Daily News Update with Rich Jones of WOKV : 8/1/2012

[Tamara-B]

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected this afternoon.  Strong thunderstorms will produce gusty winds up to 50 miles an hour, lightning and heavy rainfall. Thunderstorms are in the forecast every day through the weekend with afternoon temps in the low 90's.

Today's interview lineup:

At 6:23 hear Stephanie Brown's investigation of taxpayer-funded vacant properties across Jacksonville in various forms of disrepair. http://www.wokv.com/Player/101470941/

At 6:53 hear Jamie Dupree on the message deliveved to Republicans by Texas Republican senate candidate Ted Cruz, who many are comparing to Marco Rubio. http://www.wokv.com/Player/101471001/

At 7:23 hear Matt Augustine at a southside Chick-Fil-A, where supporters of free speech are lined up in a show of support. http://www.wokv.com/Player/101471041/

At 8:23 hear Jamie Dupree on the new allegations of big spending by the GSA. http://www.wokv.com/Player/101471181/

Our Top Local Story:  Changes are expected in Duval County Schools following the arrest of a teacher of the year on sexual battery charges.  Christopher Bacca is accused of sex acts on a child under the age of 12.  The school board is questioning why it was never alerted to a 2009 investigation of inappropriate contact with a student. The school board is calling for increased communication and other procedural changes in the review of teachers going forward.

Showing support for marriage between one man and one woman--by Eating More Chikin. Today has been dubbed Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.  Supporters of the biblical definition of marriage want to support the company's stand.  Gay rights groups and some politicians are calling for a boycott of the business.  Politicans in Chicago and Boston say Chick-Fil-A is not welcome there.  We've heard from more than 100 fans on Facebook, many saying they plan to show their support for Chick-Fil-A today.

Armed with a gun and a Crown Royal bag, a man in his 20's holds up the Marshalls store in St. Johns County.  No one was hurt but the store workers must have been frightened Tuesday afternoon when the guy demanded money from a register.  He was wearing blue jeans and a bright yellow shirt--with glasses and a black hat.  Cops are looking for the black man in his mid to late 20's, around 130 pounds.

A child care director is arrested after she reportedly punched a child in the head.  Shelia Rose, the director of Small Blessings Learning Academy on Blanding Boulevard, turned herself in and is charged with child abuse.  The Department of Children and Families says they have surveillance video of Rose punching a child twice. She was released from Duval County Jail after making bond.  Her arraignment is set for August 20th.

A Kentucky woman is arrested after police say she sold a baby boy for a Dodge truck and then fled to Putnam County.  She has been arrested and sent back to Kentucky where she'll face  charges of human trafficking.  The couple accused of trading their truck will also face charges. Police saying she sold the baby shortly after his birth in January.

Less than three months after announcing a program to post online the Governor's emails and those of his staff, it turns out only staff emails were available. His emails were actually in a separate account. He announced a program in May that would allow access to his emails within 24 hours of the time they were written.

A sudden resignation by Florida's Education Commissioner.  Gerard Robinson gave no specific reason for leaving, only saying it comes after much contemplation and discussion with his family.  Robinson has only been in the office for a year.  His tenure was marked by glitches in the state's school grading system and standardized test scoring.
The brother-in-law of Florida's Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll faces federal drug charges.  The U.S. Attorney's Office says 59-year-old Edward Beckles allegedly filled fraudulent prescriptions fo Oxycodone.  If convicted, Beckles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for each of his two felony charges.  Beckles is a pharmacist and married Carroll's sister.

Updating You Decide 2012: Mitt Romney is returning to Jacksonville just days before the Republican National Convention.  His visit to Florida is expected August 13th.  No specific location or time has been announced just yet.

Our Top National Story: The Tea Party chalks up another win, delivering a blow to the Republican establishment in Texas.  Ted Cruz beat Lt. Governor David Dewhurst in the primary runoff for U.S. Senate.  Cruz heads to the general election to face former State Rep. Paul Sadler.

Outspoken political analyst Gore Vidal has died at the age of 86.  The writer and analyst was critical about the invasion of Iraq.  He wrote 24 books and five plays, and is credited with helping write the script for the movie Ben Hur.

Another needle shows up in a sandwich at 35,000 feet.  This one aboard an Air Canada flight. The airline says a passenger found what appears to be a sewing needle in a catered sandwich on board a flight from Victoria, British Columbia, to Toronto.  The airline says it contacted the caterers immediately after Monday's discovery.

Michael Phelps can now claim a record number of medals in his Olympic career. He won his 19th medal, which was also his 15th gold, in the four-by-200-meter freestyle relay. He has three more events to go in London.

http://www.wokv.com/videos/online/advertising/morning-news-video-blog/ldQ/