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Police officers from around Florida spent the day at the Department of Law Enforcement learning about the latest trends in sex trafficking. Terry Koonan from the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights says sex trafficking is on the rise and often doesn’t rely on the traditional brothels, but instead on the internet. “Prostitution is a delivery service. We’re actually seeing pimps bring young women out, who often times, the young women owe twenty or thirty or forty thousand dollars for smuggling debts, for having brought them here to Florida” says Koonan.

The day long seminar is designed to give officers insight into how to combat sex trafficking.

Dr. James Ammons remains the President of Florida A & M University tonight as investigations into the death of drum major Robert Champion, one month ago today, continue. Governor Rick Scott had asked school Trustees to suspend Ammons until multiple investigations are complete. The Trustees chose instead to hold weekly meetings for updates on the investigations.

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Robert Champion died one month ago, on November 19, after reportedly being forced to walk a gauntlet of fists on a band bus. The autopsy report released Friday revealed extensive contusions and crushing.

Defense attorneys say they are getting calls from potential defendants in the case. And that as many as 34 students could face charges.

Also on Friday, Governor Rick Scott met with University President James Ammons, urging him to step down temporarily

“I think that it will look better for the president and look better for FAMU,” Scott told reporters before the meeting.

Instead, Ammons put his fate in the hands of Trustees who hired him. Monday morning during a 15-minute telephone discussion, they agreed with Board Chairman Soloman Badger and decided to keep him on the job.

“We will stand firm against outside influence, regardless of how well-intended. Everyone is committed to full cooperation with law enforcement officials,” Badger told those listening in on the phone call.

In a written statement, the Governor said he still believes Ammons should step down, but said he would abide by the decision. Chuck Hobbs, the attorney for suspended Band Director Julian White says he deserves the same courtesy as Ammons.

“I believe that if Dr. Ammons is able to remain on the job, not subject to leave with pay, I believe that Dr. White should be subject to the same privileges” says Hobbs

The university’s Board of Trustees will meet weekly for updates on the Champion death and will review Ammons performance again early next year.

Florida A & M University President James Ammons defended himself to governor Rick Scott in person today. The meeting came one day after Scott called for Ammons to step aside temporarily while authorities investigate hazing and other issues on campus. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the Governor’s request drew fire from students and Alumni.

Just hours after Governor Rick Scott called for FAMU President James Ammons to step aside temporarily, hundreds of students marched on the Governor mansion to make their displeasure known.

“We want to governor to stay out of it, until the investigation is over,” Breyon Love, FAMU Student body president said.

Student Senate President Marissa West is one of the organizers of the protest. She and others say Scott is improperly pressuring university trustees to suspend Ammons.

“It was a pressureful statement,” West said. “For him to say such a thing, it places pressure on the board of trustees without even that  being his intention, it’s automatically a pressure situation.”

The controversy was escalating as parents began arriving for graduation.

Students are expected to continue their show of support for the university president at Friday night’s graduation ceremony.

The graduation ceremony is being held in a building named for former state senator Al Lawson. He is a strong Ammons supporter.

“Support for Ammons is pretty deep, especially among the students, and the alumni, and the community in general,” Lawson said.

Prior to meeting with the embattled university President, Scott said again he thought the Ammons suspension is in best interests of the university.

“And if he has had no involvement, if there’s nothing that he could have done a better job with, he ought to be back there,” Scott said.

FAMU’s trustees have scheduled a meeting Monday. Two weeks ago they voted to reprimand Ammons but not suspend him.

Florida’s Secretary of State has a fix to keep teachers from being penalized for trying to register students to vote. The Voter Promoter Campaign encourages school districts to sign up as third party voter registration organizations, that way districts, not teachers, would face fines if mistakes are made. Secretary of State Kurt Browning says the new law is intended to stop fraud, not punish teachers.

“What we want to do is education our students and our teachers about what the law says so nobody gets caught, and they can still participate by registering to vote and going and casting their ballot,” said Browning.

The program comes after several teachers were caught signing up students to vote without registering with the state. The ACLU, Florida PIRG and the League of Women Voters are also challenging the new registration rules in a lawsuit filed yesterday.

To help pay back the 2.7 billion dollars the state borrowed from the federal government to pay unemployment claims, business taxes will go up. Starting in January the minimum unemployment tax will rise from 72 dollars per employee to 171 dollars. As Whitney Ray tells us, business owners say the increase will stifle economic growth, and they’re asking the governor to freeze the increase.

Freezing the unemployment tax rate isn’t without precedent. At the beginning of 2010 legislative session lawmakers rushed through a bill that postponed an unemployment tax increase for one year.

The New Year will bring the biggest unemployment tax increase in state history for Florida’s businesses already struggling from the recession.

Right now the minimum unemployment tax is 72 dollars per employee. Starting next year the minimum rate rises to 171 dollars.

At Helen’s Uniform Shop in Tallahassee the increase comes as new rules and regulations are making it difficult to grow.

“It could hurt us from a stand point of rather than having three fulltime and three part-time people we may have to scale back a part time person,” said Cal Gleaton.

Owner Cal Gleaton has five employees. The tax increase will cost him an estimated 850 dollars, five hundred dollars more than he pays right now.

The increase will be used to pay back the 2.7 billion dollars the state borrowed to pay unemployment claims. So far a billion has been paid back with interest.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is asking the governor and state legislature to take extra time paying the money back to ease the burden on businesses.

“With over 900-thousand of our fellow Floridians still unemployed, it seems to be a bad time to have our unemployment rates go up dramatically,” said David Hart with the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

If nothing changes business owners will pay an extra 800 million dollars in unemployment taxes next year. That’s money that won’t be spent to create jobs.

Florida A & M University will graduate just under 650 students on Friday. Their graduation comes at a time when the University is under multiple investigations that began with the hazing death of Drum Major Robert Champion on November 19th. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, s sour mood pervades the campus on the eve of Christmas break.

Governor Rick Scott’s first act after a week long trade mission was to call for the suspension of FAMU president James Ammons.

“I think it will be better for the university. I think it will be better for him,” Scott said. “That he says, look, If I were in his position, I’d say, look, I want a thorough investigation, I want to make sure everyone feels comfortable that I am cooperating, because I want to come back and continue to build the university.”

On campus, 650 students are preparing to graduate this week. Many worry that the prestige of their degrees will suffer because of the investigations.

“I will be a product of FAMU, and a good product of FAMU,” FAMU graduate Vjohnae Milton said.

FAMU’s reputation has been renowned among historically black colleges. That’s why freshman Nicolette Jackson’s father encouraged her to attend. It is a decision she is rethinking.

Reporter: Had all this happened before you came to FAMU, would you have come here?

“Probably not,” Jackson said.

Reporter: Why?

“It’s just a lot for the school’s reputation,” she said.

FAMU’a flag remains at half staff in honor of Robert Champion, the drum Major who died last month after a severe hazing. Earlier this week, three band members were arrested, two of them charged with fracturing the leg of an 18-year-old at a band hazing. Now, the band’s finances are under investigation.

We’ve learned that when investigators started comparing notes, they discovered that there were 225 band students who had made the trip to Orlando, but allegedly, a far greater number were being claimed on expense reports.

FAMU’s board of trustees is scheduled to meet Monday morning.

Suspended Band Director Julian White said through a spokesperson that he was confident an audit of band travel would find no irregularities.

More trouble for Florida A&M University tonight. FDLE is launching another criminal investigation in to activities by school staff. The investigation is separate from the alleged hazing case in November that cost a band member his life, but as Whitney Ray tells us, the issue was uncovered as investigators were asking questions about hazing.

A day after FAMU alumni created a website to help heal their school’s tarnished image, FDLE is launching another investigation in to possible criminal activities at the school.

“There will be a second independent investigation which we have started and that investigation is classified as active,” said Keith Kameg, a spokesman for FDLE.

The investigation isn’t connected to the death of drum major Robert Champion, but was brought to light after FDLE began investigating hazing at the school.

“It will be conducted by the office of executive investigation and it concerns issues of fraud,” said Kameg.

Neither FDLE nor FAMU administrators are releasing details about the new investigation, but reports that the issue is connected to band finances are beginning to surface.

Investigators are asking the school not to take disciplinary action against staff until FDLE completes its investigation.”

While Champion’s death remains the main focus, side issues continue to surface. Tuesday three students were arrested for a separate hazing incident that sent a female band member to the hospital.

In letters sent to the FAMU and the University System’s Board of Governor’s FDLE wrote the investigation concerned fraud and or misconduct, but as of right now, no more details are being made public. We called the governor’s office to ask about reports that the investigation involved the band’s finances. They declined comment.

A Leon County judge kicked an proposed constitutional amendment off the 2012 ballot. Amendment 7 was put on the ballot by the state legislature. The Florida Education Association says it would have required taxpayer money to be spent on religious schools. But FEA’s attorney Ron Meyer says the ballot language approved by the legislature didn’t make that clear.

“If you are going to amend the constitution to require taxpayers to pay for religion and religious programs and religious institutions you should tell people that and be clear and unambiguous,” said Meyer.

FEA has won for now, but the state has plenty of options. They could appeal the judge’s decision, because of a new law they could have the Attorney General rewrite the ballot summery, or lawmakers could simply draft a new proposed constitutional amendment next session.

Three FAMU students have been arrested for a Halloween night hazing that resulted in a fractured leg for a FAMU freshman band member. The incident happened about three weeks prior to the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, lawyers for suspended band director Julian White point to the case as proof White should get his job back.

Bria Hunter was beaten at this off campus apartment on Halloween. Arrested are James Harris, Aaron Golson and Sean Hobson.  Harris’s roommate, Charles Ford, answered the door, disavowing any knowledge

Reporter: “Bria Hunter is a band member who had her leg cracked in a hazing incident at this apartment.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Ford said.

Reporter: “Did the police talk to you?”

“No,” Ford replied.

Bria Hunter first reported the case November 7th after she was taken to a local hospital with a fractured leg.

“Mr. Golson, you are here on a first appearance for hazing,” a judge at Golson’s court appearance said. “You’ve also got what looks like a felony charge, based on serious bodily injury.”

Bond was set at $10,000 for Golson and Hobson. Bond for Harris was set at $2500.

“In fact, the only evidence is that he stopped the attack,” a lawyer at Harris’s court appearance said.

Shortly after one, Aaron Golson bonded out of the Leon County Jail, dodging reporters.

A woman identified as his mother refused to any questions.

The victim’s parents have praised suspended band director Julian White for his quick action. White’s attorney says the arrests are proof the band director should be reinstated.

“Just looking at the fact that you have these arrests today, that is proof positive that Dr. White was being proactive and was taking his job seriously, with respect to reporting incidents of hazing within the Marching 100,” Chuck Hobbs, attorney for Julian White, said.

Attorney Hobbs defended five FAMU fraternity brothers who were charged with the state’s first case of hazing in 2006. Two of those frat brothers received two year sentences for injuries less severe than those in this case.

Julian White, the band director, was initially fired, but last week was reinstated and suspended pending the outcome of an investigation. White has repeatedly said he took every step possible, including suspensions, that were not followed up on by university administrators.

The state receives thousands of complaints every year about unlicensed businesses and contractors. Most of the complaints come after the customer has already been ripped off. As Whitney Ray tells us, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is launching an educational campaign to keep customers from becoming victims.

Customers line up, almost daily, at this food truck to buy fried chicken and waffles.

Reporter: Do you have any reservations about eating food out of a truck?
Danay DuBrey: No, it’s sanitary or otherwise they wouldn’t be able to do it.

The owners of the Cravings food truck display their business license on the order window for customers to see. Not only because it’s the law, but also to let their customers know, they have the state’s blessing.

“It’s not your typical grease trailer where we serve prepackaged goods, but this is actually gourmet or restaurant style food,” said Jonathan Sellers.

Restaurant owners, hair dressers and veterinaries are a few of the businesses required by state law to display their licenses. Construction contractors must place their license numbers on their advertising. Last year there were 17-hundred complaints about unlicensed construction workers.

State regulators say unlicensed businesses are taking customers from companies who follow the rules.

To spread the word about unlicensed companies, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is launching an educational campaign, posting 34 billboards throughout the state.

“We are missing out on licensing fees, but more importantly we are seeing our people harmed by their activities,” said DBPR Secretary Ken Lawson.

The push comes less than a year after state lawmakers tried to eliminate business licensing for interior designers, hair dressers and mechanics. The legislation failed but the deregulation efforts continue.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation says people should ask to see a business license when shopping around for construction work. They’ve also set up a hotline where people can report unlicensed contractors. The number is 1-866-532-1400.

A new Florida company is promising to make health care cheaper and faster. The HIE Network has developed a wireless information sharing network to help doctors, pharmacists and insurance companies work together more closely. The network includes the medical information of a million Floridians and eliminates redundant paperwork. HIE Network Co-Founder Dan Kaelin says if every health care business in the state joins the network, medical costs would drop by 70 billion dollars a year.

“Billions of dollars can be saved on efficient disease management once the infrastructure is in place to manage the data,” said Kaelin.

The state has developed its own information sharing network, but HIE claims their system is better and will be more cost efficient in the long

BP is expected to pay fines between five and 20 billion dollars for causing the biggest oil disaster in the country’s history. There’s debate in Washington over how that money should be spent. If the fines are used to restore and protect Florida’s coast it could mean hundreds of new jobs. As Whitney Ray tells us, a new poll suggests voters in Florida, both Democrat and Republican, want the money spent here.

Millions of dollars in gulf coast restoration projects are awaiting funding.

Some projects, like helping increase the population of Brown Pelicans, are connected to the 2010 BP Oil Spill.

Others, like restoring the natural barriers between the gulf and rivers, would help protect against future disasters. But the projects are on hold, because federal funding has been scaled way back.

A new source of funding may be found in fines levied against BP that could reach as high as 20 billion dollars. The Restore Act requires 80 percent of the fines to be spent restoring the gulf.

A poll released Monday suggests an overwhelming number of Democrats and Republicans in Florida support using the fines on projects along the coast.

“When we asked Tea Party Supporters, we expected them to be different, but they were. Also we expected Republican primary voters to be different,” said Hamilton Campaign Pollster Dave Beattie.

A Duke University Study claims every million dollars spent on restoration would create 20 jobs. Terry Hull, the President of an engineering firm that works on environmental projects, says those jobs would be high paying and go to Floridians.

“There are many critically eroding beaches in Florida and I think this act could help fund those types of restoration projects,” said Hull.

Supporters of the Restore Act say the recovery is as much about Florida’s economy as it is the environment… and the BP fines should be used to heal both. Supporters of the Restore act want Congress to hurry up. They fear the issue could get caught up presidential politics and become too political to pass.

The drive to bring mega casinos to Florida has already generated multi million dollar profits…for lobbyists in the state capitol. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, even Governor Scott is calling the casino push the full lobbyist employment act.

Governor Rick Scott isn’t sure what he thinks about full fledged mega casinos for Florida, but he’s sure of one thing:

“I think it’s the full employment for lobbyists act,” Scott said. “Every lobbyist seems to be working on it.”

Each meeting to discuss casinos brings a packed house. By one count there are 158 lobbyists working for casinos and other forms of gambling. Reports put total lobbying expenditures well over two million dollars for the year.

In addition to lobbying wars, there are ad wars on TV, aimed primarily at state policy makers.

Political scientists say all this debate over casinos may have a lot more to do with something in your refrigerator, milk and juice, than really trying to pass this legislation.

Peter Schweitzer, author of Throw Them All Out, says milker and juicer bills are not designed to pass quickly.

“The purpose is to simply have it in process, where the stakes are very high, and people have a lot of money at stake so they’re going to be motivated to make campaign contributions again and again and again,” Schweitzer said.

And the casino fight is not two-sided, but three-sided. The first is keeping the status quo, and that includes the Seminoles and no casinos; the second is the push for mega casinos; and in the middle, existing gaming facilities that just want a better tax deal. All are primed and ready to give up campaign cash.

Hundreds of thousands have already been given, most going to the party in power.

Florida Cities today called on state lawmakers to make police and fire pension reform a top priority for the 2012 session. A glitch passed last year is having the unintended consequence of requiring local pension funds to allow officers three hundred hours of overtime each year to be counted toward benefits. The goal last year was to reduce the amount of overtime. Kraig Conn with the League of Cities says the change is important because by counting the overtime, officers and firefighters can retire with significantly higher pension benefits.

“They would essentially be receiving a 15 or 16-month, a payment based on 15 or 16 months for one fiscal year period,” Kahn said. “So it can increase the cost of the pensions by easily one-third of what they normally should be.”

Governor Rick Scott has made the overtime provision one of the few pension changes he will tackle in 2012. Pensions are based on an average of the last five years of salary. When overtime is also allowed, it drives up benefits and reduces the soundness of the plan..

Opposition to Florida’s controversial new election law continues to grow. Former Republican State Senator Nancy Argenziano filed her own lawsuit today, saying the new law takes away her right to run for congress as a Democrat. As Whitney Ray tells us, the law requires politicians to change their registration 17 months before the General Election.

Less than seven months before the 2010 General Election, Governor Charlie Crist left the Republican Party to run for Senate as an Independent.

By switching parties Crist avoided a primary against GOP favorite Marco Rubio. Crist ultimately lost, but his move to avoid the difficult primary, ticked off Republican lawmakers so much they changed the law.

Before this year candidates in Florida could change their party affiliation six months before the General Election. But in a 71 page bill, passed last session, the deadline to switch was moved to 17 months.

Caught in the mix is former Republican State Senator Nancy Argenziano. She wants to run for Congress as a Democrat, but it’s already too late. Friday she filed a lawsuit against the secretary of state, claiming the new law violates her rights.

“It’s a constitutional right that I believe I have, as well as you have and as well as the next guy,” said Argenziano.

Her predicament could have been avoided. In May of last year, Argenziano registered with the Independent Party, thinking she was registering with no party affiliation. If she were an NPA, switching wouldn’t be a problem.

“So what I decided to do, which I though was my right, is I would move to the Independent Party as a place holder,” said Argenziano.

The party switching provision is just one of 80 election law changes made by the legislature. And once it passed, candidates were given just two weeks to decide which party is theirs.

The provision is one of 76 in the new law already been cleared by the Department of Justice.