DIRECTORS PAGE

ANCHOR SUPERS

HEADLINES-ANIBOXES

TODAY'S - 85 BILLION DOLLARS IN FORCED GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS ARE IN EFFECT.

NBC 2 KNOWS WHEN IT WILL AFFECT YOU.

PLUS ENGINEERS ARE BACK ON THE SCENE OF A MASSIVE SINK HOLE.

THE REACTION FROM OFFICERS FIRST ON THE SCENE.

AND POLICE PUT AN END TO ONE MAN'S BANK ROBBING SPREE THROUGH SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -

HEADLINE 1 BUDGET CUTS-VIDBOX

HEADLINE 2 SINK HOLE-VIDBOX

HEADLINE 3 BANK ROBBERY-VIDBOX

WX HEADLINE-WX CENTER

GOOD MORNING-2 SHOT

GOOD MORNING.

I'M JOE ROETZ

AND I'M KELLY CRESWELL.

OPEN-CLIP

GOOD MORNING-2 SHOT

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO N-B-C 2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M JOE ROETZ

AND I'M KELLY CRESWELL

TODAY IS SATURDAY, MARCH SECOND 20-13

WE'LL HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORIES IN JUST A MINUTE.

BUT FIRST METEOROLOGIST JASON DUNNING JOINS US WITH YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST.

TODAY'S WEATHER-WX CENTER

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.

The first weekend in March will certainly not go down as one of those picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weekends across Southwest Florida. In fact, this weekend will be a pretty unusual one for Southwest Florida standards; it's going to be chilly, windy, cloudy, and even rainy at times.

We'll get our Saturday going with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, and thanks to the cloud cover, temps will be very slow to rise through the day. Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the 50s, and most locations will likely only see peak temperatures in the low to mid 60s.

Keep in mind, however, temperatures will feel a bit cooler than what the thermometer might tell us because northerly winds will be rather stiff through the weekend with gusts up to 25 mph.

To further complicate the forecast, there's even the chance for a few light showers during the day as a disturbance heads our way from the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance for some cold rain showers will likely be from tonight through Sunday morning with our rain chance then around 60%. Expect showers to be more numerous along the coast.

By Sunday morning, the combination of clouds, cold temperatures, and scattered rain and wind won't make for the most pleasant of ways to get the day going. Temperatures will start in the mid to low 40s, but the hope is that by Sunday afternoon, the clouds will start to break up, along for some rays of sun. Despite some afternoon sunshine, Sunday will be another chilly one with highs only reaching the low to mid 60s.

Temperatures will be at their lowest point Sunday night into Monday morning as skies start to clear and winds relax. Most of us across the urban corridor will cool into the low 40s with inland locations dipping into the mid 30s by early Monday morning.

SUSPECTED ROBBERS CAUGHT-2 SHOT

NEW THIS MORNING --

TWO SUSPECTED BANK ROBBERS WILL APPEAR BEFORE A LEE COUNTY JUDGE.

DANIEL BALL AND JOSE FIGUEROA ARE ACCUSED OF ROBBING SEPARATE BANKS THIS PAST WEEK IN LEE COUNTY.

BANK ROBBERIES-SSTOPS

AUTHORITIES SAY BALL ROBBED THE FIFTH-THIRD BANK ON SUMMERLIN AND BOY SCOUT MONDAY.

THEN THEY BELIEVE HE HIT THE EDISON NATIONAL BANK IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS THURSDAY.

AND THEN A FIFTH-THIRD BANK IN SOUTH FORT MYERS FRIDAY.

THIS IS NOT BALL'S FIRST RUN-IN WITH THE LAW.

BANK ROBBERIES-VOTOPS

AUTHORITIES SAY IT WAS THE QUICK THINKING OF A BANK TELLER WHO RECOGNIZED BALL AND PUSHED THE SILENT ALARM, GIVING DETECTIVES A HEAD START.

WELLS FARGO 31 ROBBERY-SSTOPS-VO SS

AND THAT OTHER SUSPECTED ROBBER -- JOSE FIGUEROA -- WAS ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY ROBBING A WELLS FARGO ON PALM BEACH BOULEVARD FRIDAY.

A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE ROBBERY, DEPUTIES SPOTTED A VEHICLE MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE BANK SCENE.

OBAMA SIGNS BUDGET CUTS-2 SHOT

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNED THE SEQUESTRATION ORDER. PUTTING INTO EFFECT 85-BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS.

LEADING UP TO THE SEQUESTER, THE PRESIDENT WARNED LEGISLATORS THE DANGERS OF NOT COMING TO A COMPROMISE.

BUT FRIDAY, HE DIALED BACK SOME OF HIS PREDICTIONS.

OBAMA SIGNS BUDGET CUTS-PKG

BRUCE SALATINO OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST PEOPLE

AFFECTED BY THE CUTS -- A SINGLE FATHER OF TWO, HIS UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK WILL

BE SLASHED BY $144 A MONTH --

SALATINO SOT - $144 A MONTH IS ONE WEEK OF GROCERIES FOR MYSELF AND MY TWO

DAUGHTERS THAT I LIVE WITH. SO YEAH, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CUT. I'M VERY

CONCERNED.

BRUCE IS NOT ALONE - EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT FOR MORE

THAN 26 WEEKS COULD GET 9% LESS AFFECTING ABOUT 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE THIS

YEAR.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ISSUED WARNINGS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS THAT HAVE

SOUNDED DOWNRIGHT DIRE --

OBAMA SOT - FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WILL HAVE TO CLOSE CASES AND LET CRIMINALS

GO.

HOLDER SOT - WE ARE GOING TO BE A NATION THAT IS GOING TO BE LESS SAFE.

LAHOOD SOT - IT'S GOING TO BE VERY PAINFUL FOR THE FLYING PUBLIC.

BUT TODAY, THE PRESIDENT TOOK A STEP BACK FROM THOSE SKY-IS-FALLING WARNINGS

:

OBAMA SOT - WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A.

APOCALYPSE, I THINK AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID. IT'S JUST DUMB.

AND IT'S GOING TO HURT.

BUT FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY, THE IMPACT WON'T BE FELT UNTIL APRIL

-THAT'S WHEN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WILL HAVE TO START TAKING 1 DAY OFF

EVERY TWO WEEKS.

-AND WHEN CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE PENTAGON WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE OFF ONE

UNPAID DAY EVERY WEEK.

-AND THE NAVY'S LEGENDARY BLUE ANGELS WILL BE GROUNDED, CANCELLING 28

UPCOMING AIR SHOWS.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THE PRESIDENT FLATLY DECLARED THE CUTS WOULD NEVER TAKE

PLACE:

OBAMA SOT - IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

BUT TODAY, HE SAID THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING HE COULD DO TO STOP THEM --

OBAMA SOT - I AM NOT A DICTATOR, I'M THE PRESIDENT.

SOMEHOW EVEN THOUGH MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT I'M BEING REASONABLE, THAT MOST

PEOPLE AGREE THAT I'M PRESENTING A FAIR DEAL, THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T TAKE

IT MEANS THAT I SHOULD SOMEHOW DO A JEDI MIND MELD WITH THESE FOLKS AND

SEQUESTER AFTER EFFECTS-HALF GFX

THAT WAS JONATHAN KARL REPORTING.

WE DID SOME DIGGING AND FOUND THE "SEQUESTER" ISN'T THE ONLY LINE IN THE SAND.

ON MARCH 27TH--

LEGISLATION FINANCING OUR GOVERNMENT *TEMPORARILY*--

EXPIRES!

WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THAT--

THE THREAT OF A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT *SHUTDOWN* BECOMES REALITY.

THEN IN JUNE--

WE REACH THE NATION'S DEBT LIMIT AGAIN.

FAA CLOSURE-VOTOPS

BUT THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IT TURNS OUT THE F-A-A WILL NOT BE SHUTTING DOWN 168 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS BECAUSE OF THE SEQUESTER.

ON WEDNESDAY --

THEY ANNOUNED THE TOWERS WOULD SHUT DOWN APRIL FIRST.

NOW OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT "UNAUTHORIZED."

KANASHA ISAAC PLANS-OC-CG-VO

TODAY THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF A 16-YEAR-OLD IMMOKALEE GIRL, GUNNED DOWN IN FORT MYERS WILL CELEBRATE HER LIFE.

KANASHA ISAAC'S FUNERAL WILL BE HELD AT ONE THIS AFTERNOON AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN IMMOKALEE AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

ONE WEEK AGO -- ISAAC WENT WITH HER BOYFRIEND AND FRIENDS TO THE FORT MYERS ALE HOUSE.

AS THEY LEFT THE RESTAURANT--

OFFICERS SAY HENRY BRUNSON PULLED UP AND OPENED FIRE.

A BULLET HIT ISAAC IN THE FACE.

DOCTORS PRONOUNCED HER DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL--

FORT MYERS POLICE SAY ISAAC WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME.

KANASHA ISAAC PLANS-SOTVO

***SOT FULL***

CINDY GARCIA/ COUSIN - 48:10-18 she was just that type of girl that would brighten up your day. She was sweet, loving, everything.

COSTELLO TRIAL-VO WIPE

NOW TO THE LATEST IN A LOCAL MURDER TRIAL --

IN A SURPRISE MOVE. ACCUSED KILLER, RYAN COSTELLO, TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

YESTERDAY, COSTELLO DENIED MURDERING HIS FOUR YEAR OLD SON DARWIN , IN 2010.

HE REBUKED THE STATE'S KEY WITNESS -- HIS EX, WHITNEY SIMONSON.

HE SAYS, SHE CAME HOME DRUNK --

THAT'S WHEN A FIGHT BROKE OUT, MOVING UPSTAIRS TO A MARIJUANA GROW ROOM IN THE COUPLE'S HOUSE.

COSTELLO TRIAL-SOTVO

I noticed Darwin wasn't in my hands wasn't doing too well, bluish, sounded funny. Gasping for air like you got the wind knocked out of you.

FL SINKHOLE-2 SHOT

ENGINEERS ARE BACK ON THE SCENE OF A MASSIVE SINK HOLE TODAY.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE GROUND COLLAPSED BENEATH, SWALLOWING THE BEDROOM A 37 YEAR OLD MAN WAS SLEEPING IN, CAUSING HIS DEATH.

THIS HAPPENED THURSDAY NIGHT IN SEFFNER, WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF TAMPA.

FL SINKHOLE-PKG

THE 30-FOOT WIDE SINK HOLE OPENED UP UNDERNEATH THIS HOME NEAR TAMPA. SWALLOWING 36-YEAR-OLD JEFFERY BUSH AS HE LAY IN BED.

HIS BROTHER JEREMY TRIED TO SAVE HIM.

"So I jumped in the hole and tried to get him out. and I couldn't get him. and I thought I could hear him screaming for me and hollering for me to help him. I couldn't do nothing

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DEPUTY DOUGLAS DUVALL WAS THE FIRST OFFICER ON THE SCENE.

18:35:55

"When I went into the bedroom the only thing I saw was a hole. And the hole took the entire bedroom."

DEPUTY DUVALL PULLED JEREMY TO SAFETY, BUT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF JEFFERY.

18:36:15

"I was looking, you could see the bed frame, the dresser, everything was sinking. I have never seen anything move so fast and do so much devastation."

EXPERTS ON THE SCENE SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND ARE AMAZED THAT THE HOUSE IS STILL STANDING.

18:44:16

FL SINKHOLE-OC

THAT WAS CHRIS LECLERE REPORTING.

LEE SCHOOLS TROUBLE-OTS-VO

THIS MORNING WE ARE LEARNING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT ABOUT SOME QUESTIONABLE ACTS BY LEE COUNTY'S SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SENT A LETTER TO LEE COUNTY.

IN THAT LETTER --

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL DEMANDS ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS QUESTIONABLE ACTS BY SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH BURKE.

LEE SCHOOLS TROUBLE-FSCGRVL

FIRST -- STATE INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW IF HE SUSPENDED AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION CONCERNING AN ADMINISTRATOR.DOCTOR DEEDARA HICKS.

THEY ALSO WANT INFORMATION ABOUT ONE-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY.

AND THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS BURKE MOVED THE MONEY TO A GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT WITHOUT GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD.

FINALLY, THE STATE IS ASKING WHY BURKE ALLEGEDLY SPENT 293-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY ON TOP LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS.

THE MISUSE OF MONEY INCLUDES ALLEGATIONS HE SPENT DOLLARS ON TOP-LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

SCHOOL BUS CRASH-VO

IT WAS A FRIGHTENING RIDE FOR STUDENTS FRIDAY AFTER A SCHOOL BUS CRASHED INTO THREE CARS NEAR TANGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SOUTH FORT MYERS.

DEPUTIES TELL US THE BUS DRIVER LOOKED DOWN

TO BUCKLE HER SEATBELT AND RAN INTO A PICK UP TRUCK,

THEN PANICKED AND ACCELERATED INTO ANOTHER CAR.

NO CHILDREN ON BOARD WERE HURT.

17 ARRESTED IN DRUG BUST-VO

SEVENTEEN SUSPECTED DRUG DEALERS ARE OFF THE STREETS IN FORT MYERS.

A SIX MONTH INVESTIGATION LED TO THE BUST, WHICH CAUGHT SEVERAL SUSPECTS SELLING DRUGS NEAR SCHOOLS.

TAKE A LOOK--

UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES SAY THESE DEALERS WERE SELLING ALL SORTS OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS -- INCLUDING COCAINE, MORPHINE, HEROINE AND MARIJUANA.

BEER FRIDGE BURGLARY-OC VO - OC

THIS MORNING A CAPE CORAL MAN FACES BURGLARY AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF CHARGES.

AND THE WHOLE INCIDENT LEADING TO HIS ARREST IS CAUGHT ON TAPE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM MICELI'S RESTAURANT ON MATLACHA.

DEPUTIES SAY 28 YEAR OLD DOUGLAS ROOT CLIMBED A FENCE --

THEN TRIED TO GET INTO THE RESTAURANT'S BEER COOLER.

DEPUTIES SAY HE WAS TRYING TO GET HIS HANDS ON ALOCHOL -

AFTER ANOTHER PLACE REFUSED TO SERVE HIM.

PG SPEEDWAY RACES-VO

THE PUNTA GORDA SPEEDWAY CANCELLED RACES THIS WEEKEND.

THE SPEEDWAY'S WEBSITE EXPLAINS THE CURRENT LEASE BETWEEN THE SPEEDWAY AND THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY -- EXPIRES IN MARCH.

THE CITY SAYS IT HAS TO RAISE THE RENT BY MORE THAN 3-THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH--

BECAUSE OF NEW RESTRICTIONS BY THE F-A-A.

THE SPEEDWAY'S OWNERS SAY THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

OFF AIR TOMORROW MORN-OC

JUST A HEADS UP FOR OUR VIEWERS --

TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL NOT HAVE A NEWSCASTS ON-AIR DUE TO A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL UPGRADE HAPPENING AT OUR BUILDING.

UNFORTUNATLY, WE WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE AND AIR OUR NEWSCASTS BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS WILL BE DOWN.

THERE WILL BE PROGRAMMING ON THE AIR.

THINGS TO DO-2 SHOT (3) CGS

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME THINGS TO DO, THIS WEEKEND -- WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

THE NAPLES ART ASSOCIATION IS PRESENTING THE ANNUAL MERCATO FINE ARTS FESTIVAL.

IT RUNS TODAY AND TOMORROW.

MORE THAN 100 ARTISTS WORKING IN A VARIETY OF STYLES WILL HAVE WORK FOR SALE.

OR YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE GREEK FEST OF FORT MYERS.

IT RUNS ALL WEEKEND.

11 UNTIL 11 TODAY --

AND NOON TO FIVE ON SUNDAY.

IT'S AT THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ON CYPRESS LAKE DRIVE.

AND COMIC DREW CAREY IS BACK ON THE ROAD - AND PERFORMING A SPECIAL 2-NIGHT STAND AT "OFF THE HOOK" COMEDY CLUB ON MARCO ISLAND.

HIS LAST SHOW IS TONIGHT.

TEASE ONE-2 SHOT

RED BULL AND MONSTER---

IT SOUNDS SCARY, AND DOCTORS SAY IT'S EVEN SCARIER WHEN COMPARED TO WHAT THE ENERGY DRINKS CAN DO TO YOUR BODY.

COMING UP IN OUR HEALTH MATTERS REPORT, WE SHOW YOU WHY ENERGY DRINKS ARE LEADING TO A GROWING NUMBER OF VISITS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

TO THE BASEBALL DIAMOND---WHERE THE BOSTON RED SOX HOSTED THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES.

THEY MIGHT AS WELL PLAYED IN EITHER MASSACHUSETTS OR PENNSYLVANIA, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW COLD IT FELT.

THE RED SOX BROUGHT THE HEAT EARLY, BUT COULD THEY KEEP IT FOR THE ENTIRE GAME.

TZ1 A HEALTH-VOWP

SPORTS-VOTOPS

FORECAST OPEN-CLIP

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.

The first weekend in March will certainly not go down as one of those picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weekends across Southwest Florida. In fact, this weekend will be a pretty unusual one for Southwest Florida standards; it's going to be chilly, windy, cloudy, and even rainy at times.

We'll get our Saturday going with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, and thanks to the cloud cover, temps will be very slow to rise through the day. Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the 50s, and most locations will likely only see peak temperatures in the low to mid 60s.

Keep in mind, however, temperatures will feel a bit cooler than what the thermometer might tell us because northerly winds will be rather stiff through the weekend with gusts up to 25 mph.

To further complicate the forecast, there's even the chance for a few light showers during the day as a disturbance heads our way from the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance for some cold rain showers will likely be from tonight through Sunday morning with our rain chance then around 60%. Expect showers to be more numerous along the coast.

By Sunday morning, the combination of clouds, cold temperatures, and scattered rain and wind won't make for the most pleasant of ways to get the day going. Temperatures will start in the mid to low 40s, but the hope is that by Sunday afternoon, the clouds will start to break up, along for some rays of sun. Despite some afternoon sunshine, Sunday will be another chilly one with highs only reaching the low to mid 60s.

Temperatures will be at their lowest point Sunday night into Monday morning as skies start to clear and winds relax. Most of us across the urban corridor will cool into the low 40s with inland locations dipping into the mid 30s by early Monday morning.

HEALTH BEAT PKG-TRAFFIC

WITH THE POPULARITY OF ENERGY DRINKS SOARING, SO ARE THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS SEEKING TREATMENT IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS AFTER DOWNING THESE HIGHLY CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES.

HEALTH BEAT PKG-PKG

ENERGY DRINKS FUELED THOMAS SANDSTORM'S NIGHTLIFE. MIXED WITH ALCOHOL, IT HELPED THE TWENTY-SOMETHING KEEP THE PARTY GOING.

THOMAS SANDSTORM/GAVE UP ENERGY DRINKS

RUNS:

:36 I used to drink some energy in vodka just like everybody else usually does with their energy drink. And that would get me going for a while, but just like everything else that would make me crash even harder at the end. And everything would just go down hill from there.

HEALTH EXPERTS ARE SEEING THE DOWNSIDE.

TWO SHOT: DR. FASHNER & AMY

RUNS:

:29: It says it has 120 milligrams of caffeine per container.

BETWEEN 2007 AND 2011, THE NUMBER OF ENERGY DRINK-RELATED ER VISITS DOUBLED. FROM ABOUT 10-THOUSAND TO NEARLY 21-THOUSAND. ALMOST HALF OF THE EMERGENCIES INVOLVED MIXING THE DRINKS WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

DR. JULIA FASHNER/FAMILY PRACTITIONER

RUNS:

04:59: That's a bigger worry of combining alcohol with any of the energy drinks because the caffeine has the opposite effect of alcohol. So instead of decreasing your brain system, it actually speeds it up. So you don't feel the effects of the alcohol. And it can be very dangerous.

AMY OSHIER/REPORTING

RUNS:

The high levels of caffeine and proprietary stimulants in energy drinks can increase in heart rate and drive up blood pressure. That can spark bouts of insomnia, nervousness, headaches, fast heartbeats- even seizures.

DR. JULIA FASHNER/FAMILY PRACTITIONER

RUNS:

3:02 They are attributing deaths due to these beverages. The other thing with these beverages and toxicities is that it doesn't take much for them to have negative side effects which will lead to a trip to the emergency room.

WHEN IT HAPPENED TO A FRIEND, THOMAS DECIDED TO GIVE THE ENERGY DRINKS A REST.

THOMAS SANDSTORM/GAVE UP ENERGY DRINKS

RUNS:

1:04 That kind of hits close to home because you don't realize how these things are affecting everybody around you.

SPORTS PKG-PKG

TEASE TWO-2 SHOT

IT'S THE GAME THAT OWNS THE WORLD RECORD FOR LARGEST JACKPOT.

AND ITS MAKING ITS WAY TO FLORIDA.

WHEN YOU CAN PLAY FOR MEGA MILLIONS.

PLUS WE SHOW WHY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS STOPPED BY SOME LEE COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

YOU'RE TIME RIGHT NOW.

TZ2 A MEGA MILLION-VO

TZ2 B TWINS READ-VOTOPS

BONITA SLOTS TALLAHASSEE TRIP-VO

HOPING TO HIT THE JACKPOT -

BONITA SPRINGS LEADERS ARE HITTING THE ROAD TO SELL LAWMAKERS ON SLOT MACHINES IN THE CITY.

MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ARE TAKING A CHARTER BUS UP TO TALLAHASSEE TUESDAY.

THEIR GOAL - TO GET LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE A 2 YEAR TEST RUN OF SLOTS AT THE NAPLES FORT MYERS GREYHOUND TRACK, BEFORE LAWMAKERS HAND DOWN A FINAL DECISION ON THE ISSUE.

MEGA MILLIONS-VO WIPE

THE FLORIDA LOTTERY IS ADDING A NEW GAME THAT OWNS THE WORLD RECORD FOR LARGEST JACKPOT.

FLORIDA BECOMES THE 43RD STATE TO JOIN THE MEGA MILLIONS GAME.

NOW THE FLORIDA LOTTERY OFFERS THE TWO BIGGEST JACKPOT GAMES IN THE COUNTRY.

MEGA MILLIONS-SOTVO

"Floridians love Lotto our flagship jackpot game and, of course, the occasional player likes those large jackpots with Powerball. Now we're offering the second most recognized mega multi-state game with Mega Millions and we're really excited about that."

A MEGA MILLIONS TICKET COSTS A DOLLAR -- WHILE POWERBALL IS 2 DOLLAR TO PLAY.

CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN-OC -OTS

FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS --

FORT MYERS POLICE IS CRACKING DOWN ON DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WHO DON'T WEAR THEIR SEAT BELTS.

IT'S PART OF THE CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN.

YOU CAN GET PULLED OVER SOLELY FOR NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT.

TWINS READ ACROSS AMERICA-VOWIPE

TRADING THE BASEBALL GLOVE FOR A BOOK.

SEVERAL LOCAL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS GOT A SPECIAL TREAT FRIDAY.

THEY GOT TO HANG OUT WITH PLAYERS FROM THE MINNESOTA TWINS AT HAMMOND STADIUM.

THE TWINS WERE PROMOTING "READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY" BY READING TO 4-TH GRADERS AT SPRING CREEK ELEMENTARY.

THEY ALSO READ TO STUDENTS AT SIX MILE CHARTER ACADEMY AND SKYLINE ELEMENTARY.

TWINS READ ACROSS AMERICA-SOT VO

Tim Shibuya/Twins Pitcher

8:39 whether you're a teacher, working in a factory, whether you're a baseball player, you're always going to need literacy in order to communicate your ideas clearly to someone 8:47

RACE FOR THE CURE-OC-OTS -SS-BNR

THE SUSAN G KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AWAY.

N-B-C TWO IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE EVENT TO HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER.

IT'S SET FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 9TH AT COCONUT POINT MALL IN ESTERO.

YOU CAN REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, START A TEAM, OR JOIN AN EXISTING TEAM.

TEASE THREE-2 SHOT

STILL TO COME ON NEWS TODAY

THE POPE IS OFFICIALLY IN RETIREMENT.

THE LATEST ON THE SEARCH FOR HIS SUCCESSOR

PLUS

A WAL-MART SHOPPER DECIDES TO TAKE THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS WHEN A MAN TRIES TO STEAL FROM THE STORE.

TZ3 A POPE-VO

TZ3 B WALMART SHOOTING-VOTOPS

HEADLINES-ANIBOXES

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD NO OTHER OPTION.

HE ORDERED THE 85 BILLION ACROSS-THE -BOARD FEDERAL BUDGET CUT CALLED SEQUESTRATION.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU COMING UP.

AND--A FLORIDA MAN MAY HAVE GONE TOO FAR

WHY HE FIRED OFF A GUN AT A WALMART PARKING LOT IN WHAT HE CLAIMS WAS HELPING POLICE.

PLUS--MCDONALDS IS MAKING HEADLINES THIS MORNING.

THE FAST FOOD GIANT IS DROPPING A FEW ITEMS FROM THEIR MENU AND NOT EVERYONE IS "LUVIN IT"

HL1) BUDGET CUTS-VIDBOX

HL3) WALMART SHOOTING-VIDBOX

HL3) GMA FOOD WARS-VIDBOX

MAIN OPEN-CLIP

GOOD MORNING 2-2 SHOT

GOOD MORNING, THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON NBC-2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M KELLY CRESWELL

AND I'M JOE ROETZ.

WE'LL GET A LOOK AT OUR TOP STORIES IN JUST A MINUTE.

BUT FIRST JASON DUNNING JOINS US WITH YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST.

FIRST WEATHER-WX CENTER

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.

The first weekend in March will certainly not go down as one of those picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weekends across Southwest Florida. In fact, this weekend will be a pretty unusual one for Southwest Florida standards; it's going to be chilly, windy, cloudy, and even rainy at times.

We'll get our Saturday going with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, and thanks to the cloud cover, temps will be very slow to rise through the day. Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the 50s, and most locations will likely only see peak temperatures in the low to mid 60s.

Keep in mind, however, temperatures will feel a bit cooler than what the thermometer might tell us because northerly winds will be rather stiff through the weekend with gusts up to 25 mph.

To further complicate the forecast, there's even the chance for a few light showers during the day as a disturbance heads our way from the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance for some cold rain showers will likely be from tonight through Sunday morning with our rain chance then around 60%. Expect showers to be more numerous along the coast.

By Sunday morning, the combination of clouds, cold temperatures, and scattered rain and wind won't make for the most pleasant of ways to get the day going. Temperatures will start in the mid to low 40s, but the hope is that by Sunday afternoon, the clouds will start to break up, along for some rays of sun. Despite some afternoon sunshine, Sunday will be another chilly one with highs only reaching the low to mid 60s.

Temperatures will be at their lowest point Sunday night into Monday morning as skies start to clear and winds relax. Most of us across the urban corridor will cool into the low 40s with inland locations dipping into the mid 30s by early Monday morning.

OBAMA SIGNS BUDGET CUTS-SOTVO

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNED THE SEQUESTRATION ORDER. PUTTING INTO EFFECT 85-BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS.

IN HIS WEEKLY ADDRESS, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID THE SERIES OF HARMFUL BUDGET CUTS HAVE TAKEN EFFECT BECAUSE CONGRESS FAILED TO ACT.

These cuts are not smart. They will hurt our economy and cost us jobs. And Congress can turn them off at any time - as soon as both sides are willing to compromise.

OBAMA SIGNS BUDGET CUTS-WIPE SOTVO

The longer these cuts remain in place, the greater the damage. Economists estimate they could eventually cost us more than 750,000 jobs and slow our economy by over one-half of one percent.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST OF BUDGET WOES.

ON MARCH 27TH--

LEGISLATION FINANCING OUR GOVERNMENT *TEMPORARILY* EXPIRES!

THE SEARCH FOR NEW POPE-VOWIPE

WHILE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH IS ENJOYING RETIREMENT, BACK AT THE VATICAN THE CARDINALS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE CHURCH'S VERSION OF A CAMPAIGN.

ON FRIDAY, THE VATICAN TOOK SOME MOVES TO FORMALIZE THE END OF ONE PONTIFICATE AND THE START OF A CONCLAVE TO CHOOSE THE NEXT.

ON MONDAY, ALL THE CARDINALS WILL START A WEEK OF WHAT'S CALLED GENERAL CONGREGATIONS, MEETINGS TO DISCUSS CHURCH RELATED ISSUES.

THE SEARCH FOR NEW POPE-SOTVO

--SOT--

"Wisdom. And the clarification of the options. And I am sure these meetings will be very edifying. I know the voting in the Sistine Chapel last time, the prayerfulness of the other Cardinals was striking.

SOME CARDINALS HAVE NOT ARRIVED IN ROME AND THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS HAS MADE IT CLEAR THE CONCLAVE'S DATE WILL NOT BE SET UNTIL ALL OF THEM ARE THERE.

TEXAS BRUSH FIRE-OC VO

AUTHORITIES IN TEXAS SAY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A MANDATORY EVACUATION AS A LARGE BRUSH FIRE RIPS THROUGH THE AREA.

OFFICIALS IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS SAY FIREFIGHTERS FROM SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO FIGHT A LARGE BRUSH FIRE.

POLICE CALLED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY'S HELICOPTER TO WARN RESIDENTS OF A MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY TO LEAVE THE AREA.

CA FIRE LATEST-VOTOPS

IN CALIFORNIA FIREFIGHTERS ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS AS THEY BATTLE A MASSIVE FIRE THAT HAS CONSUMED 150 ACRES.

ABOUT 200 FIREFIGHTERS. 24 ENGINES, A HELICOPTER AND OTHER EQUIPMENT ARE ON SCENE BATTLING THE BLAZE.

THERE IS A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.

NAPLES HOUSE FIRE-VOWIPE

THIS MORNING A FAMILY IN COLLIER COUNTY IS THANKFUL EVERYONE MADE IT OUT SAFELY AFTER A FIRE RIPPED THROUGH THEIR GARAGE.

IT HAPPENED AT FAIRWAY CIRCLE --

JUST OFF IMMOKALEE ROAD IN NORTH NAPLES FRIDAY MORNING.

CREWS SHOWED UP WITHIN MINUTES --

AND WERE ABLE TO KEEP FLAMES FROM SPREADING TO THE HOME.

WHILE THE GARAGE IS A LOSS --

NAPLES HOUSE FIRE-SOTVO

Michel Olson/5:19:03 "It could've been far more tragic." All we keep repeating is the fact that our animals are fine and we're alive."

THE RED CROSS IS PUTTING THE FAMILY UP IN A HOTEL FOR NOW.

FL WALMART SHOOTING LATEST-2 SHOT

A FLORIDA MAN IS UNDER FIRE, FOR OPENING FIRE IN A BUSY WALMART PARKING LOT.

AND THIS MORNING, HE CLAIMS, HE FIRED THAT GUN TO STOP A SHOPLIFTER.

BUT AUTHORITIES IN VOLUSIA COUNTY SAY -- HE PUT OTHER SHOPPERS IN DANGER.

FL WALMART SHOOTING LATEST-PKG

"I'll have a statement later."

"Do you still stand by what you did?"

JOSE MARTINEZ HAD NOTHING TO SAY TO US. AS HE LEFT JAIL.

BUT HE HAD PLENTY TO SAY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS SHOOTING.

ORANGE CITY POLICE SAY MARTINEZ FIRED AT LEAST 5 BULLETS THROUGH A BUSY WALMART PARKING LOT. TRYING TO STOP A SHOPLIFTER FROM DRIVING AWAY.

"Put me in danger and other people."

"He put you in danger? How?"

"He tried to run me over."

BUT POLICE SAY HIS ACTIONS WERE NOT SELF-DEFENSE.

TAKE A LOOK AGAIN AT THE VIDEO.

THE SHOPLIFTER RUN OUT OF THE STORE. AND MARTINEZ CHASES.

HE EVEN TRIES TO OPEN THE DOOR. AND ONLY PULLS THE TRIGGER *AFTER THE CAR HAD DRIVEN AWAY.

POLICE SAY THE CAR PUT NOBODY IN DANGER. BUT THE GUNFIRE DID.

BULLETS SHATTERED THE TRUNK AND BACK WINDOW. HIT TWO OTHER CARS. AND CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE STORE MANAGER.

"We'd like to have you answer why you fired after he left."

ORIGINALLY. MARTINEZ SAID HE SHOT. BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MARK THE CAR TO HELP POLICE FIND IT.

NOW. AFTER SEEING THIS VIDEO. EVEN HIS DAD HAS NOT MADE UP HIS MIND.

"All I saw was what was on tv."

"Do you defend what your son did?"

FL WALMART SHOOTING LATEST-OC

SHAUN CHAIYABHAT WITH THAT REPORT --

WE'RE LEARNING MARTINEZ DID HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT.

GROW HOUSE BUST-VO WIPE

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES BUSTED A MARIJUANA GROW HOUSE YESTERDAY.

THE UNDERCOVER RAID HAPPENED AT THIS HOUSE ON BUENA VISTA BOULEVARD AROUND NOON.

THAT HOUSE IS JUST OFF PALM BEACH BOULEVARD.

GROW HOUSE BUST-SOT OC

GARY FRAZEE/NEIGHBOR

51:40 it was just like cops on TV. They went in there and busted the door, yelling and screaming"

NEIGHBORS TELL US THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE JUST MOVED IN AND WERE QUIET.

CAPE VETERANS CRASH FOLO-VOWIPE

WE NOW KNOW THE NAME OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS KILLED IN A CRASH ON VETERAN'S PARKWAY IN CAPE CORAL.

CAPE CORAL POLICE TELL US - JOANNE GRIMES WAS ONE OF TWO PEOPLE KILLED.

THE VENICE WOMAN DIED AFTER THE WHITE VAN SHE WAS RIDING IN FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF.

THE OTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED.

CAPE VETERANS CRASH FOLO-SOTVO

dana coston/ sergeant / cape police

when you start talking about double digit fatalities, you usually are thinking that's the number for the entire year

WESTMINISTER DOG SHOW POISONING-OC

THE OWNER OF A SHOW DOG SAYS HER PRIZE WINNING POOCH WAS POISONED.

WESTMINISTER DOG SHOW POISONING-PKG

REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--

THIS WAS CRUZ-- A 3 YEAR OLD SAMOYED-- AT THE PREMIERE CANINE COMPETITION OF THEM ALL NEW YORK'S WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW HELD IN FEBRUARY.

DAYS LATER, THE DOG DIED IN COLORADO.

A VET THERE DETERMINING RAT POISONING WAS ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF DEATH.

BUT HIS OWNER SUSPECTS SOMETHING MORE SINISTER. THAT SOMEONE DELIBERATELY GAVE THE DOG POISON THAT WOULDN'T KILL HIM RIGHT AWAY.

"Some deranged person, I mean they are out there and they do horrible things all the time, it was somebody that maybe doesn't agree with people who raise and show dogs, maybe they're just crazy."

LYNETTE BLUE HAS NO PROOF.

SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE DOG INGESTED RAT POISON ON HIS OWN--SINCE HE WAS CLOSELY WATCHED.

HER PUREBRED PET ALWAYS FLEW COACH.

IN NEW YORK, HE STAYED WITH HIS HANDLER AT THE NEW YORKER WHICH SAYS IT DOESN'T USE RAT POISON.

IT EVEN OFFERS SPA PACKAGES TO SHOWDOGS.

BLUE SAYS SHE ISN'T RULING OUT ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO PROTEST THE SHOWS.

PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS CALLS ANY HINT OF SUSPICIONS HURLED THEIR WAY-- OUTRAGEOUS.

"PETA has been long protesting the Westminster Dog Show, we're opposed to dog shows across the board because of what it does to these poor dogs. And we think that definitely all cosmetic surgeries on dogs for dog shows should be outlawed."

IN CRUZ'S CASE, HE HAD A PROCEDURE DONE ON HIS VOCAL CORDS TO QUIET HIS BARK. AND THE DOG'S HANDLER SAYS A WOMAN DURING THE WESTMINSTER SHOW CALLED HIM CRUEL.

BUT THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOWNPLAYS THE LIKELIHOOD OF DELIBERATE POISONING. SAYING NONE OF ROUGHLY 27 HUNDRED DOGS AT THE SHOW HAD ANY PROBLEMS.

ADDING. "WE HAVE NEVER, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, HAD AN INCIDENT AT OUR SHOW WHERE A DOG HAS BECOME ILL OR WAS HARMED AS A RESULT OF BEING POISONED."

BACK IN 1865, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT 8 DOGS WERE POISONED THE MORNING BEFORE THE WESTMINSTER COMPETITION.

THE MOTIVE?

JEALOUSY.

WESTMINISTER DOG SHOW POISONING-OC

THAT WAS MARY SNOW REPORTING.

THE OWNER SAYS SHE DIDN'T HAVE FURTHER TESTING DONE BECAUSE SHE WAS UPSET.

F35 CLEARED TO FLY-VO

THE F-35 FIGHTER JET IS CLEARED FOR FLIGHT AGAIN.

THE PENTAGON GROUNDED THE FLEET OF 51 JETS LAST WEEK.

A ROUTINE INSPECTION DISCOVERED A CRACK ON AN ENGINE COMPONENT IN ONE OF THE JETS.

THE PENTAGON SAYS NO ADDITIONAL CRACKS WERE FOUND.

THE F-35 IS THE MILITARY'S MOST EXPENSIVE WEAPONS SYSTEM--

FIRST FEMALE LEADER AIR FORCE ACADEMY -VO

IT'S A FIRST FOR THE THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY---A FEMALE LEADER.

DEFENSE SECRETARY CHUCK HAGEL MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY.

MAJOR GENERAL MICHELLE JOHNSON WOULD BE THE SCHOOL'S 19TH SUPERINTENDENT --- AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THE JOB.

MAJOR GENERAL JOHNSON IS A COMMAND PILOT WITH MORE THAN 36-HUNDRED FLIGHT HOURS WHO IS CURRENTLY NATO'S DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE.

LEE HOUSING NUMBERS-OC-(4)CGS

MIXED NEWS FOR THE LOCAL HOUSING INDUSTRY.

FIRST THE GOOD.

HOME PRICES ARE GOING UP.

THE MEDIAN PRICE SHOT UP TO 140-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

22-PERCENT HIGHER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

CONDO PRICES ARE ALSO HIGHER.

THEY'RE UP NEARLY 6-PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR.

NOW THE BAD.

SALES DROPPED MORE THAN 12-PERCENT.

SCREAM AT A BUM FOR 50 CENTS A MIN-VOWIPE

ANGRY? FRUSTRATED? SCREAM AT A BUM. FOR 50 CENTS A MINUTE.

THAT'S WHAT ONE PANHANDLER IS OFFERING DRIVERS AS A WAY TO LET OFF STEAM.

YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THE SIGN - AT FIRST. ESPECIALLY IF YOU GET A GREEN.

BUT WHEN DRIVERS DO SEE IT THEY SAY IT GIVES THEM THE GIGGLES.

SCREAM AT A BUM FOR 50 CENTS A MIN-SOTVO

It was really creative. It was something different. It kind of made me laugh."

I had one girl who paid me to go over here and get a picture of her choking me."

THINGS TO DO-2 SHOT (3) CGS

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME THINGS TO DO, THIS WEEKEND -- WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

THE NAPLES ART ASSOCIATION IS PRESENTING THE ANNUAL MERCATO FINE ARTS FESTIVAL.

IT RUNS TODAY AND TOMORROW.

MORE THAN 100 ARTISTS WORKING IN A VARIETY OF STYLES WILL HAVE WORK FOR SALE.

OR YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE GREEK FEST OF FORT MYERS.

IT RUNS ALL WEEKEND.

11 UNTIL 11 TODAY --

AND NOON TO FIVE ON SUNDAY.

IT'S AT THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ON CYPRESS LAKE DRIVE.

AND COMIC DREW CAREY IS BACK ON THE ROAD - AND PERFORMING A SPECIAL 2-NIGHT STAND AT "OFF THE HOOK" COMEDY CLUB ON MARCO ISLAND.

HIS LAST SHOW IS TONIGHT.

TEASE FOUR-2 SHOT

STILL TO COME ON NEWS TODAY.

TWO BEER DRINKERS HAVE STARTED A CLASS ACTION SUIT SAYING THEY'RE BEING "CHEATED" BY BUDWEISER.

WE TAKE THEIR ACCUSATIONS STRAIGHT TO THE EXPERTS.

HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.

PLUS ITS THE BATTLE OF THE FAST FOOD GIANTS.

MCDONALD'S IS SHAKING UP ITS MENU TO COMPETE WITH RIVALS.

TZ4 A BUD TEST-VO WIPE

TZ4 B MCDONALDS-VOTOPS

FORECAST OPEN-CLIP

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.

The first weekend in March will certainly not go down as one of those picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weekends across Southwest Florida. In fact, this weekend will be a pretty unusual one for Southwest Florida standards; it's going to be chilly, windy, cloudy, and even rainy at times.

We'll get our Saturday going with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, and thanks to the cloud cover, temps will be very slow to rise through the day. Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the 50s, and most locations will likely only see peak temperatures in the low to mid 60s.

Keep in mind, however, temperatures will feel a bit cooler than what the thermometer might tell us because northerly winds will be rather stiff through the weekend with gusts up to 25 mph.

To further complicate the forecast, there's even the chance for a few light showers during the day as a disturbance heads our way from the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance for some cold rain showers will likely be from tonight through Sunday morning with our rain chance then around 60%. Expect showers to be more numerous along the coast.

By Sunday morning, the combination of clouds, cold temperatures, and scattered rain and wind won't make for the most pleasant of ways to get the day going. Temperatures will start in the mid to low 40s, but the hope is that by Sunday afternoon, the clouds will start to break up, along for some rays of sun. Despite some afternoon sunshine, Sunday will be another chilly one with highs only reaching the low to mid 60s.

Temperatures will be at their lowest point Sunday night into Monday morning as skies start to clear and winds relax. Most of us across the urban corridor will cool into the low 40s with inland locations dipping into the mid 30s by early Monday morning.

BUDWEISER BEER TEST-OC

WATER IS THE MAIN INGREDIENT IN BEER, BUT TWO PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA CLAIM THEIR BEER SEEMS EVEN MORE WATERED DOWN.

SO THEY FILED A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST BUDWEISER.

BUDWEISER BEER TEST-PKG

THE ACCUSATIONS COULD BE COSTLY.A SERIES OF LAWSUITS ALLEGING BUDWEISER AND OTHER ANHEUSER-BUSCH BEERS ARE WATERED-DOWN, WELL BELOW THE ALCOHOL LEVELS ADVERTISED ON THE LABELS. CNN CONDUCTED ITS OWN TEST- AND THE RESULTS ARE IN. AN INDEPENDENT LAB IN SAN DIEGO, WHITE LABS, TESTED FOUR ANHEUSER-BUSCH BEERS FOR US. FOR BUDWEISER: THE LABEL SAYS IT'S 5-PERCENT ALCOHOL BY VOLUME. THE ACTUAL ALCOHOL LEVEL IN THE BOTTLE TESTED BY WHITE LABS: 4.94-PERCENT. FOR BUD LIGHT: THE LABEL SAYS 4.2-PERCENT. THE ALCOHOL LEVEL IN OUR TEST: 4.14-PERCENT. BUD LIGHT LIME: ON THE LABEL: 4.2-PERCENT. OUR TEST CAME BACK AT 4.13-PERCENT ALCOHOL BY VOLUME. AND FOR BUD ICE: THE LABEL SAYS IT'S 5.5-PERCENT ALCOHOL. OUR TEST SHOWED 5.35-PERCENT. THIS REPORT IS ONLY REPRESENTATIVE OF ONE CAN OF EACH BREW THAT WAS TESTED. IT CANNOT BE USED TO GENERALIZE ALL LOTS AND BATCHES OF THIS BEER. THE KEY QUESTION: DO THOSE LEVELS MEET U-SGOVERNMENT STANDARDS FOR ACCURACY ON THE LABELS? IT APPEARS, THEY DO. AN OFFICIAL AT THE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO, TAX AND TRADE BUREAU-- WHICH TESTS BEERS-- TELLS US THE ACTUAL ALCOHOL LEVELS HAVE TO COME WITHIN 3-TENTHS OF ONEPERCENT OF WHAT'S ON THE LABEL- AND ALL THOSE RESULTS ARE WITHIN THAT SPAN.

OUR SAMPLES RAN THROUGH AN ANTON PAAR ALCOLYZER: A SOPHISTICATED DEVICE USED BY BREWERS AND TESTING LABS, TO MEASURE ALCOHOL BY VOLUME IN EACH SAMPLE. IT'S SAID TO BE ACCURATE TO WITHIN ONE OR TWO-HUNDREDTHS OF A PERCENT."

THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ANHEUSER-BUSCH SAYS THE ALCOHOL CONTENT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT'S DISPLAYED ON THE LABELS. THE PLAINTIFFS ATTORNEYS SAY THEY BELIEVE A TYPICAL BOTTLE OF BUD HAS 4.7-PERCENT ALCOHOL. AS FOR OUR TESTS SHOWING IT'S HIGHER:

BUDWEISER BEER TEST-OC

THAT WAS BRIAN TODD REPORTING.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH RESPONDED TO THE LAB TESTS BY SAYING:

SPACE X TROUBLE-VOTOP-OC

THIS IS VIDEO FROM YESTERDAY'S SPACE-X'S LIFTOFF FROM CAPE CANAVERAL.

THE UNMANNED DRAGON CAPSULE WAS SCHEDULED TO DELIVER SUPPLIES TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, BUT EXPERIENCED TROUBLE WITH ITS THRUSTERS SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF.

ABOUT 12-HUNDRED POUNDS OF SUPPLIES WERE ON THAT SPACECRAFT.

OFFICIALS SAY, ALL FOUR SETS OF MANEUVERING THRUSTERS SHOULD BE WORKING SOON.AND THAT THE PROBLEM BE HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF A STRUCK VALVE OR LINE BLOCKAGE.

SPRING BREAK PREPS-VOWIPE

THIS WEEKEND--

THE FIRST WAVE OF SPRING BREAKERS WILL HIT FORT MYERS BEACH.

AND PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND ARE PREPARING FOR THE SUDDEN INFLUX OF COLLEGE STUDENTS.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS DURING PEAK SEASON, THE ISLAND'S POPULATION TYPICALLY SWELLS TEN FOLD, TO 65 THOUSAND.

SPRING BREAK PREPS-SOTVO

educate them that this is a pedestrian friendly island and that the car does not have the right of way

SUN SPLASH OPENS-CG

AND YOU KNOW SPRING'S COMING WHEN SUN SPLASH OPENS!

THE FAMILY WATERPARK IN CAPE CORAL OPENS FOR THE SEASON *NEXT* SATURDAY.

IT'S ONLY OPEN WEEKENDS UNTIL SUMMER

GMA FOOD WARS-2 SHOT

NEXT TIME YOU GO TO MCDONALD'S, YOU MIGHT NOTICE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE SNACKS HAS DISAPPEARED.

THE FAST FOOD GIANT IS STRATEGICALLY DROPPING SOME OF ITS MENU ITEMS.

IS MICKEY-DS REACTING TO PRESSURE FROM

ITS SURGING RIVALS? AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LOYAL CUSTOMERS? ABC'S

GMA FOOD WARS-PKG

Nat- "Do do do do do"

COULD IT BE WE'RE NOT REALLY LOVING ALL OF THE ITEMS ON OUR MCDONALD'S MENUS

?

THE FAST-FOOD GIANT IS PUTTING FOODS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS ON THE

CHOPPING BLOCK.

FIRST TO GET SLICED --- SELECT CHICKEN STRIPS -

NEXT FRUIT AND WALNUT SALADS ARE GONE SURE TO DISAPPOINT ITS FANS.

AND THOSE ANGUS THIRD POUNDERS, WELL, THEY MAY ALSO BE GOING THE WAY OF THE

MC D-L-T --

Nat- McD's DLT commercial

"MCD-L-T!"

THE COMPANY SAYS IT "MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO ADD AND WHAT TO REMOVE

FROM OUR MENU ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS."

BUT THE CHANGES COME JUST AS THE FAST FOOD WARS ARE HEATING UP.

MCDONALD-LAND HAS GOTTEN USED TO THE HAMBURGLAR MAKING OFF WITH THE FOOD.

NATS - "Bye bye"

.BUT LATELY, CHIEF RIVALS BURGER KING AND WENDY'S HAVE BEEN CATCHING UP

WITH SALES.**

IN JANUARY, MCDONALDS REPORTED ITS FIRST MONTHLY SALES DROP IN NINE YEARS,

JUST AFTER ITS COMPETITION ANNOUNCED AN INCREASE, WITH BOTH CHAINS CREDITING

MENU CHANGES FOR THE BOOST.

BURGER KING IS TARGETING COFFEE

Nat- BK coffee commercial

WITH ITS NEW GOURMET BLENDS

Nat- "I love coffee!

AND WENDY'S IS PROMOTING NOT JUST ITS PREMIUM INGREDIENTS.

Nat - Wendy's commercial

"It's north pacific cod. It's right on the bag."

.BUT PREMIUM DIGS TOO-- REMODELING ITS RESTAURANTS TO INCLUDE FIREPLACES.

DON'T EXPECT RONALD AND COMPANY TO GO QUIETLY, THOUGH

Nat- "Fishy Fishy" McD's commercial

GMA FOOD WARS-OC

THAT WAS LINZIE JANIS REPORTING.

IN A PUBLIC STATEMENT, CEO DON THOMPSON BLAMED THE ECONOMY FOR THE SALES DIP.

SPRINT PROTECTION PKGS-VOTOPS

AND --

SPRINT IS OFFERING CUSTOMERS A SECOND CHANCE TO PURCHASE "PROTECTION PACKAGES" FOR THEIR PHONES, TABLETS, AND OTHER DEVICES.

CUSTOMERS WHO OPTED OUT OF PROTECTION PLANS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE CAN ENROLL ANY TIME THIS MONTH.

THE COST RANGES FROM EIGHT TO ELEVEN DOLLARS A MONTH, PER LINE.

EXOTIC ANIMAL AMNESTY DAY-2 SHOT

IF YOU'VE BEEN HOARDING AN EXOTIC PET IN YOUR HOME THAT YOU WANT TO GET RID OF WITHOUT GETTING IN TROUBLE, THEN TODAY IS YOUR DAY.

THE CALUSA NATURE CENTER IS TAKING IN ALL KINDS OF CRITTERS FOR ITS ANIMAL AMNESTY DAY.

EXOTIC ANIMAL AMNESTY DAY-PKG

LARGE LIZARDS AND SERIOUS SNAKES --

Steve Masek, Snake Handler

2608 "one of these snakes coming of the egg is 6-8 inches, no bigger than your thumb. They're cute and cuddly."

REVEAL A DANGEROUS DILEMMA FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- ONLY AMPLIFIED -- IF YOU LET YOUR UNWANTED PET WALK, CRAWL, OR SLITHER FREE.

Liz Barraco, FWC Wildlife Amnesty Program

04:17 "on one hand, you're being unfair to the animal and on the other you have a lot of nature wildlife can be effected."

Steve Campion, Reporter

"this little lady is the notorious Burmese python. The biggest one caught on record in the state of Florida was found in the Everglades coming in at 17 feet long."

Erin Myers, US Fish and Wildlife Service

11:08 "if you do a little homework you'll find out which ones are better pets than others."

WILDLIFE EXPERTS WARN -- THE REPTILES YOU SEE ON DISPLAY IN PET SHOPS -- CAN GROW INTO A NIGHTMARE.

Myers

1135 "the iguanas you buy them as cute, little green iguanas. A few years later they can be extremely aggressive, scratching. They can do a lot of damage to children."

BIOLOGISTS BLAME HUMANS FOR UNLEASHING -- INVASIVE SPECIES LIKE BURMESE PYTHONS AND BLACK SPINEY TAIL IGUANAS INTO NATIVE FLORIDA.

THEY'RE ON A MISSION -- TO SLOW THEM FROM SPREADING ACROSS THE STATE.

TOMORROW AT THE CALUSA NATURE CENTER FROM TEN TO TWO IN FORT MYERS-- IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN IN ANY EXOTIC ANIMAL YOU CAN'T CARE FOR OR SIMPLY DON'T WANT.

Liz BARRACO, FWC amnesty program

03:45 "no questions asked even if you're missing the proper permitting or if it's an animal you really shouldnt own."

SINCE THE AMNESTY PROGRAM'S START -- FWC'S TAKE IS MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND ANIMALS.

LAST YEAR ALONE -- PEOPLE TURNED OVER FOUR HUNDRED CREATURES TO THE AGENCY.

THOSE WHO HANDLE SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ONES -- CALL THE SURRENDERS A SMART MOVE.

OUT IN THE WILD -- THIS MOUTH CAN HAVE A MIGHT CHOMP.

Masek

2708 "this guy will pound down a 4 1/2 pound rabbit."

TEASE FIVE-2 SHOT

A SURPRISING TWIST IN THE TRIAL OF LOCAL MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS SON.

UP NEXT WE SHOW YOU WHY HE TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

AND VIDEO YOU HAVE TO SEE.

A DRIVER IN IOWA ESCAPED A FALLING SEMI.

TZ5A) COSTELLO TRIAL-VO

TZ5B) DRIVER ESCAPES FALLING SEMI-VOTOPS

HEADLINES-ANIBOXES

FOUR BANK ROBBERIES IN *ONE WEEK.

AND NOW THE MEN ACCUSED HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT.

WE HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE COURTHOUSE.

PLUS A 16 YEAR OLD TEEN, GUN DOWN OUTSIDE OF A RESTAURANT, WILL BE LAID TO REST TODAY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HEAR FROM HER FAMILY.

AND A MAN NARROWLY ESCAPES DEATH.

HL1) BANK ROBBERY-VIDBOX

HEADLINE 2 KANASHA ISSAC-VIDBOX

HEADLINE 3 DRIVER ESCAPES-VIDBOX

NEWS OPEN-CLIP

GOOD MORNING 3-1 SHOT

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME BACK TO THE FINAL HALF HOUR OF NBC-2 NEWS TODAY.

I'M KELLY CRESWELL

AND I'M JOE ROETZ.

WE'LL HAVE YOUR TOP STORIES OF THE DAY IN JUST ONE MINUTE.

FIRST WEATHER-WX CENTER

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.

The first weekend in March will certainly not go down as one of those picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weekends across Southwest Florida. In fact, this weekend will be a pretty unusual one for Southwest Florida standards; it's going to be chilly, windy, cloudy, and even rainy at times.

We'll get our Saturday going with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, and thanks to the cloud cover, temps will be very slow to rise through the day. Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the 50s, and most locations will likely only see peak temperatures in the low to mid 60s.

Keep in mind, however, temperatures will feel a bit cooler than what the thermometer might tell us because northerly winds will be rather stiff through the weekend with gusts up to 25 mph.

To further complicate the forecast, there's even the chance for a few light showers during the day as a disturbance heads our way from the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance for some cold rain showers will likely be from tonight through Sunday morning with our rain chance then around 60%. Expect showers to be more numerous along the coast.

By Sunday morning, the combination of clouds, cold temperatures, and scattered rain and wind won't make for the most pleasant of ways to get the day going. Temperatures will start in the mid to low 40s, but the hope is that by Sunday afternoon, the clouds will start to break up, along for some rays of sun. Despite some afternoon sunshine, Sunday will be another chilly one with highs only reaching the low to mid 60s.

Temperatures will be at their lowest point Sunday night into Monday morning as skies start to clear and winds relax. Most of us across the urban corridor will cool into the low 40s with inland locations dipping into the mid 30s by early Monday morning.

TOSS TO LEIGH-2 SHOT

NEW AT 10 -

BOND IS SET FOR TWO SUSPECTED LEE COUNTY BANK ROBBERS.

DETECTIVES SAY DANIEL BALL AND JOSE FIGUEROA ARE BOTH INVOLVED IN SEPARATE BANK ROBBERIES FROM THIS PAST WEEK.

NBC2S LEIGH DANA WAS INSIDE THE COURTROOM THIS MORNING

BANK ROBBER IN COURT-REM-LIVE

BANK ROBBER IN COURT-VO

Daniel ball

Daniel ball's bond was set for 170 thousand dollars.

He faces several charges this morning including robbery with a firearm, and grand auto theft.

BANK ROBBER IN COURT-WIPE VO

Take vo - Jose Figueroa

as for Jose Figueroa,

His bond was set at 30,000 dollars.

BANK ROBBER IN COURT-REMLIVE

SUSPECTED ROBBERS CAUGHT-OTS-SS

NEW THIS MORNING --

AFTER A WEEK ON THE RUN, TWO SUSPECTED BANK ROBBERS AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

DANIEL BALL AND JOSE FIGUEROA ARE IN JAIL, AND JUST MADE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE BEFORE A LEE COUNTY JUDGE.

BANK ROBBERIES-SSTOPS

AUTHORITIES SAY BALL ROBBED THE FIFTH-THIRD BANK ON SUMMERLIN AND BOY SCOUT MONDAY.

THEN THEY BELIEVE HE HIT THE EDISON NATIONAL BANK IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS THURSDAY.

AND THEN A FIFTH-THIRD BANK IN SOUTH FORT MYERS FRIDAY.

THIS IS NOT BALL'S FIRST RUN-IN WITH THE LAW.

BANK ROBBERIES-VOTOPS

WE BROKE THIS NEWS TO YOU LAST NIGHT DURING THE NEWS AT 11.

HERE'S HOW IT ALL HAPPENED --

AUTHORITIES SAY IT WAS THE QUICK THINKING OF A BANK TELLER WHO RECOGNIZED BALL AND PUSHED THE SILENT ALARM, GIVING DETECTIVES A HEAD START.

WELLS FARGO 31 ROBBERY-SSTOPS-VO -SS

AND THAT OTHER SUSPECTED ROBBER -- JOSE FIGUEROA -- IS ALSO IN THE LEE COUNTY JAIL.

HE WAS ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY ROBBING A WELLS FARGO ON PALM BEACH BOULEVARD FRIDAY.

A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE ROBBERY, DEPUTIES SPOTTED A VEHICLE MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE BANK SCENE.

A K-9 TRACKED DOWN FIGUEROA.

WE'RE LEARNING BOTH MEN AT LEAST ONE OF THE MEN IS EXPECTED TO GO BEFORE A JUDGE TODAY --

SEQUESTER UPDATE-VO

THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED.

STARTING THIS MORNING----BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL BE CUT FROM FEDERAL ACCOUNTS.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SIGNED AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE GOVERNMENT TO START THE 85 BILLION IN CUTS---OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SEQUESTER.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTED TO REPLACE THE CUTS WITH TAX INCREASES AND CUTS SPREAD OUT OVER TIME.NOT JUST IN THE NEXT YEAR.

REPUBLICANS REJECTED ANY PLAN THAT INCLUDED RAISING TAXES.

THERE WILL BE FURLOUGHS FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

KANASHA ISAAC PLANS-OC-CG-VO

TODAY THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF A 16-YEAR-OLD IMMOKALEE GIRL, GUNNED DOWN IN FORT MYERS WILL CELEBRATE HER LIFE.

KANASHA ISAAC'S FUNERAL WILL BE HELD AT ONE THIS AFTERNOON AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN IMMOKALEE AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

ONE WEEK AGO -- ISAAC WENT WITH HER BOYFRIEND AND FRIENDS TO THE FORT MYERS ALE HOUSE.

AS THEY LEFT THE RESTAURANT--

OFFICERS SAY HENRY BRUNSON PULLED UP AND OPENED FIRE.

A BULLET HIT ISAAC IN THE FACE.

DOCTORS PRONOUNCED HER DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL--

FORT MYERS POLICE SAY ISAAC WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT AT THE TIME.

KANASHA ISAAC PLANS-SOTVO

***SOT FULL***

CINDY GARCIA/ COUSIN - 48:10-18 she was just that type of girl that would brighten up your day. She was sweet, loving, everything.

LEE MARIJUANA GROW HOUSE-VOWIPE

IT WAS A BUSY FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES.

DURING AN UNDERCOVER RAID, INVESTIGATORS FOUND DOZENS OF MARIJUANA PLANTS IN A LEE COUNTY GROWHOUSE.

THE BUST HAPPENED FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT A HOUSE ON BUENA VISTA BOULEVARD, JUST OFF OF PALM BEACH BOULEVARD.

LEE MARIJUANA GROW HOUSE-SOTVO

GARY FRAZEE/NEIGHBOR

51:40 it was just like cops on TV. They went in there and busted the door, yelling and screaming"

NEIGHBORS TELL US THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE JUST MOVED IN AND KEPT TO THEMSELVES.

17 ARRESTED IN DRUG BUST-VO

SEVENTEEN SUSPECTED DRUG DEALERS ARE OFF THE STREETS IN FORT MYERS.

A SIX MONTH INVESTIGATION LED TO THE BUST, WHICH CAUGHT SEVERAL SUSPECTS SELLING DRUGS NEAR SCHOOLS.

TAKE A LOOK--

UNDERCOVER DETECTIVES SAY THESE DEALERS WERE SELLING ALL SORTS OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS -- INCLUDING COCAINE, MORPHINE, HEROINE AND MARIJUANA.

COSTELLO TRIAL-VO WIPE

NOW TO THE LATEST IN A LOCAL MURDER TRIAL --

IN A SURPRISE MOVE. ACCUSED KILLER, RYAN COSTELLO, TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

YESTERDAY, COSTELLO DENIED MURDERING HIS FOUR YEAR OLD SON DARWIN , IN 2010.

HE REBUKED THE STATE'S KEY WITNESS -- HIS EX, WHITNEY SIMONSON.

HE SAYS, SHE CAME HOME DRUNK --

THAT'S WHEN A FIGHT BROKE OUT, MOVING UPSTAIRS TO A MARIJUANA GROW ROOM IN THE COUPLE'S HOUSE.

COSTELLO TRIAL-SOTVO

I noticed Darwin wasn't in my hands wasn't doing too well, bluish, sounded funny. Gasping for air like you got the wind knocked out of you.

DEADLY MOTORCYCLE CRASH UPDATE-SS-VO

THE WIDOW OF A MOTORCYCLIST KILLED IN WEDNESDAY'S CAPE CORAL CARSH SPEAKS OUT.

TELLING US SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO FIND OUT IF THEIR BABY WAS A BOY OR A GIRL --

WHEN SHE PASSED THE DEADLY WRECK.

BRITTNEY FAILS-- SEEN HERE IN A WEDDING PHOTO WITH HER HUSBAND ALVIN.

SAYS THE TWO WERE TRAVELING SEPARATELY…

ALVIN WAS ON HIS MOTORCYCLE.

BUT AS SHE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION OF DEL PRADO AND NORTHEAST 3RD STREET.

DEADLY MOTORCYCLE CRASH UPDATE-SOTVO

BRITTNEY FAILS, WIDOW: they had already had him loaded in the ambulance I didn't get to see him all I saw was his socks hanging from the door

THE TRAFFIC REPORT STATES ALVIN HIT THE BACK OF A CAR MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO THIRD STREET.

HE WAS THROWN FROM HIS BIKE AND DIED.

DRIVER ESCAPES FALLING SEMI-NATS VO

INCREDIBLE VIDEO THIS MORNING

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT.

WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SEMI TRUCK TOPPLES OVER THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

explosion

THIS HAPPENED IN WATERLOO, IOWA.

THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL ON A PATCH OF ICE.

THE CAB WAS DANGLING OVER THE EDGE.

SO THE DRIVER SMARTLY GRABBED HIS BELONGINGS AND JUMPED OUT.

SHORTLY AFTER THAT --

THE TRUCK FELL.

IT WAS FILLED WITH MAGNESIUM ENGINE PARTS.

THAT MADE THE FIRE BURN BRIGHT AND POP LIKE POPCORN.

THE DRIVER'S FINE.

OFF AIR TOMORROW MORN-OTS-OC

JUST A HEADS UP FOR OUR VIEWERS --

TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL NOT HAVE A NEWSCASTS ON-AIR DUE TO A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL UPGRADE HAPPENING AT OUR BUILDING.

UNFORTUNATLY, WE WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE AND AIR OUR NEWSCASTS BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS WILL BE DOWN.

THERE WILL BE PROGRAMMING ON THE AIR.

TEASE SIX-ON CAM

THIS MORNING WE GET A RARE LOOK AT THE WORLD.

.FROM THE VIEW OF A WORLD WAR TWO PILOT.

NBC2'S TAKES YOU UP AND AWAY IN AN OLD WAR BIRD.

PLUS--YOUR NEVER TOO OLD TO WORK OUT.

TZ6A) WW1 PLANE-VOWP

TZ6B) 105 YO OLD BDAY-VOTOPS

MR. GREENTHUMB-PKG

FORECAST OPEN-CLIPTOPS

FORECAST-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.

The first weekend in March will certainly not go down as one of those picture perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weekends across Southwest Florida. In fact, this weekend will be a pretty unusual one for Southwest Florida standards; it's going to be chilly, windy, cloudy, and even rainy at times.

We'll get our Saturday going with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50s, and thanks to the cloud cover, temps will be very slow to rise through the day. Daytime highs will struggle to climb out of the 50s, and most locations will likely only see peak temperatures in the low to mid 60s.

Keep in mind, however, temperatures will feel a bit cooler than what the thermometer might tell us because northerly winds will be rather stiff through the weekend with gusts up to 25 mph.

To further complicate the forecast, there's even the chance for a few light showers during the day as a disturbance heads our way from the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance for some cold rain showers will likely be from tonight through Sunday morning with our rain chance then around 60%. Expect showers to be more numerous along the coast.

By Sunday morning, the combination of clouds, cold temperatures, and scattered rain and wind won't make for the most pleasant of ways to get the day going. Temperatures will start in the mid to low 40s, but the hope is that by Sunday afternoon, the clouds will start to break up, along for some rays of sun. Despite some afternoon sunshine, Sunday will be another chilly one with highs only reaching the low to mid 60s.

Temperatures will be at their lowest point Sunday night into Monday morning as skies start to clear and winds relax. Most of us across the urban corridor will cool into the low 40s with inland locations dipping into the mid 30s by early Monday morning.

BARNSTORMERS WWII PLANE-ON CAM

TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME THIS WEEKEND.

ANTIQUE AIRPLANES FROM WORLD WAR TWO--

WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE PUNTA GORDA AIRPORT.

AS OUR CHARLIE KEEGAN LEARNED--

BARNSTORMERS WWII PLANE-PKG

WHEN JOHN MAKINSON GOES FOR A FLIGHT, HE PREFERS AN OLD WAR BIRD.

"I'd rather be in one of these old airplanes than a new one bc they had pride and craftmaship nad they were built to last." John Makinson, History Flight.

EACH PLANE HAS A STORY. THIS 1941 SPEARMAN WAS USED BY THE NAVY TO TRAIN PILOTS IN PENSACOLA.

FOR 9 YEARS, MAKINSON HAS BEEN TAKING THIS AND OTHER PLANES INTO THE AIR TO RAISE MONEY FOR HISTORY FLIGHT.

nats

HE SHOWED ME A FEW BATTLE MANEURVERS IN THE OPEN COCKPIT BYPLANE.

NATS

BACK ON THE GROUND, MAKINSON EXPLAINS HISTORY FLIGHT SPANS THE GLOBE SEARCHING FOR THE REMAINS OF U-S SOLDIERS WHO WENT MISSING IN ACTION DURING WORLD WAR TWO.

"we've located close to 300 MIAs which were in the process of getting their remains brought home to the use and giving them the proper burial they deserve." John Makinson, History Flight.

THE ANNUAL WARBIRDS WEEKEND GIVES PEOPLE AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT SOME 40 ANTIQUE AIRPLANES.

"to hear these big engines roar to see them fly and crank over on a knife's edge that's what it's all about." Zack Olzacki, Warbirds Weekend

BESIDES HISTORY FLIGHT, THE EVENT RAISES MONEY FOR THE WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THE VETERANS AIRLIFT COMMAND.

BOTH ORGANIZATIONS HELP VETERANS WHEN THEIR BENEFITS AREN'T ENOUGH.

nats

SEEING THE OLD PLANES IN ACTION ALWAYS BRINGS MEMORIES BACK TO VETERANS OF THE EAR.

"the open cockpit, the wind blowing through your hair, it's back to the barnstormeing days, so it's a unique experience." John Makinson, History Flight.

105 YO BDAY PARTY-NATSTOPSVO

happy birthday to you

THE GYM MANAGER AT PLANET FITNESS IN NAPLES PRESENTED ITS OLDEST MEMBER WITH A BIRTHDAY CAKE FRIDAY.

FRANCIS SMITH IS CELEBRATING HIS 105TH BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY --

THE SAME DAY AS HIS 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

HE'S BEEN WORKING OUT AT THE GYM THREE DAYS A WEEK FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS FOLLOWING A SHOULDER INJURY.

HIS SECRET TO A LONG LIFE --

105 YO BDAY PARTY-SOTVO

FRANCIS & PRISCILLA SMITH.

choose the rigth booze. I'm a great advocote of good whiskey. He doesn't know this yet. But the cups I had made up say wicked old happy 105th. So that sums it up.

RACE FOR THE CURE-OC-SS OC BNR

THE SUSAN G KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AWAY.

N-B-C TWO IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE EVENT TO HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER.

IT'S SET FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 9TH AT COCONUT POINT MALL IN ESTERO.

YOU CAN REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, START A TEAM, OR JOIN AN EXISTING TEAM.

THINGS TO DO-2 SHOT (3) CGS

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME THINGS TO DO, THIS WEEKEND -- WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

THE NAPLES ART ASSOCIATION IS PRESENTING THE ANNUAL MERCATO FINE ARTS FESTIVAL.

IT RUNS TODAY AND TOMORROW.

MORE THAN 100 ARTISTS WORKING IN A VARIETY OF STYLES WILL HAVE WORK FOR SALE.

OR YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE GREEK FEST OF FORT MYERS.

IT RUNS ALL WEEKEND.

11 UNTIL 11 TODAY --

AND NOON TO FIVE ON SUNDAY.

IT'S AT THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH ON CYPRESS LAKE DRIVE.

AND COMIC DREW CAREY IS BACK ON THE ROAD - AND PERFORMING A SPECIAL 2-NIGHT STAND AT "OFF THE HOOK" COMEDY CLUB ON MARCO ISLAND.

HIS LAST SHOW IS TONIGHT.

TEASE SEVEN-2 SHOT

YOU'RE TIME RIGHT NOW -

TRASH OR TREASURE-SOTTOPS

TRASH OR TREASURE-PKG

TS1) FM BANK ROBBER CAUGHT-TRX SSTOPS

NOW LET'S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY THEY'VE ARRESTED THE TATTOOED MAN --

RESPONSIBLE FOR ROBBING THREE BANKS THIS WEEK.

DEPUTIES SAY DANIEL BALL WALKED IN TO ALL THREE BANKS, IMPLIED HE HAD A GUN, THEN MADE OFF WITH CASH.

INVESTIGATERS TRACKED HIM DOWN TO LEHIGH ACRES LAST NIGHT.

HE WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT A FIGHT.

BALL HAS A LENGTHY ARREST RECORD.

TS2) WELLS FARGO ROBBER CAUGHT-SSTOPS VO

AND THAT OTHER SUSPECTED ROBBER -- JOSE FIGUEROA -- WAS ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY ROBBING A WELLS FARGO ON PALM BEACH BOULEVARD FRIDAY.

A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE ROBBERY, DEPUTIES SPOTTED A VEHICLE MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION FROM THE BANK SCENE.

TS3) KANASHA ISAAC FUNERAL-VOTOPS

THE IMMOKALEE TEENAGER --

GUNNED DOWN OUTSIDE A FORT MYERS RESTAURANT LAST WEEKEND WILL BE LAID TO REST TODAY.

THE FAMILY TELLS US THEY HOPE HER SHORT LIFE WILL HELP SAVE OTHERS --

BECAUSE SHE DONATED HER ORGANS.

THE MAN WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER IS IN JAIL

TS4) FL SINKHOLE-VOTOPS

A GIANT SINKHOLE OPENED UP UNDER A MAN'S BED, SWALLOWING HIM AND ALL OF THE FURNITURE.

HE HAS STILL NOT BEEN FOUND.

OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THE SINKHOLE SERIOUSLY UNSTABLE.

THEY THINK IT MIGHT GROW.

EXPERTS SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

THEY ARE AMAZED THE HOUSE IS STILL STANDING.

FINAL WEATHER-3-SHOT

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

CLOSE-3-SHOT

CREDITS-REM LIVE