[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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


Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a house fire that critically injured a Bedford man.
While searching through the debris, authorities found what looked like an M-16 rifle.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And state police will spend today investigating a fatal house fire in Martinsville.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)

[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


Wake up with us-- News 7 Mornin is next.

[11M'Ville-Fire]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]


State Police will begin investigating a fatal fire in Martinsville today.
Firefighters were called to a home on Banner Street in the East side of the city around eight o-clock last night.
They found a home fully involved.
Fire Chief Jerry Brock says it took about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control.
That's when they found a body inside the building.
Officials haven't identified the victim yet.


[11Bedford-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC2:01:56]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]


Investigators spent yesterday looking for the cause of a house fire that injured a Bedford County man. 43- year old Anthony David Dooley remains in critical condition at Roanoke Memorial Hospital this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]


Dooley suffered third degree burns when his Montvale home caught fire shortly before midnight Tuesday. Another man 30-year old Davis Welch was not injured.
The two told investigators they heard an explosion just before seeing flames.
But authorities say, so far, they've only found evidence of an intense fire.
Yesterday afternoon-- investigators returned to the house with a search warrant after they found what appeared to be an M-16 rifle in the debris.
They say Dooley does NOT have a federal firearms license.
Investigators still don't know the cause of the blaze.
(----------)



[11Water-Main]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-26 TC1:31:47]
[GRAPHIC=Water Main Break]


Water is flowing again this morning to about 20 homes in Roanoke that were affected by a water main break.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

It happened just before five yesterday afternoon on Cove Road near Guildhall Avenue. Officials say they aren't sure what caused the twelve-inch line to burst. Traffic was rerouted around the area all evening as crews worked to repair the main. Houses along three blocks in the area were affected.
(------------)



[Firestone]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Firestone recall]


More Congressional hearings on Firestone tires are set for next week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]


This after executives from Ford and Bridgestone- Firestone endured a tough day of questioning from lawmakers yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:01:52]
[IN Q=I come before]

((MASATOSHI ONO/BRIDGESTONE- FIRESTONE C.E.O.: I COME BEFORE YOU TO APOLOGIZE...))
[SUPER=01-Masatoshi Ono/Bridgestone-Firestone C.E.O.; quick!!!!]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=to apologize]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Congress wanted to know why the companies took so long to recall more than six million tires.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:03:57]
[IN Q=Ford did not]

((JACQUES NASSER/FORD C.E.O.: FORD DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE RECALLED TIRES UNTIL WE VIRTUALLY PRIED THE__ FROM FIRESTONE'S HANDS AND ANALYZED IT OURSELVES.))
[SUPER=01-Jacques Nasser/Ford C.E.O.]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=it ourselves.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Ford and Firestone weren't the only ones in the hot seat.
Government regulators faced criticism for not acting fast enough to prevent the nearly 90 deaths blamed on faulty tires.
One Congressman says yesterday's hearings were just the beginning of the investigation.
(------------)



[11Rubatex]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-23 TC1:49:47]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex]


More unfair labor practice charges concerning Rubatex.... but this time it's the company charging the Union.
Rubatex Corporation filed 14 unfair labor practice charges against its union.
Jennifer Miele tells us why the National Labor Relations board may look into the charges.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We always put]
[SUPER=01-Johnnie Dodd/Union Representative; :00]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :10]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :35]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
(([SOT]
[IN Q=We always put out]

((JOHNNIE DODD/UNION REPRESENTATIVE: WE ALWAYS PUT OUT THE TRUTH TO OUR MEMBERSHIP, WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE HAVE NO REASON TO LIE TO OUR MEMBERSHIP OR THE COMMUNITY.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=or the community.]

[PRE-PRO]
Knowingly making false statements to bargaining unit members is one of 14 allegations that Rubatex has made against local 240.
The company also says the union continued to encourage the harassment of replacement workers...
Falsely disparaged company products at trade shows...
Canceled bargaining meetings without explanation and refused to discuss future dates...
And condoned illegal picket line activity... [END-PRE-PRO]
During their nine months on the line, union members fought to end mandatory overtime and increase retiree benefits. In September they went back to work under terms of their old contract.
They say it was an effort to save the company, and they won't let the company forget that they are working without a contract.
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're not out]

((JOHNNIE DODD/UNION REPRESENTATIVE: WE'RE NOT OUT HERE VIOLATING THE LAW, WE'RE NOT OUT HERE HARASSING PEOPLE. NOW THE COMPANY MAY NOT LIKE, AND I KNOW THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT THEY'VE GOT AN EASY WAY OUT. AND THE EASY WAY OUT IS TO GIVE US A CONTRACT.)) [STANDUP]
The U-S-W-A is not planning to issue a response to the allegations, but the local Union says it will continue to fight for a new contract.
Jennifer Miele, News 7.))

[11Biology-Book]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=500-20 29:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The Lynchburg School Board has decided a drawing of a woman's genitals is too graphic for high school juniors and seniors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg;]

So this picture will be ripped out or covered in the new advanced biology textbook. 200 copies have already been ordered for juniors and seniors.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:05:45]
[IN Q=Various members]

((TRACEY SHAW/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER THE EXPLICIT NATURE OF THAT DIAGRAM.))
[SUPER=01-Tracey Shaw/School Board Chairman;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=of that diagram]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

There are clinical diagrams of both men and women, but this is the only picture in the book that labels a woman's external sexual organs. Harry Smith voted AGAINST removing the picture because he says, kids are missing out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:28:30]
[IN Q=Not hurt]

((HARRY SMITH/SCHOOL BOARD: NOT HURT, PERHAPS DEPRIVED OF SOME KNOWLEDGE THAT I THINK ALL GROWING KIDS NEED TO HAVE.))


[SUPER=01-Harry Smith/School Board Member;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=need to have]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The superintendent has not yet decided whether to tear out the page or cover it up.
(------------)



[11Corporal-Punishment]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-36 TC16:30]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Earley]


Virginia's Attorney General is among those opposed to the state's proposed new foster care regulations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The new regulations would allow foster parents to hit children and use other forms of physical discipline, as long as they are "not abusive."
Mark Earley says he doesn't oppose that wording from a legal standpoint.
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


But as a former foster parent himself, he thinks it's a bad idea.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:49:15 ]
[IN Q=Because a]

((MARK EARLEY/VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CHILDREN ARE COMING FROM ABUSED ENVIRONMENTS TO BEGIN WITH. AND AS A FOSTER PARENT, YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE INFORMATION SOMETIMES ABOUT WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW. AND SO I THINK WITH THESE KIDS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF WORKING WITH THEM WITHOUT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT BECAUSE OF WHAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN THROUGH. THEY NEED A LOT OF LOVE, AND A LOT OF NURTURE, AND A LOT OF CARE -- A LOT OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.))
[SUPER=@Earley;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=positive reinforcement.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The spanking rules were suspended after intense public criticism.
The state social services board is taking public comment until September 13th.
The board is expected to vote on the rules again in October.
(------------)



[Atlantis]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Space Shuttle]


It's all systems go for the Space Shuttle Atlantis, despite a recent lightning strike.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kennedy Space Center;]


NASA is going ahead with plans to lift off tomorrow.
Cameras fixed on the shuttle captured a lightning strike during a severe thunderstorm Tuesday night.
But NASA says lightning protection saved the shuttle, and it doesn't appear any vehicle systems or flight hardware were affected.
A seven- member crew will hook up equipment inside the new Russian control module.
Lift- off is set for 8- 45 tomorrow morning.
(------------)


[Health-Check]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]


In medical news, Testosterone may be more beneficial than estrogen for women going through menopause.
Doctor Dave Hnida has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Dave Hnida/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]

((Information: ON CAM WHEN A WOMAN GOES THROUGH MENOPAUSE OR HAS A COMPLETE HYSTERECTOMY- STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE IS TO RECOMMEND ESTROGEN.

VT=VO

AND THAT MAKES SENSE CONSIDERING ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT MAY HELP WITH HOT FLASHES-PREVENT THIN BONES- AND HEART DISEASE. BUT FOR A LOT OF WOMEN- ESTROGEN ISNT ENOUGH. IN FACT A STUDY IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE SAYS IF A WOMEN IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MOOD , CONCENTRATION, OR SEX DRIVE AFTER MENOPAUSE OR HYSTERECTOMY- REACH FOR THE PATCH. A TESTOSTERONE PATCH. RESEARCHERS FOUND A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT WHEN WOMEN USED THE TESTOSTERONE PATCH - WITH OR WITHOUT ESTROGEN.

VT=VO

ALSO TODAY- WHEN IT COMES TO BABIES- THERE ARE FEW THINGS AS NICE AS CUDDLING UP WITH THEM. BUT WHEN ITS TIME FOR BED- MAKE SURE THE BABY GOES TO HIS OR HER CRIB. A NEW STUDY SHOWS 3 IN FOUR CASES OF SIDS HAPPENS WHEN BABIES ARE PLACED ON CHAIRS, SOFAS, AND MAKESHIFT BEDS. AND MANY CASES ALSO HAPPEN WHEN A BABY SHARES A BED WITH AN ADULT.

VT=VO

FINALLY TODAY- DO YOU LIE AWAKE AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT INSOMNIA. WELL YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO SAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO DON'T SLEEP THAT MUCH- LIVE LONGER THAN PEOPLE WHO SLEEP ALOT. THEY FOUND THE LOWEST DEATH RATE WAS AMONG PEOPLE WHO ONLY GOT 5.5- 7 HRS/NIGHT A HIGHER DEATH RATE IS SEEN IN PEOPLE WHO SLEEP 8.5 TO MORE THAN 9 HRS/NIGHT AND ACTUALLY THE VERY HIGHEST DEATH RATE IS SEEN IN PEOPLE WHO TAKE SLEEPING PILLS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
ON CAM THATS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAYS TOP HEALTH STORIES. IM DR DAVE HNIDA FOR CBS NEWS.))


(ad lib to weather)

[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=KMC/SYO]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


Yesterday's tense day on Capitol Hill won't be the last one for executives from Ford and Bridgestone- Firestone.

Lawmakers grilled them over when they knew there was a problem with their tires, and why it took so long to recall them.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]


State police say they may never be able to tell whether drugs were aboard the plane that crashed in Lexington last week. Dirt and oil in the wreckage made a drug TEST inconclusive.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And the trial resumes today for an 80 year old Martinsville man accused of neglecting and abusing his wife.
The Commonwealth's Attorney says Paul Stolbun deprived his wife, Elizabeth, of food, water and medication.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And that's what's making news on this Thursday, September 7th .
[ANCHOR=Shannon]


News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-Firestone]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Firestone recall]


Lawmakers on Capitol Hill aren't through yet with officials from Ford and Firestone-Bridgestone...
Yesterday's Congressional hearings were just the beginning of the investigation into what and how long the companies knew there were dangerous tires on the road.
Lee Cowan has a wrap- up of yesterday's hearings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Capitol Hill; :00]
[SUPER=01-Masatoshi Ono/Bridgestone-Firestone C.E.O.; :07 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Helen Petrauska/Ford Spokeswoman; :47]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :57 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Jacques Nasser/Ford C.E.O.; 1:05]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=Cowan, CBS News, capitol Hill;]

(( It was a day of contrition on Capitol Hill -- as Firestone and Ford took the hot seat before BOTH houses of Congress.

(SOT/MASATOSHI ONO, CEO BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE)

"I come before you to apologize..."

It did little to quell the anger from legislators who say both companies knew of a potential problem with millions of Firestone tires long before evidence suggested they were linked to nearly 90 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

They point to a series of Ford memos which show the auto giant knew about tread separations problems at LEAST THREE years ago -- first in the Middle East -- then in Thailand/Malaysia, and finally in Venuzuela.
Potential dangers Ford kept to itself.

(SOT/HELEN PETRAUSKA, FORD SPOKESWOMAN)

"Did someone at Ford notify NHTSA regarding this problem that they had? A: we did not.. Q: yes or no? No!"

(SUPER: FILE)



But Ford says it DID do everything in its power to find out what that problem was -- even brining tires from overseas to test in this country.
But Ford says when it approached Firestone about the potential probem, Firestone blamed consumers, not the tires themselves.

(SOT/JACQUES NASSER, CEO FORD)



(NARR:)


But it wasn't just Ford and Firestone that fell under the hammer of blame -- Government regulators were criticized too -- for not acting fast enough to prevent a disaster.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration admitted it HAD received consumer complaints about the tires, but said it wasn't enough to launch in independent investigation.

(COWAN ON CAM:)



))[11Plane-Crash]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC36:33]
[GRAPHIC=Crash Invest.]


We may never know if the plane that crashed in Lexington last week was carrying drugs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/Last Week;]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC20:43]

State Police say the substance found in the wreckage was so badly contaminated with dirt and oil, that a drug test could not identify it. Investigators say the substance filled about an inch of a large plastic bag. Meantime the medical examiner is waiting for test results showing whether the victims had consumed drugs or alcohol before they crashed.
(------------)



[11Elderly-Abuse]


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


The trial of an 80 year old Martinsville man accused of neglecting and abusing his wife resumes today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]


The Commonwealth's Attorney says Paul Stolbun deprived his wife, Elizabeth, of food, water and medication.
Social Services and Health Department officials found the 75 year old woman in her home last November.
Witnesses told the judge yesterday they found the her covered in bed sores, bruises and urine. She died at the hospital.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:10:00]
[IN Q=Mr. Stolbun would]

((ROBERT HALEY/SOCIAL SERVICES ATTORNEY: MR. STOLBUN WOULD NEVER LET ANYONE INTO THE HOME. HE EVEN HAD A SIGN THAT SAID NO PEDLERS --ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Haley/Social Services Attorney;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=no pedlers or anything.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A defense attorney said Stolbun is a Russian native who speaks little English. He also said Elizabeth didn't want the care and wanted to die in her home.
The defendant's son, Peter, is also accused of neglect and abuse. Authorities are trying to locate him.
It took Martinsville-Henry County Social Services 20 days to remove Elizabeth Stolbun.
A full report on that is due in a couple of weeks.
(------------)



[2-11Water-Main]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-26 TC1:31:47]
[GRAPHIC=Water Main Break]


About 20 homes in Roanoke that were affected by a water main break have water again this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The break happened just before five yesterday afternoon on Cove Road near Guildhall Avenue. Officials say they aren't sure what caused the twelve-inch line to burst. Traffic was rerouted around the area all evening as crews worked to repair the main. Houses along three blocks in the area were affected.
(------------)



[11Snow-Removal]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-30 TC1:21:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[**NOTE ANCHOR TAG**] The temperatures have cooled off and it's feeling a little like fall. But some people are already looking ahead to winter. Thousands are drifting into Roanoke this week for an international conference on SNOW. The Virginia Department of Transportation is taking part and learning a few things about removing the white stuff. Meredyth Censullo has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT; :13]
[SUPER=01-Chip Nottingham/Commissioner of Transportation; 1:08]
[SUPER=@Meredyth2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=News 7, Roanoke]

(([pan of penguin @ 12:10:47] This little guy is the only one up to his ankles in snow around here ..
[NATS - CHAINS@12:12:22]
But that doesn't mean folks aren't already preparing for old man winter to drop in.

[SOT@12:07:37 - 12:07:49]
[IN Q=In the summer...]

((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT: IN THE SUMMER WE ORDER OUR CHEMICALS AND MAKE SURE OUR SHEDS ARE FULL OF SALT AND FULL OF ABRASIVE MATERIALS, AND WE LET OUR DRIVERS DO SOME DRY RUNS ON THE ROUTES THEY'LL BE RUNNING THIS WINTER.))
[OUT Q= this winter]

[RUNS12]
V-Dot is getting other ideas on how to be more efficient with falling flakes from 13 other countries. They're hosting this year's International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice control technology. A long term - for a bunch of snowplows. Not just any plows, though.
[NATS@12:19:36 - 12:19:38] ((IT'S ALL TOUCH CONTROL...)) [RUNS02]

This prototype developed in Minnesota lets it's driver function in white out conditions - thanks to a series of global

positioning systems that map out the road in front, beside, and behind the truck down to a centimeter. That technology won't be on OUR roads this winter - but Virginia already has high-tech equipment on standby ..

[SOT@12:24:53 - 12:24:04]
[IN Q=We're already]

((CHIP NOTTINGHAM/COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION: WE'RE ALREADY USING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE WHICH ALLOW US TO KEEP TRACK OF SNOWPLOWS AND TRUCKS SO WHEN CITIZENS CALL AND SAY, "HEY, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA GET TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?" WE CAN TELL THEM THAT.))
[OUT Q=tell them that.]

[RUNS10]
So, months before Mother Nature unleashes her fury, the trucks are poised to hit the roads - and VDOT continues to research ways they can make your commute easier. Even if THIS is the only snow around here. Meredyth Censullo, News7, Roanoke.))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=KMC]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The conference is also giving VDOT the chance to show off Virginia's "Smart Road."

[Millennium-Summit]


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


It's day two of the Millennium Summit in New York.
But President Clinton failed in yesterday's bid to resurrect the Middle East peace talks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]


Meanwhile, President Clinton says the clock is ticking for both sides to reach an agreement.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:16:24 ]
[IN Q=What is the real calendar]

((WHAT IS THE REAL CALENDAR, WHICH IS THE CALENDAR TICKING IN THE MIDDLE EAST AGAINST THE POLITICAL REALITY IN ISRAEL, AS WELL AS FOR THE PALESTINIANS. SO, THERE'S A LIMIT ON HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE AND IT'S NOT VERY MUCH LONGER.))
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=very much longer]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Clinton also met with Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday.
He says he hopes the NEXT American President will work with Putin to resolve disagreements over a missile defense system.
Among the leaders who took center stage yesterday, Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Castro criticized wealthy nations for monopolizing the world's resources.
(------------)



[11Cuomo]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-25 TC1:27:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A top Clinton cabinet member got a first hand look at Blacksburg's Internet connection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


During a visit yesterday, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo said Blacksburg is at the forefront of Internet technology.
He came to learn how the town of 36-thousand became the most wired community in the nation.
Cuomo says he wants to use Blacksburg as a national model for getting other communities, including poor and rural areas, online.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:10:50 - 16:11:00]
[IN Q=We know we're]

((ANDREW CUOMO/HUD SECRETARY: WE KNOW WE'RE NOW MOVING TO THIS HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ECONOMY. GOOD. NOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, HOW DO WE DO IT, HOW DO WE DO IT WELL? AND BLACKSBURG IS A GREAT MODEL OF THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Andrew Cuomo/Sec. of Housing and Urban Devel.;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=great model of that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Blacksburg Electronic Village started in 1991 as a joint effort between Virginia Tech and the town government.
It made the Internet available to all citizens.
The town estimates that last year, 87-percent of them used the Internet regularly.
(------------)



[6-M'ville-Murder]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]


Martinsville Police have made an arrest in a two year old murder case.
Authorities charged 56 year old (RAM-sey SHARE-eef) Ramzee Shareef for fatally shooting Richard Lee Ross in 1998.
Shareef's charged with capital murder.
Officers are still trying to figure out a motive.

[11Motel-Robberies]


[ANCHOR=shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-28 TC1:26:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke police are investigating a rash of robberies at local motels. Yesterday, they released a surveillance video they hope will lead to a suspect in the latest case.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Police say the man walked into the Extended Stay America on Ferndale Drive around 10 Saturday night. The clerk had left the front desk to use the restroom. The gunman bound the woman with duct tape, before stealing the cash drawer and a safe deposit box.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Investigators do not believe the same person is responsible for all of the incidents. Police say if you have information on the latest robbery call the Crimeline.
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Kmc/Syo]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


State Police will begin investigating a fatal fire in Martinsville today. Authorities say a home on Banner Street was fully involved when they arrived last night.
The blaze was quickly brought under control. That's when authorities found a body inside the building.
Officials haven't identified the victim yet.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]

About 20 homes on Cove Road near Guildhall Avenue in Roanoke have water once again this morning following yesterday's water main break. Officials say they aren't sure what caused the twelve-inch line to burst.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


We may never know if the plane that crashed in Lexington last week was carrying drugs. State Police say the substance found in the wreckage was so badly contaminated with dirt and oil, that a drug test could not identify it.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(Shannon mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Shannon ad lib weather)
(-------------)

[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


Now here's Jean Jadhon with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Not even two]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=on News 7 at 6.]
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Kimberly/Shannon and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)

(ad lib bye) [Double Boxes=Kimberly/Shannon and Steve]
by SS