WDBJ 7 morning news for 05/30/03

[Franklin-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Mary]

[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

A Franklin County man is under arrest, charged with murdering his brother in law.
It happened between Ferrum and Callaway on Bridges Lane last night.
Sheriff Quint Overton says 37-year-old Joseph Bridges was arrested and charged after he surrendered at his home.
Investigators say Bridges shot his brother in law, 51-year-old Howell Scott in his car, right in front of his wife, daughters and grandchild.
Bridges is charged with murder.

[11Porch-Collapse]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-14 TC3:31:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A teenager, not old enough to drive, slammed a car into a porch causing it to collapse.
Two people were caught underneath.
The accident happened about 8:30 last night on Ferdinand Avenue.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Firefighters say a 14 year old put a car in gear and ran into the side porch of a home.
The roof collapsed on top of two adults.
They were taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with apparently minor injuries.
The porch was destroyed, but firefighters say the house itself appears to be in good condition.
Building inspectors will check it out to be sure.
A battalion chief says the teenager ran from the accident, and officials have not been able to find him.
(------------)

[AMFestival-Park]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-18 TC 1:02:04]
[GRAPHIC=Festival in the Park]

You could say the weather's put a damper on this year's Roanoke's Festival in the Park.
The constant rain has prompted many changes which are coming with a hefty price tag.
Justin McLeod has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Stu Israel/Festival in the Park Executive Director; :57]
[SUPER=01-David Lapierre/Concession Owner; 1:22]
[SUPER=@justin2; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Roanoke]
((((NAT SOUND OF MUSIC))
There was plenty of music and food at Thursday night's Festival in the Park concert here at Elmwood Park.
The only thing missing?
A lot of people.
[SOT 18:44]
[IN Q=I don't blame]
((JEANNE JOHNSON/ROANOKE RESIDENT: I DON'T BLAME THEM. IT'S WET.)) [Runs03]
[OUT Q=it's wet]

It's been wet for just about everyday of Festival in the Park.
That has forced organizers to move many of the events indoors.
Take last week's Doobie Brothers concert.
It took place at the Roanoke Civic Center rather than Victory Stadium.
[SOT 2:13]
[IN Q=The Civic Center while]
((STU ISRAEL/FESTIVAL DIRECTOR: THE CIVIC CENTER WHILE IT'S A GREAT VENUE, IT IS AN EXPENSIVE VENUE TO USE.)) [Runs03]
[OUT Q=venue to use]

A use that is costing the festival more than 15-thousand dollars in rental fees.
Festival in the Park is also losing money in button sales.
The Doobie Brothers concert for example only attracted about 10-thousand people.
That is considerably less than 25 thousand for last year's main concert.
The festival also took a hit in concession sales.
[SOT 3:46]
[IN Q=At the stadium]
((STU ISRAEL: AT THE STADIUM WE SELL FOOD OURSELVES, WE SELL BEER OURSELVES, WE SELL SOFT DRINK OURSELVES. PLUS WE BRING FOOD VENDORS IN, THEY PAY US A FEE PLUS WE GET A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY SELL, GOING INTO THE CIVIC CENTER WE LOST ALL THAT.)) [Runs11]
[OUT Q=lost all that]

That's because the Civic Center actually sold the concessions.
For the festival, that could mean a loss of more than fifty thousand dollars.
Food vendors at other festival events are also hurting.
They say sales are half of what they were last year.
[SOT 12:14]
[IN Q=It's like a ghost town]
((DAVID LAPIERRE/CONCESSION OWNER: IT'S LIKE A GHOST TOWN AROUND HERE WHEN IT STARTS RAINING. WHAT CAN YOU DO? YOU WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK, THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=all we can do]

Festival Organizers say if they end up in the red this year, that could affect next year's event.
They may have fewer events and it may be harder to book that big act.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Roanoke.))

[11Radford-Foundry]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-11 TC1:31:49]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]
Hundreds of people will lose their jobs when a Radford business closes its doors later this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
Intermet Corporation announced yesterday it will shut-down its RADFORD Foundry in late September. The plant manufactures iron castings for automotive parts and employs 374 people. The facility is the oldest shell-molding plant in the company, which is why officials say it has to shut down.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 333]
[IN Q=the demand]
((ALAN MILLER/INTERMET CORP. V.P.: THE DEMAND HAS BEEN MOVING AWAY. THE MARKET HAS BEEN MOVING AWAY FROM THE PROCESSES WE USE HERE AND THE MATERIALS WE USE HERE TO OTHER NEWER PROCESSORS THAT ARE MORE EFFICIENT.))
[SUPER=01-Alan Miller/Intermet Corporation Vice-President;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=more efficient]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Radford Foundry lost a million dollars during its fourth quarter earnings this year, and has been operating at less than half of its capacity. Officials say they hope to transfer some of the jobs to the company's New River Foundry next door.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq Casualites]

Military leaders want to send more troops into areas of Iraq where soldiers have been attacked.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Iraq;]

Nine U-S soldiers have been killed in the past week and nearly two dozen wounded.
The latest attack occurred Thursday.
An American soldier was killed after his convoy came under fire from a rocket-propelled grenade.
(------------)

[Mideast-Peace]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Seven countries in seven days.
That's the schedule as President Bush embarks on a trip to Europe and the Middle East today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

None is more anticipated than next week's peace summit with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The President's road map to peace calls for an end to violence by Palestinians and the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005.
Bush will travel first to Poland to visit Nazi death camps and then to France for the G-8 economic summit.
(------------)

[Fisher]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Carilion Biomedical Institute has a new leader. Daniel Barchi has been chosen as the new President and C-E-O. He'll replace Dennis G. Fisher who is retiring July 1st.

[Spelling-Bee]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A 13-year-old from Dallas has spelled his way to a national title.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((NATS: SPELLING OF PROCOCURANTE.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=PROCOCURANTE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ESPN;]

That word made Sai Gunturi (Gun-TWO-Ree) champion of this year's National Spelling Bee.
The eighth grader takes home 12-thousand dollars and other prizes.
Pococurante (Poco-cure-AHN-tee) means indifferent or nonchalant.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Microsoft and A-O-L Time Warner have reached a settlement in their antitrust lawsuit.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=in New York.]

((there is a peace treaty in the browser wars. Microsoft will pay $750 million to settle a private antitrust lawsuit brought by AOL Time Warner on behalf of its Netscape unit.

(GR)
The companies also announced a seven-year pact under which AOL will use Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player for free over the next seven years. The two companies said they agreed on a "variety of steps" designed to make their products work better with each other. aol time warner sued microsoft last year, seeking damages for crushing rival Netscape.

(GR)
put starbucks on your stocks to watch list: the worlds largest coffee shop chain said sales at stores open at least a year rose 7 percent in May from a year earlierStarbucks opened 78 new stores in May, bringing its worldwide total to 6,604.

(OC)
on wall street.. the dow will try to get back to its winning ways as the nasdaq goes for win number 6..

(GR)
the dow gave back 82 points as profit takers moved in
but the nasdaq managed a gain of 11 thanks to strength in computer chip stocks.

(OC)
AND THE HOUSING MARKET MAY GET ANOTHER SHOT IN THE ARM AS MORTGAGE RATES SINK TO FRESH ALL TIME LOW.

(GR)
ACCORDING TO THE MORTGAGE FIRM FREDDI MAC, THE AVERAGE RATE ON A 30 YEAR IS 5.31 PERCENT.. THE 15 YEAR WHICH IS POPULAR WITH REFINANCERS HELD STEADY AT 4.73 PERCENT.

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

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

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

[11Mowing]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-12 TC1:14:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The wet weather is having a devastating effect on landscapers in our area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
It's too wet and muddy for employees at Horticultural Services Incorporated to work outside. Owner Ed Staley says they stay busy by getting equipment ready for when the ground dries, but that they're down to part-time hours. Staley says he's at least two to three weeks behind schedule and that people's his clients are going to suffer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:17:51]
[IN Q=AT THIS]
((ED STALEY/HORTICULTURAL SERVICES INC.; AT HIS POINT IF THE ROOT SYSTEMS DON'T START TRYING UP THEN YOU GET A LOT OF MOLD AND FUNGUS AND STUFF SOME THE GRASSES ARE STARTING THE SEEDS ARE ROTTING ON THE GROUND THAT WE PUT DOWN IN APRIL SO THEY WON'T GERMINATE THEY'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO ROT SO THE SUN HAS TO COME OUT AND DRY THEM OUT ))
[SUPER=01-Ed Staley/Horticultural Services, Inc.;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=DRY THEM OUT]
(------------)
Meantime, V-DOT officials say crews will start mowing in the rain to catch up with growth. They need to work on overgrown brush and medians that could become a safety hazard by affecting a driver's sight.
(------------)

[6-Trout-Stocking]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC1:47:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The rain is putting a damper on some things, but it should give stocked trout fishing in the area a boost. Richard Lesko has details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=SPLASH!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-George Duckwall/Department of Game & Inland Fisheries; :20]
[SUPER=01-Claude Henson/Angler; :56]
[SUPER=@richard2; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=Lesko, News 7, Roanoke.]
(((//////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[INQ=nat sound]
[RUNS= 4]
[OUTQ=nat sound splash]
As Department of Game and Inland Fisheries personnel stock more than 23-hundred rainbow trout in the Roanoke River for the last time this spring, there is excitement about the angling prospects for the early summer.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 14:12:48]
[INQ=With this water...]
((GEORGE DUCKWALL/DEPARTMENT OF GAME & INLAND FISHERIES: WITH THIS WATER THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE ROANOKE RIVER, WE'LL HAVE FISHING IN THIS RIVER ALL THE WAY UP INTO JULY, AND POSSIBLY EVEN LONGER. NORMALLY AFTER THE LAST STOCKING, WE MIGHT EXPECT TWO WEEKS OF GOOD FISHING AND THEN IT WOULD TAPER RIGHT OFF.))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUTQ=taper right off.]
While the rain may make fishermen miserable, the fish are thriving with the extra water. Because of higher stream flow, stocked trout can escape predators more easily, and are dispersing better than they have in years, preventing over-harvesting. That means more trout in the river, and better odds for fishermen.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 14:25:04]
[INQ=We been fishing...]
((CLAUDE HENSON/ANGLER; WE BEEN FISHING, BEEN PRETTY REGULAR CATCH SEVERAL, AND DOWN BELOW THE BRIDGE WHERE THE WATER'S A LITTLE SWIFT THERE'S A LITTLE BETTER FISHING THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO DO, MOST OF US ARE RETIRED SO WE FISH OVER HERE...))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUTQ=so we fish over here.]
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 14:13:10]
[INQ=Because of the rain...]
((GEORGE DUCKWALL/VDGIF COLD WATER HATCHERIES MANAGER; BECAUSE OF THE RAIN THE WATER TEMPERATURE HERE IN THE ROANOKE IS 59 DEGREES. YEARS PAST, I'VE SEEN IT PUSHING 80 DEGREES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. THIS IS JUST IDEAL FOR TROUT.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUTQ=just ideal for trout.]
And officials hope that the water levels will hold steady, so anglers will have a few more fish tales to tell over the summer. Richard Lesko, News 7, Roanoke.))

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Civic-center]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC1:07:37]
[GRAPHIC=Alcohol Sales]

The fight over the Roanoke Civic Center's ABC license has moved to Richmond.
And according to opponents of the license, the battle is far from over.
Meghan Muldoon was at yesterday's hearing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE MEETING OPENED WITH AN EXIT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape; :11]
[SUPER=01-Barney Arthur/Represents License Opponents; :24]
[SUPER=01-Chip Snead/Acting Civic Facilities Director; :47]
[SUPER=@Meghan2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=MM, News 7, Richmond]

((The meeting opened with an exit.
The state's ABC Board Chairman, Vern Danielsen, who is also the former chair of the Roanoke Civic Center Commission, recused himself due to the conflict of interest.
[insert civic center b-roll here to bite]In March the Civic Center received approval to sell beer and wine at more of its events.
But opponents appealed the decision.
They told the board it is an issue of public safety.
They also claimed they didn't get a fair shake at the initial hearing in Roanoke.
[SOT 16:44:49]
[IN Q=AS EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN YOU]
((BARNEY ARTHUR/REPRESENTS LICENSE OPPONENTS: AS EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN YOU GO AGAINST A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, YOU GOT AN UPHILL BATTLE. IT'S HARD TO GO AGAINST THAT.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=HARD TO GO AGAINST THAT.]

About 20 church members made the 3 hour trip from Roanoke to show their opposition to the license.
There were no similar signs of support for Roanoke official Chip Snead but he says the decision has the backing of many.
[SOT 16:41:24]
[IN Q=MANY, MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS]
((CHIP SNEAD/ACTING CIVIC FACILITIES DIRECTOR: MANY, MANY MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS APPLICATION.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=IN SUPPORT OF THIS APPLICATION.]

The board's decision is expected in a few days.
Both sides say they are confident they will prevail.
But opponents say even if they lose this decision, they plan to continue fighting.
[SOT 16:44:49]
[IN Q=IT IS TIME FOR GOOD PEOPLE]
((BARNEY ARTHUR/SPOKESPERSON: IT IS TIME FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED INSTEAD OF JUST ACCEPTING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO SAY NO THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.)) [RUNS:16]
[OUT Q=WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.]

They say, in a way, they have already won.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Microsoft has agreed to pay A-O-L Time Warner 750 million dollars. The settlement ends an anti-trust lawsuit filed by A-O-L on behalf of Netscape which is one of its subsidiaries. Microsoft and A-O-L also said okay to a seven year licensing agreement yesterday. That will allow A-O-L to use Microsoft's Internet Explorer without having to pay royalties. In other news, Stan Case has a look at yesterday's closing numbers.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

((BUYING IN THE TECH SECTOR PUSHED THE NASDAQ UP FOR A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SESSION THURSDAY, CLOSING IN ON A 12-MONTH HIGH. NOT SO AMONG THE BLUE CHIPS, THOUGH.
THE DOW LOST 81 POINTS ON THE DAY. WHILE THE NASDAQ WAS UP ELEVEN.
THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GREW BY A REVISED ONE-POINT-NINE-PERCENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THAT'S MORE THAN THE ONE-POINT-SIX-PERCENT ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED BY THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT. AND, WHILE IT TOPS THE SLIM ON-POINT-FOUR PERCENT OF THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR, IT REFLECTS A SLOW CLIMB TO GROWTH RATES NEEDED TO GENERATE JOBS.
QWEST POSTED A FIRST QUARTER PROFIT OF NINE-CENTS PER SHARE DESPITE A NINE PERCENT DECLINE IN REVENUE. THE COMPANY SAID REVENUE WOULD CONTINUE TO SLIP BECAUSE OF MULTI-FACETED COMPETITION. QWEST ALSO WARNED THAT THE FIRST-QUARTER NUMBERS MIGHT NOT BE FINAL. AUDITORS CONTINUE TO WORK ON REVENUE AND PROFIT RESTATEMENTS STEMMING FROM ACCOUNTING INVESTIGATIONS.
UNITED AIRLINE'S PARENT COMPANY POSTED A 375-MILLION-DOLLAR NET LOSS FOR APRIL. BUT, U-A-L ALSO REPORTED IN AN S-E-C DOCUMENT THAT THE AIR CARRIER'S CASH RECEIPTS ARE BACK TO PRE-WAR LEVELS. THE COMPANY SAYS THE AIRLINE SHOULD MEET ITS FINANCIAL TARGET FOR RESTRUCTURING LATER THIS MONTH. UNITED FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN DECEMBER.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE. ))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[6-Bed-Bath]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-15 TC3:19:15]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

Bed, Bath and Beyond is setting up a home in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The store will open a new location at the Town Square shopping center in Roanoke. The company sells domestics merchandise and home furnishings. Lease papers were signed yesterday but there is no word yet on when it will open. Bed, Bath and Beyond operates more than 470-stores around the country with its headquarters in New Jersey.
(------------)

[DESK-3 SHOT]

(Toss to Steve)

[11Conchita-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tst]
[TAPE#=03-17 TC33:57]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The ex-wife of photographer O. Winston Link may be headed back to prison.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Conchita Mendoza Link was arrested in Millerton, New York yesterday, and charged with conspiracy to sell stolen property.
Prosecutors say she was trying to sell photographs -- on e-Bay -- that she stole from Link.
The former Mrs. Link served five years in a New York state prison for stealing prints, cameras and audio tape from her husband.
She was released in the fall of 2001, and was still on parole when she was arrested on the new charges.
[SUPER=@file;]

Before his death two years ago, Winston Link said his ex-wife was waiting for him to die, so that she could sell off the stolen prints.
Most of the items she took are still missing. However, Link managed to save his most valuable work: the negatives he shot of Norfolk and Western steam trains in the 1950s.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I have...]
((O. WINSTON LINK/PHOTOGRAPHER/OCTOBER, 1996; I HAVE ALL MY NORFOLK AND WESTERN NEGATIVES. ALL OF THOSE I TOOK OUT. THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE BIG WAR, THE MAJOR WAR. ONCE SHE SAW THOSE WERE GONE SHE STARTED STEALING EVERYTHING SHE COULD STEAL.))
[SUPER=10-O. Winston Link/Photographer/October 1996;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=she could steal.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

Conchita Mendoza Link was arrested with an alleged accomplice, Edward Hayes. The Associated Press reports they live together. If convicted on the conspiracy charges, she and Hayes could be sentenced to up to four years behind bars.