WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 12/10/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon/ 2-Shot]

A 17-year old carjacker does not contest the robbery and abduction charges against her.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :07]
[ANCHOR=Keith/ 2-Shot]
And, presents from the Christmas store: free. Knowledge that there will be gifts under the tree: priceless.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=Sports Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Tonight in sports, Oklahoma quarterback Jason White picks up a post season honor, VMI and Virginia Tech renew their rivalry on the hardwood, and
[ENG#=2]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Dan Reeves is given a pink slip today by the Atlanta Falcons, just five years removed from a Super Bowl season.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

The rain will taper off soon and the west winds will kick up shortly. More on the forecast coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

[ENG#=3]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 23:10:30]
[IN Q=Ms Young just bolted]
((MS YOUNG JUST BOLTED OVER TO THE CASH REGISTER, JUMPED OVER THE COUNTER AND BEGAN TO TELL EVERYBODY WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=happened to her.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The prosecutor relates the end of a harrowing encounter with three juvenile abductors.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
The tale supports a plea from a 17-year old pregnant carjacker.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Simmons]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC21:52]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[ENG#=4]
The mother of one of the three suspects dropped the teenagers off at the Wyndham Hotel to let them play in the pool one evening last June.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
They got kicked out of the hotel, and ended up abducting a woman in the parking lot instead.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The victim, 22-year old Tiffany Young, sat in the front row in court today as another one of those charged in the case entered pleas of "no contest." Monique Simmons and two male companions grabbed Young from behind, threw her in the trunk of her car and drove around for three hours, before Young managed to escape.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:20:05]
[IN Q=I don't know]
((TONY ANDERSON/SIMMONS' ATTORNEY; I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH THEIR MIND THAT DAY. MONIQUE'S MADE A STATEMENT AS TO WHAT HER ROLE IN THESE EVENTS WAS. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH HER STORY. SHE'S STICKING TO IT.)) [23:25:29] ((ALICE EKIRCH/PROSECUTOR; AT FIRST SHE GAVE INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS. IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE WAS THEN CONFRONTED WITH THE FACT THAT MR. MANNS ACKNOWLEDGED HIS PARTICIPATION IN THIS CRIME THAT SHE CONFESSED TO WHAT HER INVOLVEMENT WAS.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Anderson/Simmons' Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=01-Alice Ekirch/Prosecutor; :11]
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=her involvement was.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Todd Manns pled "no contest" last week to the same charges: robbery, abduction and car-jacking. The third suspect is set for trial Monday.

[Radford-Police]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-53 TC10:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

More complications today in the case against Radford's Police Chief and 2-other officers.
Judge Bret Geisler (Geese-ler) has taken himself off the case. Geisler recused himself this morning before an arraignment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape]

Chief Wesley Terry is charged with petty larceny, malfeasance in office and three counts of obtaining criminal history information under a false pretense.
He and 2-other officers are accused of conducting a search without a proper warrant and taking a knife and sheath from a residence.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]

The Virginia Supreme Court will now have to designate a special judge for the case.

[Warner-Taxes]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-44 TC1:05:40]
[GRAPHIC=Tax Reform]
[ENG#=2]

Doing nothing is not an option.
That's what Governor Mark Warner told a crowd in Lynchburg today as he explained how he hopes to overhaul the state's tax code and balance the budget at the same time.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Warner is criss-crossing the state, trying to drum up support for his plan to raise state sales and cigarette taxes, while cutting other taxes.
Some Republicans are disputing the figures, and several analysts say the changes could end up hurting poor residents.
But Warner fired back today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:44:18//5:40:52]
[IN Q=I challenge anyone]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: I CHALLENGE ANYONE SHOW ME A BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS WHERE WE CAN GROW OUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM. WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH IT AND THE NOTION THAT WE HAVEN'T MADE CUTS WHEN WE'VE ALREADY CUT SIX BILLION DOLLARS IS JUST CRAZY.)) ((DEL. PRESTON BRYANT/R-LYNCHBURG: I'M ENCOURAGED THAT MOST MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE KEEPING THEIR POWDER DRY, THEY'RE NOT RULING IT OUT, THEY'RE MAKING NO COMMITMENTS EITHER WAY. THEY'RE WAITING TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS AND THAT'S THE MOST WE CAN HOPE FOR RIGHT NOW.))
[SUPER=@markWarner; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Preston Bryant/(R) Lynchburg; :16]
[RUNS=28]
[OUT Q=hope for right now.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner maintains that, under his plan, two thirds of Virginians will end up paying fewer taxes than they do now.
(------------)

[Fishburn-Park]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]

Water problems continue to plague a Roanoke school.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FS]
A water line broke at Fishburn Park Elementary yesterday.
The school will be closed again Thursday.
(-------------)

[Christmas-Store]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC18:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Many families in the region are facing hard times this Christmas. Montgomery County's even expecting a record crowd for this year's Christmas Store.
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa has a look at how the annual event is trying to make sure every family has presents under the tree.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Welcome to the Christmas]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Catherine Breske/Volunteer; :09]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; :31]
[SUPER=01-Patsy Dillon-Long/Christmas Store President; :37]
[SUPER=01-Stacey Brennan/Shopper; :54]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=nice and wonderful.]
((Welcome to the Christmas store. A place where long lines....
NATS OF SHOPPING CART 7:32:29:00
and overflowing shopping carts aren't so bad.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:29:15:00]
[IN Q=You really come]
((CATHERINE BRESKE: YOU REALLY COME HERE I THINK TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR THE REST OF THE HOLIDAY BECAUSE IT REALLY PUTS YOU IN THE SPIRIT)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=you in the spirit]

In the spirit because these shoppers are getting the gift... of free gifts. Most of the shoppers can't afford a Christmas, and this places lets them have it. There are shelves of new and used toys, clothes and household goods.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:37:28:00]
[IN Q=The store has]
((RACHEL DEPOMPA: THE STORE HAS A 137-THOUSAND DOLLAR BUDGET THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY NEED ENOUGH GIFTS TO GIVE TO 11-HUNDRED FAMILIES.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=hundred families.]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:25:40:00]
[IN Q=You know my goal]
((PATSY DILLON-LONG: YOU KNOW MY GOAL OF COURSE WOULD BE TO BE OUT OF BUSINESS, AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HELP ANYBODY, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT A REALITY SITUATION RIGHT NOW :06)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=situation right now.]

NATS TAPING UP GOODS-7:30:43:00
So many are in need, there's a record number of volunteers this year. More than a thousand people will donate their time in just 4-days.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:31:07:00]
[IN Q=I think it's wonderful]
((STACEY BRENNAN: I THINK ITS WONDERFUL I THINK ITS GREAT THAT EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER AND COMES DOWN AND HELPS THE CHILDREN. AS YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE WONDERFUL GIFTS. EVERYBODY'S SO SWEET AND NICE AND WONDERFUL. :14)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=and wonderful.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Rachel/FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

The Christmas store is in Christiansburg and is open all day through Saturday. That's when it will close at 2:00.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PHONE NUMBER]
If you want to try and set up a time you can call 540-381-0585. Also, the store is still excepting donations. They need money and of course clothing and toys.
(-------------)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]

Keith and Shannon, Officials say when the store closes on Saturday they immediately start working on getting ready for next year.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

Missing your favorite radio station? Several just went off the air and may not be coming back.
We'll find out why when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And when is a gallon of gas a gallon of gas? When these people say it is.
See how the state metrology lab affects the lives of nearly every Virginian.
(----------------)
[1st-Wx]
[2-Wireless-911]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC36:19]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[ENG#=1]
If you read the statement your cell phone company sends you every month, you know you're paying a variety of different taxes.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
One in particular feeds a fund to equip dispatch centers with the ability to locate cell phone callers
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :01]
[SUPER=01-Pat Shumate/Roanoke Co. Communications Chief; :12]
[SUPER=@markwarner; :32]
[SUPER=@keith1; :36]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=on the pot.]
(( Many of the most populated parts of the state cannot pinpoint the source of a cellular call. That includes each of the local governments in the Roanoke Valley, though they're all working on it. [9:09:15] ((RIGHT NOW I'VE REQUESTED $250,000 WE ESTIMATE IS WHAT IT'LL COST TO GO TO PHASE II FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW.)) [RUNS:09] The money comes from a fund- -from those taxes- -that 75-cents- -you pay your cell phone company every month. The money goes to Richmond, but Governor Warner has been using it to balance the budget. [11:30:10] ((ANYPLACE THERE WERE ANY AVAILABLE DOLLARS, WE BROUGHT THEM IN, TRIED TO FILL THE HOLE.)) [RUNS:04] The Governor took 11 million dollars out of the Wireless 911 fund, but Virginia may not be as bad as other states. In some places, the money earmarked for enhancing 911 has been used to pay for dry cleaning state troopers uniforms. Warner intends to replace the money, but he says he may have to dip deeper into the Wireless fund. [11:29:15] ((NOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD, MY HOPE IS, BECAUSE E-911 IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS, PEOPLE CAN GET THE KIND OF RELIEF IF THEY'VE GOT A CRIME OR AN ACCIDENT TAKES PLACE. MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESTORE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.)) [RUNS:15] Roanoke County's Communications Chief Pat Shumate is a member of the Wireless Board. He says the 11 million dollar drain on the fund hasn't been a problem, yet, but it could become one. [9:10:10] ((WHEN YOU HAVE 134 LOCALITIES IN VIRGINIA THAT WOULD REQUEST TO GO TO PHASE II ALL AT ONE TIME AND ALL OF THEM REQUEST $1/4 MILLION, YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WOULD PUT A BIG DRAIN ON THE POT. )) [RUNS:12]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Shumate estimates the County will have Phase II technology- -the ability to locate cell phone callers- -by the end of 2005.

[Boucher]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC50:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Despite a deeply divided Congress, Democrat Rick Boucher is defending his support of the new, nearly 500-billion dollar Medicare bill.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]

Boucher says the bill will help thousands of low income seniors in the New River Valley get free medicines and smaller co-payments.
He says local hospitals will also get nearly 80-million dollars in extra funding and doctors will receive higher Medicare Re-imbursements.
But his support does not come without intense criticism of the bill's prescription medicine coverage for seniors.

[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

He says it won't take affect for 2-years and leaves a huge gap in coverage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:8:04:14:00]
[IN Q=This gap in ]
((RICK BOUCHER: THIS GAP IN COVERAGE IS WHOLLY ILLOGICAL. IT HAS NO BASIS IN FACT AT ALL OTHER THAN A DESIRE TO SAVE MONEY AND I FRANKLY THINK THIS KIND OF GAP IN COVERAGE IS WHOLLY INSUPPORTABLE.))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Rick Boucher/(D) 9th District;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=is wholly insupportable.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Boucher says he will be sponsoring legislation to close the gap, simplify the system and allow Medicare to bargain for better prices with Pharmaceutical companies. He's also going to hold a conference in the New River Valley in March to better explain the benefits.
(------------)

[Radio-Stations]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Half a dozen local radio stations have been knocked off the air by the Federal Communications Commission. The stations were silenced Monday after they failed to renew their licenses. Management at South Boston's W-H-L-F radio say they planned to go out of business, but Pulaski's W-B-L-B is scrambling to get back on the air. Officials with the Christian station say the renewal was overlooked, but that they hope to be back on the air as soon as tomorrow. Call signs of the canceled stations are now up for grabs.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#V10]

Stocks closed lower again as investors cashed in profits from a year of gains. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/1.56/9921.86/y/3.67/1904.65;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW last two points.
NASDAQ dropped four.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/3.91/76.80/h/0.57/52.31/h/0.25/27.95/h/0.20/72.00/h/0.18/75.59;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.37/38.01/i/0.13/16.60/h/0.02/6.76/i/0.06/60.90/h/0.16/29.72;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.04/7.36/i/0.22/41.65/h/0.03/17.34/h/0.08/22.70/i/0.11/5.57;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.06/10.00/i/0.39/69.64/h/0.78/33.37/i/0.30/45.46/h/0.34/52.95;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Weights-measures]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-47 TC42:46]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-shot]
[ENG#=1]

When Virginians buy a gallon of gas or pay for a pound of salami, how do they know they are not being shortchanged?

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Meghan Muldoon has the answer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=EACH TIME A GALLON OF GAS IS PUMPED]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Alan Rogers/VA Office of Product & Industry Standards; :28]
[SUPER=@Meghan1; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=MM, NEWS 7, RICHMOND]
(( Every time a gallon of gas is pumped,
or a pound of potato salad sold,
or a motorist pulled over for speeding,
Virginia's Metrology lab is involved. [NAT SOUND OF TUNING FORK] [RUNS:02]
[SOT 10:47:39]
((ALAN ROGERS/OFFICE OF PRODUCT AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS: EVERYTHING WE DO IS DIRECTED AT THE PROTECTION OF THE CONSUMER.)) [RUNS:04]
The state has been involved in measurement standards since the colonial days.
Almost four centuries later, the office of product and industry standards regulates ninety percent of all transactions all across Virginia.
[SOT 10:50:11]
((ALAN ROGERS/OFFICE OF PRODUCT & INDUSTRY STANDARDS: ON ANY GIVEN DAY THEY MAY BE INSPECTING GAS PUMPS, INSPECTING SCALES, INSPECTING TAXI METERS, FUEL DELIVERY TRUCKS, PROPANE GAS METERS, THEY MAY BE SAMPLING GASOLINE FOR QUALITY ASPECTS, SAMPLING AG COMMODITIES SUCH AS FERTILIZER, FEED, SEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS TRUTH IN LABELING STATEMENTS.)) [RUNS:23]
Virginia's metrology lab maintains the official weights and measures standards of the Commonwealth and is one of only ten that are nationally accredited.
And that means they are precise.
[SOT 11:15:14]
((MEGHAN MULDOON REPORTING: THIS IS A WEIGHT USED TO TEST TRUCK SCALES. WHEN VIRGINIA'S METROLOGY SAYS IT IS ONE THOUSAND POUNDS YOU CAN BET THAT THEY ARE ACCURATE WITHIN THIS AMOUNT, ONE AND A HALF OUNCES.)) [RUNS:11]

[SOT 10:52:57]
((ALAN ROGERS/OFFICE OF PRODUCT & INDUSTRY STANDARDS: IT'S ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT THAT IF YOU ASK SOMEONE YEAH, I KNOW IT'S BEING DONE, I ASSUME ITS BEING DONE BUT I'M NOT SURE WHO DOES IT.)) [RUNS:07]
Now you know it is the state's metrology lab that more than measures up.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=V10]

Coming up, Dan Reeves is unemployed, the Associated Press names its college football player of the year, and

(------------)
[VO-NAT]

VMI hopes to pick up just its second win of the season tonight on the Cassell Coliseum hardwood.
(------------)

[S-Hoops]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-164 TC3026]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech Hoops]
[ENG#=1]

The Virginia Tech Hokies are back on the hardwood tonight to battle one and four VMI at the Cassell in a 7pm tip. It will be the fourth road game for the Keydets in their first six outings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Bart Bellairs/VMI Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=I think we have a chance."]
(-------------------)

[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-151 TC13947]
[GRAPHIC=UVA Hoops]
[ENG#=2]

The Virginia Cavaliers are in the midst of their longest break of the season. Following Friday night's win over VMI, the Cavs don't play again until next Tuesday at home against James Madison. The players will try to get some R&R and hit the books for finals over the next few days.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Todd Billet/Averaging 10.8 PPG this Season; :00]
[SUPER=01-Majestic Mapp/Cavaliers Point Guard; :17]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=as the year goes on."]
(--------------)

[S-Dan]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-150 TC14405]
[GRAPHIC=Atlanta Falcons]
[ENG#=3]

In 1999, Dan Reeves led the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl. Today he was fired by team owner Arthur Blank.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Flowery Branch, GA; :00]

Blank wanted Reeves to coach the final three games of the season, but told the 59 year old that he would be let go. Reeves said thanks, but no thanks and walked out today. The 6th winningest coach in the NFL all time, Reeves has a record of 201 wins, 174 losses, and two ties. His job security had been the subject of much speculation after the Falcons fell from the playoffs a season ago to a 3 and 10 team this year after Michael Vick was hurt in the preseason.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dan Reeves/Fired as Falcons Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/Falcons Quarterback; :26]
[RUNS=:52]
[OUT Q=put all this behind us."]
(------------)
[anchor=travis]
[graphic=atlanta falcons]

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will coach the team the remainder of the season.

[S-White]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-161 TC3323]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA Football]
[ENG#=4]

Oklahoma quarterback Jason White is the front runner to win the Heisman Trophy later this weekend. Today, the was named the A-P's Player of the Year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NCAA; :00]

White returned from two serious knee surgeries to lead the Sooners to an unbeaten regular season and a berth in the national title game. White emerged as the nation's top passer throwing 40 TD passes and just 8 interceptions. He received 27 of the 56 votes for the award. That was 8 more than Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. (------------)