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Chicago – Polling shows that voter approval of medical marijuana is likely this November. State lawmakers in Chicago for a national legislative conference are being told to be ready for a banking dilemma. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, it is a problem already being faced by the small number of dispensaries in the state.

When Trulieve opened the first low THC dispensary, it’s first sale was a cash transaction. That’s because no bank wanted to touch the pot tainted money for fear of federal regulators.

At this conference in Chicago, the Colorado Bankers Association told lawmakers from across the country that no matter what states do, pot is still an illegal schedule one drug in the eyes of the Federal Government.

“Its basically a question of following federal law and taking on very large liabilities if you don’t” says CBA President Don Childears

Marijuana is already a seven billion dollar a year business, but lawmakers here in Chicago were told  that is going triple by the year 2020.”

Cannabis has its own trade association which is asking local lawmakers to put pressure on Washington. Taylor West represents the Natl. Cannabis Industry Assn.

“This businesses are often being forced to operate in cash, or with bank accounts that can be taken way at any moment” fears West.

St. Petersburg State Senator Jeff Brandes says the ultimate solution is for the US to take marijuana out of the list of schedule one drugs.

“It really is a federal challenge that we are dealing with, but other states, other marijuana providers have found away to deal with it.

Oregon, which legalized marijuana a year old, recently passed a bill saying banks can’t be penalized for dealing with legal businesses, but lawmakers there admit its more of a message to Washington that anything else.

The Federal Food and Drug Administration can cage the way marijuana is scheduled without congressional approval, but it has been slow too do so. Legislation to order the change has passed both the House and Senate, but at separate times.

Chicago – A dozen or so Florida lawmakers are in Chicago this week for a national conference discussing challenges facing the states. St. Petersburg State Senator Jeff Brandes is participating on a panel discussing the future of autonomous vehicles. Ironically, earlier this week, vehicle makers had to cancel a planned demonstration because the laws in Illinois don’t allow the self driving cars. Brandes told  the panel that Florida lisin the drivers seat when it comes to being self driving friendly.

“This is going to transform public transportation mobility as we know it in a way that we haven’t seen since the transformation from the horse and buggy to the Model T. this is our generations transformation. I think even more so than a smart phone. I know that that is probably a pretty bold statement, but I think you are going to see a public transportation transformation that occurs in our cities and communities in a way that is much more profound than a smart phone has made our individual lives” says Brandes.

Brandes says that although Florida is also the home of one of the few deaths that have occurred while testing self driving cars, the mistake in programming that allowed the accident earlier this year will not be repeated.

Did you get the savings while you could? Florida’s back to schools sales tax holiday wrapped up over the weekend, and as Matt Galka tells us, the shorter tax free period meant less money taken from the state’s bottom line.

Ginny Grimsley and her daughter are two of the millions of customers that got in on the back to school sales tax holiday this past weekend.

“I was good, I was like oh good! Sales tax holiday, that will save us,” she said.

The usually annual break from sales tax is a big hit with Floridians, and the state budget usually takes a hit because of it.

This latest back to school sales holiday cost the state around 28 million dollars, and that’s way down from last year’s 10 day sales tax holiday, which economists say put the state in the red about 56 million bucks.

The Florida Retail Federation says even though the holiday was shorter this year business didn’t suffer.

“Apparently there was a lot of traffic, there were some complaints that the lines were pretty long in some stores,” said James Miller.

And the hope for many retailers is that the holiday keeps customers coming back.

“A lot of businesses actually added additional discounts and savings on top of the sales tax holiday which was a really wise and savvy move on their part to get more people into the stores and more eyeballs on their merchandise,” said Miller.

Last year’s ten day sales tax holiday was called the exception and not the norm. The state usually opts for three day holidays.

The birth defects linked to the Zika virus has opened the door for a new abortion battle  here in the state. As Matt Galka tells us, many aren’t changing their stances.

55 pregnant women in Florida have tested positive for Zika so far.  The virus has been linked to birth defects in children…forcing some infected women to face a difficult choice of whether or not to go through with the pregnancy.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio told Politico this past weekend he’s still against abortion even if the woman seeking one is infected with Zika.  Planned Parenthood strongly disagreed.

“Truly the comments are so reflective of how out of touch and extreme Senator Rubio on abortion and women’s health issues,” said Kim Diaz.

The women’s health group and abortion provider says women need all options available to them if they’ve been diagnosed with the virus.

“We are hoping that we can see the need for Zika, how we can properly resond to Zika, is for a full access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services,” said Diaz.

The prolife Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops is siding with the senator.

Ingrid Delgado with the Conference says that giving up a pregnancy shouldn’t be the answer even if there’s the potential for health conditions.

“We know that being diagnosed with Zika can be traumatic, especially for a woman who is pregnant, however an adverse fetal diagnosis should not be a death sentence for that baby,” she said.

The state’s Department of Health offers free Zika testing for pregnant women at county health departments. The Centers for Disease Control recommends any pregnant woman who traveled to the Wynwood area of Miami since mid-June get tested.

The Governor’s office responded to us in a statement that read in part “Governor Scott is pro-life and believes firmly in the sanctity of life. His view on this has not changed.” He’s urging pregnant women to contact their OB/GYN for Zika prevention kits.

Police in London are continuing their investigation into the stabbing death of the wife of an FSU professor teaching in the UK. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the murder took place on the couples final night in London.

Police in London believe the rampage, which took the life of 64 year old Darlene Horton and injured five others, was the work of a 19 madman and not terror related. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley says the investigation, though, is continuing.

“I emphasize that so far we have found no evidence of radicalization that would suggest  that the man we have in custody is in any way motivated by terrorism” says the Asst. Commissioner.

This picture Horton was taken with her daughter Shannon this summer in London. In a texted statement, Shannon told us in part, “I will never forget her heart of service, her love of traveling, and her smile that warmed the hearts of all who knew her.

Horton was in London, as she has been for the last four summers, while husband Richard Wagner taught  psychology to about 30 visiting students. Dr. Jim Pitts is in charge of FSU’s International Program.

“We normally send about two thousand students abroad each year. On his program, it’s

We’re being told that the couple was together, out for for a final walk just before dusk, on the night before they were due to come home.

The murder took place outside a block square park know as Russel Square.

“Russel Square is a very beautiful park, not far from our study center and it’s very tranquil” says Pitts.

There were 214 fatal stabbings in all of England and Scotland last year. Here in Florida alone, there were 106.

The couple had been in London for 8 weeks.

Horton was stabbed from behind with no chance of defending herself. FSU has spoken to Husband Richard and says he is calm. Arrangements to bring the remains home are incomplete.

Florida Governor Rick Scott was among the first to indorse Donald Trump and this week recommitted his support for the Donald, saying he is the jobs candidate, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Scott dodged a question about Trumps efforts to hire foreign nationals to work in Florida.

Donald Trumps Make America Great Again message is one of the reasons he’s the GOP nominee.

On Wednesday in Jacksonville he told reporters his campaign is all about American jobs.

“It’s about bringing our jobs back. Our jobs are being decimated. we are losing our companies” says Trump.

”I’m Hillary Clinton.” But a new ad from the Clinton Campaign takes Trump to task for manufacturing many of his products overseas.

“Where are the shirts made? Bangladesh” That’s good. we employ people in Bangladesh. Ties..where are the ties made? Beautiful ties.They are great ties. They’re made where, in China. China” says the ad, which shows Trump talking to David Letterman.

Last month Trump filed paperwork with the Department of Labor, saying that  he couldn’t find enough Americans willing to work as Housekeeps, cooks, and servers at two properties in Palm Beach.

Those jobs reportedly pay between 10.17 and 12.74 an hour.

“I have a choice” Rick Scott said this week, contrasting the two main Presidential candidates.

Scott has repeatedly said his support of Trump is because they share the same concerns about jobs, but Scott this week sidestepped a question about trump seeking to hire foreigners.

Q:”He says he can’t find enough people in Florida to do those jobs.”

A:”Well, you can talk to Donald Trump about what he’s doing with his business. But here’s what I can tell you. I want…I’m proud the private sector in our state has added 1,127,000 jobs” says Scott.

Scott is also serving as the Chairman the Rebuild America Now which produced a spot criticizing Clinton for saying no law could stop outsourcing.

The back to school sales tax holiday weekend begins tonight at midnight and runs through midnight Sunday night. School itms under 15 dollars are free from the sales tax as are clothing that sells for less than sixty dollars. This years event is shorter than the one days last year, and because of that James Miller with the Florida Retail Federation expects stores to be especially busy.

“Behind Black Friday (this is) the second most popular shopping weekend in Florida. It’s going to be very crowded. We suggest people do a little research ahead of time. Identify the items you want to buy. More importantly, identify the stores you want to buy them at because there will be crowds, there will be lots of people, so try to make this as easy and painless shopping experience as possible” says Miller.

Miller expects the average family will spend $673 dollars, up from 640 last year. The set will forgo just under 29 million in revenue that is being passed on to consumers.

Retailers, restaurants, and environmentalists are all part of a coalition joking referred to as “Baptists and Bootleggers” backing Amendment 4,. The amendment is on the August 30th primary ballot. It allows state lawmakers to remove the tax on solar arrays installed on businesses. State Senator Jeff Brandes says removing the tax will create jobs and save energy.

“This constitutional amendment is very straight forward. It simply allows for us to exempt    from taxation, an onerous tax for solar panels. When people try to do the right thing, by installing solar panels on top of their roofs, they should be taxed for doing the right thing” says Brandes.

Voters approved a similar exemption for home solar arrays in 2008.

The Dozier School for Boys, a state run reform school where nearly 100 people died and countless others told horrible tales of abuse – could be getting a memorial soon. Matt Galka reports from the Panhandle’s Jackson County, the site of the now shuttered school, and shows us that there are no easy answers about what to do with the site.

Jerry Cooper was sent to the Florida school for boys in 1961.

“I walked into hell,” he said.

Cooper endured notorious beatings at Dozier. He is part of the “White House Boys;” a group of men that tell stories of the abuse that happened at the state run reform school.

Stephen Britt’s uncle was one of the bodies recovered at the site.

“He was stabbed the day before he was supposed to be released,” said Britt.

Both men are part of the task force charged with creating a memorial for the victims of the school, and figuring out where unclaimed remains should go.

The task force has the option of keeping the remains on site or moving them elsewhere and creating a memorial. The difficult decision put the two men on opposite sides of the issue. It even caused a heated flare up during discussion.

“Burying them together in death will send a signal out that Jackson County and Marianna has evolved into the next level of humanity,” said Britt.

Cooper disagrees, and says victims want to move on.

“They should not be re-interned on that property. It’s just that they were found in very ungodly situations in that cemetery,” he said.

Historian David Jackson says the town and county cant just gloss over the schools history.

“It would be a slap in the face to some people if you take the bodies and you bury them somewhere else and you make it appear that Dozier didn’t exist,” he said.

The task force has until October 1st to submit recommendations. Another meeting featuring public comment will be held on August 19th.

Voters requesting mail in ballots, and those who vote in person may be surprised to see that there is a constitutional amendment on this months  primary ballot. Amendment Four limits tax increases for businesses installing renewable energy devices, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, lawmakers put it on the August ballot to remove confusion.

It is called Amendment four, but it ’s the only amendment on the August ballot. It limits tax increases for businesses that install solar or other renewable energy devices. Lee Country State Rep. Ray Rodrigues says the current system has actually kept companies from moving to renewables.

“So some businesses that have engaged in solar has seen their property values go up, which increases their property taxes, and received a tangible personal property tax, and they end up paying more in taxes than they are saving in their energy” says Rodrigues.

This week, a political action committee called stop playing favorites was launched.

“Amendment four gives big tax breaks to the big solar companies and corporations. Its not for you” is the message of an ad on the groups website.

Conservative Radio host Jason Hoyt is behind the PAC.

“This is not a free market principle. This is the Legislature carving out an exemption for one industry” says Hoyt.

The reason amend four is on this month’s primary ballot is because the utilities successfully put an industry friendly amendment on the November ballot, and sponsors were worried  that voters would get confused, thinking they would have to choose one over the other.

Sponsor Rodrigues says that if voters approve of four, the state might have start living up to its moniker of the sunshine state.

“Florida would lead, would move from one of the the bottom ten states in solar to one of a top ten states” says the Sponsor.

Sixty percent, or six out of every ten voters are needed for the amendment to pass.

Voters approved the same break for homeowners by a narrow margin in 2008.

A top Florida GOP strategist has quit the Republican Party and registered as an independent because she is troubled with Donald Trump’s rhetoric.

But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Both Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi remain strong Trump supporters.
Sally Bradshaw was Jeb Bush’s chief of staff and strongest loyalist. In 2012 she was one of five people in the entire nation  tasked with rebuilding the Republican party.

“I’m hoping it will be a roadmap for the future that the party will actually ct on, but we are leaving no stone unturned” Bradshaw told us back in 2013.

But Donald trump has caused Bradshaw to reregister as an independent.  She told CNN she will vote for Hillary Clinton if the race is close in Florida. And in a text message dealing an on camera interview, she told us that she wanted to low key the statement going forward.

While Sally Bradshaw may be leaving the GOP, Trumps biggest boosters in Florida politics are not.

Attorney General Pam Bondi was one of the first to endorse Trump.

“Are you rethinking your support of Donald Trump in anyway” we asked.

“I’m Not. And let me say, I’m not going to talk politics here today” responded Bondi.

Governor Rick Scott was quick to point out:

“I’m never going to agree with every candidate on everything they are going to say. I know who I am. care about the military, I care about law enforcement. Look, I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve this country.”

But Scott, who is chairman of a super Pac supporting Trump, says trump is still his choice.

“I have Donald Trump over here who knows how to create jobs. Over here, I have Hillary Clinton, a career politician who has never created a job in her life. So to me, its an easy choice.”

But in the Capitol city Jeb Bush ruled for eight years, signs of discontent continue to pop up.

Both Scott and Bondi said they would not have criticized the parents of Iraqi war veteran and deceased hero Captain Humayun Kahn.

For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control is warning people not to travel to an American neighborhood. The reason – Zika is being spread in south Florida. As Matt Galka tells us, with 14 people infected that we know of, the Governor is confident Florida can handle it.

Florida’s top elected officials led off the only cabinet meeting of the summer with perhaps the most pressing issue facing the state; Zika.

“We have 14 cases of what we believe is locally transmitted Zika in the state of Florida,” said Gov. Rick Scott (R-Florida).

Florida became the first state where mosquitoes are infecting people domestically – all within a small area north of downtown miami – but health officials have yet to find a mosquito carrying the virus.

“This is a situation where, while it is scary, it is well within our ability to control and eradicate,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

Local transmission of the virus has prompted England health officials to warn pregnant women not to travel to Florida.

“If you’re concerned, wear long sleeves, long pants, things like that. We’re doing everything we can to make everyone comfortable. I think we’ll continue to see tourists, will 115 million tourists. Just remember – it’s one square mile, and we’re doing everything we can to prevent that from spreading,” said Gov. Scott.

He also called on Washington to help stop the spread.

“Whatever they do they have to start working together to the extent of if the President can allocate more dollars, he should allocate more dollars down here. If Congress needs to come back and do their job, yea they ought to do their job,” he said.

A more than one billion dollar prevention plan was left in limbo when Congress took a seven week break for the summer.

Florida is also receiving more than $700,000 dollars from the CDC to monitor potential birth defects stemming from the Zika virus.  The Governor has already pledged more than $26 million dollars in state funds.

More than a million registered voters in Florida are being denied the right to decide who represents them in the legislature. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, another 3 hundred fifty thousand voters won’t have a say on who prosecutes crime in their area.

Registered Democrats and Independents in Jacksonville are out of luck when it comes to electing their state attorney. Four people are running for the job, three Republicans and a write in. And it is that write in’s presence that closed the election to more than 350 thousand Democrats and Independents who can no longer vote.

Elections veteran Ion Sancho calls the exclusion a sham.

“What’s the likelihood of a write-in winning” we asked.

“Near Nil” says Sancho.

The red districts on this map show that virtually every major media market has a legislative race that has been closed by a write in candidate.

It doesn’t cost a dime to become a write-in candidate, and both parties are equally guilty of of recruiting someone to close the process.

The constitution requires open primaries if all candidates are from the same party, but Sancho blames poor drafting that allowed the state to close primaries with a write in.

“The candidate, even a sham candidate is opposition in the fall and thus in fact, we have to really rewrite this provision if you want to get the intended process of an open, universal primary” says the veteran elections official.

Bill Pender was updating his registration when we met him.

“Should they be allowed to keep you from voting for someone?”

I don’t think so. No I think we should be able to vote” says Pender.

But lawmakers have refused again and agains to make a change to the write in process, because as the map shows, they use it to their advantage.

The Florida Supreme has agreed to listen to arguments over the write in exclusion in the Jacksonville State Attorney’s race, but no decision is expected before the August 30th primary.

Indicted Congresswoman Corrine Brown was in the state Capital this weekend, campaigning for her newly drawn congressional seat five. We caught up with her at the elections Supervisor’s office. Her trail was recently postponed until October. We asked if shoe would seek another delay, until after November, if she is the primary winner.

“Why do you think they filed right up to my primary. The prosecutor said that Corrine Brown would not win her election. Now, why would a prosecutor be involved  in telling one of my attorneys I would not win my election. In the past they have not got involved in elections, so the point is, I’m going to let my team attorneys handle that and I’m going to work on getting the message out on the work that I’ve done that speaks for itself.”

“That’s a yes, then. You will seek a delay in the trial?”

That is…I’m not speaking for my attorneys, I’m speaking for Corrine Brown”.

Brown’s trial was originally scheduled for September 6th. It is now scheduled for October.

Midnight Monday is the deadline for registering to vote in the August 30th primary, but if you are already registered, you can still makes changes to your registration, such as a new address, says veteran elections supervisor Ion Sancho.

“When an individual goes from one county to another, when they move, they no longer have to re-register to vote. So if you are already registered to vote, today is not a deadline. You have up to and including election day to change your address so you can vote normally.”

More than two million mail in ballots have already been sent out, with thousands already returned.