[11Short-Murders]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC09:19]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The murders of Michael, Mary and Jennifer Short last August captured national attention.
The case has since 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 stream bed and banks off Janet Road.
They wouldn't say what they were looking for... only that they hope diligence, 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 Cassell 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.
[11Bedford-School]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC1:10:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's been more than six months since the Bedford County school board made the controversial decision to renovate rather than build a new Jefferson Forest High School.
(------------)
[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.
[Social-Services]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Virginia Department of Social Services regional office in Roanoke will soon close its doors.
Commissioner Maurice Jones sent a memo to employees several weeks ago informing them that the Piedmont Region office in Roanoke
and the Central Region office in Henrico County would close NO later than June 30th.
About thirty jobs will be eliminated.
The closings are the department's answer to mandated state budget cuts.
[11Safety-Patrols]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:39:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Safety patrols that help stranded motorists on Interstate 81 are facing the budget axe.
Yesterday, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced a 50 percent cut in the program.
(------------)
[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.
(------------)
[11Bland-Cattle]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC 26:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Lab results will determine if a Bland County farmer will be charged with animal cruelty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 15]
[SUPER=03-Bland Co.]
Officials found about 60 animal carcasses on Harry Thompson's Willow Brook Farm in Bastian.
Farmers are required to bury or burn the animals. These were scattered all over the property.
One of the dead animals is being tested to determine the cause of death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:39:02]
[IN Q=He thinks the cattle]
((LORIN HANSHEW/BLAND CO. SHERIFF'S DEPUTY; HE THINKS THE CATTLE WENT UP INTO THE WOODS AND ATE SOME RODEDENDRUMS THAT CAUSED ITS DEATHS.))
((WE COULD CHARGE HIM FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY FOR NOT FEEDING THE ANIMALS PROPERLY.))
[SUPER=01-Lorin Hanshew/Bland Co. Sheriff's Deputy;]
[OUT Q=the animals properly]
[RUNS=14]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 12 + pad]
Investigators with the Department of Environmental Quality are also looking into violations involving sludge.
News 7 called Harry Thompson at his home in Bluefield, West Virginia , but did not get an answer.
(------------)
[Iraq]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
In national news--
Today Iraq is supposed to turn over to inspectors a report on how it destroyed certain chemical weapons.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
But that may only widen the divide at the United Nations.
President Bush is still pushing the U-N to vote for military action against Saddam Hussein.
He's been working the phones, trying to convince undecided security council members.
Meanwhile, the White House says time is running out for diplomacy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The President]
((ARI FLEISCHER/WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON: THE PRESIDENT IS PURSUING THE DIPLOMACY STILL AT THIS LATE DATE, BUT IT WILL NOT BE PURSUED ALL THAT MUCH LONGER. ))
[SUPER=01-Ari Fleischer/White House Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=much longer.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Persian Gulf;]
Meanwhile, the U-S military is tightening the noose around Iraq.
Navy ships, armed with tomahawk missiles , are moving within striking distance of Baghdad.
Military experts say the next step could be to move aircraft carriers into place, so first strike war planes can be ready to go.
(------------)
[Marine-Baby]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The U-S Marine who had to decide between going to the Middle East or staying with his critically ill infant son, has received some good news.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Loma Linda, CA;]
After four hours of heart transplant surgery, four- month- old Dillon Sellers is in critical, but stable condition.
His father, Major Hal Sellers got the news from his wife yesterday.
Sellers is a 13- year veteran.
He made the difficult decision to leave his son and serve his country because he was concerned about bringing in someone new to lead his battalion.
Meanwhile, baby Dillon is expected to make a full recovery.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news, Wall Street has enjoyed its best session in five months.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=your local stocks]
((WILL WALL STREET MAKE IT THREE RALLIES IN A ROW?
STOCKS SOARED IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION AS BARGAIN HUNTERS GOT TO WORK AND
FRESH NEWS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE LED SOME TO BELIEVE A WAR WITH IRAQ MAY BE
DELAYED.
(GR)
THE DOW ROCKETED 269 POINTS
(GR)
THE NASDAQ RAN UP 61 POINTS OR NEARLY 5 PERCENT.. ITS BIGGEST ONE DAY GAIN
IN FIVE MONTHS.
(OC)
TRADERS LARGELY SHRUGGED OFF A BIG DROP IN RETAIL SALES LAST MONTH DOWN 1.6 PERCENT. THE BIGGEST DROP IN OVER A YEAR.
AMONG THE STOCKS TO WATCH:
(GR)
FORD SAID IT WILL CUT ITS SECOND QUARTER NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCTION BY 17
PERCENT.
Health information company WebMD REPORTED A SMALLER THAN EXPECTED FOURTH QTR
LOSS.. THANKS to higher revenue and continued cost cutting.
(GR)
ANOTHER BIG DROP IN ONLINE TRADING VOLUME HIT CHARLES SCHWAB'S BOTTOMLINE.
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ABOUT A MONTH.. THE ONLINE BROKER SAID WALL STREET'S
EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS ARE STILL TOO HIGH.
(Gr)
MORTGAGE RATES FELL AGAIN TO A NEW LOW THIS WEEK. THE AVERAGE 30 YEAR RATE
IS 5.61 PERCENT.. THE 15 YEAR IS BELOW5 PERCENT AT 4.93 PERCENT..
(OC)
ON THE ECONOMIC CALENDAR, A REPORT ON WHOLESALE INFLATION AND CONSUMER
SENTIMENT.
(GR)
TRACK ALL THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM ..
(OC)
AT THE NASDAQ I'M AC IN NEW YORK.))
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[Smart]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Details are beginning to surface on what happened to Elizabeth Smart during her nine months of captivity.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT;]
Authorities say the Salt Lake City teenager was forced to depend on her kidnappers, making it difficult to escape.
Police say Elizabeth was held for two months in a tent near her home, and spent part of the winter sleeping under a bridge in California.
When police found her Wednesday, she denied her identity.
She made up several excuses for her disguise, and even claimed that Brian Mitchell was her father.
(------------)
[Body-Found]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Authorities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana are nearly certain that a woman's body discovered yesterday is that of a missing college student.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baton Rouge, LA;]
Authorities have tentatively identified the body as Louisiana State University student Carrie Yoder.
A fisherman found the body in an area where a serial killer has taken four lives since 2001.
An autopsy's being performed, and police are still investigating.
(------------)
[11L'burg-Accident]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC38:42]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
Police have identified the woman killed in a two-car crash 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 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.
(------------)
[11Speedway-Collapse]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[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.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]
[comm #3]
[Biz-Brief]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news, The Dow and Nasdaq both enjoyed their biggest point gains of the year yesterday.
Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]
((THE MARKETS RALLIED THURSDAY, AS INVESTORS TOOK COMFORT THAT A POTENTIAL WAR WITH IRAQ MIGHT BE DELAYED--OR AVOIDED.
THE DOW SOARED UP 269 POINTS.
THE NASDAQ ROSE 61 POINTS.
TYCO INTERNATIONAL WILL CLOSE THREE HUNDRED PLANTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THIS MOVE WILL CUT ONE- BILLION DOLLARS IN COSTS BY 2006 FOR THE COMPANY THAT MAKES EVERYTHING FROM DUCT TAPE TO DIAPERS.
TYCO SHARES HAVE LOST 71 PERCENT OF VALUE IN THE LAST YEAR, AS THE COMPANY FACED CORPORATE SCANDAL.
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS IS SLASHING 16-HUNDRED JOBS IN AN EFFORT TO DRAG ITS SEMICONDUCTOR BUSINESS BACK INTO THE BLACK.
THE DUTCH COMPANY IS CLOSING TWO PLANTS IN THE U-S.
IT SAYS IT DOESN'T SEE MUCH PICK-UP THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH IT EXPECTS TO SEE A PROFIT FROM THE CHIP DIVISION BY THE FOURTH QUARTER.
DRUG MAKER BAYER IS WARNING THAT ITS INSURANCE COVERAGE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO MEET THE COST OF THOUSANDS OF LAW SUITS.
EIGHT AND A HALF THOUSAND USERS OF ITS BAYCOL ANTI-CHOLESTEROL DRUG ARE SUING.
BAYER WITHDREW BAYCOL TWO YEARS AGO, AFTER IT WAS LINKED TO RISING NUMBERS OF PATIENT DEATHS.
MEANWHILE, THE COMPANY SAID ITS NET PROFIT CLIMBED BY ALMOST TEN PERCENT IN 2002.
BUT ANALYSTS HAD EXPECTED MORE GROWTH.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS]
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[11Tech-Protest]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[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.
(------------)
[11React-protest]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[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.
(------------)
[Hollywood-Minute]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=mpu]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A T-V mob boss is causing problems behind the scenes of an H-B-O hit.
Elise Wuhl has more in today's Hollywood Minute.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=With today's]
[SUPER=04-HBO;]
[SUPER=01-Elise Wuhl/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=and that's the Hollywood Minute.]
((WITH TODAY'S HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M ELISE WUHL.
MORE BAD NEWS FOR SOPRANOS FANS...
H-B-O HAS SUSPENDED FILMING OF THE SERIES BECAUSE OF AN ONGOING DESPUTE WITH ITS STAR, JAMES GANDOLFINI. GANDOLFINI IS REPORTEDLY ASKING FOR A SALARY CLOSE TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS AN EPISODE...WHICH IS ABOUT DOUBLE WHAT HE MAKES NOW. H-B-O IS OFFERING 800-THOUSAND. FILMING OF THE SHOW'S FIFTH SEASON HAD BEEN SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON MARCH 24TH...BUT NOW ITS BEEN PUT OFF INDEFINITELY.
ACTOR CHRISTOPHER REEVE IS BREATHING A BIT EASIER...
SINCE UNDERGOING AN OPERATION
ALLOWING HIM TO BREATHE LONGER WITHOUT A RESPIRATOR. REEVE HAS NEEDED HELP BREATHING SINCE HE BROKE HIS NECK IN A HORSEBACK RIDING ACCIDENT EIGHT YEARS AGO.
IS MARTIN SHEEN BEING PUNISHED FOR TAKING A PUBLIC STANCE AGAINST THE WAR ON TERRORISM? MAYBE. OR MAYBE IT WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT HIS VISA CHECK CARD COMMERCIAL, WHICH WAS CITED AS ONE OF THE BEST COMMERCIALS OF 2002, WAS ABRUPTLY CAI'M ELISE WUHL AND THAT'S THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE.))
NCELED LAST WEEK. INSIDERS SAY VISA'S GOTTEN TONS OF COMPLAINTS BASED ON SHEEN'S WAR STANCE.
by SS