[Cuba-Carter]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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


An historic moment in Communist Cuba--
A former U-S President addresses the Island nation, UN- censored on live television.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Havana, Cuba;]


With Fidel Castro sitting in the front row, Jimmy Carter delivered his speech in Spanish last night.
Carter praised Cuba for its health care, and educational standards.
He then said that he and Castro do not see eye to eye on democracy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:04:10]
[IN Q=The hard]
[SUPER=39-Jimmy Carter;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=beneficial relationship]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Carter discreetly criticized Castro' s government on human rights, and the lack of civil liberties for his citizens.

The speech amounted to a balanced appeal for America to drop its embargo, and for Cuba to join the democracies of the Western Hemisphere.
(------------)



[11L'burg-Council]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-16 TC34:29]
[GRAPHIC=none]


One bad apple spoils the bunch.. or in this case a single house is bringing down the whole neighborhood.
That's the opinion of a dozen homeowners who say they've waited for years for their neighbor to fix up his run-down home... now they want the city to step in.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are 14]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Putt/Goodview St. Homeowner; :11]
[SUPER=04-Photos Courtesy: Tess Roderique; :18]
[SUPER=01-Bill Roderique/Goodview St. Homeowner; :30]
[SUPER=01-Tess Roderique/Goodview St. Homeowner; :37]
[SUPER=07-Ron McCarron; :55]
[SUPER=@ssm1; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]

(( There are 14 homes on Goodview Street in Lynchburg.. the owners of eight of them came to City Council Tuesday night with stories and pictures of a home they say has become a neighborhood nightmare.
[SOT 20:14:15]

((TIM PUTT/HOMEOWNER: JUST THE SIGHT OF THIS.. ...MAKE MY DAY BAD.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=my day bad.]


The city has been after the owner of 4409 Goodview for years to clean up the property, make certain repairs and comply with the city code.
In the meantime, neighbors say their property values have dropped while tensions have risen.
[SOT 21:20:58]

((BILL RODERIQUE/GOODVIEW ST. HOMEOWNER: IN YET ANOTHER TIRADE.. COMPLAINED AGAINST HIM.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=against him.]
[SOT 20:07:38]

((TESS RODERIQUE/GOODVIEW ST. HOMEOWNER: PLEASE HELP US.. INJURED OR SICK.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=injured or sick.]


Ron McCarron lives at 4409.. his father actually owns the property, but he lives in Kentucky.
McCarron refutes what he calls his neighbors' "wild accusations".. and says he's doing the best he can to repair the property.
[SOT 20:32:23]

((RON MCCARRON/PROPERTY OWNER: WHATEVER ACTION'S TAKEN, WE'RE GOING TO FIX THE HOUSE AS MONEY ALLOWS.. CONTINUE TO DO SO.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=to do so.]

[Standup ] ((City council members say 4409 Goodview is the poster child for "spot blight" and voted to start the process of acquiring the property by whatever means necessary.. including seizing it through eminent domain. It was a move the neighbors have been waiting for years.. but one McCarron says will likely be challenged in court. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.] ))



[11Eavesdropping]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-22 TC12:10]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


It was a bittersweet day in court for G-O-P official Ed Matricardi.
State wiretapping charges against him were dropped yesterday but he still could face federal indictment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


A circuit court judge granted state prosecutors' request to dismiss the state charges.
The state argued that the growing scope of the probe warranted federal prosecution.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:31:29]
[IN Q=THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION]

((BILL DINKIN/ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION HAS EXPANDED GREATLY. IT HAS EXPANDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND PHONE CALLS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND. IT WILL BE OUTSIDE OF OUR OFFICE'S JURISDICTION AND THIS COURT'S JURISDICTION. ))
[SUPER=01-Bill Dinkin/Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=AND THIS COURT'S JURISDICTION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Matricardi said he's pleased with the outcome.
But his attorney, Steven Benjamin, expressed frustration with the way the state handled the investigation.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:36:19]
[IN Q=MR. MATRICARDI WAS EXONERATED]

((STEVEN BENJAMIN/MATRICARDI'S ATTORNEY: MR. MATRICARDI WAS EXONERATED. THIS CASE IS OVER. WHAT REMAINS ARE MANY, MANY QUESTIONS INCLUDING THE IRREGULARITY ON THE MARCH 22 CONFERENCE CALL LIST. IT APPEARS THERE WERE 49 CALLERS BUT THE IDENTITIES AND THE NUMBERS OF ONLY 48 CALLERS WAS PRODUCED TO US.))
[SUPER=01-Steven Benjamin/Matricardi's Attorney]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=48 CALLERS WAS PRODUCED TO US.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Benjamin maintains that his client did not commit a crime.
(-------------)



[11Terrorism-Symposium]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Virginia's top anti-terrorism official says the federal government's color-coded guide to terrorist threats must be modified. John Hager made the remarks yesterday morning while speaking at Old Dominion University. Hager is the assistant to the governor for commonwealth preparedness. He says the current system created by the national Office of Homeland Security is too complicated and needs to include threat levels for states or regions.
Hager also says the private sector must work closely with the government to prevent terrorism since business and commercial interests are primary targets.

[Marketwatch]


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


In business news, A combination of upbeat economic data and enthusiasm for an improvement in corporate profits drove stock prices sharply higher yesterday.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]

(( WALL STREET WILL TRY TO MAKE IT THREE WINNING DAYS IN A ROW AND IT MAY GET SOME HELP FROM TWO TECH GIANTS.. AFTER THE CLOSING BELL, THE COMPUTER CHIP GIANT (gr) APPLIED MATERIALS AND HEWLETT PACKARD EACH POSTED PROFITS THAT EASILY BEAT STREET ESIMATES. APPLIED MATERIALS ALSO SAID IT SEES A RECOVERY IN THE CHIP INDUSTRY. (oc) THE EARNINGS CALENDAR IS ONCE AGAIN DOMINATED BY RETAILERS.. LATER TODAY WE'LL HEAR FROM (gr) ANN TAYLOR FEDERATED DEPT STORES, BANKRUPT KMART AND NORDSTROM. (gr) AND SBC COMMUNICAITONS WILL ELIMINATE ANOTHER 1 THOUSAND JOBS THIS YEAR..BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JOBCUTS TO 5,000 IN 2002. THAT'S AFTER THE LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY RANG UP ITS FIRST LOSS IN ALMOST 5 YEARS.. (oc) JUST CALL IT A RETAIL RALLY...A NEW REPORT SHOWED AMERICANS HIT THE STORES LAST MONTH SPENDING MORE THAN EXPECTED... THAT HELPED STOCKS STAGE A BACK TO BACK RALLY... (gr) THE DOW RACED AHEAD 189 POINTS (gr) AND THE NASDAQ FOLLOWED SUIT UP 66 POINTS OR 4 PERCENT. (oc) AND THE NEWS HAS JUST GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR WORLDCOM. (gR) THE TROUBLED TELECOM GIANT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE S&P 500 INDEX ..JUST LAST WEEK 3 RATING AGENCIES CUT ITS DEBT TO JUNK STATUS. WORLDCOM WAS ONE OF THE HOTTEST PERFORMING STOCKS OF THE 1990s. (gr) TRACK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ... AT THE NASDAQ (oc) I'M AC IN NY. ))


(tape tosses to stocks)

[STOCKS] [COMM]


[Bobbit]


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


John Wayne Bobbitt is once again making headlines--
Bobbitt is being held in a detention center in Las Vegas after authorities arrested him for assaulting his wife.
Bobbitt earned dubious fame in 1993, when his THEN-wife Lorena Bobbitt was charged with cutting off his penis.


[Midwest-Flooding]


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


More rain is expected later this week in the Midwest--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


That's bad news for several states trying to fight back against flood waters.
Today, the Mississippi River is expected to crest, reaching its highest point in seven years.
Eight deaths in Missouri this month have been blamed on the flooding rains.
Meanwhile, Illinois has also seen record amounts of rainfall.
(------------)


[6-Steam]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:56:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Roanoke Steam is NOT bankrupt.
The team is eager to point out that its former owners are the ones who recently filed for Chapter 7.
The Steam is now on the hunt for new owners, and as Jennifer Miele tells us, they'll have to settle more than just the score.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:00]
[SUPER=01-Ed Jenkins/Steam's General Manager;:16]
[SUPER=01-Andy Goldstein/Arena Football Attorney;:33]
[SUPER=01-Jim Evans/Roanoke Civic Center;1:02]
[SUPER=@Jennifer2;1:15]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=JM News 7, Roanoke.]

(([NAT SOUND] ((YES THIS IS... THIS MORNING.)) [RUNS04]
The Arena Football 2 League thinks it made a good call.
On Friday it took control of the Roanoke Steam... and hours later the team's FORMER owners filed for bankruptcy.


[SOT]

((ED JENKINS/STEAM GENERAL MANAGER: ALL I CAN SAY NOW IS THAT WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION WE'RE OWNED BY A VIABLE OWNERSHIP GROUP AND VIABLE OPERATION.)) [RUNS05]
The league wants to make a clear distinction between itself and the Steam's former owners.
Attorneys say the league is in charge and in the black, and that the Steam is here to stay.
[SOT]

((ANDY GOLDSTEIN/ARENA FOOTBALL ATTORNEY: THE STEAM WILL PLAY ITS GAME THIS SATURDAY IN ALBANY, THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY AND THE REST OF THIS SEASON AND IN THE FUTURE HERE IN ROANOKE.)) [RUNS10]
And the game is on to battle declining attendance.
The Steam is hopeful its 4 and 2 record and playoff hopes will draw more fans to the Civic Center.
What may be even more important though is a grassroots campaign to build interest.
According to the Civic Center... that can happen with a new, local owner.
[SOT]

((JIM EVANS/ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER: SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY LOOKING TO PUT EFFORT INTO IT TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE TEAM AND ROANOKE.)) [RUNS08]
Shoulder pads and helmets and most other equipment wouldn't be included in the deal -- right now, that will have to be liquidated.
The league wants to strike a deal to buy all of it, but is willing to purchase all new equipment if the former owners don't agree on a price.
It's the hard-hitting part of football you don't see during the game.
Jennifer Miele, News 7, Roanoke.))

(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]


[11County-Budget]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-19 tc 17:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A proposed budget that calls for a pay raise for Roanoke County employees is winning support from supervisors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

All of the board members at yesterday's supervisors' meeting tipped their hat to county administrator Elmer Hodge and his staff. Number crunching has been especially hard this year. The county is dealing with a nearly one million dollar deficit in its current budget-- a shortage caused when the county did not collect as much in sales and personal property taxes as expected. Despite the set back-- the proposed budget calls for NO increase in taxes or fees and a pay raise for all county employees.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:16:49 ]
[IN Q=We've been ]

((JOE MCNAMARA/SUPERVISOR: WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE SOME OF THE BEST RAISES IN THE VALLEY TO SOME OF OUR TEACHERS AND SOME OF OUR HARD WORKING COMMUNITY PEOPLE RECOGNIZING OF COURSE THE NEEDS AND SACRIFICES OUR CITIZENS ARE MAKING WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS. BUTCH CHURCH/CHAIRMAN: A 2 AND A HALF PERCENT RAISE IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, I'M GOING TO ENDORSE THIS BUDGET WITH OPEN HANDS, I MEAN WITH AN OPEN HEART AND A SMILE.))
[SUPER=@McNamara; :00]
[SUPER=@Church; :11]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=and a smile.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Only two people signed up to speak at a public hearing last night and both were opposed to the proposed budget. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposal at its May 28th meeting.
(------------)



[Train-Derailment]


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


He just didn't see it coming--
That's according to the driver who escaped injury when his truck slammed into an Amtrak train in South Carolina.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Coosawhatchie, SC;]


The 18- wheel logging truck had almost cleared a private crossing when the Amtrak Silver Meteor collided into the back of the vehicle.
The wreck derailed all 10 cars on the train, and caused minor injuries to 14 people on board.
Meanwhile, the driver of the truck wasn't hurt.
He says the accident could have been avoided.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:08:26]
[IN Q=One thing]

((ERIC MCKINNEY/TRUCK DRIVER: "ONE THING, THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME FLASHING LIGHTS THERE AND THE TRAIN DRIVER NEED TO BLOW HIS HORN A LITTLE BIT MORE, INSTEAD OF ONE TIME. I'D HAVE STOPPED. ))
[SUPER=01-Eric McKinney/Truck Driver;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=I'D HAVE STOPPED..]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The train was en route from New York to Miami.
About 100 passengers were taken to a local community center while Amtrak made arrangements to get them to their final destinations.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
(------------)



[6-Warner-Healthcare]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Governor Mark Warner wants to increase participation in a state-sponsored health insurance program for children from low-income families.
Virginia has had to return about 56-million dollars in unspent health insurance money to the federal government since 19-98 because the state hasn't signed up enough families.

[5-Stonewall-Jackson]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=502-04 23:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A local hospital says its recent improvements are bringing top-of-the-line health care to its patients.
Lexington's Stonewall Jackson Hospital has doubled in size as it added new equipment and services. It is all part of a 20 million dollar expansion project. As Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton tells us, while there are still renovations to complete and some buildings that still need to be torn down, the community can already tell the difference.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's not everyday you find a hospital]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :03]
[SUPER=01-Roy Wright/Stonewall Jackson Hospital CEO; :10]
[SUPER=07-James C. Bradford, Jr.; :39]
[SUPER=@Joy2;]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=for News 7 Mornin']

((
It's not everyday you find a hospital equipped with a workout facility open to the public.
But this is all part of the new Stonewall Jackson Hospital.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT12:13]
[IN Q=Why not keep people in a healthy mode so]

((ROY WRIGHT/CEO & PRESIDENT: WHY NOT KEEP PEOPLE IN A HEALTHY MODE SO THEY DON'T REPEAT AND IF THAT'S LOGICAL WHY SHOULDN'T WE OPEN IT UP TO ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH A HEART ATTACK AND RECOVERY CYCLE)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=and recovery cycle]


James Bradford Junior has already completed cardiac rehabilitation, for him the "Fit For Life Center" is a healthy next step to avoid another heart attack. He pays 20 dollars a month and come as often as 6 days a week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT24:55]
[IN Q=The big thing is the comfort]

((THE BIG THING IS THE COMFORT OF KNOWING YOU'RE BEING MONITORED BY PROFESSIONALS. THEY TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND WEIGHT AND GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=have any problem]


In the same area you'll find patients going through physical therapy. And aqua therapy is now available as well.
And the hospital has added some of the latest technology. This gamma camera can detect heart disease, cancer and stress fractures too small to be detected by an x-ray. Speaking of cameras --they're inside the I-C-U rooms so nurses can keep a close watch.
Even the labor and delivery area has some very neat gadgets.
(///// SOT /////)
[NAT SOT 26:07]
[IN Q=This is the a birthing bed]
((NAT SOT: THIS IS A BIRTHING BED. THE BOTTOM COMES OFF SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER IN THIS BED. AND LIGHTENING ABOVE C

OMES DOWN FROM THE CEILING WITH A MIRROR SO YOU CAN WATCH YOUR DELIVERY... AND THEN AFTER THE DELIVERY THE BABY BED IS RIGHT INSIDE SO WE CAN DO ANY TYPE OF RECITATION THAT WE NEED WITHOUT AND YOUR BABY NEVER HAS TO LEAVE THE ROOM)) [RUNS23]
[OUT Q=leave the room]


Other changes, the hospital plans to eliminate 35 in-house beds because officials believe most services can be performed on outpatient basis. ))
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]


The hospital will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday the 18th from 10 to 1pm. It will be offering tours to the public.

[11Lois-Lane]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-21]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The future is looking even brighter for a local church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Fellowship Baptist can now move forward with plans to build a church and daycare center on a 15 acre parcel of land in the Hollins area of Roanoke County. Last night, the board of supervisors agreed to change zoning for the property from industrial to commercial-- so the church could move forward with its plans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:04:25]
[IN Q= Life isn't ]

((RICHARD FLORA/SUPERVISOR: LIFE ISN'T ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY, LIFE IS ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND I THINK THE ADDITION TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE VERY POSITIVE, PERHAPS IT WON'T BRING IN THE TAX DOLLARS THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE IT TO BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE COMING INTO ROANOKE COUNTY.))
[SUPER=@Flora;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=into roanoke county.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The county had originally hoped a large industry would buy the property-- which would have pumped more tax dollars into the county.
(------------)



[11Franklin-Zoning]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-14 TC1:07:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A proposed subdivision at Smith Mountain Lake is drawing protests from nearby residents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]


The land is on the north side of Route 616 ... across from the Crazy Horse Campground.
Local developers say they want to build 37 upscale single family homes -- 11 of them on the waterfront -- that will occupy an acre of land each. But the zoning they're seeking ALSO allows "large-scale development."
Nearby homeowners from Deer Creek North Cove are worried the developers will crowd the neighborhood with homes and businesses and the cove with boats.
The proposal goes before the Board of Supervisors next week.
(------------)



[11Blacksburg-Zoning]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC1:51:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]


It won't be any easier for commercial development in the town of Blacksburg. At a meeting last night, town council rejected a zoning change request.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

A local dentist wanted to build a new office on Prices Fork Road. The area is zoned rural residential and doesn't allow for commercial properties. In order for construction, council would have to alter the town's comprehensive plan and change the zoning- but that's was voted down. The Mayor said changing the zoning would open the door to future commercial development.
With the change, people would only need to get a special permit to build. (------------)
by SS