WDBJ 7 morning news for 12/04/03

[School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']

(OPEN)
[OPEN]
[ENG#=V9]

Welcome to News 7 Mornin', I'm Marya Jones.
[SS=Winter Weather]

Winter weather is heading our way. Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have more on that in just a moment. But first, many school systems have altered their schedules today. We have that list running at the top of the screen.
(++++++++)
[TAKE FS WEB ADDRESS 4473 essc]
You can also find a continuously-updated list of weather-related closings and delays any time on our home page at wdbj7-dot-com.
(++++++++++)
(toss to Leo)
[Marya toss across to Leo in weather center]

[11Snow-Preps]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-43 TC1:20:22]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Storm Warning]
[ENG#=1]

V-DOT crews are waiting to see what the winter storm will deliver.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

750 V-DOT employees are standing by in western Virginia, ready to work twelve hour shifts until roads are clear.

The equipment is ready, and V-DOT has stockpiled thousands of tons of road salt and chemically treated abrasives to get the job done.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:00]
[IN Q=Interestingly enough]
((LAURA BULLOCK/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH FOR THE FIRST EVENT OF THE SEASON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY ICE INSTEAD OF SNOW. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FOR US. WE'D RATHER SEE SOME SNOW, GET A LITTLE PRACTICE PUSHING SOME SNOW. THERE ISN'T VERY MUCH WE CAN DO WITH ICE IF THAT HAPPENS.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=with ice if that happens.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-December 4, 2002]

It was a year ago, that a winter storm snarled traffic on US-220 and stranded many motorists for hours.
Laura Bullock says the department has more weapons at its disposal this year, including liquid chemicals that will help jump-start the melting process.
(------------)

[VOBCounty-Line]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=net N]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Residents of two neighborhoods received an apology last night and some of the answers they were seeking from officials of two counties.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]

Residents of Hill Drive near Bonsack and the Hollins neighborhood near Carvins Cove turned out for a meeting at the Blue Ridge Library.
Both groups thought they were Roanoke County residents, but recently learned their homes are actually located in Botetourt County.
Officials have been working on a solution that will allow children to remain in Roanoke County schools, but residents say they still have more questions than answers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They want to do further meetings]
((GLORIA LEWIS: THEY WANT TO DO FURTHER MEETINGS WITH US. WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE AND GO FROM THERE.)) ((ROGER AUSTIN: WE'RE STILL NOT HAPPY. WE'RE NOT HAPPY THE WAY IT WAS DONE. BUT I KNOW BOTH COUNTIES ARE PUTTING IN A LOT OF HARD WORK. AND I JUST HOPE IT ALL WORKS OUT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE CHILDREN.))
[SUPER=01-Gloria Lewis/Hollins Resident; :00 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Roger Austin/Hill Drive Resident; :05]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=for the neighbors that have children.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Botetourt and Roanoke County officials say they hope their solution for Hill Drive residents will serve as a model for the Hollins neighborhood, and for other residents who may find themselves in the same position.
(------------)

[Hells-Angels]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

At least 57 people are under arrest after raids on Hells Angels in five states.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Spokane, WA;]

Yesterday, federal agents hit homes and hangouts of the motorcycle gang in Washington, California, Arizona, Nevada and Alaska.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms seized guns, drugs and cash.
The raids follow a two-year investigation in which law enforcement agents say they bought stolen military explosives from Hells Angels members.
(------------)

[AntiTerror-Law]

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

One of the laws used to prosecute terrorists has been partially overturned.
A federal appeals court in San Francisco says it's unconstitutional to punish people for providing financial assistance, training or material support to terrorist organizations.
The law was adopted by Congress after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

[11Christmas-Trees]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

The state is already trimming its recent ban on Christmas trees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

The State Fire Marshal said yesterday that the state was lifting its ban on fresh-cut trees for apartment-dwellers.
The state will follow the lead of the International Fire Code.
The I-F-C was amended yesterday to permit fresh-cut evergreens in apartment and condominium units that do not have sprinklers.
Cut trees are still prohibited in places like churches, hospitals and dormitories without sprinkler systems.
(------------)

[Rockefeller-Tree]

[ANCHOR=marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]
[ENG#=1]

New York kicked off the holiday season with an annual tradition.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Thousands of people braved freezing temperatures in Rockefeller Center for the lighting of the Christmas tree.
The 79-foot, 9-ton spruce was cut down in Connecticut and brought to New York by barge.
It's adorned with some 30-thousand light bulbs.
Crowds were treated to celebrity musical and ice skating performances.
The tree lighting tradition goes back to 1931.
(------------)

[11Dan-River]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Dan River]
[ENG#=None]
In business news, Dan River's recent financial problems now threaten its continued listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Dan River stock has fallen below one dollar per share on a 30-day average. As a result, N-Y-S-E will now consider whether the Danville-based company stock will remain listed on the exchange.

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]
The Nasdaq briefly traded above two-thousand for the first time in nearly two years. Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((> THE NASDAQ JUST COULDN'T HOLD ON TO THE 2000 LEVEL DESPITE FRESH EVIDENCE > THAT THE ECONOMY IS GETTING STRONGER.. > WORKER PRODUCTIVITY SHOT UP TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN TWO DECADES LAST > QUARTER.. WE GET MORE CLUES ON THE ECONOMY TOMORROW WITH THE NOVEMBER > UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT. > > THE DOW INDUSTRIALS MEANTIME.. CAME WITHIN 58 POINTS OF THE 10-THOUSAND > MARK MIDDAY... BEFORE EASING BACK TO CLOSE AT 9873.. UP 19 POINTS > > THE NASDAQ TOUCHED THE 2-THOUSAND MARK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 2 > YEARS..BEFORE GIVING UP THOSE GAINS AND CLOSING DOWN ABOUT 20 POINTS > > The Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday began adopting new > measures to curb widespread mutual fund trading abuses amid growing > scandals. The SEC unanimously approved a controversial rule designed to > stop illegal fund trading after the markets' close and adopted rules > requiring fund companies to employ a chief compliance officer and provide > greater detail about policies regarding market timing. > > Archipelago, a rival electronic stock trading network to the Nasdaq and > the New York Stock Exchange, is planning its next challenge: an initial > public offering. > Billed as the largest all-electronic stock exchange > Chicago-based Archipelago says it plans to go public in the next several > months. > > Wal-Mart says high fees are forcing it to drop certain MasterCard > debit-card transactions beginning Feb. 1. The move affects only signature > debit cards. Consumers will still be able to use their debit cards by > punching in their personal identification numbers. > > FIND OUT MORE AT CBS.MW.COM IN NY I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS.)) >

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

[11Bowers]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC47:54]
[GRAPHIC=David Bowers]
[ENG#=1]

Former Roanoke mayor David Bowers wants to clean up city hall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Bowers announced his plans yesterday to run again for mayor, after losing to Ralph Smith three years ago. He described city hall as a mess. If elected, he says the first thing he'll do is make changes in adminstration, including taking a vote to fire city manager Darlene Burcham.
(/////SOT////)
[IN Q=i'm determined to get]
((DAVID BOWERS/D-- CANDIDATE FOR ROANOKE MAYOR: I'M DETERMINED TO GET INTO THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR MAYOR, AND TO CHANGE THINGS DOWN AT CITY HALL AND TO GET THE CITY BACK ON TRACK AND TURN THINGS AROUND AS IT SHOULD BE. I THINK IT'S JUST A MESS RIGHT NOW.))
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/(D) Candidate for Roanoke Mayor;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=mess right now]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Darlene Burcham's office had no comment. Bowers says his other priorities includes saving Victory Stadium and building peace between the school board and city council.
(------------)

[Bush-Tariffs]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=mornin']
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]
[ENG#=2]

It looks like President Bush is going to lift tariffs he imposed on the foreign steel industry nearly two years ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsburgh, PA;]

In doing so, he COULD alienate steel workers that supported him in the last election.
The tariffs protect the U-S steel industry from foreign competition.
BUT keeping them in place could lead to a trade war with foreign allies. They could start imposing tariffs of their own on all kinds of American products.
An announcement is expected after Bush meets with key lawmakers today.
(------------)

[11Slavery-Museum]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

An uplifting tribute to the millions whose dignity was stripped away.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fredericksburg]

That's how the National Slavery Museum's architect described the project yesterday.
Officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking in Fredericksburg.
Former governor Doug Wilder, himself the grandson of slaves, is leading the project.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're pasat the]
((DOUG WILDER/FORMER GOVERNOR; WE'RE PAST THE TALKING STAGE, WE'RE AT THE STAGE WHERE WE'RE CLEARING GROUND, WE'RE GETTING INFRASTRUCTURE DETERMINED.))
[SUPER=01-Doug Wilder/Former Governor;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=getting infrastructure determined.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The museum had already started collecting artifacts and exhibits.
(------------)
(Marya tosses to bump)

[bump-chyron]

[comm #3]

[2-11Dan-River]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Dan River]
[ENG#=None]
In business news, The New York Stock Exchange is taking a closer look at Dan River. The company's stock has fallen below one dollar per share on a 30-day average. As a result, N-Y-S-E will now consider whether the Danville-based company stock will remain listed on the exchange.

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

It was a mixed bag on Wall Street yesterday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((STOCKS LOST MOMENTUM AT THE END OF WEDNESDAY'S TRADING TO CLOSE MIXED FOR THE DAY.

THE DOW CLOSED UP 19-POINTS AND...
THE NASDAQ LOST 19.

ACTIVITY IN THE U-S SERVICE SECTOR SLOWED IN NOVEMBER.
THE INSTITUTE FOR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT'S INDEX OF NON-MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY CAME IN AT 60-POINT-ONE FOR THE MONTH.
THAT'S DOWN FROM 64-POINT-SEVEN IN OCTOBER.
THE SERVICE SECTOR THAT INCLUDES JOBS IN BANKING AND TOURISM IS THE NATION'S LARGEST EMPLOYER.

U-S COMMERCIAL BANKS LOGGED THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE EARNINGS INCREASE LAST QUARTER.
THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION SAYS U-S BANKS AND THRIFTS POSTED EARNINGS OF 30-POINT-FOUR BILLION-DOLLARS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER...THAT'S UP FROM 30-POINT-TWO-BILLION THE QUARTER BEFORE.
HOWEVER, THE F-D-I-C WARNS THAT A SLOWDOWN IN MORTGAGE REFINANCES COULD REDUCE FOURTH QUARTER NUMBERS.

TWO-YEARS AFTER ITS FORMER OWNER CRUMBLED FINANCIALLY, THE ENRON TOWER IN HOUSTON HAS A NEW OWNER.
A GROUP OF INVESTORS, LED BY A HOUSTON CARDIOLOGIST, PURCHASED THE COMPANY'S FORMER HEADQUARTERS FOR 55-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLARS.
THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED BY THE BANKRUPTCY COURT LATER THIS MONTH.
CASH FROM THE SALE WILL GO TO PAY SOME OF ENRON'S CREDITORS.

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

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

[2-11Bowers]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC47:54]
[GRAPHIC=David Bowers]
[ENG#=1]

Former Roanoke mayor David Bowers says he wants to reclaim the city, and he'll start by firing one of its leaders.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Bowers announced his plans yesterday to run again for mayor, after losing to Ralph Smith three years ago. He described city hall as a mess. If elected, he says the first thing he'll do is make changes in adminstration, including taking a vote to fire city manager Darlene Burcham.
(/////SOT////)
[IN Q=i'm determined to get]
((DAVID BOWERS/D-- CANDIDATE FOR ROANOKE MAYOR: I'M DETERMINED TO GET INTO THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR MAYOR, AND TO CHANGE THINGS DOWN AT CITY HALL AND TO GET THE CITY BACK ON TRACK AND TURN THINGS AROUND AS IT SHOULD BE. I THINK IT'S JUST A MESS RIGHT NOW.))
[SUPER=01-David Bowers/(D) Candidate for Roanoke Mayor;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=mess right now]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Darlene Burcham's office had no comment. Bowers says his other priorities includes saving Victory Stadium and building peace between the school board and city council.
(------------)

[PKG-Dueling-Nutcrackers]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC 29:02:13]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

City Ballet didn't mean to step on any toes. The Roanoke dance company will present the Nutcracker on the same weekend as Southwest Virginia Ballet. But the executive director says the conflict was unintentional.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I really want, I guess, the attention to be...]
[SUPER=01-Michele Goacher/City Ballet;:00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week;:10]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Last Week;:21]
[SUPER=01-Dagmar Kessler Jelincic/Radford University Artist in Residence;:35]
[SUPER=@Shannon2;]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=Shannon Young, News 7]

(([SOT 2:39:56-2:40:06]
[IN Q=I really want, I guess, the attention...]
((MICHELE GAUCHER/CITY BALLET: I REALLY WANT, I GUESS, THE ATTENTION TO BE TAKEN OFF THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COMPETE WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=it's not about that.]
In a little more than a week The Nutcracker Ballet will open on two Roanoke Stages. Michele Gaucher's City Ballet and dancers from Radford University will perform at the Jefferson Center. Terri Post's Southwest Virginia Ballet will fill the Civic Center. Post says she's had the weekend of December 13th booked for years now and that its bad form for another company to choose the same dates. But, her peers disagree.
[SOT 2:47:28-2:47:31]
[IN Q=No, it happens all the time in the real world.]
((DAGMAR KESSLER JELINCIC/RADFORD UNIVERSITY ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: NO, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN THE REAL WORLD. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.)) [RUNS:03]
[OUT Q= happens all the time (second time).]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
[SOT 2:40:20-2:40:29]
[IN Q=And once you get involved you can't pull out.]
((MICHELE GAUCHER/CITY BALLET: AND ONCE YOU GET INVOLVED YOU CAN'T PULL OUT. THERE'S SO MUCH INVOLVED. YOU JUST CANNOT ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY, "OH, SORRY!")) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=cannot all of a sudden say, "Oh, sorry!"]
Gaucher says she never would have purposely pitted her 3-year old dance company against Post's established group and that she checked with the Civic Center in August to make sure there would be no conflict. The Civic Center says Southwest Virginia Ballet put its production on the calendar in 2001. But Gaucher says she wasn't privy to that information. Both sides agree the situation is unfortunate, but that, ultitmately, the show must go on.
[SOT 2:47:44-2:47:53]
[IN Q=And that's the only thing...]
((DAGMAR KESSLER JELINCIC/RADFORD UNIVERSITY: AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S EVER MATTERED TO US. THAT WE PRESENT THE BEST PERFORMANCE THAT WE CAN AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO IT.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=and I think we're gonna do it.] Gaucher says, in the future, local ballet companies might want to look at each o
ther's schedules more closely before planning their own performances. SY, News 7.))

(Marya tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[11Grimes]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC19:13]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=4]
Pittsylvania County's prosecutor has apologized for the actions that led him to be cited for contempt of court. Keith Humphry has more on the feud between David Grimes and a Judge that almost led to a trial.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A judge from]
[SUPER=03-Chatham; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pat Doherty/Judge; :11]
[SUPER=01-David Grimes/Pittsylvania Co. Commonwealth's Attorney; :26]
[SUPER=01-Leigh Drewry/Special Prosecutor; :44]
[SUPER=04-November 30, 1995; :53]
[SUPER=@Keith2; 1:37]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=KH, News 7.]
(( A judge from Roanoke County presided over the ante-bellum courtroom, prepared to hear evidence of disrespect shown Judge B-A Davis. [9:54] ((THERE WILL BE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COURT TO FIND EACH OF YOU GUILTY OF CIVIL CONTEMPT.)) [RUNS:05] The deal was Grimes and his deputy Bryan Haskins would each have to read from an "agreed statement," apologizing for delaying trials last May. [9:59:00] ((FOR THAT INCONVENIENCE, I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE APOLOGIZED.)) [RUNS:03] Grimes read reporters a prepared statement but wouldn't depart from it. Special prosecutor Leigh Drewry says Grimes tried to bait judge Davis into acting inappropriately Grimes by suggesting the judge was incapable of following the law. [10:12:18] ((JUDGE DAVIS TREATS EVERYONE THE SAME WAY. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PRACTICING BEFORE HIM. I FIND HIM TO BE A PERFECT SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN.)) [RUNS:09] Davis was not in court and could not have been called as a witness even if the case had gone to trial. Drewry still believes a case could have been made for criminal contempt. [10:13:30 REVERSE 2] ((IN FACT, I BELIEVE I CONSIDERED BRINGING AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE AGAINST THEM OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.)) [RUNS:07] But Judge Doherty agreed to transfer the criminal contempt citation to civil contempt and accept an apology from Grimes and Haskins as their punishment. Prosecutor Drewry thinks Grimes has a vendetta against Judge Davis, citing complaints Grimes has filed with the Chief Justice and the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission. 10:18:32 ((I LEARNED AS A YOUNG LAWYER REAL FAST. IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ON A JUDGE YOU'VE GOT TO GET HIM THE FIRST TIME.)) [RUNS:06] David Grimes was re-elected last month to another four-year term as Pittsylvania County Commonwealth's Attorney with 62-percent of the vote. Keith Humphry, News 7.))