WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/12/03

[11West-Nile]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=502-12 TC1:59:12]
[GRAPHIC=West Nile Virus]
A Botetourt County man may have contracted the West Nile Virus. It could be the state's first human case of the virus this year. The Virginia Department of Health say tests by the state lab have come back positive for West Nile, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to make a final confirmation.
(-------)
[VO-NAT]
The man who's expected to recover was tested for West Nile after coming down with encephalitis and flu-like symptoms.

Doctor Jody Hershey with the New River Health District says more and more cases of West Nile are being detected in birds and mosquito pools in Virginia. He says people need to wear insect repellent and clean out their gutters, bird baths and plant containers on a regular basis. West Nile is spread by mosquitoes and water is a breeding ground.
(///sot///)
[sot 00:34:17]
[in q= West Nile is ]
(( DR. JODY HERSHEY/NEW RIVER HEALTH DISTRICT DIRECTOR; WEST NILE IS ENDEMIC, IT'S IN 44 STATES, IT'S HERE TO STAY JUST LIKE RABIES AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH PEOPLE'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVENTING MOSQUITOES FROM BREEDING AROUND THEIR HOME AND PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM MOSQUITO BITES WHILE THEY'RE OUTSIDE. ))
[super=01-Dr. Jody Hershey/New River Health District Director; ]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q= THEY'RE OUTSIDE. ]
(-----------------)
[anchor=Kim]
[ss=HOLD]
Last year, two people died from West Nile in Virginia.

[Plane-Crash]

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

A news agency in South Korea is reporting that two Americans were killed when a military plane crashed in a populated area near Seoul.
American military officials say the transport plane went down about seven miles from a U-S base, but they haven't confirmed any deaths.
The military says the plane was a twin- engine turboprop.

[5-Danny-Taylor]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=503-05 42:18]
[GRAPHIC=Guilty Plea]
A convicted crack addict will spend the rest of his life in prison for smothering the 89-year old night manager at Shenandoah Homes last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Danny Rae Taylor has said he didn't mean to kill the woman. But the fact that he was IN the assisted living center when he shouldn't have been AND that he sexually assaulted Helen Cadd led to a plea agreement in the case. Taylor pled guilty yesterday afternoon to "felony murder" to avoid a possible death sentence.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our position was]
((RANDY LEACH/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: OUR POSITION WAS YOU DON'T STRANGLE SOMEBODY BY ACCIDENT OR SMOTHER THEM. CHRIS KOWALCZUK/TAYLOR'S ATTORNEY: THERE'S NO QUESTION HE CAUSED HER DEATH AND THERE'S NO QUESTION HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER. BUT IF IT'S AN UNINTENTIONAL KILLING IN THE COMMISSION OF A FELONY THEN IT'S FELONY MURDER NOT CAPITAL MURDER.))
[SUPER=01-Randy Leach/Commonwealth's Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Kowalczuk/Taylor's Attorney; :05]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=not capital murder.]
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[Graphic=None]
Taylor was sentenced to life plus five years in prison. He'll be 36 in October.

[11Oliver-Hill]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-34 TC24:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]
He's 96 years old and still able to captivate a crowd with his experiences and views on civil rights.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Last night, Virginia civil rights lawyer Oliver Hill brought those stories to Roanoke. Hill was honored by "The Committee for Community Preservation". Hill helped dismantle legalized segregation in Virginia.
[SUPER=04-File Tape; ]
He and his legal team filed scores of lawsuits during the civil rights era. One case was a precursor to the famous Brown versus Board of Education case in 1954. In 1999, Hill was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
(------------)

[AM-Fleming-Scholars]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Tuesday-AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

College is still two years away for a group of students at William Fleming High School, but a unique scholarship program is helping to make higher education possible.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Ten rising juniors at Fleming have been named E-C-M-C scholars.
The program will track their performance in school, help them prepare for college and offer each the opportunity to earn a six thousand dollar scholarship.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We have a whole lot]
((BILL DOWNIE/WILLIAM FLEMING HALL PRINCIPAL: WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FAITH IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT :WE CHOSE AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT BEING CHOSEN.)) ((ANGELA BROWN/WILLIAM FLEMING STUDENT: A CHANCE TO GO TO A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE, HAVE SOME OF MY TUITION PAID FOR AND THAT WILL BE A LOT OF HELP FOR MY FAMILY.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Downie/William Fleming Hall Principal; :00]
[SUPER=01-Angela Brown/William Fleming Student; :09]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=a lot of help for my family.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

William Fleming High School is one of only ten schools in the state selected for the ECMC Scholars Program.
(------------)

[Europe-Heat]

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

The heat wave baking Europe continues to claim more lives.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Paris, France;]

A French medical expert says at least 50 people in Paris have died from heat- related illnesses.
Temperatures are expected to rise above 100 again today.
The average temperataures for August is 75 degrees.
Meanwhile, the dry conditions also continue fueling massive wildfires from Italy to Spain.
(------------)

(weather toss)[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, The Federal Reserve will meet later today. and natural gas prices have hit a three week high.
Ed Crane has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ed Crane/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=in New York.]

((IT WAS A TRAFFIC LIGHT SESSION ON WALL STREET---WITH THE DOW CONSTANTLY MOVING FROM RED TO GREEN, BEFORE SETTLING INT
O POSITIVE TERRITORY LATE IN THE SESSION
DOW/NASDAQ)

THE DOW FINISHED THE DAY WITH A 26 POINT GAIN, THE NASDAQ ON THE STRENGTH OF SOME TECH BUYING PICKED UP 17..

(ORCL)

THE MAIN CATALYST FOR THE NASDAQ'S ADVANCE, A MERRILL LYNCH UPGRADE OF ORACLE...DESPITE ALL THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING ORACLE'S HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID FOR PEOPLE SOFT, MERRILL BELIEVES SOFTWARE SALES WILL SPIKE LATER THIS YEAR AS THE ECONOMY PICKS UP STRENGTH..

FED POLICY MAKERS MEET TODAY AND THE BETTING IS HEAVILY AGAINST ANY ACTION ON INTEREST RATES...BUT TREASURIES FELL TODAY AMID GROWING SENTIMENT THAT A STRENGTHENING ECONOMY COULD PROMPT THE FED TO BOOST RATES SEVERAL QUARTERS DOWN THE ROAD

IT COULD BE THE LARGEST EMPLOYEE THEFT FROM A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION EVER---DANIEL GORDON THE FORMER CHIEF ENERGY TRADER
FOR MERRILL LYNCH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLING 43 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2001. GORDON ALLEGEDLY DISGUISED THE THEFTS AS LEGITIMATE ENERGY TRADES, THEN PARKED THE PROCEEDS IN AN OFF SHORE SHELL COMPANY THAT HE CONTROLLED.

(MSO)

MARTHA STEWART WILL HAVE HER DAY IN COURT NEXT JANUARY, BUT THE INSIDER TRADING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HER CONTINUE TO HURT SALES AT HER COMPANY. MARTHA STEWART LIVING REPORTING SHARPLY LOWER SECOND QUARTER PROFITS.

(AOL)

SOURCES WITHIN AOL TIME WARNER SAY THE COMPANY IS CONSIDERING DROPPING THE AOL HALF OF THE 2 COMPANY TITLE, THAT AS THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATES AOL'S ACCOUNTING AND ADVERTISING PRACTICES.

(END345!!)

IT MAY BE THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND IN AUGUST, BUT IF YOU USE NATURAL GAS TO HEAT YOUR HOME...YOU COULD BE IN FOR A C
OSTLY WINTER. NATURAL GAS PRICES HAVE HIT A 3 WEEK HIGH ABOVE 5 DOLLARS PER 1 MILLION B-T-U'S---AND TRADERS SAY THE PRI
CE COULD DOUBLE IF WE HAVE A COLD WINTER IN MUCH OF THE NATION.

YOU CAN GET MORE BUSINESS NEWS ROUND THE CLOCK AT CBS

DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM...)

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

[CA-Recall]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=CA Recall Vote]

Just when you thought the California recall election couldn't get any stranger--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]

Yesterday, state officials used a lottery system to choose the order of names on the October ballot.
But it's NOT alphabetical.
The first letter is "R", followed by "W" and "Q".
However, the order will differ among the 80 state assembly districts.
Some 195 people have filed to replace Governor Gray Davis, but the final number of people and their order on the ballot won't be announced until tomorrow.
(------------)

[Liberia]

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

President Bush is hailing the departure of former Liberian leader Charles Taylor as "an important step" toward a better future for the Liberian people.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Monrovia, Liberia;]

As Taylor spends his first day in exile, there's a celebration in the streets of Liberia.
He handed over power to his Vice- President yesterday, then took a plane to Nigeria.
The former warlord is blamed for starting a 14- year civil war that killed more than 150- thousand people.
President Bush, meanwhile, vowed the U-S will help Liberians begin a new and better life.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The United States]
((THE UNITED STATES WILL WORK WITH THE LIBERIAN PEOPLE AND WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE A LASTING PEACE AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE OF TURMOIL AND SUFFERING. ))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=and suffering.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

As Taylor left Liberia, he said quote "God willing, I will be back."
(------------)

[11Shooting-Investigation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC1:34:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Roanoke City police officer is back on the job after being cleared in the shooting of a man in Northwest Roanoke.
A citizen-police review board and Chief Joe Gaskins say Officer M. E. Thompson's actions were justified.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :23 on 03-31, tc 16:14]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/April 13;]

The shooting happened on Madison Avenue in the early morning hours of April 13th.
Officer Thompson and another officer responded to a loud music call, and stopped a car to talk to its driver.
They say when Antonio Taylor tried to drive off, he hit Officer Thompson.
Thompson fired four shots into the car, which hit the front of a house and stopped.
Taylor survived a gunshot to the chest.
The Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney also cleared the officer of wrongdoing.
(------------)

[11Pruner]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC1:40:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A 28-year fixture on the sidelines at Patrick Henry football games will be missed this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1995;]

Doctor Robert Pruner died of a heart attack while driving to work yesterday morning.
Pruner was a well-known Roanoke orthopedic surgeon and the physician for P-H athletic teams since 1975.
Back in 1995, he was honored at halftime for his years of volunteer service to the Patriots.
The head trainer says he never missed a football game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:10:36]
[IN Q=Dr. Pruner has]
((JEANNE BROWN/PH HEAD TRAINER: DR. PRUNER HAS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE IN ALL OUR HEARTS.... WE WILL SO, SO MISS HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Jeanne Brown/Patrick Henry Head Trainer;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=so, so miss him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Pruner's dedication to P-H surprised many people, because he did NOT go to school there and his kids went to Cave Spring.
Pruner was 62. He leaves behind a wife and two sons.
(------------)

[11Middle-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-30 TC1:21:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Students in one area school system will begin the school year in new surroundings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]

Pittsylvania County is getting ready to open four new middle schools.
The new state of the art facilities are located in Chatham, Gretna, Dan River, and Tunstall.
The schools feature expanded science labs, bigger classrooms, state of the art computer stations, and a food court style cafeteria.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:44:14]
[IN Q=I think Pittsylvania County]
((DANNY BOWMAN/CHATHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: I THINK PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY HAS REALLY MADE A STEP FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE HAD TWO NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT IMPROVED THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND NOW WITH THIS OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO DO MUCH BETTER.))
[SUPER=01-Danny Bowman/Chatham Middle School Principal; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=do much better]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Voters passed a forty million dollar referendum three years ago to pay for the project.
Construction is slightly behind schedule at some of the schools but administrators believe they will all be completed in time for the first day of school September second.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Scholarships]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-31 TC47:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

While recent high school graduates are heading off to college, ten rising juniors are getting a head start on higher education.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The ten are students at William Fleming High School, selected to participate in the E-C-M-C scholars program.
The program will track their performance and help them prepare for college, and offer each a six thousand dollar scholarship.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It means that someone]
((TRISTAN GOMEZ/ECMC SCHOLAR: IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE OUT THERE WANTS TO HELP ME AND SEE ME SUCCEED, AND THAT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME.)) ((DONNA KUEBLER/TRISTAN'S MOTHER: EVEN WITH A TWO PARENT FAMILY IT'S A STRUGGLE TO PUT CHILDREN THROUGH COLLEGE, SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM THAT HE MAY OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE.))
[SUPER=01-Tristan Gomez/William Fleming Student; :00]
[SUPER=01-Donna Kuebler/Tristan's Mother; :12]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=otherwise might not have]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

William Fleming is one of ten schools in Virginia selected for the program.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, The Federal Reserve will discuss interest rates at its meeting later today. Economists expect the central bank to leave short-term rates at a 45-year low of one percent. In other news, Stan Case has a look at yesterday's closing numbers in the business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((STOCKS EKED OUT GAINS MONDAY, DESPITE INVESTORS' CONCERN ABOUT TUESDAY'S FEDERAL RESERVE MEETING.THE DOW GAINED 26 POINTS.THE NASDAQ WAS UP 17.HEWLETT-PACKARD HAS UNVEILED MORE THAN 100 NEW PRODUCTS.THE CALIFORNIA BASED COMPANY WANTS THE GADGET LAUNCH TO GET CONSUMERS READY FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY BUYING SEASON.
HOLIDAY RETAIL SALES WERE OFF BY 11-PERCENT LAST YEAR.HEWLETT-PACKARD SAYS THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHY, ENTERTAINMENT, AND HOME COMPUTING ELECTRONICS ARE PART OF ITS LARGEST PRODUCT DEBUT EVER.E-BAY HAS TAKEN A 30-MILLION DOLLAR SECOND QUARTER CHARGE.IT'S THE RESULT OF A COURT JUDGMENT ORDERING E-BAY TO PAY 29-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO MERC-EXCHANGE FOR A PATENT INFRINGEMENT.THE INTERNET AUCTION HOUSE SAYS THE CHARGE REDUCED ITS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS TO 14-CENTS PER-SHARE.DUPONT'S TEXTILES AND INTERIORS UNIT IS FOR SALE.THE DIVISION IS KNOWN AS A SUPPLIER TO THE FIBER INDUSTRY WITH BRANDS SUCH AS LYCRA NYLON AND THE STAINMASTER CARPET TREATMENT. THE CHEMICAL COMPANY'S SAYS THE SALE IS PART OF ITS REORGANIZATION PLAN BY WHICH IT HOPES TO ACHIEVE AN ANNUAL COST SAVINGS OF 120-MILLION-DOLLARS.PRIVATELY OWNED KOCH INDUSTRIES IS IN TALKS TO BUY THE DIVISION IN A DEAL ANALYSTS SAY IS WORTH UP TO FIVE-BILLION DOLLARS.WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))

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

[Paws-Claws]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Paws-Claws]

Many dog and cat owners want their pet's blood line to continue.
But there's a lot of issues to consider before becoming a breeder.
A major one is pet overpopulation.
(++++++++++)
[TAKE FS PAWS AND CLAWS]
In this week's "Paws and Claws" segment, we'll learn about how large a problem that is for the Roanoke Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:20:36]
[IN Q=It's a tremendous problem]
[SUPER=01-Linda Johnson/Feline Education Rescue & Adoption League; :00]
[SUPER=16-(888) 661-1113/Angels of Assisi Mobile Clinic; 1:53]
[SUPER=16-(540) 334-1268/Planned Pethood Clinic; hot change!]
[RUNS=2:20]
[OUT Q=News 7 Mornin will be right back.]

[Tape tosses to comm] [COMM]