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Prosecutors who decided not to charge FSU Quarterback Jameis Winston after he was accused of sexual assault today released two hundred and fifty pages detailing their investigation. More is still to come.

The investigative report shows the underage accuser and at least two friends were drinking at this Tallahassee bar just blocks from the entrance to the FSU Campus.

One companion saw the accuser give Jameis Winston her phone number. A short time later she received a text to ‘meet me outside.’

All witnesses and the accuser agree she got into a cab with three black males. They were dropped off at this apartment complex. It is here that witnesses for James Winston say she was the aggressor and willing participated. Her statement was that she was lifeless asking him stop.

Prosecutors said on Thursday, there was a lot she couldn’t remember. “Her blood-alcohol level at the time her blood was taken was point zero four, which is not very high. And we found no evidence of any drugs of any sort in her blood system,” says Willie Meggs, States Attorney.

In text messages, the accuser tells one of her companions ‘I was in the hospital all night.’

‘Oh my god, what happened?’ responded the friend.

‘I got raped. I don’t want to text about it.’

The report shows the accuser wavering on whether she should pursue charges. Prosecutors do believe something happened. “I know there was a sexual event that occurred,” says Meggs.     

But in the end prosecutors decided that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove a crime.

A national progress report shows the achievement gap for Florida students continues to decrease. As Matt Horn reports minority students are still performing at substantially lower levels than their white counterparts.

A national report card on Florida’s education system shows the achievement-level of students increasing, while the performance gap for minorities is getting smaller.

“We’re very very excited by the progress we’ve made in the state of Florida. We are celebrating that victory,” said Juhan Mixon, Florida Association of School Administrators.

One of the biggest tests for educators is closing the achievement gap between white and black students and between white and Hispanic students.

“It’s a priority in classrooms and school districts around the state that every child get a year worth of knowledge in a year time,” said Joe Follick, Florida Department of Education.

Since 1992 – the gap between white and black students has closed significantly quicker than the gap between white and Hispanic students. In Math – the performance gap decreased by 11 percent in the last 20 years.

“It was not surprising, that our Hispanic students and African American students are closing the achievement gap faster than most states,” said Mixon.

The only minority to outperform their white counterparts is Asian students. Overall, the percentage of students performing at or above basic continues to increase.

“We have made significant change in the environment in this state in learning,” said Mixon.

The Department of Education continues to stress family involvement to help student’s performance.

“We try to spread the word with the districts around the state about mentoring opportunities, after school opportunities,” said Follick. “That’s some of the key factors as well.”

Not only are test schools showing a smaller gap in achievement – more minorities are graduating from high school.

Florida Lawmakers’ votes on medical marijuana have been repeatedly blocked at the state capitol. Now the state’s top leaders are asking the Florida Supreme Court to keep the issue away from voters during the 2014 election. As Matt Horn reports, justices had tough questions for both sides.

There list of opponents to medical marijuana at the Florida Supreme Court was a long one.

The issue before the court is whether the 75 word ballot summary accurately tells voters about the amendment. Judges had tough questions for both sides.

”I couldn’t function because of the back pain. Is that a condition or a disease?” said Justice Barbara Pariente.

In the end, opponents argue the amendment was unclear and violated a single subject rule.

Polls show 82 percent of people support medical marijuana, but if the opponents get their way, supporters won’t get a chance to cast a vote.

Attorney John Morgan is spearheading the medical marijuana amendment and says the question is as clear as it can be.

”People want what they want and at the end of the day people are going to get what they want,” said Morgan.

The Court took the case under advisement and has until April to rule, but the deadline for gathering signatures is February 1st.

Medical Marijuana bills have died in the Florida Legislature for the last three years. Lawmakers never had the opportunity to vote on any of the bills.

No charges will be filed after a three week sexual assault case involving star FSU Quarterback Jameis Winston. The State’s Attorney says proving a crime would have been difficult.

The alleged rape took place off the FSU campus a year ago this coming Saturday. “We’ve carefully examined all the evidence in this case and have concluded that no charges will be filed against anyone in this case,” says Willie Meggs, State’s Attorney.

As of Monday this week, the state said it was waiting for key evidence. The report came back Wednesday. “There were DNA from males, one was identified as being Winston’s DNA and the other one was unknown,” says Meggs.

The veteran prosecutor has not been shy pressing charges against Football players in the past. “Her testimony has basically has some problems with it. She can’t remember some of the things,” says Meggs.

He says the victims statement’s created problems the case could not overcome. “Which leads us to the point that we did not feel like we could move forward with the prosecution,” says Meggs.

A statement from the family thanked the States Attorney, Criticized the police for delaying the investigation and said the young woman worried the media scrutiny would discourage others from reporting a rape.

Jameis Winston’s attorney says justice has been done. “There will be people that will always think of Mr. Winston and think about this allegation, you can’t stop people from believing what they want to believe and it’s difficult. But our society says you’re innocent until proven guilty,” says Tim Jansen, Jameis Winston Attorney.

Despite widely circulated social media reports, the State’s attorney said there was no evidence the alleged victim knew Jameis Winston before the alleged event or communicated with him after the sexual encounter.

Florida Environmentalists are closing in on a magic number of signatures they need to put a land buying amendment on next year’s ballot. They expect to cross the finish line next week.

A third of every dollar in taxes on real estate deals in Florida goes into a trust fund. The money is supposed to be used to buy land to conserve. But each year lawmakers raid the trust fund and leave only a portion, if any, for land conservation.

After being cut year after year, environmentalists are close to collecting enough signatures to force a vote next November. If successful, lawmakers would have to spend the money on land and water conservation. “We think by next week we’ll cross the nine hundred ten thousand mark and that is, you know if you collect nine hundred ten thousand you essentially have 25 percent that aren’t valid, we’re comfortable that that’s going to get us- that’s going to get us there,” says Aliki Moncrief, Water and Land Legacy.

In its first year the amendment would guarantee about 650 million for land purchases, it would grow each year as the state grows. “It’s basically taking a portion of a fee that’s collected anyway, it’s a collection that is very much tied to development,” says Moncrief.

No one opposed this amendment when it was before the Florida Supreme Court, but that is about to be changing.

State lawmakers who control purse strings are starting to complain, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says he supports conserving land, But… “It seems like bad public  policy to try write the state’s budget into the constitution,” Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner.

If approved by 60 percent those who vote next November, the Amendment would only stay in the Constitution for the next 20 years.

Teachers across the state are still waiting for a pay increase months after lawmakers made extra money available. As Matt Horn reports, districts say the governor’s recommendation is difficult when the math doesn’t add up.

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14 of Florida’s 67 school districts still haven’t given raises to teachers. Governor Rick Scott pushed for teacher increases earlier this year.

“We need to do an across the board twenty five hundred dollar pay raise for each and every one of our classroom teachers,” said Florida Governor Rick Scott(R)

At one of Florida’s smallest districts, administrators have been negotiating over how much of a raise teachers will get. Jefferson County schools have had a hard time reaching an agreement because they say the math doesn’t add up.

“It comes to around $1,600 so the governor never sent down $2,500 for each teacher,” said Robert Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of the Jefferson County school district.

School districts got the money to give every teacher a raise in July, but one out of every three districts has yet to deliver on the promise of a raise.

Republican State Representative Halsey Beshears voted in favor of the pay increase for teachers. He says he’s disappointed teachers in his home town still haven’t received pay increases.

“I do understand there are two sides to every story, but these teachers deserve the raises. They should have had this done before the school year started,” said Halsey.

Mark Pudlow, spokesman for Florida’s largest teacher union, says there are a number of reasons the 14 counties cut a deal on the increase.

“In some places the contract negotiations go well and go quickly. In other places its a little more contentious,” said Pudlow.

After a contract agreement is made, teachers will receive back pay going back to the beginning of the school year.

For decades, a Florida Grown Christmas tree has graced the State Capitol and Governors have helped Rabbi’s light a Menorah, but there is a new first at the Capitol for this Christmas.

It’s not unusual for school children to sing at the Capitol. What is unusual is their choice of songs.

They are celebrating the first nativity scene in the state Capitol in at least four decades and perhaps ever.

The idea is the brainchild of a Naples man and the Florida Prayer network which says it is time to put Christ back in Christmas. “You know what happens every time we have a tragedy in America? People ask for prayer. How about if we pray before it happens and we say ‘God, you are welcome in our nation once again.’ That is why we are here today,” says Pam Olsen, FL Prayer Network.

A Catholic Priest prayed.

And a Young Cuban Immigrant prayed for future Generations.

A Menorah has been a regular fixture inside these halls for Decades.

All of the columns around the Menorah and the Nativity scene contain this disclaimer. It says the state doesn’t endorse or sponsor the views.

Now that the state has declared the area a public forum, the ACLU says it will be impossible to deny other groups access. “They’re not going to be able to give permission to some groups that they like and deny permission to groups they may not like,” says Howard Simon, ACLU Florida.

The display was paid for with private donors, including Hobby Lobby, which is waging a campaign over religious beliefs at the US Supreme Court.

Supervisors of Elections are fighting back after the Secretary of State sent a directive ordering them not to collect absentee ballots anywhere but their office. But as Matt Horn reports – the supervisors say voters should come first.

With the gubernatorial election less than a year away, another fight is ramping up with the Secretary of State and Supervisors of Election. “The directive’s not worth the paper it’s written on,” said Ion Sancho, Leon County Supervisor.

In a memo sent by Secretary of State Ken Detzner, Supervisors of Elections are being told not accept any absentee ballots not turned into a supervisor’s office. The supervisor’s attorney says the battle may have to be settled in court. “If you have a major difference of opinion about how a law is to be construed, there are the courts,” said Ron Labasky, Supervior’s Attorney.

We reached out to the Secretary of State, who works for the Governor, several times. They refused to respond to my requests.

In 2012, several hundred thousand Floridians used drop off locations. “It is something that we’ve found to be very popular with the voters in the areas it’s done,” said Labasky.

Sancho says he will continue following Florida law, not the memo sent out by Detzner. “I think Secretary of State Ken Detzner is taking too many cues from the governor. And quite frankly he needs to listen to the citizens whom he’s supposed to serve,” said Sancho.

The Pinellas County supervisor is also ignoring the directive. Pinellas County is preparing for a special election to replace recently deceased Representative Bill Young. Supervisors using the drop offs remain confident they following state law. “We have statutes that are passed by the Florida legislature, which we’re required to follow,” said Sancho.

Labasky says the drops off locations for absentee ballots are secure.

Supervisors of Elections are set to meet in Sarasota later this month.

If you’re looking to catch amazing online deals – today is the day to shop online. But, as Matt Horn reports – Cyber Monday may be good for shoppers, but not for Florida.

Holiday décor is hung at brick and mortar stores. The holiday shopping season is in high gear.

“Thanksgiving time and Christmas time a lot of folks come to Florida and while they’re here they buy things,” said Rick McAllister.

Holiday shopping is expected to by up four percent this year. On line purchases are skyrocketing…up fifteen percent.

“Holiday sales in Florida are expected to be for the months of November and December 60 billion dollars,” said John Fleming.

Although the deals are good for customers…it is bad for the state treasury. Few if any online shoppers are paying state sales taxes.

“If that retailer doesn’t have a presence in the state of Florida they don’t have the same requirements to collect sales tax,” said Fleming.

In Florida – if you buy something online and the merchant doesn’t have brick and mortar building in the state – you don’t have to pay the sales tax you owe when you checkout.

And the failure to collect is costing the state treasury up to a billion dollars a year.

“If you’re buying from somebody like Amazon for example that does not yet have a facility in the state of Florida. Amazon is not going to add that sales tax on,” said Fleming.

It’s a state and Federal problem. . Three bills in Washington, DC would change sales tax laws across the country to include sales made online. Here in Florida – consumers are still required to fill out sales tax forms if they aren’t charged.

“Go to Department of Revenue and look for the form DR-15 that’s what you’re supposed to be filling yourself,” said Fleming.

Only an estimated 4 thousand forms paying online taxes voluntarily are filed each year.

Early Black Friday estimates show there were more shoppers out in Florida – but sales remained relatively flat.

No news is good news for the FSU football team when it comes to the investigation into sexual assault allegations made against star quarterback Jameis Winston. The team leaves for a conference championship game on Thursday, and it is unlikely the case will be resolved before they leave.

The State’s Attorney says the investigation and the allegations of sexual assault involving FSU quarterback Jameis Winston, is to get ready for a decision. “We just have a few things left that we feel like we need to do and we’re working on them, presently. [Time table?] Well you know, I’d hate to set a time table. I don’t know when you’re dependent on other people,” says Willie Meggs, State’s Attorney (2nd Judicial Circuit).

The state attorney says he still have questions waiting for answers but he says if he doesn’t get that information that may be all the answer he needs.

FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher has refused to answer questions about the investigation. Jameis Winston got off to a slow start Saturday, throwing an interception, then recovering. Coach Fisher says Winston is handling the pressure well. “That he’s prepared very well and I think he’s played very well and he’s led our team very well,” says Jimbo Fisher, FSU Head Coach.

Until the allegations surfaced, Winston was considered a frontrunner for the Heisman trophy. Voting is next week. The Quarterbacks attorney has asked the State to speed up its investigation. But Prosecutor Meggs says a decision on what to do will be made when the time is right. “You know, I’m not working on the Heisman schedule or the football schedule. We’re working as hard as we can work,” says Willie Meggs.

The case is not expected to be resolved before Thursday, when FSU leaves for its conference championship game in Charlotte.

An incurable disease is creating havoc and hardship for citrus farmers across Florida. The ripple effect will be felt nationwide. 

In Florida’s citrus growing counties, farmers are under the weather because an unwelcome guest. “Florida is the largest producer of oranges in the entire nation. So when you talk about something that affects citrus in Florida you’re talking about something that has a ripple effect throughout our entire state economy,” says John Fleming, Florida Retail Federation.

Citrus greening — a blight the Chinese call Yellow Dragon Disease, is spreading. Once a tree is infected un-ripened green oranges fall from the tree. “I’ve never seen anything put Florida growers and Brazilian growers on the same page as much as the threat of this disease,” says Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner.

The disease has no cure. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says the outlook is dire. “There is not a long range cure on the table,” says Putnam.

Citrus is a 9 billion dollar industry for Florida. But greening and falling demand are threatening the future of the industry. “This continues to be the greatest threat the state citrus industry has ever faced,” says Putnam.

The disease has already claimed 8-thousand citrus jobs.  75-thousand still work in the industry. “It’s very important to the state of Florida. Talk about thousands of jobs this affects,” says Fleming.

Citrus is grown across the southern two thirds of Florida.

Tis the season for many people to open their hearts and wallets to those less fortunate, but when it comes to charitable giving in Florida, it’s a case of giver beware.

Allied Veterans of the World masqueraded as a charity for years. Allied Veterans’ Video says, “Allie Veterans supports charitable activities and communities throughout Florida.”

All the while pocketing millions operating internet cafes.

These guys got away with what they were doing for so long because no one but prosecutors had the power to stop them. “The single biggest flaw in Florida’s charity regulation is that there is no regulation, it is a registration,” says Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner.

After Allied Veterans, the push is on to hold charities more accountable. “If you’ve been in trouble in another state you’d be prohibited from doing business in Florida raising money, soliciting money in Florida. You wouldn’t be allowed to have felons soliciting contributions,” says Putnam.

For now, You can check on your favorite charity at the Dept of Agriculture’s online Gift Givers guide.

Type in the name and up comes an accounting of what percent went to program expenses, administration, or fundraising. “But they present themselves with a similar name,” says Alyce Lee Stansbury, Consultant for Non Profits.

Alyce Lee Stansbury advises non-profits. She says most people get into trouble when the not so good charities imitate the strong ones. “Then they may end up making a gift to an organization that isn’t providing the same impact,” says Stansbury.

So if you are moved this holiday season to do something for someone less fortunate, the experts say paying attention to detail will make sure the cash you donate ends up doing the good work you intended.

The Air Force wants to operate training missions in two state forests. Blackwater near Pensacola and Tate’s Hell in Franklin County. The plan is raising eyebrows among environmentalists who say approval is moving too fast with no public input.

An 1885 Legend has it that a farmer named Tate wandered into this swap, was snake bit and lost for seven days. When he wandered back out, he said he’d been to hell. Now this pristine area is known as Tate’s Hell. “Critical estuary of Apalachicola bay,” says Jim Karels, State Forester.

Tate’s Hell is one of two state forests the Air Force wants to use as a training ground. The state signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year. “All that agreement says, we’ll talk to you, we’ll entertain looking at opportunities,” says Karels.

It is that vagueness that has environmentalists and locals worried.

There has been little public input so far and the fear is that Floridians are being told, your tax payers bought this land, but you can’t use it.

Franklin County Commission Chair Cheryl Saunders questioned the proposal at a recent Senate meeting. “We have had no public input what so ever,” says Cheryl Saunders, Chair, Franklin County Commission.

Both Tate’s Hell and Blackwater State Forest, which is the other proposed training sight,  are home to dozens of species on the endangered or threatened list. Those asking questions are quick to say they support the military mission. But they worry the plan is being rushed with little or no public input. “There are ways to do this compatibility and this is just a matter of accountability and transparency and making sure that the public interest is protected,” says Julie Wraithmell, Audubon Florida.

An obscure state board is set to discuss the plan to allow training at Blackwater State Forest on December 12th.

Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year and it is also the day more guns are typically sold in Florida than on any other day. 2013 is poised to set a record when it comes to firearm purchases.

Firearms will be literally jumping off the shelves across Florida this weekend.

More than 6 thousand guns are expected to be sold on Friday alone. By the end of the year, the state will have conducted a record eight hundred thousand plus background checks, that’s double the number of background checks conducted in 2007. “Our goal is to ensure that all law-abiding citizens are able to purchase guns legally while preventing those who are unauthorized from having them,” says Robin Sparkman, Firearm Purchase Program Supervisor.

Background checks are conducted twelve hours a day, every day everyday of the year but Christmas and New Years. It takes 62 people to keep up with all the calls coming in to the Department of Law Enforcement.

Only about 2 percent of the background checks requested by licensed firearm dealers like this one are refused.

With so many guns being sold, Robert Kornegay thinks guns, and gun safety are a good investment. He and his family opened this indoor shooting range three months ago. “Public safety is number one with the people today and people want to have a firearm but they want to be safe,” says Robert Kornegay, Shooting Range Owner.

The range charges twenty dollars an hour to shoot, before making the investment Robert did the math. “We saw the trend of gun sales going up, we thought that would be a good place for us to be,” says Kornegay

Just over 5 point 1 million guns were sold in Florida over the last decade.

If you are a fan of oyster dressing with your turkey, chances are the oysters you buy won’t be from Apalachicola. The once world famous delicacy are becoming harder and harder to find.

At this Tallahassee seafood market just 80 miles from what used to be the world famous oyster producing Apalachicola bay, these oysters are from Texas.

It’s gotten so that this seafood market doesn’t even bother trying to get Apalachicola oysters anymore because they are simply too difficult to get.

When times were good, Apalachicola oystermen were limited to 20 bags a day.  They supplied ten percent of the nations oysters and demand always outstripped supply. They wish they could be so lucky these days. “We starving to death, God bless y’all,” says Kenny Rucker, Oysterman.

While two bags a day is now the norm, it could get worse. Low oyster count force Fish and Wildlife regulators to close the bay on weekends. “The idea is to give the, the bay a little bit of a break from harvest and hopefully that would help increase the numbers in future years,” says Amanda Nally, FWC Spokesperson.

The Seafood Workers Association President wants to see harvesting shut down completely and the oystermen put back to work replanting shells. “I like to see the bay close and the oystermen go in and restore our bay. That way we could still sustain our living here,” says Shannon Hartsfield, Pres. Apalachicola Seafood Workers Assn.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says the bay is wrongly playing second fiddle to other water issues in the state. “Apalachicola bay needs to be an all hands on deck approach,” says Adam Putnam, Agriculture Commissioner.

And the shortage of Apalachicola oysters is pushing up the price of oysters from everywhere, nearly doubling what consumers pay for a dozen.