WDBJ 7 morning news for 04/15/04

[Tax-Day]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

Today's the day to pay your dues to Uncle Sam-- and to get out the calculators.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Taxpayers who don't make tonight's deadline can file for an extension-- allowing more time to do the paper work.
The government estimates it takes 28 hours and 30 minutes to complete a typical return with itemized deductions and income from interest, capital gains, and dividends.
That typical return is also more complicated than last year's-- taking about 42 minutes longer to finish the extra math and paper work.
(------------)

[PKGTeacher-Allegation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC16:18]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

The school administration says one thing, while some teachers say another.
At issue is how many students in Roanoke City schools falsely accuse teachers of assault.
Justin McLeod has more.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Anita Price/Roanoke Education Association; :07]
[SUPER=01-Paul Britt/Roanoke City Public Schools; :46]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF TEACHING))
Teachers will tell you the kids of today act quite differently from when you and I were in school.
[SOT 10:19:19]
[IN Q=Children certainly]
((ANITA PRICE/ROANOKE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: CHILDREN CERTAINLY WILL TEST THE PARAMETERS AND THEY WILL CERTAINLY PUSH AS MANY BUTTONS AS THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=GET AWAY WITH]

That sometimes leads to a student accusing a teacher of assault.
In Roanoke, administrators say there are eight to ten cases like this every year.
[SOT 10:08:58]
[IN Q=When you look at]
((PAUL BRITT/ROANOKE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: WHEN YOU LOOK AT EIGHT TO TEN TO ME THAT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER.)) [Runs03]
[OUT Q=SMALL NUMBER]
[GRAPHIC]
The numbers indicate last year eight students made an accusation against a school employee.
In four of those cases, a staff member received a reprimand.
So far this academic year, there have been 7 accusations, two of which resulted in reprimands.
Some educators wonder if any of these cases involved students making false accusations.
[SOT 10:10:45]
[IN Q=We have not been]
((PAUL BRITT/ROANOKE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ASERTAIN ANY THAT SOMEONE DELIBERATELY MADE SOMETHING UP, HAVE NOT FOUND ANY.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=HAVE NOT FOUND ANY]

But what about the Ron Mayfield case?
He's the teacher who committed suicide after falsely being accused of hitting a student.
Adminstrators declined to comment on that case but educators say false allegations against teachers happen more often than the school system lets on.
[SOT 10:24:04]
[IN Q=In the three years]
((ANITA PRICE/ROANOKE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: IN THE THREE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION I WOULD SAY AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION PERSONALLY.)) [Runs12]
[OUT Q=my attention personally]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=ALthough administrators]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: ALTHOUGH ADMINISTRATORS SAY THERE ISN'T A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FALSE ALLEGATIONS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS INSTITUTED A NEW POLICY. STUDENTS WHO MAKE FALSE ALLEGATIONS MAY NOW FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))

[11L'burg-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC19:15]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Another suspicious fire broke out near downtown Lynchburg. It's the fourth blaze in the last three weeks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Crews were called to this home at 607 Wood Street around 9:30 last night.
Fire and smoke were coming from a first floor window and one side of the building.
It took firefighters about a half hour to bring the blaze under control.
The building still had electricity running into it, but the owner says it's been empty for at least six months.
Three other suspicious fires have been reported in the same neighborhood since March 21st.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=4]

In Iraq, the first known execution of a hostage is carried out by militants demanding an end to the U- S occupation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

An Italian hostage was killed.
The captors delivered a tape to al- Jazeera Television showing the murder.
Meanwhile, more than 20 foreigners are still missing, including American Thomas Hamill and eight other Americans.
The U-N representative trying to keep the political process moving says the violence is making it nearly impossible.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The security ]
((LAKHDAR BRAHIMI/U.N. ENVOY:THE SECURITY SITUATION MUST CONSIDERABLY IMPROVE BEFORE ELECTIONS CAN TAKE PLACE. ))
[SUPER=01-Lakhdar Brahimi/U. N. Envoy;]
[RUNS=:05] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=can take place.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fallujah, Iraq;]

Meanwhile, the military has called in warplanes to stop the gunfire that keeps interrupting the cease- fire in Fallujah.
But a Marine commander says the fragile truce won't last much longer.
And the Pentagon now says more than 20- thousand American soldiers will spend at least another three months in Iraq.

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

[Osama-Tape]

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

Two Arab T-V networks have aired a new audio tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The voice on the tape offers a truce to European countries that do NOT attack Muslims.
However, there is no offer of a truce to the U-S.
The message also vows revenge for Israel's killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the leader of the Palestinian militant group, Hamas-- and denounces the U-S war in Iraq.
Officials say there's no way to know for sure yet if the voice on the tape is indeed bin Laden's.
(------------)

[11NRV-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC38:33]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
[ENG#=2]
Authorities in Radford kept a close eye on the New River overnight, but no problems have been reported.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford]
Radford University police emptied out the Dedmon Center parking lot yesterday. That parking lot is next to the River and flooded last November, damaging more than 50 cars. Police are asking everyone to stay off the trails.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[11Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC1:52:33]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE]

[ENG#=3]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boones Mill]

In Boones Mill yesterday- streams and creeks were up and moving quickly, but hadn't broken their banks.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
In Roanoke, authorities say the Roanoke River has receeded at Wiley Drive. Authorities closed the bridge yesterday after the river swept over the two lanes, washing debris like trees and even a refrigerator onto nearby shores. The bridge will remain closed until crews clean up the debris.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Apple Computer and Texas Instruments have released their earnings reports. And, you'll soon be able to own a piece of Domino's Pizza.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[Middle-East]

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

The Palestinian people say they're outraged over President Bush's concessions to Israel.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

During talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Bush endorsed Sharon's plan to hold on to part of the West Bank while giving up all settlements in the Gaza Strip.
However, the White House says Bush's decision does not change U-S policy on Israeli settlments.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians want Israel out of both areas.
Sharon will meet with Secretary of State Colin Powell today before returning to Israel.
(------------)

[5-XGR-budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=503-00 1:50:37]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=2]
The Senate Finance Committee says the House's tax bill doesn't go far enough.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The panel met yesterday to discuss the measure but did NOT vote on it.
The compromise bill WAS expected to raise 972 million dollars in additional taxes.
But last-minute House amendments stripped the bill of nearly 300 million dollars.
Several Senators criticized the 690 million dollar tax bill for not providing enough money for the state treasury.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:16:55]
[IN Q=THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL NEEDS THAT]
((SEN. KEN STOLLE/R-VIRGINIA BEACH: THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE MET. I FIND IT VERY UNLIKELY THAT I'LL VOTE FOR A BUDGET THAT KEEPS STATE TROOPERS AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS ON WELFARE. THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Ken Stolle/(R) Virginia Beach]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=NOT SOMETHING I'M GOING TO DO.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

House Republicans say they have moved as far as they plan to go.
They say they will NOT accept any bill from the Senate that raises more than a billion dollars in taxes.
(------------)

[11Radford-President]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC14:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Radford University's moving forward with a search for a new president.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/February;]
Douglas Covington announced in February he will be retiring in June 2005. Yesterday, a presidential search committee met for the first time in Northern Virginia with a consultant about how to select a new president. The committee is made up of 13 members including five Radford professors.
(------------)

[11Wood]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:17:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

A man who terrorized a Roanoke neighborhood twice in 12 years will be sentenced in July.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :21]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
John Henson Wood yesterday pled guilty to four burglaries and an attempted burglary in the Raleigh Court community between December 14th and 20th of last year. In exchange for the guilty plea, the Commonwealth agreed not to prosecute the 41-year old for any other burglaries in that area around the same time period. Wood faces up to 185-years in prison.
(///// SOT at :19 /////)
[SOT 25:37 - 25:51]
[IN Q=We have no recommendation at this point...]
((SETH WESTON/PROSECUTOR: WE HAVE NO RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT BUT IN THE SPAN OF 185 YEARS I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL HAVE A... BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SERVES SOCIETAL INTERESTS AND JUSTICE IN THIS CASE.))
[SUPER=01-Seth Weston/Prosecutor;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=interests and justice in this case.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :24]
Wood's attorney describes him as "scared and depressed" and says even though the crimes may have frightened members of the community, that Wood himself is not a scary person.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/June 1991;]
He has, however, been in trouble with the law before. He was arrested twice during the spring of 1991 for a series of burglaries, again in the Raleigh Court area. His attorney says he served at least 8 years for those crimes.
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[11Disaster-Drill]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=cja]
[TAPE#=04-04 TC1:42:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Some local citizens are being called heroes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Ten people were honored during the 'Celebration of Heroes' sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Emergency workers, community volunteers, and good Samaritans were recognized for brave acts they performed during the past year.
After the ceremony, the Community Emergency Response Team, known as 'CERT', held a demonstration. The CERT program, developed by Governor Warner, was designed to help community members learn how to react during disasters.
(------------)

(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM][Sleep-Disorders]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

SURPRISING NEWS ABOUT TROUBLED TEENS.. WHO SMOKE, ABUSE ALCOHOL OR TAKE DRUGS. A NEW STUDY LINKS THESE BEHAVIORS TO THE WAY THE TEENS SLEPT.. AS TODDLERS. ELIZABETH KALEDIN HAS THE STORY.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Kirk Brower/University of Michigan]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Melvin Oatis/NYU Child Study Center]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Kaledin/Reporting]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=CBS News NY.]
(( Track: What makes a teenager take that first drink or smoke that first cigarette? Researchers have long known that genetics, family history and peer pressure play a big role. But a new study makes a link...for the first time connecting childhood sleep habits with future drug or alchohol use.

(SOT) Dr. Kirk Brower/Univ. of Michigan
123705 we know there's a good connection between sleep disturbance and the development of alchohol dependence in adults...but no one's really looked at this in children before.
Track/GFX: Dr. Kirk Brower and his colleagues followed 257 boys for ten years. They discovered that those who had sleep problems as toddlers were TWICE as likely to try drugs, alchohol or tobacco as teens.

(SOT) Brower
even when people are between the ages of 3 to 5 there are certain things that stand out as predictors...sleep problems may be one of those.
Track: Brower admits it's just evidence...NOT proof, and he has no idea what the underlying biological explanation is.
Still, the study has caught the attention of child psychiatrists like Melvin Oatis of the NYU child study center.

(SOT) Dr. Melvin Oatis
this is actually new and fascinating information
Track: for anyone trying to understand and prevent substance abuse, the idea that sleep may be involved is of great interest...BUT Dr. Oatis adds, the finding is extremely preliminary. Parents, he adds, should NOT have sleepless nights, about an occasional sleepless night.

(SOT) Dr. Melvin Oatis/NYU Child Study Ctr.
011150 so if people were going to run with this and say "Oh my god my child isn't sleeping through the night already".."Oh my God he's going to have this"...That's not the message to take.
Track: Instead, he says, the message should be this: We already know sleep is crucial for children...and we should monitor it carefully. If it turns out to be a predictor of future substance abuse...a good night's rest may be more important than we know. EK CBS News NY.))

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

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, Delta Airlines has reported a loss for the first quarter. Meanwhile, Bank of America posted gains. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((THE MAJOR AVERAGES CLOSED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AFTER A ROUGH MID-WEEK SESSION WEDNESDAY.

THE DOW WAS DOWN THREE-POINTS...
AND THE NASDAQ LOST FIVE.

U-S INFLATION ROSE IN MARCH, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
THE INDEX, WHICH IS A BROAD MEASURE OF U-S PRICES, ROSE FIVE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT FOR THE MONTH.
ECONOMISTS EXPECTED AN INCREASE OF THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT...THE SAME INCREASE POSTED IN FEBRUARY.

BANK OF AMERICA POSTED AN 11-PERCENT JUMP IN ITS FIRST QUARTER PROFIT.
THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST BANK REPORTED A PROFIT OF A-DOLLAR-83 PER SHARE...THAT'S UP FROM A-DOLLAR-59 PER SHARE A YEAR AGO.
THE COMPANY SAYS GROWTH IN ITS CONSUMER LENDING AND INVESTMENT SERVICES PLAYED A PART IN THE PROFIT.
BANK OF AMERICA COMPLETED ITS PURCHASE OF FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION APRIL FIRST.

DELTA AIRLINES HAS POSTED ITS 13-TH STRAIGHT QUARTERLY LOSS.
THE AIRLINE REPORTED A LOSS OF THREE-DOLLARS-AND-12-CENTS PER SHARE FOR ITS FIRST QUARTER.
LAST YEAR, THE LOSS WAS THREE-81 PER SHARE FOR THE QUARTER.
DELTA'S C-E-O HAS SAID THE COMPANY NEEDS TO CUT ITS OPERATING COSTS BY MORE THAN 10-PERCENT.
DELTA IS THE NATION'S THIRD LARGEST AIR CARRIER.

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

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[11DIP-B'burg]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC27:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Blacksburg may have found a new way to make some money.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The town is creating a new ordinance against being drunk in public. Currently any money collected from drunk in public tickets goes straight to the state because there's no local law. The new law will keep ALL the money in the town.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 32:41:00]
[IN Q=The money]
((LT. DONALD GOODMAN/BLACKSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT; THE MONEY IS LEAVING AND THIS IS ONE WAY THE TOWN CAN RECOOP SOME OF THE COSTS THAT GO AWAY WHEN TO THE STATE WHEN PEOPLE ARE CHARGED UNDER THESE CRIMES.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Donald Goodman/Blacksburg Police Department; ]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=these crimes.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Last year Blacksburg Police wrote more than 560 drunk in public tickets. That's more than 14-thousand dollars that would have gone to the town.
(------------)

[11TV-Dog]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC1:06:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

She's an accomplished therapist, reading specialist and model.. and now a Lynchburg resident can add "t-v star" to her resume.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Pearl is a seven-year-old Australian Blue Heeler owned by Pat Lambeth.
When Lambeth decided to enter a photo contest for Mercedes-Benz owners, she included a picture of herself with Pearl at the wheel.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:17:56]
[IN Q=I think it]
((PAT LAMBETH/PEARL'S OWNER: I THINK IT WAS MORE FOCUSED ON THE PERSONALITIES OF THE OWNERS PROBABLY, RATHER THAN THE CAR ITSELF. IN THE ENTIRE AD, IT NEVER MENTIONS THE NAME OF THE CAR, THERE'S NO VOICEOVER, I THINK AT THE VERY END THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE SCREEN REGARDING THE CAR.))
[SUPER=01-Pat Lambeth/Pearl's Owner; :04]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=regarding the car.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The commercial with Pearl's photo is now running nationwide.
In her spare time, Pearl visits with residents at a local retirement home and cancer patients at Virginia Baptist Hospital.
(------------)

(Kim tosses to bump) [BUMP]

[COMM] [L'burg-Shootings]

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

Lynchburg police are investigating two shootings. The first one happened on 12th Street around 8:30 last night. Police say the victim stopped to get gas when he was approached by a black male demanding money. When the victim said he didn't have any, the suspect then shot him in the chest and fled the scene. The victim drove himself to another gas station for help. He was taken to the hospital. There's now word on his condition. The second shooting happened after midnight in the 22-hundred block Otey Street. Police say a 31 year old woman was shot when a bullet came through her house. She was taken to Lynchburg General then airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Her condition is not known.