WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/05/02

[Mideast-Bombing]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

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

At least 17 people are dead and 40 injured after a suicide bombing in Israel.
A car loaded with explosives blew up right next to a packed bus during rush hour.
Israel's security cabinet is holding an emergency session on how to respond.
Melissa McDermott reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Meggido, Israel; :00]
[SUPER=02-Melissa McDermott/Reporting; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=M.M., CBS News.]
(((NATS) A BURNED OUT SHELL IS ALL THAT'S LEFT OF THIS BUS... THE TARGET OF A TERRORIST ATTACK IN NORTHERN ISRAEL. DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR IN MEGIDDO
(muh-GEE'-doh) WHEN THIS CAR PULLED UP NEXT TO IT.... AND EXPLODED.
THE BUS OVERTURNED TWICE AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. SOME PASSENGERS WERE THROWN OUT... OTHERS WERE TRAPPED ALIVE... INSIDE THE BURNING BUS. ACCORDING TO POLICE AT LEAST A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND DOZENS MORE INJURED.

(NATS)
THE PALESTINIAN MILITANT GROUP ISLAMIC JIHAD IS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUICIDE BOMBING. JIHAD IS A RELATIVELY SMALL GROUP THAT HAS CARRIED OUT A NUMBER OF SUICIDE BOMBING IN ISRAEL IN RECENT MONTHS.

(NATS)
(locator: Jenin/April)
THEY'RE STRONGHOLD IS IN THE WEST BANK CITY OF JENIN AND THE ADJACENT REFUGEE CAMP. IN APRIL THAT CAMP WAS THE SCENE OF THE DEADLIEST FIGHTING IN ISRAEL'S RECENT MILITARY OFFENSIVE. PALESTINIANS CLAIM THAT HUNDREDS WERE KILLED... INCLUDING CIVILIANS.

(NATS)
ON THIS MORNING'S BUS WITNESSES SAY BESIDES PASSENGERS THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL ISRAELI SOLDIERS ON BOARD. AND THE BOMBING CAME JUST HOURS AFTER U-S OFFICIALS VISITED THE AREA TO PUSH FOR REFORMS THAT WOULD MAKE PALESTINIAN SECURITY MORE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING TERRORIST ATTACKS.
MELISSA MCDERMOTT, CBS NEWS.))

[Terrorism-Suspect]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The State Department is offering a 25-MILLION dollar reward for the man now believed to be the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants.
Investigators believe he planned many aspects of the attack.
The Kuwaiti man is at large and could be hiding out in Afghanistan or a neighboring country.
(------------)

[11D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day memorial]

More bad news for the National D-Day Memorial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford;]

A lawsuit was filed yesterday afternoon in Bedford County Circuit Court by the memorial's builders, who are seeking about two million dollars in unpaid fees.
The National D-Day Memorial Foundation acknowledges it still owes the Coleman-Adams Construction company money, but says it is trying to avoid filing for bankruptcy. The foundation owes about six-million dollars to creditors in total.
Coleman-Adams and Byron Dickson, the memorial's lead architect, filed liens against the memorial foundation in April.
(------------)

[6-Jackson]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Grayson County man pled guilty to cheating more than one hundred e-Bay customers out of 75- thousand dollars. Federal prosecutors say 28- year old Michael Paul Jackson of (freez) Fries listed computers for sale on eBay... But when he received payment from customers, authorities say he never sent the computers. Jackson was also convicted of bank fraud. Prosecutors say Jackson falsely stated on loan applications that he was employed at Virginia Western Community College. He'll be sentenced in August.

[11Torch-Run]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kar]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Special Olympics torch made its way through Franklin and Roanoke counties.... by hand and by foot. It'll be in Roanoke later today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

This week, police officers and sheriff's deputies will be carrying the torch.
Special Olympic athletes will also be joining the law enforcement officials....near the end of each run.
Its final destination is Richmond... where the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Summer Games will be held.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT-1:03]
[IN Q=i have a]
((WALTER EANES/RETIRED SHERIFF'S DEPUTY - I HAVE A HEART FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PEOPLE. IT MADE ME COME OUT AND WANT TO RUN AND HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THEM TO HELP THEM CONTINUE IN THE GAMES.))
[SUPER=01-Walter Eanes/Retired Sheriff's Deputy]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=in the games]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The torch will make its way to the city limits on Orange Avenue later today.
The Special Olympics Summer Games will be held this Friday.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan says America's economic prospects look brighter, but that growth in the coming months will slow from the pace that was set in the first quarter.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]

((FED CHIEF ALAN GREENSPAN REAFFIRMS HIS BELIEF THAT THE ECONOMY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. DURING A PANEL DISCUSSION IN MONTREAL, GREENSPAN SAID HE SUSPECTS THE ECONOMY IS ON AN UPSWING BUT NOT A DRAMATIC UPSWING. HE ADDED THAT THE WORST IS PROBABLY OVER SAID THE ECONOMY WILL PROBABLY NOT MATCH THE FIRST QUARTER'S 5.6 PERCENT ANNUAL GROWTH RATE.
HIS COMMENTS, WERE OF SOME COMFORT TO INVESTORS.

(gr)
THE DOW FINISHED A ROCKY DAY DOWN 21 PIONTS

(gr)
WHILE THE NASDAQ POSTED A LATE DAY RALLY TO RISE 15.

(gr)
GENERAL MOTORS CHAIRMAN JOHN SMITH, WHO ROSE TO POWER AFTER A 1992 BOARD SHUFFLE PLANS TO RETIRE NEXT APRIL AFTER 42 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY.. NO SUCCESSOR HAS BEEN NAMED.

(gr)
SHARES OF TYCO RALLIED AFTER FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CEO DENNIS KOZLOWSKI WAS INDICTED FOR EVADING NEW YORKS ALES TAX ON SIX PAINTINGS HE BOUGHT FOR OVER 13 MILLION DOLLARS.

(gr)
29 STATES ARE SUING BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB. THEY ACCUSE THE DRUMAKER OF ILLEGALLY BLOCKING THE INTRODUCTION OF GENERIC VERSIONS OF ITS CANCER DRUG TAXOL.

(oc)
AND SOME UPBEAT NEWS ON THE JOB FRONT.. THE RATE OF LAYOFF ANNOUNCEMENTS PLUNGED 25 PERCENT IN MAY TO ABOUT 85-THOUSAND, THAT'S A ONE YEAR LOW.

(gr)
TRACK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ...

(Oc)
AT THE NASDAQ I'M AC IN NY.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[Hearings]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin;]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Closed-door hearings continue today on Capitol Hill over what went wrong with government intelligence-gathering before September 11th.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, D.C.;]

Congress hopes to find out why the terrorists were able to carry out their plans...
And why U-S intelligence agencies didn't share information with each other.
One Senators says that from what he's heard so far, the mistakes are pretty serious.
(------------)

[Med-Day]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, small pox immunity has worn off in some adults that received the shot years ago.
Melissa McDermott has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Melissa McDermott/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]

((IT'S DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS SOMETHING OF A WONDER VITAMIN. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN WOMEN ARE NOT TAKING IT. FOLIC ACID CAN PREVENT DEVASTATING BIRTH DEFECTS BY 70 PERCENT. BUT ONLY ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE ARE TAKING IT 'BEFORE' THEY GET PREGNANT. THE FINDINGS ARE FROM THE MARCH OF DIMES.
IT WAS A MILD WINTER AND THAT MEANS WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE A LOT OF BUGS THIS SUMMER. IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT USING BUG REPELLENTS WITH THE CHEMICAL 'DEET'... NOW YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE. A NEW CHEMICAL CALLED I-R 35 35 HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE E-P-A. IT HAS BEEN USED IN EUROPE FOR YEARS AND DOES NOT CAUSE ADVERSE REACTIONS IN CHILDREN LIKE 'DEET' HAS DONE IN A FEW, VERY RARE CASES.
ADULTS WHO RECEIVED SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS AS CHILDREN HAVE PROBABLY LOST THEIR IMMUNITY TO THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE. THAT'S THE RESULT OF A RECENT STUDY DONE BY AMERICAN SCIENTISTS. IT SHOWS THAT ONLY 6 PERCENT OF ADULTS WERE STILL IMMUNE TO THE DISEASE. SMALLPOX KILLS ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF ITS VICTIMS AND LEAVES MANY OTHERS DISFIGURED.
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAYS TOP HEALTH STORIES. I'M MELISSA MCDERMOTT, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))

[11Via-School]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC1:43:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The new Edward (Vie-A) Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg is getting closer to welcoming its first incoming class.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19.5]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Construction of the privately funded school is ahead of schedule. Located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, classes are set to begin next Fall with a target enrollment of 150-students. Right now officials are busy recruiting faculty and developing a curriculum. They say the school has two major goals.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:39:12 // 1:39:27]
[IN Q=fill the]
((JOHN ROCOVICH/MEDICAL COLLEGE CHAIRMAN; FILL THE UNDER SERVED MEDICAL NEEDS IN SOUTHWEST, SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA AND THE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE THAT ARE UNDER SERVED WITH PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES. AND SECONDLY WE WANT TO BE A SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL RESEARCH COLLEGE AND IN DOING THAT WE HOPE TO HELP VIRGINIA TECH REACH ITS TOP 30 STATUS.))
[SUPER=01-John Rocovich/Medical College Chairman;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=TOP 30 STATUS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials say thanks to an affiliation agreement with Tech, research at the (Vie-A) Via College will count for Tech when measuring its success. They believe it will help the university reach its goal of becoming a top 30 research university.
(------------)

[11Salem-Birthday]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=502-08 TC18:52]
[GRAPHIC=Salem Seal]
The City of Salem is another year, and another century older.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT :30]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
As part of Salem's bicentennial celebration, the public was invited to the Farmer's Market for a noontime party yesterday complete with tunes by "Antique Brass" and birthday cake. City employees dressed in period costume and opened their offices to the public for the day. The city chose June 4th as its official birthday but city leaders aren't sure of the exact date. The bulk of the bicentennial celebrations ended yesterday although there are a handful of smaller events planned for later in the year.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya on Camera]
(Marya tosses to bump)
News 7 Mornin' will be right back. [bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Sluder]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-04 TC1:04:29]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

Seven years after she was found dead, a Bedford County jury must decide whether Loria Sluder was murdered.. or whether she committed suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

Sluder's estranged husband.. 43- year-old Roy Sluder.. is standing trial for the June 1995 murder.
Sluder says his wife killed herself.. but physical evidence from the scene finally led investigators to charge him with homicide.
Sluder's attorney says prosecutors have lots of theories about what happened.. but no proof.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:54:05]
[IN Q=The evidence will be]
((TONY ANDERSON/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: THE EVIDENCE WILL BE.. ..SIX YEARS LATER, HE GETS INDICTED.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Anderson/Defense Attorney]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=he gets indicted.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Rescue squad workers testified yesterday they never saw a gun near Loria Sluder's body when they were called to the scene that night.
The trial is expected to last at least three days.
(------------)

[11Civic-Center]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-25 TC10:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Roanoke Civic Center is expecting a full house later today...
Graduation ceremonies for William Byrd and Cave Spring High Schools run back to back- all the while, the UniverSoul Circus will take place.
So where will everyone park??
As Jennifer Miele reports, Civic Center employees have a plan.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Two high school]
[SUPER=01-Jim Evans/Roanoke Civic Center; :19]
[SUPER=@jennifer1; :33]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=JM News 7 Roanoke.]
(( Two high school graduations... back to back beginning at five PLUS a Circus....
The scenario promises to be a parking nightmare.
So the Civic Center plans to run shuttle buses from the Gainsboro Parking Garage on Centre Avenue to the Civic Center from four to nine Wednesday night.
[SOT]
[tc:009:24:43] ((JIM EVANS/ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER: WE'LL BE RUNNING SHUTTLES CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE PARKING GARAGE AS NEEDED ....TO THE CIVIC CENTER.)) [RUNS14] [STAND UP] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING:THE CIVIC CENTER EXPECTS UP TO FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE TO BE ON THE PREMISES AT ONE TIME, SO PARKING WILL LIKELY BE A PROBLEM. BUT IT'S A SITUATION THE STAFF HERE HAS DEALT WITH BEFORE.)) [RUNS11]
[SOT]
[tc:09:25:15] ((JIM EVANS/ROANOKE CIVIC CENTER: WE DID SOMETHING LIKE THIS LAST WEEK WITH THE ICE SHOW AND IT TURNED OUT REALLY WELL... FOR IT.)) [RUNS17]
Shuttles will also run Thursday morning beginning at 9 a-m for Patrick Henry High's gradation and the Circus.
The Civic Center advises those who will attend to be early, and to car pool.
Jennifer Miele, News 7 Roanoke.))

[6-Infant-Death]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Officials in Montgomery County say an Elliston infant has died from a drug overdose. The Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of Toby Robert Harris as a homicide. Last month, Harris stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Officials say it appeared the cause of death was SIDS or accidental smothering but the death is now bring ruled a homicide because blood tests revealed drugs in his system. No arrests have been made.

[McDonald's-Suit]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin;]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

McDonald's is apologizing and paying up for mislabeling french fries as vegetarian.
The fast-food company is donating 10-MILLION dollars to Hindu and other groups to settle lawsuits.
The vegetable oil used to prepare the fries contained essence of beef for flavoring purposes.

[11Clark-Family]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-10 TC1:40:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Members of the Clark Family Experience have been on the fast track toward country music stardom.
But last week, the six brothers with ties to Franklin County filed for bankruptcy protection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Abingdon/September 2000;]

With roots in bluegrass gospel, the Clarks are show business veterans. They won a major recording contract, produced a hit single, and performed with some of the biggest names in country music.
But their Roanoke Attorney says members of the group haven't received the benefits they believe they're due.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:47]
[IN Q=As a result their income]
((RICHARD FOSTER/CLARK FAMILY'S ATTORNEY: AS A RESULT THEIR INCOME HAS NOT BEEN WHAT THEY EXPECTED. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPENSES. THEY ARE OUT ON THE ROAD MOST OF THE YEAR. A LOT OF EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH RECORDING AND JUST KEEPING YOUR NAME OUT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC AND THEY JUST HAVE RUN OUT OF MONEY.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Foster/Clark Family's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=run out of money.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A creditors meeting has been scheduled for July 3rd. And the group is expected to perform in Victory Stadium on July 4th. (------------)