WDBJ 7 morning news for 02/26/03

[National-WX]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

The approaching winter storm has already left a deadly mark on the Plains states.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The latest blast of winter weather dropped heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain.
Authorities say at least a dozen people are dead in Arkansas and Texas, mostly from traffic accidents.
[SUPER=03-Dallas-Fort Worth, TX;]

The weather sent cars spinning, grounded planes and gave thousands of students an unexpected day off.
About three inches of sleet and snow fell in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the most that area has seen in eight years.

(------------)

[11Roanoke-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]
Kids who attend school in the city of Roanoke won't get Spring break this year. The school system released its make-up day schedule yesterday.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE] Students will now have to attend class from March 31st through April fourth. Make- up days are also scheduled for Good Friday and Memorial Day.
(-------------)

[AM-Blacksburg-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC 1:10:55]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Blacksburg Police are trying to figure out what caused an accident involving a police officer and two other vehicles.
They say Officer Michael P. Czernicki was on Prices Fork Road, responding to a fight call just before 11 o-clock last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

As the officer drove through a red light at the intersection with Toms Creek Road and Stanger Street, his patrol car was t-boned by another vehicle.
The police car spun around and hit another car.
One of the civilian drivers was taken to the hospital, but her injuries were not believed to be serious.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've got a]
((BRUCE BRADBERY/BLACKSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT; WE'VE GOT A CRASH TEAM ENROUTE AND THEY'LL MAKE SOME FURTHER DETERMINATIONS. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE INVESTIGATED AND WE'LL TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.))

[SUPER=01-Bruce Bradbery/Blacksburg Police Department]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=next couple of days.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lieutenant Bradbery said the police car's emergency equipment WAS activated when the officer drove through the intersection.
(------------)

[11Glass-Fight]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC1:43:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A large fight on the lawn of E-C Glass High School may have been sparked by gang activity.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

That's according to Lynchburg police who sent more than a dozen officers to the scene around 2:15 yesterday afternoon.
Authorities say while hundreds of students were in the area at the time, only a handful were actually involved in the fight.
School resource officers had been tipped off to a potential problem earlier in the week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:51:40]
[IN Q=It was just]
((DANNY MARKS/LYNCHBURG POLICE: IT WAS JUST INFORMATION WE HAD THAT RIVAL GROUPS WERE EGGING ON EACH OTHER OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL AGAINST THE STUDENTS HERE AT THE SCHOOL, SO THAT'S WHY THE UNITS WERE IN THE AREA.))
[SUPER=01-Danny Marks/Lynchburg Police Department;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=were in the area.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Three juveniles were arrested and likely will face charges of trespassing.
School administrators say none are students at E.C. Glass.
No one was injured.
(------------)

[Nursing-Home]

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

An early morning blaze broke out at a nursing home in Hartford, Connecticut.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hartford, CT;]

Authorities say at least seven people have been killed.
Dozens of others were injured and have been taken to the hospital.
Officials say the fire broke out at the Greenwood Street Convalescent Home at around 3-30 this morning.
(------------)

[Saddam-Interview]

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

With the growing possibility of war, Saddam Hussein remains defiant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

During an exclusive interview with CBS News anchor Dan Rather, Saddam says he'd rather die than leave Iraq.
The Iraqi leader says in the event of war, exile is NOT an option.
But war could be imminent if the dictator doesn't follow a U-N order to destroy the al-Samoud Two missiles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=So, you do not intend...]
[SUPER=01-Dan Rather/CBS News Anchor;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=of the United Nations.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[SS=none]

Saddam also denies any links to al-Qaida or terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.
You can see more of Dan Rather's exclusive interview on "The Early Show" and tonight on a special edition of "60 Minutes Two."

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Hewlett-Packard has topped Wall Street profit forecasts for its fiscal first quarter. Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((SOME GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE FROM A HI-TECH HEAVYWEIGHT... HEWLETT PACKARD, the world's second-biggest computer maker, SAID NET INCOME SOARED 85 PERCENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER...

(gr)
THANKS TO PROFIT FROM ITS P-C UNIT AND THE PURCHASE OF COMPANY COMPUTER. SHARES OF H-P RALLIED IN AFTER HOURS TRADING...AND IS SURE TO BE A STOCK TO WATCH TODAY.

(oc)
A DRAMATIC LATE DAY TURNAROUND ON WALL STREET..A BIG FALLOFF IN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE COUPLED WITH CONCERNS ABOUT IRAQ AND NORTH KOREA INITALLY SENT STOCKS LOWER. BUT BY THE END OF THE DAY, INVESTORS WENT FISHING FOR BARGAINS

(gr)
HERES HOW IT ENDED: DOW UP 51.26.

(gr)
NASDAQ UP 6.60.

(oc)
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE PLUMMETED TO A 10 YEAR LOW IN JANUARY.. THAT'S AS THE THREAT OF WAR AND CONCERN OVER JOBS AND RISING OIL PRICES TOOK THEIR TOLL ON INVESTORS.

(oc)
HEATING OIL AND NATURAL GAS FUTURES HIT RECORD HIGHS EARLIER TODAY. INVESTORS ARE WORRIED THAT WAR WITH IRAQ WOULD SQUEEZE ALREADY WEAK SUPPLIES. BUT OIL PRICES EASED A BIT AFTER THE GOVERMENT SAID IT'S READY AND WILLING AND TAP OIL RESERVES IF WAR WITH IRAQ BREAKS OUT.
DESPITE WORRIES ABOUT A POSSIBLE WAR.. THE HOUSING MARKET REMAINS RED HOT.. SALES OF PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOMES SURGED 3 PERCENT IN JANUARY TO A RECORD HIGH. THOSE LOW MORTGAGE RATES CONTINUE TO FUEL THE HOUSING MARKET..

(gr)
HOME DEPOT - THE WORLDS LARGEST HOMEIMPROVEMENT CHAIN SAID SALES AND PROFITS FELL IN THE IN THE FOURTH QTR AS CUSTOMERS DEFECTED TO RIVAL LOWE'S...

(gr)
TRACK ALL THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM .. AT THE NASDAQ

(oc)
I'M AC IN NEW YORK..))

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

[Workplace-Shooting]

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

The man who opened fire yesterday inside a temporary employment agency in Alabama will likely face capital murder charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Huntsville, AL;]

Emmanuel Patterson surrendered to authorities several hours after a shooting rampage that killed four people and injured a fifth.
Police say the shooting began after an argument over a C-D player.
Witnesses say Patterson shot a father and son to death, and then turned the gun to others.
Patterson was well known to workers at Labor Ready, Incorporated, where he often showed up seeking employment.
(------------)

[Great-White]

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

Members of the rock group Great White are expected to testify today before a grand jury.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

They say they received permission from the nightclub to use a pyrotechnics display.
But the owners say no permission was granted.
[SUPER=03-West Warwick, RI/Last Thursday;]

The special effects started a blaze that killed 97 people, including Great White's guitarist.
The grand jury will look into whether criminal charges will be filed.
(------------)

[11Flood-Assessment]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC 22:51]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
Preliminary figures are in.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A spokesman for Roanoke says right now this weekend's flood damage is estimated at two- million dollars in the city... that includes damage to both public and private property. The city has declared a local emergency to begin applying for state assistance. In the meantime, the city is asking residents to continue to report damage. The number to call is 540- 853-2425.
(------------)

[11Willow-River]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC44:00]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

Some residents of a flooded apartment complex have returned home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Willow River Apartment officials say most of the people living on the second and third floors are being allowed back in the buildings. Power has been restored to most, if not all of the Salem complex.
[SUPER=04-Sunday;]
Flooding pounded the location over the weekend, forcing evacuations and leaving behind significant damage. All ground floor units were hit and will have to be rebuilt. The Red Cross says about two hundred people from the location are seeking assistance due to the flooding.
(------------)

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Truck-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC56:38]
[GRAPHIC=81 Deadly Accident]

An accident on Interstate 81 killed a Hardy man and injured a state trooper.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

51-year-old Thomas Bradley Hurt died after his tanker truck swerved and hit a state police car yesterday morning.

Trooper Angel Graham had just pulled over an Ohio van and was sitting inside her patrol car.
Trooper Graham was airlifted to the hospital, but state police say her injuries appear to be minor.
The van's passengers were treated and released.
The wreck spilled 75-hundred gallons of diesel fuel into nearby Mill Creek.
HAZMAT teams and a private contractor dammed the creek about two miles downstream.
They say it may take two weeks to clean up all the fuel.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, An impressive reversal on Wall Street yesterday. Stan Case has more on has more on the last minute comeback..
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

((

STOCKS CLAWED THEIR WAY BACK TO HIGHER
GROUND DURING THE FINAL HOUR OF TRADING
TUESDAY.
INVESTORS MANAGED TO OVERCOME INITIAL
CONCERNS ABOUT GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS
AND A SURPRISINGLY WEAK CONSUMER
CONFIDENCE REPORT.
THE DOW PICKED UP 51 POINTS.
THE NASDAQ GAINED SIX.
---

FEARS OF TERRORISM AND WAR PUSHED
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE TO A TEN-YEAR LOW
IN FEBRUARY.
IT WAS THE THIRD-CONSECUTIVE MONTH
CONFIDENCE HAS FALLEN.
THE SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK ALSO IS MUCH
WEAKER THAN EXPECTED.
ANALYSTS SAY THERE IS NO REBOUND IN
SIGHT.
THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR THE ECONOMY:
CONSUMER SPENDING ACCOUNTS FOR
TWO-THIRDS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
---

FOUR FORMER EXECUTIVES OF QWEST
COMMUNICATIONS HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR
FRAUD BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN
DENVER.
THE FORMER MID-LEVEL MANAGERS ARE
ACCUSED OF INFLATING THE TELECOM
COMPANY'S REVENUE BY MORE THAN
33-MILLION DOLLARS.
QWEST HAS PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED IT
MISREPRESENTED ITS BOOKS BY TWO-BILLION
DOLLARS IN 2000 AND 2001.
---

DON'T TELL YOUR LOCAL REALTORS THAT THE
ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES.
THEY'RE SELLING HOUSES AT A RECORD
PACE.
SALES OF EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
SOARED THREE PERCENT FROM DECEMBER TO
JANUARY, HITTING AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF
SIX-POINT-ONE MILLION UNITS.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
CREDITS RECORD-LOW MORTGAGE RATES.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE. ))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[11River-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC13:18]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

Montgomery County officials say they hope to learn from a rescue mission that later ended in death.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Elliston/Saturday;]
Rescue workers took more than two hours to save a father and son who were stranded Saturday in the North Fork of the Roanoke River. The son, 30-year-old Brian Quesenberry later died of hypothermia. Those who were involved in the operation met last night to discuss what happened and what they might have done differently. People from at least seven different agencies attended the meeting.
(------------)

[Winner]

(Winner Annouce---)

[SUPER=45-Bernard Martin/Roanoke;]

[COMM]

[Hollywood-Minute]

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

Phil Donahue's short lived show is cancelled. Cathy Healy has that story and more in today's Hollywood Minute.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Rapper turned]
[SUPER=01-Cathy Healy/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=I'm Cathy Healy.]
((I'M CATHY HEALY WITH TODAY'S HOLLYWOOD MINUTE. A KING OF TALK IS DETHRONED... AS MSNBC PULLS THE PLUG ON PHIL DONAHUE. THE DONAHUE SHOW ENDS FRIDAY AFTER JUST SIX MONTHS ON THE AIR. WHILE MSNBC SAYS IT'S PROUD OF THE PROGRAM, IT SAYS IT'S DISAPPOINTED WITH LOW RATINGS THAT HAVE SHOWED LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. DONAHUE, A NINE-TIME DAYTIME EMMY WINNER, WAS HIRED TO BE A LIBERAL CHALLENGE TO COMPETING FOX NEWS CHANNEL'S THE O'REILLY FACTOR. SOME GOOD NEWS, MEANTIME, FOR KELLY RIPA. "THE LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY" CO-HOST HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO A BABY BOY. IT'S THE THIRD CHILD FOR KELLY AND HUSBAND MARK CONSUELOS. THEY'VE NAMED HIM JOAQUIN. RIPA SAYS THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY HIS MIDDLE NAME WILL BE... YES THAT'S RIGHT... REGIS! AND JENNIFER LOPEZ MAY HAVE SOME COMPETITION... AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION DESIGN. EMINEM IS LAUNCHING A NEW CLOTHING LINE. FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT ITEMS FROM THE CONTROVERSIAL RAPPER'S "SHADY LIMITED" COLLECTION WILL BE AVAILABLE AT MACY'S, BLOOMINGDALES AND LAZARUS STORES STARTING IN APRIL. I'M CATHY HEALY.)) AND THAT'S YOUR HOLLYWOOD MINUTE.