WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 06/12/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The governor may be staying out of it, but the Lieutenant Governor and Virginia's REPUBLICAN Attorney General call for
Amherst Delegate Vance Wilkins to step down as Speaker.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And we'll hear from a woman who put up 500 bucks for a loan, and never got the money.
(------------)

[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, NASCAR makes a major change to the Pontiacs, we will up date you on the major renovations at Lane Stadium
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and speaking of Virginia Tech, words from Michael Vick Atlanta Falcons mini camp rolls on.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Another warm day across the viewing area, but showers and storms are on the way. Forecast details coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

News 7 at Six is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
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(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I believe its in the best interest]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=step down from his position.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Vance Wilkins faces mounting pressure to resign.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A fellow Republican today says the Speaker must go.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[Kaine-Kilgore]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC1:50:40]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The Republican party's highest ranking elected official is calling for House Speaker Vance Wilkins' resignation.

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said today its time for the Speaker to go.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]

Meghan Muldoon joins us from Richmond with the latest.
It's going from bad to worse for Speaker Wilkins.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

A prominent member of his own party says he has lost confidence in the Speaker and that he is not alone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The confirmation by the Speaker]
[SUPER=@Kilgore; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
[SUPER=@Kaine;:]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=some who still don't get it.]
(([SOT 14:10:43]
[IN Q=the confirmation by the Speaker]
[RUNS:18]
[OUT Q=cannot continue as Speaker of the House.]

The political prospects for Speaker Vance Wilkins grew dimmer today.
Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, one of the most prominent Republicans in the state, said today that Wilkins has lost the moral authority to lead.
He said the Speaker should resign immediately.
[SOT 14:13:52-04]
[IN Q=We're dealing with troubling allegations]
[RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=it's time for new leadership to come in.]

Kilgore said today that he believes a large majority of the House Republican caucus agrees with him.
Kilgore praised Wilkins for his work as a lawmaker and Party leader but said he was concerned about that Wilkins may be abusing his power as Speaker to influence delegates.
Earlier today, Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine echoed those concerns.
[SOT 11:48:09]
[IN Q=this isn't the kind of thing]
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=this or than for you.]

Kaine also said that sexual harassment is a bigger problem at the state house than is commonly known.
The lieutenant governor said several female lobbyists have come forward recently with complaints of inappropriate behavior by several members of the legislature.
[SOT 11:50:34, 11:53:20]
[IN Q=women lobbyists who are trying]
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=some who still don't get it.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Kaine also called for Wilkins' resignation today.
But there aren't many Republicans who think that anyone is going to change the Speaker's mind.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-SHannon & Meghan / State Microwave;]

Wilkins has denied the allegations and vowed to fight for his job.

[L'burg-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-20 TC1:37:00]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Lynchburg police say last night's beating death of a city man appears to have been drug-related.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Police were called to the 100 block of Jackson Street around seven o'clock last night.
That's where they found 28- year- old Ronald L. Brooks, Junior, lying in the street, bleeding from a head wound.
Brooks later died at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Police say he was killed in a neighborhood that has a reputation for being an open-air drug market.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:35:40]
[IN Q=Right now information]
((LT. MIKE STALEY/LYNCHBURG POLICE: RIGHT NOW INFORMATION IT APPEARS MR. BROOKS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DRUG PURPOSES, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR DRUG TRANSACTION GONE BAD. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS UP THERE IN THAT AREA AND AT THIS POINT WE'RE STILL TRACKING LEADS.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Mike Staley/Lynchburg Police Department]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=still tracking leads.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Staley says he hopes citizens come forward with information that will lead them to a suspect.
Police especially want to talk to one man seen running from the area. He's described as a black man, 30 years old, his hair in dreadlocks, and wearing a blue-green shirt and blue jeans.
(------------)

[Grundy-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC21:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The man accused of killing three people at a Southwest Virginia law school claims there's a government plot against him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grundy/File Tape;]
43-year-old shooting suspect Peter Odighizuwa made the statement in a letter to the judge on his case. Odighizuwa is refusing to talk with his attorneys and his court appointed psychiatrist. His lawyer Jimmy Turk says his client is unstable and mentally ill. A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled in Grundy next week. Turk says it will now be used to appoint another expert for mental evaluation. Odighizuwa faces three capital murder charges for a shooting spree at the Appalachian School of Law on January 16th.
(------------)

[Novozymes]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC1:21:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Two Salem Biotechnology companies are now one.
Executives at Novozymes and George A. Jeffreys Company are calling their merger a perfect fit.
Business Reporter Jennifer Miele found the new company intends to become a world leader in bio-tech product manufacturing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This mix is a]
[SUPER=03-Salem;:00]
[SUPER=01-Ted Melnik/Novozymes Biochemicals;:18]
[SUPER=01-Jim Toby/George A. Jeffreys Co.;:42]
[SUPER=@jennifer1;1:17]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=JM News 7.]
(( This mix is a match according to the folks at BOTH of Salem's biotechnology companies.
Novozymes Biochemicals acquired George A. Jeffreys Company.
Together, they'll engineer micro-organisms that do everything from grow better tomato plants, to clean spots off the floor.
[SOT]
((TED MELNIK/NOVOZYMES BIOCHEMICALS: THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE SPENT TIME BECOMING A NEW COMPANY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO START ADDING BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES AND REALLY GROW THE BUSINESS.)) [RUNS13]
Novozymes already employs 85 people in the Valley.
The 17 employed at Jeffreys WILL also work for Novo.
Executives say all employees are excited by the company's future.
[SOT]
((JIM TOBY/GEORGE A. JEFFREYS CO: WE WILL IN AS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM ARE GOING TO GROW THE OVERALL BUSINESS MAKING THIS AREA OF EXPERTISE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE VALLEY BUT TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.)) [RUNS13]
Novozymes in the process of building a 12 million dollar facility in Roanoke County.
The 20-thousand square foot project will house business operations and a laboratory.
It's here that the company will try to reduce the world's dependency on fertilizer and pesticides, and instead develop natural enzymes to do the same jobs. [STANDUP] ((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: NOVOZYMES IS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT ADDITION IN ROANOKE COUNTY'S CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY. FROM HERE PRODUCTS CAN BE SHIPPED OFF ON THE INTERSTATE AND HIT GLOBAL MARKETS WITHIN DAYS.)) [RUNS10] [NAT SOUND] [RUNS03]
The bio-tech expansion could put Roanoke County on the map, and Novozymes on the move.
Jennifer Miele, News 7.))

[Radford-Arsenal]

[ANCHOR=SHannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-22 TC55:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Radford Arsenal is putting safety first and shutting down operations in a portion of the plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape;]
Officials say work in the Nytroglycerin Premix production area will be suspended until an investigation of last Friday's blast there is completed. The decision means thirty to fifty employees from that department will be furloughed for the week. Officials say normal operations will resume when any necessary changes for safety are made. The rest of the plant is not affected.
(------------)

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

A forest fire closes part of the Appalachian Trail... and it could get even worse.
That's next on News 7 at Six.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT MUSIC]
((NAT MUSIC))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=NAT MUSIC]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus, an up and coming band and an old master hope to hit it big on the bluegrass music scene.
(----------------)

[Rockbridge-Fire]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=net edit of 02-04]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHot]
A forest fire in Rockbridge County has burned 350 acres, and that number is expected to grow substantially.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-SHot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Monday;]
Steep terrain and dry, hot conditions are hampering fire suppression efforts at the Devil's Marbleyard, a boulderfield near Natural Bridge. 10 and a half miles of the Appalachian Trail are closed, and through-hikers are being shuttled around the fire area. In addition, drivers on the Blue Ridge Parkway can expect delays because of the smoke. Fire officials say it is unlikely the blaze will be contained before the middle of next week. Two other forest fires in the county are under control.
(------------)

[VA-Bioterrorism]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia's Department of Health plans to hire 35 epidemiologists to help prepare the state to fight bioterrorism.
The department says it will start interviewing candidates for each of the state's 35 health districts tomorrow.

Their salaries will come from 22-million dollars given to the state from the federal government.

[Loan-scam]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=csc]
[TAPE#=02-04 TC1:14:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about an offer that took advantage of a number of people in our area.
Those behind it said they'd write loans, regardless of customers' credit rating.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Now a local woman is speaking out, in the hope she can keep others from falling victim to the scam.
Toni Reynolds applied for a loan from the "Vista and Parks Financial Group," having seen a newspaper ad.
She sent the company a 500- dollar deposit. But now she's unable to get in contact with the company, and it won't return her phone calls.
Experts say it's a common scam. Reynolds can't believe it happened to her.
[SOT]
[IN Q=15:29]
((I DON'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO HAVE THE SAME UNFORTUNATE LUCK LIKE I DID I MEAN IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT I HAD IT YOU KNOW TURN AROUND AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE THE SAME THING, I MEAN THAT'S -- THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH ... )) ((IF YOU HAVE TO PAY MONEY OR SPEND ANY MONEY UP FRONT FOR A LOAN CHANCES ARE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE THAT MONEY AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A LOAN.))
[SUPER=01-Toni Reynolds/Victim of Scam]
[SUPER=01-Julie Wheeler/Better Business Bureau]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=to get a loan]
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[ANCHOR=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The company Toni Reynolds sent her money to claims to operate in Canada...
This week U-S and Canadian authorities announced a plan to work together more closely, to try to shut down cross-border scam operations.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Stocks ended higher for a change, after a choppy trading effort. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/100.45/9617.71/x/21.95/1519.13;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW climbed 100 points.
NASDAQ gained 22.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.71/57.44/h/0.15/41.07/h/0.44/71.15/i/0.06/17.80//Unchg/6.70;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.62/64.52/i/0.49/54.75/h/0.95/30.35/i/0.05/20.24/i/0.07/50.30;]
[SUPER=273-i/1.30/19.90/i/0.15/21.76/h/0.02/0.60/i/0.12/56.17/h/0.43/13.97;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.52/67.27/h/1.16/108.16/h/1.18/41.71/h/0.05/38.03/h/1.85/58.30;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[New-Bluegrass]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-14 TC1:25:55]
[GRAPHIC=]

This week brings two new bluegrass recordings from musicians in western Virginia.
One is from a bluegrass legend who is enjoying unprecedented popularity, and another from a local group making a big step forward.
Joe Dashiell has the story.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-Worldwide Pants; :12]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :37]
[SUPER=01-Gary Farris/Nothin' Fancy; :54]
[SUPER=01-Mitchell Davis/Nothin' Fancy; 1:05]
[SUPER=@Joe2]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Rockbridge County]
(())

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6m]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The Avalanche pitching staff grows up through the first half of the season, Michale Vick talks about Falcons mini camp,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Travis Wells takes us on a tour of the new south end zone at Lane Stadium. Worsham Field.
(------------)

[S-Vick]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-119 1:45:43]
[GRAPHIC=Tech]

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick is in mini camp with the Atlanta Falcons this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :00]

Vick is beginning his second NFL season with the Falcons and the improvements in his medium range passing accuracy were evident in drills.
With Chris Chandler gone, Vick is taking more of a leadership role.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/Falcons Number One Quarterback; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=....win football games"]
(-----------)

[S-Stadium]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-124 TC810]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

The Virginia Tech Hokies will open the 2002 football season against Arkansas State at Lane Stadium, which will have a new look in place by August. As Travis Wells, explains the south endzone project is now in its final phase.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio..]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :18]
[SUPER=01-Russ Whitenack/Virginia Tech Athletic Department; :25]
[SUPER=@Travis1; :58]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
(--------------------)
((With the arrival of Marcus Vick in Blacksburg and a home schedule that includes dates with SEC champ LSU and MAC power Marshall, Hokie fans have plenty to be excited about this fall, including the eleven thousand seat addition in the south endzone. Nats :"We're going upstairs." The towering structure has risen quickly, similar to the Hokies program in recent years.
Russ Whitenack:
The seating capacity will increase to nearly 65 thousand, thanks in large part to 15 luxury suites designed specifically with the fans in mind.
Russ:
Travis: Not only will the new addition enhance the Lane Stadium experience for the fans, but also for the players as they take the turf here at Worsham field.
Russ:
The construction is slightly ahead of schedule and should be complete by the first week in August. In Blacksburg, Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-125 TC231]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]

Game Four of the NBA Finals is set for tonight in New Jersey and the Lakers have the chance to sweep the Nets and claim their third straight title. As a former Laker, Nets head coach Byron Scott knows what it's like to be on both ends of a four game sweep.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="It's very difficult..]
[SUPER=01-Byron Scott/Nets Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kobe Bryant/Lakers Forward; :18]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=..it would be good."]
(------------------)

[S-Nascar]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mdo]
[TAPE#=SP-118 1:43:13]
[GRAPHIC=NASCAR]

NASCAR has announced the first major rules change to the Pontiac Grand Prix's body in almost two years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NASCAR; :00]

Pontiac teams will now be allowed to increase their front air dams by one half inch extending them to more than one inch forward of the bumper. The Pontiac teams will also be allowed an increase in the height of the rear spoiler to a quarter of an inch. The new spoiler height will not apply to Daytona and Talladega. The changes begin at Michigan.

(------------)

[S-AVS]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-123 11:30]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche]

The Salem Avalanche completes its three game series with Kinston tonight at Salem Memorial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]

The Avalanche pitching staff is ranked fifth in the Carolina league but the starting five are going much deeper into games of late, lasting on average nearly six innings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stu Cole/Avalanche Manager; :00]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=about their business."]
(--------------)

[S-Cup]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mdo]
[TAPE#=SP-113 2:03:34]
[GRAPHIC=World Cup 6062]

The World Cup continued play today with another powerful team heading home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Yokohama, Japan]

Argentina was eliminated today by Sweden in a 1-to-1 tie. The Swedes held onto the tie to advance to the second round and send Argentina home with it's worst showing in the World Cup in four decades. (------------) England, Spain, and Paraguay have clinched second round berths, while other teams continue to battle.