WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/12/02

[AM-Warner]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mark Warner]
Governor Warner will talk about jobs, and D-M-V service, when he visits southwest Virginia later today. He'll travel first to Martinsville for an economic development announcement at Noon. He's expected announce the creation of 250 new jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT From 02-35 2:03:25]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 30;]
Then it's on to Roanoke's D-M-V office, where recent budget cutbacks have resulted in fewer days of operation and much longer waits for service. It's the same story at other D-M-V offices in Virginia, and that's before you consider those that have closed altogether. Warner hopes to focus attention on department efforts to improve service in the age of cutbacks.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
He'll also talk about his transportation safety agenda for next year's legislative session.

[Smallpox]

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

Eventually all Americans will be able to get the smallpox vaccine if they want it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

On Friday, the President is expected to announce the smallpox plan that would first vaccinate 500-thousand military personnel.
Millions of emergency medical workers would be next.
By 2004, the vaccine would be offered on a voluntary basis to the general public.
(------------)

[Muhammad]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Muhammad]

John Allen Muhammad is back in court today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The hearing this morning in Prince William County could decide when the sniper suspect's trial begins.
A judge will also hear arguments on whether or not cameras should be allowed in the courtroom.
(------------)

[11Cross-Burning]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kco]
[TAPE#=02-43 TC1:51:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Cross burning, looked upon by some Americans as a symbol of racial hatred and fear, has now made its way to the Supreme Court. The Court must decide whether the act is illegal intimidation or a right to free speech.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday, justices heard arguments from the State of Virginia and lawyers representing three white men, all convicted of cross burning. The issue was first raised in Carroll County four years ago, when a white woman looked across a field to see men in hoods burning a cross. She testified that she was terrified for her family. Another case in Virginia Beach involved a cross that was burned on the lawn of a multi-racial family. Virginia law makes it a crime to burn a cross with an intent to intimidate. But opponents argue cross burning is symbolic speech and still deserves protection under the first amendment.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:46:35]
[IN Q=We have said...]
((JERRY KILGORE/VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: "WE HAVE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT BURNING THE CROSS MORE THAN ANY OTHER BURNING SYMBOL BRINGS INTIMIDATION TO BARE.")) ((SUPER: RODNEY SMOLLA/UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND LAW SCHOOL: IF YOU CAN PICK ONE SYMBOL OUT, YOU CAN PICK OTHER SYMBOLS AND IF YOU CAN PICK OUT SYMBOLS, YOU CAN PICK OUT WORDS AND THAT IS THE WRONG ROAD TO GO DOWN IN FREE SOCIETY."))
[SUPER=@Kilgore; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rodney Smolla/University of Richmond Law School; :08]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=down in free society.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A decision is expected in a couple months.
(------------)

[11Burrow]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC1:18:27]
[GRAPHIC=Nat. D-Day Memorial]

The trial of former D-Day Memorial Foundation director Richard Burrow is expected to last through tomorrow. Yesterday, former members of the Foundation's board of directors testified in the case.
They say they knew very little about the memorial's financial problems until it was too late.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Burrow is on trial for fraud in connection with his fundraising role in the organization.
Prosecutors claim Burrow got bank loans based on undocumented pledges and kept the foundation's board in the dark about the project's debts.
Burrow's lawyers maintain their client was up front about everything, including the promised donations... and things only got behind in the rush to complete the memorial before its June, 2001 dedication.
(------------)

[11Stanley-Furniture]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Stanley Furniture has a new C-E-O.
The Southside company has named Jeffrey Scheffer president and chief executive.
Scheffer previously held the titles of president and chief operating officer.
Company officials said today that Albert Prillaman, who previously held the titles of chairman and C-E-O, will continue as chairman.

[Marketwatch]

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

Verizon could announce thousands of layoffs as early as today. Also, several key economic reports are due out later today. Ed Crane has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ed Crane/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=I'm EC, CBS Marketwatch.]
((GOOD MORNING....LOTS OF ECONOMIC NEWS COULD MOVE THE MARKETS TODAY. WE'LL GET THE LATEST RETAIL SALES FIGURES, THE NEWEST JOBLESS CLAIMS FIGURES AND THE LATEST MEASURE OF THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT..
AS FOR WEDNESDAY'S MARKETS ,IT'S NOW HOW YOU START, IT'S HOW YOU FINISH AND AFTER A DOWN MORNING THE DOW FINISHED IN POSITIVE TERRITORY:

(GR)
THE BLUE CHIP INDEX UP ABOUT 15 POINTS.

(GR)
THE NASDAQ STAYED IN THE GREEN MOST OF THE DAY, GAINING NEARLY SIX POINTS.

(OC)
VOLUME IS VERY LOW ON BOTH THE DOW AND NASDAQ, WHICH COULD MEAN VOLATILE TRADING FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
A MUCH ANTICIPATED TECH I-P-O--SOMETHING OF A DISAPPOINTMENT WEDNESDAY. SEAGATE TECHNOLOGIES IS SELLING BELOW IT'S STRIKE PRICE OF 12 BUCKS....BUT THERE WAS BEEN A LOT OF BUYING AND SELLING, SEAGATE THE MOST ACTIVE ISSUE ON THE N-Y-S-E.

(GR)
SOFTWARE MAKER ORACLE TRADED HIGHER ON A POSITIVE EARNINGS WARNING..AND INTEL 'S CLOSED A FEW CENTS HIGHER AFTER IT'S C-E-O GAVE A PESSIMITIC SPEECH ABOUT TECH SALES FOR 2003.

(GR)
SEVERAL BIG COMPANIES MAKING LAYOFF NEWS--SPRINT'S RELEASING MORE THAN 2 THOUSAND WORKERS...MERRILL LYNCH IS CUTTING TEN PERCENT OF IT'S INVESTMENT BANKING UNIT, INCLUDING SOME SENIOR MANAGERS AND VERIZON THE EAST COAST PHONE COMPANY IS REPORTEDLY READY TO CUT SEVERAL THOUSAND JOBS PINK SLIPS COULD COME AS EARLY AS TODAY.

(OC)
IT'S A 6 TRILLION DOLLAR A YEAR BUSINESS NOW THE SEC WANTS MUTUAL FUNDS COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE THEIR HOLDINGS AT LEAST FOR TIMES A YEAR. THE NEW RULE WOULD ALSO HAVE THE FUNDS SPELL OUT JUST HOW MUCH INVESTORS PAY IN FEES AND EXPENSES, RATHER THAN AS A PERCENTAGE OF ASSETS.

(gr)
Get MORE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM

(oc)
I'M ED CRANE IN NEW YORK.))

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

[North-Korea]

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

North Korea reportedly plans to reactivate its nuclear program.
A South Korean news agency quotes an official as saying the program will resume immediately, after being suspended following a treaty with the U-S in 1994.
The move is seen as a major escalation in North Korea's confrontation with the U-S.

[Homeland-Security]

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

Northern Virginia may become home to the new Department of Homeland Security.
That's according to Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and a congressional source.
They say the Bush administration is exploring locations in Arlington County and the Crystal City area.
The new agency wouldn't be staffed in a temporary headquarters until early next year.

[5-Animal-Therapy]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=502-09 40:17]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Lewis-Gale Medical Center has extended a life line to an animal-assisted therapy program on the brink of extinction.
Mona's Ark can now stay afloat and continue to work with children. As Health Check Reporter Joy Sutton found out, many parents were relieved to learn the program would survive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Annie Parrish doesn't mind getting up close and personal]
[SUPER=01-Joy Parrish/Annie's Mom; :11]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :21]
[SUPER=01-Mike Ward/Lewis-Gale Medical Center; :34]
[SUPER=01-Mona Sams/Animal Assisted Therapy Program; :52]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=for News 7 Mornin'.]
((
Annie Parrish doesn't mind getting up close and personal with a llama. In fact, these animals get her do things she won't normally do.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT10:00:54]
[IN Q=We'll here her come out with very]
((JOY PARRISH/ANNIE'S MOM: WE'LL HEAR HER COME OUT WITH VERY ELABORATE SENTENCES THAT NORMALLY SHE WOULDN'T SPEAK. WHEN SHE WANTS TO TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE ANIMALS. PLUS SHE'LL JUST WORK AND WORK TO COMPLETE TASKS WITH HER HANDS THAT ARE HARD FOR HER)) [RUNS17]
[OUT Q=that are hard for her]

So, when Lewis Gale Medical Center learned that Mona Ark's might not survive it stepped in.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:10:11]
[IN Q=Lewis-Gale felt]
((LEWIS-GALE FELT THIS WAS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM TO KEEP IN THE COMMUNITY SO WE COULD CONTINUE TO TREAT THE CHILDREN WHO HAD COME TO RELY ON HER PROGRAM)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q=on her program]

Mona Sams has been offering animal assisted therapy for years to children with disabilities ranging from minor strokes to autism.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT10:05:50]
[IN Q=Over the long term children who are withdrawn]
((OVER THE LONG TERM CHILDREN WHO ARE WITHDRAWN OR DON'T HAVE LANGUAGE WITH OFTEN TALK TO ANIMALS BEFORE THEY'LL TALK TO PEOPLE AND WE CAN ALSO BUILD SOME FUNCTIONAL PRACTICAL SKILLS WITH THE CHILDREN)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q=with the children]

Annie's mom says they plan to stick with program until Mona retires.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT10:03:10 ]
[IN Q=We really do hope that Annie will be able to find some kind of career]
((WE REALLY DO HOPE THAT ANNIE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOME KIND OF CAREER INVOLVING ANIMALS SINCE THAT IS WHAT WORKS MAGIC FOR HER)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=majic for her]

In fact, Annie dreams of becoming Mona's helper when she grows up.))
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[SS=none]

More than 20 children are enrolled in the program. Mona offers the program Monday thru Friday.

[11Achievement-Center]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-40 TC1:50:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A local school for children with learning disabilities is hoping to double its yearly enrollment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Yesterday afternoon, the Achievement Center broke ground on what will become its new home in Roanoke County. The school will be renovating and adding on to this church-- just off Peters Creek Road. Right now, 58 children attend the Achievement Center but with the added space, the school hopes to eventually make room for twice as many students.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:48:17]
[IN Q=We have just ]
((BARBARA WHITWELL/ACHIEVEMENT CENTER DIRECTOR; WE JUST HAVE OUTGROWN THAT SPACE HERE WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 120 STUDENTS EVENTUALLY BUT WHEN WE START IT WILL BE BETWEEN 60 AND 70. ))
[SUPER=01-Barbara Whitwell/Achievement Center Director;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=between 60 and 70.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The school is still raising funds. The project is expected to cost around two-million dollars and school officials say the goal is have the new facility ready in time for next school year.
(------------)
(Marya tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Rental-Inspection]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#02-37 TC2:04:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Blacksburg's town council is evicting its idea to charge rental owners a 100-dollar ANNUAL inspection fee, for each unit in their building.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/November 21;]

The council made the decision Tuesday morning during a public hearing.
The money collected from the fee would have gone toward the town's rental inspection program that was started three years ago.
But, many believed the council was looking in the wrong direction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:37]
[IN Q=WE FEEL IT]
((SUZANNE CLAXTON/NEW RIVER VALLEY APARTMENT COUNCIL: WE FEEL IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO COME OUT OF GENERAL FUNDS BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT DOES ENHANCE THE APPEARANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE ENTIRE TOWN. IT'S NOT JUST A BENEFIT FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN PEOPLE WHO OWN RENTAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY, IT'S A BENEFIT TO EVERYONE. 4:54))
[SUPER=01-Suzanne Claxton/New River Valley Apartment Council;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=BENEFIT TO EVERYONE]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

The fee is just one part of a new ordinance being considered.
The other would expand the rental inspection program to include the Bennett Hill- Progress Street neighborhood and push back the deadline when owners have to register.
The ordinance has been put on hold for further discussion.
(-------------)

[6-Advance-Auto]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Advance Auto]
In business news, Advance Auto has announced the public sale of common stock. The Roanoke-based auto parts dealer says it will offer shares of common stock held by certain shareholders at a price of 52-dollars and 60-cents a share. The shares include those held by Sears Roebuck and Company. Advance says it will not receive any proceeds from the sales.

[2Marketwatch]

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

In other business news, Wall Street has extended its latest winning streak to two straight sessions, but just barely. And, Sprint has announced its laying off thousands of employees. Verizon may do the same later today. Ed Crane has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ed Crane/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=I'm EC, CBS Marketwatch.]
((GOOD MORNING....LOTS OF ECONOMIC NEWS COULD MOVE THE MARKETS TODAY. WE'LL GET THE LATEST RETAIL SALES FIGURES, THE NEWEST JOBLESS CLAIMS FIGURES AND THE LATEST MEASURE OF THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT..
AS FOR WEDNESDAY'S MARKETS ,IT'S NOW HOW YOU START, IT'S HOW YOU FINISH AND AFTER A DOWN MORNING THE DOW FINISHED IN POSITIVE TERRITORY:

(GR)
THE BLUE CHIP INDEX UP ABOUT 15 POINTS.

(GR)
THE NASDAQ STAYED IN THE GREEN MOST OF THE DAY, GAINING NEARLY SIX POINTS.

(OC)
VOLUME IS VERY LOW ON BOTH THE DOW AND NASDAQ, WHICH COULD MEAN VOLATILE TRADING FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.
A MUCH ANTICIPATED TECH I-P-O--SOMETHING OF A DISAPPOINTMENT WEDNESDAY. SEAGATE TECHNOLOGIES IS SELLING BELOW IT'S STRIKE PRICE OF 12 BUCKS....BUT THERE WAS BEEN A LOT OF BUYING AND SELLING, SEAGATE THE MOST ACTIVE ISSUE ON THE N-Y-S-E.

(GR)
SOFTWARE MAKER ORACLE TRADED HIGHER ON A POSITIVE EARNINGS WARNING..AND INTEL 'S CLOSED A FEW CENTS HIGHER AFTER IT'S C-E-O GAVE A PESSIMITIC SPEECH ABOUT TECH SALES FOR 2003.

(GR)
SEVERAL BIG COMPANIES MAKING LAYOFF NEWS--SPRINT'S RELEASING MORE THAN 2 THOUSAND WORKERS...MERRILL LYNCH IS CUTTING TEN PERCENT OF IT'S INVESTMENT BANKING UNIT, INCLUDING SOME SENIOR MANAGERS AND VERIZON THE EAST COAST PHONE COMPANY IS REPORTEDLY READY TO CUT SEVERAL THOUSAND JOBS PINK SLIPS COULD COME AS EARLY AS TODAY.

(OC)
IT'S A 6 TRILLION DOLLAR A YEAR BUSINESS NOW THE SEC WANTS MUTUAL FUNDS COMPANIES TO DISCLOSE THEIR HOLDINGS AT LEAST FOR TIMES A YEAR. THE NEW RULE WOULD ALSO HAVE THE FUNDS SPELL OUT JUST HOW MUCH INVESTORS PAY IN FEES AND EXPENSES, RATHER THAN AS A PERCENTAGE OF ASSETS.

(gr)
Get MORE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM

(oc)
I'M ED CRANE IN NEW YORK.))

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

[11SCLC]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC1:57:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The legal dispute over the leadership of Virginia's S-C-L-C chapter is over, for now.
A judge in Petersburg dismissed lawsuits brought by Bedford County member Jack Mills.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/May]

Mills, who is white, claimed he was the rightful president of the organization, and that the predominantly black group discriminated against him in naming a new head last spring.
But SCLC board members said they were within their rights to elect a different president, Danville pastor William Avon Keen.
The judge's ruling left open the possibility that the suits could be re-filed.
(------------)
-