[Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
A fiery crash at California's state capitol claims the life of a truck driver.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And nearly a year after the fatal explosion, Intermet Corporation agrees to pay the largest fine in state labor history.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Wake up with us-- News 7 Mornin is next.
[11Intermet]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[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 a 761-thousand dollar fine.
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]))
[Truck-Explosion]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
In California, investigators are trying to determine why a truck driver crashed his 18- wheeler into the state capitol building.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Sacramento, CA;]
The tractor trailer -- loaded with milk -- crashed into the north portico of the capitol building last night and burst into flames.
The truck driver was killed.
No one else was hurt.
The incident happened just as the assembly was clearing out after considering legislation on the state's power crisis.
Stunned lawmakers rushed outside and watched as firefighters fought the blaze.
(------------)
[Ashcroft]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Ashcroft]
The Senate Judiciary Committee gets another crack at Attorney General nominee John Ashcroft today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
So far, confirmation hearings have been tough for Ashcroft, who Senate Democrats say is too conservative to serve mainstream America.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:04:19 ]
[IN Q=When you have]
((SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER/D- NEW YORK:WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A ZEALOUS AND PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR SO LONG, HOW DO YOU JUST TURN IT OFF?))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Chuck Schumer/(D) New York;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=turn it off?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Republicans on the committee, meanwhile, counter that argument.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:04:37]
[IN Q=Senator Ashcroft]
((SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY/R- IOWA: SENATOR ASHCROFT WILL UPHOLD THE LAW FOR ALL AMERICANS, WHICH WILL BE A REFRESHING CHANGE FROM HOW THINGS WERE DONE IN THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Charles Grassley/(R) Iowa;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=present administration.]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
It was an emotional day all around--
A man screaming Ashcroft's name interrupted the hearings and had to be removed.
And before the hearings, there were dueling rallies on Capitol Hill.
(------------)
[11NAACP-Ashcroft]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC1:15:06]
[GRAPHIC=Ashcroft]
Virginia's largest civil rights group has spoken out against Ashcroft's nomination.
It says the nomination flies in the face of Bush's campaign promise to be a "uniter, not a divider."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
The state N-double-A-C-P chapter condemned the nominations of Ashcroft and Gale Norton for Interior Secretary yesterday.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01;24:42]
[IN Q=If you look]
((SALIM KHALFANI/VIRGINIA NAACP: IF YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD, HE HAS BEEN OPPOSED TO EVERYTHING WE ARE FOR BASICALLY. AND HIS TREATMENT OF MISSOURI SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RONNIE WHITE, IN WHICH HE BASICALLY RACE-BAITED HIM AND CALLED HIM PRO-CRIMINAL WE THOUGHT WAS VERY OUTRAGEOUS.))
[SUPER=01-Salim Khalfani/Virginia NAACP;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=very outrageous.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Shannon]
[SS=none]
The N-double-A-C-P says Senator Ashcroft supported three of its 15 legislative goals in the last congress.
[McVeigh]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=McVeigh]
Convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh now has an official date with death.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Federal officials have scheduled McVeigh's execution for May 16th.
A prison warden delivered the news in writing to McVeigh on the federal death row in Indiana.
The convicted bomber gave up his last round of appeals against the advice of his attorneys.
With an execution date set, McVeigh becomes eligible to apply for clemency from the President.
168 people were killed in the blast at the Murrah Federal Building in 19-95.
(------------)
[11Carvins-Cove]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-02 TC02:08]
[GRAPHIC=Carvins Cove]
The water level at Carvins Cove has dropped.
It's now fourteen feet below the spillway.
But city officials say they do NOT believe the conditions are a reason to worry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]
In April of 1999, the city called for voluntary conservation when the level dropped to 18 feet below full pond.
But normally, the reservoir recharges during the first three months of the year, and City Manager Darlene Burcham says officials are not sounding any alarms.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:19:35]
[IN Q=And I think you have to look at]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TIME OF THE YEAR AND WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS FOR PRECIPITATION. OBVIOUSLY WE'D LIKE TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE, BUT I DON'T SEE IT AS A MAJOR CONCERN AT THIS POINT AT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=at this point at all.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The level of Carvins Cove fell to almost 30 feet below the spillway in the summer of 1999, before rains began to replenish the reservoir.
Since then, the city has also signed a water-sharing agreement with Roanoke County.
[11Danville-Hospital]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=bre]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:33:02]
[GRAPHIC=Heart Surgery]
Heart patients in Southside will have access to treatment close to home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
After approval from the Virginia Department of Health, Danville Regional Medical Center announced plans to build a center for open heart surgery in its facility.
The project is affiliated with Duke University Health System.
Offering a heart surgery program in the Dan River Region should cut down on patients having to travel hospitals outside the area for treatment.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:01:14 ]
[IN Q=EVERY YEAR MORE]
((ALAN MILLIKAN/ DUKE UNIVERSITY; EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 250 PATIENTS TRAVEL FROM THE DANVILLE AREA TO DUKE FOR OPEN HEART SERVICES. THESE PATIENTS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THEIR CARE NEAR THEIR HOMES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THIS WILL BE LESS COSTLY, MORE EFFICIENT AND PROVIDE FOR A LESS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.))
[SUPER=01-Alan Millikan/Duke University]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=AND THEIR FAMILIES]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[Graphic=none]
Groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall and the center is expected to be up and running about a year later.
[Health-Check]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]
In medical news, eating fish could help reduce your risk for a stroke.
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=1:27]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((Information:
IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DONATE YOUR ORGANS AFTER YOU DIE- THERE'S NO
GUARANTEE IT WILL HAPPEN.
A NEW SURVEY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROCURE ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANT
SHOWS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW OR WHETHER THEY DECIDE TO REMOVE THOSE
ORGANS.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM- FAMILY MEMBERS WHO OFTEN ARE TOO TRAUMATIZED BY
THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE TO ALLOW ORGANS TO BE REMOVED. IT ALL MEANS
THAT -EVEN IF YOUVE SIGNED AN ORGAN DONATION CARD OR MARKED YOUR DRIVERS
LICENSE THAT YOU WANT TO DONATE- UNLESS YOUR FAMILY KNOWS YOUR WISHES-
DONATION PROBABLY ISNT GOING TO HAPPEN.//
YOU KNOW WE KEEP ON TELLING YOU TO EAT FISH- AND TODAY COMES ANOTHER
STUDY TO BACK UP THAT ADVICE.,
RESEARCHERS IN THE JAMA REPORT EATING FISH TWICE A WEEK CAN CUT YOUR
RISK OF STROKE IN HALF.EVEN FISH ONCE A WEEK HELPED- BUT NOT QUITE AS
MUCH,
ITS A BIG STUDY- MORE THAN 80 THOUSAND WOMEN FOLLOWED FOR ABOUT 14
YEARS- SO NOTHING FISHY ABOUT IT.//
AND FINALLY- ARE YOU OR YOUR KIDS SNOWBOARDERS? WELL I HOPE YOUVE GOT
STRONG --WRISTS
A STUDY OUT OF COLORADO SHOWS WHEN SNOWBOARDERS FALL DOWN- ITS THEIR
WRISTS THAT OFTEN GO BOOM- FRACTURES, DISLOCATIONS, AND LIGAMENT TEARS.
AND WRIST GUARDS WONT HELP ALL THAT MUCH- FAST SPEEDS AND
INEXPERIENCE ON THE SLOPES ARE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE WRIST PROTECTION
WORTHLESS.
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]
It's been a long and winding road for proponents of Interstate I- 73.
Roanoke City council is asking for more input on which route the proposed highway should take.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
A 16- year- old suspect has turned himself in to police after a stabbing at a Lynchburg high school.
It happened in the parking lot at Heritage High around 2:30 yesterday afternoon.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And a committee working to restore passenger rail service is asking Roanoke city council to contribute one and a half million dollars to the project.
The renovated N and W station would include a visitors center and the convention and visitors bureau.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And that's what's making news on this Wednesday, January 17th .
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[11I-73]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-46]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 73]
[**ANCHOR TAG**]
Concerned Roanoke residents continue to discuss the future of Interstate 73 .
While City Council says it'd like the Commonwealth Transportation Board to give the project the green light, it isn't sure which route the highway should take.
So, as Meredyth Censullo reports, council is asking residents for direction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=VDOT isn't taking..]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Matt Kennell/Downtown Roanoke Inc. Pres.; :24]
[SUPER=01-Kristin Peckman/Roanoke; :47]
[SUPER=01-Mike Urbanski/Lawyer; 1:04]
[SUPER=@Meredyth2; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=MC, News7, Roanoke]
((
VDOT isn't taking any more community comments on I-73.
But the talk continues.
Roanoke City Council supports the interstate - now they're getting down to the business of figuring out where it might go.
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated - which promotes businesses in the city market area wants to cash in on a central route.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:18:05 - 1:18:18]
[IN Q=DRI notified...]
((DRI NOTIFIED DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES ON OUR FAX LIST AND ASKED THAT THEY WRITE SUPPORT FOR OUR POSITION....WITH MORE THAN 10 TO 1 OF BUSINESSES THAT CHOSE TO RESPOND SUPPORTING OUR POSITION))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=supporting our position.]
But some say any option other than making lower cost, localized improvements to Route 220 and 581 would spoil downtown business.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The produce...]
((THE PRODUCE WE COME TO THE ROANOKE CITY MARKET TO BUY IS GROWN ON FARMS WHICH ARE ENDANGERED BY ALL ROUTES OF THE NEW I-73.))
[RUNS= :08]
[OUT Q=of the new I-73.]
Towers Mall wants the interstate - as long as it doesn't change the existing easy access to the shopping center.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT TAPE 1 1:05:59 - 1:06:10]
[IN Q=The elimination...]
((MIKE URBANSKI: THE ELIMINATION, POTENTIAL ELIMINATION OF SOUTHBOUND ACCESS TO COLONIAL AVENUE COULD BE DEVASTATING TO TOWERS SHOPPING CENTER AND COULD RESULT IN THE MATERIAL LOSS OF SALES FOR TENANTS, LOSS OF PROPERTY VALUES.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=property values.]
Citizens didn't make small change of Roanoke's view shed, the future of historic homes, the possible pollution...
But in the end, Council made it clear - they didn't start I-73, they can't stop it...and whatever their two cents worth is on the issue, it might not make any difference at all.
Meredyth Censullo, News7, Roanoke.))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]
V-DOT says it'll continue to accept comments from local governments.
City Council hopes to make a recommendation by the end of February.
[11Virginia-Gas]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A public HEARING at Roanoke County Courthouse turned into a public DEBATE of sorts.
(------------)
[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 Corporation]
[OUT Q=appropriate route.]
[RUNS=07]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The S-C-C will decide whether to approve the merger some time next month.
(------------)
[2-Ashcroft]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Ashcroft]
Attorney General-Designate John Ashcroft is seeking approval for President- Elect Bush's cabinet.
He begins his second day of confirmation hearings later today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
Senate Democrats wasted no time firing off tough questions to the conservative nominee.
They charged that Ashcroft would not be able to separate his personal beliefs from his official duties as Attorney General.
In the meantime, Repulicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee say the charges are unfair and that Ashcroft would uphold the law.
Emotions were running high OUTSIDE, as well with rallies for and against Ashcroft on Capitol Hill.
(------------)
[11Gilmore]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC30:18]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]
Governor Jim Gilmore takes the helm of the Republican National Committee in Washington 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=Shannon]
[SS=none]
Wagner -- who worked for Senator John Ashcroft's last successful campaign -- will handle grassroots party relations... while Gilmore will be the party's top spokesman... and keep his day job in Virginia.
[11City-Council]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC1:46:47]
[GRAPHIC=RAil Service]
Members of a committee working to restore passenger rail service have asked Roanoke city council to contribute one and a half million dollars to 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.
(------------)
[11Heritage-Stabbing]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-52 TC1:12:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A 16- year- old suspect has turned himself in to police after a stabbing at a Lynchburg high school.
(------------)
[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.
(------------)
[Carruth]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Jurors will resume deliberations later this morning in the murder trial of former Carolina Panther Rae Carruth.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC;]
Prosecutors say Carruth arranged the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams, because he didn't want to pay child support.
But the defense argues against the theory that Carruth arranged a contract hit on Adams.
They say police should have focused on self- incriminating statements from the admitted triggerman Van Brett Watkins.
While Adams died, her baby son survived and is living with her mother.
(------------)
[Express]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Express]
The Roanoke Express hockey team could be sold in the next two weeks.
Sources say the team is seeking a potential buyer and the Express could be sold within a month.
Sources say a local business group, whose identity is not known at this time, is interested in buying the team.
According to sources, former owner John Gagnon is also interested in partnering with this local business in buying the Express.
Gagnon owned the Express from 1993 through mid 1997.
Sources say Gagnon could be in Roanoke as early as this Saturday to talk with the other potential buyers.
The Express ownership feels that at this time, it is in the best interests of the ownership group, the team and the fans not to comment.
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Kmc/Syo]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Intermet Corporation and the labor department have reached an agreement calling for the auto parts company to pay a 761-thousand dollar fine.
It stems from the March 5th explosion at New River Castings that killed three workers.
As part of the agreement, the City of Radford will NOT pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against the company or its workers.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
Members of a committee working to restore passenger rail service have asked Roanoke city council to contribute one and a half million dollars to the project.
Yesterday, members of the passenger rail service committee encouraged council to designate the former N and W station as the future passenger depot.
City council members indicated they will consider the request when they begin working on next year's budget.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Heart patients in Southside will have access to treatment close to home.
After approval from the Virginia Department of Health, Danville Regional Medical Center announced plans to build a center for open heart surgery in its facility.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall and the center is expected to be up and running about a year later.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(Shannon mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Shannon ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Now here's Keith Humphry with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Carilion]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=News 7 at 6.]
(-------------)
[Desk=Kimberly/Shannon and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye)
[Desk=Kimberly/Shannon and Steve]
by SS