WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/30/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Sunny skies and comfortable temperatures will make the start of the work week a little more bearable. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will be here in just a few minutes with the details.

[7-State-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Roanokers will have a chance to voice concern over state spending and car-tax relief tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, state legislators are still trying to hammer out a budget agreement. The House of Delegates wants to boost the car tax cut to 70 percent this year and next.
But the Senate has resisted a 70 percent car-tax cut because of the slowing economy. House and Senate leaders are expected to meet again today to look for a compromise. Both chambers are scheduled to reconvene in Richmond on Thursday.

[7-11Rocky-Mayor]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC-1:41:19]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Rocky Mount residents will be heading to the polls tomorrow.. And the race for Mayor is turning out to be out of the ordinary.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount]

Ben Pinckard thought he would run UN-opposed.
That is until fellow councilman, Mark Newbill decided he would throw his hat into the ring.
Newbill says the fact he's 35-- shouldn't be an issue for voters.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[tc:00:34:59]
[IN Q=They elected Virgil]
((MARK NEWBILL: THEY ELECTED VIRGIL GOODE TO THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN HE WAS 28. SO I THINK THE IDEA OF BEING NAIVE OR TOO YOUNG IS NON-SENSE.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Newbill/Mayoral Candidate]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=is non-sense.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While incumbent Ben Pinckard has been criticized for not being "visible enough," he says its going to take experience to keep Rocky Mount in the black.
(////////SOT//////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We are losing industry]
[tc:00:35:23] ((BEN PINCKARD: FACTORIES ARE CLOSING, WE HAVE ANNEXATION, THE ANNEXATION IS GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FOR WATER AND SEWER. FIRE STATION, POLICE STATION ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF MILLION.))
[SUPER=01-Ben Pinckard/Rocky Mount Mayor]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=a half million.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

All of town council is up for re-election tomorrow.

(------------)[7-11Trigon-Refund]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Trigon]
The I-R-S will be sending a BIG refund to Trigon Healthcare. The Richmond-based managed care company paid out one-hundred-75 million-dollars in taxes four years ago. After reviewing Trigon's contention the payment was unnecessary, the I-R-S agreed and ruled that Trigon should have been able to deduct the amount from its tax bill. Trigon says it expects a 61 million-dollar refund because of the ruling. The refund is still subject to final approval by a congressional committee.

[7-11VA-DNA]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cutin]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=01-22 TC-18:20]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Criminals better think twice before leaving evidence of their crimes in Virginia. The state is tops in the nation when it comes to solving crimes through its D-N-A database.
(-------------)
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Officials say D-N-A taken from felons is averaging one "cold hit" a day. That's the highest rate in the country for connecting someone in the database to a crime scene or for linking two crimes. Virginia's database was set up in 1989 and has D-N-A profiles of about 150-thousand convicted felons.
(-------------)

[WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom. The forecast is starting to sound like a broken record..lots of sunshine and mild temperatures. Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will join us in a few minutes with more on that.

[45-11460-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC-56:48]
[GRAPHIC=police chase]

Two men who officials say stole several D-V-D players from Walmarts in Roanoke and Bedford are in custody.
Bedford police made the arrest, but a passing motorist helped authorities catch one of the suspects.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Bedford Police chased the suspects Eastbound on Route 4-60, reaching speeds of 100 miles an hour.
When the suspects attempted to elude police by making a quick turn off of the roadway, their car hit some railroad tracks and flipped over.
Police say the suspects then managed to free themselves from the car, and began running.
A Bedford Police officer apprehend one -- and a passing motorist chased down the other.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We'll definitely be thanking]
((MILTON GRAHAM/BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF: WE'LL DEFINITELY BE THANKING HIM FOR HIS HELP. I THINK HE HAD HIS WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR WITH HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO CHASE THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL DOWN FOR US. (THAT WAS VERY NICE OF HIM?). OH, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.))
[SUPER=01-Milton Graham/Bedford Police Chief]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=we're greatful.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bedford and State Police are investigating the incident.
Police say the suspects will likely be charged with reckless driving and grand larceny.
(------------)

[45-11Goode-Tobacco]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC-1:18:37]
[GRAPHIC=Virgil Goode]
Congressman Virgil Goode is pushing for tobaccos right to advertise overseas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-20 54:23]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./July 1999;]
Goode and two North Carolina lawmakers want the U-S Department of Agriculture to put some of its money behind tobacco.
The federal government spends up to 90- million dollars a year to help sell almonds, chocolate, Kentucky bourbon, wine and other products overseas. But tobacco is banned from the program.
(------------)

[45-State-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A public hearing is scheduled for tomorrow night that will give Roanokers a chance to voice concerns over state spending and car tax relief. Meanwhile, state legislators are still trying to hammer out a budget agreement. The House of Delegates wants to boost the car tax cut to 70 percent this year and next.
But the Senate has resisted a 70 percent car-tax cut because of the slowing economy. House and Senate leaders are expected to meet again today to look for a compromise. Both chambers are scheduled to reconvene in Richmond on Thursday.

[45-Eminent-Domain]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Eminent Domain]

Hundreds of Southwest Virginia residents are losing their private property because of public projects.
It's through a process called eminent domain.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]

Farmer John Lipsey has experienced it first-hand.
Virginia's tallest bridge runs through his 500-acre farm and wildlife preserve in the Ellett Valley.
V-DOT took 48 acres of it nearly four years ago to build the bridge for the Smart Road, which will one day connect I-81 to Blacksburg.
Lipsey says the bridge has permanently devalued his land.
You can find out more about his story and why eminent domain is an issue everyone should know about, tonight on News-7 at 6.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom. Still no rain in the forecast this week...Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner has our sunny outlook, coming up in a little while.

[8-11Rocky-Mayor]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC-1:41:19]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Rocky Mount's Mayor now has competition in tomorrow's town election--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount]

Ben Pinckard thought he would run UN-opposed.
That is until fellow councilman, Mark Newbill decided he would throw his hat into the ring.
Newbill says the fact he's 35-- shouldn't be an issue for voters.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[tc:00:34:59]
[IN Q=They elected Virgil]
((MARK NEWBILL: THEY ELECTED VIRGIL GOODE TO THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN HE WAS 28. SO I THINK THE IDEA OF BEING NAIVE OR TOO YOUNG IS NON-SENSE.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Newbill/Mayoral Candidate]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=is non-sense.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While incumbent Ben Pinckard has been criticized for not being "visible enough," he says its going to take experience to keep Rocky Mount in the black.
(////////SOT//////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We are losing industry]
[tc:00:35:23] ((BEN PINCKARD: FACTORIES ARE CLOSING, WE HAVE ANNEXATION, THE ANNEXATION IS GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FOR WATER AND SEWER. FIRE STATION, POLICE STATION ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF MILLION.))
[SUPER=01-Ben Pinckard/Rocky Mount Mayor]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=a half million.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

All of town council is up for re-election tomorrow.

(------------)[8-11Goode-Tobacco]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC-1:18:37]
[GRAPHIC=Virgil Goode]

There's currently a ban on promotion of tobacco overseas... Congressman Virgil Goode is trying to get legislation that'll lift the ban.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-20 54:23]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./July 1999;]
Goode and two North Carolina lawmakers want the U-S Department of Agriculture to put some of its money behind tobacco.
The federal government spends up to 90- million dollars a year to help sell almonds, chocolate, Kentucky bourbon, wine and other products overseas. But tobacco is banned from the program.
(------------)

[8-11Trigon-Refund]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Trigon]

Uncle Sam is writing big refund check to Trigon Healthcare. The Richmond-based managed care company paid out one-hundred-75 million-dollars in taxes four years ago. After reviewing Trigon's contention the payment was unnecessary, the I-R-S agreed and ruled that Trigon should have been able to deduct the amount from its tax bill. Trigon says it expects a 61 million-dollar refund because of the ruling. The refund is still subject to final approval by a congressional committee.

[8-Eminent-Domain]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Eminent Domain]

Your private property can become public ... and there's almost nothing you can do to stop it.
It's through a process called eminent domain.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]

Farmer John Lipsey has experienced it first-hand.
Virginia's tallest bridge runs through his 500-acre farm and wildlife preserve in the Ellett Valley.
V-DOT took 48 acres of it nearly four years ago to build the bridge for the Smart Road, which will one day connect I-81 to Blacksburg.
Lipsey says the bridge has permanently devalued his land.
You can find out more about his story and why eminent domain is an issue everyone should know about, tonight on Ne(------------) ws-7 at 6.