WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/31/03

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq War]
[SUPER=219-Kimberly McBroom/kmcbroom*wdbj7.com;]

A Richmond native is among those listed as missing in action in Iraq.
The marine has been identified as Staff Sergeant Donald C. May, Junior, who was stationed at a Marine Base in Twentynine Palms, California.
In other developments, air strikes continue over Baghdad as allied forces inch closer to the city.
Long- range bombers targeted Iraqi leaders, command and control centers and communications facilities.
But most of the fighting remains in the south.
Drew Levinson has the latest.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=201-Drew Levinson/CBS News;]
[SUPER=205-Kuwait City, Kuwait;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=203-Southern Iraq;]
[SUPER=203-Baghdad, Iraq;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

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

(nats)
IN SOUTHERN IRAQ U-S TROOPS SHOWERED THE ENEMY WITH ARTILLERY AS THEY TOOK OVER WHAT USED TO BE AN IRAQI AIRBASE.

(nats)
NEAR BASRA BRITISH COMMANDOS CONDUCTED OVERNIGHT RAIDS. THE BRITISH CALL THIS OPERATION JAMES... AFTER THE FICTIONAL AGENT JAMES BOND. THE INTENTION IS TO FLUSH OUT FORCES STILL LOYAL TO SADDAM HUSSEIN. PART OF THE OBJECTIVE OF SECURING THE SOUTHERN TOWNS AND CITIES SO ALLIED FORCES CAN TRAVEL UP THE ROAD TO BAGHDAD WITH LIMITED RESISTANCE. TROOPS IN THE LEAD ARE NOW JUST 50 MILES AWAY READY TO TAKE ON IRAQ'S REPUBLICAN GUARD.

(nats)
ACCORDING TO THE U-S MILITARY THOSE ELITE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN BADLY HURT BY RELENTLESS BOMBING IN AND AROUND BAGHDAD. ALMOST EVERY NIGHT WARPLANES DROP TONS OF HARDWARE AND ALMOST EVERY NIGHT THE CITY BURNS.. TO THE NORTH THE MISSION IS CARPET BOMBING.... TRYING TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR A NORTHERN FRONT.

(nats)
OVERPOWERED IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND.... IRAQ IS NOW RESORTING TO SUICIDE TACTICS. SADDAM HAS PAID THE FAMILY OF THIS WEEKEND'S SUICIDE BOMBER 34-THOUSAND DOLLARS. FOUR U-S SOLDIERS LOST THEIR LIVES AT THIS MILITARY CHECKPOINT AND NOW TROOPS HAVE NEW ORDERS: SHOOT TO KILL ANY DRIVERS FAILING TO STOP. BUT THE SUICIDE MISSIONS ARE GAINING SUPPORT. THE MILITANT GROUP BEHIND SUNDAY'S SUICIDE ATTACK IN ISRAEL.... ISLAMIC JIHAD.... SAYS IT IS SENDING BOMBERS TO IRAQ.
))

[11Winter-Storm]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC-1:36:40]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Mother Nature has reminded us that we aren't out of the woods just yet when it comes to winter weather. An unexpected storm dumped several inches of snow yesterday.
Justin McLeod has more on the damage and what could be several days of cleanup.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Amy Waldron/Roanoke Resident; :12]
[SUPER=01-Brad Knopf/Roanoke Resident; :27]
[SUPER=@justin2; :39]
[SUPER=01-Janet Knop/Roanoke Resident; 1:32]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF SHOVELING ON BLACKSBURG TAPE AT 40:02))
Many of us thought our shoveling days were over. ((NAT SOUND OF WEATHER))
But a Sunday surprise proved us all wrong.
[SOT 2:46:14; TAPE 1]
[IN Q=I came out]
((AMY WALDRON/ROANOKE RESIDENT: I CAME OUT AND I WAS READY TO LEAVE AND I HAD ON A SKIRT AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF SO I WAS KINDA SURPRISED, LITTLE SURPRISED, WASN'T READY FOR THIS.))
[Runs= 08]
[OUT Q=ready for this]

She was not alone.
Many of us woke up Sunday morning to find several inches of snow, the wet and heavy kind.
[SOT 2:44:07; TAPE 1]
[IN Q=Yesterday I'm playing]
((BRAD KNOPF: YESTERDAY I'M PLAYING GOLF TODAY I'M BEATING THE SNOW OFF MY SHRUBS AND TRYING TO SAVE THE SHRUBBY, AND WE HAVE POWER LINES DOWN, IT'S JUST A MESS.))
[Runs= 08]
[OUT Q=just a mess]

A mess is what you could say happened to Grandin Road in Roanoke.
Downed trees could be seen all over the roadway, prompting the city to close it for several hours.
[SOT 2:52:31]
[IN Q=They just popped]
((JAMES TARPLEY/ROANOKE RESIDENT: THEY JUST BREAKED LIKE POPCORN. IT WAS WET SNOW AND WHEN IT GOT HEAVY THEY JUST SNAPPED.))
[Runs= 06]
[OUT Q=just snapped]

They snapped especially on the roadways.
Parts of Melrose and Orange Avenues were blocked for most of the day.
This downed tree on Franklin Road forced motorists to make a tricky U-turn.
Some trees even fell on cars like this one in Blacksburg and this truck in Roanoke.
And if it wasn't trees, it was phone and power lines.
Just ask Erika Thomas.
[SOT 2:48:19]
[IN Q=It's a brand new]
((ERIKA THOMAS/ROANOKE RESIDENT: IT'S A BRAND NEW CAR. I WAS PRETTY MAD, PRETTY MAD.))
[Runs= 04]
[OUT Q=pretty mad]

Madness may be the word to describe what happened at Forest Park School in Roanoke.
Downed trees completely covered the entire school yard. ((QUICK NAT SOUND OF WEATHER))
It has left many hoping spring will finally arrive for good.
[SOT 2:42:18]
[IN Q=We thought spring]
((JANET KNOPF/ROANOKE RESIDENT: WE THOUGHT SPRING WAS COMING. YESTERDAY WE WERE OUT BUYING BATHING SUITS. WE PUT AWAY OUR WINTER COATS BUT NOW WE HAVE TO GET THEM BACK OUT.))
[Runs= 10]
[OUT Q=back out]

It goes to show you that even when the calendar says spring, mother nature often has a split personality.
Justin McLeod, News 7.))

[11Patriot-Extension]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC-55:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Construction is underway on a controversial natural gas pipeline.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Duke Energy is building a 95-mile natural gas pipeline called the Patriot Extension.
It will begin in Wythe County and end in Rockingham County North Carolina.
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

Workers have begun installing the pipeline under the New River, just east of the I-77 bridge in Wythe County.
Duke hopes to have the entire project completed by late summer.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]

67 landowners still refuse to sign their land over to Duke.
They'll be back in federal court for an eminent domain hearing on April 10th.

[MI-Riots]

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

The road to the Final Four got rowdy last night.
Police set off tear gas in downtown East Lansing, Michigan following Michigan State's loss to Texas in the N- C- Double- A basketball tournament.
Officers dressed in riot gear and gas masks in an effort to move a crowd of about 15- hundred people.
Small fires were set and three cars were overturned at the university's administration building.
Police arrested at least six people.

[11AEP]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC-1:03:45]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
As the trees fell under the weight of yesterday's snow, many took power lines with them, leaving many residents in our region in the dark.
A-E-P is reporting that approximately 22-thousand customers are still without power this morning. Jennifer Wishon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=As the snow fell]
[SUPER=01-Todd Burns/American Electric Power; :06]
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Muse/Lost Power; :24]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; :50]
[SUPER=01-Maurice Bingham/Lost Power; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:47]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7]
((As the snow fell, the lights went out for many residents in Central and Southwest Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 57:42:10]
[IN Q=By about mid day]
((TODD BURNS/AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER: BY ABOUT MID DAY TODAY WE HAD ABOUT 63,000 CUSTOMERS OUT IN VIRGINIA, ABOUT 10,000 OF THOSE WERE HERE IN THE ROANOKE AREA.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=in the Roanoke area]
Ronnie Muse lost power around noon. And while his granddaughters switched to batteries and kept on playing, Muse dealt with the normal inconveniences of losing electricity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 56:24:03]
[IN Q=Well, uh I can't even shave]
((RONNIE MUSE/LOST POWER: WELL, I CAN'T EVEN SHAVE, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY WATER FOR SHAVING CAUSE WE'RE TOTAL ELECTRIC. THEN YOU KNOW THE BATHROOM THE WATER FOR THAT. IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT HARD.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=little bit hard]
AEP crews moved from line to damaged line throughout the day, but officials estimate it could be Thursday before power is restored to all customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 58:11:01]
[IN Q=This is probably]
((RONNIE MUSE/LOST POWER: THIS IS PROBABLY THE LONGEST IT'S BEEN OFF THROUGH THE WHOLE WINTER.))
[RUNS= 03]
[OUT Q=the whole winter]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:08:51]
[IN Q=Heavy wet snows]
((JENNIFER WISHON/REPORTING: HEAVY WET SNOWS OFTEN CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE POWER COMPANY, BUT THIS TIME THE SEASON PLAYED A ROLE. MANY TREES HAVE STARTED TO BLOOM MAKING THEIR LIMBS EVEN HEAVIER UNDERNEATH THE SNOW.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=underneath the snow]
But no mater what the season, one Roanoke County resident thinks tree related power outages could be avoided all together.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:04:06]
[IN Q=If they'd cut back]
((MAURICE BINGHAM/LOST POWER: IF THEY'D CUT BACK MORE TREES THERE'D BE LESS LIGHTS GOING OUT. I THINK THEY SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME MAKING THE PATHS WIDER THAT TREES CAN'T FALL ON THE LINE AND THAT WAY THEY'LL SPEND LESS MONEY TRYING TO REPAIR THESE LINES.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=repair these lines]
Whether the outage could have been avoided or not, AEP officials hope customers will help them get the lights back on by turning some things off.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 59:04:13]
[IN Q=If you don't have]
((TODD BURNS/AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER: IF YOU DON'T HAVE POWER YOU CAN HELP GET YOUR POWER BACK ON QUICKER BY TURNING OFF THE MAJOR APPLIANCES IN YOUR HOME AND TURNING ON THINGS LIKE LIGHTS OR A LIGHT BULB TO LET YOU KNOW.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=let you know]
And it's those bulbs many households will be watching until they light up. Jennifer Wishon, News 7.))
(++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE AEP WEBSITE FS] To find out when power should be restored in your area you can log on to AEP's website at A-E-P-customer-dot-com.
(++++++)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Wall Street gets back to work today. And, American Airlines may soon file for bankruptcy.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((IT COULD BE A WILD RIDE ON WALL STREET. AS TRADERS CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WAR NEWS.. WALL STREET WILL CLOSE THE BOOK ON A TOUGH FIRST QUARTER.. AND MANY INVESTORS ARE BRACING FOR PROFIT WARNINGS IN THE COMING WEEKS AS A THE WAR AND A DROP IN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE TAKE A BITE OUT OF COMPANY'S BOTTOMLINES..
ON WALL STREET FRIDAY, AN ATTEMPTED RALLY FAILED AS INVESTORS REMAINED CAUTIOUS AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND...

(GR)
THE DOW SANK 55 POINTS - ABOUT 4 AND A HALF PERCENT LOWER FOR THE WEEK.

(GR)
THE NASDAQ GAVE BACK 14 POINTS OR 3.7 PERCENT FO THE WEEK.

(OC)
AIRLINE STOCKS ARE SURE TO MAKE HEADLINES AGAIN..

(GR)
AMERICAN AIRLINES IS SAID TO BE JUST DAYS AWAY FROM FILING THE BIGGEST AVIATION BANKRUPTCY IN HISTORY... SHARES OF ITS PARENT COMPANY - AMR- HAVE LOST 94 PERCENT OF THEIR MARKET VALUE SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACKS.

(OC)
US AIRWAYS AND UNITED AIRLINES ARE ALREADY OPERATING UNDER CHAPTER 11.

(GR)
THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE HAS SUSPENDED TRADING IN SHARES OF UAL- THE PARENT COMPANY OFUNITED AIRLINES.. THAT'S BECAUSE THE STOCK HAS BEEN TRADING UNDER A DOLLAR FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS NOW - UAL WILL TRADE ON THE OVER THE COUNTER MARKET BULLETIN BOARD.

(OC)
TRADERS ALSO HAVE A PACKED ECONMIC CALENDAR.. TUESDAY WE GET MARCH AUTO SALES.. WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE WAR IS CUTTING INTO ALREADY SLOWING SALES...
WE'LL ALSO GET A REPORT ON THE MANUFACUTRING SECTOR, FACTOR ORDERS AND THE MARCH UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.

(GR)
TRACK ALL THE PREMARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM AT THE NASDAQ

(OC)
I'M AC IN NEW YORK.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[Mystery-Illness]

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

All 200 residents of a Hong Kong apartment complex hit hard by a mystery flu is under quarantine.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hong Kong, China;]

So far, 213 people in Hong Kong have contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.
125 of those live at the apartment complex.
There's no known treatment.
The World Health Organization says the new flu has killed at least 54 people worldwide.
Most cases are in Hong Kong and China.
Meanwhile, Singapore's health minister says the disease may spread more easily than first believed.
(------------)

[Rke-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC 1:03:45]
[GRAPHIC=none]
It's been several days now since a Florida man on vacation was shot outside a Roanoke hotel in front of his family. Yesterday, the man's wife talked with reporters about that night. As Teresa Hamilton reports-- it's an event that's traumatized the openly religious family, who came to Roanoke to visit relatives and to perhaps see some snow.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I've received calls ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :06]
[SUPER=01-Leelin Taboada/Victim's Wife; :25]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; ]
[RUNS=1:45 ish.]
[OUT Q=Hamilton, NEWS7, Roanoke.]

(((///sot///)
[sot 00:09:03]
[in q=I've received ]
((I'VE RECEIVED CALLS FROM PEOPLE HERE, THEY'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE AND PRAYING FOR US.))
[runs= :07]
[OUT Q= praying for us. ]
It wasn't easy, but Leelin Taboada and her in-laws felt compelled to tell their story to thank everyone who's reached out to them since early Thursday morning. Taboada says her family had just checked into the Holiday Inn Express and were unloading the family S-U-V when a man approached and started firing at her husband.
(////sot////)
[sot 00:05:44]
[in q= And, Ryan]
((AND RYAN TRIED TO STOP HIM AND I WAS SCREAMING AND TELLING HIM TO PLEASE STOP AND HAVE MERCY ON US BECAUSE THE KIDS WERE ALSO THERE WITH US. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q= THERE WITH US.]
Taboada says her seven year old son and three year old daughter, who was strapped in her car seat, both saw what was happening.
(///sot///)
[sot 00:06:17]
[IN Q= WHEN I GOT ]
((WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO RUN FOR HELP, I DID AND I EVEN TOLD MYSELF, IF HE SHOOTS ME, HE SHOOTS ME, BUT I HAVE TO RUN FOR HELP CAUSE THERE WAS NOBODY THERE, IT WAS JUST THE FOUR OF US.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q= JUST THE FOUR OF US. ]
Taboada made it inside the hotel for help. While she was gone, she says the alleged gunman Derrik Smith even ripped a plastic watch from her son's wrist.
(///sot///)
[sot 00:08:07]
[IN Q= HE TOOK ]
((HE TOOK IT AND THAT'S WHY MY SON WAS ABLE TO SEE HIM FACE TO FACE. ))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q= FACE TO FACE.]
Taboada says somehow her son also managed to make it inside to safety, and once police arrived she ran to her husband.

(///sot///)
[sot 00:07:01]
[IN Q= THE POLICE]
((THE POLICE STOPPED ME FROM HOLDING HIM AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW MY DAUGHTER WASN'T THERE, BECAUSE THE TRUCK WASN'T THERE. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q= WASN'T THERE.]
Police eventually caught up with Smith-- and the little girl who was still in her safety seat was NOT hurt. Teresa Hamilton, NEWS7, Roanoke. ))
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Ryan (Tuh-bwa-duh) Taboada, meanwhile, remains in critical but stable condition at Roanoke Memorial and is showing signs of improvement.

(Kim tosses to bump)

[BUMP--SOMBER MUSIC PLEASE]
[COMM]

[11Civic-Groups]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC 54:42]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A lot has been said about whether the Roanoke Civic Center should be allowed to sell more beer and wine.
We've heard from city leaders, religious ones, and even fans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Until now, we haven't heard from those who may benefit the most from more alcohol sales.
At each Civic Center event, civic groups volunteer and work the concession stands.
They get ten percent of whatever they sell.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:19:57]
[IN Q=We make approximately]
((LOUISE MORRIS/LAURETTE ALPHA OMICRON OF BETA SIGMA PHI: WE MAKE APPROXIMATELY 200 A NIGHT, SOMETIMES MORE AND THAT'S A GOOD NIGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Louise Morris/Laurette Alpha Omicron of Beta Sigma Phi; :]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=a good night]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

That usually adds up to several thousand dollars a year.
Many of the groups then use the money to fund charitable programs throughout the year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:23:18]
[IN Q=I think we can]
((BETTY SIMMONS/CARRIE LEE CHAPTER #108: I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE BY HAVING THE EXTRA BEER TO SELL BECAUSE WE'D MA
KE MORE MONEY SO NATURALLY YOU CAN DO MORE WITH YOUR MONEY.))
[SUPER=01-Betty Simmons/Carrie Lee Chapter #108]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=with your money]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some churches also take part in volunteering at concession stands.
If they oppose selling alcohol, the Civic Center allows those groups to work at stands that have no alcohol.
(------------)

[11Lotto-Ticket]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Someone is about to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime... eleven point six MILLION dollars is the Lotto South Jackpot about to return to the state because the prize has NOT been claimed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Not many people would skip the chance to become a millionaire, but that may be the case come five o'clock today. That's when the deadline to claim the jackpot expires.
In Virginia, players have 180 days to claim their prize.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT-1:11:02]
[IN Q=IT COULD BE IN SOMEONES BILLFOLD]
((IT COULD BE IN SOMEONES BILLFOLD, SOMEONES DRESSER DRAWER, OR SOMEONES CHECKBOOK))
[RUNS=5]
[OUT Q=OR SOMEONES CHECKBOOK]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The big winner spent one dollar at the lottery booth during last year's state fair in October... but may have THROWN AWAY almost twelve million.
Even if one person loses out, some schools may win... unclaimed prizes go to the Literary Fund.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT-1:09:30]
[IN Q=THE LITERARY FUND IS USED TO HELP]
((PENELOPE W. KYLE/EXEC. DIR. VA LOTTERY--THE LITERARY FUND IS USED TO HELP OBTAIN LOANS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO HELP OUT IN SOME LOCALITIES WITH TEACHER RETIREMENT ISSUES. BUT IT'S SPENT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION))
[SUPER=01-Penelope Kyle/Virginia Lottery Executive Director;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=SPENT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

All profits and unclaimed prizes go to public education in the state.
(------------)

[US-Airways]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

U-S Airways is expected to emerge from bankruptcy today. The Arlington based air carrier filed for protection from its creditors eight months ago. It's due to receive a critical 900 million dollar loan guaranteed by the federal government once it leaves bankruptcy. Stay with us...News 7 Mornin' will be right back, but first here's a look at your local stocks.
[COMM] [STOCKS]