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

A METEOR STREAKS ACROSS THE SKY.

AND SPARKS A HUGE EXPLOSION.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN RUSSIA ARE NOW INJURED.

ABC-7 FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT THIS BIZARRE SIGHT.

PLUS.

THE EXCITEMENT AND ADRENALINE PEAKED --- AS TRIUMPH PULLED INTO PORT LAST NIGHT.

THOUSANDS ARE RELIEVES.

AND MANY ARE UPSET -- WANTING PAYBACK AND ANSWERS.

PLUS-- WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR OLYMPIAN OSCAR PISTORIUS.

CHARGED IN HIS GIRLFRIENDS MURDER.

HE APPEARED IN COURT THIS MORNING.

AND BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.

HEAR THE OUTCOME.

HL1) RUSSIAN METEOR-VO-WIPE

HL2) CRUISE SHIP-VO-WIPE

HL3) OLYMPIC STAR IN COURT-VOTOPS

WX HL-WX WALL

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIPTOPS

FIRST WEATHER-OMNITOPS

WE'RE WAKING UP WITH MORE RAIN.

ON THE STORM WARN 7 LIVE DOPPLER RADAR THIS FRIDAY.

AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG -- FOR TEMPERATURES TO DROP.

ABC-7'S METEOROLOGIST ALLYSON RAE TRACKS THE RAIN *AND COOLER TEMPS THIS MORNING --

FIRST WEATHER-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.

"One more day of unsettled weather"

After a soggy Thursday with more than an 1.50" in the rain gauge, we have one more day of unsettled weather until conditions improve by the weekend along with a significant cool down.

We'll still be stuck under the clouds as we get our Friday morning going, with a few scattered showers washing in across Southwest Florida with temperatures near 60°. A trail of moisture streaming from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to interact with a stalled front sitting in the vicinity of Southwest Florida. This will keep mostly cloudy skies in the forecast along with a few downpours from time to time. Through the afternoon we may see one or two breaks in the clouds to get our daytime highs back in the lower to middle 70s.

Mostly cloudy skies will stick around through the evening hours with a few lingering showers across the area. Overnight lows will be a touch cooler as they settle into the upper 50s.

By Saturday we'll start to see some clearing during the morning hours, however a few clouds could stir up during the afternoon hours as another cold front slides its way down the state. This looks to be a mainly dry frontal passage with the possibility of a sprinkle or two, but it will deliver a chill to the air by the time Sunday morning rolls around with lows plummeting into the lower 40s here in town.

As high pressure builds in for the second half of the weekend we're in store for a dry and sunny day along with low humidity. Despite sunny skies, our afternoon will be quite cool as temperatures struggle to make it out of the 60s.

STRANDED CRUISE SHIP-CLIP

STRANDED CRUISE SHIP-2SHOT POP

DEVELOPING NEWS THIS MORNING.

ABC-7 HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS. ALL NIGHT.

THOUSANDS OF STRANDED CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS --- ARE BACK ON DRY LAND THIS MORNING

THEY'RE FINALLY RE-UNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

AND MAKING THEIR WAY HOME.

ABC'S MARCI GONZALEZ WAS THERE IN ALABAMA --

STRANDED CRUISE SHIP-PKG

NATS - cheering

Carnival Triumph passengers kissing the ground as they leave what has been

their miserable cruise ship prison.

SOT Brooklyn Burgess, Passenger

"THE SEWER KEPT BACKING UP AND THERE WOULD BE SIX INCHES OF IT ALL OVER THE

SHIP. IN THE DINING AREA WHERE WE HAD TO EAT, PEOPLE WOULD SLIP AND FALL IN

IT. THE SMELL WAS TERRIBLE."

The stench and lack of electricity drove many of the more than 4-thousand

people on board to live and sleep in a kind of shanty town on the ship's

deck.

A nightmare that began Sunday when a fire knocked out the ship's four

engines - leaving the massive vessel stranded in the Gulf of Mexico.

SOT Robyn Burgess, Passenger

"DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GONNA, SHIP WAS GOING TO EXPLODE, CATCH BACK ON

FIRE. FOR A DAY OR SO, WE DIDN'T SEE ANY KIND OF SIGN OF LIFE AND SO THAT'S

PRETTY SCARY WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE ON THE WATER."

After eight days at sea, tug boats slowly brought the ship into dock in

Mobile, Alabama last night.

The CEO of Carnival going on board - offering reimbursement, a free cruise,

$500 and an apology.

SOT Gerry Cahill, CEO, Carnival Cruise Lines

"I KNOW IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE AGAIN FOR SUBJECTING

OUR GUESTS TO THAT."

But many passengers feel that's not enough -- as they board buses finally

heading towards home.

SOT Kendall Jenkins, Passenger

STRANDED CRUISE SHIP-TAG

MARCI GONZALEZ REPORTING.

ON SHORE, CARNIVAL HAD ABOUT 100 MOTOR COACHES.

READY TO TAKE PASSENGERS TO HOTELS.

THE COMPANY HAS ALSO ARRANGED MULTIPLE CHARTER FLIGHTS --

DEE TUCKER ON CNN-2SHOTPOP VO

AND ABC7 FOUND A LOCAL CONNECTION.

WE TALKED TO A CAPE CORAL WOMAN,

WHO WAS ON BOARD THAT SHIP.

SHE'S EXPECTED TO LEAVE FROM NEW ORLEANS --- ON A FLIGHT BACK TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THIS IS DEE TUCKER OF CAPE CORAL.

AND HER FIANCEE HAS BEEN WATCHING ALL THE NEWS COVERAGE -- VERY CLOSELY.

TUCKER SAYS THE CREW.

HAS BEEN WORKING 21-HOUR-DAYS TO HELP PASSENGERS.

DEE TUCKER ON CNN-SOTVO

26:45-26:50my mind was just running wild about the things that were going on worried to death about her

#Joe Eckert

#Fiance on ship

9:04:00 "one of her text messages to me said -- there's a mad dash, a mad scramble to clean place up. Too late -- I have evidence of what it's like."

THAT EVIDENCE COMES IN THE FORM OF SEVERAL PHOTOS.

AND VIDEO TUCKER TOOK DURING THE ORDEAL.

EVERGLADES CANOE SEARCH-TRX OTS

A MAN WAS RESCUED EARLY THIS MORNING,

IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.

OVERNIGHT -- HIS FRIEND CALLED 9-1-1.

BECAUSE THE MAN'S CANOE OVER-TURNED IN CHOPPY WATER.

BUT GOOD NEWS,

THIS MORNING -- RESCUE CREWS FOUND HIM ON AN ISLAND.

DORNER IDENTIFIED-VO

AN UPDATE TO A STORY WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ALL WEEK.

IT'S NOW OFFICIAL.

AUTHORITIES SAY FUGITIVE EX-COP CHRISTOPHER DORNER. *IS* DEAD.

THE CHARRED REMAINS FOUND IN A CALIFORNIA CABIN --

WERE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED USING DENTAL RECORDS.

OFFICERS BELIEVE DORNER KILLED FOUR PEOPLE DURING HIS RAMPAGE,

METEOR LATEST-CLIP

METEOR LATEST-OC VO BNR

DEVELOPING ALL NEW OVERNIGHT --- INCREDIBLE VIDEO OF A FIREBALL.

FALLING FROM THE SKIES OVER RUSSIA!

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!

WATCH.

YOU CAN SEE IT STARTS AS A SPECK IN THE SKY ---

AND THEN. A POWERFUL BLAST SENDS SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE REGION.

REPORTS FROM RUSSIA SUGGEST IT WAS CAUSED BY A METEORITE.

AND MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE SUFFERED INJURIES.

MOSTLY FROM BROKEN GLASS.

ASTEROID ZOOMING BY-VOTOPS-TRX

AND IN OTHER SPACE NEWS

ASTEROID ALERT!

ONE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD -- IS HURLING THROUGH SPACE.

AND WILL COME WITHIN 17-THOUSAND MILES OF EARTH TODAY.

CHECK OUT THESE NASA RADAR IMAGES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF ASTEROID "D-A 14."

THE ROCK WILL COME CLOSER THAN SOME SATELLITES.

BUT SCIENTIST SAY DON'T WORRY --

BLADE RUNNER IN COURT-CLIP

BLADE RUNNER IN COURT-VO

OLYMPIAN OSCAR PISTORIUS --

BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES IN COURT TODAY.

AS PROSECUTORS CHARGED HIM WITH PREMEDITATED MURDER --

IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND.

THESE ARE BRAND NEW PICTURES COMING IN.

THE ATHLETE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY YESTERDAY.

AND IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL,

UNTIL HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE ON THE 19TH.

HE MADE HISTORY AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS LAST YEAR.

THE FIRST DOUBLE-AMPUTEE RUNNER TO COMPETE ON THE TRACK.

HIS FAMILY RELEASED A STATEMENT --

NORTH PORT PROWLER-TRS SS MAP VOWIPE

DEVELOPING THIS MORNING OUT OF NORTH PORT.

POLICE THERE HAVE RELEASED THIS SKETCH OF A MAN.

WHO'S BEEN STARING THROUGH YOUNG GIRLS' WINDOWS -- FOR WEEKS.

HE'S TARGETING -- NORTH CHAMBERLAIN BLVD TO OCEANSIDE DRIVE

NEIGHBORS ARE NOW ON HIGH ALERT-

MAKING SURE THEIR DOORS ARE LOCKED -- AND BLINDS ARE DOWN.

WE TALKED TO ONE MOM --- WHO CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE PEEPING TOM.

NORTH PORT PROWLER-SOT VO

9:13 I was able to get a good look at him and he did a weird monkey thing with his arms and then ran off

SON SAVES MOM-VO WIPE

AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY IN LEHIGH ACRES.

MIGHT HAVE SAVED HIS MOTHER'S LIFE.

CURTRINA BLACK HERE STRANGE NOISES,

OUTSIDE HER HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY.

SO HER SON TOMMY RAN OUTSIDE TO CHECK IT OUT.

THEN THERE WAS GUNFIRE.

SO HE RAN BACK,

AND HEARD A BULLET SHOOT RIGHT PAST HIM,

HITTING HIS HOUSE!

THAT'S WHEN HE SAW HIS MOTHER IN DANGER.

SON SAVES MOM-SOT VO

47:50 "she was right there with the door open and pushed her out the way so she won't get hit."

TEASE ONE-ON CAM

IPHONE USERS BEWARE --

ALL OF YOUR MESSAGES -- CONTACTS -- AND PERSONAL FILES.

COULD SLIP RIGHT THROUGH YOUR FINGERTIPS.

TZ1A) IPHONE HACKED-VOTOPS

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

BLOOMBERG TEASE-SOT

BLOOMBERG BUSINESS REPORT-PKG TOPS

CREATING TECH HUBS-INTRO

GOT A STARTUP IDEA?

NO NEED TO MOVE WEST.

THE NEW TREND IS MAKING THE MOST OF WHEREVER YOU ARE.

CREATING TECH HUBS-PKG

IF THE IMPORTANCE OF TECH TO THE ECONOMY NEEDED A FURTHER BOOST, IT GOT IT DURING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

A once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the art lab where new workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.

THE TRADITIONAL THINKING HAS BEEN IF YOU WANT TO BE THE NEXT APPLE, FACEBOOK, OR GOOGLE YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR IDEA WEST. THE NEW THINKING, NOT NECESSARILY SO.

You see the lightbulb go on. That no longer do we have to say to ourselves, Silicon Valley is the only place I can go if I have a startup dream.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND 17-76, WHICH WILL SOON OCCUPY THIS SPACE IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON D-C, ONE EXAMPLE OF A TECH HUB FAR FROM SILICON VALLEY.

We talk about being founded by founders. And every city in America really has a core strength of really being built largely by entrepreneurs.

THE GOAL, BRINGING YOUNG COMPANIES TOGETHER IN A CAMPUS OF SORTS, CREATING A COMMUNITY AMONG THEM, AND HELPING THEM FIND WAYS TO MAXIMIZE THE CITY AROUND THEM, RATHER THAN LEAVE HOME BASE.

CREATING TECH HUBS-TAG

KARIN CAIFA REPORTING.

STORMWARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CROSSTALK INTO WX-CAM 9 WX EST

FORECAST-WXWALL

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.

"One more day of unsettled weather"

After a soggy Thursday with more than an 1.50" in the rain gauge, we have one more day of unsettled weather until conditions improve by the weekend along with a significant cool down.

We'll still be stuck under the clouds as we get our Friday morning going, with a few scattered showers washing in across Southwest Florida with temperatures near 60°. A trail of moisture streaming from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to interact with a stalled front sitting in the vicinity of Southwest Florida. This will keep mostly cloudy skies in the forecast along with a few downpours from time to time. Through the afternoon we may see one or two breaks in the clouds to get our daytime highs back in the lower to middle 70s.

Mostly cloudy skies will stick around through the evening hours with a few lingering showers across the area. Overnight lows will be a touch cooler as they settle into the upper 50s.

By Saturday we'll start to see some clearing during the morning hours, however a few clouds could stir up during the afternoon hours as another cold front slides its way down the state. This looks to be a mainly dry frontal passage with the possibility of a sprinkle or two, but it will deliver a chill to the air by the time Sunday morning rolls around with lows plummeting into the lower 40s here in town.

As high pressure builds in for the second half of the weekend we're in store for a dry and sunny day along with low humidity. Despite sunny skies, our afternoon will be quite cool as temperatures struggle to make it out of the 60s.

IPHONE HACKED-VO

GOOD *AND BAD NEWS THIS MORNING --

FOR TECHNOLOGY GIANT APPLE.

HACKERS HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO ACCESS THE THE I-PHONE.

BREAKING INTO THE PASSWORDS.

SO THEY CAN MAKE CALLS, LISTEN TO YOUR MESSAGES AND GET TO YOUR CONTACT LIST.

IF YOU HATE THE LATEST MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEM --

APPLE'S I-0-S SIX-POINT-ONE ---

YOU COULD BE TARGETED.

PRICE CUT-VO

APPLE IS DROPPING THE PRICE --- OF THE MACBOOK PRO.

THE 13 INCH MODEL WITH 128 GIGABYTE FLASH HAS BEEN CUT $200.

ALSO GOING DOWN.

THE MORE POWERFUL 13-INCH MACBOOK PRO -- WITH 256GB OF FLASH.

FOR SALE-VO

TWITTER GETS INTO THE E-COMMERCE BUSINESS.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICE HAS TEAMED UP WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS --

TO TURN THE SITE INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA SHOPPING SITE.

AMERICAN EXPRESS MEMBERS WHO SIGN UP.

CAN BUY PRODUCTS BY MENTIONING THE APPROPRIATE HASHTAG IN A TWEET.

THE NEW SERVICE LAUNCHED THIS WEEK.

AND COMPANIES SAY IT COULD MAKE BUYING FAST AND EASY.

WHO KNOWS?

WE COULD SOON SEE HASHTAGS FOR PRODUCTS --

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

A SCANDAL WIDENS IN EUROPE --

*HORSE MEAT. LABELED AS *BEEF.

EVEN WORSE --

THAT HORSE MEAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TAINTED.

TZA HORSE MEAT-VO-WIPE

RUBIO MIRACLE PROMOTION-OC VO CG

IN HONOR OF SENATOR MARCO RUBIO'S SIP SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY--

THE FORT MYERS MIRACLE WANT TO ENSURE FANS ARE PROPERLY HYDRATED FOR THIS SUMMER'S BASEBALL SEASON BY HOSTING A MARCO RUBIO WATER BOTTLE GIVEAWAY.

A DATE HASN'T BEEN ANNOUNCED.

BUT FANS ENTERING HAMMOND STADIUM WILL GET A WATER BOTTLE WHILE BEING ENCOURAGED TO STAY IN THE SHADE DURING HOT SUMMER DAYS.

HOSPITAL DONATION-SOTVO

SOME BIG BUCKS --

WILL GO TOWARD A BRAND NEW CHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

26:26:00 "its important that we get a new hospital in this area so that children dont have to be transported out of the area

IT'S ALL THANKS TO THE LEE HEALTHCARE RESOURCES.

THEY ANNOUNCED A PLEDGE --

TO RAISE 5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS A NEW BUILDING,

HORSEMEAT DRUG-VO

THE BRITISH FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY.

ADMITS THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HORSEMEAT.

CONTAINING A PAIN KILLER KNOWN AS "BUTE" --- COULD HAVE BEEN PASSED OFF AS BEEF FOR SOME TIME.

THE DRUG IS POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO HUMANS.

AUTHORITIES IN BRITAIN AND FRANCE -- ARE NOW TRYING TO TRACE THE CARCASSES OF SIX HORSES CONTAMINATED WITH BUTE.

PRICIER PRESCRIPTIONS-VO

THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

WENT *UP THREE-POINT-SIX PERCENT LAST YEAR.

EVEN THOUGH IT DROPPED DURING THE RECESSION.

THAT'S *TWICE AS HIGH --

AS THE ONE-POINT-SEVEN-PERCENT NATIONAL INFLATION RATE.

BUT PRICES FOR A DOCTOR'S VISIT. LAB TEST. AND NURSING HOME ROOM --

ALL *FELL BELOW THE RATE OF INFLATION FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE PRICE INCREASE IS BLAMED ON HIGHLY PROMOTED NEW BRAND NAME DRUGS.

LATINO CHILDHOOD OBESITY-VO

NEW RESEARCH REVEALS PROMISING WAYS --- TO DECREASE OBESITY AMONG LATINO CHILDREN.

THE GROUP SALUD AMERICA! FOUNDS.

HEALTHIER MENU OPTIONS AND CALORIE LABELING IS EFFECTIVE.

INCOME AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS-VO

INCOME INEQUALITIES APPEAR TO BE RESPONSIBLE --

FOR THOUSANDS OF EXTRA HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS EACH YEAR.

A NEW STUDY LOOKED AT PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR HEART ATTACK, HEART FAILURE OR PNEUMONIA.

RESEARCHERS FOUND --

LOWER INCOME PATIENTS WERE *MORE LIKELY TO BE RE-ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DISCHARGE.

THAN WEALTHIER PATIENTS.

BUT THEY WERE *NOT MORE LIKELY TO DIE.

THEY ESTIMATE --

INCOME IMBALANCES CAUSED ALMOST 40-THOUSAND ADDITIONAL ADMISSIONS,

TEASE THREE-2-SHOT

CONGRESS IS TAKING A BREAK

AND THEY WON'T BE BACK AT WORK UNTIL JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THOSE $85 BILLION IN SPENDING CUTS GO INTO EFFECT.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU DETAILS AHEAD.

PLUS-- VALENTINE'S DAY IS ALL ABOUT ROMANCE.

BUT A LOCAL WOMAN LOOKING FOR LOVE. GOT SCAMMED.

AND LOST NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

WE HAVE HER STORY.

AND--IT MAY GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT FOR ONE WOMAN.

HER HUSBAND BRINGS HOME MILLIONS IN A POWERBALL PRIZE.

TZ3A) CONGRESS RECESS-VO-WIPE

TZ3B) CATFISH SCANDAL-VOTOPS-WIPE

TZ3C) TICKET TO RICH-VOTOPS

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIP

NY STOCK EXCHANGE OPEN-SAT 3 TOPS

ABC SEVEN IS LIVE AT THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.

STOCK FUTURES ARE LOWER TODAY.

A HANDFUL OF NEW ECONOMIC REPORTS ARE ON TAP TODAY.

ALONG WITH CORPORATE RESULTS FROM THE TAIL END OF EARNINGS SEASON.

BURGER KING POSTED *BETTER THAN EXPECTED NUMBERS.

AND KRAFT WAS *DOWN, A BIT.

TS1) CRUISE SHIP-VO-TRX

BACK ON DRY LAND.

BREATHING *FRESH AIR THIS MORNING.

PASSENGERS FROM THAT DISABLED CRUISE SHIP --

REUNITED WITH LOVED ONES LATE LAST NIGHT.

AND ARE MAKING THEIR WAY HOME.

THE SHOP WAS ADRIFT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO FOR A WEEK.

TS2) RUSSIAN METEORITE-VO-TRX

A POWERFUL BLAST -- SENDING SHOCKWAVES THROUGH RUSSIA.

THIS DRAMATIC VIDEO WAS POSTED OVERNIGHT BY EYEWITNESSES.

REPORTS FROM RUSSIA SUGGEST IT WAS CAUSED BY A METEORITE.

IT'S BEING REPORTED THAT 750 PEOPLE SUFFERED INJURIES.

TS3) GLADE RUNNER IN COURT-VO-TRX

OLYMPIC SPRINTER OSCAR PISTORIUS --

HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH *PRE-MEDITATED MURDER.

IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETE WAS IN COURT THIS MORNING.

WHERE HE BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.

HE'LL STAY IN POLICE CUSTODY,

FIRST WEATHER-OMNI-TOPS

YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABC-7'S STORM WARN 7 LIVE DOPPLER RADAR.

THE HEAVY RAINS WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

WILL LIGHTEN A LITTLE TODAY.

LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO METEORLOGIST ALLYSON RAE.

WITH YOUR STORM WARN SEVEN FORECAST.

FIRST WEATHER-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.

"One more day of unsettled weather"

After a soggy Thursday with more than an 1.50" in the rain gauge, we have one more day of unsettled weather until conditions improve by the weekend along with a significant cool down.

We'll still be stuck under the clouds as we get our Friday morning going, with a few scattered showers washing in across Southwest Florida with temperatures near 60°. A trail of moisture streaming from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to interact with a stalled front sitting in the vicinity of Southwest Florida. This will keep mostly cloudy skies in the forecast along with a few downpours from time to time. Through the afternoon we may see one or two breaks in the clouds to get our daytime highs back in the lower to middle 70s.

Mostly cloudy skies will stick around through the evening hours with a few lingering showers across the area. Overnight lows will be a touch cooler as they settle into the upper 50s.

By Saturday we'll start to see some clearing during the morning hours, however a few clouds could stir up during the afternoon hours as another cold front slides its way down the state. This looks to be a mainly dry frontal passage with the possibility of a sprinkle or two, but it will deliver a chill to the air by the time Sunday morning rolls around with lows plummeting into the lower 40s here in town.

As high pressure builds in for the second half of the weekend we're in store for a dry and sunny day along with low humidity. Despite sunny skies, our afternoon will be quite cool as temperatures struggle to make it out of the 60s.

CONGRESS RECESS-INTRO

IN WASHINGTON: CONGRESS GOES HOME TODAY WITH A LOT OF WORK UN-DONE.

TWO KEY NATIONAL SECURITY JOBS ARE IN LIMBO.

AND BILLIONS IN AUTOMATIC SPENDING CUTS -- ARE SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER THEY RETURN.

CONGRESS RECESS-PKG

IN CHICAGO TODAY. PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKES ANOTHER PITCH FOR HIS MIDDLE CLASS AGENDA.

AFTER CHIDING CONGRESS FOR NOT CONFIRMING CHUCK HAGEL AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE:

S/ Obama/Google+ HANGOUT

"It's just unfortunate that this kind of politics intrudes at a time when I'm still presiding over a war in Afghanistan."

REPUBLICANS BLOCKED A VOTE ON HAGEL. TODAY WE COULD SEE DEMOCRATS TRY TO GET HIM CONFIRMED WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

OR PRESIDENT OBAMA COULD SIMPLY APPOINT HIM WHILE CONGRESS IS IN RECESS.

SAME FOR JOHN BRENNAN -- HIS NOMINATION AS C-I-A DIRECTOR IS ALSO STILL IN LIMBO.

SO ARE 85 BILLION IN AUTOMATIC BUDGET CUTS SET FOR MARCH FIRST. THEY'D AFFECT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION JOBS, THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE SAYS.

S/ REP. JOHN BOEHNER / HOUSE SPEAKER

"I don't like it and no one should like it. But the sequester is there because the President insisted that it be there. Where's the president's plan to replace the sequester that he insisted on?"

S/ REP. NANCY PELOSI / MINORITY LEADER

"This -- it's just -- it's just wrong."

/

"Why are we leaving when we should be staying here to work this out?"

CONGRESS RECESS-TAG

TRACIE POTTS REPORTING.

THAT LEAVES CONGRESS WITH LESS THAN A WEEK.

OBAMA IN FL TODAY-OTS

TAKING A LOOK AHEAD ---

PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL BE IN FLORIDA TODAY.

HE'LL BE OVER ON THE EAST COAST.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS NO PUBLIC EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED.

INSTEAD, MISTER OBAMA WILL SPEND PRESIDENT'S DAY WEEKEND WITH FRIENDS.

WE *DO KNOW --

THE PRESIDENT HAS REPORTEDLY LINED UP A TEE TIME,

SCOTT IN SWFL-OC, CG

ALSO HAPPENING TODAY-

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT WILL BE IN FORT MYERS THIS AFTERNOON.

HE WAS IN NAPLES EARLIER -- HAVING BREAKFAST AT THE NAPLES BEACH HOTEL.

THEN THIS AFTERNOON AT ONE, HE'LL BE AT THE SWIFT SUN GUIDE CENTER.

HE'S EXPECTED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT -- ABOUT FLORIDA'S TRANSPORTATION BUDGET.

NEW SANFORD POLICE CHIEF-VO WIPE

NEW THIS MORNING --

THE CITY AT THE CENTER OF THE TRAYVON MARTIN MURDER SCANDAL.

HAS A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS --

CECIL SMITH WILL TAKE OVER AS POLICE CHIEF IN SANFORD, FLORIDA.

HE IS FROM ILLINOIS.

BILL LEE STEPPED DOWN,

IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING MARTIN'S SHOOTING.

ZIMMERMAN TRIAL UPDATE-VOTOPS-TRX

MORE ON THAT CASE.

500 PEOPLE MAY BE CALLED AS POTENTIAL JURORS -- FOR THE GEORGE ZIMMERMAN TRIAL.

THE JUDGE WANTS PROSPECTIVE JURORS SUMMONED OVER THREE DAYS.

STARTING JUNE 10TH WITH THE TRIAL STARTING SHORTLY AFTER.

ALSO, ZIMMERMAN'S IMMUNITY HEARING --- WILL BE IN APRIL.

DESPITE ATTORNEY MARK O'MARA'S REQUESTS FOR IT TO BE PUSHED BACK.

ZIMMERMAN IS ACCUSED OF KILLING TRAYVON MARTIN.

FMPD LETTERS-SOTVO

THE FORT MYERS POLICE CHIEF TRIES A *DIFFERENT WAY TO FIGHT CRIME.

HE'S WRITING LETTERS TO THE CITY'S MOST DANGEROUS CRIMINALS.

38:55 are there homicide suspects on this list? Yes. We have a investigations on all of them 39:02

CHIEF DOUG BAKER HAS SENT OUT 25 LETTERS --

TO THE MOST VIOLENT CRIMINALS.

HE'S LETTING THEM KNOW THEY'RE BEING WATCHED.

THE LETTERS ARE PERSONAL.

AND NOTE EACH PERSON'S CRIMINAL HISTORY.

ALL 25 ARE PART OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

FMPD LETTERS-SOTVO

31:21 what if I get a handful that say I can't get out of this I would be foolish to turn a blind eye 30

BAKER SAYS THE LETTERS ARE WORTH IT.

EVEN IF JUST ONE PERSON CHANGES HIS OR HER WAYS.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY --

FORMER ORL COP NOT GUILTY-VO

THIS MORNING -- A FORMER POLICE OFFICER IN ORLANDO.

DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SPENDING TIME IN PRISON.

TIMOTHY DAVIS WAS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING HIS OWN SON -- BUT HE WAS AQUITTED YESTERDAY.

PROSECUTORS ARGUED DAVIS SHOT HIS SON OUT OF ANGER --

MEDSTAR UPDATE-OTS VO

NEXT WEEK -- WE COULD LEARN WHICH COMPANY WILL REPLACE MEDSTAR.

LEE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELICOPTER SERVICE.

WAS GROUNDED LAST AUGUST.

AFTER AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED --

MORE THAN THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN IMPROPER BILLING.

A SPECIAL COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED A COMPANY CALLED "AIR METHODS CORPORATION".

RED LIGHT BILL-VO WIPE

A REPEAL OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS IN FLORIDA--

PASSED ITS FIRST TEST AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

A HOUSE COMMITTEE NARROWLY PASSED THE BILL.BY A VOTE OF 10 TO 8.

SOME LAWMAKERS ARGUE RED LIGHT CAMERAS ARE REALLY ABOUT MAKING MONEY--

RATHER THAN INCREASING TRAFFIC SAFETY.

RED LIGHT BILL-SOTVO

What really hurts citizens is you are minding the laws of this state and you are traveling through an intersection with a green signal and someone who doesn't obey the law T-bones you in the driver's door and you die, or your family members dies or your child dies. That's what's hurting citizens."

THE BILL IS ON THE FAST TRACK IN THE HOUSE--

CANADIAN LICENSES DILEMMA-VO WIPE

THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS WONDER WHY --

THE STATE NOW REQUIRES A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR NON-AMERICANS TO DRIVE HERE.

IT'S A LAW THAT QUIETLY CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY FIRST.

THE SPECIAL PERMIT WILL PUT THE WRITING ON YOUR LICENSE IN ENGLISH -

MAKING IT EASIER FOR OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES TO INTERPRET.

YOU CAN'T GET IT HERE IN FLORIDA THOUGH.

CANADIAN LICENSES DILEMMA-SOTVO

Keith Sutherland/Canada

"Wow.how come we didn't get advanced notice? I had no idea this was coming - I got the info this morning on the computer from my son in Canada. A lot of us down here don't know this."

BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT DRIVING WITHOUT ONE JUST YET.

F-H-P ISSUED A STATEMENT -

SAYING THE LAW MAY VIOLATE THE GENEVA CONVENTION ON ROAD TRAFFIC.

MEANING THEY WON'T ENFORCE IT,

CATFISH SCAM-VO

ON THE HEELS OF A DAY MEANT FOR ROMANCE,

ONE WOMAN GOT DUPED BY A CATFISH.

REMEMBER.A CATFISH IS SOMEONE WHO MAKES YOU FALL IN LOVE ONLINE -- AND IS SOMEONE ELSE.

LEE COUNTY INVESTIGATORS TELLS US A WOMAN DEVELOPED A ROMANITIC RELATIONSHIP. WITH A MAN OVER MATCH-DOT COM --

WITHOUT MEETING HIM -- SHE STARTED SENDING MONEY TO AN ACCOUNT IN GHANA.

WITHIN SIX MONTHS. SHE SENT *450-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH AND GIFT.

CATFISH SCAM-SOTVO

STACEY PAYNE, LCSO: its not always about the money often times you're also looking at the fact that you have somebody who has invested their time, energy and heart

INVESTIGATORS SAY THE SCAMMER IS LIKELY LONG GONE.

GMA TICKET TO RICH-2SHOT INTRO

NOW TO WHAT COULD BE THE MOST LUCRATIVE BUSINESS TRIP EVER.

DAVID HONEYWELL SPLURGED ON A POWERBALL TICKET,

JUST AFTER CHECKING IN FOR HIS FLIGHT.

AND WHEN HE CHECKED THE STUB.

THE RETURN WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD -- $217 MILLION DOLLARS.

GMA TICKET TO RICH-PKG

DAVE HONEYWELL DIDN'T NEED TO GET HIS WIFE FLOWERS THURSDAY. HE OPTED FOR

A CHECK INSTEAD. A BIG ONE.

16;56;32;28

I told her this is going to be the biggest Valentine you get; there will not

be bigger.

THE COUPLE'S 217 MILLION DOLLAR TICKET TO RICHES. WAS HIDING IN A MOST

UNLIKELY PLACE RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

AT THIS AUTOMATED KIOSK.

16;57;02;01

I was going on a business trip and coming through the airport here

DAVE WAS ON HIS WAY TO A CONFERENCE IN DENVER ON SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

WHEN THAT POWERBALL JACKPOT CAUGHT HIS EYE. HE BOUGHT A TICKET.

IT WASN'T UNTIL DAYS LATER THAT HE EVEN REMEMBERED TO CHECK HIS NUMBERS.

After 16;57;02;01

I started looking and going wait a second, all the numbers line up.

EVERY NUMBER MATCHED!

SOT After 16;57;02;01

I said well it must be the wrong date, you know, maybe it was the pull. And

I just took the dates and I'm like this can't be, and I'm shaking so bad at

that point; I could barely read the ticket, just shaking, shaking.

NOW, THEY HOPE TO SPEND PART OF THAT MONEY HELPING THEIR LITTLE GRANDSON GET

SOME MUCH-NEEDED SURGERIES.

DAVE'S WIFE NANCY SAYS THE CHILD HAS HAD HEART COMPLICATIONS SINCE BIRTH.

17;00;55;09 NANCY

when we told our daughter and our son-in-law it was like a weight off their

shoulders, that you know he does have to have more surgeries, we have the

funds to help them out.

AND THEY ALSO PLAN ON A LITTLE SPLURGING.

16;59;18;23

new car -- that was about it.

GMA TICKET TO RICH-TAG

GIO BENITEZ REPORTING.

DAVID HONEYWELL ALSO SAYS HIS CAR IS 13-YEARS OLD.

TEASE FOUR-ON CAM

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK --- WE TALK TO NAPLES DAILY NEWS MAKER. JEFF LYTLE.

AND YOU MAY REMEMBER THESE GUYS ---- DURING THIS YEARS BUDWISER SUPERBOWL AD.

NOW THEY'RE HERE IN SOUTH WEST FLORIDA.

TZ4) CYLESDALES IN SWFL-VO-WIPE

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

STORM WARN GENERIC CLIP-CLIP

CROSSTALK-CAM 9 WX EST

FORECAST-WX WALL

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.

"One more day of unsettled weather"

After a soggy Thursday with more than an 1.50" in the rain gauge, we have one more day of unsettled weather until conditions improve by the weekend along with a significant cool down.

We'll still be stuck under the clouds as we get our Friday morning going, with a few scattered showers washing in across Southwest Florida with temperatures near 60°. A trail of moisture streaming from the Gulf of Mexico will continue to interact with a stalled front sitting in the vicinity of Southwest Florida. This will keep mostly cloudy skies in the forecast along with a few downpours from time to time. Through the afternoon we may see one or two breaks in the clouds to get our daytime highs back in the lower to middle 70s.

Mostly cloudy skies will stick around through the evening hours with a few lingering showers across the area. Overnight lows will be a touch cooler as they settle into the upper 50s.

By Saturday we'll start to see some clearing during the morning hours, however a few clouds could stir up during the afternoon hours as another cold front slides its way down the state. This looks to be a mainly dry frontal passage with the possibility of a sprinkle or two, but it will deliver a chill to the air by the time Sunday morning rolls around with lows plummeting into the lower 40s here in town.

As high pressure builds in for the second half of the weekend we're in store for a dry and sunny day along with low humidity. Despite sunny skies, our afternoon will be quite cool as temperatures struggle to make it out of the 60s.

After a couple of mornings in the 40s and highs in the 60s, a nice warming trend will continue through the middle part of the week with afternoon highs near 80° by Wednesday.

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE ABC7 WEATHER STAFF.

TOSS TO JEFF-2SHOT BXS

THERE ARE PLANS FOR A *NEW HOSPITAL IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

PLUS -- A COLLIER COUNTY LEADER CALLS OUT A COMMISSIONER.

IT'S A JAM PACKED EPISODE OF "NAPLES DAILY NEWSMAKERS" WITH JEFF LYTLE.

AND EVEY FRIDAY MORNING,

JEFF JOINS US LIVE WITH A PREVIEW.

NAPLES DAILY NEWSMAKERS-REM LIVE (2 SS)

NAPLES DAILY NEWSMAKERS-SS

Alan Levine, Health Management Associates, Florida hospitals president; Plans for new hospital in Estero/Bonita and clinic on Marco Island

Mike Reagen, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce President and CEO; Where Collier leadership, economic development need to go

NAPLES DAILY NEWSMAKERS-SOT

Clip verbatim:

NAPLES DAILY NEWSMAKERS-REM-LIVE

RED SOX FIRST FULL WORKOUT-VO, CG TOPS

AND HAPPENING THIS MORNING --- SPRING TRAINING WORKOUTS CONTINUE HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TWINS AND RAYS PITCHERS AND CATCHERS GO TODAY.

CYLESDALES IN SWFL-TRXVOTOPS CG

THE FAMOUS BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES ARE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND YOU CAN CHECK THEM OUT YOURSELF!

TOMORROW, THEY'LL BE AT SANTINI PLAZA ON FORT MYERS BEACH.

FROM TWO TO FIVE O'CLOCK.

THAT'S 72-05 ESTERO BOULEVARD.

THEN ON SATURDAY, THE EIGHT HORSE HITCH.

WILL BE AT THE EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT PARADE.

FROM SEVEN O'CLOCK UNTIL THE END OF THE PARADE.

AND ON SUNDAY, YOU CAN CATCH ONE OF THE CLYDESDALES --

AT THE GARTENFEST AT THE GERMAN AMERICAN SOCIAL CLUB.

THAT'S ON PINE ISLAND ROAD IN CAPE CORAL.

EDISON PARADE MARSHALLS-OC CG

AND TWO FORT MYERS GIRLS -- ARE MAKING HISTORY.

RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR BRIANNA SHERKUS--

AND FLORIDA STATE JUNIOR LAUREN TAYLOR--

WILL BECOME THE *FIRST* FEMALE PARADE MARSHALS IN THE EDISON FESTIAL OF LIGHT GRAND PARADE!

TRADITIONALLY EACH SECTION IS COORDINATED BY A TEAM OF MALE PARADE OFFICIALS.

TEASE FIVE-ONCAM

ANGELINA JOLIE AND BRAD PITT. START A NEW BUSINESS.

YOUR DAILY DOSE OF ENTERTAINMENT NEWS IS COMING UP,

TZ5 A-VO

FINAL CHECK OF STOCKS-SAT 3 FULL

PITT AND JOLIE WINE-VO

LET'S TOAST BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE!

THE HOLLYWOOD POWER COUPLE WILL RELEASE THEIR OWN WINE NEXT MONTH.

ACCORDING TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE.

THE FIRST WINE IS WILL BE A 2012 VINTAGE PINK ROSÉ.

AND WILL BE REVIEWED IN AN UPCOMING EDITION OF "WINE SPECTATOR."

MILEY CYRUS PERFECT GOWN-VOTOPS-TRX

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT MILEY CYRUS' IMPENDING NUPTIALS -- TO FIANCE LIAM HEMSWORTH.

BUT SHE *MAY* BE CLOSE TO CHOOSING A WEDDING GOWN.

THE 20-YEAR-OLD ACTRESS TOLD PEOPLE MAGAZINE -- SHE'S CONSIDERING MARCHESA.

SAYING IT IS QUOTE "DEFINITELY ONE OF OUR OPTIONS."

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIPTOPS

TS1) CRUISE SHIP-VOTOPS-TRX

PASSENGERS FROM THAT DISABLED CRUISE SHIP.

ARE SAFE AND SOUND THIS MORNING.

THEY LOADED UP ON BUSSES OVERNIGHT.

AND ARE MAKING THEIR WAY HOME.

THE CARNIVAL TRIUMPH PULLED IN LATE LAST NIGHT.

AFTER SPENDING A WEEK DRIFTING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

TS2) METEOR-VOTOPS-TRX

AN ESTIMATED 10 TON METEOR FELL OUT OF THE SKY -- LANDING IN RUSSIA OVERNITE.

WE'RE LEARNING THAT 750 PEOPLE ARE INJURED THIS MORNING --

MOSTLY FROM SHATTERING GLASS.

TS3) OLYMPIC RUNNER IN COURT-VOTOPS-TRX

OLYMPIC SPRINTER OSCAR PISTORIUS --

HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH *PRE-MEDITATED MURDER.

IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETE WAS IN COURT THIS MORNING.

WHERE HE BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.

HE'LL STAY IN POLICE CUSTODY,

TS4) CONGRESS RECESS-VOTOPS-TRX

AS OF TODAY -- CONGRESS IS IN RECESS.

LAWMAKERS WON'T BE BACK UNTIL AFTER PRESIDENT'S DAY.

THAT'S JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE 85 BILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING CUTS -- GO INTO EFFECT.

AT THE SAME TIME -- TWO OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S KEY CABINET NOMINEES HAVE YET TO BE CONFIRMED.

SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCKED A VOTE ON CHUCK HAGEL -- AS THE NEXT DEFENSE SECRETARY,

CLOSE-2SH-AWS ANI

AD LIB GOODBYE

please be sure to tease our next newscast

JOIN US FOR ABC 7 NEWS AT 5, RIGHT AFTER ELLEN.