WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 07/01/03

[7-VOB-Tech-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Tech ACC 6270]

It will all become official at a press conference tonight.
The Atlantic Coast Conference will welcome Virginia Tech and the University of Miami into the hold.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

Virginia Tech accepted the A-C-C's invitation Monday morning and later that day notified the Big East it was leaving.
Tonight, the A-C-C commissioner will hold a press conference in Greensboro North Carolina.
Virginia Tech's president and athletic director will be there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:08]
[IN Q=These things don't happen]
((JIM WEAVER/VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS OF VIRGINIA TECH TO THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE INSTITUTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR ATHLETICS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AND ON THE BIGGER SCALE THE UNIVERSITY ITSELF.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/VIRGINIA TECH Athletic Director; :]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=the university itself]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

For example, Virginia Tech believes the move to the ACC will strengthen academic programs.
Tech hopes there will be more partnerships like the one with NASA's National Institute of Aerospace which is jointly run by the university and four other ACC institutions.
(------------)

[7-11West-Nile]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=West Nile]

A dead raven that was found in the Starkey Road area of Roanoke County last Wednesday has tested positive for the West Nile Virus.
The state's lab in Richmond confirmed that yesterday.
West Nile is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Ways to avoid exposure include wearing long, loose and light-colored clothing, using insect repellent, cleaning out birdbaths weekly, and eliminating any standing water around your home which could be a breeding ground.
That water could be in flower pots, toys or old tires.
This is the first confirmed case of West Nile in the Roanoke Valley this year.
(-----------------)

[7-11ITT]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=502-12 1:38:15]
[GRAPHIC=ITT STRIKE]
I-T-T Night Vision and its striking union have once again broken off negotiations.
The two sides are in what they hope will be a brief cooling off period.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
There was an early morning rally outside the plant yesterday. More than 300 union members gathered to show their support for a strike that is entering its second week. Union leaders say there are three main issues being discussed in negotiations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:23:05]
[IN Q=we're real]
((JEFF MORAN/UNION EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER; WE'RE REAL SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING OUR PENSION STRAIGHTENED OUT LOOKING TO GET CAPS ON OUR INSURANCE AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING MAINLY TO GET SOME TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES.))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Moran/Union Executive Board Member; :]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=WITH OUR FAMILIES]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Moran says workers are prepared to strike for months if necessary. In a short statement released yesterday, ITT says the strike will not affect its customers and that it will not publicly discuss contract issues.
(------------)

[45-VOB-Tech-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Tech ACC 6270]

A news conference scheduled tonight will make it all official--
That's when the Atlantic Coast Conference will welcome in Virginia Tech and the University of Miami.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

Virginia Tech accepted the A-C-C's invitation Monday morning and later that day notified the Big East it was leaving.
Tonight, the A-C-C commissioner will hold a press conference in Greensboro North Carolina.
Virginia Tech's president and athletic director will be there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:08]
[IN Q=These things don't happen]
((JIM WEAVER/VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS OF VIRGINIA TECH TO THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE INSTITUTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR ATHLETICS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AND ON THE BIGGER SCALE THE UNIVERSITY ITSELF.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Virginia Tech Athletic Director; :]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=the university itself]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

For example, Virginia Tech believes the move to the ACC will strengthen academic programs.
Tech hopes there will be more partnerships like the one with NASA's National Institute of Aerospace which is jointly run by the university and four other ACC institutions.
(------------)

[45-11Missing-Girl]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC2:01:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A missing Pulaski County girl is home, and even though authorities have identified the case as a runaway, the investigation continues.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
After disappearing for nearly a week, 16-year-old Tara Sheets was returned to her grandparents' home safe and sound Friday night.
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
She was reported missing June 22nd, after she left the house that morning to walk her dog. Authorities say it appears now that Tara left voluntarily, but feel they handled the case appropriately.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1544]
[IN Q=there's some costs]
((JIM DAVIS/PULASKI CO. SHERIFF: THERE'S SOME COSTS INVOLVED THERE'S A LOT OF PHONE BILLS A LOT OF HOURS THAT ACCOMPANY ANY INVESTIGATION BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE THRILLED AND JUST HAPPY THAT THIS ENDED THE WAY IT DID 58))
[SUPER=01-Jim Davis/Pulaski County Sheriff;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=the way it did]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Davis still believes Tara's time spent in Internet chat rooms may be connected to her disappearance. No arrests have been made, but he says charges are pending.
(------------)

[45-11Library-Closed]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Roanoke Library branch is open again.
The Jackson Park Library closed more than a week ago because of air conditioning problems.
The problem's fixed and the library is back to normal operating hours.

[8-VOB-Tech-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Tech ACC 6270]

Virginia Tech and the University of Miami will formally enter the Atlantic Coast Conference tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

Virginia Tech accepted the A-C-C's invitation Monday morning, and later that day notified the Big East it was leaving.
Tonight, the A-C-C commissioner will hold a press conference in Greensboro North Carolina.
Virginia Tech's president and athletic director will be there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:08]
[IN Q=These things don't happen]
((JIM WEAVER/VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS OF VIRGINIA TECH TO THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE INSTITUTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR ATHLETICS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AND ON THE BIGGER SCALE THE UNIVERSITY ITSELF.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Virginia Tech Athletic Director; :]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=the university itself]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

For example, Virginia Tech believes the move to the ACC will strengthen academic programs.
Tech hopes there will be more partnerships like the one with NASA's National Institute of Aerospace which is jointly run by the university and four other ACC institutions.
(------------)

[8-11Goodyear]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Goodyear Contract]

Analysts say a strike at Goodyear is unlikely, even though the Steelworkers union broke off contract talks over the weekend.
About two-thousand unionized employees work at Goodyear's Danville plant.
A company spokesman says the sides are having informal discussions, but no new talks have been planned.
The union says it's prepared to strike if necessary, but analysts say that wouldn't be beneficial for either side.

[8-11Bedrosian]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-14 TC4:04:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Al Bedrosian has been out of the spotlight since his last run for the General Assembly.
But now the Christian conservative is building a new constituency... on the radio.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Bedrosian signed on six months ago, when he began broadcasting a daily talk show on Christian radio station, 3WR.

He took advantage of an old nickname when he titled the show, "Bedrock in the Morning."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Bedrock kind of talks]
((AL BEDROSIAN: BEDROCK KIND OF TALKS WHAT THE SHOW IS ABOUT. I'M THE HOST OF IT AND THE SHOW IS FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE, AND IT'S A FAITH BASED PROGRAM. NO GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT, PURELY FREE ENTERPRISE. SO THAT WAS GREAT. AND THAT'S WHY WE STUCK WITH THE NAME BEDROCK.))
[SUPER=01-Al Bedrosian/Radio Talk Show Host]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=why we stuck with the name Bedrock.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

He won't rule out a campaign in the future, but Bedrosian says he has no plans to run for public office again.
For now, he says, he is enjoying his run on the radio. (------------)