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Police say they are holding an Alabama man without bail pending a federal indictment for starting the New Year’s Day fire at a Pensacola abortion clinic. the clinic has a long history of attacks that date back two decades. Here is the release from CFO Jeff Atwater:

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater Announces the Arrest of Arsonist in Pensacola Clinic Fire

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Bobby Joe Rogers of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after a joint investigation involving the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations (BFAI) and other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The investigation determined that Rogers set fire to a clinic, causing approximately $300,000 in damage. “We are thankful that no one was injured during this incident and for the collaboration between all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this case,” said CFO Atwater, who also serves as State Fire Marshal. “I would like to also thank members of the Pensacola community for providing the critical information needed to promptly resolve this case.”

On January 1, 2012, the Pensacola Fire Department responded to a fire at the American Family Planning Clinic located at 6770 N. 9th Avenue in Pensacola, Florida and requested the assistance of the BFAI to investigate the cause of the fire. The investigation determined that the fire was intentionally set.

The details surrounding this fire initiated the response of members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The JTTF is composed of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose primary work is to identify and disrupt terrorist activity.  The following agencies cooperated in this investigation; the Florida State Fire Marshal Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, the Pensacola Fire Department, the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service.

“This arrest demonstrates the strategic value of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the high level of cooperation among the numerous agencies involved,” said Julius Halas, Director, Division of State Fire Marshal.

Members of the community came forward with information that led to the arrest of Rogers, who is being held at the Escambia County Jail pending a federal indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The federal charges are a result of violation of federal criminal law concerning use of explosive materials and Rogers could face up to 20 years in prison.

To report arson, call 1-877-No-Arson (1-877-662-7766). A reward of up to $5,000 may be paid for a tip that leads directly to an arrest and conviction.

The second guessing over Florida’s move to an early primary is over. Republican leaders are patting themselves on the back for making the state relevant in choosing their Presidential nominee, and Florida GOP voters are already lining up to make their votes count.

More than 4 hundred thousand GOP voters have already requested absentee ballots.

Television ads are starting to hit Florida airwaves,

And mailboxes will soon be filling up with postcards from candidates, Florida’s move to an early primary date is making the state a player says FSU political scientist Bob Jackson.

“You know, I think Florida is really, if not proving, demonstrating that this early move enabled it to have that influence,” says Jackson.

The state is paying a price…losing half of it’s delegates…maybe. The National party is already going easy on state Republicans.

The national party had a chance to get tough with Florida Republicans by enforcing a rule that would have given proportional delegates to each of the candidates, but it didn’t, and that only makes Florida’s primary that much more important.

Republican Party of Florida Spokesman Brian Hughes says the early date is giving Florida voters the attention they deserve. “Campaigns have to come here and prove that they are viable. They have to prove they have organization, and resources to run a big large scale campaign. And that’s what its going to take to beat Barack Obama, so its a good testing ground for these candidates” says Hughes.

Florida will be the first big state to vote…the question is whether it will do for one candidate what it did four years ago…propel them to the nomination.

The number of absentee ballots requested by Florida Republicans is more than three times the number of people who participated in the Iowa Caucuses, and it is about twice the number expected to cast a ballot in New Hampshire.

Arson investigators are awaiting the results of evident that was taken from the American Family Planning Clinic in Pensacola. The Abortion provider was hit by fire early Sunday morning. This is the same clinic were a doctor was murdered in 1994.

The American Family Planning clinic went up in flames early Sunday morning in Pensacola. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. The clinic has been the subject of attacks for almost two decades. It is the same clinic where Dr. John Britton and an escort were murdered in July 1994.

Paul Hill was eventually executed for the murders. Evidence from the clinic fire is being sent here, to the state arson lab in Tallahassee.

“We can tell which molecules are present,” Chief of Forensic Services Carl Chasteen said. “By knowing which molecules are necessary for certain types of ignitable liquids, we can determine the type of ignitable liquid, if there was one.”

Planned parenthood says they are awaiting the results of the investigation, but they are concerned the fire will leave many women without an option. They are also decrying legislative efforts this year and last to restrict abortion rights.

“It was an all-out attack on women and access to healthcare last year,” Planned Parenthood Vice President Judith Selzer said. What’s really sad is that this year, it’s starting all over again.”

When lawmakers walk through the doors of the capital next week to begin their annual session, they’ll find 6 bills dealing with abortion.

Two bills contain more than a dozen different restrictions. Voters may also see a constitutional amendment on the ballot this November, which if passed, could make it harder for women seeking abortions.

State Forensic scientists say it will take about six days to analyze the evidence after it has been received. Even then, investigators say they may or may not make public the findings.

There are 1.5 million Citizens Property Insurance Customers and a thousand more are added each day. Citizens doesn’t have near enough money to pay claims if a major storm hits Florida. As Whitney Ray tells us, when the 2012 legislative session begins next week lawmakers will consider several bills to lessen the state’s risk.

It’s been a record six straight years since a hurricane hit Florida and insurance experts fear the state is due for a storm. Private Insurance organizations teamed up for a news conference Wednesday to talk about problems the state faces because Citizens is growing by a thousand policies a day.

“We do support anything that lessens the impact and decreases the amount of policies going into Citizens,” said Donovan Brown with Property Casualty Insurers.

Several bills would lessen the state’s risk by enticing more private insurers to write policies in Florida and forcing some citizens’ customers onto surplus lines.

Surplus line companies are less regulated and more expensive than Citizens. The bill would allow customers forced in to surplus companies to opt back into Citizens.

“It would be the same take out process used today for admitted carriers,” said Don Brown with Reinsurers Association of America.

If a major storm destroys Citizens properties, private insurers would have 30 days to pay millions of dollars in Citizens assessments. There is a bill to reduce the amount of the assessments and give insurers more time to come up with the cash.

“So it’s not the shock to the bank account of the company, the immediate shock. They would get to collect it then remit it,” said Don Brown.

Industry Experts says the plan isn’t perfect, but it’s a start. The industry doesn’t expect a bill with massive changes to the insurance market this session because lawmakers will be busy with redistricting and the budget.

More Florida’s High Schools are receiving As and Bs this year. The Department of Education released the grades today. 78 percent of Florida schools received either an A or a B, up from 71 percent last year. Deputy Commissioner Education Kris Ellington credits increased enrollment in advanced placement course for the surge in good grades.

“This by in large is mostly due to the enhanced participation and success in accelerated course work,” said Ellington.

25 of the high school graded received Ds and six were given Fs, accounting for six percent of the overall grades.

There’s good economic news for the beginning of 2012. The shopping season ended with a bang. Retailers expect a four percent increase in holiday sales when statistics are released later this month. Home sales are up 11 percent from a year ago and unemployment is down. As Whitney Ray tells us, the good news isn’t enough to stop deep budget cuts when the legislative session begins next week, but it could ease the pain.

Shelby Meaders, a sales associate at My Kids a La Mode, is restocking the shelves after a better than expected holiday shopping season.

The kids clothing and toy store was slammed last month with people buying children’s’ gifts.

“There have been a couple of incidences where there have been six or seven people in line waiting to check out and we would kind of do a team work situation. We would run in the back and get a pair of shoes for somebody and then run back out here and check them out,” said Meaders.

The story’s the same throughout much of the state. The Florida Retail Federation estimates sales rose four percent. Final holiday shopping statistics will be released later this month.

“There’s a lot more consumer confidence in the state of Florida and all across the nation and when the consumer is confident they spend more money,” said Rick McAllister, President of the Florida Retail Federation.

Home sales rose a whopping 11 percent over the past year. An even more promising sign, prices stabilized. The median sales price for a home in Florida is 130-thousand.

“I think for 2012 what we are going to see is increased sales continuing for every month,” said John Sebree, The VP of Public Policy at Florida Realtors.

Since January of last year Florida’s unemployment rate has fallen from 12 percent to 10 percent, taking the 2nd largest plunge in the county.

While things are starting to look up in 2012, the focus in Tallahassee will be on more budget cuts. The legislative session begins next week and lawmakers will be greeted by a 1.6 billion dollar budget shortfall. The increase in home sales and retail sales could improve Florida’s budget outlook. A new budget prediction is scheduled to be released in March.

Employees, employers and the unemployed will all face changes in 2012. Business owners will pay higher taxes, minimum wage workers will get a raise and jobseekers will claim fewer weeks of unemployment benefits. As Whitney Ray tells us, some of these changes are being fought.

On the first day of the 2010 legislative session business owners defeated a 64 dollar unemployment tax increase. The tax is scheduled to go up a 100 bucks next year from 70 dollars an employee to 170. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is asking lawmakers to intervene.

“Collectively, if nothing is done this legislative session, the combined rate goes up 817 million dollars on employers,” said David Hart, a spokesman with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Business owners will also be forced to give pay raises. The minimum wage will jump 36 cents an hour in 2012. Meaning Florida’s lowest paid workers will earn 7.67 an hour. Employers say individually the changes are a headache, but when added to the thousands of new federal regulations they put jobs on the line.

“As small businesses have to pay for these types of thing, it’s going to create more hardship for them and therefore they are going to have to reduce their number of employees,” said Uniform Shop owner Cal Gleaton.

While business owners will struggle to comply with new state and federal laws, employees who lose their job next year will get less help from the government. The number of weeks a Floridian can claim unemployment will drop from 26 to 23.

“Purely from a fiscal standpoint it doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said Karen Woodall, with the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy.

Opponents of the cuts say the change will take money out of the economy. They’re preparing to stop more cuts to the unemployment program in the 2012 legislative session. The reason unemployment taxes are increasing and benefits are being cut is because the state barrowed 2.7 billion dollars to pay unemployment claims. The changes are being made to pay back the loan from the federal government.

The Department of Consumer Services is offering tips to people who have weight loss on their list of New Years Resolutions. The department is encouraging people to do their research before joining a gym. And as Whitney Ray tells us, they’ve set up a hotline for people to find out if the gym has had complaints filed against it.

These fitness enthusiasts aren’t waiting for the ball to drop to get in shape. They’re sweating it out at Good Friends Fitness Group, a Tallahassee fitness boutique, started by Allie Fleming two years ago.

“You are getting a more specialized service; smaller classes more one on one instruction,” said Fleming.

New Years is the Black Friday of the fitness world. Many people looking to live healthier in 2012 will join a gym next week, and the Department of Consumer Services wants to make sure they’re informed.

The Department has set up a hotline for people to call for tips about how to find the right health club and to find out which gyms have received consumer complaints.

They’ve also set up a website with tips. It suggests visiting the gym during the time you plan to workout, and don’t sign a contract on your first visit.

“It’s important to make sure you are confident with your decision, not only so that you know what you are signing because it is a contract, but also so that you know that the heal studio has the amenities you are looking for,” said Sarah Criser, a spokeswoman with the Department Consumer Services.

It’s also a good idea to check out the qualifications of the staff and trainers.

“Good Friends Group Fitness makes sure all of our trainers are not only certified in what they are training, they has CPR certification, and they have some sort of AFAA certification so they can teach a group fitness class,” said Fleming.

This gym offers several types of memberships and contract lengths. Consumers are encouraged to explore their options to find the best fit for their fitness plan. The number to the hotline is 1 800 HELP FLA (435-7352). And the website is www.800helpfla.com/pdfs/brochures/healthstudio.pdf.

Lawmakers will consider banning red-light cameras when they meet in January for the 2012 legislative session. A repeal bill was filed Tuesday. As Whitney Ray tells us, the cameras were first approved by the state in 2010 and since then, opposition to the devices has been growing.

It took Melissa Wandall five years to convince the legislature to approve red light cameras. Her journey began after her husband was killed by a red light runner.

“I promised my husband that I would take care of my family and that I would make a reason for what happened that night at the intersection,” said Wandall in April of 2010, just days before the legislature approved red-light cameras.

A few months after the bill became law, angry drivers began complaining the devices were ripping them off. Reports of cities shortening yellow lights to catch drivers and tickets being issued to people who weren’t behind the wheel, made it to lawmakers.

Less than a year after the bill passed, a repeal bill was filed. The legislation passed the House on a narrow vote late in the 2011 legislative session. But it died in the Senate.

“We had support in the House for that measure and I think we will have support again in the House for that measure,” said Representative Richard Corcoran in an October interview.

Corcoran spearheaded the repeal efforts. Now the torch has been handed to Representative Scott Plakon. Plakon filed a new repeal bill Tuesday. Besides legislative efforts, some city and county governments are taking a stand against the cameras. Manatee County has temporarily pulled the plug on its red-light cameras and Gainesville decided earlier this month not to install the devices.

If you received a digital camera as a present this holiday season, the ACLU wants you to know your rights. The civil liberties group says the number of people being arrested taking pictures and shooting video in public is growing, even though most photography is constitutionally protected. As Whitney Ray tells us, the group is issuing a pamphlet informing photographers of their rights.

Search “police assault photographers” on Youtube and a barrage of videos appear with cops smacking cameras, tackling photographers, and making arrests that many times are later deem unwarranted.

The US Supreme Court ruled, taking picture or capturing video in public is protected by the first amendment, but you might not know it looking at these videos.

To inform photographers of their rights The ACLU is issuing pamphlets listing photographer’s liberties.

“Taking a picture of a public official or a police officer is protected by the first amendment,” said Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida.

There are exceptions. A photographer can’t trespass to capture video and if police designate an area a crime scene and put up tape they can force a photographer behind the tape, but they can’t make the photographer stop rolling.

They also can’t take the camera.

“Under no circumstances without a warrant can a police officer seize a videotape camera, destroy photos, or destroy the video tape,” said Simon.

Having a camera doesn’t give people extra rights. If a photographer sticks a camera in an officers face and the action posses a physical threat charges could follow. The ACLU advises people not to fight with police. They say if stopped for taking pictures simply ask if you are free to go. If the officer says no…. the ACLU says politely remind the officer that photography is constitutionally protected.

Violence against Floridians because of their race, religion or sexual orientation has dropped dramatically since the state began keeping hate crime statistics.

2010 numbers released this week show 149 hate crimes statewide. When the state first began taking record in the 90’s there were more than 300 a year. Jennifer Meale a spokeswoman with the Attorney General’s office says raising awareness of the crimes helps deter them.

“We believe that by understanding the prevalence of hate crimes in Florida we can help raise awareness and encourage Floridians to report hate crimes to local law enforcement agencies,” said Meale.

Of the hate crimes reported in 2010… About half the victims were targeted because of their race, 20 percent because of their religion and 20 percent because of their sexual orientation.

Thousands of absentee ballots for the January 31st Republican Primary are being mailed today. Ballots for overseas Florida voters went out earlier this month. An estimated 370-thousand people will vote absentee in Florida. Which means, as Whitney Ray tells us, GOP candidates must keep an eye on Florida even as they ramp up efforts in states voting earlier.

With Ron Paul leading in the polls in Iowa and other GOP candidates fueling up for bus tours in the Hawkeye state, Florida’s January 31st primary seems far away.

But starting Tuesday, the first of more than an estimated 370-thousand absentee ballots were mailed. Overseas ballots went out even earlier. Chris Cate, Spokesman for the Florida Division of Elections, says even though the state technically votes fourth, absentee ballots are already being filled out.

“If you don’t have a request in yet, you still have time to do so. You can actually request an absentee ballot all the way up through Election Day,” said Cate.

This means multi-tasking for GOP candidates. They have to keep an eye on Florida even while they’re stumping in states voting earlier.

It’s an obstacle Herman Cain doesn’t have to worry about. Cain suspended his campaign, but his name will still appear on the ballot. So will Gary Johnson. The former New Mexico governor is leaving the primary to run as a Libertarian.

“We have nine eligible candidates on the Republican ballot and that does include Herman Cain and Gary Johnson,” said Cate.

Their votes will be counted, but neither candidate is expected to get much support in Florida. Voters can request an absentee ballot either by phone or online from the supervisor of elections in the county where they are registered. The ballots must be received by the supervisor on or before January 31st.

Three Florida counties, two in rural North Florida, and populous Palm beach County have all scheduled referendums to authorize slot machines. Gadsden and Washington Counties will vote on slots in January. Palm Beach in November. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Governor Rick Scott wants lawmakers to step in and neutralize the votes.

This barrel racing track 25 miles west of the state Capitol is raising eyebrows in Tallahassee. Some are questioning whether it can legally run as a quarter horse track, but so far it has won every legal challenge. Now the track is betting on a January 31st vote to authorize slot machines. The mayor of nearby Gretna says a yes vote is a vote for jobs.

“It’s going to be a huge job creator for us, it’s going to be a huge revenue creator for us,” Gretna Mayor Clarence Jackson said. “And what I have on my mind is roads and infrastructure.”

Three counties have already voted to put a slots referendum on the ballot next year. Washington County, just north of Panama City, will also vote January 31st. And Palm Beach will vote next November on whether to put slots at two facilities there.

All of the votes raise big questions about expanding gambling.

On one hand, the 2010 law authorizing the compact with the Seminole Indians seems to say that voters can authorize slots in any county. But others are saying not so fast.

“Their authority to issue licenses, slot licenses, is still limited to Dade Broward,” attorney Jack Skelding said.

At stake in the votes could be a billion dollars paid over five years by the Seminole Indians for exclusive rights to slots machines outside of South Florida, and that says Governor Rick Scott, is reason enough for lawmakers to act before the January 31st votes to clarify what he is calling a gray area of the gambling law.

Today is Governor Rick Scott’s three hundred fifty-first day in office. It was also his last day at the state Capitol until the new year. The Governor spent the day meeting with the Capitol Press Corps, including our Mike Vasilinda.

Governor Rick Scott was sworn in on January 4th. Since then he has canceled billions in high speed rail contracts, sparred with unions over pensions, fought with teachers over tenure, overseen two executions, and much, much more. We sat down with the Governor and asked about his first year in office.

“Well, it’s fast,” Scott said. “There’s never been a dull moment since I came into office. It’s just a whirlwind.”

By the end of his first one hundred days, his approval ratings, which were never high, were plummeting.

Wednesday is the Governor’s three hundred fifty-first day in office. He describes those days as a learning curve and an evolution.

“It’s all just an evolution of learning the job,” he said. “Because when you come into this, it’s pretty broad, the issues you’re dealing with.”

In late summer, Scott shook up his staff, brought in outsiders to help his crew of Tallahassee newcomers. On his last day before the holidays, Scott was sitting down with 16 different news agencies to talk about the first year and going forward.

Scott became a grandfather in November. We asked how that might change his style of governing.

“It just reinforces why I ran. I ran because I care about people,” Scott said.

Scott’s approval ratings are still as low as ever. He attributes it to the fear of change…and he reminds himself that he’s got an agenda and to keep on following it.

Middle School students in Florida must take a required three hours of physical education each week. The requirement was put into law to combat obesity, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, tight budgets have some lawmakers looking at ending required PE.

This middle school P.E. class has been keeping track of what they had to eat and any exercise they did outside of class for the last week. Coach Dickie Hosford says it is a way to make kids think twice about their lifestyle.

“They put down their meals, they’re supposed to put down how many calories they were,” Hosford said. “We’re showing them nutrition facts, how to find it, where to find it.”

Since 2008, middle schoolers in Florida have been required to take at least one P.E. class a day for half a year. But legislation to end required PE has passed at least one committee.

The legislation’s sponsor says it’s not about whether or not exercise or P.E. is good or bad, but about mandating it during tight budget years.

“I don’t think parents get a pass for the health and welfare of their students. I think they’re primarily responsible for that.”

Governor Rick Scott says he hasn’t seen the bill. The Governor says he is skeptical. He works out most mornings before work.

“I mean, I like to exercise,” Scott said. “It makes you healthier, it makes you think better. So I think it’s the right thing to do.”

And back at the middle school, Coach Hosford says he has seen PE make a real difference in kids’ lives.

“The kids need to learn it early so it becomes a habit,” Hosford said. “If it doesn’t become a habit early on, then we know you develop bad habits.”

This is the second year in a row the legislation to kill required PE has been filed, but it the first time the bill has even gotten a hearing.

The Senate President, whose wife is a physician, has also expressed doubts about ending mandatory physical education.