WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/13/03

[7-VOB-Star-Solutions]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC 1:28:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Interstate 81 will likely undergo some major changes in the next few years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

The Department of Transportation has set a Friday deadline for the private sector to submit proposals to widen the interstate.
V-Dot hopes to receive at least two or three proposals.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:30:21; TAPE 2]
[IN Q=We didn't want to put]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/V-Dot Spokesperson]
((LAURA BULLOCK/V-DOT SPOKESPERSON: WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANY KIND OF CONFINES ON THE IDEAS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE FOR I-81. CERTAINLY LOOKING AT REMOVING SOME OF THE TRUCK TRAFFIC TO RAILS IS AN IDEA WE WOULD ENCOURAGE, IT MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE FOR I-81.))
[Runs=14]
[OUT Q=there for 1-81]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

V-Dot rejected an earlier proposal to widen interstate 81.
Last January, a consortium of private construction companies called Star Solutions unveiled a plan to widen interstate 81 with separate lanes for cars and trucks.
A spokesperson for Star Solutions says it plans to submit a new proposal by the Friday deadline.
(------------)

[7-11Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC-14:20]
[GRAPHIC=C'lotte Plane Crash]
The on-site investigation of last week's deadly air plane crash in Charlotte is over.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 02-50 tc 35:00]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/Wednesday;]
It could take months or even years to issue a final report about the cause of Wednesday's crash just seconds after takeoff. All 21 people on board were killed. Investigators must finish reviewing maintenance records, testing the charred debris and running computer simulations.

While in Charlotte, a team from the National Transportation Safety Board looked at such factors as the plane's weight and balance, recent maintenance and possible turbulence from a larger jet.
(------------)

[7-AM-Hidden-Valley]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-31 TC 45:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Residents of one neighborhood are fighting one school's chance to be in the spotlight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Roanoke County school board is seeking a variance to install lights at one of the fields at Hidden Valley Middle School.
The school system says the lights would be used for soccer and football games 30 nights of the year and the lights would be off no later than 11 o'clock.
But many of the nearby neighbors are fighting to stop the project.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 26:16]
[IN Q=I live just two ridges over]
((BOB CAUDLE/NEARBY RESIDENT: I LIVE JUST TWO RIDGES OVER AND I WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE LIGHTS FROM MY KITCHEN AND MY BEDROOM SO I AM JUST VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE TO IT AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE INFRINGED IN THE BACKYARD OF THE PEOPLE THAT WILL ADJACENT TO THIS FIELD.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Caudle/Nearby Resident]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=to this field]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Roanoke City board of zoning appeals will actually decide the matter because the school lies within city limits.

The zoning board is scheduled to vote on the matter Tuesday afternoon.
(------------)

[45-11Reynolds]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC-6:43]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Virginia lawmaker is working to crack down on public officials convicted of stealing from taxpayers. Delegate Roscoe Reynolds has introduced a bill in the General Assembly that would impose a minimum sentence for offenders.
(-------------)
[vo-nat 02-26 tc 40:33]
[super=04-File Tape; ]
Reynolds' bill was inspired by the actions of former Henry County administrator Sid Clower. Clower was given a 15- month sentence for embezzlement, but under Reynolds' proposal Clower would have received a 15- year prison sentence. Under Reynolds' bill-- officials who steal from taxpayers would serve one year for every 50- thousand dollars stolen, misused or improperly spent by a public official.
(-----------------)

[45-11Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC-14:20]
[GRAPHIC=C'lotte Plane Crash]

Investigators have finished their work at the scene of last week's fatal plane crash in Charlotte.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 02-50 tc 35:00]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/Wednesday;]
But it could take months or even years to issue a final report about the cause of Wednesday's crash just seconds after takeoff. All 21 people on board were killed. Investigators must finish reviewing maintenance records, testing the charred debris and running computer simulations.

[45-VA-Deployment]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The military build-up continues for a possible war with Iraq.
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Virginia Beach;]

Four Navy ships set sail from Virginia yesterday.
The amphibious landing ship, "Ashland" is shipping out six months earlier than scheduled.
The Navy won't say where exactly the ships are headed.
But the Pentagon plans to have at least 100- thousand troops in the Persian Gulf by the end of the month.
(----------)

[45-11Virgilina]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC-36:25]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Halifax County school board will have to decide AGAIN whether to close an elementary school.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co./January 2002]

A year ago this week, the school board voted to keep Virgilina Elementary school open.
The school system wanted to close it because of declining enrollment and the need for major improvements to the building.
The school board agreed to give residents one year to raise enrollment to 100 students.
Superintendent Dennis Witt says enrollment is up considerably but only to 94 students.
The school board will revisit the issue in May and will decide then whether to close the school.
(------------)

[8-VOB-Star-Solutions]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC 1:28:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]

State transportation officials are again looking at plans to make more room on Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

The Department of Transportation has set a Friday deadline for the private sector to submit proposals to widen the interstate.
V-Dot hopes to receive at least two or three proposals.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:30:21; TAPE 2]
[IN Q=We didn't want to put]
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/V-Dot Spokesperson]
((LAURA BULLOCK/V-DOT SPOKESPERSON: WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ANY KIND OF CONFINES ON THE IDEAS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE FOR I-81. CERTAINLY LOOKING AT REMOVING SOME OF THE TRUCK TRAFFIC TO RAILS IS AN IDEA WE WOULD ENCOURAGE, IT MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE FOR I-81.))
[Runs=14]
[OUT Q=there for 1-81]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

V-Dot rejected an earlier proposal to widen interstate 81.
Last January, a consortium of private construction companies called Star Solutions unveiled a plan to widen interstate 81 with separate lanes for cars and trucks.
A spokesperson for Star Solutions says it plans to submit a new proposal by the Friday deadline.
(------------)

[8-VA-Deployment]

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

The military build-up continues for a possible war with Iraq.
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Virginia Beach;]

Four Navy ships set sail from Virginia yesterday.
The amphibious landing ship, "Ashland" is shipping out six months earlier than scheduled.
The Navy won't say where exactly the ships are headed.
But the Pentagon plans to have at least 100- thousand troops in the Persian Gulf by the end of the month.
(----------)

[8-AM-Hidden-Valley]

The zoning board is scheduled to vote on the matter Tuesday afternoon. (------------)