WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/19/02

[11Warner-budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC24:40]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

Governor Mark Warner is still trying to get the state's financial house in order.
The budget he'll present to the General Assembly tomorrow will include fewer than 100 layoffs.
Sources told the Associated Press yesterday the governor plans to minimize the number of layoffs by using the state's ``Rainy Day'' reserve fund, merging agencies and capturing some unspent cash balances.
Those options are possible only through legislation and weren't available in October.
That's when Warner ordered 18-hundred layoffs to deal with a two-billion dollar budget shortfall.
[SS=Mark Warner]

The governor also says he has a plan to help the state detect and avoid shortfalls in the future.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Warner is proposing that the state reforecast revenues at the first signs of an economic downturn.
The governor also wants more money put into the Rainy Day fund during times of extraordinary revenue growth.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 02:22:14]
[IN Q=ITS TIME TO START LOOKING]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: IT'S TIME TO START LOOKING TOWARDS A MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE. ITS ALSO NOT TOO SOON TO STEP BACK AND EXAMINE HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT AND WHAT KIND OF SAFEGUARDS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF FISCAL AND FINANCIAL CRISIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=IN THE FUTURE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sources close to the governor say his announcement will include some fee increase proposals and some reforms to strengthen the state's income tax collections.
(------------)

[11Jefferson-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC53:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The second of two bodies found in Roanoke has been sent to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The manager of the Jefferson Motor Lodge discovered the man just after 3 p-m in one of the rooms and called police.
He wouldn't say which room or for how long the person had been staying there. Officials say the body is that of 52-year old resident of Southwest Roanoke. They're not releasing his name because family members have yet to be notified. At this point, police are not saying how the man died. A spokesperson says the case is under investigation.
(------------)

[11Body-Found]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-44 TC1:19:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Police have still not released the name of a woman found dead yesterday morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

A passer-by found the body around nine yesterday morning in the woods near the intersection of Shenandoah Avenue and Honeysuckle Street.
Police say the body is that of a white woman in her 30's or 40's.
An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death.
That may also help determine the woman's identity.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]

It's report card day for Iraq.
The U-N's chief weapons inspectors go before the Security Council today with their preliminary review of Iraq's 12-thousand page weapons report.
They're expected to say there are still many un-answered questions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

It could put the U-S a step closer to war.
White House sources say President Bush could declare Iraq in "material breach" of the disarmament resolution.
If there IS war, U-S intelligence sources say Saddam Hussein will likely turn biological and chemical weapons against U-S forces.
(------------)

[Lott]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Lott]

Add another high- profile name to the list of Trent Lott's critics.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Secretary of State Colin Powell says he "deplored the sentiments" behind statements Lott made that appeared to embrace segregation.
Other Republicans are calling for Lott to resign as the Senate Republican leader.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[SS=HOLD]

Lott, meanwhile, is expected to spend today at home in Mississippi phoning colleagues for support.
The Senate's 51 Republicans are preparing to meet on January sixth to determine Lott's fate.

[11Health-Insurance]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC17:27]
[GRAPHIC=Health Insurance 4152]

Local health care professionals are meeting to discuss the health care crisis in America.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A forum held in Roanoke last night addressed the double digit rising costs for services which is resulting in higher co-payments and deductibles. This is the second year that employers, insurance brokers and care providers are addressing the issue. While officials say there is no single answer to the crisis, understanding the system is key.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:02:37]
[IN Q=educating the ]
((BURMAN CLARK/SPEAKER; EDUCATING THE CONSUMER ON WHAT'S ACTUALLY DRIVING THE COST BETTER INFO ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG COST CARD PROGRAMS HOW YOU CAN BETTER UTILIZE LOWER CO-PAYMENTS MORE INFORMATION ON HOW IMPORTANT NETWORK ARE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.))
[SUPER=01-Burman Clark/Speaker;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=THE SCENES.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Clark says the forum is also a way to inform local legislators on what they can do in Richmond to help consumers and employers who are struggling with rising costs.
(------------)

[11Victory-House]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC1:36:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Families left homeless by fire or stranded by an unexpected emergency will soon have a place to turn to in Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Victory Christian Fellowship church, along with the Lynchburg police and fire departments, announced plans yesterday to build "Victory House".
The three-bedroom home will provide transitional housing to families who suddenly find themselves stranded without any resources.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:25:08]
[IN Q=We've often]
((CHARLES BENNETT/LYNCHBURG POLICE CHIEF: WE'VE OFTEN IN POLICE SERVICE HAVE RUN INTO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, THEY'VE LOST THEIR MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, THEY MAY BE VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO STAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE BOTH A PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORT AND OBVIOUSLY A MINISTRY FOR THIS CHURCH.))
[SUPER=01-Charles Bennett/Lynchburg Police Chief;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=ministry for this church.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials need to raise about 50-thousand dollars to build and furnish the house.
They hope to start construction in April and have it ready to open by late May.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, The Federal Trade Commission is moving ahead with new rules to establish a national ``do-not-call'' list to cut off unwanted telemarketing calls. Telemarketers who call listed people could be fined up to eleven-thousand dollars for each violation. Regulators are awaiting Congressional approval for funding of the new registry. It will be paid for by telemarketers in the form of new fees. Industry groups say the new rules violate telemarketers' free-speech rights, and they're considering a court challenge.
In other news, stocks sank for the second straight day.
Ed Crane has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ed Crane/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=I'm EC, CBS Marketwatch, NY.]
((GOOD MORNING THERE WAS ..NO SHORTAGE OF BAD NEWS TO MOVE THE MARKETS LOWER. WEDNESDAY. OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, WAR JITTERS PERSIST, THE DOLLAR'S WEAKER, GOLD'S HIGHER AND WE HAVE ANOTHER HUGE BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY.

(GR)
THE DOW FINISHED OFF 88 POINTS SINKING BELOW 85 HUNDRED.

(GR)
WHILE THE NASDAQ DROPPED 30 POINTS, BETTER THAN TWO PERCENT.

(OC)
THE TECH SECTOR WAS ROCKED BY A ONE TWO PUNCH FROM

(GR)
MICRON TECHNOLOGIES, IT RELEASED A DREARY SALES FORECAST AND THEN WAS DOWNGRADED BY MERRILL LYNCH SENDING MICRON SHARES OFF 20 PERCENT. THAT TRIGGERED A DOMINO EFFECT IN TECH STOCKS THAT SENT NASDAQ/DOW COMPONENT INTEL, AND TEXAS INSTRUMENTS LOWER.

(GR)
SOFTWARE STOCKS SLID INCLUDING MICROSOFT, ANOTHER DRAG ON THE DOW AND ORACLE WHICH SHOULD TRADE HIGHER THIS MORNING AFTER RELEASING SOLID AFTER THE BELL EARNINGS.

(OC)
THE ERA OF BLOCKBUSTER BANKRUPTCIES CONTINUES.

(GR)
CONSECO INSURANCE CITING 50 BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT FILED CHAPTER 11...IT'S THE NATIONS 3RD LARGEST BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY, BEHIND THOSE OF WORLDCOM AND ENRON.

(OC)
ANOTHER DAY OF LABOR STRIFE IN VENEZULA CONTINUES TO BOTTLE UP EXPORTS OF OIL FROM OPEC'S NUMBER 5 PRODUCER, THATS NOW BEGINNING TO IMPACT U-S STOCKPILES AND BRIEFLY SENT OIL PRICES TO A 2 YEAR HIGH OF 31 DOLLARS A BARREL.

(GR)
FEAR OF HIGHER FUEL PRICES IN THE MONTHS AHEAD SLAMMED AIRLINE STOCKS, AMONG THE LOSERS, AMERICAN PARENT A-M-R, AND DELTA.

(OC)
A COUPLE OF OTHER STOCKS WE'RE WATCHING TODAY,

(GR)
BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO SLID BETTER THAN 30 PERCENT ON SOFT EARNINGS AND OIL SERVICES GIANT HALIBURTON HAS GAREED TO SETTLE THOUSANDS OF ASBESTOS LAWSUITS FOR ABOUT 4 BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH.

(GR)
GET MORE BUSINESS NEWS AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH.COM.

(OC)
I'M ED CRANE CBS MARKETWATCH, NY.))

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

[WTC-Proposal]

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

New construction ideas for the World Trade Center site.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

All of the proposals center their 16- acre projects around a memorial.
All incorporate up to 10- million square feet of office space and three-point-five- million for stores.
At least four projects want to build the tallest structure in the world.
A decision is expected by the end of January.
(------------)

[UPS-Delivery]

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

Expect to see the familiar brown trucks all over town today.
U-P-S says this will be its busiest day of the year, capping a three- week shipping season in which 300- million packages are delivered worldwide.
Eighteen million of those are being delivered today.
Officials say the growing popularity of E- commerce has been increasing the delivery load on U-P-S.
U-P-S adds about 60-thousand seasonal workers every year to make sure gifts are under the tree come Christmas morning.

[11Riverviews]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-40 TC2:00:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Central Virginia's first artists colony has finally moved from the drawing board to reality.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

City officials helped pound the first nails of the Riverviews project during a kickoff ceremony yesterday afternoon.
The old, seven-story shoe warehouse will be renovated into living space and galleries for local artists.
Other retailers also plan on making the building their new home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:12:02]
[IN Q=I love old]
((ANNE GANONG/ART SUPPLY STORE OWNER: I LOVE OLD BUILDINGS. AND OVERLOOKING THE RIVER IS JUST THE MOST PERFECT LOCATION I CAN THINK OF FOR INSPIRATION FOR AN ARTIST. IT'S WONDERFUL.))
[SUPER=01-Anne Ganong/Art Supply Store Owner;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=it's wonderful.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

City leaders say Riverviews will be a key part of riverfront redevelopment efforts.
More than half of the residential units already have been leased.
Construction should be finished by next July.
(------------)

[11Rings-Premiere]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC22:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Movie fans stepped into Middle Earth last night...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-New Line Cinema; QUICK!!!!]
as the much-anticipated second installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy hit the big screen.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Here in Roanoke hundreds of fans tried to be among the first to see The Two Towers.
Hobbits and humans alike sold out shows at Carmike 10 Theater near Tanglewood Mall.
(------------)

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Salem-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC22:46]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

The man who was wounded during an undercover drug investigation remains in the hospital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Tuesday Night;]

State Police say 20-year old Michael Scott Peery was shot in the abdomen by Salem Police Officer Michael H. Brightwell Junior.
The incident occurred Tuesday night in a parking lot on Apperson Drive, as officers were trying to make an undercover drug buy. The two suspects fled, and police say the shooting occurred as the officers attempted to make an arrest.

(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Peery remains in the hospital, but officials aren't releasing information on his condition.
The second suspect, 21-year old John Crozier Draper Junior of Roanoke, faces charges of drug possession with intent to distribute. Officer Brightwell has been placed on administrative leave until a State Police investigation is complete.

[11Santa-Skiing]

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

Santa Claus made a stop in the mountains of West Virginia...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Snowshoe, WV]
Before he begins packing for the annual trip around the world, Santa hit the slopes yesterday for a little relaxation.

Joined by Mrs. Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and the Grinch, the big guy spent the morning cutting the snow.
(------------)

[11Rockbridge-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC1:34:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Administrators in the Rockbridge County School system say their budget situation is critical.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :10.5]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.]
Last year, the county had to make up a half-million dollar cut in state money, and school officials say it's likely the county can't come up with the additional funds again.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 22:22:20]
[IN Q=In order to...]
((JAKE BURKS/ROCKBRIDGE CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT; IN ORDER TO KEEP GOING FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO MEAN THE COUNTY HAS GOT TO COME UP WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. WE DON'T KNOW AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND FIGURE OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Jake Burks/Rockbridge Co. School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=and figure out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :12+]
Members of the school board are meeting with architects to determine the costs of renovating some of the schools. Officials say in a worse case scenario, Mountain View and (Ef-in-jer) Effinger elementaries could be closed. (------------)