WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 03/16/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Periods of rain will eventually taper off to showers this afternoon.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the full forecast, coming up.

[7-11L'burg-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:35:49]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

[ENG#=1]

Investigators are still loooking into the cause of a mobile home fire in Lynchburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg;]

Several motorists on Route 460 spotted the flames coming from a home in the Lynchburg Trailer Court on Old Courthouse Turnpike.
The building was engulfed in flames when the first crews arrived just after ten o-clock last night.
They had it under control in about twenty minutes.
A primary search of the home indicated "no" one was inside.
(------------)

[7-11Halifax-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC1:46:28]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

[ENG#=2]

Halifax County deputies have not released any new information about the suspect in a shooting that killed one person and wounded another.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co.]

Authorities were called to this mobile home on Country Lane near Clover around seven o-clock yesterday morning.
One victim was pronounced dead at the scene.. another was transferred to Lynchburg General Hospital.
Investigators have "not" released the names of those involved.
Local law enforcement agencies were asked to be on the lookout for a gray Oldsmobile whose driver may have information about the crime.
(------------)

[7-VOBDrug-Testing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=3]

New controversial testing at Roanoke County schools has students and parents fired up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

More than a hundred came out last night for a public forum at Hidden Valley High School.
At issue is whether the school system should start random drug testing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:48:13; 15:51:40]
[IN Q=I believe]
((GLORIETTA BULLOCK/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: I BELIEVE THAT IF A PERSON GIVES YOU A REASON OR IF YOU REPRESENT THE SCHOOL I MEAN YOU HAVE TO TEST THEM.)) ((LARRY MORGAN/OPPOSES RANDOM DRUG TESTING: STUDENTS DON'T SHED THEIR CONSITUTIONAL RIGHTS WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH SCHOOL HOUSE DOORS, IT'S IMPORTANT CONCEPT, I THINK WE'RE LOSING IT.))
[SUPER=01-Glorietta Bullock/Hidden Valley H.S. Senior; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Morgan/Opposes Random Drug Testing; :06]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=we're losing it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Drug testing has been allowed for years for student athletes.
In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded that authority to allow random drug tests for all middle and high school students participating in extracurricular activities.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

Right now, the school system is taking public input. The school board has yet to decide even if it will vote on the issue.

[7-11City-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC1:09:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=4]

Plans to build a new Patrick Henry High School appear to be moving forward, despite concerns of the 47 million dollar price tag.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

As the cost of the new high school climbed by nine million dollars, council members were reluctant to earmark more money for the project.
But school board members have confirmed they will finance the added debt without asking council to increase its contribution.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's taking longer than]
((IT'S TAKING LONGER THAN SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN, BUT I THINK WHEN WE GET FINISHED WE'LL BE VERY GLAD WE'RE MAKING THE INVESTMENT WE ARE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR CITY.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Bestpitch/Roanoke City Council;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=our young people and our city.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

City Council must authorize the additional debt for the plan to move forward.
City manager Darlene Burcham says it will take a couple of weeks to analyze the latest financing plan.
(------------)

[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[55-WXHeads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Expect periods of rain through the morning, with drier weather expected by later this afternoon.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the Tuesday forecast, after the news.

[55-11Pulaski-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-53 TC1:38:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

Pulaski police and firefighters can rest a little easier now--
A committee has recommended that the town NOT consolidate emergency service with the County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]

After studying the idea, town officials found that combining organizations would put a strain on the county and leave citizens in the town with less protection.
The safety committee agreed with the findings, but also voted to keep communications with the county open about combining other services.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:4:48:57:00 ]
[IN Q=There's going]
((GARY ROCHE/PULASKI POLICE CHIEF: THERE'S GOING TO PROBABLY BE A LOOK AT COMBINING COMMUNICATION CENTERS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. THAT IS IN KEEPING WITH THE FACT THAT BOTH THE COUNTY SYSTEM AND THE TOWN SYSTEM ARE IN NEED OF AN UPGRADE.))
[SUPER=01-Gary Roche/Pulaski Police Chief;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=an upgrade]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

The town council still needs to vote on the committee's recommendation "not" to combine departments.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[55-11Fire-Pay]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=03-]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe]

[ENG#=2]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]

A pay raise may also be in the future for Pulaski firefighters.
The fire chief is asking town council for a one thousand dollar raise for all 10 members of the department.
He says entry level pay in the New River Valley averages 25-thousand dollars, but many of his members are only making a little more than 20-thousand a year.
Volunteer firefighters may also get some extra money.
The chief is asking for a two dollar raise so they make 12 dollars a call.
Town council still must approve the plan.
(------------)

[55-6-Habitat-Inmates]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC50:35]
[GRAPHIC=]

[ENG#=3]

The Roanoke Sheriff's office has more work than it can handle - and that's just for the inmates.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:43:27 - sawing]
((NAT SAWING))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT=NAT SAWING]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
If they're lucky enough to make the cut, prisoners in Roanoke can hold down a job with the city's Inmate Community Services Program. Yesterday, 8-inmates spruced up a house for Habitat for Humanity. Their skills range from construction to landscaping to trash pick-up.
(///// SOT at :16 /////)
[SOT 15:41:39 - 15:41:46]
[IN Q=There's alot of work performed...]
((SGT. CLINTON THOMPSON/WORK SUPERVISOR: THERE'S A LOT OF WORK PERFORMED AND IT'S ALL FREE LABOR.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Clinton Thompson/Work Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=it's all free labor.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :07]
Jeff Stephenson is serving a 6-month sentence. He says the program gives him a different kind of high.
(///// SOT AT :07 /////)
[SOT 15:39:12 - 15:39:18]
((JEFF STEPHENSON/INMATE: I'VE TOOK SO MUCH AWAY FROM 'EM, IT FEELS GOOD TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN TAKING AWAY FROM IT FOR YEARS.))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Stephenson/Inmate;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=taking away from it for years.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15]
Sex offenders, drug offenders and violent inmates are not eligible. Thompson says volunteers can earn credit for their work and have their sentence shortened. The city has 6-crews of four inmates each. Two of the crews are female. They work year-round.
(------------)

[55WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Leo]
[NEWSCAST=cut -ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[LEO IN CHROMAKEY]

WEATHER PRO

[Desk 2-Shot=Kim and Leo]

(Good Bye!)

[55Goodbye]

[ANCHOR=KMC-LEO]
[NEWSCAST=cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[Desk 2-Shot]

[SUPER=@Leo1;]

(AD-LIB Bye)

[SUPER=#4057; Copyright]

[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]

[8Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Not quite as warm as it has been-- with afternoon temperatures only in the 40s.
It'll also stay damp through the morning hours.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details, coming up.

[8-11XGR-budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC52:25]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

[ENG#=1]

Time is winding down for state budget neogatiators to reach an agreement. The state Senate offered a counter-plan to the House's compromise budget last night.
The proposal contains about 300 million dollars in reductions, including slight cutbacks in its public education and higher education funding.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Earlier yesterday, House conferees offered a proposal they said would help break the log-jam.
Their offer includes 625 million dollars in additional spending but does NOT include an increase in the sales or income tax.
The House's chief budget negotiator says everything in the proposal is negotiable EXCEPT general tax increases.
After studying the compromise, Senate conferees said the numbers are too vague.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:55:34]
[IN Q=IN CERTAIN AREAS THEY DID MOVE]
((SENATOR JOHN CHICHESTER/R-FREDERICKSBURG: IN CERTAIN AREAS THEY DID MOVE TOWARD OUR POSITION. WHAT WE CAN'T IDENTIFY AND I'VE ASKED THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF APPROPRIATIONS TO HAVE THE STAFF ADVISE US WHERE THE MONEY HAS COME FROM.
DELEGATE KIRK COX/R-HOUSE BUDGET CONFEREE: WE'VE SEEN NOTHING FROM THEM I LOVE THE WAY THEY BREAK DOWN OUR PROPOSAL WHEN I'VE SEEN NOTHING FROM THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Fredericksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Kirk Cox/(R) Colonial Heights; :13]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=I'VE SEEN NOTHING FROM THEM.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
House negotiators do NOT expect to have an analysis or counter-offer ready until later this morning.
(------------)

[8-6-Craig-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:34:43]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

[ENG#=2]

The indecision by General Assembly in Richmond is creating budget woes closer to home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Castle]
In Craig County, Administrator Larry Moore is recommending no changes to last year's eight-point-eight million dollar budget. Moore says he can't bank on money he's not sure he'll have. Instead he's pushing for the county to start using its natural resources to produce revenue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@9:13:14]
[IN Q=We have 65-thousand...]
((LARRY MOORE, CRAIG CO. ADMINISTRATOR: WE HAVE 65-THOUSAND ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST, WHICH REPRESENTS 52-PERCENT OF OUR COUNTY AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE HOW WE UNIQUELY PROVIDE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME VISIT US, STAY FOR AWHILE, SPEND SOME MONEY AND THEN NOT STAY ON A PERMANENT BASIS.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Moore/Craig Co. Administrator]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=... permanent basis.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Craig County teachers are also taking a hit without a budget in place in Richmond. Superintendent Rose Martin says Craig County students have some of the highest test scores, but the starting teacher salaries are among the lowest in the state.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Leo]
[NEWSCAST=cut -ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[LEO IN CHROMAKEY]

WEATHER PRO

[Desk 2-Shot=Kim and Leo]

(Good Bye!)

[8Goodbye]

[ANCHOR=KMC-LEO]
[NEWSCAST=cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[Desk 2-Shot]

[SUPER=@Leo1;]

(AD-LIB Bye)

[SUPER=#4057; Copyright]

[BIRTHDAYS!] 3/17/04
Wednesday: (St. Patrick's Day!)

[SUPER=130-12/Brandon Kroger/Hillsville]

[SUPER=130-23/Faith Mattox/Rocky Mount]

[SUPER=130-10/Patrick Moran/Floyd]

[SUPER=130-1/Emma Johnson/Fincastle]

[SUPER=130-9/Nick Nester/Vinton]

[SUPER=130-11/Taylor Phillips/Meadows of Dan]

[SUPER=130-/Sanford Clark Jr./Buena Vista]

[SUPER=130-6/Matthew Withers/Collinsville]

[SUPER=130-6/Joshua Royal/Elliston]

[SUPER=130-8/Alberta Craighead/Penhook]

[SUPER=130-18/Tiara Law/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-35/Lori May/Madison Heights]

[SUPER=130-18/Stacy Woods/Bassett]

[SUPER=130-1/Mallory Ray/Ridgeway] located on bridge computer in birthday file

[SUPER=130-/Beth Stinnett/Glen Allen] located on bridge computer in birthday file

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-/Linda Maxey/Martinsville]

[SUPER=131-35/Tracy Hancock/Floyd]

[SUPER=131-60/Virginia Lewis/Blue Ridge]

[SUPER=131-/Shirley Bayne/Lexington]

[SUPER=131-69/Alfred Dillon/Vinton]

[SUPER=131-/Linda Spiva/Huddleston]

[SUPER=131-/Laura Mohler/Buena Vista]

[SUPER=131-/Vergie Moore/Lexington]

[Mornin' Promo] [ANCHOR-Kim] [Animation]
(///////SOT///////)
((Tomorrow on News 7 Mornin'.))
[RUNS=03]
(-------------)
[Kim on Camera] There's a new book that covers your newborn from head to toe. We'll speak with the author. And Steve Pardon has more on upcoming conference on Down Syndrome.
(------------)
[Animation full] Those stories tomorrow on News 7 Mornin'.