WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/19/01

[7-81-Speed]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC31:48]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Safety]
Travel on interstate 81 will slow down today. Beginning today, the speed limit on I-81 between Salem and Botetourt County will be lowered from 65 to 60 miles an hour. Kate Weidaw explains why VDOT is making the change.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokesperson; :28]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Richard Denney/State Police; :48QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=@Kate1;:51]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=kw news7 roanoke co.]
((Bumper to bumper traffic is a problem on interstate 81.
[NAT BREAK CARS DRIVING BY]
[RUNS= 3]

That's why the speed limit is dropping from 65 to 60 miles per hour between Salem and Daleville in Botetourt County.

[SOT 13:14]
[INQ=]
((LAURA BULLOCK: NOW IT SEEMS WITH THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THIS EXTRA MEASURE TO HELP PEOPLE GET SAFELY THROUGH THE VALLEY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

VDOT has already installed new and improved rumble strips and guard rails to try and prevent accidents like this from happening. And in case you forget about the speed reduction, new signs will be unveiled Friday morning to remind drivers to slow down.

[SOT 11:48]
[INQ=]
((LAURA BULLOCK: THOSE SIGNS ARE GOING TO HAVE ADVANCE WARNING SIGNS LEADING TO THEM THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY SURPRISES, PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THEY ARE ENTERING A PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE TO SLOW DOWN.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 9]
And of course the authorities will be watching.

[SOT 17:22]
[INQ=]
((LT. RICHARD DENNEY/VA STATE POLICE: WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT STRICTLY ENFORCING THE SPEED LIMIT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 3]

[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: INSTEAD OF MAKING NEW SPEED LIMIT SIGNS VDOT DECIDED TO PLACE A ZERO STICKER OVER THE FIVE.
CREW WILL BEGIN DOING THAT AROUND 8 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING AND HOPE TO HAVE ALL THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS LABELED BY 10 OR 11 O'CLOCK.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]))

[7-NS-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NS Layoffs]

Some Norfolk Southern workers are receiving pink slips.
The railroad confirmed late yesterday afternoon it's furloughed 34 conductors in Roanoke.
The furloughs took effect yesterday.
Norfolk Southern blames the layoffs on a slowing economy.

[7-First-Union]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC1:00:16]
[GRAPHIC=First Union]

Meanwhile, the news is no better for local First Union employees...
Layoffs at the Roanoke office may be due, in part, to a 29 percent drop in bank profits.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

One First Union employee says about 20 people were let go in Roanoke yesterday.
Pressures to expand and acquire assets like The Money Store and Core States may be one reason for the bank's losses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There's no question]
((GEORGE BRAMMER/A.G. EDWARDS: THERE' NO QUESTION FIRST UNION WAS IN A RACE TO GROW, RACING WITH OTHER LARGE BANKS TO GROW AND SOMETIMES HASTE MAKES WASTE.))
[SUPER=01-George Brammer/A. G. Edwards]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=haste makes waste.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

First Union management is banking on growth in 2001.
A strong economy ensures the bank will get money back it loaned to other businesses.
No word yet on how many more people will be laid off.
(------------)

[45-Amherst-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC1:01:40]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A 16 year old will spend years behing bars for murdering his mother and wounding his father.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst]

Daniel Maddox was sentenced yesterday in Amherst County Circuit Court.
He'd already pleaded guilty to shooting his mother to death then turning the gun on his father June 28th.
Maddox gave police different motives for his crime, but authorities say they may never know the true reason.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:40:35]
[IN Q=This was a]
((SCOTT DEBRUIN/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: THIS WAS A TERRIBLE, SENSELESS ACT. THE MAYS FAMILY HAS BEEN DEEPLY AFFECTED, THE MADDOX FAMILY HAS BEEN DEEPLY AFFECTED.. NO MATTER WHAT SENTENCE THE JUDGE CRAFTED, NOBODY WAS GOING TO BE SATISFIED WITH THIS.))
[SUPER=01-Scott DeBruin/Defense Attorney]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=satisfied with this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Maddox was given a total of 68 years in prison, with 25 years suspended.
(------------)

[45-SCV-Plates]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC1:51:14]
[GRAPHIC=SCV Plate Lawsuit]
A federal judge has ruled that the specialized licence plate for the Sons of Confederate Veterans CAN have an image of the confederate battle flag. That decision is drawing fire from some minority leaders in the state.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

In his 17-page opinion Judge Jackson Kiser wrote: "The Commonwealth seeks to bar the Sons from making their political statement while allowing various other groups to make their political statements."
The judge ordered the state to issue specialty plates for the Sons WITH the group's battle flag logo.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:40]
[IN Q=I think we need]
((DEL. VIOLA BASKERVILLE/(D) RICHMOND; I THINK WE NEED TO RE-EXAMINE WHERE WE SHOULD BE IN AMERICA WITH RESPECT TO DIVISIVE SYMBOLS OF ALL SORTS.)) ((BRAG BOWLING/SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS; WE'VE WAITED TWO YEARS FOR THESE TAGS. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANY MORE. I DON'T WANT THIS DISCRIMINATION TO CONTINUE.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Viola Baskerville/(D) Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brag Bowling/Sons of Confederate Veterans; :09]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=to continue.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

But the wait may not be over. The State Attorney General's office said last night yesterday's ruling "may affect the future of the specialty license program."

[45-Talent-Show]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-01 TC13:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Downtown Roanoke was hopping with some fresh sounds last night...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat rapping]
((NAT RAPPING))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=NAT RAPPING]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

It was all part of the Downtown Music Lab's talent show.
The lab gives young people in grades 8 through 12 an opportunity to write and record their own music.
Last night it was a chance for their parents and the community to hear their original work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:32]
[IN Q=it gives]
((CHARLIE HAMILL/DOWNTOWN MUSIC LAB: IT GIVES AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A CHANCE TO COME OUT AND PERFORM THEIR ORIGINAL MUSIC IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE.))
[SUPER=01-Charlie Hamill/Downtown Music Lab]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=good experience.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

This is the third year the music lab has held a talent show.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]

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

Turning to weather -- Friday's getting off to a wet and foggy start.
The rain will continue all day and into tonight. Highs near 45.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Rain/Morning Fog/40-45/Rain/Breezy/35-40;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-81-Speed]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC31:48]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Safety]

Take it easy on the gas pedal, if you're traveling on Interstate 81 between Salem and Botetourt County.
Beginning at 10 this morning, the speed limit will drop from 65 to 60 miles per hour. Kate Weidaw has more on the speed limit change.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokesperson; :28]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Richard Denney/State Police; :48QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=@Kate1;:51]
[RUNS=1:01]
[OUT Q=kw news7 roanoke co.]
((Bumper to bumper traffic is a problem on interstate 81.
[NAT BREAK CARS DRIVING BY]
[RUNS= 3]

That's why the speed limit is dropping from 65 to 60 miles per hour between Salem and Daleville in Botetourt County.

[8-NS-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NS Layoffs]

More local Norfolk Southern have received pink slips.
The railroad confirmed late yesterday afternoon it's furloughed 34 conductors in Roanoke.
The furloughs took effect yesterday.
Norfolk Southern blames the layoffs on a slowing economy.

[8-First-Union]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC1:00:16]
[GRAPHIC=First Union]

A 29 percent profit drop for First Union may be behind a round of local layoffs in its Roanoke office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

One First Union employee says about 20 people were let go in Roanoke yesterday.
Pressures to expand and acquire assets like The Money Store and Core States may be one reason for the bank's losses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There's no question]
((GEORGE BRAMMER/A.G. EDWARDS: THERE' NO QUESTION FIRST UNION WAS IN A RACE TO GROW, RACING WITH OTHER LARGE BANKS TO GROW AND SOMETIMES HASTE MAKES WASTE.))
[SUPER=01-George Brammer/A. G. Edwards]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=haste makes waste.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

First Union management is banking on growth in 2001.
A strong economy ensures the bank will get money back it loaned to other businesses.
No word yet on how many more people will be laid off.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]

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

Before we wrap up this morning, here's another look at the forecast..
Grab the umbrella before you leave-- Rain will last all day long...look for highs of 40 to 45.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Rain/Morning Fog/40-45/Rain/Breezy/35-40;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)