WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/12/01

[7-Investigation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The state medical examiner has authorized an investigation into the death of a resident at the Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg. Doug Jones died in September 1999 after being hospitalized with a ruptured spleen. Family members claim E-R doctors told them Jones' injury may have been caused either by a fall or a blunt instrument.

[7-Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Police are investigating after finding a man dead on a Franklin County Road. State Police say it appears 50-year-old Reggie James Hodges was hit by a vehicle. Some people discovered Hodges lying in the middle of Route 40 in Franklin County Saturday night. Police want to hear from anyone who may know something about a truck seen to the side of the road near where Hodges was found.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE TRUCK DESCRIP FS] It's described as a dark-colored pickup with a passenger side headlight out.
A man was driving the vehicle.
(++++++++)
[STATE POLICE PHONE #]
If you have any information you can call State Police at 1-800- 542 - 5959...
(++++++++)
[FRANKLIN CO. PHONE #]
or call the Franklin County Sheriff's Department at 540- 483 - 3000.
(++++++++)

[wipe wipe wipe]

[7-Peters-Creek]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-02 33:00]
[GRAPHIC=TAKE TAKE TAKE]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Saturday Night;]
Charges are pending against one of the drivers involved in a traffic accident Saturday night in Roanoke County. Investigators say they plan to charge 22- year old Matthew Wills with failure to maintain control of his Corvette. They say Wills tried to pass another car on the shoulder, lost control and crossed the median on Peter's Creek Road. His Corvette was hit broadside by a van near Burlington Elementary. The driver of the van was not hurt.
(------------)

[7-Washington]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A man who was on death row will be released from prison today.
(--------)
[VO-NAT]
Earl Washington, Junior is scheduled to be released from Greensville Correctional Center this morning after serving 18 years in prison ... including nine-and-a-half years on death row for a murder he did not commit.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIM]
[SS=none]
Washington confessed to the 1982 rape and murder of a Culpeper woman even though no fingerprints or biological evidence tied him to the crime. D-N-A tests cleared him of the crimes. Washington will be taken to a group home in Virginia Beach today because he still has six months of parole to serve on an unrelated assault conviction.

[7-Supermax-Inmates]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The maximum security facility near Big Stone Gap could be getting more prisoners from Connecticut.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 00-50 1:10:19]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
Connecticut's prison chief says his state is out of room to keep its prisoners... so Connecticut will probably keep sending inmates to Wallens Ridge State Prison.
Connecticut's Commission on Human Rights criticized the prison in a report released last week. Two of that state's inmates have died at Wallens Ridge under questionable circumstances. 150 Connecticut inmates are currently being held at Wallens Ridge.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

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

Taking a break from the news to check your back-to-work forecast...
Light snow is falling around the region...some could be mixed with sleet.
Highs only climbing in the mid and upper 30s..

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Light Snow &/Sleet Chance/35-37/Drizzle & Freezing/Drizzle Early/30-32]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[45-assembly]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Assembly committees will tackle some issues this week that could impact public school students. A State Senate committee is expected to consider a bill requiring schools to post a sign displaying the phrase ``In God We Trust.'' Another bill would require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day. The bill will be taken-up by a House committee this week. The American Civil Liberties Union is fighting both proposals.

[45-Washington]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A man who has served time on death row is set to be released from prison today.
(--------)
[VO-NAT]
Earl Washington, Junior is scheduled to be released from Greensville Correctional Center this morning after serving 18 years in prison ... including nine-and-a-half years on death row for a murder he did not commit.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIM]
[SS=none]
Washington confessed to the 1982 rape and murder of a Culpeper woman even though no fingerprints or biological evidence tied him to the crime. D-N-A tests cleared him. Washington will be taken to a group home in Virginia Beach today.
He still has six months of parole to serve on an un-related assault conviction.

[45-Honor-Code]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-07 19:00]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Virginia Tech's 75 year old honor code could be getting some revisions. Since 1993, the number of honor code violations reported has increased 600- percent. Kate Weidaw tells us the world wide web may be front and center - for bringing about the dramatic rise.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Virginia Tech]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:00]
[SUPER=01-Wendy Spriggs/Junior;:17]
[SUPER=01-Benji Layman/Freshman;]
[SUPER=01-Niraj Mehta/Freshman;:53 QUICK!!!!!]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:09]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=N7 Blacksburg.]
((Virginia Tech is serious when it comes to education. That's why it makes students sign an honor pledge when they're admitted to the university.

[SOT 16:35:19]
[INQ=]
((BENJI LAYMAN/FRESHMAN: THE HONOR CODE DOES MAKE YOU THINK IT SCARES YOU.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 3]

But according to the school the honor code is not making everyone think twice before plagiarizing.

[SOT 16:31:20]
[INQ=]
((WENDY SPRIGGS/JUNIOR: IT DOES CAUSE PROBLEMS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SIGNING IT KNOWING IN THEIR HEAD THEY SHOULDN'T DO IT BUT THAT CAN MAKE YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING MORE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

In the last seven years the student run Honor System Review Board has been handling SIX times more cases. The board feels the internet is the reason.

[SOT 16:31:55]
[INQ=]
((WENDY SPRIGGS/ JUNIOR: THERE IS SO MUCH FREE INFORMATION OUT THERE IT'S LIKE WHOSE INFORMATION IS IT REALLY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 4]

[SOT 16:34:02]
[INQ=]
((BENJI LAYMAN/FRESHMAN: THERE'S SUCH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO YOUR STUFF THAT YOU CAN GO ON THE INTERNET LOOK UP YOUR BOOK FIND A REPORT PRINT IT OUT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 6]

But some students say the internet is also one of the best research tools available.

[SOT 16:38:09]
[INQ=]
((NIRAJ MEHTA/FRESHMAN: IT HELPS YOU FIND MORE STUFF LIKE MORE INFORMATION SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHEAT IT GOES BOTH WAYS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]

Now the university is thinking about making some changes to the 75 year old honor pledge. One suggestion is making students sign the pledge every time they take an exam or submit a major paper. But most students say regardless of the honor pledge - if someone wants to cheat he or she is going to do it. Kate Weidaw News 7 Blacksburg.))

[45WEATHER]

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

As you can tell by the number of school delays and closings, there is some wintry weather out there..
Expect light snow and sleet in areas today...with highs in the mid and upper 30s.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Light Snow &/Sleet Chance/35-37/Drizzle & Freezing/Drizzle Early/30-32]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-Investigation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The death of a resident of the Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg WILL be investigated.
Doug Jones died in September 1999 after being hospitalized with a ruptured spleen. Family members claim E-R doctors told them Jones' injury may have been caused either by a fall or a blunt instrument.

[8-Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

State police say a 50- year- old man is the victim of an apparent hit-and-run accident in Franklin County.
Some people found Reggie James Hodges lying in the middle of Route 40 in Franklin County Saturday night. Police want to hear from anyone who may know something about a truck seen to the side of the road near where Hodges was found.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE TRUCK DESCRIP FS] It's described as a dark-colored pickup with a passenger side headlight out.
A man was driving the vehicle.
(++++++++)
[STATE POLICE PHONE #]
If you have any information you can call State Police at 1-800- 542 - 5959...
(++++++++)
[FRANKLIN CO. PHONE #]
or call the Franklin County Sheriff's Department at 540- 483 - 3000.
(++++++++)

[wipe wipe wipe]

[8-Peters-Creek]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-02 33:00]
[GRAPHIC=TAKE TAKE TAKE]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Saturday Night;]

A traffic accident in Roanoke county over the weekend resulted in pending charges against one of the drivers involved.
Investigators say they plan to charge 22- year old Matthew Wills with failure to maintain control of his Corvette. They say Wills tried to pass another car on the shoulder, lost control and crossed the median on Peter's Creek Road. His Corvette was hit broadside by a van near Burlington Elementary. The driver of the van was not hurt.
(------------)

[8-Washington]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Today marks the end of a death row sentence for
(--------)
[VO-NAT]
Earl Washington, Junior.
He's scheduled to be released from Greensville Correctional Center this morning after serving 18 years in prison ... including nine-and-a-half years on death row for a murder he did not commit.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIM]
[SS=none]
Washington confessed to the 1982 rape and murder of a Culpeper woman even though no fingerprints or biological evidence tied him to the crime. D-N-A tests cleared him of the crimes. Washington will be taken to a group home in Virginia Beach today because he still has six months of parole to serve on an unrelated assault conviction.

[8-Supermax-Inmates]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

More inmates from Connecticut may move to the maximum security lock- up near Big Stone Gap.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 00-50 1:10:19]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
Connecticut's prison chief says his state is out of room to keep its prisoners... so Connecticut will probably keep sending inmates to Wallens Ridge State Prison.
Connecticut's Commission on Human Rights criticized the prison in a report released last week. Two of that state's inmates have died at Wallens Ridge under questionable circumstances. 150 Connecticut inmates are currently being held at Wallens Ridge.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]

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

Let's check out the Monday forecast again--
Winter returns to the region today with light snow and sleet this morning...high temperatures are expected in the mid and upper 30s.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Light Snow &/Sleet Chance/35-37/Drizzle & Freezing/Drizzle Early/30-32]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED) [SUPER=#555;RESET]