[11Holcomb]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-52 TC1:37:42]
[GRAPHIC=Holcomb]
[ENG#=1]
Closing arguments are expected today in the trial of a former Giles County pastor accused of molesting several children.
Yesterday, 53-year old Roger Holcomb took the stand in his own defense .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.]
Holcomb faces four counts of aggravated sexual battery and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.
The former pastor of the Pembroke Church of God is accused of molesting three children.
Holcomb testified yesterday that he did not molest the children, but under cross examination by prosecutors he did admit that one of the children touched his private parts three times.
Holcomb says all 3-touches were accidents or unintentional.
(------------)
[Haiti]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
A plea for international help from the President of Haiti, as rebels threaten to overthrow the capital.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Port-au-Prince, Haiti;]
Opposition leaders in Haiti say they will NOT accept a U-S backed peace plan.
They've reiterated their demand that Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide step down.
Aristide has said he won't resign.
Meanwhile, diplomats continue working with both sides to reach a political solution.
Without an agreement, U-S officials say they may seek a U-N Security Council resolution to send in peacekeepers.
(------------)
[Gay-Marriage]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]
President Bush has put gay marriage front and center on the election agenda.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA;]
As thousands of gay couples flock to San Francisco to tie the knot, the President has found a reason why they should NOT be joined together.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A few judges]
((A FEW JUDGES AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE PRESUMING TO CHANGE THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL INSTITUTION OF CIVILIZATION.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=institution of civilization]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Bush has called on Congress to pass a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
He says San Francisco's decision to issue licenses to same-sex couples, and a Massachusetts court ruling giving gays marriage rights demanded intervention to protect the institution of marriage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think it]
((CHIP LENNO/NEWLYWED: I THINK IT IS VERY SAD THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO USE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS TO DENY
RIGHTS TO ITS CITIZENRY.))
[SUPER=01-Chip Lenno/Newlywed;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=deny rights to its citizenry.]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
Polls show more than half of Americans are with the President on this issue.
But any amendment must have support from two-thirds of Congress and three- quarters of the states.
(------------)
[11Falwell-Marriage]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC41:00]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Falwell]
[ENG#=4]
The Reverend Jerry Falwell says President Bush's timing is just right.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Falwell says Bush is showing some political courage by bringing the issue to the forefront in an election year.. Some conservatives had hoped to get him involved earlier.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:53:39]
[IN Q=Conservatives are like]
((REV. JERRY FALWELL/LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR: CONSERVATIVES ARE LIKE LIBERALS, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT EVERYTHING DONE YESTERDAY. BUT A MAN WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND WHO REPRESENTS ALL THE PEOPLE HAS GOT TO CAREFULLY WEIGH EVERY DECISION, EVERY PRONOUNCEMENT. AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT ON TIME, I THINK THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE IMPATIENT ARE SHOUTING HALLELUJAH TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Jerry Falwell/Liberty University Chancellor]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=shouting hallelujah today.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Falwell says it's going to be extremely tough for any politician to vote against the amendment in an election year.
(------------)
[11Passion-Reaction]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC 26:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
It is one of the most talked about movies in recent memory.
Today the Passion of the Christ will open in theaters but some got a sneak peek yesterday.
Justin McLeod has reaction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-The Passion of the Christ; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Chris Lewis/First Baptist Church of Roanoke; :14]
[SUPER=01-Rabbi Manes Kogan/Beth Israel Synagogue; :57]
[SUPER=01-Kathy Chittum/Grandin Theatre; 1:20]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF THE FILM))
The Passion of the Christ depicts the last twelve hours of Jesus' life.
It is a film one local minister says is a must see.
[SOT 5:30:23]
[IN Q=It was just an experience]
((REV. CHRIS LEWIS/FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ROANOKE: IT WAS JUST AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOU LEAVE THE THEATER WITH THE QUESTION ON YOUR MIND WHAT DO I DO WITH WHAT I JUST EXPERIENCED.))
[Runs06]
[OUT Q=I JUST EXPERIENCED]
An experience Rev Lewis admits is intense.
The movie is considered the most graphic depiction of Christ's death ever put on film.
But it's not the violence that is getting all the attention, it's whether the movie is anti-semitic.
[SOT 5:33:41]
[IN Q=I tried to watch]
((REV. CHRIS LEWIS/FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROANOKE: I TRIED TO WATCH THE FILM WITH THE ALL THE CRITICISMS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AND I JUST SIMPLY DIDN'T SEE ANY TYPE OF ANTI SEMITIC MESSAGE.))
[Runs08]
[OUT Q=anti-semitic message]
But some believe the movie blames Jews for Christ's death.
One local rabbi who hasn't the seen film but knows enough of the controversy fears not the message of the movie but rather the reaction to it.
[SOT 5:40:10]
[IN Q=People who will be]
((RABBI MANES KOGAN/BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE: PEOPLE WHO WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE MOVIE WILL HAVE A DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY.))
[Runs11]
[OUT Q=to believe differently]
Rabbi Kogan hasn't decide whether he'll see the movie.
But plenty of people in the Roanoke Valley have decided to see it.
The Grandin Theater has sold over 400 advance tickets.
[SOT 5:48:08]
[IN Q=It's huge]
((KATHY CHITTUM/GRANDIN THEATER: IT'S HUGE. WE'VE PROBABLY HAD OVER 20 CHURCHES CALL US TO FIND OUT IF THEY CAN RENT OUT SPECIAL SHOWS.))
[Runs07]
[OUT Q=RENT OUT SPECIAL SHOWS]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=Other movie theaters]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: OTHER MOVIE THEATERS IN OUR AREA ARE ALSO SEEING BRISK ADVANCE TICKET SALES. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROANOKE FOR EXAMPLE HAS ALREADY PURCHASED NEARLY TWO THOUSAND TICKETS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT HOWEVER JUST ABOUT EVERYONE AGREES NO ONE UNDER TWELVE SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))
[6-Concept-One]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-49 TC2:00:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
The plan to bring a private school for troubled youth to Radford may be in trouble itself.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
A Tidewater company wanted to get the old New River Industries plant on Main Street rezoned so it could create a private academy for troubled 15 to 17 year olds.
Monday night a Radford city council member made a motion to approve the rezoning, but no one would second it.
City attornies are now looking into the matter, but officials say it's likely the failed motion means the project is essentially denied.
(------------)
[Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]
In business news, Pennsylvania is taking legal action against Time-Warner and A-O-L.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC]
[COMM]
[Philippine-Blast]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]
[ENG#=1]
A series of explosions has ripped through the armory at the Philippine national police headquarters in Manila.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Manila, Philippines;]
Police say they're not yet sure about the number of casualties after an electrical spark triggered a fire today.
Witnesses ran from a Manila train station after hearing
the blasts nearby.
Some say the blasts also knocked out power out as they shook the ground.
Police cordoned off the area as rescue vehicles raced to the scene and soldiers began collecting pieces of explosives.
(------------)
[Stewart]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Stewart]
[ENG#=2]
The jury won't be hearing from Martha Stewart.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
The domestic diva will not take the stand in her own defense, and her attorneys expect to begin and end their case today.
Stewart's accused of lying to the government about her timely sale of Imclone stocks.
Her defense team determined she won't testify, and plans to call only two witnesses.
One is a former attorney who represented Stewart when she first met with government investigators.
The other witness is a memory expert.
Closing arguments could begin as early as tomorrow.
(------------)
[11Remington]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Remington]
An inmate on death row has taken his own life.
(XXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN PINNACLE]
The autopsy has not been completed, but the group called "Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty" says Jeffrey Alan Remington was found hanging in his cell at 3:35 Monday morning.
The 39 year old inmate had been serving a 42 year sentence for an abduction, robbery and rape in Richmond a decade ago.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
In the year 2000, he and another prisoner at the Augusta Correctional Center fatally stabbed a fellow inmate 68 times.
That's what put Remington on death row.
[11Boys-Girls]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:12:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
A partnership between Roanoke City Schools and the local Boys and Girls Clubs will extend after-school activities to 12- hundred children in northwest Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Two new Boys and Girls Clubs are slated to open, first at Forest Park Elementary this Spring, and at the new Academy for Mathematics and Science next January.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's what they need]
((FAYE WOOD/FOREST PARK PRINCIPAL: IT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM DON'T GET BEYOND THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WE HAVE WONDERFULLY BRIGHT CHILDREN WHO CAN BE BENEFITS TO OUR SOCIETY IN THE FUTURE, BUT THEY NEED TO BE SHAPED AND MOLDED AND THAT'S WHAT THE GIRLS AND BOYS CLUB PROVIDES AFTER HOURS FOR OUR CHILDREN.))
[SUPER=01-Faye Wood/Forest Park Principal;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=for our children.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
By partnering with the city schools, the Boys and Girls Clubs organization estimates it will save five million dollars on new construction.
The group is launching a fund drive for operating expenses, and yesterday celebrated a 250- thousand dollar contribution from Delta Dental Plan of Virginia.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[bump-chyron]
[comm #3]
[County-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC 34:30]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=]
Fire heavily damaged a Roanoke County home this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./This Morning]
Firefighters were called to 1570 Reed Mountain Road around 3 o-clock.
Authorities say it appears the blaze started in the chimney, but they won't know the exact cause until later today.
No one was injured.
(------------)
[6-RBX]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Bankruptcy Filing]
Roanoke-based RBX Industries has filed for bankruptcy protection.
While the company says it is dissappointed with its current state, RBX says Chapter 11 reorganization is necesary and expects positive effects for continuing operations.
In February, the company announced it would close three facilities, including the plant in Bedford, due to the weak economy and overcrowding in the rubber industry.
Now let's take a look at your local stocks.
[KIM TOSS TO STOCKS]
[STOCKS]
[WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC]
[COMM]
[11Bus-Drivers]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC 22:56]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
Good help is hard to find...
Especially when you're talking about school bus drivers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
Across the country, here in the Commonwealth and in counties throughout the region- there's a bus driver shortage.
School administrators have adjusted route times so that every driver can make as many runs as possible.
Bus drivers usually deal with low-pay, too many children and not enough discipline.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@34:24:19]
[INQ=Imagine teaching a..]
((DR. LARRY HALL, BOTETOURT COUNTY SCHOOLS: IMAGINE TEACHING A CLASS WITH YOUR BACK TO THE CHILDREN THE WHOLE TIME. THAT'S WHAT A DRIVER IS DOING WHEN HE'S GOING DOWN THE ROAD. HE HAS 50-KIDS BEHIND HIM WITH THE ONLY WAY TO CHECK ON THEM IS BY MIRROR. I'D RATHER HE BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS EYES ON THE ROAD THAN THE MIRROR.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hall/Botetourt County Schools;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUTQ=.. than the mirror.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In Botetourt County, the school system has 60-drivers for 60-regular buses, but when you have a number of those drivers calling out a day - the school's director of operations says it makes it tough to run regular routes.
(------------)
In the past, he's asked principals, custodians, even his own secretary to fill in.
by SS