WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 06/16/03

[7-Walton]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Percy Walton 2075]

A condemned killer goes before a federal judge in Roanoke later today, to determine if his life should be spared. At issue is whether he's mentally retarded.
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[VO-NAT from 03-13 1:05:17]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1996;]

Percy Walton was scheduled to die late last month for the 1996 murders of an elderly couple and a neighbor in Danville. But his attorneys recently argued he is mentally retarded, and executing him would therefore be unconstitutional.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
A spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said last month that the Walton case can lead crime victims to distrust the judicial process.

[7-11GE-Contract]

Their major issues were affordable health insurance and job security. Union officials say the tentative agreement safeguards affordable health insurance and substantially increases pensions for its members.
The leaders will meet Wednesday to vote on whether to submit the agreement to 14- thousand members for ratification.

If that happens, the members would vote by June 24th on a new contract.
If approved, the contract will run through June 2007.
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[7-11-1218]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC-40:04]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A local steel celebrity received a special homecoming this weekend.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:09:51:23]
[IN Q=Singing]
((NATS OF SINGING.))
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=Singing]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The "Buckingham Lining Bar Gang" provided appropriate entertainment for the 12-18's return to the city. The Norfolk and Western steam locomotive was built in Roanoke in 1943.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:04:18:18]
[IN Q=This is a real big piece]
((GARY BALLARD/1218 CREW MEMBER: THIS IS A REAL BIG PIECE OF HISTORY. IF PARIS HAS THE EIFFEL TOWER AND NEW YORK HAS THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, ROANOKE HAS TRAINS AND THIS BEING BUILT HERE AND YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO SURVIVE TO THIS DAY WHO USED TO OPERATE IT SO THIS IS A REAL COG IN ROANOKE'S HISTORY.))
[SUPER=01-Gary Ballard/Crew Member;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=in Roanoke's history]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
During World- War- Two the 12-18 pulled entire troop divisions. Ballard says the steam engine was a favorite of Photographer O. Winston Link. The 12-18 has been restored and is now on permanent display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
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[45-Walton]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Percy Walton 2075]

A condemned murderer will appear in federal court in Roanoke today, to find out whether or not his life will be spared. At issue is whether he's mentally retarded, and if he is, whether the death penalty should apply.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 03-13 1:05:17]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1996;]

Percy Walton was scheduled to die late last month for the 1996 murders of an elderly couple and a neighbor in Danville. But his attorneys recently argued he is mentally retarded, and executing him would therefore be unconstitutional.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
A spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said last month that the Walton case can lead crime victims to distrust the judicial process.

[45-Nunn]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Patrick County's emergency management coordinator drowned yesterday at a North Carolina beach.
Authorities say 53 year Floyd Nunn was swimming when he was pulled underwater by riptides.
An autospy on Nunn is scheduled for tomorrow.
He served Patrick County's emergency managment coordinator for six years.
This is the second drowing in a week at the Oak Island beaches.

[45-11Warden-Hit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An employee of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries suffered a broken leg and a concussion after being hit by an A-T-V near Leesville Lake Saturday afternoon. Officials say Lieutenant Ron Henry was launching a patrol boat when he saw a juvenile riding an A-T-V on Marina Road.
Authorities say Henry tried to flag him down, but was struck. The juvenile sped away, but was caught a short time later.
Charges are pending.

[45-11Rain-benefits]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC-1:42]
[GRAPHIC=none]
This rainy weather may have dampened your plans for the past few weeks, but there IS a silver lining in the clouds.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

State officials say the record level of precipitation is improving Virginia's air quality.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:04:16]
[IN Q=IT KEEPS THE MAIN POLLUTANT]
[SUPER=01-Bill Hayden/Dept. of Environ. Quality]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=TO BUILD UP.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

If the wet weather continues, officials say Virginians can expect FEWER high ozone days this summer.
They say the rainy days have also pushed groundwater levels back up to normal levels which will provide a nice cushion in case the now-forgotten drought returns.
(------------)

[8-Walton]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Percy Walton 2075]

A federal judge in Roanoke will hear the case of a condemned killer today.
At issue, is whether the man is mentally retarded, and if so, whether his life should be spared because of it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 03-13 1:05:17]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1996;]

Percy Walton was scheduled to die late last month for the 1996 murders of an elderly couple and a neighbor in Danville. But his attorneys recently argued he is mentally retarded, and executing him would therefore be unconstitutional.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
A spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said last month that the Walton case can lead crime victims to distrust the judicial process.

[8-11GE-Contract]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=03-11 TC-2:03:29]
[GRAPHIC=none]

General Electric has reached a tentative national agreement with union leaders of IUE--CWA for a new contract for its workers. The news came just hours before their contract was set to expire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT, take from tape 03-02 @ 06:05]
[SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape]

Employees at Salem's G-E Plant walked the picket lines in January hoping for some leverage in the negotiations.
Their major issues were affordable health insurance and job security. Union officials say the tentative agreement safeguards affordable health insurance and substantially increases pensions for its members.
Union leaders will meet June 18th to vote on whether to submit the agreement to 14-thousand members for ratification.
If that happens, the members would vote by June 24th on a new contract.
If approved the contract will run through June 2007.
(------------)