WDBJ 7 morning news for 05/14/04

[AM-Marcus-Vick]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
[ENG#=1]
Marcus Vick and two Virginia Tech teammates are scheduled to go on trial later today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Vick, Brenden Hill, and Mike Imoh, are accused of giving teenage girls alcohol and taking pictures of them as they stripped.
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

In addition, Vick is accused of having sex with one of the girls, a 15 year old. Lawyers for both sides wanted the trial closed to the public, but the judge in the case denied their request. However, he did reserve the right to close the courtroom at times if necessary. All three defendants could faces fines or jail time if convicted.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=2]

The family of slain American civilian Nick Berg plans a memorial today, just as many detainees inside an Iraqi prison get to go home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

A bus carried dozens of former Abu Ghraib (Guh- RAYB) prisoners to freedom today.
They're among more than 300 scheduled for release.
Yesterday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited the prison at the center of the abuse scandal.
He vowed that those responsible for the abuse will be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, U-S intelligence believes a terrorist with links to Al-Qaida is responsible for the beheading of American Nick Berg.
Berg's family is blaming the government for detaining him in Iraq until it was unsafe for him to go home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I have a written]
((MICHAEL BERG/NICK BERG'S FATHER: I HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT IN BAGHDAD SAYING THAT MY SON WAS BEING HELD BY THE MILITARY. ))
[SUPER=01-Michael Berg/Nick Berg's Father;]
[RUNS=:07] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=held by the military.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The state department contends Berg was in Iraqi police custody, and the e-mail to the Berg family was incorrect.
(------------)

[11Danville-Murder]

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

Authorities in Danville are trying to solve murder case.
In March, 34-year-old Annie Deloris Howerton was shot and killed at a liquor store on North Union Street.
Police are now offering a five-thousand dollar reward, thanks to an anonymous donation.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE CRIMESTOPPERS FS]
Anyone with information is asked to call the Danville Police Department or Danville Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000.
(-------------)

[11Campbell-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC53:54]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
[ENG#=3]

Four days after finding their friend dead inside their home, a Campbell County couple is now charged with his murder.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]

40-year-old Steven Wayne Walker was discovered stabbed and beaten to death inside this home on Autumn Drive near Evington on Sunday.
The homeowners: 41-year-old Richard Roy Preas (preese) and 33-year-old Virginia Boothe Blankenship told police they'd been on vacation and returned to find Walker dead.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:57:34]
[IN Q=Normally a violent]
((TERRY GADDY/CAMPBELL CO. SHERIFF: NORMALLY A VIOLENT ACT LIKE THIS OCCURS AND PEOPLE ARE NORMALLY NOT REALLY THINKING AT THE TIME, AND THEY HAD TWO DAYS APPARENTLY TO COME UP WITH A STORY BEFORE THEY CAME HOME.))
[SUPER=01-Terry Gaddy/Campbell Co. Sheriff]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=before they came home.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gaddy says forensic evidence ties the couple to the murder and that robbery was the apparent motive.
Both Preas and Blankenship are being held without bond.
(------------)

[11Graduation-Parking]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC1:56:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
Virginia Tech is expecting more than 25-thousand people to attend tonight's graduation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

The ceremony begins at 7:30. Tech says the student commuter lots should be able to handle most of the congestion. Officials say hotels are packed and area restaurants should be bracing for some heavy crowds.
(------------)

[PKGAtkins-Diet]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC 1:00:33]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

If you're watching your waistline, there's a good chance you're counting carbs.
It seems everyone is on the Atkins Diet, but should your kids be on it?
Justin McLeod went to the experts for some answers.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lissy Merenda/Roanoke City Schools; :29 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Heather Cox/Registered Dietitian; :54]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND IN THE CAFETERIA))
Here at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Roanoke, there are posters all over the cafeteria reminding kids to eat healthy.
But does it work?
[SOT 17:01:20]
[IN Q=I think the answer]
((LISSY MERENDA/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOL SPOKESPERSON: I THINK THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS IT IS CHALLENGING.)) [Runs02]
[OUT Q=IT IS CHALLENGING]

A challenge made easier by the fact Woodrow Wilson has a salad and potato bar several days a week.
Citywide, the school system recently began replacing soda in the vending machines with juices and milk.
But yet child obesity is only getting worse.
[SOT 17:02:18]
[IN Q=We see that is growing]
((LISSY MERENDA/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOL SPOKESPERSON: WE SEE THAT IT IS GROWING. OUR SCHOOL NURSES REPORT IT, OUR TEEN HEALTH CENTERS REPORT IT.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=CENTERS REPORT IT]

So would the Atkins diet help?
[SOT 17:08:03]
[IN Q=Would I recommend]
((HEATHER COX/REGISTERED KROGER DIETITIAN: WOULD I RECOMMEND THAT A CHILD GO ON AN EXTREME LOW CARBOHYDRATE, NO I WOULDN'T.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=NO I WOULDN'T]

That's because things like bread, potatoes, rice, and fruit, provide important nutrients which are necessary for growing bodies.
Even so, Kroger's dietitian believes parts of the Atkins diet may be a good thing for your children.
[SOT 17:09:13]
[IN Q=One of them is to really]
((HEATHER COX/REGISTERED KROGER DIETITIAN: ONE OF THEM IS REALLY TO REDUCE SOME OF THESE LIQUID CALORIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONSUMING LIKE THE SODA THE SWEET TEA, THE JUICE DRINKS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT REALLY AREN'T PROVIDING REALLY A LOT OF NUTRIENTS OTHER THAN THOSE CALORIES.)) [Runs13]
[OUT Q=than those calories]

If that's the case, should schools then provide low carb foods?
A school in New Hampshire for example recently started offering bunless burgers.
Could local school systems be far behind?
[SOT 17:05:33]
[IN Q=I think if you]
((LISSY MERENDA/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS: I THINK IF YOU CAN A MATCH TO BOTH OF THE REQUIREMENTS, IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=BE A POSSIBILITY]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=Those requirements she's]
((JUSTIN mcLEOD: THOSE REQUIREMENTS SHE'S TALKING ABOUT ARE FROM THE USDA WHICH ARE SO STRICT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ENDORSE A PARTICULAR DIET BUT SINCE THE ATKINS DIETS IS SO POPULAR IT IS LIKELY THERE WILL BE SOME LOW CARB ITEMS ON THE MENU IN THE FUTURE. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))

[Survivor]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

This time the tribe HASN'T spoken--
Instead, America got to choose who walked away with the million dollar prize from "Survivor."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Out of the four All Star finalists-- which included Colby Donaldson, Rob Mariano, and local favorite Big Tom Buchanan-- it was Rupert Boneham who emerged the big winner.
It was the first time in Survivor history that viewers got a chance to be on the jury, and vote for the player they felt was most deserving.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Thank you very much]
((RUPERT BONEHAM/MILLION DOLLAR WINNER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE WHO VOTED FOR ME -- 38 MILLION VOTES. THANK YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Rupert Boneham/Million Dollar Winner;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=thank you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Rupert says the first things he'll do with his million dollars is pay off his mother's house.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Dell released a strong earnings report.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((> COMPUTER MAKER DELL DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.. > > AFTER THE CLOSING BELL THE NO. 1 PC MAKER SAID FIRST QUARTER PROFIT JUMEPD > 22 PERCENT ..SALES CLIMBED 21 PERCENT TO A RECORD HIGH AS DELL SOLD MORE > PROFITABLE SERVERS AND STORAGE DEVICES. DELL SAID CUSTOMERS IN COUNTRIES > INCLUDING FRANCE, JAPAN AND CHINA ALSO BOOSTED ORDERS. > > ON WALL STREET, STOCKS WERE MIXED IN A YO-YO DAY OF TRADING... THE MARKET > CAME UNDER PRESSURE AFTER A GOVERNMENT REPORT SHOWED INFLATION IS PICKING > UP AND CRUDE OIL CLOSED ABOVE 41 DOLLARS - THAT'S A RECORD HIGH AND > ANALYSTS SAY IT COULD GO EVEN HIGHER OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. > > THE DOW SLID 34 POINTS > > THE NASDAQ JUST BARELY MADE IT INTO THE PLUS COLUMN WITH A GAIN OF LESS > THAN HALF A POINT. > > THE DRUGMAKER PFIZER HAS AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT > IT'S UNIT - WARNER LAMBERT - MISBRANDED THE EPILEPSY DRUG NEU-RON-TIN. > PFIZER WLL PAY MOR THAN 430 MLN DOLLARS TO SETTLE CHARGES THAT IT PROMOTED > THE MEDICATION FOR UNAPPROVED USES..SUCH AS MIGRAINE HEADACHES AND > DEPRESSION. > > TRACK YOUR STOCKS AT CBS.MW.COM IN NY I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS.)) >

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[Campaign-2004]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=1]

Democrat John Kerry capped off a four day focus on health care with a promise to deliver benefits, not just rhetoric.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Little Rock, AR;]

The Massachusetts Senator pledged to mandate funding for veterans health care.
Today he speaks to police officers in Washington.
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Meanwhile, President Bush plans some fundraising before delivering the commencement address at Concordia University in Wisconsin today.
This week he's been focusing on education, but has taken time to address the situation in Iraq and his disgust over Iraqi prisoner abuse.
(------------)

[11City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC1:17:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Roanoke City Council has approved a new budget.
The 211- million dollar spending plan represents a three and a half percent increase over the current budget.
It includes pay raises averaging three percent for city employees, but does not call for any increases in city tax rates. Council members also made two appointments to the school board, but one proved more difficult than the other.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Alvin Nash has served on the school board for the last five months, and he was reappointed yesterday on a unanimous vote.
But six members of council split on the second appointment, when Linda Wyatt withheld her vote.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 57:55]
[IN Q=For me I just felt]
((FOR ME I JUST FELT IT WAS BEST I JUST ABSTAIN FROM THAT, BECAUSE I COULDN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE GO EITHER WAY.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Wyatt/Roanoke City Council;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=in good conscience go either way.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Ultimately, Bev Fitzpatrick changed his vote, and Courtney Penn won the school board appointment over Linda Wright.
(------------)

[6-Police-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC2:01:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

It was a time to reflect and remember fallen heroes in Roanoke yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Law enforcement agencies from around the region gathered to honor officers who died in the line of duty.
A roll call of 27 officers killed in the Roanoke Valley was read at Melrose Baptist Church as part of of National Police week.
A candle was lit as each name was read.
(------------)

[11Teen-Stress]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC 1:57:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

If you have questions about raising your teenager, now's the time to write them down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Community High School and the Roanoke Adolescent Health Partnership will offer a free forum next week for parents to learn how to recognize and handle their teen's stress. Signs your teen is stressed out include:
(///// SOT at : /////)
[SOT 22:40:39 - 22:40:57]
[IN Q=Changes in activities from...]
((DR. MARK WERNER/ADOLESCENT MEDICINE SPECIALIST: CHANGES IN ACTIVITIES, GOING FROM PRO-SOCIAL TO ACTIVITIES THAT ARE MORE ISOLATED, HANGING OUT AT THE MALL, A LITTLE SECRETIVE BEHAVIOR BY TEENAGERS.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Mark Werner/Adolescent Medicine Specialist;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=by teenagers.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
Also look for a drop in school performace or the presence of delinquent or illegal acts. Dr. Werner says remember to look at the entire picture and not focus on a single behavior. He says the biggest mistake parents make is assuming they've already done all they can to help their teen.
(++++++++)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN INFO BOARD] The "Surviving Teenage Stress" Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, May 19th at 7 p.m. at Mill Mountain Theatre. For more information log onto our website at wdbj7.com and click on websites in the news.
(------------)

(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM] [Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks closed mixed yesterday. And, Walmart has released its profit report. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((BLUE CHIPS FELL THURSDAY AND THE BROADER MARKET WAS LITTLE CHANGED.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS LOST 34-POINTS...
WHILE THE NASDAQ CLOSED NEAR UNCHANGED.

THE PRODUCER PRICE INDEX ROSE SEVEN-TENTHS OF A PERCENT LAST MONTH... MUCH HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.
BUT MOST OF THE GAIN WAS DUE TO RISING ENERGY COSTS. THE CORE RATE ROSE A MUCH TAMER TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.

WALMART'S QUARTERLY EARNINGS ROSE TO 50-CENTS A SHARE ... UP FROM 41-CENTS A SHARE DURING THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO.
THE RETAILER WAS HELPED BY THE IMPROVING ECONOMY AND AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR APPAREL...
BUT WALMART WARNS THAT HIGH GASOLINE PRICES COULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY ITS CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SPEND ON OTHER ITEMS.

PFIZER HAS AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO CRIMINAL WRONGDOING FOR FALSELY MARKETING THE EPILEPSY DRUG NEURONTIN (PRO: NOR-RON-TIN)... AND TO PAY A FINE OF 430-MILLION DOLLARS.

THE CASE INVOLVES MARKETING THE DRUG FOR ILLNESSES IT WAS NOT APPROVED TO TREAT, SUCH AS MIGRAINES AND BACK PAIN.
THE DRUG WAS MADE BY WARNER-LAMBERT, BEFORE THE COMPANY WAS ACQUIRED BY PFIZER IN 2000.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[11WWII-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC1:12:44]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
[ENG#=3]

The nation's World War II veterans are finally getting what so many say is a long overdue honor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The National World War II memorial will be dedicated on May 29th.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Millions are expected to be there, including many veterans from our region. This week, Blacksburg's mayor even signed a proclamation for the town to join in on the celebration of our local heroes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:57:07:00 ]
[IN Q=I think]
((ROGER HEDGEPETH:I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR FOLKS TO RECALL THEIR HISTORY AND THE SACRIFICES THAT HAVE OCCURED. ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT WARS THAT ARE CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE. WORLD WAR II WAS NOT CONFUSING.))
[SUPER=01-Roger Hedgepeth/Blacksburg Mayor;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=was not confusing. ]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Blacksburg will honor it's World War II vets at a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Warm Hearth Retirement Community on Saturday, May 29th
(------------)
[DESK 2-SHOT=KMC-SPA]
(toss to Steve in Weekend Preview)

[11House]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC1:08:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
A Radford University student athlete is in trouble with the law.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Monday]
The captain of the baseball team has been charged with identity theft. Federal court records indicate Shaun House has agreed to plead guilty- -after he graduates- -to a single conspiracy count. The senior from Chesapeake fraudulently obtained student loans- -the government says- -by forging the signature of a fellow student, making James Scruggs a co-signer on the loan- -unbeknownst to Scruggs. When the money came through, House allegedly used most of it to buy a Ford Explorer rather than for tuition. Coach Lew Kent says he was aware of the criminal investigation, but he did not know his third baseman had cut a deal with the government. (------------)