WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/04/03

[Leyva]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Leyva]
The U-S Marshals Service will reportedly pay a Haitian man a one thousand dollar reward for his role in the capture of convicted child molester Tony Leyva.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
U-S Embassy officials say the man single handily tackled and tied up Leyva after recognizing the self-ordained evangelist minister from posters the embassy had plastered around the country. Leyva was deported earlier this week, and was in the custody of U-S Marshals in Florida. They say he will likely be returned to the federal prison system after a court hearing. Leyva was convicted of conspiring to molest dozens of young boys back in 1988. He jumped parole from Roanoke in July and fled to Haiti. Authorities still don't know how he got into the country.
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[11Franklin-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Franklin County authorities are looking for a robber who posed as a stranded motorist.
Deputies say the man robbed an elderly man at his house in the 58-hundred block of Franklin Street around 3 o-clock yesterday afternoon.
Kermit Shively says he was unloading groceries from his car when the man walked up and told him his car had run out of gas.
The robber then helped Shively carry groceries into his home.
Once inside, he attacked Shively and stole his wallet.
Deputies are still searching for the robber and a white Ford Tempo also spotted in the area.

[AM-State-Police]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC 24:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Virginia State Police are looking for a few good men and women. There are currently more than 18- hundred sworn employees within the ranks of the Virginia State police, but the department wants to add more troopers.
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[VO-NAT]
[super=03-Roanoke Co.; ]
State police say for the most part they've been able to fill vacancies when troopers resign or retire. But they would like to see the department grow so that more troopers can patrol the state's roads and interstates. So, a full time employee is now assigned in each division to do nothing but recruit young people who fit their requirements. For instance, you must be 21- when you're hired.
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[sot 097:09:48]
[in q=I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ]
(( SGT. TOM FOSTER/STATE POLICE SPOKESMAN: I THINK WHEN THEY THINK OF STATE POLICE THEY THINK OF TRAFFIC AND RADAR, WHEN IN FACT WE'RE A FULL SERVICE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, WE HAVE MEMBERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN HIGH TECH CRIMES, MAJOR CRIMES UNITS, AND FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNITS, WE HAVE SCUBA TEAMS, WE HAVE PILOTS, WE HAVE ARSON INVESTIGATORS, BOMB TECHNICIANS... WHO'S JOB IS TO GUARD THE GOVERNOR AND HIS FAMILY. ))
[super=01-Sgt. Tom Foster/State Police Spokesman; ]
[runs=:27]
[out q= GOVERNOR AND HIS FAMILY.]
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[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=none]
The state police academy is 37 weeks long, so it takes about a year before a recruit is ready to hit the road. [Iraq]

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

Britain's defense secretary has ordered a review of British troop levels in Iraq.
That comes after a proposal to deploy an additional five-thousand British troops, because of heightened security concerns.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

Meanwhile, U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is visitings Baghdad today to help implement a new strategy for the Bush administration.
Rumsfeld wants U-S troops to start taking a step back, while allowing Iraqi police and military forces to take a larger role in security.
At the same time, Rumsfeld is looking for soldiers from other countries.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The U-S has been aggressively]
((DONALD RUMSFELD/US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE:THE US HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVELY WORKING TO SEE THAT A GREAT MANY COUNTRIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD ARE INVOLVED.))
[SUPER=01-Donald Rumsfeld/U. S. Secretary of Defense;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=are involved.]
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[VO-NAT]

One major reason is the growing number of attacks on U-S soldiers.
Last night, mortar bombs were fired at the American base in Tikrit, but there were no U-S casualties.
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[Blackout-Hearing]

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

Today Congress continues its hearings on last month's massive blackout.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

During yesterday's proceedings, transcripts of telephone commmunications showed that engineers at an Ohio utility company were struggling to figure out why transmission lines weren't working properly.
It's believed the power failure may have started there.
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[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[SS=none]

Meanwhile, some Democrats are accusing the White House and G-O-P lawmakers of using the blackout as a means to push through their broader energy policies.
The Republican chairman of the panel has promised to address changes in the nation's power grid as part of an energy bill.

[11Majeed]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-32 TC47:15]
[GRAPHIC=Muhammed Majeed]

The attorney for the man accused of killing his former landlord says his client should *not* be charged with first degree murder.
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[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Yesterday, Muhammed Majeed appeared in Roanoke County General District Court for a preliminary hearing . He is accused in the July shooting of businessman Chris Hanes in the 42-year old's southwest county home.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./July 8;]
Police say the confrontation was about a 575-dollar rental deposit.
(///// SOT at :17 /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=The rent deposit money should...]
((RICHARD LAWRENCE/MAJEED'S ATTORNEY: THE RENT DEPOSIT MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RETURNED. MY CLIENT WENT OVER THERE TWO OR THREE TIMES. HE'S JUST A POOR MAN TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET MONEY THAT HE DESPERATELY NEEDS FROM A RICH MAN LIVING IN A BIG HOME.)) ((RANDY LEACH/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THERE'S NOTHING AT THE CRIME SCENE TO INDICATE IT WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN ARGUMENT OVER MONEY AND THAT MAJEED GOT MAD AND SHOT THE MAN.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Lawrence/Majeed's Attorney; 00]
[SUPER=01-Randy Leach/Commonwealth's Attorney; :10]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=and shot the man.]
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[VO-NAT :11]
The defense made a motion that the murder charge be reduced to manslaughter. Judge George Harris denied that request. The case will go to a grand jury next month.
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[6-Tech-Suit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=503-01 46:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some immigrant rights groups are suing seven Virginia colleges -- accusing them of keeping illegal immigrants out.

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Last Week;]

Virginia Tech, U-V-A and James Madison University are among the defendants.
The lawsuit, filed in Alexandria federal court, claims the colleges followed bad advice from Attorney General Jerry Kilgore.
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Last Year;]

Last year, Kilgore recommended denying admission to illegal immigrants.
The lawsuit says the policy punishes hundreds of students who were brought to the U-S by their parents.
But many universities named in the suit say they DO allow illegal immigrants to enroll.
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[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Several big retailers will release their August sales numbers later today.
And, two U-S automakers react to a drop in sales.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((RETAILERS WILL BE IN THE SPOT LIGHT TODAY... MANY OF THE NATION'S BIGGEST RETAILERS INCLUDING WALMART, JC PENNEY AND SEARS WILL REPORT AUGUST SALES FIGURES... New York attorney general Eliot Spizter is going after the mutual fund industry.. Spiter says ``illegal trading schemes'' enabled hedge funds to buy mutual fund shares at prices not available to most investors. The fraud potentially cost mutual fund investors billions of dollars. The hedge fund Canary Capital Partners agreed to return $30 million in profits and pay a $10 million fine. Spitzer says Bank of America, Bank One and Janus Capital Group are among the companies that gave Canary trading privileges in exchange for investments in their funds. Former WorldCom boss Bernie Ebbers pleaded not guilty in Oklahoma on Wednesday in the massive fraud that drove his giant phone company to bankruptcy. Ebbers was charged in Oklahoma County District Court with 15 counts of violating the state's securities laws. Ebbers was ordered to appear in court again on Oct. 30 for a hearing.
On Wall Street... STOCKS SPRINTED TO NEW HIGHS AS INVESTORS CHEERED YET MORE GOOD NEWS ON THE ECONOMY.
DOW CLIMBED 45 POINTS
NASDAQ MOVED UP 11
also later today, a report on second quarter productivity... and tomorrow, the august unemployment report...

General Motors and Chrysler say they'll extend their cash rebates and low interest rate financing. The news comes as GM, Ford and Chrysler post a drop in august vehicle sales, paced by drop in demand for passenger cars.
TRACK ALL THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM... I'M AC IN NY.))

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

[CA-Recall]

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

Five of the top candidates hoping to replace California Governor Gray Davis took part in the first of three debates last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Walnut Creek, CA;]

Front- runner Cruz Bustamante was criticized for accepting campaign money from an Indian casino.
The candidates were also vocal about Arnold Schwarzenegger.
However, the actor could not be EGGED on by the compeition, since he skipped the debate.
Instead, he got hit by the real thing during a during a campaign stop at a college campus.
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[11Cheney-Visit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#03-27 TC1:39:00]
[GRAPHIC=Dick Cheney]

Roanoke is one of the stops on the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign trail.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Vice President Dick Cheney will attend a fundraiser Monday night at the Clearbrook home of Kent Greenawalt (the A is silent) and Nancy Jane Mack.
Two hundred people are scheduled to attend the fundraiser which is expected to raise more than two-hundred thousand dollars for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign.
The reception will begin at 5:30 and will be closed to the public and news media.
This is the vice president's second fundraising visit to Virginia.
He raised a half million dollars at an event in Richmond back in June.
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[Latin-Grammys]

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

Those in the Latin community and everyone who loves a good merengue shook their "Bon Bon" at the Latin Grammy Awards last night.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound of music]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=music fades out..]
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[VO-NAT]

The stars kicked off the fourth annual awards show by paying tribute to the legendary queen of salsa, the late Ms. Celia Cruz.
From the emotional to the comical-- Comedian George Lopez hosted the festivities.
But the night belonged to Colombian singer- songwriter, Juanes.
He walked away with five Grammys, including awards for record and album of the year.
This was the first time the Latin Grammys were held in Miami.
Cuban- Americans had threatened a major protest if artists from Cuba performed, but those artists were unable to attend because of problems with their visa applications.
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(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[11Econ-Development]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC36:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]

20 years of success was celebrated in Roanoke last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership turns 20 this year.
The group's supported by Seven county, city and town governments as well as more than 200 businesses.
It's the only economic development marketing agency for the Roanoke Valley. Over the past two decades, it's brought 11-thousand new jobs and 875-million dollars in new investment to the area.
Supporters also say it's the most successful example of regional cooperation in the Roanoke Valley.
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[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.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

((THE MARKETS ENDED WEDNESDAY WITH NEW MULTI-MONTH HIGHS DESPITE SOME LAST MINUTE PROFIT TAKING.

THE DOW CLOSED UP 45 POINTS...
AND THE NASDAQ GAINED 11.

BUILDERS CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY.
U-S CONSTRUCTION SPENDING ROSE AGAIN IN JULY.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS CONSTRUCTION SPENDING EDGED UP BY TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.
THE FIGURE FELL SLIGHTLY SHORT OF ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS.
*PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL* CONSTRUCTION INCREASED SIX-TENTHS OF A PERCENT FOR THE MONTH...THAT'S THE BIGGEST JUMP SINCE JANUARY.

H-J HEINZ REPORTED EARNINGS OF 60-CENTS PER SHARE FOR ITS FIRST QUARTER INCLUDING INCOME FROM SPINNING OFF SOME UNITS.

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS WAS 53 CENTS-- UP FROM 28 CENTS A YEAR EARLIER AND TWO-CENTS BETTER THAN EXPECTATIONS.
HEINZ IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONDIMENT MAKER.

TRADING IN SHARES OF WEB-MD WAS SUSPENDED ON THE NASDAQ WEDNESDAY WHEN INVESTIGATORS FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED WARRANTS AND THEN SEARCHED THREE OF THE COMPANY'S OFFICES.
THEY REPORTEDLY ARE LOOKING INTO WEB-MD'S PHYSICIANS' SERVICES UNIT.
THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATION WHICH IT SUSPECTS IS BASED ON COMPLAINTS BY TWO DISGRUTLED FORMER EMPLOYEES.
WEB-MD PROVIDES ONLINE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS AND PHYSICIANS.

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

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

[11Boucher]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A water improvement project could mean better cash flow in Giles County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.;]
Yesterday, officials broke ground for a new water system that will serve the towns of Pearisburg and Pembroke. The system will be built along Route 460, and will include a new water pump station and two storage tanks. Officials say the new system will provide residents and businesses with better fire protection, which they hope will in turn attract new employers to the area. The one-point-two million dollar project should be completed by the end of January. (------------)