[Danville-Weather]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Leo Weather Center /Steve Starlink;]
[LIVE=Steve /FULL]
[SUPER=@spa1]
[SUPER=05-Danville]
(Steve-adlib)
(He'll call for video)
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
[RUNS=:30]
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Danville;]
(Steve-adlib toss to Kim)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim at Desk /Steve Starlink;]
[School-Info]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]
[ENG#=none]
We do have a couple of school annoucements to pass along this morning.
(++++++++++++)
[Take FS School Touch]
(Kim ad-lib)
(++++++++)
[TAKE FS WEB ADDRESS 4473 essc]
Also for a list of weather-related closings and delays, go any time to our home page at wdbj7-dot-com.
(++++++++++)
[PKGCop-Crash]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=Net N]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
[ENG#=2]
In other news, two Lynchburg police officers are lucky to be alive this morning after their patrol car ran off a steep cliff last night.
As Steve Smallshaw reports, it took rescue crews more than an hour to bring them to safety.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Around 11:15]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brian Smith/Lynchburg Police Department; :20]
[SUPER=01-Chief Nanette Heath/Lynchburg Fire Department; :47]
[SUPER=01-Jack Lewis/Lynchburg Police Department; 1:10]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
[PKG-Schools-Soda]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC 1:22:04]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
[ENG#=3]
It may be hard to swallow, but students in Roanoke City Schools will have to learn to deal with it.
The administration has decided to expel soda from the drink machines.
Justin McLeod has details and reaction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ben Poe/Patrick Henry High School Freshman; :15]
[SUPER=01-Heather Snead/School Nutritionist; :23]
[SUPER=01-Diana Sanders/Patrick Henry High School Junior; :48]
[SUPER=01-Mandy Moomaw/Patrick Henry High School Freshman; 1:18 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF PLAYING BASKETBALL))
When athletes get done with practice, they often head for the drink machines.
But they'll soon have to jump through hoops if they want a soda.
[SOT 14:45:21]
[IN Q=We're old enough]
((BEN POE/PATRICK HENRY H.S. FRESHMEN: WE'RE OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK SODA ON OUR OWN. AND WE CAN CHOOSE HOW MUCH WE DRINK. I THINK IT SORT OF TAKES AWAY FROM US.))
[Runs06]
[OUT Q=AWAY FROM US]
But the Roanoke school system disagrees.
[SOT 14:32:57]
[IN Q=There is a very high]
((HEATHER SNEAD/SCHOOL NUTRITIONIST: THERE IS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY NOW AND IT'S GROWING EVERY YEAR.))
[Runs06]
[OUT Q=GROWING EVERY YEAR]
In response, the school system set up a committee to study the issue.
It recommends all soda be removed from the beverage machines and be replaced with 100 percent fruit juices, water, and milk.
The committee also wants snack machines to carry healthier choices like pretzels and baked chips.
After months of debate, the school board has agreed to implement this plan.
[SOT 14:45:01]
[IN Q=I think that's a good]
((DIANA SANDERS/PATRICK HENRY H.S. FRESHMEN: I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, MAKING THE KIDS EAT HEALTHIER FOODS AND IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT THEY CAN BRING THEIR OWN FOOD.))
[Runs07]
[OUT Q=their own food]
((NAT SOUND OF PUTTING CHANGE INTO SODA MACHINE))
But some fear they'll be short changed, especially those who profit from the drink machines.
Take the sports medicine department here at Patrick Henry School.
When administrators decided last fall to only allow access to drink machines before and after school, the department lost 75 percent of its profits.
It fears it will lose even more once the soda is gone.
[SOT 14:42:57]
[IN Q=I think it will]
((MANDY MOOMAW/PATRICK HENRY H.S. JUNIOR: I THINK IT WILL BE A CONSIDERABLE CUT BUT WE'LL MAKE IT, WE'LL MANAGE.))
[Runs05]
[OUT Q=we'll make it, we'll manage]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=The school system points]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THE SCHOOL SYSTEM POINTS OUT WILLIAM FLEMING VOLUNTARILY REMOVED SODA FROM ITS MACHINES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND SO FAR ADMINITRATORS SAYS THEY'VE SEEN NO MAJOR DROP IN PROFITS. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))
[Iraq]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=4]
The U-S has placed a 10- million- dollar bounty on the head of a Jordanian militant suspected of organizing attacks in Iraq.
Two more American soldiers died last night following a roadside bombing yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]
It's been a deadly week in Iraq.
Suicide bombings on Tuesday and Wednesday left nearly 100 Iraqis dead.
Yesterday, forensics team scoured a blast site, looking for clues to help them identify a suicide bomber.
The bomber had armed a car with explosives, then detonated it outside an army recruiting station in Baghdad.
(------------)
[NASA]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]
NASA's chief heads to Capitol Hill today to talk about the President's plan to send an astronaut to the moon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NASA;]
Sean O'Keefe will testify before a House committee considering Bush's plan to re- launch moon missions, build a lunar base, and eventually attempt a mission to Mars.
Yesterday, space policy experts talked to a White House- appointed panel reviewing the President's space exploration proposal.
They warned members of the commission not to set budget limits for the project.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]
In business news, Alan Greespan had some good things to say about the economy yesterday.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((INVESTORS ENJOYED A GREENSPAN RALLY ON WALL STREET. FEDERAL RESERVE
> CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN DIDN'T SPOOK WALL STREET AFTERALL DURING HIS
> SEMIANNUAL TESTIMONY YESTERDAY BEFORE CONGRESS. GREENSPAN SAID THE ECONOMY
> MAY GROW AS MUCH AS 5 PERCENT THIS YEAR LEADING TO FASTER JOB GROWTH.
> GREENSPAN ALSO TOLD LAWMAKERS THAT LOW INFLATION WILL ALLOW THE FED TO
> HOLD OFF ON RAISING INTEREST RATES ANYTIME SOON.
> THE DOW ROCKETED 123 POINTS TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN OVER 2 AND A HALF
> YEARS.
>
> THE NASDAQ MOVED UP A MORE MODEST 14.
>
> DISNEY IS SURE TO BE A STOCK TO WATCH AFTER YESTERDAY'S SURPISE 66 BILLION
> DOLLAR TAKEOVER OFFER FROM CABLE GIANT COMCAST. DISNEY SAYS ITS BOARD WILL
> CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL, ALTHOUGH DISNEY'S EMBATTLED BOSS MICHAEL
> EISNER HAS REPORTEDLY REJECTED THE OFFER. IF SUCCESSFUL, THE DEAL WOULD
> CREATE A MEDIA POWERHOUSE AND GIVE DISNEY SHAREHOLDERS 42 PERCENT OF THE
> COMBINED COMPANY.
>
> Federal regulators are moving to adopt new reforms on the mutual fund
> industry. The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing a ban on
> special payments from fund companies to brokerages for steering customers
> their way. Critics say the long-standing practice creates conflicts of
> interest and also drives up investor costs. S-E-C Commissioners also voted
> to adopt a new rule requiring funds to provide investors a twice-yearly
> "shareholder report" with more complete information on fees and
> expenses.95 MILLION AMERICANS CURRENTLY INVEST IN MUTUAL FUNDS.
>
> TRACK ALL THE MARKET ACTION AT CBS.MW.COM IN NY I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS.))
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC]
[COMM]
[VOBWishneff]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Thursday-AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Victory Stadium 4420]
[ENG#=1]
In the wake of Saturday's firehouse primary, Brian Wishneff says Roanoke voters have spoken on Victory Stadium.
Now he's urging city leaders to put the new stadium and amphitheater on hold until the general election in May.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Saturday;]
With the defeat of two incumbents in the Democratic primary, Wishneff says Roanokers were sending the message that they want Victory Stadium renovated.
He says city council should wait until all of the city's voters have weighed in before moving forward with the new stadium and amphitheater.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:19:38]
[IN Q=The only reason]
((BRIAN WISHNEFF: THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU WOULD DO IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME WOULD REALLY BE OUT OF SPITE AND IT WOULD REALLY BE LIKE KICKING SAND IN THE FACE OF THE VOTERS SO I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THAT.))
((RUPERT CUTLER: IF WE STOPPED THAT WE'D BE WASTING A FEW MILLION DOLLARS THAT THIS CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO WASTE, AND PUTTING OFF THE DAY WHEN OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE A GOOD FOOTBALL AND SOCCER STADIUM AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD OUTDOOR CONCERT VENUE.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Wishneff/(D) City Council Candidate; :00]
[SUPER=@Cutler; :15]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=have a good outdoor concert venue.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Council member Rupert Cutler says he believes the city should continue to move forward with the new stadium... but he also says he could support a plan to maintain Victory Stadium as an athletic facility and memorial to veterans.
(------------) [Gay-Marriage]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
A storm of controversy continues in Massachusetts concerning gay marriage.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boston, MA;]
Inside the statehouse yesterday, lawmakers spent more than six hours considering whether to create a constitutional amendment to ban gay marraige.
They came up with two different compromise proposals that would have outlawed same-sex marriages, but could have allowed gays and lesbians to join together in civil unions.
Both measures failed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're as divided]
((REP. TOM FINNERAN/D- HOUSE SPEAKER:WE'RE AS DIVIDED AS THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT. WE ARE AS
DIVIDED AS THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS. WE'RE AS DIVIDED AS THE NATION. ))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Tom Finneran/(D) House Speaker;]
[RUNS=:08] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=as the nation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
When they meet again later today, lawmakers might make a THIRD compromise suggestion.
If that measure also fails, they're looking an an outright ban on gay marriage, or leaving the state constitution as it is.
(------------)
[11Radford-Parking]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC52:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Radford city council's put the brakes on a controversial plan to take away some downtown parking spots.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
The city's agreed to compromise with business owners and "not" do away with side street parking on Tyler Avenue.
The parking spots were in jeopardy from a plan to make the area safer for pedestrians.
The city will begin work this summer on sidewalk, crosswalk, and sewer upgrades and new biking lanes.
(-------------)
[11Appox-Stabbing]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A 10-year-old Appomattox boy is in the care of authorities after he allegedly stabbed his grandmother.
It happened on Evergreen Avenue around one o-clock yesterday.
Police say the woman was stabbed in the hand, shoulder and back, but her injuries were "not" life-threatening.
The boy will undergo a mental evaluation while a decision on criminal charges is made.
[National-WX]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
[ENG#=4]
A winter storm barrelling out of Canada is causing white-out conditions in the Northern Plains.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Minot, ND;]
Snow drifts as high as 20 feet prompted North Dakota's Governor to declare a snow emergency.
Schools are closed, roads are blocked, and an Amtrak train was stopped on its tracks.
The Alberta Clipper brought wind gusts of more than 75- miles- per- hour that caused heavy snow drifts and white-out conditions.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your local forecast after the break.
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]
[COMM][11Background-checks]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC41:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
The Virginia Senate shot down an attempt to require background checks on all buyers at gun shows.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]
Virginia law already requires LICENSED dealers to conduct background checks.
But unlicensed dealers, such as gun collectors and private sellers, are exempt.
Senator Henry Marsh's bill would have changed that.
Marsh claims that at least 375 crimes are committed each year in the state with guns purchased at gun shows.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:18:40]
[IN Q=IS IT FAIR THAT TO THE CONVENIENCE OF A FEW]
((SEN. HENRY MARSH/D-RICHMOND: IS IT FAIR THAT TO THE CONVENIENCE OF A FEW HOBBY GUN DEALERS WHO WANT TO SELL THEIR DEADLY PRODUCTS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, SHOULD COME BEFORE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I DON'T THINK FOR TOO MANY A BACKGROUND CHECK IS TOO MUCH TO ASK.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Henry Marsh/(D) Richmond]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=A BACKGROUND CHECK IS TOO MUCH TO ASK.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The bill was defeated by a vote of 24-to-15.
(------------)
by SS