WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/09/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... An isolated shower MAY sprinkle the area today - high's will be in the 70's.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete forecast in just a few minutes.

[7-11Indian-Mascot]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Mascot]
The controversy over Blacksburg High School's Indian mascot isn't over.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

About one hundred-people packed last night's School Board meeting.
A majority of speakers called for a reversal of the board's decision last month to eliminate the mascot.
That vote came after a year of debate between supporters and opponents, differences which continue today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 47:04, 42:49]
[IN Q=THE NAACP]
[IN Q=I DO NOT]
((STEVE COCHRAN/NAACP: THE NAACP WANTS TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. DEBBIE ARGABRIGHT/SUPPORTS INDIAN MASCOT: I DO NOT SUPPORT TEARING DOWN TRADITION BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE POLITICALLY CORRECT.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Cochran/Local Chapter of NAACP; quick]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Argabright/Supports Indian Mascot; :05 quick]
[OUT Q=POLITICALLY CORRECT]
[RUNS=:11]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Following normal procedure, the board did not comment on the public address.
(------------)

[7-11County-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC39:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Charging for ambulance service. That is what Roanoke County residents will be discussing at an upcoming public hearing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
A public hearing on the issue is scheduled in two weeks. Yesterday-- county supervisors voted to go ahead with plans. They also tried to erase some concerns.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're not]
((BUTCH CHURCH/CATAWBA SUPERVISOR: WE'RE NOT... HAVE TO DO. ))
[SUPER=01-Butch Church/Catawba Supervisor; ]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=have to do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Supervisors say the move to charge for service is necessary to hire additional rescue personnel to cover the county.

(------------)

[7-6-Science-Van]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-16 TC48:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Some Oak Grove Elementary School students are getting hands-on knowledge of science.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
They're spending two days this week participating in a project put on by the Richmond Science Museum. The "Science by Van" project consists of a traveling team of instructors who conduct workshops and put up exhibits for kids. Educators say the hands-on learning pays off.
(///// SOT AT :15 /////)
[SOT 17:10:54-17:11:11]
[IN Q=We've been pleased with the SOL results...]
((BECKY ROWE/PRINCIPAL: WE'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH THE S-O-L RESULTS. WE ARE FULLY ACCREDITED. THE SCIENCE RESULTS ARE IN THE NINETY PERCENTS FOR BOTH THIRD AND FIFTH GRADES AND I THINK THAT THE SUPPORT OF THE PARENTS AND THE INTERACTION THAT WE GET WITH THEM IS THE BUY-IN THAT MAKES IT ALL WORK.))
[SUPER=01-Becky Rowe/Oak Grove Elementary Principal;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=is the buy-in that makes it all work.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some of the exhibits allow kids to identify human bones, test their nerves, and witness the laws of physics. Oak Grove will host the "Science by Van" project through today.
(------------)

[WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Throw an umbrella in the car today just in case - There's a chance for an isolated shower. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details coming up.

[Monty-Courthouse]

[ANCHOR=Kimbelry]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Water Main Break]
The Commissioner of Revenue's office in Montgomery County will be closed for a while today due to a water main break.

The office will open to the public at Noon.[45-11Gilmore]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-11 TC1:08:08]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
Lawmakers are not budging when it comes hammering out a budget in Richmond. After another day of a special session, there's still NO budget agreement.
[SS=Gilmore]

Meanwhile, Governor Jim Gilmore renewed his promise to give state workers, teachers, and Constitutional officers a pay raise.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

In what he hopes will be a new annual tradition, the Governor handed out awards to state workers as a part of what he named Virginia Public Service Week.
Virginia Tech Housekeeping Supervisor Tammy Kast won an "agency star" award.
She says state worker pay is nothing new as a political football.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT gilmore 12:34:00 ]
[IN Q=Well, it's been a battle from ]
((TAMMY KAST/VIRGINIA TECH EMPLOYEE: WELL IT'S BEEN A BATTLE FROM DAY ONE...STILL HAVE A JOB TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Tammy Kast/Virginia Tech Employee;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=still have a job to do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But Gilmore says -- NO matter what lawmakers do by their self-imposed Friday deadline -- he can take care of the state workers in his final December budget.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT gilmore 12:49:08]
[IN Q=We could make them retroactive]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: WE COULD MAKE THEM RETROACTIVE. YES IT WOULD. IT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE TO HAVE NO BREAK IN BETWEEN THIS PAY INCREASE THAT WE'RE PRESENTLY UNDER AND THE NEXT ONE.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=under and the next one.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Governor admits he's done nothing to steer the budget talks in the last several weeks.
He has yet to announce what specific agency cuts will take place as part of his emergency budget management.
(------------)

[45-11Pulaski-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-27 TC05:24]
[GRAPHIC=Police Shooting]
Pulaski County's Commonwealth's Attorney says an officers' use of force on a suspect after a chase - was - quote appropriate and perhaps even necessary.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski/April 30]

Officers say Heath Shoemaker robbed a store on April 30-th, then led them on a chase through both the town of Pulaski and Pulaski County.
At one point, the suspect stopped his car.
When Sergeant Gregory left his vehicle to approach Shoemaker, he stepped on the gas and tried to run him over.

That's when the officer fired a shot at the car, hitting Shoemaker in the left leg and his right shin.
(------------)

[45-11Hotel-Roanoke]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC1:31:26]
[GRAPHIC=Hotel Roanoke]
The Hotel Roanoke makes the list. It has been added to the list of Historic Hotels of America - And at the same time the new part has a new look.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Repairs to the Hotel's conference Center are now complete, after six months of work.
Expanding fill beneath the center buckled and cracked walls. Now, 8- million dollars later, the conference center has a new ballroom and Regency Dining room.
332 luxury guest rooms are graced with new carpeting, furniture and draperies.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.. We're starting the day off a bit warmer than yesterday...with highs eventually reaching the 70s. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will be along in just a moment with the mid- week forecast.

[Monty-Courthouse]

The office will open to the public at Noon.[8-11Minute-Silence]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC1:03:42]
[GRAPHIC=Moment of Silence]

Although a federal trial judge has already weighed in with a favorable ruling on Virginia's moment of silence law,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

a group of federal appeals court judges heard arguments for and against it yesterday.
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The American Civil Liberties Union is representing a handful of students who oppose it, including Amherst's Mia Magruder.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm uncomfortable with the moment]
[sot tape 10:33:43 ]
((MIA MAGRUDER/AMHERST MIDDLE SCHOOL: I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE MOMENT OF SILENCE BECAUSE I LIVE IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE AREA, AND I'VE HAD TROUBLE BEFORE WITH CERTAIN TEACHERS. AND I THINK THAT BY IMPLEMENTING THIS LAW, IT'S SUGGESTING THAT PRAYER IS A VERY GOOD THING AND PEOPLE SHOULD PRAY.))
[sot tape 10:30:30]
((BILL HURD/ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE: IT REALLY NEITHER ENCOURAGES THEM OR DISCOURAGES THEM IN THE OPTION THEY CHOOSE. THEY CAN SIT THERE QUIETLY THINKING OF NOTHING IF THEY WISH. IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO THEM. AND SINCE IT IS ALL SILENT, NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW.))
[SUPER=01-Mia Magruder/Amherst Middle School; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bill Hurd/Attorney General's Office; :18]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=silent, nobody will ever know.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The state says Fairfax Senator Warren Barry testified on the floor of the Senate that prayer was NOT his purpose in writing the bill.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Of course Mr. Barry said]
[sot tape 10:39:03]
((STUART NEWBERGER/ACLU ATTORNEY: OF COURSE, MR. BARRY SAID ON THE FLOOR THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT PRAYER. BECAUSE HE WAS TOLD BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT PRAYER BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE LAW WAS GONNA BE CHALLENGED. SO THAT'S A SHAM. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE SENATOR, THAT'S A SHAM.))
[SUPER=01-Stuart Newberger/ACLU Attorney;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=to the Senator, that's a sham. (DOUBLE OUT)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The law remains in effect while the appeals court panel considers if its upheld by the constitution.
(------------)

[8-NUI-Domain]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Eminent Domain]
The clock is ticking for those opposed to a new natural gas pipeline---

Initial work on the pipeline from Radford to Roanoke to Rocky Mount may begin by the end of this month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]

From the start, a group of property owners has asked that the 55-mile pipeline be placed alongside one already in place. They say it would lessen environmental impact and still fulfill energy needs.
One local resident will fight the pipeline in court .. while others hope the pipeline builders can be PERSUADED to co-locate.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT-1:58:51]
[IN Q=We give them our]
((BRENT RILEY/PIPELINE PROPERTY OWNER: WE GIVE THEM OUR LAND BECAUSE THEIR SERVING A PUBLIC INTEREST, AND YET THEY ARE REFUSING TO RESPECT THE PUBLIC GOOD.))
[SUPER=01-Brent Riley/Pipeline Property Owner;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=PUBLIC GOOD]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But N-U-I, which will build the line, says co-location would end up being far more costly.
Tonight on News 7 at 6, our look at Eminent Domain shows the last-ditch efforts some residents are taking .. in hopes of stopping construction of a separate gas pipeline easement. (------------)