WDBJ 7 morning news for 02/15/03

[Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Joy]

[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
[SUPER=@Joy1;]
[SUPER=@Brent1;]
Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning.......
The F-B-I warns local law officials that some Iraqi individuals are seeking information about Roanoke.
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The weather may turn ugly later this weekend, but for now... just lots of rain. We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot toss to Hello]

[Joe-Wx]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat-AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The higher elevations may have seen some snow and ice.
But here in the Roanoke Valley, a cold rain settled in overnight.
[DOUBLE BOXES= Brent & Joy / Joe via Patio;]

Drivers will see plenty of wet pavement this morning, but Joe Dashiell reports, that may be the worst of it for a while.
[LIVE=Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Joy and Brent, snow has fallen in some of the higher elevations of our coverage area... bath county for example... but most of the region has seen rain... state and local authorities are not reporting any serious problems this morning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Betsy Beard held her umbrella]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jesse Dalton; :26]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=time for it to go away.]

((Betsy Beard held her umbrella against the rain as she waited for the bus that would take her to work at Community Hospital, but her Saturday morning commute did not include any snow.
While the temperature remained above freezing, and the roads remained clear... City crews were on the job overnight to make sure the rain did not turn to ice.
Painter Jesse Dalton headed to work before dawn, with concern for more winter weather to come.
[SOT 02:18:23]
[IN Q=I'm ready for it]
((I'M READY FOR IT TO BE OVER WITH. EVERY YEAR WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOME SNOW, THIS YEAR I THINK WE'VE HAD PLENTY. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR IT TO GO AWAY.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=for it to go away.]))

[LIVE=Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Of course, one benefit of the rain and snow is the effect on the region's water supply... rain guages in the roanoke valley have generally seen about a quarter of an inch in the last 12 hours... and those numbers will continue to climb as we receive more precipitation over the weekend.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Joy/Joe on patio;]

Joy, it's going to be interesting to see how this storm affects the level at Carvins Cove.

[11FBI-Report]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC20:42]
[GRAPHIC=Terror Alert]
Contrary to some reports, the F-B-I says Roanoke is NOT under any higher security alert than any other part of the country.
A spokesman for the agency says the supervisor in the Roanoke office sent an e-mail Thursday to area law enforcement agencies.
The note said individuals from Iraq have asked for travel and hotel information about the Roanoke Valley.
But the F-B-I says the Roanoke Valley is NOT under a higher security alert
Roanoke Police say there have been no specific threats and therefore the public should not panic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:00:00]
[IN Q=We have simply]
((JIM DAY/ROANOKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT: WE HAVE SIMPLY TOLD OUR POLICE OFFICERS ON THE ALERT AS ALWAYS BUT EVEN MORE SO THAN NOW FOR ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES OR PERSON'S AND WE WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO DO THE SAME THING. IF THEY SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, JUST AS ALWAYS THEY NEED TO CALL 9-1-1 SO WE CAN HAVE A POLICE OFFICER INVESTIGATE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Day/Roanoke City Police Department;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=going on]
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[ANCHOR-Joy]
[SS=HOLD]

Day also says they have no plans at this time to beef up patrols in the area.

[11Alert-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC11:26]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
If recent recommendations about preparing your home and family for a possible terrorist attack have left you a bit confused - you are not alone
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[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The American Red Cross says it's been receiving phone calls from people wondering exactly *how* they can prepare. A spokeswoman says, if you're ready for the possibility of a flood, fire or other natural disaster chances are pretty good you're also ready for a terrorist attack.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT 20:05:04-20:05:27]
[IN Q=There's two things the Red Cross...]
((AMY WHITTAKER/AMERICAN RED CROSS: THERE'S TWO THINGS THE RED CROSS IS TELLING PEOPLE TO DO RIGHT NOW... CREATE A DISASTER PLAN WITH FAMILY, DISCUSS WHAT KINDS OF DISASTERS CAN OCCUR, MEETING PLACE, PHONE NUMBERS, KNOW WHAT TO DO, MAKE SURE CHILDREN FEEL SAFE IN KNOWING WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER.))
[SUPER=01-Amy Whittaker/American Red Cross;]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=in the event of a disaster.]
(++++++++)
[WIPE TO FULL SCREEN WEBADDRESS] The Red Cross also advocates putting together a disaster supply kit. For more information about what that kit should include, log onto our website at wdbj7.com.
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[Stewart-Alert]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Officials say while Americans should prepare for the possibility of war --they should not panic.
The President says the federal government is doing everything in its power to make sure the U-S is secure.
Jim Stewart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Having brought the national pot to a]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tom Ridge/U. S. Secretary of Homeland Security; :13]
[SUPER=01-Jim Stewart/CBS News; 1:42]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=CBS News Washington]

(((NARR:) Having brought the national pot to a boil, Homeland Security Sec. Tom Ridge today sought to dial things back to a steady simmer...urging Americans not to overreact to the heightened security alert.

(SOT/Ridge)
"We do not, we do not want individuals or families to start sealing their doors or their windows."

(NARR:)
Nor, said Ridge, did the government have any plans to go to Red Alert, meaning that an attack was imminent.

(SOT/Ridge)
"We have not received any additional intelligence that would lead us to either raise or lower the threat level at this time."

(NARR:)
Across the intelligence and law enforcement communities today analysts were trying to sort out a steady stream of clues suggesting that Al Qaeda has issued attack orders for what could be a two pronged strike...one aimed at U.S. forces in the Arabian theater...and another, possibly simultaneous attack, at a target on the U.S. east coast.
The analysts seem most focused on the activities of this man, Khalid Sheik Muhammed....who already has overseen attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa....the bombing of the USS Cole and had overall command of the 9-11 attacks.

(NARR OVER GRAPHIC:)
Muhammed, arguably the second most powerful man in Al Qaeda now behind Osama Bin Laden, has been "actively recruiting for Al Qaeda" over the past year, analysts say, and is believed to have "personally signed off on the future attacks."

(NARR:)
The FBI's role in assessing those threats got a vote of confidence today from President Bush who visited the bureau for a much needed pep talk.

(SOT/Bush)
"This agency now understands that we're at war."

(NARR:)
The president also outlined more of his plan to combine large parts of the bureau with the CIA under George Tenent and form a powerful new analytical office. Up to 1200 FBI agents could eventually be transferred.

(CLOSE:)
The FBI insists this is not a loss of authority for itself, but rather a "fusion" of resources with the CIA. But in the long debate between the agencies over who's better suited to chase terrorists - cops or spies, it appears the president has clearly given the spies the upper hand.
Jim Stewart CBS News Washington))
[sports next]

[Bird-Count]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=Weekend]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=Time Off 2 1:56:54]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off FS Cave Monitor]

Calling all bird watchers. The Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology are inviting you to keep an eagle out for our feathered friends this weekend. In this week's Time Off, Shannon Young underscores the importance of the Great Backyard Bird Count.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Your career as a citizen-scientist...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Laurie Spangler/Mill Mountain Zoo Conservation Coordinator; :13]
[SUPER=@Shannon2; 1:27]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=STD]
((Your career as a citizen scientist is about to take off. From Friday February 14th to Monday the 17th, a host of ornithologists hope you'll keep an eye on the sky.
[SOT 21:32:11-21:32:30]
[IN Q=What citizens can do...]
((LAURIE SPANGLER/CONSERVATION COORDINATOR, MILL MOUNTAIN ZOO: WHAT CITIZENS CAN DO IS OBSERVE BIRDS IN THEIR BACKYARD AND KEEP A TALLY OF THE MOST NUMBER OF BIRDS THEY'VE SEEN AND SEND THEIR INFORMATION IN BY WEBSITE OR GIVE IT TO MILL MOUNTAIN ZOO AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND IT IN.))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=we'll be happy to send it in.]
Note that you're not counting every bird you see. You want to keep track of the highest number of birds seen at any one time. That way you won't risk counting the same bird twice. And if you don't recognize all the fowl, just go with what you know.
[SOT 21:32:44-21:33:09]
[IN Q=You don't have to have much knowledge...]
((LAURIE SPANGLER: YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE MUCH KNOWLEDGE AT ALL. IF YOU KNOW YOUR CARDINALS, BLUE JAY AND CHICKADEES, THAT'S FINE, JUST COUNT CARDINALS BLUE JAYS AND CHICKADEES.))
[RUNS= 25]
[OUT Q=cardinals, blue jays and chickadees (seccond time).]
The project is designed to keep common birds common. The best way to to find out which species need protecting is to moniter their populations.
[SOT 21:33:09-21:33:25]
[IN Q=The bird count provides scientists of a snapshot...]
((LAURIE SPANGLER: THE BIRD COUNT PROVIDES SCIENTISTS A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE BIRD ARE IN WINTER AND HOW THEY'RE MOVING. BIRDS ARE A GREAT INDICATOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW MANY ARE THERE AND WHAT BIRDS AREN'T BEING SEEN.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=what birds aren't being seen.]
So, come rain or shine, fifteen minutes a day of birdwatching day this weekend could help keep your favorite flocks aflight.
Shannon Young, News 7, Roanoke.))

(++++++++)
[ANCHOR=BRENT]
[TAKE WEBADDRESS FS]
For more information about the Great Backyard Bird Count, log onto our website at wdbj7 dot com and click on News 7 Saturday and Sunday Morning, or call Mill Mountain Zoo.
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[two shot tease at desk next]

[2Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning......
Friends and relatives are celebrating the birthday of Nathaniel Bowman... now missing for more than a month.
(------------)
Despite recent reports of Iraqi individuals asking about Roanoke - officials say the area is NOT under higher security than the rest of the country.
We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot toss to hello]

[Levinson-Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=sat]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]

In light of the recent report from U-N weapons inspectors, plans for a U-N resolution authorizing force against Iraq has been put off, at least for now.
Drew Levinson has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Knowing an inspectors could mean the difference]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mohammed Al-Adhami/Iraqi Parliament Member; :15]
[SUPER=01-Tariq Aziz/Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister; 1:00]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/CBS News; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=drew levinson cbs news, kuwait]
((
KNOWING AN INSPECTORS WORDS COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE, TOP IRAQI OFFICIALS WATCHED WITH CAUTION. ...THEN RESPONDED WITH OPTIMISM.....SAYING HANS BLIX' REPORT PROVED -- IRAQ HAS NO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

SOT - MOHAMMED AL-ADHAMI/IRAQI MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT "It shows that Colin
Powell's claims in front of the Security Council are baseless."
IN AN EFORT TO SHOW IRAQ IS TAKING THE ACCUSATIONS SERIOUSLY, SADDAM HUSSEIN ISSUED A DECREE OUTLAWING ALL U.N.-BANNED WEAPONS. BUT THE MOVE IS NOT LIKELY TO DEFLECT THE THREAT OF WAR.

(NAT)

THESE IRAQI ARE BEING TOLD TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST. PRAYERS FOR PEACE HAVE TURNED INTO RALLYING CRIES ... AS WORSHIPERS IN THIS MOSQUE VOWED TO DEFEND THEIR HOMES.

(NATS..W/POPE)
IRAQ IS ALSO TURNING TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN ROME FOR HELP. IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET WITH POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND AT THE VATICAN. THE POPE URGED BAGHDAD OFFICIALS TO COOPERATE MORE WITH THE INSPECTORS. AZIZ SAYS THEY ALREADY ARE -- DESPITE WASHINGTON'S GROWING IMPATIENCE.

SOT - TARIQ AZIZ/IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER - 14:12:30 "When Mr.Bush
says 'time is running out'...why time is running out?...there is no imminent danger."

(STANDUP)

DREW LEVINSON CBS NEWS, KUWAIT))

[11Radford-Gun]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Radford High School student may face criminal charges for bringing a toy gun to school. Police say the 16-year-old showed the gun to her classmates Thurdsay, who thought it was real. Police later found the gun in a trash can outside the school offices. The girl was suspended and could be charged with brandishing a firearm.

[11Davis]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:19:50]
[GRAPHIC=Logan Bowman]
The mother of a missing five - year - old Grayson County boy will spend more time behind bars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co./Monday;]
Cynthia Davis is already behind bars for child endangerment, in connection with the disappearance of her son Logan Nathaniel Bowman. But, yesterday, a judge sentenced Davis to an additional 10-days in jail for violating her son's visitation rights with his father. Alvin "Wayne" Bowman told the judge he last saw his son Christmas Eve and that Davis told him he couldn't visit Logan because he was sick. Davis is appealing the conviction. A hearing is scheduled in April.
(------------)

[11Missing-Child]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC1:36:10]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Every day since Logan's disappearance has been hard for friends and family - but they say today will be the toughest.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Grayson Co.;]
It's Logan's sixth birthday.
Logan's teachers and classmates at Baywood Elementary celebrated his birthday in school yesterday, and his church will also hold a celebration today. As for Logan's father, he says he hasn't made any plans, other than to pray for his son's return.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 27:32]
[IN Q=I HOPE AND PRAY]
((ALVIN BOWMAN/LOGAN'S FATHER: I HOPE AND PRAY THAT HE'S ALIVE...SOMEBODY'S OUT THERE'S GOT HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Alvin "Wayne" Bowman/Logan's Father;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=THERE'S GOT HIM]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities have ruled Bowman out as a suspect in Logan's disappearance. They say they continue to follow leads, but so far, have not turned up anything.
(------------)

[11State-budget]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:17:36]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
Some state lawmakers are meeting this weekend to come up with a compromise over the state's budget.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Lawmakers disagree over whether there is enough money to give raises to all state workers, including teachers.
Also, the House wants to restore D-M-V service on Wednesdays but that proposal is not in the Senate's budget.
Conferees met with Governor Warner yesterday.
Afterwards, Warner accused Republicans of being fiscally irresponsible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:43:05]
[IN Q=WHEN YOU'RE IN A HOLE TRYING]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=CAN'T BE ASSURED WE CAN PAY FOR.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Delegates Lacey Putney and Vic Thomas are two of nine lawmakers assigned to the task.
They will begin meeting tomorrow afternoon.
(------------)

[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jen]
[SS=None]
[BOTH MICS HOT] Coming up - Ben Affleck is a Lawyer by day - Vigilante by night in his latest blockbuster -
[ANCHOR=Brent]
But
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
Will you "Marvel" at his abilities - or dare not even check it out? We'll have a preview in this week's movie review. [Brent ad-lib almanac -- WX PRO]
(-------------)

[Brent MIC hot] [ No 2-shot toss go straight to almanac bump] [soft music under]
[Wx-Hello]
[MINI-OPEN]
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Joy]
(Marya toss to Brent)

[ANCHOR=Brent]
[BRENT HAS WX HELLO]
[WXPRO/Full]

[Business-Review]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=Biz Review ]
[GRAPHIC=Business Review]
Gas prices guzzle up cash and the future of Interstate-81 looks wider. News 7's Rachel Cannon has those stories and more in this week's Business Review.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Danny Carroll/Vehicle Maintenance Coordinator; :24]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :45]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:26]

[OUT Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
(([MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] This week in review...
[TAPE#=02-48 TC1:39:30]
NATS "BUS GUY PULLING OFF NOZZLE" If you think filling your fuel tank is costly, try this on for size. Roanoke County Schools keeps a whole fleet of buses running. A transportation official says he has seen a jump of about 14-cents per gallon and that it will affect their budget
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=WE'RE REDUCING]
((DANNY CARROLL/ROANOKE CO. SCHOOLS VEHICLE MAINT. COORD.; WE'RE REDUCING OUR WARM UP TIME THAT THE BUSES ARE THERE AND WARMING UP BEFORE THEIR ROUTES WE'RE REDUCING IDLE TIME IN BETWEEN RUNS AT SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THOSE LITTLE THINGS DO ADD UP. ))
[OUT Q=ADD UP.]
On a smaller scale, consumers like Kristie Hale are doing what they can to lessen the burden. She only spends about ten bucks at the pump each visit and now goes for a lower grade. [INSERT GREEN FLASH HERE]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC14:59]
A local bread company is baking again after a small fire. Heartland Bread Company at Towers Shopping Center re-opened this week after completing repairs. While business owners say damage was minimal, they wanted to make sure there was a safe environment before baking. [INSERT GREEN FLASH HERE]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC15:18]
V-DOT is moving forward to the first stage of review with two plans to widen Interstate-81. Star Solutions and Fluor Virginia have submitted plans to improve the highway. Star's plan calls for a toll on trucks while Flour's charges cars and trucks. V-DOT will decide in March, whether or not to go forward with a detailed review. For News 7, I'm Rachel Cannon and that's this week's Business Review. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))

[movie review next]

[2-Sp-Tease]

[ANCHOR=Brent]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[SS=None]
[BOTH MICS HOT] Coming up in sports- The Daytona 500 gears up this weekend - AND -
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Rick Crawford pulls the slip by Robert Pressley to win the Dogde Dealers 300.

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[ bump]
[Break #6]

[Whitaker-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Former boxing champion Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker has been arrested again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Virginia Beach]

This time for driving while intoxicated.
Whitaker is already on probation for cocaine possession.
And six months ago he told a judge that drugs would never be a part of his future. His lawyer says he didn't think it would happen again
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are some things that I don't care]
((THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I DON'T CARE TO REVEAL NOW THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOOD SHAPE, AND I SAY THAT VERY CANDIDLY AND THAT'S WHY I SAY I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE HERE))
[SUPER=01-Lionel Hancock/Whitaker's Attorney]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=we're here]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Whitaker was denied bond on Friday so he will spend the weekend in jail.
(------------)
[Sports-Bump]
[Take Full Screen Sports Bump] [Chyron 7160]

[COMM]
[Sun Promo] [ANCHOR-Brent] [Animation]
(///////SOT///////)
((Tomorrow on News 7 Sunday Morning.))
[RUNS=03]
(-------------)
[Brent at desk] A Smorgasbord of winter weather is headed our way for the rest of the weekend. We'll have all of your church closing information, weather updates and forecasts -
(------------)
Tomorrow on News 7 Sunday Morning. [Animation full]