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Two convicted murders have been mistakenly released by the Florida Department and are still at large. The releases occurred in September and early October after prison officials received fraudulent court documents.

Two killers serving time at the Franklin Correctional Institution in North Florida were released by mistake. Charles Walker was serving a life sentence, while Joseph Jenkins was serving 50 years behind bars.

“We’re in the process of trying to apprehend those guys and put them where they belong,” said Misty Cash, DOC Spokesperson.

Both are 34 years old. The two were released one and a half weeks a part from one another. The Department of Corrections learned of the error weeks after it happened. DOC said they were let out because of fraudulent papers filed by an Orange County court.

“The Department of Corrections follow every procedure and protocol we have in place. Those inmates were released based on those court orders we received,” said Cash.

People in Carabelle, the North Florida community where the prison is located, said what makes it even worse is they were never notified of the release.

“I didn’t hear anything about it until you just mentioned it. But it sounds like a big mistake,” said James Hahl. ”It’s just not right.”

“They not bothering us,” said Bill Smith. “They probably went back to where they come from.”

State agencies are working with officers to locate the escapees. At the same time an ongoing investigation is looking into how the mistake happened. DOC says it was no accident.

“We always look at process, procedure,” said Cash. “If something needs to be tweaked.”

It’s believed the killers may have returned to Central Florida where they are both from.

If you see either Jenkins or Walker – you’re advised not to approach them, but to immediately call 9-1-1.

A new lethal injection drug will be used for tonight’s execution at the Florida State Prison. As Matt Horn reports – the drug is being called an experiment on a living human being.

Inside the brick and mortar walls at the Florida State Prison – another death row inmate’s time is set to expire Tuesday night.

“Killing someone to prove that killing someone is wrong is a distorted way of thinking,” said Sheila Meehan, Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty.

51-year-old William Happ will be the first death row inmate to have a new lethal injection cocktail used during his execution. He was found guilty for the death of Angie Crowley in 1986.

“Who has been in our system for a quite a while and his warrant was signed a couple weeks ago,” said Misty Cash, Department of Corrections.

The new lethal cocktail is designed to induce unconsciousness, paralysis and eventually death by cardiac arrest.

“The Death Penalty Information Center has said this is really an experiment on a human being,” said Meehan.

Missouri recently delayed an execution later this month due to uncertainty about using the drug Propofol for an execution. The supplier of the drug ordered distributors not to send the drug to any department of corrections in America because a number of states planned to use it for executions. However, here in Florida the state will move forward with this untried lethal cocktail.

“Is our job to do that in the most dignified and humane way possible,” said Cash.

D-O-C says they did research on the drug to make it as humane as possible.

Legislation is expected to be introduced to lawmakers for the 20-14 session – which would repeal capital punishment in Florida.

If the government shutdown doesn’t end by the end of the month, thousands more Floridians may feel direct impacts of the bickering in Washington. As Matt Horn reports, Florida’s top officials say the state will not spend money to help fund federal programs in the state.

As the shutdown drags on, the possibility of food stamp and other aid disruptions looms for Floridians.

“People using food stamps are worried about not getting them anymore. They’re spending their money wisely,” said Eric Trice, an employee at Nichols and Sons Seafood shop.

Trice has seen three food stamps recipients all week. On a normal day he sees up to 15.

“We’ve seen a dramatic change in our retail customers, yes,” said Trice.

The funding for food stamps and the temporary assistance for needy families has money through the end of the month, but Governor Rick Scott has ordered Florida agencies not to spend any money on bills owed by the federal government.

“We’re working through all of our agencies to look at what impacts it’ll have on the state,” said Scott.

Children may be the next target. Smaller school districts in Florida rely more on federal dollars than larger districts. Conflicting reports differ on how long they’ll receive money under a long shutdown.
“We’re looking closely at it again; we’re hoping they’re going to do the right thing. This needs to end,” said Pamela Bondi, the Attorney General for the State of Florida.

11 parks across Florida are already closed due to the shutdown, like Saint Marks here in the panhandle.

The Everglades is the most popular park affected. Regardless, Trice says politicians need to figure the problem in Washington to avoid further issues for people in Florida.

“They need to get their stuff straight and get all of this straightened out,” said Trice.

Florida is one of a handful of states without a comprehensive energy policy, but conferences this week and next hope to put the state on a path to energy independence.

Florida’s nickname is the Sunshine State, but it does nothing to incentivize solar.  Wayne Wallace traveled to the Capitol from Largo this past week to push for an energy policy “We are one of maybe 12 states left who do not have comprehensive energy plan” says the Largo Solar Dealer.

Wallace wasn’t alone. Delegates from across Florida came to a Clean Energy Congress . Their goal: to push and embarrass policy makers into doing more to ween the state from oil. Frank Knapp came from South Carolina to advise businesses how to move the ball forward. “There’s not a whole lot of successing in the conversion to clean energy. It’s a struggle that we see in trying to move states to doing more solar, wind, and hydro” said Knapp.

When Florida offered solar rebates give years ago, the program was so popular it ran out of money. Participants had to settle for fifty cents on every dollar they were promised. The state Energy office was moved following the rebate debacle.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam got control of the office. He’s holding an energy summit that begins on Monday. “And, it’s my intention to have an energy bill this year. We moved the ball forward last year legislatively in terms of of the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel” says Putnam.

While Solar gets no incentives, lawmakers did decide to start paying part of the cost for businesses to convert their fleets to Natural gas. Companies can receive up to 25 thousand dollars for each of ten vehicles they convert. In addition to rebates, the state also exempted companies converting to natural gas from fuel taxes for the next five years.

 

 

The 31 day sleep-in at the State Capitol prompted changes in access rules at the building, and now as Matt Horn reports, the state Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys wants lawmakers to help in the research of inequities the sit-in was protesting.

Numbers don’t lie. If you’re a black male, you’re more likely to be locked up than any other ethnic group.

“Our mission is to study those conditions and come up with remedies for them,” said Eddy Regnier.

Thursday morning The Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys – worked to address racial disparities here in Florida. The Council wants lawmakers to fund research on inequalities.

“We have a statute that doesn’t allow us to really spend the money to do the research in the way we need to do it,” said Regnier.

The study has support from both Republicans and Democrats.

“I think that it’s in some great hands, getting bi-partisan participation from both houses,” said Senator Ocscar Braynon, II.

Earlier this summer The Dream Defenders brought racial inequality to the forefront across Florida. They sat in the state Capitol for 31 days to address what they are calling important issues like the school-to-prison-pipeline.

According to the US Department of Education’s Civil Right’s Office: more than 70-percent of students arrested or referred to law enforcement are black or Hispanic.

“If we move forward in Florida you’ll see we may become a model to help solve some of those in the country. It’s not just Florida where black men and boys have issues. It’s all over the country,” said Braynon.

Lawmakers say if the research is properly done – it may help find solutions for multiple problems… which could result in a better future for Florida’s youth – no matter their race.

The council already has a small budget – but state statute limits how they are able to spend the money.

Florida could soon become the second state in the nation to protect kids from identity theft. As Matt Horn reports – state lawmakers and law enforcement are working together to end a potentially devastating crime.

While your child is in class – they may also be a victim of a new crime sweeping the nation.

“It’s been called the crime of the 21st century already,” said Duval County Sheriff, John Rutherford.

More than 10 thousand Florida kids fall victim to ID theft every year.

“It is particularly explosive growth in children because when you steal a child’s identity because you can manipulate their credit and benefit from it for a much longer period of time before it is discovered,” said Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam.

The law would give parents the ability to call one of three credit monitoring agencies and freeze their child’s credit.

The bill’s estimated to save the state more than 21-million dollars every year.

“Protect the valuable information about your child, protect their social security numbers, don’t let social media reveal too many aspects about their lives,” said Putnam.

Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford says it’s important to put more resources into fighting identity theft.

“Preventing the crime before it occurs, and protecting children before they are victimized,” said Rutherford.

Maryland was the first state to pass a similar law last year.

A new Florida law aimed at protecting students — has lawmakers questioning ways to make it more effective. Students say more needs to be done to prevent online bullying.

Florida students are bullied daily.

“If you’re getting bullied, you should say something to somebody,” said Andy Coq, a high school senior.

Students say bullying at school is all too common…but alerting school administrators is not as popular.

“You want to do something about it, but then you don’t want to interfere because it may come on you, too,” said a high school junior.

This past legislative session – state lawmakers passed a law prohibiting online bullying. It bans any type of online bullying that interferes with a students learning environment.

“At the end of the day it’s a tool in the toolbox to help deal with what we know is an alarming issue,” said Senator Dwight Bullard, Cutler Bay.

In a meeting Tuesday morning – the same lawmakers who helped pass the bill– questioned how effective it’s been.

“What do we have in the law today that will enable or empower our schools?” asked Senator Maria Sachs, Delray Beach.

A major concern lawmakers want answers to is what legal authorities does a district have in gaining access to a cell phone or computer to access a students social networking sites. School Districts across the state have been required to implement their own rules against online bullying. But, school officials say the main thing is to keep students safe.

“To do this it takes a combined effort of everyone,” said Senator Bill Montford, Tallahassee. “That’s the teachers in the schools and the students and parents as well.”

The law passed this year is an extension of the Jeffrey Johnson Act which required all districts to adopt a policy banning bullying and harassment.

Its estimated 28-percent of students are bullied at school.

While the federal government remains on shutdown in Washington. The panhandle is gearing up for Tropical Storm Karen.

“I want to ensure everybody that we’re not gonna let a government shutdown in Washington, DC affect our emergency response in Florida,” said Governor Rick Scott. “We’re clearly going to do the right thing to make sure our citizens are safe.”

Nearly half of the state’s National Guard are on furlough– which the guard acknowledges could cause difficulties.

“Certainly the shutdown makes things a little more challenging. But, we certainly are used to challenges so we can get around that and make it work,” said Col. Glenn Sutphin, FNG.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association say they have seen very few cancelations for hotels across North Florida.

“As people are calling in, we constantly want to make sure that our clients know we’re prepared in the event that anything does happen,” said Carol Dover, FRLA.

Even though Tropical Storm Karen is still out in the Gulf, Florida State University says they are still expecting 77-thousand fans to pack the stadium for this weekends game.

Fans are keeping their options open.

“If I wake up and its not raining then I’m still going to the game,” said Cretoria Hanna, FSU Senior.

“I don’t want to risk being out in the storm,” said Brittain Collins, FSU Senior.

Computer models differ on where the storm will make landfall.

For the second time in two years, a review of voter registration is being touted as a way to keep eligible voters on the rolls – and weed out the people who are trying to vote illegally. Opponents say its just a way to suppress the minority vote.

For years – Florida voters have been plagued with problems at the polls. Now Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is traveling across the state to meet with local Supervisors of Elections.

“We’re encouraged that he’s working directly with the Supervisors of Elections because that’s where the rubber this the road,” said Lisa Hall, League of Women Voters.

The League of Women Voters says the group has mixed reactions about the tour. “We’re skeptical because the state really doesn’t have a good track record of doing this appropriately,” said Hall.

Opponents held a phone conference Thursday morning to call the tour a “voter purge” and is a way to deny minorities the right to vote.

“This is an effort by Rick Scott to send his lieutenant out to convince his Supervisors of Elections they need to do a purge,” said Allison Tant, Florida Democratic Party Chair.

Detzner wasn’t available to talk on-camera – but in a press release he says: “…it is my duty to defend the right to vote in Florida. Project Integrity will provide needed information on the process used to safeguard our voter rolls.”

“This is a waste of time and money. This is tax dollars being spent that’s unnecessary,” said Tant.

The last time the state tried to track down non-eligible voters, it found 182-thousand potential non-citizens — the number was eventually reduced to fewer than 200.

“They need to leave it to the Supervisor of Elections to do their job. They’re doing an outstanding job in Florida,“ said Hall.

The tour started in Panama City before moving to Jacksonville, Orlando, Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale.

A new law that took effect October 1st makes it illegal for protesters to picket any funeral. This is the first time such a law has been on the books – but not the first time lawmakers have tried enacting it.

Earlier this year Florida State University graduate and Second Lieutenant Justin Sisson was killed in action during his second tour in the Middle East. Now a new law will make it illegal for protesters to picket any funeral.

”What’s it going to accomplish protesting someone that’s no longer with us,” asked Singe’ Thomas, Sisson’s friend.

Sisson’s funeral was picketed in his home state of Kansas. The Sunflower state has a law similar to Florida’s new “Funeral Buffer”.

”As far as powering through, his friends and his family really came together,” she said.

House Bill 15 was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. The new law makes it illegal for people to protest within 500 feet of a funeral one hour before or after the ceremony.

Lawmakers tried to pass a similar law in 2012. It failed, In large part because the bill specifically banned protests for specific groups. The new law includes anyone’s funeral. Supporters say the new law will make it easier for a family to grieve.

”I believe everyone deserves and has the right to a grieving process that does not include people screaming hateful obscenities,” Thomas said.

The law went into effect October 1st.

Tens of thousands Floridians are sitting at home waiting on federal lawmakers to reach an agreement – before they are able to return to work. That includes Floridians who were already furloughed earlier this year.

From the Florida National Guard to several Head Start Programs — thousands of Floridians are being forced to stay home indefinitely. The furlough comes as Congress failed to reach a compromise on a national spending plan.

“It has a devastating impact on our program, on the children we serve, which are 3 to 4 years old and their families,” said Laurie Gan Leiner, Head Start Director.

Tuesday morning about half of the people working Florida National Guard were told to go home until further notice.

National parks are closed until the partial shutdown is lifted. Closed are 11 parks in Florida, including the Everglades in South Florida or Saint Marks in the panhandle.

“Before they make the trip to a federal facility or a federal wildlife management area, check their webpage and make sure they’re open,” said Doc Kokol, Florida Fish and Wildlife.

The shutdown has turned into a finger pointing escapade. Democrats like President Barack Obama are urging Republicans to reopen the government. Republican Governor Rick Scott blames the President for the shutdown.

“President Obama is failing Floridians as Harry Truman said, ‘the buck stops with the president.’ This is a failure of leadership,” said Scott.

National Guard troops sent home were already forced to take eleven days off earlier this summer under cuts imposed by the Federal sequester.

The president signed legislation Monday to make sure 1-point-4 million active duty military personnel are still paid during the shutdown.