WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/10/02

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
The wet weather has left the region, and sunny skies are on the way.
Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner has your forecast coming up in just a few moments.

[7-Double-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM-Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=murder]

A double homicide last night in Bedford County, and a suicide this morning following a police chase in Roanoke.
Authorities believe the incidents are related.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night;]

The shooting ocurred after 7 last night on Morgan's Mill Road near Goodview.
A call to 9-1-1 alerted authorities.
They arrived to find the bodies of two women in the lower level of the home. They were apparently shot to death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A homicide any homicide]
((A HOMICIDE, ANY HOMICIDE IS HORRIFIC. WHEN YOU HAVE A DOUBLE HOMICIDE, IT'S DOUBLY SO. IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE SITUATION.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=terrible situation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Investigators had a suspect and a description of the car he was driving.
A few hours later, Salem police spotted the S-U-V. State Police and Roanoke officers joined the chase.
As a rolling roadblock slowed the vehicle, police say the man raised the gun and shot himself.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=]

Bedford County authorities have not released the names of the homicide victims or the suspect.

But more information is expected later today.[7-11Matricardi]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:12:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The leader of Virginia's Republican party has resigned after being charged with illegally listening in on two Democratic conference calls.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

A Richmond grand jury charged Ed Matricardi with four felony counts of violating Virginia's wiretap laws.
The indictments allege that Matricardi recorded two calls in which Democratic legislators, including the Governor, discussed strategy on the state re-districting case.
Prosecutors say he passed the information to others, who could also be charged.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:27:56 - 15:28:07]
[IN Q=There's a]
((RANDALL JOHNSON, JR./ASST. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THERE'S A CONSPIRACY STATUTE... AND WHENEVER SOMEBODY COMMITS A CERTAIN OFFENSE, WHOMEVER PARTICIPATED IN THE CRIME CAN BE CONSIDERED A CONSPIRATOR.))
[SUPER=01-Randall Johnson, Jr./Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=a conspirator.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Matricardi and his attorney declined to comment.
He was arraigned and released without bond.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Each count of monitoring a phone call without consent is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

[7-Randolph-Macon]

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

Health Officials are still investigating why dozens of students at Randolph-Macon Woman's College became sick last week.
About 60 students contracted a gastro-intestinal illness.
At this point health officials believe a food-borne illness is to blame and that all of the students contracted it from the same source.
Later today, the Health Department expects lab results that should help determine the cause.
All of the students who got sick live on campus.

[45-Double-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM-Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Murder]
A double homicide in Bedford County last night is believed to be linked to a suicide this morning.
The suicide occurred after police chased the suspect and created a roadblock around him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night;]

The shooting ocurred after 7 last night on Morgan's Mill Road near Goodview.
A call to 911 alerted authorities.
They arrived to find the bodies of two women in the lower level of the home. They were apparently shot to death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A homicide any homicide]
((A HOMICIDE, ANY HOMICIDE IS HORRIFIC. WHEN YOU HAVE A DOUBLE HOMICIDE, IT'S DOUBLY SO. IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE SITUATION.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=terrible situation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

Investigators had a suspect and a description of the car he was driving.
A few hours later, Salem police spotted the S-U-V. State Police and Roanoke officers joined the chase.
As a rolling roadblock slowed the vehicle, police say the man raised the gun and shot himself.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=]

Bedford County authorities have not released the names of the homicide victims or the suspect.

But more information is expected later today.[45-County-Supers]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-62 TC2:00:32]
[GRAPHIC=Tire Fire]
Authorities are working hard on putting out the Roanoke County tire dump fire.
They now report that one portion of the fire could be extinguished by the end of the week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./March 23;]

Yesterday, fire officials briefed county supervisors on their efforts.
They say work on the front ravine is moving forward and may be complete in a few days.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:27:47]
[IN Q=They began ]
((CHIEF RICK BURCH: THEY BEGAN THE FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTIVITIES LAST THURSDAY AND IT CONTINUED THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND HAVE MADE VERY GOOD PROGRESS ON THE INITIAL FIRE, THE RAVINE FIRE WE CALL ITRIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. THEY'VE MADE VERY GOOD PROGRESS WITH PULLING THAT APART EXTINGUISHING IT, WITH VERY LITTLE OR NO RUN-OFF.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Burch/Roanoke Co. Fire & Rescue Chief]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=little or no runoff.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

County officials acknowledge that residents have been frustrated by a lack of information. They are working on a website and a government access television program.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD ]

But they also say it will be some time before officials can answer all of their questions including, how much the clean-up is likely to cost county taxpayers.

[45-Randolph-Macon]

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

Health Officials are still investigating how dozens of students at Randolph-Macon Woman's College became sick last week.
About 60 students contracted a gastro-intestinal illness.
At this point health officials believe a food-borne illness is to blame and that all of the students contracted it from the same source.
Later today, the Health Department expects lab results that should help determine the cause.
All of the students who got sick live on campus.

[8-Double-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM-Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

A double homicide last night in Bedford County, and a suicide this morning following a police chase in Roanoke.
Authorities believe the incidents are related.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night;]

The shooting ocurred after 7 last night on Morgan's Mill Road near Goodview.
A call to 9-1-1 alerted authorities.
They arrived to find the bodies of two women in the lower level of the home. They were apparently shot to death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A homicide any homicide]
((A HOMICIDE, ANY HOMICIDE IS HORRIFIC. WHEN YOU HAVE A DOUBLE HOMICIDE, IT'S DOUBLY SO. IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE SITUATION.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=terrible situation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

Investigators had a suspect and a description of the car he was driving.
A few hours later, Salem police spotted the S-U-V. State Police and Roanoke officers joined the chase.
As a rolling roadblock slowed the vehicle, police say the man raised the gun and shot himself.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=]

Bedford County authorities have not released the names of the homicide victims or the suspect.

But more information is expected later today.[8-11Matricardi]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:12:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A leader of Virginia's Republican party is accused of breaking the law - He was indicted on charges of illegally listening in on two Democratic conference calls.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

A Richmond grand jury charged Ed Matricardi with four felony counts of violating Virginia's wiretap laws.
The indictments allege that Matricardi recorded two calls in which Democratic legislators, including the Governor, discussed strategy on the state re-districting case.
Prosecutors say he passed the information to others, who could also be charged.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:27:56 - 15:28:07]
[IN Q=There's a]
((RANDALL JOHNSON, JR./ASST. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THERE'S A CONSPIRACY STATUTE... AND WHENEVER SOMEBODY COMMITS A CERTAIN OFFENSE, WHOMEVER PARTICIPATED IN THE CRIME CAN BE CONSIDERED A CONSPIRATOR.))
[SUPER=01-Randall Johnson, Jr./Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=a conspirator.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Matricardi and his attorney declined to comment.
He was arraigned and released without bond.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Each count of monitoring a phone call without consent is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

[8-Reedy]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-05 TC1:22:34]
[GRAPHIC=Davey Reedy]
The man convicted in a 15-year-old arson and murder case was denied an appeal for a new trial, by the judge who presided over the case years ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]
Judge Clifford Weckstein found "precious little substance" to support Reedy's claim he did not set the fire that killed his two toddlers. Reedy is serving two life terms plus 10 years in prison. In the ruling filed only yesterday, the judge concluded Reedy "utterly failed to demonstrate" his innocence. (------------)