WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/15/04

[11Giles-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Susan]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-19 TC42:07]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
[ENG#=1]

Crews have pulled a tractor trailer off a bridge in Giles County and cleaned up the mess from the accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.]

State Police say the tractor-trailer crashed on Route 100 and spilled lime all over the road.
Troopers say the rig was crossing the bridge over Walker Creek about 5:30 yesterday when it ran off the shoulder and overturned.
The tanker was torn open in the process.
The driver was taken to the hospital but there's no word on his or her condition.
(------------)

[Radford-Fall]

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

Two workers fell into a deep well at a public works building in Radford. Few details have been released, but a Radford police officer confirmed it happened around 9:30 last night. The well, which is normally used for holding liquid, was empty at the time. The two workers were taken to the hospital. Their conditions are not known.

[11Injured-Soldier]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-15 TC45:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

A local soldier who fell more than 20-feet from a watchtower last week in Kuwait is expected to recover.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Army private DeWayne Beckner of Cloverdale was climbing the tower Thursday to relieve another soldier, when an explosion went off, forcing him to lose his balance. The 21-year-old was taken to a military hospital, where he's expected to recover from head injuries.
[SUPER=03-Cloverdale;]
His parents, Allan and Susan Beckner, say they're just glad the situation wasn't worse.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:37]
[IN Q=i'm a little]
((ALLEN BECKNER/SON INJURED IN KUWAIT: I'M A LITTLE SHAKEN UP I LOVE MY SON JUST HOPE HE IMPROVES SO HE CAN COME BACK HOME.))
[SUPER=01-Allen Beckner/Son Injured in Kuwait;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=come back home]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Beckner was deployed to Camp Udairi (yoo-Dare-ee), Kuwait in January. His family says after he's released from the hospital, he will most likely be transferred back to Germany, his home base.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=3]
It could get worse before it gets better.. That's the word from Iraq as the date nears for a transfer of power.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Iraq]
U-S Commanders predict militants from neighboring countries will move in -with the money and the "know-how" to create more chaos. Things remain volatile in the region- yesterday's rush hour car bomb in Baghdad killed at least 13-people. The explosion injured dozen of others and inflamed anti-American feelings. .. But, Iraq's Interior Minister says he believes foreign fighters carried out the attack.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There's quite a number...]
((FALAH AL-NAQIB, INTERIOR MINISTER: THERE'S QUITE A NUMBER OF THESE TERRORISTS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE'RE DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO STOPPING ALL TERRORISTS.))
[SUPER=01-Falah al-Naqib/Interior Minister]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=... stopping all terrorists.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Iraq government is set to take over June 30th. The interim prime minister says Iraqis want custody of Saddam Hussien and all other prisoners by the end of month. And, while the U.S. plan to turn over some of the prisoners, it remains to be seen how many.
(------------)

[Bush]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]
[ENG#=4]
It's a top priority for him and his administration- and today fighting terrorism will be the chief topic for President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai (car-z-eye).
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Liberty, Missouri]
Yesterday the President was in Missouri to tout the new medicare drug discount cards, but today he will return to Washington. The leaders will met and are expected to talk about fighting terrorism and then speak at a news conference. On the campaign trail this week.. Bush's democratic rival is challenging the president's record on the economy. John Kerry charged the country's middle class is still hurting despite recent job growth.
(------------)

[VOBVan-Death]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC 1:34:26]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

The summer travel season is underway and one Roanoke family says parents should be on alert.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Joe Erndt knows all too well the dangers of 15 seat passenger vans.
His daughter, Jessika Lewis was killed when a church van crashed in North Carolina almost three years ago.
Her family has been working ever since to put restrictions on the vans and to educate the public.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:37:35]
[IN Q=The tires are the big]
((JOE ERNDT/JESSIKA'S FATHER: THE TIRES ARE THE BIG PROBLEM. THEY INFLATED TIRES HEAT UP WHEN THEY TIRES BLOW AND THEY HAVE A VAN FULL OF CHILDREN IT'S A DANGEROUS SCENAIRO ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR SEATBELTS ON.))
[SUPER=01-Joe Erndt/Jessika's Father; :]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=their seatbelts on]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Jessika's family has been working to ban at the state level the use of 15 passenger vans to transport students.
Legislative efforts however have failed on two occasions.
It is unclear whether the legislation will be re-introduced next session.
(------------)

[11Smart-Road]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC06:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
A project at Blacksburg's Smart Road could eventually make your drive in rainy weather a little easier.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Researchers are trying to develop better pavement markings, so drivers can see when it's raining. Officials have built a series of pipes that hang over a roadway and simulate rain.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:1:15:27:00 ]
[IN Q=We're trying]
((RON GIBBONS: WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A BETTER TECHNOLOGY FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS. THAT WILL GIVE US GREATER VISIBILITY DISTANCE FOR A DRIVER.))
[SUPER=01-Ron Gibbons/Lighting Research Scientist;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=for a driver.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The research is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and V-DOT and is expected to take a few more years to complete.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, The consumer price index will be released later today. That report could affect interest rates.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((WALL STREET IS BRACING FOR A KEY INFLATION REPORT THIS MORNING...INVESTORS FEAR THAT TODAY'S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX WILL SHOW RISING PRICES AND FORCE THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING INTEREST RATES.
THE DOW SANK 75 POINTS WHILE THE NASDAQ TUMBLED NEARLY 30
DEFENSE STOCKS ARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. IN A SURPRISE MOVE, THE U-S NAVY HAS PICKED BOEING OVER LOCKHEED MARTIN TO BUILD A SUCCESSOR TO THE NAVY'S AGING FLEET OF SUBMARINE HUNTING PLANES. THE CONTRACT IS WORTH 3.8 BILLION DOLLARS. LOCKHEED MARTIN WAS WIDELY EXPECTED TO LAND THE CONTRACT SINCE IT BUILT THE FIRST FLEET OF SUBMARINE HUNTING AIRCRAFT.
THE FORMER HEAD OF TYCO HAS A NEW TRIAL DATE. NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGE MICHAEL OBUS SET A JANUARY 18TH TRIAL DATE FOR THE RETRIAL OF FORMER TYCO HEADS DENNIS KOZLOWSKI AND MARK SWARTZ. THE JUDGE ALSO DISMISSED SEVEN COUNTS AGAINST KOZLOWKSI INCLUDING SALES TAX ALLEGATIONS.. KOZLOWSKI AND SWARTZ ARE CHARGED WITH LOOTING TYCO OF 600 MILLION DOLLARS.
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS AT THE PUMP. GAS PRICES HAVE DROPPED BELOW 2 DOLLARS A GALLON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE WEEKS. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS The national price for regular unleaded gasoline fell nearly 5 cents over the last week to $1.98 a gallon..THAT'S STILL 47 CENTS HIGHER THAN THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
THERE IS YET MORE COMPETITION FOR TRADITIONAL VIDEO RENTAL STORES REALNETWORKS AND STARZ ENCORE GROUP HAVE LAUNCHED A FLAT RATE ONLINE MOVIE DOWNLOAD SERVICE. FOR 13 DOLLARS A MONTH YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A HOST OF DIFFERENT MOVIES. THAT MEANS MORE COMPETITION FOR VIDEO STORES LIKE BLOCKBUSTER AND RIVAL PAY PER VIEW SERVICES LIKE NETFLIX.
FIND OUT MORE OR TRACK YOUR STOCKS AT CBS.MW.COM. I'M ALEXIS.))

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

[Mall-Plot]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=mornin']
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

The government alleges he plotted mayhem in the nation's heartland, but a Somali man's family says he's innocent, loves America and hates terrorists even more than President Bush hates them.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Columbus, Ohio]
A four-count indictment accuses Nuradin Abdi (NUR'-uh-din AHB'-dee) of conspiring with an admitted al-Qaida member and others, to bomb a shopping mall in the Columbus, Ohio, area. Abdi (AHB-dee) is currently in a federal lockup in Columbus. His mother, speaking through a translator, says her son couldn't have done such a thing. She says he's a caring person who financially supported his whole family. Abdi has a pregnant wife and two children.
(------------)

[11Amherst-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-24 TC14:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Amherst County authorities want your help tracking down the woman who robbed a bank in Madison Heights last week.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co./Friday]

The suspect held up the B-B-and-T in Amelon Square late Friday afternoon.
She escaped with some cash and is still on the run.
Police have released this photo of the suspect from bank surveillance cameras.. she's an African American female, about 5-foot-3, heavy build and in her 40's.
She also has a noticeable scar on her left forearm.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:18:27]
[IN Q=Right now we're]
((INVEST. LINDY INGE/AMHERST CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST ABLE TO GET PICTURES AND PUT THEM OUT TO THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE GOTTEN A FEW CALLS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN SINK OUR TEETH INTO.))
[SUPER=01-Invest. Lindy Inge/Amherst Co. Sheriff's Office]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=sink our teeth into.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Anyone with information about the crime should call the Amherst County sheriff's office.
(------------)

[11SOLs-Graduate]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-26 TC14:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Virginia's graduation requirements are higher and now so is the school dropout rate.
One group says there's a connection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

JustChildren, a child advocacy group, says thousands of students will not receive their diplomas this month.
They say the S-O-L requirements and a disparity in school funding are to blame.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:53:47]
[IN Q=ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR]
((STONEWALL ODOM/SUPPORTS SUSPENDING SOL REQUIREMENTS: ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA ARE UNACCREDITED. WE'RE PUNISHING STUDENTS, ASKING THEM TO PERFORM PRIOR TO ASKING THE SCHOOLS TO PERFORM.))
[SUPER=01-Stonewall Odom/Supports Suspending SOL Requirements; :]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=PRIOR TO ASKING THE SCHOOLS TO PERFORM.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But supporters of the S-O-L program defend the higher diploma standards.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:16:45]
[IN Q=IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE SCHOOLS]
((STEVE HANER/VA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: ITS EASY TO BLAME THE SCHOOLS FOR THIS BUT TO SOME EXTENT AT SOME POINT THE RESPONSIBILITY HAS GOT TO BE WITH THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO DO THE WORK.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Haner/Virginia Chamber of Commerce; :]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO DO THE WORK.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

JustChildren is asking Governor Warner to study the impact of S-O-L testing on Virginia's graduation rates.
State officials say a study is already in the works.
(------------)
(Susan tosses to bump)
Stay with us. News 7 Mornin' will be right back. [BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks closed lower yesterday. 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.]

((STOCKS ENDED BROADLY LOWER, AS INTEREST RATE FEARS PROMPTED A ROUND OF SELLING.

THE DOW LOST 75-POINTS...
WHILE THE NASDAQ DROPPED 29.

THE U-S TRADE DEFICIT HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 48-POINT-THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN APRIL.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORTS IMPORTS ROSE TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT, AS EXPORTS DROPPED ONE-POINT-FIVE PERCENT.
ECONOMIST SAY THE HIGHER DEFICIT MAY DRAG ON U-S ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

SOCIAL SECURITY WILL GO BUST, BUT MAY LIVE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN HAD BEEN EXPECTED.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES SOCIAL SECURITY WON'T GO BANKRUPT UNTIL 20-52.
THAT'S 10 YEARS LATER THAN PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED.
THE BUDGET OFFICE ALSO SAYS THERE'S A 10-PERCENT CHANCE THE PENSION PROGRAM WILL GO BANKRUPT IN 20-34 OR EARLIER, AND A 10-PERCENT LIKELIHOOD IT WILL HAPPEN AFTER 20-85.

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED AUDIO TAPES AND ACCOUNTING RECORDS INDICATE ENRON MANIPULATED THE WESTERN ELECTRICITY MARKET 88-PERCENT OF THE DAYS BETWEEN JANUARY FIRST, 2000, AND JUNE 20TH, 2001.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT IN WASHINGTON STATE.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF ENRON SAID THE NOW-BANKRUPT COMPANY HAD NO COMMENT BECAUSE IT HAD NOT YET HEARD THE TAPES.

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

[11Richardson]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC1:39:25]
[GRAPHIC=Kirby Richardson]
[ENG#=2]

Former Bedford County supervisor Kirby Richardson CAN go home if he gets too sick in jail.. but he eventually still must serve his entire 30-day sentence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Month]

Richardson was sentenced last month for forging public documents.
His attorney says Richardson suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and being in jail has made those conditions worse.
Richardson was granted a five-day furlough last week but was due back in jail yesterday.
Judge J. Samuel Johnston ruled that Richardson can have other furloughs if they're medically necessary, but he still has to serve his full sentence. (------------)