WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/25/00

[zoo-shooting]

[ANCHOR=melanie]

[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]

One boy is brain dead and six other children are recovering from gunshot wounds after a shooting yesterday at the National Zoo.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[3:0053]
It started out as a peaceful Africa-American Celebration Day.
But within minutes, screams erupted Zoo as two feuding group of teenagers exchanged gunfire.
Smaller children were caught in the crossfire.
Witnesses say the fight broke out near the Zoo's entrance when a bottle was reportedly thrown from one group to another.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You could tell]
(( You could tell it was a confrontation, but when he pulled out that gun, there was no need for words at that point. I grabbed the kid we started screaming and we were off and running.))
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=were off and running]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The victims range in age from 11 to 16.
The National Zoo, one of the most visited sites in Washington, remains closed today.
(------------)

[CUBAN-BOY]

[ANCHOR=KIM]
[NEWSCAST=MORN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]

Attorney General Janet Reno heads to Capitol Hill today to defend the armed seizure of Elian Gonzalez.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[4:52:00]
She'll face a bipartisan group of eleven senators.
Most of them have been critical of the administration's handling of the case.
Republicans and some Democrats are criticizing Reno for using strong-armed tactics to return the boy to his father.
Meanwhile, Elian's great-uncle and his daughter continue to try to see the boy.
Last night-- they were refused access to Andrews Air force Base .
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((MARISLEYSIS GONZALEZ/COUSIN "I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAY GOOD-BYE... LET ME SEE THE BOY... ))

[SUPER=01-Marisleysis Gonzalez/Counsin;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=let me see the boy.]
(------------)
[vo-nat] Her pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Juan miguel Gonzalez and Elian remain far away from the camera lights Elian grew so accustomed to in Miami.
Juan miguel it seems has not even entertained the idea of a visit by his family... instead -- letting still photos tell their tale of re-union.
(------------)

[11Campaign-Finance]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

The Republican nominee for mayor of Roanoke has raised more money than the other three candidates combined.
All four men have filed their campaign finance statements. They cover the past four months.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD #1026]

Republican Ralph Smith collected more than 54-thousand dollars in his bid for mayor...all of it in contributions.
[ADD 1027]
Next in line, incumbent Democrat David Bowers. He brought in more than 25-thousand dollars. Part of that was a personal loan. [TAKE 1028]
Independent Mac McCadden collected 14-thousand dollars, all but 13-hundred in contributions. [ADD 1029]
And Duane Howard, the other independent, reported no contributions and loans of almost 12-hundred dollars.
(------------)

[11Trout]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kmc/nkr]
[TAPE#=00-14 TC09:42]
[GRAPHIC=Trout]

Roanoke City Councilman Jim Trout is dropping his bid for re-election.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

A campaign aide says Trout did NOT respond as well to the heart surgery as the doctors had hoped, and he's taken a turn for the worse.
Doctors found and repaired a tear in Trout's aorta.
There are now six candidates vying for three open seats on council.
(------------)

[Cancer-Walk]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[***ANCHOR TAG***] A Virginia man is on a mission to raise money for children's cancer research. He's walking 3-thousand miles for the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. Yesterday he made a stop in Salem. Kate Weidaw has his story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you see]
[SUPER=03-Salem;:00]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Looney/Walking for Cancer Research;:25]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:20]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=NEws 7, Salem]
((If you see Kevin Looney walking on the side of the road he says don't honk but stop and give him a donation for cancer research. Earlier this month this 36 year old from Williamsburg began a 3000 mile walk that will take him to Long Beach, California -- he hopes to be there by mid November. He calls his journey a Walk Across America for Pennies a Mile.

[SOT 13:26:42]
[INQ=]
((KEVIN LOONEY: WE HAVE A GOAL OF RAISING ONE MILLION DOLLARS IT'S 3000 MILES A PENNY A MILE AND WE HOPE TO HAVE 33,333 PEOPLE DONATE A PENNY A MILE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS10]
But before he takes off on foot he drives the route with his pickup.

[SOT 13:26:02]
[INQ=]
((KEVIN LOONEY: I GET A DAY OF PRE DRIVING THE ROUTE CHECK ON WATER STOPS, FOOD STOPS, LOCAL HELP.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS06]
He then hitches a ride back and walks to his destination which is about one hundred miles down the road. Looney says he finds people are more then willing help him find a place to stay at night.
[SOT 13:25:05]
[INQ=]
((KEVIN LOONEY: PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUTTING US UP SOME LOCAL HOTELS THAT HAVE BEEN PUTTING US UP A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING... LIVING OFF THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS10]
And what inspires him to keep going is the death of his father three years ago. He died of cancer.

[SOT 13:29:52]
[INQ=]
((KEVIN LOONEY: WHEN HE PASSED WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO BUT WE KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS06]
Now he hopes his efforts will inspire others to donate their money to help find a cure for cancer. Kate Weidaw News 7 Salem.))
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO FULL SCREEN GRAPHIC]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

You can follow Kevin's journey or make a donation by logging onto www dot penny a mile dot org.
(-------------)

[11Otte]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc/nkr]
[TAPE#=99-40 TC1:52:54]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A court date has been set for the woman charged with putting her baby in a microwave oven and turning it on.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Kent Co./March 6, 1999;]

Elizabeth (OH-tay) Otte will go on trial this September, one year after the one-month-old baby was found dead in her home.
Otte's lawyers have indicated they plan to use an insanity defense.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]

She's gone through testing and counseling to determine her state of mind. But the judge has ordered the results kept under seal.

[11Childrens-Home]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Two teenagers will be tried as adults on charges of sexually abusing two boys at a Wytheville children's home.
Jacob Earl Cregger and Jacori Carter -- both 16 -- are charged with sodomizing the boys at the Presbyterian Children's Home for troubled teens in October.
They're being held without bail at the regional jail in Dublin.

[ATLANTIS]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Atlantis Launch]

NASA may try again this afternoon to launch the space shuttle ``Atlantis'' off the pad --
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kennedy Space Ctr., FL;]
[20:13-YESTERDAY'S 8PM NEWSPATH]
By like yesterday, weather may keep it grounded.
Officials say they will decide this morning whether to try for an afternoon liftoff or wait for better weather tomorrow.
Shuttle managers are under pressure to get Atlantis to the international space station soon. The still-unfinished outpost is losing altitude and power.
Crew members are set to install new batteries and boost the station's orbit.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

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

In medical news, allergy season is here.

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=1:34]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((If you have allergies - we are now going into a cruel time of year - and it will be especially bad in some parts of the country.
The National Allergy Bureau has put together some numbers on the cities that tend to have the highest pollen counts through the year.
The top five pollen capitals: 1. St Louis 2. College Station Texas 3. Cherry Hill NJ 4. Rochester NY 5. Kansas City MO
Right now - tree pollens are high in most places and there's even a sprinkling of grass pollens causing itching and sneezing. And guess what? Just one plant can generate over one million grains of pollen; it only takes about ten grains to cause a reaction if you are sensitive.
Also today - a word of caution if you have asthma - go light on the alcohol especially wine. Researchers in Australia say even small amounts of alcohol can trigger an asthma attack, usually within one hour of having a drink. Once again, wine seems to be a particular culprit.
And finally - taking out a child's tonsils - it may do more than just cure sore throats. A study from New York University finds kids who have their tonsils out often come out of surgery with better behavior, probably because they are sleeping better. Many children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids have sleep apnea where they awaken dozens of times per night. One clue that a child has problems with tonsils and adenoids - loud snoring.))

(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.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Police in Washington D-C are looking for a teenager they say may have been involved in a shooting at the national zoo.
Several kids were injured-- some seriously.
Witnesses describe the shooting as a fight between two groups of kids-- attending a post-easter gathering of african-american families.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
attorney general Janet Reno will be answering tough questions today--when she heads to capitol hill to talk about her decision-- forcibly removing Elian Gonzalez from his relatives' home in Miami.
In Miami, Cuban-americans plan to slow down the city today-- by closing their businesses and refusing to work-- as a sign of protest.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And Roanoke Councilman Jim Trout's condition has taken a turn for the worse.
Doctors say Trout did not respond well to heart surgery last week.
Yesterday he dropped his bid for re-election.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Tuesday April 25-th.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-zoo-shooting]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

The National Zoo in Washington is closed today following a shooting that may have been Gang related.
Seven children were shot,--- one is clinically brain dead and on life support

The victims range in age 11 to 16.
Lou Young reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[3:00:53]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Charles Ramsey/Washington Police Chief; :33]
[SUPER=07-Zoo Spokesperson; :50]
[SUPER=01-Lou Young/Reporting; :58]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=for CBS News]
((

LOCATOR: WASHINGTON DC
(NATS)
It started out as a peaceful Africa-American Celebration Day. But within minutes, screams erupted at Washington's National Zoo as two feuding group of teenagers exchanged gunfire. When it was over, several children were shot, some of them seriously wounded.

(MOS SOT)
You could tell it was a confrontation, but when he pulled out that gun, there was no need for words at that point. I grabbed the kid we started screaming and we were off and running.

(TRACKUP)

Witnesses say the fight broke out near the Zoo's entrance when a bottle was reportedly thrown from one group to another. A piece of glass may have struck one woman in the face. That's when shots rang out.

(SOT Charles Ramsey, Washington Police Chief)
"I hate violence no matter where it happens."
Police say the injured children were caught in the middle of the melee. The violence left zoo goers shaken.

(SOT)/Zoo Spokesperson
"This is usually a happy, happy day. It's a terrible tragedy."

(STANDUP)
Police are investigating gang activity. The gunman remains on the loose.

Lou Young for CBS News Washington.))[2-11Campaign-Finance]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

All four Roanoke mayoral candidates have filed their campaign finance statements. They cover the past four months. The Republican nominee has raised more money than the other three candidates combined.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD #1026]

Republican Ralph Smith collected more than 54-thousand dollars in his bid for mayor...all of it in contributions.
[ADD 1027]
Next in line, incumbent Democrat David Bowers. He brought in more than 25-thousand dollars. Part of that was a personal loan. [TAKE 1028]
Independent Mac McCadden collected 14-thousand dollars, all but 13-hundred in contributions. [ADD 1029]
And Duane Howard, the other independent, reported no contributions and loans of almost 12-hundred dollars.
(------------)

[2-11Trout]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kmc/nkr]
[TAPE#=00-14 TC09:42]
[GRAPHIC=Trout]

One of Roanoke's city council candidates is dropping his bid for re-election.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

A campaign aide says Councilman Jim Trout did NOT respond as well to the heart surgery as the doctors had hoped, and he's taken a turn for the worse.
Doctors found and repaired a tear in Trout's aorta.
There are now six candidates vying for three open seats on council.
(------------)

[11M'ville-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-03 TC1:55:27]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest]

Martinsville authorities want to crack two murder cases that happened over Easter weekend.
They're conducting intensive searches for the suspects.
Surae Chinn has more on the investigation.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Authorities arrived at]
[SUPER=01-Michael Rogers/Martinsville Police Chief; :14]
[SUPER=01-Warren Jackson/Jones' Father; :41]
[SUPER=@Surae1; 1:00]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville.]
(( Authorities arrived at Applebees to find Jose Francisco Jimenez dead in the parking lot and another victim seriously injured. Now there's a manhunt for 38 year old Jose Luis Rendon Garcia.
[SOT 57:30]
((MICHAEL ROGERS/MARTINSVILLE POLICE CHIEF: WE'RE MAKING EVERY EFFORT AT THIS TIME TO LOCATE THE SUSPECT WE HAVE CONCERNS HE IS TRYING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.)) [RUNS:10]
Another shooting on 4th street claimed the life of 27 year old Sidney Lloyd Jones.
Two murders on Easter weekend have authorities and family wondering why. That's true especially for Warren Jackson--The father of Sidney Jones.
[SOT 1:07:41]
((WARREN JACKSON/JONE'S FATHER: THE HARD THING I'D SAY IS LIVING WITH IT. WHY DID IT HAPPEN. I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.)) [RUNS:15]
[SOT 1:18:31]
((SURAE CHINN/REPORTING: THE TWO VICTIMS SUFFERED A SIMILAR FATE. BOTH HAD GUN SHOT WOUNDS AND WERE LEFT TO DIE IN PUBLIC PLACES BUT MARTINSVILLE AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS NO CONNECTION WITH THE TWO MURDERS.)) [RUNS:10]
[SOT 1:00:04]
((MICHAEL ROGERS/MARTINSVILLE POLICE CHIEF: THEY'RE NOT RELATED AT ALL AS FAR AS SIMILARITIES. IT'S JUST VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU HAVE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.)) [RUNS:10]
[SOT 1:08:28]
((WARREN JACKSON/JONES FATHER: HE'S A FINE DUDE. I LOVE HIM AND I'M GOING TO MISS HIM.)) [RUNS:05]
Federal agents, state police and all Martinsville investigators are working to close these cases. For the families of Jimenez and Jones it can't come soon enough. Surae Chinn, News7 Martinsville.))
(--------------------)

[11Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-04 TC1:55:00]
[GRAPHIC=Plane Crash Invest.]

5 family members were killed in a plane crash in Norton Friday afternoon. Now relatives are trying to cope with the loss.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

William Lewis McCulley, his wife Cindy Walden McCulley and their two children Ryan and Meagan, and Cindy's father Ira Walden -- were flying from Nashville to Roanoke when their single engine aircraft dropped off radar.
[SUPER=03-Moneta]

William's brother Scott McCulley says they were coming to Moneta for Easter and to celebrate his son's birthday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT49:54]
[IN Q=It's a life changing experience]
((SCOTT MCCULLEY/VICTIM'S BROTHER: IT'S A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE. I MEAN YOU ALWAYS READ ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE TO CHANGE YOUR VIEW OF THE WORLD))
[SUPER=01-Scott McCulley/Victim's Brother]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=the world]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

McCulley say it's important to hug your family members because each day is precious.
The family is still waiting to hear what caused the crash.
McCulley believes pilot error was not a factor-- because Ira Walden was an experienced aviator and had flown in the area before.
(------------)

[2-CUBAN-BOY]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=MORN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]

Attorney General Janet Reno heads to Capitol Hill today to defend the armed seizure of Elian Gonzalez.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[4:52:00]
She'll face a bipartisan group of eleven senators.
Most of them have been critical of the administration's handling of the case.
Republicans and some Democrats are criticizing Reno for using strong-armed tactics to return the boy to his father.
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]
In Miami, Cuban-americans plan to slow down the city today-- by closing their businesses and refusing to work-- as a sign of protest.

(------------------)[11CSX-Earnings]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

We've heard a lot about Norfolk-Southern's problems following the break up of Conrail.
Now the other railroad involved is having trouble too.
Richmond-based C-S-X blames higher fuel costs, wage increases and congestion on the rail lines for what it calls ``unsatisfactory'' earnings.
During the first quarter, the company reported earnings of 29-million dollars -- compared to 75-million during the same period last year.

[11Flying-J]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-06 TC51:52]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

The investigation into a deadly explosion at a Wytheville travel plaza has ended in a fine.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville/October 1999;]

The Department of Labor fined Flying J Travel Plaza more than 27-thousand dollars in connection with the October gas pump fire.
Employee Ernest Osborne was killed while changing a gas pump filter when it exploded.
The labor department cites Flying J for exposing employees to danger and not training them properly.
Labor department officials say Flying J plans to appeal.
(------------)

[11Meningitis]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc/nkr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

A 19-year-old Radford University meningitis patient was released from the hospital Sunday.
So far, there are no new cases of the bacterial infection.
Health officials have stopped running the free vaccination drives at the school.
[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=Melanie]

Roanoke City Councilman Jim Trout is dropping his bid for re-election.
A campaign aide says Trout did NOT respond as well to the heart surgery as the doctors had hoped, and he's taken a turn for the worse.

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

The Department of Labor fined Flying J Travel Plaza more than 27-thousand dollars in connection with a deadly explosion last October.
The labor department cites Flying J for exposing employees to danger and not training them properly.
Labor department officials say Flying J plans to appeal.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Jacob Earl Cregger and Jacori Carter-- both 16 years old-- are charged with sodomizing two boys at the Presbyterian Children's Home for troubled teens in Wytheville last October. Both teenagers will be tried as adults. They're being held without bail at the regional jail in Dublin.

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

Now here's Keith Humphry with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=One week]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=on News 7 at 6]
(-------------)

[Desk 3-shot] [Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye) [Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]