WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/29/03

[School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]

((Kim Ad lib school info)) [SCHOOLTOUCH FS]

[11Dees]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-22 TC2:03:28]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A bomb threat at Roanoke College slightly delayed a speech by a well known controversial civil rights lawyer.
Morris Dees was instrumental in having the ten commandments removed from the Alabama Supreme Court and is known for bankrupting the K-K-K.
As Justin McLeod reports his appearance last night brought out supporters, protestors, and plenty of security.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Morris Dees/Southern Poverty Law Center; :36]
[SUPER=01-Ron Wilson/Sons of Confederate Veterans; :52]
[SUPER=01-Teresa Greaux/Roanoke College Spokesperson; 1:08]
[SUPER=01-Jamie Wright/Roanoke College Freshman; 1:21]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:27]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF PEOPLE CLAPPING AS DEES TAKES THE PODIUM AT 21:07:40))
Morris Dees received a warm welcome as he took the podium to deliver a message he calls "voices of hope and tolerance."
He acknowledged early on people either love him or hate him.
[SOT 21:09:38; TAPE 3]
[IN Q=I've been reviled, cursed ]
((MORRIS DEES/SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: I'VE BEEN REVILED, CURSED, AND PRAISED.)) [Runs03]
[OUT Q=cursed and praised]

Dees was specifically referring to his recent role in the fight over the ten commandments in Alabama.
He talked about the controversy in depth when he sat down with News 7 before the speech.
Dees made a point to criticize Justice Roy Moore who fought to keep the memorial in the Supreme Court Building.
[SOT 1:47:48 TAPE 1]
[IN Q=I think in the short]
((MORRIS DEES: I THINK IN THE SHORT RUN HE'S GAINING POLITICALLY IN THE LONG RUN I THINK HE'LL JUST BE A MINOR FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY AND IT WILL BE A TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR JUDICIARY.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=to our judicary]

Dees has also been known to criticize the Sons of Confederate Veterans, an organization he feels is being overtaken by racist groups.
[SOT 45:12, TAPE 2]
[IN Q=It's totally an error]
((RON WILSON/SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS: IT'S TOTALLY AN ERROR, EVERY POSITION IS ELECTED, NOBODY IS GOING TO TAKE THIS ORGANIZATION OVER UNLESS THE MEMBERSHIP ELECTS THEM.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=elects them]

A handful from the Sons of Confederate Veterans protested outside Roanoke College.
They're angry the school invited Dees in the first place.
[SOT 40:58; TAPE 2]
[IN Q=Over the course of a year]
((TERESA GREAUX/ROANOKE COLLEGE SPOKESPERSON: OVER THE COURSE OF YEAR WE DO TRY TO CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS AND LIBERAL SPEAKERS. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT CERTAIN ISSUES AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST CERTAIN ISSUES.)) [Runs08]
[OUT Q=against certain issues]

Students we talked to after the speech feel they heard both sides.
[SOT 21:32:19 TAPE 3]
[IN Q=We really enjoyed]
((JAMIE WRIGHT/ROANOKE COLLEGE FRESHMEN: WE REALLY ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY BECAUSE WE REALIZE THERE IS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=a lot of controversy]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=As for the bomb threat]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: AS FOR THE BOMB THREAT, WE'RE TOLD THE CALL CAME INTO THE COLLEGE AROUND SIX O'CLOCK. NO ONE HAD TO BE EVACUATED BECAUSE THE BUILDING HAD NOT YET OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. WE'RE TOLD THE SALEM POLICE IS FULLY INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))

[Henry-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A Ridgeway woman was killed in an accident last night.
State Troopers say 45 year old Nancy Kellem Spencer was traveling south on Horsepasture Price Road in Henry County around 8:30.
Investigators believe her vehicle ran off the side of the road, lost control, hit an embankment and overturned.
Spencer was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle.

[Virus-Teen]

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

A teenager is now blamed for an internet worm that infected more than half a million computers around the world.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Today the F-B-I is expected to arrest the un- identified 18- year- old for unleashing the Blaster worm.
A witness reportedly saw the teen testing the computer infection, and notified authorities.
Different versions of the virus- like worm wreaked havoc on personal and corporate computers worldwide earlier this month.
(------------)

[North-Korea]

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

A top Chinese official says the U-S has stated it has no intentions of invading North Korea or overthrowing its leadership.
That, as North Korea admits it has nuclear weapons and will prove it by testing them.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beijing, China;]

The announcement comes during talks among six nations in Beijing-- an effort to defuse North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Delegates at the three- day negotiations say some progress was made, but more talks are needed.
Officials say the nations will likely meet again in two months.
(------------)

[Iraq]

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

The U-S military is reporting another death of an American soldier in Iraq.
An attack on a U-S convoy northeast of Baghdad left four other soldiers injured.
Military officials say attackers launched rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire at the group of soldiers.

The soldiers belonged to the Eighth Infantry Regiment's Second Battalion.
The latest death raises the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq to 282.
67 of them have died since May First, when President Bush declared an end to major combat.

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news,
Ebay is a little more affordable, Orbitz is going public and Goodyear is cutting back.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((Shares of the online auction site Ebay just got a little more affordable.. > after the closing bell ebay split its stock two for one.. before the > split.. one share of ebay was about 109 dollars > > The online travel booking site Orbitz is planning to sell its stock in an > initial public offering that was originally filed in May of last year. > Orbitz filed to raise a maximum $125 million. other publicly traded travel > sites including expedia and priceline.com. No word on how much the shares > will sell for.. Orbitz plans to go public sometime this fall. > > on wall street... > It was another light day of trading but that didn't stop the nasdaq from > hitting a new 16 month high.. > > THE DOW ADDED 40 POINTS > > WHILE THE NASDAQ JUMPED 18 to its highest close since last march. > > > goodyear tire and rubber is slimming down its workforce.. Goodyear will > cut about 500 salaried, nonunion jobs as it tries to return to > profitability. > goodyear cut about 700 salaried positions earlier this year, mostly at its > headquarters in Akron, Ohio. > > Gateway will introduce its first digital camera. > Gateway will sell two small cameras, each one about the size of > a deck of cards. One will sell for 130 dollars while the other will go > for 399 dollars. it's part of gateway's plan to expand beyond p-cs. > > mortgage rates inched up this week.. The average rate for a 30-year, > fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.32 percent up from 6.28 percent a week > earlier. > TRACK ALL THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM... I'M AC IN NY. ))

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

[6Dry-cleaning]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC1:53:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The cost of going to the spa, salon or gym may be going up in Virginia.
Lawmakers are considering adding taxes to services such as haircuts, manicures and even laundry.
But some business owners, like dry cleaners, think the idea is all wet.
Meghan Muldoon has the dirt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IN ANY SORT OF TAX REFORM]
[SUPER=01-Del. Leo Wardrup/(R) Virginia Beach; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :05]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Weitzel/Premiere Cleaners Owner; :25]
[SUPER=01-Richard Regal/Dry Cleaning Professional; :43]
[SUPER=@Meghan2; :55]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=MM, NEWS 7, RICHMOND]

(([SOT 01:10:43]
[IN Q=IN ANY SORT OF TAX REFORM]
((DELEGATE LEO WARDRUP/R-VA BEACH: IN ANY TYPE OF TAX REFORM THERE ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.)) [RUNS03]
[OUT Q=TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS.]

Dry cleaners say they would be the losers if the state's tax reform commission moves forward with a proposal to charge a four precent tax on services.
[SOT 14:21:56]
[IN Q=ITS BOOK WORK WE DON'T]
((.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=HAVE TO HANDLE CURRENTLY.]

Bobby Weitzel owns Premiere Cleaners in Richmond.
He says he would need to spend more time filling out paperwork if the state starts charging a service tax.
[SOT 14:23:21]
((BOBBY WEITZEL/OWNER, PREMIERE CLEANERS: I HOPE THEY DON'T I FEEL LIKE WE PAY ENOUGH TAXES ALREADY. IF WE'RE NOT PAYING TAXES ON SERVICES RIGHT NOW I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO START.)) [RUNS:12]
Dry cleaners, who are worried about how it will affect their business, have become vocal opponents of a tax on services.
[SOT 1:10:19]
[IN Q=IT'S REGRESSIVE]
((.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=LEAST AFFORD IT.]

But lawmakers say a system that taxes both goods and services is a fairer one.
And they say Virginia's tax structure should reflect the state's modern economy, one that is increasingly based on services.
But for many Virginians, tax is a dirty word.
[SOT 14:25:33]
((DRY CLEANING CUSTOMER: I HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME STAYING CLEAN AT THE CURRENT PRICE SO I'M CERTAIN IT WOULD JUST BE A DIRTIER WORLD I THINK IF WE WOULD PASS A SERVICE TAX ON DRY CLEANING. )) [RUNS:10]
[OUT=A SERVICE TAX ON DRY CLEANING.]

In the end, lawmakers may have to decide between a fairer Virginia or a cleaner one.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[kim toss to bump]

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
A late day rally may be a signal that investors will get to relax after all this Labor Day weekend. Here's Stan Case with today's Business Brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

((STOCKS STAGED A LATE-DAY RALLY THURSDAY. SOME EARLY PROFIT TAKING GAVE WAY TO BUYERS SEARCHING FOR DEALS AHEAD OF THE LONG LABOR DAY WEEKEND. THE DOW WAS AHEAD 40 POINTS... AND THE NASDAQ GAINED 18. THE U-S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT JUMPED A LITTLE MORE THAN THREE-PERCENT FOR THE SECOND QUARTER. THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE LARGEST HIKE IN DEFENSE SPENDING SINCE 19-52 CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASE. SOME ECONOMISTS SAY THE NUMBERS INDICATE THE U-S ECONOMY IS FINALLY ON THE MEND. SILICON GRAPHICS IS CUTTING ANOTHER 17-PERCENT OF ITS WORKFORCE. THE COMPUTER MAKER ANNOUNCED THE 600 LAYOFFS LATE WEDNESDAY. THEY SAY THE MOVE WILL HELP SHORE UP SAGGING EARNINGS. SINCE MAY, SILICON GRAPHICS HAS DOWN-SIZED ITS WORKFORCE BY 25-PERCENT. THE COMPANY MANUFACTURES HIGH-END GRAPHICS SERVERS AND WORKSTATIONS. EARTHLINK HAS FILED A LAWSUIT TO BREAK UP TWO E-MAIL SPAM RINGS. THE LAWSUIT DEMANDS VENDORS INCLUDING TELEPHONE COMPANIES AND INTERNET DOMAIN SELLERS TURN OVERINFORMATION RELATED TO THE RINGS. THEY ARE REPORTEDLY BASED IN ALABAMA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. EARTHLINK SAYS COSTS FOR FIGHTING THE SPAM RINGS HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED FIVE-MILLION DOLLARS. EARTHLINK RECENTLY WON A 16-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOLLAR JUDGMENT IN A SPAM LAWSUIT AGAINST A BUFFALO MAN. WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[11Federal-Grants]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC1:21:51]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Law enforcement agencies in Henry County are hurting for funds, but the federal government is lending a helping hand.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.;]

Congressman Virgil Goode delivered checks from the Justice Department to buy new equipment for Henry County and Martinsville patrol cars.
A 100-thousand-dollar grant will help Henry County install video cameras in 38 of its cars.
The cameras give deputies a record of traffic stops that can be used in court.
In Martinsville, a 25-thousand dollar grant will help upgrade in-car computers.
The computers allow officers to access driving and criminal records without tying up dispatchers.
(------------)

[11Dry-cleaning]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-24 TC1:54:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It may soon be more taxing to go to the dry cleaners, the gym or even to get a haircut.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

State lawmakers are considering a proposal to charge a four percent tax on services.
Currently the state sales tax applies only to the purchase of goods.
Many dry cleaning professionals are opposed to a new service tax.
They say it would mean more paperwork for them and higher prices for customers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:22:54]
[IN Q=IF THE STATE DECIDES THIS]
((BOBBY WEITZEL/OWNS PREMIERE CLEANERS: IF THE STATE DECIDES THIS IS THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO GENERATE INCOME AND WE HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF DOING THIS THEN I'LL DO WHAT I HAVE TO.))
[SUPER=01-Bobby Weitzel/Premiere Cleaners Owner]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=THEN I'LL DO WHAT I HAVE TO.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some members of the state's tax reform commission say taxing services as well as goods is about fairness.
They say Virginia's current tax structure doesn't reflect the state's modern economy which is increasingly based on services.
(------------)

[2-11Survivor]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-34 TC38:33]
[GRAPHIC=Survivor]
The survivor list is out for the latest installment of the reality show, and one person hoping to survive the Pearl Islands is a Danville native. Jon Dalton says his proudest accomplishment, so far, is becoming the first in his family to leave his hometown of Danville and go to college.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Now Dalton will be among the 16 new castaways on "Survivor: Pearl Islands" when it debuts next month on C-B-S.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:53:05]
[IN Q=My goal is]
((JON DALTON/SURVIVOR "CASTAWAY" FROM DANVILLE; MY GOAL IS TO CREATE A CONFLICT ONE TO THREE DAYS BEFORE EVERY TRIBAL COUNCIL, START THAT CONFLICT, GET AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE AND THEN LET IT GO.))
[SUPER=01-Jon Dalton/Survivor "Castaway" from Danville]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=let it go.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Dalton went to Virginia Tech. The 19-year old lives in L-A, now. A 2003 Marketing major from Tech will also appear on the show. Michelle Tesauro is already a survivor.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
Professor Jim Littlefield says she was one of 32 students chosen from between 60 and 80 candidates for a Tech semester in Switzerland. He was still surprised to learn Michelle had been cast in the show.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05]
[IN Q=and the reason]
((JIM LITTLEFIELD/VIRGINIA TECH MARKETING PROFESSOR; ...AND THE REASON IS SHE'S SO QUIET, WAS SO QUIET. BUT OBVIOUSLY SHE'S VERY TALENTED, VERY BRIGHT, VERY HARD-WORKING....))
[SUPER=01-Jim Littlefield/Virginia Tech Marketing Professor]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=very hard working....]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
So she has what it takes to win, he says. Littlefield says he has never seen "Survivor," but he'll be watching when the new season debuts September 18 here on W-D-B-J- -7.
(------------)

[11VIR]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-23 TC1:58:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Drivers are shifting gears onto a local racetrack this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :16.5]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.;]
The Suzuki Lightning Nationals are being held at the Virginia International Raceway in Halifax County. The high performance motorcycles can reach speeds of up to 170 miles an hour. VIR officials say they expect up to 40-thousand people to come out for the event.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 3:53]
[IN Q=]
((CONNIE NYHOLM/VIR CO-OWNER; VIR IS A ROAD COURSE, A NATURAL TERRAIN ROAD COURSE, IT WAS BUILT TO FOLLOW THE BEAUTIFUL CONTOURS OF THE LAND HERE. THE COURSE THAT THE AMA GUYS ARE RUNNING HERE THIS WEEKEND IS THE NORTH COURSE. IT'S 2.25 MILES, CARVED OUT OF OUR 3.27 MILE FULL COURSE WHICH IS THE HISTORIC COURSE BUILD HERE IN THE LATE 50'S.))
[SUPER=01-Connie Nyholm/Virginia International Raceway Co-Owner;]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=built in the late 50's.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :09+]
The track was closed in 1974, and re-opened just three years ago.. The track is the longest road course in the nation, with more than four miles of track.
(------------)

[Hollywood-Minute]

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

Katherine Dorsett has a wrapup on last night's Video Music Awards in today's Hollywood Minute.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=with the hollywood minute..]
[SUPER=04-MTV; :05]
[SUPER=01-Katherine Dorsett/Reporting; :15]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=standard]
((WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M KATHERINE DORSETT.
THURSDAY NIGHT WAS ALL ABOUT THE V-M-A'S. BROADCAST FROM NEW YORK'S RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL... HOST CHRIS ROCK WAS AS FUNNY AS EVER... MAKING EVERYONE COMFORTABLE... THAT IS, EXCEPT FOR ANY INSECURE STARS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE AUDIENCE. WHILE ARTISTS SUCH AS JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND 50 CENT MADE NUMEROUS APPEARANCES ON STAGE... MISSY ELLIOT CLAIMED THE SPACE MAN STATUE FOR BEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR FOR HER HIT.. "WORK IT."
IN RELATED V-M-A NEWS... MUSIC LEGEND JOHNNY CASH WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE AWARD CEREMONY. HE HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED SINCE MONDAY FOR AN UNDISCLOSED STOMACH CONDITION. CASH WAS NOMINATED IN SIX DIFFERENT V-M-A CATEGORIES. HE RECEIVED THE BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD FOR THE SONG "HURT."
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE HAD ALL THE V-M-A'S YOU CAN STAND... IT MIGHT INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT JOHN RUTTER PLED INNOCENT TO ALLEGATIONS THAT HE TRIED TO USE PROVACATIVE PHOTOS OF CAMERON DIAZ TO EXTORT MORE THAN THREE MILLION DOLLARS FROM HER. THE 41 YEAR OLD PHOTOGRAPHER COULD FACE UP TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED.
)) WITH THE HOLLYWOOD MINUTE, I'M KATHERINE DORESETT.