WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 01/21/00

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[ANCHOR=Jean]

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Today on News 7 at 5, the case is dismissed against a local man charged with murder. Keith Humphry will join us with the details.
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and the Volvo Truck plant in Dublin's is cutting back on production, idling hundreds of workers. We'll have a live report.
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First a bitter freeze, then some light snow by Saturday night. The winter of 2000 continues. Details ahead.

[Medical-Head]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=tbr]
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On Health check, the area's largest retirement system gives up
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[VO-NAT]
as the state turns down its request to become a for profit corporation.
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[ANCHOR=JEAN]

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[SOT 3:46:00]
[IN Q=...accused of being]
((...ACCUSED OF BEING A MURDER AND AN ARSON. AND THE COURT DECIDED THAT I WASN'T. THERE WAS NO PROOF WHATSOEVER. ))
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[OUT Q=whatsoever.]
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But the VICTIMS'S relatives aren't buying it- THEY saw a ton of evidence against David Lee Griffin, and they showed up at the jail to let him know what they thought about his release.
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[5-Griffin]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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A Roanoke judge dismissed arson and murder charges against Griffin today.
Judge Jonathan Apgar said he did not know whether Griffin was a murderer, but he felt the Commonwealth did not prove its case.
[DOUBLE BOXES=JEAN/Keith Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]

Keith Humphry was in the courtroom for the judge's ruling and caught up with the defendant as he was accosted by the victim's family.
[ANCHOR=Keith ]

What you saw a moment ago occurred right after Griffin was released from the city jail.
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[SUPER=01-Melvin Hill/Prosecutor]
[SUPER=01-Jack Gregory/Griffin's Attorney]
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As the door swung open, and Griffin was free to go, Pepper Cline's sister and niece unloaded on Griffin.
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[SOT 3:46:45]
[IN Q=Even though you think]
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[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=you murdered him.]

Two hours earlier Judge Apgar had said he had a problem with the evidence.
It was the victim's blood on the defendant's shoe that bothered him. How did it get there, he repeatedly asked the prosecutors. They theorized that Griffin had stomped Cline to death before setting the house on fire to destroy the evidence. But the judge dismissed their reasoning as speculation, conjecture and surmise.
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[IN Q=They just didn't]
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[OUT Q=to a conclusion.]
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Griffin was arrested in Colorado about a year ago. He says he plans to go back there and start over, though he left the lockup with nothing more than the suit he'd worn to court.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]

On NEWS-7 at Six tonight we'll further explain the judge's ruling, Jean, and have more reaction to it.

[5-Volvo-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=500-5 8:39]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo Layoffs]

Volvo workers' fears have been confirmed: Another round of layoffs are on the way at the Dublin plant.
[Double Boxes=Jean/Marya Microwave]

Marya Jones has been talking with workers and union officials all day and is in our Blacksburg bureau.
Marya- when did workers find out?
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[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Jean, workers arrived at the plant this morning to THIS letter from the union.
It details that the production rate is dropping and as a result 400 to 500 more workers at Volvo may be losing their jobs. That's ON TOP of the 400 announced layoffs last month.
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[SUPER=01-Robin Ousley/Volvo Worker;]
[SUPER=01-Travis McCroskey/Volvo Worker;]
[SUPER=01-Lee Thomas/UAW Bargaining Chairman;]
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[OUT Q=just like normal]

The company told workers and union leaders that decreased demand for Volvo's commercial trucks will mean fewer jobs on the assembly line.
Plant officials say they expect to decrease production lines from 112 trucks to 80 trucks a day after mid-February.
[SOT 1:48:19 - :26]
((RON OUSLEY/3 YEARS AT PLANT: RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GET LAID OFF BUT IF THE MARKET'S STILL STAYING DOWN, THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE I MIGHT GET IT THE NEXT ROUND. ))
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((TRAVIS MCCROSKEY/VOLVO WORKER: IT'S PRETTY BAD. SAID AROUND 800- 900 ALL TOGETHER. ))
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The full extent of the layoffs won't be known until the end of next week. And the last day for most will be on February 7.
Union leaders say it's a temporary response to slow business and that the jobs will probably be restored down the line.
[SOT 1:54:38 - :50]
((LEE THOMAS/UAW BARGAINING CHAIRMAN: WE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE INTEND? THEY SAID IT'S GOING TO BE BUSINESS AS USUAL. THE EXPANSION IS CONTINUING. WE INTEND TO GO FORWARD JUST LIKE NORMAL.))
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Workers we spoke to today were feeling down but not out... also confident those jobs would return when the market improves.
Coming up on News 7 at 6, we'll tell you what county officials have to say about the economic impact
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]
and what this does to a plant expansion. Jean?

[5-Pit-Bulls]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=jmc]
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Roanoke police caught up with that pit bull they were looking for.
Police shot and killed the dog- today.
They've been searching for the animal ever since it attacked an animal control officer Wednesday night.
At the time the officer shot the dog, but it ran away.
This morning, police found a pit bull on Eastern Avenue, near the place the incident happened.
The dog was swollen and bleeding.
Officers say the pit bull tried to attack one of the officers today- the animal was then shot and killed.
The officer who was attacked may still have to be treated for rabies.

[(toss to R)]
(toss to Robin)
[Robin-Tease] [01/21/2000]
[SS=NONE]ROBIN IN WX-CENTER
[WXPRO/FULL] WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST FIVE DAY FORECAST

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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A former presidential candidate says he wants to protect the rights of white people. We will that story after this break.
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Also one of the current candidates for the White House admits he has had some recent heart problems.
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[5-Cuba-Boy]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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The two Grandmothers of six year old Elian Gonzalez are in New York City.
The women flew in from Havana this afternoon to make an appeal to the American public for the return of the boy caught up in an international custody battle.
Terisa Estacio has more
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[5-Duke]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Some people think affirmative action has gone too far-that some workers in todays job market are shut out of jobs or college because they're NOT a minority-
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[VO-NAT]
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Today former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke is forming a civil rights group for people of European American heritage- to protect whites from reverse discrimination.
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((WE BELIEVE THAT EUROPEAN AMERICANS FACE A MASSIVE INSTITULAIZED RACIAL DISCRIMINATION BOTH IN PROGRAMS SUCH AS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN TERMS OF COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, SCHOLORSHIPS, IN TERMS OF JOBS.))
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Duke says the National Organizaton for European American Rights is like the NAACP- expect it will tackle what he sees as discimination against white.
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[5-Iowa]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jja]
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[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

Just three days until the Iowa Caucuses- candidates are trying to get the word out in the nation's heartland.
Today questions aimed at Bill Bradley focused on his heart- Lisa Hughes is in Iowa with more.
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[SUPER=01-Bill Bradley/(D) Presidential Candidate;]
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[Super=01-John McLaughlin/Seed Salesman;]
[Super=01-John Eatwell/Corn Farmer;]
[Super=01-Jerry Miller/Retired Farmer;]
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[OUT Q=Mingo, Iowa.]
((Democratic Presidential candidate, Bill Bradley would rather talk about his health care plan than his heart condition. But today, he was forced to address questions about a recurrent irregular heartbeat. Bill Bradley/D-Pres. Candidate I will continue to campaignabsolutelyresponsibilities of the job if I were successful. Republican front-runner, George W. Bush was on the defensiveanswering charges from rival candidates hes too soft on abortion. George W. Bush/R-Presidential Candidate IM A PRO-LIFER. I RAN AS A PRO-LIFE GOVERNOR. IVE GOT A PRO-LIFE RECORD. With the caucuses just days awaythis is the final push. Lisa Hughes/ Mingo, IA BUT FOR ALL THE STUMPING THE CANDIDATES HAVE DONE IN IOWA, PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL PART OF THE STATE-A LOT OF VOTERS DONT KNOW WHO THEY LIKE. John McLaughlin/Seed salesman I GET TIRED OF LISTENIN TO ONE GUY AND THEN THE OTHER GUYPROMISES, PROMISES. 35 miles outside Des MoinesMingo, Iowa looks like a lot of small towns. The candidates havent made it here yet. At the co-op farmers discuss a front-page story about a break in a local murder casenot the Presidential race. Theres no clear winner here. John Eatwell/Corn farmer YOU PUT EM ALL IN A BARREL, SHAKE EM UP AND THEN GET THE GOOD OUT OF EVERYONE OF YOU'D HAVE SOMETHING (ha ha!) Jerry Miller/Retired farmer THERES A COUPLE OFEM DONT SOUND TOO BAD. BUT IM KINDA WAITIN TO MAKE UP MY MIND AS IT GOES ALONG. KINDA UNDECIDED With the exception of John McCain, every major candidate is in Iowa now...trying to win over the "undecideds" between now and Monday. Lisa Hughes, CBS News, MingoIowa.))

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Coming up next there will be all kinds of catty remarks flying at Roanoke's Clarion Hotel this weekend. Here to tell us why is Patrick Evans.
[LIVE=PATRICK MICROWAVE]
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[5-CAT-SHOW]

[ANCHOR=JEAN]
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Cat lovers from all over the region will be gathering in Roanoke this weekend to celebrate the Feline Breed.

[Double Boxes=Jean/Patrick Microwave]

The Cat Fanciers' Cat Show runs both Saturday and Sunday at the Roanoke Clarion, which is where we find Patrick Evans this evening.
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[Stats] [01/21/2000] [CK/ESS]FIVE BACKGROUND [CK/WXPRO] [CK/VIEWERNET] [CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [CK/CHYRON/5 PAGES]REGIONAL FORECASTS [ESS/FULL]EXTENDED FORECAST [WALK OVER FOR 2 SHOT] [Forecasts]
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[health music under]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Today in Sports, Mike Stevens will check in with the Virginia Tech Hokies as they prepare for the biggest basketball game of the year,
And on Health Check, we'll have the story of some local
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[VO-NAT]
retirement home residents who went up against a corporate giant and won.
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((LILLIAN HOWELL HOSTETTER: IT'S UNPRECEDENTED, IT REALLY IS AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENT.))
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[health bump]
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[5-Friendship-Manor]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=599-18 1:28:42]
[GRAPHIC=Health Check]
Friendship Manor residents are happy their retirement home will remain non-profit. The Virginia Attorney General's office turned down Friendship Manor's request for-profit status.
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[VO-NAT]
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Lillian Hostetter has lived at Friendship Manor for 21 years. She say its a victory for the little guy.
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((LILLIAN HOWELL HOSTETTER/FM RESIDENT: WE HAD LITTLE MONEY, BUT WE HAD A BIG CAUSE AND I HOPE IT WILL ENCOURAGE OTHER RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES AND OLDER PEOPLE TO TAKE A STANCE ON THINGS THAT THEY FEEL ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.))
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/May 1999; ]
Hostetter and two busloads of about 85 residents went to Richmond last May to protest the change in status. Friendship Manor replied to the Attorney General's decision in a written statement. They said they have elected to use their time and resources to implement their strategic plan to renvoate and expand the facility without pursuing the for-profit status any further.
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[S5-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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[GHAPHIC=TICKER]
Welcome folks to the Friday night ticker that gets you set for a couple of the weekend's big loca college basketball games.
[GRAPHIC=Atlantic 10]

After Wednesday night's win over Fordham, The Hokies have won three straight conference games in the Atlantic 10.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :]

But the biggest conference test for the rejuvenated Hokies comes tomorrow afternoon when Tech makes the road trip to Philadelphia to take on John Chaney's Temple Owls.
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Tech is 9 and 7 overall and 3 and 2 in the conference. The Hokies and Owls tip it off at 4 tomorrow.

[S5-Roanoke]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-48 tc 1:53:10]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]

The Bast Center on the Roanoke College Campus is the site of a big ODAC double-header on the hardwood.
The Lady Maroons start the afternoon against Randolph Macon Woman's College.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/January 8th;]

This is a chance for Roanoke College to get back on the winning track after losing to Bridgewater at home on Tuesday.
Coach Susan Dunagan says her team is finally gaining confidence as it gets more comfortable with the new offensive scheme.
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[ANCHOR=Mike]
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The women tip off at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. The Roanoke College men play Randolph Macon at 3 in the second game.

[S5-Tennis]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-51 14106TC]
[GRAPHIC=]
After a rash of upsets in the opening days of the Australian Open, things settled down a bit today with Pete Sampras and Lindsey Davenpport advancing. Although Sampras needed five sets to rally from behind and beat Wayne Black.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Melbourne, Australia/ESPN; :00]
Steffi Graf was checking out the other marquee player on the men's side today. Andre Agassi breezed through his match with Mariano Zabaleta in straight sets. Agassi will next face the man with the rocket serve - Mark Philippoussis.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TICKER]
Take care everybody and have a safe weekend. [go to break]

[5-Zoo-Babies]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=tbr]
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[GRAPHIC=None]

The San Diego Zoo is showing off its baby pictures on the internet. The popularity of its Baby Page is growing almost as fast as the animals themselves.
Renee Sanchez has more.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-San Diego, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Indigo Figuracion/Web Site Manager; :26]
[SUPER=01-Joanne Simerson/Animal Behavorist; 1:03]
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[OUT Q=CBS NEWS San Diego]

((Indo-Chinese tiger cubs run across the computer screen..feeding time for "I-Own" the baby gorilla...with a click of the mouse -- babies babies everywhere. The zoo's latest website --Baby Page -- is a spinoff of the wildly popular "Panda Cam" -- featuring the adventures of Way-May. After seeing the giant Panda cub -- who wouldn't want to check out the baby hippo swimming next to mom...it's all right there. And with a face like that--why not go online?
--sot---
The piglet is the first of it's kind ever born at the San Diego Zoo...
--sot---
And now you can see the Zoo babies anytime..on the internet... ))
[TAKE PINNACLE FULL]
You can find a link to the San Diego Zoo Baby Page on our web site at WDBJ7-dot-COM. [Close-ID] [5pm] SUPER=x4035; fax/copyright [SUPER=x4034;email/copyright]