DIRECTORS PAGE

SEVERE WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST WEATHER-WXWALL

AFTERNOON STORMS RETURNING

All eyes are on the tropics as Tropical Storm Ernesto gains strength.

It continues to move due west at a quick 21 MPH. It has sustained winds of 50 MPH, and winds gusts have been clocked at over 60. As of now all models keep Ernesto in the Caribbean, making landfall Wednesday around Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula as a CAT 1 Hurricane.

It will not have a direct impact on southwest Florida

There's another tropical wave that we're watching just south of the Cape Verde Islands. The National Hurricane Center is giving the area a good chance of developing into our next tropical system within the next 48 hours. The environment it's about to enter is very ripe for strengthening.

Yes, the tropics are beginning to fire… Right on time!

When it comes to our local weather… Expect the usual to return.

Partly sunny skies will be back in the forecast this weekend with afternoon storms setting up each afternoon along the sea breeze. The more robust sea breeze will come through on Sunday which could spark some strong storms.

This type of weather continues through midweek, but next weekend draws closer we'll see more sunshine than rain.

Highs will be in the lower to mid 90s, and it will very muggy!

CAPE MOTORCYCLIST HIT-2SH-VO-WIPE

THANKS JP.

TONIGHT IN CAPE CORAL,

A MAN IS RECOVERING AFTER NEARLY LOSING HIS LIFE IN A HIT-AND-RUN.

WAYNE CERRA WAS RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE ON SKYLINE BOULEVARD.

A PICK-UP TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM AND RAN INTO HIM.

AND WHAT'S WORSE,

CAPE MOTORCYCLIST HIT-SOTVO

I was pleading for someone to come help me

My left foot is broken, my ankle I got severe gash in my knee there, left arm all road rash, across shoulder and back, broken finger."

POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A DARK GREEN OR BLACK TRUCK WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE REAR.

STRIANO 911 CALL-trxSOT-SS-OC

They almost cut her head off. No, no. Oh my God. I'll never forget this happening as long as I live

CHILLING 911 CALLS TONIGHT,

JUST RELEASED IN THE DEBBIE STRIANO MURDER.

THE 3 OAKS WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD BY HER LONGTIME BOYFRIEND,

WHO HAD JUST RUN OUT TO GET GROCERIES.

STRIANO 911 CALL-PKG

THE CALLS ARE CHILLING-

Dispatcher: "911, what is your emergency?" Russell: "My girlfriend's been murdered."

AFTER REPORTEDLY BEING GONE FOR ONLY 20-30 MINUTES,

RUSSELL MYERS RETURNS HOME TO FIND HIS LONGTIME, LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND, DEAD.

Dispatcher: "Is she there right now?" Russell: "They cut her throat."

LAST TUESDAY NIGHT-

RUSSELL LEFT THEIR 3 OAKS HOUSE TO GET DOG FOOD FOR HIS AND DEBBIE'S BORDER COLLIE-

SCRUFFY.

WHEN HE GOT HOME-

SCRUFFY WAS AT THE FRONT DOOR, COVERED IN BLOOD.

RUSSELL SAYS HE SEARCHED FOR DEBBIE-

AND EVENTUALLY FOUND HER IN THEIR BEDROOM.

Russell: "They almost cut her head off. No, no. Oh my God. I'll never forget this happening as long as I live"

THE CALL TO COPS LASTS 8 MINUTES.

DURING THAT TIME, RUSSELL PANICS.

Dispatcher: "I need you to take a deep breath and stay on the line for the ambulance." Russell: "I have to, I guess, please."

DETECTIVES GOT TO THE SCENE AND BEGAN THEIR INVESTIGATION.

DAYS LATER,

THEY ARRESTED DUSTIN JAYE FOR DEBBIE'S MURDER.

JAYE'S UNCLE- BILLY RETHERFORD, WHO DEPUTIES SAY IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE, HASN'T YET BEEN FOUND.

DETECTIVES REPORT THE MEN CAME TO THE HOME TO COMMIT A ROBBERY-

AFTER LEARNING THERE WOULD BE VALUABLES INSIDE.

THEY SAY THE DUO MADE OFF WITH JEWELRY AND A BAG CONTAINING 1-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Russell: "There are lights on all over where they must have run around the house looking for money."

DEPUTIES SAY JAYE AND RETHERFORD EVEN TRIED TO BURN AND BLEACH THEIR CLOTHES TO COVER UP THE CRIME,

SPARKS AND JOHNSON IN COURT-SS

A COUPLE FACING CHILD PORN CHARGES SAYS THEY'RE NOT GUILTY.

HERE THEY ARE -- ALAN JOHNSON AND JENNIFER SPARKS.

THEY'RE ACCUSED OF RAPING A FOUR YEAR OLD GIRL AND RECORDING IT ON THEIR CELL PHONE.

VOTE 2012 OPEN-CLIP

EARLY VOTING-2SHOT-BNR

YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE, 2012 --

AND WE WANTED TO REMIND YOU -- EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTY TOMORROW.

COLLIER IS UNDERWAY.

FOR POLLS AND HOURS HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE ABC DASH 7 DOT COM.

OBAMA THREAT FOLO-VOTOPS

UPDATING A STORY WE BROUGHT YOU AS BREAKING NEWS LAST NIGHT AT 11,

DOCTORS WILL EVALUATE THE MENTAL STATUS OF A FLORIDA MAN ACCUSED OF MAKING THREATS AGAINST EITHER PRESIDENT OBAMA OR PRESIDENT CLINTON.

THE MAN LIVES IN ORLANDO, WHERE BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT WERE ON THURSDAY CAMPAIGNING.

DEPUTIES TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY AT HIS APARTMENT.

JULY JOBS REPORT-VO-WIPE

ON THE JOBS FRONT TONIGHT,

THE LATEST REPORT IS A MIXED BAG.

THE U-S ECONOMY ADDED 163-THOUSAND JOBS IN JULY.

BUT UNEMPLOYMENT JUMPED TO EIGHT-POINT-THREE PERCENT.

IN NEVADA TODAY,

MITT ROMNEY CALLED THAT A HAMMER BLOW TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

JULY JOBS REPORT-(2)SOTVO

23 million! the official unemployment number: 8.3%. that's the longest period of time, 42 months

"but let's acknowledge: we still have too many folks out there who are looking for work"

LET'S TALK TOTAL NUMBERS --

BIGGER PAY CHECK IN 2013-VO

HOW DOES A BIGGER PAYCHECK SOUND?

A NEW REPORT SHOWS YOU CAN EXPECT AN AVERAGE RAISE OF ABOUT 3 PERCENT NEXT YEAR.

IT'S THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN 5 YEARS.

SO WHY NOW?

EMPLOYERS ARE BOOSTING PAY TO ATTRACT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST APPLICANTS,

DROUGHT INSURANCE & YOUR MONEY-VO

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NATION'S DROUGHT THIS WEEK.

TONGHT, WE CAN TELL YOU INSURANCE MONEY PAID ON CROP LOSSES IS EXPECTED TO BREAK RECORDS.

AND YOU AND OTHER TAXPAYERS WILL BE FOOTING THE BILL.

THE LOSSES COULD TOP 20-BILLION DOLLARS.

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAYS AN AVERAGE OF 60-CENTS ON THE DOLLAR FOR THE PREMIUMS.

THAT MEANS YOU'LL LIKELY PAY THE REST.

CAPE TEN COMMANDMENTS-VO-WIPE

SIGNED AND DELIVERED --

A PETITION ASKING FOR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO BE DISPLAYED INSIDE CAPE CORAL CITY HALL--

NOW SITS ON THE DESK OF CAPE CORAL'S MAYOR.

CAPE TEN COMMANDMENTS-SOTVO

-"The 10 Commandments are biblical and and the first commandment alone is reason enough it cannot be displayed in city council. It isn't the business of cape council whether a citizen has a god, which god or how many gods that's totally beyond the pervue of government."

CHICK FIL A KISS IN-VO

WE'RE JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS AWAY FROM WHAT'S BEING CALLED 'NATIONAL SAME SEX KISS DAY'.

IT'S THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THE CHICK-FIL-A SAGA.

STARTING AT 8 TONIGHT --

GAY RIGHTS SUPPORTERS WILL CRASH CHICK-FIL-A RESTAURANTS,

AND KISS SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX.

IT'S A RESPONSE TO WEDNESDAY'S UNOFFICIAL "CHICK-FIL-A APPRECIATION DAY."

CHURCH CONSTRUCTION-VO-WIPE

THE SAINT WILLIAMS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NAPLES IS GETTING A 22,000 POUND FACELIFT.

CHECK IT OUT.

OUR CAMERAS CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE MASSIVE BEAMS BEING INSTALLED AT THE CHURCH'S NEW BUILDING.

ONCE THE HEAVY BEAMS ARE UP CREWS WILL BE ABLE TO ADD THE ROOF.

CHURCH CONSTRUCTION-SOTVO-WIPE

Up until now, we've looked at diagrams, charts and I'm not a professional so I can't really envision what I'm looking at do now to actually see the dimensions of the church is very exciting.

THE CHURCH STARTED CONSTRUCTION AFTER EASTER--

CLOSING BELL & STOCKS-NATVOTOPS-CG

nats of closing bell

STOCKS ENDED THE WEEK ON A HIGH NOTE -- GAINING BACK WHAT THEY LOST FOUR DAYS IN A ROW.

AND SOME OF THE CREDIT GOES TO THE LATEST JOBS REPORT.

THE DOW CLOSED UP 217 POINTS AT 13-THOUSAND.

THE NASDAQ UP 58 POINTS.

LEE SCHOOL BELLS-VO

AS SCHOOL GETS UNDERWAY IN LEE COUNTY,

KEEP IN MIND THE ALL-NEW BELL SCHEDULE,

DESIGNED TO SAVE THE COUNTY SOME MONEY.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL START CLASS 10 MINUTES EARLIER,

AND GET OUT 10 MINUTES EARLIER.

SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL BEGIN AND END 5 MINUTES EARLIER,

SOME 20 MINUTES EARLIER.

TAX HOLIDAY REMINDER-2SH-VO-BNR

PARENTS WE HAVE A REMINDER FOR YOU TONIGHT.

THE TAX FREE HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS UNDERWAY!

BUY ITEMS LIKE CLOTHING, SHOES AND SOME ACCESSORIES 75-DOLLARS OR LESS.

AND CERTAIN SCHOOL SUPPLIES PRICED AT 15 DOLLARS OR LESS.

YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE 6-PERCENT SALES TAX ON THOSE THINGS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT QUALIFIES WE'VE POSTED A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE AT ABC DASH 7 DOT COM.

CAPE TOLL BRIDGE-ONCAM

AN ABC7 TRAFFIC ALERT FOR YOU STARTING TONIGHT --

IN CAPE CORAL,

ALL LANES ON THE PARKWAY HEADED *WEST INTO THE CAPE WILL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT.

CREWS WILL BE BUSY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY.

COAST GUARD RESCUE-VOTOPS

WHAT AN AMAZING STORY OF SURVIVAL IN NAPLES TONIGHT,

A DIVER WAS RESCUED AFTER GETTING LOST IN THE GULF.

HERE'S VIDEO OF THAT WOMAN SAFELY BROUGHT TO SHORE.

SHE WAS WITH HER HUSBAND AND SON DIVING AT THE CUBAN WRECK SITE OFF GORDON PASS.

WHEN SHE didn't RESURFACE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR HER FAMILY CALLED 911.

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE-ONCAM

IT'S AN ALL-IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR KIDS AND PARENTS TONIGHT.

THINKING YOUR CHILD IS READY TO SWIM.

I used to teach lessons and you would get kids who thought they could swim and if they don't wear water wings they can't swim.

IN SIX MINUTES,

WE TAKE A LOOK AT FLOATIES,

AFTER A TODDLER DROWNS IN SANIBEL THIS WEEK.

PLUS THIS,

the past month has been nothing but breastfeeding

MOMS AROUND THE WORLD UNITE FOR A RATHER UNIQUE EVENT.

SHOWING THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING WHILE ATTEMPTING A WORLD RECORD.

JP?

TZ1 A WATER WING DANGERS-SOTVO-WIPE

TZ1 B LATCH ON-SOTVO

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

AFTERNOON STORMS RETURNING

All eyes are on the tropics as Tropical Storm Ernesto gains strength.

It continues to move due west at a quick 21 MPH. It has sustained winds of 50 MPH, and winds gusts have been clocked at over 60. As of now all models keep Ernesto in the Caribbean, making landfall Wednesday around Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula as a CAT 1 Hurricane.

It will not have a direct impact on southwest Florida

There's another tropical wave that we're watching just south of the Cape Verde Islands. The National Hurricane Center is giving the area a good chance of developing into our next tropical system within the next 48 hours. The environment it's about to enter is very ripe for strengthening.

Yes, the tropics are beginning to fire… Right on time!

Of course keep it locked to NBC2 for all your tropical updates this hurricane season.

When it comes to our local weather… Expect the usual to return.

Partly sunny skies will be back in the forecast this weekend with afternoon storms setting up each afternoon along the sea breeze. The more robust sea breeze will come through on Sunday which could spark some strong storms.

This type of weather continues through midweek, but next weekend draws closer we'll see more sunshine than rain.

Highs will be in the lower to mid 90s, and it will very muggy!

New Row 1 Jason Lewis

WATER WING DANGERS-2SH-VO-2SH

THANKS JP.

TONIGHT WE TAKE A SPECIAL LOOK AT KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE IN THE POOL.

A TODDLER FOUN UNCONSCIOUS IN A POOL IN SANIBEL HAS NOW DIED.

2-YEAR-OLD KADE DAVIS WAS AT THE SANIBEL ARMS CONDOMINIUMS MONDAY NIGHT.

HE DIED IN THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY.

POLICE SAY THE BOY MAY HAVE SLIPPED OFF HIS WATER WINGS BEFORE JUMPING INTO THE POOL.

DANGERS WITH WATER WINGS MIGHT BE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK.

WATER WING DANGERS-PKG

Charlie Blank 58:00-05 "We just started taking them as early as we could so they could get familiar with the water

Charli Blank brings her young son and daughter to the pool as much as she can. just to get them familiar with the water.

But one thing she'll never have on her children. water wings, or floaties.

Charli Blank 58:18- "I used to teach lessons and you would get kids who thought they could swim and if they didn't wear water wings, they couldn't swim."

52:54- "You see these on the shelf, they're 3 dollars, cute."

Nancy Apperson is the supervisor for Lee County Aquatics.

She says floaties like these give children and parents a false sense of security.

Parents think their kids will float. and young children may think they can swim.

And it may have contributed to this latest tragic death.

Nancy Apperson Lee County Aquatics 51:42-48 "Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4 in the state of Florida."

According to the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, there have been 4 child drowning deaths this year. and 17 near drownings.

That's compared to 1 death and 33 near drownings in all of last year.

Apperson says parents should only allow their children to wear Coast Guard approved life-vests.

But the only way to keep your child completely safe is a watchful eye.

LATCH ON-VO-WIPE

ON THE MEDICAL FRONT TONIGHT,

THOUSANDS OF WOMEN TRIED TO BREAK A WORLD RECORD FOR BREASTFEEDING!

HERE'S A LOOK AT NORTH FORT MYERS TODAY.

A DOZEN BREASTFEEDING MOMS TURNED OUT.

THIS GROUP IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES PARTICIPAING IN WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK.

THEIR GOAL -

LATCH ON-(2)SOTVO

when you are a parent you don't have a social life, so it is nice to get out for even half an hour.

normally with my husband I use a cover up. Just out of courtesy.

THE RECORD ___.

IT'S GOOD TO SWEAT-2SH-VO

THERE'S NO DENYING THE HEAT HERE IN FLORIDA.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT SUMMER'S HERE!

BUT BODY SWEAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BAD THING.

BASICALLY MOISTURE IN OUR BODY EVAPORATES AND COOLS US OFF.

BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

MEN ACTUALLY SWEAT MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE A HIGHER BODY TEMPERATURE.

SO IT MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE THING,

TOSS TO BRAD-POP EST

TIME TO TALK SPORTS.

TEASE TWO-POP

FIRST DAY OF FOOTBALL PRACTICE FOR THE FLORIDA GATORS. WE'LL TAKE YOU TO GAINESVILLE. WE ARE HEADING TO DOLPHINS CAMP AS WELL

TZ2 A SPORTS

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TONIGHT AT 7 O'CLOCK

ALL NEW TONIGHT AT SEVEN.

THE VICTIM OF A SHARK ATTACK IS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL.

HEAR WHAT HE SAID ABOUT HIS TERRIFYING MOMENTS IN OPEN WATER.

ALSO TONIGHT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ON HIGH ALERT TONIGHT AFTER A SERIES OF BOMB THREATS AT WAL-MART STORES IN THE MID-WEST.

TZ 7 1) SHARK ATTACK VICTIM

TZ 7 2) WAL MART THREATS

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

FLORIDA GATORS-POP

FLORIDA GATORS-VOTOPS-WIPE

TODAY THE GATORS HIT THE PRACTICE FIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON. FLORIDA IS RANKED 23RD IN THE NATION TO START THE SEASON.

COACH MUSCHAMP SAYS THERE WILL BE A LOT OF POSITIONS WON THIS SUMMER INCLUDING AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITIONS BETWEEN JEFF DISKEL AND JACOBY BRISETT.

FLORIDA GATORS-SOTVO-WIPE

CONTINUE VO

MEANWHILE. GATORS WIDE RECEIVERS COACH AND RECRUITING COORDINATOR. AUBREY HILL HAS RESIGNED. CITING PERSONAL REASONS.

MIAMI DOLPHINS-VOTOPS-WIPE

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS CONTINUE TO GET READY FOR THE SEASON.

FIRST PRESEASON GAME IS NEXT FRIDAY AGAINST THE BUCCANEERS. A GAME YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE ON ABC-7

THE MAIN STORY OUT OF CAMP CONTINUES TO BE AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION.

MIAMI DOLPHINS-SOTTOPS

BRIDGESTONE-POP

BRIDGESTONE-VOTOPS-WIPE

JIM FURYK PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF YESTERDAY. THE LONG BIRDIE ON. 9. FINDS THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP. FURYK LEADS BY 2 STROKES AT 11 UNDER PAR.

AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM. TIGER WOODS. HAVING ISSUES ON 7. MISSES THE SHORT BIRDIE PUTT. THEN MISSES THE PAR PUTT COMING BACK.

TREVOR MOORE-VIDBX RVL-WIPE

OLYPICS.

NAPLES NATIVE TREVOR MOORE AND HIS SAILING PARTNER. ERIK STORK ARE MOVING UP THE LEADERBOARD.

IN THREE RACES TODAY. THE GUYS FINISHED 2ND. 17TH. AND 5TH.

MOVING THEM UP FROM 13TH. TO 10TH OVERALL

CAL RIPKEN-VOTOPS-WIPE

A WEEK AFTER HIS MONTHER'S ABDUCTION. HALL OF FAMER. CAL RIPKEN IS SPEAKING OUT.

VI RIPKEN WAS KIDNAPPED AT GUNPOINT. BLINDFOLDED AND DRIVEN AROUND. BY UNIDENTIFIED MAN. LAST TUESDAY

MRS. RIPKEN WAS FOUND. UNHARMED. IN HER CAR THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THERE IS SURVIELLENCE VIDEO OF THE MAN SUSPECTED IN THE KIDNAPPING.

CAL RIPKEN-SOTTOPS

GOODBYE-4SHOT

NAPLES BRUSH FIRE

BREAKING NEWS COMING IN FROM NAPLES RIGHT NOW.

CREWS ARE ON THE SCENE OF A RESIDENTIAL BRUSH FIRE.

THIS FIRE IS ON PALM RIVER BOULEVARD.

ABC7'S SAUNDRA WEATHERS IS THERE NOW.