DIRECTORS PAGE

HEADLINES-------------

"he attempted to run into the deputy, at which point the pursuit began."

BUT HE DIDN'T GET AWAY.

OUR CAMERAS CAUGHT HIM CUFFS.

WE TAKE YOU BLOCK BY BLOCK THROUGH THE HIGH SPEED DRAMA THAT UNFOLED TODAY ON DANIELS PARKWAY.

This doesn't have any kind of a profile where you can say rich or pooryoung or oldsmart or stupid. This can happen to anyone

IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THIS MONTH--

8 CHILDREN DIED AFTER BEING LEFT IN HOT CARS.

NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING IN TO PUT A STOP TO IT.

\

"I didn't deserve this on my wedding day:13 how could you do this to me."

ATTACKED BY A PITBULL AND BEATEN WITH BRASS KNUCKLES, ON HER WEDDING DAY!

WE EXPLAIN WHAT PROVOKED THE ATTACK.

YOU SEE THEM ON THE FEET OF THE RICH, FAMOUS AND FABULOUS--

RED BOTTOM PUMPS, PLATFORMS AND STILETTOS, OH MY!

TONIGHT ABC 7 GETS NEW DETAILS ABOUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LOUBOUTIN KNOCK OFFS.

HL1) DANIELS CHASE AND CRASH-trxSOTVO

HL2) KIDS IN HOT CARS-trxSOTVO

HL3) BRIDE ATTACKED AT WEDDING-trxSOTVO

HL4) AFAKE LOUBOUTIN BUST-trxVOTOPS

STORMWARN-CLIP

WX HL-WX WALL

MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS THIS WEEKEND

Do you have plans Saturday and Sunday? If you do, you picked a decent weekend for it.

The sun will be in full force both days, however, there will be plenty of clouds to dot the sky. Thus, we are calling this weekend a mix of sun and clouds.

First Alert Live Doppler Radar will also print an active picture at times. Isolated storms will billow during the afternoon along the sea breeze. Not everyone will see rain drops, but if you do you'll sure know it.

Thankfully these downpours won't ruin your plans. Just be sure to have the umbrella or rain gear in hand. Afterall it's August in southwest Florida, and this is the typical "August scenario!"

Monday through the rest of next week we'll see isolated to scattered storms around 3:00 PM.

Highs will range from 91 to 93 degrees.

When it comes to the tropics, we're watching a few areas.

First, storms are helping intensify an impulse in the southewest Gulf. It has a high liklihood of developing into a depression, but it will have no effect on southwest Florida.

Next, Tropical Storm Gordon continues to barrel across the open Atlantic. It, too, will be no harm to the U.S. It's heading for the other land mass on the other side of the pond. That is, Europe.

PALM BEACH CRASH-OC

BREAKING NEWS AT 5 --

WE HAVE A TRAFFIC ALERT FOR YOUR FRIDAY COMMUTE.

PALM BEACH BOULEVARD T VERONICA SHOEMAKER IS CLOSED RIGHT NOW IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

THAT'S BECAUSE OF A CRASH.

IF YOU USE THAT ROUTE -- OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW USES THAT ROUTE -- TELL THEM TO TRY AN ALTERNATE WAY.

DANIELS CHASE AND CRASH-VO.WIPE

RIGHT NOW AT 5--

ABC 7 IS GETTING NEW INFORMATION ON A DRAMATIC CAR CHASE AND SHOOTING ON DANIELS PARKWAY.

THE CHASE STARTED JUST BEFORE 9 THIS MORNING WHEN A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SPOTTED A STOLEN CAR NEAR DANIELS AND TREELINE. AND THE MAN DRIVING DIDN'T WANT TO STOP.

DEPUTIES THEN TRIED A PIT maneuver, KNOCKING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BETWEEN RICKENBACKER AND CHAMBERLAIN PARKWAYS.

THEN INVESTIGATORS SAY THE DRIVER TRIED TO RUN OVER A DEPUTY!

DANIELS CHASE AND CRASH-SOTVO

"he took the car, drove it toward the deputies, at one point one of the deputies did fire, his weapon, his gun at the vehicle.

BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM, HE STILL MANAGED TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO GATEWAY, BEFORE HE FINALLY PULLED A U-TURN AND WRECKED.

THE SUSPECT WAS FINALLY ARRESTED.

ONE DEPUTY RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE CHASE, BUT NO ONE ELSE WAS HURT.

FM APT FIRE-OC-VO-OC

NEW DETAILS TONIGHT ABOUT AN APARTMENT

THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN FORT MYERS.

FLAMES DESTROYED THE BUILDING ON WILLARD ROAD JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

NO ONE WAS INJURED -- BUT SOME MINOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE ZION HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH NEXT DOOR.

ABC7'S LAUREN DISPIRITO SPOKE TO THE PROPERTY MANAGER OF THE APARTMENT --

FM APT FIRE-LL PKG

TAKE A LOOK AT THE STUDS LEFT BEHIND ME HERE-- FIRE BURNED THE WALLS TO THE BUILDING HE HAD HOPED TO TURN INTO TWO APARTMENT HOMES.

NOW ALL THAT WORK IS GONE--

THE FORT MYERS FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS FLAMES BROKE OUT AROUND 1130 LAST NIGHT.

NO ONE WAS LIVING IN THE BUILDING.

PROPERTY MANAGER NICK PHILLIPS TELLS US HE WAS RENOVATING THE VACANT PROPERTY--

FIXING UP TWO APARTMENT HOMES SO ITS OWNER COULD RENT IT TO FAMILIES.

PHILLIPS SAYS THE BUILDING HAD SAT VACANT FOR YEARS--

AND THAT HE LOCKED IT UP EACH NIGHT WHEN HE FINISHED WORK FOR THE DAY.

take sot

super = Nick Phillips, property manager

runs=10

31:36 "I believe that it was set because there was no actual electricity to the building the structure had been under construction so there was no electricity to it and it could not be in any way an electrical fire"

OFFICIALS HAVE NOT CONFIRMED PHILLIPS' THEORY.

FORT MYERS FIRE OFFICIALS HAVE CALLED IN STATE FIRE MARSHALS -- TO INVESTIGATE THE WRECKAGE AND TRY TO FGURE OUT HOW THIS FIRE BEGAN. WE'RE TOLD THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY HERE TO THE SCENE.

COUNT ON NBC2 TO BRING YOU UPDATES AS WE GET THE,

MURDER SUSPECT SEARCH IN LEHIGH-SS-VO

A SUSPECTED MURDERER REMAINS ON THE RUN TONIGHT

OFFICERS WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS MAN IS,

FELIPE TORRE-ALBA.

DEPUTIES TELL US HE'S FROM BROWARD COUNTY.

LAST NIGHT LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES AND U-S MARSHALS SURROUNDED A HOUSE ON MEADOW ROAD.

THEY THOUGHT TORRE-ALBA BARRICADED HIMSELF INSIDE.

STOLEN COOKING OIL ARREST-VO-WIPE

DEPUTIES IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY STUMBLED UPON A GREASY CRIME SCENE EARLY THIS MORNING.

ARREST RECORDS SHOW DEPUTIES PULLED THIS VAN OVER ABOUT 2:30 BECAUSE OF A BURNED-OUT TAILOUT.

BUT WHEN THE THE DEPUTY GOT CLOSER, HE NOTICED SOMETHING LEAKING OUT THE BACK OF THE VAN.

TURNS OUT IT WAS USED COOKING OIL.

PUNTA GORDA POLICE BELIEVE GABRIEL TORRES AND DAVID GARCIA STOLE THE OIL FROM CONTAINERS BEHIND A PUBLIX SUPERMARKET AND A RESTAURANT IN PUNTA GORDA.

STOLEN COOKING OIL ARREST-SOTVO

It's an extra every time we get it, it's an extra 3- or 50 dollars.

POLICE THINK THE TWO MEN THEY PULLED OVER THIS MORNING WERE HOPING TO SELL THE OIL THEMSELVES.

NOW THEY'LL LIKELY FACE A CHARGE OF THEFT.

PLAID BANDIT-SS

A TIP LEADS TO ARREST OF THE SO CALLED PLAID BANDIT.

LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES WERE LOOKING FOR THIS MAN WHO THEY SAY ROBBED A CVS PHARMACY IN MAY.

THEY SAY DAVID WEBSTER WENT TO THE PHARMACY, SAID HE HAD A WEAPON AND DEMANDED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

WEBSTER WAS FOUND AT HIS HOME IN NORTH FORT MYERS YESTERDAY.

SARARO VERDICT-VO

A FEDERAL JURY HAS CONVICTED A NAPLES MAN FOR WIRE FRAUD AND TAX FRAUD --

IT ALL STEMS FROM BOGUS REAL ESTATE DEALS DATING BACK TO 2004 AND 2005.

JURORS CONVICTED ALFREDO SARARO THE THIRD ON NINE OF THE TEN COUNTS AGAINST HIM.

PROSECUTORS FROM PITTSBURGH ARGUED SARARO USED FAKE DEEDS, FALSE DOCUMENTS AND FORGED SIGNATURES TO SUPPORT HIS LAVISH LIFESTYLE AND BILK MILLIONS FROM INVESTORS - INCLUDING TWO PENNSYLVANIA JUDGES.

ONE OF THE JUDGES TESTIFIED FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR IMMUNITY.

THE JUDGE RECRUITED HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA -- BUT CLAIMED HIS FORMER FRIEND DUPED HIM AND THE OTHER INVESTORS.

PEDRO LOPEZ-VOTOPS

PROSECUTORS APPEAR TO BE TAKING A NEW STRATEGY ON THE RE-TRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING ONE OF THE LARGEST COCKFIGHTING RINGS IN LEE COUNTY.

THE CASE WAS TRIED IN JULY - BUT THE JURY COULDN'T REACH A VERDICT ON ALL COUNTS - INCLUDING DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES AGAINST PEDRO LOPEZ.

FL UNEMPLOYMENT-SS

MIXED NEWS ON THE JOB FRONT TODAY --

FLORIDA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE JUMPED TWO TENTHS OF A POINT TO 8 POINT 8 PERCENT LAST MONTH.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL MONTHS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WORSENED IN FLORIDA.

BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE,

SWFL BREAKDOWN-SSTOPS-OC

LET'S BREAK IT DOWN UNEMPLOYMENT COUNTY BY COUNTY.

THE RATE WENT UP IN LEE COUNTY TO 9.7.

COLLIER'S RATE IS ALSO 9 POINT 7 PERCENT AND CHARLOTTE IS NOW AT 9.3.

UNEMPLOYMENT ALSO INCREASED IN HENDRY, GLADES AND DESOTO COUNTY.

THERE IS A SILVER LINING!

SWFL HIRING TRENDS-VO.WIPE

A-B-C7 SPOKE WITH AN ECONOMIST AT F-G-C-U ABOUT THESE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.

DOCTOR GARY JACKSON GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE GOLD COAST ROTARY CLUB IN CAPE CORAL.

THE U-S HAS TECHNICALLY BEEN OUT OF A RECESSION SINCE 2009.

SWFL HIRING TRENDS-SOTVO

"It's very similar to the investment decision, should I invest to expand my capacity? Well, I will expand my capacity when I think there's going to be additional demand for my products and services."

DOCTOR JACKSON AND HIS TEAM AT F-G-C-U RELEASED A REPORT ABOUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YVYV-CLIP

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS-OC

WE'RE LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AWAY FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

AS MITT ROMNEY IS FIGHTING TO STAY ON MESSAGE AND STAY OFF THE TOPIC OF HIS TAXES, HIS VP CHOICE IS DEALING WITH A NEW CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING STIMULUS DOLLARS.

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS-PKG

IT'S BEEN LESS THAN A WEEK SINCE MITT ROMNEY PICKED PAUL RYAN AS HIS RUNNING

MATE.

SINCE THEN, THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN PLAYING DEFENSE ON MEDICARE AND NOW

- ABOUT RYAN'S CONFLICTING POSITIONS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STIMULUS PACKAGE.

RYAN OPPOSED THE STIMULUS, BUT ABC'S CINCINNATTI AFFILIATE CHALLENGED HIM ON

LETTERS FROM HIS OFFICE REQUESTING STIMULUS CASH TO CREATE JOBS.

Paul Ryan, WCPO: I never asked for stimulus / I don't recall so I really

can't comment on it. I opposed the stimulus because it doesn't work, it didn

't work.

IT TURNS OUT RYAN *DID* REQUEST THE STIMULUS MONEY, BUT IN A STATEMENT SAID

THE LETTERS WERE JUST "CONSTITUENT SERVICES," AND HE HADN'T CHANGED HIS

VIEWS ON ITS EFFECTIVENESS.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MITT ROMNEY PLANNED TO TALK ABOUT MEDICARE DEBATE BUT,

INSTEAD, WAS FORCED TO TALK ABOUT HIS TAXESAGAIN.

Mitt Romney: I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I

never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or

something like that.

THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN FIRING BACK - DON'T JUST SAY IT, PROVE IT.

SAYING IF ROMNEY PUTS OUT FIVE YEARS OF RETURNS, THEN QUOTE "WE WILL NOT

CRITICIZE HIM FOR NOT RELEASING MORE".

ROMNEY'S TEAM RESPONDED SAYING, QUOTE -

IT IS CLEAR THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO TALK ABOUT

GOVERNOR ROMNEY'S TAX RETURNS INSTEAD OF THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO VOTERS,

LIKE PUTTING AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.

WHILE MITT ROMNEY INSISTS HE'LL ONLY RELEASE TWO YEARS OF TAXES, A RECENT

USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL FOUND A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BELIEVE HE SHOULD

RELEASE MORE THAN THAT.

PAUL RYAN SHIRTLESS-SSTOPS

SINCE ROMNEY ANNOUNCED PAUL RYAN AS HIS RUNNING MATE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED RYAN'S PHYSIQUE.

WELL, TONIGHT, LADIES, WE HAVE THE FIRST SHIRTLESS PHOTOS OF THE WISCONSIN CONGRESSMAN.

T-M-Z OBTAINED THIS PHOTO OF RYAN AND HIS WIFE ON VACATION IN OKLAHOMA SIX YEARS AGO.

AND THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE RYAN STARTED THE P-90-X WORKOUT PROGRAM THAT REALLY BULKED HIM UP.

RYAN IS OPEN ABOUT HIS DEVOTION TO PHYSICAL FITNESS AND HIS HEALTHY EATING HABITS.

NEXT AT 5:00 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE------------

911 CALL - "I'm in the parking lot, there's two babies in the back seat of a black Honda Civic."

CHILDREN LOCKED IN HOT CARS -

THE DEADLY MISTAKE THAT'S BECOMING ALL TOO COMMON.

NOW - LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK.HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING IN.

GIVE UP YOUR PHONE AT DINNER AND GET SOMETHING IN RETURN.

TZ1 A KIDS IN HOT CARS-NATSVO

TZ1 B RESTAURANT CELL PHONE BAN-VOTOPS

WA WILDFIRE-VOTOPS

CHECK OUT THIS HOME VIDEO A MAN SHOT OF A WILDFIRE IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

ITS DESTROYED 70 HOMES AND MORE THAN 200 OUTBUILDINGS.

BUT, NO HOMES HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, AND SOME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RETURN.

STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

FORECAST-PHC

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

FORECAST-WXWALL

MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS THIS WEEKEND

Do you have plans Saturday and Sunday? If you do, you picked a decent weekend for it.

The sun will be in full force both days, however, there will be plenty of clouds to dot the sky. Thus, we are calling this weekend a mix of sun and clouds.

First Alert Live Doppler Radar will also print an active picture at times. Isolated storms will billow during the afternoon along the sea breeze. Not everyone will see rain drops, but if you do you'll sure know it.

Thankfully these downpours won't ruin your plans. Just be sure to have the umbrella or rain gear in hand. Afterall it's August in southwest Florida, and this is the typical "August scenario!"

Monday through the rest of next week we'll see isolated to scattered storms around 3:00 PM.

Highs will range from 91 to 93 degrees.

When it comes to the tropics, we're watching a few areas.

First, storms are helping intensify an impulse in the southewest Gulf. It has a high liklihood of developing into a depression, but it will have no effect on southwest Florida.

Next, Tropical Storm Gordon continues to barrel across the open Atlantic. It, too, will be no harm to the U.S. It's heading for the other land mass on the other side of the pond. That is, Europe.

KIDS IN HOT CARS-VO IN TC MON

ACROSS THE NATION --

EIGHT CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN HOT CARS IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF AUGUST ALONE.

THAT'S ONE-FIFTH THE NUMBER THAT USUALLY DIE EACH IN THE UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY EACH YEAR.

NEW TONIGHT --

KIDS IN HOT CARS-PKG

OF ALL THE DANGERS IN THE WORLD. YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY THINK *THIS* IS

THE ONE THAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT WORRIED ABOUT YOUR KIDS

- 911 CALL - I'm in the parking lot, there's two babies in the back

seat of a black Honda Civic

BUT THROUGH NEGLIGENCE. OR MERE FORGETFULNESS. PARENTS ARE LEAVING

LITTLE ONES INSIDE SWELTERING CARS. SO OFTEN. THAT TODAY. THE

DEPARTMENTS OF TRANPSORTATION AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. ANNOUNCED A

CAMPAIGN CALLED "WHERE'S BABY? LOOK BEFORE YOUR LOCK YOUR CAR."

- LaHood - Heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle

related deaths for children under the age of 14.

JUST THIS SUMMER. 23 CHILDREN IN

FOURTEEN STATES HAVE DIED AFTER OVERHEATING IN CARS.

TWO YEARS AGO IT HAPPENED TO REGGIE MCKINNON'S DAUGHTER PAYTON

- How could he forget his own child? That's a very legitimate

question, one that I have asked myself every day for over two years.

IT COULD BE STRESS, OR A BUSY LIFESTYLE.

LAST WEEK IN CUDAHY, CALIFORNIA. A MOM LEFT TWO KIDS LOCKED IN HER CAR

WHILE SHE WAS SHOPPING

- officer - One of them seemed lethargic, and the other one was crying

.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO TURN DANGEROUS. EVEN IF IT'S IN THE LOW 80S

OUTSIDE. TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE CAR CAN BECOME DEADLY IN 10 MINUTES.

AND YOUNG CHILDREN CAN'T HANDLE THAT KIND OF HEAT

- Kate Carr - Their bodies heat up 3 to 5 times faster than that of an

adult.

- So to avoid disaster, the government is announcing this year-

long effort, urging day-care providers and schools to remind parents look

around their cars before leaving. Or if necessary, leave themselves notes,

REGGINE MCKINNON AT PRESSER-VOTOPS

YOU just HEARD FROM REGGIE MCKINNON.

HE IS ACTUALLY FROM CAPE CORAL.

REGGIE MCKINNON'S 18-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER, PAYTON, DIED FROM HEAT STROKE AFTER HE LEFT HER IN A PARKED CAR IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS IN 2010.

KIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS-VO

IT'S SUPPOSE TO KILL OFF BAD BACTERIA.

BUT, SOME RESEARCHERS SAY ANTIBIOTICS MAY BE TO BLAME FOR OBESITY IN CHILDREN.

IN A STUDY, SCIENTISTS FOUND KIDS WHO HAD REPEATED ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENTS ENDED UP GAINING MORE WEIGHT.

BRAIN AGE-VOTOPS

THERE'S NO POINT IN LYING ABOUT YOUR AGE -- RESEARCHERS SAY A BRAIN SCAN WILL ALWAYS REVEAL THE TRUTH!

A NEW STUDY OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO LOOKED AT BRAIN SCANS CONDUCTED ON MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED PEOPLE AGES THREE TO TWENTY.

RESTAURANT CELL PHONE BAN-VO.WIPE

WHAT WOULD PROMPT YOU TO GIVE UP YOUR CELL PHONE FOR AWHILE?

WOULD A DISCOUNT AT DINNER DO THE TRICK?

WELL, THERE ARE RESTAURANTS THAT BAN PHONES ALL TOGETHER, OR SUGGEST YOU TURN THEM OFF.

BUT, A POPULAR EATERY IN LOS ANGELES IS OFFERING A UNIQUE INCENTIVE --

RESTAURANT CELL PHONE BAN-SOTVO

Do I find myself at dinner with my husband sometimes and we have out

cell phones out? Yes. Does it annoy me? Yes. / 22:03 I think for an hour or

two you can put your cell phone down and whatever is happening can wait.

NEW AT 5:00 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO------------

TURNING YOUR DEPRESSION AROUND IN JUST DAYS.

GIVING YOU MORE ENERGY!

THE OLD TREATMENT THAT'S BACK -- AND HELPING WOMEN BEFORE THEY HIT MENOPAUSE.

SHE FELL 200 FEET TO HER DEATH.

IN A PARSAILING ACCIDENT OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA.

TZ2 A HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY-VOTOPS-WIPE

TZ2 B PARASAIL DEATH-VOTOPS

BUMP SHOT-BUMP IN

TOSS TO PKG-POP

IN YOUR ABC7 HEALTHY LIVING TONIGHT.

FOR YEARS, GYNECOLOGISTS PRESCRIBED HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY TO TREAT SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE.

BUT THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN A LARGE CLINICAL TRIAL FOUND THE TREATMENT ACTUALLY POSED MORE HEALTH RISKS THAN BENEFITS.

HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY-PKG

CHERIE MASON'S DAY STARTS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THIS… A DAB OF THAT…. AND A LOT OF THIS!

BUT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THE 60-YEAR-OLD DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HERSELF. AFTER A HYSTERECTOMY, MENOPAUSE HIT HER AT JUST 40…AND DEPRESSION SET IN.

"I just don't even want to be here anymore."

CHERIE'S MENOPAUSE CAUSED HER HORMONE COUNT TO PLUMMET.

"Estrogen controls 400 different functions in our bodies."

HORMONE EXPERT DOCTOR JENNIFER LANDA RECOMMENDED CHERIE TRY SOMETHING NOT SO NEW…. HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

"It helps them sleep better, helps them feel better, it helps them think better, it helps them look better."

THE THERAPY WAS THE STANDARD TREATMENT FOR MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS FOR YEARS. BUT THAT STOPPED WHEN STUDIES LINKED IT TO CANCER, HEART ATTACKS AND STROKE.

"Hormone replacement has gotten very controversial."

BUT, IT'S GAINING POPULARITY AGAIN…SOMETIMES IN LOWER DOSES. CRITICS HAVE POINTED OUT FLAWS IN OLDER RESEARCH…AND SEVERAL EXPERTS HAVE CHANGED THEIR VIEWS, OR CONCLUDED THE WARNINGS WERE OVER-GENERALIZED. A RECENT STUDY SHOWS WOMEN WHO START H-R-T BEFORE AGE 60 OR WITHIN TEN YEARS OF MENOPAUSE HAVE A LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND OVERALL MORTALITY. THE RESEARCH SHOWS FOR HEART HEALTH… HORMONE THERAPY IS MORE BENEFICIAL THAN STATINS OR ASPIRIN. DOCTOR LANDA SAYS THE KEY IS PERSONALIZED HORMONE TREATMENT AND WHILE IT MIGHT NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE, IT WORKED FOR CHERIE. AFTER STARTING H-R-T…HER SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED IN A FEW DAYS.

"It was amazing, amazing."

HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY-POP

TEASE THREE-ONCAM

A NATIONWIDE ALERT!

TONIGHT - A SERIES OF BOMB THREATS AT MOVIE THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

.HOW POLICE AND K9 UNITS ARE RESPONDING NOW.

AN UNINVITED GUEST!

A PITBULL MAULS A BRIDE AT HER RECEPTION.

. HOW THAT WASN'T THE END OF THE BRUTAL ATTACK.

PLUS - THOUSANDS OF BOXES.

THEY LOOK REAL - BUT LOOK AGAIN.

TZ3 A THEATER BOMB THREATS-VO

TZ3 B PITBULL ON BRIDE-VO

TZ3 C FAKE LOUBOUTIN BUST-VO

BUMP SHOT-BUMP OUT

HELENE-CLIP

NEWS AT 5:00 PM OPEN-CLIP

PALM BEACH-OC

BREAKING NEWS -- FORT MYERS POLICE OFFICERS TELL US A FIVE CAR CRASH SHUT DOWN PALM BEACH BOULEVARD FROM HOME PLACE TO TERRY STREET.

THERE ARE TWO TRAUMA ALERTS AND THE VICTIMS ARE NOW AT LEE MEMORIAL.

OFFCERS SAY ONE WAS CUT OUT OF HE CAR

Palm Beach Boulevard shut down from HOME PLACE to Terry Street.

Per FMPD 5 cars involved in crash.

Unsure what happened - still investigating.

Two trauma alerts not sure of injuries - victims taken to lee memorial.

TS DANIELS CHASE AND CRASH-VID BOX

MAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW AT 5-30 --

A MAN WHO LED LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES ON A CHASE TODAY IS IN CUSTODY TONIGHT.

ABC7 JUST LEARNING HIS NAME IS RONGRIC DONNEL FRANCIS --OF LEHIGH ACRES.

DEPUTIES SPOTTED A STOLEN CAR NEAR TREELINE AVENUE AND DANIELS PARKWAY THIS MORNING.

AND THE MAN DRIVING DIDN'T STOP.

DEPUTIES TRIED A PIT MANEUVER, KNOCKING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD.

AFTER THAT, A DEPUTY SHOT AT THE SUSPECT.

TS FM APT FIRE-VID BOX

A BUILDING IN FORT MYERS CATCHES FIRE FOR A SECOND TIME.

FLAMES DESTROYED A BUILDING ON WILLARD STREET--JUST SOUTH OF CITY OF PALMS PARK.

THE PROPERTY MANAGER WAS PLANNING TO RENOVATE THE VACANT PROPERTY INTO APARTMENT HOMES.

THE SAME PROPERTY CAUGHT FIRE IN 2009.

TS COOKING OIL SPECIAL-VID BOX

CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES ARRESTED A MIAMI MAN FOR TRANSPORTING STOLEN COOKING OIL.

GABRIEL TORRES WAS ARRESTED AFTER DEPUTIES DISCOVERED THE OIL LEAKING FROM THE BACK OF A VAN.

THEATER BOMB THREATS-VOTOPS-2 SHOT

TONIGHT, THERE IS A NEW THREAT AT MOVIE THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT NEW THREAT HAS EMERGED AFTER THE SHOOTING IN COLORADO LAST MONTH..

GOOD EVENING, I'M JEFF BUTERA.

AND I'm COURTNEY ROBINSON.

TODAY OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AFTER AN OVERNIGHT THREAT OF MORE VIOLENCE.

THEATER BOMB THREATS-PKG

nats

HEIGHTENED TENSIONS. AND SECURITY TODAY AT A STRING OF MOVIE THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AFTER A THREATENING PHONE MESSAGE WAS LEFT ON AN ANSWERING MACHINE AT THE CARMIKE CINEMAS HEADQUARTERS IN GEORGIA OVERNIGHT.

"The caller said that there were bombs placed throughout the theaters all over the United States.

So probably every singled theater in the United States that is owned by this company is being searched right now."

SEARCH TEAMS. SOME WITH DOGS. LOCKED-DOWN. THEN LOOKED THROUGH THEATERS IN SEVERAL STATES INCLUDING: GEORGIA. KENTUCKY. ILLINOIS. NORTH CAROLINA AND PENNSYLVANIA.

TO THIS POINT NO EXPLOSIVES HAVE BEEN FOUND.

AND POLICE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT ANY POSSIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THREATS AND AN ARREST MADE LAST NIGHT WHEN 23-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA VARDEMAN TRIED TO CARRY A LOADED 9MM PISTOL INTO A CARMIKE CINEMA IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA - THE CITY WHERE THE THEATER CHAIN IS BASED.

MORE AMMUNITION WAS FOUND INSIDE VARDEMAN'S CAR.

THEATER BOMB THREATS-OC

JAY GRAY REPORTING.

AGHANISTAN ATTACK-VO

ANOTHER ATTACK FROM WITHIN THE AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES LEAVES TWO AMERICANS DEAD TONIGHT.

NATO SAYS A NEWLY-RECRUITED POLICEMAN OPENED FIRE ON HIS AMERICAN ALLIES JUST MINUTES AFTER THEY HANDED HIM HIS OFFICIAL WEAPON IN A CEREMONY MARKING THE START OF HIS TRAINING.

YVYV-CLIP

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS-VO.WIPE

YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE,

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A WEEK SINCE MITT ROMNEY PICKED PAUL RYAN AS HIS RUNNING MATE.

SINCE THEN, THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN PLAYING DEFENSE ON MEDICARE AND NOW - ABOUT RYAN'S CONFLICTING POSITIONS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STIMULUS PACKAGE.

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS-SOTVO

I never asked for stimulus / I don't recall so I really

can't comment on it. I opposed the stimulus because it doesn't work, it didn

't work.

IT TURNS OUT RYAN *DID* REQUEST THE STIMULUS MONEY, BUT IN A STATEMENT SAID

THE LETTERS WERE JUST "CONSTITUENT SERVICES," AND HE HADN'T CHANGED HIS

RNC POLICE PREPS -VOTOPS.WIPE

TONIGHT, ABC7 HAS A LOOK AT HOW POLICE IN TAMPA ARE PREPARING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION LATER THIS MONTH.

OFFICERS HELD A MEETING YESTERDAY FOR RESIDENTS.

THEY SHOWED OFF THE KHAKI UNIFORMS EVERY OFFICER WILL BE WEARING DURING THE R.N.C, THE BRAND NEW BICYCLES SOME OF THEM WILL BE RIDING -- AND SOME OF THE SWAT VEHICLES.

RNC POLICE PREPS -SOTVO

S/ Officer Kris Babino / Tampa Police Dept.:41-:46

"We try to explain to them what they might encounter while they're out there or just with the event in general. We try to explain to them the appropriate responses they should take when they encounter certain things. "

THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION RUNS FROM AUGUST 27TH THROUGH AUGUST 30TH.

PENN STATE ABUSE ADMINISTRATORS-VO

A TRIAL DATE IS NOW SET FOR TWO FORMER PENN STATE OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF LYING TO A GRAND JURY AND BURYING AN ALLEGATION OF A CHILD'S SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE JERRY SANDUSKY SCANDAL.

A JUDGE TODAY ORDERED JURY SELECTION IN THE TRIAL FOR TIM CURLEY AND GARY SCHULTZ TO BEGIN JANUARY 7-TH.

PROSECUTORS SAY CURLEY AND SCHULTZ LIED WHEN ASKED WHAT A GRADUATE ASSISTANT TOLD THEM ABOUT A 2001 ASSAULT HE WITNESSED IN A LOCKER ROOM SHOWER.

JESSE JACKSON PATRICK KENNEDY-VO

TONIGHT ABC7 HAS THE PHOTO OF A MEETING BETWEEN FORMER RHODE ISLAND CONGRESSMAN PATRICK KENNEDY AND CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON JUNIOR.

KENNEDY MET WITH JACKSON YESTERDAY AT THE MAYO CLINIC WHERE JACKSON IS BEING TREATED FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER.

SAGINAW POLICE SHOOTING-NATSVO

TENSIONS ARE HIGH IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

POLICE THERE SHOT AND KILLED A MAN WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

THE DEADLY SHOOTING WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

WE WANT TO WARN YOU, THE VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC AND COULD BE TROUBLING TO SOME VIEWERS.

nats gunfire

THE 49-YEAR OLD MAN KILLED IN THE SHOOTING WAS IN A STANDOFF WITH SIX OFFICERS.

THEY WARNED HIM TO DROP A KNIFE HE WAS HOLDING.

THEY EVEN THREATENED TO UNLEASH THEIR POLICE DOGS.

WITNESSES SAY ONCE THE MAN STEPPED TOWARDS THE OFFICERS THEY OPENED FIRE.

LOCAL MEDIA REPORTS 46 SHOTS WERE FIRED.

SAGINAW POLICE SHOOTING-SOTVO

"Emotionally, I have a lot of pain, and I'm stunned that six human beings would stand in front of one human being an fire 46 shots. I just don't understand that."

THE SHOOTING HAPPENED JULY FIRST.

THE VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING IS JUST NOW BEING RELEASED.

THE COMMUNITY IS OUTRAGED.

THE SIX OFFICERS ARE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE EXPLOSION -NATSVO

IT WAS ALL FOR T-V.

nats of explosion

YOU JUST SAW A CONTROLLED EXPLOSION IN BROOKLYN.

IT'S PART OF A STAGED STUNT FOR THE T-V SERIES "BOARDWALK EMPIRE."

PITBULL ON BRIDE-VO.WIPE

TONIGHT, DENVER POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN ACCUSED OF UNLEASHING A PIT BULL MIX

ON A BRIDE AT HER WEDDING RECEPTION.

THE BRIDE SAYS JOEL NEVAREZ CAME TO THE HOUSE WHERE SHE WAS HAVING HER WEDDING RECEPTION AND UNLEASHED A PITBULL ON HER.

PITBULL ON BRIDE-SOTVO

Cortez: "the whole time he just stood there and laughed. He punched me in

the face and the back of the head with brass knuckles."

THE BRIDE HAS STITCHES ON HER BACK AND SHOULDER.

HER HUSBAND JORGE ALSO HAS BRUISES FROM THE DOG AFTER HE TRIED

TO STOP IT.

WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK-VO-SS

WE ALL KNOW ANIMALS CAN ATTACK WITHOUT WARNING.

TONIGHT ON 20/20. A TWO HOUR SPECIAL, WHEN ANIMALS STRIKE BACK.

THE SPECIAL FEATURES 5 ANIMAL ATTACKS CAUGHT ON VIDEO.

INCLUDING FRED LANGDALE FROM MOORE HAVEN.

HE HAD PART OF HIS RIGHT ARM BITTEN OFF BY A GATOR WHILE SWIMMING IN THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER LAST MONTH.

PARASAIL DEATH-VO.WIPE

AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TONIGHT AFTER A DEADLY PARASAILING ACCIDENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

AUTHORITIES SAY A CONNECTICUT WOMAN WHO WAS PARASAILING WITH HER HUSBAND ON POMPANO BEACH,

DIED AFTER HER HARNESS BROKE.

SHE PLUMMETED AS MUCH AS 200 FEET INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

PARASAIL DEATH-SOTVO

JORGE PINO--FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION--THE INFORMATION WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AND ALSO SOME OF THE WITNESS STATEMENTS THAT WE HAVE INDICATE IT WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE HARNESS.

NO COMMENT TONIGHT FROM THE OWNER OF THE PARASAILING COMPANY.

FAKE LOUBOUTIN BUST-OC

A BIG GOVERNMENT BUST OVER LUXURY SHOES --

THE FEDS SAYING THEY'VE SEIZED MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND PAIRS OF COUNTERFEIT HIGH HEELS BY DESIGNER FOR THE STARS CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN.

FAKE LOUBOUTIN BUST-PKG

They adorn the feet of the rich, famous, and FABULOUSLY FASHIONABLE.

TRACK = 2 SECS

costing as much as $6000 a pair

Nat SOT from Oprah

TRACK = 2 SECS

Oprah swears by her Louboutins

NAT POP JLO MUSIC VIDEO

TRACK = 3 SECS

and Jennifer Lopez sang an anthem about them

NATS JLO MUSIC VIDEO

I'M THROWING ON MY LOUBOUTINS

WATCH THESE RED BOTTOMS, AND THE BACK OF MY JEANS. WATCH ME GO, BYE BABY.

TRACK = 2 SECS

but instead OF BEING SPOTTED ON CELEBRITIES,

TRACK = 6 SECS

THURSDSAY, those TRADEMARK red soles were in the CLUTCHES of Customs and

Border Patrol authorities at a Los Angeles seaport

TRACK = 6 SECS

THESE PUMPS, PLATFORMS AND STILETTOS -- they are ALL counterfeit Louboutins,

20,000 of them!

TRACK = 6 SECS

That many PAIRS in actual Louboutin stores would cost upwards of $18 million

.

SOT customs agent:

This is the first time that we've actually seized this type of shoes with

the red soles. We have not seen them before

TRACK = 6 SECS

Just as the girls on Sex and The City discovered, you can find a lot of fake

designer goods for a fraction of the price

SOT SEX AND THE CITY

C THAT'S LIKE $3000!

S OR $150 FAKE!

CARRIE NO!

C OMG IT LOOKS SO REAL!

S YOUD NEVER KNOW IT WASN'T REAL UNLESS YOU LOOKED INSIDE AT THE LINING

TRACK = 7 SECS

In Los Angeles, the busiest port in the country, they intercept a

staggering 1,000 shipments of counterfeit goods every year.

TRACK = 5 SECS

Illicit goods include everything from PERFUME TO ELECTRONICS TO CHILDREN'S

ITEMS, and it doesn't just cut in to manufacturers profits

SOT: TODD OWEN/CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL.

THERE'S ALSO A LOSS OF SALES TAXES THAT WOULD GO TO SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS

THAT ARE NOT BEING RECEIVED WHEN YOURE BUYING COUNTERFEITED GOODS.

TRACK = 10 SECS - PLEASE DROP IN GFX HERE

according to some estimates, counterfeit goods cost the us economy

more than 750,000 jobs and as much as $250 BILLION dollars annually

TRACK = 4 SECS

So authorities say, you are better off making the same decision Carrie

Bradshaw did

NAT SOT SEX AND THE CITY

CARRIE: I'D RATHER WAIT FOR THE REAL THING THEN YOU KNOW ITS ONE OF A KIND

NEW AT 5:00 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE FOUR------------

COLONEL BILL DAKNIS, BREAST CANCER PATIENT - "She never told me it was contagious. I'm a little ticked off at her about that!"

BATTLING CANCER TOGETHER.

MARRIED FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES HOW THIS COUPLE IS KEEPING EACH OTHER STRONG!

!?!?!!?AND ABUSE BEHIND THE SCENES OF DANCING WITH THE STARS!?!?!!?!

WHAT ONE FORMER STAR IS ACCUSING HER PARTNER OF DOING.

.AND CLAIMS THE SHOW KNEW ABOUT IT!

TZ4 A BREAST CANCER COUPLE-SOTVO

TZ4 B HOPE SOLO SLAP-SSTOPS

STORM WARN JP OPEN-CLIP

CROSSTALK-WX EST

FORECAST-PHC

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

FORECAST-WXWALL

MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS THIS WEEKEND

Do you have plans Saturday and Sunday? If you do, you picked a decent weekend for it.

The sun will be in full force both days, however, there will be plenty of clouds to dot the sky. Thus, we are calling this weekend a mix of sun and clouds.

First Alert Live Doppler Radar will also print an active picture at times. Isolated storms will billow during the afternoon along the sea breeze. Not everyone will see rain drops, but if you do you'll sure know it.

Thankfully these downpours won't ruin your plans. Just be sure to have the umbrella or rain gear in hand. Afterall it's August in southwest Florida, and this is the typical "August scenario!"

Monday through the rest of next week we'll see isolated to scattered storms around 3:00 PM.

Highs will range from 91 to 93 degrees.

When it comes to the tropics, we're watching a few areas.

First, storms are helping intensify an impulse in the southewest Gulf. It has a high liklihood of developing into a depression, but it will have no effect on southwest Florida.

Next, Tropical Storm Gordon continues to barrel across the open Atlantic. It, too, will be no harm to the U.S. It's heading for the other land mass on the other side of the pond. That is, Europe.

BREAST CANCER COUPLE -OC

A VIRGINIA COUPLE MARRIED FOR 55 YEARS IS FACING A NEW CHALLENGE TOGETHER.

THEY'VE BOTH ARE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER. BUT THEY'RE NOT LETTING THE DISEASE BRING THEM DOWN.

BREAST CANCER COUPLE -PKG

COLONEL BILL AND BETTIE DAKNIS ARE AS LIVELY AS THEY COME.

"We met in high school."

FRIENDS FIRST AND THEN COMPANIONS THE ALEXANDRIA COUPLE HAS RAISED FOUR SONS AND HAVE A BROOD OF GRANDKIDS.

"I told you I had a lot of honeymoons!"

AND A BROOD OF GRANDKIDS.

AFTER 55 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, AN UNEXPECTED "FIRST" FOR THEM -- BOTH WERE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.

"And I immediately went to my family doctor."

FIRST BETTY, IN 2008, AND AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THIS PAST JUNE, SO DID BILL.

AFTER CHEMO AND A LUMPECTOMY, BETTIE IS CANCER-FREE.

"I came out of it whole."

BILL IS UNDERGOING CHEMO NOW AND HAS ALREADY HAD A MASTECTOMY.

"She never told me it was contagious. I'm a little ticked off at her about that!"

AFTER THE SHOCK WORE OFF, SUPPORT WAS INSTANTANEOUS.

"Every time I went for chemo or radiation or whatever they were doing, he would be with me. And I'm doing the same for him."

BILL QUICKLY TOOK TO EMAILING HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, PARTICULARLY MEN.

"and told them, 'don't ignore the lumps'."

BREAST CANCER COUPLE -OC

ERIKA GONZALEZ REPORTING.

HOPE SOLO CLAIMS MAKS SLAPPED HER-SS

TONIGHT, WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT SOME TENSION BEHIND THE SCENES DURNING SEASON 11 OF DANCING WITH THE STARS.

IN HER NEW BOOK--

OLYMPIC SOCCER GOALIE, HOPE SOLO ACCUSES HER FORMER PARTNER, MAKS OF BEING PHYSICALLY AGRESSIVE DURING REHEARSALS.

THE 31-YEAR OLD SOLO CLAIMS MAX SLAPPED HER HARD ON THE FACE WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT ONE OF HER DANCE MOVES.

SHE GOES ON TO SAY HE HIT HER ON THE STOMACH SO HARD, SHE HAD A RED HAND PRINT FOR A WHOLE DAY.

WHEN ASKED WHY SHE DIDN'T CHANGE PARTNERS WHEN THE PRODUCERS OFFERED, SOLO SAYS SHE DIDN'T WANT TO END HIS CAREER.

OBAMA'S FIRST KISS-VO

THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY NOW HAVE A FOREVER REMINDER OF THEIR FIRST KISS.

HERE IT IS, A HUGE GRANITE BOLDER AND PLAQUE NOW MARKS THE SPOT WHERE THE COUPLE FIRST LOCKED LIPS.

IT WAS 1989, IN FRONT OF A BASKIN-ROBBINS IN HYDE PARK SECTION OF CHICAGO.

THE ICE CREAM SHOP IS CLOSE NOW, REPLACED BY A SUBWAY.

MAGIC PORTIONS EBAY BAN-VO

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO BUY THINGS LIKE BLESSINGS, MAGIC POTIONS AND PSYCHIC READINGS ON EBAY--

THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

AS PART OF A NEW POLICY, EBAY IS BANNING THE SALE OF MAGIC SERVICES.

THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T BUY BLESSINGS, YOU CAN'T BUY PRAYERS, AND YOU CAN'T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON SPELLS ON THEIR SITE.

EBAY SAYS IT'S TRYING TO BUILD TRUST IN THE MARKETPLACE.

LOVE THAT DRESS-VO.WIPE

LATER THIS MONTH YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SHOP THE NIGHT AWAY ON DRESSES. THOUSANDS OF THEM.

LOVE THAT DRESS IS AUGUST 29TH AND TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST!

FROM WEDDING GOWNS TO SUNDRESSES.IT'S ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE, SUPPORTING THE PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS IN FORT MYERS.

LOVE THAT DRESS-SOTVO

You can come with a group of girlfriends it's a ladies night out. You get bargain deals on some great dresses. And it all supports PACE Center for girls. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so it's so important."

TICKETS ARE 25 DOLLARS. THE EVENT TAKES PLACE AT TWO LOCATIONS THIS YEAR- THE EMBASSY SUITES IN ESTERO AND THE WALDORF IN NAPLES.

WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.GO TO ABC DASH SEVEN DOT COM.

TEASE FIVE-ONCAM

A CARRIAGE RIDE THROUGH NEW YORK CITY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

TONIGHT - THREE PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL.

TZ5 A CARRIAGE HORSE AX-VO

BUMP SHOT-BUMP IN

CARRIAGE HORSE AX-OC

TWO TOURISTS AND A COACHMAN ARE RECOVERING FROM INJURIES TONIGHT AFTER A SPOOKED HORSE TOSSED THEM FROM A CARRIAGE ON THE BUSY STREETS OF MANHATTAN.

CARRIAGE HORSE AX-PKG

Two tourists were about to go for a carriage ride when the horse broke free

and took off.

Something freaked out the horse just as the operator climbed in the carriage

Thursday afternoon.

It caused the animal to take off running, putting the passengers and the

operator in the hospital.

"The horse took off. All the way towards 10th Avenue," said Leon Zaid, a

witness.

The horse bolted from Columbus Circle on 60th, then down 9th, hitting a

double parked livery car.

Police and passenger-bys stopped him at 57th, the exact route the horse

takes to get back to the Clinton Park Stables after a day's work.

As the split in two carriage was pulled off a flatbed, a worker confirmed

the horse was checked out by his vet and by ASPCA investigators.

"He broke his leg. The horse is perfectly fine," the worker said.

This accident has sparked a 30-yaer-old debate between groups like the Horse

and Carriage Association of New York City and NYCLASS, New Yorkers for

Clean and Safe Livable Streets.

Should these animals be in busy and bustling New York City streets?

"It's the 12th accident this year. It's only a matter of time before someone

gets seriously injured. The horse and buggy is from another time. It's time

to put these horses out to pasture," a NYCLASS spokesperson said.

"To ban the horses and carriages is one side. The horses are adapted to New

York City. We take very good care of these horses. We are one of the safest

equestrian pursuits there is," said Christine Hanson, a spokesperson for the

Horse and Carriage Association.

The Dept of Consumer Affairs, Health and ASPCA all oversee the horse

CARRIAGE HORSE AX-OC

CAROLINA LEID REPORTING.

THE HORSE IS SUSPENDED FROM CARRIAGE RIDES RIGHT NOW,

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

COMING UP AT 6PM-ONCAM

ABC 7 ON TOP OF BREAKING NEWS IN FORT MYERS--

A 5 CAR CRASH SHUTS DOWN PALM BEACH BLVD AT VERONICA SHOEMAKER.

WE ARE ALSO GETTING A FIRST LOOK AT THE MAN ACCUSED OF LEADING DEPUTIES ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE ON DANIELS PARKWAY--

THEN TRYING TO RUN OVER A DEPUTY.

AND THIEVES SO BRAZEN THAT TOOK A MAN'S TOWELS OUT OF THE DRYER!

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT REALLY HAS HIM UPSET--

TZ 6 1) PALM BEACH CRASH-SS-TOPS

TZ 6 2) DANIELS CHASE-VOTOPS

TZ 6 3) COLLECTABLES STOLEN-VOTOPS

CLOSE-2SHOT