SPECIAL OPEN-SOT

DEVELOPING NOW

Extreme Winter Storm

DEVELOPING NOW

Financial Mismanagement

NEW RIGHT NOW

2 Florida Sinkholes

RIGHT NOW ON NBC-2 NEWS TODAY ---

IT COULD BE THE BIGGEST WINTER STORM IN TWO YEARS.

"it's awful because you get the drift on the road and you can't see the road

if it's dark out. it's very treacherous."

FROM MONTANA TO NORTH CAROLINA -- 19 STATES ARE UNDER ADVISORIES, WATCHES AND WARNINGS.

AND DEVELOPING THIS MORNING ---

ALLEGATIONS OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGMENT BY THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

AND NOW THE STATE WANTS TO KNOW WHY.

PLUS, NOT ONE, BUT TWO SINKHOLES, RIGHT NEAR EACHOTHER, RIGHT HERE IN FLORIDA.

WHY EXPERTS SAY THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED.

NEWS TODAY OPEN-CLIP

GOOD MORNING-OMNI-ANIBOX

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA!

IT'S ANOTHER CHILLY ONE AS YOU WAKE UP ---

HERE ARE THE LIVE CURRENT TEMPERATURES.

6:02 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:02 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX CENTER

Today's Weather Story

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.

After another chilly start to the morning, a warm up is in order this Tuesday with daytime highs rebounding nicely into upper 70s this afternoon under full sunshine.

By midday, most areas should warm into the low to mid 70s, and by the afternoon hours, temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 70s. The exception will be close to the coast where the chilly breezy off the Gulf of Mexico will keep highs there in the low 70s.

Winds will become more southwesterly this afternoon, which will be one of the variables leading to our warm up today. You'll also notice the winds picking up some during the day with breezes reaching 15-20 mph.

Rain will stay out of the forecast today through tonight, but by early Wednesday morning, a few light showers will be possible as the next cool front slides through Southwest Florida.

The timing of the rain will be close to sunrise Wednesday, but the showers should be gone by the mid-morning hours, leaving us with sunny skies for the remainder of the day. Once the front clears the area, temperatures will stay fairly cool through the day as winds become more northerly behind the front; most areas should only reach the low 70s for daytime highs.

By Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we'll have another round of temperatures in the mid 40s across the urban corridor and even some mid to upper 30s deeper inland.

Thursday will be another cool day with highs only reaching the low 70s under full sunshine, and then we'll spend another night in the 40s and 50s as we head into your Friday morning.

TRAFFIC ALERT-CLIP

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, LEE CO ENFORCEMENT

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

EXTREME WINTER STORM-TRXTOPS-VIDBOX

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW --- NBC-2 TRACKING NEW STORMS --- AS PARTS OF THE MIDWEST COULD GET UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW TODAY.

IT'S REALLY TWO STORMS, ONE BEING A CLIPPER SYSTEM.

THEY'RE USUALLY FAST MOVING AND DON'T DROP TOO MUCH SNOW.

STATE QUESTIONS LEE SCHOOL BOARD-PLASMA, VO IN PLA

HAPPENING TODAY --- THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO ALLEGATIONS REGARDING SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR JOSEPH BURKE.

NEW DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY THE NBC2 INVESTIGATORS SHED LIGHT ON ONE OF THE POINTS BEING QUESTIONED.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WANTS TO KNOW IF DOCTOR BURKE SUSPENDED AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION CONCERNING ADMINISTRATOR DOCTOR DEEDARA HICKS.

THE 256 PAGES SHOW THAT IN AUGUST 2012 THE STATE BEGAN LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT HICKS CAME TO WORK UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

THE STATE HAS SINCE DROPPED THAT INVESTIGATION SAYING 'AT THIS TIME, FURTHER ACTION BY THIS OFFICE IS NOT WARRANTED.'

BUT IT SEEMS ITS THE CALL BY SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH BURKE TO STOP THE INVESTIGATION BEFORE IT GOT STARTED, THAT HAS THE STATE ASKING QUESTIONS.

STATE QUESTIONS LEE SCHOOL BOARD-TRX-PKG

ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT, ON AUGUST 11TH, 2011, HICKS WAS "OBSERVED BY COLLEAGUES TO HAVE DIFFICULTY WALKING, STAYING AWAKE, SPEAKING, AND EMITTED THE ODOR OF ALCOHOL. "

FIVE MONTHS LATER, A COORDINATOR IN THE DISTRICT BEGAN COLLECTING STATEMENTS ABOUT HICKS' ALLEGED ACTION WITHOUT DR. BURKES KNOWLEDGE.

AFTER THAT, BURKE CONTACTED MULTIPLE PEOPLE AT THE DISTRICT AND STATE LEVEL, EVEN THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, ASKING FOR THE INVESTIGATION TO BE 'DISMISSED.'

THE DOCUMENTS ALSO CONTAIN A LETTER FROM DR. BURKE TO STATE INVESTIGATORS SAYING HE NEVER SMELLED ALCOHOL ON DR. HICKS AND CONCLUDED QUOTE SHE WAS HAVING MEDICAL ISSUES AGAIN.

DR. BURKE GOES ON TO SAY THE ALLEGATIONS WERE LAUNCHED BY A 'DISGRUNTLED' FORMER EMPLOYEE.

NOW, THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO RESPOND TO DR. BURKES INVOLVEMENT INTO THIS INVESTIGATION AT A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING TUESDAY AT 2 P-M.

STATE QUESTIONS LEE SCHOOL BOARD-PLASMA

THE BOARD WILL ALSO HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE STATE ABOUT TWO MORE POINTS-

ONE, SUGGESTING DOCTOR BURKE MOVED ONE-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.

AND TWO - WHETHER BURKE SPENT 293-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY ON TOP LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS. INSTEAD OF STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS AND STATE OF THE STATE-

ALL NEW AS WE LOOK AHEAD TODAY---

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT WILL FOCUS ON JOBS AND EDUCATION WHEN HE MAKES HIS THIRD STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

IT'S SET FOR 11AM.

POPE CONCLAVE-TRXTOPS-VO

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW --- IT IS DAY TWO OF PRE-CONCLAVE MEETINGS AT THE VATICAN.

CARDINALS ARRIVED THIS MORNING FOR ANOTHER SECRETIVE MEETING ON THE DETAILS SURROUNDING CONCLAVE. THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A NEW POPE.

YESTERDAY THE CARDINALS MET AND TOOK AN OATH OF SECRECY, VOWING NOT TO DIVULGE ANY OF THE DETAILS SURROUNDING THESE MEETINGS.

ZIMMERMAN HEARING-TRXTOPS-SS-OC

NEW RIGHT NOW ---- NBC-2 IS LOOKING AHEAD TO A COURT HEARING TODAY FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.

WE'RE TOLD HE'LL MAKE AN APPEARANCE AT 9 THIS MORNING.

WE'RE WORKING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THIS COURT HEARING.

SINKHOLE EXPOSED-TRXTOPS-VO

THIS MORNING WE HAVE MORE ON THE HEARTBREAKING STORY HERE IN FLORIDA, WHERE A SINKHOLE SWALLOWED MOST OF A HOUSE AND KILLED A MAN.

NOW THE FAMILY OF VICTIM JEFF BUSH IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE RESCUE OPERATION.

BUSH'S BROTHER SAYS THAT HE BELIEVES RESCUERS COULD HAVE -QUOTE- 'TRIED HARDER.'

ANOTHER FLORIDA SINKHOLE-TRXTOPS-VO

AND LOOK AT THIS ---

FLORIDA OFFICIALS ARE MONITORING ANOTHER SINKHOLE. JUST THREE MILES FROM THE OTHER ONE.

THE EARTH OPENED UP BETWEEN TWO HOMES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY YESTERDAY.

THERE'S NO REPORTED DAMAGE TO THE HOMES, BUT A FENCE DIVIDING THE PROPERTIES IS BROKEN.

COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO SINKHOLES ARE NOT GEOLOGICALLY CONNECTED,

AND NO EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED.

STOCKS ALL TIME HIGH-OC-CG

NOW WE WANT TO GET TO THE LATEST ON THE BOOMING STOCK MARKET.

BUDGET CUTS-TRXTOPS-OC

AND EVEN THOUGH THE STOCK MARKET MAY BE ON THE RISE, THE AFTERMATH OF THE SEQUESTER HAS NOT BEEN AS POSITIVE.

PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS HE'LL KEEP LOOKING FOR REPUBLICAN PARTNERS TO REACH A DEAL TO EASE OR HEAD OFF THE ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUTS THAT KICKED IN LAST WEEK.

FINANCIAL CRISIS HEARING-HALFSCRN

TAKING ALOOK AHEAD ----

THERE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT HEARING TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT HAS ROCKED THE U-S.

THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON MONETARY POLICY AND TRADE WILL HOLD A HEARING TO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S CONDUCT OF MONETARY POLICY BEFORE, DURING AND SINCE THE CRISIS.

QUARTER HOUR PUSH-2SHOT-VO

IF YOU THINK AIRLINES HAVE RUN OUT OF IDEAS FOR NEW FEES TO CHARGE YOU, THINK AGAIN.

FORECAST TEASE-OMNI

BREAK ONE 6:09:48

HIT TIME 6:09:48

6:12 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:12 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Full Forecast

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.

After another chilly start to the morning, a warm up is in order this Tuesday with daytime highs rebounding nicely into upper 70s this afternoon under full sunshine.

By midday, most areas should warm into the low to mid 70s, and by the afternoon hours, temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 70s. The exception will be close to the coast where the chilly breezy off the Gulf of Mexico will keep highs there in the low 70s.

Winds will become more southwesterly this afternoon, which will be one of the variables leading to our warm up today. You'll also notice the winds picking up some during the day with breezes reaching 15-20 mph.

Rain will stay out of the forecast today through tonight, but by early Wednesday morning, a few light showers will be possible as the next cool front slides through Southwest Florida.

The timing of the rain will be close to sunrise Wednesday, but the showers should be gone by the mid-morning hours, leaving us with sunny skies for the remainder of the day. Once the front clears the area, temperatures will stay fairly cool through the day as winds become more northerly behind the front; most areas should only reach the low 70s for daytime highs.

By Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we'll have another round of temperatures in the mid 40s across the urban corridor and even some mid to upper 30s deeper inland.

Thursday will be another cool day with highs only reaching the low 70s under full sunshine, and then we'll spend another night in the 40s and 50s as we head into your Friday morning.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION?

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

TRAFFIC ALERT BILLBOARD-CLIP

COAST GUARD COCAINE BUST-OC-TRX-VO

ALL NEW THIS MORNING ---

NBC-2 HAS LEARNED ABOUT A MAJOR COCAINE BUST.

A COAST GUARD CREW CONFISCATED 39 BALES OF COCAINE -- WORTH MORE THAN $24 MILLION DOLLARS, ON A SHIP IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA.

CYPRESS LAKE GUN-OC-TRX

THIS MORNING, NEW REVELATIONS,

AFTER DEPUTIES SAY A 15-YEAR-OLD CYPRESS LAKE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER BROUGHT A LOADED GUN ON A SCHOOL BUS,

AND THREATENED TO SHOOT ANOTHER STUDENT.

CYPRESS LAKE GUN-NEWSROOM

GOOD MORNING.

CYPRESS LAKE GUN-VOTOPS

THE STUDENTS WHO WRESTLED THE GUN FROM HIS HAND ON THAT BUS ARE ALSO IN TROUBLE.

A RELEASE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS ALL STUDENTS INVOLVED WILL BE PUNISHED.

WE SPOKE WITH ONE MOTHER OFF CAMERA AFTER HER SON GOT A THREE-DAY SUSPENSION FOR WRESTLING THAT LOADED GUN FROM DAVIS'S HAND.

A LETTER CYPRESS LAKE ADMINISTRATORS SENT HER CLAIMS HER SON LIED TO DEPUTIES AND DID NOT COOPERATE.

CYPRESS LAKE GUN-VO

00:47 "My son did what he had to do."/ 59:30 "I'm going to stand beside my soon 100 percent not matter what."

WE ALSO SPOKE TO THE TEEN WHO SAYS QUADRAYLE DAVIS POINTED THE GUN AT HIM AND THREATENED TO SHOOT.

HE, TOO, DIDN'T WANT TO GO ON CAMERA.

AFRAID OF RETALIATION.

CYPRESS LAKE GUN-SOT-OC

CYPRESS LAKE GUN-NEWSROOM

NBC2 REACHED OUT TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. THEY DID NOT RETURN OUR NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS FOR COMMENT.

COSTELLO TESTIMONY-OC-VO

IT IS NOW DAY SEVEN IN THE TRIAL OF ACCUSED KILLER RYAN COSTELLO.

YESTERDAY HE TOOK THE STAND. DENYING HARMING HIS INFANT SON IN 2010.

THE FORT MYERS MAN FACED TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM PROSECUTORS OVER A TAPED CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH HIS FIANCE SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT.

COSTELLO TOLD HER QUOTE "I KILLED HIM, I'M A MURDERER."

BUT HE TESTIFIED THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.

HE SAID HE WASN'T ADMITTING HE HARMED HIS SON. RATHER COSTELLO FELT GUILTY BECAUSE THE BABY DIED IN HIS CARE.

COSTELLO TESTIMONY-SOTVO

Sot :13

Ryan Costello/Defendant

At:05 since beginning of sot is covered

"10:38:55 this was your fault mr Costello, was it not, that your child died?I felt like it was because he would have been ok if I didn't bring him usptaris. I did not harm him"

BOTH SIDES ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER CLOSING ARGUMENTS TODAY.

COLLIER HIT AND RUN-TRXTOPS-VO-SS

NOW AN NBC-2 UPDATE ---

FLORIDA STATE TROOPERS HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN A HIT AND RUN CRASH THAT SERIOUSLY HURT A MAN.

THE WRECK HAPPENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS LAST THURSDAY, ON GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY, NEAR I-75 IN COLLIER COUNTY.

F-H-P INVESTIGATORS THINK DANIELLE GRAU'S CAR HIT THE BACK OF HOWARD VANPELT'S SCOOTER.

LEE EMS-TRXTOPS-VO-OC

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW --- LEE COUNTY LEADERS ARE ON THE VERGE OF SCRAPPING A PLAN TO PRIVATIZE PART OF ITS GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICE.

AFTER BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS - COMMISSIONERS SAY IT'S SIMPLE:

LEE COUNTY EMS WOULD COST THE COUNTY ONLY 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.

PATIENTS WOULD PAY A BASE COST OF 750 DOLLARS.

WHILE A PRIVATE COMPANY LIKE GRADY EMS OUT OF ATLANTA - WOULD COST THE COUNTY MORE THAN A MILLION A YEAR - AND BILL PATIENTS MORE THAN 16-HUNDRED DOLLARS.

AIRLINE FEES-TRXTOPS-HALFSCRN

NEW RIGHT NOW --- AIR CARRIERS ARE COMING UP WITH EVEN MORE FEES TO CHARGE YOU.

THEY INCLUDE CHARGES TO SPEED THROUGH AIRPORT SCREENING GATES,

BOARD EARLY, AND HAVE CHECKED BAGS DELIVERED.

TEASE TOSS TO BREAK-TRXTOPS-SOTVO

S/ Joe Flacco/Baltimore Ravens Quarterback:11

"when you get a 120-million dollar contract, you don't need to be searching for too much money. so if people are going to get me off my couch, it already takes a lot. so it's going to take a little bit extra now.

BREAK TWO 6:18:05

HIT TIME 6:18:05AM

6:22 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:22 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-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.

After another chilly start to the morning, a warm up is in order this Tuesday with daytime highs rebounding nicely into upper 70s this afternoon under full sunshine.

By midday, most areas should warm into the low to mid 70s, and by the afternoon hours, temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 70s. The exception will be close to the coast where the chilly breezy off the Gulf of Mexico will keep highs there in the low 70s.

Winds will become more southwesterly this afternoon, which will be one of the variables leading to our warm up today. You'll also notice the winds picking up some during the day with breezes reaching 15-20 mph.

Rain will stay out of the forecast today through tonight, but by early Wednesday morning, a few light showers will be possible as the next cool front slides through Southwest Florida.

The timing of the rain will be close to sunrise Wednesday, but the showers should be gone by the mid-morning hours, leaving us with sunny skies for the remainder of the day. Once the front clears the area, temperatures will stay fairly cool through the day as winds become more northerly behind the front; most areas should only reach the low 70s for daytime highs.

By Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we'll have another round of temperatures in the mid 40s across the urban corridor and even some mid to upper 30s deeper inland.

Thursday will be another cool day with highs only reaching the low 70s under full sunshine, and then we'll spend another night in the 40s and 50s as we head into your Friday morning.

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION?

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

EYE 75 AND U-S 41 ALL CLEAR.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

SANIBEL OIL SPILL-OC-TRX-VO

HAPPENING TODAY ---

SANIBEL CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER WHETHER TO HIRE ATTORNEYS TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER IT HAS ANY CLAIMS AFTER THE DISASTROUS OIL SPILL IN THE GULF.

THE MEETING STARTS AT 9AM AT TOWN HALL.

HOTELS ON SANIBEL SAYS GUESTS CANCELLED.MANY OF THEM FEARING BEACHES WERE COVERED IN OIL.

THE CITY SAYS REVENUES FELL THAT SAME YEAR.

NEW GAS PRICES-TRXTOPS-CG-BNR

ALL NEW RIGHT NOW --- NBC-2 TRACKING THE LATEST GAS PRICES AND HERE ARE THE BRAND NEW OVERNIGHT AVERAGES ---

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IT'S $3.85.

IN FLORIDA IT'S $3.81.

AND NATIONALLY IT'S $3.74, ALL DOWN A PENNY FROM YESTERDAY.

DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS PLANS-OC-VO

THIS MORNING WE HAVE A LOOK AT PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

FORT MYERS WANTS TO BRING BASEBALL AND BUSINESS TO DOWNTOWN.

TO DO THAT -CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO REVITALIZE THE OTHER HALF OF DOWNTOWN.

THE AREA ENCOMPASSES MLK TO EDISON AVENUE AND CLEVELAND AVENUE TO FOWLER STREET.

THE CITY WANTS TO BUILD DESIRABLE STREETS TO WALK TO CITY OF PALMS PARK, ALONG WITH MORE BUSINESS AND RETAIL SPACE.

JOE FLACCO IS A RICH MAN-TRXTOPS-SOTVO

but that's not a priority of mine, to be the highest paid guy. the priority of mine was to get that respect that i feel now from this organization."

A COUPLE HOURS AFTER JOE FLACCO SIGNED HIS NEW SIX-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE BALTIMORE RAVENS,

THAT MADE HIM THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER, BY AVERAGE ANNUAL VALUE, IN NFL HISTORY, HE PULLED INTO A RESTAURANT TO CELEBRATE.

HIS CONTRACT MAY BE WORTH $120 MILLION, BUT HE STOPPED AT A MCDONALD'S, LIKE ANYONE WOULD,

CROSS TALK 4 SHOT-4-SHOT

BREAK THREE 6:27:03 AM

HIT TIME 6:27:03

HL1) WX HEADLINE-TRX-OMNI

HL2) EXTREME WINTER WEATHER-TRX-SOTVO

"As soon as we were putting down the pallets of salt they were picking up the bags and walking out with them. I mean everything. They didn't care what type of salt it was. as long as it melted the ice."

HL3) HIT AND RUN SUSPECT AT LARGE-TRX-VO

AND --- A HIT AND RUN SUSPECT AT LARGE THIS MORNING.

A YOUNG MARRIED COUPLE AND THEIR CHILD -- ALL KILLED.

NEWS TODAY OPEN-CLIPTOPS

GOOD MORNING-OMNITOPS-ANIBOX

GOOD MORNING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA!

ANOTHER ROUND OF CHILLY TEMPS AS YOU WAKE UP THIS TUESDAY.

HERE'S A LIVE LOOK AT CURRENT CONDITIONS.

6:32 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:32 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX CENTER

Today's Weather Story

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.

After another chilly start to the morning, a warm up is in order this Tuesday with daytime highs rebounding nicely into upper 70s this afternoon under full sunshine.

By midday, most areas should warm into the low to mid 70s, and by the afternoon hours, temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 70s. The exception will be close to the coast where the chilly breezy off the Gulf of Mexico will keep highs there in the low 70s.

Winds will become more southwesterly this afternoon, which will be one of the variables leading to our warm up today. You'll also notice the winds picking up some during the day with breezes reaching 15-20 mph.

Rain will stay out of the forecast today through tonight, but by early Wednesday morning, a few light showers will be possible as the next cool front slides through Southwest Florida.

The timing of the rain will be close to sunrise Wednesday, but the showers should be gone by the mid-morning hours, leaving us with sunny skies for the remainder of the day. Once the front clears the area, temperatures will stay fairly cool through the day as winds become more northerly behind the front; most areas should only reach the low 70s for daytime highs.

By Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we'll have another round of temperatures in the mid 40s across the urban corridor and even some mid to upper 30s deeper inland.

Thursday will be another cool day with highs only reaching the low 70s under full sunshine, and then we'll spend another night in the 40s and 50s as we head into your Friday morning.

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

At Ortiz and colonial. AX In westbound section of colonial Westbound lanes blocked at intersection. Traffic being diverted onto Ortiz or six mile.

EXTREME WINTER STORMS-OMNITOPS-TRX

RIGHT NOW NBC-2 IS TRACKING WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES, WATCHES AND WARNINGS. IN EFFECT FOR NINETEEN STATES FROM MONTANA TO NORTH CAROLINA.

EXTREME WINTER STORMS-VO IN PLASMA

GOOD MORNING.

THE MIDWEST IS BRACING THIS MORNING FOR YET ANOTHER WAVE OF SNOW AND ICE.

FORECASTERS SAY THE THIS LATEST SYSTEM COULD BE THE ROUGHEST OF THE WINTER - AND THE CHICAGO AREA COULD BE ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT.

UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW IS EXPECTED.

EXTREME WINTER STORMS-SOTVO

mos

"it bypassed us in the winter months. and here it is march is rolling-in like a lion. so it's better to be prepared."

"we don't encourage people to get out and drive, if the weather is really bad."

THIS HUGE STORM IS CALLED AN ALBERTA CLIPPER.

EXTREME WINTER STORMS-VO IN PLASMA

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW. AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT - AS CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.

AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A FEW CANCELLATIONS ON FLIGHTS TO AND ARRIVING FROM CHICAGO MIDWAY.

RSW FLIGHT CHECK-TRXTOPS-TFC-MITTO

AND WE'VE GOT TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU, I'M DANIELLE KOLENIAK TRACKING FLIGHTS RIGHT NOW IN AND OUT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN FORT MYERS ---

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MORE THAN 1-THOUSAND FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED SO FAR TODAY.

THE HARDEST HIT AIRPORTS-- CHICAGO O'HARE AND MIDWAY.

THAT'S WHERE FORECASTERS TELL ME THEY'RE PREDICTING 4 TO 10 INCHES BY TONIGHT.

NOW, THESE CANCELLATIONS ALWAYS HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT.

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A FEW CANCELLATIONS ON FLIGHTS TO AND ARRIVING FROM CHICAGO MIDWAY.

BUT OF COURSE, THIS IS A DEVELOPING SITUATION AND I EXPECT TO SEE MORE CANCELLATIONS LATER THIS MORNING.

COUNT ON US TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON EVERYTHING FOR YOU.

RICK SCOTT STATE OF THE STATE-TRXTOPS-OC

THIS MORNING WE HAVE A SNEAK PEEK AT GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

HE PLANS TO DELIVER IT AT 11 THIS MORNING.

HIS OFFICE SENT US EXCERPTS.

DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE SPEECH, HE PLANS TO SAY -QUOTE- "THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TWO PRIORITIES TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY GROWING: FIRST - REMOVE THE SALES TAX ON MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, AND SECOND - INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS BY PROVIDING THEM A WELL-DESERVED PAY RAISE."

POPE CONCLAVE-TRXTOPS-VO

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW ---

NO CONCLAVE YET.

MORE THAN 100 CATHOLIC CARDINALS HAVE GATHERED IN ROME FOR SECOND DAY --- WHERE THEY COULD SET A DATE FOR THE NEXT CONCLAVE -- WHEN ALL CARDINALS UNDER AGE 80 MEET AT THE VATICAN TO VOTE FOR THE NEXT POPE.

GUN TRAFFICKING DEAL-TRXTOPS-HALFSCRN

NEW RIGHT NOW -- A BIPARTISAN BREAKTHROUGH ON GUN CONTROL.

A GROUP OF SENATORS HAS REACHED A DEAL ON A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT A FEDERAL CRIME TO BUY A GUN FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T LEGALLY ALLOWED TO OWN ONE.

THESE CASES ARE OFTEN NOT PROSECUTED UNDER CURRENT LAW, USUALLY BECAUSE CONDUCTING SUCH A SALE YIELDS SUCH A WEAK PENALTY.

SEQUESTER LATEST-TRXTOPS-OC-SOTVO

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW --- THE SLOW ROLL-OUT OF THE LATEST BUDGET CUTS FROM WASHINGTON IS GIVING THE GOVERNMENT TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM. AND PREVENT THE NEXT FISCAL DISASTER.

WE COULD SEE ACTION THIS WEEK TO PREVENT THE SHUTDOWN, BUT THE CUTS ARE STARTING TO HAVE AN EFFECT.

"I flew before sequestration and now after, the line is definitely longer."

"Does anybody in this country believe that our federal government is so efficient and so effective that we cannot afford to trim two pennies out of every dollar?

"Whether its to teachers, to guidance counselors to support staff." ½FLASH¾"None of these things are good for children or for education."

LAWMAKERS ALSO GOT A MEMO TO CUT THEIR OFFICE BUDGETS BY A LITTLE OVER EIGHT PERCENT.

BRENNAN CONFIRMATION-OC-VO

TAKING A LOOK AHEAD ---

THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE TODAY ON THE NOMINATION OF JOHN BRENNAN TO BE THE C-I-A DIRECTOR.

COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN DIANNE FEINSTEIN BELIEVES BRENNAN HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO MOVE ONTO THE FULL SENATE. AND MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID HAS SAID HE WANTS A FULL SENATE VOTE THIS WEEK.

DEPUTY INVOLVED CRASH FOLO-OC-VO

THIS MORNING HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --- AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING INTO A DEADLY DEPUTY INVOLVED CRASH.

ACCORDING TO FRIENDS, JOHN AND MARILYN STEFFEN WERE ON THEIR WAY TO CHURCH WHEN THEY WERE KILLED SUNDAY.

TROOPERS SAY JOHN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF A LEE COUNTY DEPUTY-- WHO WAS HEADED TO A CALL.

AND THE DEPUTY HIT THE STEFFENS.

EVEN THOUGH F-H-P SAYS THE DEPUTY HAD HIS EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION WHETHER HE HAD HIS SIRENS ON.

HIT AND RUN SUSPECT AT LARGE-TRXTOPS-VO

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW ---

NEW YORK POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT IN A HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED A PREGNANT WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND.

THE COUPLE'S BABY WAS DELIVERED BY C-SECTION BUT LATER DIED.

POLICE PUT OUT A PHOTO--- IDENTIFYING 44 YEAR OLD JULIO ACEVEDO AS A MAN WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CRASH.

THE GLAUBERS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL IN A CAB, BECAUSE PREGNANT RAIZY DID NOT FEEL WELL.

FAMU HAZING MANSLAUGHTER-TRXTOPS-VIDBOX

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN A DEADLY HAZING INCIDENT AT FAMU.

TWELVE FORMER FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY BAND MEMBERS ARE NOW FACING A MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE,

IN THE 2011 HAZING DEATH OF A DRUM MAJOR.

ROBERT CHAMPION DIED IN IN NOVEMBER 2011 AFTER HE COLLAPSED FOLLOWING WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY WAS A SAVAGE BEATING DURING A HAZING RITUAL.

QUARTER HOUR PUSH-2SHOT-SOTVO

REFUSING TO GIVE C-P-R.

IT'S A STORY GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS MORNING, AS THE INVESTIGATION UNFOLDS.

"911: She's gonna die if we don't get this started. Do you understand?"

"GLENWOOD GARDENS: I understand. I am a nurse. But, I cannot have our other senior citizens who don't know CPR."

"911: I will instruct them.is there any there who's willing."

"GLENWOOD GARDENS: I cannot do that."

BREAKING CRASH-MITTO

AND WE'LL UPDATE BREAKING NEWS ON A CRASH INVOLVING A VEHICLE AND DUMP TRUCK.

FIRST ALERT DOPPLER TEASE-OMNI

BREAK FOUR 6:38:53 AM

HIT TIME 6:38:53

6:42 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:42 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Weather Trends

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.

After another chilly start to the morning, a warm up is in order this Tuesday with daytime highs rebounding nicely into upper 70s this afternoon under full sunshine.

By midday, most areas should warm into the low to mid 70s, and by the afternoon hours, temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 70s. The exception will be close to the coast where the chilly breezy off the Gulf of Mexico will keep highs there in the low 70s.

Winds will become more southwesterly this afternoon, which will be one of the variables leading to our warm up today. You'll also notice the winds picking up some during the day with breezes reaching 15-20 mph.

Rain will stay out of the forecast today through tonight, but by early Wednesday morning, a few light showers will be possible as the next cool front slides through Southwest Florida.

The timing of the rain will be close to sunrise Wednesday, but the showers should be gone by the mid-morning hours, leaving us with sunny skies for the remainder of the day. Once the front clears the area, temperatures will stay fairly cool through the day as winds become more northerly behind the front; most areas should only reach the low 70s for daytime highs.

By Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we'll have another round of temperatures in the mid 40s across the urban corridor and even some mid to upper 30s deeper inland.

Thursday will be another cool day with highs only reaching the low 70s under full sunshine, and then we'll spend another night in the 40s and 50s as we head into your Friday morning.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

TRAFFIC ALERT-TRX

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

ALL CLEAR, CONSTRUCTION OR CHAR CO ENFORCEMENT

TAKING A LOOK AT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ROADS RIGHT NOW.

ROADS ARE ALL CLEAR - NO ACCIDENTS OR ROAD BLOCKS TO REPORT.

BREAKING GARBAGE TRUCK CRASH-REM 1

CPR REFUSAL FOLO-OC-TRX-VO

THIS MORNINGAN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY AT A CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY, AFTER A NURSE REFUSED TO ADMINISTER C-P-R ON A RESIDENT WHO LATER DIED.

POLICE SAY THEY'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF ANY CRIMINAL WRONGDOING WAS COMMITTED.

THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED AFTER AN ELDERLY WOMAN COLLAPSED IN THE DINING ROOM OF THE GLENWOOD GARDENS FACILITY IN BAKERSFIELD.

CPR REFUSAL FOLO-(2)SOTVO

"911: Is there a gardener.any staff? Anybody that's doesn't work for you, anywhere? Can we flag someone down in the street? And get them to help this lady?"

"As a society, we should expect those who are able to help to come to our aid. Particularly, when it's of no risk to them. Almost every state in the union has what are called good samaritan laws/They allow people to help in a medical emergency in good faith --/ without fear of legal jeopardy.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION-OC-TRX-DBX

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE GETTING READY FOR THEIR FIRST SESSION OF 2013.

AND GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT IS JUST HOURS AWAY FROM HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

NBC-2'S CLIFTON FRENCH JOINS US NOW LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM WITH MORE ON THIS BIG DAY IN TALLAHASSEE.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION-NWSRM

LEGISLATIVE SESSION-(2) SS-SOT

THE STATE HOUSE STARTS IT'S SESSION AT 9:30 THIS MORNING… THE SENATE AT 10:00.

THEY'LL THEN JOINS TOGETHER DURING THE GOVERNORS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WHICH STARTS AT 11:00.

THERE, WE EXPECT GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT TO FOCUS ON HIS BUDGET, SETTING THE TONE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION…

GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS SAID FOR 2013 HE HAS TWO PRIORITIES FOR THE ECONOMY… "first - remove the sales tax on manufacturing equipment, and second - invest in our teachers by providing them a well-deserved pay raise."

BUT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY SPEAKING OUT.

HERE'S WHAT FLORIDA DEOMCRATIC PARTY CHAIR ALLISON TANT HAD TO SAY YESTERDAY.

Allison Tant/ Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman

LEGISLATIVE SESSION-NWSRM

SCOTT HAS ALREADY PROPOSED GIVING TEACHERS A 25-HUNDRED DOLLAR PAY RAISE ACROSS THE BOARD.

ONCE AGAIN, HIS STATE OF THE STATE STARTS AT 11:00, YOU CAN COUNT ON US FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE.

MENTAL HEALTH FORUM-ONCAM

TAKING A LOOK AHEAD ---

A FORUM ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE CONNECTION TO VIOLENCE THIS MORNING.

AMONG THE PANELISTS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR ARE DOCTOR THOMAS INSEL --- THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

DOCTOR INSEL PERVIOUSLY TESTIFIED AT A SIMILAR HEARING BEFORE THE U-S SENATE.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MANDATORY MINIMUM-TRXTOPS-OC

HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA --- IT'S AN ISSUE BEING DEBATED RIGHT NOW. ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE.

A BILL WILL GIVE JUDGES MORE DISCRETION IN CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING.

SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE SAY PEOPLE WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS. CAN BE CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING.

MARTHA STEWART TESTIFIES-OC-VO-WIPE

HAPPENING TODAY ----

MARTHA STEWART TAKES THE STAND IN A NEW YORK COURTROOM.

STEWART WILL TESTIFY IN A CASE BETWEEN RETAIL GIANTS MACY'S AND J-C PENNEY.

FORBES RICHEST-CGTOPS

MEXICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAGNATE CARLOS SLIM AND AMERICAN COMPUTER MOGUL BILL GATES ARE AGAIN THE TWO RICHEST MEN IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO FORBES MAGAZINE.

AUSTRALIA CONTEST-HALFSCRN

WANT TO GET PAID $100-THOUSAND DOLALRS TO TAKE A "WORKING HOLIDAY" DOWN UNDER?

THEN AUSTRALIA HAS A DEAL FOR YOU!

IT'S A COMPETITION CALLED "BEST JOBS IN THE WORLD."

SIX WINNERS WILL EACH GET A SIX-MONTH JOB.

THE POSITIONS RANGE FROM PARK RANGER TO LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER, WILDLIFE CARETAKER TO OUTBACK ADVENTURER.

TO APPLY GO TO NBC DASH TWO DOT COM AND CLICK ON NEWSLINKS.

COLLIER SPELLING BEE-OC-VO

THE WINNER OF THE COLLIER COUNTY SPELLING BEW IS HEADED TO WASHINGTON TO COMPETE AGAINST OTHER SPELLERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

"PRECOCIOUS" WAS THE WINNING WORD AT LAST NIGHT'S BEE.

COLLIER SPELLING BEE-SOTVO

FINAL WORD SPELLED. APPLAUSE

PARRISH WAS THE LAST ONE STANDING -

SHE SAYS SHE PRACTICED AND STUDIED HARD -- THREE HOURS A NIGHT.

COLLIER SPELLING BEE-SOTVO

"i was just nervous I kept thinking I might get a hard word because I don't know french that well. So I kept thinking I was going to get a french word and then when I got those french championship words I got nervous."

COVERAGE PROMISE-2SHOT

TIME NOW IS--

JUST AHEAD-- NBC-2 RUNS DOWN YOUR MORNING TOP STORIES. INCLUDING THAT NASTY CRASH AT ORTIZ AND COLONIAL -- A VEHICLE VERSUS A GARBAGE TRUCK. More details next.

BREAK FIVE 6:49:12 AM

HIT TIME 6:49:12 AM

6:52 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-CLIP

6:52 FORECAST ON THE 2'S-WX WALL

Full Forecast

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.

After another chilly start to the morning, a warm up is in order this Tuesday with daytime highs rebounding nicely into upper 70s this afternoon under full sunshine.

By midday, most areas should warm into the low to mid 70s, and by the afternoon hours, temperatures will peak in the mid to upper 70s. The exception will be close to the coast where the chilly breezy off the Gulf of Mexico will keep highs there in the low 70s.

Winds will become more southwesterly this afternoon, which will be one of the variables leading to our warm up today. You'll also notice the winds picking up some during the day with breezes reaching 15-20 mph.

Rain will stay out of the forecast today through tonight, but by early Wednesday morning, a few light showers will be possible as the next cool front slides through Southwest Florida.

The timing of the rain will be close to sunrise Wednesday, but the showers should be gone by the mid-morning hours, leaving us with sunny skies for the remainder of the day. Once the front clears the area, temperatures will stay fairly cool through the day as winds become more northerly behind the front; most areas should only reach the low 70s for daytime highs.

By Wednesday night into Thursday morning, we'll have another round of temperatures in the mid 40s across the urban corridor and even some mid to upper 30s deeper inland.

Thursday will be another cool day with highs only reaching the low 70s under full sunshine, and then we'll spend another night in the 40s and 50s as we head into your Friday morning.

TRAFFIC BILLBOARD-CLIP

TRAFFIC ALERT-LIVE CAM, NAVI

TODAY SHOW TEASE-BNR SOTTOPS

TOP STORIES-CLIP

VEHICLE VS DUMP TRUCK-REM 1

TS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND STATE OF THE STATE-ONCA

YOUR TIME NOW IS--

LET'S GET YOU UP TO SPEED WITH THIS MORNING'S TOP STORIES.

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT WILL FOCUS ON JOBS AND EDUCATION WHEN HE MAKES HIS THIRD STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TODAY.

IT'S SET FOR 11AM.

TS BUDGET CUTS-VOTOPS

NOW TO THE LATEST ON THOSE BUDGET CUTS FROM WASHINGTON.

REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE HOUSE WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THE MANDATORY SPENDING CUT PRESSURE OFF KEY AGENCIES. AS THEY PREPARE A BILL TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING THROUGH SEPTEMBER.

THE MILITARY FACES A $43 BILLION DOLLAR CUT OVER JUST SEVEN MONTHS. BUT THE BILL WOULD GIVE THE PENTAGON FUNDING FOR READINESS.

TS COAST GUARD COCAINE BUST-VOTOPS

THIS MORNING NBC-2 HAS LEARNED ABOUT A MAJOR COCAINE BUST.

A COAST GUARD CREW CONFISCATED 39 BALES OF COCAINE -- WORTH MORE THAN $24 MILLION DOLLARS, ON A SHIP IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA.

TS SANIBEL OIL SPILL-VOTOPS

HAPPENING TODAY ---

SANIBEL CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER WHETHER TO HIRE ATTORNEYS TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER IT HAS ANY CLAIMS AFTER THE DISASTROUS OIL SPILL IN THE GULF.

THE MEETING STARTS AT 9AM AT TOWN HALL.

HOTELS ON SANIBEL SAYS GUESTS CANCELLED.MANY OF THEM FEARING BEACHES WERE COVERED IN OIL.

TS SINKHOLE EXPOSED-VOTOPS

THIS MORNING WE HAVE MORE ON THE HEARTBREAKING STORY HERE IN FLORIDA, WHERE A SINKHOLE SWALLOWED MOST OF A HOUSE AND KILLED A MAN.

NOW THE FAMILY OF VICTIM JEFF BUSH IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE RESCUE OPERATION.

BUSH'S BROTHER SAYS THAT HE BELIEVES RESCUERS COULD HAVE -QUOTE- 'TRIED HARDER.'

TS ANOTHER SINKHOLE-VOTOPS

AND LOOK AT THIS ---

FLORIDA OFFICIALS ARE MONITORING ANOTHER SINKHOLE. JUST THREE MILES FROM THE OTHER ONE.

THERE'S NO REPORTED DAMAGE TO THE HOMES, BUT A FENCE DIVIDING THE PROPERTIES IS BROKEN.

COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO SINKHOLES ARE NOT GEOLOGICALLY CONNECTED,

TS HIT AND RUN SUSPECT AT LARGE-VOTOPS

DEVELOPING NOW -- NEW YORK POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT IN A HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED A PREGNANT WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND.

THE COUPLE'S BABY WAS DELIVERED BY C-SECTION BUT LATER DIED.

TS CYPRESS LAKE GUN-VOTOPS

TS NO CONCLAVE YET-VOTOPS

IT IS DAY TWO OF PRE-CONCLAVE MEETINGS AT THE VATICAN.

CARDINALS ARRIVED THIS MORNING FOR ANOTHER SECRETIVE MEETING ON THE DETAILS SURROUNDING CONCLAVE. THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A NEW POPE.

YESTERDAY THE CARDINALS MET AND TOOK AN OATH OF SECRECY, VOWING NOT TO DIVULGE ANY OF THE DETAILS SURROUNDING THESE MEETINGS.

TS NEW GAS PRICES-CGTOPS

ALL NEW RIGHT NOW --- NBC-2 TRACKING THE LATEST GAS PRICES AND HERE ARE THE BRAND NEW OVERNIGHT AVERAGES ---

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IT'S $3.85.

IN FLORIDA IT'S $3.81.

TS EXTREME WINTER WEATHER-VOTOPS

THE LATEST SNOWSTORM IS BURYING MUCH OF THE UPPER MIDWEST --

AND MAKING IT'S WAY EAST.

CHICAGO IS GETTING SLAMMED THIS MORNING --

AND IN WASHINGTON D-C -- THEY'RE BRACING FOR THE BIGGEST SNOWFALL IN TWO YEARS.

DAYPLANNER FORECAST-OMNI

FINAL TRAFFIC-TRAFFICCAM

BREAKING CRASH-TRX-REM1

BACK TO THAT MAJOR TRAFFIC ALERT IN FORT MYERS.

THE WESTBOUND LANES OF COLONIAL ARE CURRENTLY BLOCKED OFF RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF A CRASH INVOLVING A CAR AND A GARBAGE TRUCK.

WE KNOW TWO PEOPLE WERE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

NO WORD YET ON THEIR CONDITIONS.

DRIVERS HEADING WESTBOUND ARE BEING DIVERTED TO ORTIZ AND SIX MILE CYPRESS.

EASTBOUND TRAFFIC IS CURRENTLY GETTING BY -- BUT IT'S SLOW GOING.

THE FORT MYERS POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPECTS TO BE AT THE SCENE FOR ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR OR SO.

GOODBYE-4-SHOT

REMEMBER FOR BREAKING NEWS, WEATHER INFORMATION AND NEWS ONLINE, 24-HOURS A DAY, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE--