[7-11Pulaski-Threat]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-17 TC1:24:18]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A 15-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to creating a website "Hit-List" that cancelled classes at Pulaski County High School.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/April 20;]
The threat shut down the school on the first anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High.
Investigators say the girl -- a freshman who's not being named because of her age- -- created the hit-list in a school computer lab.
The list, labeled "People to Kill" targeted about 100 students and teachers- that's according to school officials.
The girl will NOT be sentenced for several more months.
Making an electronic threat to kill is a felony that can carry up to five years in prison.
(------------)
[7-11Celanese]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-18 TC1:23:05]
[GRAPHIC=Celanese]
Celanese and its workers' union still have NOT agreed on a contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.;]
The two sides met with a mediator for a round of contract negotiations well into Tuesday night.
Celanese workers rejected a contract offered by the company last month, saying it failed to improve mandatory overtime and benefits.
The Giles County acetate plant is the New River Valley's eighth-largest employer, with more than 12-hundred workers.
Both sides will return to the bargaining table for a third meeting next Tuesday.
(------------)
[7-11Henry-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]
A house fire in Henry County has killed one person.
It happened in the Stanleytown section.
When firefighters got to the house at about 8:30 yesterday morning it was engulfed.
Two people were able to get out- unharmed... but a 15-year-old was taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem with burns.
The person who died in the blaze was 19 years old.
The victims' names haven't been released.
[7-11Air-Quality]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC50:53]
[GRAPHIC=Air Quality]
High levels of air pollution can lead to respiratory problems, that according to the American Lung Association.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
And the problem is magnified for children and others with asthma.
That's reason for concern for those who live in Virginia.
The entire state failed the EPA's standards for air pollution.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:24]
[IN Q=People who have]
((TONI FERGUSON: PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY ASTHMATICS A LOT OF TIMES THEIR EPISODES ARE TRIGGERED BY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: SO IF WE CAN REDUCE THE OZONE PROBLEM THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN REDUCE THE PROBLEMS THAT OUR PATIENTS HAVE ))
[SUPER=01-Toni Ferguson/American Lung Association]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=have]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Roanoke American Lung Association is spearheading a coalition to educate the public about air pollution and ways to eliminate the problem.
The coalition says simple steps like car pooling and using environmentally friendly chemicals can help.
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Kim]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Here's a look at your local forcast...
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[SUPER=314-Possible /AM Showers/75-80/Mostly/Cloudy/60-65;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[45-11Celanese]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-18 TC1:23:05]
[GRAPHIC=Celanese]
Negotiations still have NOT yielded a new contract between Celanese and its union employees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.;]
The two sides met with a mediator for a round of contract negotiations well into Tuesday night.
Celanese workers rejected a contract offered by the company last month, saying it failed to improve mandatory overtime and benefits.
The Giles County acetate plant is the New River Valley's eighth-largest employer, with more than 12-hundred workers.
Both sides will return to the bargaining table for a third meeting next Tuesday.
(------------)
[45-11Tobacco-Grape]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-20 TC1:27:20]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Tough Times]
GRAPES could become a substitute crop for Southside tobacco farmers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.]
Farmers have been looking for alternatives to tobacco. Vineyards could be the best bet.
Now, researchers are testing a variety of grapes.
They say there is a high demand for them in Virginia.
But they say it comes with a price.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q= 5:37:50]
((LARRY MCPETERS/VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION: THE INVESTMENT ON AN ACRE OF GRAPES IS 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THERE IS NOT RETURN FOR AT LEAST SIX YEARS.))
[SOT 6:04:44]
((BILL CONFROY/WANTS TO GROW GRAPES: THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET. THIS AREA COULD GROW A GOOD QUALITY GRAPE.))
[SUPER=01-Larry McPeters/Virginia Cooperative Extension;]
[SUPER=01-Bill Confroy/Tobacco Farmer; :09]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=good quality grapes.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Researchers are also looking to attract a cooperative wine production facility.
(------------)
[45-11Crop-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo/sbu]
[TAPE#=00-21 TC1:03:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Meanwhile, in Blacksburg-- lawmakers are working to use tobacco as a HEALTH crop...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/April 14;]
The state tobacco commission voted yesterday to give some settlement money to two Blacksburg biotechnology firms.
CropTech and (tuh-By-oh) ToBio promise to turn tobacco plants into medicines and vaccines.
The companies asked the commission for 12-million dollars back in April.
The commission says it WILL support them.
HOW MUCH and WHEN will be determined in a meeting next month.
(------------)
[45-11Burcham]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC47:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Biomedical research in the Star city has become more global....
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
City Manager Darlene Burcham unveiled yesterday a new research association with an institute in Japan.
Burcham says the international exposure is just what Roanoke needs to diversify itself.
(///// SOT /////)
[TC: 02:22:39]
[SOT]
[IN Q=It is the]
((IT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE INSTITUTE HERE AND KOBE, JAPAN. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS AND THIS WILL GIVE THE ENTIRE ROANOKE AREA INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=international attention.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
The agreement will give University of Virginia staff an office in (Ko-bay's) Kobe's own biomedical center, which will be modeled on Carillon's biomedical institute.
Delegates from U-V-A, Virginia Tech, Carilion, and Japan traveled to San Francisco to sign the memorandum.
Burcham says the agreement is the culmination of a year's discussion between the United States and Japan.
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Kim]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Taking a break from the news now to check your forecast...
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[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
[8-11Pulaski-Threat]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-17 TC1:24:18]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A 15-year-old girl who created the website "Hit-List" that cancelled classes at Pulaski County High School in April has pled guilty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/April 20;]
The threat shut down the school on the first anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High.
Investigators say the girl -- a freshman who's not being named because of her age- -- created the hit-list in a school computer lab.
The list, labeled "People to Kill" targeted about 100 students and teachers- that's according to school officials.
The girl will NOT be sentenced for several more months.
Making an electronic threat to kill is a felony that can carry up to five years in prison.
(------------)
[8-11White]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=500-18 TC16:38]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Lynchburg man has been found guilty for a drug- related murder last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/July 1999]
23- year- old Norman Douglas White was accused of knocking in the door of this home on Stuart Street last July and shooting Morris Anthony six times.
A jury in March could not decide on White's guilt or innocence.. but his second trial ended yesterday with a guilty verdict on first degree murder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:58:40]
[IN Q=I'm not sure]
((STEPHANIE MADDOX/ASST. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: I'M NOT SURE.. WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME, WE TRIED IT THE SAME WAS WE DID LAST TIME, THE EXACT SAME EVIDENCE. Reporter: Essentially it's the Commonwealth's contention there was no doubt that it was Mr. White who kicked in the door that night? BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT.))
[SUPER=01-Stephanie Maddox/Asst. Commonwealth's Attorney]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=absolutely no doubt.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The jury recommended a total prison term of life plus 28 years on the murder and firearms charges.
White will be sentenced next month.
(------------)
[8-11Mountain-View]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-16 TC1:36:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A janitor sexually abused three women at a home for adults in Botetourt County, according to police.
The charges against Jerry Pinion include rape, attempted rape and sexual battery.
The incidents allegedly happened at Mountain View 2 in Fincastle.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle/December;]
[TAPE#=99-46 35:36]
The home's owner, Linda Housman would not comment.
Last December, detectives searched Richwood Acres -- Housman's other adult facility -- after resident's said they had money stolen.
That incident is still under investigation.
(-------------)
[8-11county-shooting]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=500-16 TC31:17]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Suicide]
An elderly nurse killed her husband then herself in a Roanoke County murder-suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Police say 77-year-old Jean Dymond shot her 80-year-old husband Robert inside their home Tuesday.
Their daughter found the couple.
Neighbors say Robert Dymond suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome.
(------------)
[8-11Henry-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]
A house fire in the Stanletown section of Henry County has killed one person.
When firefighters got to the house at about 8:30 yesterday morning it was engulfed.
Two people were able to get out- unharmed... but a 15-year-old was taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem with burns.
The person who died in the blaze was 19 years old.
The victims' names haven't been released.
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Kim]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Before we wrap up this morning...here's another look at the Thursday forecast...
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by SS