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A state college is on high alert tonight after one of its students died from a form of meningitis. Florida A&M University Senior Courtney Simms died Monday in Tallahassee from what was later confirmed as a viral form of meningitis. As Whitney Ray tells us, Florida college students aren’t required to get a meningitis vaccination, but in order to opt out of the shot they have to sign a waiver.

Florida A&M is mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars. FAMU Senior Courtney Simms, a journalism student who anchored a campus news show, died Monday. Health officials say she contracted a viral form of meningitis.

Even though the type of meningitis Simms contracted is contagious, the good news for students is she wasn’t living on campus. A FAMU health official says people who were in close contact with Simms aren’t showing signs of sickness. Still students are taking extra precautions.

“It could take away your life so I need to make sure that I keep myself safe and find out what I could do to prevent it from happening to me,” said FAMU Freshman Alexandria Collins.

Freshman Javarius Saunders began the year concerned about Swine Flu. Now he’s worried about meningitis.

“I was really like, ‘whoa’, because I never knew anything about meningitis. I didn’t know anything like that was contagious,” said Javarius.

Rules adopted by the University Systems Board of Governors in 2008 requires all incoming students to be vaccinated or sign a form opting out. FSU had the policy in place long before the board voted.

“The consequences are so tragic and severe that we want to make sure everyone of our students knows, this is an informed decision you have got to make because it could save your life,” said FSU Division of Student Affairs Director Lesley Sacher.

But getting vaccinated doesn’t guarantee immunity, because there are so many strains of the virus. As of right now there’s no word on whether or not Simms was vaccinated.

Doctors are vaccinating children as young as 12, but the shot wears off after five years. Health experts want children who were vaccinated while they were young to get another shot before they enter college. Meningitis symptoms are similar to those of the flu, except severe neck pain accompanies meningitis.

As questions of credibility grow over the Public Service Commission’s dealings with utilities, there’s a new lawsuit to overturn a 137 million dollar rate hike granted to Tampa Electric Company. The hike is 33 million dollars higher than staff recommended. As Whitney Ray tells us, customers, the Attorney General, and the Florida Retail Federation are asking the Florida Supreme Court to review the case.

The Public Service Commission approved a 137 million dollar rate increase for Tampa Electric last March. The increase is 33 million dollars higher than staff recommended. Rates went up in May, but recent allegations of secret conversation between PSC staffers and utility executives have customers wondering if they were cheated. Even the governor called it…

“…Bizarre I would say and I’m not sure I understand all the details about it, I don’t want to pass judgment too quickly but it does sound odd on the surface,” said Crist.

The Attorney General, the Florida Retail Federation, and customers of Tampa Electric are asking the state supreme court to stop the rate increase. Florida Retail Federation Attorney Schef Wright says opponents of the rate hike were blindsided by the higher amount.

“We frankly feel like our due process rights have been violated by the commission undertaking the vote to give them extra money for something they didn’t ask for on an issue we never had a change to litigate,” said Wright.

In the midst of the controversy surrounding the PSC and private Blackberry messages with the utility companies, Attorney General Bill McCollum announced a plan to begin storing his staff’s Blackberry messages on a server.

“Anything that has been pinned before has not been retained and now we found out how to retain it our server. Others may not have the capability, we just don’t know, but we are encouraging all agencies in state government to see if they can,” said McCollum.

The PSC has put a freeze on Blackberry messaging among its employees and is reviewing ways to make the process more transparent. The PSC began reviewing suggested changes to the process at its internal affairs hearing today. Tomorrow the Florida Power and Light rate increase hearings will resume. FP&L is seeking a 1.3 billion dollar rate increase.

There are millions of dollars in unclaimed jewelry, antiques, and cash sitting in the state’s safe deposit box. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer oversees the unclaimed property. CFO Alex Sink is on a mission to match people up with the missing items. Sink says since the economy took a nose dive more people are looking to her office to see if they have unclaimed treasure.

“We are finding in this down economy that we’re having more calls into our call center. We had two million hits on the website last year, people just scrambling around. You know when times get tough I always say you’ve got to look under the sofa and find extra pennies, dimes and nickels and quarters,” said Sink.

To see if anybody left you or your family money, heirlooms, or antiques log on to http://www.fltreasurehunt.org/index.jsp

A voice was silent today as Florida paid tribute to the state’s missing children and their families. In 1995, 9 year old Jimmy Ryce was kidnapped and murdered. His mother Claudine worked tirelessly to prevent tragedy like hers from falling on other families. Claudine died in January, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, her presence was felt at today’s ceremony.

Claudine Ryce’s picture hung next to her son’s, memorialized in time.  Although she died in January, the work Claudine Ryce did since her son Jimmy’s kidnapping and murder lives on.

Jimmy Ryce’s killer was found a little over a mile from the bus stop where Jimmy was kidnapped.

At the time few police agencies had blood hounds, so Claudine Ryce worked passionately to puts dogs in the hands of every law enforcement agency.

At this year’s Missing Children’s Day event, dozens of dogs were honored for their life saving work.

“This is K-9 Albert, he was donated by the Jimmy Ryce Foundation,” Eric Burkes with the Sumpter County Sherrif’s office said. “He’s 14 months old; he had his first find at 10 months old.”

“We use this dog to help find missing children, Alzheimer’s sufferers that go missing, any type of missing person’s case this dog works,” Louis Ledbetter with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office said.

Governor Charlie Crist also spoke fondly of the many changes Claudine helped institute.

“Claudine took her grief and turned it into action,” Crist said. “Her tireless energy translated into programs that will protect our children for many years to come.”

So when it came time for family members to place a rose next to their missing loved one, there was also a rose for Claudine.

Because Claudine financed the placement of dozens of bloodhounds, there are children alive in Florida that might not otherwise be; the question is, now that she’s gone, will the program continue?

More than a dozen families of missing children attended today’s celebration and remembrance at the Capitol.  Many called it a bittersweet event.

More allegations are circulating about the Public Service Commission’s close-knit relationship with the utilities it regulates. A motion to have Commissioner Katrina McMurrian recused from the Florida Power and Light rate hearings was filed today after it was disclosed she attended a dinner in New York City with FPL’s treasurer. As Whitney Ray tells us, FPL is firing back, taking out full page ads in several Florida newspapers.

While Florida Power and Light seeks a 1.3 billion dollar rate increase, new allegations about improper contact between regulators and the regulated are surfacing. Stephen Stewart filed a motion to have Commissioner Katrina McMurrian removed from the FPL hearings, after it was revealed she had dinner in New York with FPL’s treasurer.

“I would think that a reasonable person who was on trial would not want the judge going to dinner with the other side,” said Stewart.

After a week of avoiding the media, PSC Chairman Matthew Carter finally answered questions about the commission’s questionable relationship with the utilities it regulates.

“I don’t think we need to respond to allegations of unproven truths or half-truths of innuendo or rumor or gossip. What we need to do is look at our structure,” said Carter.

‘Too Cozy’ was the headline on this full page ad FPL placed in major Florida dailies. The ad aims to divert attention from allegations of preferential treatment and secret dealings with the PSC.

State Senator Mike Fasano sent a letter to PSC Chairman Matthew Carter last week asking Carter to halt the rate hike hearings until the air is cleared. Carter says he hasn’t focused on the letter. Governor Charlie Crist, who has come out against the rate increases, says he will base his reappointments on how the commission votes.

“Let’s see what the commissioners want to do so I can have a better handle on who to appoint or reappoint,” said Crist.

Both McMurrian and Carter are up for reappointment. FPL’s rate hike hearing is set to resume Wednesday, unless Chairman Carter decides to halt the case. Carter received a request to halt the hearing Friday, but says back pain has kept him from making a decision about whether or not to move forward.

A proposed constitutional amendment to limit growth is causing contractors to rush their projects.

Amendment Four, also known as Hometown Democracy, would require voter approval in order to change a city or county’s land-use plan. The Department of Community Affairs has seen a surge in applications for development since the amendment was approved for the 2010 ballot. Joyce Tarnow, President of Floridians for Sustainable Population says the housing market is already saturated with empty homes and a push to change non-residential zones to residential will only make the situation worse.

“Any new additions opening up agricultural land or ranch lands for more housing developments only ads more taxes,” said Tarnow.

Floridians for Sustainable Population and The Panhandle Citizens Coalition are calling for a freeze on all new projects requiring land-use changes until after the November 2010 vote.

Enrollment in the federal lifeline program that brings phone service to low income families has doubled from a year ago.

New Legislation loosening government restrictions on phone companies has made more Floridians eligible for the program by raising the income requirements. PSC Chairman Matthew Carter wants everyone who is eligible to sign up.

“During the time of a storm about the only way people can reach out and say hey I’m in my home can someone send some help here, is by a telephone,” said Carter.

Today marks the start of the first ever National Lifeline Awareness Week.

More than 162 million dollars in payments from the Seminole Indians is in a state bank account, waiting for state lawmakers to ratify the gambling deal negotiated with the Governor. But hope for a quick rubber stamp of the deal Charlie Crist negotiated is not in the cards.

Charlie Crist negotiated a 20 year deal with the Seminole Tribe

State lawmakers authorized just 15 years.

The governor gave the tribe exclusive rights to slots outside of South Florida. Lawmakers said he couldn’t do that.

Crist also would allow high stakes card games at all 7 Seminole Casino’s. Lawmakers specified just 4.

So far the governor is throwing snake eyes.

Lawmakers took the Governor to court in 2008 and won, and were able to stop the compact then. Their objections now threaten to torpedo this deal as well.

Crist and his supporters have banked on an October special session to ratify the deal. But state senators like Dave Aronberg say that isn’t happening.

“We passed it, and now it has been changed, and I don’t think we’re in a rush to come up here and just put a rubber stamp on it,” says Aronberg.

The Seminoles are remaining mum over the dispute.  Their Lawyers and Lobbyists have been told to be quiet. But the tribe still believes it has the best hand, and will get gaming from the Federal government with or without state authorization.  If that happens, the state would get nothing.

The next step is for legislative committees to draft a list of questions or objections about the deal for the Governor. Answers are due back In early October.  Meanwhile, the ever optimistic Charlie Crist remains just that.

Florida’s two major power companies are asking the PSC to approve almost two billion dollars in rate hikes. The rate hikes are being considered at a time, As Whitney Ray tells us, when the Public Service Commission’s credibility is at an all time low.

Florida’s two largest power companies are seeking to raise rates by as much as 12 dollars a month per customer. As the rate hearings continue, questions about secret Blackberry messages and PSC staffers partying with utility execs are being raised.

“There needs to be some investigation to find out where the flaws are in our current system, who violated the law, and let’s hold those people accountable,” said State Senator Dave Aronberg.

State Senator Mike Fasano sent a letter to PSC Chairman Mathew Carter asking him to halt the rate hearings until the air is cleared. We tried to talk to Carter Thursday, but were physically restrained. Governor Charlie Crist says the PSC over reacted.

“That sounds grossly inappropriate. People have a right to know, especially at a place like that, it is the Public service commission. If the public can’t get access, If you reporters can’t get access like that about what they are doing. That’s deplorable,” said Crist.

One PSC Commissioner got some good news Friday. The State Ethics Commission dropped a complaint alleging she had improper communications with a utility lobbyist. The commission listened for about eight minutes before voting unanimously to not pursue the matter.

Stephen Stewart, who filed the complaint, says he was muzzled.

“The ethics commission would not talk to me. So it looks like the citizens sort of get shut out of the process if you’re not part of the establishment,” said Stewart.

For the second day in a row we tried to talk to Chairman Carter. We were told he wasn’t feeling well. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still reviewing a complaint against the PSC and the Leon County State Attorney will consider empanelling a grand jury to investigate the Commission.

A right to life group is trying to make abortions and the morning after pill illegal in Florida.

Personhood Florida, a religious group, is gathering signatures to get a constitutional amendment placed on the 2010 ballot. The amendment would outlaw abortions, even in incidents of incest and rape. The group needs 680-thousand signatures. Dr. Pat McEwen, a spokeswoman for the group, says they’ll rely on volunteers to gather support.

“We are not going to pay anyone to gather signatures. We are going to do it the Christian way. We are going to do it through volunteers. People who care about the lives of babies are going to go out and gather signatures. And we really believe that our God is able and we can do it this way. Totally volunteer,” said McEwen.

The group has until February 1st to gather the signatures.

The state is honoring those that served and those that died eight years ago today in the 911 attacks.

Governor Charlie Crist order flag to half-mast. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also serves as the state’s Fire Marshall hosted a ceremony in the Capitol Courtyard. Police officers and firefighters honored the fallen. Sink says it’s important to remember those who risked their lives to save others.

“It was the first time we have ever know or seen our country under attack on our soil. It’s important to remember the people that lost their lives but also all the many emergency personnel who were so brave and so courageous that day and swarmed those towers to try and help people escape successfully and so many did,” said Sink.

A bagpipe player played Amazing Grace after a moment of silence to remember the tragedy. A firefighter rung a bell in honor of all the firefighters who lost their lives.

Two Florida Public Service Commission staffers have been put on administrative leave while two others resigned amid the controversy surrounding the PSC’s relationships with the utilities they regulate. Commissioners aren’t talking about the scandal and as Whitney Ray tells us, their staff is going to great lengths to keep media at bay.

The Florida Public Service Commission is using force to avoid answering questions about the appearance of a cozy relationship with the utilities they regulate. Our photographer was hit, temporarily shutting her camera off and our reporter was restrained as they tried to ask PSC Chairman Mathew Carter about the commission’s communications with utility executives.

The chairman slipped away, but we asked PSC Spokeswoman Cynthia Muir why she physically restrained us. She didn’t have an answer.

Muir is one of several PSC staffers who gave private Blackberry messaging codes to people on FPL’s payroll. The codes allow FPL executives to communicate with the PSC without leaving a paper trail skirting public records request.

State Senator and attorney general hopeful Dan Gelber says the PSC’s relationship with utilities needs to be brought into the sunshine.

“Right now there is a sense that things aren’t operating as above board as they ought to and I think that is something that needs to be look at very quickly and very aggressively,” said Gelber.

The state senate is considering a request to hold a committee hearing to question all five commissioners about their dealings with the power company. PSC Chairman Mathew Carter has called for an end to all unnecessary Blackberry messaging for staffers.

A bus load of heath care reform advocates are rolling though the sunshine state this week.

Organizing for America, a group devoted to helping the president pass health care reform stopped in Tallahassee today. The groups spokesman Addisu Demissie says the best way to spread the message about health care is to talk to people face to face.

“What Organizing for America is about is having those debates among neighbors, among friends, among family; getting out there and not listening to the cable channel or people on one side or the other demagoging the issue,” said Demissie.

The bus will be in Orlando Saturday at 10 AM and in Tampa around 4 PM.

One state senator is on a mission to make the state’s business more accessible to the public. State Senator Dan Gelber is proposing a constitutional amendment to give the public better access to budget meetings and make records easier to get. Gelber says some lawmakers are giving the entire legislature a bad rap.

“Tallahassee has created a lot of credibility problems in our state because it simply hasn’t governed itself in the open. What this constitutional amendment will do, it will bring more sunshine into the governance process,” said Gelber.

Gelber hopes to bring the amendment to the House and Senate during the 2010 legislative session.

Florida has a new United States Senator.  Shortly after 2:45 this afternoon, George LeMieux took the oath of office from Vice President Joe Biden. LeMieux becomes the fifth senator to be appointed to the post in less than a year. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the new US Senator plans to stay focused on Florida during the short 16 months he will be in office.

George LeMieux was one of ten people given serious consideration to fill the seat of retiring Mel Martinez’s. He was only one of two candidates who had never elected to office.

LeMieux worked for Charlie Crist in the Attorney Generals office and then was his first chief of staff in the Governor’s office. Although never elected, he says he will hit the ground running in Washington.

“I have never supervised the executive office of the Governor, I’ve never helped supervise all the agencies in state government, the tens of thousands of people who work in Florida everyday, but I learned it,” LeMieux said.

LeMieux describes himself as a Charlie Crist Republican.

“Every time that I have to make a decision, I know that I represent 18 million people in Florida,” LeMieux said. “And the first thing I’m going to decide is how is this going to be for the everyday Floridian.”

LeMieux and his wife have three sons. He says he is concerned about the debt they will inherit.

“Because I know that I’m responsible for making sure that they have a better life than even we had,” he said. “I feel that for all the children in Florida, all the children in the country. The next generation is what we need to be focused on. That will be my focus.”

Since 1913, only three other people have been appointed to fill a vacant Florida U.S. Senate seat.

In 1936 both of Florida’s US Senators were appointed. Then 10 years later Spessard Holland got the job. He’s the only one that sought reelection.

LeMieux is the fifth sitting US Senator who was appointed, not elected.

See a list of all of the people appointed to the US Senate since 1913 us-senate-appointees-since-1913