WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/18/02

[11XGR]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#02-09 TC1:08:43]
[GRAPHIC=Veto Session]
State lawmakers wrapped up the veto session Wednesday night amid new allegations of political misconduct. The Associated Press reported that Claudia Tucker, a key aid to House Speaker Vance Wilkins, may have listened to a democratic conference call. State GOP executive director Ed Matricardi was charged in the case earlier this month. The story broke as lawmakers were completing their work. Joe Dashiell has more.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mister Speaker]
[SUPER=@Wilkins; 00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :08]
[SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hall/(D) House Minority Leader; :14]
[SUPER=01-Julie Overy/Wilkins' Spokesperson; :34]
[SUPER=@Joe1; :51]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Richmond]

[Training-Exercise]

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

A routine training exercise by the U-S military in Afghanistan has killed four Canadian soldiers and injured eight others.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kandahar, Afghanistan;]

More than 700 Canadian soldiers are deployed in Afghanistan operating out of Kandahar.
No casualties had been reported until this incident.
[SUPER=03-Ottawa, Canada;]

Canadian officials say it was a "friendly fire" accident.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:02:18 ]
[IN Q=An American F-16]
[SUPER=01-Ray Henault/Canadian Military Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=in Afghanistan.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Canada's prime minister says President Bush has called to offer his condolences.
The two nations are planning a joint investigation.
(------------)

[Afghan-King]

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

Afghanistan's deposed king has arrived back in the capital city of Kabul after a 29-year exile.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kabul, Afghanistan;]

The return of 87- year- old Mohammad (ZY'-hehr shah) Zaher Shah this morning is seen as another step in ending decades of turmoil in the country.
(ZY'-hehr shah) Zaher Shah arrived from Italy under extremely heavy security on board a military plane.
The king has said he has no plans to restore the monarchy.
But many Afghans think he'll serve as a unifying and stabilizing figure for a country devastated by 23 years of war and poverty.
(------------)

[11Bush]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-05 TC1:39:36]
[GRAPHIC=George W. Bush]
President Bush addressed the nation's best R-O-T-C students who're gathered this week at Virginia Military Institute.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
He mingled with the best of America's future military leaders... men and women who are Marshall Award Winners. The honor is named for General George C. Marshall a 1901 V-M-I graduate.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:46:05]
[IN Q=General George Marshall]
((GENERAL GEORGE MARSHALL IS ADMIRED FOR THE WAR HE FOUGHT, YET BEST REMEMBERED FOR THE PEACE HE SECURED.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=the peace he secured.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
General Marshall devised the plan to rebuild Europe after World War Two. Students from each of the colleges that have an R-O-T-C program sent their top candidates to V-M-I. They knew the President had been invited, but didn't know until they arrived on Post that he'd accepted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:10:50]
[IN Q=But just to have him]
((NICOLLE JOHNSON/JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY; BUT JUST TO HAVE HIM HERE TO SPEAK TO US, THE MARSHALL AWARD WINNERS- -IT WAS GREAT.))
[SUPER=01-Nicolle Johnson/James Madison University]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=it was great]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
President Bush is only the third sitting President to visit V-M-I. Lyndon Johnson went in 1964 and Millard Fillmore in 1851.
(------------)

[11Airport-Bush]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC1:56:30]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Before heading to Lexington, President Bush stopped for a brief "one on one" with a Roanoke Valley volunteer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :09]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Jennie Sue Murdock met President Bush at the Roanoke Regional Airport to be honored for her decades of community service with the Red Cross.
(///// SOT at :09 /////)
[SOT 20:11-20:29]
[IN Q=I never dreamed that I would be picked...]
((JENNIE SUE MURDOCK/VOLUNTEER: I NEVER DREAMED THAT I WOULD BE PICKED. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY WERE SUBMITTED OR WHETHER THEY WANTED A SENIOR CITIZEN. I'M GUESSING THAT'S PART OF IT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO INCREASE SENIORS IN VOLUNTEERISM.))
[SUPER=01-Jennie Sue Murdock/Volunteer;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=increase seniors in volunteerism.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
Murdock described Mr. Bush as warm, personable and genuine. She says she wished him good luck in Spanish as he walked away, and that he understood and replied, in kind. By recognizing volunteers across the country, President Bush hopes to inspire others to donate their time.
(------------)

[11Flood-Relief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:06:56]
[GRAPHIC=Flood Relief]

Add Wythe County to the list of communities eligible for federal disaster assistance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Month]

Eight Southwest Virginia counties and the City of Norton were already approved for federal help.
Residents there are trying to recover from last month's flooding.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency made the announcement yesterday.
(------------)

[11NAACP]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-17]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A leader in the civil rights movement brought his voice to Roanoke last night. Harry Belafonte was the guest of honor at the Roanoke N-double A-C-P Citizens of the Year awards banquet. Teresa Hamilton reports-- a familiar face in the WDBJ family was among the honorees.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Harry Belafonte/Actor & Singer; :22]
[SUPER=01-Edward Murphy/Carilion President & CEO; :45]
[SUPER=01-Joy Sutton/WDBJ Reporter & Anchor; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS 7, Roanoke.]
(((///sot/////)
[sot 01:36:58]
[in q=On behalf]
((ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE... THAT IS THE KEY TO THE CITY.)) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q= to the city.]
Mayor Ralph Smith was among the first to welcome Harry Belafonte to Roanoke-- The singer and actor was selected to speak at the Roanoke N-double-A-C-P awards banquet based on his many years of work in promoting civil rights.
(///sot///)
[sot 01:23:07]
[in q= A lot of my life]
((A LOT OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE SERVICE OF COMMUNITIES AND SO WHEN ROANOKE AND THE NAACP EXTENDED THE INVITATION TO ME TO COME HERE I TREATED IT LIKE I'D COME TO LONDON.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q= come to London.]
This is the fourth year that the Roanoke N-double-A-C-P has honored several local citizens for their dedication to the community. Among those singled out-- the president and C-E-O of Carilion Health System.
(///sot///)
[sot 01:29:58]
[in q= It was really]
((EDWARD MURPHY/CARILION CEO AND PRESIDENT: IT WAS REALLY HUMBLING, AS I MENTIONED I DIDN'T EXPECT IT, IT WAS OUT OF THE BLUE AND I WAS PROUD AND HUMBLED BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.)) [RUNS11 ]
[OUT Q= both at the same time.]
NEWS 7 Health Check reporter Joy Sutton was also honored for her many contributions to the community.
(///sot////)
[sot 01:28:04]
[in q= It has always]
((JOY SUTTON/WDBJ REPORTER: IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY DREAM TO BE A TV REPORTER AND I WOULD SAY IF YOU STRIVE HARD AND IF YOU KEEP GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q = you can't accomplish.]
This year's ceremony also remembered previous honorees who've since passed away-- including former NEWS 7 sportscaster Roy Stanley.
(///sot////)
[sot 01:239:11]
[IN Q= I remember]
((JOY SUTTON/WDBJ REPORTER: I REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD PEOPLE IN THE NEWSROOM I WAS GOING TO GET THIS AWARD FOR HIM THEY SAID IT MEANT THE WORLD AND TO KNOW THAT I'M FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS OR THAT PEOPLE EVEN THINK OF ME ON THAT LEVEL REALLY REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME.)) [runs14]
[out q= means a lot to me.]
Sutton says because of Roy-- she will also strive to continue to do her part in the community. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Roanoke. ))

[5-Cancer]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=501-10 1:46:02]
[GRAPHIC=Cancer]

A local high school student believes she's found a possible cure for breast cancer.
Now she must convince others to take her seriously because she's only a teenager.
As Joy Sutton found out this was more than just a science project.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Don't underestimate Kumkum]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;00]
[SUPER=01-Kumkum Sarkar/Roanoke Valley Governor's School]
[SUPER=01-John Kowalski/Roanoke Valley Governor's School]
[SUPER=@Joy1;]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=I'm JS for News 7 Mornin'.]

((Don't underestimate Kumkum Sarkar just because she's 17 years old. This high school junior may have discovered a cure for breast cancer.
She started her research after watching a friend's mother battle breast cancer and endure all the side effects she experienced with chemotherapy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT17:51]
[IN Q=That really got me motivated to see]
((THAT REALLY GOT ME MOTIVATED TO SEE IF I COULD FIND AN HERBAL TREATMENT AN INJECTABLE TREATMENT WITHOUT THE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=negative side effects]

She spent a year and a half doing research. But getting the cancer cells for testing wasn't easy, especially when you consider they cost 400 dollars a tube.
Kumkum made two extracts from plants. She says one was 99 percent effective at killing cancer cells the other 33 percent.
She says she excited about the possibilities --but convincing others hasn't been easy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT20:03]
[IN Q=The first thing they say is yeah right]
((THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS YEAH RIGHT. THEY'RE VERY SKEPTICAL JUST THE FACT I'M SO YOUNG AND I'VE DONE SO MUCH RESEARCH IT JUST AMAZES THEM THEY DON'T THINK IT'S REAL)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=don't think it's real]

John Kowalski, the Science Chairman of the Roanoke Valley Governors School says Kumkum could be on to something. He says that's what the governors school is all about giving young students the opportunity to pursue their ideas.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT25:28]
[IN Q=Whether or not this turns out]
((WHETHER OR NOT THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A THERAPEUTIC CURE WOULD BE MANY YEARS OF EVALUATION DONE THE ROAD BUT SHE'S SORT OF STARTED SOMETHING AND IF SHE PURSUES IT OR OTHERS PURSUE IT. IT MAY TURN OUT)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q=it may turn out]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT27:33]
[IN Q=Kumkum's work has already won her]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTING:KUMKUM'S WORK HAS ALREADY WON HER FIRST PLACE IN THE VIRGINIA SCIENCE FAIR. SHE'S ALSO GOTTEN THE ATTENTION OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY WHO'S PUBLISHED HER FINDINGS. HER NEXT GOAL IS TO GET HER IDEAS PATENTED))
[RUNS11]
[OUT Q=ideas patented]

Kumkum still has more research to do --but she's optimistic that one day she be able to market her cancer treatment.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT22:33]
[IN Q=I'll be happy]
((I'LL BE HAPPY GET SOME FAME, MAYBE SOME MONEY BUT DEFINITELY GIVES ME SELF SATISFACTION TO KNOW THAT I'VE HELPED SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO BEST )) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=i like to do best]

But it's her friend's mom who battled cancer who continues to be her inspiration.
Joy Sutton, News 7, Roanoke.))

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[AM-Brush-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse/tha]
[TAPE#=02-07]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]

Firefighters have the upper hand on a brush fire in Botetourt County.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
The fire, which may have been sparked by lightning, was burning about four miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Mountain Pass Road area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Last Night]
Crews started battling the blaze yesterday evening.... fighting difficult conditions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 05:36:51]
[IN Q=It's pretty much]
((JOHN DOOLEY/BLUE RIDGE FIRE DEPT. ASSISTANT CHIEF: IT'S PRETTY MUCH STEEP, ROUGH, FIRE CREWS ARE DOING HAND WORK, THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE SINCE AROUND 7 OR 7 THIRTY.))
[SUPER=01-John Dooley/Blue Ridge Fire Department;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=or 7 thirty.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Dooley said this morning that the fire is mostly contained. Local crews have been released, but hot spot crews will remain on the scene for as long as they're needed.
(------------)

[Tax-Cut]

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

Republicans in the House plan to vote to make last year's one-and-a-third trillion dollar tax cut permanent.
They say it would create jobs and restore economic confidence.
Democrats, meanwhile, are against the action, saying it would balloon the cost by at least four trillion dollars.

They say the tax cut is largely to blame for wiping out the budget surplus.

[81-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]

An overturned tractor trailer is blocking one southbound lane of Interstate 81 in Montgomery County. State Police say the accident happened south of the 114 mile marker. No other information is being released at this time.

[6-Harris]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-08 TC1:17:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Pearisburg man pleaded no contest to an attack on the Virginia Tech campus last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]
A judge found 21-year-old James Lee Harris guilty of aggravated malicious wounding. He attacked 20-year-old Tech student Kristen Blair in the basement of Henderson Hall last March. Blair testified that while Harris was working as a janitor, he pushed her into a bathroom, strangled her and stomped on her face. She suffered serious neck injuries. The felony charge carries a 20 years -to life sentence. Sentencing is set for July 19th. (------------)