WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/06/03

[Bush]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]

President Bush took his push for war to airwaves last night in a rare prime time news conference.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Bush called Saddam Hussein a cancer and says the Iraqi dictator is not disarming.
The President promised a "regime change" in Iraq.
He says he hopes for peace, but added that the U-S doesn't need anybody's permission to defend its security.
Bush says he'll call for a vote on a U-S war resolution, even if it doesn't have enough support to pass, because he says he wants other countries to have to put their cards on the table.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If we need to ]
((IF WE NEED TO ACT, WE WILL ACT. AND WE REALLY DONT NEED THE UNITED NATIONS TO DO SO.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=to do so.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Last night's speech was only the second prime- time White House news conference Bush has held since becoming President.
(------------)

[CBS-Poll]

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

A new C-B-S Poll shows that a solid majority of Americans believe the President should get U-N approval before taking military action.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The poll also shows the nation remains almost equally split on whether the Bush administration has made a case for war, and is also divided over whether Iraq poses an immediate threat or can be contained.
The poll was taken just before last night's Presidential news conference.
(------------)

[U-N]

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

Meanwhile, the chief U-N inspector will report to the security council today about the latest searches for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

In his 167- page report, Hans Blix is expected to say that Iraq and Saddam are cooperating more, but still not enough.
Secretary of State Colin Powell held a series of meetings in New York last night, trying to shore up support for a new resolution that would authorize force against Iraq.
Russia and France still remain opposed to war and want inspections to continue.

(------------)[11-77-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:27:56]
[GRAPHIC=I-77 Accidnet]

Interstate 77 has re-opened after a chemical spill shut-down part of road for more than 10-hours yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;]
It happened at mile-marker-43, north of Wytheville. Police say a tractor-trailer overturned, spilling ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel. The spill was so dangerous, police shut-down both sides of the interstate, and told workers at a nearby training center to evacuate. The driver of the truck, was not seriously hurt, but he was cited for reckless driving and failure to maintain proper control.
(-------------)

[11D-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC26:59]
[GRAPHIC=D Day Memorial]

The D-Day Memorial Foundation is looking to the future now that an agreement has been reached with its creditors.

(------------)
[VO-NAT 15.5]
[SUPER=03-Bedford;]
Officials say a re-organization plan over the next five-years pays its debt in full. It will be signed and delivered to bankruptcy court this week. The Memorial owes about 4-million dollars, almost half of which is due to Coleman-Adams Construction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:21:42]
[IN Q=we do hope]
((CLIF COLEMAN/COLEMAN-ADAMS CONSTRUCTION; WE DO HOPE WE GET PAID FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE WE DO HOPE THE FOUNDATION IS ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS AND WE DO HOPE TO BE THE CONTRACTOR IN THE FUTURE. ))
[SUPER=01-Clif Coleman/Coleman-Adams Construction;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=IN THE FUTURE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Foundation officials say in addition to paying creditors within the next five years, they hope to complete the education center and create an endowment for the memorial.
(------------)

[11L'burg-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC1:20:56]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg's Commonwealth's attorney says politics had nothing to do with his decision that a city council member can "not" take part in any debate or vote on the city budget.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Joan Foster works for the Alliance for Families and Children, a non-profit agency that receives funding from the city.
Prosecutor Bill Petty says because that funding is lumped into the general fund, Foster would create a conflict of interest by taking part in the budget process.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:23:44]
[IN Q=The members of]
((BILL PETTY/LYNCHBURG COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS ACT IS AND WHAT IT SAYS. WHEN I SEE SOMEONE MAKE COMMENTS IT'S APPARENT TO ME THAT EITHER THEY HAVEN'T READ THE ACT AND DON'T UNDERSTAND IT OR HAVEN'T READ THE OPINION AND DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Petty/Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=don't understand it. (SECOND TIME!!)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Petty says council could resolve the problem by removing the Alliance money from the overall budget and voting on it as a separate item.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Intel has narrowed its first-quarter revenue estimates.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]

((NO FIREWORKS FROM INTEL. AFTER THE CLOSING BELL THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPUTER CHIPMAKER TIGHTENED ITS FIRST QUARTER SALES GOAL. INTEL NOW EXPECTS 6.6 TO 6.8 BLN DOLLARS IN SALES IN THE FIRST QTR.

(GR)
IT'S ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS FOR SALES RANGING FROM 6.5 AND 7 BILLION DOLLARS.. INTEL SAYS FLASH MEMORY SALES HAVE BEEN LOWER THAN EXPECTED.. NEXT WEEK, INTEL WILL UNVEIL A NEW CHIP FOR NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS.

(OC)
MEANTIME A SEPARATE REPORT SHOWS THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINES ARE GETTING LONGER... 12 THOUSAND PEOPLE FILED FOR FIRST TIME UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LAST WEEK.. THAT WAS MORE THAN EXPECTED AND THE MOST SO FAR THIS YEAR...
ON WALL STREET.. SOME SOUR ECONOMIC NEWS TURNED STOCKS SOUTH..

(GR)
THE DOW PLUNGED 101 POINTS

(GR)
WHILE THE NASDAQ GAVE BACK 11.

(OC)
HOW LOW CAN THEY GO.. MORTGAGE RATES FELL TO A NEW RECORD LOW THIS WEEK..

(GR)
THE AVERAGE 30 YR RATE IS 5.67 PERCENT.. WHILE THE 15 YR POPULAR WITH REFIANCERS HIT A NEW LOW OF 5.01 PERCENT..

(OC)
GET READY TO SHELL OUT MORE AT THE PUMP. GAS PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO A HIT A RECORD 1-76 A GALLON NATIONWIDE IN APRIL - RIGHT IN TIME FOR THE BUSY DRIVING SEASON. THAT WOULD SURPASS A PREVIOUS RECORD OF 1.71 A GALLON BACK IN MAY OF 2001.

(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]

[Hotel-Scare]

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

Last night police evacuated several floors of New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel because of a security scare that turned out to be a false alarm.
Secretary of State Colin Powell is among the guests at the hotel.
No word on whether he was among the evacuees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Authorities say there was no bomb, but a suspicious briefcase.
A bomb- sniffing dog gave a positive sign on the briefcase.
The city bomb squad then blew it apart with a high- powered water gun.
As it turns out, the briefcase belonged to a guest, who apologized for leaving it unattended.
He will NOT be charged with anything.
(------------)

[11Planned-Parenthood]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC1:04:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia is an extremist state on the forefront of restricting a woman's right to choose.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 06:38:25 - cutaway]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
That was the message from a planned parenthood representative in Richmond yesterday. He, and members of other groups, were urging Governor Warner to veto what they call an unprecedented amount of legislation aimed at restricting a woman's right to choose.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:46:06]
[IN Q=The Republican pro- choice]
((KATHERINE WADDELL/REPUBLICAN PRO-CHOICE COALITION: THE REPUBLICAN PRO- CHOICE COALITION OF AMERICA STRONGLY URGES GOVERNOR WARNER TO TRUST THE WOMEN OF VIRGINIA AND PLEASE VETO ALL OF THESE. PLEASE VETO ALL OF THESE PAROCHIAL BILLS.))
[SUPER=01-Katherine Waddell/Republican Pro-Choice Coalition;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=these parochial bills]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Parental consent for an abortion is one bill that concerns the group. A sex educator in the state says the women she works with usually involve a family member in their decision making anyway. And she says there's no need to up the law from notification to parental consent.
(------------)

[11Sharpton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC13:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Reverend Al Sharpton will be bringing his presidential campaign to Lynchburg later this month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]

Sharpton will deliver the sermon at Providence Ministries International in Forest on Sunday, March 23rd.
P-M-I officials say Sharpton's speech will highlight issues important to African-Americans around the country.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:27:30]
[IN Q=We are convinced]
((JAMES COLEMAN/PROVIDENCE MINISTRIES: WE ARE CONVINCED THAT WHETHER REVEREND SHARPTON WINS OR LOSES, THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE FOR US. HE WILL BE A FACTOR, A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN SHAPING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND NOT JUST THAT, BUT SHAPING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE ENTIRE POLITICAL PROCESS TO BE INCLUSIVE.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. James Coleman/Providence Ministries International]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=to be inclusive.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Reverend Coleman says Sharpton also plans to use the visit to make national position statements on issues critical to the Democratic Party.
(------------)

[Hollywood-Minute]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Hooters gets its wings... And who's America's favorite T-V personality? Elise Wuhl has more on those stories in today's Hollywood Minute.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Elise Wuhl/Reporting; : 05]
[SUPER=04-Blue Note Records; :28]
[SUPER=04-Harpo-Kingworld; :48]
[SUPER=04-Worldwide Pants; 1:03 REAL QUICK]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=I'm Elise Wuhl.]
((WITH YOUR HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M ELISE WUHL THE FRIENDLY SKIES JUST GOT A SPRINKLING OF SEX APPEAL. ON THURSDAY, HOOTERS AIR ..A NEW LOW-COST AIRLINE..MADE ITS FIRST FLIGHT ..WHICH BY THE WAY, WAS FROM ATLANTA TO MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA. THE AIRLINE'S OWNER HOPES THAT ROUTE WILL ATTRACT A LOT OF MALE GOLFERS AND SPORTSMEN. A SECOND ROUTE WILL BE ADDED ON MARCH 20TH. SULTRY SOUNDING SINGER NORAH JONES'S ALBUM, "COME AWAY WITH ME," HAS EXPERIENCED A POST GRAMMY AWARDS SALES-SPIKE. JONES, WHO WON A TOTAL OF EIGHT GRAMMYS, SAW HER ALBUM SELL AN AMAZING 621-THOUSAND COPIES JUST LAST WEEK. AND OPRAH IS NUMBER ONE.. ACCORDING TO AN ON-LINE HARRIS POLL, WINFREY IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE T-V PERSONALITY. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME SHE'S WON THE AWARD...SHE WAS ALSO HONORED IN 1998 AND 2000. COMING IN SECOND WAS RAY ROMANO AND ROUNDING OUT THE TOP THREE ..DAVID LETTERMAN. I'M ELISE WUHL AND THAT'S TODAY'S HOLLYWOOD MINUTE.))

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC 27:14]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Residents of a Roanoke apartment building got a rude awakening this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning]
Firefighters were called to Caru Apartments located at 36th and Donna Streets around 3:45. A fire that had started in a basement apartment caused the whole building to smoke up. Residents were forced to evacuate. No one was injured. Authorities are still investigating. They say no one was in the basement apartment at the time of the blaze.
(------------)

[11Boty-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

The Botetourt County Sheriff's Department is investigating a shooting involving the wife of a federal marshal.
It happened around ten Wednesday morning on Beachview Lane in the Rainbow Forest subdivision.
Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle says deputies responded to a report that a woman walked into her home, found a burglar and was then shot.
The intruder was described as a white male wearing a green shirt, blue jeans and a black mask.
The victim is recovering from a single gunshot wound.
Her name is not being released at this time.
Investigators say they found the gun at the scene.

[2-11Cana-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

An arrest has been made in a Carroll County shooting.
Authorities say the body of Larry Ralph King was found shortly before seven Wednesday morning at a residence in Cana.
He had apparently been shot in the chest.
A tracking dog led deputies to a mobile home where they found 29 year old Lee Howard Wilmoth.
He faces charges including first degree murder and he is being held without bond in the New River Valley Regional jail.

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, A negative jobs report and continued fears of war with Iraq sent stocks lower yesterday. John Lisk has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Lisk/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=I'm John Lisk]
((BLUE CHIPS PLUNGED THURSDAY AS A JOBLESS REPORT WORRIED INVESTORS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR WITH IRAQ INTENSIFIED.

NEWS THAT PRESIDENT BUSH WOULD ADDRESS THE NATION ACCELERATED SELLING. THE DOW DROPPED 101 POINTS. THE NASDAQ LOST 11 POINTS. THE LABOR DEPARTMENT REPORTED NEW CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS INCREASED BY 12-THOUSAND IN THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH. FORECASTERS HAD EXPECTED THE NUMBER TO DROP. NEW CLAIMS HIT THEIR HIGHEST MARK OF THE YEAR AT 430-THOUSAND. A READING ABOVE 400-THOUSAND INDICATES A DETERIORATING LABOR MARKET. FRENCH MEDIA GIANT VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL ANNOUNCED A QUARTERLY LOSS OF MORE THAN 25 BILLION DOLLARS. UNDER PRESSURE TO REDUCE DEBT, THE FRENCH CONGLOMERATE IS CONSIDERING SELLING ITS ENTERTAINMENT ASSETS IN THE U-S. THOSE INCLUDE UNIVERSAL MUSIC, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS THEME PARKS, THE "U-S-A" CABLE NETWORK AND "THE SCI-FI CHANNEL." APPLE COMPUTER, STILL BATTLING TO GAIN MARKET SHARE, EXPECTS TO LAUNCH AN ONLINE MUSIC SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. THIS WOULD BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME MAJOR MUSIC LABELS--ASYET UNNAMED . THE SERVICE WOULD ALLOW APPLE USERS TO BUY AND DOWNLOAD MUSIC FOR THEIR MACINTOSH COMPUTERS OR I-POD MUSIC PLAYERS. CURRENTLY, I-POD'S ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE MAJOR SUBSCRIPTION PROVIDERS. WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M JOHN LISK.))

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

[11Career-Center]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC27:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Students in Roanoke County have learned an important lesson, that their opinions do matter.
After strong opposition, the school board tabled a plan to close and move the Roanoke County Career Center.
But as Justin McLeod discovered last night, the school's future is still in doubt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:20:38]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF CLAPPING]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :00]
[SUPER=01-Linda Weber/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent; :52 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Cy Platt/Student; 1:06]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:16]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF CLAPPING AT 12:20:38))
It was a decision that took many by surprise.
[SOT 12:14:56]
[IN Q=I'm surprised, I'm very]
((HEATHER JANNEY/STUDENT: I'M SURPRISED, I'M VERY SURPRISED. I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR DECISION.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=their decision]

The students were not always this happy.
Last month, the school superintendent announced plans to close the Career Center here at the old William Byrd High school.
The program would have then been divided among several schools throughout Roanoke County.
[SOT 12:18:52]
[IN Q=I think I would]
((KIM BUTTERWORTH: I THINK I WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY SKIPPED OR DROPPED OUT OR NOT EVEN NOT BOTHERED TO GO.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=bothered to go]
((NAT SOUND OF SUPERINTENDENT SPEAKING))
Potential state budget cuts forced the school system to consider closing and moving the career center.
The move would have saved the county 700-thousand dollars a year.
But in the end, the state did not cut the school system's budget.
Even so, the school superintendent says the aging building is still an issue.
[SOT 11:55:46]
[IN Q=We're very concerned]
((LINDA WEBER/SUPERINTENDENT: WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUILDING ITSELF BECAUSE IT COSTS A TON TO HEAT.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=ton to heat]

What to do about the building and the program will not be decided anytime soon.
The school system plans to study the issue for at least a year.
[SOT 12:16:05]
[IN Q=This means a lot]
((CY PLATT/STUDENT: THIS MEANS A LOT TO US BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SO MUCH BETTER HERE THAN ANYPLACE ELSE THAT WE'VE BEEN.
WE'VE ALL HAD PROBLEMS WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WE HAVE INPUT IN THIS.)) [Runs10]
[OUT=input in this]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=That input will come]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THAT INPUT WILL COME NOT ONLY FROM STUDENTS BUT ALSO PARENTS AND STAFF. THEY WILL ALL BE ON A COMMITTEE THAT WILL STUDY THE ISSUE AND THEN RECOMMEND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))
[Runs= ]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]))

[desk 3-shot]
[toss to weekend preview]