WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/25/01

[7-NS-earnings]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-45 TC1:32:19]
[GRAPHIC=NS Earnings Up]
The earnings numbers for Norfolk Southern are out, and at first glance, everything seems to be looking up for the railroad.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[PRE PRO of #'s]

Norfolk Southern's net income was up from 31 million to 44 million dollars from the last quarter of 1999. [END PRE PRO]
But the company still plans to cut nearly six percent of its workforce and sell thousands of miles of track to cut costs over the next 12 months.
(///// SOT /////)
[tc:: 20:09:04]
[IN Q= We want to]
((DAVID GOODE: WE WANT TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO GIVE YOU SPECIFIC TARGETS, INSTEAD WE WILL TRY TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU THE SAVINGS THAT WE SEE THE SPECIFICS EARLY IN THE QUARTER.))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=in the quarter.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The company says a slowing economy and high fuel prices are to blame for the cutbacks.
Union leaders still blame the Conrail merger.
(------------)

[7-Vision-2001]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal]
Roanokers can get their first look at what some local committees' visions are for the city's future.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Vision 2001 is an effort to update Roanoke's comprehensive plan... and a half-dozen committees have been meeting to discuss issues such as education, economic development, and the environment.
Committee members and city leaders are hoping for a large turnout, and some constructive feedback at tonight's public meeting.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT FROM COLLEGE DAYS TAPE 19:03:20]
[IN Q=And I hope that people will begin]
((AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO THINK MORE STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THE CITY AND DO SOME MORE LONG RANGE PLANNING AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL COME OUT TO THAT AS WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=come out to that as well.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Vision -2001 meeting will be held tonight at Woodrow Wilson Middle School from Seven to Nine P-M.

[7-29-Hearing]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-52 TC1:25:34]
[GRAPHIC=Route 29 Improvements]
It won't happen anytime soon, but Lychburg could get the interstate highway it is lacking.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.]

V-DOT is wrapping up a three- year study that would make major improvements to Route 29 from the North Carolina border to Charlottesville.
That includes turning the four- lane road into a restricted access freeway.. meaning local residents and businesses would no longer have instant access to the roadway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:26:51]
[IN Q=The major impact]
((JOE SPRINGER/PARSONS TRANSPORTATION GROUP: THE MAJOR IMPACT IS NOT NECESSARILY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT MUCH LAND OR WIDEN THE HIGHWAY THAT MUCH, IT'S SIMPLY HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY. AND IN SOME CASES, FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DOUBLE BACK TO GET ONTO 29, THAT'S SORT OF AN INEVITABLE IMPACT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Springer/Parsons Transportation Group]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=we're talking about.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

V-DOT is holding a number of public meetings to get residents' opinions on the plan.
Officials stress the project is only in the planning stage and hasn't yet been funded.
(------------)

[45-Radford-Ford]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC1:23:53]
[GRAPHIC=FORD]

A Radford car dealership has closed its doors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]

The Ford Motor Company closed Radford Ford yesterday, telling employees to clean out their desks.
A company spokesman says it's because the dealership was failing financially.
The company says it has no plans to keep the dealership open.
It began removing cars off the lot yesterday afternoon.
(------------)

[45-PH-Smokers]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=01-02]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some Roanoke City School members are worried about the number of high school students loitering near school grounds smoking cigarettes. Now, they want to do something about just that. Meredyth Censullo went looking for answers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Brian Wishneff/Roanoke City School Board;:14]
[SUPER=01-Doris Ennis/Patrick Henry Principal;1:07]
[SUPER=@Meredyth2;1:25]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=news 7 Roanoke.]
((The library is a popular place for these Patrick Henry high school students, before and after school. The problem - some of the underage students are checking out Marlboros, not Moby Dick.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ HARRIS TAPE @ 46:28 - 46:38]
[IN Q=And so just...]
((AND SO JUST LIKE WE WOULD WANNA CRACK DOWN ON KIDS DRINKING IN PUBLIC, I WOULD HOPE WE'D WANNA CRACK DOWN ON KIDS SMOKING IN PUBLIC.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=smoking in public.]

The teens who hang out here - off school grounds - are coming under fire from some board members who say not only is underage smoking illegal, it presents a bad image of P-H. Students see it differently.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Alot of my...]
((@ 1:02:09 - 1:02:11 A LOT OF MY FRIENDS SMOKE AND I USED TO BUT...)) [BUTT BUTT BUTT] ((@1:02:39 - 1:02:46 WE JUST HANG OUT, HAVE FUN, WAIT FOR PEOPLE'S RIDES...SEE FRIENDS WE DON'T GET TO SEE DURING SCHOOL.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=during school.]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 52:06 - 52:10]
[IN Q=Its not...]
((ITS NOT SURPRISING...WE WANT THE PROBLEM STOPPED.))
[RUNS= :04]
[OUT Q=problem stopped.]

P-H Principal Doris Ennis agrees more needs to be done to get these kids to kick their habits. But she says school resource officers - who patrol the packs of students even off school property - are stretched thin.
Ennis wants more officers in the classroom.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Then the resource...]
((DORIS ENNIS/PHHS PRINCIPAL: THEN THE RESOURCE OFFICER WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ONE ON ONE CONTACT WITH STUDENTS OTHER THAN WHEN THE STUDENT IS ENGAGED IN THE ACTIVITY - ANOTHER SETTING.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=another setting.]

But police say though they've tried to control the problem, prevention lies in schools' hands, and they don't plan to supply more officers to P-H. So Ennis plans to stiffen the consequences for repeat offenders - even those seen smoking off school property .. and can only hope it helps put out the problem. Meredyth Censullo, News 7, Roanoke.))

[8-XGR]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:49:37]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Some Virginia legislators want to put the U-S Constitution to the test....they're asking for the phrase "In God We Trust" to be placed in every classroom.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's on the money]
[sot XGR 1 10:34:05 ]
((DEL. BOB MARSHALL/R-PRINCE WILLIAM CO.: IT'S ON THE MONEY...I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T POST IT IN OUR SCHOOLS.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob Marshall/(R) Prince William Co.; ]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=our schools.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The American Civil Liberties Union has already promised a court challenge.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Supreme]
[sot XGR 1 10:43:07 ]
((RICHARD FERRIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: THE SUPREME COURT HAS FREQUENTLY NOTED THAT CHILDREN ARE... EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO RELIGIOUS INDOCTRINATION.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Ferris/Virginia ACLU; ]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=religious indoctrination.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=]
[SS=none]

The "In God We Trust" bill now heads to the full House.
A bill mandating that children say the Pledge of Allegiance is headed to a Senate committee.

[8-Gilmore-Pulaski]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC1:05:56]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]

No apology for the Pulaski County supervisors--
Governor Jim Gilmore says he won't apologize for his belief that the four Democrats and one Republican should be voted out of office for raising the car tax.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I certainly]
[sot xgr 1 10:04:30]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR. WHEN THE QUESTION WAS PUT TO ME, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. SO IT'S CERTAINLY NO PERSONAL CRITICSIM IMPLIED HERE. IT WAS A PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT. WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE CAR TAX.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=the car tax.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=Gilmore]

The Board voted Monday to demand an apology from Gilmore.

[8-Willett]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC39:24]
[GRAPHIC=Roy Willett]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
After spending more than 20 years on the bench, Roanoke county judge Roy Willett has not been re- appointed.
Keith Humphry explains why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Other judges and]
(( Other judges and lawyers in the area say this did not come without warning.
One attorney sums up the problem, by saying of Willett: "He never works, and he's abusive to lawyers."
In addition to a short temper, cited by lawyers who practice before him, Willett's fellow judges feel he spends too much time away from the courthouse, leaving them to balance the case load.
State Delegate Morgan Griffith sent out a letter to members of the Salem-Roanoke County bar last year, soliciting opinions about the two judge's coming up for re-appointment: Willet and J-and-D Judge Joe Clarke. Clarke's re-appointment is NOT in trouble.
Sources indicate Griffith heard from more than 50 lawyers who said Willet should NOT be re-appointed.
Some UN-solicited letters came from ROANOKE lawyers who wanted Willett replaced.))
[SUPER=03-Salem/1997; :00]
[RUNS=46]
[OUT Q=KH, News 7.]
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A legislative source says Morgan Griffith just wanted to get Willett's attention, and that they may still work out some arrangement for his re-appointment when they meet with the judge Friday. Judge Willett declined to discuss any of this yesterday.