WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/06/00

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[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[7-11D'ville-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch/ejo]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC44:32]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Three suspects in a Danville murder made it easy for police to find them, according to published reports.
The Danville Register and Bee reports the three were stopped riding in the victim's sport utility vehicle.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

25 year old Quincy Edward Glenn, 24 year old Kwan Mondell Wakefield and a 16 year old suspect are all charged with murder.
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Danville authorities found Early Wayne Watlington inside his Highland Heights apartment Tuesday with several knife wounds.
The three suspects were stopped in his S-U-V that night.
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[7-Roanoke-Police]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Roanoke Police Department is under a federal Drug Enforcement Administration investigation. Authorties declined yesterday to specify the focus of the probe. However, U-S Attorney Bob Crouch said the investigation has been ongoing for about five months. Resident D-E-A agent-in-charge James Gregorius wouldn't say how many officers are targeted, what led to the probe or how long it's expected to last. A city police spokeswoman declined to

comment. [7-11State-Police]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha/sbu]
[TAPE#=00-13 TC1:25:44]
[GRAPHIC=I 81 Safety]
Over the holiday weekend, hundreds of lead-footed drivers were ticketed on Interstate 81.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Monday;]

Troopers wrote 705- tickets for speeding along I-81 in Botetourt, Roanoke, Montgomery and Rockbridge Counties.
The tickets were issued from Saturday to Tuesday.
State police in the same four- county area also wrote 128 tickets for reckless driving and 22- tickets for driving under the influence.
Statewide-- five people were killed over the July fourth holiday weekend. There were 11 fatalities LAST fourth of July.
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[7-11Moment-Silence]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC1:39:33]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Virginia classrooms are now silent, at least for a moment.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We will now observe]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=a moment of silence.]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Summer school principal Donna Henderson wrapped up the morning announcements with one additional instruction.
And students in Ellen Glasgow's Algebra II class paused before they opened their books and got down to business.

Students and staff at William Byrd High School say they're comfortable with the new requirement.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What you do]
((DONNA HENDERSON/SUMMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: WHAT YOU DO DURING THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE IS UP TO YOU. YOU'RE NOT MANDATED TO DO ANYTHING SPECIAL. YOU KNOW EACH CHILD CAN USE HIS OWN MOMENT AS HE WANTS TO.))
[SUPER=01-Donna Henderson/Summer School Principal;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=he wants to.]
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[VO-NAT]

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit, on behalf of several families, challenging the constitutionality of the new law.
But state officials are hopeful the moment of silence will survive the court's review.
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[7-11Pitts-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Pitts Co. New Schools]
In November, Pittsylvania County voters may have to decide if they want four new schools.
Last night county supervisors recommended a referendum on the subject.
The school board wants to build four new middle schools at a cost of more than forty million dollars.
The county has five middle schools. The School Board says they're are outdated and inadequate.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Turning your attention now to weather--
Scattered morning showers will taper off and we'll see partly sunny skies by this afternoon.
Highs in the low to mid 80s.
Clear overnight with a light breeze and lows in the low to mid 60s.
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[SUPER=314-Morning Showers/Partly Sunny/80-85/Clear/Light Breeze/60-65;]
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[45-11Moment-Silence]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC1:39:33]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

It's now state law for schools to have a moment of silence before class--
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We will now observe]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=a moment of silence.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Summer school principal Donna Henderson wrapped up the morning announcements with one additional instruction.
And students in Ellen Glasgow's Algebra II class paused before they opened their books and got down to business.

[45-Roanoke-Police]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Authorities aren't saying why the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the Roanoke City Police Department. However, U-S Attorney Bob Crouch said the investigation has been ongoing for about five months. Resident D-E-A agent-in-charge James Gregorius wouldn't say how many officers are targeted, what led to the probe or how long it's expected to last.

A city police spokeswoman declined to comment. [45-Gilmore-NAACP]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Gilmore]

Governor Gilmore appears to be making good on his vow to the N-Double-A-C-P to improve communication with blacks.
Tomorrow, the governor will follow up on that promise with another meeting with black leaders. The issues expected to come up include Confederate heritage observances along with questions about racial hiring bias within the National Guard

and State Police. [45-2-11State-Productivity]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-21 TC51:18]
[GRAPHIC=State Capitol]

State agencies are being asked to tighten their belts over the next couple of years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Governor Jim Gilmore and his top advisors say they've looked at the private sector and seen cost-cutting of five to ten percent.
So last Friday, every agency turned in a draft plan to cut a total of 92 million more dollars from the budget over two years.
That about a one percent cut each year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:18:44]
[IN Q=The purpose]
((SCOTT PATTISON/STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR: THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT. DO THE THINGS LIKE PRINTING LESS BUDGETS, OR FREEZING FOOD AT A MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION INSTEAD OF HAVING TO HAVE IT PREPARED EACH AND EVERY DAY AND SAVING MONEY THAT WAY. SO IF I WERE A STATE EMPLOYEE, I WOULDN'T WORRY AT ALL. IN FACT, IT WILL MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER.))
[SUPER=01-Scott Pattison/State Budget Director;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=their life easier.]
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[TALENT=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

A memo from the Governor's Chief of Staff Boyd Marcus reads: "The Governor and I both expect you to participate in this review in a complete and positive manner. Failure to do so will be dealt with appropriately."

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Shifting gears now to weather...
Morning showers will give way to partly sunny skies and highs of 80 to 85.
Becoming clear tonight with a light breeze and lows in the low to mid 60s.
Over the next five days... a gorgeus weekend lies ahead.

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[SUPER=314-Morning Showers/Partly Sunny/80-85/Clear/Light Breeze/60-65;]
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[8-11D'ville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch/ejo]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC44:32]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Published reports this morning say the three suspects in a Danville murder made it easy for police to find them.
The Danville Register and Bee reports the three were stopped riding in the victim's sport utility vehicle.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

25 year old Quincy Edward Glenn, 24 year old Kwan Mondell Wakefield and a 16 year old suspect are all charged with murder.
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Danville authorities found Early Wayne Watlington inside his Highland Heights apartment Tuesday with several knife wounds.
The three suspects were stopped in his S-U-V that night.
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[8-11Boucher]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-17 TC1:11:52]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Millions of dollars will go to a high tech commerce park in Dublin, in an effort to get it off the ground.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

The planned park got 5-million dollars in federal and state loans yesterday.
Congressman Rick Boucher delivered the news to officials from the 12 cities and counties involved in the project.

The one-thousand-acre tract of land already boasts an airport and a customs office.
The loans will help officials purchase and develop the land.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:12:24 - :33]
[IN Q=I think it's wonderful]
((BILL FREEMAN/COMMERCE PARK CHAIRMAN: I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL. IT'S GOING TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO PUT INTO EFFECT MOST OF THE STUFF WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST 2-3 YEARS.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Freeman/Commerce Park Chairman;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=the last 2-3 years.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials are still about one-million dollars shy of the funds needed to start building the park.
They also need the county to approve turning the farmland into an industrial zone.
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[8-11Celanese]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC36:33]
[GRAPHIC=Celanese]

Celanese management met with union negotiators in West Virginia yesterday, but could not agree on a new contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Narrows/June;]

Union members rejected the company's contract last month, saying it failed to address mandatory overtime or improve benefits.
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./June;]

Their old contract is being extended while a federal mediator helps negotiate a new one.
Celanese is the New River Valley's eighth-largest employer, with 12-hundred workers.
Both sides say they hope to resolve their differences next week in a meeting in Charleston, West Virginia.
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[8-11L'burg-Mayor]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-16 TC1:29:44]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]
A new mayor has taken over the reins of the city of Lynchburg
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Reverend Carl Hutcherson Junior was the unanimous selection of his peers to replace the retiring Pete Warren as mayor.
Hutcherson is the city's second black mayor, but he downplays the significance of that move.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:43:07]
[IN Q=Significant only]
((CARL HUTCHERSON/NEW LYNCHBURG MAYOR: SIGNIFICANT ONLY IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A NEW MILLENNIUM, GETTING READY TO REALLY GET INTO A NEW CENTURY AND I'M VERY PLEASED AND PROUD AND THANKFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF LYNCHBURG FIRST OF ALL FOR ELECTING ME AND TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR SELECTING ME AS THEIR LEADER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.))
[SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/Lynchburg Mayor]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=couple of years.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hutcherson has served on council since 1996, the last two years as vice- mayor.
Stewart Hobbs narrowly defeated Bert Dodson for that post yesterday.
The meeting was also the first for new council members Joe Seiffert (SEE-furt) and Julian Adams.
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[8-Roanoke-Police]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the Roanoke Police Department. Authorities declined yesterday to specify the focus of the probe. However, U-S Attorney Bob Crouch said the investigation has been ongoing for about five months. Resident D-E-A agent-in-charge James Gregorius wouldn't say how many officers are targeted, what led to the probe or how long it's expected to last.

A city police spokeswoman declined to comment. [8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Before we wrap up this morning-- here's another look at the Thursday forecast.
Morning showers will taper off and skies will turn partly sunny by afternoon.
Highs of 80 to 85.
Clear tonight with a light breeze and lows in the low to mid 60s.
The extended forecast is calling for lots of sunshine over the weekend....
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[SUPER=314-Morning Showers/Partly Sunny/80-85/Clear/Light Breeze/60-65;]
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