[Terrorist-Threat]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Terror Threat]
[ENG#=1]


Across the country, holiday travelers are still facing some of the tightest security, and the highest anxiety seen since 9-11.
U-S intelligence may have prevented a terror attack by cancelling six Air France flights possibly targeted by al-Qaida.
But U-S officials say the danger is NOT over.
Jennifer Donelan reports from Washington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :14]
[SUPER=01-Dan Benjamin/Terrorism Expert; 1:08]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Donelan/CBS News; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=Donelan, CBS News, Washington.]


(( PKG

(nats- (speaker) "security is at a high level")

AT AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION HOLIDAY TRAVELERS ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE THEIR WAY HOME.. BUT FIRST THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH SECURITY WHICH IS JUST AS TIGHT IF NOT TIGHTER THAN WHEN THEY LEFT.

(nats)

AT WASHINGTON'S REGAN AIRPORT CARS CONTINUED TO BE SEARCHED. AND AT L-A-X SECURITY IS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 9-11.... BUT EVEN WITH LONG LINES PASSENGERS SEEM UNDERSTANDING.

(SOT-mos)

"even though it's incredibly inconvenient and annoying.. I know that we're safe because we're keeping track of everything." :06
THE BIGGEST SCARE CAME WHEN SIX AIR FRANCE FLIGHTS BETWEEN PARIS AND LOS ANGELES WERE CANCELED. ON THE PASSENGER LISTS: NAMES LINKED TO AL-QAEDA, INCLUDING A LICENSED PILOT. 7 MEN WERE QUESTIONED BY FRENCH INTELLIGENCE AND RELEASED AFTER NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND CONNECTING THEM TO A TERRORIST PLOT.

(nats)

TODAY AIR FRANCE FLIGHTS HAVE RESUMED BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES... BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE DANGER IS NOT OVER AND AL-QAIDA IS STILL DETERMINED TO ATTACK AMERICAN INTERESTS. AUTHORITIES ARE NOW WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT HOLIDAY AFTER INTELLIGENCE PICKED UP CHATTER CONCERNING NEW YEAR'S.

(SOT-Dan Benjamin/Terrorism Expert)

"it's typically the case that there may be a lot of people talking and giving no.. or next to no operational details.. (vo) and making heads or tails of what you are seeing is really quite difficult." :13
STANDUP: (Jennifer Donelan/CBS NEWS/Washington, DC) THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SAYS DISASTER TEAMS ARE READY TO RESPOND TO ANY TERROR STRIKE, INCLUDING THE USE OF RADIATION OR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN SET UP IN 30 U-S CITIES TO MONITOR THE AIR FOR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS. JENNIFER DONELAN, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.
))

[CA-Mudslide]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]


Heavy rains in Southern California have led to a major rescue operation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Bernardino, CA;]


This morning, authorities are continuing their search for up to 10 people missing after a mudslide swept over a youth camp near San Bernardino.
The slides have sent boulders, logs, and trees down the mountains.
Several people have already been rescued from raging floodwaters through the area.
(------------)


[Iran-Earthquake]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]


A severe earthquake this morning has devastated a historic city in southeast Iran.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Iranian television says the quake has leveled about 60- percent of the homes there.
Rescue workers are digging through the rubble, trying to find survivors.
Authorities would not give a death toll, only saying that many people were killed while they were sleeping.
The quake measured six-point-three on the Richter Scale and was followed by several aftershocks.
(------------)


[11Rke-Fires]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC-1:47:34]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=4]


Roanoke firefighters stayed busy last night. The first call came in around 8 o-clock.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Firefighters responded to the first blaze on the 13-hundred block of Dale Avenue in Southeast Roanoke to find the front porch engulfed in flames. It took five minutes to put it out, but by that point, another fire three blocks away on Dale Avenue had been called in. Crews found the second floor heavily involved in fire and smoke.
That fire was contained in 12 minutes. Both structures were empty at the time and no one was hurt. Since the cause of the fire has not been determined, arson investigators have been called in.
(------------)





[11Rescue-Mission]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-46 TC-1:08:48]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]
[ENG#=1]


While many people spent Christmas day visiting family and enjoying large meals, others rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Jennifer Wishon introduces us to some volunteers who were on a mission to make sure no one in the city of Roanoke went to bed hungry.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=One Pokemon Box]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joy Sylvester-Johnson/Rescue Mission; :13]
[SUPER=01-Joanne Summitt/Lunch Guest; :32]
[SUPER=01-Sandy Wills/Lunch Guest; :45]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; :50]
[SUPER=01-David Burgess/Volunteer;1:00]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Burgess/Volunteer; 1:10]
[SUPER=01-Judy Saunders/Volunteer; 1:40]
[RUNS=2:12]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Roanoke.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:04]
[IN Q=One pokemon box]

((ONE POKEMON BOX. ONE PET GROOM.))
[RUNS= 04]
[OUT Q=one pet groom]

Santa's elves were all ready, the pies were all baked and after everyone was seated a holiday feast took place.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:14]
[IN Q=We just try to make]

((JOY SYLVESTER-JOHNSON: WE JUST TRY TO MAKE A REAL HOME CHRISTMAS EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE AT THE TABLE - MAY BE THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE MET.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=time they've met]

425 pounds of ham, 48 turkeys, dressing and all the fixings were served at the Roanoke Rescue Mission Christmas Day. Joanne Summitt and her family used the occasion to greet old friends.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:43]
[IN Q=That's why I came]

((JOANNE SUMMITT: THAT'S WHY I CAME DOWN HERE TO GO TO CHURCH, BE WITH EVERYBODY, NEIGHBOR'S, FRIENDS, GET THE KIDS OUT A LITTLE BIT.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=kids out a little bit]

Sandy Wills is hoping her new year brings good food and lots of it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:11]
[IN Q=Ham, turkey, green beans]

((SANDY WILLS: HAM, TURKEY, GREEN BEANS AND MASHED POTATOES.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=and mashed potatoes]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:44]
[IN Q=The holiday feast wouldn't]

((JENNIFER WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM: THE HOLIDAY FEAST WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS. MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE LEFT THE COMFORTS OF THEIR OWN HOMES CHRISTMAS DAY TO HELP COOK FOR AND SERVE THEIR LESS FORTUNATE NEIGHBORS.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=less fortunate neighbors]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:28]
[IN Q=This will be the ]

((DAVID BURGESS: THIS WILL BE THE ONE TIME A LOT OF THEM WILL BE SERVED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR. YOU KNOW WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO GOING OUT TO EAT AND BEING SERVED EVERY DAY, BUT THESE FOLKS JUST DON'T HAVE THAT.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=don't have that]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 08:38]
[IN Q=I hope that they]

((DEBBIE BURGESS: I HOPE THAT THEY LEARN AND SEE THE SHINING LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST AND KNOW WHAT THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=of Christmas is]

And at the Rescue Mission it's the little things that make Christmas Day shine.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:55:13]
[IN Q=They bring homemade]

((JOY SYLVESTER-JOHNSON: THEY BRING HOMEMADE DESERTS AND THEY COME AND THEY SERVE AT THE TABLE SO EVERYTHING AT THE TABLE SO EVERYTHING IS LIKE A FIVE STAR RESTAURANT.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=five star restaurant]

((NAT SOUND OF MUSIC))
[RUNS= 04]

Complete with live music to get everyone in a festive mood.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:06]
[IN Q=It's such a neat idea]

((JUDY SAUNDERS: IT'S SUCH A NEAT IDEA I MAY BE BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN...LAUGHTER.))
[RUNS =07]
[OUT Q=and again... laughter]

The Rescue Mission hopes only to see volunteers year after year, but is happy to supply cheer to anyone in need.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 05:39]
[IN Q=I'm glad there's always]

((JOY: I'M GLAD THERE'S ALWAYS A RESCUE MISSION BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHO'S IT GOING TO BE TOMORROW? TROUBLE COMES TO EVERYBODY. WE TAKE TURNS.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=we take turns]

Sandy Wills took her turn serving her family and finally got to eat some warm green beans and mashed potatoes. Jennifer Wishon, News 7 Roanoke.))


[Marketwatch]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]


In business news, It'll be another short day on Wall Street.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]

((> TRADERS GET BACK TO WORK FOR AN ABBREVIATED POST-CHRISTMAS TRADING > SESSION. THE STOCK MARKET WILL CLOSE AT 1PM EASTERN TIME... TTRADING IS > EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN. > > A SANTA CLAUS RALLY WAS DOUSED CHRISTMAS EVE ON WORD OF THE FIRST U-S CASE > OF MAD COW DISEASE.. > > THE DOW FELL 36 POINTS > > THE NASDAQ DIPPED 5 AND A HALF... > > WHILE THE OVERALL MARKET HELD UP WELL... MEAT RELATED STOCKS WERE > SLAMMED... > > MCDONALD'S, WENDYS AND TYSON FOODS AMONG THEM... > > ON THE FLIPSIDE, A CONSUMER BACKLASH OF BEEF COULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR PORK > AND POULTRY AND PRODUCERS SUCH AS HORMEL WHICH GAINED IN THE LAST SEESION. > > > MANY ANALSYTS SAY IF THIS CASE OF MAD COW IN THE U-S IS ISOLATED, THE > RECENT SELLOFF IN BEEF RELATED STOCKS COULD BE A BUYING OPPORTUNITY. > > MORTGAGE RATES ARE SET TO END 2003 AT THE LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1965. THIS > WEEK THE AVERAGE RATE ON A 30 YEAR LOAN IS 5.81 PERCENT .. THE RATE ON THE > 15 YEAR, A POPULAR, A POPULAR CHOICE FOR REFINANCERS SITS AT 5.13 PERCENT. > MORTGAGE ACITIVTY FELL AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON TOOK HOLD. APPLICATIONS FOR > NEW MORTGAGES IIN THE LATEST WEEK WHILE APPLICATIONS FOR REFINANCING WERE > FLAT. > > KEEP YOUR EYE ON GOLD PRICES. GOLD FUTURES TOUCHED 413 DOLLARS AN OUNCE IN > THE LAST TRADING SESSION... IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT LEVEL HAS BEEN > REACHED IN NEARLY EIGHT YEARS...THAT COULD RESULT IN HIGHER PRICES FOR > GOLD JEWERLY INTO THE NEW YEAR. > > TRACK ALL THE MARKET ACTIONI AT CBS.MW.COM.. IN NY I'M ALEXIS > CHRISTOFOROUS.)) > >





(tape tosses to stocks)

[STOCKS] [COMM]


[China-Gas]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]


Fumes from a burst gas well in southwest China have left nearly 200 people dead, and forced 41- thousand more to flee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kaixian Co., China;]


Gas has been spewing from a well near a town in the region since Tuesday.
Technicians are working to seal it, but repairs aren't expected to take place until tomorrow so officials can focus on rescue efforts.
Nearly 300 people are reportedly hospitalized, many of them children.
Some officials say the disaster was caused by a drilling mishap that broke the gas well open.
(------------)



[11Iraq-Families]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC-35:51]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]
[ENG#=2]


Hundreds of local families wish their loved ones could be home for the holidays.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Myrtle Thompson grew up in Clifton Forge but now lives in Texas where her husband is stationed.
He is currently overseas serving in Iraq and has been there for ten months now.
Thompson's family bought her a plane ticket home so she wouldn't be alone this holiday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:00:04]
[IN Q=To me that is a joy]

((MYRTLE THOMPSON/HUSBAND SERVING IN IRAQ: TO ME THAT IS A JOY THAT IS CHRISTMAS ENOUGH FOR ME. I AM AWAY FROM MY HUSBAND AND THAT'S A VERY SAD THING BUT I KNOW HE'S DOING WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO AND I MEAN IT FROM MY HEART.))
[SUPER=01-Myrtle Thompson/Husband Serving in Iraq]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=from my heart]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Thompson took a part-time job at the Valley View Mall to help pass the time.
She was unsure whether she'd be able to talk her husband on Christmas day.
(------------)




[11X-mas-Trees]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC-51:44]
[GRAPHIC=Christmas]
[ENG#=3]


Christmas tree sales didn't grow as much as retailers would have liked this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Regulations that were eventually reversed prohibited live-cut trees in buildings without an approved fire sprinkler system, including many older apartment buildings and hotels. Many tree growers and sellers say they didn't hear about the regulations until late November or early December, right when they were setting up shop.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The rules hurt...]

((BILL HUFFMAN/TREE LOT OWNER; THE RULES HURT. NOT KNOWING THE RULES HURT EVEN MORE. BY NOT KNOWING THEM UNTIL WE HAD ALL BOUGHT OUR TREES AND PUT THEM ON THE LOTS TO SELL. THEN YOU FIND OUT THAT A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR BUSINESS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS A NEW LAW OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Huffman/Tree Lot Owner;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=has a new law out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Huffman says he lost about a quarter of his usual business this year. He says all of the leftover trees will be dumped into lakes and ponds to become beds for breeding fish.
(------------)




[11Salem-104]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC-41:47]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]


A Salem woman celebrated her 104th birthday yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Pearlie Shepard was born in Salem in 18-99. Her father was a farmer and she had one sister and two brothers. Shepard says many things have changed in her lifetime, but she thinks things have gotten better.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:02:57:00]
[IN Q=WE NEVER HAD ]

((WE NEVER HAD AN AUTOMOBILE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. TIL AFTER I WAS MARRIED WE HAD AN OLD MODEL T FORD.))
[SUPER=01-Pearlie Shepard/104 Years Old;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=MODEL T FORD]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

They wouldn't have too many mechanical problems from that Model T.
In 19-15 She left school and married a mechanic. She says she's travelled across the nation to California, New York, and Florida to visit family members, but none of those places compares to home.
(-----------)



(Kim tosses to bump)

[BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]


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


In business news, Stocks closed lower on Wednesday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((STOCKS TOOK MODEST LOSSES IN A SHORTENED PRE-HOLIDAY SESSION WEDNESDAY.
A MAD COW THREAT IN WASHINGTON STATE DIDN'T HELP THE AVERAGES.


THE DOW LOST 35 POINTS...
AND THE NASDAQ GAVE UP SIX.


THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NUMBER OF JOBLESS CLAIMS FOR LAST WEEK FELL TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS.


AT 353-THOUSAND THE TALLY FOR THE WEEK ENDED DECEMBER 20TH WAS A THOUSAND FEWER THAN THE REVISED FIGURE FOR THE PREVIOUS WEEK.
IT'S ALSO THE TWELFTH CONSECUTIVE WEEK THAT CLAIMS HAVE REMAINED BELOW THE PIVOTAL 400-THOUSAND LEVEL..


NEW ORDERS FOR U-S PRODUCED DURABLE GOODS PLUNGED UNEXPECTEDLY IN NOVEMBER.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SAYS ORDERS FELL BY MORE THAN THREE PERCENT, DEFYING ECONOMISTS' EXPECTATIONS FOR AN INCREASE.


THE DECLINE WAS AT THE STEEPEST RATE IN MORE THAN A YEAR.
IT WAS THE BIGGEST DECLINE SINCE A SIX PERCENT TUMBLE IN SEPTEMBER, 2002, AND FOLLOWED A REVISED FOUR PERCENT *INCREASE* IN OCTOBER.


SHARES OF MICRON WERE UP WEDNESDAY MORNING AFTER THE COMPANY DEFIED WALL STREET NAYSAYERS ON TUESDAY.
THE COMPANY BEAT ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS ON SALES BY TEN PERCENT AND MANAGED TO BREAK EVEN ON EARNINGS AFTER 11 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERLY LOSSES.
ANTICIPATED DECLINES IN THE PRICE OF THE COMPANY'S POPULAR DYNAMIC RAM APPARENTLY HAVE NOT YET HIT THE BOTTOM LINE.


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




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

by SS