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AARP Florida is teaming up with American Eldercare to find more state dollars for programs that keep seniors out of nursing homes.

The groups conducted a poll showing seven out of 10 Florida voters support the Nursing Home Diversion Program. Robert Schemel, President of American Eldercare, says the program is cheaper than sending patients to a nursing home.

“This is approximately 1/3 the cost of keeping someone in a nursing home. It crosses all lines, Democrats, Republicans, male, female, all age groups. A very high percentage would really rather see people have a choice and stay in their homes rather than the elderly be forced to stay in a nursing home,” said Schemel.

American Eldercare is Florida largest contractor for the Nursing Home Diversion Program. The company helps 15,000 Floridians remain in their homes.

One in nine Florida women will be the victim of sexual assault at some point in their lives.

The Florida Department of Health is launching an educational campaign to help cut down on the number of rapes and assaults. The campaign called “Rape, Talk About It, Prevent It” targets teens statewide and encourages conversation about sexual violence. Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros said the campaign will enlist the help of educators and religious leaders.

“We are working with our schools, our colleges, our faith-based organizations, again with many many community partners to makes sure this message of being preventive in your conduct, of being responsible in your conduct, and everybody deserves to be treated with respect,” said Viamonte Ros

The campaign is underway with billboards and posters on display throughout the state. Radio ads will begin playing in mid-September.

State lawmakers are reviewing a new gaming deal to expand gambling at Seminole casinos. The new deal would bring in 7 billion dollars for education over the next 20 years. As Whitney Ray tells us, schools have hit the jackpot but they won’t collect unless lawmakers, upset over what was left out of the deal, give the go ahead.

Whether or not lawmakers will approve the new gaming deal is anybody’s guess. Lawmakers wanted Black Jack limited to four casinos. The governor agreed to seven. Lawmakers wanted the gaming deal to last just 15 years. The governor agreed to 20. Lawmakers wanted the option to expand gambling elsewhere in Florida. The governor gave the tribe exclusivity.

That could be a problem because state lawmakers still have to sign off on the deal. The state legislature is expected to hold a special session in October. Governor Charlie Crist said if lawmakers don’t accept the deal the state could lose billions.

“My concern, if we don’t, that the legislature doesn’t, is that the federal government will allow them to do it anyway and we won’t get a dime of the money,” said Crist.

But if the legislature does approve the deal Florida schools will get seven billion dollars over the course of the agreement.

“In this state we are well below the national average and we’ve experienced cuts four times over the last couple of years so we need to recapture money best we can,” said FEA Spokesman Mark Pudlow.

Crist and the Seminole Tribe are betting on the boost to education funding to gain legislative approval.

One in every 123 Florida men has HIV or AIDS, according to a new study by the Florida Department of Health.

Among African American men the ratio is much higher. One in 44 Black men has the virus. Florida has the third highest HIV-AIDS population in the country. Ronald Henderson with the Department of Health helped write the study. Henderson said men need to better protect themselves against STDs.

“Men have to take responsibility for their sexual actions, their sexual health. And we, as men, generally don’t take responsibility for our health in general. So we need to look at men and require them to go to the doctors and go get annual physical examinations, including HIV tests,” said Henderson.

To check out the report go to http://www.wemakethechange.com/documents/ManUpReport2009.pdf

Governor Charlie Crist, who is expected to call a special session on gambling for October, says oil drilling may be brought into the discussion.

Legislation to give the state cabinet the authority to approve oil drilling off the coast of Florida failed in the legislature last year. The House passed the bill, but the Senate never took it up. Crist said the legislation wasn’t given enough attention.

“Obviously it would have to be something that would be introduced by the legislature. So, you know, they sort of have first base authority, if you will, as in regards to that. But, I think it dovetails off of some of the discussion that we had at the end of session last year, which was, at the time, I thought, a little hasty,” said Crist.

No bill has been proposed yet, but state legislation to allow drilling off the coast of Florida is in the works.

The state’s pension fund is making a rebound after losing nearly 20 percent of its values last year.

The fund that pays benefits to retired government employees fell to 83 billion dollars last year. Now there’s 106 billion dollars in the investment fund. The state’s catastrophe fund is also improving. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said if a hurricane struck tomorrow the state could borrow billions of dollars to help pick up the pieces.

“The markets have improved, so if we had to go out and bond, the expectation is six months ago, we thought we could only get three billion dollars in the market. Today, they think that we could get as much as eight billion dollars. So, that’s all good news about reducing the peoples’ exposure to the impact of big hurricane,” said Sink.

The financial updates came after Sink called for more transparency and oversight of the state’s investments. Today was the first of several meeting to be held four times a year.

Drivers have until midnight to renew their driver’s licenses or car tags online to avoid paying price increases of a third or more. The higher processing fees go into effect tomorrow. But there’s just one problem, logging-in. As Whitney Ray tells us, traffic on the website has shut the system down.

The state’s online tag and license renewal site has seen an 85 percent spike in traffic, making it nearly impossible to log on. Annette Hackett tried three times.

“I did Friday and I tried this morning, and last night and it said it was down for repairs,” said Annette.

Frustrated by her failed attempts to log on, Annette showed up to renew her car tags in person, adding stress to the DMV’s already overloaded computer system.

“It’s been an all hands on deck call for us. Every available resource has been put in to place. Our examiners are working late. Our I.T. staff has been in place,” said David Westberry, the Director of Communications for the Florida DMV.

Terryn Butler is back for the third time because her previous two attempts to renew her tags were stopped by computer problems.

“I had come in last week twice, but there were glitches in the system,” said Terryn.

Thousands of people are trying to renew early to avoid higher licensing and registration fees. After waiting nearly an hour Eliana Hammons checked to make sure she wasn’t skipped.

“I asked if they had missed my number because I thought I had missed it and she told me it was going to be a while,” said Eliana.

But if you have patience, the wait is worth the while. Some people we spoke with will save 200 to 300 hundred dollars by renewing before the deadline. The state has extended DMV office hours until 6:30 tonight. People who make it through the door before then will have a chance to renew their tags and licenses at the old prices. Some people will be given vouchers allowing them to renew at the old price up until September 10th. Drivers can renew online until midnight at www.gorenew.com, but there are no vouchers for people who can’t get through.

Governor Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe have agreed on a gambling deal. Last minute maneuvering and concerns by key lawmakers kept the clock ticking until mid afternoon on this, the final day to reach agreement. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, there is a pile of cash riding on the deal.

There is already 162 million, five hundred thousand dollars sitting in the state treasury, paid to the state by the Seminole Tribe, but not a dime of it can go to schools or anything else until a deal is finalized.

That will take an act of the legislature. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp is anxiously awaiting the cash.

“You know, it’s always been a priority for the governor and me to not only hold education harmless, but to try to increase funding for education, even in these tough budget times, and this will help us do that,” Kottkamp said.

Negotiations took place over a good part of last week in this law firm a block from the state Capitol. The deal to let the tribe keep high stakes poker, black jack and other games has been up in the air for weeks.

As recently as Friday, key lawmakers were raising questions as to whether the governor was giving away too much.

Until lawmakers ratify what the governor has negotiated, the cash stays put.

And if lawmakers balk at the expansion of gambling, the state may never see a dime.

The Governor first signed a Gambling deal with the Seminoles in 2007, but it was thrown out by the state Supreme Court seven months later after state lawmakers successfully argued the expansion of gambling wasn’t allowed by state law.

Read the Compact here: 2009831-compact

George LeMieux, a long time friend and advisor to Governor Charlie Crist, will be Florida’s next US Senator. Crist made the appointment this morning after two weeks of interviews across the state. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the choice is not without critics.

The announcement was made in the Historic Old Capitol’s Senate Chambers. It was here that US Senators were chosen by lawmakers before the people got to choose in 1913.

“I want you to know that I am very happy for my friend and I am extremely happy for my state because I know that George LeMieux will serve as a United States senator in a way that will make all of us proud and grateful,” Crist said.

Responding to a thunderous round of applause, LeMieux’s little son covered his ears.

George LeMieux made it clear, he won’t seek the seat in 2010, an election Charlie Crist is hoping to win.

“It’s a tremendous honor and responsibility to do well for the people. Max, Taylor, and Chase mean everything to me and I’ll be thinking about them everyday when I’m in Washington trying to do well for the people,” LeMieux said.

Critics argue Crist has added to his campaign team at taxpayers’ expense, and that it’s almost as if the Governor had appointed himself.

“He’s his own man and he’s a great man,” Crist said.

There’s a reason he didn’t.

Nine governors have chosen to appoint themselves to a vacant senate seat. Only one of them was able to keep it.

Vivian Mrytetus worked with both before and after the gubernatorial election.

Someone commented today, they finish each other’s sentences.

“I’ve seen it happen on more than one occasion,” Myrtetus said.

Few doubt LeMieux is qualified. And he is the person Charlie Crist could trust most not to want the job at the next election.

The governor interviewed 10 people for the job. One, Congressman Bill Young of St. Pete, said no, leaving nine other contenders.

Unemployment benefits will run out for more than 31-thousand jobless Floridians by the end of September. By year’s end 132-thousand Floridians will have exhausted their unemployment pay. As Whitney Ray tells us, once the money’s gone many people will lose their homes to foreclosure.

Jamie Alexander has been unemployed since last November and his 300 dollar a week unemployment check will stop coming soon. He doesn’t like to think about it.

“It will be hard. I can’t really say,” said Jamie.

Vincent Smith, an out of work caretaker, is also concerned about living without an income.

“I have a mortgage I have to pay. I just came back from paying a utility bill. I want to make sure I keep my lights on,” said Vincent.

By the end of September 31,500 Floridians will have used up all their unemployment benefits. By year’s end an estimated 132,000 people will join the ranks.

Marc Taps, the senior attorney with North Florida Legal services says once people’s benefits run out, it will be hard for many to save their homes.

“It’s very difficult to work out a modification or work with a mortgage company when there is no income,” said Taps.

Florida has the highest rate of foreclosure in nation, and with thousands of more Floridians losing their income, it will make a bad problem worse.

The price you pay for a drivers license or a new car tag will more than double next Tuesday. Lawmakers voted to raise the fees to raise 800 million dollars to help fill a 3 billion dollar budget hole. As Whitney Ray tells us, drivers are racing to the DMV to renew their licenses and tags before prices go up.

If you drivers license expires before February 2011 you can renew it before Tuesday and avoid paying the hire cost.

Frank Fitzpatrick brought a file folder full of paperwork to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

“I renewed four vehicles and a trailer,” said Fitzpatrick.

Frank renewed early to beat a September price increase. Tuesday the price to renew a drivers license, replace a lost license or register a new vehicle will more than double.

Drivers are rushing to the DMV to beat the deadline. Stephanie Sheppard just replaced her lost license for 10 bucks, the new price will be 25.

“I’m actually really grateful that I beat the deadline. Being a college student, 25, is a bit more to choke down,” said Sheppard.

Katheryn Giles beat the deadline and paid 20 dollars to renew her license. The new price will be 48. Katheryn says the increase isn’t justified.

“It took him 10 minutes. He has all the information already in the computer. Nothing is new. I think it is ridiculous,” said Katheryn.

Money from the increased prices will be pumped into the state’s bank account. The money is used to pay for everything from schools to the salaries of state employees.

More than 100 inmates at prisons around the state have contracted swine flu since the first Florida case was confirmed in May.

The Department of Corrections is keeping a close eye on inmates to try and avoid a major outbreak. The department will quarantine inmates who show flu like symptoms and cancel visitation if an outbreak occurs. DOC Spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said keeping sick inmates away from the general population will help stop outbreaks.

“We treat and segregate those who are sick. Those who may have been exposed we put movement restrictions in place so they’re not going to other facilities so they could possible spread it else where,” said Plessinger.

The swine flu is generally brought into the prison by guards, visitors and new inmates. As far as vaccinating is awaiting word from the CDC on whether to vaccinate inmates.

Labor Day is just over a week away and many Floridians are planning on staying close to home.

Triple-A is predicting a 20 percent drop in tourism during the holiday weekend. The prediction comes after a shaky second quarter for the state’s tourism industry. Last quarter, travel was down 10 percent. Brenda Smith, a spokeswoman with AAA said that while traveling may be down, folks will still be spending money close to home.

“Many of our Florida travelers are planning to do some just local, but away from home, weekend trips. Some will be doing camping trips; some are going to go to other areas that doesn’t involve large theme parks- more of a quiet family outing,” said Smith.

The state relies heavily on sales tax dollars from tourists to run state government. A decline in tourism has led to higher fees and spending cuts.

Several cities are being sued over taking pictures of red light runners, in order to send traffic tickets to violators. The lawsuits claim the cameras are illegal because the state hasn’t adopted regulations to govern the use of the cameras. As Whitney Ray tells us, the suits aren’t stopping more cities from hooking up the red light cameras.

Thousands of red light runners who think they pulled off a perfect caper have been surprised days later with a ticket in the mail. 35 Florida cities and counties have set up red light cameras to catch daring drivers, collecting millions in fines.

Now drivers are fighting back filing several lawsuits. The suits claim the cameras are illegal because the state hasn’t adopted rules to govern their use.

A bill to establish statewide regulations for red light cameras has failed in the legislature several years in a roll.

Tallahassee will roll out red-light cameras in October. Police Officer David McCranie said the suits haven’t slowed down the plan.

“You can litigate anything and we are going to let that process work its way out and we are going to be in tune and make sure that we are doing what is appropriate and right by our citizens, but until it works itself through the justice system, it’s perfectly legal,” said McCranie.

Drivers say the cameras aren’t fair and are just a tool to bring in more money.

“They try to nip you for everything,” said Candyace Harden.

Mary Rault wasn’t sure how she felt about the cameras, but that all changed Saturday when she was T-boned by a red-light runner.

“Before I wasn’t so sure about that, you know I probably would have said no, but now that I’ve been in an accident, it makes me think maybe yes,” said Rault.

If red-light runners win the lawsuits, cities and counties will double their efforts for statewide regulations. The ticket for running a red light is about 125 dollars but can get more expensive depending on court cost.

Governor Charlie Crist is still searching for a replacement for former US Senator Mel Martinez.

Martinez stepped down on August 7th. Since then Crist has been on a statewide interviewing campaign to find a replacement. Crist says he’ll make a decision soon.

“It’s been a very thorough process as I wanted it to be and hopefully we will be able to make a decision by the end of this week, early part of next week,” said Crist.

Crist’s former Chief of Staff George Lemieux, Former Attorney General Jim Smith, and Former US Attorney Bobby Martinez are said to be the front runners for the Senate job.