WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/06/02

[7-XGR-Tolls]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC54:50]
[GRAPHIC=VA Capitol]
Negotiations for the State budget - in the midst of its 3 point 8 billion dollar shortfall - went on until about 2:15 this morning - ending with no real deal in sight. Lawmakers were trying to reach an agreement. This budget breakdown could force both sides to reappoint negotiators in order to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget. Negotiation could resume as early as this afternoon. One important item on the agenda includes legislation allowing tolls on Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]

The toll on trucks would pay for two new lanes in each direction... an expansion that lawmakers say is long overdue.
Yesterday, the Senate approved the legislation and turned back an effort to collect a toll on cars as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If any project]
((SEN. WILLIAM WAMPLER: IF ANY PROJECT WINS A PRIZE FOR BEING THE MOST INNOVATIVE, I WOULD SAY IT IS THIS PROJECT. THE CONGESTION ON INTERSTATE 81 IS UNBEARABLE. TEN YEARS AGO IT HAD MORE TRAFFIC ON IT THAN IT WAS EVER DESIGNED TO HOLD.))

[SUPER=01-Sen. William Wampler/(R) Bristol]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=designed to hold.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The legislation is now headed back to the House, but supporters are optimistic the measure will win final approval.
(------------)

[7-Jamison]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC1:15:47]
[GRAPHIC=Hallis Jamison]
The man accused in last week's fatal shooting is now back home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Eighty- two year old Hallis (JAY-mi-son) Jamison got out of jail, after the prosecutor decided not to pursue malicious wounding and firearms charges against him... at least for now. The Commonwealth reserves the right to present an indictment for murder or manslaughter next month. However, Don Caldwell says he is NOT going to worry about a weapons charge stemming from Jamison's second- degree murder conviction in 1952.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12:30]
[IN Q=As far as]
((DONALD CALDWELL/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; AS FAR AS POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY A CONVICTED FELON, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO GO THERE AT ALL. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT GOING TO FACTOR INTO IT.))
[SUPER=01-Donald Caldwell/Commonwealth's Attorney]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=not going to factor into it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday - Charlotte Brown was laid to rest following services at Pilgrim Baptist church. The 15- year old was fatally shot as she stood on Jamison's front porch, after her cousins had been taunting the old man by banging on the doors and windows.
(------------)

[45-XGR-Tolls]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC54:50]
[GRAPHIC=VA Capitol]
An agreement over Virginia's budget is yet to come. Lawmakers convened until about 2:15 this morning, without sealing a budget deal.. despite earlier statements from BOTH sides that a deal was within reach. Negotiators face a 3-point-8 BILLION dollar budget shortfall. This budget breakdown may lead to both sides reappointing negotiators in order continue resolving differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget. Negotiations could resume as early as this afternoon.
Among the key issues up for debate is legislation allowing tolls on Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]

The toll on trucks would pay for two new lanes in each direction... an expansion that lawmakers say is long overdue.
Yesterday, the Senate approved the legislation and turned back an effort to collect a toll on cars as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If any project]
((SEN. WILIAM WAMPLER: IF ANY PROJECT WINS A PRIZE FOR BEING THE MOST INNOVATIVE, I WOULD SAY IT IS THIS PROJECT. THE CONGESTION ON INTERSTATE 81 IS UNBEARABLE. TEN YEARS AGO IT HAD MORE TRAFFIC ON IT THAN IT WAS EVER DESIGNED TO HOLD.))

[SUPER=01-Sen. William Wampler/(R) Bristol]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=designed to hold.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The legislation is now headed back to the House, but supporters are optimistic the measure will win final approval.
(------------)

[45-MLK-Road]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC1:06:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A group of Danville residents will have to develop new plans to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, after city council rejected its attempts to re-name a road after the civil rights leader.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]

The group had proposed re-naming portions of Piney Forest Road, Central Boulevard and South Main Street after the slain civil rights leader.
But a committee decided changing the name would negatively impact businesses along the roadway.
No one spoke at a public hearing last night, and Danville City Council voted to keep the road just as it is.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:12:42]
[IN Q=What we have]
((JOHN HAMLIN/DANVILLE MAYOR: WHAT WE HAVE DONE THROUGH THE MEMORIAL COMMISSION IS TO OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC PROCESS. AND IT NOW REQUIRES THE PUBLIC TO STEP UP AND NOT COUNCIL TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, I THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE IS PUT IT MORE OR LESS IN THE PUBLIC HANDS WHICH COUNCIL FELT LIKE THAT WAS THE PLACE IT SHOULD BE.))
[SUPER=01-John Hamlin/Danville Mayor]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=it should be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mayor Hamlin says the group is welcome to come back with suggestions for renaming a different road after Doctor King.
(------------)

[8-Church-Steeple]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-59 TC2:33:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Work to restore the Lexington Presbyterian Church has reached a high point -
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :14]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
Workers used two cranes to lift a new steeple to the top of the church, more than a year and a half after a massive fire destroyed the roof, sanctuary, and steeple. Church leaders say the new spire fills a hole in the Lexington community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 2:42:22]
[IN Q=You take a building...]
((FRANK PARSONS/CHURCH RECONSTRUCTION MANAGER; YOU TAKE A BUILDING LIKE THIS FOR GRANTED AND MANY PEOPLE IN LEXINGTON WHEN THEY COME DOWNTOWN THEY WOULDN'T LOOK AT THEIR WATCHES, THEY'D LOOK AT THAT CLOCK TO TELL WHAT TIME IT WAS. YOU GET USED TO A BUILDING, IT BECOMES PART OF YOUR LIFE AND WHEN IT GOES AWAY, THERE'S AN EMPTY SPOT. AND THIS HELPS RETURN THAT EMPTY SPOT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEARTS.))
[SUPER=01-Frank Parsons/Church Reconstruction Manager;]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=lot of peoples hearts.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :08+]
Church leaders the reconstruction should be completed by the end of November.
(------------)

[8-Sterling]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A local official is expanding his horizons-- and that could bring new high- tech jobs to Henry County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]

Economic Development Director Wayne Sterling has just returned from a business recruiting trip to the Silicon Valley.
His plan is to add electronics companies to the county's Technology campus at the old DuPont facility.
Sterling's selling the county based on its workforce.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Really they've learned]
((WAYNE STERLING/HENRY CO. ECON. DEV. DIR.: REALLY THEY'VE LEARNED TO MAKE THINGS WITH THEIR HANDS, SO THEY CAN BE RETRAINED AND REORIENTED TO MAKE ELECTRONICS, CONSUMER PRODUCTS OR MAYBE EVEN SOPHISTICATED MILITARY PRODUCTS.))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Sterling/Economic Development Director;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=military products.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sterling is also showing-off existing high-tech companies like C-P Films to demonstrate how well the area's workforce can be retrained.
He says he's optimistic about several companies re-locating to Southside.
(------------)

[8-Jamison]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC1:15:47]
[GRAPHIC=Hallis Jamison]
The suspect in last week's fatal shooting of a teenager has been released from jail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Eighty- two year old Hallis (JAY-mi-son) Jamison got out, after the prosecutor decided not to pursue malicious wounding and firearms charges against him... at least for now. The Commonwealth reserves the right to present an indictment for murder or manslaughter next month. However, Don Caldwell says he is NOT going to worry about a weapons charge stemming from Jamison's second- degree murder conviction in 1952.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12:30]
[IN Q=As far as]
((DONALD CALDWELL/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; AS FAR AS POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY A CONVICTED FELON, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO GO THERE AT ALL. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT GOING TO FACTOR INTO IT.))
[SUPER=01-Donald Caldwell/Commonwealth's Attorney]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=not going to factor into it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday - Charlotte Brown was laid to rest following services at Pilgrim Baptist church. The 15- year old was fatally shot as she stood on Jamison's front porch, after her cousins had been taunting the old man by banging on the doors and windows. (------------)