WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/03/01

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

Today the Chinese will finally allow American diplomats to see the crew members of a Navy surveillance plane.
But the two countries are arguing over whether the Chinese have a right to SEARCH the spy plane.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And we'll learn more about the Franklin county man who was killed when his vehicle collided with a school bus.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

All that and more, coming up on News 7 Mornin.

[2-Military-Plane]

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

The Chinese government is finally agreeing to let U-S officials visit with the crew of a Navy spy plane that was forced to land on an island in the South China Sea.
That, after the plane collided with a Chinese warplane.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hainan, China;]

The 24- member crew has been confined to a Chinese military base for the past two days.
Having had no contact with them, their families here in the states are worried.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:45:36 ]
[IN Q=It is not]
((RAMON MERCADO, SR./CREW MEMBER'S FATHER: IT IS NOT ONLY OUR SON, BUT THE WHOLE CREW THEY ARE USING AS A PAWN. ))
[SUPER=01-Ramon Mercado, Sr./Crew Member's Father;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=using as a pawn.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
The Bush administration is demanding immediate access to the crew and the return of the aircraft.
Meanwhile, a Chinese official says "under Chinese law and international practice", they have the right to search the spy plane.
He wouldn't say whether the Chinese had already been on board.
(------------)

[Bus-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC28:17]
[GRAPHIC=School Bus Accident]
Family members describe the Franklin County man killed when his vehicle collided with a school bus-- as a talented young man who loved the Lord. State police say
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Yesterday;]
22- year old Jason Marshall (JAM-isun) Jamison died instantly when his truck collided head-on with the bus. The crash occurred yesterday on Bethlehem Road-- just outside Boones Mill. The young man was driving a truck for Jamison Electric-- which is a family run business. Dela Mae Fisher lives near the accident site and heard the collision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 08:19:37 08:18:08]
[IN Q=And I heard the ]
((DELA MAE FISHER: AND I HEARD THE NOISE AND TURNED AROUND TO LOOK OUT THERE, THAT'S WHEN I SEEN THE WHEEL GOING ACROSS THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK FLIPPED OVER. MIKE STATER/VA STATE POLICE: THE PANEL TRUCK WAS TRAVELING EAST AND OBVIOUSLY THE BUS WAS TRAVELING WEST. THE TRUCK VEERED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD STRIKING THE BUS. IT WOULD APPEAR THE BUS VEERED TO THE RIGHT TRYING TO AVERT THE ACCIDENT HEAD ON BY THE TRUCK.))
[SUPER=07-Dela Mae Fisher; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Stater/Virginia State Police; 10]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=by the truck.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities say Jamison was going too fast when he took the curve. The driver of the school bus and her 12 year old son were the only ones on the bus and were treated for minor injuries. Both vehicles were a total loss.
(------------)

[11Child-Death]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC1:12:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Henry County Sheriff's Department arrested the mother of a four year old boy who died in February.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bassett/February]

The boy's stepfather called 9-1-1 after finding the child unresponsive in bed.
The medical examiner determined Stephen Kelly died from blunt force injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen.
The boy's mother, 22 year old Donniele Norman, is charged with second degree murder.
Norman was arrested yesterday and is being held at the Henry County jail with no bond.
(------------)

[11Teen-Assault]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-19 TC06:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The parents of two teenagers who were maced at a Roanoke teen nightclub have filed charges against two club employees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Janice Goode says a bouncer at the Junction sprayed her 14-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son with mace after they were asked to leave.
The club's owner says it was self-defense.
It happened Friday night at the Williamson Road club.
Police did not charge anyone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:27:20 - :28]
[IN Q=He didn't have to]
((JANICE GOODE/MOTHER: HE DIDN'T HAVE TO MACE HER. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT. IF SHE WAS SO DISORDERLY, JUST PUT HER OUT, LOCK THE DOOR, WHATEVER. GO GET THE POLICE. BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.)) ((J.R. WILFONG/CLUB OWNER: WHEN HE WAS PHYSICALLY KNOCKED TO THE GROUND, HE HAD TO DO WHAT HE HAD TO DO....)) ((...SHE WAS TWICE HIS SIZE. HE WAS DOING ALL THAT HE COULD DO.))
[SUPER=01-Janice Goode/Mother; :00]
[SUPER=01-J. R. Wilfong/Club Owner; :09]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=all that he could do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The club's owner says this was the first time mace has been used on a patron.
He says he's filing charges against the teens for assault and battery and destruction of a metal detector.
(------------)

[11Customer-Choice]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Deregulation]
Electricity deregulation is headed to Virginia.
Thousands of Virginians will be able to choose from four power providers by January first of next year.
Their choices -- American Electric Power, Allegheny Power, Delmarva Power and Light, AND Dominion Virginia.
The State says electricity choice will attract competitive suppliers and benefit the most customers.
Those who oppose it say Virginia may end up with a power crisis like California.

[11Social-Security]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC14:21]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Students at Washington and Lee University's Law School discussed the future of Social Security. They're concerned because the system is expected to run out of money within the next 13 years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; QUICK!!!]

Money will have already run out by the time these students retire.
In fact, social security will begin running a deficit by 2014.
The cost for the government will be more than twice the national debt.
The government would have to take up to 40 percent of every worker's paycheck just to keep social security intact.
Speakers yesterday said the Government should create personal accounts -- another name for "individual savings accounts." You pay in, and your employer matches it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[tc:00:07:06]
[IN Q=There would be issues]
((KAREN BURKE/LAW PROFESSOR: THERE WOULD BE ISSUES ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD RECEIVE THOSE BENEFITS. WOULD YOU RECEIVE IT AS A LIFETIME ANNUITY AS PEOPLE CURRENTLY DO, OR WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TAKE IT IN A LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTION?))
[SUPER=01-Karen Burke/Law Professor]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=lump sum distribution.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A few speakers recommend raising the retirement age from 65 to 70 so more people would pay in for a longer period of time.
(------------)

[11Optical-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-55 2:05:34]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news this morning, A Roanoke based fiber optic company has record sales for the month of March.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

Optical Cable reported more than 10 million dollars in orders.
About a third of the orders came from China.
C-E-O Bob Kopstein announced he was in negotiations with the Chinese last month.
Kopstein says more deals in China would double the company's workforce, sales, and may lead to construction of a new manufacturing facility there.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

Meanwhile, the picture was not as pretty on Wall Street yesterday. The second quarter started on the downside.
Alexis Christoforous explains why in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=your local stocks.]
((Information:
(on cam)
WELL, THE SECOND QTR DID NOT GET OFF TO A VERY PROMISING START.. MORE PROFIT WARNINGS AND THE RECENT TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U-S AND CHINA WEIGHED HEAVILY ON INVESTORS MINDS:

(graphic)
THE DOW SLID 100 POINTS TO 9777

(graphic)
WHILE THE NASDAQ SANK 57 POINTS TO A 29 MONTH LOW.

(graphic)
AMERICAN EXPRESS SPARKED THE SELLOFF IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AFTER WARNING THAT EARNINGS WILL BE 20 PERCENT BELOW ESTIMATES PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE SLUGGISH ECONOMY.

(on cam)
HERE AT THE NASDAQ, AMAZON.COM HIT ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN 3 YEARS... CEO JEFF BEZOS ADMITTED THAT HE REGRETS SOME OF HTE INVESTMENTS HE'S MADE IN OTHER FLEDGLING E-COMMERCE COMPANIES LIKE THE NOW DEFUNCT LIVING.COM AND PETS.COM. SINCE NOV. AMAZON'S STOCK IS DOWN AN EYEPOPPING 80 PERCENT.
AND THE PROFIT WARNINGS JUST KEPT ROLLING IN AFTER THE CLOSING BELL:

(graphic)
ARIBA, E.PIPHANY, REDBACK NETWORKS AND INKTOMI ALL SAID THEY ARE CUTTING JOBS AND THAT EARNINGS WILL NOT MEET ESTIMATES..

(graphic)
AND XEROX SAID IT WILL DELAY THE RELEASE OF ITS FULLYEAR 2000 EARNINGS.

(on cam)
ON TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR, WE'LL GET A LOOK AT FEBRUARY FACTORY ORDERS BUT THE BIG REPORT COMES FRIDAY WITH THE RELEASE OF THE FEBRUARY JOBS REPORT...

(graphic)
TO TRACK YOUR PORTFOLIO JUST HEAD TO CBS.MW.COM

(on cam)
I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS IN NEW YORK.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-15 TC08:37]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Council]

Roanoke City Council has taken steps to improve the way members of boards and commissions are selected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Council members approved a re-design of the committee system... instituting a formal selection process. They also eliminated several panels, such as the bid specifications committee, that council members felt were unnecessary.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:27:40]
[IN Q=That committee was originated]
((BILL CARDER/ROANOKE VICE-MAYOR: THAT WAS A COMMITTEE ORIGINATED FOR VEHICLES WHICH HAS TURNED INTO ALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. WE BELIEVE STATE LAW AND LOCAL ORDINANCES COVER THAT BUT BY ELIMINATING THAT COMMITTEE WE SPEED THINGS UP BY THIRTY DAYS.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Carder/Roanoke Vice-Mayor]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=speed things up by thirty days.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday, city council also designated the former Norfolk and Western Passenger Station as the city's depot for future passenger rail service.
Council members will consider a request for money to renovate the building when they begin working on the budget later this Spring.
(------------)

[11tank-museum]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-11 TC38:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Plans to move a tank museum to Southside Virginia are in the slow lane.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

Two years ago, the American Armoured Foundation announced plans to bring its tank museum to Pittsylvania County.
The first big obstacle was renovating the old Disstan plant along Route 29.
Now the museum needs to raise more than a million dollars to transport the large tanks from its old facility in New York.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:41:36, 16:44:00]
[IN Q=Its like moving]
((DAVID KALBACKER/MUSEUM BUSINESS CONSULTANT: ITS LIKE MOVING TREMENDOUS EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPECIAL PERMITS AND RIDE AT SPECIAL TIMES AND HAVE SPECIAL ROUTES.)) ((WILLIAM GASSER/DIRECTOR: IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO BRING THE ARTIFACTS DOWN HERE AND PRESERVE THEM AND DO FUNDRAISING SO WE CAN GET OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.))
[SUPER=01-David Kalbacker/Museum Business Consultant; :00]
[SUPER=01-William Gasser/Museum Director; :08]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=as soon as possible]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Museum curators don't have a target opening date.
But they hope to be open on a limited basis by this time next year.
(------------)

[5-Back-Pain]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=501-09 1:57:23]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Health Check]

In medical news this morning, there is now a non-surgical procedure to relieve pain from osteoporosis or other spinal fractures.
It's called vertebroplasty. It's generally used on patients who have compression fractures in the mid to lower spine.
As Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton reports, the procedure offers immediate relief for many patients.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Anna Jane Reid]
[SUPER=03-Salem;:00]
[SUPER=07-Anna Jane Reid; :12]
[SUPER=01-Dr. John Mathis/Lewis-Gale Medical Center; :59]
[SUPER=@Joy2;]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=Joy Sutton, News 7 Mornin'.]
((
Anna Jane Reid says she was walking up the stairs in her house when she fell backwards landing on her back.
She fractured a vertebra.
(///// SOT ////)
[SOT2:10:58]
[IN Q=It was jsut severe.]
((ANNA JANE REID: IT WAS JUST SEVERE. IT WAS JUST LIKE SOMEONE WAS CUTTING ACROSS MY SPINE --SHARP PAIN, STAGGERING PAIN STICKING PAIN)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q=sticking pain]

That was until she had vertebroplasty. Doctor John Mathis a radiologist at Lewis Gale Medical Center says the procedure is used to treat compression fractures of the vertebrae --but it's most commonly used on older patients with osteoporosis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:42:42]
[IN Q=By taking a small needle]
((DR. JOHN MATHIS: BY TAKING A SMALL NEEDLE WITH X-RAY GUIDANCE WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THE NEEDLE INTO THE BONE AND OF COURSE GOES THROUGH THE SKIN SURFACE THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW US TO INJECT BONE CEMENT)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q=bone cement]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:49:37]
[IN Q=We are putting]
((DR. MATHIS:WE ARE PUTTING THIS BONE CEMENT IN WHICH MAKES IT STRONG. IT ALLOWS IN EFFECT IT MAKES AN INTERNAL CAST INSIDE THE BONE --SO THAT THE BONE DOESN'T MOVE ANYMORE WHEN ONE BEARS WEIGHT AND THEREFOR THE PAIN GOES AWAY)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=the pain goes away]

And Mathis says more than 85 percent of patients --end up with no pain --almost immediately following the procedure.

Reid was one of them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:09]
[IN Q=I was without pain]
((ANNA JANE REID: I WAS WITHOUT PAIN --NO PAIN AFTER SURGERY --ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=no pain]
News 7 Mornin'))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=Hold]

Dr. Mathis says the procedure is now being tested for use on hip fractures.
He also is in the process of publishing a book on vertebroplasty.

[Kimberly tosses to bump][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]

Family members are growing anxious as they await word of the 24 crew members, who were forced to land a U-S Navy spy plane in China.
The Chinese are allowing American diplomats to see the crew today.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Henry county authorities are charging a woman in what WAS the mysterious death of her four- year- old son.
The medical examiner says Stephen Kelly died from blunt force injuries to his head and body.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And after four days, police finally catch up with former baseball player Darryl Strawberry, who'd disappeared from his drug treatment program.
Authorities have charged him with violating a probation warrant.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Tuesday, April 3rd .
[ANCHOR=Shannon]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[Military-Plane]

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

Chinese officials have finally agrees to allow U-S diplomats see the 24- member crew of an American surveillance plane.
The aircraft was forced to land on the island of Hainan over the weekend.
Drew Levinson has the latest from Washington, where the Bush administration is monitoring the situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Hainan, China; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ramon Mercado, Sr./Crew Member's Father; :17]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :27]
[SUPER=01-Joseph Prueher/U. S. Ambassador to China; :38]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :45]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=Levinson, CBS News, Washington.]
((
Locator: Hainan, China This morning, the 24 member crew of a U-S surveillance plane..forced to land at this Chinese airbase over the weekend remain out of sight. And after more than 2 days of no-contact with the outside world..their families back here in the states are growing anxious.

SOT: Ramon Mercado Sr./Son Being Held in China
"It is not only our son, but the whole crew they are using as a pawn. We must be very careful about what game the Chinese are playing."
FILE Pentagon officials assume Ramon Mercado and his crew mates followed procedure and destroyed most of the plane's sensitive military hardware, but they know the Chinese had ample time to see other high tech equipment, which the U-S says is against the law.

SOT: Joseph Prueher/U.S. Ambassador to China

Locator: Washington, DC Here in Washington, The Bush Administration has taken a hard line..accusing the Chinese of footdragging and demanding immediate access to the crew and the return of the plane.

BUSH SOT:
"Failure of the Chinese government to react promptly to our request is inconsistent with standard diplomatic practice with expressed desire of both our countries for better relations."
Stand Up: Drew Levinson/CBS News

))[2-Bus-Ax]

[2-11Child-Death]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC1:12:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The mother of a four year old boy who died in February has been charged with her son's death. The Henry County Sheriff's Department arrested her yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bassett/February]

The boy's stepfather called 9-1-1 after finding the child unresponsive in bed.
The medical examiner determined Stephen Kelly died from blunt force injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen.
The boy's mother, 22 year old Donniele Norman, is charged with second degree murder.
Norman was arrested yesterday and is being held at the Henry County jail with no bond.
(------------)

[11Henry-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-05 TC1:38:06]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

North Carolina authorities bring new developments to a two- year- old Henry county murder case.
[SS=Abundio Mora Soto]

24-year old Abundio Mora Soto was wanted for the murder of his cousin-- Jose Santos Mora Soto.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Jose Mora Soto's body was found in a creek near his home in October of 1999.
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./October 1999]

The medical examiner ruled the death a "homicide by strangulation."
Sheriff's Deputies say Abundio fled Henry County a few days later.
Police in Charlotte, North Carolina arrested him Saturday on suspicion of shoplifting.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]

Abundio Mora Soto is being held in North Carolina, and will face charges there before being extradited to Henry County.

[NY-Arrests]

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

Two men are convicted of assault charges stemming from attacks on women in New York's Central Park.
A third man was acquitted.
David Garcia and Abel Ortiz each faces up to seven years in prison on each count against them.
In all, 30 men were charged in connection with attacks on more than 50 women in Central Park after last summer's Puerto Rican Day parade.
16- pleaded guilty.

Charges against the other 11 were dismissed.[Strawberry]

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

Former Major league baseball star Darryl Strawberry is in police custody.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Strawberry was a fugitive from justice after disappearing from his drug treatment program for four days.
[SUPER=03-Tampa, FL;]

Authorities say Strawberry checked himself into Tampa's St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday for an undisclosed ailment.
Hospital workers called police, who later came down to the hospital to arrest Strawberry.
Authorities say he'll probably be transferred to a jail today.
39- year- old Strawberry, who's battling cancer along with drug addiction, has been living under house arrest at the treatment center.
(------------------)

[11State-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-06 TC1:35:22]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

For 30 minutes yesterday, state budget negotiators got together.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

In their first face to face meeting in five weeks, the eight lawmakers expressed a new urgency in reaching a state budget agreement.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:09:04]
[IN Q=I think the people have]
((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/R-STAFFORD CO.: I THINK THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN THROUGH THE POLLINGS. AND THE SENSE OF THE MEMBERS, HAVE FELT THAT THE CAR TAX ISN'T THE ALPHA AND OMEGA OF LIFE. AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT THAT ARE VITAL.))
[sot 13:50:59]
((DEL. JIM DILLARD/R-FAIRFAX: ONLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN FREE UP CERTAIN MONIES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO US, SO THERE ARE JUST ALL KINDS OF REASONS THAT WE NEED A BUDGET. NOT TO MENTION THE PUBLIC'S JUST QUESTION AS TO WHY WE CAN'T GET TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A BUDGET.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Stafford Co.; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Del. Jim Dillard/(R) Fairfax; :21]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=and come up with a budget.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The negotiators say Governor Jim Gilmore's state worker, teacher, and constitutional officer pay raise plan is likely dead on arrival.
That makes budget deliberations more important.
(------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[SS=Veto Session]

The entire legislature reconvenes tomorrow for a one- day veto override session.
A six- day special session begins Thursday to re-draw Virginia's political districts, with data from the 2000 census.

[11Lex-Church]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC46:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]

One of Lexington's most recognizable landmarks is getting a new roof.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]

Crews began replacing the roof on the 155- year- old Lexington Presbyterian Church yesterday.. more than eight months after fire gutted the historic building.
It's the first step toward making the structure weather-proof so that interior work can begin.
Church members say they're glad to see their building start to take on a more familiar look.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:32:39]
[IN Q=It's a real]
((SKIP HESS/LEXINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MEMBER: IT'S A REAL GOOD THING, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE WORK ACTUALLY BEGIN NOW THAT YOU CAN SEE A CHANGE IN THE HORIZON LINE HERE IN THE TOWN, WHICH WILL KIND OF GET US BACK TO THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS, SEEING THE STEEPLE THERE AND THE CLOCK AND ALL THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Skip Hess/Church Member]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=clock and all that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Crews hope to raise a new steeple on the church some time this fall.
The building is expected to be finished next spring.
(------------)

[11Middle-School]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-12 TC22:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Montgomery County officials broke ground for the new Christiansburg Middle School.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Construction on Buffalo Drive will begin this summer with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2003.
Officials say a new building is needed because the current middle school is crowded and old.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-20:12:22]
[IN Q=YOU'RE GOING]
((MARY BIGGS/MONTGOMERY CO. SUPERVISOR; YOU'RE GOING TO SEE STATE OF THE ART FACILITY AS FAR AS CLASSROOM SPACE GOES, AREAS FOR SPECIALTIES SUCH AS YOUR ART AND MUSIC AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU MIGHT HAVE IN THAT AREA.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Biggs/Montgomery Co. Supervisor]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=HAVE IN THAT AREA]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Approximately 760-students will attend school in the new building.
(------------)

[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]
The Henry County Sheriff's Department arrested the mother of a four year old boy who died in February. 22 year old Donniele Norman, is charged with second degree murder.
The medical examiner determined her son, Stephen Kelly, died from blunt force injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen.

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
State police say 22- year old Jason Marshall (JAM-isun) Jamison died instantly when his truck collided head-on with a school bus on Bethlehem Road-- just outside of Boones Mill yesterday. Authorities say Jamison was going too fast when he took the curve. The driver of the school bus and her 12 year old son were the only ones on the bus and were treated for minor injuries.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
A groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday for the new Christiansburg Middle School
Construction on Buffalo Drive will begin this summer with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2003.
Officials say a new building is needed because the current middle school is crowded and old.

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

Now here's Mike Stevens with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=tonight on News 7 at 6.]
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[Desk=Kimberly/Shannon and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye) [Desk=Kimberly/Shannon and Steve]