WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/09/04

[11Meth-Lab]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:07:40]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
[ENG#=1]

A routine traffic stop left a Campbell County neighborhood under siege for hours yesterday afternoon as state police tried to deal with the contents of an apparent illegal drug lab.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Around 12:15]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Cooper/Virginia State Police; :12]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :48]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=News7, Campbell County.]
(( Around 12:15, State Trooper Nate Keller pulled over this car on Lighthouse Drive after noticing its inspection sticker was expired.
That's when Keller noticed several containers of chemicals inside.
[SOT 15:43:52]
((DAVID COOPER/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: I DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEMS OTHER THAN IT'S ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH METH LABS.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=with meth labs.]

Police don't know where the driver.. who was arrested at the scene.. was bringing the chemicals.
Methamphetamine.. also known as "crank".. is made by mixing together different solvents, acids and metals.
Exposure to any combination of them can be dangerous.
[SOT 15:45:23]
((COOPER: THE FUMES CAN BE DANGEROUS TO BREATHE, POSSIBILITY THEY COULD BE VOLATILE, COULD EXPLODE.. YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT SOME CHEMICALS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO COME HERE AND IDENTIFY AND RECOVER THEM.))
[RUNS= 13]
[OUT Q=recover them.]

Nearby townhomes were evacuated and residents in the subdivision were kept out of the area for several hours as a special D-E-A team moved in and removed the chemicals.
A state police bomb technician and robot also detonated a suspicious-looking item from inside the car.
The suspect.. whose name has not been released.. was originally arrested on a variety of traffic charges.
Police say he's now facing several drug counts as well.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Campbell County. ))

[Iraq]

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

U-S troops have been facing their most violent opposition in Iraq, since Baghdad fell a year ago today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq/April 9, 2003;]

It's an image that'll be forever remembered as the end of an era, as U-S troops knocked down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
[SUPER=03-Fallujah, Iraq;]

In Fallujah, U-S troops continue fighting Iraqi insurgents-- although a Marine is reporting a temporary halt to offensive operations there this morning.
He says negotiations are being held with sheiks from the town.
The fighting this week has killed least 40 U-S troops and more than 460 Iraqis.
Some of the injured have been civilians.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We are fighting]
((GREG OLSON/U.S. MARINES: WE ARE FIGHTING AN ENEMY THAT IS PREPARED TO FIGHT FROM BEHIND WOMEN AND CHILDREN...BEHIND APARTMENT BUILDINGS. ))
[SUPER=01-Greg Olson/U. S. Marines;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=apartment buildings.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Despite the problems, U-S officials say much has been accomplished and they still plan to hand over power on June 30th.
(------------)

[Japan-Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=3]

Japan's Prime Minister says he won't give in to threats from Iraqi insurgents.
That, after kidnappers vowed to kill three Japanese civilians if Tokyo doesn't withdraw its troops from Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The kidnappers released a video showing two aid workers and a freelance photographer blindfolded at gunpoint.
Insurgents have also kidnapped eight South Koreans, two Arab Israelis, and a Syrian- born Canadian.
Seven of the South Korean hostages were freed after one of them escaped.
(------------)

[11National-Guard]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC00:57]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq homecoming]
[ENG#=4]

Some soldiers who've been fighting for a few days off- will get their wish.
Their Easter leave has finally been approved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

First Sergeant Steven Burnette of Galax is among several soldiers of the 9-46th Transportation Company that arrived in the U-S Tuesday.
The unit's now in Fort Dix, New Jersey awaiting de-mobilization.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

The soldiers were in Kuwait and Iraq for more than a year and much longer than anticipated.

[11Gilmore]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

A federal jury has found the former mayor of Pocahontas and his alleged accomplice NOT guilty of the 1989 murders of a Tazewell County family. Prosecutors argued that Charles Gilmore hired two men to kill his assistant in hopes of thwarting a drug-trafficking investigation.
Gilmore said he did not even know the alleged hit-man.

[Good-Friday]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Pope John Paul]
[ENG#=1]

Pope John Paul will lead Good Friday observances today in Rome.
Holy Week for him culminates with the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, and his traditional greetings to the world.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vatican City;]

Yesterday, the 83- year- old Pope presided at a Holy Thursday mass to commemorate Jesus Christ's Last Supper.
Despite his poor health, he delivered his sermon in a strong, clear voice.
However, two cardinals stood in for the frail Pope for another part of the ritual-- washing the feet of 12 priests, in a gesture of humility.
(------------)

[S-Hillcats]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-170 3628TC]
[GRAPHIC=HILLCATS]
[ENG#=2]
The Lynchburg Hillcats open their Carolina League schedule tonight at the newly renovated City Stadium against Frederick. The Cats are looking for another successful season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE TEAM...]
[SUPER=01-Brad Eldred/Hillcats First Baseman; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=....SAME THING THIS YEAR."]
(------------)

[Take VO][Marketwatch]

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

In business news, The markets are closed today for the Good Friday.
Jean Lee has more on yesterday's closing numbers in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jean Lee/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=JL in New York.]
((As investors return from the Good Friday Holiday, they'll be focusing on the avalanche of earnings hitting Wall Street starting Monday.
The markets finished an abbreviated session on Thursday, with the Dow losing 38 points, And the Nasdaq posting a modest gain of 2.
Companies scheduled to talk about their results next week include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). The health care and personal products maker will reveal its earnings on Monday, along with fast-food giant McDonald's. (MCD) The world's biggest fast-food company recently said that it awarded its CEO, Jim Cantalupo, a bonus of over $2-million dollars last year, for revitalizing the company's sales.
On Tuesday, the world's largest chipmaker, Intel, is scheduled to show ITS numbers.
Wednesday will bring an earnings report from chipmaker AMD (AMD) It's expected to swing to a first-quarter profit.
And Apple Computer (AAPL), known for its iPod digital music players, will release its second-quarter numbers.
Later in the week, wireless giant Nokia (NOK) will announce its earnings on Friday.
Stay on top of all the latest earnings news by logging on to our website, cbs.mw.com
I'm jl cbs mw in ny.))

(tape tosses to Stocks)
[STOCKS 1 PAGE] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[Rice-Testimony]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Rice]
[ENG#=1]

The White House has agreed to de- classify an August, 2001, memo to President Bush entitled ``Bin Laden determined to attack inside United States.''
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Members of the 9-11 commission asked National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice about the document during her testimony yesterday.
Rice said the memo was based on old reporting, and did NOT warn of coming attacks.
She told commissioners that President Bush understood the threat of terrorism before 9-11, and insisted there was no quote "silver bullet" to prevent them.
(------------)

[PKG-Inmate-Escape]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC 09:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

It saves taxpayers millions of dollars every year.
But does letting inmates out of jail to clean up the community come at a cost to your safety?
Justin McLeod has the answer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Vicki Meadors/Franklin Co. Chief Correctional Officer; :11]
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Brubaker/Roanoke City Sheriff's Department; :42]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./August 1998; 1:19]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:33]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF WORKING IN COURTHOUSE))
When Franklin County needs its courthouse cleaned up, it doesn't hire a janitor, it relies on inmates from the county jail.
[SOT 4:28]
[IN Q=It's a savings]
((VICKI MEADORS/FRANKLIN CO. CHIEF CORRECTIONAL OFFICER: IT'S A SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYERS PLUS IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE INMATES BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE. THEY'RE PAYING BACK A DEBT TO SOCIETY.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=debt to society]

It's been this way in Franklin County for nearly three decades.
Every day, certain inmates go out and pick up trash or do other odd jobs in the area.
[SOT 5:02]
[IN Q=That savings to]
((VICKI MEADORS/FRANKLIN CO. CHIEF CORRECTIONAL OFFICER: THAT SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY IS MORE THAN A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.)) [Runs02]
[OUT Q=half million dollars]

A savings that's also being seen in Roanoke.
The city now has six inmate crews who work on more than 800 projects a year.
Authorities stress each inmate is screened before they ever leave their jail cell.
[SOT 1:13]
[IN Q=We do a background]
((MAJOR JIMMY BRUBAKER/ROANOKE CITY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: WE DO A BACKGROUND CHECK ON EVERYBODY. NOBODY WITH VIOLENT FELONIES, NO SEX OFFENDERS, NO DRUG DEALERS.)) [Runs09]
[OUT Q=NO DRUG DEALERS]

So the inmates are considered non-violent but even so are usually supervised by an armed deputy.
Inmates do however from time to time try to escape. [GRAPHIC ]
In Franklin County there have been three escapes in the last 27 years including one four years ago.
Roanoke City, Henry County, and Pulaski County have had no major incidents since their inmate work programs began.
At the state level, there have been three prisoners who escaped in the last six years including one in Botetourt County.
Authorities say there's a reason the escape attempts are few and far between.
[SOT 2:26]
[IN Q=They're looking]
((MAJOR JIMMY BRUBAKER/ROANOKE CITY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: THEY'RE LOOKING AT GETTING OUT OF JAIL IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND THAT COULD POSSIBLY ADD UP TO FIVE YEARS TO THEIR SENTENCE.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=TO THEIR SENTENCE] )
[SOT ]
[IN Q= ]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT NONE OF THE INMATES WHO ESCAPED COMMITTED ANY MAJOR CRIMES WHILE ON THE RUN. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))
[Runs= ]
[OUT Q= ])

[11Bedford-Wells]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC32:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Bedford's expanding water testing around the old city landfill.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/March 19]

Three wells were tested last month... two were contaminated by chemicals leaking from the landfill.
On Monday, the city will install more test wells and sample water from 38 homes further away from the property.

(------------)

[11Air-Quality]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC1:25:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

Clean up or pay up. That's the situation now facing officials in the Roanoke Valley.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The region was recently cited by the federal government for high ozone levels. Five localities have now agreed to a two- year plan they hope will decrease emissions. If levels are down by 20-07 the government will not impose regulations. The "Ozone Early Action Plan" doesn't take affect until next year, but Roanoke County has already staring cleaning up.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:07:05]
[IN Q=We feel it's adventageous]
((JIM VODNIK: WE FEEL IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO GET STARTED RIGHT NOW AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THE SAME THING BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE MEASURES DON'T COST ANYTHING. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF DOING IT.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Vodnik/Roanoke Co. Environmental Management;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=a matter of doing it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Local economic leaders say the health of the environment is directly linked to the health of the economy. They say some companies won't consider coming to the valley if there are strict federal regulations.
(------------)

[6-Clearbrook]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC1:43:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

The Clearbrook Volunteer Rescue Squad has 30-days to find new management or risk losing its license. The Roanoke County community lost the squad's services April first after Dr. Cheryl Haas (Hoss) resigned as Operational Medical Director, or O-M-D.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :12]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Without an OMD, volunteers are not allowed to respond to emergency calls. Haas could not be reached for comment. But county officials say concerns about operations and finances may have prompted the move.
(///// SOT AT :12 /////)
[SOT 14:30:19 - 14:30:38]
[IN Q=Every year volunteer departments have to...]
((DAN O'DONNELL/ASSISTANT ROANOKE CO. ADMINISTRATOREVERY YEAR VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO TURN IN AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT TO THE COUNTY ADN WE FOUND SOME THINGS THAT DIDN'T LOOK APPROPRIATE AND TURNED IT OVER TO POLICE. I THINK THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DOCTOR'S DECISION TO WITHDRAW COVERAGE OF THE LICENSE.))
[SUPER=01-Dan O'Donnell/Assistant Roanoke Co. Administrator;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=to withdraw coverage of the license.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]
The case has been turned over the Commonwealth's Attorney. In the meantime, Roanoke County will cover Clearbrook's emergency calls.
(///// SOT at :08 /////)
[SOT 14:28:15 - 14:28:33]
[IN Q=Two years ago we entered an agreement...]
((RICK BURCH/ROANOKE CO. FIRE AND RESCUE CHIEF: TWO YEARS AGO WE ENTERED AN AGREEMENT WITH ROANOKE CITY SO WE'LL HAVE 24-HOUR STAFFING ON AMBULANCE AND 24-HOUR FIRE PROTECTION WHICH ALSO CARRIES AN ADVANCED LIFE-SUPPORT TRAINED PERSON.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Burch/Roanoke Co. Fire and Rescue Chief;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=an advanced life-support trained person.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
The Captain and Acting Chief of the volunteer squad, Lisa Stubbs, did *not* want to go on camera. But she told News 7 that, as far as she knows, nothing illegal went on and that the squad plans to rebuild.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=2]

In business news, The markets are closed today for Good Friday. The trading week ended with a mixed close on Wall Street. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((STOCKS ENDED THE SESSION AND THE HOLIDAY-SHORTENED WEEK NEARLY UNCHANGED ON THURSDAY.

THE DOW WAS OFF 38 POINTS ON THE DAY...
THE NASDAQ WAS UP TWO.

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS FILING INITIAL CLAIMS FOR JOBLESS BENEFITS DECLINED SHARPLY LAST WEEK.
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS FIRST-TIME CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FELL AN UNEXPECTEDLY STEEP 14-THOUSAND IN THE WEEK ENDED APRIL THIRD TO 328-THOUSAND--THE LOWEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

REPORTING AFTER WEDNESDAY'S CLOSE, YAHOO POSTED FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS OF 13 CENTS A SHARE, TWO CENTS BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
YAHOO ALSO RAISED ITS SALES GUIDANCE FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AND ANNOUNCED A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON MAY ELEVENTH.

THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AT COMPUTER ASSOCIATES HAS ADMITTED THAT HE HELPED BACKDATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF CONTRACTS.
IT WAS PART OF A BROAD CONSPIRACY TO INFLATE THE SOFTWARE FIRM'S QUARTERLY EARNINGS.
IRA ZAR, COMPUTER ASSOCIATES' FORMER C-F-O, AND DAVID KAPLAN, A FORMER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FACE SIMILAR CHARGES.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF... I'M STAN CASE.))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS - ONE PAGE] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC]
[WINNER ANNOUNCE!]

[6-Warner-budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC43:28]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=2]

The vote that could break the state's budget impasse has been postponed by a day.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The House was scheduled to vote Monday on a compromise tax bill that raises nearly one billion dollars in new revenue.
The vote has now been pushed back to Tuesday.
Governor Warner says he will spend his Easter weekend on the phone with legislators to help maintain support for the measure.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1::]
[IN Q=I SUPPORT THIS COMPROMISE]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: I SUPPORT THIS COMPROMISE. I THINK ITS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS GETTING US TOWARDS A BUDGET DEAL. CLEARLY THE SENATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON IT AS WELL. I JUST WISH THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP WOULD BE PART OF THE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF SIMPLY TRYING TO PUT ROAD BLOCKS TO GETTING A BUDGET.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=PUT ROAD BLOCKS TO GETTING A BUDGET.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Warner said the 17 House Republicans who plan to vote for the compromise are "courageous." He says he hopes they will stay the course despite the "type of browbeating they may be under."