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Each year, 600 of Florida’s teachers are disciplined for everything from sexual misconduct to abusive behavior. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, four dozen teachers were disciplined today on charges that they fondled students or were culturally insensitive.

Hear it Here: Teachers Disciplined

Only a small percentage of Florida’s teachers are disciplined each year, but when their cases reach the Education Practices Commission, it’s serious business.

“This is a case of under the influence in school,” DOE attorney Bonnie Wilmot said.

“Ms. McQueen paid two people, or at least one person, to have two grades changed,” Ron Stowers, DOE attorney said.

Forty-four teachers were disciplined by the commission on Monday. They included a Pinellas county teacher who told a middle school student to go back to Africa after the student  failed to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

“He disciplined him and it sounds like he disciplined him inappropriately,” commission chairman Dennis Griffin said.

A half dozen teachers failed to even respond to the commission. At least one was in jail. Leniency was not on the agenda.

“We request that Mr. Black’s Educator’s Certificate be permanently revoked, and that he be permanently bared from re-application,” DOE attorney Miki Presley said.

“We would like to recommend that his Florida Educator’s Certificate be permanently revoked,” Wilmot said.

Some teachers were allowed to remain in the classroom, but only after admitting they had problems and agreeing to remediation, which often included college level ethics classes.

“It’s about getting the person back on the right track so that they can do an affective job,” commission member Mark Strauss said.

“Want to know if your child’s teacher has ever been in trouble? It’s available on line.”

The internet has also brought new problems. One of the most common offenses these days is downloading pornography on school computers.

The state’s new Powerball game is cannibalizing other lottery games but boosting overall sales, funneling an additional 31.5 million dollars to schools in just two months. As Whitney Ray tells us, jackpot fever is driving people to choose Powerball over the Florida Lotto in hopes of a bigger payout.

Hear it Here: Powerball Boost Lottery Sales

Don Heath has been playing the Florida Lottery since it’s inception in 1988. When the state began selling Powerball, the allure of a bigger jackpot changed Don’s spending habits.

“I dropped the amount I played on lottery to play more of the Powerball, the money is bigger,” said Don.

Sales for the first Powerball drawing in Florida totaled more than 7.5 million dollars. One of every four dollars that went to traditional games, now goes to Powerball.

“We expected some cannibalization of games and the amount of decrease has been slight compared to what we expected,” said Florida Lottery Spokeswoman Jackie Barrieros.

Cash 3, Play 4, and Fantasy 5 have seen slight decreases, but remain the Lottery’s strongest games. Lotto sales are down eight percent but scratch-off sales are actually up ten. Still, the draw of a big Powerball jackpot drives players fantasies about hitting it big.

“I would take care of my grandma, my aunts. Really just take care of the family,” said Shalinus Pye.

“I have a couple of charities I would give to, and I would make sure for my family,” said Don.

So far no Florida players have hit the big Florida jackpot. Despite the lack of a jackpot winner, Florida has more Powerball prize winners than any other states. 12 Floridians have won cash prices of 200-thousand dollars; four have won a million.

The American Red Cross will now have more money to help families in crisis, thanks to a gas station chain’s settlement with the state.

Flash Foods settled with the Attorney General’s Office after being accused of gas price gouging. 16 Flash Foods stations hiked prices as Hurricane Ike moved through the Gulf of Mexico in September. The money will go into the Disaster Relief Fund. Red Cross CEO David Chayer said the extra cash will help feed Florida families in crisis.

“We can serve up to 13,000 meals a day with $40,000. We can open and staff two shelters for two weeks to provide comfort from the storm, a safe place to sleep, and a warm place to stay for families,” said Chayer.

The state is still working on 16 other gas price gouging investigations stemming from Hurricane Ike.

Falling real estate prices are driving an increase in existing home sales.

From December to January, Florida home sales rose 24 percent. Prices are down 33 percent in the same time period. The median price of a home in Florida is down to 140,000 dollars. Florida Association of Realtors Spokesman John Sebree said the market is great for first time home buyers.

“It’s been a buyers market for a couple of months, and you know they always say you’ll never know when you’ve hit the bottom until it’s past you but I think home values will continue to fall. The existing home prices are down again this month but they’re probably not going to be able to go much further.”

Right now first-time homebuyers can receive an 8,000 dollar tax credit as part of a stimulus package plan to revive the real estate market.

Calls from people who have been scammed by companies offering to help lower debt or save their home have more than doubled to one state hotline. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, officials also expect a rising crime rate to start showing up in statistics.

Hear it Here: AG Hotline Swamped With Calls

A sign promising consumers they can erase bad credit for a fee hangs as a reminder in the Attorney Generals Call center.

Calls here used to average 300 a week, but have been rising steadily.

Two days this week they hit 650. Many are about foreclosures, debt loads and worries about companies claiming they can help. A new state law says the companies can no longer ask for money up front, but many still do.

“We’re getting calls from consumers who are being charged, 1200, 1800, 2000 dollars for companies who are claiming they are going to modify the loan with a lender,” call supervisor Jack Hagadorn said. “But when they find out later on that the company has never contacted the lender, and they are now in foreclosure.”

A lot of callers are at their wit’s end.

“Most people are so very upset, they feel like they’re going to be losing their homes, that they’re asking questions,” Bethan Dillon, a hotline operator with the office, said.

And the calls keep coming.

The experts say that the one thing that companies promising to raise your credit score or get you out of debt, have in common is that they’re preying on people’s fears.

John Robinson is unemployed and says the offers sound tempting.

“I have had some thoughts that it might be a good idea,” Robinson said. “But then again, they always told me follow your first mind, not everything that falls out of the sky.”

The call volume at the hot line is so high, some callers are being asked to leave a message or go to a web site.

If you have a concern, the number to call is 1-866-966-7226. The web site is www.myfloridalegal.com.

The half million Floridians collecting unemployment benefits are getting a raise. The money is contained in the stimulus package signed into law. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, those receiving benefits don’t have to do anything…but wait a few weeks.

Hear it Here: Unemployment Benefits Going Up

A half million Floridians receiving unemployment will soon see an extra twenty-five dollars in their checks. Statewide, that’s an extra 345 million dollars going into people’s hands by the end of the year. The raise caught some…like Vivian Cromartie, by surprise.

“Food, utilities, you know, basic living expenses,” Cromartie explained what she would spend it on.

“I bet it will,” she said when asked whether it will make a difference in her budget.

For others with more means and more bills, the extra cash isn’t going to be a game changer.

“It’ll probably get me a tank of gas. Well, not even a tank of gas, a half a tank of gas. It will not affect me either way,” unemployed truck driver Russell Hass said.

The 25-dollar increase is across the board, whether recipients are receiving the max weekly payment of 275 dollars, or just half that amount.

The good news for those receiving unemployment is that you don’t have to do anything, but wait for the money.

The increase is retroactive to this past Sunday, but the state says that it could take until late March to get into people’s hands.

“So they’ll get a lump sum payment for the additional 25 dollars per week raise that they’re getting from the federal government,” Victoria Langley Heller with the Agency for Workforce Innovation said.

The increased payments have no effect on businesses or the tax rate they pay for unemployment compensation.

Unemployment is paid every two weeks. The maximum payment will now be 300 dollars for each week, and the additional 25 dollar payments are only authorized though December of this year.

A Leon County Grand Jury spent part of the day listening to prosecutors describe the business dealings of soon to be former House Speaker Ray Sansom.

Samson is being investigated for taking a six figure job with Northwest Florida College after funneling more than 25 million dollars to the hometown college, helping the college trustees meet out of the sunshine, and for funding a six million dollar airplane hanger through the college for a contributor.

Sansom was sacked as House Speaker by his colleagues after he tried to step down temporarily. A new Speaker will be sworn in when lawmakers begin their annual session on March 3rd.

One out of every five Floridians is African American, but blacks make up about half of the state’s prison population. A coalition of lawmakers, department heads, and civil rights activists are looking for ways to keep black men out prison. As Whitney Ray tells us, the group wants to increase the high school graduation rate and reach black teens before they end up in state prisons.

Hear it Here: Council to Reduce Black Inmate Population

“Michael” is a 19 year-old who asked us to conceal his identity. He’s been in and out of jails and detention centers since he was 12. Last month he was shot.

“I didn’t really have nobody at home, nobody I could just chill with at home, that’s why I ran the streets and what not,” Michael said.

Michael is just one of thousands of black men the state is trying to keep out of the system. The Attorney General’s Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys wants to change the gang culture enticing young black men.

“Many see it as a way of life. This is there opportunity to go out and find money and find wealth through illegal means,” said Emery Gainey, the AG’s Director of Law Enforcement Relations.

The group released a report highlighting the high arrest and death rates facing black men in Florida. Graduation rates are also an obstacle for the group. According to the report for every black teen who graduates high school on time, another one doesn’t.

Florida’s Secretary of Juvenile Justice Frank Peterman wants to improve education programs in the state’s detentions centers.

“If we can get to them now and begin to change some of their patterns, change some of their thought patterns and carve a new groove in their brain there and say this is really the way you ought to be doing things,” said Peterman.

The state council wants to set up branches in all 67 Florida counties. The branches would focus on educating communities about the problems facing black youth and provide mentoring services for kids struggling in school.

The state is turning to ministers for help rehabilitating Florida’s struggling youth. The Department of Juvenile Justice launched a chaplaincy program today to recruit men and women of all faiths to volunteer in state detention centers. DJJ Secretary Frank Peterman said the program will give teens in the system someone they can trust.

“It gives them a sense of calmness, a sense of security, and a sense that there’s going to be somebody there regardless of the issues on a regular basis. Sometimes they’re not getting that in their own home,” said Peterman.

The department hopes to expand the Chaplin program to serve teens out on probation and serving home detention sentences.

On the same day the Leon County Grand Jury begins its inquiry into Ray Sansom, David Plyer, the man who helped trigger the Sansom investigation, has filed a new ethics compaint.

This time it is against Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. Plyer accuses Kottkamp of corruptly funding his travel from his home in Ft. Myers to the Capitol. Read the complaint here: kottkamp-ethics-complaint

Economists met in Tallahassee today to figure out how many students will attend Florida’s public schools next year. Unless there are major decreases in the student population over the next two years, many schools will have problems meeting class size requirements. As Whitney Ray tells us, lawmakers are looking for ways to postpone the class size amendment to save schools money.

While Florida’s schools look for places to cut spending, a costly requirement to cap class sizes lurks around the corner. Right now a school wide average is used to measure class sizes. In 2010 the state will evaluate classes individually. Some principals say meeting the required ratio will be difficult because of budget cuts.

“You can’t have it both ways. You can’t meet class size and only fund 80 teachers at a high school of 2,000 kids. It’s impossible,” said Leon High School Principal Rocky Hanna.

The class size amendment caps kindergarten through 3rd grade classes at 18 students, 4th through 8th grade at 22, and high schools at 25.

The state has spent 10.5 billion dollars to reduce class sizes. It would cost an extra 1.5 billion to reach the final goal, but lawmakers want to put the plan on hold because of dwindling state revenues. Florida’s Education Association says lawmakers are using the economy as a copout.

“Their have been people who have opposed this from the very beginning and I think a lot of those people are using the downturn in the economy to go ahead and put a dagger in class size,” said FEA Spokesman Mark Pudlow.

This year only 39 schools out of more than 3,000 failed to meet the current class size requirements. As a punishment, schools violating the class size amendment are forced to move money earmarked for teacher’s salaries and operating costs to construction projects. The Department of Education waived the penalty for the 39 schools who failed to meet the requirements this year.

Florida is missing out on 3.4 billion federal stimulus dollars for cutting billions from education.

A “maintenance of effort” clause in the federal bill penalizes states where education funding fell below 2006 levels. Governor Charlie Crist sent a letter to the US Department of Education asking for a waiver. Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow said the state will have to answer for the cuts they’ve made to public schools.

“The maintenance of effort was put in there so that states like Florida, who cut their education budget, wouldn’t be rewarded for cutting their education budget by getting stimulus money. So I think that they’re going to have to answer some questions to the federal government as to why the budget was cut for education, particularly because we are not a generous state as far as education is concerned,” said Pudlow.

Crist met with US Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan Sunday, to talk about waving the penalty.

A plan to release 3,900 inmates from Florida prisons is being discussed in Tallahassee. Releasing the inmates would allow the state to postpone building three new prisons at a cost of 300 million taxpayer dollars. As Whitney Ray tells us, The Department of Corrections doesn’t support the early release plan, but says something needs to be done to cut down the state’s prison population.

Hear it Here: Inmate Release Plan

The state plans to build three new prisons at a hundred million dollars a piece to keep up with the growing inmate population. Florida’s biggest business lobby says it would be cheaper to release 3,900 inmates.

“We are major providers of state taxes, though the revenues that we give to the state of Florida. We want a better bang for our buck,” said AIF President Barney Bishop.

The release plan wouldn’t apply to murders, pedophiles, or armed robbers. Only non-violent offenders would be eligible for release.

The Florida Police Benevolent Association support efforts to cut down on the prison population, but questions giving out ‘get out of jail free cards’.

“It would send a shock wave through the system. I don’t think that’s good public policy,” said PBA Spokesman Matt Puckett.

One out of every three inmates released from Florida Prisons end up back in the system. The plan would require released inmate to receive job training. The Department of Corrections opposes early releases, but supports the training portion.

“Inmates that receive basic education, substance abuse training, are far less likely to go out into the community, create a new crime and come back into our system,” said DOC Spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger.

Another idea to help balance the state’s shrinking budget includes shipping prisoners out of state or to private prisons. Lawmakers say the state could save 24 million by outsourcing prison services. Police lobby groups say send inmates out of state jeopardizes the jobs of Florida’s correctional officers.

As the economy softens the state is being bombarded with applications from people who want to carry a concealed firearm. 95,000 are still waiting on their permits. As Whitney Ray tells us, the rush to legally carry a weapon comes as food stamp and unemployment numbers skyrocket.

Hear it Here: 95,000 Waiting on Gun Permits

These 18 gallon tubs full of paper represent just a few of the 95-thousand weapon permit applications the state is struggling to process.

“This is simply an explosion of applications,” said Liz Compton, a spokeswoman with the Department of Agriculture.

Applications for conceal-carry permits began to skyrocket about a year ago. Then the day after the election, fears of stricter gun laws spawned a second wave. Now the threat of a souring economy turning violent is fueling the fire.

“People are getting licenses to carry so they can protect themselves and their families,” said NRA Spokeswoman Marion Hammer.

8.1 percent unemployment and a flood of food stamp applications are overburdening state employees. DCF Secretary George Sheldon said people are getting desperate. Sheldon wants to speed up the food stamp application process.

“If somebody’s hungry, they’re not planning to be hungry 30 days from now. They’re hungry today,” said Sheldon.

DCF wants more money to keep up with the demand for food stamps, which could keep people from getting desperate. The Department of Agriculture will use money from a conceal-carry trust fund to handle its backlog.

There is a slight bright side to all the increases. Pawnshops and gun stores are seeing a spike in sales and the state is creating jobs to handle the licensing and food stamp applications.

The Department of Agriculture is taking applications to hire 61 temporary workers to help with the backlog. DCF hopes to use federal stimulus and state dollars to create 288 positions.

People hungry and fed up with long waiting periods to get food stamps are turning to food banks to feed their families.

Florida’s food banks gave away 72 million pounds of food last year. Food bank workers say it’s getting harder to meet the demand. They’re asking the state to speed up the food stamp application process. President of the Florida Food Bank Association David Reaney said charities are picking up the slack.

“We can’t keep up with the demand if the food stamp program is also not keeping up with the demand. That’s why getting the program working is so important,” said Reaney.

The Department of Children and Families should receive 22 million federal stimulus dollars. DCF is also asking the state for an additional six million. The department wants to use the money to create 288 jobs to help speed up the food stamp application process.