[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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



Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Waking up to temperatures again in the teens and 20s, but otherwise it'll be pretty quiet today.
Brent Watts has the mid- week forecast, coming up in just a few minutes.





[7-Rke-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-03]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]



[ENG#=1]

An overnight fire in Roanoke left 21 people homeless.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

The two alarm fire sent eight firefighting units to Sterlingwood Apartments in northwest Roanoke at 12:45 this morning. The apartment complex is located on Montauk Road between William Fleming and the Countryside Golf Course. It took firefighters close to an hour to gain control of the blaze. A total of 6 units were damaged and many of its residents are left without homes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:02:01]
[IN Q=At this time of morning]
[SUPER=01-Bobbie Slayton/Roanoke Battalion Chief;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=were already out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fire officials say they have not yet determined what started the fire. There are no injuries reported.
(------------)



[7-11City-Council]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC1:31:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]



[ENG#=2]

Meanwhile, city officials hope that Sunday's deadly apartment fire that killed a three- year- old boy will bring more attention to fire safety.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night;]


City Manager Darlene Burcham raised the subject at last night's city council meeting.
She said she hopes the tragedy will encourage more residents to install smoke detectors.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02;19:22]
[IN Q=We don't yet know that particular fire]

((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER; WE DON'T YET KNOW WHY THAT PARTICULAR FIRE HAPPENED, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE OUGHT TO REMEMBER THAT TRAGEDY IN POSITIVE WAYS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE AVOID A FUTURE TRAGEDY BY ASKING OUR CITIZENS TO PLEASE BUY A SMOKE DETECTOR, INSTALL A SMOKE DETECTOR, CHECK THE BATTERIES.))
[SUPER=@Burcham;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=check the batteries.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Burcham says any city resident who cannot afford to purchase a smoke detector can obtain one through the Fire Department for free.
(------------)



[7-VOBSchool-Violence]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-02]
[GRAPHIC=None]



[ENG#=3]


Last night the public got its chance to weigh in on violence in Roanoke City Schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


The school safety task force held four public forums in every section of the city.
Participants were asked to list the most pressing safety needs, prioritize them and then offer solutions.
Some questioned exactly how much violence is really in the schools.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:22:47; 1:07:48; 1:09:30]
[IN Q=I do think it]

((KAREN PILLIS/PARENT: I DO THINK IT HAS BEEN BLOWN UP IN THE MEDIA.)) ((DEBBIE JONES/PARENT: YEAH, I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFINETE SAFETY PROBLEM, VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS, IT'S THERE.)) ((KATHRYN HATAM/WILLIAM FLEMING SENIOR: IN MY EXPERIENCE, I HAVE NEVER FELT THREATENED AT WILLIAM FLEMING HIGH SCHOOL.))
[SUPER=01-Karen Pillis/Parent; :00 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Jones/Parent; :04 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Kathryn Hatam/William Fleming Senior; :08 QUICK]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=William Fleming High School]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The School safety task force will take all the information from these forums and then issue a report with recommendations by mid-March.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]


If you would like to offer your opinion, you can do so online at the school system's website.
(XXXXXXX)

[TAKE WDBJ WEBSITE PINNACLE]
We've put a link to that website on ours at wdbj7.com. Go there and click websites in the news.
You have until February 28th.
(------------)


[55-WXHeads]


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



Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Chilly weather continues, but we're in store for a brief warm- up by tomorrow.
Brent Watts has details on that, plus a look ahead to the weekend forecast, coming up.

[55-Rke-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-02]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]



[ENG#=1]

An apartment complex caught fire in Roanoke overnight leaving 21 people without homes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

The two alarm fire sent eight firefighting units to Sterlingwood Apartments in northwest Roanoke at 12:45 this morning. The apartment complex is located on Montauk Road between William Fleming and the Countryside Golf Course. It took firefighters close to an hour to gain control of the blaze. A total of 6 units were damaged and many of its residents are left without homes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:02:01]
[IN Q=At this time of morning]
[SUPER=01-Bobbie Slayton/Roanoke Battalion Chief;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=were already out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fire officials say the fire started in a bathroom exhaust fan. There are no injuries reported.
(------------)



[55-Roanoke-Fatal]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]



A traffic accident has taken the life of a Roanoke woman.
Police say 70 year old Evelyn Mabel Smith ran into the vehicle in front of her on Peters Creek around 5:00 p.m. yesterday.
She was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she died from injuries to her chest.
Two other vehicles had minor damage. No one else required hospital treatment.

[55-11Tech-Cards]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-48 TC1:19:42]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]



[ENG#=2]


Tech Quarterbacks Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick aren't just being swapped on the field.
Their images are being traded by some fans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Un- authorized trading cards are popping up in the region, and that has Tech officials concerned.
The NCAA does not allow a student athlete's image to be sold without the school's or student's permission.
Rookie Review magazine is selling the cards as a page in its magazine.
Tech officials say they've warned this company twice before to stop making the cards.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:11:43:00 ]
[IN Q=This card situation.]

((TIM PARKER/VIRGINIA TECH ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:THIS CARD SITUATION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WITH THIS COMPANY ROOKIE REVIEW IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S' REALLY GOTTEN TO BE A SYSTEMATIC PRODUCTION OF CARDS OF STUDENT ATHLETES WHO HAVE NOT EXHAUSTED THEIR ELIGIBILITY.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Parker/Virginia Tech Assistant Athletic Director;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=their eligibility.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Rookie Review says it's a First Amendment right.
Tech officials say if they don't get any response to a third cease and desist letter, the school may take the issue to the NC-double-A.
(------------)



[8Wx-Headline]


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



Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
By now we're getting used to below- normal temperatures, and that'll be the case again today, with highs only in the 30s.
Brent Watts has your complete forecast, right after the news.




[8-Rke-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-03 12:44]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]



[ENG#=1]

21 people are without homes this morning after a fire tore through a Roanoke apartment complex.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Morning;]

The two alarm fire sent eight firefighting units to Sterlingwood Apartments in northwest Roanoke at 12:45 this morning. The apartment complex is located on Montauk Road between William Fleming and the Countryside Golf Course. It took firefighters close to an hour to gain control of the blaze. Six units were damaged and many of its residents were left without homes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:02:01]
[IN Q=At this time of morning]
[SUPER=01-Bobbie Slayton/Roanoke Battalion Chief;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=were already out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fire officials say the fire started in a bathroom exhaust fan. There are no injuries reported.
(------------)



[8-Trumbo]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Bo Trumbo]


Former State Senator Bo Trumbo is about to take on a new venture-- in the courthouse. The General Assembly has unanimously elected Trumbo to fill a vacancy in the 25th circuit, which extends from Craig and Botetourt Counties northward to Highland County. His duties as judge begin February 1st. Trumbo will replace Duncan Byrd, who died in a traffic accident last summer.


[8-11Tort-Reform]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-50 TC1:25:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]



[ENG#=2]


Republican legislators say huge lawsuits are hurting Virginia businesses and consumers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


The lawmakers are proposing changes to Virginia's tort laws.
They say their reforms are aimed at protecting businesses from unnecessary legal expenses which drive up the cost of goods and services.
The GOP delegates are introducing a bill to prohibit people from suing for damages caused by fatty foods, alcohol or cigarettes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:59:23]
[IN Q=IT PRESERVES THE RIGHT]

((DELEGATE BILL JANIS/R-HENRICO COUNTY: IT PRESERVES THE RIGHT FOR SOMEONE TO SUE FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU EAT A CAKE WITH UNCOOKED EGGS IN IT BECAUSE THAT'S NEGLIGENT. I COULD GET SALMONELLA BUT I CAN'T SUE BECAUSE I GOT FAT OR GOT HYPERTENSION FROM EATING A DIET EXCLUSIVELY OF LITTLE DEBBIE SNACK CAKES.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Bill Janis/(R) Henrico Co.;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=exclusively of little debbie snack cakes.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


House Republicans say tort reform will also keep down the rising costs of health care and malpractice insurance.
(------------)



[8-6-Galax-Jobs]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=cja]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=New jobs]


Galax received some good news yesterday from Governor Mark Warner. Warner announced yesterday that Guardian Industries Corporation will expand its operations there, and add a product line called laminated glass.
Guardian will invest 2- and-a-half million dollars in building improvements and equipment. The company will create 54 new jobs in the area over the next two and a half years.
by SS