WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/17/01

[School]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]

We have one school announcement to tell you about this morning. Mount Rogers school in Graysn County will be one hour late.

[7-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cut ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A police chase early this morning in Roanoke County ended in gunfire.
Authorities from several juridictions were involved in a pursuit of a suspect that began in North Roanoke County and ended when the suspect stopped near North Cross School. Authorities say the suspect then shot himself.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:49:25]
[IN Q=at this point we do not know]
[SUPER=01-Chris Nielson/Roanoke County Detective; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=whatsoever]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./This Morning]

The suspect was taken to Roanoke Memorial hospital. Colonial Avenue at 419 is closed in both directions this morning while authortities investigate. No other information is available at this time.
(------------)

[7-11First-Union]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-16 TC25:36]
[GRAPHIC=Merger]
Two big banks are becoming one. First Union and Wachovia are merging.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-First Union]

The new bank will be called "Wachovia Corporation."
The merger is expected to take at least three years to complete.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In reality, at the]
((IN REALITY, AT THE CORE OF EACH OF OUR COMPANIES, IS A CAPITAL MARKETS EFFORT FOR WONDERFUL BUSINESS AND RETAIL BANKING AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A PREMIER WEALTH MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN AMERICA.))
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=company in America.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

If the merger is approved by shareholders and the federal government - Wachovia will become the east coast's largest bank.
7 thousand employees will be let go in the process.
(------------)

[7-6-Gilmore]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-05 TC1:57:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
New roads may be on the map in Virginia a lot faster-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Governor Jim Gilmore signed 11 bills into law yesterday that may help streamline operations at V-DOT.
And, he welcomed an entirely new nine member management team.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:32:46]
[IN Q=Simply because we are rechanging]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE RECHANGING SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THINGS, DON'T EVER LET ANYBODY TELL YOU WE'RE NOT HAPPY WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE WE ARE. AND WE KNOW WHAT A GOOD JOB YOU'RE DOING. NOW, THERE ARE STILL GONNA BE CRITICS. YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE CRITICS. ))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=you're still gonna have critics. DOUBLE OUT!!!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

One of the bills would let localities take over their own road systems, and get the money V-DOT currently spends there.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14;58:29]
[IN Q=In other words, if you are]
((CHIP NOTTINGHAM/VDOT COMMISSIONER: IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU ARE A COUNTY AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR OWN COUNTY STAFF AND SOME WHEREWITHAL AND SOME INTEREST, WHY NOT TAKE OVER THE SECONDARY ROAD SYSTEM OR A PORTION OF IT. OR MAYBE JUST TAKE OVER PUTTING UP NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS OR NEW SIGNS.))
[SUPER=01-Chip Nottingham/VDOT Commissioner;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=new traffic signals or new signs.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Another bill would let V-DOT engineers stop double and triple checking smaller projects, so they can focus on eliminating mistakes on larger construction projects.
(------------)

[School]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]

We have one school announcement to tell you about this morning. Mount Rogers school in Graysn County will be one hour late.

[45-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cut ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
Police are investigating a chase that ended in gunfire in Roanoke County this morning.
Authorities from several juridictions were involved in a pursuit of a suspect that began in North Roanoke County and ended when the suspect stopped near North Cross School. Authorities say the suspect then shot himself.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:49:25]
[IN Q=at this point we do not know]
[SUPER=01-Chris Nielson/Roanoke Co. Detective; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=whatsoever]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./This Morning]

The suspect was taken to Roanoke Memorial hospital. Colonial Avenue at 419 is closed in both directions this morning while authortities investigate. No other information is available at this time.
(------------)

[45-Shooting-L'Burg]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A minor is recovering from a gunshot wound this morning, following a shooting in Lynchburg last night.
The victim told authorities the shooting occurred in the 400- block of Chambers Street in Lynchburg around 10 p-m.
He says another male shot him in the back while he was sitting inside a vehicle.
The victim then drove himself to Lynchburg General Hospital.
Authorities arrested 21 year old Marcel Damont Morgan of Lynchburg for malicious wounding, as well as several other charges.
He is being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

[45-11Pulaski-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-11 TC49:02]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Suicide]
Pulaski authorities are counting on autopsy results to provide information about an apparent murder suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]

Jackie and Karey Phibbs were discovered by a relative Sunday in a barn near their home on Empire Street.
Police were called at around 6 Sunday night, and say evidence suggests 52-year old Jackie shot his 37-year-old wife and then himself.
The two were reportedly estranged.
(------------)

[45-11L'burg-Firefighters]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-03 TC2:00:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Cutting costs - not service. The former chief of Lynchburg's lifesaving crew has a plan that just might work for the Lynchburg Fire Department.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Fire officials say a required four percent cut in their budget could force them to close one of Lynchburg's eight fire stations.
But Chip Smoot says the department could move some of its firefighters into E-M-T positions without jeopardizing public safety.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:54:04]
[IN Q=Basically they]
((CHIP SMOOT/FORMER EMS CHIEF: BASICALLY THEY NOW ARE AN E-M-S DEPARTMENT THAT'S ALSO RESPONSIVE TO FIRE. AND NINETY PERCENT OF THEIR PERSONNEL ARE DEDICATED TO FIRE SUPPRESSION.. OVER 90- POINT- 7 PERCENT OF THE CALLS ARE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CALLS.))
[SUPER=01-Chip Smoot/Former EMS Chief]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=medical assistance calls.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fire chief Buddy Martinette says he's seen Smoot's plan and is writing an evaluation on it for city officials.
City council will get a briefing next week.
(------------)

[School]

[8-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cut ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

After leading police on a chase early this morning, the suspect shoots himself.
Authorities from several juridictions were involved in the pursuit that began in North Roanoke County, and ended when the suspect stopped near North Cross School.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:49:25]
[IN Q=at this point we do not know]
[SUPER=01-Chris Nielson/Roanoke Co. Detective; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=whatsoever]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./This Morning]

The suspect was taken to Roanoke Memorial hospital, where authorities say he's still alive. Colonial Avenue at 419 is closed in both directions this morning while authorities investigate. No other information is available at this time.
(------------)

[8-Shooting-L'Burg]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

A shooting in Lynchburg last night leaves a juvenile with a gunshot wound to his back.
The victim told authorities the shooting occurred in the 400- block of Chambers Street in Lynchburg around 10 p-m.
He says another male shot him in the back while he was sitting inside a vehicle.
The victim then drove himself to Lynchburg General Hospital.
Authorities arrested 21 year old Marcel Damont Morgan of Lynchburg for malicious wounding, as well as several other charges.
He is being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

[8-11Beverly]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=500-8]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

More than a year after shooting a man outside Valley View Mall, a Roanoke woman is sentenced to three years in prison.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

42-year old Deanna Beverly pleaded guilty to charges of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in Roanoke Circuit Court yesterday.
[SUPER=04-October 1999;]

She contends that she shot William Staley in the stomach to protect her husband from a severe beating.
Their confrontation turned violent in the mall's parking lot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:13:20 - :30]
[IN Q=He kicked my husband]
((DEANNA BEVERLY: HE KICKED MY HUSBAND IN THE CHEST, KNOCKED HIM DOWN AND PROCEEDED TO BEAT HIM AND I PLEADED WITH HIM TO STOP AND HE WOULDN'T STOP AND I BEGGED AND I PLEADED AND I SHOT THE MAN. ))
[SUPER=07-Deanna Beverly;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=I shot the man.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Beverly claims that drug traffickers were chasing her and she thought Staley was one of them.
Her husband, Cass Beverly, was sent to federal prison for hauling marijuana in his truck.
Deanna Beverly will begin her sentence in June.
(------------)

[8-11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC1:29:47]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Budget]

Roanoke's city manager has included a pay raise for city workers in her latest budget.
Darlene Burcham outlined her plan yesterday afternoon.
It includes a three and a half percent merit pay increase, and the elimination of 23 empty positions. The proposed budget would raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by ten cents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Month;]
It would also raise the city's lodging tax by one percent. Both would generate approximately one million dollars to improve city sidewalks. A portion of the funds would also be used to improve marketing of the city as a tourist attraction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:55:48]
[IN Q=We're also]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: ))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager; ]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=work with our citizens.]
(------------)
[anchor=]
[ss=none]
A public hearing on the budget will be held next Monday.