WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/21/03

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Assualt Begins]

It's day Two of the second Gulf War.
Iraq is under attack from the air, the sea, and now from the ground.
Ground forces are converging on a southern Iraqi city, while another division is headed for Baghdad.
Meanwhile, there are some allied casualties.
A Marine helicopter went down in Kuwait, killing all 12 American and British soldiers aboard.
The helicopter was assigned to the First Marine Expeditionary Force.
Drew Levinson is in Kuwait City this morning, and joins us now with the latest on the war.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=201-Drew Levinson/CBS News;]
[SUPER=205-Kuwait City, Kuwait;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=203-Kuwaiti Border;]
[SUPER=203-Baghdad, Iraq;]
[SUPER=201-Donald Rumsfeld/U. S. Secretary of Defense;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=205-Kuwait City, Kuwait;]
((PKG

(Kuwaiti Border)(NATS)
THE GROUND INVASION IS ON THE MOVE. OVERNIGHT THE MILITARY BOMBARDED ENEMY FORCES WITH ARTILLERY FIRE ALONG THE KUWAITI BORDER..... (eve news) WHILE ATTACK HELICOPTERS TOOK OUT IRAQI DEFENSES.
(NATS)

THAT CLEARED THE WAY FOR TANKS. BRITISH AND U-S FORCES ARE BELIEVED TO BE CONVERGING ON THE SOUTHERN IRAQI CITY OF BASRA. SHELLING HAS BEEN HEARD AND SEEN IN THE AREA. MEANWHILE THE ARMY'S THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION IS HEADED FOR BAGHDAD... THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO... TROOPS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO ARRIVE FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE ALLIED FORCES OVERWHELMING FIREPOWER HAS CAUSE ENEMY SOLDIERS TO GIVE UP. THIS MORNING THESE IRAQI SOLDIERS SURRENDERED TO BRITISH FORCES IN SOUTHERN IRAQ. BUT THE WAR HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT CAUSALITIES. 16 U-S AND BRITISH SOLDIERS WERE ON BOARD AN AMERICAN SEA NIGHT HELICOPTER WHEN IT WENT DOWN NEAR THE KUWAIT BORDER. INVESTIGATORS DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH.... HOSTILE FIRE HAD NOT BEEN REPORTED IN THE AREA.
baghdad fires(NATS)(Baghdad) BAGHDAD WAS THE TARGET OF CRUISE MISSILES AGAIN LAST NIGHT. .... SETTING FIRE TO GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. AND FIREPOWER ISN'T THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S ONLY WEAPON... NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY TO TURN IRAQI TROOPS AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN.

martin(SOT-Donald Rumsfeld/Defense Secretary)
"we are in communication with... the special republican guard who are increasingly away that it's going to happen. He's going to be gone."
SADDAM IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SEEN ON TELEVISION TWICE YESTERDAY BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE REPORTS THE DICTATOR WAS WITH OTHERS IN A COMPOUND HIT BY TOMAHAWKS THURSDAY MORNING. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THEY WERE WOUNDED OR KILLED... HOWEVER, MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SUMMONED TO THE SITE.
))

[War-Reax]

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

President Bush is expected to remain at the White House for most of the day under extraordinary security.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Washington, DC;]

Bush is urging all countries to expel Iraqi representatives, saying they stand for a corrupt and ruthless regime.
Meanwhile, anti- war demonstrators say they'll be back out today.
Protests lasted past midnight in some areas, disrupting traffic.
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[11Roanoke-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC 1:25]
[GRAPHIC=Protests]

Protesters came out in Roanoke last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]
With candles and small signs, dozens of local residents gathered at Lee Plaza in downtown Roanoke. This is one of several protests that has been held at the location over the past several weeks. Some cars driving by the group beeped their horns in support and others booed out their car windows.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:47:07]
[IN Q=we get called]
((SUSAN CHAPMAN/OPPOSES WAR; WE GET CALLED UNPATRIOTIC OR THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS AND I PRAY FOR THE TROOPS IN IRAQ AND I PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT PEOPLE THAT WILL BE KILLED.))
[SUPER=201-Susan Chapman/Opposes War;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=WILL BE KILLED.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some people say they believe protests around the country will continue and grow larger as long as the fighting continues in Iraq.
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[11Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-02]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

A bad situation is getting worse in Danville.
Danville Police have blocked off River Street, Good Year Boulevard and Water Street because of flooding.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
As of last night, the Dan River was measured at seven feet above flood stage. That level is expected to rise dramatically to 10 feet above flood stage on Friday and Saturday, before receding on Sunday. Meanwhile, residents at the Cabin Lake Apartment Complex had to dodge puddles to get to their cars, and watched the pond's water level rise in their back yards. A spokesman for the complex says he does not expect any apartments to be flooded.
(------------)

[11Southside-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-55]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]

In South Boston, residents and business owners are also keeping a wary eye on the Dan River. As of last night, it had risen to 6 feet above flood stage.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-South Boston]

The Dan is expected to crest at over 32 feet sometime early Sunday.
That means dozens of businesses in the Riverdale area will be see water and mud creep into their buildings.
Most of the owners have been busy packing up and moving out before the high water comes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:12:46]
[IN Q=I have to]
((MAC RAGANS/BUSINESS OWNER: I HAVE TO MOVE... WE GOT A PROBLEM.))
[SUPER=01-Mac Ragan/Business Owner]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=got a problem.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Elsewhere, high water has closed dozens of roads in Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties.
Parts of Route 501 and Route 58 near South Boston are expected to be under water by the weekend.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Saddam Hussein's finances are also under attack. Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=in New York.]

((THE U-S IS NOT ONLY LAUNCHING A MILITARY OFFENSIVE BUT A FINANCIAL OFFENSIVE AGAINST IRAQ. THE U-S WILL FREEZE AND CONFISCATE ALL NON-DIPLOMATIC IRAQI ASSETS IN THE U-S. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ASSETS WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE. TREASURY SECRETARY JOHN SNOW IS ASKING ALL OTHER NATION'S TO DO THE SAME.. AND DEPRIVE SADDAM HUSSEIN OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

(GR)
THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DEALT ANOTHER BLOW... COMPANEIS HAVE SLASHED ALL BUSINESS TRAVEL TO THE MIDEAST AND HAVE CURTAILED OTHER OVERSEAS TRIPS FOR EMPLOYEES.

(OC)
ON WALL STREET, TRADERS CONTINUE TO BET ON A QUICK AND SUCCESSFUL WAR WITH IRAQ.

(GR)
THE DOW CLIMBED 21 POINTS EXTENDING ITS WINNING STREAK TO SEVEN DAYS

(GR)
THE NASDAQ ADDED MORE THAN 5 AND A HALF.

(OC)
MARKET ACTION IN THE NEAR TERM IS EXPECTED TO BE VERY VOLATILE AS TRADERS REACT TO HEADLINES AND RUMORS REGARDING THE WAR. OIL PRICES WENT ON A ROLLER COASTER RIDE.. CRUDE OIL INITIALLY SPIKED ON REPORTS THAT 3 OR 4 OIL WELLS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ WERE SET ON FIRE. PRICES EASED BY THE END OF THE DAY.. TO END AT AROUND 28 DOLLARS A BARREL. A PLEDGE BY PRESIDENT BUSH THAT HE WOULD TAP EMERGENCY OIL RESERVES IF NECESSARY HAS HELPED SEND OIL PRICES LOWER OVER THE PAST WEEK.

(GR)
MORTGAGE RATES ARE HIGHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT WEEKS.. THE AVERAGE RATE ON A 30 YEAR LOAN IS 5.79 PERCENT UP FROM 5.61 PRECENT LAST WEEK...

(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]

[GA-Tornadoes]

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

Georgia authorities say it looks like a "big lawnmower" cut its way through, that after yesterday's deadly tornadoes in the region.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Worth Co., GA;]

Officials say the twisters barreled through two counties in southwest Georgia, killing six people and injuring more than 200 others.
Anywhere from 50 to 75 homes are believed to have been destroyed.
Now residents are left picking up the pieces.
Emmett Barrett says his wife was inside their home when the tornado struck.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Started up there]
((EMMETT BARRETT/STORM VICTIM: STARTED UP THERE THE POWER WENT OFF, SHE WENT UP TO WAKE UP THE OLDEST BOY GO AHEAD AND GET HIM READY FOR SCHOOL SO HE'D BE ON TIME. BY THE TIME SHE WOKE HIM AND HE GOT UP, SHE HEARD THE WINDOWS RATTLING. ))
[SUPER=01-Emmett Barrett/Storm Victim;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=windows rattling]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The National Weather Service says there were one or two fully formed tornadoes.
(------------)
(Kim toss to Steve)

[Kim tosses to Steve at I-POD]

[11Protests]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC 42:07]
[GRAPHIC=Protests]

Students at Virginia Tech staged a walkout in response to the war.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Blacksburg;]
At eleven o-clock yesterday morning, dozens of students and faculty members ditched work and class to show their opposition to the war. Many demonstrators say while they support their troops, they do NOT support the idea of putting innocent people's lives at risk. At the same time, those who support the war also showed up to make a statement of their own. They say it is their duty as Americans to support the men and women who risk their lives for their freedom.
(------------)

[11Gas-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-12]
[GRAPHIC=Homefront]

Many people are keeping an eye on prices at the pump during this time of war.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]
Triple-A and fuel providers released a statement today because of reported concerns about the supply and cost of fuel.
They say inventories are adequate to meet normal demand and refinery production remains strong. Motorists are advised to buy gasoline as they normally would. Prices in Roanoke remain in a range they've been in for some time, from a dollar-49 to a dollar-79, but many motorists say they think the war will cause prices to go up.
(------------)

[DESK 3-SHOT]

(Toss to steve)[11Tech-Policy]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC 38:01]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Active protests over the Virginia Tech's affirmative action policy may have had impact. The university's board of visitors says it will conduct a special meeting to consider policy implications of the board's recent actions. The meeting will be held April sixth. Meanwhile, university officials say they ARE reversing a decision to ban controversial groups from speaking on campus.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The board of visitors passed the resolution last Monday, pending approval from the attorney general's office. University president Charles Steger says the attorney general has ruled the resolution unconstitutional and that it will NOT be enforced. Steger's announcement came during a special meeting with students to discuss safety issues and other concerns related to the war.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 39:04]
[IN Q=I THINK THAT]
((CHARLES STEGER/VT PRESIDENT: 39:04 TO HELP US COME TO GRIPS WITH THE SORTS OF CHANGES THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN THIS VERY COMPLEX WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE 39:11))
[SUPER=01-Charles Steger/Virginia Tech President;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=WHICH WE LIVE]
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[VO-NAT]
Officials told students they can expect to see more police on campus as well as increased security searches at large events. They say yesterday's meeting was just the first of many more to come.
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[2-11Health-War]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC 1:09:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

With the nation's heightened state of alert, Virginia health officials are preparing for anything.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke;]

They say in many cases the first line of defense will be doctors and nurses, who have been asked to keep an eye out for recurring symptoms and rare diseases.
In the event of a biological attack, health officials can get enough medicine for 300-thousand people here in 12 to 24 hours.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:12]
[IN Q=There are a great]
((JOHN O'SHEA: THERE ARE A GREAT DEAL OF UNKNOWNS BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THERE ARE NO THREATS AGAINST VIRGINIA AT THIS TIME. NO THREATS WHATSOEVER. AND WE ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH CHEMICAL AGENTS, BIOLOGICAL AGENTS, NUCLEAR AGENTS AND EXPLOSIVES. ))
[SUPER=201-John O'Shea/Emergency Preparedness Planner;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=nuclear agents and explosives.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Health officials are planning several bioterrorism drills, including mock vaccination clinics for smallpox in Roanoke, Salem and Alleghany County next month.
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(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE FS]
If you have questions about how to prepare and what Virginia's Department of Emergency Management is doing, you can call its hotline at 1 - 866 - 880 - 4280.
There's also plenty of information on its website. [TAKE WEBSITES IN THE NEWS FS]
You can find a link on OUR website. Just click on Websites in the News.
(++++++++++)
(Kim tosses to Steve)
[KIM tosses to STEVE at I-POD]