WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/14/03

[7-11L'burg-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC38:42]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A woman killed yesterday on the Lynchburg Expressway has been identified by police.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 35 + ]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

It happened just before three yesterday afternoon in the southbound lanes near Graves Mill Road.
Authorities say Anita Kumar (KU-mar) of Lynchburg was headed north in a Toyota when she swerved across the median and hit a southbound car head-on.
24- year- old Francis Howell was riding in the passenger seat a Mitsubishi and died at the scene. Her husband, 31-year old Tony Howell was driving the car and is being treated at UVA's medical center.
(Ku-mar) Kumar was taken to Lynchburg General with minor injuries. Officials say they're still investigating the accident and ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call Lynchburg Police.
(------------)

[7-11Tech-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:55:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
More than 300-Virginia Tech students and faculty rallied yesterday in protest over the school's decision to cut affirmative action.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Tech's board of visitors recently changed its discrimination policy, so that the school would no longer consider race and gender as factors in admissions, hiring or financial aid. The board also removed sexual orientation from the policy. Many protesters say not only are they upset over the decision, but also by the way it was made.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 27:01]
[IN Q=NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS]
((TOBY QUARANTA/STUDENT; ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION 27:01 NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS RESOLUTION WAS SENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY WERE SNEAKY AND THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG 27:07))
[SUPER=01-Toby Quaranta/Student;]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=DID SOMETHING WRONG]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But, not everyone opposes the board's decision.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:42]
[IN Q= I FEEL I CAN'T ]
((ERIK RODGERS/STUDENT; I FEEL I CAN'T EVEN HAVE AN OPINION WITHOUT BEING DEEMED A RACIST AT THIS POINT 12:46 AND I THINK IT HELPS TO FOSTER RACISM IN THE FUTURE 12:49))
[SUPER=01-Erik Rodgers/Student;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=IN THE FUTURE]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
University officials told protestors they are working feverishly on the issue.
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[7-11React-protest]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC53:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Governor Mark Warner says he is extremely concerned about the decision, and criticized the Board of Visitors for acting without public input.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine is accusing Attorney General Jerry Kilgore of improperly influencing the trustees with warnings of potential liability.
Kilgore says he was just doing his job.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:10:30]
[IN Q=THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN]
[SUPER=@Kaine; :00]
[SUPER=@Kilgore; :10]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=GET COLLEGES SUED.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kilgore says race and gender-based preferences are not the only ways to achieve diverse student bodies.
(------------)

[45-11Short-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-10]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The murder case involving Michael, Mary and Jennifer Short last August may have faded from the headlines, but several investigators from Henry County and Rockingham County, North Carolina are still actively working the case.
Yesterday the investigation took them to a creek near (Maya-Dan) Mayodan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockingham Co., NC]

Officers with metal detectors searched the streambed and banks off Janet Road.
They wouldn't say what they were looking for... only that they hope dilligence, patience and perhaps a little luck will ultimately lead to an arrest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We never know]
[SUPER=02-Kimmy Nester/Henry Co. Sheriff's Office]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=puts this case together.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]

Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell says a man questioned early on in the case is still a person of interest.
More than a hundred pieces of evidence taken from Garry Bowman's van are at the crime lab in Roanoke, but it could take six months to a year to complete all the testing.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

Bowman is not the only focus of the investigation. Sheriff Cassel says there are other people that investigators are checking into.
The sheriff also says new leads in the case have dwindled, but the department is still asking anyone who may have information to call them.

[45-11Bedford-School]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC1:10:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Bedford County school board decided more than six months ago to renovate Jefferson Forest High School, rather than rebuild it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

Last night, the school board met with architects to discuss the cost involved in renovating the school.
Right now, the proposed budget stands at 24-point-six million dollars.
The current renovation plan calls for many changes including building a new academic building, expanding classrooms and the cafeteria, as well as moving the library and administrative offices.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:30]
[IN Q=It's time to move]
((JIM BLEVINS/SUPERINTENDENT: IT'S TIME TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. AND SO NOT EVERYBODY IS GETTING WHAT THEY WANT. WE'RE HOPING EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME COMPROMISES MADE AND THIS RENOVATION PLAN WOULD BE FOLLOWING THE SAME RENOVATIONS WITH WHAT WE DID WITH LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Blevins/Bedford Co. Superintendent]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=Liberty High School]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Several citizens spoke at last night's meeting voicing their concerns that the renovation project is taking too long.
The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget for renovations at a special meeting on April 17th.
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

County leaders hope to begin construction by March of next year.

[8-11L'burg-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC38:42]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
Police have released the name of the woman killed yesterday on the Lynchburg Expressway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 35 + ]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

It happened just before three yesterday afternoon in the southbound lanes near Graves Mill Road.
Authorities say Anita Kumar (KU-mar) of Lynchburg was headed north in a Toyota when she swerved across the median and hit a southbound car head-on.
24- year- old Francis Howell was riding in the passenger seat in a Mitsubishi and died at the scene. Her husband, 31-year old Tony Howell was driving the car and is being treated at UVA's medical center.
(Ku-mar) Kumar was taken to Lynchburg General with minor injuries. Officials say they're still investigating the accident and ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call Lynchburg Police.
(------------)

[8-11Speedway-Collapse]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC19:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Three years ago a walkway collapsed at the Lowes Motor Speedway near Charlotte, injuring more than 100 people.
Yesterday, testimony wrapped up in a 27-million dollar lawsuit from a Nelson County couple caught in the collapse.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC]

Marty and Cindy Taylor are seeking damages from the track and from Tindall Corporation, a company based in South Carolina that built the bridge.
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/May 2000]

The walkway collapsed in May 2000 as fans left The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race.
Investigators have said a grout used in building the structure was improperly mixed, leading to the corrosion of steel cables that held the bridge together.
Jurors are scheduled to hear closing arguments in the case Monday.
(------------)

[8-11Safety-Patrols]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:39:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday that there will be a 50 percent cut in the Safety patrols program, which helps stranded motorists on Interstate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ironto/File Tape;]

V-DOT began the safety service patrols on Interstate 81 in 1999.
They help thousands of drivers every year, and state transportation officials say the decision to cut the popular program was a last resort.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:35:27]
[IN Q=The good news is]
((THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A SAFETY SERVICE PATROL IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY, BUT THE BAD NEWS IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK THE HOURS.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=cut back the hours.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The cuts will not cause lay-offs, but the patrols are now working reduced hours and covering fewer miles. On July first, service will be reduced from five days a week to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (------------)