[Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The emotional aftermath of a destructive fire at Longwood College is lingering with its students.
The school year was cut short when the blaze broke out Tuesday night.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And tensions continue building between the U-S and China, as President Bush vows to defend Taiwan from a possible Chinese attack.
[ANCHOR=Leo]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Stay where you are-- News 7 Mornin is coming up.
[11Longwood-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC1:28:28]
[GRAPHIC=Longwood Fire]
The school year is over at Longwood College following a destructive fire.
The semester was just three days from ending when the blaze broke out Tuesday night.
The flames damaged four buildings on the Farmville campus, including the school's signature building .
As Shannon Young reports, the sudden end to the school year and the loss of personal belongings have students struggling to stay positive as they head into the summer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The school year is over]
[SUPER=03-Farmville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kelly Redding/Longwood Freshman; : :17]
[SUPER=01-Emily Conkey/Longwood Freshman; :23]
[SUPER=01-Logan McKinley/Longwood Sophomore; :47]
[SUPER=01-David Harnage/Longwood Executive Vice President; :57]
[SUPER=01-Stacy Hullett/Longwood Freshman; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Jasmin Dodson/Longwood Freshman; 1:19]
[SUPER=01-Tricia Ivey/Longwood Senior; 1:32]
[SUPER=@Shannon1; 1:48]
[RUNS=2:03]
[OUT Q=News 7, Farmville]
[China-Taiwan]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
China is accusing President Bush of violating U-S commitments.
The Foreign Ministry blasted Bush's warning that America will defend Taiwan if necessary.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beijing, China;]
Bush says U-S military force is "certainly an option" if China acts on its long-standing threats and strikes Taiwan.
The two sides split in a civil war in 19-49, and now China is pushing for re- unification.
Bush made the bold statements as U-S-- China tensions escalate.
Relations became strained after the fatal collision between an American spy plane and Chinese fighter jet.
(------------)
[Special-Session]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Special Session]
The General Assembly reconvenes tonight for a special two or three day session.
The goal is to hammer-out a budget agreement after a three-month stalemate over state spending
and car-tax relief.
Richmond Bureau Chief Ellen Qualls will have more on the story tonight on News 7 at 6.
[11Science-Museum]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC1:41:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A new person will soon take the helm of The Science Museum of Western Virginia.
Ken Schutz says it was a difficult decision to leave the Museum, but the organization's executive director says he believes the time is right for new leadership.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
This week, Schutz announced he will leave Roanoke at the end of May to become executive director of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona.
He says the possible loss of state funding played a role in his decision. So did the need for a leader who could commit to the next stage of the museum's development.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 06:57:38]
[IN Q=While I was thinking about that]
((WHILE I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT, THE STATE FUNDING CRISIS HAPPENED. AND THE TWO CONVERGED AT THIS TIME, AND IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO WAS TO MOVE ON TO SOME OTHER CHALLENGE.))
[SUPER=01-Ken Schutz/Science Museum of Western Virginia;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=move on to some other challenge.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Desert Botanical Garden has an endowment, and it enjoys strong attendance and retail revenues. It does not receive any public funds.
(------------)
[11NS-Earnings]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC1:13:21]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news this morning,
[SS=Norfolk Southern]
Good news for Norfolk Southern.
The company's earnings have quadrupled.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]
N-S says coal demand is boosting business this quarter.
And high natural gas prices are boosting the demand for coal.
The railroad is also spending less... thanks to the latest restructuring plan.
C-E-O David Goode says he's encouraged by the progress, considering the poor market climate.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In other business news, home sales were up in March. That report helped stocks rally yesterday.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=you local stocks.]
((Information:
(ON CAM)
THE STOCK MARKET SNAPPED A THREE DAY LOSING STREAK AFTER A STRONG HOME
SALES
REPORT
SIGNALED A POSSIBLE BOTTOM TO THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN.
(GRAPHIC - DOW)
BETTER THAN EXPECTED EARRINGS FROM DISNEY COUPLED WITH A RALLY IN DRUG
AND
TOBACCO STOCKS PUSHED THE DOW UP 170 POINTS TO 10-625..
(GRAPHIC - NASDAQ)
WHILE THE NASDAQ ADDED A MORE MODEST 43 POINTS.
(ON CAM)
HOUSING SALES ARE HOT EVEN AS THE ECONOMY SLOWS...
(GRAPHIC)
HOME RESALES UNEXPECTEDLY ROSE IN MARCH, UP 4.8 PERCENT..AS INTEREST
RATES
FELL.. NEW HOME SALES ALSO JUMPED A BETTER THAN EXPECTED 4.2 PERCENT ...
(ON CAM)
SUGGESTING THE U-S IS MOST LIKELY NOT IN A RECESSION...
HOUSING RELATED STOCKS LIKE CENTEX PULTE AND HOME DEPOT ALSO RALLIED...
(GRAPHIC)
AND TOBACCO STOCKS WERE SMOKING ON EXPECTATIONS FOR A HIKE IN CIGARETE
PRICES..AFTER THE BELL, - IT HAPPENED... PHILIP MORRIS RAISED THE
PRICE ON
A PACK OF CIGARETTES BY ABOUT 14 CENTS.
(ON CAM)
AND A REPORT IN THE WASHINGTON POST SAID PRESIDENT BUSH'S HASN'T
EARMARKED
ENOUGH FUNDING TO KEEP A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY ALIVE.
A TRANSATLANTIC MERGER GETS THE GREEN LIGHT..
(GRAPHIC)
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION GAVE GERMANY'S DEUTSCHE TELEKOM
THE
THUMBS UP TO BUY VOICESTREAM AND POWERTEL.. THAT PAVES THE WAY FOR
DEUTSCHE
TELEKCOM TO ESTABLISH A NATIONWIDE WIRELESS SERVICE IN THE U-S.
(GRAPHIC)
ON THE EARNINGS FRONT:
Qualcomm 29 cents.. met estimates
ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS POSTED PROFIT OF 56 CENTS THAT WAS IN LINE WITH
ESTIMATES...
(ON CAM)
LATER TODAY, WE'LL HEAR FROM KELLOGG, REEBOK AND WORLDCOM
(GRAPHIC)
FOLLOW ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM AT THE NASDAQ
(ON CAM)
I'M AC IN NEW YORK.))
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[Japan-PM]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Japan's parliament has endorsed a new prime minister.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;]
Junichiro (koh-ee-ZOO-mee) Koizumi is reformer with a nationalist image, and is Japan's ninth prime minister in 10- years.
The 59- year- old Koizumi replaces the very UN- popular Yoshiro Mori.
Mori and his entire Cabinet quit today to make way for the new government.
Koizumi now has the task of trying to revitalize Japan's lagging econmy.
Koizumi says he'll bring a new style to Japanese politics, vowing the select cabinet members solely on merit.
(------------)
[11VA-Western]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A new president for Virginia Western Community College.
Robert (SAN-dul) Sandel is currently president of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap.
Sandel will replace Charles Downs at Virginia Western, who is retiring after 20 years as president of the school.
[5-Needle-less]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=500-21 1:51:48]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Health Check]
In this morning's Health Check,
An accidental needlestick can put a health care worker at risk for H-I-V or Hepatitis C.
Every year there are an estimated 800-thousand such injuries at hospitals across the country.
But now a new law is in effect that requires health care facilities to use the best technologies available to protect health care professionals from blood borne illnesses.
Montgomery Regional Hospital has been taking such precautions for several years.
Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton explains the needle-less system.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Before the needle-less]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;00]
[SUPER=01-Sharron Jones/Registered Nurse;15]
[SUPER=@Joy2; :49]
[SUPER=01-Anne Wienke/Registered Nurse;1:03]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=for News 7 Mornin'.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
Every year more than a thousand health care workers contract Hepatitis C or HIV from needlestick injuries.
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[bump-chyron]
[Streaming-Video]
[comm #3]
[2-HEADLINES]
[Kim at Desk]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Students and staff of Longwood College are trying to pick up the pieces of Tuesday night's devastating fire.
We'll hear from those trying to cope with the traumatic end to the school year.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Chinese officials apparently don't like what they're hearing from President Bush--
Bush says U-S military force is an option IF China follows through with its threats against Taiwan.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And the suspect in the death of a Roanoke Hooters' waitress decides to waive his preliminary hearing.
Christopher Haynes was arrested in February, and has been in the city jail ever since.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And that's what's making news on this Thursday, April 26th .
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[2-11Longwood-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC1:28:28]
[GRAPHIC=Longwood Fire]
Longwood College in Farmville now begins the recovery process after fire damaged four buildings including the school's signature building.
The school year is now over.
The semester was just three days from ending when the blaze broke out Tuesday night.
As Shannon Young reports, the sudden end to the school year and the loss of personal belongings have students struggling to stay positive as they head into the summer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The school year is over]
[SUPER=03-Farmville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kelly Redding/Longwood Freshman; : :17]
[SUPER=01-Emily Conkey/Longwood Freshman; :23]
[SUPER=01-Logan McKinley/Longwood Sophomore; :47]
[SUPER=01-David Harnage/Longwood Executive Vice President; :57]
[SUPER=01-Stacy Hullett/Longwood Freshman; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Jasmin Dodson/Longwood Freshman; 1:19]
[SUPER=01-Tricia Ivey/Longwood Senior; 1:32]
[SUPER=@Shannon1; 1:48]
[RUNS=2:03]
[OUT Q=News 7, Farmville]
[2-China-Taiwan]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Making international news--
Chinese officials are expressing "serious concern" over President Bush's warning that the U-S will defend Taiwan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beijing, China;]
Bush says U-S military force is "certainly an option" if China acts on its long-standing threats and strikes Taiwan.
The two sides split in a civil war in 19-49, and now China is pushing for re- unification.
Bush made the bold statements as U-S-- China tensions escalate.
Relations became strained after the fatal collision between an American spy plane and Chinese fighter jet.
(------------)
[11Firestone-Recall]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Firestone Recall]
Will Firestone bend to pressure and expand its tire recall?
The tire- maker is under fire again from consumer groups and attorneys representing victims of the defective tires.
(uh-LEEN) Aleen (Sir-GAHN-ee) Sirgany reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Christine Sagrista/Victim's Mother; :13]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :30]
[SUPER=01-Tab Turner/Victim's Attorney; :41 super very quick]
[SUPER=01-Joan Claybrook/Public Citizen Consumer Group; :59]
[SUPER=01-Aleen Sirgany/Reporting; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=Aleen Sirgany, CBS News, Washington.]
((
FIRESTONE NOW ADMITS IT'S IN TALKS WITH ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING HUNDREDS
OF VICTIMS OF IT'S TIRE PROBLEMS. BUT MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES SAY THEY
WON'T SETTLE UNLESS THE COMPANY EXPANDS IT'S TIRE RECALL.
(SOT) Christine Sagrista/SON KILLED IN ACCIDENT
My son Christopher lost his twin brother because of these firestone
tires, I lost a two year old son and my family s world has been
shattered.
(TRACK)
NOVEMBER 23, 1999 THE REAR TIRE ON THE SAGRISTA'S FORD EXPLORER
UNRAVELED...KILLING 2-YEAR-OLD ALEX.
THE WILDERNESS 15 INCH TIRE THAT CAME APART WAS NOT PART OF THE
RECALL..BECAUSE IT CAME FROM A PLANT IN NORTH CAROLINA. FIRESTONE HAS
INSISTED DECATUR, ILLINOIS WAS THE ONLY PLANT THAT MADE DYSFUNCTIONAL
TIRES.
(SOT)Tab Turner/VICTIM'S ATTORNEY
Decatur is not the problem."
(TRACK)
GRAPHIC:
CONSUMER ACTIVISTS WANT FIRESTONE AND FORD TO EXPAND THE TIRE RECALL TO
INCLUDE TEN MILLION WILDERNESS 15 INCH TIRES MADE IN WILSON NORTH
CAROLINA AND JOLIETTE CANADA. AND THEY WANT ALL OF THE 16 INCH
WILDERNESS TIRES RECALLED.
(SOT)Joan Claybrook/PUBLIC CITIZEN CONSUMER GROUP
there is strong evidence that these tires are just as bad as those that
were recalled.
TRACK:
CONSUMER GROUPS SAY WHAT S ESPECIALLY DISTURBING IS THAT FIRESTONE S OWN
STUDY SHOWS THAT ALMOST HALF OF THE TIRES FROM WILSON AND EVEN MORE IN
THE JOLIETTE PLANT ARE UNSAFE.
FIRESTONE DEFENDS ITS POSITION, SAYING: (graphic) "WE BELIEVE THAT THE
DATA SHOWS THAT THE AUGUST RECALL WAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC."
STAND-UP:
))[11Comair-Strike]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-25 TC09:54]
[GRAPHIC=Comair Strike]
Comair officials and striking pilots have returned to the bargaining table.
Federal mediators brought both sides together yesterday for the first negotiations since Comair's pilots went on strike March 26th.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Month]
Comair's 13-hundred pilots walked out after talks broke down over work rules, retirement, job protection and pay.
The Delta-owned airline serves 95 cities including Roanoke, Charlottesville and Richmond.
(------------)
[La-Z-Boy]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Plant Closing]
La-Z-Boy is closing its Lea Industries plant in Marion and another plant in Selma, Alabama.
The move will eliminate a combined 310 jobs over the next six months.
The company says it's part of an effort to consolidate production.
La-Z-Boy is based in Michigan.
It's the country's largest maker of upholstered furniture.
[11Danville-Museum]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-05 TC2:02:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A southside museum that attracted the likes of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and thousands of less famous visitors is getting facelift .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
Major renovation is underway to restore and replace part of Danville's Museum of Fine Arts and History.
Workers are re-doing rooms, and replacing electric wiring as well as the ventilation system.
The museum has been closed to the public since February and should re-open by mid-June.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:40:09]
[IN Q=This is a good opportunity]
((LYNNE BJARNESEN/DIRECTOR: THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR CHANDELIERS CLEANED, DO SOME CLEANING, AND ADD NEW CARPETING AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Lynne Bjarnesen/Director]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=excited about that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The building is more than 150 years old.
It's famous, because it's where Jefferson Davis wrote his last official proclamation as president of the Confederate States of America.
(------------)
[11Haynes]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-18 TC20:28]
[GRAPHIC=Haynes]
The man suspected of killing a Hooter's waitress about three months ago decided to forgo a preliminary hearing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Christopher Haynes was arrested in February and has been in the city jail.
The 26-year old Army enlisted man met Tina Foster when he and his buddies stopped at Hooter's for lunch while in town on funeral detail.
The two exchanged phone numbers and she apparently agreed to a private photo shoot that night. Her body was found about a week later.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
Haynes waved his right yesterday to hear a preliminary presentation of the evidence against him. He'll most likely be indicted next month.
[11Shipyard]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-24 TC10:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two Virginia-based defense contractors are merging.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Newport News/File Tape]
General Dynamics has bought Newport News Shipbuilding for about two-and a half billion dollars.
With the acquisition, General Dynamics will become the Navy's lone manufacturer of aircraft carriers and submarines.
Company officials say the merger will streamline management of the nation's two nuclear-capable shipyards and save money for the Navy.
Two years ago, the Clinton administration shot down their earlier attempt at a merger, saying it would stifle competition.
(------------)
[11Skid-Car]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE #=01-04 TC1:47:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Spring has arrived, but that's not stopping law enforcement trainees from learning to drive on icy roads in the New River Valley.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Yesterday;]
The skid car system attached to this car simulates dangerous weather conditions by altering the tires grip on the road.
Officials hope teaching officers to drive defensively will lower the number of accidents on the job.
The system is computerized but feels real in the driver's seat.
(////////SOT////////)
[SOT-23:14:54]
[IN Q=IT GIVES YOU THE ]
((DAVID WALL/DEPUTY TRAINEE: IT GIVES YOU THE SENSATION OF DRIVING ON ICE OR LOOSE GRAVEL WHERE YOU ACTUALLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND YOU HAVE TO REGAIN CONTROL))
[SUPER=01-David Wall/Deputy Trainee;]
[OUT Q=have to regain control.]
[RUNS=:09]
(------------)
The system cost the New River Criminal Justice Academy 40-thousand dollars in grant money.
It is one of only four in the state.
(-------------)
[11Pitts-Accident]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-19 TC22:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Feathers flew in southside yesterday morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]
A tractor trailer carrying turkeys overturned around three o'clock yesterday morning on Route 29 just north of Danville.
Traffic backed up when crews closed one lane in both directions for more than seven hours.
The driver suffered only minor injuries.
The State Police says the driver will face charges.
Most of the 11-hundred turkeys survived the wreck.
(------------)
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Kmc/LHI]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
La-Z-Boy is closing its Lea Industries plant in Marion and another plant in Selma, Alabama.
The move will eliminate a combined 310 jobs over the next six months.
The company says it's part of an effort to consolidate production.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Norfolk Southern's earnings have quadrupled.
N-S says coal demand is boosting business this quarter.
And high natural gas prices are boosting the demand for coal.
The railroad is also spending less... thanks to the latest restructuring plan.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Major renovation is underway to restore and replace part of Danville's Museum of Fine Arts and History.
Workers are re-doing rooms, and replacing electric wiring as well as the ventilation system.
The museum has been closed to the public since February and should re-open by mid-June.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Leo]
(Leo mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Leo ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Now here's Keith Humphry with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=State legislators]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=tonight on News 7 at 6.]
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Kimberly/Leo and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye)
[Double Boxes=Kimberly/Leo and Steve]
by SS