WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/12/02

[7-AM-Redistricting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=Redistricting]
A judge has ruled Virginia's new redistricting plan unconstitutional. BUT- republicans disagree and plan to appeal the judge's ruling.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;]
Judge Richard Pattisall issued his opinion yesterday. The judge has ordered that new districts be drawn. He also wants new elections to be held this year for the House of Delegates. Delegate Vic Thomas says this is welcome news.... The Democrat says redistricting unfairly pushed out delegates like Tom Jackson of Hillsville.
(///sot////)
[sot 00:47:17]
[IN Q= We'd like to have ]
[SUPER=@Thomas; ]
((VIC THOMAS: WE'D LIKE TO HAVE HIM BACK THERE BECAUSE HE'S A BIG HELP ON EDUCATION AND BARNIE DAY AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WE'D JUST LIKE TO GET THEM BACK.))
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q = GET THEM BACK.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
In his ruling-- Judge Pattisall essentially said race was the predominant factor in drawing up the new districts. House Majority leader Morgan Griffith begs to differ.
(///sot////)
[sot 00:48:54]
[IN Q= WE WEREN'T ]
[super=@griffith; ]
((MORGAN GRIFFITH: WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT RACE AS A MAJOR FACTOR WE LOOK AT POLITICS SOME, WE NEVER DENIED THAT, BUT THAT IS PERMISSIBLE.))
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q= THAT IS PERMISSIBLE.]
(-------------------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[ss=HOLD]
Attorney General Jerry Kilgore says the redistricting is constitutionally sound and that Republicans will appeal the ruling.

[7-11Knox]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-08 28:29]
[GRAPHIC=Cecil Knox]
The DEA is shining an unflattering light ib Roanoke pain doctor Cecil Knox.
Officialssay he was writing prescriptions for people who were NOT on his official patient list.
(----------------)
[V/O-NAT SOT]
Papers filed in support of last month's raid on the Doctor's office indicate the feds suspect Knox "omitted incriminating information from his patients files on at least two occasions." In one case the Doctor allegedly knew the patient was a drug ABUSER, but the drug abuse was not recorded in the patient's official file. In another instance, the Williamson Road Pharmacy had called Knox to report that one of his patients had been arrested for robbing a pharmacy. The D-E-A believes Knox omitted the morphine robbery from the patient's file.
(----------------)

[7-11Furniture]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-57 1:56:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Grandin Road is losing a strong business... while Franklin County is gaining one.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Virginia Home Furnishings is closing its locations on Grandin and Northbound 220.
The stores will re-open as a furniture super-store at the current Weekend Furniture location in Franklin County.

The new Weekend Furniture - Virginia Home Furnishings store will be up and running by late summer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think what we'd]
((JOEL SHEPHERD/VIRGINIA HOME FURNISHINGS: I THINK WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS CREATE A STORE THAT CAN PROVIDE ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR EVERYONE IN SOUTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=01-Joel Shepherd/Virginia Home Furnishings]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=central virginia.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Neighboring Grandin Road businesses are concerned about the loss of traffic, but say they will likely go on just fine without Virginia Home Furnishings.
Shepherd says he plans to lease the building to a strong tenant.
(------------)

[45-L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-62 1:52:10]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2002]

Lynchburg's May city council election will be quieter than usual... just four candidates are seeking the three at-large seats.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Yesterday's deadline for party candidates to file passed without anyone submitting their petitions.
The three incumbents are seeking re-election as Independents.. and Republicans say there was no use trying to field any candidates this year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:55:55]
[IN Q=This is going]
((WENDELL WALKER/LYNCHBURG GOP CHAIRMAN: THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INCUMBENT'S YEAR. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT DIRECTION THIS CURRENT COUNCIL WANTS TO GO. OBVIOUSLY IF THEY WANT TO GO IN THE DIRECTION OF TAX REFORMS AND ADDITIONAL TAX INCREASES, I THINK THE PENDULUM'S GOING TO SWING BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION IN FOUR YEARS VERY QUICKLY, MUCH LIKE IT HAS IN THE PAST.))
[SUPER=01-Wendell Walker/Lynchburg GOP Chairman]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=like it has in the past.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mayor Carl Hutcherson, vice-mayor Stewart Hobbs and councilman Bert Dodson are all running again.
Independent candidate Joan Foster is the only other name on the ballot.
(------------)

[45-11Bedford-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Bedford County board of Supervisors has voiced its support for a plan to build an industrial park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Opponents of the park tell us the board voted unanimously in favor of the New London Business and Technology Center.
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape; ]
Before the plan could move forward-- the land had to be zoned industrial. Opponents say it will jeopardize their safety and property values. Supporters, on the other hand, say it will bring money and jobs into the county.
(------------)

[45-11Taxes]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-58 1:46:38]
[GRAPHIC=Taxes]

Anyone who's used tax preparation software programs can tell you that they save you time and money filing your returns. But if you don't have access to them - what do you do?
A group in Lynchburg may have the answer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

That's when the folks at the Quicken Tax Freedom Project come in.
Congressman Bob Goodlatte was in Lynchburg yesterday touting a program that helps qualified residents file their returns electronically for free.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:34:53//14:41:15]
[IN Q=In a very]
((REP. BOB GOODLATTE/R- 6TH DISTRICT: IN A VERY REAL WAY, THIS PROJECT CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS AND PARTICULARLY THIS HELPS LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A SERVICE LIKE THIS BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.)) ((BERNIE MCKAY/INTUIT FINANCIAL FREEDOM FOUNDATION: AND SO THE CONCEPT OF THE QUICKEN TAX FREEDOM PROJECT IS TO TAKE THE TASK OF PREPARING AND FILING YOUR INCOME TAX ELECTRONICALLY OVER THE INTERNET AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF MEANS.))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Bob Goodlatte/(R) Sixth District; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bernie McKay/Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation; :17]
[RUNS=29]
[OUT Q=regardless of means.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Anyone who makes less than 25- thousand dollars qualifies for the program.
(+++++++)
[Take Pinnacle FS]
For a direct link, just go the Webwatch section at WDBJ7-dot.com.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[8-AM-Redistricting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=Redistricting]
Virginia's new redistricting plan is un-constitutional-- according to a state judge's ruling. BUT - Republicans disagree and plan to appeal that ruling.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape;]
Judge Richard Pattisall issued his opinion yesterday. The judge has ordered that new districts be drawn. He also wants new elections to be held this year for the House of Delegates. Delegate Vic Thomas says this is welcome news.... The Democrat says redistricting unfairly pushed out delegates like Tom Jackson of Hillsville.
(///sot////)
[sot 00:47:17]
[IN Q= We'd like to have ]
[SUPER=@Thomas; ]
((VIC THOMAS: WE'D LIKE TO HAVE HIM BACK THERE BECAUSE HE'S A BIG HELP ON EDUCATION AND BARNIE DAY AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WE'D JUST LIKE TO GET THEM BACK.))
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q = GET THEM BACK.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
In his ruling-- Judge Pattisall essentially said race was the predominant factor in drawing up the new districts. House Majority leader Morgan Griffith begs to differ.
(///sot////)
[sot 00:48:54]
[IN Q= WE WEREN'T ]
[super=@griffith; ]
((MORGAN GRIFFITH: WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT RACE AS A MAJOR FACTOR WE LOOK AT POLITICS SOME, WE NEVER DENIED THAT, BUT THAT IS PERMISSIBLE.))
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q= THAT IS PERMISSIBLE.]
(-------------------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[ss=HOLD]
Attorney General Jerry Kilgore says the redistricting is constitutionally sound and that Republicans will appeal the ruling.

[8-11XGR-Southside]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-59 2:40:57]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia State Capitol]
Lawmakers representing rural Virginia say that while the budget is not what they had hoped for - it's still better than they expected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Early versions of the state budget were not kind to southwest and southside Virginia.
There is still plenty of pain that will be felt across Virginia for years to come, but some lawmakers say they did leave Richmond with a sense of relief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Overall, we're hurting]
((DEL. BENNY KEISTER: OVERALL WE'RE HURTING, BUT WE USUALLY ARE AND I DON'T THINK WE MADE ANY GREAT GAINS WITH ANYTHING, BUT I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN.)) ((DEL. ROBERT HURT: I THINK THROUGH THE CONFERENCE REPORT WE SAW SOME IMPROVEMENT, ESPECIALLY THINGS LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S OPPORTUNITY FUND. I WAS REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT MONEY PUT BACK INTO THE BUDGET. WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS TO REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Benny Keister/(D) Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Robert Hurt/(R) Chatham; :10]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=reinvest in our communities.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Lawmakers return to Richmond in April for the one-day veto session. In the meantime, they'll be watching closely as Governor Warner reviews the budget and other legislation they've sent to his desk.

[8-11Bedford-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Bedford County board of Supervisors has lended its support to a planned industrial park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Opponents of the park tell us the board voted unanimously in favor of the New London Business and Technology Center.
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape; ]
Before the plan could move forward-- the land had to be zoned industrial. Opponents say it will jeopardize their safety and property values. Supporters, on the other hand, say it will bring money and jobs into the county. (------------)