[Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Convicted murderer Jeffrey Thomas could receive the death penalty.
The same jury that found Thomas guilty of killing Tara Munsey will re-convene today to determine his fate.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And Danville authorities launch an arson investigation after a late night house fire.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Join us for News 7 Mornin, straight ahead.
[11Thomas]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=01-11 12:17]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Guilty]
Jeffrey Thomas faces a possible death sentence.
(+++++++)
[Take FS GRAPHIC]
The jury needed just over two hours to convict Thomas of Capital Murder, Attempted Rape, and Felony Use of a Firearm yesterday.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
Today, the same jurors begin deciding whether Thomas should be executed.
Marya Jones spoke with Munsey's family, investigators and attorneys .. and has their reactions to the verdict.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Smoking a cigarette,]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ella Buchanan/Tara Munsey's Cousin; :16]
[SUPER=01-Jim Davis/Pulaski Co. Sheriff; :35]
[SUPER=@Marya1; :59]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Pulaski.]
(( Smoking a cigarette as he left the courthouse, Jeffrey Thomas' face was as impassive as it was hours earlier, when the jury read its guilty verdict.
Outside the courthouse, Tara Munsey's family hugged each other.
Munsey's cousin, Ella Buchanan, expressed the family's satisfaction with the verdict.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:50:31 - :46]
((ELLA BUCHANAN/TARA MUNSEY'S COUSIN: THIS HAS BEEN A SCIENTIFIC-PROVEN CASE...REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME TODAY.))
[runs= :15]
Pulaski County investigators said the verdict validated their hard work in the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:30 - :39]
((JIM DAVIS/PULASKI CO. SHERIFF: WE'RE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS... WE EXPECTED TO BE TRIED OURSELVES.))
[runs= :09]
Defense attorneys had attacked the way investigators collected evidence in the case, saying it COULD have been contaminated.
But prosecutor Mike Fleenor told jurors in his closing statement that Thomas' DNA was all over Munsey's body and clothes ... and that THAT was what the case boiled down to.
(///// SOT /////)
[SU ]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: TARA MUNSEY'S FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY'RE DIVIDED OVER WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE IMPOSED. THAT'S THE ISSUE JURORS WILL NOW TAKE UP IN THE SENTENCING PHASE OF THE TRIAL. DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAY AN APPEAL OF THE CONVICTION WILL BE AUTOMATIC. MJN7, PULASKI.))
[runs= :13]))
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Testimony in the penalty phase begins at nine this morning.
[D'ville-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=01-12 8:46]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
Danville authorities suspect arson in a house fire that occurred last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
The blaze started just before midnight at 871 Valley Street.
Officials say the resident, Greg Thomas was inside the home at the time of the blaze, but got out safely.
Heavy smoke and flames caused extensive damage to the structure.
Authorities say they believe someone deliberately set the fire, because it originated at both the front and back doors.
(------------)
[2-Tax-Cut]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Congress/Tax Cut]
President Bush's tax cut plan sails through the Republican- controlled House....but the waters look rougher in the Senate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
The 10- year, 958- billion- dollar income tax cut passed mostly along party lines yesterday.
[SUPER=03-Fargo, ND;]
President Bush, meanwhile, was in Fargo, North Dakota drumming up support for his plan.
Today, he'll head to South Dakota and Louisiana.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:03:06 ]
[IN Q=The American people]
((THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAD A VICTORY TODAY. THE AMERICAN FAMILY HAD A VICTORY TODAY. THE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR HAD A VICTORY TODAY. ONE HOUSE DOWN, AND NOW, THE SENATE TO GO.))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=Senate to go.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
As he tries to gather public support for his plan, the real battle will be in the Senate, where several Republicans have already said they plan to vote against the bill.
(------------)
[11Gilmore-Budget]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Va Budget]
Governor Gilmore is holding off on a decision .. on whether to call a special budget session.
The governor said in Richmond he'll "weigh his options" during the veto session.
There is a 421-million dollar hole in the state budget .. after the General Assembly could not agree on a new spending plan last month.
[11Mark-Warner]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-04 40:39]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Democrat Mark Warner formally launched his campaign for Governor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Warner rallied supporters who gathered yesterday at the city market building.
Warner emphasized a favorite theme, making sure all parts of the commonwealth benefit from a changing economy.
He said he would continue the phase-out of the car tax... without threatening important programs and institutions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In a knowledge-based world]
((MARK WARNER/D- CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: IN A KNOWLEDGE BASED WORLD, WE CANNOT RETREAT FROM OUR SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OUR PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. AND THEY SHOULD NOT ALWAYS BE THE FIRST ON THE LINE TO HAVE THEIR BUDGETS CUT WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Warner/(D) Candidate for Governor]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=when times are tough.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Alexandria businessman has no Democratic opposition. He will face either Attorney General Mark Earley or Lieutenant Governor John Hager in the general election.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
The state of the economy may play a major role in Wall Street's direction today.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=your local stocks.]
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[United]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Strike threats are soaring in the airline industry--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
Contract talks between United Airlines and its flight attendants are heating up and the union is ready to strike.
Flight attendants say they're prepared to stage a series of strikes that could cripple the airline's
operations.
They plan to launch random, un-announced strikes beginning in late April or early May.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Meanwhile, President Bush may intervene in a strike threat by Northwest Airlines mechanics.
Bush may order a 60- day "cooling off period" if the two sides can't reach a contract agreement by Monday's deadline.
Delta and American Airlines also have labor disputes that could trigger presidential intervention.
[11Pulaski-Furniture]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=00-51 2:00:27]
[GRAPHIC=Pulaski Furniture Layoffs]
An inventory surplus is leaving 36 people without jobs at Pulaski Furniture.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The company blames a slow down in curio cabinet sales.
This layoff follows a cut of 13 people in Pulaski last month.
The company's other plant, in Ridgeway, cut 90 jobs two weeks ago.
(------------)
[11Starlight-Ax]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=01-14 00:32]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
Two teenagers were involved in single car accident.
The driver blames it on a deer running across the roadway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
It happened on Starlight Lane last night in southwest Roanoke County.
The driver told police when he swerved to miss the deer, he lost control. The car hit an embankment and then rolled over.
The two boys were not wearing their seat belts, but no one was seriously injured.
(------------)
[11Cardiac-Test]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-10 06:47]
[GRAPHIC=Cardiac Care]
Emergency personnel at Lewis-Gale Medical Center can quickly detect a heart attack by using a new device.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
The hospital is one of few sites in the region using the "biosite cardiac marker".
The device can help determine if there is any blockage that is causing injury to the heart .. by testing three different enzymes in the blood.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT13:01]
[IN Q=Time is muscle we want to find out]
((CAMI JONES/DIR. OF EMERGENCY AND TRANSFER SERVICES: TIME IS MUSCLE WE WANT TO FIND OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THE FASTER WE START DELIVERING AN INTERVENTION TO A PATIENT THE FASTER WE KNOW, THE FASTER WE CAN SAVE THEIR HEART MUSCLE AND THAT PATIENT HAS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING GOOD OUTCOME))
[SUPER=01-Cami Jones/Lewis-Gale Medical Center;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=opportunity of having a good outcome]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The test only takes 15 minutes .. and that is much faster than sending it to the lab.
The lab usually takes at least 45 minutes to get results back.
(------------)
[Health-Check]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]
In medical news, a new study takes a look at long range treatment for patients with kidney failure.
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=1:18]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((Information:
ON CAM
THERE'S A NEW PHILOSOPHY FOR PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE: IF POSSIBLE-
GET A TRANSPLANT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
VT=VO
THAT MEANS - DOING A TRANSPLANT BEFORE KIDNEY FAILURE GETS BAD ENOUGH
FOR A PATIENT TO GO ON DIALYSIS. A STUDY IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF
MEDICINE SHOWS PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE DO BETTER IN THE LONG RUN IF
THEY AVOID DIALYSIS- AND HAVE A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FIRST.ONE PROBLEM AT
THIS POINT HOWEVER- NOT ENOUGH KIDNEYS ARE AVAILABLE TO TRANSPLANT.
ON CAM
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SAYS THERE ARE MANY SUPPORT GROUPS AVAILABLE
FOR PATIENTS WITH CANCER- BUT FEW OF THE PATIENTS KNOW ABOUT THEM.MANY
BECAUSE THEIR DOCTORS OR HMO'S DON'T TELL THEM. A STUDY FROM THE SOCIETY
SAYS SUPPORT GROUPS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HELPING PEOPLE WITH
CANCER- AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES- YOU CAN CALL THE CANCER
SOCIETY FOR MORE INFORMATION.
VT=VO
FINALLY TODAY- A MARRIED MAN IS A HEALTHY MAN- THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF
A STUDY FROM THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. IT FINDS MEN WHO'VE
TIED THE KNOT TEND TO HAVE LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE, LESS HEART DISEASE, AND
A LOWER RATE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE COMPARED TO MEN WHO ARE DIVORCED OR
NEVER MARRIED.
ON CAM
THAT'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAYS TOP HEALTH STORIES. I'M DR. DAVE HNIDA
FOR CBS NEWS.))
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]
[Streaming-Video]
[comm #3]
[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]
A Pulaski county jury will begin deliberating the fate of convicted capital murderer Jeffrey Thomas.
Testimony in the penalty phase begins at nine this morning.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
Danville authorities suspect arson is the cause of a house fire that occurred late last night.
Officials say the resident was home at the time, but escaped safely.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
President Bush's trillion- dollar tax cut plan passes the house.
But the Senate poses a much tougher challenge.
The President is touring the country, promoting his plan.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And that's what's making news on this Friday, March 9th .
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[2-11Thomas]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=01-11 12:17]
[GRAPHIC=Thomas Guilty]
Testimony in the penalty phase of Jeffrey Thomas' capital murder trial begins at nine this morning.
Thomas faces a possible death sentence.
(+++++++)
[Take FS GRAPHIC]
The jury needed just over two hours to convict Thomas of Capital Murder, Attempted Rape, and Felony Use of a Firearm yesterday.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
Today, the same jurors begin deciding whether Thomas should be executed.
Marya Jones spoke with Munsey's family, investigators and attorneys .. and has their reactions to the verdict.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Smoking a cigarette,]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ella Buchanan/Tara Munsey's Cousin; :16]
[SUPER=01-Jim Davis/Pulaski Co. Sheriff; :35]
[SUPER=@Marya1; :59]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Pulaski.]
(( Smoking a cigarette as he left the courthouse, Jeffrey Thomas' face was as impassive as it was hours earlier, when the jury read its guilty verdict.
Outside the courthouse, Tara Munsey's family hugged each other.
Munsey's cousin, Ella Buchanan, expressed the family's satisfaction with the verdict.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:50:31 - :46]
((ELLA BUCHANAN/TARA MUNSEY'S COUSIN: THIS HAS BEEN A SCIENTIFIC-PROVEN CASE...REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME TODAY.))
[runs= :15]
Pulaski County investigators said the verdict validated their hard work in the case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:30 - :39]
((JIM DAVIS/PULASKI CO. SHERIFF: WE'RE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS... WE EXPECTED TO BE TRIED OURSELVES.))
[runs= :09]
Defense attorneys had attacked the way investigators collected evidence in the case, saying it COULD have been contaminated.
But prosecutor Mike Fleenor told jurors in his closing statement that Thomas' DNA was all over Munsey's body and clothes ... and that THAT was what the case boiled down to.
(///// SOT /////)
[SU ]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: TARA MUNSEY'S FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY'RE DIVIDED OVER WHETHER THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE IMPOSED. THAT'S THE ISSUE JURORS WILL NOW TAKE UP IN THE SENTENCING PHASE OF THE TRIAL. DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAY AN APPEAL OF THE CONVICTION WILL BE AUTOMATIC. MJN7, PULASKI.))
[runs= :13]))
(------------)
[2-D'ville-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=01-12 8:46]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
Arson is suspected in a house fire that occurred in Danville late last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
The blaze started just before midnight at 871 Valley Street.
Officials say the resident, Greg Thomas was inside the home at the time of the blaze, but got out safely.
Heavy smoke and flames caused extensive damage to the structure.
Authorities say they believe someone deliberately set the fire, because it originated at both the front and back doors.
(------------)
[11Steve-Mills]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-16 00:40]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
The man who used to run Virginia Tech's public radio station has filed a breach of contract suit.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-49 1:54:57 or 00-05 17:04]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 1995;]
Steve Mills says he was illegally fired from his job as general manager of W-V-T-F last year.
He filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County circuit court yesterday against the state and four university officials.
He's asking for 3-point-4 million dollars in damages.
A spokesman says Virginia Tech believes it did nothing wrong and it will be vindicated in court.
(------------)
[11K9-Unit]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-55 1:34:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Lynchburg police are defending their response to an incident in which an officer was attacked by a K-9 dog last month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/February 13]
It happened at the police firing range on February 13th.. Officer Rick Ruggieri was severely bitten on the face and hands when a dog he was handling turned on him without warning.
In a report issued yesterday, police say department procedures were properly followed that day and that the incident was both unpredictable and unpreventable.
By his own choice, Officer Ruggieri is leaving the K-9 unit, along with another K-9 handler Karen Carter.
(------------)
[Tax-Cut]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Congress/Tax Cuts]
President Bush is celebrating a victory in the House after it passed his tax cut plan.
But the mostly partly- line vote is not necessarily a good sign of the bill's fate in the Senate.
Teri Okita has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Baron Hill/(D) Indiana; 1:04 quick]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/Reporting; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=Okita, CBS News, Washington.]
(
(LOCATOR: CAPITOL HILL)
PRESIDENT BUSH'S 10-YEAR 958 BILLION DOLLAR INCOME TAX CUT HAS PASSED
THE REPUBLICAN-LED HOUSE...
(NAT)
THE PRESIDENT --WHO HAS MADE ACROSS-THE-BOARD TAX CUTS A PRIORITY SINCE
THE CAMPAIGN.... WAS IN FARGO NORTH DAKOTA-- DRUMMING UP SUPPORT FOR HIS
PLAN.
SOT: PRESIDENT BUSH
CRUNCHING HIS NUMBERS, (GRAPHIC): A FAMILY OF FOUR WITH A SINGLE INCOME
OF 60-THOUSAND DOLLARS WOULD GET BACK 320 DOLLARS THE FIRST YEAR, AND
1,600 DOLLARS WHEN THE PLAN IS FULLY IN PLACE. A SINGLE PERSON WITH THE
SAME INCOME WOULD GET 211 DOLLARS IN YEAR ONE, AND ULTIMATELY WOULD SEE
AN ANNUAL RETURN OF 750 DOLLARS.
(NAT DEBATE)
BUT DEMOCRATS QUESTION THE RUSH TO PASS A TAX CUT PLAN WHEN THERE'S NO
BUDGET YET.... AND WONDER IF THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THOSE CUTS.
(SOT: Rep. Baron Hill/D-IN, Before you start spending money, sit down
and figure out how much you have. (05)
NEW: PRESIDENT BUSH'S REAL BATTLE WILL BE IN THE SENATE, WHERE SEVERAL
REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE BILL.
OKITA STAND-UP: SO TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T EXPECT TO START DIPPING INTO THE
KITTY FOR EXTRA CASH JUST YET. AS IT STANDS NOW, THIS BILL WON'T PASS
THE SENATE, AND DEMOCRATS PROMISE THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT WILL SLOW
DOWN ONCE IT HEADS TO THAT SIDE OF THE HILL.
))
[Tate]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A 14- year- old Florida boy faces sentencing later today for the murder of a six- year- old girl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
In January, Lionel Tate was convicted of murder as an adult.
Tate claimed Tiffany Eunick's fatal beating was an accident-- the result of the two clowning around.
Prosecutors claim Tate was imitating pro wrestlers.
Tate could spend the rest of his life in prison.
But his attorneys are trying to have that life sentence reduced.
(------------)
[11Boty-Threats]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]
A boy suspected of making threats to shoot other students at a local school was taken into custody.
A school resource officer at Read Mountain Middle School in Botetourt County overheard the 13 year old. The boy allegedly told another student .. he would shoot people who had been picking on him.
Authorities confronted the boys and called their parents.
No guns were found.
[2-11Pulaski-Furniture]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=00-51 2:00:27]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Pulaski Furniture is laying off 36 people.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The company blames a slow down in curio cabinet sales.
This layoff follows a cut of 13 people in Pulaski last month.
The company's other plant, in Ridgeway, cut 90 jobs two weeks ago.
(------------)
[6-Unemployment]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=State Unemployment]
Virginia's January jobless rate was the lowest in 51 years.
(------------)
[PRE PRO PAGE 1]
January unemployment reached 2 point 2 percent.
That's up slightly from December numbers showing a one point nine percent jobless rate.
Still January's rate was a half- century low.
[PRE PRO PAGE 2]
Fairfax City had the lowest jobless rate -- point four percent.
Dickenson County was highest at 13 point three percent.
The national average for January was 4 point 7 percent.
(--------------)
[11Census]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-09 16:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Virginia's population has grown according to the latest census figures.
The numbers mean bigger counties, but smaller cities across most of Virginia.
News 7's Jennifer Miele focuses on our region .
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=OK, here's the good news]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :29]
[SUPER=@jennifer1; :41]
[RUNS=:56]
[OUT Q=JM News 7 Roanoke.]
(( Here's one side to the numbers ...Virginia's population has grown by about a million people over the last 10 years.
Here's another side ... not enough to get another seat in Congress.
And there's only one side for the region's the biggest cities ... the downside.
[PRE PRO]
[PRE PRO PAGE 2]
Danville took a huge hit... an 8 point 8 percent population drop.
[ADD]
Roanoke lost one and a half percent of its population.
[ADD]
Lynchburg's numbers fell one point two percent.
[ADD]
But the town of Blacksburg jumped up in the numbers by 14 percent.
[END PRE PRO]
And the reason for Blacksburg's success?
It could be the popularity at Virginia Tech.
Tech's 25 thousand plus students make up about 65 percent of Blacksburg's population.
Taking another quick look at the numbers, you'll notice that biggest losses in population occurred in cities, but not one COUNTY in Virginia shrank in the last 10 years.
[STAND UP]
((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: LAWMAKERS WILL USE THE CENSUS INFORMATION NEXT MONTH TO DETERMINE HOW EXACTLY TO REDRAW LEGISLATIVE LINES. REGIONAL GROWTH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WILL ADD TO THE NUMBER OF CONGRESSMEN THERE, BUT NOT HERE. JENNIFER MIELE, NEWS 7.))
[RUNS= 10]))
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[TAKE WEBWATCH FS]
You can take a closer look at the Census results by going to our web site at WDBJ 7 dot com.
(------------)
[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]
Testimony in the penalty phase of Jeffrey Thomas' capital murder trial begins at nine this morning.
The jury convicted Thomas of Capital Murder and Attempted Rape of Radford teen Tara Munsey.
Today, the same jurors begin deciding whether Thomas should get the death penalty.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
Danville authorities suspect arson in a house fire at 871 Valley Street last night.
Authorities say they believe someone deliberately set the fire, because it originated at both the front and back doors.
Officials say the resident, Greg Thomas was inside the home at the time of the blaze, but got out safely.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Pulaski Furniture is laying off 36 people.
The company blames a slow down in curio cabinet sales.
This layoff follows a cut of 13 people in Pulaski last month.
(-------------)
[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=There's a tax]
[RUNS=18]
[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