WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/14/00

[7-419-Accident]

[ANCHOR=kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
An accident in Roanoke county sent one man to the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Authorities say a dump truck traveling north on Route 419 struck an oncoming vehicle while it was turning onto Grandin Road. The accident happened around 11:15 last night. Authorities are still investigating.
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[7-Interstate]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=INTERSTATE 73]
The proposed interstate 73 is coming to the area, but a Franklin County group is trying to stop it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]

The group Friends of Franklin County is hoping to convince its board of Supervisors to withdraw its support of the new interstate and pass a resolution against it.
The group is circulating petitions and encouraging residents to write to local and national officials.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:24]
[IN Q=Go to northern virginia]
((GERRY SLOTNICK/FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENT:GO TO NORTHERN, VIRGINIA AND SEE WHAT INTERSTATES HAVE DONE, THE SPRAWL, THE CONGESTION, THE POLLUTION, IT'S JUST TERRIBLE))
[SUPER=01-Gerry Slotnick/Franklin Co. Resident]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=just terrible]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The group says 220 should be upgraded instead.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors says a new highway is needed in the county because 220 is not adequate due to safety and traffic reasons.

[7-11-81-Lawsuits]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC48:54]
[GRAPHIC=LAwsuit]
Relatives of a couple killed on Interstate 81 say there are safety problems on the road, and the family is suing the state.
Relatives of a couple killed on Interstate 81 are suing the state over what they say are safety problems.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./July 4, 1998;]
Rebecca Chittum's parents died on July Fourth two years ago when their car hydroplaned on Interstate 81 in Botetourt County, crossed the median, and hit a tractor trailer head on. The family's lawsuit says the state negligently designed the highway with improper highway grading, no stormwater basin, narrow lanes and sharp curves. It also says the 65-mile-per-hour speed limit is too high. The family's lawyer says the two parties are negotiating to settle out of court.
A representative from the Attorney General's Office says he's not seen the lawsuit yet, and cannot comment.
(------------)

[7-11Route-460]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-16 TC1:38:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Delays and budgeting problems have hit Northern Virginia V-DOT programs.
But that's not the case in Southwestern Virginia. V-DOT says this area's biggest road projects are on-budget and on-schedule.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

The 3-A Bypass, which will connect Blacksburg and Christiansburg with NO stoplights is set to open in July 2002.
It's well within its 105-million-dollar budget.
The Smart Road bridge in Ellett Valley -- which will be Virginia's tallest -- is also within budget.
It should be completed by the fall.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:38 - :52]
[IN Q=The two bypass]
((DAN BRUGH/VDOT RESIDENT ENGINEER: THE TWO BYPASS PROJECTS AND 81... AS WELL AS THE SMART ROAD BRIDGE. THEY'RE SIZABLE PROJECTS. WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE AROUND HERE AT ALL, EVER.))
[SUPER=01-Dan Brugh/VDOT Resident Engineer;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=here at all, ever.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The I-81 interchange at Falling Branch industrial park is set to open -- on budget -- next month.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

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

Taking a look now at your local forecast, today, look for cloudy skies with chance of showers. Expect highs in the low-to-mid 80's. Tonight, staying warm, a 60-percent chance of thunderstorms, your low in the mid-to-upper 60's.

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[ESS C] (EXTENDED)[Danville-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A Danville man was shot this morning inside his home. Authorities say a mental patient in a house on the 800 block of Arnett shot into a house across the street ,using a high -powered rifle, injuring the man, who's now in surgery.
Danville Police say the 800 block of Arnett is blocked off, and the area has been evacuted.
Authorities are trying to make contact with the suspect.
We do have a crew on the scene ,and will pass along any new information as soon as it becomes available.

[White]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cut-in]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

An inmate at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Lynchburg apparently hanged himself inside his cell.
Lynchburg police say 23- year- old Norman Douglas White was found yesterday evening at around 6-15.
Police say White was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy is scheduled for this morning.
A jury on Wednesday had just found White guilty of first- degree murder.
White was convicted of shooting Morris Anthony last July in a drug- related murder.

[45-11Supermax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-12 TC1:54:48]
[GRAPHIC=Supermax Prisons]

The recent death of an inmate at one of the state's "SuperMax" prisons has prompted the chairman of Virginia's Corrections Board to take a closer look.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wise Co./File Tape;]

The news media and human rights groups have been banned since they opened.
But Connecticut prison officials are paying to house about 500 inmates -- and have looked into allegations of abuse, racism, and denied access to lawyers and religious services.
Virginia's corrections board chairman says he's waiting to hear an internal report on an inmate who died of an apparent heart attack after a stun gun was used on him three times.
But that report will NOT necessarily be made public.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:59:12]
[IN Q=I will make]
((FRED FINKBEINER/CORRECTIONS BOARD CHAIRMAN: I WILL MAKE THE BOARD AWARE ...NEED TO KNOW BASIS, THEY MAY NOT HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT IT.))
[SOT 16:27:15 ]
((KENT WILLIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR OWN EQUIVALENT OF A 16TH CENTURY MEDIEVAL DUNGEON HERE. AND WE'RE NOT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.))
[SUPER=01-Fred Finkbeiner/Corrections Board Chairman; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Kent Willis/Virginia ACLU; :26]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=about it.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

The F-B-I is investigating the stun gun incident.
Before the autopsy is back, Corrections director Ron Angelone released a medical report from an independent doctor, who says there is NO linkage between stun gun usage and heart attacks.

[45WEATHER]

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

Shifting gears now to weather.... clouds and showers will linger through most of the day...

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[SUPER=314-Cloudy/Chance of Showers/80-85/60% Chance of/Late T'Storms/65-70;]
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[ESS C] (EXTENDED)[Danville-Shooting]

[White]

[8-11Hargrave-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-13 TC1:42:56]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]
Authorities are still investigating what caused a fire at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]

The Pittsylvania County fire marshal spent the day trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Flames erupted Wednesday night on the top floor of Sanford Hall--the oldest building on campus.
The fire destroyed many rooms and most of the 435 thousand dollar roof that was recently completed.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:26:41]
[IN Q=It's a minor setback]
((WHEELER BAKER/HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY PRES.: IT'S A MINOR SETBACK BUT IT'S AN EMOTIONAL SETBACK. WE HAD A NEW ROOF ON AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REDO IT.))
[SOT 36:45]
((OCIE BETTERTON/MAINTAINANCE DIR.: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RESTORE IT. IT'S KIND OF UPSETTING.))
[SUPER=01-Wheeler Baker/Hargrave Military Academy Pres.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ocie Betterton/Maintenance Director; :12]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=kind of upsetting.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The roof was insured. The school raised about two and a half million dollars to renovate the building. Despite the damage, engineers have said the school can go ahead with plans.
(----------------)

[8WEATHER]

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

Time again to check out the Friday forecast...

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[SUPER=314-Cloudy/Chance of Showers/80-85/60% Chance of/Late T'Storms/65-70;]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)[SUPER=#555;RESET]