WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/25/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......Morning clouds will give way to sun and cooler temperatures later today. Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will be here in just a few minutes with the details on your midweek forecast.

[7-Longwood-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Longwood College's most historic buildings were destroyed by fire last night.

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

Fire that apparently began in a historic renovation area in the Farmville college's Ruffner Hall spread quickly.
It engulfed the Rotunda, which serves as Longwood's symbol.
It also spread into two student dorms.
400- students were evacuated.
175- firefighters fought the blaze.
No one was hurt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is incredible]
[SOT]
((THIS IS INCREDIBLE..))
[SUPER=01-Cindy Allison/Longwood Student; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Sercombe/Longwood Spokesman; :15 ]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=went up like a tinder box]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The buildings that were destroyed were undergoing a 12- million- dollar renovation.
They were built in the 18-80s.
Longwood officials are meeting this morning to begin assessing the damage.
(------------)

[7-81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

Traffic is slow moving on Interstate 81 in Botetourt County this morning due to an accident. State Police say a tractor trailer overturned in the southbound lanes at mile marker 162 near Buchanan. Both lanes are blocked. Motorists are using the emergency shoulder to get around the accident.

[7-2-School-Bus]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some Lord Botetourt High School softball players had a rough ride yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Home Video;]
The students' bus caught fire at exit 140 in Roanoke County. They were on their way to watch a college softball game in Salem when the bus driver noticed mechanical problems. The driver who is also the students' coach says she told the girls and pulled onto the exit ramp-- still hoping to make it to Salem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:19:30 16:13:40 ]
[IN Q=No sooner]
((BEVERLY HART/BUS DRIVER & COACH: NO SOONER THAN I HAD PULLED OFF THEN A BIG PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE RADIATOR AND THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE FIRE PUMPING UP AND I TURNED IT OFF TO THE SIDE.)) ((JESSICA TAYLOR/STUDENT: IT WAS PRETTY SCARY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO EXCEPT OPEN THE DOOR AND JUMP OFF.))
[SUPER=01-Beverly Hart/Bus Driver & Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jessica Taylor/Student; :15 QUICK!!!!!!!]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=jump off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The students are members of Lord Botetourt's junior varsity softball team. No one was hurt but some of the students did lose their belongings.
(------------)

[WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom. A few widely scattered showers are moving through the region...but not everyone's getting wet. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have more in the forecast a little later.

[45-Longwood-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Fire destroyed some of Longwood College's most historic buildings last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Farmville;]
Fire that apparently began in a historic renovation area in the Farmville college's Ruffner Hall spread quickly.
It engulfed the Rotunda, which serves as Longwood's symbol.
It also spread into two student dorms.
400- students were evacuated.
175- firefighters fought the blaze.
No one was hurt.
The buildings that were destroyed were undergoing a 12- million- dollar renovation.
They were built in the 18-80s.
Longwood officials are meeting this morning to begin assessing the damage.
(------------)

[45-11Death-Penalty]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC1:11:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Governor Jim Gilmore has NOT yet made a decision on a bill that could let convicted criminals prove their innocence at any time after their original trial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Last Week;]

Governor Jim Gilmore left over the weekend for a two week European trade mission.
He has not reacted to state lawmakers stripping all of his changes out of a bill that would greatly expand the use of D-N-A or other biological evidence.
Lieutenant Governor John Hager helped craft the bill.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:53:54]
[IN Q=I think the bill was]
((LT. GOV. JOHN HAGER: I THINK THE BILL WAS A GOOD BILL. AND A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR DEFENDING THE DEATH PENALTY. IT STRENGTHENS THE DEATH PENALTY IN VIRGINIA. AND CERTAINLY, IT'S THE TYPE OF BILL THAT GAINS THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE. IT'S GOOD FOR OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.))
[SUPER=@Hager; ]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=for our criminal justice system.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

Current Virginia law bars any new evidence from being introduced 21 days after the original trial.
The General Assembly voted to remove any time limit from biological evidence that could prove an innocent person is in prison.
The Governor had tried to amend the bill to limit the introduction of such evidence to just three years.
His final decision on the bill is expected later this week.

[45-11Science-Museum]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC09:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Science Museum of Western Virginia is looking for a new executive directory.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/February;]
After more than eight years as Executive Director-- Ken Schutz is leaving for another job. He's taking a Director's job with the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Schutz says budget problems with the state were a significant factor in his decision to move. The state allocated zero funding for the Roanoke museum in its upcoming budget. Schutz says if it weren't for the budget woes and other issues he would have stayed at the Science Museum through retirement.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom. Overcast and cool as you head off to work today-- Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will be up with the forecast in just a moment.

[8-Longwood-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

More than a century of history is now rubble on the campus of Longwood College.
Fire broke out at the Farmville school last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Farmville;]

Fire that apparently began in a historic renovation area in the Farmville college's Ruffner Hall spread quickly.
It engulfed the Rotunda, which serves as Longwood's symbol.
It also spread into two student dorms.
400- students were evacuated.
175- firefighters fought the blaze.
No one was hurt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is incredible]
[SOT]
((THIS IS INCREDIBLE..))
[SUPER=01-Cindy Allison/Longwood Student; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Sercombe/Longwood Spokesman; :15 ]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=went up like a tinder box]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The buildings that were destroyed were undergoing a 12- million- dollar renovation.
They were built in the 18-80s.
Longwood officials are meeting this morning to begin assessing the damage.
(------------)

[8-81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
Traffic is moving again after an accident on Interstate 81 this morning. State police say a tractor trailer overturned in the southbound lanes at mile marker 162 near Buchanan. Both lanes were blocked while crews worked to clear the wreckage.

[8-11VMI-Women]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC1:44:23]
[GRAPHIC=VMI SEAL]

Five female cadets have graduated from the ranks of Virginia Military Institute.
Next month, a dozen more will achieve that honor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]

The Class of 2001 graduates on May 19th. Among its members, are the first women to complete all four years at VMI.
Yesterday, the group of thirteen posed for photographers, and reflected on the last four years.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 49:09]
[IN Q=I think that the class]
((KELLY SULLIVAN/VMI CADET: I THINK THAT THE CLASS OF 2001 HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF ASSIMILATING WOMEN INTO THE CORPS AND I THINK THAT WITH THE HELP OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE HELP OF THE OTHER CLASSES THAT ARE IN BARRACKS RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE PROGRAM NOW, AND I THINK IT CAN REMAIN THAT WAY FOR YEARS TO COME.))
[SUPER=01-Kelly Sullivan/VMI Cadet]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=remain that way for years to come.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

There are now 64 women in a corps of 1250 cadets. VMI officials hope to increase that figure, and they say they're encouraged by the rising number of female applicants. (------------)