WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/24/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

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

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones - Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible later today. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete forecast in just a couple of minutes.

[7-11NS-Shops]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-26 TC16:14]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]

A possible snag in plans for Norfolk-Southern could mean bad news for Roanoke. The Federal Government may block the railroad's plans to close one of its car shops.

(------------)
[VO-NAT :23]
[SUPER=03-Holidaysburg, PA/April 12]

The Holidaysburg Pennsylvania Carshops are supposed to close on September 1st.
But the Surface Transportation Board is asking N-S for reasons why the shops should close -- mainly because the railroad claimed the shops would stay open after it merged with Conrail.
At a meeting in Norfolk two weeks ago, N-S President David Goode said there is no way the Pennsylvania shops will stay open.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The line through P-A]
((DAVID GOODE/NORFOLK SOUTHERN PRESIDENT: THE LINE THROUGH PA IS IMPORTANT, IN MANY WAY IT IS THE HEART OF THE SYSTEM. BUT AS I'VE SAID, THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ARE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY, WE SIMPLY DON'T NEED THOSE SHOPS.))
[SUPER=10-David Goode/Norfolk Southern President/May 10]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=need those shops.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The carshops in Roanoke and Hollidaysburg are the only remaining carshops in Norfolk Southern's system.
If the government DOES force N-S to keep the Pennsylvania shops open, some stockholders fear it may force the company to make additional cutbacks in Roanoke.
(------------)

[7-11Radford-Foundry]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-15 TC58:33]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]
Intermet's Radford Foundry is cutting jobs - but it's not saying how many.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape;]

A spokesman says employees at the plant have been briefed on slowing business conditions and future reductions in the workforce.
In a faxed statement, Intermet says no final decision has been made about production changes or which jobs will be affected.
They say details on the cuts will only come after an evaluation of the auto industry, which according to Intermet, has seen a significant slowdown.
(------------)

[7-11Louisa-Bombing]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-30 TC16:12]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A federal jury convicted Coleman Johnson, Junior of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend with a bomb. The Louisa County man could recieve the death penalty.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Louisa Co./December 1997]

Johnson planted a pipe bomb outside ex-girlfriend Tammy Lynn Baker's Louisa County apartment in December 1997.
Baker and her unborn child died in the blast.
Prosecutors say they'll ask for the death penalty.
(------------)

[WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones - Showers and thunderstorms may sprinkle the area today - Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete forecast in just a couple of minutes.

[45-11Racial-Profiling]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-18 TC51:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The General Assembly rejected a study on racial profiling - saying it would cost too much. But Virginia police are doing it anyway... to see if drivers really are pulled over because of their race.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

State Police say they're going ahead on their own.
They'll will be documenting data that troopers already collect on drivers in the course of any traffic stop or incident report.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:44:43]
[IN Q=I'm confident that racial profiling]
((COL. GERALD MASSENGILL/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: I'M CONFIDENT THAT RACIAL PROFILING WITHIN THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE AND WITHIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY IN VIRGINIA IS NOT AN INSTITUTIONALIZED PROBLEM. CERTAINLY I, NOR NO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER KNOWS WHAT'S IN THE HEARTS OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICER, BUT CERTAINLY WE PUT TOGETHER A STRONG POLICY, STRONG DISCIPLINE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO ADDRESS ANY SITUATION THAT DOES COME UP.))
[SUPER=01-Gerald Massengill/Virginia State Police Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=situation that does come up.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Massengill says the new database will give his agency "integrity" when it speaks to what is a very serious national issue.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=Mark Earley]

Attorney General Mark Earley announced a training effort for next month.
Officers from across Virginia will undergo a one- day training session at State Police headquarters to prevent racial profiling.

[45-VOB-Rockbridge-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Charlottesville man is alive and well after spending five hours stranded in the James River in Rockbridge County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Yesterday;]
Cale Jaffe (Kale Jaff-EE) and Damian Jackson were kayaking yesterday near Glasgow when waves knocked Jaffe from his boat. He was able to latch onto Damian's boat and the two managed to make their way to a rock in the river. Jaffe, who is a less experienced kayaker, stayed behind-- while Jackson went for help. Hours later, rescuers would use a helicopter to pull Jaffe from the river. But the recent U-V-A graduate says he was never scared.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:01:21]
[IN Q=I WAS MORE ]
((CALE JAFFE/RESCUED KAYAKER: I WAS MORE HUMBLED AND A LITTLE EMBARRASED....A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT. ))
[SUPER=01-Cale Jaffe/Rescued Kayaker; :00]
[RUNS=15 ? double check time]
[OUT Q=A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Local volunteers and officials say the rescue went smoothly because of cooperation from everyone involved.
(----------)

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones - More rain is on the way today - with high's in the mid 70's. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete weather details coming up.

[8-11D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=01-28 TC22:12]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day Memorial]
D-Day veterans will be honored with the dedication of the D-Day Memorial in less than two weeks -

(------------)
[Super=03-Bedford;]

Workers were busy at the Bedford site- as one key piece of the memorial was erected.
It is a statue depicting soldiers scaling a 150 foot cliff at Normandy-
Last night the artist saw his work in the vertical position for the first time-
He says it tells a story that so many vets tell about that day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=22:25]
((JIM BROTHERS/SCULPTOR: WE HAVE TO.... BUT ALSO PROTECT YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR BUDDIES.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Brothers/Sculptor;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=and your buddies.]
(----------)
[VO-NAT]

Brothers says it was emotional- as the statue went up- The statue is made of 175 pieces-- all welded together.

Among the unique elements of the memorial: ...under-water jets that create the illusion of German sniper fire.
They're designed to mimic the real thing. While it's hard to imagine wading through this if you weren't there, the "shots" in the water may bring back vivid memories for D-Day veterans.
(-------------)

[8-11War-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A proposed war memorial in Halifax County is sparking another controversy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]

Members of the the Halifax Women's Club and War Memorial Commission are fighting over whether the monument should be black or white.
[SUPER=03-Halifax]

Some feel black granite should not be used because they feel it would cast a somber mood on the memorial.
County leaders are hopeful both sides can come to a compromise
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 6:05:11]
[IN Q=It was unexpected]
((JERRY LOVELACE/ASST. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: IT WAS UNEXPECTED THAT IT WOULD TAKE AS LONG AS IT HAS. ON THE OTHER HAND WHEN WE HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A PROJECT AS WE HAVE HAD, CERTAINLY, THERE ARE GOING TO DIFFERENCES OF OPINION WHICH HAVE TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE YOU CAN PROCEED.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Lovelace/Assistant County Administrator]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=before you can proceed]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Board of Supervisors plans to first hold a public hearing on June 4th so residents can weigh in on the color issue. (------------)