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It’s been nearly a month since 28 year old George Zimmerman shot and killed 17 year old Trayvon Martin, sparking worldwide outrage. Pressure from community activists resulted in Governor Rick Scott appointing a new prosecutor to the case last night. Now, as Whitney Ray tells us, a new investigation is being launched and Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense will be scrutinized.

Progress for protestors calling for justice in the shooting death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. It’s been nearly a month since George Zimmerman shot and killed the unarmed teen and these 911 calls came pouring in. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and police let him walk.

The case is causing worldwide outrage. At the state capitol students and community activists stormed Governor Rick Scott’s office demanding the state intervene. Scott ordered FDLE to assist with the investigation. State Senator Gary Siplin took it a step further and asked Scott to assign a new state attorney to the case.

“The current prosecutor who has a relationship with the Sanford Police Department would not be fair,” said Siplin.

Scott appointed Angela Corey, a state attorney from Jacksonville with a reputation as a hardnosed prosecutor. Attorney General Pam Bondi has known her 20 years and says Corey’s the right person for the job.

“We are going to start with a clean slate and Angela Corey will be a great prosecutor on the case,” said Bondi.

If Corey files charges against Zimmerman, the question becomes where can there be a fair trial?

The US Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Affordable Care Act lawsuit Monday. Florida is leading the suit against the new health care law. In total 26 states are suing to repeal, what many opponents are calling Obamacare. Attorney General Pam Bondi, says the suit is about more than medicine. The mandate penalizes citizens who don’t buy health insurance.

“This is such an overreach by the federal government. Never in our history have we seen anything like this and that is why we have the strongest opinion in the country right now form the 11th circuit court of appeals,” said Bondi.

The court is giving the suit an unprecedented six hours, spanning three days; Monday through Wednesday. A ruling is expected this summer.

Florida businesses will now see huge relief on their unemployment taxes. Today Governor Rick Scott received legislation to cut the increase nearly in half. In January, the tax increased from 72 dollars an employee to 172. Statewide the increase would have cost Florida businesses more than 800 million dollars. State Representative Will Weatherford worked with the Florida Chamber of Commerce to cut the increase by 550 million dollars over two years.

“To me, in this environment to allow an 800 million dollar tax increase on our state and on our citizens and on our businesses would have been completely going in the wrong direction and so we had to find a way to solve that problem,” said Weatherford.

The tax is increasing because the state borrowed 2.6 billion dollars from the federal government to pay unemployment claims at the height of the recession. Now the bill has come due with interest.

Tomorrow marks two years since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, making it the law of the land. State leaders in Florida call it Obamacare and have filed a lawsuit to block the new regulations. As Whitney tells us, they’re also turning down half a billion federal dollars to implement health care changes.

Turning two, the Affordable Care Act has been changing health care and sparking political debate since 2010.

At a cupcakery in Tallahassee a group of ACA supporters celebrated two years of health care changes. But despite those changes, the store’s owner Jean Bates still can’t afford heath insurance for her seven employees.

“Our health care is pretty much get enough sleep, try not to come in here too sick and taking a lot of vitamin C,” said Jean.

US Health and Human Services Regional Director, Anton Gunn, says because of the new law there is a tax credit for business owners like Jean.

”Forty billion dollars has been set aside in the new health care law for small business owners,” said Gunn.

The Act is being phased in. The rebates, free flu shots and new rules on how much insurance companies can spend on lobbying and marketing are in effect now.

There is also billions of dollars available to states to expand Medicaid and Medicare, but here in Florida lawmakers are refusing the money. The budget awaiting the governor’s signature forgoes half a billion federal dollars for health care.

Florida is leading 25 other states in a lawsuit to over turn what opponents call Obamacare. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the mandate that everyone buy insurance is unconstitutional.

“I think it’s so important for the country that we have a resolution and we commend the Supreme Court from getting us in this term,” said Bondi.

The US Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments in the heath care case next week. A ruling is expected this summer. By turning down the money, many supporters of the new law fear Florida is being set up for disaster. If the state loses its court battle, Florida could need billions of dollars to catch up with other states already accepting the federal cash.

Ten claims bills offering relief to Florida families injured by government carelessness await the governor’s signature. Governor Rick Scott is reviewing the bills. As Whitney Ray tells us, Scott wants to develop criteria to compensate people for their losses that’s fair to both the victim and taxpayers.

Governor Rick Scott has been in office through two legislative sessions, but this is the first year a claims bill has crossed his desk. He quickly signed the first one he received. A million dollars for an innocent man jailed for murder.

“My life was gone. I can’t do anything but look forward. I’m blessed and lucky to be here,” said William Dillon.

Last year the legislature failed to pass any legislation to compensate people injured by government neglect. This year lawmakers passed 11 bills worth more than 40 million dollars. Scott wants to take more time with the remaining bills.

Including 15 million dollars for Aaron Edwards, who was injured at birth and 10 million dollars for a man paralyzed by a speeding sheriff’s deputy. New to the process, Scott is trying to develop a plan to be fair to the victims and taxpayers.

“I think it’s fair that people should expect me to be consistent, to figure out what should the standard be,” said Scott.

Anxiously awaiting to see how the governor will act on the relief legislation are the parents of a murdered FSU students. Rachel Hoffman was killed during a botched drug sting conducted by Tallahassee police in 2008. State lawmakers approved a bill to pay her parents 2.4 million dollars.

“Rachel was very kind and loving and didn’t deserve to die,” said Rachel’s Father Irv Hoffamn.

A judge already awarded the family the money, which will be paid by the City of Tallahassee, but state law requires legislative approval for any settlement over 200-thousand dollars. In a claims case a judge sets the award and then the legislature can change the amount, but the governor can only sign or veto the bill. He has no authority to alter the amount.

Black state lawmakers are calling for a special prosecutor to investigate the death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin.

Martin was unarmed when he was shot and killed by 28 year old George Zimmerman last month. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and was never charged. State Senator Chris Smith says the case has gotten so hairy only an outside prosecutor could do a fair job investigating the shooting.

“I think this case has grown big enough that we need an independent person to go down there and look at whether this person should be prosecuted or not,” said Smith.

Smith is also calling for a bi-partisan legislative committee to review Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law. The 2005 law allows people to use deadly force instead of fleeing if they feel their life is being threatened.

Governor Rick Scott has signed legislation requiring a pre-employment drug test for new state hires. The legislation also sets up random testing for up to ten percent of the state workforce four times a year. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, whether anyone has to take a test will likely be decided by a federal court.

Jamal Langley is the first face you see when you enter the Governor’s office. Jamal took a drug test seven months ago when he applied for the job. “I mean I knew I would have to take it to get employed. Its part of the application process. So I didn’t mind doing it because it’s part of the application and I applied for the position,” says Langley.

Rick Scott says everyone in his office was tested before they got a job…That includes his secretary of state who told us “And I was happy to do it, and I passed.”

Legislation signed by Scott will require pre employment drug testing for all state applicants. The legislation also allows agencies to order random tests of up to ten percent of the existing work force four times a year. Scott says he will implement the testing at every agency under his control. “I think its the right thing to do for the state. We want to have, just like a private company, you want to have a productive work force” says Scott.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which stopped the Governor from drug testing welfare recipients says it won’t announce in advance if it plans a lawsuit, but this one is certainly on their radar. The ACLU says the legislation clearly violates Constitutional principles, but attorney Maria Kayanan says there are not differing levels of constitutionality. “Pre employment drug testing is just as unconstitutional as testing of current employees. there are no levels of unconstitutionality.”

The law takes effect July first unless a court says otherwise. The state is still in Federal court over the drug testing of welfare recipients. Before that testing was stopped, just two percent of those being tested positive.

County governments in Florida stand to spend an additional $155 million taking care of Medicaid patients in Florida hospitals under legislation approved by state lawmakers this year. That’s why, as Mike Vasilinda reports, county governments are asking Governor Rick Scott to veto the legislation.

Florida counties pay a portion of lengthy hospital stays and nursing home care for low income people receiving Medicaid.

Legislation approved in the just concluded 2012 session would change how the state bills the counties. The counties have written Governor Rick Scott, asking for a veto They say they are not being allowed to challenge billing errors. In their letter they say it is like not allowing their taxpayers to question errors in a credit card bill.

“It’s common sense that we review our bills before we pay them,” Cragin Mosteller, with the Florida Association of Counties said. “It’s common sense that we have the chance to challenge anything that’s incorrect. But unfortunately, with this new bill, counties won’t have the chance to do that, which means the taxpayers foot the bill.”

Statewide, the cost shift to local taxpayers could be as much as 155 million dollars a year.

The counties say the bills are rife with errors, including being billed for out-of-state patients and even being billed for the same patient 15 times.

But Lawmakers pushing the change want counties to pay up first and argue later.

“There were some billings that were questioned, so we provided a 15 percent discount, so counties only have to pay 85 percent,” Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) said.

Some of the billing disputes go back at least four years, to the time the current billing system was implemented.

Florida is one of the few states in the nation to shift Medicaid costs to local governments.

FAMU students are calling for action in a case of a black teen shot by a white neighborhood watch captain. 17-year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed last month while walking to a relative’s home in Sanford, Florida. His killer claims self-defense and is walking free. As Whitney Ray tells us, FAMU students are calling on the governor to get involved in the case.

The outrage and passion unleashed on FAMU’s campus Monday, began on February 26th, with a 911 call.

“This guy looks like he is up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something,” said George Zimmerman in a 911 recording released this weekend.

That’s the voice of 28 year old George Zimmerman a neighborhood watchmen. He was following 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Martin was in the neighborhood visiting family. A dispatcher told Zimmerman to stay in his car.

New callers witnessed Zimmerman catch up to Trayvon. Moments later shots rang out and more 911 calls poured in. Zimmerman was question by police, but never arrested. The 911 recordings were released this weekend.

“It just sounded horrific,” said FAMU Senior Ciara Taylor.

“It broke me. It broke my heart to hear that going on,” said Sr. Antonio Hairston.

FAMU Students who heard the recordings rallied on campus, calling for Zimmerman’s arrest. And Monday’s action is just the beginning. Students say if Zimmerman isn’t arrested, they’ll hold a sit-in in the governor’s office, rally at the capitol and maybe even visit Sanford.

They say Governor Rick Scott needs to take action.

“He has stayed silent for a month after this kid was murdered in cold blood,” said Taylor.

One student asked the crowd if they knew someone who was killed and no action was taken, almost everyone raised a hand.

We asked the governor’s office if they planned to intervene in the Martin case. They responded with this statement. “Governor Scott’s heart goes out to Trayvon’s family and the community. At this time, the investigation is being handled by the proper authorities with the State Attorney’s office. Governor Scott has no plans to interfere with that investigation.”

–Lane Wright,
EOG Spokesman

Students from FSU and UF are requesting a meeting with Governor Rick Scott to discuss a bill that would allow their universities to raise tuition as high as they’d like.

The students want Scott to veto the bill. FSU Senior Michael Sampson is one of those students calling for a veto. He says if Scott won’t meet with the students they’ll invade his office.

“Later on this week students from UF and FSU will go to his office with or without an invitation to demand SB 1752 is vetoed,” said Sampson.

If Scott signs the bill, tuition at FSU and UF could go up 30 percent or even higher. Right now tuition at those schools is about 5-thousand dollars a year. The national average is 8-thousand. The tuition increase would only impact new students.

Florida is receiving a C minus in Integrity tonight. The grade coming from the Center from Public Integrity, a nationwide nonprofit organization.

Florida received low marks for not giving its ethics commission the power to investigate violations without a formal complaint and for a lack of transparency in lobbying. A newly formed Florida group with a similar name and a similar mission is applauding the report. Integrity Florida Executive Director Dan Krassner says his organization will be releasing plans to make Florida’s government more open.

“Let’s put online how much organizations are spending on lobbying per issue and who they are meeting with, just like Congress does. I think Florida could do at least as good a job as Congress when it comes to transparency in lobbying in Florida,” said Krassner.

Integrity Florida will release its own investigative reports next month targeting the state legislature.

Lawmakers ended the legislative session without an agreement on how to handle the state’s newest gaming businesses; internet cafes. The cafes exist as sweepstakes through a loophole in state law. Without legislation to regulate them, as Whitney Ray tells us, city and county governments will have to spend another year deciding where the businesses can operate.

In Hillsborough County, internet cafes are illegal, but in Tampa a businessman is opening new ones.

“We made sure to contact the proper authorities, before, during and after,” said Richard Ratcliff.

And those authorities, the Tampa City Government, said go ahead, because they lack the power to ban the new gaming businesses.

The situation is similar here in Tallahassee, where there is no city ordinance against internet cafes, but the county won’t allow any new ones to open.

How they are regulated varies from town to town and county to county. The Florida House voted for consistency, outlawing them statewide.

But the Senate never took up the legislation. They had their own bill with statewide regulations, but it failed too. Representative Scott Plakon sponsored the bill to ban. He plans to bring it back next year and is asking lawmakers to do their homework.

“I’d challenge some members to walk into them,” said Plakon.

And with no action from lawmakers, there will be plenty of new internet cafes to visit.

“We had a thousand of them this year up from 500 the year before. I’d say probably by next year we will have 15 hundred,” said Plakon.

Those new cafes will have to locate in cities and counties without bans, which means, if the industry continues to grow, areas where they’re still legal will see a huge surge. Only two counties have completely outlawed the games, Hillsborough and Seminole. Both of those bans are being challenged in court. Also the state has the authority to regulate internet cafes awarding prizes exceeding five thousand dollars. Ten businesses in the state fall under the state regulation.

You know those blue tags that hang on car mirrors, the ones that allow people with disabilities to park up close?

Well, a lot of people without disabilities are using them, sometime taking the tag from a dead relative’s car. A bill to allow random checks on people who’ve been issued a tag and matching the disabled parking tag registration against death records is headed to the governor. Rep. John Julien sponsored the bill and spent two years getting it through the process.

Reporter: These people are taking spots from people who need that upfront parking.

Julien: That’s one of the reasons why instead of it just being law enforcement officers, a police officers, to be able to confiscate a placard being used unlawfully. We also gave the ability to parking enforcement.

Julien was inspired to file the bill after traveling the state with a wheelchair-bound friend.

A challenge tonight to members of the Florida legislature.

Representative Scott Plakon tried to pass a bill last week to ban internet cafes. The bill failed in the Senate and now Plakon says the sweepstakes businesses will continue to grow. Plakon is challenging members to visit internet cafes before they return to Tallahassee for the 2013 session.

“I challenge some members to walk into them, which I’ve been in about 20. It’s really an enlightening experience when you see what’s actually going on,” said Plakon.

Another bill to regulate the internet cafes also failed. Now it’s up to city and county governments to decide where the businesses can operate.

Taxpayers will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for lawmakers to redraw the senate district map. The map was declared unconstitutional last Friday, so lawmakers have to meet in special session to fix it. As Whitney Ray tells us, if lawmakers would have acted faster, they could have saved taxpayers thousands of dollars.

In an 11 minute special session Wednesday, Lawmakers prayed, pledged and spent your money, including thousands of dollars on flights, meals and hotel rooms. Each member is given 110 dollars a day for lodging and 80 dollars for food and other expenses. There’s also extra cash for staff.

“This could have been dealt with immediately following our regular session,” said State Senator Mike Fasano.

Fasano, stayed home. He says money could have been saved if leadership held the special session Friday night.

“We could have immediately opened the special session taking just five or ten minutes,” said Fasano.

Governor Rick Scott ended up calling the special session, starting five days after the Florida Supreme Court declared the Senate district map unconstitutional.

This could be one reason for the delay and extra cost. It’s the Florida Supreme Court’s 234 page opinion. Senate leadership may have wanted to digest it all before deciding how to move forward.

It’s important to note lawmakers had to come back at some point, but obviously there were options on when to return. The house won’t call members back again until it’s time for a chamber vote on the map. The senate will only have members on the redistricting committee in Tallahassee for multiple days.

We won’t have a final cost on the special session for months, but a one day special session held in 2010 cost taxpayers 67-thousand dollars. This session will likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.