[cutopen]

[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[7-Intermet]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC27:58]
[GRAPHIC=New River Castings]

Intermet Corporation and the labor department have reached an agreement calling for the auto parts company to pay nearly three-quarters of a million dollars
As Marya Jones reports, it's a settlement that spares the company from criminal prosecution, but opens the door to lawsuits from victim's families.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=10 months]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Edward Anderson/Victim's Father; :12]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Last March; :20]
[SUPER=01-Robbie Jenkins/Attorney for Victim's Family; 1:00 ]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Radford.]
(( 10 months after the explosion that killed their daughter, Edward and Glenna Anderson are glad to have one battle settled.
But they're looking to start another.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:49:21 - :32]
((EDWARD ANDERSON: I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT KILLED MY DAUGHTER. AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE HAD A CLOSURE TO THIS AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.)) [RUNS:10]
Intermet Corporation agreed to pay the largest fine in state labor history.
It stems from the March 5th explosion at New River Castings that killed three workers.
The labor department reduced the fine five percent, saying the company worked to fix problems at the plant.
And, as part of the agreement, the City of Radford will NOT pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against the company or its workers. [****INSERT PRE-PRO****]
Intermet released this statement: "Although we are not in agreement with all of the findings contained in the citations, we feel it is in the best interest of the company and the community to settle the matter in order to close out this chapter of the tragedy." [****SHOT OF THE ANDERSONS***]
Victim's families like the Andersons are looking to open a new chapter of civil suits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:02:36 - :43]
((ROBBIE JENKINS/ATTORNEY FOR VICTIM'S FAMILY: THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PURSUING, CIVILLY, ALL CLAIMS AGAINST ANY PARTIES RESPONSIBLE.)) [RUNS:07]
A dispute over what caused the explosion may help them.
State and local investigators say it was caused by DMEA -- a liquid gas used to make auto parts.
Intermet says it was probably natural gas.
That has attorneys looking beyond Intermet to place the blame.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:04:32 - :38]
((ROBBIE JENKINS/ATTORNEY FOR VICTIM'S FAMILY: COULD BE GAS COMPANIES IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE EXPLOSION, YES.)) [RUNS:06]
(///// SOT /////)
[SU 7:26:38 - :50] ((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: INTERMET HAS 15 DAYS TO PAY THE FINES, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE END OF THEIR PROBLEMS. ATTORNEYS FOR THE VICTIM'S FAMILIES SAY THAT THEY MAY BE FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE COMPANY AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE COMING MONTHS. MJN7, RADFORD. )) [RUNS:12]))

[7-Gilmore]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC30:18]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]

Governor Jim Gilmore takes the helm of the Republican National Committee tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Last Week]

But now it turns out that Gilmore won't be alone in the top spot.
He'll have a co-chair.
Gilmore picked Ann Wagner, who is the chairwoman of Missouri's Republican Party.
(------------)
[TALENT=]
[SS=none]

Wagner worked for Senator John Ashcroft's last successful campaign and will handle grassroots party relations... Gilmore will be the party's top spokesman and will keep his day job in Virginia.

[45-Water-Break]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cut ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Water Main Break]

Crews are working on a water main break on Persinger Road in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
There's no word on how many homes are affected. Officials say the water should be back on in about four hours.
Meantime, Persinger Road is closed to thru traffic.
(------------)

[45-Virginia-Gas]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke County residents sounded off on a New Jersey company's plan to buy Virginia Gas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

The State Corporation Commission was supposed to hear arguments for and against a merger between Virginia Gas and a New Jersey-based gas distributor yesterday.
Instead, they heard arguments about a proposed pipeline that will most likely be built if the merger goes through.
Residents want the new company to build the pipeline along side an existing one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What we would like]
((BRENT RILEY/PIPELINE OPPONENT: WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS THE S-C-C TO CONDITION THIS MERGER THESE COMPANIES, NUI, TO BE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, BE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, BE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD ONE PIPELINE AND BOTH OWN IT.))
[SUPER=01-Brent Riley/Pipeline Opponent]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=and both own it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

N-U-I says building on a new site will cost much less than co-locating the two pipelines.
(//////SOT////////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We believe at NUI]
((A. MARK ABRAMOVIC/NUI CORP.: WE BELIEVE AT NUI THAT THE ROUTE VIRGINIA GAS HAS ELECTED OR IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON IS THE APPROPRIATE ROUTE.))
[SUPER=01-A. Mark Abramovic/NUI Corp.]
[OUT Q=appropriate route.]
[RUNS=07]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The S-C-C will decide whether to approve the merger some time next month.
(------------)

[45-State-Revenues]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC51:38]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

Virginia's House appropriations committee says the state isn't finding any additional money to fund the budget.


(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Usually, lawmakers find another 100 or 200 million dollars in unexpected revenues by the end of their session, which is February 24th this year.
But for the first time in memory, NO new money is expected over what the Governor had budgeted.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:32:22 ]
[IN Q=What you're]
((MARIAN VAN LANDINGHAM/D-ALEXANDRIA: WHAT YOU'RE NOW TELLING US BASICALLY IS THAT WE CAN TELL ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT THERE IS NO HOPE. THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS... FOR US TO TRY TO FILL THOSE HOLES.))
[SOT 16:16:00]
((DEL. VINCE CALLAHAN/R-FAIRFAX: AND I GUESS WE SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL... IT'S SLID, AND SLID, AND SLID, AND SLID TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.))
[sot 16:16:32 ]
((RON TILLETT/FINANCE SECRETARY: WE ARE AT POINT-TWO PERCENT FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.))


[SUPER=01-Del. Marian Van Landingham/(D) Alexandria; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Vince Callahan/(R) Fairfax; :24]
[SUPER=01-Ron Tillett/Finance Secretary; :31]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=absolutely correct.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Governor Jim Gilmore says the flat revenue picture will NOT stop the car tax phase-out.
It has meant cuts to state agencies and a plan to borrow money for colleges-- which is now in political jeopardy.


(------------)

[8-Water-Break]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cut ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Water Main Break]

Crews are working on a water main break on Persinger Road in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
There's no word on how many homes are affected. Officials say the water should be back on by around noon today.
Meantime, Persinger Road is closed to thru traffic.
(------------)

[8-L'Burg-fatal]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


A Lynchburg woman was killed in a single vehicle accident this morning.
It happened around 2:30 at the Taco Bell on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg. Authorities say the driver, 20 year old Amy Caroline Parker was killed after her vehicle left the road and struck a lightpole. The car then turned over on its top. Authorities are still investigating.

[8-City-Council]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC1:46:47]
[GRAPHIC=Rail Service]

If Roanoke city council wants passenger rail service returned to the Star city, it'll have to put its money where its mouth is...
A committee is asking council for one-and-a-half- million dollars for the project.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The renovated N and W station would include a visitors center and the convention and visitors bureau. A museum devoted to photographer O. Winston Link is also a possibility.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

And yesterday, members of the passenger rail service committee encouraged council to designate the former station as the future passenger depot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:15:15]
[IN Q=It's important for this council]
((DAVID BOWERS: IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE THE LEAD IN SAYING WE BELIEVE OPTIMISTICALLY THAT PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE IS COMING BACK TO WESTERN VIRGINIA AND WE'RE GOING TO BE READY FOR IT.))
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/Passenger Rail Committee;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=going to be ready for it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

City council members said they support the effort to restore passenger rail service, and they indicated they will consider the request when they begin working on next year's budget.
(------------)

[8-Heritage-Stabbing]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-52 TC1:12:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Just hours after a stabbing at a Lynchburg high school, a 16- year- old suspect turned himself in to police.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

It happened in the parking lot at Heritage High around 2:30 yesterday afternoon.
Police say 19-year old Eric Beard was stabbed in the stomach and shoulder after an altercation with another group of teens at the school.
Beard is listed in good condition at Lynchburg General Hospital.
The juvenile suspect turned himself in for questioning about two hours later.
Police are still investigating.'
(------------)

[8-Gilmore]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC30:18]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]

Governor Jim Gilmore begins a new job tomorrow, as head of the Republican National Committee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Last Week]

But now it turns out that Gilmore won't be alone in the top spot.
He'll have a co-chair.
Gilmore picked Ann Wagner, who is the chairwoman of Missouri's Republican Party.
(------------)
[TALENT=]
[SS=none]

Wagner -- who worked for Senator John Ashcroft's last successful campaign -- will handle grassroots party relations... Gilmore will be the party's top spokesman... and keep his day job in Virginia.
by SS