WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/30/03

[11Guard-Return]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC23:26]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']

Family and friends of soldiers from Lexington and Lynchburg have reason to celebrate today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blackstone/October 2002; :]

320 National Guardmen from the second battalion 116th Infantry will return to their home armories this afternoon.
They've spent the last year in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba providing security for Operation Enduring Freedom.
They're scheduled to arrive back home sometime after 2:30.
The public is invited to attend a homecoming party at the armories in Lexington and Lynchburg.
(------------)

[Iraq-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Democrats and some Republicans are hoping to rewrite the President's 87-billion dollar package for Iraq and Afghanistan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

The bill goes to a Senate Appropriations Committee today.
Both parties want to make changes -- though they seem ready to support 66-billion dollars for military operations.

They're focusing on turning the 20-billion dollars slated for rebuilding Iraq into loans the country would have to repay.
(------------)

[5-Countess]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=503-01 1:05:53]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Roanoke woman has been found guilty of murdering her mother.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The judge had heard the evidence without a jury. As soon as the prosecutor concluded her closing argument, the judge informed Cindy Gail Countess that she was probably guilty of FIRST- degree murder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:38:25]
[IN Q=]
((I THINK THE COMMONWEALTH HAS PROBABLY PROVED THAT YOU'RE GUILTY OF RECKLESS, DELIBERATE AND PREMEDITATED MURDER, AND CERTAINLY PROVED THAT YOU ARE GUILTY OF MALICIOUS MURDER. ACCORDINGLY I FIND YOU GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE.))
[SUPER=02-Judge Clifford Weckstein/Roanoke Circuit Court]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=in the second degree.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
With that, the judge revoked bond for the 49-year old defendant, ordered a pre-sentence report, and sent her off to jail. She could get up to 20 years in prison for beating her mother to death last year.
(------------)

[11Melrose-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC02:19]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Roanoke police are trying to figure out if alcohol played a part in a five car pileup .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Witnesses say a car plowed into a line of stopped vehicles at Melrose and Westside Boulevard just before eight o-clock last night.
Emergency crews had to use the jaws of life to get some of the victims out.
Officers on the scene say the driver who apparently started the chain-reaction is being investigated for driving under the influence.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[11Boty-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC02:01]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Three people were hurt in a crash on Route 220 in Botetourt County.
State police say a tractor trailer driver didn't see a traffic light changing to red and hit three cars.
That flattened one of the rig's tires and sent it careening through the median and into a field.
Haz-mat crews cleaned up spilled diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid.
The truck driver's been charged with reckless driving.
(------------)

[11Blacksburg-Fall]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-29 TC2:05:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Blacksburg officials are investigating whether a private concert that left one person dead should have been prevented.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Virginia Tech sophomore Daniel Martin died Sunday night, during a concert by the band Death by Stereo inside this third floor apartment. Police say many of the 50-people at the concert were slam dancing, when a group of them were pushed against a window and fell.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2146]
[IN Q=everyone really]
((CHRIS DRAKE/RESIDENT: EVERYONE REALLY LOOKS OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE DANCING AROUND AND MOVING AROUND AND EVERYONE'S LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND IT NEVER REALLY CROSSED MY MIND THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.))
[SUPER=01-Chris Drake/Resident;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=would happen]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
21-year-old Jason Michael Kontkanen was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial and was last listed in critical condition. Four others suffered less serious injuries. The town says it is conducting an investigation to determine if the private concerts violated any building codes. Police say it appears the fall was an accident, and they are NOT filing any charges at this time.
(------------)

[Don't-Call]

[ANCHOR=marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Do Not Call]

People who signed up for the "Do Not Call" registry may see some relief from telemarketers afterall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The registry has been in legal limbo after two federal court rulings against it.
Now, another court says the F-C-C can enforce it... And Congress has enacted more specific legislation.
The president signed the measure yesterday ... and many telemarketers say they plan to obey it.
(------------)

[6-Roanoke-Times]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-31 TC1:55:38]
[GRAPHIC=Do Not Call]

The Do Not Call list is bad news for one local business that relies heavily on telemarketing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The Roanoke Times gets half of its new subscriptions through phone solicitations.
14-thousand people a year sign up when they're called.
But as of this month, 324-thousand people in the newspaper's target region have placed themselves on the Do Not Call list.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:39]
[IN Q=It's just going]
((DAN WHEELER/CIRCULATION DIRECTOR; IT'S JUST GOING TO BE KIND OF A WAIT AND SEE RIGHT NOW. WE'VE ESTIMATED TO LOSE 50 PERCENT, BUT WE CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW. IF WE LOSE MORE THAN THAT, WE'LL COME BACK WITH A NEW GAME PLAN OR MAYBE IT WON'T BE QUITE AS BAD. ))
[SUPER=01-Dan Wheeler/Circulation Director; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=quite as bad.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The paper says no matter what happens in the courts, it still won't contact people on the list.
It's focusing instead on reaching customers through direct mail, special promotions and kiosks at special events.

(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, It's the final trading day of the quarter.
Ed Crane has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ed Crane/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((GOOD MORNING...
THIS COULD BE A BUSY DAY ON WALL STREET---IT'S THE FINAL DAY OF THE QUARTER,
WHICH SHOULD FIND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS PACKING THEIR PORTFOLIOS WITH BLUE CHIPS AND DUMPING UNDER PERFORMING STOCKS AND BONDS...
THE WEEK GOT OFF TO A GOOD START WITH THE DOW CLOSING UP 67 POINTS MONDAY AND THE NASDAQ FINISHED AHEAD 32 POINTS
INTEL AND MICROSOFT DUAL COMPONENTS OF THE DOW AND NASDAQ LED BOTH HIGHER ---OTHER STRONG PERFOMERS INCLUDE BOEING AND
AMERICAN EXPRESS.
THERE'S WORD OF A COUPLE OF CORPORATE GET TOGETHERS: JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE IS BEING PURCHASED BY MANULIFE OF CANADA FOR ALMOST ELEVEN BILLION DOLLARS- --THE RESULTING COMPANY BECOMES THE SECOND LARGEST LIFE INSURER IN NORTH AMERICA.

AND MEXICAN OWNED COMP USA---IS JOINING FORCES WITH ANOTHER RETAILER, GOOD
GUYS WHICH OPERATES 71 ELECTRONICS STORES ON THE WEST COAST.
THE HEAT'S BEING TURNED UP ON SOME DISGRACED FORMER C-E-O'S. EX TYCO BOSS DENNIS KOSZLOWSKI AND HIS FORMER CFO MARK SWARTZ APPEARED IN A NEW YORK CITY COURTROOM, THEY'RE ACCUSED OF BILKING TYCO OF 600 MILLION DOLLARS...AND THE SEC IS SEEKING A COURT ORDER TO SUB-PHOENA DOCUMENTS FROM FORMER ENRON C-E-O KEN LAY, SAYING LAY HAS IGNORED REPEATED REQUESTS TO TURN OVER CORPORATE RECORDS.
FORMER INVESTMENT BANKER FRANK QUATTRONE IS ALSO ON TRIAL....HE'S ALLEGED TO HAVE OBSTRUCTED A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO I-P-O'S LAUNCHED BY HIS FIRM C-S-F-B.
PERSONAL SPENDING JUMPED 8 TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN AUGUST....OUTPACING THE TWO TENTHS INCREASE IN PERSONAL INCOME. THAT COULD BODE WELL FOR RETAILERS AS THEY HEAD INTO THE MAKE OR BREAK FOURTH QUARTER, BUT SOME ARE WONDERING IF THE SPENDING BOOST IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE TAX REBATE CHECKS THAT WENT OUT LAST MONTH TO PARENTS WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
AND IF YOU'RE AN ACTIVE TRADER YOU'LL GET A BREAK FROM FIDELITY, THE INVESTMENT FIRM IS SLASHING COMMISSIONS BY ALMOST 50 PERCENT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE OVER A HUNDRED TWENTY TRADES PER YEAR. GET MORE BUSINESS NEWS ROUND THE CLOCK AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT. I'M ED CRANE, CBS MW, NY.))

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

[CIA-Leak]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The White House is denying any role in identifying a C-I-A operative.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

The Justice Department is now investigating the leak of an agent's identity to a newspaper.
But Democrats want an independent probe.
The agent's husband believes the leak was retaliation for questioning President Bush's claim that Iraq tried to buy uranium in Africa.
(------------)

[CA-Recall]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPEnet]
[GRAPHIC=CA Recall]

California's governor is all but daring Arnold Schwarzenegger to debate him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gray Davis' challenge comes after polls revealed the actor is gaining popularity in the recall election.
And more good news for Schwarznegger ... the state's GOP Board of Directors is endorsing him.
The recall election is just eight days away.
(------------)

[11Isabel-baptists]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC57:45]
[GRAPHIC=Isabel]

Hurricane Isabel left many Virginians without electricity.
But thanks to the Southern Baptists' Disaster Relief truck, a hot meal was still easy to find.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Their 48-foot tractor trailer can provide up to 20-thousand meals a day.
The mobile kitchen drove into Richmond last Monday.
So far, disaster relief volunteers have served over 32-thousand lunches and dinners to grateful residents.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 55:25]
[IN Q=I'M JUST THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING]
((LINDA MORRIS/HURRICANE VICTIM: I'M JUST THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING IT'S WONDERFUL WE REALLY NEEDED THIS ASSISTANCE. JOHN CHAMBERS/STILL WITHOUT POWER: THE FOOD IS GOOD. FOOD'S DELICIOUS. DIXIE KENNEDY/BAPTIST RELIEF VOLUNTEER: THEY'RE GRATEFUL, SO GRATEFUL FOR JUST THE HOT MEAL. BLESSES YOUR HEART TO HELP THEM LIKE WE DO.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Morris/Hurricane Victim; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dixie Kennedy/Baptist Relief Volunteer; :10]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=HELP THEM LIKE WE DO.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Working together with the Red Cross, the Southern Baptist Relief volunteers have responded to tornados, earthquakes and the terrorist attacks of September 11th.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[11Warner-Allen]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-33 TC1:09:27]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Norfolk]

Isabel filled the tunnel that links Portsmouth and Norfolk.
Most of the water's been pumped out, but the usually busy Midtown Tunnel is still not safe for cars.
Senators John Warner and George Allen led a delegation of federal and state officials down into the tunnel to see what needs to be done.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're continuing]
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/(R) VIRGINIA; WE'RE CONTINUING TO HELP NIGHT AND DAY AS BEST WE CAN TO SEE THAT ALL APPLICABLE RELIEF UNDER THE FEDERAL LAWS IS GRANTED.))
[SUPER=@Johnwarner]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=federal laws is granted.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Federal officials say getting the tunnel open will help resident's lives get back to normal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They're hurting]
((SEN. GEORGE ALLEN/(R) VIRGINIA; THEY'RE HURTING AND STRESSED OUT EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY AND ALSO FINANCIALLY.))

[SUPER=@allen]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=and also financially]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

V-Dot hopes to have a better idea of how long it will take to repair the tunnel and how much it will cost by the end of the week.
(------------)

[11Homeland-Security]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC11:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Technology is making it possible for residents in one community to be quickly notified in the event of an emergency.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

Yesterday, the town of Blacksburg unveiled the Blacksburg Alert project.
It is technology that allows the town to send a single message to residents through e-mail, cell phone, fax, or telephone.
Police say the system could have helped during the disturbance last year between L-S-U and Tech fans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:47:42]
[IN Q=What happened during]
((BRUCE BRADBERY/BLACKSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT: WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT THING WAS I HAD ONE 911 OPERATOR THAT WAS SITTING THERE MAKING PHONE CALLS AND ANOTHER 911 OPERATOR THAT WAS TRYING TO MANAGE THAT INCIDENT AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.))
[SUPER=01-Bruce Bradbery/Blacksburg Police Department;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The software for the project is provided by Tele-works which is based in Blacksburg.
Only six communities across the country now use this system.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:40:59]
[IN Q=I attend to ask]
((REP. RICK BOUCHER/(D) 9TH DISTRICT: I ATTEND TO ASK BLACKSBURG TO COME TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL INTERNET CAUCUS AND MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS EXCITING ELECTRONICAL GOVERNMENT APPLICATION SO THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CAN LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY.))
[SUPER=@boucher; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=emergency notification technology]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Residents can sign up to use the system by registering on the town's website.
(------------)

[11Vassar]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=503-07 TC1:16:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A top country artist is making a homecoming in December.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Lynchburg native Phil Vassar says he is bringing his first annual Homecoming Concert to Roanoke.
Vassar says he is proud to be from the region and thinks it'll be a blast to play so close to home.
He is best known for the songs, "Just Another Day in Paradise" and "American Child."
Tickets go on sale to the general public October 11th.
(------------)

(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[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=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

- (( --REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
STOCKS ROSE MONDAY PROPELLED BY BUYING IN TECHNOLOGY AND END-OF-QUARTER FUND RESTRUCTURING.

THE DOW WAS UP 67 POINTS ON THE DAY AND...THE NASDAQ GAINED 32.

PERSONAL SPENDING CLIMBED AGAIN IN AUGUST.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS CONSUMER SPENDING INCREASED EIGHT-TENTHS OF A PERCENT FOR THE MONTH...MEETING ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS.
PERSONAL *INCOME* NARROWLY *MISSED* ITS EXPECTED GROWTH FOR THE MONTH, CLIMBING TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT. INCOME GROWTH FOR JULY WAS REVISED TO THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.
CONSUMER SPENDING MAKES UP TWO-THIRDS OF U-S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

WAL-MART SAYS IT WILL HIT THE HIGH END OF ITS SEPTEMBER SALES PROJECTION.
THE WORLD'S LARGEST RETAILER EXPECTS ITS SAME STORE SALES TO INCREASE BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE PERCENT FOR THE PERIOD.
THE ARKANSAS BASED COMPANY SAYS MEN'S CLOTHING, FOOD, AND PET SUPPLIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE NUMBERS LAST WEEK.
WAL-MART'S SEPTEMBER SALES PERIOD ENDS ON OCTOBER THIRD.

MANULIFE FINANCIAL IS BUYING JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SERVICES.
THE CANADIAN COMPANY IS PURCHASING HANCOCK FOR TEN-POINT-EIGHT BILLION-DOLLARS.
MANULIFE SAYS ACQUIRING THE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL EXPAND ITS U-S OPERATIONS.
THE DEAL WILL MAKE MANULIFE THE SECOND LARGEST LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY IN NORTH AMERICA.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[Paws-Claws]

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

If your dog needs a bath, just put it off until this weekend and you can help some needy animals at the same time.
(+++++++)
[Take FS Paws and Claws]
In this week's "Paws and Claws" segment, Kimberly McBroom has a preview of the Adopt-a-thon on the campus of Virginia Tech.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's going to be]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Douglas/VA-MD Regional College of Vet. Medicine; :00]
[RUNS=3:14]
[OUT Q=News 7 Mornin will be right back.]

[Tape tosses to break]

[COMM][Tech2003]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=MORNING]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=TECH 2003 MORNING 95758TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH 2003]

This morning's Tech 2003 Report has it covered from Blacksburg to Morgantown to Piscataway. (PISS-CAT-AWAY). Here's Mike Stevens.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[RUNS=2:57]
[OUT Q=...see you later today."]
(-------------)
(( The Tech 2003 Reports is overflowing with information and for Tech fans - most of it is good news. For starters, News 7 sports has learned that the West Virginia series in football that was in serious jeopardy of ending, has been salvaged for the next two seasons. ((JIM WEAVER:)) Weaver made those comments to us on Saturday - just hours after signing the contract to extend the 91 year old series with West Virginia at least two more years in 2004 and 2005. Weaver now must turn his attention from an old rival to a new conference. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week he will be in Charlottesville for two days of meetings with his new ACC counterparts. The hope is that when they finish up on Wednesday, the football schedule will be completed along with the format for men's and women's basketball. ((JIM WEAVER:)) The Hokies know they will play 8 conference game in the ACC next season, but they're just not sure which schools they'll face. And several possibilities for basketball will be on the table, as well. ((JIM WEAVER:)) In other Tech news - the Hokies travel to Rutgers this weekend where things should be much different than than were on the Hokies last trip to Piscataway. It was just 11 days after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Security at the stadium was high, Snipers were on the roof of the stadium and the Hokies began a new tradition that day of carrying the American flag on to the field with them at every game. ((FRANK BEAMER:)) In a couple of other notes. Mike Imoh is the Big East special teams player of the week. Jason Lallis's MRI on his knee today was negative. There is no ligament tear. He's out 2 to four weeks. Cols Colas was suspended last night. He will miss the Rutgers' game. And the start time for the Syracuse game was announced today. It will kickoff at Noon on October 11th. I'll see you later today.))
[COMM][Tape tosses to Break]