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A Florida jury hits the tobacco industry with more than a 140 BILLION dollars in damages. We'll have a live report
,
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also a Danville man barricades himself in a home after he allegedly shoots a newspaper carrier.
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[Weather-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
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Temperatures warmed up quite nicely today. Look out for some overnight thunderstorms.
[Medical-Head]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Coming up today in medical news,
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[VO-NAT]
we'll see how a recently approved drug is showing tremendous promise in treating the sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[SOT 15:06;36]
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((WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES IF ANY YOU HAVE ASSESSED AGAINST THE DEFENDANT PHILIP MORRIS INCORPORATED? 73-BILLION, 960-MILLION DOLLARS.))
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[OUT Q=960 MILLION DOLLARS.]
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And that's just for one company- When all was said and done- the damages against big tobacco totaled more than 145- billion dollars.
The verdict took just five hours to reach- It is a record amount awarded to sick Florida smokers.
Lee Cowan is in Miami with more on the verdict and reaction.
[Live= Cowan Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/CBS News;]
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[5-Danville-Standoff]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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It seems safe enough- a man delivering the morning paper in Danville- but this morning the man was the victim of gunfire.
30 year old Jeffrey Womack was shot twice while helping to deliver papers on Arnett Boulevard.
Authorities say 33 year old Melvin Adkins used a high powered rifle to shot him- and then barracaded himself in the home.
Surae Chinn is in Danville Newsroom- Surae what are police saying?
[Double Boxes=Jean and Surae/Microwave]
Jean, authorities say the paper carrier just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Family members say Melvin Adkins is mentally ill and didn't realize he had hurt anyone.
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[SUPER=01-Neal Morris/Danville Police Chief;]
[SUPER=01-Gayle Adkins/Suspect's sister-in-law;]
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[OUT Q=didn't know he was outside.]
(([8:28:35]
With his hands in the air, 33 year old Melvin Adkins came out after barracading himself for nearly 10 hours.
It took a lot of negotiating. His brother Paul even went inside the home twice to convince him to come out. Finally it paid off.
[SOT 55:26]
((NEAL MORRIS/DANVILLE POLICE CHIEF: WE ARE JUST DELIGHTED I'M SORRY ABOUT THE INDIVICUAL WHO GOT HURT BUT FROM THIS PAHSE THANKFUL AND PLEASED DID NOT HAVE TO ENTER THE HOME. AND WE DIDN'T HURT HIM AND HE DIDN'T HURT ANY OF OUR PEOPLE.))
[RUNS=:12]
Authorities say it started around 4:30 this morning when 30 year old Jeffrey Womack was helping to deliver newspapers on Arnett Boulevard. Melvin Adkins allegedly used a high powered rifle and started shooting. Womack was struck twice.
Family members say Adkins didn't mean to hurt anyone.
[SOT 1:02:00]
((GAYLE ADKINS/SUSPENCT'S SISTER IN LAW; IT'S BEEN REAL TRAGIC, HE'S BEEN A MENTAL PAITENT FOR A WHILE HE JUST STOPPED TAKING MEDICINE. HEARS VOICES , DOGS TARTED BARKING. DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE WAS OUTSIDE.))
[RUNS=:12]))
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Melvin Adkins is now in custody he will be charged with malicious wounding. He will be taken to the central state hospital tonight in Petersburg Virginia.
[Double Boxes=ANCHOR/Microwave]
Also authorities say the victim Jeffrey Womack is in the recovery room in stable condition.
[5-Branch-Davidians]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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A jury in Waco Texas has come back with a verdict- It says the government bears no responsibility for the deaths of the Branch Davidains during a 1993 seige.
The decision came less than an hour ago- Terisa Estacio has details.
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[SUPER=01-Michael Caddell/Plaintiff's Attorney;]
[SUPER=01-Michael Bradford/U.S. Attorney;]
[SUPER=01-Terisa Estacio/CBS News;]
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((
Not guilty on all counts that was the partial verdict by an 5 member
advisory jury in the multimillion dollar lawsuit against the federal government.
Sect members and relatives of those who died filed a 675 million dollar
wrongful death lawsuit against the government accusing federal agents of
contributing to the death of nearly 80 Davidians including more than a
dozen young children.
During the trial, Plaintiff s attorneys presented evidence claiming
agents at the scene instigated the fiery inferno by ramming the building
with tanks.
Also, they say, agents withheld firefighting equipment to extinguish the
flames.
Michael Caddell/Plaintiff s Atty;
Some of the governments evidence included autopsy photos revealing Koresh and others died from gunshot wounds one infant was stabbed to death.
All along, the government remained firm in their conviction stating
David Koresh holds the sole responsibility for the deaths of his many
followers at Mt. Camel on that fateful day.
Michael Bradford/US Attorney:)
Instead of resisting arrest, they stayed inside and shot and
killed sect members and their children.
Terisa Estacio/reporting )
[5-White]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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A man found guilty of first degree murder earlier this week has apparently committed suicide.
Lynchburg police say 23-year-old Norman Douglas White was discovered dead in his cell at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail yesterday evening. White had apparently hanged himself.
White was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy was performed this morning. The results haven't been released.
Wednesday, White was convicted of shooting Morris Anthony last July in a drug- related murder.
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U-S Senators eliminate the inheritance tax. Coming up after this break, we'll tell you if the President says he will sign it,
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Also women wanting refunds from a closed gym could be out of luck if it doesn't reopen.
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[5-Cory-Everson]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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The state Consumer Protection Division says members of Cory Everson's Health Club can NOT get their money back if the gym shuts down.
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[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The doors have been locked at Cory Everson's for almost two weeks now.
State investigators say chief financial officer William Bailey has NOT paid the required 50-thousand-dollar bond on his memberships, so the state cannot pay members back if the gym closes.
Gym managers have been selling memberships illegally for two and a half years, according to the assistant commonwealth's attorney, and racked up almost five thousand dollars in fines.
But Bailey says his accountant posted a bond with the state a few weeks ago.
He says he's waiting for an out-of-state contractor to install two new air conditioning units, and once that happens, he says he will re-open Cory Everson's.
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[5-Estate-Taxes]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Senators today voted to get rid of the Inheritance tax-
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((THE YEAS ARE 59, THE NAYS ARE 39. THE BILL IS AGREED TO.))
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Republicans charged the tax punishes success- and often makes it impossible for small business owners and farmers to pass their operations on to their famlies because they can't afford the taxes.
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[Talent=Jean]
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Democrats claim the measure merely benefits the rich. The President has promised to veto it.
The Senate is now working on eliminating the so called marriage penalty- the tax that forces more than 20 million married couples to pay more tax than they would if they were single.
The President says he'll veto that bill as well.
[5-Contractors]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Some small businesses got a helping hand at the General Contractors Summit today;
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The Roanoke Chamber of Commerce gave small contractors an opportunity to network with larger contractors at Virginia Western Community College.
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((THE BIGGER CONTRACTORS HAVE SO MANY JOBS AND BIDS THAT THEY ARE TOO BOGGED DOWN TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR SMALLER CONTRACTORS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SMALLER BUSINESSES ARE BUSY, THEY ARE LIKE A MICRO BUSINESS WITH NO P.R. PERSON, SO THEY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THEMSELVES.))
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With projects underway such as Lamp Works across from Tanglewood Mall, Avis construction values the opportunity to meet subcontractors.
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((WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD CONTRACTORS. SO WE THOUGHT WE COULD HOPEFULLY FIND SOME AND MAYBE HELP DEVELOP SOME SMALLER ONES THAT WE CAN DO SOME BUSINESS WITH.))
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The Roanoke Chamer of Commerce has a webpage with more information on opportunites such as the General Contractor's summit. you'll find a link to their page at our site at WDBJ7-dot-Com.
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Coming up next, Robin Reed will let us know what we can expect from our weekend weather. Then following sports, we'll have a preview as the summer's most anticipated movie opens across the nation.
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Coming today in Sports, Mike Stevens prepares for the opening ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games,
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and in medical news, we'll have what could be promising news for Arthritis patients.
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[5-Arthritis]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[GRAPHIC=Arthritis]
If you suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis you'll be interested to know about a recently approved drug- that could be a major breakthrough.
In fact, the makers of Remicade told the FDA this week the drug actually stops the progression of joint damage.
Anne Peterson has more.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Denny Ritter/Arthritis Patient; :12]
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[SUPER=01-Anne Peterson/CBS News; 1:37]
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[S5-Games]
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Good afternoon everyone, welcome to the end of the work week two minute sports ticker.
[graphic=commonwealth games]
The Commonwealth Games began their big weekend of action all across the valley this morning.
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[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
We start over in Roanoke County at Green Hill Park with archery. 34 competitors are vying for medals and the ages range from nine to 62 years old. Today marks the 900 round. The archery segment of the games is a three day affair.
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[SUPER=01-Giles Gilley/Archery Coordinator; :00]
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[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Rivers Edge Sports complex played host to the first day of the tennis portion of the Commonwealth Games. This is also a three day tournament. There are over 200 entries this year. Today's competition involved the junior players ages 12 to 18 boys and girls.
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[SUPER=01-Betty Barr/Tennis Coordinator; :00]
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The games continue through the weekend with the bulk of the action taking place tomrrow and Sunday. Also, the opening ceremonies for the games are scheduled for eight tonight at the Roanoke Civic Center.
[S5-Coach]
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The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have a new head basketball coach, but he's not someone with ties to South Bend.
Despite cries from the likes of Digger Phelps to hire a Notre Dame alum, the Irish
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :00]
today selected Delaware assistant coach Mike Brey to take over the team.
Brey has spent the past five seasons coaching the Blue Hens and, in fact, he just signed a new five year contract with Delaware.
Notre Dame is giving him a seven year deal.
If his name sounds familiar to you ACC fans, he used to be an assistant at Duke.
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[S5-Race]
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[GO TO PINNACLE BOARD 1025]
And with the Winston Cup stars taking this weekend off, we invite you to turn to Your Hometown Station for all of your racing fun.
Local Late Model Stock Car racing returns to WDBJ-7 with the Kroger-Pepsi 200 from the New River Valley Speedway Saturday night at 7.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TICKER]
More on the race, the Commonwealth Games and a peek inside today's activities at the Jan Tana bodybuilding classic is coming up on News 7 at Six.
Take care folks and have a safe weekend.
[go to break][5-Web-Day]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Our website of the day is a warning from a U-S Senator.
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[VO-NAT]
Senator Frank Kelly's "mutant watch" website says Americans should be concerned the country is being over run by genetically superior super powered mutants.
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[IN Q=mutants are very real]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=what they can do.]
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[VO-NAT]
On the site you can report people you suspect are mutants.
There's even a simple test to determine if you are one yourself.
Now if you haven't figured this out yet, the website is not for real. It's 20th Century Fox's unique way to hype the summer's most anticipated blockbuster.
Teri Okita tells us more about the X-Men movie.
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*****WIPE******WIPE*****
[5-X-men]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[SUPER=04-"X-Men"-20th Century Fox; :00]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/CBS News; 1:13]
[SUPER=01-Brian Singer/Director; 1:29]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS Los Angeles]
((It is a battle of epic proportions when the forces of good and evil face
off in the XMEN.
(Natsot)
Magneto believes there is a war brewing between mutants and the rest of
humanity. If no one is equipped to oppose him, humanity's days could be
over.
(Track)
Patrick Stewart is Professor Charles Xavier "Professor X' the most
powerful telepath on Earth and leader of the XMEN-RELUCTANT HEROES.
Xavier believes that humans and mutants can peacefully co-exist.
Natsot-
(Track)
That's a hard sell for Eric Lesherr (Sir Ian McKellen) the strongest and
most powerful mutant on Earth. "Magneto" and his associates the
'Brotherhood of Evil Mutants' are ready to wipe out humanity and anyone
trying to stop them
Bruce Davidson plays Senator Frank Kelly who doesn't like mutants and as
leader of the 'Zero Tolerance' movement wants mutants to register with
the government.
(Natsot/sot)
(Track)
One of the most powerful and popular XMEN is Wolverine. Australian actor
Hugh Jackman plays the man-beast with metal claws and no memory of how
he got them or how long he has been searching for answers to his past.
(Natsot)
Super: Teri Okita/CBS News
The action takes place in the not too distant future. But has its roots
in the past. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby used the fear and prejudice seen
during the Civil Rights Movement to create the XMEN in 1963. Director
Bryan Singer brought these super heroes to life.
(Sot Bryan Singer/ Director)
IT WAS FUN GENERALLY, STRESSFUL FOR ME SOMETIMES TRYING TO GET WHAT I
NEEDED BY THE END OF THE DAY. BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK EVERYONE HAD A LOT
OF FUN.
(Natsot)
(Track)
Teri Okita, CBS News, Los Angeles. ))
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