WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/24/00

[cuban-boy]

[ANCHOR=melanie]

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

Despite being denied access for a second time... Elian Gonzlez's Miami relatives vow to stay in the Washington D-C area until they get to see the six year old.
But that's not likely to happen... anytime soon.
The attorney for Juan Miguel Gonzalez say father and son need time alone to get reacquainted.
Drew Levinson joins us from Miami with the latest.

[Live=Take Newspath Full]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting]
[SUPER=05-Miami, FL]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[4:39:51]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :00]
[SUPER=01-Greg Craig/Attorney for Juan Gonzalez; :29]
[SUPER=03-Andrews AFB, MD; :35]
[SUPER=01-Marisleyses Gonzales/Elian's Cousin; :46]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Bob Smith/(R) New Hampshire; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=CBS News.]

((Locator: Miami, FL There is little chance Elian Gonzalez will ever come back to this Miami house he lived in for nearly five months. But that hasn't stopped well wishers from leaving Easter gifts for the Cuban castaway.
Locator: Andrews AFB, Maryland Elian spent the holiday a thousand miles away at Andrews Air Force Basewhere father and son reunited one day earlier. These happy family snap shots are in sharp contrast to those pictures taken as Elian was snatched from his Miami relative's home early Saturday morning.

SOT: Greg Craig/Attorney for Juan Miguel Gonzalez
"Together it is a happy loving and unified family and were are grateful finally for that result."
Not happy about that result is the Miami relatives. Yesterday...for the second time...they tried but failed to see the boy. They vow to stay in the Washington area until they do.

SOT: Marisleyses Gonzales/Elian's Cousin

"All I ask is that I need to see Elian. In the conditions that they took this boy out of my house I know that he is not okay."
The pre-dawn raid which many G-O-P lawmakers describe as heavy-handed has Attorney General Janet Reno in the hot seat. She may be called to Capitol Hill this week to explain agency's actions.

SOT: Sen. Bob Smith/R-New Hampshire "It is now about President Clinton's
and Janet Reno's abuse of power. When is the last time a child was taken at gunpoint and custody transferred without the order of any judge of any court."
Stand-Up But the Justice Department disputes Senator Smith's claim. Late last night it released the copy of a search warrant that authorized agents to search the Miami relative's home for the boy and quote seize the same. Drew Levinson, CBS News, Miami. ))

[Live=Take Newspath Full]
[SUPER=05-Miami, FL]
(ad lib)

[11Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A shooting outside a Martinsville restaurant.
One person is dead and another injured.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

This was the scene outside Applebee's restaurant last night on Commonwealth boulevard.
Authorities found a 28 year old hispanic male lying on the pavement behind the restaurant suffering from gun shot wounds.
He was taken to Martinsville Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A female was was also wounded and taken to the hospital. So far there is little information about what lead up to the shooting.
Police are still investigating.
(------------)

[M'Ville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=murder investigation]

Martinsville Police are investigating another murder that happened over the weekend.
Around 10:45 Saturday night authorties received a call that a black male was lying on the ground near 600 Fourth Street.
When officers arrived they found the man who has been identified as 27 year old Sidney Lloyd Jones of Martinsville.
Jones was pronounced dead at the hospital
Authorities are still investigating.

[11Fatal-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-10 33:10]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A Callaway woman is dead after a head on collision in Franklin County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]
Authorities say around three yesterday afternoon 67-year old Norma Miller was driving on Bethlehem Road in Boones Mill when she attempted to pass a pickup truck. A Bronco coming from the other direction collided with Miller's Subaru. Miller died at the scene. The driver and passenger in the Bronco were taken to Roanoke Memorial by EMS -- officials say their injuries were not life threatening. The road was closed down for two hours but has since reopened.
(------------)

[cg-arrest]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

They were six south Americans, apparently desperate to leave Colombia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Astoria, OR;]
[3:04:18]
Yesterday Six South Americans were found hiding aboard a South Korean ship that had made a stop in Colombia.
They had crawled into an exposed compartment just above the rudder of the ship.
They apparenly ran out of food and water ten days ago.
There is no word yet on their conditions, but they are now in federal custody.

(------------)

[ok-damage]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Weather damage]

At least one person has been critically injured in storms that hit parts of the South.
Several tornados have damaged homes and downed trees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tulsa, OK;]
[3:00:58]
There have been power outages in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana.
At least two tornadoes were reported in Oklahoma, but authorities say there are no reports of major damage from the apparent twisters.
The storms overturned a mobile home, ripped the roofs off several homes and slightly injured a motorist.
Crews are out cleaning branches from the roads and assessing damage.
Baseball-sized hail was also reported.
(------------)

[11General-Assembly]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-05 58:45]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia]

Some Virginia law makers are saying the general assembly needs more time to vote on bills.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT 00-07 1:02:47]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;]
During this years 60 day session 32-hundred bills were introduced -- that's 50 percent more than just ten years ago.

Some lawmakers claim they sometimes don't even know what they're voting on. In an effort to find a solution to the problem some have recommended fewer committees.
(------------)

[11Prices-Fuel]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices Down]
Gas prices are dropping. So far the average cost has gone down nearly four cents a gallon in the past two weeks. Officials attribute the lower cost to increased oil production and a greater supply of gasoline. Still prices are not where they were last year at this time -- the average price of gas is one dollar 53-cents a gallon.

[11Feedback]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=Feedback]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Elian Gonzalez case and the anniversary of the Columbine school shootings are two of the events
that brought some letters from our viewers.
Assignment editor Joe McKean has this week's Feedback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Animation open]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/Saturday;]
[SUPER=03-Littleton, CO/April 20, 1999;]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=animation out]
((The action that federal authorities took early Saturday morning to reunite the Cuban boat boy and his father prompted a Roanoke viewer to send an email to President Clinton...and a copy to us. [Daryl McKay Roanoke]
"I hold you personally responsible...for the violent way the INS took Elian Gonzales away from his relatives in Miami. You could have done something...you chose to do nothing. I hope it haunts you to your dying day!"
A year after the massacre at Columbine High School, images of the tragedy once again filled local and network newscasts.
A viewer from Danville wrote: [Marilyn Rigney Danville]
"These families and students have worked very hard through prayer and encouragement from the Christian community to grieve and go on with their lives for the past year, and then the media comes along and hashes it all over again with reports, videos, photos and interviews. How can people find the strength to heal from such tragedies if they are not allowed to go forward?"
Your comments on issues in the news and how we handle them are always appreciated.
Our mailing address is News-7, P.O. Box 7, Roanoke, 24022-0007.
To send a fax, just dial 343-7269.
Email goes to news@wdbj7.com.
And you'll find a moderated online forum at our website, wdbj7.com.
Joe McKean, News-7.))

[Health-Check]

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

In medical news, new information about smoking this morning.

Tricia Kean has that story and more in Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Tricia Kean/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]

((Information:
ONCAM=TRICIA
((on cam))
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF... SMOKING DOES NOT SEEM TO PREVENT -DEMENTIA- OR -ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE-!
VT=VO
((vo))
SCIENTISTS FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY FOUND... THAT FOUR MEDICAL DOCTORS -WHO SMOKED-... WERE JUST AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP -MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS-.... AS THEIR COUNTER PARTS WHO DIDN'T.
EARLIER STUDIES PRODUCED CONFLICTING RESULTS.... WITH SOME EVEN SUGGESTING... -AN APPARENT BENEFIT-.
THE RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL IS JUST ONE FINDING... IN A LONG RUNNING STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN -SMOKING- AND -DISEASE-.
ONCAM=TRICIA
((on cam))
IN RELATED NEWS...
THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION -HAS APPROVED-... A THIRD MEDICATION... TO TREAT -ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE-.
IT'S CALLED EX-EL-ON.
AND LIKE THE OTHER TWO DRUGS ON THE MARKET... IT INHIBITS -THE BREAKDOWN- OF A -BRAIN CHEMICAL-... -VITAL- FOR -NERVE CELLS- TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.
WHILE THE DRUG -DOES- OFFER MODERATE RELIEF... RESEARCHERS SAY... IT IS BY -NO MEANS- A CURE.
"EX-EL-ON" SHOULD BE IN DRUG STORES BY THE END OF -MAY-.
A -1- MONTH SUPPLY -WHOLESALES-... FOR ABOUT -1- HUNDRED AND -30- DOLLARS.
VT=VO
((vo))
IF YOU SUFFER FROM RO-SAY-SHA..A CONDITION THAT CAUSES -FLUSHED CHEEKS-... -NOSE-... OR -NECK-... YOU'LL WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR DERMATOLOGIST RIGHT AWAY... AND ASK ABOUT A -NEW TREATMENT OPTION-!
IT'S CALLED FOTO-FACIAL... AND USES -LIGHT PULSES- TO RETURN THE SKIN TO ITS NORMAL COLOR.
DOCTORS SAY... IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO PREVENT -SUN SPOTS- AND -BLUSHING-.
THE PROCEDURE... COSTS ABOUT -2- THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR -5- SESSIONS UNDER -THE LIGHT-.
ONCAM=TRICIA
((on cam))
AND... THAT'S A LOOK AT -THE DAY IN HEALTH-.
I'M TRICIA KEAN... CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
(ad lib to weather)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Here's a look at today's top stories.
A weekend of murder in Martinsville.
A man was found on the side of a road late Saturday night.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=kim]

And a shooting at a Martinsville restaurant has left one person dead and another wounded.
And the manhunt is on for the gunman.
It happened last night at an Applebee's restaurant.
There's no word yet on a motive or the woman's condition.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
The Miami home where Elian Gonzalez once stayed has become an informal shrine since Saturday's seizure of the boy by federal agents.
Hundreds have come to the home to sing and pray, some leaving flowers in a chain-link fence surrounding the home.

Meanwhile... G-O-P lawmakers may call JAnet Reno to capitol hill this week... and ask her to defend her decision to snatch Elian from his Miami relative's home... early Saturday morning.

(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Monday April 24-th.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-11Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

One person is dead and another injured following a shooting outside a Martinsville restaurant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

This was the scene outside Applebee's restaurant last night on Commonwealth boulevard.
Authorities found a 28 year old hispanic male lying on the pavement behind the restaurant suffering from gun shot wounds.
He was taken to Martinsville Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A female was was also wounded and taken to the hospital.
There is not word yet on her condition or on a motive for the shooting.

(------------)

[2-M'Ville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=murder investigation]

Martinsville Police are investigating another murder that happened over the weekend.
Around 10:45 Saturday night authorties received a call that a black male was lying on the ground near 600 Fourth Street.
When officers arrived they found the man who has been identified as 27 year old Sidney Lloyd Jones of Martinsville.
Jones was pronounced dead at the hospital
Authorities are still investigating.

[2-11Fatal-Ax]

[ANCHOR=melanei]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-10 33:10]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A head on collision in Franklin County claimed the life of a Callaway woman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]
Authorities say around three yesterday afternoon 67-year old Norma Miller was driving on Bethlehem Road in Boones Mill when she attempted to pass a pickup truck. A Bronco coming from the other direction collided with Miller's Subaru. Miller died at the scene. The driver and passenger in the Bronco were taken to Roanoke Memorial by EMS -- officials say their injuries were not life threatening. The road was closed down for two hours but has since reopened.
(------------)

[2-cuban-boy]

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

The Miami home where Elian Gonzalez once stayed has become an informal shrine since Saturday's seizure of the boy by federal agents.
Hundreds have come to the home, some leaving flowers in a chain-link fence surrounding the home.
Meantime, Elian's Miami relatives vow to stay in the Washington D-C are until they get to see the six year old.
But that's not likely to happen anytime soon.
Drew Levinson reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[4:39:51]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :00]
[SUPER=01-Greg Craig/Attorney for Juan Gonzalez; :29]
[SUPER=03-Andrews AFB, MD; :35]
[SUPER=01-Marisleyses Gonzales/Elian's Cousin; :46 ]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Bob Smith/(R) New Hampshire; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=CBS News. Miami]
((

Locator: Miami, FL There is little chance Elian Gonzalez will ever come back to this Miami house he lived in for nearly five months. But that hasn't stopped well wishers from leaving Easter gifts for the Cuban castaway.
Locator: Andrews AFB, Maryland Elian spent the holiday a thousand miles away at Andrews Air Force Basewhere father and son reunited one day earlier. These happy family snap shots are in sharp contrast to those pictures taken as Elian was snatched from his Miami relative's home early Saturday morning.

SOT: Greg Craig/Attorney for Juan Miguel Gonzalez
"Together it is a happy loving and unified family and were are grateful finally for that result."
Not happy about that result is the Miami relatives. Yesterday...for the second time...they tried but failed to see the boy. They vow to stay in the Washington area until they do.

SOT: Marisleyses Gonzales/Elian's Cousin

"All I ask is that I need to see Elian. In the conditions that they took this boy out of my house I know that he is not okay."
The pre-dawn raid which many G-O-P lawmakers describe as heavy-handed has Attorney General Janet Reno in the hot seat. She may be called to Capitol Hill this week to explain agency's actions.

SOT: Sen. Bob Smith/R-New Hampshire "It is now about President Clinton's
and Janet Reno's abuse of power. When is the last time a child was taken at gunpoint and custody transferred without the order of any judge of any court."
Stand-Up But the Justice Department disputes Senator Smith's claim. Late last night it released the copy of a search warrant that authorized agents to search the Miami relative's home for the boy and quote seize the same. Drew Levinson, CBS News, Miami.

))[11Gas-Station]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=00-01 2:04;03]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

A gas station located on a busy Roanoke road has seen a drop in business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Save X Gas Station on Route 220 in Roanoke used to be open all night, but not anymore.
When the new Lowes went up across the street the sales here went down.
That's because the state put in a new cement divider. People heading southbound can turn into the station, but they can't get back out going South.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:41]
[IN Q=]
((GRISELL ROBINETTE/SAVE X CLERK: OUR SALES, OUR BUSINESS HAS GONE DOWN, A LOT OF CARS CAN'T GET IN HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Grisell Robinette/Save-X Clerk]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=can't get in here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The store used to bring in between five and six hundred dollars between midnight and six A-M. That dropped to around 150 a night- so now the store is closed during those hours.
Southbound truckers- who made up a big portion of sales- just keep rolling by.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:18]
[IN Q=]
((WELL GOING SOUTH WE JUST IN TROUBLE, CANT' TURN UP IN THERE. REPORTER: WHAT DO YOU DO? JUST KEEP STRAIGHT ON DOWN TO THE NEXT TRUCK STOP.)) [Butt to 6:08] ((EUGENE SMALLEY/TRUCKER: GOING NORTH WE USUALLY STOP BUT COMING HOME WE USUALLY STOP IN TROUTVILLE. WE CAN'T STOP, WE CAN'T GET IN THERE AT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Roosevelt Lucas/Trucker;00]
[Super=01-Eugene Smalley/Trucker; 15]
[RUNS=24]
[OUT Q=IN THERE AT ALL.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

While the state built the divider for safety- the Save X manager Charlie Gremore says there are alternatives that could have kept the store accessible without jeopardizing safety.
He says the Save X owner tried to talk to the state but it didn't do any good.
(----------------)

[3-11Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

One person is dead and another injured following a shooting outside a Martinsville restaurant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

This was the scene outside Applebee's restaurant last night on Commonwealth boulevard.
Authorities found a 28 year old hispanic male lying on the pavement behind the restaurant suffering from gun shot wounds.
He was taken to Martinsville Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A female was was also wounded and taken to the hospital. So far there is little information about what lead up to the shooting.
Police are still investigating.
(------------)

[11Car-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-08 41:19]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
Five people were sent to the hospital after a car accident in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

It happened around 11 -yesterday morning on West Main Street. A car turning off of Fort Lewis Boulevard pulled out in front of another vehicle traveling west.
The two cars collided. Authorities say none of the injuries appears life threatening.
(------------)

[ryan]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Baseball hall of famer Nolan Ryan is recovering after undergoing emergency double bypass sugery.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[3:14:20]
Yesterday morning Ryan was out walking with his wife when he experienced chest pains and shortness of breath.
His wife then drove him to the hospital where doctors discovered substantial blockage in Ryan's left main coronary artery.
The 53 year old pitcher is baseball's career leader in strikeouts and no hitters.
His 27 seasons number more than anyone in major league history.
(------------)
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Authorities are investigating a murder that happened in Martinsville over the weekend. Around 10:45 Saturday night authorities responded to a call that the body of a black male was lying on the ground near 600 Fourth Street. He has been identified as 27 year old Sidney Lloyd Jones of Martinsville. Jones was pronounced dead at the hospital.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

A shooting outside a Martinsville restaurant left one person dead and another injured.
Authorities found a 28 year old hispanic male lying on the pavement behind the restaurant suffering from gun shot wounds. He was taken to Martinsville Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A female was was also wounded and taken to the hospital.
Police are still investigating.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

One women was killed following a head on collision in Franklin County. 67-year old Norma Miller attempted to pass a pickup truck. A Bronco coming from the other direction collided with Miller's Subaru. Miller died at the scene. Officials say the driver and passenger in the Bronco were taken to Roanoke Memorial and their injuries were not life threatening.

(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's Robin Reed with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=April]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=Showers by the end of the week]
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye) [Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]