WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/15/04

[Spain-Bombings]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
[ENG#=1]

Upset about last week's terrorist attacks, voters have ousted the conservative government of Spain-- meaning President Bush has lost a strong ally in the war in Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Madrid, Spain;]

Socialists unseated the conservatives who were saddled with accusations they provoked last week's deadly train bombings by supporting the U-S led war.
The bombings that killed at lest 200 people and injured 15- hundred ushered in a new government.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We need to vote]
((MAR LOPEZ/VOTER:WE NEED TO VOTE BECAUSE WE NEED TO OPPOSE EVERY CRUEL AND BRUTAL ATTACK.))
[SUPER=01-Mar Lopez/Voter;]
[RUNS=:07] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=brutal attack.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, the investigation continues into Spain's worst terror attack.
While one man in custody has links to a 9-11 suspect, officials are still trying to authenticate a videotape with a purported al-qaida operative claiming responsibility for the deadly explosions.
(------------)

[War-Protest]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=2]

A memorial procession protesting the war in Iraq arrives in the nation's capital today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dover, DE;]

Yesterday, more than 250 war protestors joined together in Delaware to honor wounded soldiers and to demand an end to the U-S occupation in Iraq.
They gathered near Dover Air Force Base, the country's largest military mortuary.
Demonstrators say they want to expose what they see as the Bush administration's refusal to acknowledge the lost lives in Iraq.
Today, they plan to head to the White House for an afternoon rally.
(------------)

[State-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=none]

House and Senate budget negotiators will try again today.
After a weekend of impasse that forced a three-day extension of the General Assembly session, House budget negotiators plan to present their Senate counterparts with a new proposal today.

There's no word on what the plan will include. [11Trucking-Regulations]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC-1:44:18]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Truck drivers say the Department of Transportation's new guidelines are putting a bump in their business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./January;]
Back in January the D-O-T implemented new hours of operation. Truckers are now limited to 11 hours behind the wheel and are required to take ten hours off after each work day. Truckers say the new regulations are a problem because of the limited areas for them to rest without getting a ticket.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:03]
[IN Q=States are going to have]
((DARLENE HILL/TRUCK DRIVER: STATES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE US WITH MORE ADEQUATE SLEEPING AREAS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REST, GET OUR REST, SO WE DON'T GET ALL THESE TICKETS FOR OUT OF HOUR SERVICE AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Hill/Truck Driver;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=to understand them]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./January;]
Drivers are only allowed to stop at Virginia rest areas for two hours at a time and say truck stops fill up early in the evening. V-Dot says there are no plans to extend the length- of- stay at rest areas, but some drivers can apply for an extended stay with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(------------)

[11Pitts-Trees]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04- 04 TC-48:46]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]

Thousands of acres in Pittsylvania County are changing.
But as Jennifer Wishon reports, the benefits won't be reaped for years to come.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat Sound]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; ;00]
[SUPER=01-Drew Arnn/Virginia Department of Forestry; : 13 ]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; :52 ]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Pittsylvania County]
(([3:01:26 - NATS OF PLANTING TREES]
[RUNS=04]
This team of migrant workers is sowing millions of long- term investments in Virginia's largest county. [3:05:55 - NATS OF PLANTING CU]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:40:50]
[IN Q=Pittsylvania County has]
((DREW ARNN: PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY HAS A PRETTY LARGE WORKLOAD TREE PLANTING THIS TIME OF YEAR.))
[RUNS =05]
[OUT Q=time of year]
There are a number of state and federal programs to help land owners across Virginia absorb the costs of tree planting in an open field or areas that have been harvested. The government pitches in either a flat rate or percentage of the costs. [2:50:21 - NATS OF WORKER PUTTING TREES IN BAG] [RUNS:02] [2:37:11 - WALKING SHOT] Forester Drew Arnn is overseeing the plantings and says replacing harvested trees helps create diversity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:42:01]
[IN Q=If you were to get]
((DREW ARNN: IF YOU WERE TO GET IN AN AIRPLANE AND FLY OVER PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY YOU WOULD SEE A GREAT MOSAIC OF DIFFERENT FOREST STAND TYPES AND DIFFERENT AGES OF TREES THAT CAN SUPPLY THE HABITAT NEEDED FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=people and wildlife]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:28:26]
[IN Q=There are many]
((JENNIFER WISHON/REPORTING: THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR LAND OWNERS TO MANAGE THEIR TREE CROP. THE TREES BEHIND ME ARE SLATED TO BE THINNED WHICH WILL ALLOW THEM TO GROW, ALONG WITH THE INVESTMENT.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=with the investment]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:40:01]
[IN Q=Planting trees today]
((DREW ARNN: PLANTING TREES TODAY THE SOONEST YOU COULD SEE A RETURN FROM IT WOULD PROBABLY BE 15 OR 18 YEARS [COVER BITE HERE] AND THE TREES ARE IMPROVING AS THEY'RE GROWING - THE GENETICS THEY'RE IMPROVING OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, THE TECHNIQUES IN WHICH THEY'RE DONE.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=which they're done]
The technique of these workers is so efficient they're able to each plant about 4- thousand trees per day. And at that rate, sowing 35- hundred acres with two million trees will be a done deal in a matter of weeks. Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Pittsylvania County.))

[Box-Office]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]
"The Passion of the Christ" is still number one at the box office.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-'' The Passion of the Christ''- New Market Films;]
It took in nearly 32 million dollars, making it the number one movie for the third consecutive week. Studio estimates show "The Passion" has now passed a-quarter- billion dollars in ticket sales in the U-S and Canada.
(------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[TAKE FS CHYRON]
[SUPER=77-''The Passion of the Christ''/31.7/''Secret Window''/19/''Starsky & Hutch''/16/''Hidalgo''/11.7/''Agent Cody
Banks...''/8;] Johnny Depp's horror flick ``Secret Window'' opened in second place with 19 million dollars. ` `Starsky and Hutch,'' ``Hidalgo'' and ``Agent Cody Banks: Destination London'' finished out the top five.

[Super=#555;reset]
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Stocks bounced back on Friday.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((INVESTORS WENT FISHING FOR BARGAINS FRIDAY AFTER FOUR DOWN DAYS FOR THE > MARKET. AETNA, DELL AND DISNEY LED THE RALLY. > > THE DOW MOVED UP 111 POINTS. > > THE NASDAQ ROCKETED 40 POINTS. > > BOTH INDEXES STILL SHED ABOUT 3 PERCENT FOR THE WEEK. > > QWEST COMMUNICATIONS IS A STOCK TO WATCH MONDAY. THE F-C-C HAS PROPSOED > FINING QWEST $9 MILLION DOLLARS FOR FAILING TO FILE WHAT'S CALLED > INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS WITH TWO STATES AS REQUIRED BY LAW. > > ON TUESDAY THE FEDERAL RESERVE MEETS TO TALK INTEREST RATES > > AND HOME BUILDING AND LATER IN THE WEEK, REPORTS ON HOME BUILDING AND > INFLATION AT THE RETAIL LEVEL. > > OIL PRICES TOOK A STEEP SLIDE LAST WEEK .. CRUDE OIL FELL MORE THAN A > DOLLAR A BARREL PARTLY BECAUSE OF A MOVE BY CONGRESS. THE U-S SENATE MOVED > TO CANCEL A HEFTY DELIVERY OF CRUDE OIL TO THE NATION'S OIL RESERVE... > THAT'S EXPECTED TO cut gasoline prices by 10 to 25 cents per gallon. > > 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]

[Israel-Attack]

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

More deadly attacks in the Middle East--
Earlier today, Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles into Gaza City.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gaza City, Gaza;]

The missiles were aimed at workshops where Israeli authorities say militants make mortars and rockets.
The air strikes followed yesterday's Palestinian suicide bombings in that left 11 Israelis dead.
Palestinian militant groups associated with the two 17-year-old bombers have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bombings prompted Israel's prime minister to call off a meeting scheduled for this week with his Palestinian counterpart.
(------------)

[11County-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Two men who allegedly robbed a McDonald's over the weekend are in custody. Police say 32 year old Bryant Jermaine Bannister and 34 Benjamin Lee Stith approached two employees outside the McDonalds on Plantation Road Saturday night, and tied them up. The two then allegedly entered the store forced the manager to hand over cash and forced the employees into the freezer. Police located Bannister and Stith hiding in a nearby wooded area. They face robbery, abduction, assault and battery, and firearms charges. They are being held at the Roanoke County Jail without bond.

[11Redemption]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC-44:11]
[GRAPHIC=Jackson]
[ENG#=2]

A Radford Publishing house has joined Michael Jackson's family in speaking out about alleged efforts to suppress a book.
(------------)
[VO-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Radford/December;]
Radford based "Branch and Vine Publishers" released "Redemption" back in December. It's a book about the 1993 child molestation charges against Michael Jackson. The author, Geraldine Hughes, worked for the attorney who represented the father of the boy Jackson allegedly molested.
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA/Wednesday;]
Last week Hughes, along with the Jackson family, held a press conference in California to promote the book.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :21 - :43]
[IN Q=I'm not trying to convence]
((GERALDINE HUGHES: I'M NOT TRYING TO CONVINCE ANYONE TO CHANGE THEIR MIND. I WANT YOU TO TELL ME IF HE IS INNOCENT OR IS HE REALLY GUILTY, KNOWING ALL THE EVENTS AND KNOWING THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY HAPPENED IN.))
[SUPER=01-Geraldine Hughes/Redemption Author;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=which they happened in]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Michael Jackson's father and family spokesman believe there have been efforts to suppress the book, which provides evidence that Jackson was set up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :51 - 1:03]
[IN Q=Well, the family is taking]
((JOE JACKSON: WELL, THE FAMILY IS TAKING IT PRETTY HARD BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT'S BEING SAID IS NOT TRUE AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS BOOK.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Jackson/Michael Jackson's Father;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=to support this book]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jackson says he's upset that the truth about his son isn't getting out.
(------------)

[11Normandy-Visit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC-33:56]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and some area students are heading to Normandy to take part in the ceremonies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Five Bedford County high school students have been selected to take a three week trip to France in early June.
It is part of the Bedford International Student Alliance Exchange Program.
The students along with two teachers, and 43 adults will follow the path of the Bedford Boys.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:14:44]
[IN Q=We are going to]
((HELEN POPE/STAUNTON RIVER H.S. TEACHER: WE ARE GOING TO START BY GOING TO IVORY BRIDGE. WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. THIS IS WHERE THE BEDFORD BOYS TRAINED BEFORE THEY LEFT TO GO TO NORMANDY.))
[SUPER=01-Helen Pope/Staunton River H.S. Teacher; :]
[Runs=:09]
[OUT Q=TO GO TO NORMANDY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Normandy/June, 1994]

From there the group will head to Normandy and participate in the events marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:13:54]
[IN Q=There are all]
((JULIE MAYHEW/LIBERTY H.S. TEACHER: THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THEY ARE LIFE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS AND JUST THE FACT THEY GET TO SEE HISTORY IN THE MAKING, THEY GET TO BE PART OF HISTORY IN THE MAKING.))
[SUPER=01-Julie Mayhew/Liberty H.S. Teacher]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=history in the making. (DOUBLE OUT!)]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

The groups will stay with French families and visit French schools.
In the past, French children have stayed in Bedford as part of this exchange program.
This will be the first time a delegation from Bedford has gone to France.

(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[2-11Ellington-Obit]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC-1:06:57]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

A Roanoke radio personality passed away over the weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September 2000;]
Daniel "Duke" Ellington died at his home Saturday at the age of 49 after a battle with colon cancer. Ellington worked as a D-J around Roanoke most of his life, but is best known for his work at W-T-O-Y 14- 80 AM, where he worked for the past 15- years. During that time Ellington served as morning disk jockey and station manager.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:57:50]
[IN Q=Together we say]
((TOGETHER WE SAY PEACE... PEACE!))
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=Peace...Peace (DOUBLE OUT!!!!)]
His sister says the "Dukester" was always putting other's needs before his own.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:35:11]
[IN Q=My mother raised us]
((PAM ELLINGTON-ARMAH: MY MOTHER RAISED US AS CHILDREN THAT WHEN WE ARE COMING UP WE'RE ALL CANDLES IN GOD'S SITE AND AS YOU'RE GOING ALONG DON'T EVER TRY TO BLOW OUT SOMEONE'S CANDLE TO MAKE YOURS BRIGHTER. DUKE WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO TAKE HIS TORCH TO LIGHT SOMEONE ELSE'S.))
[SUPER=01-Pam Ellington-Armah/Duke Ellington's Sister;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=to light someone else's]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ellington- Armah says Duke spent his last years educating the public about colon cancer and urging everyone to get tested.
(------------)

[11Franklin-Expansion]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC-1:43:26]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]

Franklin County's workforce training center is now looking for a new home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
The Workforce Development Consortium provides job training for people in the region, through a partnership with area colleges. But, officials say job loss and the need for more specialized training has contributed to the center's need for more space. They're now looking at relocating into the old Schewel's building downtown as one option. The county hopes to get additional comments from the public on the project, during its next meetings on the 17th and 2(------------) 5th of this month.