WDBJ 7 morning news for 05/26/03

[Ship-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

Federal investigators are in Miami today trying to determine what caused a deadly explosion aboard a cruise ship.

Right now, authorities are calling it an accident.
But with the nation under a high terror alert, police want to be sure.
Melissa McDermott reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :00]
[SUPER=01-Carlos Alvarez/Miami-Dade Police Department; :16]
[SUPER=01-Melissa McDermott/CBS News; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=McDermott, CBS news, New York.]
(( PKG

(Miami, FL)
IN THE MIDST OF A HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND A HEIGHTENED STATE OF SECURITY.... PEOPLE FEARED THE WORST WHEN AN EXPLOSION ROCKED THIS CRUISE LINER DOCKED IN A MIAMI PORT. BUT RIGHT NOW AUTHORITIES SAY TERRORISTS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

(SOT-Carlos Alvarez/Miami Dade Police Department)
"there is no evidence of any sabatoge or that this was a result of any crime. At this time it appears to be a very tragic accident."
IT IS BELIEVED THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY A RUPTERED AND SUPER HEATED STEAM LINE. THAT BLEW THROUGH THE BOILER ROOM AND STARTED A FIRE THAT WAS PUT OUT IN LESS THAN IT HOUR. WHEN IT WAS OVER AT LEAST FOUR CREW MEMBERS WERE DEAD AND OVER A DOZEN OTHERS INJURED. NONE OF THE 21-HUNDRED PASSENGERS ON BOARD WERE HURT.... ONLY FRIGHTENED.

(SOT:-WOMAN.). "Big explosion.. "
(SOT: -MAN) "heard something and got out of there..."

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM FOR THE POPULAR NORWEIGIAN CRUISE SHIP. TWO YEARS AGO A TRIP HAD TO BE CANCELLED AFTER A SURPRISE COAST GUARD INSPECTION FOUND MORE THAN 1-HUNDRED FIRE SAFETY VIOLATIONS.. INCLUDING POORLY REPAIRED LEAKS IN THE VESSEL'S SPRINKLER SYSTEM.. WITH FUTURE CRUISES ONCE AGAIN PUT ON HOLD PASSENGERS ARRIVED IN MIAMI TO FIND OUT THEIR VACATION PLANS WERE OVER.

(sot: mos)"The ship is not going to sail."

THE PRELIMINARY CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION IS MECHANICAL FAILURE. BUT U-S OFFICIALS WANT TO BE SURE AND NOW FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION. MELISSA MCDERMOTT, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK. ))

[11Cruise-Ship]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC-2:21:55]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[!!!ANCHOR TAG!!!]
News 7's Art Director, Joel Sink, was on board the Norweigan liner during the explosion. He talked with Joy Sutton by phone yesterday.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Norway]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; :00]
[SUPER=@joy2; :50]
[RUNS=1:18]
[OUT Q=standard]

(( The Norway had just returned from sea and had docked in Miami --when there was an explosion at about 6 a-m.
Joel Sink says he was awake at the time and knew something very serious had gone wrong.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:37]
[IN Q=There was a tremendous shrudder]
((THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS SHRUDDER THAT WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE SHIP. IT WAS LIKE NOTHING THAT I HAD EVER FELT AND I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL CRUISES. AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT)).
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=all the lights went out]

Sink says he had to climb the stairs in the dark to reach the deck --because the elevators were not working. He says that's when first found out what had happened, that there had been an explosion and fire in the boiler room.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:40]
[IN Q=It is an older ship]
((IT IS AN OLDER SHIP IT'S PROBABLY MORE PRONE TO PROBLEMS LIKE THAT THAN THE NEWER SHIPS. BUT THERE WAS NEVER A SPECULATION THAT IT WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN PURELY AN ACCIDENT))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=an accident]

Sink says once the fire was under control they were let off the ship. None of the more than 21-hundred passengers on board was injured.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:46]
[IN Q=I don't know that I would be scared to get]
(( I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD BE SCARED TO GET ON ANOTHER CRUISE. I FEEL THAT THE CREW HANDLED IT VERY WELL. I FELT EVERYTHING THEY DID THEY CERTAINLY PUT THE GUEST INTEREST FIRST AND MADE SURE THAT WE WERE SAFE ))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=that were safe]

He says his main concern now is that he will get his luggage back.))
(-------------------)

[USS-Nassau]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A search and rescue mission is underway for a sailor reported missing on the U-S-S Nassau.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-USS Nassau]
This is the second incident of its kind in three days. Another sailor fell off the ship Friday. The search for Petty Officer First Class Shaun Dale began after he didn't report to work early yesterday. Investigators are looking into the cause of both men falling overboard.
(------------)

[11DDay-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-18 TC-58:01]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day]
The first stage of a Memorial Wall bearing the names of those who died during a World War Two invasion will be unveiled at the D-Day Memorial later today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 21 +]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape;]
The wall will eventually bear the names of the more than 45- hundred allied troops killed on D-Day. The ceremony will dedicate 64 bronze plaques that contain more than 12- hundred of those names. Nineteen Bedford residents were killed on D-Day. The dedication takes place at 11 A-M and admission is free, but reserved seating is available for a five- dollar charge.
(------------)

[Bush-Mideast]

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

President Bush will spend the holiday taking part in the annual wreath- laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, just a little more than three weeks after declaring an end to major combat in Iraq.
He'll follow that up with a trip to the Middle East to move along the U-S road map for peace.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel;]

Yesterday Israel's cabinet endorsed the plan.
The Palestinians accepted the plan last month.
Administration officials say Bush is making plans to visit Egypt and Jordan in early June.
Support personnel left Washington this morning to pave the way for the trip.
(------------)

[Ephedra-Ban]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The dietary supplement billed as a way to lose weight has been linked to deaths and other medical conditions, but the FDA hasn't banned it from being sold over the counter. But now Illinois has passed a state law against the sale of Ephedra. Suzanne LeMignot has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL; :12]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Riggins/Ban Supporter; :16]
[SUPER=01-Rod Blagojevich/Illinois Governor; :39]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Barack Obama/(D) Chicago; :57]
[SUPER=01-Brian Urlacher/Chicago Bears; 1:06]
[SUPER=01-Steven Sliwa/Against Ban; 1:27]
[SUPER=01-Suzanne LeMignot/Reporting; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=away to take it]

((SEAN RIGGINS WAS JUST 16-YEARS-OLD WHEN HIS FATHER SAYS EPHEDRA CLAIMED HIS LIFE LAST SEPTEMBER. THE TEEN TOOK THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT TO ENHANCE HIS PERFORMANCE WHILE PLAYING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. THE RIGGINS SAY THEIR SON'S DEATH HAS LED THEM ON A CRUSADE.

(BITE) (DAD)
THAT DIRECTION WAS TO TRY AND GET A DANGEROUS DRUG THAT'S MASQUERADING AS A FOOD SUPPLEMENT, OFF THE MARKET, SO THAT NO OTHER PARENT HAS TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH."
TODAY, GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH SIGNED LEGISLATION TO BAN THE SALE OF EPHEDRA IN ILLINOIS. GOV. BLAGOJEVICH SAYS, THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT, TAKEN BY BODY BUILDERS AND THOSE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT, HAS BEEN LINKED TO DEATHS AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

(BITE) (GOV)
"EPHEDRA, CAN KILL YOU. IT IS A MENACE. IF YOU TAKE EPHEDRA PRODUCTS, YOU ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE, WITH YOUR HEALTH."
STORES LIKE SHERWYN'S HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE, ARE COMPLYING WITH THE BAN, BY REMOVING EPHEDRA PRODUCTS.
STATE SENAOR BARACK OBAMA SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION THE GOVERNOR SIGNED INTO LAW.

(BITE BARACK)
"WHEN YOU'VE GOT A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE IMMEDIATE HARM, WE THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET IT OFF THE SHELVES IMMEDIATELY AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO."
CHICAGO BEARS LINEBACKER AND BAN SUPPORTER BRIAN URLACHER, KNOWS THE DANGERS OF EPHEDRA ALL TOO WELL.

(BITE URLACHER)
"COUPLE OF MY FELLOW NFL BUDDIES HAVE DIED."
FITNESS ENTHUSIAST STEVEN SLIWA IS AGAINST THE ILLINOIS BAN ON SELLING EPHEDRA. STEVEN SAYS STUDIES SHOW THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT WORKS, BUT HE SAYS THEIR SHOULD BE RESTRICTIONS, LIKE THOSE PLACED ON TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL.
"I'VE USED IT, IT WORKED FOR ME AND HE BASICALLY IS TAKING MY RIGHT AWAY TO TAKE IT."))

[KIM TOSS TO BUMP]

[11Festival-Park]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC-1:52:38]
[GRAPHIC=Festival in the Park]
Some of Roanoke's smallest stars strutted their stuff for Festival in the Park this weekend.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[NAT SOT]
[IN Q=nat sot of boy singing]
((NAT SOT: BOY SINGING))
[RUNS=04]
[OUT Q=nat sot of boy singing]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Children's Karaoke took center stage as kids came out to prove not only can they hold a tune --but some even know the latest dance moves.
This is the 34th annual Festival in the Park, it runs until June 1st. And if you missed the kids yesterday -- you can still catch the adults today. Adult Karaoke will take place from noon until 5 pm at the Gazebo.
(------------)

[11Grosology]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC-1:03:27]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A "gross" exhibit is in Roanoke - showing the science of the human body.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 57:26:00]
[IN Q=Here it comes]
((HERE IS COMES, THE BIG ONE... BURP.))
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=the big one...Burp]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Grossology is the name of a traveling exhibit at the Science Museum of Western Virginia. It's designed to teach children about the way their body functions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:06:03:25]
[IN Q=It's actually not your]
((HUNTER GRAHAM: IT'S ACTUALLY NOT YOUR STOMACH THAT MAKES YOU THROW UP. IT'S YOUR MEDULA OBLANGATA IN YOUR HEAD.))
[SUPER=07-Hunter Graham;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=in your head]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Did you know the skin of an average adult weighs seven pounds? Or that normal breathing sucks air into the nose at four miles- per- hour. Those are some of the facts displayed at the exhibit. But the favorite attraction of one visitor was more active.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:07:39:11]
[IN Q=Probably the burping]
((CASEY GRAHAM: PROBABLY THE BURPING WHERE YOU TURN THE KNOB AND IT COMES UP AND BURPS.))
[SUPER=01-Casey Graham; ]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=up and burps]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The exhibit will be at the museum until September first.
(------------)

[11Feedback]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=FDBACK]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Our coverage of what rights the government has to look into who reads what in libraries and bookstores drew viewer mail this week.
Here's assignment editor Joe McKean, with Feedback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A provision]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=MUSIC/ANIMATION]
((A provision of the Patriot Act allows federal investigators in certain circumstances to delve into library and bookstore records, without notifying patrons.
Many librarians and civil liberties groups are hoping to change the law, but a viewer from Bassett (W.M. Farley, Jr.) defends it.
"NOWHERE in that section, by any stretch of the imagination, is the power to simply waltz into a library and conduct a "fishing expedition" granted to any law enforcement agency. The act grants power only to persons of designated positions in the FBI to obtain court orders for the release of records (and the word library is never mentioned). ..It's apparent that in preparing the piece you only spoke to library professionals and ACLU-types, both of whom are running around willy-nilly attempting to strike fear into the hearts of library patrons...Please research this and present the facts as they exist in another story, so as not to create undue opposition to the Patriot Act, which can be a great tool in the quest for our national security."
If you have any complaints or praise about the way we handle issues of public interest and concern, please let us know.
You may write to us at News-7, PO Box 7, Roanoke, 24022-0007.
You may send a fax, to 540-343-7269.
Or send an email to news@wdbj7.com.
Please be sure to include your name and hometown.
Joe McKean, News-7.))
[toss to bump]

[Turkey-Plane]

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

Authorities say there are no survivors from a plane crash in northwestern Turkey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Near Macka, Turkey;]

Turkish television says the plane hit a mountain slope while attempting to land in thick fog to re- fuel. The airacraft apparently carried some ammunition belonging to the Spanish soldiers, burst into flames and exploded into pieces upon impact.
Officials say the 62 passengers on board were all Spanish peacekeeping forces from Afghanistan who were back to Spain.
12- crew members were also killed.
(------------)

[2-11Feedback]

[Hollywood-Minute]

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

Time now for a quick check on what's happening in entertainment. Here's George Ramsey.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Cannes, France; 05]
[SUPER=03-Moscow/Saturday; :31]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC/October 8, 2001; :52]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=I'm George Ramsey]
((WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M GEORGE RAMSEY. MUCH LIKE A GOOD MOVIE-THIS YEAR'S CANNES FILM FESTIVAL HAD A SURPRISE FINISH.
GUS VAN SANT WON THE HIGHLY COVETED PALME D'OR AWARD FOR "ELEPHANT" --- A FILM
THAT TRACKS THE LIVES OF ACTUAL U.S. STUDENTS TO SEE HOW THEY COPE WITH SHOOTINGS AND VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL. CRITICS THOUGHT LARS VON TRIER'S "DOGVILLE," STARRING NICOLE KIDMAN, WOULD WIN. BUT "DOGVILLE" WAS NEVER MENTIONED- AND NEITHER WAS CLINT EASTWOOD'S "MYSTIC RIVER."
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MEANWHILE-- SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY FINALLY GOT TO SING "BACK IN THE U.S.S.R." BEFORE A SOLD-OUT CROWD IN RUSSIA'S RED SQUARE. BACK IN THE 1980S, HE TRIED TO PERFORM THERE, BUT WAS TOLD A CONCERT WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION. ABOUT 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE CAME TO SEE SATURDAY NIGHT'S CONCERT... WHICH WAS HELD NEAR LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM AND STALIN'S GRAVE. MCCARTNEY SAID THE CONCERT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.
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AND--LEGENDARY PERFORMER LIZA MINNELLI IS PROBABLY SINGING THE BLUES THESE DAYS ...AFTER REPORTEDLY BREAKING HER RIGHT KNEE CAP SUNDAY. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THE 58 YEAR OLD SINGER INJURED HERSELF WHEN SHE TRIPPED OVER A STEP AT AN ITALIAN HOTEL. MINNELLI WAS TREATED AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL ...AND REPORTEDLY WILL HAVE TO WEAR A FULL-LEG CAST FOR ABOUT A MONTH. MINNELLI'S PUBLICIST SAYS-- DESPITE HER INJURY --SHE'LL STILL PERFORM AT A HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M GEORGE RAMSEY. )) BENEFIT CONCERT TUESDAY IN ITALY--WITH FAMED TENOR LUCIANO PAVAROTTI. WITH THE