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The Governor is being called out by environmental academics over his stance on climate change. As Matt Galka tells us, Rick Scott likes to say he’s not a scientist, but some actual scientists want to have a little chat.

“I’m not a scientist.”

Those four words have been defining Rick Scott’s stance on climate change lately. While the Governor is hesitant to address the issue head on, 10 scientists from around the state say they have all the facts he needs.

Dr. Jeff Chanton, an oceanography professor at Florida State, is one of 10 scientists from universities around Florida asking for the Governor’s ear to tutor him about man made climate change. He says there’s no doubt humans are causing temperatures to rise.

“I’ve been teaching this for 25 years, I think I can do a pretty good job of getting this idea across to just about anybody, so I think if he would just give us some time and listen, he’d come away with a pretty good idea of why we think this is so important,” said Chanton.

Chanton hand delivered a letter from scientists across the state to the Governor’s office earlier this week. The letter notes that “Florida is one of the most vulnerable places in the country in respect to climate change.”

The state also needs to figure out how to reduce carbon emissions from powerplants by 38%. A federal mandate asking for the reduction came down in early June. Environmental attorney group Earth Justice is still waiting to hear something from the Governor’s office.

“The Scott administration has been climate change deniers, and you see that policy reflected in a complete disregard of the issue in every aspect of their policies and their regulations,” said Managing Attorney David Guest.

The state has a 2030 deadline to reach the 38 percent carbon emission reduction. Governor Rick Scott said his administration would be happy to meet with the 10 scientists, but Dr. Chanton says they’d prefer to meet with him personally, and not just someone in his office.

As state officials ramp up efforts to grow and distribute Charlotte’s Web, a non high producing form of marijuana, Mike Vasilinda tells us, a coalition of anti drug advocates is upping the volume on their anti marijuana message.

In Reefer madness, a 1930’s movie aimed at the problems of marijuana, the drug is depicted as a killer.

Now, the Don’t Let Florida Go to Pot Coalition says many of the fears of yesteryear are a reality where medical marijuana has been legalized.  Rachel O’Bryan of Smart Colorado says the path to legalization in Colorado could be duplicated in Florida under Amendment 2.

“It will allow the use of marijuana for any medical condition, it will allow teenagers to obtain it, it will allow for the development of marijuana foods including candies that will appeal to kids” says the Colorado mom and anti pot advocate.

Sheriff’s supported the Charlotte’s Web legalization earlier this year after initially opposing it. But they are opposed to full blown medical marijuana. Don Enslinger of Seminole County says it will create “More dispensaries than Starbucks. DOH, their own numbers estimate 789 dispensaries or treatment centers within Florida.”

But the Department of Health..the same people who will regulate Charlotte’s web, which Sheriffs supported, will also be responsible for saying who and how people would get medical marijuana.

Florida’s amendment would allow edible pot…and the anti pot advocates are quick to point out the one case in Denver where someone ate far too much marijuana. “His product, you know, was a cookie, with six servings of marijuana in it in one cookie” says O’Bryan.

23 states and the District of Columbia have some form of legalized medical marijuana. Six of every ten voters would have to vote yes for medical marijuana to become law in Florida. In the ten states where marijuana has been voted upon by the public, five of the ten had approval margins above 60 percent.

Legislation signed by the Governor changed the way special needs students receive scholarships and expanded corporate voucher scholarships. Now, as Matt Galka tells us, that piece of legislation is at the center of a lawsuit from the state’s biggest teacher’s union.

Tom Fasse is a high school social studies teacher in Southwest Florida.  He says the way Florida’s legislature passed an education bill at the end of this year’s session will become fodder for future lessons.

“This will be a perfect example of ‘here’s how you not do a bill correctly as the way the constitution plays it out,” he said.

Fassee joined the Florida Education Association in announcing a lawsuit against the Governor and education commissioner.  SB 850 – officially known as a bill relating to education – is being challenged.

“We believe they added pieces into it and tied things together that were so loosely tied together that it’s not the way that laws are to be made,” said FEA Vice President Joanne McCall.

The lawsuit says a final day 141 page amendment allowing for corporate scholarship vouchers to expand to more families was unconstitutional

Ron Meyer

Matt Galka Standup

Former Governor Jeb Bush’s “Foundation For Excellence in Education” called the lawsuit a new low for the FEA

The bill created accounts for parents to choose schools and therapy centers for kids and eliminated testing for students with special needs.

McCall

The FEA hopes for a speedy process. They want voucher expansion to be stopped before kids return to school in the fall.

Florida has the second most child deaths from being left in a hot car. As Matt Galka tells us, a recent string of national incidents has prompted the state to issue a warning.

DCF has released this public service announcement warning about the dangers of leaving a toddler in the back seat of a car baking in the Florida sun.

“A child’s internal temperature raises five times faster than adults,” said Michelle Glady, the Departments Press Secretary.

Florida has had 66 child heatstroke deaths since 1998 – trailing only Texas.

A typical Florida summer day can bring plenty of flash rain storms. Lieutenant Mike Bellamy with the Tallahassee Fire Department says that doesn’t make things any safer for toddlers.

“There’s never a right place, there’s never a right time to leave any child in a car,” said Lt. Bellamy.

We gave the car a heat check while a thunderstorm was going on outside. Vitals were normal before entering the car when the temperature was around 85 degrees.

Two minutes in and the care was up to 99 degrees. After four minutes: 104 degrees. Six minutes and we were cooking at 111 degrees. That’s when fire officials had to call it.

Another check of vitals revealed heart rate and blood pressure were both elevated.

In the past week alone, 5 kids locked in hot cars have been reported to DCF.   The department says if you feel like you’re going to forget your child in the backseat, leave something like your shoe, cell phone, or brief case with them so you’ll be sure to check before leaving the vehicle.

The number of Florida schools earning ‘A’ grades is up, and that’s not a bad thing. But, as Matt Galka tells us, some are worried that things will be much different next year.

195 more elementary schools and middle schools earned ‘A’ grades this year. Up 7 percent from last year.

“Grades are up, we’re very please by the hard work of teachers and administrators throughout the state of Florida, in fact it’s up more than we anticipated,” said Florida School Board Association Executive Director Wayne Blanton.

It’s a good sign in the last year of the current grading formula.  New Florida standards and a new state assessment test will replace the FCAT.  The Florida School Board Association expects the grades to look much different next year because of the changes

“Well the grades will be all over the place next year, and we’re still not sure what the final result of that will be, we’re just going to have to wait and see. But I’m confident that we will be in good shape,” said Blanton.

Even if the grades are turned completely upside down next year, schools will get a one year grace period to implement the new standards.

Schools are rewarded or penalized based on their grade. Senator Bill Montford who also represents the state’s superintendents says he hopes the one year grace period is enough.

“This fall we will get it ready, we will be ready to go, and then the truth will come out next spring when we take the exams. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope it all works out. If not, lets hope that we slow down, and pause, and lets get it right,” said Sen. Montford (D-Tallahassee).

Along with good news in the final year of grading, there was bad. ‘F’ grades were up, with 7 percent of schools receiving the low letter.

State Democrats wanted a longer grace period, as many as three years, to implement the new standards. That measure was shot down, but Montford said it could be revisited if one year proves to not be long enough for schools.

If you get a phone call about money you’ve won or owe and it doesn’t seem legitimate, you’re probably right. As Matt Galka tells us, there are plenty of scam artists trying to take advantage of people around the state this summer.

Maybe you’ve heard about the one targeting motorists.

“Various scams have surfaced across the country that seem to target motorists who have driven on a toll road or bridge,” said John O’Brien with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Or you’ve been tricked into thinking you won a large sum of money.

“There have been people telling another person that they have won, and they can’t cash the prize because they might be illegal, and so they want this person to cash it for them,” said Tom Delacenserie who is the Deputy of Security with the Florida Lottery.

These are just two examples of the scams sweeping Florida right now.  In both instances, consumers are being asked to provide banking information.  Experts say it’s one of the first signs of trouble

“Red flag number one, absolutely, we will never ask you for that information. We want the prize experience to be a good one,” said Delacenserie.

Many scams start with a phone call, or maybe an email.  Everything looks official, But if it sounds suspicious…it probably is.

Beth Frady with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation says problems can increase during hurricane season.  Unlicensed contractors can try to perform work on a weather damaged house…and that’s when a new storm of problems can occur.

“Someone can come in that is unqualified, unlicensed, having shown that they’re not qualified to do the work and they can be doing shoddy work on the house and that means that the consumer can potentially have to go back and hire someone that is licensed,” said Frady.

All of these scams have put the sunshine state at the top of a dubious list: Florida leads in the country in fraud complaints. In every instance, calling the official state or local agency to confirm what you may think is a fraud will be the easiest way to avoid getting scammed.

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis has ruled state lawmakers illegally drew the state’s congressional map to benefit the Republican Party and in so doing “made a mockery” of lawmakers proclaimed transparency. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the ruling won’t effect who you vote for this November, but it could impact voters (across the state in 2016.

The judge has ruled that two of the 27 congressional districts are unconstitutional, but redrawing the maps could lead to changes across the state. Jessica Lowe-Minor  from the League of Women Voters, which brought the law suit,  calls the decision historic.

“This judge firmly found, with no questions asked that there had been improper intent in drawing the maps” says Lowe-Minor.

The judge concluded political operatives drew maps, passed them on to third parties…who submitted them, thus avoiding scrutiny if their authors were known.The maps  was later praised as an example of public participation and then adopted.

Congressional District 5, which snakes from Jacksonville to Orlando was found to be invalid because it was packed with African American Democrats. That made surrounding districts more white and Republican. CD 10 in Central Florida was also thrown out because it’s odd shape worked to increase GOP voting performance.

In his 41 page ruling the judge also questioned why the legislative leadership and their staff members destroyed emails and documents relating to the map drawing. The judge noted there was no legal duty to preserve the emails, but then wondered why they were’t saved when leadership knew a lawsuit was “a moral certainity.”

The judge specifically said challenges to districts in Pinellas County and South Florida could not be proven. The League of Women Voters says the ruling is just the beginning.

“We’re seeing the impacts now, you know these types of secretive behind closed doors processes can’t continue” says Lowe-Minor.

The ruling is certain to be appealed, and it will be the Florida Supreme Court that has the final say.

While the ruling applied only to Congressional maps, The judge noted the same consultants found to be part of the map drawing conspiracy also worked on State Senate maps, which could now be open to challenge.

The state’s Department of Corrections is feeling the pressure from civil rights groups during a corruption crisis. As Matt Galka tells us, inmate deaths and whistleblower claims are starting to pile up.

Mentally-ill inmate Darren Rainey died two years ago at the Dade Correctional Institution. But his death was anything but natural.

Rainey was allegedly punished by prison guards and forced into a scalding hot shower for more than two hours.  He was basically cooked alive. The American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP, and other civil rights groups are calling for a federal investigation into the Department of Corrections for ignoring the incident.

“We need the department of Justice, the United States Department of Justice, to come to Florida to hold the Department of Corrections accountable and hold some of the guards responsible for the killing of inmates,” said ACLU Executive Director Howard Simon.

The problems for the DOC keep mounting – four investigators are suing the department seeking whistleblower protections. The lawsuit comes after alleged retaliation against the four employees after they discovered a misleading inmate death report at Franklin Correctional. Attorney Steven Andrews says inmate Randall Jordan-Aparo was gassed to death by guards at the state prison.

“That kid got an 18 month death sentence, is what it amounted to. Furthermore, I don’t know any circuit court judge would ever sentence someone to prison if they had any idea that they were going to be abused like these inmates apparently were,” said Andrews.

DOC Secretary Michael Crews travelled to South Florida Thursday for a full assessment of Rainey’s hot shower death.  Crews said he’s prepared to fire anyone involved. He announced Thursday that the Warden of Dade Correctional has been suspended for two years and placed on paid administrative leave.

Some politicians are household names, but nine people paid thousands of dollars to run for Governor, so we send Mike Vasilinda to find out what drives totally unknown people to run for the state’s highest office.

Florida’s current Governor enjoys virtually 100% name id…thanks to lots of face time on TV “We made a good start, but there’s more work to do,” chimes one of the latest. Ditto for his main rival, but then, he had the job before.

“I’ll fight for you.” Responds Charlie Crist in his first ad of the political season.

Nan Rich is the only other Democrat running and she’s got virtually no name ID.

In August, voters will see three names on the GOP ballot for Governor: Rick Scott, Elizabeth Cuevas-Neuunder, and Yinka Adeshina..maybe…the latter Adeshina had suspicious campaign filings. One shows a bank balance of just over 8 thousand, But her finance reports, before she stopped filing them, says she’s raised almost two hundred thousand. We asked the Secretary of State about the discrepancy. “For me to make any specific comments about that case would be, I think, premature, and inappropriate.” We asked: “So it is under review? “Ah, yes, it’s under review”

We went to Adeshina’s home, but no on answered the door and it was quiet inside, but we did talk to a political scientist Carol Weissert about why people, particularly unknown people, run for Governor. “There may be people who just want to see their name on the ballot. It’s easy to get on the ballot. You can say you ran for office. They’re not…History would tell us they’re probably not going to win” says Weissert who also adds they may just want to make a difference.

Once thee dust settles in August, there will still be four virtual unknowns who paid more than 5 thousand each to be on the November ballot.  And then there is Monroe Lee running as a write-in for Governor.

“Second time around.” he proudly told us the day he filed his paperwork.

The Secretary of State does say it is investigating the suspicious campaign filings of the one unknown candidate. Two reports have not been filed, and letters sent to the candidate say she would face a thousand dollar fine for each entry.

Floridians want a better immigration policy – at least according to a new poll released today.  As Matt Galka tells us, business groups are joining the call for immigration reform.

The call for national immigration reform came from the Sunshine State Wednesday. Business and faith groups stood together touting a just released survey showing that voters in both Florida and the rest of the country say our borders need fixing.

“An overwhelming majority of voters, including an overwhelming majority of Republicans are convinced the immigration system is broken,” said Rudy Fernandez – an adjunct professor for the University of Miami and former Special Assistant to George W. Bush.

Poll results showed that two out of three voters want a plan that strengthens border protections and increased visas for high skilled workers and farm laborers. Florida’s business leaders agreed.

The Florida Chamber says that a lack of immigration reform is actually handcuffing the state’s workforce. Leticia Adams with the chamber says Florida businesses are out of luck after the country hits a 65,000 visas per year cap.

“The process is outdated, burdensome, and there’s just not enough visas to go around,” said Adams.

The stakes are higher for people like Juan Escalante. Escalante immigrated from Venezuela as a kid.  He’s protected from deportation as a childhood arrival, but his parents have no guarantees.

“The fear is that my parents could be taken away from me at any time. That’s something that’s non-negotiable for me. My parents have worked hard, paid their taxes,” said Escalante.

The push for reform was part of the national day of action – with at least 60 other events being held around the country.

The groups didn’t know whether or not the recent surge of unaccompanied children entering the country illegally would prompt Congress to act.  The President has asked for nearly $4 billion dollars of aid to help the more than 60,000 children without parents who have crossed the border.

Marijuana went on sale today in Washington as it became the second state to legalize recreational marijuana. Colorado opened store fronts selling pot in January. Here in Florida, as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the business of pot was front and center at a hearing this week on how the state will regulate a very narrow kind of non high producing marijuana.

Idaho Springs, Colorado, population just over 1700. People come from miles around to buy legal and medical marijuana. Brian Vicente, who organized the push for legalizations says it has been good for Colorado. “We’re produced almost ten thousand news jobs in this field, We’ve produced, you know, tens of millions of dollars of tax revenue every year” says the Pot campaign veteran.

And judging from the attendance at a workshop developing rules for the sale of low THC marijuana, there is money to be made. Heather Zabinofsky came from California with 40 years experience, telling health officials “When is the right time to pull that plant? When is the right time? And you don’t dry them upside down!”

More than 40 Growers from across Florida are interested in just 5 licenses to grow marijuana…Initial setup: about two million. They came with high powered lobbyists familiar to capitol insiders.

The growers applying for licenses are looking past low dose THC. They’re hoping voters will approve Amendment 2.

The number of people who could be prescribed low dose THC could be 50 thousand, It could grow to more than a million if the full medical marijuana amendment becomes law.

One high profile lobbyist has already formed the The Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida (MMBAF).

And in Colorado, many pot shops are members of national business lobby groups…All evidence the business of pot is moving from the street corner to the board room.

While Florida isn’t talking about full legalization, a recent poll shows the medical marijuana amendment being supported by seven out of ten likely voters. It will need sixty percent to pass.

Curt Clawson has already been sworn into Congress following his victory in the June 24th special election, but as far as state elections officials are concerned, the results weren’t official until this morning

The Elections Canvassing Commission, made up of the Governor, Attorney General, and CFO made voted unanimously via phone to accept the vote.  Secretary of State Ken Detzner says the act provides certainty for the public.

“It is important for the public to have confidence in our elections process. Of course, we’ve just seen the candidates are qualifying, there’s an election, following an election, there‘s an official act that occurs. This certification of the campaign, which means candidates are elected officially. And I think it’s important for the confidence of the people to know we have a beginning, middle and end in an election process.”

In the 2000 election, the process of certifying an election was on center state as George Bush and Al Gore battled in court to win the official sanction.

Florida regulators began the process of making a low grade strain of marijuana available early next year to seriously ill patients. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the effort could be a blueprint for much wider distribution if voters approve a much broader use of medical marijuana this fall.

Holly Mosley and Paige Figi can be considered the mothers of low grade marijuana in Florida. Paige is the mother of Charlotte Figi . The Colorado mom was at her wits end as her daughter suffered one seizure after another with no cure in sight, until she helped create Charlotte’s Web.  “Her seizures were instantly abated, so here 300 a week seizures were down to zero her first week after her first dose” says Paige.

While Charlotte seizures have almost ended, Holly Mosley convinced Florida lawmakers to make the low grade CBD available for seriously ill Floridians. Holly’s daughter Ray Ann is still suffering. “Ray Ann is sick, and we are desperate, and we just…we know there is hope, you know something is working in Colorado, and we just want it here so badly for her.” (Q): And Quickly I resume? (A) Quickly”.

The suffering could soon end. Grower after grower told a panel of health officials they wanted a license to grow marijuana to produce the oil based cure. Ray Davis of Tampa was one of the growers making his pitch,  “I am not knowledgeable about growing marijuana. I intend to be” Davis told the panel.

At a day long, standing room only rule hearing, the state took the first step toward making non euphoric marijuana available to patients.

When all is said and done, just five nurseries will grow, harvest, and distribute the first strain of medical marijuana.

Under current law, marijuana is illegal..to grow or bring into the state…so, in essence, there  is no chicken or egg to come first. We asked bill sponsor Representative Matt Gaetz how the dilemma might be resolved. Q: “How do they start the growing process?”

“That’s an open question.”

By law, the first licenses must be issued by the end of the year.  Until those first licenses are issued, no growing can take place. But the framework being laid out by health officials may be the forerunner of how marijuana will be regulated if voters approve a broader form of medical marijuana this fall.

We all hate those unsolicited sales calls and more than half a million Floridians have placed their phone number on the Do Not Call List, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, even that isn’t stopping some marketers from calling when they shouldn’t.

So you’ve placed your number on the State’s Do Not Call list…but keep getting calls anyway…what do you do….Call here. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.n= Call Center employee Teresa Arnold says most callers are looking for a sympathethic ear.“A lot of them just want information,. They’ve been passed around so much, getting the run around” says the professional complaint taker.

Marketers who violate the Do Not Call list are currently the number one complaint of Florida consumers. We asked what happens when someone complains. Erin Gillespie  says there are several options. “Well, we can contact the company and determine if they have the most  updated list of phone numbers they’re not allowed to call. For violators who continue to violate the law, we will fine them” she says.

Tracy Grullon has heard it all. We asked: “What are people like when they call…are they anxious, are they mad? “

“Umm…we see a little bit of everything. Yes…we get people who are very mad sometimes” says Tracy.

The phones here ring forty thousand times a month,and one in every ten calls results in a complaint.

We found Christopher Hutchinson helping a caller file a complaint. “She was having trouble with a bill she received dealing with a dental problem or medical issue and she wanted to know if she could file a complaint with our office, and that option is available” says Hutchinson.

Besides do not call violators, differences from the posted price of fuel and the pump price and complaints about cable tv head the list of consumer complaints.

Last month the Department helped consumers recover six hundred thousand dollars in disputes with landlords and other merchants. To reach the call center the toll free line is 1-800-Help FLA. You can also go online to 1800helpfla,com.

Audubon Florida is warning beach goers to look out for nesting sea birds and not to trespass on marked nesting areas. They are also asking people not to shoot off fireworks, which could scare mother birds from the nest and cause the eggs to boil in the sun. Julie Wraithmell says sea bird nests are not what you imagine. “People think a nest is sticks in a tree, when in fact on a beach, a nest is just a shallow scrape in the sand. The eggs are speckled and the chicks are too. They’re adapted to freeze in the face of danger, so if people are trespassing in the posted areas, the chicks are vulnerable to crushing under foot. Sometimes people don’t even see them” says Wraithmell.

Twice last month, Audubon says nests were destroyed. In New Smyrna Beach, unleashed dogs attacked the nesting chicks, and motorcycle riders who ignored signs crushed multiple nests on Siesta Key.