WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/11/03

[7-11Bank-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:32:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Police are still searching for a man who robbed a bank in Rockbridge County at knifepoint.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

It happened about 12-30 yesterday at Planters Bank in Natural Bridge.
Authorities released photos of the robbery from the bank's surveillance cameras.
[SUPER=04-Surveillance Photos;]

The photos show a man wearing a ski mask and camouflage.
Deputies say he threatened the teller with a knife and ran away with an undisclosed amount of money.
The robber is described as a white man, six feet tall.
Deputies brought in a dog to track him, but so far they've been unable to find him.
The sheriff says its the first bank robbery in Rockbridge County in about 30 years.
(------------)

[7-11Burrow]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC45:15]
[GRAPHIC=Richard Burrow]
Until yesterday, prosecutors had not said whether they planned to pursue the federal fraud case against former D-Day memorial director Richard Burrow. Now the government is asking for a retrial date. A hearing was scheduled for one week from yesterday to argue whether the case should be dismissed.
Burrow's lawyers maintained it was too late, that the government had waited so long, the clock had run out on the speedy trial act.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/December 16]
It's been nearly three months since Burrow's first trial ended in a hung jury. Seven jurors held out for acquittal, so the judge declared a mistrial. The National D-Day Memorial that Burrow headed is just now emerging from financial difficulties. In an eight-page motion filed yesterday, the prosecutor says it was Burrow's "fraudulent conduct and half truths that steered the Foundation to the verge of financial ruin."
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim ]
[SS=HOLD]
The government asked the court to set the case for retrial no earlier than May 15th.

[7-AM-Health-Insurance]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Health Insurance]
According to the federal government, Virginians are among more than 40 million Americans who do not have health insurance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Last night, the Roanoke Valley Academy of Medicine held a town hall meeting to raise awareness and discuss possible solutions. According to the Virginia Health Care Foundation, approximately 15- percent of Virginians are UN-insured even though the majority work full or part time jobs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's a a terrible problem]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Edward Murphy/Carilion Health Systems President & CEO; ]
((DR. EDWARD MURPHY/CARILION CEO: IT'S A TERRIBLE PROBLEM THAT AFFLICTS ALL PARTS OF SOCIETY. THE WORKING, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, AND AS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE GROWS THAT DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, IT'S PUTTING A LARGER AND LARGER BURDEN ON ALL OF THE REST OF US TO PAY THE BILLS. ))
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=pay the bills.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In the Roanoke Valley, nearly 14 percent of residents are uninsured and they're not alone. In Danville and Pittsylvania County, officials say more than 21 thousand residents do not have health insurance.
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[45-11Carder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC31:09]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Carder]

After three years of service on the Roanoke city Council, Bill Carder will soon step down, as he takes a new job outside the Roanoke Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:00:44]
[IN Q=This is the hardest decision]
((BILL CARDER/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL: THIS IS THE HARDEST DECISION I'VE EVER HAD TO MAKE IN MY LIFE. THIS IS THE HARDEST DECISION MY WIFE CHRIS AND I HAVE EVER HAD TO MAKE IN OUR LIVES. THIS HAS BEEN OUR HOME. WE LOVE ROANOKE.))
[SUPER=@Carder;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=we love Roanoke.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Yesterday morning, friends, supporters and council colleagues joined him for the announcement at the Patrick Henry Hotel.
Carder says he will remain on council until a new budget is approved, and plans to give up his seat in early June.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:57:56]
[IN Q=You could always count on Bill]
((REV. NELSON HARRIS/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL: YOU COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON BILL FOR WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE GOOD JUDGMENT AND PROGRESSIVE, FORWARD THINKING SO HE WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED.))
[SUPER=@Harris;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=definitely be missed.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Carder is moving to South Boston to assume management of Berry Hill Mansion, a national historic landmark and a Marriott Conference Hotel.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

The remaining members of Roanoke City Council will choose a successor to fill Carder's unexpired term.

[45-11Giles-Search]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC1:22:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Murky conditions have postponed the search for two men who may have drowned in the New River.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./Sunday;]

Authorities say the river was too muddy and turbulent to let crews resume efforts yesterday.
They found items belonging to the men on Sunday, and have recovered their boat.
But there's no sign of the missing men.
Officials have not released their names, but say one is from Roanoke, and the other is from Vinton.
(------------)

[45-11City-Cemetery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:50:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A historic brick wall constructed more than 135 years ago, is now finding new life in Lynchburg's oldest burial ground.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

This wall used to be a mile long and completely surround the Old City Cemetery.
But years of weather and decay have taken their toll, and only 800 feet of the wall still stands.
Even that would be gone were it not for a restoration campaign that raised 130-thousand dollars to save it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:05:46]
[IN Q=It makes you]
((JANE WHITE: OLD CITY CEMETERY: IT MAKES YOU VERY PROUD THAT EVEN THOUGH IT USED TO BE A MILE LONG, THIS IS ONLY 800 FEET, AT LEAST YOU SAVED THAT LITTLE PIECE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT STORY.))
[SUPER=01-Jane White/Old City Cemetery]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=tell that story.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Money to restore the wall was raised entirely through private donations.
15-thousand people visit the cemetery every year making it the city's busiest tourist destination.
(------------)

[8-11Bank-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:32:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Police are still searching for a man who robbed a bank in Rockbridge County at knifepoint.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.;]

It happened about 12-30 yesterday at Planters Bank in Natural Bridge.
Authorities released photos of the robbery from the bank's surveillance cameras.
[SUPER=04-Surveillance Photos;]

The photos show a man wearing a ski mask and camouflage.
Deputies say he threatened the teller with a knife and ran away with an undisclosed amount of money.
The robber is described as a white man, six feet tall.
Deputies brought in a dog to track him, but so far they've been unable to find him.
The sheriff says its the first bank robbery in Rockbridge County in about 30 years.
(------------)

[8-11Fort-Eustis]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
One Virginia-based Army Reserve unit is not sure yet where it's headed, but is training to be ready for anything.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fort Eustis;]
75- soldiers with the 359th Transportation Battalion are undergoing training at Fort Eustis. The men and women have been actively training since reporting for duty last month. Yesterday, the soldiers were taught how to protect themselves in the event of chemical warfare. Some of the training included learning how to put on their mask and suit and how to detect different chemical agents.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:21:13]
[IN Q=We train]
((RANDY LOCH/ARMY RESERVIST; WE TRAIN EVERYDAY, TRAIN HARD, WE HAVE MISSIONS WE HAVE TO TAKE, MISSIONS TO MAKE OURSELVES BETTER, TO PROTECT OURSELVES BETTER, AND THE MAIN MISSION I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW IS YOUR CHEMICAL WARFARE, VERY IMPORTANT TO US, WE HAVE TO KNOW IT RIGHT DOWN TO THE T ))
[SUPER=01-Randy Loch/Army Reservist; ]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=down to the T. ]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The unit has not been told when or where it will be deployed.
(------------)

[8-11NS-Asbestos]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC2:01:34]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]

A ruling by the U-S Supreme Court may open the door to more lawsuits against Norfolk Southern.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
The court says workers who were exposed to cancer-causing asbestos can collect monetary damages in court even if they don't have cancer. Yesterday's vote was five to four. To collect, workers must already have a separate asbestos-related illness and be able to document their health concerns. Norfolk Southern officials say they're disappointed, but they don't think it will result in substantial claims against the company. The dissenting opinion says previous rulings don't support the finding that workers can collect money when they suffer from another disease that doesn't necessarily lead to cancer. (------------)