WDBJ 7 morning news for 11/03/03

[2-Vinton-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC 24:27]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Fire broke out at a Vinton apartment complex this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton/This Morning]
It started around 4:30 in the basement of a building on Chestnut Street.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We heard someone]
[SUPER=01-Anthony Preston/Resident]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=whole lotta damage (Double OUT!!!!!)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
No one was injured. Authorities are investigating.

(------------)[VO-Tax-Amnesty]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
It's time to settle up or pay a hefty price.
Today is the deadline for Virginians to take advantage of the state's tax amnesty program.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape]
Last year, the General Assembly approved the nine-week amnesty period in hopes of raising more than 48 million dollars. Under the program, those who pay up can avoid all the penalties and half the accrued interest they'd normally pay. Delinquent taxpayers who don't take advantage of the deal will be assessed an additional 20 percent penalty.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[SS=None]

If you'd like more information about Virginia's Tax Amnesty Program, you can call the main hotline until midnight tonight.
[SUPER=16-(877) VATAX-77]

The number is 8-7-7 V-A TAX 7-7.
(+++++++++++)
[WEB ADDRESS FULL SCREEN]
OR you can find a link from our web site at W-D-B-J-7-DOT-COM.
(+++++++++)

[11Salem-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC-54:54]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

There's no word yet on what sparked an explosion at a Salem business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :18]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
The fire started around 8-thirty last night at the Dooley Printing Corporation on Florida Avenue. When authorities arrived, smoke was pouring out of the building, and firefighters had to battle significant amounts of smoke and heat. They also found that a cinderblock wall had been blown off into a neighbor's yard.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 1:03:21]
[IN Q=There is significant...]
((THERE IS SIGNIFICANT FIRE DAMAGE TO THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING. AT THIS TIME IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. DURING THE PROCESS OF THE FIRE BEFORE WE ARRIVED THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING WAS BLOWN OFF.))
[SUPER=01-Cpt. Bill Spraker/Salem Fire Department; ]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=was blown off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :05+]
Nobody was injured. Authorities are still investigating.
(------------)

[Iraq]

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

The White House says the nation's determination to prevail in Iraq is "unshakable," despite yesterday's helicopter attack that left 16 Americans dead and 20 wounded.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ramstein Airbase, Germany;]

Many of the soldiers who survived the attack are being treated at a medical center in Germany.
They were flown in early this morning.
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

Witnesses say a surface- to- air missile hit a helicopter that was carrying U-S soldiers who were heading out of Iraq on leave.
Instead, their chopper crashed in a field west of Baghdad.
Some of the troops were headed for Fort Carson, Colorado, a base that's already lost over 20 comrades.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Whether it's one]
((LT. COL. TOM BUDZYNA/US ARMY:WHETHER IT'S ONE SOLDIER OR MANY, THE ARMY FAMILY TAKES PAUSE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Col. Tom Budzyna/U. S. Army;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=when this happens.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday's death toll is the highest since the U-S occupation began six months ago.
(------------)

[Gay-Bishop]

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

Amid several objections, the Reverend Gene Robinson has been consecrated as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NH;]

Some worshipers believe the controversy will split the church.
After the two hour ceremony, Robinson said anyone who leaves the church because of him would always be welcome to come back.
Nearly four-thousand people attended yesterday's service in New Hampshire.
(------------)

[11Vinton-OTB]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC-35:08]
[GRAPHIC=none]
As election day nears, the stakes are high in Vinton. Voters there will have to decide whether to approve a referendum that would allow an OFF-TRACK betting company to move in. Colonial Downs already has four facilities in Virginia, but as Jennifer Wishon reports, there are some who don't think Vinton is the right place for a FIFTH.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Vinton Vice Mayor]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00 ]
[SUPER=03-Vinton; :07 ]
[SUPER=01-Billy Obenchain/Vinton Vice Mayor; :13 ]
[SUPER=03-Alberta/File Tape; :29 ]
[SUPER=01-Bill Booth/Vinton Baptist Church Pastor; :44 ]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7]
(( Vinton Vice Mayor Billy Obenchain has visited all of Colonial Down's locations in Virginia and says allowing the company to open a facility in Vinton would be a stride in the right direction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:19:05]
[IN Q=If this is passed on ]
((IF THIS IS PASSED ON TUESDAY, COLONIAL DOWNS WILL BE THE LARGEST CORPORATE PARTNER TAX WISE FOR THE TOWN OF VINTON, IT WILL HAVE A HIGHER OVERALL TAX BASE THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN AT PRESENT TIME OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=the near future]
Obenchain says a facility like this one in Alberta, Virginia could mean tax revenues of 190- thousand dollars a year for Vinton.
But a group of ministers believe the town should work to investigate other options to benefit the community.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:29:51]
[IN Q=It seems to me]
((BILL BOOTH: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON CHARACTER, WHO WE ARE, OR CONVENIENCE BECAUSE IN THE END IF WE CHOOSE CONVENIENCE I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES, WHEREAS IF WE CHOOSE CHARACTER I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE OUTCOMES, RESULTS THAT WE WILL FIND TO BE BENEFICIAL.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=to be beneficial]
Booth fears the facility will take advantage of the poor and foster the idea that everyone can get something for nothing. Although, Booth says he speaks for himself and not his congregation, he and other ministers have made their opinions public by placing ads like this one in a local newspaper.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Vice Mayor Obenchain]
((JENNIFER WISHON/REPORTING: VICE MAYOR OBENCHAIN SAYS MONEY GENERATED FROM THE FACILITY WOULD BE USED TO RENOVATE VINTON'S WAR MEMORIAL AND FIRE STATION. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THE SAME REFERENDUM FAILED IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE, BUT PASS OR FAIL IN VINTON BOTH SIDES HOPE RESIDENTS TURN OUT TO VOTE TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=voices are heard]))

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, M-C-I will emerge from bankruptcy.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((GOOD MORNING..
MCI - FORMERLY KNOWN AS WORLDCOM - HAS WON COURT APPROVAL TO EXIT THE BIGGEST BANKRUPTCY IN U-S HISTORY.. Company officials didn't say when MCI will officially exit Chapter 11. In most cases, it only takes a few months or less. THIS ALLOWS WORLDCOM TO EMERGE BY EARLY NEXT YEAR WITH A FRACTION OF ITS GIGANTIC 41 BILLION DOLLAR DEBTLOAD AND LEAVE BEHIND AN 11 BILLION DOLLAR ACCOUNTING FRAUD.
THE MUTUAL FUND INDUSTRY IS IN FOR SOME CHANGES. THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EXPECTED TO PROPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON TRADING IN THE 7 TRILLION DOLLAR MUTUAL FUND INDUSTRY BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THE PROPOSAL COME AS FEDERAL REGULATORS INVESTIGATE A NUMBER OF MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES FOR FRAUD.
IN A BULLISH SIGN FOR THE STOCK MARKET, MONEY POURED INTO MUTUAL FUNDS FOR THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT MONTH. OVER 17 BLN DOLLARS FLOWED INTO STOCK MUTUAL FUNDS IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
ON WALL STREET FRIDAY, STOCKS ENDED MIXED
THE DOW ROSE 14 POINTS, FOR THE MONTH IT WAS UP BETTER THAN 5 PERCENT.
THE NASDAQ ENDED THE DAY FRACTIONALLY LOWER BUT WAS UP 8 PERCENT FOR THE MONTH.
IN THE EARNINGS SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK, CISCO SYSTEMS WILL HAND OVER ITS PROFIT REPORT CARD WEDNESDAY
AND IS THE ANEMIC LABOR MARKET FINALLY TURNING THE CORNER? AND JUST WHO'S HIRING.. WE'LL GET SOME CLUES ON FRIDAY WITH THE OCTOBER UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.
TRACK THE PRE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM IN NEW YORK I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS.))

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

[CA-Wildfires]

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

It's a painful homecoming for many residents in Southern California.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Bernardino Co., CA;]

They're returning to the San Bernardino mountains for the first time since the outbreak of the deadly wildfires.
Many are finding that there isn't much of anything to come home to.
The fires destroyed 34- hundred homes across the region.
Fire crews now have the upper hand on the blazes that burned more than 750- thousand acres.
However, five fires in three counties are still not fully contained.
(------------)

[11Franklin-Sheriff]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC-1:17:08]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2003]

Franklin County's Sheriff wants to show his constituents that he's up to serving an eighth term.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

Quint Overton's 28 years in office make him one of Virginia's longest-serving sheriffs.
His opponent has suggested his age -- 65 -- and health may be a problem.
Overton says he's only been out sick 15 times in 20 years.
He likes his job so much, he hasn't taken a vacation in two decades.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:48]
[IN Q=I just enjoy]
((QUINT OVERTON/FRANKLIN CO. SHERIFF: I JUST ENJOY WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MIGHTY NICE TO ME. I DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR HOBBY. I DON'T GOLF, I DON'T FISH. BUT I DO ENJOY LAW ENFORCEMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Quint Overton/Franklin Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=do enjoy law enforcement.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :12]

Republican George Sterling is a retired Chief Inspector and Chief Deputy U-S Marshal who's lived in Franklin County since 1989.
He says he decided to run because the leadership has gotten "stale."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:21]
[IN Q=I felt like someone]
((GEORGE STERLING/CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF: I FELT LIKE SOMEONE SHOULD RUN AGAINST HIM AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE. NO ONE'S RUN AGAINST HIM IN 12 YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S JUST TIME FOR A CHANGE. ))
[SUPER=01-George Sterling/Franklin Co. Sheriff Candidate;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=time for a change.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]

Sterling says the department is lagging behind its neighbor Bedford County in drug and D-U-I arrests.
But Overton says even though Franklin County is SMALLER, his department has handled more crimes overall.
(------------)

[11Barrett-Hamilton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-35 TC-1:38:01]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2003]

The two women running for Roanoke Circuit Court Clerk are not new to the job. Both have more than 20 years of experience in the clerk's office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Brenda Hamilton recently retired to dedicate her time to campaigning. The mother-of-one moved to Roanoke as a young girl when schools in her hometown of Farmville became segregated. She says she hopes to bring personal service back to the clerk's office.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 29:16:10]
[IN Q=I love people and]
((BRENDA HAMILTON: I LOVE PEOPLE AND I BELIEVE THAT IT TAKES, IN ORDER TO BE A GOOD LEADER AND SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO SERVE THE ALMOST 100,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE YOU HAVE TO FIRST LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS A SERVICE ORGANIZATION.))
[SUPER=01-Brenda Hamilton/Candidate for Roanoke Clerk of Court]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=a service organization]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hamilton's opponent, Mary Jane Barrett is currently chief deputy in the clerk's office. Barrett is a mother of three who says she loves her job and becoming clerk would be a natural fit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:26:28]
[IN Q=I love the clerk's]
((MARY JANE BARRETT: I LOVE THE CLERK'S OFFICE, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 33 YEARS. I'M STATE CHAIRMAN, I'VE BEEN REELECTED BY MY PEERS AND OTHER CLERKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF 15 YEARS.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Jane Barrett/Candidate for Clerk of Court;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=feels about me]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The clerk of court is elected for an eight year term.
(------------)

[11Cooter's-Place]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Cooter's Place is shuting down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Sperryville/File Tape;]
Actor turned politician Ben Jones, who played Cooter on the Dukes of Hazzard is closing his museum-shop in Sperryville. He says he is a victim of his own success. After opening Cooter's Place nearly five years ago, he's become so popular that Dukes related events take up 90 percent of his time -- he says he doesn't have time to give proper attention to the store. Cooter's Place is closing next month after drawing half a million visitors to Sperryville.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[Tax-Amnesty]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']

Death and taxes are inevitable--
But in Virginia, taxpayers have been given some slack from the state.
That is, until now
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim Desk/Ken Satellite]

Virginia's Tax Amnesty expires today, and joining us this morning to talk more about the program is state tax commissioner Ken Thorson.
Good Morning, Ken.

[SUPER=01-Ken Thorson/Virginia Tax Commissioner;]

[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

(What exactly is tax amnesty, and why was it offered?)

(Any plan to extend the amnesty period beyond today's deadline?)
(------------)
[Take VO]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape;]
[Runs=:35]
(-----------)
(What happens to taxpayers who didn't pay their taxes by now?)

(Can folks take care of their payment online today?)
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[SS=None]

Thanks for joining us today, Ken. If you'd like more information about Virginia's Tax Amnesty Program, you can call the main hotline until midnight tonight.
[SUPER=16-(877) VATAX-77]
The number is 8-7-7 V-A TAX 7-7.
(+++++++++++)
[WEB ADDRESS FULL SCREEN]
OR you can find a link from our web site at W-D-B-J-7-DOT-COM.

(+++++++++)[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Consumer spending fell in September. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case]

((STOCKS CLOSED LITTLE CHANGED ON FRIDAY BUT ENDED UP FOR THE MONTH.

THE DOW GAINED 14 POINTS...
...AND THE NASDAQ WAS DOWN LESS THAN A POINT.

CONSUMER SPENDING FELL THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER.
ECONOMISTS EXPECTED CONSUMER SPENDING TO FALL A-TENTH OF A PERCENT FOR THE MONTH.
ON THURSDAY, THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAID CONSUMER SPENDING GREW AT A SIX-POINT-SIX PERCENT ANNUAL RATE FOR THE *THIRD QUARTER*.
CONSUMER SPENDING MAKES UP 70-PERCENT OF THE U-S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

CHEVRON-TEXACO BEAT ANALYSTS EXPECTATIONS BY 41-CENTS FOR ITS THIRD QUARTER.
THE COMPANY REPORTED A NET INCOME OF TWO-DOLLARS-TWO-CENTS PER SHARE...THAT'S UP FROM A NET LOSS OF 85-CENTS PER SHARE A YEAR EARLIER.
THE COMPANY SAYS HIGHER CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRICES CONTRIBUTED TO THE NUMBERS.
IT'S THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE QUARTER CHEVRON-TEXCO HAS BEATEN ANALYSTS FORECASTS.

CIGNA CORPORATION POSTED A NET INCOME OF A DOLLAR-39 PER SHARE FOR ITS THIRD QUARTER...THAT'S UP FROM A NET LOST OF SIX-27 A YEAR EARLIER.
THE COMPANY TOOK MORE THAN A BILLION-DOLLARS IN CHARGES A YEAR AGO WHILE ENDING ITS REINSURANCE UNIT.
DESPITE ITS QUARTERLY NUMBERS, PROFITS FOR CIGNA'S HEALTH CARE BUSINESS WERE DOWN FOR THE QUARTER.
THE COMPANY'S MEDICAL MEMBERSHIP FELL TO 11-POINT-EIGHT MILLION FROM 13-POINT-ONE MILLION A YEAR EARLIER.

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

[11Peace-Walk]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-47 TC-19:21]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
How to keep peace in the schools? Some Roanoke County students took to the pavement to try to find an answer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
About 65-students took part in a Peace Walk yesterday, in an effort to promote non-violence in schools. The money raised will be used toward mediation programs, as well as a mediation scholarship. The Amy-B-Barnhart Scholarship Fund is awarded to a high school student who has been an example of non-violent dispute(------------) resolution, either through a personal conflict or by working with those who are in conflict.