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The little dog that was being rehabilitated after being thrown from a car three weeks ago has gone to puppy heaven.

Last month we told you about Jack, a three week old Dachshund mix scarred and mangled after being tossed from a moving car in North Florida. He was taken to an animal rescue center, where he was expected to live. In addition to losing and eye and losing fur and skin, Jack also suffered internal injuries and after three weeks of intensive care, died yesterday of liver failure. Sheriff’s officers in rural Wakulla and Taylor counties say they have little to go on to capture the person responsible.

The gloves are off and the bank is open in the Republican Primary for Governor. Combined Rick Scott and Bill McCollum have spent more than 50 million dollars attacking each other on TV, and as Whitney Ray tells us, the total could reach 60 million before Tuesday’s primary, and it’s already the most expensive primary in Florida history.

The theme music of Rick Scott’s latest attack ad is fitting for the entire Republican Gubernatorial Primary.

“Money, money, money, money, money,” the ad chats.

Rick Scott has spent 40 million of his own dollars on TV ads, catapulting him from a no-named wannabe politician to a serious candidate for governor. The multi-millionaire is forcing Bill McCollum to burn through his war chest, spending more than 13 million dollars to attack Scott.

All the spending may be diluting the pool. Political Talk Show host Gary Yordon says the more the ads run, the less effective they are.

“We’ve reached a saturation point. I think right now, what voters are hearing is noise,” said Yordon.

The ads may be fueling a surge in early voters. More than 200-thousand Floridians have already cast a primary ballots. Cheryl Page is one of them.

Reporter: Do you believe those ads?
Cheryl: No
Reporter: Why Not?
Cheryl: Cause I think I should use my own judgment.”

But Democratic frontrunner Alex Sink is paying attention, and she’s cashing this week spending a million dollars to launch her first ad.

Just a day after Sink launched her ad, a spot attacking her history as a banker began to play. And according to the latest Quinnipiac poll Sink would beat either Republican nominee. She also has just over five million dollars left to run on.

Whether or not you get to vote on three proposed constitutional amendments is now up to the Florida Supreme Court. Amendments changing the way legislative districts are drawn, whether the state must abide by national health care legislation, and tax breaks for first time homebuyers have been thrown off the ballot for being misleading. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the decision is now up to 7 judges.

Protests in front of Florida’s Supreme Court are few and far between, but a case over whether Floridians can vote not to obey national health care requirements drew a small group. Bob Root doesn’t want to be forced to buy something he says he can’t afford.

“The majority of people didn’t want it to begin with and I think the state ought to have the authority to opt out,” Root said.

Whether voters get to decide the health care issue and two other amendments is now up to Florida’s highest court. Also in question is an effort to give first time homebuyers a larger homestead exemption. And there is a backdoor attempt by lawmakers to keep control of how they draw legislative districts. That case had the unusual twist of being argued by the man slated to be the next speaker of the house.

“Will the voter know, reading this amendment, that this somehow negates five and six? If you read just this amendment would you know that,” Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince asked.

Lawyers arguing against the redistricting amendment say lawmakers were grabbing for power and trying to confuse voters.

“You know, they came up with some language that seems to do one thing, but in fact is going to do another thing,” attorney Ron Meyer said. “A voter going to a voting booth will see a ballot title that says it creates standards for reapportionment, when in fact what it does is it takes away any standard that is in the constitution presently.”

There’s no timetable for the justices to rule, but there’s pressure for them to make a decision by September 2nd. That is the date ballots will start printing.

Another Ballot Proposal placed on the ballot by the legislation has a court date for September 8th.  Amendment 8 would freeze class sizes at last school years level

The Florida Supreme Court will decide if a ballot proposal taking on the new national health care regulations will go before voters in November. The ballot language for the amendment, which is what people read in the voting booth, was ruled misleading by lowers courts. As Whitney Ray tells us, Legislative leaders, who wrote the language, are asking the justices to strike the ballot language and put the entire amendment on the ballot as a compromise to keep issue in front of voters.

Wednesday, Pam Olsen participated in a prayer meeting outside the Florida Supreme Court, while inside justices discussed an amendment allowing Florida to ignore new federal regulations that require people to buy health insurance. Pam is a missionary and has been living without health insurance for two years. She wants coverage, but doesn’t want to be forced to buy it.

“I would rather be fined or go to jail than to have our government tell us that we have to have taxpayer funded health care,” said Olsen.

Pam would have had a chance to vote on the issue, but lower courts claimed the ballot language drafted by the state legislature was misleading. The language promised to do away with waiting lists, protect doctor patient relationships, and crush mandates that don’t work. Sen. Carey Baker is defending the ballot summary.

“Had we not written those three phrases that they found objectionable, they would have found three other phrases objectionable,” said Baker.

Even if the amendment is put on the ballot and 60 percent of voters approve, it’s unlikely the state constitution would trump the new federal requirements. The Supreme Court is expected to issue an opinion sometime over the next 10 days. Ballots will be printed on September 2nd.

Four Floridians have died from a rare mosquito borne illness in the past six weeks. Eastern Equine Encephalitis is passed from birds to humans through mosquitoes. One in three people who contract the disease die, and as Whitney Ray tells us, there’s no cure.

Camp Bulloch lost his friend Wade Griffin last month to a rare mosquito borne illness.

“Wade was one of a kind and just a genuinely good hard working person,” said Camp.

Wade was 50 years old, a painter and a surfer. Last month he contracted Encephalitis, a disease transmitted from mosquitoes to humans.

“He was bitten on Tuesday evening just as best as we can tell, Friday he was in the emergency room and the following Friday he passed away,” said Camp.

Wade was living in Jacksonville, but health officials believe he contracted Encephalitis while visiting Tallahassee.

Besides Wade three other Floridians have died from the mosquito borne illness in the past month and a half. Two of the victims were from Hillsborough County and one lived in Wakulla.

The disease is carried by mosquito living within five miles of swampy areas. There is no cure for Encephalitis, that’s why the Department of Health is asking Floridians to take extra precautions like wearing bug repellent and staying indoors at dusk and dawn.

“It’s important to get rid of standing water in the yard and it’s also important to dress so that mosquitoes can’t get through the clothing you are wearing,” said Department of Health Mosquito Disease Specialist Dr. Carina Blackmore.

They’re precautions Camp and his family now follow daily.

“I make sure that myself and my children, my wife and everybody’s covered now because it’s something that could happen to anybody at anytime,” said Camp.

There are only 10 cases of Encephalitis reported nationwide every year. Four is the average in Florida, but the dangerous season isn’t over until the end of September. People who have contracted Encephalitic show flu-like symptoms and they normally surface between four and 10 days of being bitten.

Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus

Besides the four Encephalitis cases, a case of West Nile Virus and cases of Dengue Fever are showing up around the state. Dengue fever hasn’t been found in Florida since 1934, but this year 28 cases have been reported to the Department of Health. Most of the Dengue cases were found in Key West. Dr. Carina Blackmore, a mosquito disease expert with the Florida Department of Health says the reason Dengue Fever is hard to spot is because its symptoms are common.

“The symptoms are nonspecific, head-ache, muscle-ache, joint-ache, there are a number of diseases that present like that and so Dengue, given that it’s not present in Florida, has not been on the top of the list for the medical providers,” said Blackmore.

The one case of West Nile was found in Osceola County; so far there have been no human deaths this year connected to the West Nile Virus or Dengue Fever.

More than 700-thousand Florida kids are living without health insurance. A recent study ranked Florida 49th in the county for its high number of uninsured kids, but there is hope for Florida families. As Whitney Ray tells us, the Florida KidCare Program provides free and low cost health insurance to kids regardless of their family’s income.

Wendy Brown has a disability that keeps her from working and her husband’s job doesn’t provide health insurance. Wendy brought her teenage sons to the state capitol Monday to share her story and talk about the free health coverage they receive through Florida KidCare.

“I would really hate to think that my kids would have to be on a waiting list for a vital surgery,” said Wendy.

Florida KidCare is available to all Florida families. Premiums are based on income. Most recipients pay nothing; others pay just 20 dollars a month.

Last year the economy forced a quarter of a million Florida kids into the program. The program’s director says people who are not used to asking for help are finding out about the program and signing up their kids.

“We spend a lot of time trying to work through unemployment offices, different agencies, like the agency for workforce innovation, to make sure that families knew that if they lost their coverage, KidCare was available to them,” said Rich Robleto, the Executive Director of Florida Healthy Kids.

One in five kids in Florida is living without health insurance. KidCare is working with several state agencies, including the Department of Education to try and reach those families.

The mother in our story found out about KidCare 10 years ago in a flyer sent home with her son from school. Schools are still sending those flyers home, but there is also a website where families can go to apply. The address is www.floridakidcare.org.

With seven days left until the primary election and little money to throw around, one candidate for US Senate is biking his way through Florida cities, looking for votes.

Glenn Burkett, a Democrat for US Senate, is tired of campaigning in the shadows of Congressman Kendrick Meek and Billionaire Jeff Greene. Burkett supports solar energy as a way to go green and create jobs, wants to increase pay for teachers, and thinks a tax break-on vitamins, health foods and gym memberships is a good way to push the country in the right direction. Burkett says he didn’t want to run, but he didn’t like his options.

“As I analyze all my opponents last year as I totally committed, If I could vote for anyone of those other guys, hey I could do other things, but I couldn’t vote for them, so I had to run,” said Burkett.

Burkett is a Vietnam Veteran, and at 60 years is more active than most people half his age. Today he biked through Tallahassee and Jacksonville.

Three of the six constitutional amendments the state legislature approved for the November ballot have already been kicked off. Judges call the measures, which deal with health care, property taxes and drawing political boundaries, misleading, but as Whitney Ray tells us, the legislature is challenging the rulings.

The state legislature bogged down the November ballot, voting to put six proposals in front of voters in November.

There was an amendment to halt part of the new federal health care overhaul, a tax break for first time home buyers, a plan to preserve legislative control over the way political districts are drawn… and a freeze on class size.

Three were kicked off the ballot… and class size is being challenged. Judges called the ballot language drafted by the legislature misleading.

Political Strategist Steve Vancore says the Republican led legislature was politically motivated.

“The one to undo the Fair Districts was to keep power in the hands of lawmakers. The health care amendment was clearly a political move to try and increase the base.”

The three ballot initiatives in questions have been appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, and Wednesday the legislature will make arguments defending the all. Adam Unger, who voted early in the primary elections, says ballot language is always confusing if you haven’t done your homework.

“If we are going to have the politicians who are going to mislead people and do these types of things, it’s up to us to go one step ahead and get informed,” said Unger.

And if the Supreme Court finds no problems with the lower courts rulings, there will be a lot fewer amendments to study. It’s not unusual for ballot proposals to die in the courts. Of the nine amendments that qualified for this year’s ballot six have been challenged.

Democratic U.S. Senate Hopeful Jeff Greene made stops in Orlando Jacksonville and Tallahassee today, traveling by private jet. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the race between Greene and Congressman Kendrick Meek has tightened over the last week, even though Greene has spent millions of his own cash.

Greene arrived in a limo, fresh off his private jet, 40 minutes late. He told reporters he would cut the cost of drugs in half by bringing Canadian prices to the United States. He blames the status quo and special interest cash for keeping drug prices high.

“In the last election cycle, Congress got 10 million dollars from drug companies,” Greene said. “I’m not taking any special interest money in this race. Not during the campaign. Not after I’m elected. Never.”

Greene was asked about drunken-fueled parties on his 145- foot yacht. The candidate acknowledged throwing parties prior to getting married four years ago. But he blames two disgruntled employees for untruths.

“They’re trying to associate time when I’ve been on my boat when I’ve had some different kinds of colorful guests,” Greene said. “They’re trying to associate me with that. But, look, I’m a 55-year-old man. I’m not a partier.”

Polls show Democratic opponent Kendrick Meek with a slight lead after weeks of trailing Greene. The billionaire says the race has always been tight.

“It’s going great as far as we’re concerned,” he said. “Our message is resonating great with voters. It’s been a tight race for awhile. Look, I was at 2 percent. Then I was at 4 percent. Then I was at 12 percent. Now we’ve been pretty close to even. But I think we’re a little bit ahead. Different polls show different things, but I think it just shows we’re close.”

Roughly a third of Democratic voters remain undecided in the heated race.

Immigrants could be required to carry documentation proving they are here legally under legislation being supported by Florida’s Attorney General. The bill would also require businesses to check the legal status of people they hire. As Whitney Ray tells us, the legislation is aimed at ridding the state of illegal immigrants, but opponents of the measure say it’s a political ploy in an election year.

There are an estimated one million people living in Florida who aren’t supposed to be in the United States. Immigration issues are handled by the Federal Government,

But Florida’s Attorney General, Bill McCollum, is tired of waiting on a federal fix. McCollum is supporting state legislation aimed at cutting down on illegal immigration by giving Florida police officers extra immigration authority. The legislation would also increase criminal penalties for illegal immigrants. Legal immigrants would be required to carry around documentation proving they’re here legally.

State Representative Greg Evers filed similar legislation before July’s one day special session, basing his bill on Arizona’s immigration law.

“It will reduce the impact it is having on our economy from the medical and educational and all the other things the immigrants are using, the illegal immigrants,” said Evers.

But many think Arizona’s law could lead to racial profiling. The AG’s office says the newer plan could be implemented without targeting someone by their skin color.

“The check only comes after reasonable suspicion is developed, If you have lawful reason to stop them or inquire of them in the first place,” said Emery Gainey, the AG’s Director of Law Enforcement Relations.

But opponents, like Democratic lawmaker Alan Williams, say immigration should be left up to the feds and McCollum is backing the bill for all the wrong reasons.

“I think it’s just political posturing by the Attorney General,” said Williams.

McCollum’s rival Rick Scott was the first to support Arizona’s immigration law, but now McCollum hopes to own it. The legislation would also require businesses to use the Federal E-Verify program to check an employee’s ID with information from the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

Efforts to promote the safety of Gulf seafood appear to be paying off. Federal officials have opened more Gulf waters to fishing, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, state and federal scientists have yet to find any contaminated seafood.

This Tallahassee fish market was doing a brisk noontime business. Steve Pincus was buying shrimp.

“I have no problem and no concerns with the shrimp,” Pincus said.

Carol Driggers has been buying fish here every week.  Leak or no leak, she believes it’s safer and fresher than any alternatives.

“We don’t eat a lot of meat because you never know how it’s processed and what they’ve fed it and what have you,” Driggers said.

Manager Matt McCreless says the key has been communicating with his customers, which includes posting a map of open and closed waters near the cash register.

“Most of the fishing we do is right up in this area,” McCreless said. “So that’s what we do, that’s what we promote. That’s what we show our customers to give them confidence.”

Across town, Gail Fisher’s market has also been busy. She credits extensive testing.

“Actually, it’s never been more tested than it is right now,” Fisher said. “It’s very, very safe.”

The first test that is performed on every fish that is landed is the smell test to make sure there’s no hydrocarbons.

Tissue Samples are also being analyzed at state and federal labs.

“We extract what is in the fish and determine what they hydrocarbon or oil content is, if any would be,” Terry McElroy, spokesperson for the Dept. of Agriculture.

Reporter: And there has been none?

“There has been none,” McElroy responded.

The state has also been on TV in the Panhandle promoting seafood safety

So, between the testing and the promotion, the industry is hoping to lure back customers who have shied away from fresh seafood.

Florida is getting a back-to-school gift just in time for the fall semester. Yesterday Congress passed a 26 billion dollar state aid bill. Florida will get 1.3 billion dollars. As Whitney Ray tells us, some of the money will be used to save 9-thousand teaching jobs, good news for administrators trying to implement the final phase of class size.

In two weeks Lauwanda Fitz will start her 11th year teaching middle school students.

“You just are able to help the children be better in their lives,” said Lauwanda.

The last two years of her teaching career have been fraught with budget cuts and layoffs.

“It’s been about five years since we’ve actually gotten a raise. As far as layoffs you see more,” said Lauwanda.

But good news for teachers is coming from Washington. Congress is sending Florida 1.3 billion dollars. Governor Charlie Crist says 550 million of it will be used to save 9-thousand teaching jobs.

“We need all the help we can get, especially in this economy, I mean it’s all about Jobs, Jobs, Jobs,” said Crist.

The money comes as cash-strapped schools prepare to implement stricter class size requirements. School superintendents are calling it a pleasant surprise.

“What ever dollars we can get to hire back teachers in the state of Florida is very very important,” said Jackie Pons, Leon County Schools Superintendent.

The real test will come next year when the state aid money is gone and the stimulus dollars have run out. The rest of the money, 780 million dollars will be used to pay for Medicaid, which accounts for about a third of the entire state budget.

The sight of state prisoners mowing grass or picking up trash along the side of the road will be less and less likely. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, state budget cuts are curtailing the popular work programs, much to the dismay of citizens and local governments.

Prison work squads are as old  prisons themselves. But signs like this are fewer and far between. The state has slashed the number of work squads since the new budget took effect in July. Motorist Toby Edwards doesn’t think that’s good for roadways or the prisoners.

“They eat good and the state takes care of them but that’s coming from the taxpayers,” Edwards said. “So they should be the ones out there picking up the trash.”

Another motorist, Steve Bedosky thinks the work should be contracted to private companies.

“I’ve never really been in favor of taking those jobs away from the private sector and putting prisoners out there are a lower price,” Bedosky said.

But local governments don’t have the resources, which means the work will often go undone.

71 crews like this one are being cut. That’s going to mean taller grass, more trash on the road, and costs being shifted.

The Department of Corrections was forced by lawmakers to spend 24 million dollars opening a private prison orchestrated by disgraced former speaker Ray Sansom. The private prison took money from the work squads, even though new projections show the 2200 private prison beds weren’t needed.

The union representing correctional officers understands the need to keep staffing up inside prison fences, but it objects to the work squad cuts on moral grounds.

“It’s just sad that the public has to pay for the legislature’s irresponsibility,” Al Shopp with the Police Benevolent Association said.

But unless funding improves, prisoners will be spending more time behind bars and less time cleaning up roadsides.

The state is cutting 71 of 180 work squads across the state.

Florida’s Attorney General says there needs to be a review of Florida’s gay foster parent law and children are raised best by a man and a woman. Attorney General Bill McCollum has been defending his statements ever since a Christian magazine released a transpiration of an interview he gave back in August. As Whitney Ray tells us, Florida law allows gay people to be foster parents, but it bans them from adopting.

For the past year Heather Rosenberg has been raising two foster children.

“Anytime you get involved with a child and you are able to love them and care for them and protect them and shelter them and nurture them, then that makes a big difference in their outcome,” said Heather.

Her sister grew up in foster care, living four years with a lesbian couple.

“There is no doubt that she would not have survived. No doubt in my mind at all. We did not have the family set up to be able to care for her,” said Heahter.

Heather is thankful her sister had her two moms, and sees no problem with gay people being parents, but Attorney General Bill McCollum does.

“My personal believe is that it’s best to have parents who are a man and a woman to raise a child,” said McCollum.

McCollum is in a brutal primary race for the Republican nomination for governor. He came out against gay foster parents in a Christian magazine, but doesn’t remember taking that stance.

“I may well have said it, I have no recollection of my specific words. I’m not trying to parse with you, I just don’t,” said McCollum.

Florida statutes don’t allow the state to ask the sexual orientation of people applying to be foster parents and a change to that law would likely be challenged.

Several gay foster parents communicated with us that didn’t want to talk on camera, fearing they could lose their children. They say banning gays, would leave hundreds of kids with no where to turn.

We called and emailed McCollum’s Primary Rival Rick Scott to find out his stance on gay foster parents. We are still waiting on a response.

From Pensacola to Key West milk will be the party drink of choice.

15 ‘Milk Parties’ are scheduled for September to help raise awareness and find solutions to the problems facing Florida’s children. Only three cents of every tax dollar in Florida is spent on kids and many are living without health insurance. The Milk Parties are being hosted by the Children’s Movement of Florida. Co-Chairman David Lawrence says the state is finding money for many of its obligations, but not kids.

“We know how to get money for roads and prisons and agriculture and a lot of other things, I’m not disputing any of that, but when do children become a first priority in the state of Florida,” asked Lawrence.

Milk Party details including times and locations will be posted on the Children’s Movement of Florida’s website later this month. That site is www.childrensmovementflorida.org