WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 10/24/01

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Another unseasonably warm, dry day across the region. Highs will be in the lower 80s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete forecast coming up in just a few moments.

[7-VO-Roanoke-Scare]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#01-48 TC1:01:22]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Police say all is clear in downtown Roanoke this morning. State police have determined a package sent to an office in the SunTrust bank building did not contain explosives or Anthrax.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

For nearly six hours, a two-block radius was cordoned off .. after an employee in the Catawba Capital Management office reported receiving a threatening phone call. Police say the caller talked about a bomb and anthrax.
Police will now be trying to find the person who made the threatening call.
(-----------)

[7-Post-Office]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-56 TC04:39]
[GRAPHIC=Anthrax Scare]
Tests on Roanoke's main post office indicate there is no Anthrax at the building.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

A postal official says the workers were evacuated yesterday morning .. after a white powder was found on a mail processing machine.
A hazardous materials unit responded, and took samples of the substance for analysis.
All tests came back negative.
(------------)

[7-Telegate]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-49 TC39:25]
[GRAPHIC=Business Closing]

120 people will be out of work when a Clifton Forge call center shuts down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Clifton Forge/File Tape;]

Telegate U-S-A, formerly known as C-F-W, informed workers yesterday that it will close by the end of the year.
Operators there handle directory assistance calls for long distance companies.
Telegate officials say business has been decreasing as their clients cut back on service.
Company leaders are meeting with Telegate's union next week to discuss severance packages.
(------------)

[7-11Tech-Flag]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-37 TC1:24:40]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
Virginia Tech's mascot is gearing up for a trip out into the final frontier.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT :15]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
A Tech engineering alumni working for NASA has arranged for a Hokie bird to travel with a shuttle crew. Tech's mascot is scheduled to visit the Hubble telescope next February. Officials are hopeful the hokie will be seen on downlinks from space.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:02:01]
[IN Q=for someone to ]
((JERRY DIFFELL/TECH BOOKSTORE MANAGER; FOR SOMEONE TO THINK BACK AND SAY WELL I CAN REMEMBER GOING TO VIRGINIA TECH AND THAT WOULD BE FUN FOR THE HOKIE BIRD TO GO INTO SPACE SHUTTLE I THINK THAT'S GREAT.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Diffell/Virginia Tech Bookstore Manager]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=THINK THAT'S GREAT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Another emblem is marking its return to campus. A Virginia Tech flag flown aboard the submarine U-S-S Scranton in June as it emerged at the North Pole was returned to the school. Tech and the Scranton have a working relationship to guide the naval ROTC unit at the University.
(-----------)

[WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... The sunshine continues today with summer-like temperatures .. look for highs to reach into the lower 80s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your Wednesday forecast coming up in just a few moments.

[45-11Wachovia]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-36 TC1:59:23]
[GRAPHIC=Wachovia]
The Wachovia-First Union merger is quickly producing some disappointing numbers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/File Tape]

The bank reports a third quarter loss of 334 million dollars, and is blaming that number in part on the merger.
Wachovia's president says he's not satisfied with the bottom line, but is taking the right steps to strengthen the bank's balance sheet.
(------------)

[45-AEP-Earnings]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=AEP]

The earnings news at A-E-P proved to be on the postive side.
Third quarter earnings were up 12-percent, despite the slowing economy.
The nation's largest power generator says it made nearly 460-million dollars in the quarter that ended September 30th.

[45-11L'burg-Airport]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC1:08:24]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Airport]
It looks like Lynchburg city leaders won't get a chance to meet with United Express. The airline says it's too busy for a meeting and is moving ahead with plans to end service at the Lynchburg airport.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

United says it will reduce its daily flights to Washington Dulles from four to two by November and discontinue them entirely by January.
If that happens, airport manager Mark Courtney hopes the two remaining carriers will fill the void.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:50:51]
[IN Q=My sense is]
((MARK COURTNEY/LYNCHBURG AIRPORT MANAGER: MY SENSE IS THAT AFTER THEY CUT MORE, MAKE DEEPER CUTS THAN ARE REALLY NECESSARY, THEN PARTICULARLY BUSINESS TRAVEL STARTS COMING BACK AND THE ECONOMY STARTS IMPROVING EARLY NEXT YEAR THAT THERE'LL BE AIRLINES LIKE DELTA AND EVEN A USAIRWAYS ONCE THINGS STABILIZE WITH THEIR FLEET, THEY THEY'LL BE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Courtney/Lynchburg Airport Manager]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=looking for opportunities.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Courtney is still trying to set up a meeting with congressional leaders, city council and United to talk it.
(------------)

[45-Campaign-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-47 TC1:57:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Virginia Parole Board member is apologizing for what he calls a "lapse in judgment" .. one that resulted in his "drunk in public" arrest last weekend in Richmond.
Kent Smith's position on the Parole Board is a full time, 90-thousand dollar a year job... deciding which inmates should be released from prison.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=403-Richmond;]

The incident was the subject of a Democratic Party news conference.
Party officials played an amateur video of a man they allege is Kent Smith.
They said he was being arrested in the video for tearing down Mark Warner posters.
In fact, Smith was only charged with being "drunk in public."
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT TAPE TWO 12:44:14]
[IN Q=No, this is what it is]
((ALAN MOORE/DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA: NO THIS IS WHAT IT IS. THIS IS JUST A VERY QUICK, GRAB THE CAMERA, SOMETHING'S GOING ON. ))
[SUPER=401-Alan Moore/Democratic Party of Virginia;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=camera, something's going on.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]

The party never supplied any evidence that Mr. Smith was engaging in any activity related to the campaign.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... Another beautiful day across the region with partly sunny skies and near record highs. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your complete forecast coming up after the news.

[8-VO-Roanoke-Scare]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#01-48 TC1:01:22]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Downtown Roanoke seems to be back to normal as a new work-day gets underway. State police have determined a package sent to an office in the SunTrust bank building did not contain explosives or Anthrax.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

For nearly six hours, a two-block radius was cordoned off .. after an employee in the Catawba Capital Management office reported receiving a threatening phone call. Police say the caller talked about a bomb and anthrax.
Police will now be trying to find the person who made the threatening call.
(-----------)

[8-11County-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-33 TC1:47:45]
[GRAPHIC=I 73]

Roanoke County Supervisors have changed directions on Interstate 73.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

At issue- Alternate 6-A, the current plan to take the new highway from interstate 581 through the Mount Pleasant community.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Two weeks ago, the board voted to oppose that route. But after Butch Church said he mistakenly voted against his own position, supervisors yesterday reversed their vote.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think it's unfortunate]
((BOB JOHNSON/HOLLINS SUPERVISOR: I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE. IT'S UNCALLED FOR. I THINK IT'S HEIGHTENED REGIONALISM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING. AND I THINK IT'S THE WRONG MESSAGE TO SEND OUR CITIZENS.)) ((JOE MCNAMARA/WINDSOR HILLS SUPERVISOR: TO TRY TO STRUCTURE THIS AS AN EAST COUNTY VERSUS WEST COUNTY VERSUS MIDDLE COUNTY IS I THINK NOT ACCURATE AT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Johnson/Hollins Supervisor; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joe McNamara/Windsor Hills Supervisor; :11]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=not accurate at all.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Supervisors gave unanimous support to plans for a new luxury car dealership in the Clearbrook area. They agreed to commit 300- thousand dollars in future tax revenue to pay for new water and sewer lines to the site.

[8-5Housing-Network]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-53 6:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Housing in the Roanoke Valley must change in order to meet the needs of a changing population.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

That was the message this morning as the Roanoke Regional Housing Network, brought together bankers, builders, local government leaders and other interested citizens to discuss housing trends.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 06:21:15]
[IN Q=What's quite apparent]
((WHAT'S QUITE APPARENT TO MOST FOLKS IS THAT WE'RE GETTING AN INCREASINGLY ELDERLY POPULATION SO WE NEED FOR EXAMPLE, PROBABLY MORE SINGLE LEVEL HOUSING AVAILABLE, BECAUSE AS WE GET OLDER IT'S NOT AS EASY TO GET UP AND DOWN STAIRS.))
[SUPER=01-David Beidler/Housing Network President]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=to get up and down stairs.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Other changes may include the need for more upscale, high-tech housing as the biomedical institute and related developments move forward in downtown Roanoke. (------------)