[VO-Bedford-Supervisors]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC 4:07]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
A controversial road plan that's placed a Bedford County supervisor under suspicion is now dead in its tracks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; ]
Last night, Bedford County supervisor Kirby Richardson made a motion asking that the million dollar project plan be essentially killed.
The motion to remove the project from the county's secondary road plan was approved by the remaining supervisors.
The plan would have widened the intersection of routes 608 and 626 near Smith Mountain Lake.
Richardson approved the project last fall.
He also filled out one of the Highway Department's comment sheets in favor of the plan.
State Police found four dozen similar sheets, and a special grand jury is now investigating whether Richardson had a hand in falsifying the forms.
(------------)
[Shuttle-Columbia]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Columbia Invest.]
Today the commission looking into Space Shuttle Columbia disaster publishes its final report.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Meanwhile, NASA officials are preparing for what's
likely to be a bare knuckles report on the deadly accident over Texas that killed seven astronauts February first.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They have done]
((SEAN O'KEEFE/NASA:
THEY HAVE DONE A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW AND INVESTIGATION THEN I HAVE EVER HEARD OF ANYWHERE. AND WHEN THIS REPORT COMES OUT I THINK THAT WILL BE PRETTY EVIDENT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE, THE DILLIGENCE THAT THEY PUT TO THIS. ))
[SUPER=01-Sean O'Keefe/NASA Administrator;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=put to this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Meanwhile, one panelist says the language in the report is ``frank'' and there may be some surprises.
The investigative board has already made several recommendations.
Among those are: using Pentagon satellites and telescopes to watch the shuttle in orbit, training and equipment astronauts to make emergency repairs in space, and improving the cameras that track a shuttle during launch.
(------------)
[2-Iraq]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
At least two dozen people have been captured in a major U-S raid near Baghdad.
They're searching for a notorious gang leader who's wanted for involvement in recent attacks on American forces.
Here at home-- U-S officials say the Bush administration is running into resistance after seeking a U-N resolution asking more countries to send troops to Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan says the countries taking part in a multi-national force would have to share in the decision making, something the Bush administration won't allow.
(------------)
[11Powell]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-30 TC1:34:$6]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
A Halifax man has admitted to a role in two murders in Southside nearly ten years ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
29 year old Louis Jordan Powell, Junior pled guilty to two counts of first-degree murder yesterday afternoon.
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co./December 1993; ]
Investigators say Powell admitted to a role in the deaths of Joseph Gibbons and John LaPrade.
The two men were shot to death inside a car at the Riverdale Amoco in Halifax County in December of 1993.
Two other suspects are awaiting trial on capital murder charges, Dexter Lamont Dixon of South Boston and Verlie Marion Word of Halifax.
(------------)
[11Pillowtex]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Pillowtex Bankruptcy]
Bankrupt textile maker Pillowtex wants to pay up to five-point three million dollars to retain key employees during its liquidation.
Yesterday, the company asked a bankruptcy judge to approve the payments for 143 salaried workers.
Pillowtex also asked the judge to approve a plan to designate two and a half million dollars of its assets to pay off outstanding medical claims for laid-off workers.
[11Warner-budget]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-31 TC1:06:03]
[SS=VA Budget]
Governor Warner says the state is on the way to economic recovery, but there are still some bumps in the road.
Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon has more on the governor's "good news- bad news" picture of the state's finances.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS ADMINISTRATION]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :06]
[SUPER=@Griffith; :53]
[SUPER=@Hawkins; 1:13]
[SUPER=@Meghan1; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=News 7, Richmond.]
((For the first time in his administration, Governor Warner has some economic news to smile about.
[SOT 10:15:55]
[IN Q=JOB GROWTH IN VIRGINIA]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: JOB GROWTH IN VIRGINIA HAS NOW BEEN POSITIVE FOR THREE MONTHS. JOB GROWTH IN JULY SHOWED THE BEST MONTHLY INCREASE IN OVER TWO YEARS.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=IN OVER TWO YEARS.]
But the moment was short-lived as Warner warned that education, Medicaid and homeland security costs continue to grow.
[SOT :17:34]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: EVEN WITH AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY, THERE WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL GAP BETWEEN AVAILABLE REVENUES AND THE SPENDING REQUIREMENTS WHICH WE WOULD ALL JUST AS NON-DISCRETIONARY.))
[RUNS:08]
Warner says he is holding in reserve a 400 million dollar one time fiscal fix from the federal government.
Most Republicans say keeping the money for emergencies is the right call but they remain critical of Warner for something else, bypassing another opportunity to lay out his tax reform plan.
[SOT 10:40:40]
((DELEGATE MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: THE GOVERNOR CHOSE NOT TO DO SO AND THAT'S HIS RIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY I THINK ITS GOING TO PUSH UP INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION REGRETTABLY AT A COST TO THE TAXPAYERS.))
[RUNS:10]
And Even though the rest of the state is experiencing job growth, the data shows the communities in Southside and Southwest Virginia are being left behind.
[SOT 10:47:35]
[IN Q=IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING]
((SENATOR CHARLES HAWKINS/R-CHATHAM: IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO STABILIZE POPULATIONS IN SOUTHSIDE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WE WILL GET OLDER AND POORER AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE STATE CANNOT AFFORD. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BEING PART OF THE ECONOMIC ENGINE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=LIKE WE HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY]
Warner also said that Virginians don't need to worry about a repeat of last year's budget cuts.
That's because the state has something it hasn't seen in three years, a budget surplus. ))
[Biz-Brief]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
In business news, existing home sales rose in July.
Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]
((LIGHT TRADING AND SOME PROFIT TAKING PUSHED STOCKS LOWER MONDAY, DESPITE A SURPRISING REPORT ON HOME SALES.
THE DOW WAS DOWN 31 POINTS ON THE DAY...
AND THE NASDAQ LOST ONE.
SALES OF EXISTING HOMES JUMPED TO A NEW RECORD IN JULY.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS HOMES SOLD AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF SIX-POINT-ONE MILLION IN THE MONTH.
THAT'S UP FIVE PERCENT FROM JUNE'S PACE.
SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE RISING MORTGAGE RATES SPURRED INDECISIVE BUYERS TO JUMP INTO THE MARKET BEFORE RATES GO HIGHER.
WAL-MART STORES RAISED ITS FORECAST FOR AUGUST SALES GAINS.
THE GIANT RETAILER PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED A THREE-TO-FIVE PERCENT INCREASE AT U-S STORES OPEN A FULL YEAR.
BUT STRONG BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPENDING HAS PUSHED THAT TO FOUR-TO-SIX PERCENT.
WAL-MART SHARES GAINED SLIGHTLY ON THE NEWS.
U-A-L CORPORATION SAYS IT HAS SATISFIED THE TERMS OF ITS BANKRUPTCY FINANCING FOR JULY AND REPORTS RISING REVENUE IN ITS UNITED AIRLINES OPERATIONS.
SYSTEMWIDE, UNIT REVENUES ROSE TEN PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR.
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS CAME TO 35-MILLION, BUT AFTER CHARGES FOR REORGANIZATION, THE NATION'S NUMBER TWO AIRLINE LOST SEVEN-MILLION IN THE MONTH.
JULY'S LOAD FACTOR WAS ALMOST 83 PERCENT, ITS HIGHEST EVER.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS]
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
[Ten-Commandments]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An Alabama judge hasn't given up the fight to keep a Ten Commandments monument where it is.
A hearing is set for tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery, AL/Yesterday;]
Supporters are asking a federal court to block the removal of the monument from the Alabama Judicial Building.
They say removing it would violate the Constitution's guarantee of the freedom of religion.
Two years ago, Chief Justice Roy Moore put the monument in the building's rotunda.
Last week, he was suspended for disobeying a federal court order to remove the statue.
But Moore says he'll fight to return to his elected position.
(------------)
[11Roanoke-Schools]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=503-00 40:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It looks like a couple of schools in Roanoke City and Roanoke County passed the test yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
At Mountain View Elementary, some mobile classrooms are still under construction.
The library has hundreds of boxes of books that need to be unpacked.
But after a weekend of hard work by volunteers, staff and their families, the building was ready for students.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:24:11]
[IN Q=I think we did]
((I THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT. LOOKING AT OUR BUILDING LAST MONDAY AND LOOKING AT IT THIS MONDAY, IT'S LIKE TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.))
[SUPER=01-Judy Price/Mountain View Elem. Principal;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=two different places.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
At Lincoln Terrace Elementary in Roanoke City, roof repairs are still underway.
But teachers and classrooms were ready to greet the students.
They have new central air conditioning and bathrooms are still being renovated.
Despite the work-in-progress, principals at both schools say the first day of school went surprisingly smoothly.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[11Henry-Supervisors]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC1:53:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]
Henry County is getting ready to close five schools and consolidate several others because of declining enrollment and revenue losses.
The reconfiguration is still a year away but some students already have some concerns over things like school colors and mascots.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:00:03 1:02:10;]
[IN Q=I think we should]
((BOBBIE JO LANKFORD/BASSETT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP OUR MASCOT BECAUSE THIS IS BASSETT AND THEY ARE COMING HERE AND I REALLY DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR TO THEM TO COME TO BASSETT AND IT BE THE SAME BUT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT CHANGED.))
((EUGENE HAIRSTON/BASSETT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: I THINK WE SHOULD COMBINED THEM AND I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE OUR MASCOTS AND COLORS. COLORS AND MASCOTS))
[SUPER=01-Bobbie Jo Lankford/Bassett High School Student; :00]
[SUPER=01-Eugene Hairston/Bassett High School Student; :10]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=COLORS AND MASCOTS. (2nd REF.)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Meantime, the Board of Supervisors yesterday announced more cuts.
The county will lose 915-thousand dollars in revenue because of the closing of the Pillowtex Plant in Fieldale.
The school system will absorb half of it, the other half will be made through cuts in the Office of Commerce, the Industrial Development Authority and money to maintain the old Dupont Facility.
(------------)
[11Human-Services]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC 1:55:16]
[GRAPHIC=none]
An old warehouse along the Lynchburg riverfront has a new lease on life, and residents there who receive social services are also benefitting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Yesterday, city leaders dedicated the new Human Services building on Ninth Street.
Lynchburg spent more than nine million dollars buying the 90-year-old J-W Ould (old) warehouse and renovating it into 70-thousand square feet of office space.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:13:23]
[IN Q=It is a]
((CARL HUTCHERSON/LYNCHBURG MAYOR: IT IS A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON DOWNTOWN FOR YEARS TO COME. EACH TIME WE HAVE ONE OF THESE CEREMONIES, I BELIEVE IT SPARKS A RENEWED SENSE OF ENERGY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN DOWNTOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/Lynchburg Mayor]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=being done in downtown.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Human Services building is one of about 15 downtown revitalization projects that represent more than 80 million dollars in investments.
(------------)
(toss to bump)
[BUMP]
[COMM]
[Paws-Claws]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Paws-Claws]
A Christiansburg woman who adopted a shelter dog decided to use her experience to educate others about the importance of spaying and neutering.
She's written a children's book that'll also serve to help other dogs in need of a home.
(+++++++++)
[TAKE FS PAWS AND CLAWS]
That's this week's "Paws and Claws" segment.
(+++++++++++)
[Peformance Set Shot ALL]
Joining us today are Sherry Vaughn, who wrote the book and Pam Chamblin, who's with the League for Animal Protection.
[SUPER=01-Sherry Vaughn/Children's Book Author;]
[SUPER=01-Pam Chamblin/League for Animal Protection;]
(Sherry, tell us about the dog that inspired you to write this book?)
(What message are you hoping to get across in your book?)
(Pam, this book will go toward helping the League for Animal Protection-- where exactly will the proceeds be used for?)
(Where can people find the book? Is it in many local bookstores yet?)
(Sherry-- You're planing a book signing this fall?)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[ss=none]
Stay with us...News 7 Mornin will be right back.
(Kim tosses to break)
[COMM]
[S-Tech2003]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=Mornin SP-160 1700TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH 2003]
One sure sign that summer is nearly over - is that the "Tech 2003" reports are back here on News 7 Mornin'.
Here's Mike Stevens.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WELL GOOD MORNING...]
[SUPER=@mike1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :19]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Randall/VT Starting Quarterback; :45]
[SUPER=01-Marcus Vick/VT Second String Quarterback; 1:20]
[RUNS=2:33]
[OUT Q=...A NICE TUESDAY."]
(( Tonight begins another season of our Monday night Tech 2003 reports.
With the season opener against Central Florida set for this coming Sunday - the Hokies are in their final days of preseason practice.
A couple of positions are still up for grabs, but quarterback isn't one of them.
The much anticipated and hyped quarterback battle between incumbent Bryan Randall and the challenger Marcus Vick really wasn't a battle afterall.
Randall met the challenge and the "Vick name" head on and earned the trust of his coaches, the admiration of his teammates and the approval of a once fickle Hokie Nation.
((BRYAN RANDALL:))
After seeing his brother go down two weeks ago Vick knows he could be called upon at any moment. He'll play plenty in the opening games of the season to get some experience although he goal is still to one day be the starter.
((MARCUS VICK:))
((BRYAN RANDALL:))
While Vick will begin the season as the back-up - he does have Randall beat on one front. When it comes to who has the better cartwheel - Vick is so far ahead - he's forcing Randall to take some desperate measures.
((BRYAN RANDALL:))
((MARCUS VICK:))
Fans are certainly flipping for tickets.
Only a limited number, under a thousand are still available for the UCF, JMU and UConn games. Take care everybody have a nice Tuesday.))
[COMM][Tape tosses to break]
by SS