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The Florida Delegation on Climate Change is traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark next week to find ways to create jobs in the state.

This morning delegates unveiled their plans at Danfoss Turbocor, a Tallahassee business that builds energy efficient air-condition parts. Executives from other Florida based green companies were also on hand. Rob Szumowski, The VP of a company helping businesses cut energy costs, says attending the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen will help bring new ideas to Florida that will create jobs down the road.

“Smart grid, energy audits, carbon audits, strategic direction, or financing for local governments will be able to meet the challenges of an economy driven by a low carbon diet and help our clients plan manage and thrive, cause if we help clients thrive in Florida then that means they are going to high more Floridians,” said Szumowski

Florida is one of several states sending a delegation to Copenhagen. The conference begins December 7th and lasts two weeks.

FSU Head Football Coach Bobby Bowden announced his retirement today, after being given the option to stay at the school in a reduced capacity. Bowden met with his players this afternoon, then told the world he was leaving. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, this is the end of an era.

Most FSU Students, and even some professors, weren’t yet born when Bobby Bowden came to Florida State in 1976.

Wearing a wireless microphone in 1984, these pictures show an engaged Bowden on the sidelines.

“Hell yeah, we need to go for it.”

His go-for-it mentality, which often included trick plays, became a trademark.

“Let’s get some touchdowns, boys. Just sitting there watching them damn field goals.”

In 1984, the stadium barely held 50 thousand people. Today, at 88,500, it is the largest in the ACC. Inside are two national championship trophies, and two Heisman’s from those championship years.

Bowden gave University officials his decision during a meeting at his home Tuesday morning.

Both business leaders in town, and students here at Florida State seem to agree on one thing: the departure was handled about as well as a fumbled punt return.

Gainesville student Trea Brown chose FSU over UF because of Bowden. He is sorry to see him go.

“Shoving him out after all he’s done for the university is just the wrong way to go,” Brown said. “It’s bad PR, and in the long-term it’s going to cause more damage than good.”

Bowden chose to avoid reporters but he did videotape a message.

“Haven’t done as good lately as I wish I could have, but I’ve had wonderful years,” Bowden said. “No regrets.”

Both his offensive and defensive captains say neither would have come to FSU had it not been for Bowden.

“We’re a little sad right now, but there’s a lot of motivation for us going into this bowl game,” FSU quarterback and Offensive team captain Christian Ponder said.

The legendary coach’s last game will likely be the Gator Bowl.

With 388 wins, Bobby Bowden is the second winningest coach in America. He trails Joe Paterno of Penn State by 5 wins. Until FSU started losing games, Bowden was expecting to out last Paterno to hold the record for the most wins.

State lawmakers are attempting to accomplish in an eight day special session what they couldn’t agree on in two previous 60 day session. The legislature will meet in Tallahassee Thursday to discuss expanding commuter rail in Florida. But as Whitney Ray tells us, without the votes going in, the special session could end in a train wreck.

Florida needs to get on the right track in order to convince the federal government to send money to expand commuter rail.

Lawmakers will meet in a special session to discuss a host of train issues; from who to blame in the event of an accident on the proposed SunRail project to funding for the existing TriRail system in South Florida.

“Funding could come from the state gas tax or a tax on home sales which has seen increases over the past 14 months.”

Transportation lobbyists say home sales could provide enough steam to keep the trains moving.

“Over the course of the time period they are talking about this would be sufficient to help provide a stable funding source for TriRail and SunRail I believe,” said Doug Callaway, the President of Floridians for Better Transportation.

Unions threaten to kill the rail system expansion, claiming the jobs it would create would be low paying and offer no benefits.

“This is wrong and it should be stopped,” said Mike Williams, the President of AFL-CIO.

Governor Charlie Crist says if lawmakers don’t act fast the state will miss a shot at 2.5 billion federal dollars to expand the system.

“If we can accomplish something before the end of the year we have a much better opportunity for the high speed rail component,” said Crist.

Forcing the complex issue through the legislature may be hasty, but if Florida loses the federal funding for commuter rail thousands of jobs could be left at the station.

The special session is scheduled to start Thursday, but House Democrats are asking legislative leaders to wait until Monday because many members will be in Fort Lauderdale for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Bobby Bowden is still the head football coach at Florida State University this evening, but how much longer is the question. Bowden met with the university president and athletic director this morning. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, another meeting and a decision on Bowden’s future is set for Tuesday.

Bobby Bowden got two standing ovations at Monday’s booster luncheon. After being whipped by Florida 37-10 on Saturday, Bowden offered this guarantee about Gator Senior Quarter Back Tim Tebow.

“I guarantee that’s the last time he’s going to beat me,” Bowden said.

The coach did confirm a meeting with University President T.K. Wetherell and Athletic Director Randy Spetman.

“We talked about my future here at Florida State,” Bowden said. “So tomorrow, we’re going to meet again. I haven’t announced whether or not I’ll stay here at Florida State.”

During the Q & A, Booster Marge Mastermon was in near tears thinking about the end of the Bowden era.

“I think he’s done a lot for the university,” Mastermon said.

As Bowden signed autographs, seeming less rushed than usual, Athletic Director Spetman was mum.

“It’s always cordial when you deal with Coach Bowden,” Spetman said.

The hour long meeting took place in the coach’s office, which is located behind the scoreboard. A second meeting is set for Tuesday morning.

Bowden continues to say that he, not the University, will decide his future.

“Well, I make the decision,” Bowden said. “I make the decision.”

Bowden declined to say what time or where Tuesday’s meeting will be held.

The Seminoles finished the regular season six and six and are headed to a bowl game.  If the Noles are defeated, it will mark Bowden’s first losing season since his first year at FSU in 1976.

By the end of the day an estimated six million Floridians will have bought something online. Shoppers are logging on to take advantage of Cyber Monday discounts on the busiest online shopping day of the year. As Whitney Ray tells us, the online shopping frenzy will benefit mostly out-of-state retailers and do little to help the state fund its budget.

Fifty, 60, even 70 percent off retail prices, coupled with free shipping and shopping at your leisure have one in three Floridians clicking the “Buy Now” button this Cyber Monday.

Despite the state’s economic troubles, shoppers are expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars. Good news for the state’s dwindling bank account, right? Not exactly.

Online shoppers don’t pay state sales tax on all their purchases. Only retailers with locations in Florida collect the tax. The rest are costing the state more than two billion dollars a year. The obligation to pay the tax is on the buyer.

Ononde Thelemaque and Sheila Josil shop online frequently. Neither knew their purchases weren’t being taxed. They were just focused on the savings.

“Overstock.com has like really cheap things on certain stuff you can get inside the store for really expensive, that’s like really really cheap,” said Sheila.

Online stores are not just costing the state billions in sales tax revenue, according to Florida TaxWatch, they also undercutting their brick and mortar competition.

“They are not reinvesting in our community. They are not supporting local charities, who are providing local jobs, who are owning local property and pay in taxes. They are the ones who are avoiding all that and we are giving them a six percent discount,” said Robert Weissert, General Council for Florida TaxWatch.
State lawmakers want to fix the problem by synchronizing elements of the Florida’s tax code with 22 other states to make paying internet sales taxes easier. In order to pay the online sales tax Florida shoppers have to get a form from the Department of Revenue, fill it out, and sent it back. Last year only 3-thousand internet tax forms were filed in Florida.

Jury selection is underway in the case of one of two men accused of killing a police informant.

Rachel Hoffman was killed last year in a botch drug sting set up by the Tallahassee Police Department. Andrea Green and Denelio Bradshaw are being charged in the killing and could be sentenced to death. Jury selection in the Bradshaw case began this morning and will continue this week. Two-hundred potential jurors are being interviewed to determine if pretrial publicity or individual feelings about the death penalty could influence their decisions.

The governor and state lawmakers are on the verge of calling a special session to vote on commuter rail in central and southeast Florida, but the AFL-CIO union is objecting to the current plan. The union says legislation to move the SunRail and TriRail projects forward would block railroad workers from unionizing. AFL-CIO President Mike Williams say if the legislation passes hundreds of workers will be shortchanged.

“You bet I want jobs. Are you asking me I want the type of jobs that are going to cause a man and woman to struggle week to week to put food on the table? The answer is no,” said Mike Williams.

Lawmakers are expected to hold session later this week, but with a meeting cost of 40-thousand dollars, legislative leaders want to be close to a deal before calling people back to Tallahassee.

Thousands of seniors living in Florida nursing homes will spend Thanksgiving without their families to help celebrate. One if four families has cut back Thanksgiving day travel since 2007. As Whitney Ray tells us, nursing homes are looking for volunteers to brighten up the holiday for lonely seniors.

Byron Clark helped fight the Germans in World War II. Married his high school sweetheart and fathered a family that continues to grow.

After his wife died, Byron checked himself into an assisted living facility. He’s spending Thanksgiving with his daughter and an old friend.

“We’ve know each other for about 56 years and we are all going to be together tomorrow in a private dinning room over here,” said Byron.

Byron’s lucky. In Florida 160,000 people live in assisted living facilities and many of them will spend Thanksgiving alone because families are cutting back on holiday travel to save money.

People are taking shorter trips, trading in plane tickets for the mini-vans and staying within 50 miles of home. Peter Churchward, the executive director of Broadview Assisted Living in Tallahassee, says Thanksgiving can be tough on residents who aren’t expecting visitors.

“The holidays can be a depressing time for everybody, residents who are away from their families, it can be a difficult time for them, so there’s a lot that we try to do here in our community to alleviate the holiday blues,” said Churchward.

The main cure for the holiday blues is companionship. Mignon Stephens starts beaming at the sight of an unexpected visitor.

“It’s an awful lot of fun and we enjoy it,” said Mignon.

But for too many on the outer edge of life, Thanksgiving will be spent without family or friends.

Assisted living facilities around the state are excepting volunteers to spend some time with seniors this holiday weekend. If you’re interested in helping out call a nursing home near you or contact Florida’s Long-term care Ombudsman Program at 1-888-831-0404 or visit their website at http://ombudsman.myflorida.com

A new study shows nearly half of Florida homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. Falling home prices are the main cause of the underwater mortgages. As Whitney Ray tells us, the phenomenon could lead to another wave of foreclosures and delay recovery in the state’s housing market.

Florida is a buyer’s market. Home prices are down and there’s a tax credit for first and second time buyers. Sales are up a staggering 45 percent over a year ago.

“We are definitely on the road to recovery with 14 months of increased home sales in Florida, much better than the national average,” said John Sebree with the Florida Association of Realtors.

But the increase in home sales comes at a price, and that price is falling property values. About half of Floridians own a home that is worth less than their mortgage.

Folks who bought a house in Florida a year ago paid on average 30-thousand dollars more than people buying now. Prices fell 17 percent over last year, raising concerns for homeowners. Alex Sanchez, the president of the Florida Bankers Association, says borrowers need to be patient.

“I think home values will come back and I think people should be educated first before they walk away from a home and turn the keys in. There are a lot of repercussions to making that type of decision,” said Sanchez.

But if enough folks lose the faith and walk away, then Florida could be hit with a second wave of foreclosures. The Florida Homebuilders Association says a second wave could flood an already saturated housing market.

“We do have to monitor what’s going on with short sales, with foreclosures and unemployment, because that can edge the number back up in terms of months supply on the market,” said David Hart with the Florida Homebuilders Association.

The best advice bankers, builders, and real estate agents have for worried homeowners is to ride out the storm of falling values.

A free trial to sample dietary supplements turned out not to be so free for thousands of Floridians. After receiving numerous complaints, the Attorney General’s office began investigating Brevard County based company FWM Laboratories. The company was offering customers 17-day free trials, but customers who wanted to cancel after the trial period were unable to contact the company. AG Spokeswoman Sandi Copes says payments were being automatically taken from consumers checking and credit accounts.

“You sign up for a free trial. You give them your information and ultimately what you end up paying was around 87 dollars a month for these products and a lot of people didn’t realize they even paying for them, they were just getting these monthly bills,” said Copes.

FWM Laboratories has been working with the Attorney General’s office since the investigation was launched. So far the company has refunded 34 million dollars. If you think you were ripped off by FWM Laboratories call the attorney general’s office of (866) 966-7226

Asian American hotel owners in Florida say new fees approved by the legislature are discriminatory. A group of the hoteliers delivered a letter to Governor Charlie Crist this morning asking him to overturn new fees raising the price of advertising their businesses on state owned signs placed near exit ramps. The fees are going up between 200 and 400 percent. A spokesman for the group Nash Patel says the increase unfairly targets Asian-Americans.

“The fee will impact all business owners, but the vast majority of hotels in the state of Florida are owned by our association, so we feel that it is a direct impact on us,” said Patel.

The hoteliers say the increased fees coupled with a 12 fold increase in the unemployment tax could force layoffs.

More than ten thousand children have been adopted in Florida over the last three years. At the same time, the state has decreased the number of kids in Foster care by 34%. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, every month in Florida, 200 families adopt.

Denise Mozee and her soon-to-be-son Rashad stepped before a judge to finalize a love that began seven years ago when Rashad was placed in foster care.

With the judge’s approval, Rashad became one of almost 4 thousand children adopted this year.

“This is going to be his home forever,” Mozee said.

Thanks in part to a campaign from this one, Florida has been setting records for adoptions over the last three years.

There are also benefits. Teachers and state employees can be paid a subsidy. All children adopted from foster care receive free tuition at a state university. At this ceremony, the Lt. Governor noted adopting is not easy.

“It’s been a long road,” Kottkamp said.

Would-be parents must undergo 10 weeks of training, background checks and a home assessment. Once in court, friends and family attest to a parent’s fitness.

Laurie and Dave Gussak are adopting Joseph, a Peruvian child abandoned at birth.

“I couldn’t be any happier,” Laurie Gussak said. “This is the best thing I’ve done in my entire life.”

Teenagers remain the most difficult age group to place in adoptive homes. 19 thousand children remain in Florida’s foster care system.

For more information on adopting, including eligibility and what is required, go to www.adoptflorida.org <http://www.adoptflorida.org>.

2009 is on track to be the deadliest year for Florida manatees, with an estimated 4-hundred deaths so far. Part of the reason the death toll is up is because the manatee population is growing. Another reason is boats. As Whitney Ray tells us, Wildlife experts are asking boaters to slow down.

Three years ago, a herd of manatees was a rare sight in North Florida, but now the manatee population in Wakulla Springs State Park is growing. Last week 26 were spotted in one day.

“We’re not sure exactly why they are staying through the winter. There is a number of different manatee researchers that we work with that are looking at that now trying to understand why,” said Brian Fugate, the manager at Wakulla Spring State Park.

One reason could be a population spike. In 2000, a quick survey found just 22-hundred manatees in the state. This year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission spotted 38-hundred, its highest count ever.

Those manatees are now on the move. As the temperature drops outside the manatees move closer to the head spring where the water is warmer.

But earlier this year many manatees didn’t make it to the head spring. Cold stress killed dozens of them. Boaters claimed 91 this year alone. In the middle of this month the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission changed speed zones in areas where manatees are expected to travel.

“Keep your eye out for manatees, try to avoid them, give them plenty of space and obey the speed zones,” said Carol Knox, a biological administrator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Boaters who don’t could receive a speeding ticket or worse. Killing a manatee carries a 500 dollars fine.

Vicki and Ronald Fields both lost their jobs last year. The North Carolina couple were forced to leave their home and move in with her parents in Tallahassee. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us,  the couple is making a new beginning in Florida.

Vicki Fields lost her job in January. Husband Ron was let go in July. In August, they packed up their belongings and moved here, to Vicki’s parents in Tallahassee.

It has been a struggle for everyone.

“We had to remember that yes, this is still our house and they have to be visitors,” Vicki’s mother, Evelyn House, said. “But at the same time, this is a definite change for them.”

8 year-old Ashley is sleeping here, in a make shift bedroom that used to be the front foyer.

“She thought it was really cool at first but I think she’s a little over it right now,” Vicki said. “And all her toys are in storage. This box right here is stuff she’s accumulated since we’ve been here.”

But things are looking up. Ron got a job three weeks ago as a chef, and even though he is making 30 percent less than he did as a restaurant manager in North Carolina, he’s happy to be working.

“It’s difficult. Anytime you have to make less money, it’s hard and you wonder how you’re going to live the lifestyle you’ve become accustomed to in years past,” Ron said. “But you make adjustments.”

Vicki just returned from a drug test for a job that could start next week. She says staying positive is the key.

“Focus on that, because it is so discouraging to not hear from potential employers,” she said.

So for this family, hard hit by the economy, there is much to be thankful this holiday season.

The Fields also sold their North Carolina home, just days before foreclosure proceedings were to begin. They will walk away with nothing after a decade of home ownership…but their credit is mostly intact.

Florida’s unemployment rate is now at 11.2 percent, increasing point one percent over the last month. The small increase could mean the state’s unemployment crisis is slowing down, but as Whitney Ray tells us, the effects of double digit unemployment may stick with business owners for years in the form of higher taxes.

Fresh, made-to-order subs served with a smile are the ingredients of success for Metro Deli owner Rob Bazemore. But to keep his restaurant above water at a time when the economy is forcing many to stop eating out has been a challenge.

“Everybody’s got a little less disposable income. People are bringing lunches more and it’s affecting us already,” said Rob.

To add insult injury, Rob’s unemployment tax is scheduled to increase 12 fold, jumping from 67 dollars for his eight employees, to 800 dollars.

“We are doing okay, but it could change things,” said Rob.

The tax is being increased to help pay unemployment claims. The fund ran out of money in August. Now the state is borrowing money from the feds and asking Florida businesses to foot the bill. The Florida Retail Federation says now is not the time.

“Let’s not hammer small businesses and medium size businesses, who are just now starting to feel like things are getting better, with a two billion dollar bill,” said Rick McAllister, the President of the Florida Retailers Federation.

Retailers are asking the governor and lawmakers to look at the issue in a special session because the first payment of the new unemployment tax will be due in March.

Friday the Agency for Workforce Innovation gave indications help for the unemployed will be needed longer than expected.

“The unemployment rate is expected to remain above six per through the 2019,” said Rebecca Rust, Chief Economist for the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Retailers are hoping a vote on decreasing the new tax can be taken in December or January, that’s when a special session for high-speed rail is rumored to be held.