WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/25/04

[7Wx-Headline]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
After a night of thunderstorms, things are starting to settle down-- but there are still flooding problems in far Southwestern Virginia.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the complete forecast, coming up. But first we have one school announcement to pass along to you this morning.
(++++++++)
[take schooltouch fs] Tazewell County schools are closed today because of flooding.
(++++++++)

[7-911-Center]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=Severe Weather]

[ENG#=1]

A state of emergency has been declared in Tazewell County because of flash flooding. 4 to 6 inches of rain fell there in a 6 hour period. The National Weather Service says flood conditions are widespread across the Richlands area. Numerous roads are blocked because of high water, but officials expect Route 460 to re-open soon. In other parts of the region, the severe weather caused problems for emergency officials in Christiansburg. Lightning struck the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center shortly after 2 a-m.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/This Morning]
Officials say the 9-1-1 system was down for several hours, but it is now back up and running. While it was down, all calls were answered by the Christiansburg Police Department and handled by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
(------------)

[7-11Franklin-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC01:05]
[GRAPHIC=MURDER INVEST]

[ENG#=2]

Franklin County authorities are looking to the murder of a Danville woman.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
9-11 dispatchers say they got a call around two o'clock yesterday morning, that a woman was shot inside a home on Water's Edge Road, near Smith Mountain Lake. When deputies arrived, they found the body of 28-year-old Charmane Tamika Davis of Danville. Authorities believe Davis went to the home looking for her boyfriend, whom she suspected of cheating. An autopsy is now being performed to find out exactly how she died. Investigators say Davis was driving a friend's car, which they found parked not too far from the home. Authorities are holding another car -- one they believe may lead to a suspect.
(--------------)

[7-AM-Quarry]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ENG#=3]

Today the Botetourt County Supervisors will have the chance to okay --or kill -- a proposed stone quarry, even though the company proposing it wants the matter withdrawn.
(------------)
[VO-NAT from 04-19 TC11:20]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./May 6;]
Timber Ridge Properties wanted more than 300-acres between Fincastle and Eagle Rock rezoned make the quarry and processing plant possible. It's now up to the board of supervisors to accept the withdrawal request or to go ahead and decide on the proposal. The county's Planning commission voted against the rezoning earlier this month, but Supervisors have the final say.
(------------)

[55-WXHeads]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Turning partly cloudy today after a rough night of thunderstorms.
But we could see more scattered storms later on.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has details--
But first, we have some school information to tell you about this morning.
(++++++++)
[take schooltouch fs] Tazewell County schools are closed today because of flooding.

(++++++++)[55-911-Center]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=Severe Weather]

[ENG#=1]

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office dispatch center was struck by lightning shortly after 2 o'clock this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/This Morning]
As a result, officials say the 9-1-1 system was down for several hours, but it is now back up and running. While it was down, all calls were answered by the Christiansburg Police Department and handled by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]
Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared in Tazewell County because of flash flooding.
4 to 6 inches of rain fell in the past 6 hours.
The National Weather Service says flood conditions are widespread across the Richlands area. Numerous roads are blocked because of high water, but officials say Route 460 has re- opened.

[55-11Warner-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-21 TC08:02]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

[ENG#=2]

After months of talk about budget deficits and tax increases, it's possible Virginia could finish the year with a 200-million dollar budget surplus.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

But Governor Mark Warner says one month of "better-than-expected revenues" is no reason to ditch the tax reforms that lawmakers agreed on earlier this month.
Warner says the recent compromise should help convince credit rating agencies to keep Virginia at its Triple- A level.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:23:02]
[IN Q=My gut is]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: MY GUT IS THEY WILL REAFFIRM OUR TRIPLE-A BOND RATING. WE'VE MET ALL THE CRITERIA THEY OUTLINED LAST SEPTEMBER. BUT UNTIL THEY ACT, I'M KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED.))
[SUPER=@markWarner;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=my fingers crossed.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner says the state should know by mid-June whether its bond rating will remain the same.
The governor was in Lynchburg yesterday, explaining the final product of all those budget negotiations.
(------------)

[55-11Smart-Road]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC51:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Researchers at the Smart Road are hoping to put the brakes on some fatal crashes. Nearly a third of all fatal crashes in the U-S happen at intersections.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
V-Dot helped construct a mock-intersection on the road. It's being used to test out new alert systems for drivers to warn them if they are about to run a red light. Researchers are developing a warning system for the roadway, and also testing out one for inside a car. The new technology could be available in just three to five years.
(------------)

[8Wx-Headline]

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

Good morning, I'm Kimberly McBroom......
Thunderstorms brought flooding and power outages to parts of the region-- and we could see more scattered storms later today.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner has the full forecast--
But first, we have one school announcement to pass along to you this morning.
(++++++++)
[take schooltouch fs] Tazewell County schools are closed today because of flooding.
(++++++++)

[8-911-Center]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=Severe Weather]

[ENG#=1]

Tazewell County is under a state of emergency because of of flash flooding. 4 to 6 inches of rain fell in a 6 hour period. The National Weather Service says flood conditions are widespread across the Richlands area. Numerous roads are blocked because of high water, but officials say Route 460 has re- opened. Meanwhile, in Christiansburg, the severe weather caused problems for emergency officials. Lightning struck the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center shortly after 2 a-m.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/This Morning]
Officials say the 9-1-1 system was down for several hours, but it is now back up and running. While it was down, all calls were answered by the Christiansburg Police Department and handled by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
(------------)

[8-11Buckner-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=cdo]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC04:05]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

[ENG#=2]

No word yet on what caused a fire at a Roanoke duplex last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
It's believed the fire started in the bedroom of the Buckner Street home. A person driving by the building noticed smoke and flames coming from a window air conditioning unit and called the fire department. Officials are still investigating the cause. No one was injured in the blaze.
(------------)

[8-11Festival-License]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC01:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

After fighting expanded alcohol sales at the Roanoke Civic Center, a group has waged a new war against adult beverages at Festival in the Park.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/May 2002;]
The ABC Board yesterday gave agents permission to grant the annual attraction several special events licenses. A group of local churches had challenged Festival's application, saying alcohol should NOT be served at a community event. Concerned Christians of the Valley even accuses Festival of violating ABC regulations.
(///// SOT at :19/////)
[SOT 3:43:48 - 3:44:06]
[IN Q=Well, obviously we're disappointed.]
((BARNEY ARTHUR/CONCERNED CHRISTIANS OF THE VALLEY: WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE DISAPPOINTED. WE KNEW THAT WE HAD STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THESE VIOLATIONS HAD OCCURRED AND THERE NEEDED TO BE SOME TYPE OF SANCTION.))
[SUPER=01-Barney Arthur/Concerned Christians of the Valley;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q= TYPE OF SANCTION.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Arthur says C-C-O-T-V members will be keeping an eye on drinkers and servers at this year's event, which kicks off Friday. Festival organizer Stu Israel says anyone trying to buy alcohol will have their ID checked by trained personnel. He adds that in 34 years, Festival has NEVER been cited for breaking a single ABC regulation.