channel 9 eyewitness news continues right now at 5:30. new this hour, should florida spend 30 million tax dollars on more english classes? supporters think so. >> you know, we tend to look at, you know, wasting money. it's not wasting, it's investing. >> one orlando state senator says he thinks investment is critical l to florida's future. the money would go to colleges and universities throughout florida, to pay for extra instructors in classes. >> we have done several stories about the influx of puerto ricos moving to central florida. channel 9 anchor found out that lawmakers are pushing for the funding because there's a waiting list to get into state funded english classes. >>reporter: we did a quick search and found english classes can cost $500 a month or more. many people can't afford that. and one lawmaker told me just ignoring these new arrivals

just listen to him. >> i'm studying information technology. i want to be k an engineer in commuter science. >>reporter: eric speaks perfect english, but that wasn't always the case. >> when i got here, i didn't know any english, whatsoever. >>reporter: he says he identifies with his coworkers in orlando who were part of a recent influx of puerto ricans arriving in central florida. many of them struggling to learn inr english. >> i wouldn't expect to get any better right now because we have a huge economic crisis in puerto rico driving this. >>reporter: state senator of orlando is working to secure 30 million dollars from the lang education, for legal immigrants in college. he's ready to respond to critics who don't want to pay tax money to teach english to new spanish-speaking residents. >> it will be a boom to our economy if we have more of these recent arrivals, learning english and being able to start

professionals. >>reporter: eric says he sees it firsthand every day and he looks that will pay off. >> you don't know the doctors that could come out of that, the that. there's a lot of possibility and up. >>reporter: in orlando, channel 9, eyewitness news. this is all that is left, look at this, of a small town in manatee county, after the latest tornado brought on by el nino wreaked havoc on the area. the deadly tornado touched down early sunday morning. eric with the abc affiliate in pam to, talked to two people able to escape this deadly storm. >> an american flag hangs in the barn that turned out to by a sanctuary for the survivors of yesterday's tornado. stephen wilson and four children took shelter here, but wilson 's parents did not survive. his father, steve, crushed in the debris, his mother, kelly, died from an apparent heart attack on the way to the hospital.

us about kelly's final moments. >> she couldn't breathe. she kept trying to get up. we told her to lay still. >>reporter: today, crews were here, recovering the transformer that fell to the ground, when the tornado snapped the yule you've tillty pole. the wreckage is still everywhere, family and neighbors have worked for hours to recover whatever they can. we saw so many personal items that belonged to steve, and kelly, known to her friends @ as katie, including shoes, books and clothing, so many from this area are here to help. >> this is a tight knit community on carlton road, carlton road, we pretty much know and take care of each other. and but steve and katie were special. very, very, very special. they loved their grand kids. they loved life. they loved their neighbors. >> three strong ef-2 tornadoes hit florida in the last nine days and george waldenberger is going through the numbers, that's a bit extreme.

that same storm that spun up the tornado created another tornado. 132 miles per hour winds, the funnel cloud moved onshore as wide as 3 football fields, both tornadoes strong ef-2 but almost up to the ef-3. the winds, 1342 miles per hour ripping through cape coral. in florida, tornadoes are common, but mainly weak ones, why, then, three strong tornados in the last nine days? this graphic from the national weather service in melbourne shows the number of tornadoes in florida, over 7 nonel nino winters, 108 tornadoes, plenty, but almost all of them are the weeker ef 0-eef 1 storms.

goes up to 178. but even more startling, is the number of strong tornadoes. shown by the red bars. they jump from just a couple to almost 50 strong tornadoes. the bottom line, we have a much higher chance of strong tornadoes during el nino winters, this el nino atmospheric pattern, it directs the storm track closer to florida. storms following the track, one overhead a. this brings favorable conditions for strong storms more frequently. with the current el nino pattern, expect it to continue through april, we'll be keeping you ahead of the storms that have the potential to do this. just download the wftv weather app, you can see the latest information and if year doing live storm coverage, you can see that on your smartphone, all you have to do is download the weather app. >> tonight, one of the five americans that was detained in iran for months is back on u.s. soil. matthew was the first to return home after being detained in iran for 40 days.

undergoing needed medical treatment and another one decided to stay behind in iran. matthew's fallly members were happy to have -- family members were happy to have him back. >> got a lot of support from friends and family members and we're able to get through it and we appreciate all of the help that the u.s. government has done on this. >> for their freedom, the obama administration agreed to release 7 iranians charged with violating u.s. sanctions and to drop arrest warrants for 14 others. that on top of paying 1.7 billion dollars to settle an old financial disbutte with the iranian government. >> world news tonight with david muir will have much more, coming up after eyewitness news at 6:00. at this hour, maitland police are trying to find a missing man suffering from asperger's syndrome, last seen on saturday, leaving his home near the ponts trails. at 4:00, steve barrett told you investigators have leads in the 23-year-old's disappearance. steve, they're asking for the public's help to find this

front of. this is the last place he was seen, his family and friends are trying to spread the word that he can be in danger because of his condition. we have several pictures of john noss, 23 years old, he has asperger's syndrome, he's very trusting and could end up in a dangerous situation. he left a note bind when he left morning. they believe he had a enough money for a bus ticket and maybe headed to philadelphia where he used to live. neighbors have banded together to help noss's family find him. >> i've probably gotten, 30-40 messages from people that i've never met before that live here in the community, everyone is just really concerned. do to help. >>reporter: now, the family didn't want to talk on camera, but i did talk to john's father who said that he did talk to maitland police, they say that they did have a few leads, he

those leads were, but we're going to stay in twouch the police department to see what they're finding out. reporting live in seminole county, steve barrett, channel 9, eyewitness news. if you can help spread the word about the search for john, you share his picture online at facebook.com/wftv. the two-year-old boy who accidently shot himself in osceola county earlier this month is being called a miracle toddler. ethan walker got hold of his grandfather's gun in the door pocket two weeks ago. today, his family told us he's recognizing cartoon characters, and has eaten on his own for the first time. look at him. the osceola county sheriff's office is still investigating, but say so far, it seems to be an accidental shooting. adorable. the daytona international speedway will reach a construction -- the first of the seats will be installed at the stadium. speedway officials are holding a special is ceremony. the 400 million dollar project

on january 29th. let's head over to the city of mount dora, they'll be revealing the new line of school resource officer vehicles this month. each one will sport the colors of the designated l skoo. this one is orange and white for mount dora high school. also a blue, black and white one, for the middle school. the mount dora police chief says this is the next step. the vehicles are expected to be rolled out on wednesday. we told you a federal radio trance meter broke down when residents really needed it the most. >> i put it next to my night stand thinking it would wake me up if anything else bad happened. >> what you can do to protect yours if it happens again. >> one couple was killed in this week's funnel cloud because the tornado picked up the mobile home. whether there are any efforts to protect homes in cases of severe

>> next; a homeowner's association in charge of the fly in communities is facing a lawsuit, all new at 5:00, the dangers some pilots fear taking off and landing here. >> rain-free right now, but early warning doppler 9, busy again late this week.

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a secluded volusia county community known for the hanger homes is getting criticism from the own resident pilot. >> they say trees in the spruce creek fly in is extremely dangerous when talking sxauf landing. -- off and landing. the area is an accident just waiting to happen. >>reporter: trees like this ones behind me are becoming a major problem here according to some of the pilots in this community known for its planes, because

done about it, they're taking legal action. >> the spruce creek fly in is known to 700 airplane hangers, some tucked away and attached to million dollar homes, the pilot's dream, but some say taking off and landing has been a nightmare because of trees just feet from their wing tips. >> why? who needs that? it's a simple thing to do. cut the trees, get the clear. >>reporter: a from who flies for business. to trim the trees. >> there have been bitter complaints from the pilot community, and significant numbers, and somehow, we just can't seem to get motivated to let the trees take second place. >>reporter: stanley flies veterans for medical care, he has even filed a lawsuit which states the association is aware of the trees and that they're in violation of faa standards. these associations own surveys shows 2 dozen trees in the way. >> we have, for whatever reason,

are controlling this, that they had rather see the trees grow than they had to have the clear ways clear. >>reporter: stanley and others believe the trees may not be getting trimmed for aesthetic reasons. i called the association president who would not do an interview with me, but said that the trees are not a safety concern, and never have been. >> the spruce creek property owner's association meets next week, and those pilots are hoking that a judge weighs in on that lawsuit, sometime in march. rt roing here in port orange, eyewitness news. also new this hour, we've got the latest numbers of theme park incidents from the fourth quarter of last year. and while disney world had the most. disney reported 7 health related incidents, several of them were guests, who suffered from preexisting conditions. universal had 6. most of them got motion sick frns the rides and sea world had one where one person had a seizure. busch gardens had no incidents to report, between october and

winter is in full force in central florida. and also, across most of the country. >> 17 states from montana to north carolina are under wind chill advisories and warns, the wintery weather brought the first measurable snowfall along the i-95 corridor from washington, d.c. to new york city and boston. the snow dropped officially ended with areas getting up to 2 inches of snow. >> started yesterday afternoon, around 4:00 o'clock. and woke up to all of this this morning. >> icy roads outside of new york city are being blamed for the 14-car pile up. and in north dakota the wind chill made it feel like 50 below. >> that's not fair. not cool at all. >> that's cold. >> brevard county is making sure that those who don't have a place to call home will have a warm place to stay tonight. very important, folks, cold weather sherlt will be open at the central brevard sharing center in cocoa, cocoa beach and

melbourne for folks who need it to tonight. so looking at the video, we really, running back into dprab a sweatshirt this morning is the least of our problems. >> sweatshirt, are you kidding me? >> did you have your scarf on and your mittens, too. >> i did have the scarf on. >> if we're going to get this cold, it will be in january. she's giving you the eye already, jorge. >> i'm getting in trouble. >> he likes it. >> 58 in downtown, the high clouds overhead, that will keep us insulated a bit tonight. temperatures still falling at this hour, lots of 50s and we'll have lots of 40s, lots of 30s overnight tonight. for the first time this season. 39 to near 40 in orlando. winds out of the north, the gusty wind along the beaches and because of that, we factor in the wind chill, you can't freeze water with a wind chill, the wind chill is 30 degrees, you can't freeze water with this, this is an apparent temperature that we warm blooded animals, pets, etcetera, feel. bring your pets in. this is what it will feel like.

what you'll need to dress for in the morning at 4:00 a.m. 32 in ocala, 33 in palm coast, winds lighter up here, not much different from the actual air temperature, it will feel like 33 in long wood, in the early morning. now, let's talk about the actual thermometer in the morning. 38 in claremont. 37 in leesburg, mount dora, 34 in the villages and a light freeze possible near marion county. we don't have a freeze warning fernlly out from the -- officially out from the weather service, but there will be one for tomorrow night. overall, low to mid 30s north and west, 39 to near 40 in orlando. we haven't been below 40 yet so tar this season. -- far this season. tomorrow will be night number two. downtown tomorrow with the increase in clouds early on, late day sunshine and temperatures only getting back into the upper 50s, we hit 60 today, so cooler tomorrow. 56 in sanford. 58 in melbourne and can palm bay

cooler to start, cooler to fall during the evening, 38 orlando. 33 in deland, we'll have a freeze area from palm coast to deland to just north of the villages, including marion county. where we have that freeze watch in effect, not tonight but for tomorrow night. let's talk about the next el nino-type storm system, it will evolve quickly. over the next few days. here's a look at future track, we'll keep it mostly fair for tonight were to, the clouds get pushed to the south, a very nice day on wednesday. it seeps to happen, we have great weather before the bad weather kind of moves in. here's what we're expecting for the end of the week. thursday, mix of clouds and sunshine, a quick shower to the south. and then our next storm system, this one is going to evolve a little bit differently, we think, than the previous two or three we've had. it may be just a bit farther to the north. big winter issues for them. we will keep rain and increasing chances for some thunderstorms during the morning and afternoon on friday. still undetermined what the severe threat will be.

next one, but with all of the el nino storms, we'll watch it carefully. saturday morning, all gone. and make sure your free weather app is ready to go, i know mine was going off. i will tell you tornado watch is in effect for your area until 8:00 a.m. that's what it was saying on early sunday morning, make sure that that is read doi go in case your weather radio doesn't work. the five-day forecast with your weekend always in view, upper 50s tomorrow. back in the upper 30s on wednesday. then slowly warming up. thursday, fantastic. better chance for rain friday, martha. >> we'll take it. >> the federal radio transmitter that sends a letters to your weather radio broke down in the middle of this week's bad storm. >> it lets me know if there's an emergency. >> new at 6:00, what you can do to protect yourself if it happens again, plus,s strangers held a family at gunpoint, but wrong house. at 6:00, why it could be tough for investigators to find the

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only have one recommendation for get out. in 2003, president bush signed an act into law allowing communities to build shelters and mobile home parks. but it's not required and many in our area don't offer the shelter ft as for buildings, just last year, while osceola county emergency mshl officials were creating their strategy for the county, withstanding tornadoes in severe winds. e seminole has been working to retrofit shelters. this week, volusia county leaders will vote on whether the slaufs get a new armored vehicle, the sheriff's office used to have a tank that was on loan from the mill tashg but it was removed last wednesday. it was recalled because of president barack obama's effort

now, county leaders will have to decide whether to spend $2,000 on a military surplus vehicle. if you recently bought cashews, throw them out. the super market is recalling the brand raw cash shoe pieces over a possible salmonella contamination. good news here, florida was not one of the states, but the company is taking them from shelves in all locations any way out of an abundance of caution, no illnesses, good thing, have been reported. a student from the university of florida, was invited to the noble prize week in her work studying mosquitoes, nine days attending the event and presenting her study. one of 26 young strunts from 19 different countries chosen to attend this year's event. we are tracking another temperature drop for eyewitness news at 6:00. >> temperatures updating my computer, already down to the

who will end up in the 30s tonight. >> plus, we learned about remains discovered in the backyard of a local home. >> and new at 6:00, why investigators can now have a tough time identifying two strangers who barged into if

channel 9 eyewitness news continues right now at 6:00. right now at 6:00, tracking another cold snap that will bring the chillyiest weather of the season. >> now that the sun is down, the temperatures have started to drop this hour, but how low will they go? certified chief meteorologist tom terry is tracking the chill in severe weather center 9. orlando is expecting the temperatures to drop down tonight.

pets have a warm place to stay tonight, and we're going to stee sooe some cold temperatures, but i don't expect a widespread freeze tonight and the clouds making a beautiful sunset, one of the major reasons why we're not going to get quite as cold as we will tomorrow night, when we don't have the clouds. 55 right now, still dropping. 5 in claremont. orlando tonight, watch the temperatures up theable down to the low 40s -- tumble down to the low 40s. the low down to 39 for the first time this season in orlando, a light freeze possible for marion county, you've already had a freeze so far, but we will get even colder coming up tomorrow night. greg. >> all right, tom. weather was also the big story in weekend after strong storms and even tornadoes struck late at night in different places around florida. we've spend spent all day trying to find out why a federal radio transmitter broke down. channel 9's roy ramos spoke with one mobile home resident.

to evacuate, she had to get her information elsewhere.