WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/06/02

[XGR-Tolls]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC54:50]
[GRAPHIC=VA Capitol]
State budget negotiations broke down around 2:15 this morning - with no real deal in sight. Lawmakers were trying to reach an agreement in the face of a 3-point-8 BILLION dollar shortfall. This budget breakdown could force both sides to reappoint negotiators in order to continue resolving differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget. The earliest that negotiations could resume would be this afternoon... Among the other items on the legislators' agenda, 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. 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.
(------------)

[City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2002]
The ballot for the upcoming Roanoke City Council election includes three more people. Yesterday, voters went to the polls to choose three Democrats to run in the May election. This is how the numbers panned out...
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE GRAPHIC PAGE 1] Newcomer Alfred (DOW) Dowe took the most votes, followed by incumbent Nelson Harris and newcomer Rupert Cutler. [TAKE PAGE 2]
Angela Norman was fourth, followed by James Beatty and Zavier Fox. Seven and a half percent of Roanoke's registered voters turned out for yesterday's primary. Teresa Hamilton has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This year's ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Alfred Dowe/(D) City Council Candidate; :30]
[SUPER=01-Rupert Cutler/(D) City Council Candidate; :54]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:15 approx.]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7, Roanoke.]
(( This year's Democratic primary was challenging-- with five candidates and incumbent Nelson Harris vying for three spots. This particular primary also stood out for another reason. For the first time in a municipal election, four of the FIVE new candidates vying for a spot on the ballot were Africa
n American--- including Planning Commission member Alfred Dowe-- who would end up snagging the most votes.
(///sot/////)
[SOT 7:09]
[IN Q= IT'S A WIDE]
((ALFRED DOWE: IT'S A WIDE OPEN RACE. WE THINK THERE ARE STRENGTHS THAT COME WITH PARTICULAR MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET, NAMELY NELSON HARRIS, RUPERT CUTLER AND MYSELF.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q= AND MYSELF.]
Which is exactly how the votes panned out. Incumbent Nelson Harris will be on the ballot once again... along with preservationist and Kiwanis Club president Rupert Cutler.
(/////sot//////)
[sot 02:08:47]
[in q= I want to thank]
((RUPERT CUTLER: I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MY PRIMARY CAMPAIGN, I'M PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO COME THROUGH FOR THEM AND WORKING WITH NELSON HARRIS AND ALFRED DOWE WHO WON. THE THREE OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER IN T HE PRIMARY AND NOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. )) [runs18]
[out q=general election.]
The candidates don't have long to campaign. The election for Roanoke City Council is in May. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Roanoke. ))
[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=hold]

The three democrats chosen yesterday will face Republicans Jack Parrot, Mark Hurley and Steve Mabrey as well as Independent Jeff Artis.

[CA-Primary]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2002]

Meanwhile, voters in California have spoken--
They've ousted 30- year political veteran Gary Condit from office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Modesto, CA;]

The California congressman was defeated by former associate Dennis Cardoza in yesterday's Democratic primary.
Cardoza managed to poll 60 -percent of the vote everywhere in the district, except for Condit's home county.
The 53- year- old Condit was apparently unable to shake free of the scandal surrounding missing Washington intern Chandra Levy.
He conceded defeat last night, outside his home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:00:05 ]
[IN Q=It's been a great]
((REP. GARY CONDIT/D- CALIFORNIA: ))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Gary Condit/(D) California;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=the valley a better place to be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Condit will hold on to his seat in Washington until January.
(------------)

[Afghanistan]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=War on Terrorism]

U-S led forces are said to be closing in on Taliban and al-Qaida fighters holed up in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan.
Military officials say at least 500 enemy troops have died in "Operation Anaconda."
Jennifer Jones has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=more marine choppers]
[SUPER=03-Eastern Afghanistan;]
[SUPER=04-U. S. Defense Department;]
[SUPER=01-John Rosa/Joint Chiefs of Staff;]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Jones/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Jones, CBS News, Washington.]
((
(PKG)
(nats..2:02:38)
MORE MARINE CHOPPERS, AND MORE U-S TROOPS ARE BEING FERRIED TO THE FRONT LINES IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN. AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE PREPARING FOR A LONG AND FIERCE FIGHT WITH THE ENEMY.

(59:45 - SOLDIER - no time for cg - "Just bring it on..all i can say is
bring it on!")

(CG: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE VIDEO)
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RELEASED THIS VIDEO OF U-S TROOPS WAGING WAR ON TALIBAN AND AL-QAEDA REBELS.
(nats..51:05 - bombing cave)
MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S HAS WIPED OUT HALF OF THE FOREIGN FIGHTERS, HIDING IN THESE SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS.
(nats..1:20:31 explosions)
BOMBS EXPLODE, LIKE FIRECRACKERS, AS U-S WARPLANES CIRCLE ABOVE.
(nats..1:57:28)
ON THE GROUND, AROUND THE CLOCK, SOLDIERS HUNT THEIR PREY. THE PENTAGON SAYS SO FAR, OPERATION ANACONDA HAS BEEN A SUCCESS.

(SOT - BRIG. GENERAL JOHN ROSA/JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF "We've killed
people, they're not roaming around freely like they were, they're dug in, we're hunkered in.")
AND U-S SOLDIERS SAY THEY'LL 'FIGHT ON' ... "IN MEMORY" OF THE AMERICAN SERVICEMEN RECENTLY KILLED IN BATTLE. TODAY, THE BODIES OF THE SEVEN SLAIN SOLDIERS RETURNED HOME.

(STANDUP)
TBA JENNIFER JONES, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON. ))

[Yates]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A psychiatrist testifying for the defense says Andrea Yates felt she had no choice but to drown her five children, in order to save them from "eternal damnation."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Houston, TX;]

Philip Resnick said Yates was afraid to talk about her delusions that the devil was after her children.
The Texas woman's mother also took the stand yesterday in her defense.
Karen Kennedy told the jury that Andrea was once a "wonderful mother," and said she never thought Andrea was capable of harming her children.
The defense plans to rest its case.
Closing arguments in the capital murder trial could start by the end of the week.
(------------)

[Jamison]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC1:15:47]
[GRAPHIC=Hallis Jamison]
The suspect in last week's fatal shooting on Hanover Avenue is out of 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 elderly man by banging on the doors and windows.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news,
A possible merger of COMPAQ and Hewlett Packard got an important backing after the closing bell -
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A MULTI-BILLION]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]

(((oc) A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TECH MERGER GOT A BIG THUMBS UP FROM A VERY IMPORTANT GROUP.
Institutional Shareholder Services ADVISES CLIENTS ON HOW TO VOTE IN MERGERS.

(gr)
AFTER THE CLOSING BELL, THE I-S-S RECOMMENDED THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR FO THE 22 BLN DOLLAR BUYOUT MERGER OF COMPAQ AND HEWLETT PACKARD. I-S-S SAYS THE DEAL WILL MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE IN THE LONG RUN. The advisory firm's conclusion is likely to sway many fund companies.

(oc)
THE MERGER PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MET WITH SOME RESISTANCE, ESPECIALLY FROM FAMILY MEMBER AND BOARD MEMBER WALTER HEWLETT WHO IS RECOMMENDING SHAREHOLDERS VOTE DOWN THE DEAL. SHAREHOLDERS GET THEIR SAY IN A VOTE MARCH 19 AND 20TH.

(gr)
WE'RE ALSO WATCHING AMAZON.COM.. Chief Financial Officer Warren Jenson announced he intends to resign later this year HE SAID HE WANTS TO MOVE ON TO NEW CHALLENGES. Jenson has been the online retailer's CFO since September 1999.

(oc)
ON WALL STREET...
THE BLUE CHIPS TOOK A BREATHER AFTER TWO DAYS OF EYE-POPPING GAINS... DESPITE MORE PROOF OF A RECOVERING ECONOMY.

(gr)
THE DOW SANK 153 POINTS THAT'S AFTER RUNNING UP NEARLY 500 POINTS IN TWO SESSIONS.

(gr)
THE NASDAQ HELD ITS HEAD ABOVE WATER WITH A GAIN OF 7 POINTS.

(oc)
GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS CONTINUES TO POUR IN - LAYOFF ANNOUNCEMNTES FELL BY 40 PRECENT IN FEBRUARY.. AND A KEY BAROMTER OF THE SERVICES SECTOR ROSE TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 15 MONTHS.

(gr)
TRACK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ... AT THE NASDAQ

(oc)
I'M AC IN NY. AND NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT YOUR LOCAL STOCKS))

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

[Church-Steeple]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-59 TC2:33:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Work to restore the Lexington Presbyterian Church has come to a 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 say there is a lot of interior work to be done, and the reconstruction should be completed by the end of November.
(------------)

[MLK-Road]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-61 TC1:06:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's back to square one for a group of Danville residents who want to honor Dr. Martin Luther King by naming a road after him.
(------------)
[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.
(------------)

[Sterling]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Henry County is one step closer to landing some high-tech jobs.
(------------)
[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.
(------------)

[straight to bump][1st-Business]

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

In business news this morning,
United Airlines mechanics will be heading back to work this morning instead of the picket lines and former Enron employees have a check in the mail.
Here's Barton Eckert with a look at the morning's top business stories..
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good Morning]
[SUPER=01-Barton Eckert/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=in Washington.]

(( GOOD MORNING THIS WEDNESDAY THE 6TH OF MARCH.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS MORNING.
--------------------------

UNITED AIRLINES HAS AN AGREEMENT AND IT BRINGS MECHANICS AND AIRCRAFT CLEANERS THEIR FIRST RAISE SINCE 1994.
59 PERCENT OF THE MACHINIST UNION'S VOTING MEMBERS SAID YES TO UNITED'S CONTRACT OFFER
WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT... A STRIKE COULD HAVE HIT AS EARLY AS MIDNIGHT TONIGHT..
--------------------------

45-HUNDRED FORMER ENRON WORKERS WILL SOON BE GETTING A CHECK IN THE MAIL.
THE JUDGE OVERSEEING THE BANKRUPTCY CASE IS GIVING EACH ELEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS.
LAST WEEK, THE JUDGE APPROVED THE CREATION OF A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR FUND TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER FORMER ENRON EMPLOYEES BASED ON HARDSHIPS.
--------------------------

A DANGEROUS COMPUTER WORM DIGGING ITS WAY THROUGH THE INTERNET IS SET TO STRIKE TODAY.
THE KLEZ-E, DISPLAYS DIFFERENT SUBJECT LINES, SOMETIMES MASQUERADING AS A VIRUS WARNING.
THE WORM TRIES TO DELETE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE PLUS DESTROYS COMMON DATA FILES SUCH AS WORD, EXCEL, HTML, AND MP3'S.
--------------------------

NO.. UP IS NOT THE ONLY DIRECTION FOR WALL STREET AS BLUE CHIPS FELL ON PROFIT TAKING.... TODAY REACTION TO FACTORY ORDERS DATA.
ON ASIAN MARKETS OVERNIGHT .. IN TOKYO.... STOCKS ADVANCED WITH EXPORTERS LIKE SONY ON THE UPSWING.
--------------------------

HIGH-SPEED INTERNET USAGE MADE UP MORE THAN HALF OF ALL TIME SPENT ONLINE IN JANUARY, OUTPACING DIAL-UP INTERNET ACCESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
NIELSEN-NETRATINGS.... SAYS NEARLY 22 MILLION SURFERS AT-HOME USED A BROADBAND CONNECTION IN JANUARY, THAT'S UP 67 PERCENT.
-------------------------

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]

[5-Health-Disparities]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=501-14 1:42:32]
[GRAPHIC=Morning Health Check]

In this morning's health - do racial disparities in health care exist? It's an issue one local law school is examining.
Joy Sutton has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Washington and Lee]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; 00]
[SUPER=01-Timothy Jost/W & L Professor; 14]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; 24]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=standard]
(( Washington and Lee law professor Timothy Jost says racial disparities in health care don't receive much attention --but they are ultimately widening the health gap between whites and minorities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT23:43:54]
[INQ=In terms of health status]
((IN TERMS OF HEALTH STATUS THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR HAVE WORSE HEALTH THAN WHITE AMERICANS DO)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=white Americans do]

Jost says African American have higher death and infant mortality rates.
He says while a lack of insurance and environmental factors are reasons --there is sometimes a difference in the treatment minorities receive.
That's what a study by the Health Care Financing Administration found when looking at the treatment for heart disease patients. Whites were 22 percent more likely to be hospitalized for heart disease and 57 percent more likely to undergo coronary bypass surgery.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT23:45:59]
[IN Q=So even if y're looking at people who have ]
(( SO EVEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF INSURANCE STILL WHITES ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE TREATMENT WHICH IN SOME CONDITIONS IS GOING TO RESOLVE IN LONGER LIFE OR MORE COMFORTABLE LIFE)) [RUNS5]
[OUT Q=or more comfortable life]

But Jost says racial discrimination is hard to prove -and that's why the Office of Civil Right is trying to take a different approach with its "cultural competency initiative.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT23:47:20]
[IN Q=The idea is that you look at this]
((THE IDEA IS THAT YOU LOOK AT THIS AS A QUALITY ISSUE RATHER THAN DISCRIMINATION ISSUE YOU ENCOURAGE PROVIDERS TO BE SENSITIVE TO PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY WORK)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=in which they work]

Jost hopes this will encourage health providers to be more sensitive to racial issues.
Joy Sutton for news 7 Mornin'.))

[Gwaltney-Contract]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC34:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Employees at two meat-packing plants in Virginia will be at work this morning instead of on the picket lines.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smithfield]

Officials at Gwaltney of Smithfield offered union workers a last-minute contract extension yesterday so contract talks could resume.
Workers were prepared to walk out at midnight.
The contract covers about 17-hundred employees at plants in Smithfield and Portsmouth.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=Valleydale]
Smithfield's Valleydale plant in Salem was prepared to pick up the slack if the Tidewater plants shut down.