WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/12/02

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom...... This weekend may bring some scattered showers to our area. Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner has more details in your forecast coming up in just a few moments.

[7-Missing-Woman]

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

Pittsylvania County authorities are looking for a missing Ringgold woman. 40-year-old Carolyn Russell Singleton was last seen around 2 o-clock yesterday afternoon. She is described as a light skin black female with black hair and brownish hazel eyes. She is 5 foot 6 and weighs approximately 155 pounds. Singleton may be wearing a brown sweater with orange triangles, black shoes and white socks.
(++++++++++)
[Take FS Phone Number] If you have any information, you are asked to call Pittsylvania County Crimestoppers at 1-800-791-0044.
(+++++++++++)

[7-Mental-Health]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-12 TC34:25]
[GRAPHIC=Mental Health]

Governor Warner has signed a bill that could release of some of the Commonwealth's mentally into the care of their families.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
The law puts a one year cap on the time people found not guilty of misdemeanors by reason of insanity can spend in a mental hospital. There are 38 such patients locked up in the Virginia mental health system. This summer, the state mental health department will evaluate those people and determine how many can be freed.
(///// SOT AT :19 /////)
[SOT 6:42:47-6:42:02]
[IN Q=The legislation encompassed within these bills...]
((VAL MARSH/NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL: THE LEGISLATION ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THESE BILLS WILL HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE COPING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WILL HELP VIRGINIA MOVE CLOSER TO A MORE HUMANE, MODERN AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF CARE.))
[SUPER=01-Val Marsh/National Alliance for the Mentally Ill;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=modern and effective system of care.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
Another bill would remove the Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities from the executive branch and make it an independent agency, to insulate it from political influence. It will also be renamed the Office for Protection and Advocacy.

[7-11RMWC]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC1:04:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg health officials are still trying to determine what caused dozens of students to get sick at a local college...
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :13]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg;]
Nearly 80 students and faculty members at Randolph-Macon Woman's College have shown symptoms of a flu-like illness.
So far, there is no evidence of what's causing the sickness, although the school is working closely with health officials.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:38:36/1:22:39]
[IN Q=So far, we have followed...]
((MICHAEL KISER/RMWC DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS; SO FAR, WE HAVE FOLLOWED EVERY ONE OF THEIR GUIDELINES CLOSELY, WE'RE WORKING VERY WELL WITH THEM, AND I THINK ALL OF US ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE WORST OF THIS IS BEHIND US.)) ((JOANNA HARRIS/LYNCHBURG HEALTH DEPARTMENT; IT CAN BE SPREAD THROUGH FOOD, THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD ITSELF, OR BY A FOOD HANDLER WHICH IS INFECTED, RARELY IT'S SPREAD THROUGH WATER, AND IT CAN BE SPREAD PERSON-TO-PERSON.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Kiser/RMWC Director of Media Relations; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joanna Harris/Central Virginia Health District Director; :15]
[RUNS=27]
[OUT Q=spread person-to-person.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :08+]
No new cases of the sickness have been reported to the school since Wednesday. Health officials hope the latest round of tests will point to a cause.
(------------)

[45-11Carilion]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-15 TC51:40]
[GRAPHIC=Carilion]

Carilion Health System is still trying to work out the details of a deal that would make three or four insurance companies their partners within the next month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The self-imposed deadline was April first... but Carilion says the companies need to meet some criteria to be considered.
One of those criteria... being fair compensation for Carilion's services.
At least one major policy writer for Trigon says the two companies can't come to an agreement over what that fair compensation is.
If they can't agree, Burman Clark says that could have a major impact on consumers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Potentially what could]
((BURMAN CLARK: POTENTIALLY WHAT IT COULD MEAN IS THAT AN AREA PHYSICIAN COULD BE OUT OF NETWORK, YOU DOCTOR, NO LONGER WOULD BE IN NETWORK, WHICH ULTIMATELY MEANS CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO PAY A LOT MORE OUT OF THEIR POCKETS.))
[SUPER=01-Burman Clark/BB&T Employee Benefits]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=their pockets.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Carilion says its likely Trigon will remain a partner and even if they don't, Carilion will not turn Trigon patients away.
The Health Care Provider says the idea behind the partnerships is to save money.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's a way to perhaps]
((BURMAN CLARK: IT'S A WAY TO PERHAPS MANAGE COSTS A LITTLE BETTER, IT'S A WAY TO MAKE SURE FAIR AND ADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR OR SERVICES, AND AGAIN, PROTECT THE HEALTHCARE DOLLARS THE COMMUNITY SPENDS WITH US.))
[SUPER=01-Eric Earnhart/Carilion Spokesman]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=with us.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Carilion expects to chose its partners within the next month.

[45-11Henry-School]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:13:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Officials in Henry County have been debating this issue for months - and yesterday they finally reached a budget plan for next year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./File Tape]

The school system had to make several cuts to deal with more than a million dollar budget shortfall for next year.

The budget calls for a reduction in staff by more than three percent.
Teachers will get a nearly three percent raise next year but they will also have to pay more in health insurance.
The cuts come less than a month after the school board voted to scrap a plan that would have consolidated and closed several schools to make up for the budget shortfall.
(------------)

[45-11VEA]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Am Cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC1:45:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Governor Warner is scheduled to address a group of 13-thousand educators in Roanoke later today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

They have gathered for the Virginia Education Association's annual convention.
During the three day event, educators will be briefed on new government guidelines and programs.
Delegates are also addressing their biggest concern... the lack of state funding on education.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=AN IMPORTANT STATISTIC]
((JEAN BANKOS/VEA PRESIDENT: AN IMPORTANT STATISTIC IS WE'RE THE 14TH WEALTHIEST STATE PER CAPITA BUT 45TH COMPARATIVELY IN STATE SPENDING ON PUBLIC EDUCATION. THAT'S A KEY FACTOR. WE NEED TO BALANCE THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Jean Bankos/Virginia Education Association President;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=TO BALANCE THAT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The VEA represents 56-thousand teachers across the state.
(------------)

[8-Mental-Health]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-12 TC34:25]
[GRAPHIC=Mental Health]

As a result of a new bill signed into effect by Governor Warner - some mentally ill citizens of the Commonwealth may soon be allowed back into the community.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
The law puts a one year cap on the time people found not guilty of misdemeanors by reason of insanity can spend in a mental hospital. There are 38 such patients locked up in the Virginia mental health system. This summer, the state mental health department will evaluate those people and determine how many can be freed.
(///// SOT AT :19 /////)
[SOT 6:42:47-6:42:02]
[IN Q=The legislation encompassed within these bills...]
((VAL MARSH/NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL: THE LEGISLATION ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THESE BILLS WILL HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE COPING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WILL HELP VIRGINIA MOVE CLOSER TO A MORE HUMANE, MODERN AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF CARE.))
[SUPER=01-Val Marsh/National Alliance for the Mentally Ill;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=modern and effective system of care.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
Another bill would remove the Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities from the executive branch and make it an independent agency, to insulate it from political influence. It will also be renamed the Office for Protection and Advocacy.

[8-11Wilson-School]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-10 TC39:26]
[GRAPHIC=Education]
36 schools in Virginia are not meeting the government's standards. This list includes a school in southside --
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/February 2001]

Woodrow Wilson Magnet school in Danville is one school that could be forced to let its students transfer to better schools next year.
The school received an "accredited with warning" rating from the state Department of Education because of low test scores.
Under the new federal "No Child Left Behind" act, parents can send their children to higher rated schools if the numbers don't improve this spring.
Woodrow Wilson is also in danger of losing state funding.
(------------)

[8-11Danville-School]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=nne]
[GRAPHIC=Andy Overstreet]

Meanwhile, the Danville school system needs a new school superintendent.
Andy Overstreet announced yesterday that he is stepping down as superintendent effective June 30th.
He plans to take a position at North Carolina State University in Raleigh where he'll help establish the new Center For Educational Innovation.
Overstreet has been with the Danville school system for eight years. The school board will begin the process immediately of hiring a new superintendent.