WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 12/02/03

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Remember to bring a scarf with you as you head out this morning. It will be sunny and breezy with temperatures reaching only the 40's. Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have you detail forecast coming up.

[7-11Roanoke-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC58:55]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
[ENG#=1]

One man is hospitalized after a shooting in Roanoke last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Officers say the two men were arguing in the 26-hundred block of Florida Avenue around 8 o-clock.
One man fired several shots at the other, though police have not yet said how many times the victim was hit.
He was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, but there's no word on his identity or condition.
Police say they are searching for a suspect.
(------------)

[7-VOB-College-Calendar]

[ANCHOR=Morn]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Students at one area college are not happy with a proposed change in their schedule.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ferrum]

Currently, students at Ferrum College typically take five courses in a fifteen week semester.
The college is proposing a calendar change that would create a three week and 12 week block.
Under this plan, students would complete a single course in just three weeks and then take four classes the remaining twelve weeks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:56:32; 5:47:45]
[IN Q=It's going to be]
((RYAN WALKER/FERRUM COLLEGE STUDENT: IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME THAT HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES OR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER TO PAY ATTENTION FOR LIKE THREE HOURS A DAY.)) ((SANDY SOUTHARD/FERRUM COLLEGE STUDENT: BEING IN COLLEGE IT IS STRESSFUL TRYING TO DEAL WITH ANY AMOUNT OF WORK BUT DEALING WITH ONE CLASS AT ONE TIME I THINK WOULD BE GREAT.))
[SUPER=01-Ryan Walker/Ferrum College Student; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sandy Southard/Ferrum College Student; :08]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=WOULD BE GREAT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

College officials also say the change would allow students to take more internships, field-trips, and programs abroad.
An administrative council made up of the president and several vice presidents will vote in the next few weeks whether to implement the change.
(------------)

[7-2-11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-39 TC1:57:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Plans for methadone clinics in the area are on the minds of local legislators.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Delegates-Elect William Fralin and Onzlee Ware, and Senator John Edwards met with members of Roanoke City Council and the city school board yesterday morning.
The lawmakers have heard from many of their constituents and say they will introduce or support legislation that would offer localities more protection.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's one of the top]
((WILLIAM FRALIN: IT'S ONE OF THE TOP THINGS ON THE MINDS OF CITIZENS OF THE ROANOKE VALLEY. THEREFORE IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUGHT TO BE ON THE MINDS OF LEGISLATORS.)) ((ONZLEE WARE: I'M ALL FOR TREATMENT AS I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS, BUT I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING UNTIL WE FIND A SOLUTION AS TO WHERE IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO LOCATE THE METHADONE CLINICS.))
[SUPER=01-William Fralin/(R) Delegate-elect; :00]
[SUPER=01-Onzlee Ware/(D) Delegate-elect; :10]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=to locate the methadone clinics.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Fralin and Senator Brandon Bell plan to introduce legislation that would restrict the location of methadone clinics near schools.
Another proposal would give local governments more notice when a proposed clinic seeks a state license.

[55-WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Today will be sunny and cold, with the weekend bringing in possible snow showers.

Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your week-long forecast in just a bit.[55-11Overdose-Death]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=None]

A plea agreement was reached with a Salem teenager charged in a methadone overdose.
The prosecutor dropped a felony homicide charge and another count against 15-year-old Kenneth Jacob Shelton yesterday.
Shelton pled no contest to illegal distribution of methadone in the death of 18-year-old Joey Lawrence last May.
The prosecutor says he wasn't sure he could have gotten a murder conviction under state law.
Shelton will be sentenced in February, as a juvenile.

[55-11Isabel-hearings]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC1:13:46]
[GRAPHIC=Isabel]
[ENG#=1]

Hurricane Isabel may be long gone, but dealing with another one like it is a concern to state legislators.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

The Senate and House Commerce and Labor Committees held a public hearing yesterday on the state's response to Hurricane Isabel.
One state agency reported that communication breakdowns and ice shortages were a major problem.
Clean drinking water was also an issue.
Lawmakers are seeking to learn from the mistakes made with Hurricane Isabel so that the state can better prepare for future disasters.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:10:43]
[IN Q=WE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PLACES]
((VIRGINIA HEALTH COMMISSIONER ROBERT STROUBE: WE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PLACES HAD DONE SOME EMERGENCY PLANNING BUT THEY REALLY HADN'T EXERCISED IT THAT WAS THE CASE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.)) ((DELEGATE PRESTON BRYANT/R-LYNCHBURG:THERE ARE CERTAINLY ALOT OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNED ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMUNICATIONS AREA BETWEEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN CLEAN UP SOME OF THAT AND KNOW NOT TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES AGAIN.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Robert Stroube/Virginia Health Commissioner; :00]
[SUPER=@Bryant; :12]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=KNOW NOT TO REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES AGAIN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

33 people in Virginia died as a result of Hurricane Isabel.
Nearly two million households lost electricity.
(------------)

[55-AM-Museum-Groundbreaking]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

TheVirginia Museum of Natural History breaking ground on a new chapter in its history today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 02-38 TC-51:35]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/October 2002;]
For years it has operated out of an old school building in Martinsville, but all that should change in about two years. The new museum building will cost about 15 million dollars -- money provided as part of a statewide bond package signed by Governor Warner last year. Construction is scheduled to begin next month and last into the middle of 2005.
Current plans call for the new facility to open in January of 2006.
(------------)

[55-11King-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC17:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Another committee will help Roanoke officials consider the best way to memorialize Dr. Martin Luther King.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The city is moving forward with plans to replace the First Street Bridge, and name the structure in honor of the civil rights leader.
A new 30- member committee will meet for the first time later today, to consider the design elements of the King memorial.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Marya Jones.
Better bundle up as you head out this morning.
It will be cold and sunny today with temperatures only reaching the mid 40's.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your Tuesday forescast right after the news.

[8-11Shabazz]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC2:01:24]
[GRAPHIC=Guilty Plea]
[ENG#=1]
A man who admits to killing a Roanoke woman and her two children is now facing life in prison without parole.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :23]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Yesterday, Askia Shabazz (shuh-BAZ) pled guilty to four counts of capital murder and one count of arson in the deaths of Alice Jackson and her two young boys in May of last year.
[SUPER=04-May 2002;]
Shabazz admits to strangling and smothering the 25-year old Jackson before setting her Hurt Park apartnment on fire. The children died of smoke inhalation. Before being sentenced Shabazz apologized to his victims and their family.
(///// SOT at : /////)
[SOT 2:43:07 - 2:43:16]
[IN Q=I know my apology in reality doesn't...]
((ASKIA SHABAZZ/DEFENDENT: I KNOW MY APOLOGY IN REALITY DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING BUT IT IS SINCERE AND RIGHT NOW I'M READY TO FACE MY PUNISHMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Askia Shabazz/Defendent;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=ready to face my punishment.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :07]
By pleading guilty Shabazz avoided the death penalty, a punishment prosecutors say some members of Jackson's family favored.
(///// SOT at :07 /////)
[SOT 2:47:46 - 2:47:58 ]
[IN Q=They've suffered a great loss...]
((JOHN MCNEIL/PROSECUTOR: THEY'VE SUFFERED A GREAT LOSS AND WANTED TO SEE A GREAT PUNISHMENT, AT THE VERY LEAST THAT HE'D NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN..))
[SUPER=01-John McNeil/Prosecutor;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=never see the light of day again.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
Judge Clifford Weckstein sentenced Shabazz to five life sentences, four of which offer no possibility of parole.
(------------)

[8-5-City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=503-05 1:43:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Just two weeks after a vote of no confidence was given to the Roanoke School adminstration, the issue was back on Roanoke City Council's agenda again.
A Roanoke minister and former teacher encouraged council members to reconsider.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Bill Lee is the pastor of Loudon Avenue Christian Church, and a former teacher in the city schools.
Yesterday, he told members of city council that he speaks for many who believe the city schools are safe and continue to have confidence in the superintendent.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I've been a patron]
(( I'VE BEEN A PATRON OF THE CITY A LONG TIME, OF THE SCHOOLS A LONG TIME, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SAFE SCHOOLS, NOT PERFECT SCHOOLS. I KNOW THAT KIDS WILL BE KIDS, BUT I THINK THEY'VE BEEN MALIGNED. I THINK THAT OUR SYSTEM IS AN EXCELLENT SYSTEM. AND WE'VE GOT AN EXCELLENT SUPERINTENDENT.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Bill Lee/Loudon Avenue Christian Church]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=we've got an excellent superintendent.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Members of city council also made plans to fill the vacancy on the school board created by Melinda Payne's resignation.
They set a December 12th deadline for applications, and a December 15th public hearing.
(------------)

[8-6-Clower]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC1:14:31]
[GRAPHIC=Sid Clower]
[ENG#=3]

Former Henry County administrator Sid Clower is done serving his time for embezzlement.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./Last Year;]

Clower spent three months at the Chatham center.
He's still got 20 years' probation, which he will serve in Henry County.
Clower also has to repay some 700-thousand dollars he took from the county's Public Service Authority. (------------)