[11Chemical-Leak]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC00:40]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
[ENG#=1]
Hazerdous materials crews have contained an ammonia leak at the Blacksburg Industrial Park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
An outside tank at the Federal-Mogul plant began leaking just before eight o-clock last night.
The entire industrial park was evacuated as crews worked to patch the tank. It has since re-opened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:53:39]
[IN Q=It was a ]
((KEITH BOLTY/BLACKSBURG FIRE CHIEF; IT WAS A NEW TANK THAT THEY JUST PUT IN LAST WEEK AND THE WELD HAS BROKE ON IT.))
[SUPER=01-Keith Bolty/Blacksburg Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=has broke on it.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
One person was injured, but there's no word on their condition.
Authorities say there is no danger to the surrounding community.
Blacksburg Transit shut down bus service early last night because its headquarters was also evacuated. Regular service will resume this morning.
[VO-Honeywood-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC 1:37]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=2]
Two people were slighty injured after a fire at a Roanoke County apartment complex.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
The fire broke out around 7:30 last night at the Honeywood Apartments located off of Ogden Road near Tanglewood Mall.
Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a second floor apartment.
After the fire was extinguished, crews discovered a man unconscious on the floor.
He was transported to the hospital. A woman in another apartment was also taken to the hospital.
They both suffered smoke inhalation and are expected to be o-k.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
Investigators have determined the fire started after the man fell asleep while smoking.
One apartment was heavily damaged, three others suffered smoke damage.[11Bedford-Fatal]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC41:53]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
[ENG#=3]
A State Police reconstruction team will travel to Bedford County later today, in efforts to determine exactly what caused the accident that killed three teenagers earlier this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
16-year-old Janae Mills was killed Monday night when the car she was riding in collided with an oncoming vehicle.
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]
Two other teens, 17-year-old Ginni Creasey and 16-year-old Michael Williams were also killed.
Janae's parents remember their daughter as a girl whose friends were important to her and who always gave her all.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@36:57:16]
[IN Q=She was a very...]
((BOB MILLS, JANAE'S FATHER: SHE WAS A VERY PASSIONATE CHILD AND HAD A PASSION FOR CHRIST, THAT WAS THE FOUNDATIONOF HER LIFE. IT WAS THE MAIN PRINCIPLE IN HER LIFE AND SHE SHARED THAT WITH OTHER KIDS.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Mills/Janae's Father]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=.. WITH OTHER KIDS.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]
Visitations for the teens have been set.
Michael Williams will be at Oakey's Chapel in Roanoke today from two to four, and then again from six to nine.
Janae Mills' and Ginni Creasey's visitation will be at Oakey's in Vinton, today from two to four, and six to nine.
[Iraq]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=4]
Iraqis are mourning those who died in Tuesday's bombings as U-S authorities announce who they think might be behind the attacks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Karbala, Iraq;]
At holy shrines in Karbala and Baghdad, bombs exploded one after the other, killing and injuring hundreds of worshippers.
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
In Washington, the top U-S commander in the Middle East said he has evidence linking a suspected al-Qaida operative to the mosque attacks.
He says U-S intelligence intercepted a letter outlining plans to attack religious sites in order to spark civil war in Iraq.
But so far, the attacks have only delayed the signing of Iraq's interim constitution until tomorrow.
(------------)
[Bush-Campaign]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]
[ENG#=1]
President Bush kicked off his eight-month race for re-election by blanketing California
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
just a day after John Kerry won its Democratic primary.
Taking aim at Kerry's congressional record, Bush says his likely opponent is famous for waffling on important issues like the economy and national security.
[SUPER=04-TV Commercial;]
As he steps up his campaign today, at least 16 states can expect to see new political ads from the President.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm optimistic]
((I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT AMERICA BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.))
[SOT]
((CHARLIE BLACK/REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: FOR ABOUT A YEAR 9 DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE TRAIL BEATING UP ON PRESIDENT BUSH, ATTACKING HIM, THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 30 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ADS RUN BY THEM CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT, SO NOW IT'S OUR TURN.))
[SUPER=01-Charlie Black/Republican Strategist; :04]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=it's our turn.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Meanwhile, speculation continues on whether
Kerry will ask ex- rival John Edwards to become his running mate.
Yesterday, Edwards ended his own bid for the White House.
(------------)
[11Safety-Survey]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC31:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Roanoke's school safety task force is now weighing the results of a student survey.
A majority who responded say they feel safe in their schools, but the report also reveals areas of significant concern.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Almost 70 percent of the students in grades four, six, eight, nine and eleven responded.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday Night;]
And facilitator Paula Wilder says she was pleased to see that students took the survey seriously.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Any number]
((PAULA WILDER/FACILITATOR: ANY NUMBER YOU CAN MAKE UP A STORY ABOUT IT AND I THINK THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS HERE, NOT ONLY IN WHAT'S WORKING WELL, BUT THERE'S ALSO GOOD NEWS IN THE SENSE THE KIDS GIVE US SOME CLEAR, CLEAR IDEAS ABOUT WHERE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE, AND I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT THE DISTRICT HAS.))
[SUPER=01-Paula Wilder/Task Force Facilitator]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=that the district has.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
While most of the students gave their schools passing marks, a majority in grades nine and eleven said their schools deserved a C or D on school safety.
(------------)
[AMBedford-Guard]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=]
Bedford plans a big show of support this morning, when company A is mobilized for the first time since World War Two.
The National Guard soldiers will parade from the Bedford Armory to a sendoff ceremony at the National D-Day Memorial.
The parade steps off at 8-30, and the ceremony is scheduled for 10 o-clock.
From there, it is on to training at Fort Bragg North Carolina.
[11OTB-Vinton]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC19:27]
[GRAPHIC=Off Track Betting]
[ENG#=3]
Colonial Downs now has the green light to build an off-track betting parlor in Vinton.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :24]
The company wants to build the 15-thousand
[SUPER=03-Vinton/February 23;]
square foot facility behind the Lancerlot Sports Complex.
Four of the five members of the Virginia Racing Commission visited the site last month.
Yesterday morning, all four voted to approve the project.
The panel will also have to approve the facility once construction's complete.
A commission spokesman says the business is expected to open in October.
(------------)
[Disney]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]
In business news, Disney's Board of Directors voted last night to remove Michael Eisner from the chairman's post -- but retain him as C-E-O -- effective immediately.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA]
That move came after Disney shareholders withheld 43-percent of their votes for his re-election to the board.
The Board also voted to name former Maine Senator George Mitchell the new chairman.
While removing Eisner from the chairman's post, the Board voiced its approval for Eisner's management and company strategy. However, the company's most vocal critics say they'll continue their fight to oust him.
Alexis Christoforous has more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE][Marketwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE]
[ENG#=2]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((Disney is under intense pressure from pension funds and proxy advisory firms to let Eisner go after two decades at the helm of the media giant.
Eisner has had his share of setbacks. In only the past few months, he's had to fight off a hostile takeover bid by Comcast and defend himself against criticism after the animation studio Pixar abruptly dropped Disney as a business partner.
Former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers pleaded not guilty yesterday in New York to charges that he orchestrated the largest accounting fraud in U.S. history. Ebbers is charged with fraud, conspiracy and making false statements in connection with the $11 billion bookkeeping scandal that fueled WorldCom's collapse.
Intel is a stock to watch today. The computer chip giant will give its mid quarter update to investors after the closing bell.
And investors are casting a wary eye towards tomorrow's February unemployment report. Ahead of that report, investors stayed on the sidelines.
The Dow inched up more than a point
While the Nasdaq dipped 6.
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]
[Peterson]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Scott Peterson]
[ENG#=1]
The start of jury selection for the Laci Peterson murder case begins later today in California.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Scott Peterson is charged in the death of his wife and unborn son.
On Tuesday, a judge decided to allow wiretapped phone calls and evidence that dogs tracked Laci's scent to the end of a pier.
Laci's body was discovered two miles from the pier a few months later.
Jury selection is expected to last for a month.
(------------)
[Murdered-Family]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Murder invest.]
[ENG#=2]
Autopsies show that the slain family in Mississippi, whose bodies were found this week, were strangled and shot.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Yazoo Co., MS;]
Officials say the father, Michael Hargon was shot in the head and his wife, Rebecca and four-year- old son were both strangled to death.
Their own cousin, Ernest Lee Hargon is charged with their murders.
Some believe he killed the family after being written out of his father's will.
Meantime, relatives of the Hargons have arranged funerals for the family of three tomorrow.
(------------)
[5-Vick-Prez]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=504-03 4:59]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]
Virginia Tech's president calls the charges against three football players, including star quarterback Marcus Vick, serious.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Vick, running back Mike Imoh (ee-moh) and wide receiver Brenden Hill were arrested three weeks ago on misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The three are accused of giving teenage girls alcohol and taking pictures of them as they stripped.
Vick is also accused of having sex with a 15 year old girl.
In a statement released this week, President Charles Steger defends the University's decision not to take action against the students until the cases have been tried in court.
Under school policy, it's up to the athletic director as to whether or how the athletes are punished.
Steger goes on to say "Our plan works, and I have faith in it and in our athletic director's intention to enforce it fairly.
This current incident is under his review, and he will take appropriate action at the appropriate time."
(----------)
[11State-budget]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC03:10]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Budget]
[ENG#=4]
State budget negotiations are set to begin.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Yesterday, both the House and Senate named their budget conferees.
Delegate Lacey Putney is the only Roanoke-area lawmaker to be tapped.
House Republican leaders issued an ultimatum Tuesday, threatening an impasse if Senate negotiators don't accept a referendum.
House Democrats say it is proof that the G-O-P leadership has lost its way.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:37:01]
[IN Q=I WOULD SAY TO HOUSE]
((DEL. FRANK HALL/D-HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: I WOULD SAY TO HOUSE REPUBLICANS YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE. YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO A JOB , DO IT NOW.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hall/(D) House Minority Leader; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO A JOB, DO IT NOW.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Senate Republican leaders say they are committed to reaching a compromise.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:51:00]
[IN Q=WE'RE PREPARED TO MEET ANY]
((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/R-FREDERICKSBURG: WE'RE PREPARED TO MEET ANY PLACE, ANY TIME AND WE WILL STAY AS LONG AS IT TAKES. ))
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Fredericksburg; :]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=WILL STAY AS LONG AS IT TAKES.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn in ten days.
(------------)
(Kimberly tosses to bump)
[BUMP]
[COMM]
[2-Disney]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]
In business news, Disney's Board of Directors has made some changes at the top.
The board voted last night to remove Michael Eisner from the chairman's post, but retain him as C-E-O.
The change was effective immediately.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia]
That move came after Disney shareholders withheld 43-percent of their votes for his re-election to the board.
The Board also voted to name former Maine Senator George Mitchell the new chairman.
While removing Eisner from the chairman's post, the Board voiced its approval for Eisner's management and company strategy. However, the company's most vocal critics say they'll continue their fight to oust him.
Stan Case has a look at the rest of today's news in the business brief.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE][Biz-Brief]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE]
[ENG#=2]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((U-S STOCKS CLOSED SLIGHTLY OFF ON FOR THE MID-WEEK ON WEDNESDAY.
THE DOW LOST ONE-POINT IN TUESDAY'S TRADING...
AND THE NASDAQ WAS OFF BY SIX.
GROWTH IN THE SERVICE SECTOR OF THE U-S ECONOMY SLOWED IN FEBRUARY.
THE INSTITUTE FOR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SAID ITS INDEX OF NON-MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY FELL TO 60-POINT-EIGHT FOR THE MONTH...THAT'S DOWN FROM A READING OF 65-POINT-SEVEN IN JANUARY.
THE SERVICE SECTOR ACCOUNTS FOR 80-PERCENT OF THE U-S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
SAKS INCORPORATED POSTED A 20-PERCENT JUMP IN FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS.
THE UPSCALE DEPARTMENT STORE REPORTED INCOME OF 57-CENTS A SHARE FOR THE PERIOD.
THAT'S UP FROM 47-CENTS A YEAR AGO.
THE ALABAMA BASED COMPANY SAYS SALES OF ITS LUXURY GOODS HELPED BOLSTER THE NUMBERS FOR THE QUARTER.
TOYS-R-US POSTED A DROP IN ITS NET PROFIT FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER.
THE TOY RETAILER REPORTED 67-CENTS A SHARE FOR THE PERIOD...*DOWN* FROM A DOLLAR-30 A YEAR EARLIER.
THE COMPANY SAYS IT TOOK A HIT IN ITS VIDEO GAME SALES FOR THE PERIOD AND ALSO TOOK CHARGES FOR THE CLOSINGS OF ITS KIDS-R-US AND IMAGINARIUM STORES.
TOYS-R-US IS THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST TOY RETAILER.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF... I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS]
[STOCKS]
[WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC]
[COMM]
[11Walton]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:24:06]
[GRAPHIC=Percy Walton]
[ENG#=3]
A federal judge in Roanoke heard testimony yesterday from two psychiatrists who visited death row this year to talk to the same condemned prisoner, at different times.
One has already told the court that Percy Levar Walton views death as temporary, that Walton expects to come back and work at Burger King.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
But Mark Mills believes Walton realizes his date with death is much more final.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 24:00]
[IN Q=In my evaluation]
((DR. MARK MILLS/FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST; IN MY EVALUATION HE APPEARED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EXECUTION WAS AN END OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD CAUSE LIFE TO BE RATHER DIFFERENT, CAUSE HIM TO END.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Mark Mills/Forensic Psychiatrist]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=cause him to end.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/November 1996]
Walton pled guilty in 1997 to killing a Danville couple and a third person. HE said he should be executed and chose the electric chair.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
If Judge Sam Wilson accepts Dr. Mills' finding, he may lift the stay of execution he ordered last year.
[11Boty-Standoff]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC10:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
It appears a family dispute is what prompted a stand-off in Botetourt County yesterday afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
Sheriff's Deputies responded to this home on Old Mill Drive near Carvin's Cove just before two o-clock.
They arrived to find an armed man barricaded inside the home.
The swat team was then called in- and after communication was established, the man and the woman came out without incident.
50-year old Levi Roy Dent was arrested but no charges have been filed so far.
Investigators say there are conflicting reports of exactly what happened.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[COMM]
[BUMP]
by SS