[PKGHubbell-Lighting]

[ANCHOR=Joy]

[NEWSCAST=Weekend AM]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC 3:45:15]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Sat. AM.]
[ENG#=2]
Hubbell Lighting has been in contract negotiations with its union for the past two weeks. The union's contract expires this weekend and yesterday employees made some noise in hope of sending a message to the company. Jennifer Wishon reports.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was a black Friday]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brian Neice/Hubbell Lighting Employee; :17 QUICK!!!!!]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Lake/Hubbell Lighting Employee; :38]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:14]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7.]
((It was a black Friday at Hubbell Lighting. Members of the Local 160 donned black shirts to show their solidarity. ((NAT SOUND OF HORNS)) Horns were sounded as workers clocked out-- demonstrating their determination to fight for a fair contract.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:26:25]
[IN Q=In the past, they]
((BRIAN NEICE: IN THE PAST THEY JUST SIGNED THE CONTRACT AND WE HAD TO LIVE WITH IT, BUT NOW WE HAVE A STRONG UNION AND A STRONG BACKBONE.))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=a strong backbone]
The Christiansburg based company manufactures industrial and environmental lighting. Debbie Lake has worked in the plant for more than 20 years and would one day like to retire from Hubbell, but says she'll need the company's help.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:28:02]
[IN Q=Our healthcare went up]
((DEBBIE LAKE: OUR HEALTHCARE WENT UP NOW WHETHER THAT'S THE COMPANY'S FAULT OR THE WAY THE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE SYSTEM IS SET UP NOW. WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT, THAT CHANGED. SO WHY SHOULD WE TRUST THEM?))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=we trust them]
Also at issue is the company's suggestion of applying a tiered wage system-- New employees would make less than tenured workers with little chance of ever catching up. They're also afraid of losing vacation days and say there's talk of sending their jobs overseas.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:26:04]
[IN Q=Three years ago]
((BRIAN NEICE: NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT STUFF'S GOING TO CHINA AND THAT PRETTY MUCH THAT IF WE DON'T LIKE IT THEY CAN TAKE IT OVER THERE AND GET IT DONE FOR 30 CENTS A DAY OR WHATEVER IT IS.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=whatever it is]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The plant manager was in]
((JENNIFER WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM: THE PLANT MANAGER WAS IN A MEETING WITH UNION LEADERS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND DID NOT RETURN OUR PHONE CALLS. THE UNION PLANS TO MEET ON SUNDAY TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION, BUT SAY THEY ARE READY TO WALK OUT IF AN AGREEMENT IS NOT REACHED. JENNIFER WISHON, NEWS 7.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7]))

---

[11Salem-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A shooting in Salem sent one man to the hospital.
Officials say 50 year old Eric Garland Hatcher was shot outside his Monroe Street home just before 7:30 last night.
Hatcher told police that Reginald Ralph Berry of Roanoke was unloading some furniture into the yard of the house.

Hatcher said Berry shot him as he walked away from the man.
The victim was taken to Lewis Gale Hospital. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Berry was later stopped by Roanoke police and is being questioned.
Police say the shooting appears to be a domestic incident.

---

[11Robbery-Arrest]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The man police say robbed two convenience stores last weekend is in custody. Vinton police first arrested Jason Joseph Jones for robbing the "Stop-In" in Vinton. He is the same man Roanoke City Police believe robbed the "Stop-In" on Plantation Road. Jones was charged by Roanoke police with robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

---

[11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=034-11 TC06:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Members of Roanoke City Council have learned that their decision on the proposed stadium and amphitheater could have implications for other city projects.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Officials say planned improvements to the civic center depend in part on revenues from the new stadium and amphitheater.
If the stadium isn't built, the city will have to find the money somewhere else, adjust the scope of the civic center project, or put the improvements on hold.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm not sure what ]
((BILL BESTPITCH/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL: I'M NOT WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S REAL SIMPLE TO JUST SIT HERE AND SAY WE'LL JUST SCALE BACK THE PROJECT AND DO WHAT WE CAN AFFORD TO DO AND GIVE UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD BUSINESS PLAN.))
[SUPER=@Bestpitch;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=that is not a good business plan]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Mayor Ralph Smith questioned the figures, suggesting city officials were trying to discredit the possible renovation of Victory Stadium.
(------------)

---

[Campaign-2004]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=4]

John Kerry will campaign today on President Bush's home turf as he continues his campaign in the South.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA]

The Presidential hopeful was in Louisiana yesterday, criticizing Bush's economic track record.
He says states like Louisiana have lost tens of thousands of jobs to foreign competition.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:14]
[IN Q=A few months ago they promised]
((A FEW MONTHS AGO THEY PROMISED 250,000 JOBS IN ONE MONTH. YOU KNOW HOW MANY THEY CREATED 21,000 JOBS IN ONE MONTH ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE! ))
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=in one month another broken promise]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kerry is focusing his campaign message on economic recovery and bringing more jobs to the country.
But Republicans say the economy is improving because of the President's tax cuts --something Kerry wants to do away with for the wealthiest of taxpayers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:50]
[IN Q=Senator Kerry has voted for tax increases]
(('SENATOR KERRY HAS VOTED FOR TAX INCREASES OVER 350-TIMES. HE IS ONE THAT HAS ALREADY TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HE WOULD RAISES TAXES IN THE FIRST 100-DAYS. AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE WORST POSSIBLE POLICIES THAT YOU COULD PUT IN PLACE))
[SUPER=01-Don Evans/Secretary of Commerce]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=could put in place]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Louisiana and Texas are two of the four states that will hold primaries on Tuesday.
(------------)

---

(--------------) [Bush-Fox]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=sat am]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]
[ENG#=1]

President Bush will also be in Texas today, spending time at his ranch hosting Mexican President Vincente Fox.

Talks between the two this morning will focus on immigration and border security.
Fox is hoping to get the U-S to lift some of the restrictions on Mexican visitors. Right now, they must have a visa to vacation or work in the country.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Crawford, TX]

Meanwhile, vendors are hoping to cash on Fox's visit to the city. They have everything from t-shirts, to mugs, and buttons up for sale.
A foreign flag is also flying on the streets of downtown Crawford as a welcome to the Mexican President.
(------------)

---

[11I-81]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC1:16:05]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]
[ENG#=2]

Plans to make improvements to Interstate 81 are moving forward.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday, V-Dot's Commissioner decided to enter negotiations with Star Solutions.
It is a group of contractors who wants to widen I-81 with separate lanes for cars and trucks.
Star Solutions wants truckers to pay tolls for the improvements but a state advisory panel recently suggested tolls on all vehicles.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:57:15]
[IN Q=A lot of information]
((LAURA BULLOCK/V-DOT SPOKESPERSON: A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT TOLLING IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. IT COULD BE PART OF THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS. THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=federal highway administration]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Negotiations between V-Dot and Star Solutions will take six to nine months.
If they are successful, the state would sign an agreement with the company.
Before any improvements can be made, a 18 month environmental study must first be completed.
(------------)

---

[11Healthtex]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC00:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

The V-F Corporation is selling its V-F Playwear subsidiary. That means two hundred people in Danville could be out of work.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1999;]

Spokesman John Martin says employees were notified Wednesday that the company was sold to Lollytogs.
The announcement of the sale was part of a 60-day notice given to employees before V-F Playwear permanently closes its doors.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Martin says Healthtex will continue to operate until all material for this year's back-to-school product line is complete.
No exact date has been set.

---

[Danville-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=Saturday-AM]
[WRITER=cdo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
[ENG#=none]

One man is hospitalized after a shooting in Danville.
Police responded to the 600 Block of Cabell Street just before midnight and found a 20-year old man shot in the thigh. The victim reported that he was near the corner of Berryman Avenue and Cabell Street when he was shot.
He was transported to Danville Regional Medical Center, but the injury does not appear life threatening. The man did not say who shot him.
Danville Police are still investigating.
(XXXXXX)
[Take Danville Crimestoppers FS] Anyone with information is asked to call Danville Crimestoppers at (434) 793-0000.
(XXXXXX)

---

[11Fire-Funding]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC1:29:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Several New River Valley fire departments and rescue squads are holding fundraisers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

They say donations are down and equipment costs are skyrocketing.
Christiansburg's Volunteer fire department is even adding five new members because of increasing calls for help.
It costs more than 5-thousand dollars just to equip a new firefighter and that doesn't include training.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:21:11:00 ]
[IN Q=The area's]
((BRIAN HORNE: THE AREA'S GROWING DRASTICALLY AND THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT WE'RE RUNNING, FIRE ALARMS THAT WE'RE RUNNING TO, THE NEW BUSINESSES IN THE THINGS LIKE THAT. IT PUTS A STRAIN ON THE MEMBER WE DO HAVE.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Horne/Christiansburg Firefighter;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=we do have.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Many departments will be holding banquets and food drives.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE FS]
Christiansburg's fundraising banquet is next Saturday from 4:30 to 7:00.
(------------)

---

[6-Cancer-Drug]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC28:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Several patients in our area are helping researchers improve a promising new cancer drug.
They took part in a clinical trial for Avastin (uh-VAS-tin).
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The FDA recently approved the medication for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

But Doctor Gerald Schertz says Avastin also holds promise for the treatment of other cancers as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:17:42]
[IN Q=The drug is also being used in experimental trials]
((DR. GERALD SCHERTZ/MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST; THE DRUG IS ALSO BEING USED IN EXPERIMENTAL TRIALS IN OTHER MALIGNANCIES, LUNG CANCER, BREAST CANCER THERE IS PROMISE THAT THIS DRUG AND THOSE SIMILAR TO IT MAY AGAIN LEAD TO A QUANTUM LEAP IN OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL A LARGE NUMBER OF CANCERS NOT JUST LARGE BOWEL CANCER FOR WHICH THIS NOW APPROVED ))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Gerald Schertz/Medical Oncologist]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=for which this now approved]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

What makes this drug unique is that it only affects the cancer cell --unlike other medications that can affect healthy tissue as well.
In clinical trials, the drug was given in combination with standard chemotherapy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT9:16:56]
[IN Q=It can be measured]
((IT CAN BE MEASURED IN RESPONSE RATES WHICH ARE 25 PERCENT BETTER IT CAN BE MEASURED IN LIFE EXPECTANCY WHICH APPEARED TO BE PROLONGED IN THAT GROUP IN COMPARED TO THE STANDARD TREATMENT GROUP ))
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=to the standard treatment group]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
In fact, the drug showed one the largest improvements in survival ever reported in a study of this type on advanced colorectal cancer.
(--------------)

---

[Biz-Review]

[ANCHOR=Joy]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=Biz Review ]
[GRAPHIC=Business Review]
[ENG#2]
John Elway comes to town to see how his new line of furniture is made, and a controversial development in Roanoke County clears one hurdle. Donald Graham has more in News 7's Business Review.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :05]
[SUPER=03-Danville/1999; :26]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :35]
[SUPER=03-Bassett; :54]
[SUPER=07-John Elway; 1:07]
[SUPER=01-Bob H. Spilman, Jr./Bassett President and CEO; 1:32]
[SUPER=19-Donald Graham/Reporting; 1:50]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]


(([MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC50:34]
V-F-P Incorporated is moving its lightweigh shelter manufacturing operation from Roanoke, to Duffield in far Southwest Virginia. The move will consolodate the company's prodcution under one roof. The company's C-E-O says no more than 35 people will be laid off, and the move should be finished by June. Workers willing to relocate can keep their jobs. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC00:37]

More Southside textile jobs may soon be gone. The V-F Corporation is selling its V-F Playwear subsidiary putting 200 people out of work. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC 1:53]
Plans to build an upscale shopping center in Roanoke County are moving forward despite strong opposition.
Kahn Development wants to build a retail and office complex at the corner of Route 419 and Keagy Road.
The Planning Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend the county approve the rezoning. The Board of Supervisors could vote on that at its March 23rd meeting. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[TAPE#=Elway-Bassett Tape with cart in cubby]
John Elway was in Southside, checking out the inner workings of the Bassett plant. Bassett furniture and Elway announced earlier that they are teaming up to launch a line of sofas, sectionals, chairs and entertainment centers called "Elway Home."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:40:47]
[IN Q=I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT]
((I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. WITH BASSETT BEHIND IT, THE QUALITY OF THEIR COMPANY AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABOUT FOR THE HUNDRED YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN EXISTANCE. IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=LOOKING FORWARD TO]
The new line will be unveiled in August, and will be available at any retailer, but the company also plans to open a new retail store program of their own. Bassett will open 20 to 25 new stores each year for the next five years with a goal of 300 stores nationwide.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:40:21]
[IN Q=WE'VE HAD TO DOWNSIZE ]
((WE'VE HAD TO DOWNSIZE SOME OF OUR MANUFACTURING, WE'VE HAD TO GO OVERSEAS, BRING PRODUCTS IN. WE REALLY THINK LIKE RETAILERS NOW. THOSE STORES, THOSE 300 STORES HAVE TO BE REALLY BE SRONG, AND THEY HAVE TO SET THEMSELVES APART FROM THE MARKET. SO WE THINK JOHN AND THAT AFFILIATION WILL HELP US DO THAT)) [RUNS18]
[OUT Q=WILL HELP US DO THAT]

For News 7, I'm Donald Graham and that's Business Review. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))