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Florida enjoyed an uneventful hurricane season last year, but Governor Charlie Crist wants Floridians to be prepared for the worst this season. Crist was back in Tallahassee Thursday after hosting the annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference in Fort Lauderdale. The theme of this year’s conference was preparedness. Crist said the state is prepared.

“Always be prepared, always be vigilant, get a plan, be ready, and Craig Fugate is ready and Floridians are ready and I think having that attitude is exactly what we need to do,” said Crist.

Hurricane season starts June first.

The Florida Supreme Court has set a briefing schedule, inviting Allstate Insurance to submit a brief on why the company thinks the State’s high court should take jurisdiction in the suspension of its license to write new business. The company had filed a discretionary brief with the court asking it to look at the case. The company’s argument is due at noon, May 20^th.  The state would then have until noon on May 22^nd to respond. The order is not a guarantee that the court will hear the case. Allstate says it has already turned over all of the documents the state was seeking and that it has submitted a “Certification” that it will continue to cooperate. Both were conditions for the state to allow the Company to begin writing new business again. The company and its agents have been forbidden from writing new policies since 9:30 Wednesday morning.

Read the Order Here

Legislators want to make sure your kid gets exercise at school. Some middle schools in Florida were counting walks to lunch and stretches during morning announcements as P.E. time. As Whitney Ray tells us, a bill passed by lawmakers will put a stop to those practices.

Hear it Here: Lawmakers Say 30 Minutes Means 30 Minutes

For 30 minutes everyday, these middle school students get a chance to stretch, run, and just be kids. P.E. is sixth grader Tyler Ison’s favorite class.

“You get to be free and not worry about homework or anything like that,“ said Tyler.

Under pressure to make FCAT score, some schools used questionable methods to teach physical education. Lawmakers say schools were cheating and counting the walk from the classroom to the cafeteria as P.E. time.

A bill passed earlier this month requires middle schools to teach P.E. 30 minutes a day. The exercise would have to be continuous, so walking the halls between classes wouldn’t cut it. Coach Dick Hosford said the earlier kids learn physical health the better.

“If you’re already having weight problems and you’re 12 or 13 it probably won’t do anything but get worse the older you get,” said Hosford.

Seventh Grader Clifton Gwynn said a lot of kids wouldn’t get exercise if her school didn’t require them to.

“They do video games and stuff and I just don’t think that’s very active,” said Gwynn.

Playing together makes friends of strangers.

“I make new friends when I’m playing sports,” said Ison.

While P.E. may not be the most academic subject in school, it teaches healthy habits and teamwork, qualities, hard to learn by just walking to the lunch room. Governor Charlie Crist hasn’t received the bill yet.

A State Attorney said the murder of an FSU Graduate turned Police informant could have been prevented. Last week 23 year-old Rachel Hoffman was murdered while working as an informant for the Tallahassee Police Department. Hoffman was in a drug court program for a 2007 drug charge when she was arrested by Tallahassee police in April. Hoffman made a deal with police and became an informant, but the State Attorney’s office was never notified. State Attorney Willie Meggs says since Hoffman was in a drug court program she wouldn’t have been allowed her to buy drugs and a gun in the police sting.

“Had the State known that she had been arrested we would have notified the court. There’s a new arrest and she was in possession of drugs which is in violation of the terms of the contract she has signed with us to be in drug court. She’s to have no contact with criminals. She’s to have no guns,” said Meggs.

Meggs said Hoffman would have been put in jail for her latest arrest and not used in a drug sting. Hoffman violated her drug court contract once before by refusing to take a drug test. The violation bought her three days in jail.

The battle over whether the Board of Governors has the power to set tuition continued today in a Tallahassee courtroom. The Board filed a law suit to clarify whether voters intended it to set tuition when the Board was created in 2002. Judge Charles Francis listened to more than two hours of arguments. State lawmakers had filed a motion to ask the suit be thrown out, which would effectively say the power to set tuition rests only with the legislature. The judge has taken the case under advisement without ruling on that point, but did deny a motion from the Pre Paid Tuition plan to enter the case on the side of the legislature. The Board had sought to impose an 8 percent tuition hike this year, but agreed with lawmakers to limit the increase to 6 percent. Senate President Ken Pruitt tried this past session to put the tuition setting power to a vote in November, but could not get the House to go along.

Congress is poised to investigate what role speculators are playing in rising gas prices. When Governor Charlie Crist was Attorney General he called oil executives on the carpet twice. As Whitney Ray tells us, drivers want answers.

Hear it Here: Lawmakers, Drivers Want Answers about High Gas Prices

Ashley McKeen can no longer afford to go see her family because of high gas prices.

“I use to go home every other weekend. We’re a pretty close family, but I can’t do that anymore,” said McKeen.

Gas prices are so high this delivery truck driver only drives while working. When Ira Haggs hangs up his work keys, he grabs handle bars.

“I just ride a bike. I don’t even have a car anymore,” said Haggs.

The prices keep climbing. The price at this Tallahassee station was 10 cents cheaper just six days ago. Some US lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the record oil prices. While Governor Charlie Crist was Attorney General he met with oil executives twice. No action was taken following the meetings.

“You hold hearing to see what kind of evidence you might uncover and I applaud the congress’s efforts to do that,” said Crist.

Drivers want answers, now.

“There’s just confusion as to why the gas is so high. I hear so many different opinions from so many different kinds of people that I have no idea as to what the real reason is and quiet frankly I would like a real answer,” said Carolyn Hazelwood.

Finding real answers is a sentiment now being shared by drivers and lawmakers. Experts expect gas to hit the four dollar mark by the end of summer.

Governor Charlie Crist says the Tampa Bay Rays are making a good case for a new stadium. The Rays are off to a good start, currently at second in the American League East. The franchise is negotiating with St. Petersburg for a new stadium. Governor Crist says winning can be persuasive.

“There’s an old expression in baseball and sports generally, the best promotion is a winning team. They’re winning, so I certainly wouldn’t think that would hurt them,” said Crist.

The Ray’s want to build a 450 million dollars stadium on the waterfront.

Monday Governor Charlie Crist declared a State of Emergency in Florida. Tuesday Crist toured the fire damaged areas in Central Florida. Crist spoke to reporters at a news conference at the State Capitol. The wildfires have burned more than 3 thousand acres of land, 50 homes and 4 fire fighters have been injured trying to extinguish the flames. Crist applauds the efforts of first responders.

“I want to thank our first responders for their great courage and hard work, what they’re doing to protect people in property in the affected area,” said Crist.

Investigators think the fires may have been started by an arsonist.

Governor Charlie Crist says he isn’t planning any budget vetoes, but he hasn’t looked through the entire budget yet. Lawmakers passed a budget that cuts government spending by about 5 billion dollars. Schools will lose close to a hundred and 50 dollars a student. Lawmakers approved cutting health care spending by about a billion dollars. Governor Crist applauded the work of lawmakers for balancing the budget in such a tight year, but adds he’s still going over their work.

“We’re reviewing the budget right now and you know it takes time to get through that, but our folks are working very hard,” said Crist.

The new budget year starts July first.

Questions over how a 23-year-old FSU graduate was led to her death as an under cover drug informant remain unanswered despite a mound of paper released by police in Tallahassee. The documents detail drug arrests and break-ins but not how police lost control of their informant. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the Attorney General will now look at how Tallahassee police interact with their informants.

Documents released by Tallahassee police show their first contact with 23-year-old Rachel Hoffman was when she was stopped for speeding and smoking pot. A drug diversion program kept her out of jail but not from two break-ins, two home invasions, and a car jacking. All within months. An April complaint led to an arrest for dealing pot.

Rachel was killed last week, allegedly at the hands of two men she was trying to buy drugs and a gun from as an informant.  Attorneys for the young woman’s family say police are blaming the victim. Police say they’re not.

“Rachel is our victim and we will seek justice for Rachel and her family,” David McCranie with the Tallahassee Police Department said. “We did not provide the information to try to defame her character whatsoever. The facts are what the facts are. She was involved in drug activity and she was trying to do something right, she was trying to change things.”

The city first balked at an outside investigation of their procedures, then asked the Attorney General to investigate. It is not a criminal investigation.

“We are doing this review, if there’s comfort in that, well, I hope there is,” Attorney General Bill McCollum said.

Police say they welcome an outside look in.

“If they find that we need to change or adjust our policies and procedures, we’ll certainly do that,” McCranie said.

The two suspects are being held in the Leon County Jail without bail, going nowhere on kidnaping charges while authorities build their murder case.

The parents of two men involved in the shooting of a police informant say their sons were set up and they didn’t do it. Twenty-three year-old Rachel Hoffman was murdered last week and as Whitney Ray tells us, there are more questions than answers.

Hear it Here: More Questions than Answers in Case of Murdered Police Informant

Rachel Hoffman was working as an informant for Tallahassee Police. She was supposed to meet her marks at this park and instead went somewhere else. Attorney’s for Hoffman’s family say she should have never been put in such a dangerous situation.

“They knew they would be armed because she was sent there to purchase a firearm, which she has had no experience in,” said attorney Johnny Devine.

Police said Hoffman was used because of her past run-ins with the law.

“Rachel was already involved in illegal narcotics. She had already been arrested for 20 grams of marijuana,” said Tallahassee Police Spokesman David McCranie.

The stepfather and father-in-law of the two men involved, Karey Freeman, said his sons didn’t murder Hoffman. Freeman shed tears of remorse for the victim’s family.

“We would not wish this on anyone,” said Karey Freeman. “I’m very sorry.”

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the murder case. Whether or not the sting operation was handled properly will be left up to police to decide.

Tallahassee’s mayor has not yet called for an outside investigation. The suspects’ stepfather and father-in-law says the two were targeted while working at this car detail shop. He says the victim coerced the two men into finding drugs for her to buy.

“This young lady kept coming by and she kept telling them, that this is going to be an easy deal and this is just a transfer, ‘I can get the money if you can get the stuff,’” said Freeman.

Neither man has been charged with murder. Monday afternoon Tallahassee Police released their public record on Hoffman. Hoffman was the victim of at least three home invasions and a car break-in.

A 23 year-old FSU graduate helping police with a drug investigation was murdered. Rachel Hoffman was an informant for the Tallahassee Police Department. As Whitney Ray tells us, police aren’t releasing many details about Hoffman’s murder and lawyers for the victim’s family want to know why.

Hear it Here: FSU Graduate Turned Police Informant Murdered, Family Wants Answers

Rachel Hoffman made a deal with police that ultimately lead to her death. Wednesday, Hoffman was murdered while working as an informant for the Tallahassee Police Department. Hoffman’s defense attorney said he was never notified that his client was an informant.

“How did this even happen? The Tallahassee Police Department isn’t answering that question,” said attorney Johnny Devine.

Hoffman faced several drug charges. She made a deal with police to become an informant in exchange for lesser charges.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the case. Police aren’t talking, citing the investigation, but they are putting the blame back on Hoffman, saying she didn’t follow instructions.

According to police, Hoffman was supposed to buy drugs and a gun from two men at this park. The men wanted to change the location. Police said Hoffman ignored police orders and met the men at a different site. The family’s lawyers said police aren’t telling them much about what happened next.

“They shouldn’t have to worry how scared she was when she had a gun put to her. They shouldn’t have to worry how it happened. They shouldn’t have to worry if she was tortured and tormented before it happened. They know nothing,” said attorney Danielle Joyner Kelley.

For Hoffman’s mom, This Mother’s Day will be the toughest ever.

“Rachel Hoffman’s mother will spend her day preparing for a funeral,” said Devine.

Lawyers for the family won’t say whether or not they’ll pursue a civil suit. The two suspects in Hoffman’s murder were arrested.

U.S. Lawmakers want to drill off the coast of Florida to lower gas prices. Oil companies already drill 125 miles out at sea, but as Whitney Ray tells us, the appetite for bringing oil rigs closer may increase as prices flirt with the four dollars mark.

Hear it Here: Offshore Drilling Gaining Support Among Frustrated Drivers

Gas prices are so high Mark Gleim chooses to drive a scooter.

“As gas prices keep on climbing, I’m going to keep on driving it, just keep on beating it into the ground,” said Gleim.

With no relief in site, some in Congress want to offer up Florida’s coast to oil companies. David Mica with the Florida Petroleum Council said drilling closer to shore could lower gas prices.
“Anytime we add to that supply side it’s a positive and can have a real significant impact on that whole equation of price and supply,” said Mica.

Environmentalists say there isn’t a significant amount of oil near the coast, but motorist don’t care they just want the prices lowered no matter where it comes from.

“Whatever it takes to keep the consumer’s money in their pocket,” said Alecia Heffner.

“Whatever it takes to give us Americans a break. We need to start taking care of our own,” said Archie Weatherspoon.

Speculation plays a major role in setting gas prices. Whether or not there is a large amount of oil off the gulf coast may not matter. If people believe it’s there it could help lower gas prices.

Drilling off shore is a gamble, with the environment at stake, and the pay off uncertain, but if billions of barrels are found Mark Gleim won’t have to drive a scooter to get around. If a large amount of oil was found off the coast it would take years to reach the market.

Law enforcement officers from across the state gathered in Tallahassee, to launch this year’s click-it-or-ticket campaign. Every Memorial Day weekend dozens of people are injured in car wrecks in Florida. Police offices hope to save lives by ticketing people who don’t buckle up. Patrol Sergeant Steve Gauding said people don’t realize the danger involved when they get into a car and refuse to buckle up.

“If your car is going 45 miles an hour, so are you and if it comes to a sudden stop, you’re still going 40 miles an hour until you get something to stop you, that could be the person in front of you, could be the dashboard, the steering wheel or you cold be ejected from the vehicle,” said Gauding.

The campaign seems to be working. The latest statistics show more than 80 percent of drivers buckle up, with the number increasing every year.

Members of the state’s most powerful commission reunited for the first time ever Friday at the Capitol. The Constitutional Revision Commission rewrote the Florida’s constitution in 1968. Since then the commission has reconvened twice, once in 1978 and then again in 1998. The Commission has the authority to put amendments on the general election ballot. Bill Birchfield was a commissioner in 1978 when 11 amendments were put on the ballot. Birchfield addressed the work of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission which approved a plan to trade 25 percent of property tax for a penny sales tax increase.

“I think the jury’s still out on their work product, but I think the concept is right, because it’s very difficult for legislatures to do taxes, so it gives them some insulation,” said Birchfield.

The tax swap plan will have to be approved by voters in November. At least 60 percent of voters will have to vote for the plan in order for it to go into affect.