[Boty-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=03-32]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Shooting]

Botetourt County authorities are looking for a suspect in a fatal shooting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]


It happened at about 7:45 last night at 98 Shanta Lane in Blue Ridge. That's in the Willow Brook Trailer Park. Sheriff's officials say the victim was a 47 year old man from Mount Airy, North Carolina who had been staying at the residence. He was shot once in the chest and was later pronounced dead at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Authorities say they have the suspect's name, but they're not releasing that information at this time.
(------------)


[11Bennett]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC1:57:28]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

[***ANCHOR TAG****]
It's been more than a year since a Franklin County native was found murdered in North Carolina- and her killer still has not been caught.
As Justin McLeod reports, Stephanie Bennett's father is now offering a hefty reward to help catch his daughter's killer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :07]
[SUPER=01-Carmon Bennett/Stephanie's Father; :17]
[SUPER=01-Amanda Scott/Stephanie's Friend; :41]
[SUPER=01-Christina Thompson/Stephanie's Friend; 1:23]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]

((((NAT SOUND OF FATHER TALKING AT 1:29 SAYING "STEPHANIE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL YOUNG LADY, SO KIND, SO GENTLE, SO LOVING."))
Holding back tears and surrounded by family and friends, Stephanie Bennett's father came forward Tuesday afternoon to say it's time to catch a killer.
[SOT 2:08]
[IN Q=We feel we must]

((CARMON BENNETT/STEPHANIE'S FATHER: WE FEEL WE MUST DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO SEE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE FOR STEPHANIE AND ALL OF US SUFFERED FROM HER MURDER.)) [Runs08]
[OUT Q=from her murder]


That murder took place on May 21st 2002.
That's when police found the 23 year old dead in her Raleigh North Carolina apartment.
Investigators say she was strangled.
Since that time, there have been more questions than answers.
[SOT 11:00]
[IN Q=Not a day goes by]

((AMANDA SCOTT/STEPHANIE'S FRIEND: NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK HE IS GOING TO GET CAUGHT AND SO THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING IS KNOWING ONE DAY HE WILL.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=day he will]


Stephanie's dad hopes that day comes soon, now that he's offering a one hundred thousand dollar reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Police have told the family someone out there knows something.
[SOT 3:39]
[IN Q=We are not wealthy]

((CARMON BENNETT/STEPHANIE'S FATHER: WE ARE NOT WEALTHY PEOPLE BUT JUSTICE FOR STEPHANIE AND THE PEACE OF MIND THAT NO OTHER FAMILY WILL HAVE TO ENDURE WHAT WE HAVE DURING THE PAST 506 DAYS ARE WORTH THE MONEY WE'RE OFFERING.)) [Runs12]
[OUT Q=we're offering]


This is in addition to the 10-thousand dollar reward the state of North Carolina is offering in this case.
Family and friends say it's money well spent.
[SOT 9:16]
[IN Q=It just doesn't seem fair]

((CHRISTINA THOMPSON/STEPHNAIE'S FRIEND: IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM FAIR THAT SOMEBODY GOT TAKEN AWAY FROM US THAT WAS VERY SPECIAL AND SUCH AT A YOUNG AGE.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=at a young age]
[SOT 2:12:18]
[IN Q=Officers from the Raleigh]

((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: OFFICERS FROM THE RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE ON HAND FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT BUT THEY DECLINED TO GO ON CAMERA TO DISCUSS THE CASE. THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR DID HOWEVER SAY HE BELIEVES STEPHANIE'S MURDER WILL EVENTUALLY BE SOLVED. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.)) [Runs13]
[OUT Q=be solved]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]


Stephanie was a graduate of Roanoke College.
Her family has raised more than 48-thousand dollars for a scholarship in her name.
It will be awarded to a Franklin County high school graduate who plans to attend Roanoke College.

[11Reid]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-34 TC35:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]


An appeals court says the death sentence of a Montgomery County man should stand.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/File Tape]


James Reid was sentenced to death for the 1996 beating and stabbing death of 80-year old Annie Lester.
A three-judge panel of the Fourth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected Reid's claims that his lawyers were ineffective and that the trial judge refused to consider evidence about his mental condition.
(------------)



[11Iraq]


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


U-S forces in Iraq remain aggressive in their efforts to capture the enemy.
But the enemy is just as agressive--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]


Yesterday, U-S troops were hit again, this time by a bomb on a highway north of Baghdad.
One soldier was killed.
Another died in a traffic accident in Tikrit.
More U-S soldiers have been killed after the war than during the invasion.
However, President Bush says there's no going back.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Retreat in the face]

((RETREAT IN THE FACE OF TERROR WILL ONLY INVITE FURTHER AND BOLDER ATTACKS, THERE WILL BE NO RETREAT.))
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=be no retreat.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


But progress IS being made.
In a series of raids, troops have arrested two dozen members of a major crime family.
The so- called "Godfather" got away, a man the U-S military says is connected to attacks on Americans.
(------------)


[Korea-Weapons]


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


After months of confrontation, diplomats from six nations-- including the U-S-- are meeting in Beijing this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beijing, China;]


They're holding talks to resolve concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons program and demands by the U-S that North Korea stand down.
All six nations have a stake in the outcome of the meeting.
China hopes to avoid being dragged into a conflict between its longtime ally, North Korea, and a vital trading partner, the U-S.
Meanwhile, the North wants security guarantees and more food and humanitarian aid.
(------------)


[11Water-Main]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-28 TC1:08:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]


It could be a bumpy ride down one Roanoke street this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Crews say they've repaired the water main break under Orange Avenue near Gus Nicks Boulevard, but they're waiting for the street to be repaved.
The road is open to traffic.
(------------)



[Marketwatch]


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


In business news, Vivendi may be closer to selling its U-S entertainment assests.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=in New York.]

((AND THEN THERE WERE TWO... Vivendi says it has narrowed a field of bidders to the "two strongest" offers. Three other potential suitors had already dropped out. Vivendi plans to hold separate talks with G-E's N-B-C and a group led by Edgar Bronfman Junior on the sale of its U-S entertainment assets. Vivendi says, in the end, it wants to hold a substantial minority interest in those operations.
SEARS SEES BETTER THAN EXPECTED SALES FOR AUGUST THANKS TO STRENGTH IN ITS HOME APPLIANCES BUSINESS.
AND H&R Block, best known for its tax preparation business, is back in the black.. following a year ago loss... h&r says its mortgage busienss pushed it to a fiscal first-quarter profit ..
ON WALL STREET.. STOCKS FOUGHT BACK TO FINISH IN THE GREEN HELPED BY SOME LATE DAY BUYING. TRADING VOLUME WAS THIN AS A LOT OF WALL STREETERS TAKE THE WEEK OFF. investors were also greeted with a string of good economic news inlcuding a rise in consumer confidence and another strong report on the housing market ...
THE DOW ROSE 22 POINTS
THE NASDAQ ADDED MORE THAN 6.
mci must make some major changes if it wants to emerge from bankruptcy this fall.. A court-appointed monitor urged MCI - formerly known as worldcom to take 78 steps, including tight compensation limits for executives and a fully independent board, to avoid future scandals and pave the way for its exit from bankruptcy.
TRACK ALL THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM... I'M AC IN NY.))




(tape tosses to stocks)

[STOCKS] [COMM]


[Desert-Flood]


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


A downpour in the California desert--
But this one proved to be deadly.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Twenty Nine Palms, CA;]


Two people were killed when the car they were riding in was swept away by floodwaters.
Another man died after rescuing a teenage passenger who was also in the car.
Authorities say the car got stuck in the flowing waters, and was washed about three blocks before flipping over.
This was the second major round of flash floods in the Mojave Desert in a week.
There were also severe flash floods in Arizona and in Dallas, Texas during yesterday's rush hour.
(------------)


[11Stadium-Construction]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-25 TC2:02:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An old issue has resurfaced at the construction site of Roanoke's new stadium-amphitheater.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


As construction workers began excavating the site, they uncovered five 55-gallon drums believed to be related to a hazardous waste violation years ago.
The barrels contained soil and a yellow substance.
They're being tested, but city officials say they don't believe they're hazardous.
[SUPER=04-1998;]


The new stadium site is right next to the Public Works Service Center, where more than a-thousand barrels were found illegally buried six years ago.
Only 58 of them contained hazardous waste.
The city spent more than a million dollars on fines and cleanup.
The latest barrels were found in what WILL become a parking lot for the new stadium.
City officials say the discovery does NOT affect construction plans.
(------------)



[11Shoreline-management]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-21 TC1:56:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The shoreline management plan for Smith Mountain Lake is just days away from taking effect.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smith Mt. Lake/Last Week]


Yesterday, a steering committee assisting American Electric Power with the document met to finalize the plan, which will govern how the lake is maintained and developed.
Guidelines for beaches, rip-rap, fees and removing debris were among the main concerns addressed yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:01:48]
[IN Q=I think]
[SUPER=01-Bill Rolfe/Bedford Co. Administrator]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=it's not going to please everybody.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A-E-P will begin enforcing the plan next Tuesday, but it must still gain final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
In all, A-E-P says it recorded more than 200 comments during the public comment period and that about 60- percent favored going ahead with a plan.
(XXXXXXXX)

[TAKE WDBJ WEBPAGE FS]
If you would like to look at the final A-E-P document, it will be made available to the public online this Friday. You can find a link to the plan on our homepage at WDBJ7-dot-com.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)


[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]





[6-Printing-Plant]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC1:48:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Roanoke Times is counting down the days until it puts a new printing press into full operation.
Joe Dashiell has an update on the newspaper's 32- million dollar expansion.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Most of the pieces are now in place]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chip Harris/Project Director; :18]
[SUPER=04-1956; :24]
[SUPER=01-Wendy Zomparelli/Roanoke Times Publisher; :35]
[SUPER=01-Dale Israel/Production Technician; 1:07]
[SUPER=@Joe2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke]


((Most of the pieces are now in place, and technicians are pulling paper through the massive Heidelberg Mainstream 80 Press.
Since we first visited the building in mid- march, truckloads of equipment have rolled into Roanoke from New Hampshire.
And a commissioning team is now making major progress toward full operation.
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's like a fine-tuned engine]

((IT'S LIKE A FINE-TUNED ENGINE. EVERYTHING HAS TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.))
[RUNS= :05]
[OUT Q=has to talk to each other.]


Elements of the CURRENT press were installed in November 1948, and though the equipment was updated in the mid-80s, publisher Wendy Zomparelli says the transition to new equipment is a transformation for the newspaper.
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you can imagine]

((WENDY ZOMPARELLI/PUBLISHER: IF YOU CAN IMAGINE BEING A MECHANIC ON A 1948 CAR AND THAT'S ALL YOU'VE WORKED ON ALL YOUR LIFE AND THEN SOMEONE HANDS YOU THE KEYS TO A 2003 CAR. I MEAN WHEN THEY SAY PLUG IN THE COMPUTER, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHICH END OF THE CAR TO START WITH, SO THIS IS JUST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MACHINE FROM THE ONE THAT WE HAVE.))
[RUNS= :20]
[OUT Q=from the one that we have.]


A completely different machine that will have full color capability, higher print quality and greater speed.
Production technician Dale Israel spent three weeks training in New Hampshire, and another six weeks on site.
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's a world of difference]

(( ITS A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. IT'S ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY TO US, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR THE LAST FIFTEEN PLUS YEARS IS JUST SO OLD, AND NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO THE NEW TECHNOLOGY, IT'S OVERWHELMING. BUT LIKE I SAID WE'LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.))
[RUNS= :18]
[OUT Q=we'll be able to handle it.]


The new press will require fewer operators, but the newspaper promises no layoffs among production employees.
The expansion remains on schedule, and barring serious complications the newspaper should meet its October 27th deadline.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))
[Tape toss to bump] [BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]


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


In business news, Stocks closed higher yesterday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]


((STOCKS EKED OUT GAINS ON TUESDAY, AS SOME BUYERS ENTERED THE MARKET LATE LOOKING FOR DEALS.


THE DOW WAS UP 22 POINTS ON THE DAY...
AND THE NASDAQ GAINED SIX.


NEW HOME SALES DROPPED TWO-POINT-NINE PERCENT IN JULY.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE SALES SIPPED TO AN ANNUAL RATE OF--ONE-POINT-165 MILLION-- SEASONALLY ADJUSTED.
DESPITE THE DROP, THE SALES BEAT ANALYSTS EXPECTATIONS.
THE "NEW" HOME REPORT COMES ON THE HEALS OF MONDAY'S REPORT THAT SALES OF "EXISTING" HOMES JUMPED A RECORD ANNUAL RATE OF SIX-POINT-ONE MILLION IN THE SAME MONTH.


THE DEMAND FOR DURABLE INCREASED IN JULY.
THE ORDERS FOR ITEMS THAT LAST THREE YEARS OR MORE INCREASED ONE-PERCENT FOR THE MONTH. THAT FOLLOWS AN INCREASE OF TWO-POINT-SIX PERCENT IN JUNE.
THE DEMAND FOR CARS AND CAR PARTS JUMPED FIVE-POINT-FIVE PERCENT IN JULY.


M-C-I FACES SOME TOUGH REFORMS.
A COURT MONITOR TOLD THE BANKRUPT COMPANY IT MUST CAP EXECUTIVE PAY AND SHIFT MORE POWER TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS.
THE ORDERS ALSO REQUIRE THE FORMER "WORLDCOM" TO TIGHTEN QUALIFICATION STANDARDS FOR ITS INDEPENDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE DEMANDS ARE IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT THE COMPANY FROM AGAIN FALLING VICTIM TO ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS.
WORLDCOM INFLATED EARNINGS LAST YEAR BY IMPROPERLY RECORDING 11-BILLION DOLLARS IN EXPENSES.


WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))




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


[11SAT-scores]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-31 TC1:08:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]


SAT scores are going up in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]


Seniors in the state improved their average S-A-T score by four points on both the verbal and math portions.
Virginia high school students scored above the national average in verbal.
But the state's average S-A-T score in math is nine points below the national mean.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:10:07]
[IN Q=CLEARLY IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE]

((CHARLES PYLE/VA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: CLEARLY ITS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE WANT VIRGINIA STUDENTS TO SCORE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TREND OVER TIME SINCE 1998 WITH AN ELEVEN POINT INCREASE IN MATHEMATICS ON THE SAT, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ))
[SUPER=01-Charles Pyle/Virginia Department of Education]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Despite the overall trend, S-A-T scores are not improving in all parts of the state.
In Roanoke City schools, students' math scores were unchanged.
But the average S-A-T verbal score dropped by 15 points.
(------------)



[Early-Years]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Early Years]


Most people consider Spanish as the most common "alternative" language here in the U-S.
But Roanoke College is inviting students in fourth through seventh grades to say "Bon jour" to the FRENCH language.
(+++++++)

[Take FS Early Years]
In this week's "Early Years", we'll learn about this unusual after- school program.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well it was a request]
[SUPER=01-Donna Frost/French Instructor; :00]
[RUNS=2:35]
[OUT Q=putting the language together.]
[ANCHOR=Kim]


Again, the After School French program is open to students in fourth through seventh grades. Classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
(+++++++++)

[Take FS Board]
The twelve week program begins on September 1. The cost is 2-hundred dollars per child. To register, contact Stephanie Garst at Roanoke College. The phone number is (540) 375-2323.
(+++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[Kim tosses to bump] [COMM] [BUMP]
by SS