[7-am-GE-Workers]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=GE Strike]
A nationwide strike at General Electric has motivated union workers at the Salem plant to walk off the job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
The workers are protesting an increase in their health care premiums.
Local workers hit the picket line at eleven o'clock last night and plan to continue striking for 48- hours.
They say this is the first national strike at G-E in more than 30- years.
Locally, about 400- workers will be walking the picket line.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:39:33]
[IN Q=We're making ]
[SUPER=01-Ken Wimmer/Striking GE Worker; ]
(( WE'RE MAKING HISTORY TONIGHT, OVER 20 THOUSAND UNION MEN AND WOMEN STRONG, WORKING FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR UNION AND NONE UNION PEOPLE, THE COMPANY POSTED OVER 19 BILLION DOLLARS, BILLION DOLLARS IN PROFIT, IT'S BEEN SHIFTED ON TO OUR RETIREES AND WORKERS AND IT'S GOT TO STOP SOMETIME. ))
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=stop sometime.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The company describes the increase in health care premiums as modest... saying its health benefits remain among the best in the industries in which G-E competes.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
Some 20-thousand workers in 23 states are taking part in the
walkout.
[7-11Food-Lion]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-48 TC59:09]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
A national grocery store chain is closing 41 of it's stores nation wide-- including one in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The Food Lion on Route-460 in the Market Square East shopping center will shut down Thursday at 6 p-m.
Officials say it's being closed because it's unprofitable.
About 40-part and full time workers will lose their jobs.
The stores is one of 41-Food Lion stores across the country being closed.
The company is also laying off workers in its corporate office, and distribution centers, as well as some people in transportation and field management.
(------------)
[7-11Ingersoll]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC1:29:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
In Roanoke County, officials are eager to get a new company into what's been a successful business location.
Since Ingersoll Rand decided to move a majority of its operations out of our region, the plant's building and property has been up for sale.
Economic development officials with the County say getting the right business and good fit for the area is a top priority.
Officials say they are talking with prospects but that no deal has been made.
Ingersoll Rand still employees about 40-people at that location.
(------------)
[7-Warner-Trip]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Warner]
Governor Mark Warner is travelling to Michigan today for what he's calling a "domestic" trade mission.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Warner will spend two days in Dearborn meeting with executives from auto manufacturing companies.
[SUPER=03-Dublin/File Tape]
He hopes the trip will beef up auto manufacturing-related employment here in Virginia.
(------------)
[45-11VA-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC10:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
As Virginia Tech students head to class this week, many are making a stop at the financial aid office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
About a month before the break, the university approved a 400-dollar tuition hike, that went into effect this Spring.
But, officials say the increase has NOT caused any real problems.
To help students deal with the increase, the university set aside an additional 700-thousand dollars this year in financial aid.
Officials say students could receive up to 360-additional dollars toward tuition, based on their financial need.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[45-11Blacksburg-Parking]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC04:34]
[GRAPHIC=]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Many students will find just GETTING to class may cost them more money too.
This month, the town of Blacksburg increased its parking meter rates downtown and added a late fee for unpaid parking tickets.
Officials say the changes are necessary to decrease parking problems.
(//////SOT///////)
[SOT 20:20]
[IN Q=IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT]
((DAN MCKINNEY/BLACKSBURG COMPREHENSIVE PLANNER: IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM IN DOWNTOWN BLACKSBURG. WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMAND FOR PARKING SPACES AND NOT MUCH SUPPLY.))
[SUPER=01-Dan McKinney/Blacksburg Comprehensive Planner;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=NOT MUCH SUPPLY]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials say if a ticket is not paid within 14-days, the person will be fined an additional 50-bucks.
(------------)
[45-11XGR-Tenure]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC07:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Northern Virginian lawmaker is having second thoughts about getting rid of tenure at the state's colleges and universities.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Delegate Dave Albo introduced legislation to end the practice of granting lifetime job security to professors.
Albo says tenure ties the hands of college presidents when it's time to cut costs.
But the lawmaker says he's decided NOT to move forward with the bill.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:21:15]
[IN Q=IF WE WERE TO ELIMINATE]
((DEL. DAVE ALBO/(R) SPRINGFIELD: IF WE WERE TO ELIMINATE TENURE AND NO OTHER STATES DO WE WOULD HAVE TO, TO ATTRACT PROFESSORS WE'D HAVE TO PAY THEM MORE, AND OF COURSE, YOU GOT THE MEMO THAT THERE'S NO MONEY SO I LAID IT ON THE TABLE WHICH MEANS ITS NOT KILLED ITS JUST SET ASIDE TO SEE IF I CAN SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Dave Albo/(R) Springfield]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Albo says he is still interested in addressing the issue of tenure.
He says he has introduced another bill that would require periodic reviews of tenured professors.
(------------)
[8-11Pitts-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
A fire in a Pittsylvania County home claimed the life of a child.
Officials at Danville Regional Medical Center say two-year old Nathan Collins was brought there for treatment and died a short time later.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
Fire officials say the home on Franklin Turnpike was consumed by smoke and fire when they brought the toddler out of the house.
The child's parents tried to get him out before firefighters arrived, but were unsuccessful.
The parents suffered minor injuries.
(-------------)
[8-Washington]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A federal judge has thrown out the case of a former Roanoke Parks & Rec employee who says she was raped by a co-worker on the job.
By her account, the two of them were taking a nap at the Garden City Recreation Center when Michael Washington raped her at knife point.
The pair was supposed to be working at Mill Mountain.
She waited a month to report it, but Washington was dismissed once she did.
The ruling entered Friday cites "shocking allegations."
Michael Washington has denied raping the woman and says any activity between them was consensual.
[8-11Incentive-Programs]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC48:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Despite a pledge by Governor Mark Warner to protect public education from budget cuts, officials still fear important programs will suffer.
Now, more than one hundred school superintendents who are concerned about funding-- are lobbying lawmakers in Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The superintendents say they're grateful that basic aid to education has been spared so far, but they're worried they may lose other state money.
In the city of Roanoke, incentive funds help to reduce class sizes, bring middle school students up to speed on algebra, and prepare pre-schoolers for the classroom.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Oh they have made great progress]
((LADAWN AVIS/EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER: OH THEY HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS. AND YOU CAN REALLY TELL A DIFFERENCE FROM LOOKING BACK WHAT THEY KNEW WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO ME AS A LITTLE BITTY FOUR YEAR OLDS AND WHAT THEY KNOW NOW. ))
((SANDI CLEMMER/ROUND HILL PRINCIPAL: WE HAVE SEEN THE SUCCESS OF THESE CHILDREN AS THEY STARTED AS THREE YEAR OLDS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOW IN FIRST AND SECOND GRADE. AND DOING WELL. AND DOING WELL, YES.))
[SUPER=01-LaDawn Avis/Early Childhood Teacher; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sandi Clemmer/Round Hill Principal; :11]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=and doing well, yes.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The algebra readiness program at Breckinridge Middle School is another that could lose funding.
State incentive funds pay for teachers, transportation, software and other costs of the successful after-school program.
(------------)
by SS