WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/31/00

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The winter storm that hit Virginia heads north toward New England today.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And the Super Bowl may be over, but the official party doesn't start until this afternoon in Saint Louis.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

The region will have a chance to dig out from under this latest snowfall, with a forecast today featuring some sunshine and temperatures a bit ABOVE freezing.
Meanwhile, a Winter Weather Advisory is still in effect for the Greenbrier Valley and far Southwestern Virginia.

[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[E-Local-Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-51 56:36]
[GRAPHIC=Road Conditions]

V-Dot crews worked through the night to clear area roadways.
Most primary roads are now clear with a few patches of ice and snow-- though secondary roads in Roanoke, Boteourt, Rockbridge, Craig and Bedford Counties are still snow-covered.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The Lynchburg area picked up close to two inches of snow Saturday night, before everything turned over to a heavy rain that tapered off by late afternoon.
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

The snow and ice contributed to several accidents yesterday.
This tractor trailer accident near Dixie Caverns led officials to shut down a portion of Interstate 81 for several hours.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Roanoke Regioanl Airport is operating this morning, though some flights to the northeast have already been cancelled due to bad weather there.
(------------)

[NRV-Snow]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Much of the New River Valley will spend the day digging out from more than six inches of snow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

V-DOT reports most primary roads are in minor condition-- that means some patches of snow and ice on the roads.
A fleet of a hundred trucks carrying 700 tons of salt have been working to clear the rest of the roads.
And school officials are taking the situation seriously.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we've got 8 to]
((FRED MORTON/MONTGOMERY CO. SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: WE'VE GOT 8-10 PEOPLE OUT CHECKING SAFETY OF THE ROADS VERY CAREFULLY TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL KIDS AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK FOR THE SAFETY OF KIDS FIRST AND TO TRY AND LET PEOPLE KNOW AS SOON AS WE CAN. ))
[SUPER=01-Fred Morton/School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=soon as we can.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Further to the east, ice was a big problem.
180-thousand Richmond area customers lost power last night.
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE Full Screen Phone Number]
If you need detailed road, you can call V-DOT directly at 1-800-367-ROAD.

[national-snow]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Meantime, this latest winter storm continues to churn its way up the East Coast.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Downed trees and severe icing knocked out power to tens of thousands from North Carolina to Maryland.
At least five weather-related traffic deaths were reported, in Georgia and West Virginia.
And after being hit with snow and ice last week, some folks without power are finding their patience wearing thin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((YOU GET ANSWERING MACHINES. THEY KNOW THERE'S A STORM. THEY KNOW THE POWER IS OUT. BUT THEY CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY TIME WHEN IT'S COMING BACK ON."))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=IT'S COMING BACK ON.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the storm continues heading north.
Up to a foot of snow was expected overnight in eastern Pennsylvania.
And a mix of snow, freezing rain and sleet is expected through the New England states today.
(------------)

[1-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Steve Mason has a recap of Super Bowl 34 and a post season note from the Redskins.
Good Morning Steve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=2:26]
[OUT Q=great Monday]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(Melanie ad lib toss to Kimberly/Wx)

[One-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M99-7]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lauren Windham/Glencoe Museum; 1:00]
[RUNS=2:28]
[OUT Q=and our region]

[Steve Live]

(Steve tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM] ((Archive: glencoe museum radford))

[train-crash]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Train Derailment]

Rescue workers have found the body of a 15 year old boy missing after a derailed C-S-X coal train plowed into a house near the Maryland-West Virginia border.
The collision pushed the house 25 feet off its foundation.
Stacey Cohan has the details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:18:10]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Garrett Co., MD;]
[SUPER=01-Scott Graham/Montgomery Co. Rescue;]
[SUPER=01-Leon Harpel/Bloomington Volunteer Fire Dept.;]
[SUPER=01-Stacey Cohan/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=for cbs news.]

[cuban-boy]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]

Elian gonzalez's grandmother's are back in Cuba this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Havanna, Cuba;]
[3:24:37]
They arrived empty-handed in Havana yesterday to a hero's welcome.
While they did get to see their grandson in Miami, they were not allowed to bring him home.
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :10]
[3:22:40]
Before taking off, the pair warned Elian would never be happy in the states.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(("HE WILL NEVER BE HAPPY BECAUSE HE GREW UP IN CUBA. HE'S A CUBAN BOY."))
[SUPER=01-Mariela Quintan/Elian's Grandmother;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=HE'S A CUBAN BOY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In the meantime, Elian will stay with his American relatives, who are suing for custody.
(//////SOT/////)
[in=]
((REP. BURTON:IF A MOTHER WAS GOING OVER THE BERLIN WALL WITH HER CHILD AND IN THE PROCESS WAS SHOT, WOULD YOU SEND THE CHILD OVER THE BERLIN WALL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TOTALITARIAN COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP."))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Dan Burton/(R) Indiana; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT=Totalitarian Communist Dictatorship.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A judge will hear arguments in the case next month.
(------------)

[Textile-Talks]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Textile Relief]

Dozens of laid-off textile workers are expected to converge on the state Capitol today in Richmond.
The House Labor and Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on a bill to help unemployed textile workers in the Martinsville area.
The proposed Textile Workers Relief Act of 2000 would make jobless people in high unemployment areas eligible for Medicaid and would boost the maximum unemployment benefit in such areas by 100 dollars a week.

[Health-Check]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, the environment could be keeping your child sick.
Doctor Dave Hnida has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Dave Hnida/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((GETTING COLDS IS JUST PART OF GROWING UP- YET SOME SOME KIDS SEEM TO GET ONE COLD AFTER ANOTHER- AND FOR A PARENT- THAT CAN GET OLD QUICK... BUT HERE'S THE QUESTION- SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED OVER WHAT SEEMS LIKE FREQUENT INFECTIONS. BUT FOR STARTERS YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2-5 WILL AVERAGE 8 COLDS A YEAR- UP TO AGE TEN ITS ABOUT 6 COLDS A YEAR.. THEN CONSIDER THAT THE TYPICAL COLD LASTS MORE THAN A WEEK- IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY IT SEEMS LIKE A CHILD MAY BE SICK ALL THE TIME. BUT IF YOU'RE CONCERNED THAT YOUR CHILD SEEMS SICK ALL THE TIME : CONSIDER THESE POSSIBILITIES. DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE ALLERGIES? ITS A COMMON REASON FOR AN EVER PRESENT RUNNY NOSE. AND HAVING ALLERGIES CAN MAKE A CHILD PRONE TO REPEATED SINUS INFECTIONS AND COUGHS. IS YOUR CHILD EXPOSED TO SMOKE? PASSIVE SMOKE INCREASES THE RISK OF EAR INFECTIONS- SINUS INFECTIONS - LUNG INFECTIONS
---- ALL INFECTIONS
AND HOW'S YOUR CHILD'S OVERALL HEALTH? WE DON'T GET TOO CONCERNED ABOUT KIDS WHO ARE THRIVING AND GROWING WELL-- AND GET SIMPLE COMMON COLDS-- ON CAM
BUT WE DO WORRY ABOUT KIDS WHO ARE LAGGING BEHIND--- AND SEEM TO GET FREQUENT SERIOUS INFECTIONS LIKE PNEUMONIA OR LYM
PH GLAND INFECTIONS. AS A PARENT: ITS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER- FIGHTING COLDS IS ONE WAY YOUR CHILD BUILDS IMMUNITY-- AND WITH MORE THAN 200 VARIETIES OF COLD VIRUSES AROUND- THERE'S A LOT OF IMMUNITY TO BE BUILT. I'M DR. DAVE HNIDA FOR CBS NEWS.))

(ad lib to weather)

[Two-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

[SUPER=04-Thursday-Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM;]
[SUPER=04-Sunday 1 PM to 4 PM;]
[SUPER=16-(540) 731-5031/Glencoe Museum;]

[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Old man winter has turned on the ice in much of the East.
A winter storm has dumped rain, sleet and snow from Georgia to Pennsylvania, freezing power lines and leaving thousands in the dark.
Forecasters say New England can expect much of the same before the day is out.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

A fatal train accident yesterday near the Maryland-West Virginia border:
A coal train derailed, sending one of its cars plowing into a house, killing a teenage boy.
The boy's mother was seriously injured.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

The Rams will honored today in St. Louis following last night's Superbowl victory.
They beat the Tennessee titans 23 to 16 in Atlanta last night
Ram's star Kurt Warner was crowned M-V-P.
He completed 24 of 45 passes with no interceptions.
Last night's win was just the latest chapter in his Cinderella story.
It wasn't long that ago that Warner was still playing in the arena league.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Monday January 31.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-E-Local-Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-51 56:36]
[GRAPHIC=Road Conditions]

V-Dot crews worked through the night to clear area roadways.
Most primary roads are now clear with a few patches of ice and snow-- though secondary roads in Roanoke, Boteourt, Rockbridge, Craig and Bedford Counties are still snow-covered.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The Lynchburg area picked up close to two inches of snow Saturday night, before everything turned over to a heavy rain that tapered off by late afternoon.
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

The snow and ice contributed to several accidents yesterday. This tractor trailer accident near Dixie Caverns led officials to shut down a portion of Interstate 81 for several hours.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Roanoke Regioanl Airport is operating this morning, though some flights to the northeast have already been cancelled due to bad weather there.
(------------)

[2-NRV-Snow]

A fleet of a hundred trucks carrying 700 tons of salt have been working to clear the rest of the roads.
And school officials are taking the situation seriously.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we've got 8 to]
((FRED MORTON/MONTGOMERY CO. SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT: WE'VE GOT 8-10 PEOPLE OUT CHECKING SAFETY OF THE ROADS VERY CAREFULLY TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL KIDS AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK FOR THE SAFETY OF KIDS FIRST AND TO TRY AND LET PEOPLE KNOW AS SOON AS WE CAN. ))
[SUPER=01-Fred Morton/School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=soon as we can.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

Further to the east, ice was a big problem.
180-thousand Richmond area customers lost power last night.
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE Full Screen Phone Number]
If you need detailed road, you can call V-DOT directly at 1-800-367-ROAD.
(-------------)

[2-national-snow]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

After hitting Virginia this lastest winter storm has headed north.
Up to a foot of snow was expected overnight in eastern Pennsylvania.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Downed trees and severe icing knocked out power to tens of thousands from North Carolina to Maryland.
At least five weather-related traffic deaths were reported, in Georgia and West Virginia.
And after being hit with snow and ice last week, some folks without power are finding their patience wearing thin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((YOU GET ANSWERING MACHINES. THEY KNOW THERE'S A STORM. THEY KNOW THE POWER IS OUT. BUT THEY CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY TIME WHEN IT'S COMING BACK ON."))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=IT'S COMING BACK ON.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the storm continues heading north.
Up to a foot of snow was expected overnight in eastern Pennsylvania.
And a mix of snow, freezing rain and sleet is expected through the New England states today.
(------------)

[S-Roanoke-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-02 16:58]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
[***ANCHOR TAG****]
Roanoke Police are still trying to solve the murder of 57 year old Betty (duh-sigh) DeSai.
The woman found dead Saturday at a Roanoke motel.
As Joy Sutton reports, loved ones say this a double tragedy-- since Desai's husband was also murdered.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Betty ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Saturday; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jitendra Desai/Victim's Friend; :22]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 1990; :40]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=js News 7 Roanoke]

(( Betty DeSai was found dead Saturday morning inside the Park Inn International Motel on Melrose Avenue -- a business she owned and managed.
The motel had been robbed and police suspect the robbery may have been a motive in her death.
Friends of DeSai say it's hard to comprehend that she died just like her husband -- a victim of violence.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:59:13]
[IN Q=We just could not]
((DR. JITENDRA DESAI:WE JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. IT WAS HARD TO FATHOM. AND ONE THOUGHT THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND IS THAT ROANOKE IS A SAFE PLACE THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=happening here]

Betty's husband Girish (ger-REESH) DeSai was found dead almost ten years ago at an apartment complex he owned and managed -- he'd been murdered by one of his tenants.
Jitendra Desai, who was NOT related to the couple but considered them close friends, says the Indian Community has suffered a great loss.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:58:09]
[IN Q=They were very community]
((JITENDRA DESAI: THEY WERE BOTH VERY COMMUNITY ORIENTED, VERY HARD WORKING, VERY CARING AND DEDICATED PEOPLE))
[RUNS= 6]
[OUT Q=dedicated people]

Desai says the couple had two daughters -- who are now left grieving the loss of both of their parents. Joy Sutton, NEWS 7, Roanoke.))
(----------------)
[++++TAKE FULL SCREEN GRAPHIC+++++]
Police are not saying how Betty DeSai was murdered but anyone with information on the crime is urged to call the Roanoke City Police Crimestoppers at 1-800-791-0044.
(-------------)

[Richmond-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder investigation]

Police in Richmond believe they've cracked four unsolved murders from 19-96.
Officials say Leslie Leon Burchart, a homeless schizophrenic, confessed to the slayings and gave investigators information about the crimes that only the killer would know.
Four women ranging in age from 55 to 84 were found strangled in their homes in the so called Golden Years homicides.

[Three-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M99-7]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We have tools]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lauren Windham/Glencoe Museum; 1:30]
[RUNS=2:35]
[OUT Q=man to go home]

[Steve Live]

[SUPER=04-Thursday-Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM;]
[SUPER=04-Sunday 1 PM to 4 PM;]
[SUPER=16-(540) 731-5031/Glencoe Museum;]

[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
((Archive: glencoe museum radford))

[nh-primary]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

You could call it Granite State gridlock.
With just one day to go before the Nation's first primary the presidential hopefuls are criss-crossing New Hampshire looking for support.
Lisa Hughes has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:16:36]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Nashua, NH; :00]
[SUPER=01-Al Gore/(D) Presidential Candidate; :11]
[SUPER=03-Portsmouth, NH; :34]
[SUPER=01-George W. Bush/(R) Presidential Candidate; :44]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John McCain/(R) Presidential Candidate; 1:01]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hughes/Reporting; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=Bedford, New Hampshire.]
((The Super Bowl may have taken on special meaning this year for the two men who want to be the Democratic Presidential nominee. Vice President Al Gore cheered on his home state team at a New Hampshire sports bar.
(MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE TENNESSEE TITANS!!! Applause!!!)1:38:40 :17
Senator Bill Bradley-- born and raised outside St. Louis joined pumped-up Rams supporters and led his own cheer JUST REMEMBER THE GAME ISN'T OVER TIL ITS OVER. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE GAME IS OVER WE'RE ON TOP. Polls show Gores lead narrowing. Super: V.P. Al Gore/Presidential Candidate 1:38:28 WE'VE GOTTA FOCUS ON THE UNDECIDED VOTERS. WE CANT TAKE A SINGLE VOTE FOR GRANTED. Super: Portsmouth, NH Elsewhere Texas Governor George W. Bush seemed to take all the attention away from the big game. He thanked supporters and urged independents-who he calls tire kickers-to vote for him on Tuesday. :43 Super: Gov. George W. Bush/Presidential Primary IM ASKING YOU TO JOIN ME IN ASKING YOU TO JOIN THIS CRUSADE10:52:35 :48 But that crusade could hit an immediate stumbling block in the form of Arizona Senator John McCain- barely ahead in New Hampshire polls. McCain concedes he still has a long way to go to catch Bush nationally even if he wins the primary. Super: Sen. John McCain/Presidential Candidate 16:15:25 WELL PAUSE FOR AN HOUR AND LOOK BACK WITH SATISFACTION AND PLEASURE ABOUT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM AND THEN PRESS ON.))

[3-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Super Bowl highlights, plus Virginia picks up another A-C-C victory.
Steve Mason has more.
Good Morning Steve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hello again]
[RUNS=3:49]
[OUT Q=great week]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(weather toss)

[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Most schools in the area are closed this morning as folks continue to dig out from as much as six inches of snow.
Most roads are passable, though some in Roanoke, Botetourt, Bedford and Craig counties are still snow-covered in many places.
Some flights headed to the Northeast have already been canceled this morning.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Roanoke Police are still trying to solve the murder of 57 year old Betty (duh-sigh) DeSai.
The woman found dead Saturday at a Roanoke motel.
Betty's husband was found dead almost ten years ago at an apartment complex he owned and managed -- he'd been murdered by one of his tenants.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye) [Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]