[11Disaster-Drill]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC 22:54:29]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Officers from all over the state are in Roanoke this week.
They're learning new ways to deter and combat terrorism, in response to September 11th.
Part of that training included a mock terrorist attack last night at Patrick Henry High School.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
ITT Night Vision recently donated goggles to the Roanoke City Police Department.
Officers yesterday learned how to use the equipment.
Last night they put it to real use.
Officers say this training is invaluable, and will prepare them for any terrorist attack.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There very well may not be...]
[SUPER=01-Chris Bolling/Homeland Defense Instructor;]
[SUPER=01-Jeremy Barnett/Participant;]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=could be prime targets.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Nearly 20 officers from all over the state are taking part in this weeklong training session, they are expected to return to their departments and teach their collegues what they have learned here.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]
The training wraps up tomorrow.
[6-Bedford-Update]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC-13:30]
[GRAPHIC=none]
One eastbound lane of Route 460 between Thaxton and Bedford is now open.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Monday;]
The lanes have been closed since a tanker tipped over Monday, spilling thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel.
V-DOT's been hauling away contaminated soil, and will need to refill the excavated areas before both lanes can be re-opened.
Until that time, eastbound traffic will remain reduced to one lane.
(-----------------)
[11Warner]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=502-02 TC-48:45]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Many state schools aren't making the grade but help is on the way.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Yesterday, Governor Mark Warner announced a three million dollar plan to improve student achievement in 117 of the state's public schools.
Warner says the level of intervention will vary, with the worst schools getting the most help.
A team of educators and volunteers will intervene for 12 days at 34 of the lowest-performing schools.
Other schools will receive four days of assistance.
Warner says the focus is not on money but rather the collaboration between different school districts, business groups and communities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:11:07]
[IN Q=What we're bringing to the table]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=tougher factor to put price tag on.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Eighteen schools in our area will receive assistance.
(------------)
[11Education-Reaction]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC-1:58:01]
[GRAPHIC=none]
School officials in western Virginia say they welcome additional help from the state, but they also argue their schools are already making progress.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The Roanoke Academy for Mathematics and Science is one of 34 schools in the state, and one of four in our area, targeted for priority assistance.
But officials say the school wouldn't have made the list if the most recent test scores were considered.
Associate Superintendent Rita Bishop says all of the Roanoke schools are making steady progress toward accreditation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:56:37]
[IN Q=Frankly we've been on the move]
((RITA BISHOP/ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION: FRANKLY WE'VE BEEN ON THE MOVE AND WE'VE BEEN IMPROVING FOR A LONG TIME, AND SO I PERSONALLY BELIEVE AND I THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT SHARES THIS PERSPECTIVE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE MOVING AND THE PROGRESS IS SUBSTANTIAL.))
[SUPER=01-Rita Bishop/Associate Superintendent of Instruction;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=the progress is substantial.]
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE FS WEB ADDRESS]
For a link to the Governor's website, and a complete list of the schools that are affected, visit our homepage at WDBJ7- dot- com.
(+++++++++)[Afghanistan-Attack]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
U-S military commanders in Afghanistan say an American compound came under attack last night, but nobody was injured.
The special forces encampment is near the village where civilians were killed in a U-S air raid last week.
There have been several incidents directed at Americans since the July first air strike.
But a military spokesman says he doesn't think the raid has led to any general increase in violence against the U-S and coalition forces.
[West-Heat]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Triple- digit temperatures turned the West coast into a furnace for a third straight day--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Reno, NV;]
In Reno, Nevada, road construction crews and roofers carried on with their work, trying to find shade where they could.
[SUPER=03-Sacramento, CA;]
In California, the intense heat is affecting people-- and animals from Sacramento to San Diego.
But the luxury of air conditioning could be at risk in California, which is running out of power.
That could mean more of those infamous rolling blackouts that left scores of people in the dark last year.
To make matters worse, the state cannot buy power from other western states because they too, are fighting the heat.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Everything is being]
((GREG FISHMAN/CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SERVICE OPERATOR:EVERYTHING IS BEING USED. AND THERE AREN T THOSE EXTRA MEGAWATTS. ))
[SUPER=01-Greg Fishman/California Independent Service Operator;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=extra mega-watts.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
While Mother Nature may bring some cooler weather to some western cities, the heat will likely still be on in Reno.
(------------)
[Worldcom]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news, The finger-pointing continues over who knew what at WorldCom--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The founder and former C-E-O of the telecom giant says he didn't know about four- billion dollars in accounting irregularities.
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
An attorney for Bernard Ebbers says it was another executive's decision to move the money.
However, that other executive, former chief financial officer Scott Sullivan is telling Worldom's attorneys that Ebbers knew all about it.
This week, both Sullivan and Ebbers cited their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to testify before Congress.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
Stocks bounced back yesterday as bargain-hunters moved in following three-and-a-half days of
sharp selling.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((THE STOCK MARKET ROARED BACK FROM HEFTY LOSSES.. BUT ANALYSTS ARE QUICK TO
CAUTION .. WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.
TRADERS AND INVESTORS HAVE LITTLE FAITH IN ANY RALLY BECAUSE THEY SEE NO
QUICK FIX FOR THE CORPORATE CREDITABILITY CONCERNS THAT HAVE HURT STOCKS.
A STUNNING RECOVERY FOR THE DOW,BOUNCING BACK FROM A 200 POINT LOSS TO END
11 POINTS LOWER
AND THE NASDAQ WIPED OUT AN EARLY LOSS TO RISE 28 POINTS AS INVESTORS
GOBBLED UP TECH STOCKS.
BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB LED THE EARLY DROP AFTER THE DRUGMAKER SAID REGULATORS
ARE INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE DRUGMAKER INFLATED SALES BY SELLING DISCOUNTED
DRUGS TO WHOLESALERS...
A SENATE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL YESTERDAY DESIGNED TO REFORM
401K PENSION PLANS TO AVOID ABUSES LIKE THOSE THAT SURFACED DURING THE ENRON
SCANDAL. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE BILL WOULD ALLOW WORKERS TO DIVERSIFY
HOLDINGS OF COMPANY STOCK IN THEIR ACCOUNTS AFTER THREE YEARS.. AND BAN
CORPORATE EXECUTIVES FROM SELLING STOCK WHILE EMPLOYEE'S RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
ARE FROZEN.
GOOD NEWS IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET TO BUY A HOME OR REFINANCE. THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FINDS RATES ON 30 YEAR, FIXED MORTGAGES SHOULD
REMAIN NEAR 6.5 PERCENT WELL INTO THE FALL...KEEPING THEM CLOSE TO 30 YEAR
LOWS . WHEN THEY DO START TO RISE, EXPECT THEM TO PEAK OUT THIS YEAR AT JUST
OVER 7 PERCENT.
TRACK ALL THE PRE-MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ... AT THE NASDAQ I'M AC IN
NY.))
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[Missing-Girl]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morni]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Officials in Salt Lake City have filed burglary charges against a former handy-man at the home of Elizabeth Smart.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Police say Richard (Ree-see) Ricci stole jewelry, money, and other items last year.
[SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT;]
Authorities call Ricci a career criminal, and say he may face a sentence of up to life in prison on the new charges.
However, Ricci has NOT been charged in the disappearance of the 14- year- old girl.
(------------)
[11Rip-Current]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Vacationers along the Atlantic from Virginia to the Carolinas are being warned to avoid the ocean.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 23 plus pad]
[SUPER=03-Virginia Beach]
Northeast winds are causing higher than normal waves-
The surf is up.
Four to six foot waves were reported at Virginia Beach yesterday morning just as the National Weather Service issued the swimming advisory.
Rip currents usually cause most problems near sandbars, piers and jetties- areas that draw recreational swimmers.
Two people died in the ocean at Virginia Beach over the 4th of July holiday.
(------------)
[6-L'burg-Firefighters]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-16 TC-1:38:22]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Imagine your house catches fire but the fire department across the street doesn't respond, because there's no one on duty.
Recent manpower shortages in the Lynchburg fire department forced authorities there to run just such a risk last month.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was only]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Les Puckett/Lynchburg Fire Department; :19]
[SUPER=@ssm1; :54]
[SUPER=01-Kimball Payne/Lynchburg City Manager; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( It was only for a few hours, but for the first time in recent memory, the Lynchburg fire department had to close one of its eight fire stations... the reason: not enough personnel to do the job.
But even in the face of staffing shortages brought on by retirements, comp time and budget cuts, officials say public safety has never been jeopardized.
[SOT 9:56:00]
((LES PUCKETT/LYNCHBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT: IT'S BEEN TOUGH, BUT WE HAVEN'T MISSED ANY CALLS AND THE PUBLIC HAS NOT SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THAT AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR SUCCESS IS A DIRECT REFLECTION ON THE RESILIENCY OF OUR FOLKS.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=of our folks.]
Puckett says the addition of ten new rookies last month has finally brought the department up to full staff.
But the recruits are not additional hires.. they're simply replacing people who have recently retired.
Over the next couple of years, an estimated 40 percent of the department will be eligible to step down.
[Standup]
((And that has the Lynchburg Firefighters Association worried. Their president says while they fully support the department's management they do plan to make public their concerns about the manpower situation.. they're just not sure what the solution might be.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=solution might be.]
That's because new positions cost money.. money that must ultimately come from the taxpayers.
[SOT 9:38:28]
((KIMBALL PAYNE/LYNCHBURG CITY MANAGER: IF I'M ASKED FOR MORE PERSONNEL, I WILL EXPECT A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF HOW THOSE PERSONNEL WILL BE USED, WHERE THEY WILL BE USED AND WHAT OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE, IN SOME MEASURABLE WAY, PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE CITIZENS.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=for the citizens.]
[SOT 9:54:43]
((PUCKETT: AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE TODAY. AND WE'RE TAKING STEPS TO KIND OF MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF RETIREMENTS IN THE FUTURE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=in the future.]
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]
[comm #3]
[11Tucker]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Former House Speaker Vance Wilkins' chief of staff has resigned.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :26+]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
Claudia Tucker says she quit the post last week.
Wilkins resigned his speakership last month after admitting he paid an Amherst woman 100-thousand dollars to settle her claim that
he sexually harassed her.
He remains in the House of Delegates, but a delegate does not get an office allowance for a chief of staff as the speaker does.
Tucker had been on a paid leave of absence since late April, after being tied to eavesdropping on a Democratic conference call.
(------------)
[11Econ-Development]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=csc]
[TAPE#=02-18]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
Business and political leaders from the Alleghany Highlands to the New River Valley hope to combine their resources.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Their new plan uses a regional economic strategy to stimulate development..
Some of the goals are to seek global recognition of the benefits of living and working in the region..
To attract high-tech businesses while nurturing the ones that are already here...
And to lure a pool of highly-skilled employees to the area.
A consultant who helped develop the plan says changing times mean the old ways of doing business don't work anymore..
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=22:17:40]
[SUPER=01-Eva Klein/Consultant]
((EVA KLEIN/CONSULTANT"THE REAL ECONOMY DOESN'T PLAY OUT ON THE LEVEL OF THE COUNTY OR A CITY THE REAL ECONOMY PLAYS OUT ON A MUCH LARGER REGIONAL LEVEL"))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=larger regional level]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
Members of the regional alliance have been putting together this plan for more than a year.
(-----------)[6-Duncan-Expansion]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
A New River Valley car dealership is shifting into high gear.
Duncan AutoNet of Christiansburg announced yesterday it is buying the Pontiac and GMC franchises from the Martin Family.
Duncan will move those operations to a new dealership on North Franklin Street when construction is complete this fall.
Duncan Automotive now owns 17 franchises, including 10 in Southwest Virginia.
by SS