WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/16/04

[Henry-Flooding]

[ANCHOR=Susan]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
[ENG#=none]

(OPEN)
[OPEN]
[ENG#=V9]

Welcome to News 7 Mornin' I'm Susan Bahorich filling in for Kimberly McBroom.
[SS=Flooding]

Flash flooding in Henry county has caused a number of roads to close, especially in the Ridgeway and Horsepasture areas. The National Weather Service is reporting several trees down, and part of Route 220 South is closed. In Patrick County, crews had to rescue people from two cars submerged on A-yer's Orchard road.

(Susan toss to Brent in weather center)
Time now to check in with Brent Watts who is in the weather center this morning. Brent, what's going on?

[VOBFranklin-Bear]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-20 TC 38:19]
[GRAPHIC=NEws 7 Mornin' ]
[ENG#=1]

A black bear made a house call at a local hospital last night.
It happened just after nine o'clock at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount]

This was the scene shortly after ten o-clock last night when authorities brought the bear out.
The incident began an hour earlier when the bear walked through an automatic door in front of the hospital.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:48:43]
[IN Q=I came out of a]
((DAN THOMPSON/HOSPITAL SECURITY GUARD: I CAME OUT OF A THE OB CLINIC AND WAS WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY AND THERE WAS A BIG BLACK BEAR COMING TOWARDS ME, PROBABLY TEN FEET AWAY FROM ME. HE TURNED WENT INTO AN OFFICE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. I AM GLAD HE DID BUT I GOT ON THE RADIO AND CALLED FOR THE FRONT DESK TO CALL THE POLICE FOR ASSISTANCE BUT THERE WAS ALREADY A POLICE OFFICER ALREADY VISITING HIS SON.))
[SUPER=01-Dan Thompson/Hospital Security Guard]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=visiting his son]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The officer then shut the door and waited for additional units to arrive.
Authorities then made the decision to shoot the bear rather than tranquilize it.
An officer shot it once with a rifle and then twice with a handgun.
Witnesses say the black bear was roughly six to eight feet tall and weighed anywhere between 150 to 200 pounds.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Susan]
[SS=none]

We should point out the bear never hurt anyone or even attempted to.
Hospital officials say the bear traveled about 50 yards through the hospital, but was never near any patients.

[11Amherst-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-24 TC16:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
The woman suspected of last week's bank robbery has turned herself in.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Cynthia Leatrice Porter is held without bond on robbery charges in the Amherst County jail.
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co./Friday]
Deputies say she held up the B-B-and-T in Madison Heights last Friday, claiming to have a gun and bombs. Porter surrendered to deputies about four o-clock yesterday afternoon. She is from Florida, but authorities say she has family in the area.
(------------)

[Hostage]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]
Terrorists in Saudi Arabia are vowing to kill an American hostage if their demands are not met.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Saudi Arabia]
Terrorists posted this video on an al-Qaida linked website showing a blindfolded man talking into a tape recorder. Militants kidnapped Paul Johnson Saturday.. the website also shows his Lockheed Martin identification card. The 49-year-old contractor has worked in Saudi Arabia for several years.. his family lives in New Jersey.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I hope he...]
((PAUL JOHNSON III, JOHNSON'S SON: MY FATHER IS A VERY INTELLIGENT MAN AND I HOPE HE IS HANDLING IT.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Johnson III/Johnson's Son]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q= .. handling it. (2nd time.)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A man on the tape identifying himself as the head of al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia threatens to kill Johnson unless Saudi authorities free al-Qaida prisoners by Friday. A state department official said Washington will use every appropriate response to gain Johnson's safe release.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=4]
Oil exports from Southern Iraq are at a standstill after a pipeline attack.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kirkuk, Iraq]
An explosion ripped through a crude oil pipeline linking fields yesterday. At this point, oil company officials say it was probably sabotage. Industry sources say repairs could take more than a week costing Baghdad nearly 60-million dollars a day at current market prices. This comes at a time when Iraqi leaders are fighting a wave of assassinations, bombings and sabotage by guerrillas who are trying to prove the new interim government cannot rule effectively after a June 30 handover of power.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Oracle beat Wall Street estimates.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:55]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((THE SOFTWARE GIANT ORACLE COULD IGNITE TECH STOCKS TODAY. AFTER THE CLOSING BELL ORACLE POSTED A 9 PERCENT JUMP IN SALES AND AND 15 PERCENT JUMP IN PROFIT - BOTH WERE BETTER THAN WALL STREET EXPECTED.
THE GOLF COMPANY CALLAWAY SLICED ITS PROFIT OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND THE ENTIRE YEAR.. CALLAWAY BLAMES DISAPPOINTING SALES OF TITANIUM DRIVERS AND A STEADY BUSINESS DECLINE IN JAPAN.
FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN WAS ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY. In his confirmation hearing for his fifth term as HEAD OF THE Fed GREENSPAN TOLD THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE THAT HE EXPECTS INFLATION WILL REMAIN TAME..GREENSPAN SAID HE DID NOT SEE EVIDENCE OF A BUBBLE IN THE HOUSING MARKET. He said home sales should plateau in coming months and said he would be surprised if home prices continue to rise.
FED POLICYMAKERS MEET NEXT ON JUNE 29TH AND 30TH. IT IS LARGELY EXPECTED THE FED WILL RAISE RATES AT THAT MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS.
ON WALL STREET, A TAME INFLATION REORT ON CONSUMER PRICES AND GREENSPAN'S REMARKS CALMED INVESTORS FEARS OF OUT OF CONTROL INFLATION. THE DOW CLIMBED 45 POINTS THE NASDAQ RALLIED 25 AND A HALF.
Pentagon auditors took aim at Vice President Dick Cheney's old company Halliburton. They found what they call "significant deficiencies" in its handling of billions of dollars of work in Iraq ...citing problems with halliburton's billing system and sub-contracts and potential over-charging for meals served to troops.
FIND OUT MORE OR TRACK YOUR STOCKS AT CBS.MW.COM IN NY, I'M AC.))

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

[911-Commission]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=911]
[ENG#=1]
The 12th and final public hearing to investigate the September 11th attacks begins this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]
The 10-member panel will focus on the plot leading up to the attacks. It will hear from intelligence and law enforcement experts who will talk about the evolution of al-Qaida. The panel's staff is expected to release information indicating the hijackers might have planned to attack earlier, but delayed it. The commission is set to issue its final report by the end of next month.
(------------)

[11XGR]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC01:52]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=2]
The Virginia General Assembly reconvenes today for a special veto session and the outcome could affect a local museum.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

The Science Museum of Western Virginia was slated to receive 200-thousand dollars under the state's new budget.
But Governor Warner amended the budget.
And Roanoke legislators are concerned that his changes threaten to strip those funds away.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1::-]
[IN Q=HE'S ASKING US TO]
[SUPER=@Griffith]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=LOSE IT COMPLETELY AND THAT'S MY FEAR.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Griffith says the entire Roanoke delegation is working together to protect the Science Museum's money.
Lawmakers will vote on Governor Warner's budget amendments today during a special veto session in Richmond.
(------------)

[11Majeed]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-]
[GRAPHIC=Muhammad Majeed]
[ENG#=3]

A local man faces a life sentence after being found guilty of murdering his landlord.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

24 year old Muhammed Majeed pled no contest yesterday afternoon in court.
Prosecutors say Majeed shot and killed 42 year Christopher Hanes at the victim's Roanoke County home last July.
The defendant had rented property from Hanes and went to Hanes' house to get his security deposit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :40]
[IN Q=Mr. Majeed had]
((SGT. BRET ALTIMORE/ROANOKE CO. POLICE: MR. MAJEED STATED HE HAD JUST KILLED A MAN. HE IDENTIFIED IN THE CONVERSATION AS CHRIS HANES. MAJEED HAD STATED HE HAD SHOT HANES THREE OR FOUR TIMES AT LEAST ONE TIME IN THE HEAD. IN THE CONVERSATION MAJEED HAD STATED THAT HE, HANES, HAD OWED HIM MONEY.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Bret Altimore/Roanoke Co. Police Department; :]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=owed him money]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Defense Attorneys point out Majeed did not flee the scene and he allowed Mrs. Hanes and her two children to leave the home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 4:03:00]
[IN Q=He's never been]
((DAVID LAWRENCE/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: HE'S NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE AT ALL. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL. HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND PEOPLE THAT WORKED WITH HIM HAVE TOLD US AND WILL TELL THE JUDGE AT THE SENTENCING HEARING THAT HE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST HAS BEEN A KIND AND VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD PERSON.))
[SUPER=01-David Lawrence/Defense Attorney; :]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=STRAIGHT-FOWARD PERSON]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A judge will sentence Majeed next month- He faces life in prison.
(------------)
(Susan tosses to bump)
Stay with us. News 7 Mornin' will be right back. [BUMP] [COMM]

[11RSVP-Coalition]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC1:25:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

The school year is almost over but it will be a busy summer in the Roanoke school system.
Administrators will be taking up several issues that could lead to major changes, including an overhaul of the school resource program and revisions to the student handbook.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Administrators will have plenty of input thanks to the RSVP coalition.
They are a group of citizen's who formed to address safety problems in Roanoke schools.
The group has met a total of fourteen times and has come up with specific recommendations for changes to the student handbook.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:51:14]
[IN Q=They would like to]
((ALICE HINCKER/RSVP COALITION CO-FOUNDER: THEY WOULD LIKE TO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS KNOW THAT IF YOU DO THIS THEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AND SMALL RANGE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU DO THIS. AND THE ANOTHER MOST IMPORTANT THING WOULD BE TO SEE THE HANDBOOK CONSISTENTLY IMPLEMENTED.))
[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/RSVP Coalition Co-Founder; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=handbook consistently implemented]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[GRAPHIC]
Some of the recommendations include clear consequences for verbal abuse of staff.
They would also like to see options for teachers to remove disruptive students from the classroom.
The group also wants to see more parental involvement and have the dress code enforced.
(------------)

[Early-Years]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=Early Years]
[GRAPHIC=Early Years]
[ENG#=4]

American teenagers abuse alcohol more than any other drug. Newly released statistics from the U-S Department of Health and Human Services suggest the younger a teenager starts drinking, the more likely they are to becoming an alcoholic.
(++++++++++)
[Take FS Early Years] Christy Feig explains in today's Early Years segment.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Justin/Teenage Alcoholic; :18]
[SUPER=01-Charles Curie/U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; :48]
[SUPER=01-Christy Feig/Reporting; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=Christy Feig, News 7.]

((IN A MONTH AND A HALF, JUSTIN -- WHO ASKED THAT WE NOT USE HIS LAST NAME -- TURNS 21 AND CAN LEGALLY DRINK... BUT HE SAYS HE'S ALREADY AN ALCOHOLIC.
HE TOOK HIS FIRST DRINK AT 16 -- LATE, HE SAYS, FOR TEENS THESE DAYS... BUT CAUGHT UP FAST.

--sot--

i'd average about 6 nights a week, about 30-35 beers a night.
DRINKING MORE THAN 5 DRINKS IN ONE SETTING IS CONSIDERED BINGE DRINKING, AND GOVERNMENT STATISTICS SHOW IT'S THE PREFERENCE OF 70-PERCENT OF TEENS WHO DRINK.
BUT EXPERTS WARN BINGE DRINKING BEFORE AGE 21 GREATLY INCREASES YOUR RISK OF BEING AN ALCOHOLIC AS AN ADULT.
SEVEN-MILLION AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 21 ARE ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL.

--sot--

about one-third of them began drinking before the age of 14, 80-percent began drinking before the age of 18, and 96-percent began drinking before the age of 21.
EVIDENCE IS MOUNTING THAT SUGGESTS IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT EXPOSING A DEVELOPING BRAIN TO ALCOHOL THAT TRIGGERS THE ADDICTION...

--sot--

because of the plasticity of the brain of youth, those chemicals are obviously having a major effect on individuals of that age than when they are adults.
JUSTIN HAS BEEN THROUGH RE-HAB, AND IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE JUSTIN HAS HAD A DRINK AND HE'S ABOUT TO START HIS JUNIOR YEAR AT COLLEGE. AND WHILE HE STILL SOMETIMES CRAVES A DRINK AT PARTIES... HE SAYS NO AMOUNT OF GOOD TIMES ARE WORTH GOING BACK.
IN WASHINGTON I'M CHRISTY FEIG, NEWS 7.))

[Tape tosses to break] [COMM]

[Disaster-Declaration]

[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Severe Weather 4098]
[ENG#=]

President Bush has issued a disaster declaration for Lee, Russell and Tazewell counties. Those areas have been hit hard by severe weather since May 24-th. Federal assistance will include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, as well low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and businesses recover.
[SUPER=16-(800) 621-3362/Disaster Assistance]
F-E-M-A says you can begin applying for assistance today by calling 1-800-621-3362.