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The Florida Highway Patrol will step up patrols throughout the state beginning at midnight Saturday throughout Christmas Day.  Troopers will be targeting aggressive drivers, speeders, those not wearing not seat belts or those with children improperly restrained.  FHP Major Ernie Duarte also reminds drivers not to drink before taking the wheel.

“People think you have to be basically, just falling drunk to be a danger and that’s not the case,” he said.  “Statistics, studies show that just a few drinks, it does impair the ability for someone to drive their vehicle, to react to danger, to react to someone stopping, to a child running in front of them.”

If you see trouble on the highway, you can call FHP at *FHP (*347) from your mobile phone.

About 4 million Floridians without prescription drug coverage now have an alternative.  No state dollars are being used for a new program unveiled today by Governor Charlie Crist.  As Chris Casquejo explains, people over 60 without prescription coverage, those who fall through the Medicare coverage gap, and working families stand to benefit.

Hear it here: Prescription Drug Discount Program Unveiled

The new program will offer discounted prescription drugs to Floridians over 60 without coverage.  It will also help seniors in the so-called Medicare donut hole, where prescription costs aren’t covered between $2,200 and $5,100.

“I am in the donut hole right now,” said 85-year-old Mabel Huffman.  “I am paying full price for my prescription drugs.”

To find out if you are eligible, go the website FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com.
There, you’ll also find information about which drugs are covered.

The savings will also be available to those under 60 if their income is below roughly $30,000 a year.  The governor’s office says a family of four would qualify with an income less than $63,000.

“Those working families are usually not in jobs where they offer prescription drug coverage,” said Chris Kise, counselor to the governor.  “So this is intended to fill that gap.”

No state dollars will fund the program.  But the program’s manager, Envision Pharmaceutical Services earns $1.50 for each prescription filled.  Governor Charlie Crist now turns his health-care focus to Florida’s 4 million people without insurance.

“It is just one piece of the puzzle,” Gov. Crist said.  “And it is the first piece.”

The governor says he’ll unveil a plan to help Florida’s uninsured during the first couple of months of the New Year.

Enrollment is also open by phone at 1-866-341-8894.

Several dozen law enforcement leaders have wrapped up a meeting at the state Capitol to work on fighting Florida’s growing gang problem.  Recent estimates peg the number of gangs in the state at around 1,500.  Attorney General Bill McCollum and Juvenile Justice Secretary Walter McNeil shared some of the recommendations.

“Many of these kids are saying to me, that’s why businesses are so important, that were there the availability of jobs, if we had a vocation, if we had some skills,” McNeil said.  “We could turn from gang activity to productive kinds of activities in our communities.”

McNeil and McCollum are calling on faith- and community based programs to help fill the parenting gaps with kids who have no parents or have a single parent and may be vulnerable to joining a gang.

The state is responding to criticism after an audit found that people with criminal records were allowed to carry concealed weapons or did not have their permits revoked in a timely fashion.  The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says it is confident that any loopholes in the system are now closed.

“We don’t believe there are people with concealed weapons permits who shouldn’t have them,” said Terry McElroy, with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  “We’re really not aware of any.  You know, you read stories in the paper, or TV, about people who ought not to be having handguns, people with criminal records.  Those people don’t have concealed weapons permits.  The people who have concealed weapons permits are very diligently vetted by Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”

Each week, the state agency receives a list of everyone arrested in Florida to match against its list of about 462,000 concealed weapons license holders. Anyone appearing on both lists is referred within 20 days for possible loss of the license.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit today, seeking to keep the Seminole Tribe of Florida from getting expanded gambling, at least temporarily. The U.S. Dept. of the Interior has until early January to approve the tribe’s gaming pact with the state. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, McCollum wants to keep the Indians from getting more gaming until a Florida court decides if the deal is legal.

Hear it Here: McCollum Files Gambling Suit

At the Center of the lawsuit is the question of who can authorize increased gambling in Florida. In mid-November, Governor Charlie Crist gave the Seminole tribe black jack and full-blown slots, subject to federal approval. Almost immediately, State lawmakers went to court to block the deal, arguing that lawmakers should have a say.  Now the State’s attorney General wants to keep the Feds from approving the deal until Florida’s courts rule.

“We’re just simply putting it on hold until the state and the courts resolve whether or not it’s a valid compact,” Attorney General Bill McCullom said. “Otherwise what you would have happening would be an invalid compact going into affect.”

The Tribe’s attorney says the only real impact of the latest suit will be to delay the state’s payment of 50 million dollars, which the tribe owes once there’s Federal approval of the deal.

“I can tell you that the Seminoles have no intention of putting in Class 3 machines and beginning to operate them before the Supreme Court’s decision,” Seminole Tribe attorney Barry Richard said. “So from a practical standpoint, it’s not clear to me what this accomplishes.”

The Florida Supreme Court won’t even hear the case until the end of January. And a decision might not come for months after that.

McCullom opposes gambling but says he’s only trying to avoid confusion and make sure the Tribe doesn’t get something it might eventually lose in court.

Attorney General Bill Mc Collum is expected to announce he is filing a law suit against the US Department of Interior, telling the department they can not grant the Seminole Tribe greater gaming rights until the Florida Supreme Court decides if the Governor has the sole authority to enter into the pact.

Governor Charlie Crist announced the availability of a discount drug card today. Here’s a link to learn more: www.FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com

Listen to the News Conference Here

Charlie Crist has been tearing into the property and casualty insurers since before taking office. So why is the Governor’s first annual Christmas card hanging on the door at the Florida Insurance Council Office? The Council has been the main voice speaking against Crist’s reforms. Better still, why did they bother to tape it up?

Governor Charlie Crist has enlisted the help of three high powered trial lawyers to decide if legal action against insurance companies for gouging consumers is possible. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, even if the case goes forward, don’t look for refunds anytime soon.

Hear it here: Crist Hints at Class Action Against Insurers

When the hankie fell on a special session on insurance last January, there were predictions of rates dropping an average 24 percent . But In most cases consumers were lucky to get half that much. So the governor is dropping hints of a class action lawsuit..much like the tobacco litigation that won the state billions.

Question:” Do you think people who paid higher rates have money coming back? “
“That would be the whole point to so ..exactly…to get the consumers money back. We haven’t had storms, thank god, ” said the Governor.

Dexter Douglass was the general behind the tobacco suit. He is one of three lawyers looking at the case against insurers. Douglass says the information he’s seem makes him think something isn’t right.

“It’s just too pat..and too offensive to the consumers that there isn’t some action” says Douglass.

After two years of no storms…or significant losses, and in some cases rising costs, the industry is on the defensive. Insurance Council Spokesman Sam Miller says bring it on.

“We can defend ourselves in court if that’s where we’re headed” says Miller. “It would be nice to get beyond the talk and let them submit their proof and we’ll submit our proof, and we’ll be proven right.”

The tobacco litigation took three years to pay off…so don’t look for a refund, or settlement in your mailbox anytime soon..if ever. It’s expected to take at least a month before the lawyers decide if there is a next step.

The lawyers are not charging the state for their time to review the case. It is unclear whether they will get paid if they take on a law suit and win.

Felony related gang convictions have nearly doubled in the last two years. That sent Dozens of law enforcement tot he state Capitol today to work on a strategy to deal with Florida’s growing gang problem.  As Chris Casquejo tells us, police say parents bear some of the responsibility.

Hear it here: Statewide Gang Reduction Summit

Doc Bailey first joined the Crips gang when he was just 11.  Now married with kids, Doc wants other to know where he’d be if he were still part of a gang.

“Either incarcerated, on the streets looking over my shoulder, if not dead,” Bailey said.

For Doc, seeing two friends die in a nightclub shooting was enough.

Statewide, the number of gang-related felony convictions has shot up dramatically.  In 2005, the number was 2,700.  Last year, it went up to 4,400.  Law enforcement leaders know they need to do more than just clean up the graffiti.

They are meeting at the Capitol for a two-day summit hoping to come up with a statewide strategy to fight gangs.  Police say parents can look for warning signs.

Major Paul Davis is with the Hillborough County Sheriff’s Department.

“Are they wearing the same type, the same kinds of clothes, the same color?  Are they all wearing their hat a certain way?  Are they getting a tattoo?”

Doc Bailey grew up without a father.  He believes adults need to keep a close eye on kids like him.

“Maybe an uncle. Or a cousin or something that’s close to them that’s going in a positive direction,” he said.

The battle against gangs won’t end soon in Florida.  Estimates peg the number of gangs in the state at 1,500.

A federal judge has temporarily halted Florida from enforcing a two-year-old law that requires election supervisors to verify a would-be voter’s identity.  Voter registration applications require a driver’s license or the last four digits of someone’s social security number.  A coalition of voter’s rights groups, including the NAACP and other minority groups, sued.  They argued that the law disproportionately disenfranchised about 14,000 voters, many of whom used two last names, which is common among Hispanics and Haitians.

“Whoever created this database obviously had no connection to the Hispanic community, because they wouldn’t have created this kind of a problem if they were aware of this exact match became a vehicle, really, to not match people instead of to match people,” said Leon County Election Supervisor Ion Sancho.

Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning said the state plans to appeal the ruling. 

Advocates who help first-time and low-income home buyers will be watching next month’s property tax vote closely.  The plan allows homeowners to take their Save Our Homes benefit when they move.  It also doubles the homestead exemption.  Groups like Habitat for Humanity say any relief is better than none at all.

“I’m sure the homestead exemption is going to be beefed up, which certainly applies to every homeowner that we’re providing houses to,” said Eddie Bass, with Big Bend Habitat for Humanity.  “They’re first-time homeowners.  So it’s extremely important.  Our homeowners are partners for 30 years.  A 30 year mortgage is a lifetime, really.  So certainly the property tax cuts will help them for years and years to come.”

6 in 10 voters have to approve the property tax cut on January 29th for the amendment to become law.

A family of five has an early Christmas present.  For the first time in two years, they will be celebrating the holidays in their own home.  As Chris Casquejo explains, the generosity of a former FSU legend and current NFL star helped make their dreams possible.

Hear it here: New Home for Family of 5

The Nyahuma family can hardly believe a new 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, fully furnished home is all theirs. The father and his 4 children spent 400 hours helping Habitat for Humanity build the house.

“I can’t remember the last time I sat at a new couch or ate at a new table with enough chairs for my family,” said new homeowner Osei Nyahuma.

In 2005, Osei Nyahume’s life was a nightmare.  His wife left him, and the family was homeless.

“At times in my van, at times in the bus terminal,” he said.

For the past 11 years, former FSU great and current NFL star Warrick Dunn has been helping single mothers buy their own homes.  This year he decided to help a single father realize his dream.

The family was living with Osei’s sister when Dunn’s foundation stepped in with a $5,000 down payment.
 
“Sometimes we may feel like, if you’re a man, you should be okay,” Dunn said.  “But sometimes, guys need assistance.”

For the Osei Nyahuma and his kids, sleeping in their own beds is a gift they never thought would be possible again.  Now, they believe.
 

As many as 25 Florida State football players will miss the Music City Bowl against the Kentucky Wildcats.  In a statement, head coach Bobby Bowden said, “We have some players not traveling for one reason and some for another, including those who are ineligible for the bowl because of academic issues.  We can not be more specific than that at this time.”  The coach did not want to comment on camera. 

Florida is putting up 93 million and local governments in Palm Beach County to lure a high tech firm to the state. The Max Planck Institute of Bio-imaging will be located on the campus of Florida Atlantic University. The institute is expected to generate 18 hundred jobs directly and indirectly over 20 years. The governor says the new partnership is proof that Florida is on the cutting edge or research.

“It’s a big deal,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “This is a really big deal. It mirrors and compliments Scripps and Torrey Pines and so many other tremendous things that are happening in the sunshine state, it creates this great healthcare cluster, if you will. It’s wonderful.”

Dr. Peter Gruss, President and CEO of the Max Planck Society says the firm has developed highly sophisticated MRI technology.

“We did develop new technology that allows you a very high resolution power, that in turn will enable us to actually look at the dynamics of molecules to understand how a biological system works,” Gruss said.

Senate President Ken Pruitt says the company is proof that Florida is changing it’s future.

“Remember, we got the attention of the world with this innovation incentive fund.” Pruitt said.  “Look at what is happening when we got Burnam, Torrey Pines, Scripp, SRI, Moffit-Merck. Look at what’s happening now! The world is paying attention to Florida and it’s best days are truly ahead of it.”

The technology will allow researchers to study the structure, dynamics and function of molecules and tissues.