DIRECTORS PAGE

HEADLINES

SMASHED MAIL BOXES --

TRASH COVERING THE ROADS --

AND A SLEW OF COMPLAINTS.

NOW AT 7 --

WHY SOME SOUTHWEST FLORIDANS SAY THE STREET AND THEIR GOVERNMENT ARE TOO BLAME.

HEAVEN FOR STAWBERRIES, HELL FOR ORANGES.

HOW A RECENT HEAT WAVE IS TURNING THINGS UPSIDE DOWN FOR FLORIDA FRUIT.

HL 1) GGE BRIDGE-VO

HL 2) STRAWBERRIES AND ORANGES-VO

HL 3) 911 INTRUDER SHOOTING-NATVO

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

RECORD HEAT-TRIPLE BOX

WE'RE STARTING OFF TONIGHT, BREAKING RECORDS!

SCIENTISTS CONFIRM TODAY THAT 2012 WAS THE HOTTEST YEAR EVER IN THE CONTINENTAL U-S.

IT'S THE CAPSTONE TO A YEAR THAT SAW MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS.

THE DESTRUCTION OF SANDY.

MASSIVE WILDFIRES IN THE WEST.

AND DEVESTATING DROUGHTS ACROSS MUCH OF THE NATION.

A) SANDY

B) WILDFIRES

C) DROUGHT

TOSS TO DESK-OC

COMING UP IN 15 MINUTES,

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW FLORIDA'S CURRENT UNUSUAL WEATHER PATTERNS ARE AFFECTING CROPS IN THE STATE.

GGE BRIDGE-VO WIPE

TONIGHT, A COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY WANTS HELP DEALING WITH A MASSIVE PILE OF TRASH.

THEY SAY A TEMPORARY BRIDGE THAT JUST OPENED UP IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES CAUSED IT.

TRASH DAY TOOK ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING AT 23RD STREET SOUTHWEST.

IT DESTROYED CANS AND RIPPED MAILBOXES OUT OF THE GROUND.

THE GARBARGE TRUCKS ARE USING DIFFERENT ROADS --

WHILE CREWS WORK ON AN ALMOST TWO MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT TO RE-BUILD WHITE BOULEVARD BRIDGE.

GGE BRIDGE-(2)SOTVO

Tony Jacobsen/Golden Gate Estates

"I heard a noise, I saw my neighbors trashcan totally destroyed and the mailbox pulled completely out of the ground."

Dr. Fritz Lemoine/Golden Gate Estates

"One of the big issues is we've said from the beginning that the street was barely big enough for one car."

COUNTY LEADERS CHOSE NOT TO SAY ANYTHING TO US ABOUT THIS TODAY.

GOOD SAMARITAN-VO

A GOOD SAMARITAN SPRANG INTO ACTION-

AFTER HE SAW A MAN ROBBING A WOMAN AS SHE WALKED DOWN PALM BEACH BOULEVARD.

DAVID MCNEAL WAS DRIVING HOME ABOUT 10:45 IN THE MORNING WHEN HE WATCHED A MAN RIP THE WOMAN'S PURSE OFF HER ARM, AND TAKE OFF ON A BICYCLE.

INSTEAD OF JUST CALLING THE POLICE MCNEAL. DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.HE STARTED FOLLOWING THE ROBBER IN HIS CAR.

GOOD SAMARITAN-SOTVO

3:07 "he tried to run- told me let me go, let me go and i said no man- you just robbed a lady and i saw everything and i'm going to hold you until the cops get here."

TOW TRUCKS-VO

CAPE CORAL IS TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES AGAINST A TOWING COMPANY.

THEY HAVE SHUT IT DOWN FOR A *SECOND TIME*--

AFTER ACCUSATIONS "AMERICA TOWING" OVER-CHARGED AND EXPLOITED CUSTOMERS.

AMERICA TOWING FACES A TWO MONTH SUSPENSION --

FOLLOWING A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS.

OFFICERS SAY THE COMPANY CHARGED FAR MORE THAN ALLOWED UNDER THE LAW.

THEY SAY THE COMPANY MADE DRIVERS PAY STORAGE FEES--

TOW TRUCKS-SOTVO

5004 "We believe there may have been others who've grinned and barred it. We're looking for you."

THE SUPENSION GOES INTO EFFECT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH - SO THE COMPANY HAS TIME TO APPEAL.

IF YOU SUSPECT YOU PAID TOO MUCH --

SILLY RABIIT VANDAL-VO

THE SO-CALLED SILLY RABBIT STRIKES AGAIN.

THIS TIME --

THE VANDAL SPRAY-PAINTED ON A WALL AT THE TIRE CHOICE ON GLADIOLUS DRIVE IN FORT MYERS.

NEXT TO THE WORDS IS A PICTURE OF A RABBIT'S FACE.

SINCE OCTOBER --

DEPUTIES SAY SILLY RABBIT HAS TAGGED WALLS ACROSS SOUTHEST FLORIDA.

DAVID HENLEY-SS-VO-WIPE

WE HAVE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT AT 7 ON A STORY WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SINCE NOVEMBER.

THAT'S WHEN DEPUTIES PULLED OVER TEENAGER DAVID HENLEY AND FORMER LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIAN BIGELOW.

THEY SUSPECTED A DRUG DEAL.

THEY SAY HENLEY WAS DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE.

DEPUTIES ALSO FOUND MARIJUANA AND COCAINE ON HIM.

TONIGHT - ABC7 HAS LEARNED HENLEY IS ADMITTING TO ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS.

HE HAS QUALIFED FOR A PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM.

HE MUST REMAIN IN IT FOR SIX TO 18 MONTHS.

HE'LL ALSO HAVE TO COMPLETE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

LAURA BUSH-VO

FORMER FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH IS IN SOUTHWEST FLORDIA TODAY.

ABC7 FOUND MRS. BUSH AT THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NEW MOTE MARINE RESEARCH OFFICE IN BOCA GRANDE.

THE BUSH FAMILY FREQUENTLY VISITS THE AREA.

LAURA BUSH-SOTVO

9:37 "I even wrote them a note saying I hope we weren't too assertive in our welcoming you. But they're laid back and I think they enjoy the island

LAURA SAYS HER FATHER IN LAW - GEORGE H-W BUSH IS DOING "GREAT" AND THEY CHECK ON HIM EVERY DAY.

FERRY ACCIDENT-VO

ELEVEN PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY HURT TONIGHT --

AFTER A FERRY CRASH IN MANHATTAN.

THE ACCIDENT RIPPED OPEN A SMALL PART OF THE HULL LIKE AN ALUMINUM CAN.

NEARLY 50 PEOPLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

PARAMEDICS TREATED BRUISED AND DAZED PASSENGERS FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS.

THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THE FERRY IS 10 YEARS OLD.

JAMES HOLMES-(2) SOTTOPS-VO-CG RVL

It's like you almost have to face the devil

I don't know -- like a robot."

YOU JUST HEARD FAMILY MEMBERS OF VICTIMS DESCRIBING HOW ACCUSED KILLER JAMES HOLMES APPEARED IN COURT TODAY.

HOLMES IS CHARGED WITH KILLING 12 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING DOZENS MORE.

PROSECUTORS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF PREMEDITATION TODAY.

THEY SHOWED CELL PHONE PICTURES THEY SAY HOLMES TOOK HOURS BEFORE THE JULY ATTACK.

THE PHOTO SHOWED WEAPONS SPREAD OUT ON HIS BED, INCLUDING A TACTICAL VEST, GAS MASK, AND A BALLISTIC HELMET.

THEY ALSO FOUND PICTURES ON HIS PHONE OF THE THEATER A MONTH BEFORE THE ATTACK.

911 INTRUDER SHOOTING-NATVO

OFFICERS SAY A GEORGIA MOTHER SHOT AN INTRUDER, WHILE TRYING TO PROTECT HER CHILDREN.

POLICE HAVE RELEASED THE CHILLING 9-1-1 CALL HER HUSBAND MADE -- AS HE TALKS HER THROUGH WHAT TO DO AS THE INTRUDER COMES CLOSER.

THE HUSBAND IS NOT AT THE HOUSE AT THE TIME.

LISTEN.

"Is he in the house, he's in the house.

"Melinda if he opens that door, you shoot him, you understand.

"She shot him, she's shooting him, she's shooting him"

THAT HUSBAND WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SEVEN AGONIZING MINUTES BEFORE HEARING FROM DISPATCHERS THAT HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE O-K.

GUN CONTROL-VO

SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHNG.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WHEN IT COMES TO GUN CONTROL.

THE VICE PRESIDENT MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN SAFETY GROUPS.

HE SAYS WHILE HIS EFFORTS MAY NOT BE ALL ENCOMPASSING, HE'S DETERMINED TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN TO COMBAT GUN VIOLENCE.

THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL MEET WITH THE N-R-A TOMORROW.

NEXT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE

LET'S HOPE YOU'VE HAD A FLU SHOT!

DOCTORS SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST FLU SEASONS EVER.

WE'LL SHOW YOU JUST HOW BAD IT IS IN ONE CITY.

AND WATCH OUT!

A BULL IS ON THE LOOSE--

AND IT JUST TOOK OUT A COP!

WHY IT GOT FREE --

AND HOW THE OFFICERS PROTECTED THEMSELVES.

TZ1 A) FLU NATION-VOTOP WIPE

TZ1 B) LOOSE BULL-VO TOPS

FLU ACROSS THE NATION-VO

THE FLU BUG CONTINUES RAVAGING MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TONIGHT.

41 STATES ARE BATTLING WIDE-SPREAD OUTBREAKS.

EMERGENCY ROOMS ARE FILLED BEYOND CAPACITY.

HOSPITALS IN ILLINOIS REPORT AT LEAST FIVE DEATHS.

150 FLU PATIENTS HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNITS IN THAT AREA.

AND IN PENNSYLVANIA, SPECIAL TENTS HAVE GONE UP OUTSIDE A HOSPITAL TO

CANCER SCREENING-VO

A NEW SPIN ON AN OLD TEST IS THE LATEST IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.

RESEARCHERS IN BALTIMORE ARE USING THE PAP SMEAR TO SPOT OVARIAN AND ENDOMETRIAL CANCERS --

THOSE CANCERS ARE DEADLY AND THERE'S CURRENTLY NO SCREENING TESTS FOR THEM.

BY TESTING FLUID TAKEN FROM A PAP SMEAR, RESEARCHERS FOUND NEARLY HALF OF OVARIAN CANCERS.

SO FAR IT'S ONLY BEEN LAB TESTED.

LOOSE BULL-VO

A FLORIDA INTERSTATE LOOKED MORE LIKE A RODEO --

AS AN UNRULY BULL WREAKED HAVOC ON TRAFFIC.

AFTER A CRASH --

THE MASSIVE ANIMAL ESCAPED FROM A LIVESTOCK TRAILER IN ALACHUA COUNTY.

IT SURPRISED A DEPUTY, TOSSING HIM IN THE AIR LIKE A RAG DOLL.

HE SUFFERED CUTS AND BRUISES.

OTHER OFFICER DOVE FOR COVER AS THE BULL CHARGED DOWN THE ROAD.

NEXT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO

00.46.53 "this is way early, we've never had it this early."

WHILE THE HEAT OUTSIDE IS TAKING A TOLL ON ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST PRIZED CROPS --

ANOTHER FRUIT IS ACTUALLY BENEFEITING FROM THE WARMER CLIMATE.

AFTER THE FIRST MURDER OF THE YEAR IN FORT MYERS --

TZ2 STRAWBERRIES & ORANGES-SOTVO

TZ2 COMMNUNITY POLICING-VO

STRAWBERRIES AND ORANGES-TC MON -VO

SEASONAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS LOVE THE WARM FLORIDA WEATHER, BUT CITRUS GROWERS ARE NOT AS THRILLED.

FARMERS ARE CONCERNED THE WARMER-THAN-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THIS YEAR COULD AFFECT THE FUTURE OF FLORIDA'S CASH CROP -- ORANGES.

SOME GROWERS TELL US THEIR CITRUS TREES ARE ALREADY BLOOMING, WHICH USUALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL MARCH.

THE CONCERN IS --

IF WE DO EXPERIENCE A FREEZE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS --

THESE BLOOMS THAT EVENTUALLY TURN INTO ORANGES WILL DIE.

STRAWBERRIES AND ORANGES-SOT-TC MON

00.46.17 These are even little oranges already. If we get a cold spell that's going to burn them things back and they'll die.

THERE IS A CHANCE THE TREES CAN BLOOM AGAIN AND STILL PRODUCE FRUIT FOR NEXT SEASON.

WEATHER-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

RECORD HEAT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

We hit 88 degrees at Page Field in Fort Myers today … and that sets a new record high temperature for this date. The old record was set back in 1974 and was 85 degrees. It's also interesting to note that the warmest daytime high temperature in the month of January ever recorded at Page Field is 88 degrees. So, today's record ties the all-time January high temperature as well.

The forecast tonight is for quiet and mild weather. Skies will be partly cloudy and, unlike last night, there are no showers on the radar this evening. Temperatures tonight will dip below 70 and land in the upper 60's by tomorrow morning. As a side note: the average low for this time of year is 54 and the average high is 74. We are obviously predicting weather much warmer than that!

A large area of high pressure is anchored in the Atlantic and will continue to deliver warm southeasterly winds across the area. Under partly cloudy skies we will be back in the mid to upper 80's by tomorrow afternoon. In fact, we may tie or set another record high again tomorrow.

STRAWBERRIES-SOTVO

31:06 this has been a perfect season for them there's just hands and hands of berries, one behind the other, they're very sweet, they're as sweet as I can ever remember them being.

THE WEATHER IS ACTUALLY HELPING FLORIDA'S STRAWBERRY CROP.

GROWERS TELL US THIS SEASON'S STRAWBERRIES ARE SWEETER THAN EVER.

THEY SAY A COLD SNAP HELPED MAKE THEM JUICIER.

THAT'S OPPOSITE FROM THE PAST FEW YEAR WHEN COLD SNAPS DESTROYED THE RIPE FRUIT.

COMMUNITY POLICING-SOTVO

IN THE WAKE OF THE FIRST MURDER OF THE YEAR,

FORT MYERS POLICE CHIEF DOUG BAKER IS UNVEILING NEW TACTICS TO STOP VIOLENT CRIMES.

IT INCLUDES AN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY POLICING.

1:34:25 obviously the officers can't be everywhere at once so it's important that we receive that informational info from the tips from the community 32

TODAY WE RODE ALONG WITH FORT MYERS POLICE OFFICER TONY BROWN.

HE'S KNOWN FOR HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH RESIDENTS.

COMMUNITY POLICING-SOTVO

1:02:18 you create a repoire with these people so they're more willing to tell you hey this person did it or this person right here did it. 25

THE CHIEF IS LOOKING INTO ENACTING AN ORDINANCE THAT FORCES CONVICTED FELONS WHO USE GUNS IN THEIR CRIMES TO REGISTER WITH POLICE ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF JAIL.

FMB STUDY-VO

EVERY YEAR IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA--

WE SPEND TENS OF MILLION OF DOLLARS WIDENING BEACHES LOST TO EROSION--

AND DIGGING OUT PASSES FILLED IN WITH SAND.

TONIGHT --

ENGINEERS ARE LOOKING AT FORT MYERS BEACH--

TO SEE IF THE COST IS REALLY WORTH WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

THE TOWN IS GOING TO CONDUCT A SIX MONTH STUDY.

ENGINEERS WILL MEASURE UNDERWATER DEPTHS--

CHART WIND AND WAVES, AND STUDY AERIALS--

TO FIGURE OUT HOW SAND SHIFTS.

THE STUDY COSTS 134-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

CAPE OPENINGN PRAYER CONTROVERSY-VO

STOP **PRAYING** IN CAPE CORAL.

THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM ONE NATIONAL ATHEIST ORGANIZATION TO THE CITY.

THE FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION SLAMMED CAPE LEADERS FOR ALLOWING PRAYER BEFORE MEETINGS.

IN A LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS - THE ORGANIZATION CLAIMS THE INVOCATIONS VIOLATE THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

THE GROUP SAYS PRAYER MAKES RELIGIOUS MINORITIES FEEL LIKE OUTSIDERS.

CAPE OPENINGN PRAYER CONTROVERSY-SOTVO

"The city has gone over and beyond to and tell me to make sure don't mention Jesus and say the father, a higher power so we're on the right track."

JUMBO SQUID INVASION-VO

IT'S A SLIMY INVASION ON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST.

TAKE A LOOK.

THESE SQUID.KNOWN AS JUMBO SQUID.HAVE BEEN INVADING THE WATERS FROM ORANGE COUNTY ALL THE WAY TO THE MEXICAN BORDER.

SOME FISHERMEN ARE SAYING THEY ARE CATCHING SQUID BY THE HUNDREDS.

THE LAST TIME SO MANY JUMBO SQUID SHOWED UP IN THE AREA WAS BACK IN 2009.

ARMSTRONG ANALYST-VIDBOX RVL

FESSING UP MAY NOT END THE NIGHTMARE FOR DISGRACED CYCLIST LANCE ARMSTRONG.

A LEGAL COMMENTATOR SAYS IF ARMSTRONG DOES ADMIT TO DOPING DURING HIS OPRAH INTERVIEW, IT COULD CAUSE A RAFT OF FRESH LEGAL PROBLEMS.

HE SAYS ONE OF THE BIG LEGAL THREATS FACING ARMSTRONG IS A LAWSUIT BY FORMER TEAMMATE FLOYD LANDIS ALLEGING ARMSTRONG DEFRAUDED THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE, WHOSE CYCLING TEAM ARMSTRONG RODE FOR.

TEASE THREE-POP

BIG DAY FOR THE FORT MYERS MIRACLE. THEY BRING BACK AT FAMILIAR FACE

TZ3 A-VO-DISS

TONIGHT AT 11 OPEN-CLIP

TONIGHT AT 11 OPEN

ON THE DAY THAT **NO ONE GETS PICKED FOR THE MLB HALL OF FAME,

DOZENS OF AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS STOLEN FROM A HOME IN LEHIGH ACRES.

TONIGHT AT 11,

11PM TZ1) BASEBALLS STOLEN-VOTOPS-WIPE

11PM TZ2) DOG BEER-VOTOPS

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

BASEBALL HOF-SOTTOPS

BASEBALL HOF-POP

BASEBALL HOF-VOTOPS-WIPE

PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS AT THE CENTER OF THIS YEARS BALLOT.

BARRY BONDS IS THE ALL TIME HOME RUN LEADER AND 7-TIME MVP

ROGER CLEMENS. WON 7 CY YOUNG AWARDS. BOTH ACCUSED OF CHEATING.

YOU NEED 75 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO GET IN. BUT CLEMENS ONLY GOT 37 PERCENT. BONDS. 36

BASEBALL HOF-SOTTOPS-WIPE

FM MIRACLE-POPMON

FM MIRACLE-VOTOPS-WIPE

HE IS BRING THAT PHILOSOPHY TO THE FORT MYERS MIRACLE. TODAY HE WAS OFFICALLY ANNOUNCED AS THEIR NEW MANAGER.

LAST SEASON DOUG WAS THE HITTING COACH WITH THE OGDEN RAPTORS. A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM IN THE LA DODGERS ORGANIZATION

FM MIRACLE-SOTTOPS

NHL LABOR-VOTOPS

TODAY THE NHL OWNERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE NEW COLLECTIVE BARGANING AGREEMENT.

NOW IT'S THE PLAYERS TURN. AND THEN WE CAN PLAY SOME HOCKEY.

THE 48 GAME SEASON IS SET TO START JANUARY 19TH.

NHL LABOR-SOTTOP

RG3-VOTOPS

ROBERT GRIFFIN THE 3RD IS OFFICIALLY THE MEND.

TODAY THE REDSKINS QUARTERBACK HAD SURGERY ON BOTH HIS ALC AND LCL IN HIS RIGHT KNEE.

IT'S THE SAME KNEE THAT HE INJURED IN COLLEGE.

CLEMSON BOYD-VOTOPS

GOOD NEWS FOR SOUTH FORT MYERS STAR. SAMMY WATKINS. HIS QUARTERBACK. TAHJ BOYD IS RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

LAST SEASON. BOYD WAS THE ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR. THROWING FOR NEARLY 4-THOUSAND YARDS AND 36 TOUCHDOWNS

GOODBYE WEBSITE TEASE-3SHOT