[Bush]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]
Leading up to his State of the Union address, President Bush is scoring well with the American people.
Two new polls put the President's job approval rating above 80- percent.
Jennifer Jones has a preview of tonight's speech.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Jones/Reporting; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=Jones, CBS News, Washington.]
((
(nats..bush)
ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF TONIGHT.
...AND ALL EARS WILL BE LISTENING, TO WHAT HE SAYS -- AND DOES NOT SAY.
PRESIDENT BUSH IS EXPECTED TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE WAR AND THE ECONOMY...
BUT VERY LITTLE, ABOUT A DARK CLOUD CALLED ENRON, THAT LOOMS OVER HIS
ADMINISTRATION.
(GFX)
A NEW CBS NEWS POLL SHOWS 67 PERCENT OF AMERICANS THINK THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION IS HIDING SOMETHING - EVEN LYING, ABOUT THE ENRON SCANDAL.
WHITE HOUSE AIDES SAY THE PRESIDENT WILL DENOUNCE CORPORATE
IRRESPONSIBILITY -- 'WITHOUT' MENTIONING THE COLLAPSED ENERGY GIANT.
(nats..applause)
BUOYED BY RECORD-HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS, BUSH WILL DEVOTE MOST OF HIS
TIME TO WHAT AIDES CALL 'THREE GREAT GOALS'
(GFX)
-- THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, HOMELAND DEFENSE, AND THE ECONOMY.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY PROPOSED ADDING NEARLY 50 BILLION DOLLARS TO
THE PENTAGON BUDGET, THE LARGEST BOOST IN MILITARY SPENDING IN 20 YEARS.
(nats..afghanistan)
REBUILDING WAR-TORN AFGHANISTAN IS ALSO ON BUSH'S AGENDA.
AIDES SAY THE PRESIDENT WILL EXPLAIN 'WHAT COULD BE NEXT' FOR U-S
TROOPS, AS THEY HUNT FOR THOUSANDS OF TERRORISTS, TRAINED BY OSAMA BIN
LADEN'S NETWORK.
WITH AFGHAN LEADER HAMID KARZAI AT HIS SIDE, PRESIDENT BUSH, ON MONDAY,
PLEDGED 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOAN-AID TO REBUILD THE COUNTRY.
KARZAI IS EXPECTED TO BE AT THE FIRST LADY'S SIDE TONIGHT...AS THE
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES THE NATION.
(STANDUP)
ALSO IN THE V-I-P SECTION FOR TONIGHT'S SPEECH...MEMBERS OF THE
MILITARY, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMERGENCY WORKERS -- WHO'VE BEEN
TREATED AS NATIONAL HEROES SINCE SEPTEMBER 11TH.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS IS SET FOR 9 O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
JENNIFER JONES, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.
))[Plane-Crash]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An Ecuadorean jet carrying 92 people is missing, but authorities are stopping short of saying that it's crashed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cali, Colombia;]
Family members of those aboard the jetliner gathered to comfort one another, as they await news about their loved ones.
The Boeing 727 disappeared in Colombia's Andes mountains yesterday.
But authorities say darkness and dense fog put a quick end to the day's search efforts.
Three planes and a helicopter combed the area, but could not find
a crash site.
Authorities say aerial searches will continue after sunrise today.
(------------)
[Truck-Driver]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Nebraska highway proved deadly for a truck driver from Virginia.
He was killed yesterday in a road rage incident.
It began when Samuel A- Parris and another trucker got into an argument over their C-B radios on Interstate 80 near York, Nebraska.
Police say both drivers pulled off at a rest area, where they continued to argue.
Authorities say the driver from Minnesota returned to his truck and tried to leave, when Parris got crushed to dea
th between the two trucks.
The 50- year- old Parris was a driver for Dart Transport Transit.
The Minnesota driver was arrested, but has not yet been charged.
[11Water-Service]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Water]
Some 300 Roanoke homes could go without water this morning.
City crews are installing a new pipe and will have to temporarily shut off service to some customers in the Garden City area.
The outage will affect houses in the Mill Mountain Estates subdivision and as well as homes and side streets along Garden City Boulevard.
The interruption will begin around nine o-clock and could last for up to six hours.
[11Economic-Development]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-62 TC55:33]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]
120 new jobs are coming to the Roanoke Valley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Two new companies are marking a start in Roanoke's Centre for Industry and Technology.
Virginia Utility Protection Service and InfoSeal are leasing space in the old Transkrit building.
VUPS executives say they almost moved to Franklin County, but credit Roanoke officials for changing their minds.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We started off]
((RICH PARVARSKI/VUPS: WE STARTED OFF AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS LOOKING ACROSS THE STATE. WE DETERMINED THAT SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WOULD BE AN IDEAL LOCATION. WE QUICKLY NARROWED THAT DOWN TO THE ROANOKE AREA.))
[SUPER=01-Rich Parvarski/Virginia Utility Protection Service]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=Roanoke area.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The companies plan to pour more than six million dollars into building renovations, and they are hiring.
InfoSeal has taken 29 former Transkrit employees onboard so far.
(------------)
[11Job-Growth]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-60 TC1:48:42]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Employment Numbers for the state show 19 thousand more jobs were created in the Commonwealth this November than last.... most of them in Northern Virginia.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
That part of the state gained 20 THOUSAND jobs -- and continues to be the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state.
Charlottesville picked up 18 hundred jobs.
And Roanoke gained 12 hundred, many in the health and business services sectors.
Norfolk lost a thousand jobs.
Lynchburg lost 12 hundred, mainly in transportation.
And Danville lost 23 hundred jobs in November, most in manufacturing.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news, The two-day meeting of the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee begins today.
And Toys R Us has announced it's closing more than 60 stores and cutting 19-hundred jobs.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((INVESTORS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY ON THE SIDELINES UNTIL THEY HEAR FROM THE
FED
AND THE PRESIDENT. INVESTORS ARE ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAS
TO
SAY IN TONIGHT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.. AND FED POLICYMAKERS MEET
TO
DECIDE THE FATE OF INTEREST RATES.. BUT GIVEN FED CHAIRMAN ALAN
GREENSPAN'S
UPBEAT COMMENTS LAST WEEK, MOST EXPECT NO CHANGE IN RATES THIS TIME
AROUND.
ON WALL STREET...
(gr)
THE DOW CLIMBED 25 POINTS
(Gr)WHILE THE NASDAQ MOVED AHEAD 6.
(gr)
IT'S NO CHILD'S PLAY AT TOYS R US .. THE TOY RETAILER WILL CLOSE 64
UNDERPERFORMING STORES AND CUT 19-HUNDRED JOBS. TOYS R' US SAYS THE COST
CUTTING WILL LEAD TO MORE PROFITS.
(oc)
THE ONCE HIGH FLYING TELECOMMUNICAITONS COMPANY GLBOAL CROSSING HAS FILED
FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION FROM CREDITORS...
(gr)
GLOBAL DID GET A CASH INFUSION OF 750MLN DOLLARS FROM TWO ASIAN
COMPANIES...The move would make the stock of current shareholders
worthless.
Before the filing, shares traded at 54 cents. Global Crossing soared to
as
high as $61 in the spring of 2000.
(gr)
AND AMERICAN EXPRESS SAID PROFITS SANK 56 PERCENT IN THE FOURTH QTR AS A
TRAVEL SLUMP AND THE RECESSION HURT ITS CHARGE CARD AND TRAVEL
BUSINESSES.
(oc)
BUT THANKS TO LOW MORTGAGE RATES
AMERICANS PUSHED NEW HOME SALES UP 5.7 PERCENT IN DECEMBER CAPPING A
RECORD
YEAR FOR THE HOUSING MARKET... EVEN AS THE ECONOMY SLID INTO RECESSION.
(gr)
TRACK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ... AT THE NASDAQ
(oc)
I'M AC IN NY.))
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[11Olympic-Officer]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC07:41]
[GRAPHIC=Olympics Security]
Law enforcement officers from all across Virginia will be heading to the Olympics next month.
But they won't be competing-- these men and women will be working.
Teresa Hamilton introduces us to a local man who'll represent southwest Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :00]
[SUPER=01-Melvin Morris, III/Pulaski Co. Deputy; :18 quick!!!!!!!]
[SUPER=01-Jim Davis/Pulaski Co. Sheriff; :53]
[SUPER=@teresa2; 1:09 ]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS 7, Pulaski. ]
(( Melvin Morris has worked in law enforcement for more than 20- years.
Next month-- the Pulaski County Sheriff's deputy will be putting that experience to work in Salt Lake City as a law enforcement volunteer at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
(///sot////)
[sot 06:01:20]
[in q=The way it is]
((THE WAY IT IS NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING SIX TO TEN HOUR DAYS, SO WITHIN THREE WEEKS I'LL PROBABLY ONLY HAVE THREE DAYS OFF.))
[RUNS08]
[OUT Q= three days off.]
But Morris' time off will be well spent in Salt Lake City.
Morris is eager to watch the worlds best athletes compete.
(////sot/////)
[sot 06:00:16 AND 06:01:300]
[IN Q= NEVER BEING ]
((NEVER BEING ON THE CALIBER OF AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE TO ME IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO GO OUT THERE..... I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WATCH THE JAMAICAN BOBSLED SO THERE'S MY OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH IT.))
[RUNS07]
[OUT Q= WATCH IT.]
Morris will be working in an area where dignitaries from around the world will be staying--
Morris' boss-- Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis says his deputy was a natural choice.
(///////sot//// )
[sot 05:54:24]
((JIM DAVIS/PULASKI CO. SHERIFF: WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AND TIME ON THE ROAD MEL ACTUALLY HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE I THINK ANY TASK THEY PUT HIM TO AT SALT LAKE, HE WILL BE FINE WITH AND PROBABLY HAS DONE SOME OF IT IN THE PAST.))
[RUNS15]
[OUT Q= of it in the past.]
Now-- Morris will add another job to that list... one that only a select few will able to claim.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Pulaski. ))
[11Bluegrass-Festival]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC1:27:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A group of local musicians wants to take bluegrass competition to a higher level.
The Roanoke Fiddle and Banjo Club is teaming up with the Rotary Club of Roanoke and Hollins University to create the Roanoke Invitational Competition: Masters of Traditional String Music.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :]
[SUPER=03-Galax/August 1995;]
Organizers say the competition will be by invitation only and will include winners of other local bluegrass festivals, like the Fiddler's Convention in Galax.
One of their goals is to bring in professionals from around the world to compete.
(///// SOT at : /////)
[SOT 1:03:22-1:03:47]
[IN Q=There've been lots of regional contests...]
((JACK ZELL/ROANOKE FIDDLE AND BANJO CLUB: THERE'VE BEEN LOTS OF REGIONAL CONTESTS BUT WITH THE REVOLUTIONS THAT HAVE COME ALONG WITH THE "O' BROTHER" SOUNDTRACK AND THE EVER INCREASING POPULARITY OF THE MUSIC, WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION TO ELEVATE THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION TO WHERE WE BELIEVE THE VIRTUOSITY WILL TAKE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Jack Zell/Roanoke Fiddle and Banjo Club;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=where the virtuosity will take it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The Roanoke Invitational Competition will be held Saturday, June 29th at Hollins University.
(++++++++++)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
For more information about the day-long event call (540) 362-6503.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]
[comm #3]
[2-11Water-Service]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Water]
Some Roanoke residents may notice an interruption in their water service today.
City crews are installing a new pipe and will have to temporarily shut off service to some customers in the Garden City area.
The outage will affect houses in the Mill Mountain Estates subdivision and as well as homes and side streets along Garden City Boulevard.
The interruption will begin around nine o-clock and could last for up to six hours.
[11Tech-Tuition]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-58 TC58:58]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Tuition]
Officials at Virginia Tech say tuition increases won't be nearly enough to cover proposed budget reductions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Spokesman Larry Hincker says a 5-percent increase would amount to about 6-million dollars.
But the school is being asked to cut 31-million for the new fiscal year.
Tech is also concerned about a tuition hike affecting enrollment and affordability.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:25:12]
[IN Q=for an]
((LARRY HINCKER/VIRGINIA TECH SPOKESMAN; FOR AN OUT OF STATE STUDENT IT IS ABOUT 580 DOLLARS SO YOU DO THAT ACROSS SEVERAL YEARS AND YEAH IT COULD BEGIN TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE FAMILIES BUDGET AND THAT'S WHY WERE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO IT. ))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/Virginia Tech Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=sensitive to it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
State college tuition in Virginia has been frozen since 19-96.
Governor Mark Warner wants to lift the ban to help cover Virginia's budget shortfall.
Tech's Board of Visitors will make a decision on tuition at Tech this Spring.
(------------)
[11XGR-Sludge]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-55]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The budget battle isn't the only issue creating a stink in Richmond...
Yesterday, the fight was over sewer sludge used as fertilizer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Bath County senator Creigh (cree) Deeds wants to give localities the right to regulate the use of bio-solids or ban them outright.
Deeds says the rendered human waste can be a threat to area groundwater and the smell is more than offensive.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:25:53//11:36:39]
[IN Q=When you live]
((SEN. CREIGH DEEDS/D- BATH CO.: WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, YOU'VE GOT TO GET USED TO FARM SMELLS AND FARMS NOISES. THIS ISN'T A FARM SMELL, COME UP HERE AND TAKE A WHIFF OF THIS, THIS IS NOTHING YOU SMELLED ON YOUR GRANDDADDY'S FARM WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP.))
((SEN. BILL BOLLING/R-MECHANICSVILLE: I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD DISAGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXERCISE SOME REASONABLE CONTROL OVER THE USE OF BIOSOLIDS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO THAT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THAT CONTROL COULD BE EXERCISED UNREASONABLY.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Creigh Deeds/(D) Bath Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Bill Bolling/(R) Mechanicsville; :12]
[RUNS=27]
[OUT Q=be exercised unreasonably.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Right now only the State Health Department can issue permits for biosolids application.
A Senate subcommittee will hear testimony from both sides tonight.
(------------)
[11Church-Mission]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-56 TC1:06:52]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some people who live in the Congo lost everything when a volcano destroyed their homes.
Now a Roanoke Church is offering help and some much needed supplies.
They're getting ready to head to the Congo to help victims of the January 17th volcano.
As Marya Jones reports, the group from Church of the Holy Spirit is the first in the U-S to respond.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS: medicines]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=03-Goma, Congo; :15]
[SUPER=01-Michele Meinhart/Nurse Practitioner; 30]
[SUPER=04-Last Year; :48]
[SUPER=01-David Fuller/Associate Pastor; 1:01]
[SUPER=@Marya2; 1:18]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Roanoke.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[NATS: handling medicines]
((NATS: handling medicines))
[RUNS:03]
Members of the Church of the Holy Spirit load up 800 pounds of medicines to take to the Congo.
With them, they hope to treat 150 people a day ... 15-hundred people during a 10-day mission trip.
(///// SOT /////)
[NATS: Congo volcano tape]
((NATS: Congolese refugees walking over lava))
[RUNS:02]
Nearly half a million Congolese people were driven from their homes by rivers of lava.
The January 17th volcanic eruption near the city of Goma placed thousands at risk for disease, starvation and malnutrition.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:14:44 - :58]
((MICHELE MEINHART/NURSE PRACTITIONER: WHEN WE GET THERE, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF DESPERATION... BASIC NECESSITIES GOING TO BE MISSING.))
[RUNS:13]
(///// SOT /////)
[NATS tape 01-23, tc 21:47]
((NATS: DAVID FULLER: GOOD TO SEE YOU... ))
[RUNS:03]
Last year, Associate Pastor David Fuller led members of the church to the Sudan on a similar mission.
Fuller's contacts with Christian groups there and in the Congo inspired a return trip to Africa to provide medical and humanitarian relief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:24:26 - :43]
((DAVID FULLER/ASSOCIATE PASTOR: ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING COMMUNICATIONS WE GOT FROM THEM WAS THIS MORNING, WHERE THEY SAID WE WELCOME THE FOOD AND HOUSEWARES, BUT DON'T FORGET TO BRING THE JESUS VIDEO, SO WE CAN SHOW THEM THE JESUS WHO DELIVERED THEM FROM THE VOLCANO.))
[RUNS:16]
The group is still hoping to raise 10-thousand dollars before they leave Saturday.
That money will buy food, blankets and housewares for some Congolese people who no longer have them.
Marya Jones, News-7, Roanoke.))
[1st-Business]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ckor]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news this morning, there's a new computer worm to look out for....
And M-&-M's wants you to help pick a new color.
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=1:14]
[OUT Q=in Washington.]
(( GOOD MORNING THIS TUESDAY THE 29TH OF JANUARY.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MORNING.
--------------------------
THE OLD LESLIE GORE SONG WENT "IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I
WANT TO" BUT TEARS WON'T HELP IF YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN HIT WITH A NEW
VIRUS CALLED "MY PARTY".
IT TRIES TO TRICK WINDOWS USERS INTO CLICKING ON A LINK
MASQUERADING AS PARTY PHOTOS
THE "MY PARTY" WORM, ISN'T DESTRUCTIVE.. JUST ANNOYING.. AS IT
E-MAILS ITSELF TO EVERY PERSON IN YOUR E-MAIL LOG.
--------------------------
ON WALL STREET.. ALL EYES ON THE FED AS TWO DAYS OF MEETINGS
ABOUT INTEREST RATES GET UNDERWAY TODAY..
ON ASIAN MARKETS OVERNIGHT .. IN TOKYO .. STOCKS REMAINED WEEK ON
WORRIES ABOUT BANKS WITH BAD LOANS.
--------------------------
SEVEN YEARS AFTER BLUE JOINED THE CHOCOLATE RAINBOW, M AND M'S
WANTS THE WORLD TO PICK A NEW COLOR.
M M WILL ADD EITHER PURPLE, PINK OR AQUA BY AUGUST, AFTER THE
RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, BROWN AND ORANGE ALREADY IN THE BAGS...
A WEB SITE AND A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER WILL TAKE VOTES FROM
MARCH 6 TO MAY 31.
--------------------------
THE END IS NEAR!!!!! FOR YOUR "FATHER'S OLDSMOBILE" MOST OF THE
DEALERS WHO SELL GENERAL MOTORS DYING OLDSMOBILE BRAND CAME TO THE
AUTO DEALERS' CONVENTION IN NEW ORLEANS HOPING G-M WOULD REVERSE
COURSE AND KEEP OLDSMOBILE GOING.
BUT GM CONFIRMED ITS DECISION THAT THE 2004 MODEL YEAR WILL BE
THE LAST FOR THE 104-YEAR-OLD BRAND.
--------------------------
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]
[6-Mead-Westvaco]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Westvaco]
In business news, the merger of Westvaco and Mead is another step closer to becoming a reality.
Yesterday, shareholders of both paper companies approved the merger.
Executives say it will be the sixth or seventh largest company in the industry.
Westvaco operates a mill in Covington and owns hundreds of thousands of acres of forestland in Virginia and West
Virginia.