family was living in a home with no electricity and little food. >> that mother is facing who counts of child neglect tonight. they have missed more than 30 days of school so far. >> she was arrested last month on drug charges and when lake county deputies returned to her home they found unsafe conditions. myrt price spoke with the children's grandmother today and she said she's caring for those kids now. >> reporter: yes, the kids are with grandma. according to officials you know you can take a look here, the kids have been in school for almost 7 months but mitt ed -- but missed an entire month of school. they said the mom had been so neglectful they had to get involved.

in charges. she refused a drug test after being arrested for drugs. >> the power was shut off but the mom hooked it back up. the mom is in trouble because her 11 and 14-year-old kids have missed more than 30 days of school. this woman claiming to be the suspect's mom came up to confront us about being there. >> i'm a parent, of course i have a reaction. >> what do you think? >> i don't need to share that opinion with you nor will i do so. >> she told us that she lived down the street and wasn't very happy to see us. she told us no one wanted to talk and out of concern for her grand kids she wanted us to leave. >> if you're concerned about your grand kids and what they're going through -- >> exactly. >> -- what happened when they were in the house going through this, when they were missing 30 days of school? >> i'm a grandparent. how much rights do you think grandparents have?

you can shut off everything and leave away from my property. >> reporter: district officials said missing 10 or many days for elementary or middle school students is considered excessive and said it's a long process before they try to file charges. they said they try to work with parents to get kids back into school. live in lake county, myrt price, channel 9, eyewitness news. a now former nurse's assistance is facing charges for punching a patient. 74-year-old marthe alonzeau was arrested for punching randall ellison. ellison suffers from dementia and his son said he has bipolar disorder. >> i think if somebody cared about him they would try to restrain him politely. they

welfare. >> an administrator reported the incident to deputies. consulate healthcare that owns the nursing home fired the nurse's assistant and representatives said patient safety is a top priority. we continue to demand answers about why some orlando firefighters were exposed to asbestos. we told you about the abandoned lake side village last week. hundreds of firefighters did training in the apartment and as many as 15 were in close contact where asbestos materials. jeff deal is there. was someone in charge of make ing sure the training sites were safe beforehand? >> reporter: we still don't have a clear answer on that. what we do know is that the city had a survey done that showed there was asbestos in these buildings but we asked and we don't know if anybody in the fire department should have been responsible for checking to see

firefighters went in. >> questions building about why orlando firefighters were inside the buildings earlier this year training and a dozen or so were removing materials like tiles that a survey shows contains asbestos. >> we were the ones shovelling the tiles up. >> 13-year veteran firefighter anthony donahue said he's pleased they are taking action but he still has concerns about car. >> that's my only vehicle. i had to take my daughter to does it have asbestos in it? i don't know. >> he told us he will pay to won't. we wanted to know who buildings were safe. the fire department does have a designated health and safety officer. we asked if the person in the apartment should have checked with the city to find

>> somebody should have known. i mean, somebody should have done some research. somebody. i don't know who. >> reporter: the mayor told us earlier this week that he expects changes in the way live fire training is planned. the union is planning on having an occupational health doctor come in and speak with the firefighters and answer some questions they may have. reporting live in orlando, jeff deal, channel 9, eyewitness news. a bill that would bring craps and roulette to some florida casinos is moving through the house. they voted in favor of a deal but is still unentire whether the entire legislature will effect the accept the deal. new jersey governor gov for christity said he's -- governor chris christie said he's suspending his

bernie sanders has taken a clear lead over hillary clinton winning yesterday's primary in new hampshire. she has promised to keep pushing forward. sanders appeared this morning on the view promoting his campaign message. >> this country is supposed to be a nation of fanners. we're not fans right now. >> among the republicans in new hampshire donald trump took first and john kasich swooped into end. there was essentially a three-way tie for the third spot. covering brevard county, the sheriff's office has arrested another suspect in a school theft ring. we first told you about this story last month when a veteran district employee was arrested. melanie holt is at the jail right now. mel, this may not be the last arrest. >> reporter: investigators received information that at least three district employees were involve in the theft ring.

dale gunther just bonded out. >> another long time school employee is facing grand theft and fraud. 54-year-old dale gunther is one of three employees accused of radio use -- of usings their position for gain. >> there's more there. >> we checked and right now gunther and another employee who worked at the cocoa fleet maintenance facility are on unpaid leave. >> others employees openly discussed how they used school board found to purchase personal property. that included purchases for home security cameras, parts for a jeep, cargo mirrors, a harley davidson steering wheel and a safe for a

>> we don't know how far it went back. >> investigators are still reviewing records. they have said the loss to the district could approach $100,000. >> to me it doesn't matter if it was $100,000 or $5. when you're stealing from the education system and the kids you violated the trust that people put in you. >> reporter: we know a third arrest is likely but still may not close this case. melanie holt, channel 9, eyewitness news. more than half a million additional vehicles are being re called tonight because of concerns over takata air bags. volkswagen is recalling 680,000 vehicles made between 2006 and 2014. they have driver's side air bags that may have defective inflaters from takata that can send metal fragments flying.

>> this is the latest in the recalls connected to takata air bags. last month the ntsb projected the number recalled would expand to 5 million to 24 million. to learn more about the recalls go to wftv.com/weblinks. tonight a clermont police officer is fighting for his life following an off-duty accident that happened on super bowl sunday. this is officer chris cruz on the left picture with his father who is is also a clermont police officer. the 21-year-old now has burns on 60% of his body. julie salmone is there live right now. cruz at a bonfire when the accident happened. >> reporter: and after that accident at his house he was brought here to orlando regional medical center. he remains in icu, heavily sedated and medicated and can't have any visitors but immediate family.

cruz asked for prayers for his 21-year-old son, chris, writing, he's in icu with severe burn over 60% of his body. it's been shared 22,000 times . >> you don't know how much they are loved until this happens. >> jack worked for the clermont police department for 7 years, chris just this past july. on super bowl sunday chris and his girlfriend, seen here in this facebook photo, were around a bonfire with friends when a gas can exploded >> we live hour to hour. he's at orlando regional med medical center. no visitors but immediate family because the risk of infections is high. >> i sat there and held his foot. i hope he felt that. it would mean a lot to me. >> jack is so fe dpoe -- focussed

how he broke both his legs. he needs a wheelchair after his parachute collapsed pair gliding next month. >> the doctors have given him a 50/50 chance to survive right now. >> reporter: they said he's in critical condition but stable. julie salmone, channel 9, eyewitness news. >> wish him the best. today saint paul in lease esberg opened after numerous staff members and students got the flu. they spent the day cleaning and disinfecting the area. a spike in over time and fatigue at orange county's 911 call center. >> and new at 6:00 what the sheriff's office is doing now to make sure the people answering your call for help are alert and ready. >> dozens of travelers are in

>> from credit cards to new homes and cars, what's hidden in consumer contracts that strips your legal rights. >> it's disgraceful. >> how the contract tap can deny you justice. >> gusty and cool for the evening but as winds die down (phone ringing) you can't deal with something, by ignoring it. but that's how some presidential candidates

with social security. americans work hard, and pay into it. so our next president needs a real plan to keep it strong. (elephant noise) (donkey noise) hey candidates,

hidden traps in many consumer contracts from your cell phones to new homes that could leave you feeling cheated and denied your day in court. >> todd ulrich found out it forces you accept the company's version of justice. >> the acu failed but mark james had protection. then choice home warranty kept rejecting his claim.

to take you to court. >> he sued choice in court and then discovered the finest print in his contract. he agreed to force arbitration only to settle disputes. >> people should have the right to go to court. >> these mandatory arbitration clauses are just about everywhere. credit cards, cell phones, any time you shop online. >> buried in these sales agreements no day no court, just an arbitration panel picked by the company, not you. >> that goes for big ticket items too. >> it's not far. >> harrdet ray lost 40 $40,000 trying to buy a new lenar home. that's the fun they refused to refund. his contract's arbitration clause makes suing tough. >> it's a one sided affair where you cannot go up against them.

bet that clause is in you're contract. >> you sign away your lights. >> local attorneys turn a way new car buyers who feel cheated because their contracts have forced arbitration. advocates said it can cost more to go court and no appeal ts.s -- appeals. >> you can cross out an arbitration clause but the bet is the company will show you the door. >> that prevents you from join handgun class action lawsuits to fight fraud. they are considering serious reforms this year. if you have fallen for small print traps in 15 minutes i'll take you questions live and try to give you some help on the wftv facebook page.

-- attorneys for a former marion county deputy who was caught kicking a suspect will be in court today. it was caught clier as day on surveillance and body cameras. he's facing federal charges were wrongfully beating that suspect. his trial is set for next month. 7,000 homemade cookies are being delivered tomorrow to friends and family at a ronald mcdonald house in orlando. >> today volunteers helped pack them at princeton street and orange avenue. >> they look good. valentine's day almost ready. bet ter get ready. the days are running short here. we have some smoke out there tonight looking south. a little

usually in the wind is steady in one direction they know where the fires will go so they do a prescribed burn helping to eliminate the underbrush that might burn on another day when they're not ready for it. 56 degrees. look at the wind gusts, still over 30. it's going to take until 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 for the winds to finally die down. that's going to allow the temperatures to plummet quickly and we'll get the frost and freeze formation. downtown orlando a little bit of a wind close to the actual temperature by 6:00 a.m. die down. that's when we will get the coldest around daybreak. not everybody will get frost. we'll have a large area, especially in the rural areas for frost to develop here it will develop in the colder pockets and north. we will have some

here, apopka towards the north and west where we will get a light freeze. over night tonight that frost advisory mainly after 3:00, probably closer to 7:00 or 8:00 arrests of frost developing. you may want to make sure the plants are covered up if you have tender plants that can't handle the mid to upper 30s. make sure the pets are in a warm place as well. clermont 35, 33 in mount dora, 32 deland. these northern most zones, a light freeze, nothing that will be a hard freeze where it's below 27 for a couple of hours. not bad but still plenty cold tonight. lots of sunshine tomorrow, mid 60s. about a 10 degree jump into friday. so mid 70s with lots of sunshine to wrap up the work week. tomorrow the low to mid 60s in cocoa beach and melbourne

another front set to arrive late on saturday that will leave us with a nice weekend. 74 degrees. how about that on friday. paws in the park fantastic. we have a lot of great events at icflorida.com. barbecue. gladdis night on saturday. we told you've about a shooting that killed two people inside an orlando nightclub may what the dea investigation. >> this woman said she got a house of horror instead of the house she wanted from habitat for humanity. >> at 6:00, what happened when we went to habitat for answers. >> this 74-year-old woman is one of 10 people accused of trafficking huge amounts of heroin in central florida. new at 6:00 why agents say we can expect to see more busts just like this. >> be prepared for severe

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dozens of americans are being held in foreign countries after being accused of international drug trafficking. >> none of them knew they were committing a crime. george collie was there as homeland security officials out lined a scheme targeting unsuspecting seniors. >> homeland security officials briefed senators about 30 americans held in foreign jails for smuggling drugs. they take the trip and are given whether they think is candy like this or a suitcase with hidden compartments to be given as gifts all filled with drugs.

u.k., pick up a package from there and go to dubai and then from dubai i was supposed to go to japan. >> senators heard video testimony from 79-year-old daniel siberd. agents realized he was about to be used as a drug mule. >> i didn't think anything about it. >> officials from the department of justice and ice are testifying there's been 145 of these unsuspected people arrested over seas. >> brady martin's father is being held in spain after they found cocaine hidden in books. >> the idea that my dad is convicted drug smuggler sentenced to 6 years in prison is unreal. >> they have arrested 15 people carrying out the scheme. in washington, george collie,

>> 7 florida residents are among the 30 held. clermont police are still searching for the suspect who shot and killed a man in the publix store. they are looking for the car belonging to the victim andrew jones, a white car detectives believe the suspects used that car to get away. we're on top of breaking news for eyewitness news at 6:00. >> this car crashed into a home narrowly missing the family what happened when we questioned the suspect. >> we're still pushing for answers in the deadly shooting at an orlando nightclub. what agents said when we asked if it was tied to drugs. >> the problems with fatigue (donkey sound) (elephant sound) there's a big difference between making noise, (tapping sound) and making sense. (elephant sound) (donkey sound) when it comes to social security,

lip service. our next president needs a real plan to keep social security strong. (elephant noise) hey candidates. enough talk.

three days after two people were shot and killed inside an orlando nightclub police still aren't saying what caused the chaos. but tonight there's growing rumors it may have been drug related. we found out federal drug agents are now involved. >> the dea said they've been asked by orlando police to assist in the investigation into sunday's deadly shooting at the glitz nightclub. >> at 4:00 we told you the medical examiner office's confirmed the names of those victims. kathy belich spoke to the dea today. you've been asking if the shooting was drug related. >> reporter: the drug enforcement administration confirmed for me today that it is working with opd in investigating the deadly shooting that happened here over the weekend.