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Omar Mateen’s short lived career with the Department of Corrections ended in six months. As Matt Galka tells us, we may never know why the Orlando shooter was fired.

Records released by the Florida Department of Corrections show Mateen was hired in 2006 as  a probationary officer. An evaluation seemed to show that he was well on his way to becoming a corrections officer with a little more training. But six months after he was hired, he was dismissed.

Mateen was fired during his probationary period which means he could have been terminated for a variety of reasons.

The Florida Police Benevolent Association represented corrections officers during Mateen’s stint, but he wasn’t part of the union.  Executive Director Matt Puckett says trainees are dismissed during probation regularly.

“It doesn’t seem unusual to me that someone in the academy could get dismissed. It’s possible the instructors realized this person wasn’t fit to be a corrections officer,” he said.

An official reason for his dismissal was never given, but the records indicated he was terminated for reasons not related to misconduct.

Mateen went on to get his security guard license in 2007, followed by his state firearms license in 2008.

A record number of people showed up in the hours and days following Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando to donate blood. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, blood donation officials call the response unprecedented.

This was the scene inside a OneBlood donation center just blocks from the Pulse nightclub crime scene Sunday morning. People began lining up long before is was scheduled to open.

And In Tallahassee and elsewhere.

“they turned us away because they had so many people” a couple told us in the parking lot on Sunday afternoon.

Since Sunday, OneBlood’s Pat Michaels says more than 21 thousand people showed up to donate,

“ I can tell you this one was beyond anything I could ever imagine” he says.

OneBlood says they saw a 40 percent increase in first time donors.

“First time donor for platelets, yeah” says donor Annie Wood.

By Friday, the rush was over. Annie Wood told us she was here because it was important.

“I just think anything that you can do in that arena is important. Organ donating, blood donating.”

Regular donor Jesse Wheelas told us he’s always been healthy.

“It’s just one way to give back, I guess” says the fingerprint analyst.

There’s also been a 72% increase in O negative donors. That’s important because O negative can be given to just about anyone in a trauma situation.

“Thank you for coming” said center director Mike Stiles as he greeted Kay Hobbs. Hobbs has been a regular donor for a couple of years.

“I come every two weeks and I donate platelets” she says.

“why do you do that?”

“I have good blood and I feel like I should share it.”

Red blood cells have a shelf life of about 40 days. Platelets just five days, to the agency says it is always in need .

And it wasn’t just Floridians who turned out to donate. Bloodline got calls from Boston, Kansas and elsewhere.

A grand jury meeting in the state Capitol to consider the murder for hire of an FSU Law Professor. As Mike Vasilinda tells us the investigation is far from over.

t was a day of opening and closing doors as grand jury witnesses came and went.

FSU law professor Dan Markel was shot point blank execution style in July 2014.

34 year old Sigfredo Garcia was charged with first degree murder in late May. An arrest warrant for Miami gang leader Louis Rivera is still outstanding, but he’s serving time in a Federal prison on unrelated charges. State Attorney Willie Meggs says the Grand Jury will meet well into Friday. We  asked why so long.

“Well, there’s a lot of stuff to present that will take some time.”

The murder followed a bitter divorce and came in the middle of a testy child custody battle.  A probable Cause affidavit lists ties between alleged hit man Garcia and Markel’s former brother in law, who was involved with the mother of Garcia’s children. The former mother in law is also named.

When the first arrest was made, police stopped short of calling the family members suspects.

Prosecutors Georgia Cappleman says her grand jury presentation will focus on the two men in custody.

“I am presenting an overview of the entirety of the case, so they can give me feedback on other suspects. So they have the power to indict whoever they choose” say Cappleman.

And police spokesman David Northway says the case is on going.

“Working as hard as we can. This is still an open investigation and we are just trying to bring this case to a close” say Northway.

Neither Garcia or Rivera are cooperating.

At least one witness, cell phone records, and toll booth surveillance video place the two men in custody in the state Capitol at the time of the murder.

It probably takes you longer to buy groceries or go to the gym than it took the Orlando shooter to buy one of his murder weapons and walk out the door.  Matt Galka went to a gun store in the capital city looking for an assault rifle…and tells us how many people around the state are stocking up.

I was looking for an assault rifle in Tallahassee, and found one pretty easily.  I could have gotten out the door pretty quick, too.

“About 10 minutes,” said Folmar Gun & Pawn owner Mark Folmar.

He says the going rate for some of his used semi automatic rifles is a little over $600 bucks, and he’s used to seeing a spike in sales following mass shootings.

“There usually is a spike anytime the President talks about any type of gun control,” said Folmar.

A driver’s license – which doesn’t have to be from Florida – and a background check is what’s required.  Folmar says business has been normal this week.

“We’ve had so many of these in the past where the president has said he’s going to do something, I think most of the people who had the urge to run out and buy something quickly, most of those people have already done it,” he said.

But numbers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show that Floridians aren’t slowing down with gun purchases. From Sunday through Tuesday of this week – FDLE ran more than 9800 background checks for gun sales.  The same three day span in 2015 showed there were just under 4500 checks run. That’s more than double following the shooting.

While I could’ve taken a long gun home today the rules are different for a handgun. They require a three day waiting period.

State Democrats hope new laws could potentially stop another mass shooting from happening in the state.  The gunman at the Pulse Nighclub in Orlando who killed 49 people legally purchased his weapons…even after being put on a terror watchlist by the FBI.  Democrats want a special legislative session to consider emergency legislation preventing people on watch lists or no fly lists from buying guns.

“Once they are off the list we would request that they only be permitted to possess firearms once there has been a thorough investigation performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement,” said Sen. Darren Soto (D-Orlando).

While some state Democrats want all lawmakers to return here to the Capitol, the National Rifle Association is calling the move a political stunt.

“These ultra liberal, gun hating Democrats, should be ashamed. A call for a special session is nothing more than political posturing. They are attempting to use a tragedy for political gain,” said NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer.

The Governor or House Speaker and Senate President would need to call the special session.  But the leaders of the two chambers haven’t expressed interest in calling lawmakers in to look at gun control.

After Capitol correspondent Mike Vasilinda’s story last month about some death row inmates not wanting their sentences reduced to life without parole, A two time Tampa killer on death row wrote to say death was preferable to life in prison. Mike Vasilinda interviewed Wayne Doty this morning and says the killer has ended his appeals.

Wayne Doty got life in prison for a meth fueled murder in 1996. The five years ago, while in the general population, he killed another inmate, plead guilty and got death.

“He had like two years to go on his sentence and was going home a free man, but he decided to steal something that didn’t belong to him. That happens in prison everyday” Doty told us.

Doty has asked the courts to stop his appeals.

“And I believe that a man is entitled to their own destiny, their own choices.”

We interviewed Doty because he wrote to us to say he didn’t want another life sentence. that’s a possibility thought after the death sentencing scheme in Florida was declared unconstitutional.

He describes life in the general population as horrific and lacking hope.

“They steal, they rob. they do anything they can by any means to survive in that environment.”

“You’re really making the case that life on death row is better than general population.

“oh Yeah!”

“I mean, death row has actually got better living conditions?”

“Oh yeah.

“But you don’t want to die?”

“No, anybody in their right mind isn’t ready to die.”

The Supreme Court’s decision whether the men and women on death row stay there, or go back to life imprisonment could be weeks or months away.

“And I know how I feel, waking up every day with life in prison with no family. No friends” says Doty.

And Doty sounded like a man conflicted…resigned  to die, but saying the choice is out of his hands.

Doty is also the only death row inmate to say he wants to die in the electric chair instead of lethal injection, which is his choice under the statutes. He told us he never liked needles.

State officials continue to support efforts in Orlando with the Division of Emergency Management – a department normally taking the spotlight during natural disasters. As Matt Galka tells us, the Governor is also hoping for more federal aid, as well.

Last week…a tropical storm hit Florida. And the state’s Emergency Operations Center sprung into action…monitoring heavy rains, power outages, and floods.

It’s active again.  But not because of a storm…but because of a madman with a gun.  The EOC remains at a level one activation in the wake of the Orlando mass shooting. Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam toured it  Monday.

The EOC helps better centralize support efforts in the wake of the Orlando tragedy.  But the Governor is also looking for Federal support. He’s asked the President for a federal emergency declaration which could come with up to five million dollars of additional funding.

“If there were to be a declaration of emergency at the federal level, it would allow the state to recoup some of its costs, again, as the result of the scale of this crime, this terrorists act, let me be clear, this terrorist act,” said Putnam, who supports the request.

And in the wake of this emergency, one state agency will now have to do an economic impact survey.

The state activated the Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center…something usually reserved for bad weather events. The Department of Economic Opportunity will look at how businesses surrounding the Pulse nightclub were affected by the emergency response. Yasmine Colon works right down the street.

“You can just feel a difference in the atmosphere, knowing how close we work to the location, it’s a little devastating, I actually thought they were going to close our office,” she said.

It’s the first time the DEO will do the business survey for a non weather or environmental related event.

Omar Mateen was licensed by the state to carry a gun as part of.his job as a security officer, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, records relating to that license are being kept secret tonight.

Florida law requires security guards who are armed to first pass a psychological evaluation. But KC Poulin, who runs a St. Pete based company that helps protect power plants and corporate executives says the evaluation has limited shelf life.

“The reality the screening is only good at the time of the screening.”

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is in charge of security guard licensing. He says nothing in Mateen’s record disqualified him from receiving the license

“He was fingerprinted. he successfully completed the application, had a criminal background check” says Putnam.

The shooter has been licensed to carry a gun as a security officer since 2007.

To carry a gun, Omar Mateen underwent 20 hours of classroom training and 8 hours on a gun range.His license renewed every  other year until most recently in 2015. The law would have allowed the state to Quote:Conduct such other investigations as the department may deem necessary. We asked  if it did investigate after the killer became known to the FBI.

“And any communications between us and the FBI are best left to the FBI to comment on” Putnam responded.

And the records of Mateen’s license…which were easily obtainable before the shootings are now being kept secret.

“There is information in those records which is relevant to the ongoing investigation” says Putnam.

The Agriculture commissioner calls the records “data rich.”

The same laws that allowed Mateen to become a security guard also allowed him to buy a gun. Putnam says he waited the required three days while a background check was conducted.

An outpouring of support from blood donors across the state has more than met the need crated by the tragedy in Orlando and replenished blood supplies across the state. As Mike Vasilinda tells, blood banks are saying thanks, but please come back later.

This Tallahassee blood bank was already scheduled to be open Sunday. But it had to call in additional staff to handle the wave of donors who showed up. One of them was  Karen Woodall.

“My heart hurts over what happened and its something tangible. One small thing that will hopefully help” she told us.

“They turned us away” said one couple in the parking lot,

But everyone was  asked to come back to help meet an ongoing need. Laura Green signed up to come back another day.

“It could happen anywhere, anywhere, and it;s something small just about all of us can all do” says Green.

Matthea Gans settled in with a good book for what would be a 90 minute procedure.

“Even if the people in Orlando don’t need it now, they do really need to replenish their supply.”

OneBlood operates more than 200 donation centers and big red bus mobile donation units across the state. Jeanne Dariotis says the need is almost always greater than the supply, except today.

“It is the blood on the shelves that saves lives and people need to give blood every single day of the week to make sure we all have enough to save us when we need it” says Dariotis.

A very public spat between Florida A&M’s President and Board of Trustees came to a head Friday as the board was set to decide the president’s future and evaluate her contract.  As Matt Galka tells us, the power struggle has divided the campus and alumni.

Nearly 30 people spoke for nearly an hour Friday morning – frustrated and angry about the state of affairs at Florida A and M University.

“I pray to God, that you will search your heart and do what is in the best interest of faculty, staff, students, and the future of FAMU,” said Rev. RB Holmes.

“All of our President’s for the past 15 years have inherited a problem one way or the other, but they didn’t blame the next one that came in,” said Kenneth Webster, a FAMU alumni.

“But what is the purpose, the value of stability at the very top if it creates and fosters instability at the bottom,” said Elizabeth Davenport, FAMU chapter president for United Faculty Florida.

FAMU president Elmira Mangum has been butting heads with the board of trustees for nearly all of her two years on the job.  Her three year deal expires in 2017 with some past trustees and presidents calling for it to not be renewed. The board chose not to take up her future Friday.

Mangum didn’t talk about the public comments while addressing the board, instead she focused on the future of the school.

“We have to transform, we have to change the way we do things,” she said.

Board chairman Kelvin Lawson doesn’t think the turmoil will have a lasting impact.

“No I don’t think it’s disheartening for the school, and the reason I say that is because the school will survive after I’m gone, after the President’s gone, after a new or even a second or third board is here,” said Lawson.

If the board takes no further action, Mangum and the University part ways when the deal expires in April of 2017.

Lawyers and Judges who commit ethical breaches are facing tougher sanctions from the State Supreme Court, And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the evidence was never so compelling as in the case today of two lawyers who set up an opposing counsel for a DUI.

Former judge Jackie Fulford was ordered to take early retirement after facing several ethics inquiries.

“If you want to fight lets go out back and duke it out” said then Judge John Murphy.

Judicial watchdogs recommended a fine and suspension for Judge  Murphy who challenged a public defender to a fight. The Supreme Court fired him instead.

The Current court seems to be taking a harder line than past courts when it comes to punishment.

6 Judges are currently being investigated, Complaints against judges are up 15 percent and from 2012 to 14 the number of probable cause hearings against judges went from 6 to 13.

Lawyers are not farming better with the current court either. Justice Peggy quince and other had harsh words for two lawyers Thursday.

“He choose to participation a totally unethical scheme” said Quince from the bench.

Two Tampa lawyers were on the hot seat Thursday for setting up the DUI arrest of an attorney in an opposing case. Justice Fred Lewis  was livid.

Florida Supreme Court Justice

“I’ve never encountered behavior like this and calculated and planned behavior” said Lewis.

While Chief Justice Jorge LaBarga could hardly speak.

“ I mean Quit your job, whatever, I’m out too here. I’m not doing this. What ever happened to that?” asked the Chief Justice.

Originally the bar recommended a suspension. Now Jodi thompson says the recommendation is for a permanent disbarment.

“Their conduct shows they have bad character and they should not bellowed , ever, to practice law again” Thompson told the court.

A permanent disbarment is the harshest penalty the court can impose. Judges seemed in no mood to offer any mercy.

In many cases, judges opt to retire rather than face sanctions.

With Florida’s unemployment rate hovering at just under 5 percent, officials are looking for new ways to get people back to collecting paychecks. As Matt Galka tells us, if you need a job…there’s now an app for that.

Will Youmas needs a job.

“My current situation is that I’m on disability and I’m going to have to find a job to help take care of my kid,” he said.

Right now he applies on his computer…sending out resume after resume.

“If there’s an easier way to find one or look for one is do it,” said Youmas.

And sometimes it feels hopeless. But the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity says a new smartphone app may be able to help.

It’s called Employ Florida Mobile.  With just a few clicks and swipes…a job seeker can see all the jobs around their current area…or another area in the state…or fine tune their job hunt to the field they’re looking for.

“What the app does in the background is we are pulling from Monster, all the different data banks that are out there, so we are making sure we are capturing as many jobs as we possible can to connect job seekers in the state with the jobs,” said Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor.
DEO says there’s nearly 300 thousand jobs listed in the app.  If you like what you see…you’re taken to a website to apply. Youmas is on board.

“This is pretty cool man, and then right here it says how to apply,” he says as he fiddles with his phone.

The state hopes the app isn’t just useful for people already living here…but maybe some out of staters looking to relocate and find a new job.

Smartphone users can search for Employ Florida Mobile in their iPhone or Android app stores

in 2012, State lawmakers awarded a 15 million dollar claim to the family of a boy born brain dead at Lee Memorial Hospital. But lawmakers added a caveat

: the lawyers could only get a hundred thousand dollars, even though their contract says they are entitled to 25 percent. Attorney Chris Searcy told the court that injured children would never find a lawyer if the court allowed the hundred thousand dollar fee to stand.

Afterwards claims lawyer Neal Roth called the legislative action political payback.

“There we’re some people in the legislature, at the time when this finally happened,  who did not like the Searcy Denny firm, did not like members of the plantiff’s bar, and this was going to teach a lesson” says Roth.

The court asked tough questions about the wording of the fee arrangement and of legislative intent. A ruling is expected in several months.

Governor Rick Scott continues to push the Federal Government for ZIka Response funding despite the billions the state has in the bank. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, two dozen counties, have made very specific requests.

Mosquito Larva were clearing visible inside these water filled abandoned tires. By the end of the weekend, they will have hatched and could be biting nearby residents. Mosquito control experts say rain from Tropical Storm Colin will complicate control efforts. Glen Pourciau is the Leon County Mosquito Control Director

“In particular, the Zika mosquitos are container breeders and day biters. So all the containers that have been empty of for the last few weeks will now start to fill up” Pourciau told us.

Leon is one of about two dozen counties mentioned in the Governor’s letter to the President seeking specific funding to fight Zika. The ask includes money for public outreach, Insecticide, spraying equipment and protective clothing. Scott mentioned the ask three times during his briefing on tropical Storm Colin.

“They should fulfill those needs right now” says Scott.

When asked why the state isn’t spending some of its billions in reserve to get ahead of the problem, Scott said it was.

“the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, county health departments. And then locally, the mosquito boards are spending money.”

But a public records request for what the state has spent so far, which was made on Tuesday, has so far gone unanswered.

Experts say there is nothing complicated about fighting the type of mosquitos which carry Zika…Get rid of standing water.

Mosquitos can breed in as little as a teaspoon, or bottle cap of warer. that’s left standing for a week.

The mosquitos live and die within about two hundred yards of where they hatch.

Funding requests suggest it is about twice as expensive to remove a Zika threat after an  infection as it is to take preventive action beforehand.

The family of an Ecuadorean businessman convicted of killing four people in Bartow, Florida in 1997 says their father deserves a new trial.

The family of Nelson Serrano stood outside the state’s Supreme Court Wednesday morning.  Serrano was convicted of shooting four people, but his son, Francisco, says his father shouldn’t be on death row.

“As of May 2014, due to extra efforts we were able to uncover evidences that were hidden by the prosecution. Evidence like DNA that excludes my father from the crime scene, evidences like eyewitness testimony,” he said.

But Chief Justice Jorge Labarga says the case represents a tough decision for the courts.

“Once there is a conviction, the family wants to bring in everyone in the world to testify what a nice man he is, on the other hand, you talk about a nice man who has been convicted of execution style killing four people,” he said.

Serrano’s sentences were already upheld on appeal, but his an attorney told justices that his appellate attorney didn’t do a good enough job and asked for a new trial.