[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=After Saddam]

The "New York Times" is reporting that a suspicious drum that was discovered in northern Iraq does NOT contain chemical weapons.
A preliminary test suggested that the barrel contained a nerve agent.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Doha, Qatar;]

In other developments, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Qatar, rallying U-S troops.
It's day two of his tour of the Persian Gulf.
Rumsfeld says the troops won't be leaving the region anytime soon, not until there is stability in Iraq.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=That important]
((DONALD RUMSFELD/DEFENSE SECRETARY: THAT IMPORTANT PROCESS OF DEVELOPING AN IRAQI INTERIM AUTHORITY AND THEN ULTIMATELY A FREE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. ))
[SUPER=01-Donald Rumsfeld/Defense Secretary;]
[RUNS=:08] (estimated runs time!!)
[OUT Q=free Iraqi government.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

All this falls on Saddam Hussein's 66th birthday.
But the Iraqi people say they're no longer concerned about honoring the former dictator.
They're focusing on re- building their country.
(------------)

---

[11Lalush]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC-1:43:17]
[GRAPHIC=Lalush]
A Marine from Troutville, who died in Iraq, was remembered yesterday.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE LALUSH FS #4334]
23 year old Michael Vernon Lalush (LAH-lush) was killed on March 30th when the Huey helicopter he was riding in crashed in Southern Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Botetourt Co.;]
Yesterday, dozens of people gathered at the V-F-W post in Daleville to reflect and celebrate his life. Lalush moved to the Troutville area in 19-94 and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School in 19-97. He then spent six years as a helicopter mechanic, leaving for Kuwait in February. He was buried earlier this month at Arlington National Cemetery.
(------------)

---

[Tax-Bill]

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

Congress is back from a two- week vacation, and voting on the tax break is at the top of this week's agenda.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

President Bush first wanted a 700- billion dollar cut.
The House and Senate have since trimmed that to 550- billion.
But some lawmakers oppose that figure, as well, including a small group of Republicans.
House G-O-P leaders are accusing their Senate colleagues of trying to shrink Bush's proposed cut.

---

(------------)[JMU-Pill]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Students at James Madison University plan a protest later today over a recent decision that has created a campus uproar. The University's Board of Visitors recently voted to stop selling "emergency contraception" on campus.
Supporters of the move say the "morning-after" pill is a form of early abortion, and its use therefore falls under the state's required abortion procedures. Opponents say the pill is a form of birth control and should be readily available on campus. Right now, the issue is confined to J-M-U, but the question could ultimately affect any or all of Virginia's state-owned colleges and universities. We'll have more on this story tonight on News 7 at 6.

---

[11Festival-Preview]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC-1:56:28]
[GRAPHIC=none]

It's been years in the making and now less than a week remains until the Southwest Virginia Festival with Franklin Graham gets underway at Salem Stadium. Jennifer Wishon has a preview.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Singing]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sherman Barnett/Festival Coordinator; :21]
[SUPER=01-David Scoggins/Festival Security Coordinator; :42]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; :50]
[SUPER=01-Mary Ellen Robinson/Festival Choir Coordinator; 1:06]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; 1:20]
[SUPER=01-Louis Strickler/Northview Methodist Pastor; 1:34]
[RUNS=2:07]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7]

((((NATS OF SINGING 04:19:08)) Hundreds gathered at Salem Stadium Sunday afternoon to pray for a festival that is widely anticipated throughout the region. Preparations for the festival with Franklin Graham began three years ago when local business and church leaders got together to pray for the event. After that the plans took off.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:01:48]
[IN Q=There have been]
((SHERMAN BARNETT/FESTIVAL COORDINATOR: THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EVENTS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, DETAILS, CHECKLISTS, CHECKLISTS THAT CHECK CHECKLISTS AND SO ON IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE EVENT.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=for the event]
In a few days Salem Stadium will be transformed into a house of worship complete with hundreds of volunteers. 600 of those will be dedicated to security.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:07:58]
[IN Q=We train them]
((DAVID SCOGGINS/FESTIVAL COORDINATOR: WE TRAIN THEM HOW TO REACT, WHAT TO REACT TO. THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED TO KNOW IN PREPARATION FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WILL BE HERE.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=will be here]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:24:37]
[IN Q=One objective of]
((JENNIFER WISHON/REPORTING: ONE OBJECTIVE OF THE FESTIVAL IS TO HELP BRING THE COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER AND SO FAR IT HAS. 500 CHURCHES ARE REPRESENTING MORE THAN 50 DENOMINATIONS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=in the event]
((Music up)) One place that cooperation is evident is in the choir that has formed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 04:10:10]
[IN Q=There will be]
((MARY ELLEN ROBINSON/CHOIR COORDINATOR: THERE WILL BE MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE. THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE AREA. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE FROM AS FAR AWAY AS ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA AND A NUMBER OF THEM THAT HAVE COME FROM CLIFTON FORGE, LEXINGTON SO IT'S NOT JUST HERE IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY IT'S ALL OVER VIRGINIA.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=all over Virginia]
((Nats of church music)) People have also been preparing in their churches. Sunday morning the congregation of Northview United Methodist Church took up one last collection for the festival. They've also gone high tech to help do their part.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:01:39]
[IN Q=We have had]
((LOUIS STRICKLER/NORTHVEIW METHODIST PASTOR: WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRAYER OVER THE INTERNET AND GETTING ON A MAILING LIST SO THAT PRAYER NEEDS ARE COMMUNICATED FROM THE FRANKLIN GRAHAM OFFICE TO INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY OVER THE INTERNET FOR SPECIFIC REQUESTS FOR EACH DAY LEADING UP TO THE STADIUM EVENT.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=the stadium event]
((Nats of Prayer service)) For organizers the festival is harvest time and say they hope to reap what they've sown. They will find out when the event kicks off on Friday. Jennifer Wishon, News 7.))

---

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Several economic reports are due out this week.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((NOW THAT EARNINGS SEASON IS BEHIND US.. INVESTORS WILL TURN THEIR FOCUS TO THE ECONOMY...AND THERE IS PLENTY TO FOCUS ON ...INCLUDING REPORTS ON PERSONAL INCOME AND SPENDING, CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
INVESTORS ARE ALSO ANXIOUS TO RECEIVE DETAILS ON THE WALL STREET SETTLEMENT WHICH IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK. WITHOUT ADMITTING OR DENYING ANY WRONG DOING 10 WALL STREET FIRMS ARE EXPECTED TO PAY HEFTY FINES TO SETTLE ANALYST CONFLICT OF INTEREST CHARGES. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION SAID LAST WEEK IT WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THOSE FINES ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE FOR THOSE FIRMS.
ON WALL STREET.. SOUR NEWS ABOUT THE ECONOMY GAVE INVESTORS A REASON TO SELL..
THE DOW TUMBLED 133 POINTS.. FOR THE WEEK IT WAS DOWN ABOUT HALF A PER CENT.
THE NASDAQ FELL BACK 22 POINTS.. IT WAS UP NEARLY HALF A PER CENT FOR THE WEEK.
TWO SMALL BIOTECH FIRMS SAY THEY'LL WORK TO FIND WAYS TO COMBAT SARS. Shares in GenVec soared 75 percent, and Medarex gained 7 percent after the two said they had launched separate efforts to combat the deadly disease sweeping asia. GenVec said its existing vaccine contract with the National Institutes of Health had been expanded to cover an effort to develop a potential SARS vaccine.
TRACK ALL THE PREMARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM AT THE NASDAQ I'M AC IN NEW YORK.))




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

---

[Sniper-Shootings]

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

A hearing today could very well decide the future for sniper shooting suspect Lee Malvo.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

His attorneys are asking a Virginia judge to throw out statements the teenager made to police last November.
During the interview, Malvo allegedly admitted to participating in many of the sniper shootings.
Defense attorneys say Malvo was tricked into confessing without his lawyers being present.
(------------)

---

[6-Homestead-Spending]

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

While 18-hundred state workers were being laid off last November, a new report shows the state government was spending lavishly. The report says conventioneers at the annual meeting of the Virginia Association of Counties spent more than 300-thousand dollars of taxpayers' money at The Homestead. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports taxpayers paid for at least 20 spouses of supervisors to stay at the resort. They also footed the bill for luxury suites, golf-tournament fees, and rental cars. A few weeks before the convention, Governor Mark Warner announced the layoffs of the 18-hundred state workers and cuts in funding of colleges, local museums, constitutional offices and services for the mentally ill.
(EDITOR'S CORRECTION: THE SPENDING WAS NOT DONE BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TAKING PART IN THE C
ONVENTION.)

---

[Hollywood-Minute]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


"Identity" is number one at the box office. George Ramsey has those stories and more in today's Hollywood Minute.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=With the Hollywood minute]
[SUPER=04-"Identity" - Columbia Pictures; :07]
[SUPER=04-"Anger Management" - Warner Brothers; :16]
[SUPER=04-"Holes" - Walt Disney Pictures; :21]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA/October 3, 1995; :53]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=I'm George Ramsey.]



((WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE ...I'M GEORGE RAMSEY.
MOVIE GOERS HAD AN "IDENTITY" CRISIS THIS WEEKEND. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER "IDENTITY" EARNED 17 MILLION DOLLARS MAKI
NG IT THE TOP MOVIE AT THE BOX OFFICE. MEANWHILE---THE JACK NICHOLSON-ADAM SANDLER COMEDY "ANGER MANAGEMENT" SLID TO TH
E NUMBER TWO SPOT. AND THE DISNEY FAMILY ADVENTURE "HOLES" ROUNDED OUT THE TOP THREE. SINGER SINEAD O'CONNOR IS CALLING IT QUITS FROM THE MUSIC BUSINESS! IN A MESSAGE POSTED ON HER WEBSITE, THE IRISH STAR SAYS SHE WILL BE RETIRING FROM SINGING TO PURSUE A DIFFERENT CAREER. NO WORD YET ON WHAT THAT NEW CAREER WILL BE.
O'CONNOR'S FINAL PROJECTS INCLUDE: WORKING ON A DOLLY PARTON TRIBUTE ALBUM AS WELL AS A DOCUMENTARY DVD WHICH WILL BE RELEASED IN JULY. IT'S CALLED "GOODNIGHT, THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN A LOVELY AUDIENCE." WELL, ONE CELEBRITY NOT PLANNING ON RETIRING FROM THE SPOTLIGHT ANYTIME SOON IS...O-J SIMPSON! ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE JUICE SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING A NEWS COMMENTATOR FOR ACTOR ROBERT BLAKE'S MURDER TRIAL. BLAKE STANDS ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE IN 2001. SIMPSON SAYS HE'S BEEN CONTACTED BY VARIOUS NEWS OUTLETS ABOUT THE JOB.
THE FORMER N-F-L STAR WAS ACQUITTED OF THE 1994 MURDERS OF HIS EX-WIFE AND HER FRIEND.
WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE...I'M GEORGE RAMSEY.)) [TAPE TOSSES TO BUMP]
[BUMP]
[COMM]

---

[11NAACP]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-11 TC-41:48]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some Roanoke citizens were recognized for their work in the community.
(------------)
[SOT 1:33]
[IN Q=AND...]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=CROWN THY GOOD]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The Roanoke chapter of the NAACP held its fifth annual citizen of the year awards last night inside the Jefferson Center. News 7 Health reporter Joy Sutton was the emcee. The celebration honors members of the community who have made a positive impact throughout the city, in areas like education, arts and medicine.
(------------)

---

[11Rev-Roof]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC-1:04:14]
[GRAPHIC=none]
One minister took his message to a whole new level.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
No, you're not seeing things. That is the pastor of Sunnyside Pentacostal Holiness giving yesterday sermon on the roof of the church. Reverend Les Shelton told his parishioners if they got at least 125-people to attend church Easter Sunday, he would preach from the roof. They did, and Shelton says being a man of his word, he had no other choice but to follow through with the deal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :40]
[IN Q=AND I KNOW]
((REVEREND LES SHELTON: AND I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE ODD TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT TO ME I DON'T CONSIDER IT ODD. I SAY SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOP TELL IT WHEREVER YOU CAN AND WHEN YOU CAN. 51))
[SUPER=01-Reverend Les Shelton/Sunnyside Pentacostal Holiness;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=WHEN YOU CAN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Shelton says he was NOT nervous up on the roof, but he will return to the pulpit NEXT Sunday.
(------------)

---

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Stocks closed sharply lower on Friday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((STOCKS CONTINUED TO DECLINE FRIDAY, FOCUSED ON SOME WEAK ECONOMIC INDICATORS THAT ROCKED INVESTORS' CONFIDENCE IN EARLY TRADING.


THE DOW CLOSED OUT THE WEEK WITH A 133-POINT LOSS.
THE NASDAQ WAS DOWN 22.


THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IMPROVED SLIGHTLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER, BUT NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS ECONOMISTS EXPECTED.
THE G-D-P GREW AT A ONE-POINT-SIX-PERCENT ANNUAL RATE AFTER GROWING ONE-POINT-FOUR-PERCENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2002.
MEANWHILE, CONSUMER SENTIMENT REBOUNDED IN APRIL OFF NINE-YEAR LOWS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN'S INDEX OF CONSUMER SENTIMENT JUMPED TO 86 FROM 77-POINT-SIX IN MARCH.


NEW HOME SALES ROSE SEVEN-POINT-THREE PERCENT IN MARCH.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAID NEW UNITS SOLD AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF MORE THAN A MILLION, WELL ABOVE ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS OF 898-THOUSAND.
BUT SALES OF *EXISTING* HOMES FELL FOR THE MONTH, AS ONE OF THE STRONG SECTORS OF THE OTHERWISE SLUGGISH ECONOMY FELT THE EFFECTS OF HARSH WINTER WEATHER.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PUT SALES AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF FIVE-AND-A-HALF MILLION IN THE MONTH, DOWN FIVE-POINT-SIX PERCENT FROM FEBRUARY.


JETBLUE AIRWAYS BUCKED THE TREND OF THE AIRLINES TOWARD STEEP LOSSES.
THE LOW-COST CARRIER POSTED A PROFIT OF 25 CENTS A SHARE, WHICH TOPPED THE 22 CENTS EXPECTED BY ANALYSTS.


WITH THE BIZ BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))


[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

---

[11Tire-Scam]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC-2:28]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A local family-owned business says they were recently scammed out of thousands of dollars despite certain safeguards.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]
The Tosh family owns this Amoco service station on Main Street in Rocky Mount. They say they were scammed out of almost 27- thousand dollars by a man named Frank Smith. Franklin County detectives say Smith bought tires from the Tosh's on credit, and then sold them off the street. The Tosh's say they ran a successful credit check on Smith, but later found out he had more than one Social Security number.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 32:05]
[IN Q=In an area where...]
((KRISTA TOSH: IN AN AREA WHERE THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IS NOT VERY GOOD AT ALL, WITH THE FACTORIES CLOSING, IT MAKES US BE EVEN TIGHTER ON CREDIT. AND IT HURTS THE ACTUAL LEGITIMATE COMPANIES TRYING TO OBTAIN CREDIT.))
[SUPER=01-Krista Tosh/]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=trying to obtain credit.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Smith was recently arrested while trying to buy on credit at another business. He has been released on 10-thousand dollars bond. (------------)