[VOBVinton-Racing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Off Track Betting 4543]
[ENG#=1]

It passed by only 20 votes and that is partly why opponents are still fighting a proposed off track betting parlor in Vinton.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]

Colonial Downs wants to build the 15-thousand square foot facility behind the Lancerlot Sports Complex just off the main roadway in Vinton.
The state's racing commission visited the site yesterday afternoon and then held a public hearing at the Vinton War Memorial.
There, commissioners heard an earful from both sides.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:58:18; 3:57:44]
[IN Q=I think it will]
((REV. JUAM BARR/MIDLAND BAPTIST CHURCH: I THINK IT WILL BRING TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, IT WILL BE CRIME PROBLEMS, ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, DOWN FAMILY VALUES, BRING MORALES DOWN, I'M JUST OPPOSED FOR THOSE REASONS.)) ((DEBRA BROGAN/VINTON RESIDENT: I BELIEVE COLONIAL DOWNS WILL HELP WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS AS FAR AS THE ROADS, THE STOP LIGHTS, AND ALL THAT. THEY HAVE PROMISED TO DO A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Juam Barr/Midland Baptist Church; :00]
[SUPER=01-Debra Brogan/Vinton Resident; :10]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=for our community]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Since voters already approved a referendum on the issue, the racing commission's job is to decide whether the proposed site is appropriate.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the project at its March 3rd meeting.
If approved, Colonial Downs hopes to have the facility up and running by late summer.
(------------)

---

[11L'burg-Mayor]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC32:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

There was good news and bad news for Lynchburg residents in this year's State of the City message from its mayor.

The Hill City's crime rate is at an all-time low and existing companies continue to make major investments there.

But the city's also preparing to deal with a budget shortfall city leaders call "unprecedented".
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Lynchburg's budget]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Carl Hutcherson/Lynchburg Mayor; :17]
[SUPER=01-Bert Dodson/Lynchburg Vice Mayor; :47]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:02]
[SUPER=01-Art Lipscomb/Lynchburg Firefighters Association; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( Lynchburg's budget glass may not be half empty, but it is short at least five million dollars.
As Mayor Carl Hutcherson delivered the annual State of the City message, he made clear that funding and tax problems at the state level were having a trickle-down effect on the local economy.
[SOT 7:14:18]
((CARL HUTCHERSON/LYNCHBURG MAYOR: TAX RESTRUCTURING IN VIRGINIA IS AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. IF WE ARE TO SAVE OUR CITIES, THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MUST STEP UP WITH COURAGE AND DETERMINATION TO WORK SERIOUSLY ON RESTRUCTURING A TAX SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO PLACE OUR CITIES AT RISK.))
[RUNS= 19]
[OUT Q=city in mind.]

The decision-making process starts March 9th, when city manager Kimball Payne delivers the budget to council.
Members made it clear that whatever bucks there are, they stop in council chambers.
[SOT 7:32:15]
((BERT DODSON/LYNCHBURG VICE MAYOR: WE AS A GROUP WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO DELIVER THE SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE MANNER. AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, WHEN THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, ANY CREDIT OR BLAME SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NOT AT OUR CITY MANAGER.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=our city manager.]

Also present were about 60 Lynchburg firefighters, acting as a silent reminder that their pay concerns, like their police counterparts, need to be reckoned with.
[SOT 8:21:03]
((ART LIPSCOMB/L'BURG FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION: WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW OUR CONCERN FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY AND MAKE SURE COUNCIL KNEW THAT WE WERE THERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT THEM AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL LOOK OUT FOR US AS WELL.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=us as well.]

Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg. ))

---

[Campaign-2004]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=3]

President Bush is taking the offensive in his bid to re-claim the White House in November.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

While Bush didn't mention the Democratic frontrunner by name, he implied that John Kerry has waffled on the key issues of free trade and Iraq.
The President made the remarks during a new stump speech he unveiled to Repulican governors.
Meanwhile, three states hold Democratic contests today.
Utah, Idaho, and Hawaii have a combined total of 61 delegates at stake.
Neither John Kerry nor John Edwards has campaigned in those states recently.
They're focusing instead on the Super Tuesday states.
(------------)

---

[Haiti]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]

At least 70 people have died in the violent uprising in Haiti.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Port-au-Prince, Haiti;]

The bloody revolt is closing in on the capital city, with street clashes already erupting in Port-au-Prince.
And after their capture of Haiti's second largest city, rebels control more than half the country.
They say they don't want more bloodshed, but demand that President Jean-Bertrand Aristide step down.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our solution is]
((HANS TIPPENHAUER/OPPOSITION LEADER: OUR SOLUTION IS THAT MR. ARISTEDE LEAVE. THE REBELS HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR, ONCE HE LEAVES THEY WONT FIGHT ANYMORE AND THEY WILL GIVE BACK THEIR WEAPONS. ))
[SUPER=01-Hans Tippenhauer/Opposition Leader;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=won't fight anymore.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Opposition leaders were set to reject a U-S backed peace proposal yesterday, but Secretary of State Colin Powell asked them to give it another 24 hours.
Meanwhile, about 50 U-S Marines have landed in Haiti, with orders to protect the U-S embassy and its staff.
(------------)

---

[11Franklin-Missionary]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:10:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

A Franklin County man knows first-hand what the situation is like in Haiti.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Gerald Saint-Vincent returned home Friday from Haiti, after spending 17-days there performing missionary work through his church. He says although he spent most of his time in villages away from the violence, it was hard to ignore what was going on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1150]
[IN Q=we heard about]
((GERALD ST. VINCENT/MISSIONARY: WE HEARD ABOUT THE GUINEVERE, THE VILLAGE UP THERE WHERE THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE EXECUTED AND THE HYNCH AREA PONDESU, WE HEARD ALL THAT NEWS 01 1203 AND POLICEMEN THEY WERE FEARING FOR THEIR LIFE, THEY WERE OUTNUMBERED.))
[SUPER=01-Gerald St. Vincent/Missionary;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=they were outnumbered]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Saint-Vincent says he was still able to accomplish his goals. In fact he's already making plans for his SEVENTH missionary trip there next year.
(-------------)

---

[PKG-Mardi-Gras]

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

Rain isn't dampening the party spirit at Mardi Gras this year.
Despite the weather, hard-core revelers are still drinking beer and strolling down a very wet Bourbon Street.
Jennifer Donelan reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA;]
[SUPER=01-Brandon Bracken/Mardi Gras Visitor;]
[SUPER=01-Rich Gols/Mardi Gras Visitor;]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Donelan/CBS News;]
[SUPER=01-Jeannette Ehert/Mardi Gras Visitor;]
[SUPER-01-Carleen Timm/Mardi Gras Visitor;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Donelan, News 7.]
((

Nat sot - fireworks

ONLY IN NEW ORLEANS. ITS MARDI GRAS 2004.

(Sot Sax Man)
"Happy Mardi Gras to the world."
EVEN THOUGH THE STREETS WERE WET..THE SHOW WENT ON.
Nat Sot saxophone
NEW ORLEANS IS READY TO HOST A MILLION REVELERS FAT TUESDAY. THE WEATHER THE NIGHT BEFORE FORCED MANY UNDERCOVER.
Sot Brandon Bracken "It didnt really stop anyone from coming out here."
SEVERAL BIG PARADES WERE CANCELLED MONDAY ON ACCOUNT OF THE WEATHER.
Sot Rich Gols Reporter Are you disappointed. Rich Yes, Im very disappointed. I am upset.
BUT ONE NIGHT PARADE, ORPHEUS, HOSTED BY MUSICAL CELEBRITIES DIDNT DISAPPOINT.
Nat Sot - parade
Standup Jennifer Donelan "The rain eventually stopped, were standing at the border of the French Quarter. Bourbon Street. I tell you what that is one big party in there."
Nat Sot - "Were going to do a shout out to our friends at CBS."
THEY DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY NOTHING COULD DAMPEN THIS MOOD.
Sot " Jeannette Ehert Reporter " Are you having fun? Oh I am having a great time."
Sot Carleen Timm "Everything so far its wonderful."))

---

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Intel is the subject of an I-R-S audit. That news sent stocks lower yesterday.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((TECH STOCKS ARE HOPING FOR SUNNIER SKIES TODAY... THE SECTOR WAS BATTERED YESTERDAY WITH THE NASDAQ NEARLY WIPING OUT ALL ITS GAINS FOR THE YEAR...
THE DOW HELD UP MUCH BETTER, DOWN JUST 9 POINTS
BUT THE NASDAQ FORFEITED 30 POINTS OR 1.5 PERCENT. INTEL LED THE SELLOFF AFTER THE CHIP GIANT SAID THE IRS IS AUDITING ITS TAX RETURNS FOR 2001 AND 2002.
EVEN THE U-S ARMY DEALT A BLOW TO WALL STREET.. CANCELING ITS COMANCHE HELICOPTER PROGRAM RUN BY BOEING AND A DVISION OF UNITED TECHNOLOGIES.
THE New York Stock Exchange'S NEW CEO John Thain said the Big Board wants to recoup a ``very substantial'' part of the more than $140 million former Chairman Dick Grasso was paid by the exchange. Thain also said floor brokers may play a smaller role in the NYSE in the future as the exchange moves to more electronic trading.
ON THE STOCKS TO WATCH LIST: THE ONLINE DVD RENTAL COMPANY NETFLIX WARNED IT WILL LOSE MORE MONEY THAN EXPECTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER THANKS TO HIGHER COSTS FOR ADVERTISING.. BUT NETFLIX PREDICTS IT WILL HAVE NEARLY TWO MILLION CUSTOMERS BY THE SPRING.
AND QUALCOM - THE MAKER OF CELL PHONE CHIPS - BOOSTED ITS SECOND QUARTER PROFIT FORECAST BY ABOUT A THIRD.
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]

---

[11Rooster-Beheaded]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

He beheaded a rooster as part of a ritual.
Yesterday, the Pittsylvania County man was convicted of refusing to bury a dead bird and fined 30 dollars.
Osung bemi Ola-seni identified himself as a high priest of the Ifa religion.
He said he made the sacrifice to Shango, the god of enemies, because he had been embroiled in a property line dispute with a Pittsylvania County cement plant.
Olaseni has said he was told by the god Shango to hang the rooster from a tree on his property line, facing the concrete company.
His wife has defended the sacrifice, saying it was NOT meant as a threat, but to help the couple.

---

[11Blacksburg-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Blacksburg Police say a group of teenagers is responsible for a Friday night crime spree.
The first incident happened on Hunt Club Road around 10:30 p-m.
A man says he was knocked to the ground from behind, beaten and had his wallet taken.
While officers were investigating that robbery, another one happened on Patrick Henry Drive.
A man says he was jumped from behind, and his jacket stolen, but he was able to direct police to the suspects using his cell phone.
19 year old Sidney Terry is charged with 2-counts of robbery.
Three teenage boys also face robbery charges.

---

[Gay-Marriage]

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

The gay marriage debate may reach California's Supreme Court.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA;]

San Francisco has been issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.
On Friday, California's attorney general will ask the state's highest court if those marriages violate state law.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had urged the attorney general to get a court ruling to stop the gay weddings in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the city has also taken a preemptive strike, filing a lawsuit challenging the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

---

[COMM][6-Nader]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC1:20:23]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=2]

Presidential candidate Ralph Nader will bring his message to Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :28]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
The Independent, who held a news conference in Washington DC yesterday, will speak at Hollins University on Friday, April second. A spokesman for the school says the cost of tickets is still being determined. The appearance was booked months ago although Nader announced his intention to run for the nation's top office on Sunday. Some Democrats fear Nader could pull votes from their party's eventual nominee. They've also blamed him for taking votes from Al Gore in the close 2000 presidential election.
(------------)

---

[6-Global-Stone]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC25:38]
[GRAPHIC=Bankruptcy Filing]
[ENG#=2]
In business news, a national company with local ties has filed bankruptcy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Buchanan]
Oglebay Norton, the parent company of Global Stone James River in Buchanan, filed chapter 11 yesterday morning. A company spokesman says it will *not* affect operations at any of its plants, including the one in Buchanan, and that business will continue as usual. Nearly 80-people work at Global Stone James River in Buchanan.
(------------)


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

Now here's a look at your local stocks. [Kim TOSSES TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC]