[11Tech-Meningitis]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Meningitis]

In other news this morning, a Virginia Tech student has been diagnosed with meningitis.
The 19-year-old woman was treated at Montgomery Regional Hospital Wednesday and has been transferred to a hospital in Fairfax.
She's in stable condition.
The sophomore's illness is the second case of menin-go-coccal meningitis in the state this year.
It's spread by close contact.
The symptoms can include high fever, nausea, a stiff neck or severe headache.
Officials with the New River Health District say any students with those symptoms should see their family doctor or go to the student health center.

[11Inge]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC15:32]
[GRAPHIC=Roy Inge]

The man who killed a Pittsylvania County sheriff's deputy last year received the death penalty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham;]

24-year-old Roy Inge Junior appeared disinterested as the jury handed him a death sentence.
He was convicted of capital murder for shooting Deputy Frankie Betterton during a May 17th traffic stop.
Betterton's wife said she and her two children have been despondent ever since.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:31:17 on tape 2]
[IN Q=May 17th]
((MARY BETTERTON/WIDOW; MAY 17TH WAS OUR SEPTEMBER 11TH. FRANKIE LEFT FOR WORK AND HE NEVER WOKE US UP TO SAY GOODBYE.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Betterton/Widow;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=to say goodbye.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Inge's attorneys argued that he should not be executed because he's mentally ill.
A psychologist testified that Inge was a paranoid schizophrenic who didn't believe the shooting -- or the trial -- was real.
Inge will be formally sentenced April 24th. His death sentence will be automatically reviewed by the state Supreme Court.
(------------)

[North-Korea]


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

Some Democrats on Capitol Hill don't believe the Bush administration is paying enough attention to another threat facing the U-S, North Korea.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

North Korea says it has re- started a nuclear plant.
It's believed that facility can make nuclear weapons.
A White House spokesman says the U-S is not ignoring North Korea, and has contingency plans, including military action.
However, the administration thinks the standoff over North Korea's nuclear ambitions can be resolved peacefully.
(------------)

[Iraq]


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

In as little as a week, the U-S and Britain could ask the United Nations to authorize the use of force against Iraq.


Yesterday, President Bush made it clear that the U-S is ready to disarm Saddam Hussein, even if the security council is not.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC/Yesterday;]

In his speech, Bush said Saddam has continuously defied U-N resolutions and now the security council must hold him accountable.
But if the international body doesn't, the Commander-in-Chief will.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The United States]
((THE UNITED STATES, ALONG WITH A GROWING COALITION OF NATIONS IS RESOLVED TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION NECESSARY TO DEFEND OURSELVES AND DISARM THE IRAQI REGIME.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=disarm the Iraqi regime.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kuwait;]

Meanwhile, the war build-up continues.
There are 113- thousand American troops in the gulf region now.
That number should reach 150- thousand by next weekend.
(------------)

[11National-Guard]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC45:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A local military call-up ended D-M-V business at a local armory before it could get started.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]
D-M-V's new Travel Teams had to cancel their first day of portable transactions because a National Guard unit needed to prepare for deployment. Reservists from Rocky Mount and Martinsville just received orders to ship out. About 50-soldiers will join a Gate City company on Saturday and then travel to Fort Eustis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:44:16]
[IN Q=THE 1032ND]
((TOM RIVENBARK/VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD; THE 10-32ND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY THEY'VE BEEN MOBILIZED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS AND WE ARE PROVIDING SOME SOLDIERS TO HELP BACK FILL THEIR UNIT, FILL IT UP TO FULL STRENGTH.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Rivenbark/Virginia National Guard;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=UP TO FULL STRENGTH.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The average deployment lasts from one to two years. D-M-V's travel teams were designed to service areas where full-service offices have been closed. Officials say they don't know for sure when DMV services will start at the Rocky Mount Armory.
(------------)

[11Night-Snow]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC1:43:40]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Since we've had so many storms this winter, some people may be getting tired of the snow.
But others see it as a blessing.
Justin McLeod tells us why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF DROPPING SALT INTO BUCKET]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Robert Muttart/Private Plower; :18]
[SUPER=01-Sarah Spears/Christiansburg Resident; 1:14 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=@justin1; :]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Blacksburg]
((((NAT SOUND OF DROPPING SALT INTO BUCKET))
They call themselves the grass assassins. ((NAT SOUND OF PUTTING ON THE PLOW))
During the winter, this Christiansburg business trades its lawn mowers for plows.
[SOT 10:55:04]
[IN Q=We push the snow]
((ROBERT MUTTART/PRIVATE PLOWER: WE PUSH THE SNOW CLEAR OFF SIDEWALKS, PUT DOWN SALT ON THE PARKING LOTS, SIDEWALKS PLOW, BASICALLY FOR APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AS WELL.)) [Runs11]
[OUT Q=customer as well]
((QUICK NAT SOUND OF CAR DRIVING BY AT HOME DEPOT))
The night began with a trip to Home Depot.
They picked up nearly 60 bags of salt, all of which will be used for this snowstorm.
This is the third year Grass Assassins has been the snow removing business.
[SOT 11:08:27]
[IN Q=I'd say the winter]
((ROBERT MUTTART/PRIVATE PLOWER: I'D SAY THE WINTER OF 2000 WE FAIRLY DECENT IF I REMEMBER WE HAD A LOT MORE ICE THAN SNOW BUT LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF ANYTHING.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=much of anything]

What a difference a year makes.
Business is up considerably and Grass Assasins now has more than 20 customers.
[SOT 10:54:41]
[IN Q=the amount of snow]
((ROBERT MUTTART/PRIVATE PLOWER: THE AMOUNT OF SNOW THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A LOT WHOLE BETTER THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN WITH THE DROUGHT THIS SUMMER IT WILL DEFINETELY HELP THE GRASS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=upcoming year]

So his business will probably continue to grow.
And although he welcomes the snow, many of us say enough is enough.
[SOT 11:12:46]
[IN Q=It's been crazy]
((SARAH SPEARS: IT'S BEEN CRAZY. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S SNOW THIS MUCH. IT HADN'T SNOW THIS MUCH IN THE FIVE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=LIVING HERE]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=The lack of snow]
((JUSTIN MclEOD/REPORTING: THE LACK OF SNOW......JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7, BLACKSBURG.))
[Runs= ]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Blacksburg]))

[Employment-Numbers]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news this morning, The Labor Department will release the January employment report later this morning.
The unemployment rate should hold steady at six percent, but many analysts say there's a risk it could edge up a notch. Payroll employment is expected to have increased. Now here's a look at your local stocks.
[STOCKS]
[COMM]

[1Roanoke-Wx]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=545AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-53]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

It's becoming a weekly routine, dealing with the latest wave of winter weather.
The storm that hit last evening, continued overnight and dumped several inches of snow in some parts of our coverage area.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim /Patio;]

Joe Dashiell is out in the mess this morning. Joe, How does it look here in Roanoke?
[LIVE=Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=@joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Kimberly, the snow has tapered off in the last couple of hours, but we probably seen over three inches here on Hershberger Road. While State and Local crews have been out overnight... and have done a good job of working the main routes, drivers will face some difficult conditions this morning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=OPENS ON NAT SOUND]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :05]
[SUPER=01-Lloyd Rawley/Roanoke Snowplow Driver; :28]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=slicker than the ones we've had before.]
(([OPENS NAT SOUND OF PARKING LOT SNOW PLOW]
On private parking lots, and public highways crews have been working through the night to clear the way for morning motorists.
But the snow that started Thursday evening, kept an icy coating on most of the roads in the region... and contributed to a rash of minor accidents.
As Snow Plow Driver Lloyd Rawley scraped the ice from his windshield and mirrors, and encouraged everyone to take care on slippery roads.
[SOT 01:30:00]
[IN Q=This is the worst one yet]
((THIS IS THE WORST ONE YET. I BELIEVE. WHY IS IT SO BAD. WELL IT'S A WET SNOW AND IT'S REALLY SLICKER THAN THE ONES WE'VE HAD BEFORE.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=than the ones we've had before.]))
[LIVE=Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

That was our experience as well, as we were driving around the Roanoke Valley this morning.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim /Joe Patio;]

Major roads are passable... but Kimberly most are still covered with a layer of snow and ice... and will probably stay that way until the sun comes up and we see a significant thaw.

[Columbia]


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

The Air Force has given NASA photos that reportedly show damage to the ``Columbia'' before its deadly breakup.
The magazine "Aviation Week and Space Technology says the photos show serious structural damage to the left wing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to nail down a theory as to what happened.
NASA now calls it remote, but it's still looking into whether a piece of debris hitting the wing during liftoff was a factor.
Investigators say everything is being considered, from a meteorite hit to a ruptured tire.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Missing-Child]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC 1:09:34]
[GRAPHIC=Logan Bowman]
The mother of a missing boy in Grayson County says she, too would like to know where her son is.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co.;]
Cynthia Davis is charged with child endangerment, in connection with the disappearance of her son Logan Nathaniel Bowman. The five-year-old has been missing since January 8th. Davis appeared in circuit court yesterday morning hoping to reduce her 100-thousand dollar bond, but a judge denied the motion because of the case is so serious. Davis' lawyer says there is a reason why his client waited nearly three weeks to report her son missing, but prefers not to disclose that right now. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.
(------------)

[11XGR]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC2:04:30]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

The House of Delegates and Senate have approved their respective state budgets, but not every lawmaker is happy with the spending plans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Democrats say the Republican-crafted budgets include too many fee increases, like a five dollar increase in the cost of a Virginia drivers license.
And a two-point-four percent increase in the price of alcohol at ABC stores.
They also say Republicans based a "promised pay raise" for state workers on inflated revenue estimates.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:57:49]
[IN Q=I DO QUESTION THE REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS]
((SENATOR CREIGH DEEDS/D-BATH CO.: I DO QUESTION THE REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS. I HATE TO HAVE PEOPLE'S HOPES BUILT ON ASSUMPTIONS THAT MAY NOT TURN OUT TO BE CORRECT.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Creigh Deeds/(D) Bath Co.; :00]
[SUPER=@Hawkins; :09]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=WE DID A GOOD JOB.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Republicans rewrote the two-year, 50-billion dollar budget crafted by Governor Mark Warner.
Over the next few weeks, senior lawmakers will work out a compromise between the House and Senate versions. (------------)
by SS