIED BY THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.

HE CALLED THEM -QUOTE- "UNACCEPTABLE" AND "A DISGRACE."

CHRISTIE SAYS ONLY 30-PERCENT OF FLOOD INSURANCE CLAIMS ARE RESOLVED.

PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN'T PASS ALONG BENEFITS--

WALL STREET-CG

AFTER TWO BIG RALLIES--

WALL STREET PULLED BACK A BIT TODAY.

AT THE CLOSING BELL THE DOWN CLOSED DOWN 20-POINTS.

STILL THE MARKET REMAINS JUST 90-POINTS BELOW IT'S ALL-TIME HIGH!

GROUPON STOCK-VO

THE STOCK MARKET'S DOING WELL--

BUT ONLINE DISCOUNT PROVIDER GROUPON IS NOT.

STOCKS PLUNGED 25-PERCENT TODAY--

AFTER THE COMPANY MISSED WALL STREET ESTIMATES BY A MILE!

AND EXPECTATIONS WERE ALREADY LOW.

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NOW HAVE *EASIER* ACCESS TO HELP.

CONGRESS SETS ASIDE POLITICAL BICKERING TO APPROVE MORE MONEY AND PROGRAMS.

AND A DEVELOPING STORY OUT OF COLLIER COUNTY--

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JUST *APPROVED* A DREDGING POJECT.

TZ1 A) VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN-VO WIPE

TZ1 B) CLAM PASS DREDGING-VO TOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN-ON CAM

CERTAIN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL NOW HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO FEDERAL HELP.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF PARTISAN BICKERING--

THE HOUSE PASSED A SENATE EXPANSION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT THIS AFTERNOON.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN-PKG

IT'S ESTIMATED MORE THAN ONE MILLION WOMEN A YEAR SUFFER A PHYSICAL ASSAULT BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER.

WOMEN LIKE REBECCA FOWLER.

"My husband held me at gunpoint when I had my youngest daughter in my arms. I didn't know if I was going to live through that night

TODAY CONGRESS GUARANTEED ON-GOING SUPPORT FOR FOWLER AND OTHER VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

"The bill is passed.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF PARTISAN FIGHTING- AND THREE FAILED ATTEMPTS. CONGRESS REAUTHORIZED THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT - FIRST PASSED IN 1994.

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN- A SPONSOR OF THE ORIGINAL ACT- CELEBRATED.

WHILE ATTENDING AN EVENT COMBATING TEEN DATING VIOLENCE.

"This is the proudest cause I've ever been associated with."

THE SENATE REAUTHORIZATION BILL EXPANDS PROTECTIONS TO GAYS AND LESBIANS.

IMPROVES ACCESS TO HELP AND INFORMATION ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES-

INCREASES POWER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN COURTS TO TRY ABUSE CASES ON TRIBAL LANDS.

AND GUARANTEES SUPPORT TO IMMIGRANTS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.

"I'm thrilled, absolutely thrilled."

VICTIMS ADVOCATE TERRY O-NEILL HAD BEEN FIGHTING REPUBLICAN RESISTANCE TO THESE MEASURES SINCE THE ACT EXPIRED IN 2011.

"Unbelievably frustrating, and I will tell you -- this thing should have been done in the 112th Congress."

EVEN TODAY- HOUSE REPUBLICANS TRIED TO PASS THEIR OWN SCALED BACK VERSION OF THE ACT-

Washington

"Republicans want to reauthorize a bill that protects women, not promote partisanship."

60 REPUBLICANS DISAGREED WITH THEIR PARTY AND VOTED AGAINST IT. ALLOWING THE SENATE BILL TO PASS.

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

DRAMATIC TESTIMONY TODAY IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF RYAN COSTELLO.

JURORS TODAY SAW COSTELLO DROP THE CHILD HE'S ACCUSED OF KILLING OFF AT THE HOSPITAL!

BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY HE DID NEXT.

TZ2 A) COSTELLO TRIAL-VO WIPE

TZ2 B) RED TIDE & TOURISM-VO TOPS

ROBERT WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

COOLER WEATHER ARRIVING

The sunshine has returned for most of us, but trust me, it isn't going to last long.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies will remain overhead and overnight temperatures will settle into the lower half of the 50s along the urban corridor.

As moisture begins to increase across Southwest Florida on Friday expect our skies to stay mostly cloudy. This will be the start of an unsettled weather pattern featuring more clouds and the threat for some wet weather as a strong disturbance dives southward toward the Gulf of Mexico.

After lows in the 40s to start on Saturday daytime highs will be rather cool in the middle 60s. Showers will begin to develop during the afternoon and carry over into Sunday. This will make for a chilly and blustery end to the weekend with afternoon temperatures in the low to middle 60s.

RED TIDE & TOURISM-ON CAM

SOME OF THE WORST AFFECTS FROM RED TIDE WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS IF NOT DECADES, IS HITTING LEE COUNTY'S BEACHES AT THE WORST TIME--

AS SPRING BREAK STARTS.

NOW HOTELS AND RESORTS ARE BUSY ANSWERING A LOT OF CALLS FROM TOURISTS WHO PLAN TO HEAD DOWN HERE-

RED TIDE & TOURISM-PKG

AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK OF PARTICULARLY SEVERE AFFECTS FROM TOXIC RED TIDE ALGAE, TONY LAPI SAYS HIS SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLAND RESORTS ARE FIELDING PHONE CALLS.

it's concerning, we like to think we can explain it and tell people the best knowledge we can give them

AND ONE OF LEE COUNTY'S LARGEST RESORTS REPORTS SOME CANCELLATIONS.

just this morning, someone called from Michigan, on their way down now, what's it gonna be like

THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU'S NANCY MCPHEE SAYS THAT'S TOUGH TO ANSWER.

SCIENTISTS SAY WHERE AND WHEN WE FEEL RED TIDE VARIES EACH DAY.

we can only try to redirect, and hope that the info we're providing will encourage our visitors to give a second look

one local group is trying to increase the amount of information available about red tide starting this weekend they'll begin monitoring 7 additional beaches

they can use this as a tool to find safe pleasant healthy beaches to go to

BRUCE NEILL SURVEY'S WILL BE AVAILBLE ONLINE, TELLING PEOPLE WHETHER RED TIDE'S AFFECTS, LIKE RESPIRATORY IRRITATION OR FISH KILLS ARE PRESENT.

we just thought we'd come and we'd wing it andsee and it turned out great

DAILY REPORTING CUTS DOWN ON GUESS WORK FOR BEACH VISITORS, ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS AVAILABLE, WHILE THE TOXIC BLOOM'S BEHAVIOR AND IMPACT TO TOURISM, REMAINS HARD TO PREDICATABLE.

HARLEM HEIGHTS OPENS-VO

THE HARLEM HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CENTER IN SOUTH FORT MYERS OPENED ITS DOORS TODAY.

SUPPORTERS HOPE THE 14-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING OFF GLADIOUS DRIVE, WILL BRING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY.

THERE IS A DAYCARE--

COMPUTER LAB--

AND TOOLS TO HELP PEOPLE TRAIN FOR AND FIND JOBS.

THE AVERAGE INCOME FOR SOMEONE LIVING IN HARLEM HEIGHTS IS WELL BELOW THE COUNTY AVERAGE.

CAPE CPR CLASSES-CG, BNR

CAPE CORAL FIREFIGHTERS WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

THEY ARE OFFERING THREE C-P-R CLASSES IN MARCH AND APRIL

THE COURSE IS OPEN TO ALL CAPE CORAL RESIDENTS.

THE FIRST ONE IS TOMORROW MORNING AND THE COST IS JUST 10 BUCKS.

TEASE THREE-2SHOT

HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR CLAM PASS.

SAND IS FILLING IN THE NAPLES WATERWAY.

MAKING IT DANGEROUS FOR BOATERS,

AND CHOCKING THE LIFE OUT OF THE NEARBY ESTUARY'S.

NEXT HOW AN EMERGENCY PLAN TO OPEN THE PASS GOT THE GO AHEAD.

AND ALL NEW AT SIX--

TZ3 A) CLAM PASS DREDGING-VO WIPE

AHEAD AT 6-BANNER

A) LUSBY STANDUP TEASE-SOT

LEE DAS MARCH MADNESS-SS

LEE COUNTY DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES HAS A CASE OF "MARCH MADNESS"!

CUTTING ADOPTION FEES TO 35-DOLLARS FOR CATS 6-MONTHS AND OLDER.

AND DOGS 40-POUNDS AND OVER.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS UP FOR ADOPTION AT ITS SHELTER ON BANNER DRIVE IN FORT MYERS--

CHICO'S QUARTERLY-OTS,HALFGFX

CHICO'S HAD A GOOD YEAR!

THE FORT MYERS BASED CLOTHING COMPANY JUST RELEASED IT'S FINAL FISCAL NUMBERS FOR 2012.

EARNINGS PER SHARE INCREASED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER--

UP 27-PERCENT.

EARNINGS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR WERE UP 32-PERCENT.

THAT MEANS INVESTORS WILL RECEIVE A DIVIDEND OF FIVE AND A HALF CENTS PER SHARE.

CHICO'S ALSO ANNOUNCED A NEW 300-MILLION DOLLAR RE-PURCHASE PROGRAM.

TOSS TO MATT-2SHOT

WE'RE SEEING NEW VIDEO TAKEN MOMENTS AFTER A FOUR MONTH OLD BOY WAS BEATEN TO DEATH.

PROSECUTORS SAY HIS FATHER -- RYAN COSTELLO -- IS TO BLAME.

HE'S ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.

AND NBC 2'S MATT WRIGHT WAS IN COURT AS THE JURY WATCHED THE DRAMATIC VIDEO.

COSTELLO TRIAL-CAM99-RTR1

PROSECUTORS SAY RYAN COSTELLO FIRST ATTACKED HIS FIANCE. THEN BEAT UP THEIR INFANT IN JUNE OF 2010.

COSTELLO TRIAL-PKG

SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS INSIDE HEALTHPARK MEDICAL CENTER CAPTURE A SHIRTLESS RYAN COSTELLO WALKING IN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

IT'S JUST BEFORE TWO-THIRTY A-M. AND HE'S HOLDING HIS FOUR MONTH OLD SON DARWIN.

HE GIVES DARWIN TO A NURSE.

THEN WATCH. AS LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER COSTELLO APPEARS TO HURRY FROM THE E-R.

COSTELLO LATER SHOWED UP AT FRIEND SCOTT FRAZIER'S DOORSTEP. COVERED IN DIRT.

FRAZIER TOLD JURORS COSTELLO RINSED OFF IN HIS POOL. AND SLEPT OVER UNTIL THE NEXT AFTERNOON.

MEANWHILE. MOM WHITNEY SIMONSEN SHOWED UP AT THE HOSPITAL.

HER FOCUS ON A SORE ANKLE OVER THE HEALTH OF HER BABY STRUCK SECURITY AS ODD.

AT THE SAME TIME. A DEPUTY WENT TO THE COUPLE'S HOME.

HE NOTICED POTTING SOIL AND MARIJUANA PLANTS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT.

AND HE FOUND A MARIJUANA GROW ROOM UPSTAIRS.

COSTELLO TRIAL-CAM99-RTR1

MEDICAL EXPERTS ALSO TOOK THE STAND TODAY.

ALL OF THIS--ONE DAY AFTER EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY FROM DARWIN'S MOM. SIMONSEN.

SHE SAID COSTELLO ATTACKED HER.

SHE FAKED BEING UNCONCIOUS. THEN WOKE UP TO FIND HER SON UNRESPONSIVE.

BUT SHE ALSO CONFESSED TO DEALING DRUGS. AND LYING TO INVESTIGATORS.

TOSS TO RICK-TRX2SHOT, VOFLY

IT'S OFFICIAL - CLAM PASS IN NAPLES WILL FINALLY BE DREDGED.

COUNTY LEADERS ANNOUNCED LATE THIS AFTERNOON - THEY CAN NOW START THE EMERGENCY WORK.

NBC2'S RICK RITTER JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR COLLIER COUNTY MOBILE NEWSROOM.

CLAM PASS DREDGING-REM26

COUNTY COMMISSIONER GEORGIA HILLER SAYS WORK COULD START AS EARLY AS MONDAY.

CLAM PASS DREDGING-PKG

THURSDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER THE PELICAN BAY SERVICES DIVISION SIGNED A CONTRACT LAST WEEK FOR 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF EMERGENCY WORK WITH KYLE CONSTRUCTION.

THE CHANNEL HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE LAST YEAR - KILLING OFF MANGROVES AND WILDLIFE IN THE AREA WITHOUT FLOWING WATER.

MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY GATHERED FOR WEEEKS - TRYING TO DIG OUT THE PASS THEMSELVS.

COUNTY LEADERS PLAN ON DREDGING THE PASS SO IT'S 4 FEET DEEP AT LOW TIDE - AND 6 FEET DEEP AT HIGH TIDE.

BOTH RESIDENTS AND COUNTY OFFICIALS KNOW GETTING TO THIS DAY WAS FAR FROM EASY.

Georgia Hiller/Collier County Commissioner/43:40 "It was actually a roller coaster ride. There were days when we were so concerned that it might not happen on time."

CLAM PASS DREDGING-SOTVO

Georgia Hiller/Collier County Commissioner/43:40 "It was actually a roller coaster ride. There were days when we were so concerned that it might not happen on time."

CLAM PASS DREDGING-REM26

COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THIS WILL BE A 24-HOUR PROJECT.

WORKERS WILL BE ON SITE ALL DAY AND NIGHT - MAKING SURE THE DREDGING IS WRAPPED UP QUICKLY.

IT'S A 30 DAY CONTRACT - BUT OFFICIALS ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT IT COULD BE DONE IN NEARLY TWO WEEKS.

SELL THE 6PM-2SHOT

CONTINUING COVERAGE ON BREAKING NEWS AT SIX -- A FIERY CRASH IN THE CAPE THAT'S SHUTDOWN PARTS OF DEL PRADO.

WE'RE LIVE WITH A RUSH-HOUR UPDATE.

AND A MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- A WOMAN ACCUSED OF HIRING A HITMAN TO KILL HER OWN HUSBAND.