WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/08/02

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
It looks like it may be warming up slightly around the region..
.Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your complete forecast coming up in just a few minutes.

[Rockbridge-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

State police say one person was killed in an accident involving two tractor trailers and another vehicle.
It happened just before 6-30 this morning on northbound Interstate 81 near Raphine.
Authorities say both northbound lanes on Interstate 81 are now blocked in that section of Rockbridge County.

Police are recommending motorists avoid that area for now.[7-Special-Election]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2002]
Today is the day voters go to the polls to choose who will head off to Richmond...
Voters from Bath County to Blacksburg are gearing up for the special election. They'll decide whether Democrat Jim Shuler or Republican Larry Linkous represents the 12th District in the House of Delegates.
The winner will succeed Creigh (Cree) Deeds, who won a special election last month to the State Senate.

[7-11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM CUtin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC1:00:58]
[GRAPHIC=Carvins Cove]

Despite the recent snow, sleet and rain - Carvins Cove is still in great need of water.
But Roanoke officials say low water levels aren't the City's biggest water problem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]

60-year-old pipes pumping water from the cove to Roanoke homes need to be replaced.
Discussions about how to do that took place yesterday.
Council also discussed restricting water use, but opted to ask residents to voluntary conserve.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The perception is]
((BILL CARDER/ROANOKE VICE-MAYOR: THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THERE COULD BE A SHORTAGE OF WATER IN THE CITY WHICH IS NOT ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESS OR TO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WANT TO WATER THEIR GARDENS. BUT I TAKE IT WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS WE ARE MOVING TOWARD A REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Carder/Roanoke Vice-Mayor]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=water authority.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The water level at Carvins Cove is down nearly 20 feet.
Council members are fairly sure levels will rise to normal... with spring rain showers.
(------------)

[7-6-School-Bonds]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The leaders of the General Assembly's two most powerful money committees want to commit 250-million dollars a year for construction at colleges and for purchasing park land.
The state would pay for it with a bond issue.
Fairfax Delegate Vince Callahan and Stafford Senator John Chichester outlined a six-year program of cash and bond outlays.
Voters would have to approve the 1-point-6-billion dollar package in November.

[7-Warner-Trust]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Warner]

Mark Warner has decided to let other people manage his money while he's governor.
Warner announced yesterday that a blind trust will hold his and his wife's personal financial assets during his term.
Virginia law does not require the governor to place his holdings in trust, but Warner says he wants to be able to focus completely on the business of the Commonwealth.

[WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
The clouds are moving out, and the sunshine is moving in.
Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will be along with your forecast in just a few moments.

[Rockbridge-Ax]

Police are recommending motorists avoid that area for now.[45-Special-Election]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2002]

It was a short campaign, now time is up.
Voters from Bath County to Blacksburg go to the polls today for a special election. They'll decide whether Democrat Jim Shuler or Republican Larry Linkous represents the 12th District in the House of Delegates.
The winner will succeed Creigh (Cree) Deeds, who won a special election last month to the State Senate.

[45-11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC1:00:58]
[GRAPHIC=Carvins Cove]
Officials in Roanoke say low water levels at Carvins Cove AREN'T the city's biggest water problem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]

60-year-old pipes pumping water from the cove to Roanoke homes need to be replaced.
Discussions about how to do that took place yesterday.
Council also discussed restricting water use, but opted to ask residents to voluntarily conserve.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The perception is]
((BILL CARDER/ROANOKE VICE-MAYOR: THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THERE COULD BE A SHORTAGE OF WATER IN THE CITY WHICH IS NOT ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESS OR TO PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WANT TO WATER THEIR GARDENS. BUT I TAKE IT WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS WE ARE MOVING TOWARD A REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Carder/Roanoke Vice-Mayor]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=water authority.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The water level at Carvins Cove is down nearly 20 feet.
Council members are fairly sure levels will rise to normal... with spring rain showers.
(------------)

[45-11Bruce]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke man is charged with murder and felony child neglect in the death of his infant son. A grand jury handed up the indictments yesterday against 19-year old Gregory Lewis Bruce, Senior. Police say an autopsy showed Bruce's one month old son died in October from what is commonly called "shaken baby syndrome".

[45-11Emergency-Wireless]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-50 TC1:55:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

New technology that would help emergency crews communicate when all other lines have been wiped out could be available by the end of the year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham]

That's the word from Virginia Tech researchers who have been developing a new wireless, broadband system for use in the event of major disasters.
The system is portable and could be set up within hours, giving crews access to video and audio conferencing, the Internet, and geographic information.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:27:07 #2]
[IN Q=Our goal is]
((DR. CHARLES BOSTIAN/VA TECH RESEARCHER: OUR GOAL IS TO FINISH THE PROTOTYPE SYSTEM AND THEN WE HOPE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL WANT TO TAKE IT OVER AND MANUFACTURE IT. IN OTHER WORDS, AS A UNIVERSITY, OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN TURN INTO A USEFUL PRODUCT.))
[SUPER=01-Charles Bostian/VA Tech Researcher; ]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=a useful product.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bostian (BAHS-tyen) says many state and federal agencies have expressed interest in the system since the September 11th attacks.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
The weekend's wintry weather will soon be a memory as sunshine and warmer temperatures promise a lot of melting this week.
Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details, coming up in the forecast.

[Rockbridge-Ax]

Police are recommending motorists avoid that area for now.[8-Special-Election]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2002]

After a short campaign, one of two men will be chosen to go to Richmond.
Voters from Bath County to Blacksburg go to the polls today for a special election. They'll decide whether Democrat Jim Shuler or Republican Larry Linkous represents the 12th District in the House of Delegates.
The winner will succeed Creigh (Cree) Deeds, who won a special election last month to the State Senate.

[8-11Franklin-Murder]
[Anchor=Kim]
[Newscast=Am Cutin]
[Tape=01-55 TC1:05:13]
[Graphic=Legal Scales]
A Charlottesville man who murdered his stepfather will spend the next 45-years in prison.
(-------------)
[VO NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]
23-year old Charlie English was sentenced yesterday for the robbery and murder of Ralph English. The 61-year old was strangled and robbed by his stepson and two of his friends on New Year's Eve 2000.
English and prosecutors reached a plea agreement earlier this year, just one week before he was scheduled to go on trial. The young man pled guilty to first degree murder and robbery. Defense attorneys argued the killing was the result of many years of abuse and addictions to drugs and alcohol. But prosecutors and Judge William Alexander didn't buy it.
(///// SOT AT :00 /////)
[SOT 17:38:06-17:38:24]
[IN Q=Charlie started with two strikes against him...]
((MARK CLAYTOR/ENGLISH'S ATTORNEY: CHARLIE STARTED WITH TWO STRIKES AGAINST HIM. HE WAS A VICTIM OF ABUSE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. I THINK THIS MURDER WAS JUST THE CULMINATION OF EVENTS THAT STARTED WAY, WAY BACK.)) [BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 17:37:16-17:37:27]
[IN Q=He acted on his own selfish behalf...]
((CLIFF HAPGOOD/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: HE ACTED ON HIS OWN SELFISH BEHALF, HE KILLED FOR THE MONEY AND THE GOODS AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SOLD THOSE GOODS IF WE HADN'T GOTTEN TO HIM AS QUICKLY AS WE DID.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Claytor/English's Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=01-Cliff Hapgood/Commonwealth's Attorney; :19]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=gotten to him as quickly as we did.]
(---------------)
[VO NAT] One of English's accomplices, his cousin, Christopher Dorman, was formally sentenced yesterday, as well. The 19-year old faces the next 37-years in prison.
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=Legal Scales]
15-year old Alexander Hudson was acquitted on murder charges. But he's serving time in juvenile detention for the robbery.

[7-6-Downs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
There is a new job lined up for the former head of Virginia Western Community College.
Charles Downs is the interim President at Northern Virginia Community College.
Downs retired from Virginia Western in July and replaces Belle Wheelan who will become the next Virginia secretary of education.
[BIRTHDAYS!] 1/9/02
Wednesday:

[SUPER=130-10/Caitlin Powell/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-11/Meagan Funck/Boones Mill]

[SUPER=130-10/Hannah Patterson/Lexington]

[SUPER=130-12/Janisha Coles/Danville]

[SUPER=130-/Joshua Wells/Christiansbug]