WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/18/01

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

It's a flood of MAIL, not bad weather that's really keeping the Virginia Department of Transportation office busy this winter.
The public puts its opinions in writing on the proposed I- 73.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And a Roanoke City Jail inmate dies behind bars overnight.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Start your morning with us-- News 7 Mornin is next.

[Inmate-Suicide]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Roanoke City deputies are investigating the overnight death of an inmate. The Sheriff's office says a 31-year-old inmate was found hanging from a bedsheet early this morning. Sheriff's officals say the man was awaiting trial for D-U-I, hit and run, and involuntary manslaughter, and was scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. The inmate was declared dead at Roanoke Memorial Hopsital. Officials are not releasing his name at this time. Sheriff's deputies are treating the death as a suicide.[11I-73-Com

ment]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-47]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 73]
When it rains, it pours. Or so it seems at VDOT's District Office in Salem, where citizen comments on the proposed Interstate 73 have been flowing in for months. But Meredyth Censullo reports, it could be some time before your thoughts make it upstream to members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The white...]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pam Kessler/VDOT Executive Secretary;:47]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :59]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokesperson; 1:14]
[SUPER=@Meredyth2;1:26]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=NEws 7, Salem...Pop!]
((The white stuff is really coming down in Salem..

[NAT SOT @ 8:51:32 - 8:51:35]
((OOPS!!)) [RUNS03]
Thousands of comments on I-73 have been pouring in to VDOT's district office - where they're stacked...
[NAT SOUND BREAK @ 8:51:56 TAPS PAPERS]
and stamped...
[SHOT CONTINUES...NAT SOUND BREAK OF STAMP]
Entered in to a database full of Reids and Richards and Roberts.. Then comes the copying...

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 8:59:11 - 8:59:22]
[IN Q=These are the...]
((THESE ARE THE COPIES OF THE ORIGINIALS GOING FROM A TO.....G!)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=to....G!]

[BUTT BUTT BUTT]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Reporter: So its...]
((REPORTER: SO ITS ALOTTA WORK? PAM: ALOTTA WORK! YES!)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=work! Yes!]

Every comment received by VDOT by their deadline WILL fall into the hands of the Commonwealth Transportation Board - no matter what it says, or looks like.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well we have some...]
((WELL WE HAVE SOME UNUSUAL THINGS - YOU KNOW WE'LL GET ODD SHAPED THINGS IN AND WE'LL GET THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN - THEY'LL WRITE ALL OVER THE COMMENT SHEET YOU KNOW THAT SORTA THING.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=that sorta thing.]

VDOT says this is the largest onslaught of public comments they've ever had to shovel through .. But it has also been the longest comment period on any one issue. So patience reins at the district office.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 9:17:45 - 9:17:59]
[IN Q=Its not a matter...]
((ITS NOT A MATTER OF STRESS ITS A MATTER OF IMPORTANCE...WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANT DECISION THE TRANSPORTATION BOARD IS GOING TO MAKE THIS YEAR, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE VERY BEST INFO - ALL THE INFO - ON WHICH TO BASE THEIR DECISION.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=base their decision.]

So though the flood of mail is subsiding, VDOT's working on cleaning up the aftermath...But it'll be months before everything is ready to be shipped off to the Board. Hey, at least these ladies are stayin high and dry.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'd just soon...]
((I'D JUST SOON DEAL WITH THIS! ITS ALRIGHT! ITS PART OF MY JOB!)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=my job!]

Meredyth Censullo, News7, Salem. ))

[11Gilmore-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-52 TC1:12:43]
[GRAPHIC=VA Capitol]

The public relations war over the car tax is in high gear.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Governor Jim Gilmore was so alarmed by media coverage of the state's flat revenue picture that he called reporters together yesterday morning.
Gilmore asked lawmakers to "calm down" and focus on the "people's priority" of phasing out the car tax.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:33:17]
[IN Q=There have]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WILD ASSERTIONS THAT WE'RE CUTTING EDUCATION. THE CONTRARY IS TRUE. WE'RE NOT ONLY FUNDING EDUCATION, WE'RE ENHANCING EDUCATION. WE'RE NOT CUTTING ACROSS THE BOARD IN DRAMATIC WAYS. THE AGENCIES WE'VE ASKED TO CONSERVE, WE'VE ASKED TO CONSERVE IN A MODEST WAY.))
[SOT 15:55:11 ]
((CRANWELL: WELL THEY'VE GONE BACK...THAT'S A CUT.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :00]
[SUPER=@Cranwell; :17]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=that's a cut.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Shannon]
[SS=none]

The ten Republicans and six Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee have all indicated they would vote to freeze the car tax repeal at its current half phase-out.
That may NOT matter, because Governor Gilmore can veto any budget he does NOT like and still have the car tax funding from last year's budget.

[11Advance-Exide]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC52:50]
[GRAPHIC=Advance Auto]

Despite a pending contract dispute between Advance Auto and Exide batteries,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
the national auto parts chain- -based here in Roanoke- -is still selling Exide.
The two firms had a 62-million dollar contract to provide batteries to Advance, but Exide says it agreed to "an artificially low price" only after Advance lied, claiming to have a better offer.
In court yesterday, Judge James Turk indicated he was not inclined to enforce the contract, because, he said, "all these other retailers will come in and sue" Exide and Advance.
The case is set for trial in March.
(------------)

[11ARCOVA]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-51 TC1:08:11]
[GRAPHIC=LEgal Scales]

A Radford research firm accused of defrauding the government gets a break as a federal judge decides not to issue a fine.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

ARCOVA President Russell Churchill agreed to pay 60-thousand dollars in restitution. 50-thousand goes to the U-S Navy. The other 10-thousand to NASA.
Though Churchill declined to discuss the case on camera, he indicated he hopes to make the payments quickly in order to get off probation and qualify for NEW government contracts.
[SUPER=03-Radford/September 1996]

Since the F-B-I began its investigation more than four years ago, ARCOVA has gone from 45 employees to 18 and hasn't won a new contract since July.
According to ARCOVA's lawyer, the case relied on the confessions of three disgruntled employees who wanted to get back at Churchill for not making them managers.
(------------)

[Confirmation-Hearings]

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

In Washington, confirmation hearings continue for three Cabinet nominees.
All three, including the controversial Attorney General nominee John Ashcroft are expected to win Cabinet posts.
Stephen Clark has more on yesterday's questioning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Diane Feinstein/(D) California; :04]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :13]
[SUPER=01-John Ashcroft/Attorney General Designate; :20]
[SUPER=01-Stephen Clark/Reporting; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=Stephen Clark, CBS News, Washington.]
(

TRACK:1 ANOTHER DAY OF TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR JOHN ASHCROFT.

(SOT: Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-California):
Senator Ashcroft, I must tell you I am deeply troubled by what I heard yesterday (05)
TRACK 2 Bush's nominee for Attorney General was grilled on everything from the Microsoft case to civil rights to abortion. Ashcroft sought to reassure Democrats that he won't challenge Roe vs. Wade.

(SOT: John Ashcroft/Attorney General Nominee:
"The Supreme Court has signaled very clearly it doesn't want to deal with that issue again.'' 07)
TRACK 3: And he's still on the defensive over his opposition to the appointment of a black judge to the Federal Court.

SOT: Ashcroft:

TRACK 4: The judge, Ronnie White, testifies Thursday.

(NAT POWELL: 12:09:20 they are all linked together now)

TRACK 5: If the Ashcroft hearing seemed like an Inquisition, Colin's Powell's hearing was more like a coronation. The Secretary of State-designate said the Bush administration will have an activist foreign policy:

(NAT WHITMAN)

TRACK 6: Christie Todd Whitman, the nominee for EPA Administrator, promised "a new era of cooperation" on the environment. Treasury Secretary-designate Paul O'Neill made the case for Bush's tax cut, and HUD nominee Mel Martinez promised to help more low-income Americans own homes.
======
STAND-UP: All of these nominees are expected to be confirmed. Including John Ashcroft, who despite tough questioning, is believed to have enough votes to be named the next Attorney General.
))

[Henry-Arrests]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Three North Carolina men were arrested in Henry County yesterday for allegedly breaking into a Bassett man's home.
The suspects are 20 year old Stephen Andrew Turner, 18 year old Aaron Darrell Edwards and 20 year old Harley Daniel Pendleton. North Carolina authorities say the suspects may have been recently involved with several large school break ins in North Carolina. They have been charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny, and fleeing justice. All three are being held in the Henry County Jail without bond.

[11Golden-Corral]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC1:48:40]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

An elderly Lynchburg man who crashed his car into a restaurant faces reckless driving charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

83-year old Clayton Beasley was parking at the Golden Corral on Wards Road when his foot slipped and hit the accelerator.
Beasley's Cadillac crashed through the wall and into the restaurant, injuring nine customers.
Mary Zimmerman was behind Beasley when he pulled into the handicapped parking spot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:22:42]
[IN Q=And he just]
((MARY ZIMMERMAN/EYEWITNESS: AND HE JUST TURNED LATE INTO THE SPOT AND I TOOK THE SPOT NEXT TO HIM AND I WAS JUST ABOUT TO STOP MY CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOOKED AND THERE HE WAS AND HE JUST WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE SIDE WALL AND THE GLASS STARTED FALLING AND THINGS JUST STARTED FALLING, AND HE JUST DIDN'T STOP UNTIL HE GOT IN THERE.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Zimmerman/Eyewitness]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=got in there.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

None of the injuries appeared life- threatening.
The restaurant will be closed for several days.
(------------)

[11Bedford-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Bedford teenager died following an accident on route 715.
Brian Adam Yates was driving a Jeep Wrangler yesterday afternoon when it ran off the right side of road-- he overcorrected, ran off the other side, went through a fence and flipped several times.
Yates was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from his vehicle.
State Police say excessive speed contributed to the accident.

[Health-Check]

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

In medical news, some potential blood donors face restrictions.

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 LIVED IN WESTERN EUROPE ANYTIME FROM 1980 TO THE PRESENT -- YOU MAY BE TURNED AWAY AS A BLOOD DONOR. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS PROPOSED BANNING DONATIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD BECAUSE OF FEARS OVER MAD COW DISEASE. NOW -- EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO EVIDENCE MAD COW CAN BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH BLOOD -- THE RED CROSS SAYS IT WANTS TO PLAY ITS SAFE... BUT THIS DECISION WILL MEAN THE LOSS OF MORE THAN 360 THOUSAND BLOOD DONORS NATIONWIDE.
DO YOU SMOKE LOW TAR - LOW NICOTINE CIGARETTES TO LESS YOUR RISK OF LUNG CANCER AND HEART DISEASE? WELL DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH -- ESPECIALLY SINCE IT APPEARS LOW TAR LOW NICOTINE SMOKES DO NOT MEAN YOU'LL GET LOW TAR-LOW NICOTINE. THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE REPORTS SMOKERS CAN GET UP TO 8 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF NICOTINE AND CHEMICALS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE LABEL... DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ.
AND FINALLY -- DOES IT SEEMS WHEN YOU GO IN FOR A DOCTOR'S VISIT -- YOUR DOCTOR FLIES IN AND OUT OF THE ROOM AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT? LOTS OF PEOPLE BELIEVE DOCTORS ARE MORE RUSHED THAN EVER BEFORE, AND THEREFORE SPENDING LESS TIME WITH YOU... BUT THAT MAY ALL BE A MYTH. A STUDY IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE FINDS THE AVERAGE OFFICE VISIT LASTS 18 MINUTES THESE DAYS -- COMPARED TO 16 MINUTES ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. YOU SEE WE DO LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH YOU.
THAT'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAY'S TOP HEALTH STORIES. I'M 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]

President Bush says goodbye to his Texas hometown and returns to Washington, where inaugural.
will get under way later today.
Meanwhile, President Clinton will deliver a televised farewell to the nation tonight.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital will have TWO owners and operators.
Carilion and Centra Health hope their partnership will use resources more efficiently and provide a wider range of services to patients.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs is singing the blues this week--
Jury selection has gotten under way for his gun possession trial stemming from a shooting at a New York night club a year ago.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Thursday, January 18th .
[ANCHOR=Shannon]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-Inmate-Suicide]

Officials are not releasing his name at this time. Sheriff's deputies are treating the death as a suicide.[Bush]

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

The Presidential inauguration is still two days away, but the festivities are already getting started.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Andrews AFB, MD;]

President-elect Bush arrived in Washington last night.
He'll be the guest of honor at an outdoor gala today on the mall near the Lincoln Memorial today.
[SUPER=03-Midland, TX;]

Yesterday, Bush say goodbye to Texas at a rainy rally in his hometown.
While he boasted about his record on reforming welfare and raising school standards in Texas, he focused mainly on his future in the White House.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:10:41 ]
[IN Q=I promise]
((I PROMISE MY ADMINISTRATION WILL NEVER FORGET THE DIGNITY AND DUTY OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=of Americans.]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bush says although he's leaving, his job in Washington is only temporary and Texas is his real home.
(------------)

[Clinton]

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

Meanwhile, outgoing President Clinton is planning his farewell speech tonight.
It'll air during prime time, at eight o'clock.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Clinton returned to the White House last night after making his last visit to Arkansas as President.
A visibly emotional Clinton told legislators he'll leave his job Saturday with a greater sense of idealism than when he was sworn into office.
Aides say the President will use tonight's address to express his gratitude to those who stuck with him through both good and bad times.
(------------)

[Gregory]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Roger Gregory will be sworn in today as the first black judge on the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
President Clinton gave Gregory a rare recess appointment to the court last month. However, Gregory must win Senate confirmation to keep the job permanently.
The new judge is expected to sit with the full court in Richmond to hear at least one case next week.

[11Carilion-Bedford]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:36:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Two health care systems will soon own and operate Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

Carilion and Centra Health plan to join forces in a 50-50 partnership.
The health care organizations hope by working together they'll be able to use their resources more efficiently and provide a wider range of services to patients.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:42]
[IN Q=for one thing it will make it easier]
((GEORGE DAWSON/CENTRA HEALTH CEO AND PRESIDENT: IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PATIENTS TO CHOOSE A PLAN THAT HAS A REFERRAL NETWORK THAT SUITES THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL PREFERENCES AND SECONDLY IT WILL ALLOW THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO BRING NEW SERVICES TO THE BEDFORD HOSPITAL))
[SUPER=01-George Dawson/Centra Health CEO & President]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=bedford hospital]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The hospital will be governed by a board of directors made up representatives from Carilion, Centra and the hospital.

One of its first duties will most likely be deciding on a new name.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT14:58]
[IN Q=The exciting thing is tha we have two health systems]
((HOWARD AINSLEY/HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR: THE EXCITING THING IS THAT WE HAVE TWO HEALTH SYSTEMS SUPPORTING OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES IN TRYING DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS AREA))
[SUPER=01-Howard Ainsley/Hospital Administrator;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=this area]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]

The deal will be finalized within the next 90 days.
(-----------)

[11Rail-Service]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC32:10]
[GRAPHIC=Rail Service]

Ralph Smith attended a summit on passenger rail service in Washington along with many of the nation's mayors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC]

Members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors rode Amtrak's Acela (uh-SELL-uh) to Baltimore and back.
And they heard from Amtrak officials and congressional leaders on the prospects for expanded passenger rail service.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:02]
[IN Q=The more you're connected]
((RALPH SMITH/ROANOKE MAYOR: THE MORE YOU'RE CONNECTED, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, IS BEING CONNECTED WITH THE OTHER CITIES. WE'RE A VERY MOBILE SOCIETY AND THE MORE PLACES YOU CAN BE WITH MORE CONVENIENCE, THEN THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE TO SUCCEED.))
[SUPER=01-Ralph Smith/Roanoke Mayor]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=we are to succeed.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Smith says he remains optimistic about Roanoke's effort to restore passenger rail service, though he predicts it may take a few more years.

[CA-Power]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Sacramento, CA;]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

In power- starved California, the Governor has signed an emergency order he hopes will keep the lights on.
The move comes after a day when rolling blackouts were ordered, as the state's electricity crisis worsened.
Manuel Gallegus reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Sacramento, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Terry Winter/Independent System Operator; :53]
[SUPER=01-Manuel Gallegus/Reporting; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=Gallegus, CBS News.]
((

(NATS)
With California's energy problems reaching a crisis level,
(Super: Sacramento)
Governor Gray Davis declared a state of emergency.
It happened just hours after the lights went out in part's of the nation's most-populated state.

(MOS SOT)
Everything went out! It s dark inside.
With its overtaxed power system pushed to the brink, California ordered utilities to cut the power to hundreds of thousands of people. It was the first in a series of rolling blackouts in the Golden State's continuing energy crisis.

(MOS SOT)
I was hoping, let s face it you lose sales when this happens, I was hoping that this wasn't going to happen.
From San Francisco to Silicon Valley, neighborhood by neighborhood at a time: traffic lights--computers, even restaurant video games went dark. Dining rooms remained empty because there was no power to cook meals.
Energy officials urged everyone to conserve electricity until the crisis passes.

(SOT: Terry Winter, President, California Independent System Operator)
We ask all people, between 4 and 8, to use as little energy as possible.

(STANDUP)

))[Puff-Daddy]

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

It's time for rap artist Puff Daddy to face the music--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Sean "Puffy" Combs slipped through an underground entrance to the courthouse yesterday, dodging reporters and fans.
Jury selection has begun in Combs' gun possession trial.
The judge had to dismiss about 100 jurors, mostly because they couldn't stay for the six weeks this trial could take.
Combs' protege Jamal Barrow, otherwise known as "Shyne", is accused of shooting three people in a New York nightclub in December, 1999.
Combs and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez fled the club after the incident.
Combs was armed at the time.
(------------)

[11Pyramid-Scheme]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC29:50]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

More people have been charged with taking part in a Southside pyramid scheme including the brother of Danville's police chief . Jeffrey Morris says he was served with a warrant last Wednesday.
Morris says he was never taken to jail, though.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape]

Its been rumored for months that family members close to Chief Neil Morris were under investigation.
Back in February, the chief told News 7 he would not comment on those reports.
But Chief Morris did deny rumors that he was involved.
At that time, Neil Morris asked the Virginia State Police to investigate complaints of anyone close to him including police officers and family members.
We called the Chief's office yesterday afternoon and we were told that he was out for the day.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

The Pittsylvania County Sherriff's Department confirmed the charges against Jeffrey Morris and seven other people-- and says more people could be charged in the future.

[11i-Friends]

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

The man responsible for an on-line pornographic chat room in Roanoke has pled guilty. Robert Troncoso faces a minimum mandatory TEN year sentence for making and transmitting child pornography.
He also had to sign of over to the government all the computer and camera equipment used in producing the live-sex chat room.
The on-camera host was a girl under 18.
[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]

We have several school announcements to pass along this morning. [TAKE FS SCHOOLWATCH]
(adlib)

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Roanoke City deputies are investigating the overnight death of an inmate. Sheriff's deputies are treating the death as a suicide. Sheriff's officials say the 31 year old man was awaiting trial for D-U-I, hit and run, and involuntary manslaughter, and was scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. Officials are not releasing his name at this time.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Carilion and Centra Health will soon own and operate Carilion Bedford Memorial Hospital .
Both plan to join forces in a 50-50 partnership.
The health care organizations hope by working together they'll be able to use their resources more efficiently and provide a wider range of services to patients.
The deal will be finalized within the next 90 days.

(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(Shannon mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Shannon ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Now here's Robin Reed with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=So here we]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=on 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]