WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 06/22/00

[7-11Utilities-suit]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=sch/jja]
[TAPE#=00-14 TC1:13:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A former division director of the Danville Department of Utilities is taking his former employer to court ...he says he lost his job because he wouldn't stand by while female co-workers were harassed.

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

William Kim Hensley filed suit against the city and his boss Fred Horne.
Hensley claims he was fired because he did not keep quiet about sexual harassment charges.
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

His lawyer says his client witnessed Horne harassing female employees at the department and that he shouldn't lose his job for telling the truth.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 53:08]
[IN Q=His goal is to]
((GARY BENGSTON/HENSLEY'S LAWYER: HIS GOAL IS TO GET HIS JOB BACK, HIS GOAL IS TO GET HIS MEDICAL BENEFITS BACK AND GET MONEY BACK FROM LOST WAGES. THAT'S HIS GOAL IN FILING THE LAWSUIT.))
[SUPER=01-Gary Bengston/Hensley's Lawyer;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=filing the lawsuit]
(------------------)
[VO-NAT]

The city declined an on camera interview.
But the city attorney released a statement saying "the city followed the proper procedures to ensure the protection of its employees while looking out for the best interest of the taxpayers."
(-------------)

[7-11Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=500-20 TC06:30]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

A Northwest Roanoke house fire has left eight people homeless.....
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

It started on the first floor of the house in the 2-thousand block of Moorman Avenue.
Smoke and flames spread to the second floor and attic, and made it hard to get the fire under control.
The owner says he was mowing his yard when he saw smoke coming from a part of the house near a window air conditioner.
(------------)

[7-11Pearce]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-13 TC1:12:50]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Franklin County judge has certified felony charges against a man accused of allowing dogfighting. Judge Ryland Dodson is also keeping two pit bulls away from Kyle Pearce -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
although for now, he CAN keep his other 17 pit bulls. Deputies found a dogfighting pit, treadmills and performance notes on Pearce's property in April. They took two of the dogs as evidence. For the animals' protection a judge refused to release them yesterday. Pearce's trial will be set in August.
(------------)

[7-Rail-Investigation]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia State Police are investigating possible bid rigging in the state agency that oversees rail transportation.
Police investigators seized files last week at the Department of Rail and Public Transportation's Richmond office-- as well as from the city manager's office in Buena Vista.
Affidavits obtained by a Richmond newspaper before the case was sealed last week indicate state workers may have "criminally conspired" to rig bids on rail construction projects in Buena Vista and eastern Virginia.
The probe alleges NO wrongdoing by Buena Vista officials.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=don]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Now, let's take a break from the news to check the forecast... Expect scattered showers today with some storms possible in the later hours... Highs will reach 80-90... Tonight will be partly cloudy with some light winds.. Lows will be in the upper 50's to 60's...

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Scattered Showers/Then Storms Possible/80-90/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/55-65;AREA FORECAST]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[45-11Gun-Buyback]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC1:21:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Molten steel is all that's left of the 561 guns recently collected by Roanoke City police department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The guns were collected last month as part of Roanoke's first "Gun Buyback Program."
Yesterday -- they were melted at Roanoke Electric Steel to mark the completion of the program.
For bringing in an unwanted gun-- residents were given a 50- dollar gift certificate.
Police say senior citizens were the biggest contributors.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:00:30]
[IN Q=Several of ]
((SEVERAL OF THEM TOLD ME THAT THEY'D HAD GUNS LEFT THERE BY THEIR SPOUSES WHEN THEY DIED AND JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DOW WITH THEM AND THEY FINALLY FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF THEM AND KNEW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO FALL IN THE WRONG HANDS.))
[SUPER=01-R. L. Arrington/Roanoke Police Department;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=wrong hands.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police say the program was a success.
But critics say it fell short in terms of getting guns out of the hands of hard-core criminals.
(---------------)

[45-11Nurse-Shortage]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-15 TC1:02:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Roanoke Valley needs nurses STAT!!!
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

because there is a shortage of RN's.
Carilion Health system says it could be a serious problem because there aren't enough graduates to replace those who are retiring.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:28:42]
[IN Q=As we see people living]
((PATRICIA CONWAY-MORANA/SENIOR VP NURSING SERVICES: AS WE SEE PEOPLE LIVING LONGER AND TECHNOLOGY ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE AS WELL LENGTH OF LIFE WE'RE GOING TO NEED NURSES TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS))
[SUPER=01-Patricia Conway-Morana/Nursing Services]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=patients]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Nurses make up nearly a third of Carilion's hospital staff.
Officials say the shortage could potentially be serious enough that they would have to limit the number of patients -- or have to start relying on unlicensed workers.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAHPIC=None]

Already a coalition of nurses and other health care professional have joined forces to address the problem.
The Virginia Partnership for Nursing is trying to find out just how serious the problem might be in the near future.

[45-5-Alternative]

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

With so many people becoming health conscious these days, many people are embracing a new concept...It's called integrated health care...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Healthy Maintenance and Inspirations says it is an addition to modern day medicine. It offers anything from hypnosis to massage with artistic imagery, to nutrition and herbal counseling.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:31:56]
[IN Q=We believe]
((DEXTER HALL: WE BELIEVE THERE ARE EXTRA THINGS YOU CAN DO TO NOT ONLY DO WHEN YOU ARE SICK YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF BETTER THEN YOU ARE RIGHT NOT HAVE TO BE AS SICK AS OFTEN.))
[SUPER=01-Dexter Hall/Healthy Maintenance Manager]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=any more.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hall says you should still consult your doctor but many people come here when they want to take a different approach.
(------------)

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=don]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a break from the news now to check weather...
Scattered Showers likely today, with a few afternoon thunderstorms.
Highs reaching 90.
Partly cloudy tonight, with lows near 60.
IN the five day forecast....

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Scattered Showers/Then Storms Possible/80-90/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/55-65;AREA FORECAST]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[8-11Utilities-suit]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Cutins]
[WRITER=sch/jja]
[TAPE#=00-14 TC1:13:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A lack of tolerance for sexual harassment is believed to be the reason behind the former division director of the Danville Utilities Department losing his job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

William Kim Hensley has filed suit against the city and his boss Fred Horne.
Hensley claims he was fired because he did not keep quiet about sexual harassment charges.
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

His lawyer says his client witnessed Horne harassing female employees at the department and that he shouldn't lose his job for telling the truth.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 53:08]
[IN Q=His goal is to]
((GARY BENGSTON/HENSLEY'S LAWYER: HIS GOAL IS TO GET HIS JOB BACK, HIS GOAL IS TO GET HIS MEDICAL BENEFITS BACK AND GET MONEY BACK FROM LOST WAGES. THAT'S HIS GOAL IN FILING THE LAWSUIT.))
[SUPER=01-Gary Bengston/Hensley's Lawyer;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=filing the lawsuit]
(------------------)
[VO-NAT]

The city declined an on camera interview.
But the city attorney released a statement saying "the city followed the proper procedures to ensure the protection of its employees while looking out for the best interest of the taxpayers."
(-------------)

[8-11Pearce]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-13 TC1:12:50]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A Franklin county man faces felony charges for allowing dogfighting at his home.
Judge Ryland Dodson is also keeping two pit bulls away from Kyle Pearce.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

But for now, Pierce can keep his other 17 pit bulls. Deputies found a dogfighting pit, treadmills and performance notes on Pearce's property in April. They took two of the dogs as evidence. For the animals' protection a judge refused to release them yesterday. Pearce's trial will be set in August.
(------------)

[8-11Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=500-20 TC06:30]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Eight people are looking for a new home after a house fire in Northwest Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

It started on the first floor of the house in the 2-thousand block of Moorman Avenue.
Smoke and flames spread to the second floor and attic, and made it hard to get the fire under control.
The owner says he was mowing his yard when he saw smoke coming from a part of the house near a window air conditioner.
(------------)

[8-11Rail-Investigation]

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AMCutins]
[WRITER=don]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Let's turn to weather once again....
Expect some scattered showers today, with a possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon.
Highs approaching 90.
Tonight looks partly cloudy with lows around 60.
As for the weekend ahead....

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Scattered Showers/Then Storms Possible/80-90/Partly Cloudy/Light Winds/55-65;AREA FORECAST]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]