DIRECTORS PAGE

HL1) STAND BY YOUR GUN-NATVOTOPS

gunshots

NOW AT 11 --

FLORIDA STANDS BY THE "STAND YOUR GROUND LAW!"

HL2) SEQUESTER CUTS-SOTVO

awesome sot montage

PLUS --

THE CLOCK IS TICKING TO AN ECONOMIC DOOMSDAY.

YOU WILL FEEL IT.

NEW SINCE 7 --

HL3) FACEOFF-VOTOPS

AND --

A MAN STEALS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS --

ESCAPES --

THEN UNDERGOES PLASTIC SURGERY TO HIDE HIS TRAIL!

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PLOT OF A HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER!

BUT IT HAPPENED FOR REAL.

WX HEADLINE-WX WALL

NEWS OPEN-CLIP

TOP SEQUESTER PROBLEMS-FDOT IN TC MON TRIPLE

TICK-TOCK!

WE ARE LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS FROM WHAT SOME CONSIDER AN ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON!

AUTOMATIC SPENDING CUTS THAT COULD DRASTICALLY IMPACT YOUR SCHOOLS, YOUR AIRPORTS, AND EVEN YOUR WEATHER FORECAST.

NEW AT 11 --

e1 schools

e2 airports

e3 weather

TOP SEQUESTER PROBLEMS-PKG

"First, don't fear the term 'sequester' -- it's not complicated.

It just means taken away.

Like a jury is sequestered during a trial.

Here -- it means money is taken away from the budget.

Congress passed a law a while back saying March 1st they needed to take away some of the money the government spends.

They worried if they didn't, we couldn't pay off our debts.

So --

imagine this pie is our federal budget, all the things our government funds.

When the sequester kicks in on March 1st, a big chunk of that money we spend gets taken away.

'nats of fighting in combat'

OR MORE ACCURATELY, PAY OFF THE DEBT.

BUT THAT MEANS EVERYONE HAS TO MAKE CUTS TO COMPENSTATE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EXPECTS A 500-BILLION DOLLAR REDUCTION.

'nats of teachers talking'

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S WORRIED 31-THOUSAND TEACHING JOBS WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

'nats of tsa'

PLUS EXPECT FEWER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND FEWER T-S-A WORKERS.

PICTURE FEWER FLIGHTS AND LONGER WAITS.

WE FOUND OUT TODAY THREE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIRPORTS WOULD BE IMPACTED.

AND IT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

8:58 "I'm extremely worried about the cuts to our National Parks."

TOP SEQUESTER PROBLEMS-OC

WEATHER CUTS-WX EST WX CTR

THE CUTS WOULD ALSO IMPACT HOW GOVERNMENT WEATHERMEN DO THEIR JOBS.

FOR MORE ON THAT WE TURN TO *OUR CHIEF METEOROGIST JOHN PATRICK IN THE STORM WARN SEVEN WEATHER CENTER.

J-P --

THE CUTS WOULD MEAN LESS RELIABLE PREDICTIONS OF MAJOR STORMS FROM THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION WHICH RUNS THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.

THEY FACE THOUSANDS OF FURLOUGHS.

THE SEQUESTER WOULD ALSO MEANS A TWO-TO THREE YEAR DELAY FOR NOAA'S NEW WEATHER SATELLITES.

THIS COULD CREATE A GAP IN SATELLITE COVERAGE DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF WEATHER FORECASTS AND WARNINGS.

BREAKING NEWS-CLIP

FIGHTERS GROUNDED-BNC VO

BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT --

THE PENTAGON HAS GROUNDED ITS ENTIRE FLEET OF F-35 FIGHTER JETS --

THOSE ARE OUR MILITARY'S NEWEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE FIGHTER JETS.

CREWS DISCOVERED A CRACKED ENGINE BLADE IN ONE OF THE FIGHTERS.

AIR FORCE, NAVY AND MARINE PILOTS FLY THOSE.

THE PROBLEM ENGINE IS BEING SHIPPED TO A FACILITY IN CONNECTICUT FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

STAND BY YOUR GUN-TC MON NATVO

NEW AT 11 --

TODAY, A STATE TASK FORCE ANNOUNCED THEY THINK FLORIDA SHOULD KEEP ITS CONTROVERSIAL "STAND YOUR GROUND LAW.

AND TONIGHT --

WE HEARD FROM YOU.

nats gunshots

REMEMBER --

THIS STEMS FROM THE SHOOTING DEATH OF TRAYVON MARTIN.

THE MAN CHARGED WITH HIS MURDER DOES NOT PLAN TO USE STAND-YOUR-GROUND AS A DEFENSE.

BUT THE KILLING STARTED THE DIALOGUE ABOUT WHETHER YOU SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE DEADLY FORCE PROTECTING YOURSELF.

PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK SO --

SAY THEY'RE NOT SURPRISED BY THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION --

STAND BY YOUR GUN-SOTVO

- Lou Tomsik - Non-Gun Owner

10:26 - these are just people that can do whatever they want to do and their going to do it, your not going to stop them with a law. - 10:33

Jon Dezendorf - Firearms Instructor

-

59:58 - when you are put in fear for your life or for grievance and bodily harm you should have the legal right to defend yourself. - 00:05

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGES IN THE MARTIN CASE.

FAMILY DRUG BUST-VO SS

NEW AT 11 -

ABC7 IS LEARNING ABOUT A FATHER INVOLVED IN A FAMILY RUN DRUG OPERATION IN PORT CHARLOTTE.

HE WILL NOT GET BOND TONIGHT.

EARLIER TODAY CHARLOTTE DEPUTIES ARRESTED RAYMOND QUINTANA AND HIS SON ALSO NAMED RAYMOND.

DEPUTIES SAY THE TWO SOLD MARIJUANA OUT OF THEIR JARVIS STREET HOME.

DEPUTIES FOUND MORE THAN 13 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH,

142 GRAMS OF WEED AND FOUR GUNS.

QUINTANA'S DAUGHTER WHO IS MENTALLY CHALLENGED WATCHED IT ALL.

FAMILY DRUG BUST-`

57:00-05 JUAN ROBLES, NEIGHBOR never seen any transaction nothing this is a very quiet neighborhood especially at night YVONNE WEIR, NEIGHBOR "never saw anything like traffic coming in and out of there I have no idea why the police would even be attracted to the place"

THE MOTHER. MARIA QUINTANA. WAS IN THE HOUSE DURING THE BUST.

SHE, TOO, WILL FACE CHARGES.

METH HOUSE UPDATE-VO

A DANGEROUS -- AND EXPENSIVE -- CLEANUP IS NEEDED IN CAPE CORAL NOW --

AFTER POLICE DISCOVERED TWO HOUSES USED AS A METH LABS.

THEY FOUND THE SECOND YESTERDAY.

WE FOUND OUT TODAY --

HAZMAT, FIRE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.

IT'S 800 DOLLARS FOR EACH CALL.

THE HOUSES MAY ALSO BE SO TOXIC FROM THE COOKING CHEMICALS --

THAT PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THEM AGAIN.

YESTERDAY'S BUST WAS IN A RENTAL.

THE OWNERS WILL HAVE TO SHOULDER THE COSTS.

SANIBEL FIRE-VO

A SANIBEL COMMUNITY IS RALLYING BEHIND ONE FAMILY AFTER A FIRE DESTROYED THEIR HOUSE.

TAKE A LOOK --

IT TOOK 30 FIREFIGHTERS TO PUT IT OUT.

EMBERS FROM A CHARCOAL GRILL SPARKED THE FIRE.

THE HOMEOWNER, BERT SMITH AND HIS SON GOT OUT O-K.

THE CITY OF SANIBEL AND A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ARE TEAMING UP TO FIND THEM A NEW HOME.

BABY FOUND ON BEACH-VO

HAPPENING RIGHT NOW --

INVESTIGATORS IN POMPANO BEACH FLORIDA ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO ABANDONED A BABY -- JUST DAYS OLD --

UNDERNEATH A TREE.

THE CHILD'S O-K.

SOMONE FOUND IT WRAPPED IN A BLANKET NEAR SOME HEDGES IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE MOTHER DID NOT GIVE BIRTH IN A HOSPITAL.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE UMBILICAL CORD WAS STILL ATTACHED.

TONIGHT -- POLICE ARE WORKING TO FIND THE PARENTS.

MCCREADY FUNERAL-VO

THE COUNTRY MUSIC STAR FROM NORTH FORT MYERS --

MINDY MCCREADY --

WILL BE LAID TO REST NEXT WEEK IN FORT MYERS.

CROSSROADS CHURCH WILL HOST A PRIVATE FUNERAL TUESDAY.

A PUBLIC MEMORIAL WILL ALSO BE HELD IN NASHVILLE NEXT MONTH.

MCCREADY'S MOTHER TELL US SHE PLANS TO HOST A PUBLIC MEMORIAL HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

OLDER PEOPLE AND FLU-NATVO

TONIGHT -- WE'RE LEARNING THIS YEAR'S FLU SHOT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE FOR A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.

nats cough

THE C-D-C SAYS THE VACCINE ONYL HELPED ONE IN TEN PEOPLE OLDER THAN 65.

THE FLU SHOT WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE FOR ABOUT HALF OF THOSE YOUNGER THAN 65.

RESEARCHERS ARE STILL WORKING TO FIND OUT *WHY.

BUT THEY'RE UPSET IT UNDERPERFORMED PREVENTING THE FLU.

TOP BEACHES-VO

TWO FLORIDA BEACHES TOOK THE TOPS SPOTS IN A NEW LIST OF THE TOP BEACHES IN THE U-S.

SIESTA KEY BEACH IN SARASOTA AND GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE IN PENSACOLA CLAIMED SPOTS TWO AND THREE ON TRIP ADVISOR.

THE NUMBER ONE BEACH IN THE U-S KA'ANAPALI BEACH IN MAUI, HAWAII.

THERE ARE *NO U-S BEACHES ON ITS LIST OF TOP BEACHES IN THE *WORLD.

NEXT CLIP-CLIP

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

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO FOR MILLIONS?

TONIGHT -- HEAR ABOUT ONE MAN WHO UNDERWENT EXTENSIVE PLASTIC SURGERY.

HOW IT HELPED HIM *STEAL* FOUR MILLION BUCKS --

AND HOW SOMEONE SPOTTED HIS RUSE.

PLUS --

EVER WONDERED WHAT'S *IN* AN OSCAR GIFT BAG THAT THE STARS RECEIVE AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS?

WONDER NO MORE!

WE'LL TELL YOU NEXT.

TZ1 A FACE OFF-VOTOPS

TZ1 B OSCAR GIFT BAG-VOTOPS

STORMWARN 7 JP WX OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

Temperatures have been running several degrees above average, and there is no sign of that stopping over the next four days.

Unlike last weekend, this weekend will be quite warm. Even our morning temperatures will be on the warmer side of average as lows only cool into the mid to upper 60s. Fog will also continue to be an issue during the early morning, and mariners be advised we'll be watching for a good possibility for sea fog, too, as humidity continues to rise over a chilled Gulf of Mexico.

Daytime highs through the weekend should easily warm into the 80s for all areas except the coast, and our sky will be predominantly sunny with only fair-weather clouds developing through the day. Rain prospects will stay pretty low through the weekend, but there will be a slight chance for a few isolated inland showers Sunday afternoon.

A MAJOR change in the weather pattern will be in order by early next week as the next front swings into Southwest Florida, so look for increasing rain chances come Monday night into Tuesday. Some rain and clouds may even linger into Wednesday as the front makes its final push to the south, but we should see clearing skies and cooler weather by Thursday.

I call this a major change because models are hinting that the low pressure that brings us the inclement weather will stay through mid-March. I'm not worried about clouds and rain through the first half of March, but you will feel it when it comes to the temperatures.

So a big cool down looms for Southwest Florida in the near future.

PLANNING OSCAR PARTY-VOTOPS

MAKE YOUR FRIENDS ENVIOUS!

WE'LL GIVE YOU STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO THROW THE BEST OSCAR-VIEWING PARTY EVER!

YOU'VE GOT TO HEAR THE PERFECT "OSCAR-THEMED" DINNER TO SERVE.

PLUS -- 40 MANATEES HAVE DIED THIS YEAR ALONE IN FLORIDA.

WHAT EXPLAINS THE SCARY TREND --

JUST 60 SECONDS AWAY AFTER LOTTO.

DEAD MANATEES-VOTOPS

EXTRA CLIP-CLIP

PLANNING AN OSCAR PARTY-TCMON

ARE YOU INVITED TO THE OSCARS OR AN AFTER PARTY.

WELL IF YOU'RE NOT AN A-LIST CELEBRITY.

DON'T WORRY.

IN TONIGHT'S ABC7 EXTRA WE SHOW YOU HOW TO THROW A LAST-MINUTE ACADEMY AWARD WINNING PARTY.

PLANNING AN OSCAR PARTY-PKG

START THIS OSCAR PARTY RIGHT.

PUT OUT MOVIE POSTERS AND MEMORABILIA. RUN A RED CARPET -

ADVANCE WORK WILL MAKE YOUR HOME OSCAR AWARD WINNING.

FIRST IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR INVITES.

PREMIUM ONLINE INVITATION SERVICE *E-VITE DESIGNED THE OFFICIAL WINNERS ENVELOPE FOR THE OSCARS.

NOW YOU CAN SEND A DIGITAL DUPLICATE TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS.

it's all available at no charge

FOR EVEN MORE FUN, GET RED CARPET BINGO CARDS THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD. PRINT OUT AND PLAY WHILE WATCHING STARS ARRIVE ON THE RED CARPET.

YOU'LL LOOK FOR ITEMS OF INTEREST.

who has a baby bump, who's coming with their mother

THEN HAVE GUESTS FILL OUT BALLOTS.

MAKE YOUR OWN CONTEST.

you can have fun prizes like the golden hangar award for the best dressed

FOR SNACKS, HOW ABOUT MENUS TIED TO THE BIG NOMINEES.

WIPE

all of these dishes are pretty much finger food or easy food, comfort food

TRY THIS --

GRILLED PHILLY CHEESESTEAK FOR SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK.

OR THE FRENCH FAVORITE CROQUE MONSIEUR FOR LES MIS -

IT'S A MELTED CHEESY HAM SANDWICH. FOR DESSERT MACAROONS.

OSCAR GIFT BAG-VO SS OC

WINNING AN OSCAR MEANS FAME AND FORTUNE

BUT -- FOR THE A-LISTERS THAT LOSE --

THERE'S STILL A PRETTY COOL PRIZE WAITING FOR THEM.

THIS YEAR'S CONSOLATION PRIZE IS A 47-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRIZE PACKAGE.

WE FOUND OUT --

IT INCLUDES A 41-HUNDRED DOLLAR WEIGHT-LOSS RETREAT,

400 DOLLAR HAND CREAM,

AND AN 800 DOLLAR WATER FILTER,.

ALL TOGETHER -- THE PACKAGE IS WORTH ABOUT THE SAME AS AN ENTRY-LEVEL MERCEDES.

YOU CAN WATCH THE OSCARS RIGHT HERE ON A-B-C SEVEN THIS SUNDAY STARTING AT SEVEN.

PLUS AS A SPECIAL TREAT -- COURTNEY AND I WILL BE IN AFTER THE SHOW WEARING *OUR OSCAR BEST.

FUN FACT.

IF THE OSCAR STATUES WERE MADE OF SOLID GOLD --

THEY WOULD BE WORTH 219-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

FACE OFF-VO

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRAVLOTA MOVIE. FACE-OFF --

BUT A SOUTH KOREAN MAN IS UNDER ARREST FOR STEALING MILLIONS FROM HIS EMPLOYER --

TO GET AWAY WITH IT -- HE UNDERWENT EXTENSIVE COSMETIC SURGERY.

YOU CAN"T SEE HIS FACE IN THIS VIDEO -- BUT AUTHORITIES SAY HE GOT A NOSE JOB - A FACE LIFT AND OTHER MODIFICATIONS.

THEY SAY HE STOLE AT LEAST FOUR-MILLION DOLLARS.

OREO THIEF-VOTOPS

NEW AT 11 --

ANOTHER SUSPECTED CRIMINAL WAS CAUGHT WITH HER HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR --

THIS TIME QUITE LITERALLY.

THIS WOMAN, PENNY WINTERS, HAS WORKED AT WALMART FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS.

BUT STORE SECURITY CAUGHT HER EATING A PACKAGE OF OREOS SHE DID NOT PAY FOR.

DEAD MANATEES-VOTOPS

MANATEES ARE DYING IN SURPRISING NUMBERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS THERE ARE ALREADY 40 DEAD MANATEES.

F-W-C FOUND *FOUR IN BREVARD COUNTY -- ONE WAS JUST TWO WEEKS OLD.

NORMALLY THE SEA COWS MIGRATE TO OUR WARMER WATERS FOR THE WINTER.

BECAUSE OF LAST WEEK'S COLD BLAST THE ANIMALS SUFFERED THROUGH THE COLD.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE-NATVOTOPS

nats turtle going into water.

BUT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR ANOTHER SEA CREATURE!

THIS IS BIG BELL --

THE 22-POUND LOGGER HEAD TURTLE WAS JUST RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD --

AFTER SHE WAS STRANDED OFF FORT MYERS BEACH WITH PNEUMONIA,

PLUS COVERED WITH BARNACLES AND ALGAE.

SHE IS ALSO MISSING PART OF A FRONT FLIPPER AND MOST OF A REAR FLIPPER.

BUT AFTER SIX MONTHS OF RECOVERY --

NEWS CLIP-CLIP

NEWS TEASE DUCT TAPE KID-VOTOPS

THE PICTURES ARE TOUGH TO LOOK AT.

A CHILD WITH HIS HEAD WRAPPED UP IN DUCT TAPE.

THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMERA SAYS IT WAS JUST A GAME.

TEASE TWO-POP

THE FGCU BASEBALL TEAM. LOOKING FOR THE UPSET WIN AT FLORIDA. CAN THE DOLPHINS AFFORD TO KEEP REGGIE BUSH

TZ2 A-VO

NIGHTLINE TEASE-BLK-SOT

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

ROSS CHASTAIN-VOTOPS

WE ARE RACING UNDER THE LIGHTS AT DAYTONA. NASCAR TRUCK SERIES.

9 LAPS TO GO. TOTAL CHAOS. ALVA NATIVE ROSS CHASTAIN. IN THE 19 TRUCK. PART OF THAT WRECK.

FGCU BASEBALL-POPMON

FGCU BASEBALL-VOTOPS

MINNESOTA TWINS-VOTOPS

MINNESOTA TWINS PLAYING THEIR FIRST SPRING TRAINING GAME ON SATURDAY.

THEY WILL FACE. THE ORIOLES IN SARASOTA.

MINNESOTA TWINS-SOTTOPS

EVERBLADES-VOTOPS

NEXT STOP GERMAIN ARENA. EVERBLADES. TAKING ON EVANSVILLE.

1ST PERIOD. BLADES ON THE FLY. AARON BOGO-SHUN. LIGHTS THE LAMP WE ARE TIED AT 1.

LATER IN THE 1ST MIKE MERRIFIELD. FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET. 2-1 BLADES.

WGC GOLF-POPMON

WGC GOLF-VOTOPS

IAN POULTER. NO STRANGER TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. GETS THE BIRDIE AND THE WIN. HE WILL FACE TIM CLARK IN THE NEXT ROUND.

SHOT OF THE DAY BELONGS TO SCOTT PIERCY THE GUYS FROM LAS VEGAS. WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF MAKING THAT SHOT. PROBABLY NOT GOOD. IT WAS GOOD AND SO WAS HE.

MIAMI DOLPHINS-VOTOPS

DOLPHINS RUNNING BACK REGGIE BUSH SAYS HE HAS UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN MIAMI. HE WANTS TO WIN WITH THE DOLPHINS.

THE QUESTION IS. DO THE DOLPHINS WANT HIM? HE'S A FREE AGENT WITH A BIG PRICE TAG.

MIAMI DOLPHINS-SOTTOPS

EAGLE MEN-POPMON

EAGLE MEN-CGTOPS

TONIGHT DIFFERENT ARENA DIFFERENT STORY

CHEELEADER SHOT-VOTOPS

THE EAGLES COULD OF USED THIS CHEERLEADER.

ASHLEE ARNAU FROM WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY. THE UNREAL HALF COURT SHOT.

SHE'S BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THIS SHOT ALL YEAR. FINALLY MAKES IT HAPPENING AT THE FINAL HOME GAME.

TOSS TO BREAK-POP

THAT IS A LOOK AT SPORTS.

UP NEXT --

COURTNEY EXPLAINS THIS PICTURE.

DUCT TAPED KID-VO

AN OHIO MOTHER PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO TWO CHARGES OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT AFTER OFFICERS SAY SHE WRAPPED HER SON AND HIS FRIEND IN DUCT TAPE.

SHE TEXTED THIS PICTURE TO HER SON'S FATHER.

AS YOU CAN SEE HIS FOREHEAD, EYES, AND MOUTH ARE COVERED IN DUCT-TAPED.

THE FAHTER CALLED POLICE.

MOM CLAIMS HER SON AND ANOTHER GIRL WERE PLAYING.

THEY DID NOT GET HURT.

KIMMEL TEASE-SOT

TODAY IS NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY --

CLOSE 11PM-3SHOT