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

AHEAD ON YOUR *ONLY* LOCAL NEWS AT NINE --

FINAL FAREWELL.

POPE BENEDICT OFFICIALLY RESIGNS *TODAY.

HIS MESSAGE TO THE CARDINALS THIS MORNING.

AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

PLUS THE COUNTDOWN TO BILLION IN CUTS.

GETS CLOSER ---- WITH NO ACTION FROM LAWMAKERS.

NOW THE PRESIDENTS GETS INVOLVED.

THE LATEST ON THE BUDGET SHOWDOWN.

AND LOSE WEIGHT QUICKLY.

DETAILS ON THE LATEST DIET CRAZE.

WHERE YOU FAST. TWO DAYS A WEEK.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH.

HL1) POPE-VO-WIPE

HL2) BUDGET SHOWDOWN-VO-WIPE

HL3) DIET-VOTOPS

WX HL-WX WALL

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIPTOPS

POPE LAST DAY-2 SHOT

IT'S POPE BENEDICT'S *FINAL DAY.

AND THE CARDINALS HAVE ALREADY STARTED DISCUSSING--

WHO THE NEXT POPE WILL BE.

THIS MORNING, THE POPE GAVE THEM SOME DIRECTION.

THE CARDINALS CAME FROM FIFTY COUNTRIES --

AND THE POPE ASKED THEM TO WORK "LIKE AN ORCHESTRA -- TO CREATE "HARMONY" OUT OF THEIR DIFFERENCES.

POPE LAST DAY-PKG

Today began with the cardinals saying goodbye. Exchanging a brief private

moment, one by one, by order of seniority.

The venue was the "Sala Clementina" at the Apostolic

Palace. The same ornate room where dead popes lie in state -- most recently

Pope John Paul -- before the body is moved across St Peter's Square to the

basilica.

Unlike ALL of the past popes whose reigns ended in this room -- since the

palace was built and walls covered in frescoes -- Benedict is the first to

leave office still breathing.

Like a king attending his own funeral.

NATS

Today the Dean of the College of Cardinals thanked him for his service.

NATS

Benedict stood up and embraced him. The pope wasn't exted to speak - but he

did.

NATSOT

Saying: "Among you is also the future pope, to whom I promise my

unconditional reverence and obediance."

That hasn't been an issue for 600 years.

Today Vatican cameras will follow Benedict's departure "minute-by-minute".

19 cameras documenting his trip - LIVE.

Every angle covered - from his final wave at St Peters.

They'll be with him on the helicopter as he flies to Castle Gandolfo.

There he will greet the faithful one last time from the balcony.

Tonight at 8 pm, the Swiss Guard will leave and the gates will close --

POPE LAST DAY-OC

DAVID WRIGHT REPORTING.

THE POPE ALSO MADE CLEAR --

THAT ONCE HE STEPS DOWN THERE WILL ONLY BE *ONE POPE.

IN HIS OWN WORDS --

MASS OF THANKSGIVING-OC VO

AND HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --

THE "DIOCESE OF VENICE" HAS ASKED *ALL OF ITS CHURCHES IN THE TEN-COUNTY REGION.

TO HOLD A MASS HONORING THE POPE.

THEY CALLED IT "MASS OF THANKSGIVING."

ABOUT 100 PEOPLE CAME TO SAINT CECILIA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN FORT MYERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THE MESSAGE?

GIVE THANKS FOR THE POPE AND HIS SERVICE.

MASS OF THANKSGIVING-SOTVO

This new years eve of our church. The time when we look back over the past years to give thanks and prayer and praise to god for the papacy of our pope benedict the 16th.

THE NEXT MASS OF THANKSGIVING AT SAINT CECILIA --

BUDGET SHOWDOWN-OC

NEW THIS MORNING -- THE PRESIDENT IS BACKING OFF HIS SEVERE WARNINGS.

ABOUT LOOMING ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUTS.

SO WHAT'S THE PLAN NOW?

BUDGET SHOWDOWN-PKG

Arne Duncan

Secretary of Education

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

NYC

PKG SCRIPT:

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS REMAIN DIVIDED.

WITH JUST ONE DAY TO GO BEFORE AUTOMATIC SPENDING CUTS TAKE EFFECT -

PRESIDENT OBAMA CHANGED HIS TUNE A BIT SAYING THE IMPACT MAY NOT BE FELT

IMMEDIATELY.

BUT AT A DINNER WITH BUSINESS LEADERS LAST NIGHT, HE WARNED THE ECONOMY WILL

STILL TAKE A BIG HIT.

SOT President Obama

"IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE FEWER CUSTOMERS WITH MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS READY TO

BUY YOUR GOODS AND SERVICES. / AND THE WORST PART OF IT IS IT'S ENTIRELY

UNNECESSARY. IT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING."

EDUCATION SECRETARY ARNE DUNCAN LAID OUT WHAT THE CUTS WOULD MEAN FOR SCHOOL

KIDS.

SOT Arne Duncan

"SO THE ONLY CHOICE I COULD MAKE WOULD BE TO HURT FEWER POOR CHILDREN AND

HELP MORE SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS OR DO THE OPPOSITE. IT'S A NO-WIN PROPOSITION

THERE. THERE'S NO GOOD ANSWER."

AFTER A MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE, NEW YORK MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

DOWNPLAYED THE IMPACT -- ALMOST MOCKING THE WARNINGS.

SOT Mayor Bloomberg

"THERE'S A LOT OF POSTURING: 'I'M GOING TO LAY OFF MY EMPLOYEES TODAY UNLESS

YOU DO SOMETHING.' 'WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE HOSPITALS DOWN.' / SPARE ME!

"

.

THE 85-BILLION IN CUTS IS SET TO KICK IN FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT.

THE ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS WILL MEAN FURLOUGHS FOR CIVILIAN DEFENSE

DEPARTMENT WORKERS.

MOS

"WE COME FROM GOOD HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT HAVE EARNED EVERYTHING THAT THEY'

BUDGET SHOWDOWN-OC

THAT WAS PREETI ARLA REPORTING.

THE PRESIDENT HAS UNTIL ONE MINUTE BEFORE MIDNIGHT FRIDAY -- TO SIGN OFF ON THE CUTS.

AND AIDES SAY HE WON'T DO THAT.

LEHIGH CRASH-VO

NEW INFORMATION IN A HEAD-ON CRASH OVERNIGHT IN LEHIGH ACRES.

TROOPERS TELL US AROUND 3 THIS MORNING, 35 YEAR OLD JOSE NINO DE GUZMAN WAS DRIVING IN THE WRONG LANE ALONG GUNNERY ROAD.

HE ENDED UP CRASHING HEAD-ON INTO 27 YEAR OLD JACLYN MARIE SUAREZ.

BOTH ARE IN SERIOUS CONDITION AT LEE MEMORIAL.

COLLIER HIT AND RUN-VOTOPS

IN COLLIER COUNTY --TROOPERS ARE LOOKING FOR THE DRIVER.

WHO HIT A NAPLES MAN -- RIDING A SCOOTER.

THE HIT AND RUN CRASH HAPPENED ALONG GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY.

NEAR INTERSTATE 75 -- EARLY THIS MORNING.

THE 47 YEAR OLD VICTIM WAS THROWN FROM THE SCOOTER.

AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

COLLIER PARKS AND REC AUDIT-VOWIPE

NEW EVIDENCE THIS MORNING --

OF CORRUPTION INSIDE THE COLLIER COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

A-B-C 7 HAS LEARNED --

AN AUDIT OF SPENDING BY SUPERVISORS AT THE IMMOKALEE BRANCH.

FOUND THEY WERE STEALING MONEY.

THEY WERE PRETENDING EMPLOYEES WORKED WHEN THEY DIDN'T.

THEN CASHING AND POCKETING PAYCHECKS.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A PHONE CALL FROM A CONCERNED MOTHER.

HER DAUGHTER WAS ON THE PARKS PAYROLL.

COLLIER PARKS AND REC AUDIT-SOTVO

Dwight Brock/20:08:05 "I turned my findings over to the board of county commissioners, they have to deal with their management issues.""

HERE'S WHAT THE INVESTIGATION FOUND.

SUPERVISORS APPROVED FALSIFIED TIME CARDS.

TIME KEEPERS ENTERED THOSE FALSIFIED TIMES.

AND AUTHORIZED APPROVERS FAILED TO REVIEW THE CARDS.

AN AUDIT WE OBTAINED SHOWS NEARLY 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS --

IN ESTIMATED UNDER AND OVER PAYMENTS TO EMPLOYEES.

A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY.

COSTELLO TRIAL-VO

WE'RE HEADING INTO DAY FOUR --- OF THE MURDER TRIAL OF RYAN COSTELLO.

FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY,

WE HEARD FROM WHITNEY SIMONSEN.

WHOSE BABY BOY DIED THREE YEARS AGO.

COSTELLO IS HER EX-FIANCE -- AND THE FATHER OF DARWIN,

THE FOUR MONTH OLD ---- WHO WAS BEATEN TO DEATH IN 2010.

SIMONSEN TESTIFIED THAT COSTELLO ATTACKED HER --

AND THAT SHE FAKED BEING UNCONSCIOUS UNTIL HE STOPPED.

COSTELLO TRIAL-SOTVO

Whitney Simonsen/victim's mother

11:4542 he felt really heavy and he was kind of wheezing and I tried to wake him up and he wasn't so I started screaming what have you done 58

SIMONSEN ADMITTED TO BEING A DRUG DEALER --

AND ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A MARIJUANA OPERATI --ON IN THE COUPLE'S HOME.

SHOOTING UPDATE-VO SS

ABC7 HAS NEW INFORMATION --

ABOUT THE MURDER OF A 16-YEAR-OLD IMMOKALEE GIRL.

A-B-C SEVEN HAS LEARNED --

KANASHA ISAAC WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT,

WHEN SHE WAS SHOT IN THE FACE.

THIS HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND,

IN THE FORT MYERS ALE HOUSE PARKING LOT.

HENRY BRUNSON IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.

TROOPER INVOLVED CRASH-VO WIPE

A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IS NOW UNDERWAY --

IN A VEHICLE CRASH INVOLVING A STATE TROOPER.

IT HAPPENED NEARLY TWO WEEKS AGO.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS --

TROOPER GUSTAVO REYES WAS NEGLIGENT AND DISTRACTED.

WHEN HE CLIPPED A FAMILY'S JEEP ON I-75.

AN UNBORN BABY DID NOT SURVIVE THE CRASH.

SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS WERE HOSPITALIZED.

GUN CONTROL HEARING-SOTVO

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE --- COULD VOTE ON A PROPOSED BAN ON MILITARY STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.

AS EARLY AS TODAY.

FAMILY OF SANDY HOOK VICTIMS --- MADE AN EMOTIONAL PLEA YESTERDAY --- TO PASS THE BAN.

"It's hard for me to be here today to talk about my deceased son. I have to.I'm his voice"

IN NEWTOWN -- A TEENAGER KILLED 20 CHILDREN AND SIX ADULTS -- IN DECEMBER.

OPPONENTS SAY THE BAN'S NOT NECESSARY.

SHERIFF SCOTT LETTER TO PRES. OBAMA-2 SHOT

AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM LEE COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE SCOTT.

IS CAUSING QUITE A RUCKUS ON FACEBOOK.

SHERIFF SCOTT WROTE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

SAYING HE WILL NOT QUOTE "DEDICATE PRECIOUS OR LIMITED RESOURCES TO ENFORCING CONGRESSIONAL REGULATIONS.

THAT INFRINGE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS".

REFERRING TO GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION,

THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS CONGRESS TO PASS.

THE LETTER HAS BEEN SHARED 15-HUNDRED TIMES.

AND HAS ALMOST 16-HUNDRED LIKES ON FACEBOOK.

THE WHITE HOUSE TELLS ABC7 --

THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS ON CONTROL SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

WE'VE POSTED OUR FULL E-MAIL CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF.

TEASE ONE-2-SHOT

ITS CALLED THE FAST DIET.

ITS THE LATEST DIET CRAZE.

EAT *WHATEVER YOU WANT 5 DAYS OF THE WEEK.

ON THE OTHERS. A DIFFERENT STORY.

BUT DOES IT REALLY WORK?

WE TAKE A LOOK.

PLUS --

HIGHWAY DEATHS ARE ON THE RISE.

BUT SEE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY --

TZ1 A FAST DIET-VOTOPS

TZ1 B SAFER CARS-VOTOPS

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

BLOOMBERG TEASE-SOT

BLOOMBERG BUSINESS REPORT-PKG TOPS

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.

A bit more sun, with lower humidity"

After a cloudy and showery Wednesday, all signs point to more sunshine for Thursday while we start to shave a few degrees off our afternoon highs each and every day.

Temperatures this morning will be slightly cooler in the upper 50s with a few readings in the middle 50s deeper inland. We'll even start out with a bit more sunshine as that stalled frontal boundary gets a push to the south taking the clouds and moisture with it. Through the afternoon a mix of sun and clouds will dominate our skies and daytime highs will climb into the middle 70s for most. A northwesterly breeze around 10-15 mph will also dry our atmosphere out just a bit keeping our humidity levels rather pleasant.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies will remain overhead and overnight temperatures will settle into the lower half of the 50s along the urban corridor.

As moisture begins to increase across Southwest Florida on Friday expect our skies to stay mostly cloudy. This will be the start of an unsettled weather pattern featuring more clouds and the threat for some wet weather as a strong disturbance dives southward toward the Gulf of Mexico.

After lows in the 40s to start on Saturday daytime highs will be rather cool in the middle 60s. Showers will begin to develop during the afternoon and carry over into Sunday. This will make for a chilly and blustery end to the weekend with afternoon temperatures in the low to middle 60s.

CHICO'S EXPANSION-NATVO

ONE OF LEE COUNTY'S *LARGEST EMPLOYERS --

HAS ANNOUNCED A MAJOR EXPANSION.

NATS OF RIBBON CUTTING

CHICO'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS REVEALED IT'S NEWEST ADDITION YESTERDAY.

THIS 146-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING --

KNOWN AS "BUILDING TEN."

THE COMPANY PLANS TO HIRE 150 NEW EMPLOYEES,

GMA FAST DIET-OC

THE LATEST WEIGHT LOSS PHENOMENON.

IS A BEST-SELLING BOOK CALLED 'THE FAST DIET.'

FAST. MEANS SPEEDY.

AND EATING ALMOST NOTHING.

BUT DOES IT WORK?

GMA FAST DIET-PKG

MAYBE IT'S THE STIFF UPPER LIP. BUT IT SEEMS MUCH OF ENGLAND IS OBESSED

WITH FASTING. NOT EVERY DAY. JUST TWO DAYS A WEEK.

Tara NATS: may I have a croissant?

THE OTHER FIVE DAYS. YOU CAN EAT WHATEVER YOU WANT.

IT'S CALLED THE "FAST DIET" AND ACCORDING TO ITS CREATOR, TONS OF BRITANS

ARE LOSING TONS OF WEIGHT.

TARA MCLAUGHLIN SOT: when i step on the scales each week that the pounds are

dropping off

TARA MCLAUGHLIN SAYS SHE LOST 36 POUNDS OVER SEVEN MONTHS.

TARA SOT: 19:50 / now my appetite has reduced so even when I do try over

eat I sometimes find it quite challenging.

THE TWO FASTING DAYS ALLOW JUST 25% OF A NORMAL ADULT'S DAILY

INTAKE. A MEASLY 500 CALORIES FOR WOMEN, ROUGHLY 600 FOR A MAN.

Juju That iis a lot of food! And that's just a fasting breakfast yes

breakfast on a fasting day - that is less than 300 calories.

IT CAN BE EATEN ONE MEAL. OR SPREAD OUT DURING THE DAY LIKE

THIS. BUT YOU NEED PROTEIN.

THE BRITISH FASTING CRAZE IS THE BRAIN CHILD OF DR MICHAEL MOSLEY.

Juju NATS But you really weren't motivating by wanting to get into the

little black dress. *Laughs*

A DOCTOR BY TRAINING, HIS BBC DOCUMENTARY- ""EAT, FAST AND LIVE LONGER""

BEGINS WITH A WAKE UP CALL FROM HIS DOCTOR.

NATS from NY 1:26:40 I had a bit of a nasty shock because I discovered that

my fasting glucose levels were those of a diabetic.

HE MET WITH AMERICAN RESEARCHERS GETTING ASTONISHING RESULTS FROM SEVERE

CALORIE RESTRICTION REGIMENS. DECREASED CANCER RISK INCREASE LIFE

EXPECTANCY. EVEN IMPROVED BRAIN FUNCTION

Doc: Yes - this is actually research done in rats - but they're about to

start this research in humans

SO MOSLEY CAME UP WITH A =HUMAN= DIET PLAN TO SEE IF HE COULD MIMIC THE

RESULTS FOUND IN AMERICAN LABS.

NATS: 1:51:03 ISH I'd want to see a lot more science. It's had a dramatic

effect on my body -- I'm like patient zero.

you just want to see more long-term studies etc etc

HE LOST NEARLY 20 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS ON THE OUTSIDE

BUT ON THE INSIDE. HE SAYS HIS MAKEOVER WAS FAR MORE DRAMATIC.

SOT: my body fat went down from 28% to 20%, and my blood glucose went down

from diabetic to normal. 01;28;55;14 My cholesterol went down from

needing medication to normal

GMA FAST DIET-OC

THAT WAS JUJU CHANG REPORTING.

DOCTORS SAY THE DIET IS NOT SAFE.

SAFER CARS-VO

ACCORDING TO A *GRIM NEW REPORT --

DEATHS ON THE ROAD ARE RISING IN AMERICA.

THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL SAYS --

THE INCREASE WAS FIVE PERCENT LAST YEAR.

AND CAR MAKERS LIKE MERCEDES BENZ.

ARE MAKING CHANGES TO MAKE DRIVING SAFER.

THEY HAVE INSTALLED NEW TECHNOLOGY --

THAT TRACKS YOUR DRIVING PATTERN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SWERVE.OR MAKE MOVES TO STAY AWAKE --

THE CAR KNOWS.

AND ALERTS YOU.

SAFER CARS-SOTVO

KERLEY NATS - "So replace the passenger saying "wake up"it's just going to

say, "hey, you need to pull over and get a cup of coffee."

LINKOV SOT - Without the passenger holding on to the armrest saying, "Please

stop!"

FOR FAMILIES -- FORD IS INSTALLING INFLATABLE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT.

THINK OF IT AS AN AIRBAG FOR YOUR KIDS IN BOOSTER SEATS.

TEASE TWO-2-SHOT

ROYAL PREDICTION.

PEOPLE ARE *ALREADY GUESSING --

WHAT WILLIAM AND KATE'S BABY WILL LOOK LIKE.

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THESE IMAGES.

PLUS

AN AUSTRALIAN TYCOON IS DETERMINED TO REBUILD.

THE MOST FAMOUS SHIP OF ALL TIME.

THE TITANIC.

TZ2 A TITANIC 2-VO-WIPE

ROYAL BABY PREDICTION-OC (2) SS

WHEN IT COMES TO THE ROYALS.

ALL WE CARE ABOUT RIGHT NOW -- IS THE BABY.

SO A GENETICIST --- PREDICTS WHAT HE OR SHE, WILL LOOK LIKE.

HERE IT IS.

THE GIRL IMAGE IS ON THE LEFT.

BOY ON THE RIGHT.

HERE ARE THE POSSIBILITIES -- AS YOUNG ADULTS.

ACCORDING TO THE GENETIC EXPERT.

A GIRL WILL INHERIT KATE'S EYELASHES AND EYEBROWS ---- BUT HAVE WILL'S BLUE EYES.

A BOY, WOULD TAKE AFTER WILLIAM.

TITANIC II MODEL BLUEPRINTS-VOWIPE

IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE --

WOULD YOU SAIL ON THE TITANIC?

AN AUSTRALIAN BILLIONAIRE WILL FUND A PROJECT --

TO BUILD A REPLICA SHIP CALLED "TITANIC TWO."

THE OCEAN LINER WILL SAIL FROM ENGLAND TO NEW YORK.

IT'S THE ORIGINAL ROUTE OF THE ORIGINAL SHIP.

PASSENGERS WILL ALSO WEAR CLOTHING FROM THE 19-HUNDREDS.

TITANIC II MODEL BLUEPRINTS-SOTVO

Clive Palmer Building Titanic II:12 "This ship has so far had 40-thousand people registered at our websites for tickets. We've had 16 people that have offered to pay more than $750 thousand to a million dollars per cabin to be on the first cruise."

SO WHAT'S THE PRICE TAG?

PALMER WON'T SHARE.

WII SURGEON TRAINING-VO

ARE KIDS WASTING TIME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES --

OR HONING THEIR SKILLS -- AS FUTURE SURGEONS?

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT AFTER A 4-WEEK TRAINING REGIMEN ON THE NINTENDO WII --

POST-GRADUATE RESIDENTS HAD BETTER SURGERY SKILLS.

THAN RESIDENTS WHO DIDN'T.

TEASE THREE-2-SHOT

STILL AHEAD IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR --

AN EXTREME CASE OF BULLYING.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

A GROUP OF TEENS POINT A *LOADED GUN.

AT A BOY WITH AUTISM.

THEN POSTING THE WHOLE ORDEAL ON YOU TUBE.

PLUS

A NEW PREDATOR IS LURKING --- ON FACEBOOK. AND OTHER SITES.

TZ3 A BULLING ON TAPE-VO-WIPE

TZ3 B PIMPS ON FACEBOOK-VOTOPS-WIPE

TZ3 C???-VOTOPS

CROSSTALK WX TEASE-2SH-WX GFX

NEWS AT 9:00 OPEN-CLIP

NY STOCK EXCHANGE OPEN-SAT 3 TOPS

ABC SEVEN GOES LIVE TO THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.

SOOTHING WORDS FROM CENTRAL BANKERS ---- TRUMPED CONCERNS OVER EUROPE.

JOBLESS NUMBERS ARE OUT THIS MORNING.

PLUS.

THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT -- PROJECTED A SLIGHT *CONTRACTION OF THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S THE FIRST, SINCE 2009.

SEARS, THE GAP AND BARNES & NOBLE -- REPORT THEIR NUMBERS TODAY.

TOP STORIES-CLIP

TS1) POPE-VOTOPS

POPE BENEDICT RETIRES TODAY.

THIS MORNING - HE DELIVERED FINAL GREETINGS TO CARDINALS AT THE VATICAN.

AND PROMISED "UNCONDITIONAL REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE" TO HIS SUCCESSOR.

LATER TODAY -

HE WILL FLY BY HELICOPTER TO A RETREAT OUTSIDE ROME,

WAVE FROM THE BALCONY,

THEN SHUT THE DOOR.

TS2) SEQUESTER-VOTOPS

LESS THAN ONE DAY -- UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL CRISIS.

85 BILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING CUTS.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS CALLING ON BOTH PARTIES TO COMPROMISE.

SENATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILL PUSH THEIR OWN PLANS TODAY.

TO COPE WITH UPCOMING --- MANDATORY, ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUTS.

NEITHER MEASURE HAS A CHANCE TO PASS.

TS3) LEHIGH CRASH-VOTOPS

NEW INFORMATION IN A HEAD-ON CRASH OVERNIGHT IN LEHIGH ACRES.

TROOPERS TELL US AROUND 3 THIS MORNING, 35 YEAR OLD JOSE NINO DE GUZMAN WAS DRIVING IN THE WRONG LANE ALONG GUNNERY ROAD.

HE ENDED UP CRASHING HEAD-ON INTO 27 YEAR OLD JACLYN MARIE SUAREZ.

BOTH ARE IN SERIOUS CONDITION AT LEE MEMORIAL.

ICE DETAINEES RELEASED-SOTVO

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BEING DETAINED BY U-S IMMIGRATION. HAVE BEEN LET GO.

ALL THIS, AHEAD OF THE FORCED BUDGET CUTS -- THAT TAKE EFFECT THIS WEEK.

LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL SAY --- THEY FEEL BLIND-SIDED.

"This is a very deliberate effort on the part of many departments to try to pick high profile ways to suggest somehow that instead of making the tough decisions about cutting spending, that they should force tax increases again on the American people."

BUT WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY.

SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT NOTIFIED -- AHEAD OF TIME.

ICE DETAINEES RELEASED-SOTVO

Jim: Are you confident that not one of these detainees is threat to his or her community? "This was decision by career officials at ICE without any input from the White House."

AN OFFICIAL WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. KNOWN AS ICE. SAYS SOME OF THE DETAINEES WILL BE "ON INTENSIVE SUPERVISION.

NM BULLYING ON TAPE -OC

AN *EXTREME CASE OF BULLYING IN NEW MEXICO.

A TEEN POINTED A GUN AT A BOY WITH AUTISM.

AND THREATENED TO SHOOT.

IT WAS ALL RECORDED AND POSTED ONLINE.

NM BULLYING ON TAPE -PKG

WE BLURRED THE FACES. AND THE VIDEO IS A LITTLE GRAINY--- BUT THERE'S NO MISTAKING THIS TEENAGE BOY POINTING A *GUN* AT THE BOY IN THE RED SHIRT.

"it's f****** loaded."

THE FATHER OF THE CHILD BEING THREATENED CONTACTED US AFTER THIS VIDEO SHOWED UP ON FACEBOOK.

HE SAYS HIS 16 YEAR OLD SON IS AUTISTIC.

"watch him, get on your knees and kiss my shoes."

THE INTERROGATION LASTS A FEW MINUTES.

THE SAME DEMAND IS REPEATED - BY OTHERS IN THE ROOM.AFTER HEARING WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A GUNSHOT.

nat

"ooh dude, you better f****** kiss his shoe dude."

"i'm doing this so if you die, I can straight up show that against and go to prison - so you better kiss his shoe dude."

OTHER KIDS WHO ARE OFF CAMERA APPEAR TO BE TELLING THE CHILD IN THE RED SHIRT WHAT TO DO. AS THEY WATCH AND KEEP RECORDING.

"give me your f****** shoe, no, you have to do, you have to kiss it with him on it, no you better not record it."

AND THE SCREEN GOES BLACK -

NM BULLYING ON TAPE -OC

JILL GALUS REPORTING.

THE TEEN IN THE VIDEO WITH THE GUN --

HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THE TWO OTHER TEENS IN THE VIDEO.

ROBBER HOLDS WOMAN GUNPOINT-VO

A ROBBERY AT A FLORIDA HOTEL --

WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.

POLICE SAY THE ROBBER --

POINTED A GUN AT AN EMPLOYEE *AND HER SON.

TAKE A CLOSE LOOK --

YOU CAN SEE THE HOTEL CLERK AND HER SON.

LOCK THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOTEL IN SANFORD.

THEN A MAN SMASHES THROUGH THE GLASS--

POINTING A GUN AT THE WOMAN AND CHILD.

POLICE SAY SHE GAVE HIM THE CASH IN THE REGISTER.

THIS HAPPENED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

PIMPS FRIENDING ON FACEBOOK-SOTVO

SOME PIMPS ARE TURNING TO SOCIAL MEDIA --- TO RECRUIT GIRLS INTO SEX TRAFFICKING.

PIMPS WILL LOOK FOR GIRLS WHO LOOK ISOLATED.

THEY OFTEN TARGET GIRLS WHO ARE DRESSED PROVOCATIVELY.

OR LOOK LIKE THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW FRIENDS.

Minors will friend people whether they know them or not, just to appear to be popular. And somebody who is a pimp can use that information to start looking at it to see what makes a person tick.

IN VIRGINIA.

ONE GANG MEMBER SENT OVER 800 MESSAGES ON FACEBOOK.

MANY TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE U-S ATTORNEY PROSECUTING THAT CASE.

PIMPS FRIENDING ON FACEBOOK-SOTVO

The use of social media to recruit young girls into the sex trade is definitely on the rise. Pre-Internet if they had sent a letter to a young girl saying," hey you're cute, we think you should come work for us," it strikes me as impossible that that approach would have ever worked

FACEBOOK SAYS THEY TAKE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND HAS "BUILT COMPLEX TECHNICAL SYSTEMS" TO BLOCK THESE THINGS.

AL HOSTAGE BUNKER-VO

NEW THIS MORNING --

THAT ALABAMA BUNKER -- WHERE A YOUNG BOY WAS HELD HOSTAGE FOR NEARLY A WEEK -- HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED.

F-B-I AGENTS SHOT AND KILLED JIMMY LEE DYKES -- INSIDE, EARLIER THIS MONTH.

THAT BROUGHT THE SIX-DAY STANDOFF TO AN END.

AUTHORITIES SAY DYKES SHOT AND KILLED A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER.

SYRIAN MEETING-OC

THIS MORNING -- THE U-S IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A *MAJOR POLICY SHIFT IN SYRIA.

SENIOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY --

IT WILL INCLUDE AID CHANNELED *DIRECTLY TO SELECTED GROUPS OF THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION.

THE AID WOULD PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND FOOD.

BUT NOT WEAPONS.

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY IS IN ROME THIS MORNING.

HE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT,

VOTING RIGHTS ACT-VO

THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY'S *MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS LAW.

IS IN THE HANDS OF THE U-S SUPREME COURT.

THE SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS YESTERDAY --

SURROUNDING THE 19-65 VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

AT ISSUE IS A KEY PART OF THE ACT --

REQUIRING STATES WITH A HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION.

TO GET PERMISSION BEFORE CHANGING THEIR VOTING LAWS.

SOME ARGUE THE ACT IS OUTDATED.

SHARK SEARCH-VO

THIS MORNING --

CREWS ARE SEARCHING BY HELICOPTER -- FOR A SHARK THAT KILLED A MAN IN NEW ZEALAND.

THE MAN -- AN AWARD WINNING FILM MAKER, ADAM STRANGE --

WAS KILLED IN FRONT OF HUNDREDS ON A CROWDED BEACH.

WITNESSES SAY THE SHARK -- WAS BETWEEN 12 AND 14 FEET LONG.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE IT WAS A GREAT WHITE.

RED TIDE LATEST-VO WIPE

A PRISTINE BEACH.

CONTINUES TO BE A DECAYING BED -- OF DEAD SEA LIFE.

RED TIDE OCCURS NATURALLY.

AND WE CAN'T GET RID OF IT.

SO MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE MET WEDNESDAY ON SANIBEL --- TO LEARN ABOUT RED TIDE, AND HOW IT FORMS.

A FEW TIPS.

DOGS SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE WATER.

IF THEY JUMP IN -- HOSE THEM OFF RIGHT AWAY.

ONE EMPLOYEE OF A MAJOR RESORT ON SANIBEL.

RED TIDE LATEST-SOTVO

Debbie Bubley - Resort Employee 25:49 "its very difficult to relate to the guests that there's not going to be a problem for them and I don't know what to say to them"

GABE HOMECOMING-VO

A 13-YEAR-OLD CHARLOTTE COUNTY BOY IS BACK HOME THIS MORNING.

AFTER A HORSE-BACK RIDING ACCIDENT PUT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 17 DAYS.

A-B-C 7 WAS THERE --

AS GABE WELCHMAN INTERACTED WITH THE HORSE HE WAS RIDING THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE EIGHTH GRADER SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

WHEN ANOTHER HORSE COLLIDED WITH HIS HORSE.

GABE WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR FOUR DAYS.

FLOTUS LETS MOVE TOUR-VO

FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA CONTINUES HER TOUR ---

TO CELEBRATE THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF HER "LET'S MOVE!" INITIATIVE.

AFTER STARTING THE TOUR IN MISSISSIPPI ON WEDNESDAY --

SHE HEADS TO HER HOMETOWN OF CHICAGO TODAY.

SHE WILL MAKE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT --

TO BRING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BACK TO SCHOOLS.

IN ADDITION TO SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN AND CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL.

MRS. OBAMA WILL BE JOINED BY A SLEW OF ATHLETES.

WOMEN RETURNS MONEY-VO

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND 11-THOUSAND DOLLARS?

IN CASH?

ONE WOMAN. TOOK THE HONEST ROUTE --

AND GAVE IT ALL BACK.

THE WOMAN WAS DRIVING BEHIND AN ARMORED TRUCK IN NEW YORK.

WHEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS CAME FLYING OUT OF IT.

SHE STOPPED TO GET IT --

11-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ALL.

WOMEN RETURNS MONEY-SOTVO

"It's stealing if you take something that's not yours and I never even thought, you know I picked up a lot of bills that were on the ground and never even thought that I would put anything in my pocket. It didn't belong to me."

BRINKS HASN'T COMMENTED.

TEASE FOUR-2-SHOT

YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW--

IT'S THE LATEST INTERNET TREND SINCE THE 'HARLEM SHAKE.

GALLON SMASH.

IT'S A PRANK VIDEO.

TAKING THE INTERNET BY STORM.

SO ARE THESE FUNNY STUNTS?

OR OBNOXIOUS PRANKS?

PLUS

A PEE-WEE COACH IS BEHIND BARS.

THE SHOCKING UN-SPORTS MAN LIKE BEHAVIOR--

TZ4 A GALLON PRANK-VO-WIPE

TZ4 B COACH JAIL-VOTOPS

WEATHER TEASE-WX ID

GALLON PRANK-2 SHOT

ITS THE LATEST VIRAL VIDEO PRANK --

CAUSING A SPLASH AND MAKING A MESS.

SOME KIDS IN VIRGINIA.

DECIDED IT WOULD BE COOL --- TO FILM THEMSELVES SMASHING GALLON JUGS OF MILK. IN A SUPERMARKET.

GALLON PRANK-PKG

Nat open of gallon smashing montage

IT'S A SHOCKING MIX OF FLYING MILK AND FLAILING LIMBS. VIOLENTLY CRASHING TO

THE GROUND. It's ALL PHONY. AND it's THE LATEST INTERNET SMASH. CALLED

GALLON SMASHING.

more nats

IT IS THE CREATION OF these THREE TEEN

FROM VIRGINIA, 2 BROTHERS AND A COUSIN WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES ACTORS. THEY

SPOKE VIA SKYPE TO THE Cable SHOW "RIGHT THIS MINUTE"

SOT BOY

" it was just an innocent prank no one got hurt nothing bad happened "

THE FAKE DRAMATIC FALLS AND SPILLS ARE ONLY HALF OF IT. THE OTHER HALF.

DUPED SUPERMARKET workers and SHOPPERS. STRUGGLING TO HELP THE SEEMINGLY

INJURED BOYS.

nat of people trying to help

and many seem to FIND IT HILARIOUS MORE THAN THREE MILLION HITS IN LESS

THAN A WEEK

SOT LAUGHING D.C. SHOPPER

17:24:04

"oh my god that was funny"

BUT NOT EVERYONE'S LAUGHING.

17:24:11 Old woman

" look at that. look at that. look at that I mean that's rude I cant

understand that"

GALLON SMASHING. BY NO MEANS THE FIRST OR the ONLY CONTROVERSIAL YOUTUBE

prank to go viral.

nat of fire in the hole and drink thrown in cashiers face

A FEW YEARS AGO IT WAS "FIRE IN THE HOLE". WHERE DRIVERS SAY "FIRE IN THE

HOLE" BEFORE THROWING DRINKS into THE FACES OF DRIVE THROUGH WORKERS.

nat another "fire in the hole" and laughing

ADD TRACK: THEN THERE WERE THESE KIDS--- -- DIVING INTO STACKS OF

CEREAL AT THE SUPERMARKET. SYSTEMATICALLY SWEEPING PRODUCTS OFF OF

SHELVES.

CUT: THE TEENS BEHIND GALLON SMASHING ALSO HAVE OTHER MISCHIEVOUS VIDEOS

LIKE PRETENDING TO SPLASH UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE WITH AN EMPTY 1O GALLON

BUCKET.

CUT: BUT THEY DO SEEM TO REALIZE GALLON SMASHING is taking THINGS TO A NEW

LEVEL.

CUT: SOT TEEN BOY

"I don't think we can top this we probably won't do anything this bad again

probably calm it down a little "

NEW TRACK: BUT NOW EXPERTS QUESTION WHETHER THIS "GALLON SPLASHING" COULD

cross THE LINE FROM PRANK TO POTENTIALLY CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

Sot DANA COLE / ABC NEWS LEGAL ANALYST

23:36:55 it does seem a bit malicious / particularly because someone has

to clean it up based upon that it can easily be viewed as a crime

One last nat of fall and splash

WHATEVER YOU MAKE OF THE MILKY MAHEM. Millions of PEOPLE ALL OVER THE

WORLD ARE 'CRYING OVER SPILT MILK' whether tears of laughter.

GALLON PRANK-OC

THE BOYS HAVE PULLED DOWN THE YOU TUBE VIDEO.

BUT OTHERS UPLOADED IT.

SO ITS STILL OUT THERE.

IN UTAH YESTERDAY --- A COPYCAT INCIDENT.

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.

A bit more sun, with lower humidity"

After a cloudy and showery Wednesday, all signs point to more sunshine for Thursday while we start to shave a few degrees off our afternoon highs each and every day.

Temperatures this morning will be slightly cooler in the upper 50s with a few readings in the middle 50s deeper inland. We'll even start out with a bit more sunshine as that stalled frontal boundary gets a push to the south taking the clouds and moisture with it. Through the afternoon a mix of sun and clouds will dominate our skies and daytime highs will climb into the middle 70s for most. A northwesterly breeze around 10-15 mph will also dry our atmosphere out just a bit keeping our humidity levels rather pleasant.

Tonight, partly cloudy skies will remain overhead and overnight temperatures will settle into the lower half of the 50s along the urban corridor.

As moisture begins to increase across Southwest Florida on Friday expect our skies to stay mostly cloudy. This will be the start of an unsettled weather pattern featuring more clouds and the threat for some wet weather as a strong disturbance dives southward toward the Gulf of Mexico.

After lows in the 40s to start on Saturday daytime highs will be rather cool in the middle 60s. Showers will begin to develop during the afternoon and carry over into Sunday. This will make for a chilly and blustery end to the weekend with afternoon temperatures in the low to middle 60s.

GMA COACH JAIL-2 SHOT

NOW TO THAT HOCKEY COACH --- CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

TRIPPING A YOUNG PLAYER.

SENDING HIM CRASHING TO THE ICE.

THE COACH IS IN COURT THIS WEEK.

AND NOW FACES JAIL TIME.

GMA COACH JAIL-PKG

48-YEAR-OLD MARTIN TREMBLAY WALKED INTO A COURT ROOM THIS WEEK FOR

SENTENCING-- FULLY EXPECTING TO WALK OUT WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A SLAP ON

THE WRIST.

INSTEAD-- THE PEE-WEE HOCKEY COACH IS NOW FACING 15 DAYS BEHIND BARS.ALL

BEACAUSE OF THIS.

WATCH AGAIN AS TREMBLAY VICIOUSLY TRIPS A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY DURING WHAT'S

SUPPOSED TO BE A SYMBOL OF SPORTSMANSHIP-- THE POST GAME HANDSHAKE AFTER A

GAME LAST SUMMER. INSTEAD-- THE BOY GOES DOWN HARD, BREAKING HIS WRIST AND

TAKING A 10-YEAR-OLD TEAMMATE DOWN WITH HIM.

THAT ICE COLD ATTACK -- NOW LEADING TO COLD JUSTICE.WITH A CANADIAN JUDGE

HANDING DOWN AN EVEN HARSHER SENTENCE THAN THE ONE PROSECUTORS HAD

RECOMMENDED.

IT CERTAINLY SENDS A MESSAGE. TO SUCCEED IN SPORTS YOU OFTEN NEED TO HAVE

PASSION BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE CONTROL.

TREMBLAY'S ATTORNEY SAYS THE OUTBURST COST HIS CLIENT SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTS, VOLUNTEER JOBS AND EVEN HIS MARRIAGE BUT HE SAYS HE WILL NOT BE

APPEALING THE JUDGE'S DECISION.

HE PUT IN YEARS AND YEARS COACHING HOCKEY AND THAT'S ALL OVER SO HE'S PAID A

HEAVY PRICE.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME PARENTAL UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON

CAMERA.

ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH COREY PETERO WAS CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR IN 2006

AFTER ATTACKING A 13-YEAR-OLD PLAYER IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

AND THEN THERE WAS THIS LITTLE LEAGUE BRAWL IN GEORGIA WHERE SEVERAL FATHERS

PUMMLED EACHOTHER.

AS FOR TREMBLAY-- HE'LL LIKELY BE SENTENCED TO ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES AS

GMA COACH JAIL-2 SHOT

THAT WAS ROB NELSON REPORTING.

THE JUDGE SAYS HE WASN'T SATISFIED THAT TIME SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY WAS ENOUGH TO DETER TREMBLAY FROM FUTURE ACTIONS.

CAPE VIZ-OC

CAPE CORAL CITY LEADERS HAVE RE-ENERGIZED EFFORTS --

TO BRING BUSINESS TO THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE CITY.

THEY PLAN TO SELL A VISION TONIGHT ---

FOR THE AREA NICKNAMED THE VETERANS' INVESTMENT ZONE.

IT'S LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE NEWLY BUILT V-A CLINIC,

OFF DIPLOMAT PARKWAY.

COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL OUTLINE GROWTH FOR THE AREA.

LEE COUNTY SCHOOL MEETING-OC CG

THE NEXT LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS PUBLIC MEETING --

IS SET FOR TONIGHT.

DISTRICT LEADERS WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU --

ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK THEIR GOALS AND PRIORITIES SHOULD BE.

TODAY'S MEETING IS AT NORTH FORT MYERS HIGH,

AT SIX P-M.

ANOTHER IS SET FOR SATURDAY --

AT THE EAST COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY IN LEHIGH ACRES,

IMMOKALEE PROTEST-VO

FARM WORKERS IN IMMOKALEE ARE TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES.

TO PROTEST A SPIKE -- IN PUBLIX PRICES.

THEY PLAN ON MARCHING 200 *MILES TO DEMAND FAIR PAY --

THEY WILL PROTEST AT THE PUBLIX HEADQUARTERS IN LAKELAND.

IMMOKALEE PROTEST-SOTVO

GERARDO REYES IMMOKALEE FARMWORKERS

it's time for them to use their power to pay a little bit more to protect the rights and dignity of the workers.

THE MARCHERS WILL WALK FROM FROM TERRY PARK IN EAST FORT MYERS.

TO THE PUBLIX ON MCGREGOR BOULEVARD DOWNTOWN, ON SUNDAY --

THEN, THEY'LL CONTINUE ON TO LAKELAND.

WE REACHED OUT TO PUBLIX.

THEY TELL US IT'S A LABOR DISPUTE.

7 YEAR OLD TATTOO ARTIST-VO

WHILE MOST SEVEN YEAR OLDS ARE PRACTICING THEIR ART SKILLS ON PAPER.

A TEXAS GIRL IS PRACTICING ON ACTUAL PEOPLE.

ALICIA GUTIEREZ IS A TATTOO ARTIST IN TRAINING.

HER DAD, HAS BEEN DOING TATTOOS SINCE HE WAS 14 YEARS OLD.

AND SAYS AT THE RATE SHE'S GOING.

7 YEAR OLD TATTOO ARTIST-SOTVO

I want her by the age of maybe 12 to just be rocking out bad tattoos. I

mean, good tattoos you know what I mean, awesome tattoos. And if she keeps

up doing that, she draws a lot, and she watches me a lot, by the age of 10

or 12 she's gonna be pretty good.

ALICIA HAS GROWN UP IN A TATTOO SHOP.

AND HER DAD SAYS -- HE WAS HELPED BY HIS MOM.

MARRIED IN SPACE-VO

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A PERFECT REALITY T-V SHOW.

AN AMERICAN MILLIONAIRE WANTS TO SEND A MARRIED COUPLE INTO SPACE --

AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

DENNIS TITO IS LOOKING FOR A MAN AND A WOMAN --

TO GO ON A *TWO-YEAR TRIP TO MARS.

AND HE ALREADY HAS TWO CANDIDATES!

THE PAIR WOULD LAUNCH IN 20-18.

THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LAND ON THE RED PLANET.

THEY WOULD JUST RECORD THEIR LIVES IN SPACE.

TITO ALSO WANTS THE COUPLE TO GET SOME MARRIAGE COUNSELING FROM DOCTOR PHIL,

TEASE FIVE-OC

ANOTHER LOOK AT TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

AND YOUR STORM WARN 7 FORECAST.

ALSO -- SINGER BOBBY BROWN IS NO STRANGER TO TROUBLE.

TZ5 A) BOBBY BROWN TO JAIL-VO

FINAL CHECK OF STOCKS-SAT 3 FULL

CEE LO GREEN NEW SHOW-VOTOPS

CEE-LO GREEN HAS A NEW TRICK UP HIS SLEEVE.

HE'S PUTTING ON A SHOW IN LAS VEGAS.

GREEN KICKED OFF THE NEW SERIES --

WITH A SIN CITY CELEBRATION AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD.

CEE LO's SHOW WILL ALSO INCLUDE GUESTS LIKE ROD STEWART.

AND THE TEMPTATIONS.

PEREZ HILTON A DAD-VO

BIG NEWS FROM CELEBRITY BLOGGER PEREZ HILTON,

THIS MORNING.

HE ANNOUNCED HE'S NOW A FATHER!

THE 34-YEAR-OLD SHARED A PHOTO OF HIMSELF --

HOLDING A BABY BOY.

IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HOSPITAL ROOM.

HILTON -- WHO'S REAL NAME IS MARIO LAVANDEIRA JUNIOR -- IS OPENLY GAY.

THERE'S NO WORD YET ON WHO THE MOTHER IS.

OR THE NAME OF THE CHILD.

BOBBY BROWN TO JAIL-WIPE-VOTOPS

MEANWHILE -- BOBBY BROWN IS HEADED TO JAIL.

THE FORMER SINGER AND EX-HUSBAND OF THE LATE WHITNEY HOUSTON.

WAS SENTENCED TO 55-DAYS BEHIND BARS.

AFTER PLEADING NO CONTEST TO CHARGES OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE

AND VIOLATING HIS PROBATION.

3 STONE TEMPLE BREAKUP-VO

AND FINALLY, THIS MORNING --

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS" AND FRONTMAN, SCOTT WEILAND --- ARE PARTING WAYS.

THE BAND SAYS HE WAS FIRED.

BUT WEILAND ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, "NOT SURE HOW I CAN BE 'TERMINATED' FROM A BAND THAT I FOUNDED, FRONTED, AND CO-WROTE MANY OF ITS BIGGEST HITS."

WEILAND SAYS HE'LL BE GOING FORWARD WITH A NATIONAL SOLO TOUR.

TOP STORIES OPEN-CLIPTOPS

TS1) POPE-VOTOPS

POPE BENEDICT RETIRES TODAY.

THIS MORNING - HE DELIVERED FINAL GREETINGS TO CARDINALS AT THE VATICAN.

AND PROMISED "UNCONDITIONAL REVERENCE AND OBEDIENCE" TO HIS SUCCESSOR.

LATER TODAY -

HE WILL FLY BY HELICOPTER TO A RETREAT OUTSIDE ROME,

WAVE FROM THE BALCONY,

THEN SHUT THE DOOR.

TS2) SEQUESTER-VOTOPS

LESS THAN ONE DAY -- UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL CRISIS.

85 BILLION DOLLARS IN SPENDING CUTS.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS CALLING ON BOTH PARTIES TO COMPROMISE.

SENATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WILL PUSH THEIR OWN PLANS TODAY.

TO COPE WITH UPCOMING --- MANDATORY, ACROSS-THE-BOARD SPENDING CUTS.

NEITHER MEASURE HAS A CHANCE TO PASS.

TS3) COLLIER HIT AND RUN-VOTOPS

IN COLLIER COUNTY --

TROOPERS SEARCH FOR THE DRIVER,

WHO HIT A NAPLES MAN RIDING A SCOOTER.

IT HAPPENED ALONG GOLDEN GATE PARKWAY,

NEAR I-75 EARLY THIS MORNING.

THE 47-YEAR-OLD VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

TROOPERS ARE NOW LOOKING FOR A DODGE OR CHRYSLER --

TS4) COLLIER PARKS SCAM-VOTOPS

A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY AT THE COLLIER COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

AN AUDIT HAS SHOWN THAT SUPERVISORS WERE STEALING MONEY.

THEY WERE PRETENDING EMPLOYEES WORKED WHEN THEY DIDN'T.

AND CASHING AND POCKETING PAYCHECKS.

CLOSE-2SH-AWS ANI

AD LIB GOODBYE

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