WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/03/03

[Terrorist-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

America could have been a target again--
The al-Qaida lieutenant suspected of masterminding the September 11th attacks was reportedly preparing to hit the U-S again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kalid Shaikh Mohammed was arrested Saturday in Pakistan.
"Newsweek" magazine reports that an al-Qaida operative now in custody told investigators that Mohammed planned to attack bridges and gas stations in New York and Washington.
According to that report, he was going to have terrorists steal or hijack tanker trucks and crash them into fuel pumps, while other operatives would cut the suspension cables on bridges.
(------------)

[Iraq]

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

Iraq continues destroying weapons in hopes of avoiding a war.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Near Baghdad, Iraq;]

The Iraqis are using bulldozers to crush the Al- Samoud Two missiles.
But officials warn that they might stop if it appears the U-S plans to go to war anyway.
Claiming it's doing all it can, Iraq is showing inspectors where nerve agents and anthrax stocks were allegedly destroyed years ago.
Meanwhile, Turkey is offering no help to the U-S war effort.
It won't allow American troops to build a northern front against Iraq.
Those against the deployment say the argument is a simple one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Did they threaten]
((PROF. OYA AKGONENC/SAADET PARTY: DID THEY THREATEN AMERICA? NO. DID THEY ATTACK ANYONE ELSE AROUND THEM? NO. DID THEY THREATEN TURKEY? NO. THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING?))
[SUPER=01-Prof. Oya Akgonenc/Saadet Party;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=what are we doing?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It's a question also being asked by many members of the United Nations.
(------------)

[VA-Deployment]

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

Meanwhile, more sailors and Marines are preparing to ship out to the Gulf.
More than four-thousand of them are part of a group leaving tomorrow aboard three ships based in Norfolk.
The amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima is leading the group, which is scheduled to be gone for at least six months.
The forces likely will join about 14- thousand Marines already in the Gulf.

[11Potholes]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC-1:01:17]
[GRAPHIC=none]
More construction work will be performed this week on portions of Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Beginning today, V-DOT crews will be working in 24 hour shifts to repair potholes on the Interstate.
They'll be concentrating their efforts between Botetourt and Roanoke County.
V-DOT estimates there are hundreds of potholes in that stretch of the Interstate.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:56:54]
[IN Q=We're going to need]
((LAURA BULLOCK/V-DOT SPOKESPERSON: WE'RE GOING TO NEED PEOPLE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION AND BE PATIENT. THERE ARE GOING TO BE DELAYS ON INTERSTATE 81 NEXT WEEK. IT WILL TAKE A LANE CLOSURE, WE'LL NEED TO HAVE A LANE CLOSED WHILE WE'RE OUT THERE PATCHING THE POTHOLES BUT IT IS A MOVING OPERATION.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/VDOT Spokesperson]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=moving operation]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bullock says the harsh winter means V-DOT is having to fix potholes much earlier than usual.
The state typically spends 11-million dollars a year statewide on pothole repair.
But V-DOT expects to easily surpass that because of this year's rough winter.
(------------)

[11Flood-Cost]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC-16:54]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

Authorities are still tallying the damage from last weekend's flooding.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

City officials in Roanoke say more than two and a half million dollars in flood damage was done to both public and private property.
State inspectors were in town Friday to asses the damage around Roanoke.
City leaders hope federal assistance will soon be on its way.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:13]
[IN Q=We know that]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/CITY MANAGER: WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED FOR A FEDERAL DECLARATION AND WE WILL ALL BE WAITING ANXIOUSLY TO SEE IF THAT DECLARATION OCCURS. OBVIOUSLY, IF IT DOES THEN WE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT 2.4 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/City Manager]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=worth of damage]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Considerable damage happened at Victory Stadium, some city parks, and to a number of city vehicles and other equipment.
Burcham says the city will have to prioritize funds if the city fails to receive any federal assistance.
(------------)

[11Lingerie-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news, a Patrick County lingerie plant is laying off 40- of its 320- employees. Officials at Sara Lee Intimate Apparel products in Woolwine say the workers will be laid- off within the next month.
Company officials blame excess capacity in the plant along with continued sluggishness in retail sales across the country.

[Marketwatch]

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

In other business news, Wall Street begins a new month with some old concerns.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]

((INVESTORS KICK OFF A NEW MONTH WITH THE FAMILIAR CONCERNS.. WORRIES ABOUT WAR, HIGH OIL PRICES AND SAGGING PROFITS. VYING FOR INVESTORS' ATTENTION.. MORE ECONOMIC REPORTS.. INCLUDING THE FEBRUARY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND PERSONAL INCOME AND SPENDING.
AN EARLY RALLY FIZZLED ON WALL STREET AS WORRIES OVER WAR OVERSHADOWED SOME BETTER THAN EXPECTED ECONOMIC NEWS. NEW FIGURES SHOW THE ECONOMY WAS IN BETTER SHAPE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THAN FIRST THOUGHT.

(GR)
THE DOW ADDED MORE THAN 6 POINTS, FOR THE WEEK IT FELL 1.6 PERCENT.

(GR)
THE NASDAQ CLIMBED MORE THAN 13, DOWN NEARLY 1 PERCENT FOR THE WEEK.

(GR)
INTEL WAS A BRIGHT SPOT.. AN ANALYST AT LEHMAN BROTHERS RAISED HIS PROFIT FORECAST FOR INTEL FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT.
AMERICAN AIRLINES PARENT COMPANY, AMR LOST GROUND AFTER S&P CUT THE TROUBLED CARRIERS DEBT RATING.
SHARES OF THE GAP FELL INTO A GAP .. DOWN ABOUT 11 PERCENT...THE RETAILER WAS BACK IN THE BLACK IN THE FOUR QUARTER BUT FEBRUARY SALES SO FAR ARE WORSE THAN EXPECTED BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER..AND GLOOMY CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

(OC)
Housing prices are rising fast, especially in the most desirable cities. But within each region can be hidden bargains that offer all the good qualities of an area without the high prices. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SCOUT..THE MOST UNDERVALUED SUBURB IN THE COUNTRY'S 10 BIGGEST CITIES IS:

(GR)
SCOTCH PLAINS, NEW JERSEY...THE NUMBER TWO MOST UNDERVALUED SUBURB IS SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA FOLLOWED BY MUNDELEIN, ILLINOIS.
(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]

[Middle-East]

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

Witnesses say several people were killed and two homes were destroyed after an Israeli attack this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gaza City, Gaza Strip;]

Tanks fired shells and bullets as they rolled into central Gaza.
Witnesses say one woman was killed when her house collapsed after soldiers blew up a building next door.
The incursion into the two refugee camps follows Israeli pledges to hunt down Hamas militants.
Troops arrested two members of the militant group.
(------------)

[11Reel-Obit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC-24:39]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Executive Director of the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County died Saturday evening.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-1998; ]
Robert Reel, seen here in an interview from 1998, died unexpectedly Saturday at the Horse Center. Reel had served as its executive director since June of 1986, assuming his duties just months prior to the groundbreaking of the facility. Reel was 57 years old. Funeral services have been scheduled for Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock at the Lexington Presbyterian Church.
(------------)

[11Jesus-Project]

[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=11PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-49 TC-2:01:29]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[****ANCHOR TAG****] It's a project that's raised eyebrows, and missed deadlines. Nearly one hundred churches have gotten together to send everyone in the Roanoke Valley a copy of a video detailing the life of Jesus. But as Justin McLeod reports, the project is in need of financial help.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Flack/Pastor; :13]
[SUPER=04-Warner Bros.; :22]
[SUPER=01-Clyde Snavely/Jesus Video Project; :33]
[SUPER=@justin1; :59]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Glen Pearce/Cave Spring Baptist Church; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Roanoke]
((((NAT SOUND OPEN AT 7:26))
On any given Sunday many here in the Roanoke Valley crowd into pews to hear the gospel.
It is those who don't some churches want to reach.
[SOT 22:39]
[IN Q=We can reach a]
((TIM FLACK/PASTOR: WE CAN REACH A HUNDRED THOUSAND HOMES WITH THE GOSPEL WHICH WE COULD NOT DO IF WE STAYED BEHIND OUR CHURCH WALLS.))
[Runs= 07]
[OUT Q=our church walls]

They plan to do it through the Jesus Video Project. ((QUICK NAT SOUND OF THE MOVIE))
It is a movie that tells the life of Jesus according to the gospel of Luke.
The goal is to mail one of these videos to every home in the Roanoke Valley.
[SOT 19:53]
[IN Q=It's a way]
((CLYDE SNAVELY/JESUS VIDEO PROJECT: IT'S A WAY THAT THE PEOPLE DON'T FEEL INHIBITIVE BY IT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOME. THEY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING IT OR NOT WATCHING IT.))
[Runs= 09]
[OUT Q=watching it]
((NAT SOUND OF CHURCH SERVICE))
The project here locally is run by several churches and therefore is not tied to any specific religion.
To make the plan a reality, the group needs to come up with 300-thousand dollars to send out 100-thousand Jesus Videos.
[SOT 14:57]
[IN Q=Organizers of the Jesus]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: ORGANIZERS OF THE JESUS VIDEO PROJECT HAD FIRST HOPED TO GET THIS VIDEO OUT THROUGHOUT THE ROANOKE VALLEY BY SEPTEMBER 11TH. BUT A LACK OF FUNDS FORCED THEM TO PUSH THAT DATE BACK TO EASTER. BUT IT APPEARS NOW THEY WILL ALSO MISS THAT GOAL.))
[Runs= 13]
[OUT Q=miss that goal]
((NAT SOUND OF MOVIE))
The hope now is to send the video out by the Franklin Graham Crusade in early May.
But another seventeen thousand dollars still needs to be raised.
[SOT 3:12]
[IN Q=It was our hope]
((REV. GLEN PEARCE/CAVE SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH: IT WAS OUR HOPE THAT IT WOULD TAKE A LOT SOONER BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO KNOW IT'S GOD'S TIMING.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=God's timing]

It's a timing that has come many times before.
More than 4 billion of these videos have already been sent out worldwide.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Roanoke.))
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SUPER=16-(540) 312-6736/Jesus Video Project;]

If you would like to make a donation or learn more about the Jesus Video Project you can call 312-6736.

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Smoke-Detectors]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC-49:57]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One area fire department is trying to save a program designed to keep families safe.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/April 2002]

Since 1999, the Danville Fire Department has installed more than four thousand smoke detectors in homes across the city.
But now the supply is running out and the city has fewer than 100 detectors left.
The department is hoping a civic organization will help raise the 9-thousand dollars needed every year to install a thousand smoke detectors.
Fire Chief B. G. Lewis estimates that more than 50-percent of the homes in Danville do not have a working smoke detector.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, a modest rally for stocks on Friday, but the market still ended down for the week. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:18]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

(( SOME EARLY GAINS IN THE DOW FELL FLAT ON FRIDAY AFTER A LUKEWARM REPORT TO THE U-N ON IRAQI COOPERATION WITH INSPECTORS BROUGHT WAR WORRIES BACK TO THE FORE. TECH STOCKS RALLIED ON A POSITIVE ECONOMIC REPORT ON THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. THE DOW GAINED SIX POINTS. THE NASDAQ WAS UP 13 POINTS. YAHOO AND OTHER INTERNET COMPANIES SAW BIG GAINS IN THE TECH SECTOR. AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK, YAHOO WILL LAUNCH A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE FEATURING NEWS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SPORTS INFORMATION.
SHARES IN THE INTERNET PORTAL GAINED THREE PERCENT ON THE DAY AND 14 PERCENT FOR THE MONTH. PALM, ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN HAND-HELD COMPUTER DEVICES, HAD MIXED NEWS TO REPORT. THE COMPANY INTRODUCED ITS LATEST HAND HELD GADGET, AND ALSO ANNOUNCED MORE LAYOFFS. 150 EMPLOYEES WERE LET GO THIS WEEK COMPLETING A 19 PERCENT REDUCTION IN PALM'S WORKFORCE THAT BEGAN AT THE START OF THE QUARTER. PALM LOST 11 PERCENT ON THE NEWS. GAP SHARES TUMBLED AS INVESTORS WORRIED THE RETAILER'S VALUATION HAD PEAKED. AFTER POSTING A FOURTH QUARTER PROFIT, THE RETAILER ELECTED NOT TO GIVE GUIDANCE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OR THE FULL YEAR. AND GAP WARNED OF A FEBRUARY SALES SHORTFALL, BLAMING IT ON THE WEATHER AND POOR CONSUMER CONFIDENCE. GAP SHARES ENDED THE DAY DOWN 12 PERCENT. WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.)) [TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[11Generals-Art]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=eha]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC-6:55]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The city of Roanoke recongnized the man who was instrumental in providing historical accuracy for the movie "Gods and Generals"..
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]

Bud Robertson Junior wrote the book "Gods and Generals", which is a companion to the major motion picture.
Earlier yesterday, the Virginia Tech professor signed books at Ewald (E-wald) Art and Frames in Roanoke.
City officials were also on hand to present Robertson with a key to the city.
(//////////SOT////////)
[SOT:52:25:11]
[IN Q=I've had a ]
((DR. JAMES I. ROBERSTON, JR./AUTHOR: I'VE HAD A LIFELONG INTEREST IN THE CIVIL WAR AND I'M A NATIVE OF DANVILLE AND I'VE BEEN A LIFELONG STUDENT OF JACKSON AND IN 1997 I COMPLETED A SEVEN YEAR VENTURE OF A HUGE BOOK ON STONEWALL JACKSON THAT BECAME THE BASIS FOR THE JACKSON CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE AND THE BOOK THAT MORT AND I DID IS THE COMPANION VOLUME TO THE MOVIE SO IT ALL WAS SORT OF A NATURAL SEQUENCE.))
[SUPER=01-James I. Robertson, Jr./Author; :10]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=a natural sequence]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mort (KOONTZ-ler) Kuntsler provided the paintings for Roberston's book.
He also was an art consultant for the movie.
(///////SOT//////)
[SOT: 51:19:10]
[IN Q= My participation in]
((MORT KUNTSLER/ARTIST: MY PARTICIPATION IN THE MAKING OF GODS AND GENERALS WAS REALLY TO CREATE THIS BOOK, BUT IT WAS A MUTUAL BENEFIT SOCIETY SO TO SPEAK BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SCENES IN THE MOVIE ARE BASED ON PREVIOUS PAINTINGS THAT I HAD DONE LONG BEFORE THE FILM AND BY THE SAME TOKEN MANY OF THE PAINTINGS IN MY BOOK GODS AND GENERALS ARE BASED ON SCENES IN THE MOVIE.))
[SUPER=01-Mort Kuntsler/Artist]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=scenes in the movie]
(-----------)
[vo-nat]
Kunstler (KOONTZ-ler) also received a gift from the city.
Yesterday, was proclaimed "Mort Kunstler Day" in the city of Roanoke.
(-----------)

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[BUMP]

[COMM][Hollywood-Minute]

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

Bridget Fonda recovers from a car accident. And you'll see David Letterman this week, but only in re-runs. Holly Firfer explains why in today's Hollywood Minute.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=With Hollywood minute]
[SUPER=04-CBS - Worldwide Pants Inc. ; :16]
[SUPER=04-FOX; :49]
[SUPER=01-Holly Firfer/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:06]
[OUT Q=I'm Holly Firfer.]
((TIME NOW FOR A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT'S MAKING NEWS ON THE BIG..AND SMALL..SCREEN... --REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS-- WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M HOLLY FIRFER. BRIDGET FONDA RECOVERS IN L-A AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT LAST THURSDAY. THE ACTRESS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHEN HER CAR SLID OFF OF A RAIN SOAKED EMBANKMENT ON THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY. HER PUBLICIST SAYS, SHE'S DOING WELL. THE NUMBER ONE REASON DAVID LETTERMAN HAS BEEN ABSENT FROM HIS LATE NIGHT SHOW? AN EYE INFECTION CAUSED BY A VIRUS.. THE SHINGLES.. BESIDES HIS HEART BYPASS SURGERY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE TALK SHOW HOST HAS CALLED IN SICK- IN 20 YEARS. RERUNS WILL AIR ALL THIS WEEK. ALL GOOD THINGS TO THOSE WHO WAIT- JUST ASK CAROL CHANNING, WHO IS ENGAGED TO A MAN SHE HAD A CRUSH ON 70 YEARS AGO. THE 82 YEAR OLD ACTRESS AND HER BETROTHED HAD NOT BEEN IN CONTACT FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS, WHEN A MUTUAL FRIEND GOT THEM IN TOUCH. NO WEDDING DATE HAS BEEN SET. KEIFER SUTHERLAND HAS ANOTHER DAY'S WORK AHEAD-- 24 HOURS.. THAT IS. FOX HAS RENEWED HIS TELEVISION DRAMA "24" FOR A THIRD SEASON. WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE I'M HOLLY FIRFER.)) EACH EPISODE COVERS ONE HOUR IN A DAY.