DIRECTORS PAGE

HEADLINES-ANIBOX

RIGHT NOW AT FIVE.

FLORIDA'S ENDANGERED MANATEES ARE DYING AT A RECORD RATE --

AS RED TIDE INFECTS THEIR FOOD SUPPLY.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIRPORTS ARE UNDER THE BUDGET AX.

TONIGHT --

LEADERS DEMAND THE GOVERNMENT SPARE THREE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CONTROL TOWERS.

AND A MOTHER WHO LOST HER DAUGHTER TO CANCER --

IS URGING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER --

AND HELP FIND A CURE FOR CANCER.

HLA manatee deaths-vo

HLB tsa letters budget cuts-vo

HLC cancer study-vo

5PM OPEN-CLIP

HENDRY BRUSH FIRE-SS-MAPFL

BUT WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR THE LAST HOUR.

A 40 TO 50 ACRE BRUSH FIRE BURNING NEAR THE LEE AND HENDRY LINE. WE'RE TOLD THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THIS FIRE --

CREWS SAY THE SOUTH SIDE IS UNDER CONTROL --

NOW THEY ARE WORKING TO CONTAIN THE NORTH SIDE.

WE HAVE A CREW ON SCENE

WE'RE TOLD THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THIS FIRE --

THIS IS A LIVE LOOK FROM THE MAST CAM ON TOP OF OUR LIVE TRUCK.

CREWS SAY THE SOUTH SIDE IS UNDER CONTROL --

NOW THEY ARE WORKING TO CONTAIN THE NORTH SIDE.

WE HAVE A CREW ON SCENE GATHERING DETAILS --

HENDRY BRUSH FIRE-REM-LIVE

HENDRY BRUSH FIRE-VO

HENDRY BRUSH FIRE-REM-LIVE

MANATEE DEATHS-2SH-SS-TURN-BOXES

ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST BELOVED ANIMALS.THE ENDANGERED MANATEE.IS AT AN EVEN GREATER RISK TONIGHT THAN USUAL.

RED TIDE IS KLLING A NEAR RECORD NUMBER OF SEA COW THIS YEAR

N-B-C TWO'S KELLY CRESWELL SAW THE DEVASTATION FIRST HAND TODAY --

MANATEE DEATHS-REM-LIVE

MANATEE DEATHS-TRX-PKG

:12 Laura Carr, Senior Program Specialist

1:02 Tim Martell, Manatee Guides

Trt is 1:28

Take pkg

Manatee park is a peaceful place where tourists wait for minutes on end to see these gentle giants poke their noses out for a few seconds. But today--the tourists also saw the grim reality on the effects of red tide.

Take sound

Laura Carr

"It's very disheartening, but especially now with red tide, it's so hard. People ask questions, you want to give them information, we only have so much information to provide them."

As a senior program specialist at manatee park, Laura Carr says there is a lot of research being done right now on the effects of red tide. One reason behind the record number of red tide related deaths--Carr says, is that the red tide is attaching to the sea grasses. The manatees eat those grasses and the toxin is slowly digested, causing harmful side effects.

Take sound

Laura Carr, Senior Program Specialist, Manatee Park "If they're having seizures or are paralyzed and not able to go to the surface, it's the weight in the front of their body that's keeping them down in the water as opposed to allowing them to come back up toward the surface."

If manatees can't come for a breath--then they could drown.

Nats

Tim Martell is certified with FWC to rescue manatees. In the last month he's saved three, but has come across about two dozen that didn't survive.

Take sound

Tim Martell, Manatee Guide

"I was literally seconds from the animal and the animal went under, and we think that I may have found that very same animal the next day."

Tim has been finding those distressed manatees in the mangroves, where they try to find shallow ground to help keep their heads above water. But he says he's come across too many that didn't make it.

Take sound

Tim Martell

"They love and they care just like people do. And it's really saddening to see this happening."

MANATEE DEATHS-REM-LIVE

TSA LETTERS BUDGET CUTS-OC-TURN-BOXES

SEQUESTER CUTS FROM THE FEDS ARE STARTING TO TRICKLE DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE COULD SEE SOME MAJOR CHANGES AT THREE AIRPORTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TSA LETTERS BUDGET CUTS-REM-LIVE

Take Live

- All 3 counties have penned a letter to FAA Officials asking them to reconsider

TSA LETTERS BUDGET CUTS-TRX-PKG

TRT 1:01

7-14 Lubomir Gueorguiev - Yoanna Flight School

43-49 Phil Ulrich - Classic Adventure Tours

Take Pkg

Page Field is a busy airport on any given day - And pilots like Lubomir Guerguiev want it to stay that way.

Take Sot

14:16-23

It's a busy airport. It takes comfort and private jets here.

But Page Field is one of 3 on a list to lose its control tower.

Punta Gorda and Naples Municipal are included.

All three have written to the FAA - pleading their case.

Take FS

Lee COunty Port Authority says a control tower shutdown would push traffic to Southwest FLorida International Airport.

And put a dent in the more than 94 million dollars in economic impact and moe than 900 jobs Page Field creates.

Take SS

Officials who run Punta Gorda's airport say They are the 4th busiest Airport on te list of 189 slated to close.

More importantly - they say commercial airline Allegiant Airlines has threatened to leave, leading to an even greater loss of jobs.

Take Sot

Phil Ulrich

Pilot

21:22-28

That control twer in PG is the best thing to ever happen up there and I've been doing this for 17 years.

Take SS

In Naples -

Officials warn of transportation issues and a cut in custom flights.

For now - it's a waiting game

But come April 1st - we'll find out what, if any affect they have on the FAA's decision.

ADMINISTRATORS AT THE PUNTA GORDA AIRPORT ARE URGING THE F-A-A NOT TO CLOSE THE CONTROL TOWER THERE.

IN A LETTER SENT TO SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES FRIDAY, ADMINISTRATORS SAY ALLEGIANT AIRLINES MAY STOP USING THE AIRPORT AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS IF THE TOWER CLOSES.

THAT COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL JOB LOSSES IN PUNTA GORDA AND OTHER CITIES WHICH FLY TO THE AIRPORT.

TSA LETTERS BUDGET CUTS-REM-LIVE

Take Live

- With 189 control towers slated to close next month - you can bet there are similar letters coming in from around the country.

- Coming up at 6:00 we hear from pilots who fly in and out of Page Field aboutthe potential dangers in closing the control towers.

COLLIER MURDER SUSPECT ARREST-TRX-SS

BREAKING NEWS AT FIVE.

A MAN WANTED FOR MURDER IN COLLIER COUNTY TURNED HIMSELF IN.

GENS CADETE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING BOOKED--

DEPUTIES SAY HE SHOT AND KILLED 20 YEAR OLD ERNST GANEM -- AND INJURED 19 YEAR OLD GOTTY CHARLES.

THIS WAS BACK IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

BOOTH ALERT

WE ARE GETTING REPORTS OF A CHILD MISSING FROM GATEWAY CHARTER SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL IS IN LEE COUNTY OFF DANIELS PARKWAY NEAR the GATEWAY COMMUNITY.

SHERIFFS DEPUTIES ARE HELPING IN THE SEARCH.

NAPLES CHURCH DAY CARE SINKHOLE-TRX-OC-SOTVO-BOXES

THE PASTOR OF A NAPLES CHURCH SAYS A SINKHOLE HAS MADE THEIR PLACE OF WORSHIP UNSAFE.

"It's devastating because people have poured their life into this property."

CRACKS IN THE WALLS --

UNEVEN FLOORS --

AND A HOLE IN THE GROUND SO LARGE A LANDSCAPER FELL RECENTLY.

NAPLES CHURCH DAY CARE SINKHOLE-REM-LIVE

RICK LIVE

THE PASTOR TOLD ME THIS BUILDING IS FAR FROM SAFE, ALL BECAUSE OF A SUSPECTED SINKHOLE - ONE THAT FORCED THEM TO END THEIR SERVICES YESTERDAY AND PUT UP THESE SAFETY SIGNS ON the DOORS.

NAPLES CHURCH DAY CARE SINKHOLE-PKG

TRT = 1:01

Pastor Roy Shuck/Faith Community Church, North Naples = 0:14

TAKE PKG

CRACKS ALONG THE WALL AND IT'S FLOORS CAVING IN - TONIGHT A NORTH NAPLES CHURCH IS ON IT'S LAST LEG.

Pastor Roy Shuck/Faith Bible Community Church, North Naples/22:14:39 "It's just not safe anymore."

PASTOR ROY SHUCK SAYS HIS FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH HAS BEEN CAVING IN FOR MONTHS - FORCING HIM TO CLOSE ITS DOORS ON SUNDAY.

Pastor Roy Shuck/22:14:18 "It's devastating, because people have poured their life into this property."

THE DAMAGE GET WORSE EVERY DAY.

SOME CRACKS ARE A 1/2 INCH WIDE - WHILE RADAR IMAGES SHOW PARTS UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING THAT HAVE A 12 FEET DROP.

Pastor Roy Shuck/22:12:23 "It's not good, the floor in the main auditorium has sunk about 4 1/2 inches in one area."

PASTOR SHUCK REACHED OUT TO THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY - BUT ENGINEERS THERE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE.

Pastor Shuck/22:15:52 "State farms sent out engineers, the report came back and they say there's no problem."

THIS FORCED THE CHURCH TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE FARM - AFTER GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERS SAY THE BUILDING "CERTAINLY" HAS A SINKHOLE.

WHILE BOTH SIDES WILL MEET IN THE COURTROOM NEXT MONTH - PASTOR SHUCK SAYS IT'S SAD TO SEE THIS DAY ARRIVE.

NAPLES CHURCH DAY CARE SINKHOLE-REM-LIVE

RICK LIVE

IN THE MEANTIME, THE CHURCH WILL START HOLDING IT'S SERVICES AT A COMMUNITY SCHOOL OFF OF LIVINGSTON AND PINE RIDGE.

MEDIATION BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND STATE FARM IS SET FOR APRIL 15TH.

SAN CARLOS PARK JEWEL THEFT-OC

A FAMILY IN LEE COUNTY JUST CAME HOME FROM VACATION TO FIND THAT SOMEONE STOLE THEIR PRICELESS FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.

SAN CARLOS PARK JEWEL THEFT-PKG-BNR

IT WAS A RESTFUL VACATION -- A FIVE DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE.

WHEN JANICE ELDER AND HER HUSBAND GOT BACK.

THEY FOUND AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE IN THEIR THREE OAKS HOME.

THEY FOUND THEIR HOUSE A MESS.

AS THEY VACATIONED. THEY SAY SOMEONE BROKE IN. SHATTERING A SLIDING GLASS DOOR. SCATTERING DRAWERS.AND STEALING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN JEWLERY.

THE THIEF GOT AWAY WITH A WRISTWATCH ELDER GOT AT HER RETIREMENT PARTY. AS WELL AS PRICELESS FAMILY HEIRLOOMS.

AMONG THEM -- HER MOTHER'S DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S GOLD WEDDING BAND.

THEY SAY THE THEIVES USED A PILLOW CASE TO TAKE THE PLUNDER.

THE COUPLE FEELS VIOLATED.

AS FOR NEIGHBORS - THE BREAK-IN'S HAVE THEIR SAFE COMMUNITY ON HIGH ALERT.

TODAY -- AS REPAIRMEN REPLACE THE SLIDING DOOR, JANICE IS SENDING A MESSAGE TO WHOEVER DID ALL OF THIS.

SHE PLANS TO ADD A SECURITY SYSTEM WITH OTHER UPGRADES.

SO COME HER NEXT VACATION. SHE CAN FOCUS ON UNPACKING RATHER THAN CLEANING UP.

VATICAN CONCLAVE-TRX-VO

THE CARDINALS MEETING IN ROME TO ELECT A NEW POPE WRAPPED UP THEIR PRE-CONCLAVE DISCUSSIONS TODAY.

15 CARDINALS WILL ENTER THE CONCLAVE TOMORROW ---

VATICAN CONCLAVE-SOTVO

"This is a great historical moment, but we have got to do it properly, and I think that's why there isn't a real rush to get into things. I think everyone realizes that it's a very important task we're doing."

SO FAR THERE IS NO CLEAR FRONT RUNNER.

AFTER EACH VOTING SESSION --

SOMEONE COUNTS THE BALLOTS --

IF THERE ISN'T A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY THE VOTES ARE BURNED.

BLACK SMOKE WILL SIGNAL THEY DIDN'T REACH A DECISION.

FMB BEACON INSTALATION-VO

FORT MYERS BEACH HAS UNVEILED ITS LATEST ATTEMPT TO KEEP PEDESTRIANS SAFE ON THE ISLAND.

CREWS INSTALLED THE FIRST OF TWO FLASHING BEACONS ON ESTERO BOULEVARD -

THIS IS IN FRONT OF THE SANTINI PLAZA AT THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND.

SPRING BREAK BUSINESS-VOTOPS

MEANWHILE BUSINESS OWNERS ON FORT MYERS BEACH TELL US THEY ARE ALREADY SEEING IN INCREASE IN SPRING BREAK VISITORS AS THE SECOND WEEK GETS UNDERWAY.

TRAFFIC IS BUMPER TO BUMPER -

AND BEER IS FLYING OFF THE SHELVES.

BUSINESSES EXPECT THIS TO BE THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE SPRING.

TEN COLLEGES ARE ON BREAK THIS WEEK.

CANADA DRIVING PERMIT REPEAL-TRX-VO

FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR IS PROMISING QUICK ACTION TO FIX A LAW THAT HAS FRUSTRATED A LOT OF FOREIGN TOURISTS.

LAWMAKERS WANT TO REPEAL A LAW THAT REQUIRED FOREIGN TRAVELERS TO GET AN INTERNATIONAL PERMIT BEFORE THEY DRIVE IN FLORIDA.

MORE THAN THREE MILLION CANADIANS TRAVEL TO THE SUNSHINE STATE --

MANY OF THEM ANGERED OVER THE CONFUSING LAW.

CANADA DRIVING PERMIT REPEAL-SOTVO

---SOT--- Gov. Rick Scott/ R-Florida

" I recommended that we increase the funding for Visit Florida because I believe we're getting a good return for taxpayers so hopefully more Canadians will come here."

SENATE PANEL REJECTS MEDICAID EXPANSION-OC

A FLORIDA SENATE PANEL REJECTED GOVERNOR SCOTT'S MEDICAID EXPANSION --

INSTEAD PROPOSING A VOUCHER SYSTEM AS AN ALTERNATIVE.

IT WOULD REQUIRE PATIENTS TO PAY PREMIUMS AND CO-PAYS.

SCOTT WANTS TO EXPAND MEDICAID FOR THREE YEARS OR AS LONG AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS 100 PERCENT OF THE BILL.

DEMAS IN COURT-VO

A QUIET DAY IN COURT FOR THE MAN ACCUSED OF ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC MURDERS IN COLLIER COUNTY HISTORY.

MESAC DAMAS WAS VERY RESERVED AS HIS ATTORNEYS ASKED A JUDGE FOR MORE TIME IN THE DISCOVERY PROCESS.

IN COURT TODAY.EVERYONE AGREED A TRIAL ISN'T LIKELY TO BEGIN UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR.

DEMAS IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN BACK IN 2009.

SIMPKINS IN COURT-VOTOPS-SS

THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A WOMAN FROM ESTERO REJECTED A PLEA TODAY --

MAKING WAY FOR HIS TRIAL TO BEGIN TOMORROW.

SHANE SIMPKINS AND ANOTHER MAN ARE ACCUSED OF KILLING MARY ANN ZARB THEN DUMPING HER BODY ALONG THE LEE AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY LINE BACK IN 2011.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THE MEN WERE HIRED FOR A REMODEL JOB --

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

THE F-G-C-U MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM MADE HISTORY BY PUNCHING A TICKET TO NCAA FINAL FOUR.

TZ SOUND

07:54 "We're excited but we have a bit of work to do to prepare for the biggest game in school history."

WHILE THE TEAM IS GEARING UP FOR IT'S BIGGEST GAME EVER --

SCHOOL LEADERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE NATIONAL ATTENTION COULD DO FOR ENROLLMENT.

AND A MOTHER WHO LOST HER DAUGHTER TO CANCER --

IS HOPING TO URGE PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER --

TZ1 A) FGCU MEN TO BIG DANCE-SOTVO-WIPE

TZ1 B) CANCER STUDY-VOTOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

MARKET CLOSE-CGTOPS

ROBERT WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

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

FEW SHOWERS ON TUESDAY

Did you see all the cloud cover stream in on Monday? If so you probably thought it was going to rain at times. But it never did!

Different story for Tuesday.

A cold front is migrating to Southwest Florida from the Tennessee Valley, and it is bringing with it a chance for showers Tuesday afternoon. We noticed the changes beginning to occur on Monday as the cloud cover increased.

Tuesday the cloud cover will be a lot more dense, and eventually the rain will fall as we progress later into the day.

The ETA for the front will be anywhere from 2 to 6 PM Tuesday. Consequently that will be the best time to see rain. Right in time for the afternoon commute! So make sure you have the umbrellas and rain gear in hand. Oh, and make sure the windshield wipers are working properly. You'll need to use them at times.

With the front approaching, our lows on Tuesday will be fairly uncomfortable. It'll be humid, and the temperatures will range from 64 to 69 degrees. The cloud cover and rain will be in an abundance and that should be able to keep our highs from reaching 80 degrees.

After Tuesday cooler air arrives. Morning lows will be near 50 and daytime highs in the mid to upper 70s. It'll be dry and breezy, too, with winds sitting around 15 MPH.

FGCU MEN TO BIG DANCE-VOTOPS-2SH

THE F-G-C-U MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HAD A SHOOT AROUND LIKE NO OTHER TODAY --

THE FIRST AFTER WINNING THE ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE AND PUNCHING A TICKET TO THE 2013 N-C-DOUBLE-A FINAL FOUR.

NOW THEY MUST WAIT NEARLY A WEEK TO FIND OUT WHO THEY WILL PLAY IN THE BIG DANCE.

EXPERTS SAY THE EAGLES COULD BE A 14 SEED AND PLAY AGAINST FLORIDA IN DAYTON OHIO.

THIS IS A HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR A TEAM THAT JUST JOINED THE CONFERENCE IN 2007.

AND A HUGE STEP FOR THE SCHOOL IN GENERAL --

FGCU MEN TO BIG DANCE-PLASMA

AN UPSET ON MERCER'S HOME COURT THIS WEEKEND IN MACON MEANS FGCU MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM -- NOW MUST GEAR UP FOR THE BIGGEST GAME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

FGCU MEN TO BIG DANCE-PKG-BNR

08:46 "our team is no different than before. We're confident. We push the ball down the court."

IN ONE FELL SWOOP -- THESE BASKETBALL PLAYERS --

SCORED BIG WITH F-G-C-U STUDENTS.

01:30 "it was our school, our team. It was absolutely great."

04:12 "we're trending on twitter. We took a picture to prove it."

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY -- THE MEN'S BASKEBALL TEAM EARNED A SPOT IN THE N-C-A-A TOURNAMENT -- AFTER UPSETTING MERCER UNIVERSITY.

02:54 "we're excited but we have a lot of work to do to prepare for the biggest game in school history."

"school administrators and athletic directors tell us victory on the court is a slam dunk for this young school's image."

1508 "in a lot of ways, people are still trying to figure out where FGCU is located."

THE UNIVERSITY'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR KEN KAVANAGH -- TELLS US WHILE THE VICTORY MEANS OVER HUNDRED GRAND FOR THE PROGRAM.

THE BIGGEST WIN -- IS ALL THE BUZZ SURROUNDING THE SMALL SCHOOL-- FOR THE BASKETBALL SUCCESS.

14:59 "it's allowing our graduates to have FGCU understood more and more as they apply for jobs."

N-C-A-A PAYS FOR 75 PEOPLE -- PLAYERS, COACHES, AND OTHERS -- TO TRAVEL TO THE TOURNAMENT.

WITH SPRING BREAK OVER -- STUDENTS TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE COURT

03:35 "go Eagles!"

-- SAYING THIS WEEK THEY FEEL CENTERSTAGE IN THE SPORTS WORLD.

0215 "I feel like the school spirit in the past two days has shot up."

FGCU MEN TO BIG DANCE-PLASMA

SUNDAY EVENING -- THE EAGLES FIND OUT WHO THEY FACE AND WHEN.

THEY COULD TRAVEL AS FAR AWAY AS CALIFORNIA FOR THEIR NEXT GAME.

THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TELLS US -- THEY'LL HAVE ABOUT THREE HUNDRED TICKETS TO SELL FOR THE GAME.

THEY'LL START FIRST -- BY OFFERING THEM TO THE PROGRAM'S BIGGEST SUPPORTERS.

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES BRUSH FIRE-SS-VO

CREWS IN COLLIER COUNTY CONTINUE TO MONITOR A BRUSH FIRE BURNING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO A HIGH SCHOOL

THE GOLDEN GATE ESTATES BLAZE IS CONTAINED BUT STILL SMOLDERING RIGHT BEHIND THE HIGH SCHOOL.

CREWS HAVE BEEN ON SCENE FOR NEARLY 24 HOURS -

AND WHILE THEY TELL US THEY AREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRE SPREADING TO BUILDINGS --

THE TWO ACRE BLAZE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO REACH.

CHAR CO WATER PLANT FAWN RESCUE-SS

A UNIQUE RESCUE RECENTLY FOR THE MAINTAINENCE STAFF AT THE PUNTA GORDA WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THIS SMALL FAWN SLIPPED INTO A RETENTION POND AT THE TREATMENT PLANT LAST WEEK.

IT WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT ON ITS OWN, SO CREWS USED A FISHING NET.

NOT LONG AFTER, THE FAWN'S MOTHER CAME BACK TO HELP HER LITTLE ONE BACK TO THE WILD.

TEASE TWO-2SHOT

A MOTHER WHO SUFFERED TRAGEDY WHEN SHE LOST HER DAUGHTER TO CANCER --

IS TAKING ON A NEW FIGHT TONIGHT.

URGING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP FIND A CURE.

it's because of studies like these that are going to make the difference

HER CRUSADE FOR HEALTHY PATIENTS --

THAT COULD SAVE A LIFE.

AND ALL NEW AT SIX.

IS A MONSTER MOSQUITO ON ITS WAY TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

TZ2 A) CANCER STUDY-SOTVO

CANCER STUDY-2SHOT

A MOTHER WHO LOST HER DAUGHTER TO CANCER IS TAKING UP A NEW CAUSE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A NEW STUDY LOOKS AT PEOPLE WITHOUT CANCER --

IN HOPES OF LEADING TO A CURE.

BUT AS N-B-C TWO'S MATT WRIGHT FOUND OUT --

CANCER STUDY-PKG

BECCA HAYES WAS JUST FOUR YEARS OLD WHEN DOCTORS DIAGNOSED HER WITH A MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR.

SHE PASSED AWAY AT SIX.

NOW. HER MOM BETH IS KEEPING BECCA'S MEMORY ALIVE. BY PARTICIPATING IN A CANCER PREVENTION STUDY.

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY STUDY WILL TRACK BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT PARTICIPANTS OVER A TWENTY YEAR PERIOD. TO FIGURE OUT CAUSES OF CANCER.

SIMILAR STUDIES FOUND A LINK BETWEEN SMOKING AND LUNG CANCER.

THE STUDY IS NON-PAID.

IT RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE NEVER HAD CANCER AND ARE THIRTY TO SIXTY FIVE YEARS OLD.

THREE HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED IN LEE COUNTY.

BUT WITH THE DEADLINE LOOMING -- ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE SPOTS ARE FILLED.

BETH HOPES THIS STUDY KEEPS OTHER FAMILIES FROM SUFFERING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

CANCER STUDY-OCTAG

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED --

WE'VE POSTED ALL THE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE N-B-C DASH TWO DOT COM.

BREAKING STORIES

WE ARE FOLLOWING TWO BREAKING STORIES AT FIVE.

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A CHILD MISSING FROM GATEWAY CHARTER SCHOOL.

BUS DRIVERS ARE SENDING BULLETINS TO OTHER DRIVERS TRYING TO TRACK THE CHILD DOWN.

ALSO CREWS ARE FIGHTING A STUBBORN 40 TO 50 ACRE FIRE NEAR THE LEE COUNTY LINE.

THIS IS A LIVE LOOK FROM OUT LIVE TRUCK NEAR THAT FIRE.

NEW AT 530-CLIP

31:31 a lot of people don't pay attention to the crosswalks, this, they will 31:36

NEXT AT 5:30.

FORT MYERS BEACH AND LEE COUNTY LEADERS HOPE CROSSWALK UPGRADES STOP A DEADLY TREND ON ESTERO BOULEVARD.

PLUS -

A) fmb pedestrian crosswalk-SOTVO

B) chad oliver standup tease-SOTTOPS