WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/17/00

[7-E-Lee-Jackson]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-04 :13]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Two were confederate leaders and one a civil rights activist...all three are honored today.
But a proposal by Governor Gilmore for two separate holidays could change that.
Joy Sutton went to Lexington for reaction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Robert]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :06]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/January 12; :11]
[SUPER=07-Robert Gazzola; :22]
[SUPER=07-Andrea Jordan; :34]
[SUPER=07-William Long; :40]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; 1:02]
[SUPER=07-Margaret Long; 1:13]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:47]
[RUNS=1:53]
[OUT Q=News-7, Lexington.]
(( Robert Gazzola came all the way from Arlington, Virginia to Lexington to visit Lee Chapel -- to honor and remember confederate general Robert E. Lee.
Gazzola says he agrees with Governor Gilmore that Virginia should have two different holidays - one for Lee and Stonewall Jackson and another for Martin Luther King Jr.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT12:40]
[IN Q=It's a perception]
((ROBERT GAZZOLA: IT'S A PERCEPTION THAT WE'RE NOT PROPERLY HONORING ANY OF THEM BY NOT HAVING IT SEPARATED.))
[RUNS= 7]
[OUT Q=It's a perception that]

Many agree -- saying that having all three of these leaders lumped together in one holiday makes no sense.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:16]
[IN Q=I think it's very]
((ANDREA JORDAN: I THINK IT IS VERY CONFUSING. ONE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THEY STAND FOR TWO DIFFERENT THINGS))
[RUNS= 5]
[OUT Q=two different things]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:13]
[IN Q=When you say]
((WILLIAM LONG: WHEN YOU SAY LEE AND JACKSON YOU KNOW WHAT THEY THINK ESPECIALLY THE MINORITIES. JUST DIVIDING THEM WOULD GIVE THEM A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK. SO I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BE BETTER))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=be better]

The Martin Luther King holiday is honored nationally -- and that's why some go further to say the way Virginia handles the holiday is a slap in the face.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT23:26]
[IN Q=I really do think]
((MARGARET LONG: I REALLY DO THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE IDEA ESPECIALLY THE BLACK RACE))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=black race]

Gazzola says he's confident that Gilmore's proposal will get bipartisan support in the General Assembly.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:48]
[IN Q=Former Govenor Wilder]
((ROBERT GAZZOLA: FORMER GOVERNOR WILDER IS INVOLVED, GOVERNOR GILMORE. I THINK THEIR LEADERSHIP IS THERE. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMMENTS TO THE CONTRARY. ALL THE RATIONALE IS POSITIVE. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING NEGATIVE TO IT))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=to it]

But combined holiday or not - it looks like many will make time to honor their heroes, no matter what the day.
Joy Sutton, News 7, Lexington.))

[7-E-MLK]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-02 4:58]
[GRAPHIC=Martin Luther King, Jr.]

More than thirty years after his death, the words of Dr. King were brought to life in Roanoke last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

New Beginning United Holy Church topped off last night's services with a re-enactment of one of the slain Civil Rights Leader's most memorable speeches.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[20:54-21:09]
[IN Q=I have a dream]
[SUPER=07-Lewis Adams;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=I have a dream.]
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=Hold]

Martin Luther King Junior would have been 71 years old.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Here's a look at your Monday forecast. Mostly sunny today with winds between 10 and 20 miles per hour. Highs in the upper 30s to 40. Tonight, cloudy with snow toward morning. Lows in the low to mid 20s. The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds 10-20 MPH/35-40/Cloudy, Snow/Toward Morning/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[45-E-Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-46 1:28:37]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chpt. 11]

With thousands of its residents left without jobs, a southside community is preparing to ask the state for some financial help.
Two thousand people in the Martinsville-Henry County area
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[from 99-52 36:31]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/January 7]
are out of jobs after Tultex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December.
Tomorrow - Henry County's Board of Supervisors plans to hear from former employees of the sweat-suit maker.
Supervisors want to give laid-off workers the chance to voice concerns before they decide what assistance the county asks for from the state.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=Hold]

The request must be in before the General Assembly's bill-filing deadline on January 24-th.

[45-Bill-Draft]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=VA State Capitol]

State legislators will know just how busy this year's session will be by the end of day.
Today is the last day to submit bill-drafting requests with the Division of Legislative Services.
About 70 percent of draft requests are introduced as bills.
Those withdrawn are usually duplicate measures for other bills.
All bills must be filed by next Monday.

[45-E-Tobacco-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-49 56:27]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]

Also in Southside...
Two lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would keep tobacco farmers from paying state taxes on settlement money.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./July 1999;]

Under the proposal-- growers and quota owners would NOT pay state income taxes on settlements.
The bill is sponsored by Delegate Whitt Clement and Senator Charles Hawkins.
Hawkins also believes farmers should be exempt from paying federal taxes on their settlement.
(------------)

[45-E-Highway-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Highway Safety]

State police have the support of a Salem lawmaker for extra tools to crack down on interstate speeders.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./December 1999;]

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says one key to making Interstate 81 a safe place to drive is reducing the number of speeders.
So he plans to introduce legislation allowing State Police to use microcomputers when enforcing speed limits from aircraft.
(--------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=Hold]

Delegate Griffith says Virginia law doesn't currently allow the use of microcomputers when cracking down on speeders...
But he says air enforcement of Interstate speed limits has been effective, especially on heavily-traveled highways, across the nation.

[45-E-MLK]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-02 4:58]
[GRAPHIC=Martin Luther King, Jr.]

The nation and the state of Virginia are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior today. Last night, the words of Dr. King were brought to life in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

New Beginning United Holy Church topped off tonight's services with a re-enactment of one of the slain Civil Rights Leader's most memorable speeches.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[20:54-21:09]
[IN Q=I have a dream]
[SUPER=07-Lewis Adams;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=I have a dream.]
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=Hold]

Martin Luther King Junior would have been 71 years old this weekend.

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a break from the news to check weather...
Mostly sunny and breezy today, with highs in the upper 30s.
Cloudy tonight, with some snow likely toward dawn.
Lows in the 20s.
The extended forecast is calling for lingering snow showers and maybe some sleet mixed in for tomorrow...otherwise, quiet for the rest of the week.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds 10-20 MPH/35-40/Cloudy, Snow/Toward Morning/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[8-State-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

Governor Gilmore's proposed state spending budget gets its final analysis later today.
A series of public hearings will be conducted in Richmond, afterwhich the Senate Finance and House Appropriations committees will begin revising the budget plan.
That's the biggest point on the agenda for this year's 60-day General Assembly session.
At previous budget hearings around the state, speakers have lobbied for more spending for human services and the arts.

[8-E-Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-46 1:28:37]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chpt. 11]

The recent layoffs in Martinsville and Henry County has left the area hard hit by unemployment.
Now the area is preparing to ask the state for help.
The question now is, how much?
More than two thousand people..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[from 99-52 36:31]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/January 7]
lost their jobs after Tultex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December.
Today - Henry County's Board of Supervisors plans to hear from former employees of the sweat-suit maker.
Supervisors want to give laid-off workers the chance to voice concerns before they decide what assistance the county asks for from the state.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=Hold]

The request must be in before the General Assembly's bill-filing deadline on January 24-th.

[8-Bill-Draft]

[8-E-Tobacco-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-49 56:27]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]

One bill the state legislature may see would protect a farmer's tobacco settlement money and two Southside lawmakers are heading up the effort to get it passed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./July 1999;]

Under the proposal-- growers and quota owners would NOT pay state income taxes on their tobacco settlement money.
The bill is sponsored by Delegate Whitt Clement and Senator Charles Hawkins.
Hawkins also believes farmers should be exempt from paying federal taxes on their settlement.
(------------)

[8-E-Highway-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Highway Safety]

State Police are getting help from a Salem lawmaker to help crack down on speeders...from the air.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./December 1999;]

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says one key to making Interstate 81 a safe place to drive is reducing the number of speeders.
So he plans to introduce legislation allowing State Police to use microcomputers when enforcing speed limits from aircraft.
(--------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=Hold]

Delegate Griffith says Virginia law doesn't currently allow the use of microcomputers when cracking down on speeders...
But he says air enforcement of Interstate speed limits has been effective, especially on heavily-traveled highways, across the nation.

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Let's take one more look at the Monday forecast...
Mostly sunny today, with highs near 40.
Cloudy tonight, with snow developing late.
Lows in the 20s.
The extended forecast is calling for lingering snow showers and maybe some sleet mixed in for tomorrow...otherwise, quiet for the rest of the week.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Winds 10-20 MPH/35-40/Cloudy, Snow/Toward Morning/20-25;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]