DIRECTORS PAGE

HEADLINES-SOT

we've got one empty baseball stadium in Lee County, the worst thing you want to have is 2 empty baseball stadiums

BIG NEWS FOR BASEBALL IN LEE COUNTY.

A DEAL TO KEEP A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FOR SPRING TRAINING COULD BE GETTING STATE-FUNDED SUPPORT.

PLUS TWO TEENS ARE RECOVERING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS EVENING AFTER THEY LOST CONTROL ON I-75.

630 SHOW OPEN-CLIP

WX OPEN

FIRST WX

FULL WX

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

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

RAIN TO RETURN SUNDAY

First Alert Radar got active this afternoon. Nothing severe, but definitely strong storms with frequent lightning and heavy downpours. It's for sure going to continue.

Sunday will be a pretty typical summer weekend in Southwest Florida. The morning will start sunny, humid and dry, but as the July sun does its job through the day and heats the surface, scattered storms will fire up during the afternoons.

The atmosphere will have a little more moisture to work with tomorrow, so we'll likely be in store for an earlier start to the rain, and we'll probably notice a better coverage of rain during the afternoon as well. The good news about Sunday is the earlier start probably means the rain will fade a little sooner, so perhaps by Sunday evening we'll be waving goodbye to all the rain.

Aside from seeing those hit-or-miss showers and storms each afternoon, look for a partly cloudy sky along with very hot and humid weather through the weekend. Highs will climb into the low to mid 90s each afternoon with the 'feels like" temperatures close to 100 degrees.

For the boaters and beach goers, it sure looks like another great weekend to be near the water. Our winds will be light and variable between 5-10 with our seas less than 2 feet and inland waters will be smooth. The water temperature at Fort Myers Beach is 86 degrees.

HAMMOND STADIUM GRANT-VO IN POP

BATTERS UP!

LEE COUNTY IS STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO BECOME THE HOME FOR THE MINNESOTA TWINS SPRING TRAINING FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS.

THE COUNTY WAS THE ONLY ONE TO APPLY FOR A 15 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE STATE.

AND ACCORDING TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS, IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN OUR AREA WILL GET THE CASH.

HAMMOND STADIUM GRANT-PKG

Nats twins game

PERHAPS A HOME RUN IN THE FIGHT TO KEEP THE MINNESOTA TWINS ON LEE COUNTY TURF.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE COUNTY WILL GET STATE GRANT MONEY COMMISSIONER FRANK MANN SAYS IT NEEDS-- TO KEEP THE TEAM TRAINING AT HAMMOND STADIUM.

this is truly great news, it means we can move forward with a permanent contract and extend the time that the Twins are gonna be here hopefully for about 30 years

30 YEARS-- THAT'S THE LENGTH OF AN AGREEMENT THE TEAM AND COUNTY SIGNED--

THE DEAL DEPENDS ON THAT 15 MILLION DOLLAR STATE AWARD TO FUND STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS.

ACCORDING TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS, STATE GRANT OFFICIALS SAY NO OTHER COUNTY APPLIED, AND THE MONEY WILL LIKELY GO TO LEE.

the grant money provides the only way Lee County could afford the team's requests, like new player training facilities, dorms and one thousand more seats

we've got one empty baseball stadium in Lee County, the worst thing you want to have is 2 empty baseball stadiums

THE COUNTY ALREADY BUILT A NEW STADIUM FOR IT'S OTHER HOME TEAM, THE BOSTON RED SOXS-- AND HAVEN'T FOUND A TEAM TO FILL CITY OF PALMS PARK.

NATS

MANN SAYS THE COUNTY WILL USE TOURISM BED TAX DOLLARS TO MATCH THE GRANT.

it keeps tourism alive which we desperately need, while our economy comes back together

THE STADIUM'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAYS HE EXPECTS TO GET OFFICIAL WORD FROM THE STATE GRANT CONTROLLERS ON MONDAY.

DEEP CREEK BURGLARIES-VO

A CONVICTED FELON STRIKES AGAIN.

A CHARLOTTE COUNTY MAN IS IN JAIL AFTER DETECTIVES SAY HE BURGLARIZED AT LEAST THREE HOMES IN HIS OWN COMMUNITY.

DETECTIVES ARRESTED 27-YEAR-OLD DANIEL ROBERT FOLEY THE II.

IT HAPPENED LATE LAST MONTH IN THE DEEP CREEK AREA ALONG BLUE LAKE CIRCLE AND URUGUAY DRIVE.

FOLEY WAS ALREADY AT THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL FOR UNRELATED CHARGES.

NOW DEPUTIES ARE HOPING OTHER NEIGHBORS WILL COME FORWARD WITH INFORMATION ON OTHER BURGLARIES IN THE AREA.

ONE NEIGHBOR WHO WASN'T BURGLARIZED - SAYS EVERYONE HAS BEEN ON EDGE.

DEEP CREEK BURGLARIES-SOTVO

If I'm home alone I feel more secure and then if we're gone you can set the alarm and the police will come out you know if the alarms not turned off.

FOLEY IS A CONVICTED FELON WHO HAS BEEN BOOKED INTO THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL 13 TIMES WITH A TOTAL NOW OF 30 RECORDS.

IN THESE THREE DEEP CREEK CASES, FOLEY WAS CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF BURGLARY, TWO FOR GRAND THEFT, AND ONE FOR DEALING IN STOLEN PROPERTY.

I75 ROLLOVER-VO

TRAFFIC IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WAS BACKED UP ON I-75 AND TWO TEENAGE BOYS WERE INJURED AFTER THEIR CAR CRASHED AND FLIPPED OVER THE ROAD.

IT HAPPENED JUST NORTH OF CORKSCREW ROAD AROUND 1-45 P-M.

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TELLS US THE DRIVER, AND HIS PASSENGER, BOTH TEENAGERS, WERE HEADING SOUTH ON I-75 WHEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL, HIT A TREE, CAUSING THE CAR TO FLIP OVER.

THE PASSENGER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE. WERE TOLD WITNESSES HELPED FREE THE DRIVER, WHO WAS PARTIALLY PINNED UNDERNEATH THE CAR.

TRUCK CRASHES INTO GAS STATION-VOTOPS

CHECK OUT THIS INCREDIBLE VIDEO.

A TRACTOR TRAILER IN AKRON, OHIO LOSES CONTROL COMING DOWN A FREEWAY OFF-RAMP AND CRASHES INTO A GAS PUMP.

PEOPLE INSIDE THE CONVENIENCE STORE CAN BE SEEN REACTING TO THE CRASH.

A WOMAN OUTSIDE HELPED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OUT OF THE CAB.

THE DRIVER TOLD POLICE HIS LOAD SHIFTED, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL.

LIBYA VOTING BEGINS-VO

TODAY VOTERS IN LIBYA TOOK AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TOWARDS MOVING THEIR COUNTRY IN A NEW POLITICAL DIRECTION.

IT'S THEIR FIRST FREE NATIONAL ELECTION IN DECADES.

AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF MOAMMAR GADHAFI'S RULE, VOTERS WILL CHOOSE A 200-SEAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

THE ASSEMBLY WILL THEN CHOOSE A TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT.

ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF LIBYA'S ELIGIBLE VOTERS PARTICIPATED.

GUN PULLED JORDAN TV-VO

IN JORDAN A HEATED ARGUMENT BETWEEN POLITICIANS TURNED VERY SERIOUS.VERY QUICKLY.AND THE DRAMA PLAYED OUT ON LIVE T- V.TAKE A LOOK.

FORMER AND CURRENT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WERE DEBATING THE SYRIAN CRISIS WHEN THE DISCUSSION GOT OUT OF CONTROL.

THE FORMER POLITICIAN ACCUSED HIS OPPONENT OF BUYING HIS WAY INTO PARLIAMENT.

THE CURRENT LAWMAKER THEN THREW OFF HIS SHOES AND PULLED OUT A GUN.

THE PROGRAM'S PRESENTER SEPARATED THE TWO MEN WHILE THE AUDIENCE WATCHED.

ROMNEY NAPLES OFFICE-NBC NAVI

THE PRESUMPTIVE G-O-P PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS LAYING DOWN ROOTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TO HELP HIS BID IN WINNING THE SWING STATE.

EARLIER THIS MORNING MITT ROMNEY'S CAMPAIGN OPENED AN OFFICE IN NAPLES.

IT'S AT 2500 TAMIAMI TRAIL NORTH NEAR THE CORNER OF 26TH AVENUE NORTH.

ROMNEY'S CAMP SAYS ESTABLISHING A PRESENCE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO BUILD SUPPORT AMONG VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

IRS HEALTH CARE-VO

BIG CHANGES TO THE WAY YOU PAY TAXES ARE COMING IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS.AND IT'S TIED TO YOUR HEALTH CARE.

BEGINNING IN 2014, THE I-R-S WILL PROVIDE TAX BREAKS TO HELP PEOPLE AND COMPANIES PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

BUT IT ALSO WILL LEVY TAX PENALTIES ON PEOPLE WHO DON'T BUY COVERAGE AND ON COMPANIES THAT DON'T OFFER IT.

WINEHOUSE DAD THERAPY-VO

THE FATHER OF FALLEN SINGER AMY WINEHOUSE IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER'S DEATH.

WINEHOUSE DIED ON JULY 23RD FROM ACUTE ALCOHOL POISONING.

MITCH WINEHOUSE IS RELEASING A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE ORDEAL.

HE SAID HE WROTE IT AS THERAPY AND TO PUT TO REST INACCURACIES SURROUNDING HIS DAUGHTER'S DEATH.INCLUDING THAT SHE WAS STILL ADDICTED TO DRUGS WHEN SHE DIED.

FRENCH EXCHANGE PROGRAM-CG-SOT-OC

AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR FRENCH TEENS RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NEEDS YOUR HELP.

ANA ROCHA COORDINATES A WORLD EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT ARRANGES HOME-STAYS FOR A DOZEN FRENCH TEENS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR ENGLISH AND EXPERIENCE AMERICAN LIFE.

THE TEENS VISIT FOR 20 DAYS, AND RELY ON VOLUNTEERS TO OPEN THEIR HOMES WITH A PLACE TO STAY.

ROCHA'S LOOKING FOR FAMILIES WILLING TO OPEN THEIR HOMES, AND HEARTS TO THESE YOUNG AND ENTHUSIASTIC VISITORS.

50:45 there's not a better way to know about another country than receiving someone in your home, they are very open to exchanging their cultures at the same time that they want to learn what Americans do, how Americans are 51:00

COMING UP NEXT-CLIP

TEASE ONE-ON CAM

A HOME PAID OFF ONE PENNY AT A TIME.

HEAR ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK FOR ONE COUPLE TO PAY OFF ONE OF LIFE'S BIGGEST PURCHASES OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS.

"One of the most unusual calls that we received."

A) PENNIES PAY OFF MORTGAGE-VO WIPE

B) IGUANA CAR-SOTVO

PENNIES PAY OFF MORTGAGE-VO

A MASSACHUSETTS MAN IS PROVING THAT A PENNY SAVED CAN LEAD TO A HOME EARNED.

HE PLEDGED TO MAKE HIS LAST MORTGAGE PAYMENT IN PENNIES.

THOMAS DAIGLE DROPPED OFF ABOUT 800 POUNDS OF PENNIES IN TWO BOXES FOR THE FINAL PAYMENT ON HIS HOME THAT HE BOUGHT WITH HIS WIFE IN 1977.

PENNIES PAY OFF MORTGAGE-SOTVO

"in snowy afternoons out in central mass here, there's not

much

to do on the weekend so i'd roll the pennies and one thing came to another

and

i was looking at this and i say this is doable. I can pay this mortgage in

35

years in pennies and 63,000 pennies later, a little bit more than that, but

it

was 63,000 in change, we paid our mortgage off."

IGUANA STUCK IN CAR-VO

AN EMPLOYEE FROM MIAMI'S SEAQUARIUM WORKS WITH ANIMALS.BUT DOESN'T USUALLY CAR-POOL.

A THREE AND A HALF FOOT LARGE IGUANA SNUCK IN AND HITCHED A RIDE INSIDE THIS CAR.

THE DRIVER DIDN'T NOTICE THE REPTILE AT FIRST.BUT SAW HIS TAIL PEAK THROUGH THE DASHBOARD AND DECIDED TO PULL OVER.

IGUANA STUCK IN CAR-SOT VO

"One of the most unusual calls that we received. "The iguana had just a few scratches on it."

HIGH HEELS RACE-VO

DOZENS OF RUSSIAN WOMEN PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD TODAY.

PARTICIPANTS IN THIS 50-METER RACE IN MOSCOW SWAPPED SNEAKERS FOR STILETTOS.

CONTESTANTS WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR HEELS MEASURING THREE AND A HALF INCHES.

THEY SHOWED A LOT OF SPIRIT, BUT SOME TOOK SOME MINOR SPILLS.

GIFT CERTIFICATES WERE GIVEN OUT TO THE TOP FINISHERS.

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

THE NATION-WIDE HEAT WAVE IS DOING MORE THAN MAKE PEOPLE BREAK A SWEAT.

A: FOOD PRICES AND HEAT-VO

STORMWAR 7 OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-RP

FULL WX

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

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

RAIN TO RETURN SUNDAY

First Alert Radar got active this afternoon. Nothing severe, but definitely strong storms with frequent lightning and heavy downpours. It's for sure going to continue.

Sunday will be a pretty typical summer weekend in Southwest Florida. The morning will start sunny, humid and dry, but as the July sun does its job through the day and heats the surface, scattered storms will fire up during the afternoons.

The atmosphere will have a little more moisture to work with tomorrow, so we'll likely be in store for an earlier start to the rain, and we'll probably notice a better coverage of rain during the afternoon as well. The good news about Sunday is the earlier start probably means the rain will fade a little sooner, so perhaps by Sunday evening we'll be waving goodbye to all the rain.

Aside from seeing those hit-or-miss showers and storms each afternoon, look for a partly cloudy sky along with very hot and humid weather through the weekend. Highs will climb into the low to mid 90s each afternoon with the 'feels like" temperatures close to 100 degrees.

For the boaters and beach goers, it sure looks like another great weekend to be near the water. Our winds will be light and variable between 5-10 with our seas less than 2 feet and inland waters will be smooth. The water temperature at Fort Myers Beach is 86 degrees.

FOOD PRICES AND HEAT-VO IN TC MON

TEMPERATURES AREN'T THE ONLY THE THING ON THE RISE AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT WAVE THE NATION IS FEELING.

EVEN THOUGH THINGS ARE EXPECTED TO COOL DOWN.THERE ARE NEW PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE YOU SPENDING A LITTLE MORE DURING YOUR NEXT TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE.

FOOD PRICES AND HEAT-PKG

SCRIPT:

THE SUMMER SCORCHER SPARKING SEVERE STORMS FROM THE ROCKIES TO THE SOUTH.

TORRENTIAL RAINS FLOODING DENVER STREETS.

AND IN FLORENCE ALABAMA. A STORM RIPPED THE ROOF RIGHT OFF THIS HIGH

SCHOOL.

WITH HEAT WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN 22 STATES THIS MORNING THE TRIPLE

DIGIT TEMPERATUES ARE BAKING MORE THAN 115 MILLION PEOPLE NATIONWDE.

IN PITTSBURGH - AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA OVER A DOZEN PEOPLE

WERE TREATED FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION.

OBAMA SOT

"I know it's hot."

NEAR LINWOOD, WISCONSIN, FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING A BRUSH FIRE PASSED OUT

pio 1:30 "the conditions were ideal for the fire, terrible for us."

MORE THAN 45 HUNDRED RECORD HIGHS HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN THE PAST 30 DAYS

WITH SEVERAL CITIES THE HOTTEST THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

IN WASHINGTON DC - THE MERCURY ROSE PAST 95 DEGREES FOR THE 9TH STRAIGHT DAY

FRIDAY/ THEIR LONGEST STREAK EVER RECORDED.

ST. LOUIS HIT 102 DEGREES / ALSO FOR THE 9TH STRAIGHT DAY / THEIR 2ND

LONGEST STRETCH IN HISTORY.

AND CHICAGO IS SEEING 3 STRAIGHT DAYS ABOVE 100 DEGREES SINCE 1947 / THAT

RECORD MAY BE BROKEN TODAY.

AND STILL NO RELIEF FROM THE HEAT FOR THE 150,000 STILL WITHOUT POWER

FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S POWERFUL STORMS.

ANOTHER CASUALITY: OUR NATION'S CROPS.

AND THE DAMAGE COULD BE DEVASTING.

ONLY 48 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S CORN CROP IS IN GOOD OR EXCELLENT CONDITION

.

CAUSING CORN PRICES TO SOAR 37 PERCENT SINCE JUNE 15

Ricky Volpe/USDA:

14:29:35 OF ALL THE MAJOR FIELD CROPS THAT ARE GROWN IN THE UNITED

STATES, CORN IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.

NOW, FOOD AND COMMODITY PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE AS MUCH AS 3.5 PERCENT

BEGINNING LATE THIS YEAR.

FOOD PRICES AND HEAT-TC MON

THAT WAS GINGER ZEE REPORTING.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

ZUNINO GOLDEN SPIKES-VOTOPS

IT'S GOOD TO BE MIKE ZUNINO THESE DAYS. THE MARINER HIGH GRAD SIGNED A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH THE SEATTLE MARINERS. IS ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED. AND CONTINUES TO RACK UP COLLEGE AWARDS LIKE THEY'RE CANDY.

WIMBLEDON SERENA-POP

WIMBLEDON WOMENS FINAL-VO

FINAL ROUND AT WIMBLEDON. BATTLING AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA IN FIRST GRAND SLAM FINAL EVER.

WILLIAMS OVERPOWERING HER MUCH OF THE DAY. TAKES THE FIRST SET EASILY.6-1.

SERENA SOUND-SOTVO

FLORIDA OPEN DAY 1-VO

CLOSER TO HOME IT'S THE FLORIDA OPEN HERE IN FORT MYERS. THE ANNUAL JUNIOR TOURNAMENT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS HAS BEEN A STAPLE OVER AT THE LANDINGS FOR TWO DECADES.

FLORIDA OPEN SOUND-SOT

CARL CRAWFORD SETBACK-POPMON

RED SOX YANKEES DAY-VO

MEANTIME RED SOX AND YANKS PLAYING A DOUBLE DIP TODAY IN BEANTOWN.

AND IT WAS HOME RUN DERBY FOR THE YANKS. NICK SWISHER. OVER THE MONSTER.

ANDRUW JONES. SAME THING. BACK TO BACK.

THEN IT'S JONES AGAIN. OVER THE MONSTER.

THEN JAYSON NIX. BACK TO BACK AGAIN.

ADRIAN PETERSON ARREST-POPMON

GREENBRIER CLASSIC SATURDAY-VO

3RD ROUND OF THE GREENBRIER CLASSIC FROM LOVELY WEST VIRGINIA.

NO TIGER. NO PHIL. BUT WE DO HAVE WEBB SIMPSON. THE U-S OPEN CHAMP WITH THE BIRDIE HERE ON THE 7TH. WEBB GETS TO 12 UNDER AT ONE POINT. TIED.

WITH THIS GUY. TROY KELLY. WHO? EXACTLY. HE'S MISSED THE CUTS IN 8 OF 14 EVENTS THIS YEAR. BUT SO FAR SO GOOD. HE SITS SITS AT 12 UNDER THANKS TO A FLAWLESS ROUND OF 62.

FIRST TEE KIDS AT PEBBLE-VO

OUT WEST. AUSTIN SCHULTZ FROM THE FIRST TEE NAPLES-COLLIER TEAM. MAKING HIS MARK AT PEBBLE BEACH IN THE CHAMPIONS TOUR NATURE VALLEY FIRST TEE OPEN.

SCHULTZ. WHO MADE THIS LONG BIRDIE IN ROUND ONE YESTERDAY. IS IN 4TH PLACE AT 13 UNDER. THANKS TO SHOOTING A 64 TODAY.

HE'S PLAYING WITH BONITA SPRINGS'S PETER JACOBSON.

US WOMENS OPEN-VO

SOME LOVE FOR THE LADIES. 3RD ROUND OF THE WOMEN'S U-S OPEN.

MICHELLE WIE HOPING TO MAKE A RUN. THAT NEVER HAPPENED. SHE'S TIED FOR 9TH AT ONE OVER.

IT'S N.Y. CHOI JUST LAPPING THE FIELD. SHE IS 8 UNDER PAR. AND HAS A COMMANDING 6 SHOT LEAD.

PARTING THOUGHTS-ONCAM

LAST WEATHER-WXGRX

GOODBYE-3SHOT