WDBJ 7 morning news for 07/28/03

[11Pillowtex]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC-1:19:11]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

A deadline is looming over the Pillowtex Corporation. The towel manufacturer missed a quarterly loan payment to its banks last month. It now has until Thursday to repay the loan, but employees at the Henry County plant fear the company won't be able to pull through.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]
No one from Pillowtex was available for comment, but there was a message for certain employees not to come to work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT PRE-PRO]
[IN Q=All manufacturing including]
((PILLOWTEX RECORDING: ALL MANUFACTURING INCLUDING YARN MANUFACTURING, WEAVING, WET FINISHING AND SEWING WILL STAND. PLANT SERVICE AND PLANT MANAGERS OFFICE WILL STAND.))
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=office will stand]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
In fact, production employees have been out of work for weeks. Distribution workers ARE asked to report, but are NOT expected to work the entire week. Pillowtex has been described as the cornerstone of the Fieldale area, and some say the community wouldn't exist without the plant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:19:19:02]
[IN Q=It's a thousand]
((PAULA BURNETTE/HENRY CO. SUPERVISOR: IT'S A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES, A THOUSAND FAMILIES. HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE KIDS GOING TO COLLEGE, IN COLLEGE, WHERE IS THEIR TUITION GOING TO COME FROM. IT'S NOT EASY TO FIND JOBS AROUND HERE AS IT IS. I THINK THIS IS OUR EIGHTEENTH MONTH OF CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Paula Burnette/Henry Co. Supervisor;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=consecutive double digit]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Despite poor economic times in Southside, Burnette says the community has remained strong, but both the county and City of Martinsville will suffer economically if the plant closes.
(-------------)

[11Rke-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
Roanoke Police are investigating a weekend shooting.
They say two men knocked on the door of 1408 Varnell Avenue yesterday morning; when the door was opened, two men forced their way in and started shooting. 23 year old Teresa Canada was shot once in the side, and 25 year old Judson Vincent was shot one to three times in the groin. Two people in the back of the house heard the shots and saw two men getting into a burgundy vehicle. Police are looking for the suspects.

[Dennehy]

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

The missing Baylor University basketball player has been found.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Waco, TX;]

Authorities have confirmed that the decomposed body they discovered in a field near Waco, Texas is that of Patrick Dennehy.
Dennehy disappeared in June.
His former roommate, another Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson is charged with his murder.
Dotson is being held without bond at a Maryland jail.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

Meanwhile, the president of Baylor University is asking university workers to pray for the families of both players.

[Iraq]

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

It was the bloodiest weekend for U-S troops in Iraq since major combat operations ended.
Five troops died over the course of 24 hours.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

Days after killing Saddam Hussein's sons, U-S forces believed they'd found the father.
Troops raided a home in Baghdad yesterday.
At least three Iraqis were killed, but there was no sign of Saddam.
The owner of the house did admit to personally knowing the former dictator.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Of course,]
((PRINCE ROBEEAH ALI AMIN/OWNER OF RAIDED HOME:OF COURSE HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF IRAQ AND ALL OF US WE HAD RELATIONS IN A WAY OR ANOTHER. ))
[SUPER=01-Prince Robeeah Ali Amin/Owner of Raided Home;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=way or another.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The U-S military believes troops missed Saddam by only one day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He's been through]
((RICHARD MYERS/JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN: HE'S BEEN THROUGH THESE SURVIVAL MODES BEFORE, HE KNOW HOW TO DO THAT BUT WE'LL FIND HIM, IT'S A BIG COUNTRY BUT WE'LL FIND HIM. ))
[SUPER=01-Richard Myers/Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=but we'll find him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

U-S leaders say whomever is able to lead them to Saddam will be rewarded with 25- million dollars.
(------------)

[11Tobacco]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-19 TC-1:38:37]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Two major cigarette companies will avoid the middle man by not attending this year's auctions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-20 57:42]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./File Tape;]
Philip Morris U-S-A and R-J Reynolds Tobacco company will be buying all of their tobacco through direct contracts with farmers. Contracting by Philip Morris was started three years ago and has taken over much of the tobacco sales across the flue-cured belt in the southeastern United States. Two other companies -- Brown and Williamson, and Lorillard Tobacco -- say they will buy some tobacco at auction as well as through contracts. Right now, only some 20- percent of the flue-cured crop will be sold at auction.
(------------)

[Box-Office]

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

There was some tough competition at the box office this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-``Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' - Dimension;]
``Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over'' debuted in the top spot with an estimated 32-and-a-half million dollars. The movie easily took first place, but the rest of the top five is almost too close to call.
(------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[TAKE FS CHYRON]
[SUPER=77-Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over/32.5/Pirates of the Caribbean/22.4/Bad Boys II/22/Lara Croft: Tomb Raider/21.8/Seabis
cuit/21.5;] We won't know for sure until the final numbers are released later today, but as of now, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is in second place. Bad Boys 2 finished third.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life was fourth and Seabiscuit finished fifth.

[Super=#555;reset]

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, It'll be a busy week on Wall Street. Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((EARNINGS WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE HEADLINES.. BUT THEY'LL BE COMPETING WITH MORE SOME BIG ECONOMIC REPORTS.. INCLUDING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, MANUFACTURING, GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND THE JULY UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES.
ON THE EARNINGS FRONT: HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE DUPONT, DISNEY, MCDONALDS AND PROCTER AND GAMBLE.
ON FRIDAY, INVESTORS WENT ON A LATE DAY BUYING SPREE...
PUSHING THE DOW UP 172 POINTS...
THE NASDAQ RALLIED 29 POINTS
ON THE STOCKS TO WATCH LIST: Qualcomm sued Texas Instruments for breaching a patent agreement from December 2000. The suit seeks unspecified damages and a termination of TI's rights under the original agreement
AOL Time Warner is facing yet another potential problem in its America Online unit. They are reports that AOL may have inflated the number of its subscribers. AOL apparently sold about 830,000 Internet subscriptions in bulk deals at deep discounts, boosting its 2001 and 2002 subscriber numbers. After three dismal years of jobs cuts and slumping revenue, Wall Street firms have turned the corner and are headed for one of their best years ever, an industry trade group says. according to the securities industry association the wall street firms profitable advisory and trading businesses are showing solid, sustainable gains. track all the premarket action at cbs.mw.com.. in new york i'm ac.))

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

[Liberia]

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

More deadly fighting in Liberia's capital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Monrovia, Liberia;]

The battle between rebels and government troops killed at least 16 civilians yesterday.
Rebels are making their third assault in two months on the capital city.
Hundreds of people tore through the streets, looking for cover from the shelling.
Liberians are begging the U-S to help end the civil war.
(------------)

[11Bent-Mtn-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC-1:06:08]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Two people were injured in an accident on Bent Mountain in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Police say a motorcycle and Volvo hit head on around 2-thirty yesterday afternoon. The driver of the motorcycle, 39 year old Patricia Williams was taken to Roanoke Memorial where she is listed in fair condition. The driver of the car, 68 year old Ernestine Roller, was also being treated for injuries.
For more than two hours, traffic was diverted onto Crystal Creek Road, Cotton Hill Road and Merriman Drive. Police say no charges have been filed.
(------------)

[11Lottery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC-43:21]
[GRAPHIC=none]
It's been a record year for the Virginia Lottery.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Norfolk/Virginia Lottery; ]
This year's lottery PROFITS totaled more than 375- million dollars... money that by law goes toward Virginia's public schools. During a news conference in Norfolk, Executive Director Penelope Kyle said the lottery also set another record.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:02:04]
[IN Q=We also]
[SUPER=01-Penelope Kyle/Lottery Executive Director; ]
(( WE ALSO SET A RECORD FOR TOTAL SALES, OUR SALES WERE ONE BILLION 135 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR. THAT IS THE THIRD YEAR, THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE HAVE EXCEEDED ONE BILLION DOLLARS. ))
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=ONE BILLION DOLLARS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
One- point two million children attend public school in Virginia.
(------------)

[11Feedback]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=FdBack]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Our view mail touched on a variety of topics this week.
Joe McKean has more in this week's Feedback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Animation Open]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=Animation Close]
((The pictures of the remains of Saddam Hussein's sons showed up, unedited at first, on all of the cable news channels last week.
The CBS coverage left it up to its affiliates to decide whether to show the graphic video; News-7 decided not to, a judgment endorsed by one viewer from Roanoke (Sandy Okerman): "Thank you for choosing not to air the photos of Saddam's sons...very personal and disturbing photographs...It is not necessary to stoop so low to report a story."
Another viewer (Angela Richardson/Roanoke) weighed in on the controversy over Roanoke police officer Butch Lewis's efforts to return to his job at Patrick Henry High School.
"I stand behind the resource officer who is fighting for his job 100%. I know personally that Roanoke City Schools don't report everything they should...(The school system) has a lot of cleaning up to do. It's the responsibility of the school staff to do so, not to encourage violent behavior. I sincerely hope that the officer gets his job back. The students who go to school to learn need someone on their side."
A rally by the union representing hundreds of workers at the Goodyear plant in Danville as they continue to work without a contract brought a critical letter from Hot Springs (John Bogan):
"I am sorry if anyone loses his or her job. The union cannot blame anyone but itself for jobs going South and North. The unions have gotten companies to pay the employees too much...I blame none but the unions for the shape the country is in now. They have priced themselves out of the market. They can blame none but themselves for it. If they keep wanting more and more there will be other companies going elsewhere looking for workers."
News-7 welcomes your thoughts about our news coverage. Send them to us by regular mail...fax...or email.
Joe McKean, News-7.))

(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks surged higher Friday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((A BIG FRIDAY AFTERNOON RALLY SENT STOCKS TO A HIGHER CLOSE FOR THE WEEK. THE DOW ENDED THE DAY UP 172 POINTS AND THE NASDAQ GAINED 29. NEW HOME SALES ROSE FOUR-POINT-SEVEN PERCENT IN JUNE.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SALE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CAME IN AT A RECORD ANNUAL RATE OF ONE-POINT-ONE-SIX-MILLION FOR THE MONTH. ECONOMISTS EXPECTED NEW HOME SALES TO DROP FROM MAY LEVELS. MEANWHILE, THE SALES OF EXISTING HOMES SLID BY POINT-THREE PERCENT IN JUNE.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS THE BACKLOG OF UNSOLD HOMES CLIMBED IN JUNE BY FIVE-POINT-NINE PERCENT--THE HIGHEST RATE OF INCREASE IN 12-YEARS. PFIZER REPORTED A NET LOSS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 48-CENTS PER SHARE. THATS DOWN FROM EARNINGS OF 32-CENTS A SHARE, LAST YEAR.
THE DRUG MANUFACTURER SAYS THE ACQUISITION OF PHARMACIA CONTRIBUTED TO ITS THREE-POINT-59 BILLION DOLLAR LOSS. E-BAY HAS AGREED TO PAY 10-MILLION DOLLARS TO END ALLEGATIONS CONNECTED TO ITS PAYPAL UNIT. PAYPAL WAS ACCUSED OF KNOWINGLY TRANSFERRING FUNDS TO UNLAWFUL OFFSHORE GAMBLING SITES. E-BAY SAYS IT ENDED PAYPAL'S GAMBLING ACTIVITIES WHEN IT PURCHASED PAYPAL IN 2002. ON THURSDAY, E-BAY REPORTED NET EARNINGS OF 33-CENTS A SHARE FOR THE SECOND QUARTER. WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))

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

[11Hip-top]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-17 TC-1:59:36]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A new device that's about the size of a bar of soap is making a big splash in the technology industry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The Hip-top is made by Danger, Incorporated. It has full e-mail capability, a digital camera and also serves as a cell phone. It also includes a calendar, to- do list, and address book that can be accessed using a full key board. The complete package costs about 350- dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:00:18:28]
[IN Q=With the high tech]
((SAM HAMPTON/SUNCOM: WITH THE HIGH TECH PHONES GOING IN THE 100 TO 200 DOLLAR RANGE YOU KNOW FOR AN EXTRA 150 DOLLARS TO GET A GOOD DEVICE THAT HAS A FULL WEB BROWSER, THAT HAS AN AOL INSTANT MESSAGING. THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL APPLICATION. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO CHAT.))
[SUPER=01-Sam Hampton/SunCom;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=like to chat]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Hampton says the Hip-top keeps you from having to carry multiple devices along with their chargers everywhere you go.
For now, the Hip-top is only available through SunCom stores.

[Healthy-Living]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=tape on Kim's desk, ***NEEDS Cover Video from tape 5-99-7 @ 1:05:13]
[GRAPHIC=Healthy Living]

Many people who are looking to lose weight fast are turning to supplements to speed up their metabolism.
(+++++++++++)
[TAKE FS HEALTHY LIVING]
In this weeks healthy living, Joy Sutton tells us whether these products actually work or if they are just hype.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=While many of us have heard of the dangers of ephedra]
[SUPER=@Joy1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Janet Rankin/Tech Dept. of Human Nutrition & Exercise; :30]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
[RUNS=3:40]
[OUT Q=for this weeks healthy living.]
(++++++++++)
[TAKE FS WEB ADDRESS 4472ESSC]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

Consumer lab dot com is the website that tests various supplements. You can find a link to that site by visiting our web page at WDBJ 7 dot com. Click on websites in the news.
(++++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]
News 7 Mornin' will be right back. [BUMP] [COMM]