Daily News Update with Rich Jones of WOKV : 7/27/2012

[Tamara-B]

No relief from the heat.  Heather Zehr says temps are in the mid-to-upper-90's today and through the weekend.  The real feel will be 105+.  And most of the weekend will be dry.

Today's interview lineup:

At 6:53 hear Jamie Dupree on the plan that forces the feds to say where they would cut if automatic budget cuts go into effect in January.  http://www.wokv.com/Player/101466101/

At 7:53 hear reporter Matt Augustine explain why one city councilman says the forecast for the future looks very very bleak. http://www.wokv.com/Player/101466181/

At 8:23 hear Jamie Dupree explain how one Senator says somebody has to start saying no. http://www.wokv.com/Player/101466231/

Our Top Local Story:  Unsustainable pension plan.  We  hear Jacksonville city councilman John Crescimbeni saying the forecast for the future looks very very bleak.  He says the rate at which the city contributes to the pensions of its police and firefighters has spiked to 82%.  Crescimbeni says he hopes this new report will be a wakeup call to get pension reform on track.  The Mayor says his reform plan will be out by the end of the year.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office needs your help in finding those responsible for a rash of car burglaries at a Southside apartment complex.  At least seven cars are broken into at the Leigh Meadows Apartments on Sunbeam Road.

The body of a boater missing in the St. Augustine Inlet is found.  Two men got ejected from a boat near the Conch House Marina.   The other man was able to swim to a nearby island where he was picked up by a boat passing by.
Lawyers for the city of Jacksonville just filed a lawsuit against Duval County's Clerk of the Courts, less than three weeks before the August primary.   Jim Fuller is seeking a fourth term in office.  But a recent Supreme Court ruling imposes term limits on his office.  The city is asking for an injunction requiring Fuller to immediately withdraw his candidacy.  Fuller says the Supreme Court ruling only applies to Broward County.

Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll is apologizing for offending lesbians.  Last week, Carroll said black women who engage in lesbian relationships don't look like her.  The comment came in reaction to questions about court documents in which a fired staffer claims she walked in on Carroll and a female aide in a compromising position.  Carroll denies that claim, but says her words hurt people and were "inexcusable."

Our Top National Story:  With automatic spending cuts looming on the first of the year, Congress has sent President Obama a bill that forces the feds to detail all major cuts.  House Speaker John Boehner says the bill would require the government to report within 30 days where they would cut $100 billion.

Meager business growth--that's the expectation ahead of the government's report this morning on economic growth.  Many analysts believe the figures will paint a grim picture of business prospects.  The report is expected to show economic growth at an annual rate of one and a half percent.

Big Ben has signaled the beginning of the Olympic Games celebration.  For three minutes it bonged to celebrate the first day of the games.  First lady Michelle Obama has arrived at the London Games to lead the U.S. delegation. She started her schedule today by having breakfast with American Olympians. Later today Mrs. Obama will attend an event with more than 1,000 children to promote healthy living.

A system of thunderstorms tears through the Ohio River Valley and into New York and toward New England, bringing with it large hail and damaging winds.  More than 200,000 customers losing power in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.  And there have also been reports of tornadoes.

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