WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/13/03

[7-11Meat-Recall]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=morn]
[GRAPHIC=Product Recall]

Ground beef sold at Kroger that may be contaminated with E-coli has sparked a recall.
The beef came from an American Foods Group plant in Ohio on January 24th.
(XXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FS PINNACLE]
The recall includes ground beef in one, two and three pound foam trays AND ground hamburger patties.
The ground beef has the code numbers 3-0-2-4 and 3-0-2-5 under the Kroger label.
Customers can return it to the store for a refund.
American Foods has set up a customer hotline at 1 - 800 - 829 - 2838.
Health officials say there have been no local cases of E-coli infection.
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[7-11Bland-Cattle]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Sheriffs deputies and the health department are investigating the death of 60 cattle on a Bland County Farm.
Sheriff Melvin Cox says it appears the animals died of starvation, but he said one of the carcasses has been sent to a department of health lab for testing.
Cox said there are between 50 and 60 cattle still alive on the farm, but they look like they're starving. He says their ribs are visible and they are unsteady on their feet.
He says it's likely the owner will face criminal charges.
The owner told investigators that the cattle died from eating laurel.

[7-11Rachel-Fund]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Bedford County community is showing its support for a little girl who is hospitalized after a drive-by shooting in North Carolina.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

5-year-old Rachel Sanchez was shot in the head while riding with her grandparents last month.
[SUPER=03-Forest]

Her teachers and classmates at Forest Elementary School have started the "Reaching Out For Rachel" fund to help with the family's expenses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:03:07]
[IN Q=They're staying]
((LORI MANLEY/FOREST E.S. PRINCIPAL: THEY'RE STAYING IN A HOTEL, THEY HAVE THEIR MEALS, GAS BACK AND FORTH. ACTUALLY THE FAMILY, MR. AND MRS. SANCHEZ HAVE NOT BEEN HOME YET BUT THEY'RE HAVING PEOPLE DELIVER THEIR MAIL, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING. AND SO THIS WILL BE FOR ANYTHING THEY NEED, IT'S JUST SORT OF AN UMBRELLA ACCOUNT FOR ANYTHING THEY NEED IT TO BE FOR.))
[SUPER=01-Lori Manley/Forest Elementary School Principal;]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=need it to be for.]
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[VO-NAT]

The school raised more than 13-hundred dollars in just the first few hours yesterday morning.
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[TAKE PINNACLE PAGE]
If you want to donate, call the school at 434-525- 2681.
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[45-11Tech-Policy]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC49:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Virginia Tech says, legally, it had no choice but to remove its affirmative action policy.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
Officials say the decision is based on an accord made two years ago between the state and federal government.
(///////SOT///////)
[SOT 28:33]
[IN Q=WHICH BASICALLY]
((LARRY HINCKER/VT SPOKESPERSON; WHICH BASICALLY SAID THAT WE NO LONGER NOT ONLY MUST, BUT WE NO LONGER CAN HAVE REMEDIAL PROGRAMS TO CORRECT PAST ACTIONS OF DISCRIMINATION 28:48))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/Virginia Tech Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=ACTIONS OF DISCRIMINATION ]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Despite the explanation, Tech's student government association says it plans to sue the university, for removing sexual orientation from the new policy. While, the policy says it won't discriminate IN FAVOR of certain groups, it also says it won't discriminate AGAINST them either. But, the university says sexual orientation is not legally protected under law, therefore it has the right not to include it.
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[45-11Wilder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC1:05:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Meanwhile, former Governor Doug Wilder spoke out against Tech's decision.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Wilder says he has grave problems with the Board of Visitor's move to eliminate race as a factor when considering new students.
He says he is equally concerned that veterans will no longer receive special consideration.
But his harshest criticism was of Governor Mark Warner for remaining silent on the issue.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:55:13]
[IN Q=WHAT'S THE POSITION]
((DOUG WILDER/FORMER GOVERNOR: WHAT'S THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE? IS THERE SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT IT? I'M QUITE CERTAIN IT WILL BE BUT WHEN?))
[SUPER=01-Doug Wilder/Former Governor]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=IT WILL BE BUT WHEN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday, a Warner spokesman said that the governor is out of state on vacation and has not been briefed on Monday's action by the Board.
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[45-11Printing-Plant]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The new state-of the-art printing press will soon take shape inside of the new Roanoke Times print facility, which is almost complete.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The newspaper broke ground on the building in November, 2001.
Interior construction should be finished within eight to ten weeks.
Workers are now preparing for the installation of the Heidelberg Mainstream 80 press.
The first of more than 50 tractor trailer loads will begin arriving at the end of next week.
If all goes according to planned, the press will be in place by mid-June, and prepared for full production by the end of October.
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[8-11Bland-Cattle]

[8-11Patrick-Hospital]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:57:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Members of the Patrick County rescue squads say they will continue to fight to keep their local hospital's emergency room open.
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[VO-NAT :22]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co.;]
They're worried the prospective buyer of bankrupt R-J Reynolds-Patrick County Hospital may shut down the E-R. A purchase deal isn't final yet because it has to be approved by a bankruptcy judge, but the County's Board of Supervisors and medical workers say they haven't been given any details about what changes may happen at the hospital if the sale goes through.
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[SOT 00:18:36]
[IN Q=WE PROVIDE]
((DR. DIANE ROWELL/ER PHYSICIAN; WE PROVIDE EXCELLENT MEDICAL CARE AND I'D BE CONCERNED THAT WE WOULD BE AT A LOSS HERE IF WE LOST IT THERE WOULD BE LIVES LOST LITERALLY.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Diane Rowell/Emergency Room Physician;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=LIVES LOST LITERALLY.]
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[VO-NAT]
E-M-Ts say the loss of the E-R would be life threatening for critical patients that would have to travel to Martinsville for care and that ambulance service in the County would be hurt. The hospital says it can't comment while negotiations are underway but a member of the Hospital's Board of Trustees says an E-R is guaranteed for five-years in the sale agreement with the prospective buyer.
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[8-11Lewis-Gale]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC2:05:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A major gift from another hospital is being given to Virginia Western community College.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Lewis Gale Medical Center plans to give the college one million dollars in cash and half a million dollars in services over the next five years.
The gift will allow Virginia Western to expand its allied health programs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT23:21]
[IN Q=This will allow us to double the size]
((ROBERT SANDEL/VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRES.; THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF OUR NURSING PROGRAMS THAT MEANS RN, LPN AN INCREASE THE RADIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM BY ABOUT 30-PERCENT))
[SUPER=01-Robert Sandel/Virginia Western Community College;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=by about 30-percent]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lewis-Gale believes partnering with Virginia Western will make an impact on the nursing shortage in the region.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT19:13]
[IN Q=Virginia Western is the local provider]
((JAMES THWEATT/CEO LEWIS-GALE MEDICAL CTR.; VIRGINIA WESTERN IS THE LOCAL PROVIDER OF THE MAJORITY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THIS COMMUNITY SO WE FELT THAT IT WAS A NATURAL FIT FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THEM))
[SUPER=01-James Thweatt/Lewis-Gale Medical Center;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=partner with them]
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[VO-NAT]

85-Percent of Virginia Western's graduates stay and work in the region. (------------)