WDBJ 7 morning news for 10/26/01

[Anthrax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Anthrax]

An employee at the State Department's mail facility has the inhaled form of Anthrax.
It's the first CONFIRMED case of someone contracting anthrax in Virginia.
The 59-year-old man is at Winchester Medical Center in guarded condition.
A second man who works at the facility is undergoing testing for anthrax after showing flu- like symptoms.
Meanwhile, traces of Anthrax have reportedly been discovered at C-I-A headquarters in Langley.
Officials tell C-N-N the bacteria was found in a building where incoming mail is sorted.
Jennifer Jones joins us now with the latest on the anthrax investigation.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Jones/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Washington, DC;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[SUPER=07-Dick Cheney;]
[SUPER=01-John Parker/U. S. Army;]
[SUPER=01-Tom Ridge/Homeland Security Director;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Washington, DC;]
(( The threat of Anthrax has taken hold as new hot spots are discovered almost daily. The latest cases do not appear to be new attacks. Instead, the impact of the letters infected with the disease is coming into focus.

SOT: Vice President Dick Cheney
For the first time in our history, we may see more casualties at HOME rather than from our troops overseas.
Tests have confirmed that the New York, Florida, and D.C. contaminations were all from the same strain. This could be an important clue as investigators dig for the source.

SOT: Maj. Gen. John Parker
"The samples from New York, Washington and Florida are all from the same family or strain."
All the infected letters were mailed from New Jersey where a second postal worker may have inhalation Anthrax. At a State Department mail center in Maryland, yet another case.

SOT: Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge
Clearly, we are up against a shadow enemy, shadow soldiers, people who have no regard for human life.
The Postal Service now says it's examining 200 mail facilities on the east coast for signs of the disease.

(Nats)

In Afghanistan, the Taliban finally mustered some resistance to U.S. coalition bombers this rocket nearly hit two U.S. warplanes. Despite the opposition, the raids marked the 5th consecutive day of attacks on front line positions near Kabul. ))

[11Brush-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC09:13]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
Fire crews are on high alert.
High winds and low humidity have sparked brush and forest fires all over Southwest Virginia.
Firefighters battled twelve separate fires yesterday, and tell Justin McLeod this could be just the beginning of a dangerous fall fire season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 31:08]
[IN Q=Nat sound of fire]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Marc Fullen/Elliston Fire Department; :25]
[SUPER=@justin1; :47]
[SUPER=01-Jim Clark/Virginia Department of Forestry; 1:04]
[SUPER=01-Clark Hodges/Elliston Fire Department; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Montgomery County]
((((NAT SOUND OF FIRE; 31:08))
Firefighters are sounding the alarm. ((NAT SOUND OF FIREFIGHTERS WORKING))
They're fighting a losing battle.
[SOT 26:30]
[IN Q=Conditions are extremley]
((CYLDE HODGES/ELLISTON FIRE DEPT: CONDITIONS ARE EXTREMELY BAD AT THIS TIME.)) [Runs02]
[OUT Q=at this time]

At times, wind gusts reached more than 40 miles per hour Thursday afternoon.
That made it difficult to fight this brush fire near Ironto in Montgomery County.
Within minutes, flames had consumed more than three acres.
[SOT 44:33]
[IN Q=The wind was shifting]
((MARC FULLEN/ELLISTON FIRE DEPT: THE WIND WAS SHIFTING ON US SO BAD IT WAS GOING EAST, THEN IT WOULD GO WEST, THEN BACK TO EAST.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=then back to east]

High winds along with extreme dry conditions allowed this fire to eventually consume more than 15 acres.
Under those conditions, fires ignite and spread more rapidly.
[SOT 42:25]
[IN Q=They're a couple of factors]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THEY'RE A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT HAVE FIREFIGHTERS FEARING FOR THE WORST. ONE BEING THE FACT THAT FIRE SEASON HAS STARTED EARLY AND THATS MAINLY BECAUSE THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN EARLY. BUT THE MAIN FACTOR IS THE LACK OF RAIN. WE'RE MORE THAN 10 INCHES BELOW NORMAL RAIN FALL FOR THIS YEAR.)) [Runs15]
[OUT Q=fall for this year]
((NAT SOUND OF FIRE))
And that deficit reaches more than 20 inches when you factor in the rainfall from the last three years.
[SOT 37:18]
[IN Q=We need rain]
((JIM CLARK/VA DEPT. OF FORESTRY: WE NEED RAIN. THERE ISN'T ANY RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR OVER A WEEK. WE'RE EXPECTING MORE OF THE SAME FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=at least a week]

That's why the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning.
It also has firefighters asking the public for help.
[SOT 26:45]
[IN Q=There shouldn't be]
((CLYDE HODGES/ELLISTON FIRE DEPT: THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY KIND OF OUTDOORING BURNING AT THIS TIME. PEOPLE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH ANYTHING OUTDOORS, THROWING A CIGARETTE DOWN OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=of that nature]

Its a mixture of human nature and mother nature that has firefighters hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Montgomery County. ))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

This morning, firefighters are still on the scene of a fire on Jasper Mountain in Pittsylvania County.
As of last night, that fire had consumed nearly a hundred acres.

[11Warner]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-50 TC44:46]
[GRAPHIC=Warner/Earley]

Twelve days and counting before Virginians cast their ballots for governor.. and the candidates are leaving no corner of the state untouched.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=403-Nelson Co.]

Democrat Mark Warner started his day in Richmond, traveled to Norfolk and ended up in Lynchburg last night.
He also spoke with supporters outside the Lovingston Fire Department in Nelson County.
Warner says his internal polls show him with a solid lead heading into Election Day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:27:06]
[IN Q=We feel very]
((MARK WARNER/D- CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE STAND AT THIS POINT. NOW I'M SURE THAT THE RACE MAY TIGHTEN UP, BUT WE FEEL GREAT GOING INTO THESE LAST TWELVE DAYS.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=last twelve days.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner says he continues to be disappointed with the tone of Mark Earley's campaign.
He promised voters to "set a new tone" in Richmond if he's elected.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[11Earley]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-53 TC08:14]
[GRAPHIC=wipe]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=403-Roanoke]

Republican Mark Earley was also in the area last night, speaking at a Rotary Club meeting at the Hotel Roanoke.

Earley focused on what he said would be his priorities as governor-- the security of Virginians, investing in education and transportation, and keeping taxes low.
He also said he was pleased to get an A-minus grade from the National Rifle Association.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:23:32]
[IN Q=The second amendment]
((MARK EARLEY/(R) CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR; THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IS NOT ABOUT HUNTING. HUNTING IS A SEPARATE ISSUE. IT'S REALLY ABOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, PROTECT THEIR HOMES THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR NATION. AND IT THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE NOW MORE THAN EVER HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.))
[SUPER=@earley]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=how important that is.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=404-File Tape;]

The N-R-A says: "certainly Mark Earley has NOT always been everything gun owners would like in a candidate," having voted for the one- gun- a-month law.
But his A-minus reflects a record that is "on balance, pro-gun."
Democrat Mark Warner got a "C" from the gun- rights group.
It says Warner has "altered his public stance on issues of concern to gun owners several times" in past years.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=Warner/Earley]

A Sportsmen for Warner spokesman doesn't dispute Warner's grade.
But he says "the only way Mark Earley gets an A-minus on guns is if he graded it himself."

[11Optical-Cable]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-44 TC1:10:21]
[GRAPHIC=Optical Cable]

In business news this morning, Optical Cable Corporation will know soon who posted what it calls "inside information" on the world wide web.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A man with a screen name of "stockin-up2001" posted a company customer list on a Yahoo message board.
A Roanoke County judge granted company officials a subpoena that will allow Yahoo to release the name of the individual.
That, while Optical Cable's President Bob Kopstein continues his court battle with six brokerage firms, to which he owes millions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This has nothing to do]
((KEN HARBER: THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER ISSUES THAT THE COMPANY IS DEALING WITH. NO MATTER WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WE WOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO IT.))
[SUPER=01-Ken Harber/Optical Cable Vice-President]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=responded to it.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

A Texas company says it's aggressively pursuing Kopstein to sell his shares.
Fiber Systems International makes connectors, Optical Cable makes fiber, so the two may be a good fit.
Kopstein did not return our calls about the potential buyout.

[11Ericsson]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Ericsson]

Another possible breach of confidentiality, this time at Ericsson.
The company was advised to release its financial report a day early after figures of the report were released to the media, though not all were correct.
Ericsson posted a third-quarter net loss of 374-million dollars.
The company's Director has also chosen not to seek re-election.
Com-Net Ericsson employs about 650 people at its central Virginia plant.

[1st-Business]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ckor]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In other business news, Economists expect a rather sharp decline in September sales of new homes. The numbers will be released later today.
Here's Barton Eckert with a look at the morning's top business stories..
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Barton Eckert/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=in Washington.]

(( GOOD MORNING THIS FRIDAY THE 26TH OF OCTOBER.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MORNING.
-------------------------

WALL STREET TODAY REACTION TO NEW HOME SALES DATA FOR SEPTEMBER..

ON ASIAN MARKETS OVERNIGHT .. IN JAPAN..STOCKS WOBBLY,,, DOWN ISSUES INCLUDED TOYOTA ON WORD U.S. DURABLE GOODS ORDERS FELL TO A FIVE YEAR LOW HERE.
------------------------

A NOTE THIS MORNING FROM THE YOU COULD HAVE GUESSED IT FILE... WHO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST INVESTORS ON WALL STREET?
CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FUNDS.
NEW NUMBERS FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU SHOW THAT STATE AND LOCAL RETIREMENT FUNDS ARE AT AN ALL TIME RECORD HIGH...AT TWO TRILLION ( YES Trillion) DOLLARS...
AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY-- 788 BILLION IS IN CORPORATE STOCKS..
--------------------------

THE PEOPLE WHO BRING YOU T-V RATINGS HAVE JUST GOBBLED UP THEIR BIGGEST COMPETITOR IN THE ONLINE RATINGS ARENA.
NEILSEN NET RATINGS HAS AGREED TO BUY ARCH RIVAL JUPITER MEDIA METRIX FOR $71.2 MILLION.
-------------------------

A NEW YORK STYLE RESTAURANT IN PHOENIX HAS FOUND WAYS TO PUT SOME WORLD SERIES SPIRIT IN YOUR STOMACH.
CHOMPIES RESTAURANTS' AROUND THE VALLEY HAVE WHIPPED UP SOME NEW YORK YANKEES AND ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BAGELS AND COOKIES..TO CELEBRATE THE WORLD SERIES.
THE BAGELS ARE SWIRLED IN THE TEAM COLORS AND THE COOKIES HAVE THE TEAM LOGOS DISPLAYED. WITH THIS RESTAURANT HAVING A BIG APPLE THEME IN ARIZONA, THE OWNERS SAY THEY CAN'T LOSE EITHER WAY... NO MATTER WHAT TEAM WINS.
------------------------

AND THAT'S YOUR FIRST BUSINESS CHECK ON THE MORNING'S TOP BUSINESS HAPPENINGS..
I'M BARTON ECKERT IN WASHINGTON.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[11M/A-COM]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-49 TC43:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A high-tech Lynchburg firm is ready to make a major investment in the Hill City.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

City leaders and officials with (MAY-com) M/A-COM Wireless Systems broke ground yesterday on a 16-million dollar research and development facility.
The Lynchburg Industrial Development Authority will own the building and lease it to M/A-COM over the next twenty years.
M/A-COM makes two-way mobile radio systems.. it recently won a share of a billion dollar federal contract for the Department of Defense.
(------------)

[11Henry-Development]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-43 TC1:19:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Henry County and the City of Martinsville hope new leadership will help boost the hurting economy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]

Yesterday, officials announced the hiring of the former director of Virginia's Economic Development Partnership to become the new CEO of the county's office of Commerce.
His name is Wayne Sterling.
He'll work full-time for Henry County and part-time with Martinsville to help bring economic development to the region.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:54:38]
[IN Q=Everything in the marketplace]
((WAYNE STERLING/HENRY CO. OFFICE OF COMMERCE: EVERYTHING IN THE MARKETPLACE WE WILL LOOK AT. AND THERE WILL BE SOME WE CAN'T QUALIFY FOR AND CAN'T GET BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE THINK WE CAN QUALIFY FOR WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER.))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Sterling/Henry Co. Office of Commerce]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=are going to go after]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sterling will begin his new role November 5th.
The announcement is a new chapter in an often difficult relationship between the city and the county.
Officials from both localities hope this partnership will be the first of many in the future.
(------------)

[Daily-Dose]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Health Check]

In this morning's Health Check, Healthy teeth can mean lower risks of a heart attack.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

A new study has found a relation between dental disease caused by bacteria and heart attacks. According to the study in September's Journal of Perio-dontology, inflamed gums caused by dental disease raise the levels of certain blood proteins. Researchers believe these high levels are an indicator of a risk for heart attacks. Experts suggest brushing and flossing for healthy teeth. Certain foods like tea or nuts may promote dental health by inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[2Headlines]
[SUPER=#4050; HEADLINE BANNER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

As new anthrax cases continue popping up along the east coast, postal officials are taking more steps to protect mail handlers.
Meanwhile, a second state department mail worker is showing symptoms of anthrax.
(----------------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]
[SS=none]

And the windy, dry weather is keeping area firefighters busy battling brush fires.
[ANCHOR=Leo]
(ad lib weather)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Stay tuned-- News 7 Mornin is straight ahead.

[2-Anthrax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Anthrax]

Good Morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
A fourth person is now facing charges of helping some of the terrorist hijackers get Virginia I-D cards.
33- year-old Victor Lopez-Flores of Alexandria is being held without bond.
In the anthrax investigation, more traces of the bacteria have reportedly been found at C-I-A headquarters in Langley.
Meanwhile, a state department mail handler has come down with inhalation anthrax.
That's the first confirmed case of anthrax in Virginia.
A second employee from the facility is also undergoing tests for the bacteria.
Jennifer Jones joins us now with the latest on the anthrax investigation.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Jones/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Washington, DC;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[SUPER=07-Dick Cheney;]
[SUPER=01-John Parker/U. S. Army;]
[SUPER=01-Tom Ridge/Homeland Security Director;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Washington, DC;]
(( The threat of Anthrax has taken hold as new hot spots are discovered almost daily. The latest cases do not appear to be new attacks. Instead, the impact of the letters infected with the disease is coming into focus.

SOT: Vice President Dick Cheney
For the first time in our history, we may see more casualties at HOME rather than from our troops overseas.
Tests have confirmed that the New York, Florida, and D.C. contaminations were all from the same strain. This could be an important clue as investigators dig for the source.

SOT: Maj. Gen. John Parker
"The samples from New York, Washington and Florida are all from the same family or strain."
All the infected letters were mailed from New Jersey where a second postal worker may have inhalation Anthrax. At a State Department mail center in Maryland, yet another case.

SOT: Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge
Clearly, we are up against a shadow enemy, shadow soldiers, people who have no regard for human life.
The Postal Service now says it's examining 200 mail facilities on the east coast for signs of the disease.

(Nats)

In Afghanistan, the Taliban finally mustered some resistance to U.S. coalition bombersthis rocket nearly hit two U.S. warplanes. Despite the opposition, the raids marked the 5th consecutive day of attacks on front line positions near Kabul. ))

[11Mailroom-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-33 TC1:53:51]
[GRAPHIC=Anthrax]

Mail handlers seem to be saddled with the greatest threat of exposure to Anthrax these days.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
So Carilion's Director of Occupational Medicine set out to allay the fears of government and private mail sorters. He reviewed the route the letter to Senator Daschle took from a mailbox in New Jersey.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:11:15]
[IN Q=The letter was]
((DR. HETZAL HARTLEY/CARILION OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE; THE LETTER WAS PICKED UP IN TRENTON, BRANCH BRENTWOOD, SENATOR DASCHLE, 100'S OF PEOPLE, IT NEEDS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DOSE. IT'S NOT, "OH, I'VE TOUCHED IT, NOW I'M GOING TO DIE."))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Hetzal Hartley/Carilion Occupational Medicine]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=now I'm going to die.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Dr. Hartley says as many as eight to 40-thousand spores of Anthrax have to be deeply inhaled and trapped in the lungs to cause infection.
(------------)

[11Police-Anthrax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-45 TC1:26:31]
[GRAPHIC=Anthrax Scare]

Lynchburg police have a new way of responding to anthrax scares.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The new policy designates one police officer per shift as the 'haz-mat officer', who responds to and evaluates any anthrax related calls.
That person will then decide whether a full-scale response is necessary.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:51:16]
[IN Q=If he thinks]
((LT. TOM LAWTON/LYNCHBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT: IF HE THINKS THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO IT, HE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL SQUAD TWO FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT GUY WILL COME ON OUT, HE'LL ASSESS THE SITUATION WITH HIM. IF THEY FEEL THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO THIS THING, THEN THEY'LL HAVE A FULL HAZ-MAT RESPONSE AND THEY'LL COME OUT AND TAKE CARE OF IT.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Lawton/Lynchburg Police Department]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=take care of it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police have taken samples from at least twelve separate incidents.
Testing is being held off while authorities wait to see if anyone involved develops symptoms of anthrax exposure.

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

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Buyers have swooped back into the stock market. Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
(( IT WAS A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE ON WALL STREET -AN EARLY SELLOFF SPARKED BY SOUR ECONOMIC NEWS, TURNED INTO A RALLY BY THE CLOSING BELL.

(graphic) THE DOW TURNED A TRIPLE DIGIT LOSS INTO A TRIPLE DIGIT
GAIN..UP 117 POINTS

(graphic) NASDAQ ALSO WIPED OUT AN EARLIER GAIN AND MOVED UP 43 POINTS

(on cam) BUYERS FEASTED ON CHIP, FINANCIAL AND ENERGY STOCKS. THE MARKET
INITIALLY SOLD OFF ON NEWS THAT HOME SALES PLUNGED 12 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER WHILE THE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT HIT AN 18 YEAR HIGH LAST WEEK. MORE PROOF THAT THE TERRORIST ATTACKS BROUGHT THE ECONOMY TO A STANDSTILL. THAT SPARKED TALK THAT THE FED MAY MOVE MORE AGGRESSIVELY AND CUT INTEREST RATES BY HALF A PERCENT AT ITS NOVEMBER 6TH MEETING.

(graphic) MICROSOFT GOT A NICE BOUNCE AFTER CEO BILL GATES ROLLED OUT
THE COMPANY'S BIGGEST PRODUCT LAUNCH EVER.. ITS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED WINDOWS XP OPERATING SYSTEM. MICROSOFT HOPES XP CAN HELP RE-ENERGIZE THE TECH SECTOR..BUT To many, XP's best feature is that it crashes less than Microsoft's past offerings.
ON OUR STOCKS TO WATCH LIST: THE FIBER OPTICS GIANT JDS UNIPHASE SAID ITS FIRST QTR LOSS WIDENED TO 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS AND IT I S WARNING ABOUT SALES AND PROFITS FOR THE 2ND QTR.
graphic) BUT THE BIOTECH FIRM AMGEN SUPRISED THE STREET WITH EARNINGS OF 3 O CENTS A SHARE. .A PENNY BETTER THAN EXPECTED. PROFIT AT AMGEN WAS DRIVEN BY STRONG SALES OF ITS ANEMIA AND IMMUNITY BOOSTING DRUGS.

(graphic)
TRACEK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COMAT THE AT THE NASDAQ.)

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM#7]

[11Grandin]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=slo]
[TAPE#=01-47 TC2:03:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A piece of Roanoke history will soon close its doors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The Grandin Theatre will close on November 12th. But one group is pushing to make a sequel in the life of the old theatre. The Grandin Theatre Foundation wants to raise 1 and a quarter million dollars to re-open the theatre as a non profit business. The group wants to buy the building and upgrade the equipment. They hope to reopen the Grandin Theatre sometime next year.
(------------)

[5-Stuttering]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=501-04 55:41]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Health Check]

In this morning's Health Check,
For years, the Hollins Communication Research Institute has helped stutterers develop normal speech.
Now the results of a new study from the Institute gives some insight about what may cause stuttering.. The Institute says it discovered that there may be something physically different about people who stutter. And now it's hope is to find a cure -- to prevent stutters from going years unable to communicate effectively.
Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton has more.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You have to call this number]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;00]
[SUPER=07-Felicia Poindexter;14]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;45]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Ronald Webster/Hollins Communications Research Institute;:57]
[SUPER=@Joy2;]
[RUNS=1:57]
[OUT Q=for News 7 Mornin']
((
(///// SOT /////)
[nat SOT17:01]
[IN Q=You have to call this number]
((NAT SOUND:YOU HAVE TO CALL THIS NUMBER AND TELL YOU SAW THE AD...IN THE ROANOKE TIMES AND YOU WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR RESUME)) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q=and submit your resume]

It's hard to believe that Felicia Poindexter has a job as a secretary --because up until a year ago she stuttered so badly she could barely get out her own name.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:43]
[IN Q=It got the point where]
((IT GOT THE POINT WHERE IT TOOK ME 35 MINUTES TO SAY HELLO MY NAME IS FELICIA POINDEXTER)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=my name is Felicia Poindexter]

This is how she sounded before completing the 19 day program at the Hollins Communications Research Institutue.
(///// SOT /////)
[nat SOT28:38]
[IN Q=I went to a job interview]
((NAT SOUND:I WENT TO THE A JOB INTERVIEW ..... I KNOW THAT STARTED...THE LADY THOUGHT I WAS RETARDED)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=I was retarded]

Doctor Ronald Webster the Director of the Institutue says the program has helped thousands of stutterers by re-teaching them how to speak. And after years of research he believes he may have found why people stutter.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:41]
[IN Q=It appears as if sounds the person is making]
((IT APPEARS AS IF SOUNDS THE PERSON IS MAKING DURING THE INITIATION OF SPEECH ARE BEING SMEARED AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGH THE SKULL AND REACH THE EARS. AND SO THE BRAIN IS NOT BEING PROPERLY INFORMED OF WHAT THE MUSCLES ARE DOING DURING THE PRODUCTION OF SPEECH )) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=of speech]

This cause the muscles to jump out of control. He believes it could have something do with the make-up of the skull .. and that's where there could be a cure in the future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:27]
[IN Q] ((PERHAPS IT WILL BE SOME FAIRLY SIMPLE FORM OF SURGERY THAT ALLOWS US TO ALTER THE WAY ENGERY MOVES THROUGH THE SKULL)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=through the skull]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:50]
[IN Q=Workforce Development Consortium]
((NAT SOUND)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q=workforce consortion]

For Poindexter, not stuttering means she's leaving welfare and can now get a good job. Her dream is to become a motivational speaker.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT19:52]
[IN Q=I really think it's the hardest thing in]
((I REALLY THINK IT'S THE HARDEST THING IN MY LIFE TO OVERCOME.. BUT SINCE I HAVE OVERCAME IT'S OPENED SO MANY DOOR FOR ME)) [RUNS12]
[OUT Q=doors for me]))
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Doctor Webster plans to publish his findings in the Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research by the end of the year.

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron] [Streaming-Video]
[comm #8]

[11McEachin]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-52]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]

Attorney General candidate Donald McEachin has turned up some legal problems faced by the group that's been attacking him hard in T-V ads for a week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :24 ]

This ad is running in heavy rotation on this station through election day.
The Law Enforcement Alliance of America is paying for it, praising Republican Jerry Kilgore in the ad.
Last week, McEachin said the ads badly distorted his record.
[SUPER=403-Richmond]

Now he's come up with some campaign filing irregularities in other states -- like the group's failure to file with Virginia's State Board of Elections.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:21:58]
[IN Q=They've been banned in Pennsylvania]
((DONALD MCEACHIN/(D) ATTORNEY GEN. CANDIDATE; THEY'VE BEEN BANNED IN PENNSYLVANIA. THEY'VE BEEN BANNED IN WEST VIRGINIA. THEY'VE BEEN IMPLICATED IN A PHONE SCAM IN SAN DIEGO. AS MY FRIEND DICK CRANWELL IS FOND OF SAYING, WHEN YOU LAY DOWN WITH DOGS YOU GET FLEAS. AND THIS IS A PARTICULARLY BAD DOG THAT KILGORE HAS CHOSEN TO LIE DOWN WITH.))
[SOT 15:21:00]
((The Kilgore campaign is happy to have such ads running? JAY SMITH/KILGORE SPOKESMAN: ADS THAT REFLECT MCEACHIN'S RECORD AND HIS SIDE OF THE ISSUE AND ALSO PORTRAY JERRY KILGORE'S SIDE ON THE ISSUES WILL BE A POSITIVE THING FOR THE KILGORE CAMPAIGN.))
[SUPER=401-Donald McEachin/(D) Attorney General Candidate;:00]
[SUPER=401-Jay Smith/Kilgore Spokesman; :21]
[RUNS=:42]
[OUT Q=thing for the Kilgore campaign.]
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

NEWS 7 reported two weeks ago that the L-E-A-A's director made comments to the news media this year in support of profiling people based on their race alone.

[11Blacksburg-Pedestrian]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=01-48 TC1:03:05]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A pedestrian crossing North Main Street in Blacksburg died after being hit by a pick-up truck.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

It happened about 7:30 yesterday evening.
Officers have identified the victim as 59 year old Robert Daniel Fain of Blacksburg.
Blacksburg Police say it's too early to know exactly what led to the accident.
(------------)

[11Road-Rage]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-39]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A grand jury will hear the case for three felony charges against a Blacksburg woman involved in a road rage incident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Yesterday, a judge certified three felony malicious wounding charges against 31-year-old Victoria Shepherd. They stem from an alleged August 18th act of road rage on Route 460. Witnesses testimony said Shepherd was driving erratically and purposely swerved into another car. Shepherd's 6-week old infant was in the vehicle. No one was injured. The Blacksburg woman also faces hit and run charges. Shepherd's attorney asked the charges be dropped, saying she did report the accident once she got home and that there's no evidence of intent. The judge denied that and also found Shepherd guilty of misdemeanor reckless driving.
(------------)