WDBJ 7 morning news for 05/17/04

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=1]

A car bomb has exploded just outside the entrance of coalition headquarters in Baghdad, killing at least four Iraqis.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

An Iraqi official said the head of the governing council was among the victims.
Eight other people were injured in the blast, including two American soldiers.
In other developments, this week's New Yorker says Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cleared the way for secret operatives conducting forced interrogations in the hunt for al-Qaida to move into the Abu Ghraib prison.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm not saying]
((SEYMOUR HERSH/THE NEW YORKER: I'M NOT SAYING RUMSFELD AUTHORIZED WHAT WE SAW IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, BUT HE DID AUTHORIZE THESE GUYS TO COME INTO THE PRISON SYSTEM AND JACK IT UP, GET BETTER STUFF. ))
((COLIN POWELL/SECRETARY OF STATE: I HAVEN'T READ IT, DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND THE PENTAGON IS SAYING THAT IT IS NOT AN ACCURATE STORY.))
[SUPER=01-Seymour Hersh/The New Yorker;]
[SUPER=01-Colin Powell/Secretary of State/Fox News Sunday; :08]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=get better stuff.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Pentagon says the story is ``filled with error,'' and ``outlandish.''
(------------)

[11UVA-Graduation]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC-1:59:26]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=2]
Senator John Warner discussed terrorism and the war in Iraq at U-V-A's graduation ceremonies yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/UVA Television;]

Warner addressed graduates on the lawn in Charlottesville, and said America's mission against terror will be successful, and those responsible for abuse will be publicly prosecuted.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:23:42]
[IN Q=We will not fail...]
((SEN. JOHN WARNER/(R) VIRGINIA; WE WILL NOT FAIL IN OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE FREEDOM IN FAR FLUNG LANDS IN THE WORLD. WE WILL NOT BE DETERRED. WE WILL HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE AND GET ON BY OUR BUSINESS, AND THE WHOLE WORLD WILL SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION AND DEMOCRACY TREATING WITH FAIRNESS AND FIRMNESS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WRONG.))
[SUPER=@johnwarner; ]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=who have been wrong.]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
Warner added the Senate investigation into inmate abuse will likely lead to senior officers, including the commanding general of the military police unit that provided guards.

(---------------)[Gay-Marriage]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

The lines are long across Massachusetts this morning, for same- sex couples looking to legally wed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cambridge, MA;]

City clerks started handing out marriage- license applications to gay couples just after midnight.
Marcia Hams and her partner, Susan Shepherd have been together for 27 years.
They were the first in the state to apply.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's just amazing.]
((MARCIA HAMS/GETTING MARRIED:IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT THIS DAY IS HERE, WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN! ))
[SUPER=01-Marcia Hams/Getting Married;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=would ever happen!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While opponents made an emergency appeal to the U-S Supreme Court, it refused to intervene.
But protests are planned today across the state.
Politically speaking, both President Bush and Democratic opponent John Kerry say they would support civil unions.
But they, too, oppose same sex marriage.
(------------)

[11Bath-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A body was found in Bath County on Friday. Officials have not released how the man died. Deputies initially responded to a call about an abandoned Toyota pick up truck on Route 39 about a mile from the Blowing Springs Camp Ground. Upon investigation, they found it was a wanted vehicle in connection with an earlier call in Rockbridge County. Blood hounds were then called in, and the body of Shawn Staton (STAY-ton), of Vesuvius was found a short distance away. His body was taken to Roanoke for examination.

[11Rke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC-2:01:25]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]
A lightning strike forced a Roanoke business to shut down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
It happened around 2:30 yesterday afternoon at the Dollar General store on Hershberger Road. Employees say they called the fire department after they smelled smoke coming from one of the back rooms.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:21:36]
[IN Q=when the lights]
((BOBBIE SLAYTON/BATTALION FIRE CHIEF:WHEN THE LIGHTS WHEN OUT, THEY HEARD A BIG BOOM, THEY ASSUMED THAT IT BLOWN A TRANSFORMER, BUT IT JUST KNOCKED A FUSE.))
[SUPER=01-Bobbie Slayton/Roanoke Battalion Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=knocked a fuse]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Slayton says the lightning did NOT cause any damage to the rest of the store.
(-------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Oil prices are up. And, General Motors is boosting its cash incentives.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((WALL STREET'S OIL WATCH CONTINUES. CRUDE OIL CLOSED AT 41 DOLLARS 42 CENTS A BARREL IN THE LAST SESSIOIN...THAT'S A 21 YEAR HIGH.
Oil prices are up 27 percent this year partly because of concern that insurgents in Iraq and Saudi Arabia may try to cripple the oil industry. SAUDI ARABIA, THE BIGGEST OIL PRODUCING COUNTRY IS PUMPING OIL ALMOST FLAT OUT TO MEET DEMAND.
UNITED AIRLINES SAYS IT'S STILL ON TARGET TO TO EMERGE FROM CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION THIS SUMMER. UAL, THE PARENT OF UNITED ENTERTED CHAPTER 11 BACK IN DECEMBER 2002.
ON WALL STREET... The latest data on consumer prices showed inflation becoming more of a problem, and that kept investors timid.
They're growing more convinced that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow money. The central bank believes higher rates can keep inflation in check.
THE DOW MOVED UP 2 POINTS FRIDAY, FOR THE WEEK, IT FELL ONE PERCENT THE NASDAQ SLID NEARLY 22 POINTS, DOWN MORE THAN HALF A PERCENT FOR THE WEEK.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RAISING ITS CASH INCENTIVES TO CONSUMERS ON MANY OF ITS MID-SIZE AND FULL-SIZE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES BY 500 TO 4-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE AUTOMAKER ALSO GAVE ITS DEALERS INCENTIVES TO SELL MORE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SUVS, WHICH HAVE BEEN SLOW SELLERS IN RECENT WEEKS BECAUSE OF RISING GAS PRICES AND THE SLOW GROWTH OF NEW JOBS.
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]

[Brown-Board]

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

Ceremonies are planned across the country today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brown versus Board of Education.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

The landmark Supreme Court ruling called for an end to racial segregation in public schools.
President Bush will speak at the official opening of the Brown historical site in Topeka, Kansas.
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry joins the Governor of Kansas for the signing of a proclamation marking the anniversary.
(------------)

[PKGD-Day-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC-3:40]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
Preparations are now underway for the dedication of the World- War II Memorial in Washington D-C. Thousands of people are expected to attend, which is good news for the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Jennifer Wishon explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Spring is always a busy]
[SUPER=03-Bedford; :00]
[SUPER=03-Washington D.C./File Tape; :12]
[SUPER=01-Shannon Brooks/D-Day Memorial Assistant Site Manager; :28]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:55 ]
[RUNS=2:08]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7]
((Spring is always a busy season at the National D-Day Memorial, but Memorial Day weekend is expected to be like none other. The National World War II Memorial in Washington D-C is expected to attract thousands of people when it's dedicated on May 29th. And because it's happening on a holiday weekend, the D-Day Memorial expects to pick up a good number of those visitors.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:38]
[IN Q=The dedication of the WWII]
((THE DEDICATION OF THE WWII MEMORIAL WHICH IS LONG OVERDUE. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CALLS HERE FROM PEOPLE CONTACTING US FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THAT DEDICATION SO WE'RE THINKING THAT BEING ON THE WAY TO WASHINGTON WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=a lot of people going]
And the hope is they'll stay in Bedford. The 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion falls one week after the dedication of the WWII Memorial. That's why the City of Bedford in conjunction with the D-Day Memorial has planned a week of activities including parades, concerts and a military encampment. The events are designed to honor America's veterans, but they'll also mean big business for the D-Day Memorial.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:39]
[IN Q=Certainly, if we have]
((CERTAINLY, IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE GATE IT HELPS US GET RID OF THE DEBT AND MOVE ON TO NEW PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT EVERYONE.))
[RUNS= 07]
[OUT Q=that benefit everyone]
Once the debt is re-paid plans to complete the Memorial will begin. Additions are planned for the English Garden, new statues of soldiers in combat will be added to the pool and an education center is planned for this gravel parking lot which will house more than a thousand D-Day artifacts now in storage. ((NATS OF "SHOTS" IN THE POOL)) Memorial Day has become the unofficial start to summer, but before people head off to the lake, Brooks hopes everyone takes time to remember freedom comes at a price.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:18]
[IN Q=We tell the school children]
((WE TELL THE SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO VISIT THE SITE HERE ALL THE TIME... THE FREEDOM YOU ENJOY TODAY TO SPEAK YOUR MIND, TO READ A NEWSPAPER THAT'S UNBIASED - ALL THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY WE ONLY ENJOY BECAUSE OF OUR VETERANS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=the highest price]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Many D-Day veterans]
((MANY D-DAY VETERANS ARE NOW IN THEIR 80'S - MAKING THIS THE LAST MAJOR INVASION ANNIVERSARY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ATTEND. THAT'S WHY MEMORIAL OFFICIALS PLAN TO MAKE THEM FEEL SPECIAL WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS THEY'LL NEVER FORGET. JENNIFER WISHON, NEWS 7.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=they'll never forget]))

[11Wall-Ride]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-22 TC-2:00]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]
Four Wytheville residents will fly to California today for the trip of a lifetime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville/May 7;]
They're riding their motorcycles across the country on a ten day trip to Washington D-C. Their goal is to help raise awareness of Prisoners- of- War and those Missing- in- Action. The group will make nine stops in different towns and cities along the way to speak to residents and school groups. You can catch up with them on May 26th and 27th when they make stops in Wytheville and Roanoke.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM][11Local-Colors]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC-1:17:47]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]

Roanoke Valley residents got a taste of Local Colors over the weekend .
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Music]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=NAT SOUND MUSIC]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Local Colors is a celebration held annually to show the diversity of the Roanoke Valley. Particpation in the event has grown from four countries to over seventy-five.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:02:14]
[IN Q=They love]
((They love it so much that each year more and more want to participate ))
[SUPER=01-Pearl Fu/Local Colors Organizer;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=to participate]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This was the first year the event was held over two days, as well as the first time it was organized by Event Zone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:02:44]
[IN Q=Most of]
(( MOST OF THE CITIES EVENTS ARE NOW BEING DONE BY EVENT ZONE AND THE EVENT ZONE IS SO GOOD AT ORGANIZING FESTIVALS. THIS YEARS FELL NATURALLY INTO IT. SO WE GAINED BY BEING PART OF EVENT ZONE. BUT WE ALSO THANK THE COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS THAT DO THE OTHER WORK AS WELL.))
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=as well]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
The event was sponsored by your hometown station. Fu says this year's festival should shatter all attendence records for the event.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks closed mixed on Friday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((THE NASDAQ COMPOSITE TUMBLED AND THE BROADER MARKET CLOSED LITTLE CHANGED FRIDAY.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS EDGED UP TWO-POINTS...
WHILE THE NASDAQ DROPPED 21.

CRUDE OIL FUTURES HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
THEY PEAKED AT 41-DOLLARS-AND-45-CENTS A BARREL ON THE NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE...THE HIGHEST SINCE THEY BEGAN TRADING 21 YEARS AGO.

INVESTORS ARE INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION.
THE CORE RATE OF INFLATION AT THE CONSUMER LEVEL ROSE THREE-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT IN APRIL.
THE INDEX MEASURES RETAIL PRICES, EXCLUDING THE VOLATILE FOOD AND ENERGY SECTORS.
THE OVERALL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX EDGED UP BY TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT.

AND U-S BANK REGULATORS ANNOUNCE A 25-MILLION DOLLAR CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST WASHINGTON, DC-BASED RIGGS BANK.
THEY SAY THE BANK FAILED TO PUT IN PLACE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING.
IN A STATEMENT, THE COMPANY SAID IT AGREED TO THE PENALTY WITHOUT ADMITTING OR DENYING ANY WRONGDOING.

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

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