WDBJ 7 morning news for 11/23/03

[Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=@Brent1;]
Coming up on News 7 Sunday Morning.......
Area police have their hands full this morning, investigating shootings in Lynchburg, Roanoke and Gretna.
(------------)

and a local man remembers his encounter with the late President Kennedy. we will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.

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

[2-shot toss to Hello]

[11L'burg-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-39 TC-1:48:50]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

Investigators across the region are busy gathering evidence in three separate murders.
This morning, investigators in Lynchburg arrested 22-year-old Thando "George" Khumalo in the murder of a woman found near downtown yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Yesterday]

Police say the body of 44 year old Linda Brooks Kirkland was found in the old Lynchburg Steam Bakery building on 12th street around 3:30 yesterday afternoon.
They say she apparently died violently.
Officials say the area has been a hangout for homeless people.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:33:33]
[IN Q=The building]
((EUGENE WINGFIELD/LYNCHBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT: THE BUILDING IS RATHER AN OLD BUILDING, AND MANY, MANY YEARS AGO IT WAS THE LYNCHBURG STEAM BAKERY AND IT'S BEEN SEVERAL THINGS SINCE THEN. PRESENTLY THE UPPER LEVEL IS OCCUPIED BY A SMALL CHURCH. THE DOWNSTAIRS AREA WHERE THIS WHITE FEMALE WAS LOCATED IS JUST A DOCK AREA, AN OLD STORAGE AREA AND IT'S NOT BEING USED BY ANYONE.))
[SUPER=01-Eugene Wingfield/Lynchburg Police Department]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=being used by anyone.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Police ask anyone with information about the crime to call the Lynchburg police.
(------------)

[11Roanoke-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC-1:00:53]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

In Roanoke, a man was shot and killed in his car.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;]
Police say 23 year old William Fernando Rodriguez was found sitting in the driver's seat of his Dodge Neon with the car running.
There were several bullet holes in the car. The shooting occured on 18th Street just north of Patterson Avenue. The victim's brother said Rodriquez was at a friend's house playing video games before the shooting. Initial reports were that a car was seen leaving through an alley a half a block away. Rodriguez's body was sent to the Medical Examiner for autopsy. No one has been arrested yet.
(------------)

[Gretna-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=03-46 TC-40:13]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Two men are in jail in connection with the shootings outside Greta High School's football game Friday night.
(++++++++)
[TAKE PRE PRO 4483ESS]
Police say 23 year old Edwin Rontae Hodnett of Chatham was arrested yesterday.
He's being held without bond at the Pittsylvania County Jail. [wipe to 4484ess]
19 year old Jonathan Lynn Carter turned himself in to authorities last night. He's also being held without bond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.;]

The two were arrested in connection with the murder of 29 year old Lynndell Powell of Hurt.
Powell was shot and killed outside the Gretna Football Stadium Friday.
A 16 year old was also treated for a leg wound and released.
(------------)

[11ROA-Kennedy]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC-38:27]
[GRAPHIC=none]

As the nation remembers president John F. Kennedy this weekend, a Salem man is looking back on the day he met the man during a campaign visit to Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Howard Packett was a new reporter for the Roanoke Times, when he covered Kennedy's visit in 1960.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 1960;]
Hundreds of people turned out at Woodrum Field that day. Packett has kept photographs of the event inside a trunk, and hadn't looked at them again until this weekend. He says Kennedy's visit was one story he'll never forget.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2958]
[IN Q=i just said]
((HOWARD PACKETT/FORMER ROANOKE TIMES REPORTER: I JUST SAID HAS IT BEEN TOUGH OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND HE SAID IT CERTAINLY HAS, I'LL BE GLAD WHEN IT'S OVER, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE ELECTION WAS OVER IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, I THINK. SO IT WAS REALLY, ANYTIME YOU GET TO SHAKE HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IT'S REALLY EXCITING, ESPECIALLY THE KENNEDYS THEY WERE SPECIAL PEOPLE YOU KNOW.))
[SUPER=01-Howard Packett/Former Roanoke Times Reporter;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=special people you know]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Richard Nixon carried Virginia in the 1960 election, winning the state by 60-thousand votes.
(------------)

[Tease#1]

[ANCHOR=Marya one shot]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[SS=None]

Coming up, a fight resumes in the Senate today over how to save Medicare. The latest coming up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=And, are you tired...]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=on News7 Sunday Morning.]
(-----------)

[wipe to Almanac Bump]
[Break #1]

[Medicare]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun. a.m.]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Medicare Overhaul]

This weekend is proving to be a long one for U-S Senators.
They resume debate this afternoon on a controversial Medicare prescription drug bill.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Several Democrats are already threatening to stall it.
The bill would give 40-million older and disabled Americans a prescription drug benefits, but opponents say not nearly enough.
It narrowly passed the House, as Democrats accused Republicans of using strong-arm tactics to get the bill passed.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ :34]
[IN Q=Arms have been]
((NATSOT: REP STENY HOYER/D-MD: Arms have been twisted and votes changed! -CATCALLS- i reserve the right... THE HOUSE
WILL BE IN ORDER!))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Steny Hoyer/(D) Maryland;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=will be in order.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The bill's supporters say its the last, best chance to save Medicare for future generations.
But opponents say it shoves Medicare recipients toward privatized, H-M-O-style programs.
(------------)

[11Health-Fair]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC-1:43:14]
[GRAPHIC=Focus on Health]

Tough economic times have left hundreds of southside residents without health insurance. Yesterday many of those people attended a Martinsville health fair, along with Governor Mark Warner. As Jennifer Wishon reports, both residents and lawmakers are hoping the need for free health services is short lived.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In a matter of days]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :11]
[SUPER=01-Betty Williams; :32]
[SUPER=@Hurt; 1:19]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Mark Crabtree/Dentist; 1:30]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Martinsville]
((In a matter of days Governor Mark Warner plans to reveal his much anticipated tax reform plan. He says he hopes to create a tax system that's fair for all Virginians.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:40:59]
[IN Q=At this point I]
((GOVERNOR WARNER: AT THIS POINT I DON'T THINK OUR TAX CODE ENDS UP CHARGING THE RIGHT PEOPLE FAIRLY AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN AWFUL LOT OF VIRGINIANS HAPPY WITH THE PLAN I OUTLINE ON MONDAY.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=outline on Monday]
Warner was in town for a fair designed to help Southside's uninsured catch up with their health care. Martinsville native Betty Williams says the community support has been overwhelming.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:01:07]
[IN Q=I thought it was wonderful]
((BETTY WILLIAMS: I THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT JUST SHOWS THE COMPASSION THAT GOVERNOR WARNER HAS AND SHOWS THE COMPASSION THAT THE PEOPLE IN MARTINSVILLE HAVE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=people in Martinsville have]
This man greeted the governor after having 12 teeth extracted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:52:37]
[IN Q=Man, I don't want to]
((MAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH YOU WHEN THE NOVACAINE WEARS OFF.))
[RUNS= 03]
[OUT Q=novicane wears off]
More than 600 teeth were extracted and 500 filled over the two day period. Governor Warner called the entire event a miracle, but hopes the future brings a more permanent fix.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:37:10]
[IN Q=Thank God for]
((GOVERNOR WARNER: THANK GOD FOR THESE PEOPLE BEING WILLING TO HELP, BUT IT'S ONLY HELPING ONE TIME. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO NEED DENTAL CARE, HEALTH CARE THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=health coverage]
But 16th District Delegate Robert Hurt says Southside's unity during tough economic times has made all the difference.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:45:30]
[IN Q=The bottom line is]
((ROBERT HURT: THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE GOVERNMENT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TAX PEOPLE, WILL ALWAYS HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE SPIRIT AND THE VOLUNTEERISM OF INDIVIDUALS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN MARTINSVILLE AND HENRY COUNTY, THE RESOURCES ARE LIMITLESS.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=resources are limitless]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:56:07]
[IN Q=It just warms your]
((DR. MARK CRABTREE: IT JUST WARMS YOUR HEART. THERE'S A MILLION BLESSINGS HAPPENING IN THIS BUILDING TODAY.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=this building today]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 32:26:29]
[IN Q=Project Access is an]
((JENNIFER WISHON/REPORTING: PROJECT ACCESS IS AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF DANVILLE THAT WORKS WITH THE UNINSURED. THEY'VE ALREADY BEGUN COMPILING THE INFORMATION GATHERED AT THE HEALTH FAIR TO CREATE A REPORT FOR GOVERNOR WARNER ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE REGION. THAT REPORT IS EXPECTED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. JENNIFER WISHON, NEWS 7, MARTINSVILLE.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Martinsville]))

[Back-Pain]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun. a.m.]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Severe back pain can mean undergoing complicated surgery.
But now more and more of those procedures can be carried out through just a small incision.
Dr. Sean Kenniff takes a look.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You wouldn't know]
[SUPER=01-Barbara Mulligan/Back Surgery Patient; :07]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Sean Kenniff/CBS News; :23]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Jeffrey Cantor/Spine Surgeon; :36]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=Dr. S.K., CBS News.]

((NAT BARBARA AND DOC VO YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT HER, BUT BARBARA MULLIGAN SUFFERED WITH A BAD BACK FOR YEARS.
SOT BARBARA MULLIGAN
"I had severe, severe pain. It was pain in my back that radiated to my legs, and all the way down to my toes." VO SHE HAD A HERNIATED DISC, A BIG ONE, PINCHING THE NERVES. HER ONLY OPTION WAS SURGERY.
SOT BARBARA MULLIGAN
"Of course immediately I broke down in tears, scared to death at the thought of having surgery on my back."
SOT BRIDGE
"Barbara's back surgery could have required a few days in the hospital, and a few weeks of recovery. That's when she heard about new minimally invasive surgical techniques that can get her out of pain, on her feet, in a very short time."
SOT JEFFREY CANTOR
"What's really important about minimally invasive surgery, it has to be as effective as conventional techniques." VO DR. JEFFREY CANTOR, A SPINE SURGEON IN SOUTH FLORIDA, SAYS MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUES FOR PROBLEMS LIKE BARBARA'S HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS. BUT NOW LARGER -- MORE COMPLICATED BACK SURGERIES--LIKE SPINAL FUSIONS--ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH JUST A FEW, HALF-INCH INCISIONS. MINIATURIZED INSTRUMENTS PLUS A 2 MILLIMTER CAMERA -- COMBINE TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE PATIENT .

SOT CANTOR
"The difference is with the camera we can make a much smaller incision, and still be able to see the same stuff." VO OUT OF PAIN INSTANTLY, AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IN JUST A FEW HOURS. BARBARA ISN'T LOOKING BACK.
SOT BARBARA
"I mean...I had a bandaid, after my surgery. That's basically what I had, and I woke up with no pain." VO DR. SEAN KENNIFF, CBS- NEWS.))

[2Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
Coming up on News 7 Sunday Morning...... Three murders have kept police officers in the area busy this weekend.
(------------)
And U-S Senators continue their debate on a controversial Medicare prescription drug bill.
We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
(-------------)

[2-shot toss to hello]

[11Visitor-Center]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-36 TC-1:46:45]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Roanoke's Visitor Center stayed on track and opened its doors to the public this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A re- renovated N & W Railway Passenger Station is now home to the center. The station was built in 1905, but now looks just like it did in the '40s. Roanoke's tourism director says the station is an appropriate home for the visitor center because historically, it served as the gateway to western Virginia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:01:33]
[IN Q=We are now the]
((CATHERINE FOX/ROANOKE TOURISM DIRECTOR: WE ARE NOW THE TECHNOLOGY GATEWAY FOR VISITORS WITH TOUCH SCREEN KIOSKS AND A 134 INCH DIAGONAL SCREEN SHOWING PEOPLE SOME FANTASTIC IMAGES OF THE REGION AND THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO DO AND SEE AND STAY LONGER.))
[SUPER=01-Catherine Fox/Roanoke Tourism Director;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=see and stay longer]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In January the O. Winston Link Museum will move into the station. The visitor center is open from 9 to 5, seven days a week.
(------------)

[Biz-Review]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=Biz Review 11/02 tc 1:22:17]
[GRAPHIC=Business Review]
The Internet helped expand one local business, and a long commute for some workers may get easier in the future. Donald Graham has more in News 7's Business Review.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :06]
[SUPER=03-Altavista; :25]
[SUPER=01-Brian Bauer/Schrader-Bridgeport General Manager; :51]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; 1:10]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; 1:41]
[RUNS=2:08]
[OUT Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
(( [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC10:06]
A 45 year old family owned business has gone world wide thanks to the internet. Dixie Building Products has 3 million dollars in annual internet sales. So much business that it opened a new showroom and doubled the workforce. The company expects to employ 55 people within the next 6 months. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC1:37:49]
It takes some financial incentives for large companies to relocate or expand operations -- and that's just what is happening in Alta Vista. Over the next two and a half years, Shrader-Bridgeport will spend five million dollars expanding it's plant and will add 50 new jobs. Campbell County and the state gave about 350 thousand dollars in financial incentives to spur the growth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:45:14]
[IN Q=But as this]
((BRIAN BAUER/SCHRADER-BRIDGEPORT GM: BUT AS THIS DAY SHOWS, THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF VIRGINIA ARE WILLING TO PUT THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND OUR INDUSTRIES. ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN WE ENSURE THAT WE NOT ONLY MAINTAIN BUT GROW OUR BUSINESS HERE IN ALTAVISTA.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=here in Altavista.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Shrader-Bridgeport plant in Alta Vista employs about 280 people making valves for the auto industry. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC1:18:10]
The commute from the New River Valley to Roanoke may get a bit easier in the future. Valley Metro has been awarded a three year grant to start bus service to the area -- bit first, Blacksburg Town Council has to get on board. Under the proposal, 2 buses would run Monday through Saturday. The one way commute would take an hour and a half and cost 3 bucks. Blacksburg Town Council will vote on the transit plan next month. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC-7:36]

Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith hopes a write in campaign will bring a low cost airline to the region. Smith and other business leaders have been trying to woo AirTran Airways with a pledge of more than 2 million dollars in business travel. A recent internet promotion asked fliers where they wanted the airline to expand -- Roanoke was NOT one of the 36 cities listed. There is a section to write in cities on the Airtran.com website.
For News 7, I'm Donald Graham and that's Business Review. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))