WDBJ 7 morning news for 06/30/04

[Route-11]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

If your morning commute takes you down Southbound Route 11 in Botetourt, you may want to take an alternate route this morning.
(++++++++++)
[TAKE MAP FS]
V-DOT says a hauling contractor will be moving a transformer from the railroad tracks on Old Route 604 to an American Electric Power site about a mile away on Lee Highway.
A rolling roadblock will be used to move the transformer between 9 and 11:30 this morning.
Traffic will be moving EXTREMELY slowly.
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[11Picard]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC14:21]
[GRAPHIC=Chris Picard]
[ENG#=2]

The case is over... but new information has emerged about a 2002 murder in Franklin County. Myranda Stephens has more on why prosecutors accused Christopher Picard's lawyers of hiding evidence.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=last week]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./File Tape; :00 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=@Myranda1; :51]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=MS, News 7]
(( Last week, Christopher Picard pled guilty to murdering former teacher's aide Lori Boyd -- after his D-N-A was found on a bedsheet near the murder scene. But, in court documents unsealed Tuesday, prosecutor Cliff Hapgood accused Picard's attorney, William Stanley of withholding that evidence. In October of 2003, Stanley hired a lab to test the bedsheet, in hopes that it would clear Picard. Stanley agreed to share the results with Hapgood, but when they came back, Stanley told the court the sheet had been contaminated, and therefore the results were inconclusive. However, Hapgood later had that SAME sheet tested in April -- and the results showed it had NOT been contaminated. In fact, it contained both Picard's and the victim's D-N-A. Hapgood says when he went to get a copy of the first lab results, he was denied the report. [ON CAMERA] William Stanley told News 7 that he only had ONE sample of the bedsheet tested, and the results were IN FACT inconclusive. He says he simply couldn't afford to have the entire bedsheet tested, like the Commonwealth did. If he had, Stanley says his strategy to defend Picard would have been entirely different. Myranda Stephens, News 7.))

[11Nudist-camps]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-27 TC12:23]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

The ACLU has followed through on its threat to sue the state over nude summer camps.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ivor/File Tape]

A federal lawsuit filed yesterday challenges a new state law that effectively bans nude summer camps for teenagers, like this one in Southampton County.
The head of the A-C-L-U in Virginia said that legislators overreacted and interfered with the right of families to make lifestyle choices.
Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said last year that such camps could attract pedophiles and child pornographers.
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[Marketwatch]

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

In business news,
Consumer confidence is at a two year high and interest rates may be on the rise for the first time in four years.
Alexis Christoforous has more in this morning's Marketwatch.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((TODAY IS THE DAY THAT AMERICANS MAY BE HANDED THE FIRST INTEREST RATE HIKE IN FOUR YEARS. MOST ANALYSTS EXPECT THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO RAISE SHORT TERM INTEREST RATES BY A QUARTER POINT WHEN IT WRAPS UP A TWO DAY MEETING LATER TODAY... THE MOVE WOULD BE AN EFFORTTO WARD OFF INFLATION:
SOT: Bernie Schaeffer / Chairman, Schaeffer Investment Research
"Now the economy is starting,growth is starting to quicken,were starting to see some signs that inflation is rearing its ugly head and the way the fed combats inflation is to raise interest rates which has a tendency to prevent runaway inflation" : (18) HIGHER SHORT TERM RATES WILL AFFECT THE RATE YOU PAY ON YOUR HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT, SOME ADJUSTABLE MORTGAGES AND POSSIBLY RATES ON AUTO LOANS AND PERSONAL LOANS.. A BRIGHT SPOT TO HIGHER RATES... PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR MONEY IN MONEY MARKET FUNDS OR NEW CDs WILL FINALLY BE MAKING MORE INTEREST ON THEIR MONEY. STOCKS RALLIED AHEAD OF THE FED'S DECISION.. MOST BELIEVE A QUARTER POINT HIKE HAS ALREADY BEEN FACTORED INTO THE MARKET... THE DOW RAN UP 56 POINTS WHILE THE NASDAQ ADDED 15 ALSO HELPING MATTERS: A REPORT THAT SHOWED CONSUMER CONFIDENCE JUMPED TO A 2 YEAR HIGH THIS MONTH. IN ADDITION TO THE FED MEETING, TODAY IS ALSO THE FINAL DAY OF THE SECOND QUARTER... WHICH COULD ADD TO ANY VOLATILITY ON WALL STREET... stay on top of your stocks and all the biz news at cbs.mw.com in ny I'm Alexis Christoforous))

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

[6Eating-Disorder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC1:35:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Teen celebrity Mary Kate Olsen is bringing the issue of eating disorders into the spotlight.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

Published reports indicate the Olsen twin is battling Anorexia.
She's not alone. Beth Holt Wright specializes in helping young women in the Roanoke Valley just like her.
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[SOT15:02:09]
[IN Q=Statistics show now there are about 8 million]
((BETH HOLT WRIGHT/LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER: STATISTICS SHOW NOW THERE ARE ABOUT 8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE US SUFFERING FROM EATING DISORDERS THAT WOULD MEAN ABOUT 1 AND 100 WOMEN ARE LITERALLY STARVING THEMSELVES))
[SUPER=01-Beth Holt Wright/Licensed Clinical Social Worker]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=literally starving themselves]
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[VO-NAT]

Warning signs of an eating disorder include excessive weight loss, obsession over calories, spending a lot of time in front to the mirror, excessive exercise and secrecy about eating.
Wright hopes the attention on Mary Kate Olsen will encourage more teenagers to seek professional help, because eating disorders can lead to serious health and psychological problems.
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[SOT15:07:43]
[IN Q=The sooner you reach for help]
((THE SOONER YOU REACH FOR HELP THE BETTER THE CHANCE OF REACHING RECOVERY))
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=of reaching recovery]
(++++++++++)
[TAKE WDBJ WEBPAGE E522 FS] For more information on eating disorders, you can find a link to the National Eating Disorders Association web site on our web page.
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[KIM TOSS TO BUMP] ((Toss to bump))

[11Edwards-Trial]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC27:00]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
[ENG#=2]

Despite forensic evidence that doesn't show he fired a gun, prosecutors say Carl Richardson is guilty of murder.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
An expert testified yesterday - gun residue and particles WERE found on both hands of the victim Neesha Edwards, but NO particles were found on the hands of Carl Richardson. But the expert said there are a number of reasons why a person would NOT have gun residue on his or her hands: one, the person did not shoot a weapon, two: the test was conducted TOO long after the shooting, or three: thorough cleaning of the hands. Prosecutors say Richardson, who is also known by his Muslim name of Khalif Freed Abdul Mateen, murdered Neesha Edwards and shot her boyfriend in a jealous rage last December.
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[11Britt]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-22 TC42:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

The Roanoke City School District is losing another top administrator.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 16]

Paul Britt, the Executive for Human Resources, confirmed yesterday that he plans to leave the school system at the end of next month.
Britt is getting married in July, and is moving to Richmond.
He has been with the Roanoke City schools for two years, but has 29 years of service in the state and is eligible for early retirement.
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Superintendent Wayne Harris steps down from his post today. Assistant Superintendents Dick Kelley and Rita Bishop are also leaving the city schools.

[11Troop-Recall]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq/US Troops]
[ENG#=2]

Meanwhile, thousands of U-S soldiers who thought they were retired are now being called back into action.
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[VO-NAT]
56-hundred soldiers will be recalled back into duty. The Pentagon will recall troops who have remaining reserve obligations to help out in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army is requesting soldiers with skills that are in short supply, such as medical specialists and engineers.
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[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[11Troops-Donations]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC20:24]
[GRAPHIC=wipe]
[ENG#=3]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

110 Marine Reservists from the Lynchburg area are leaving this Friday for a tour of duty in Iraq.
But residents are making sure the Marines don't leave empty-handed
Donations of non-perishable foods, toiletries and other items have been pouring in to city offices over the past few weeks.
They'll be placed into 'care packages' for the troops to take overseas.
A "Salute the Troops" rally will be held at 5 p-m Friday at the American Legion Post on Greenview Drive.
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[11West-End]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=lmc]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC49:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

Roanoke's West End Center received a lot of BREAD from one donor.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Heiner's bakery donated five-thousand dollars and delivered 200- loaves of bread to the youth center. The gift comes during the summer months when school lunch programs are not available.
Officials say that increases the risk of malnutrition and hunger. 140 children in grades K through twelve are enrolled in their summer camp program. The donation will be put towards the camp's reimbursement for summer meals.
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[VOBbiomed-Institute]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-13 1:55:10]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

The final piece of the puzzle is in place for Carilion's biomedical institute.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The city of Roanoke has purchased the necessary land so the first phase of the project can begin.
The first building will be located south of downtown Roanoke at the corner of Jefferson Street and Reserve Avenue.
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[SOT 6:13:38]
[IN Q=Once its flat]
((DANIEL BARCHI/CARILION BIOMEDICAL INSTITUTE: ONCE ITS FLAT AND BUILDABLE THEN CARILION AND BIOMEDICAL INSTITUTE WILL CHOOSE THE SITE FOR THE FIRST BUILDING AND CONCENTRATE ON WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO BE FIFTY OR 100-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, WHAT'S GOING IN AND I ANTICIPATE OVER THE NEXT THREE FOUR FIVE MONTHS WE'LL SEE THE PLANS FIRM UP AND CONSTRUCTION BEGIN.))
[SUPER=01-Daniel Barchi/Carilion Biomedical Institute;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=and construction begin]
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[VO-NAT]

The biomedical institute is already technically up and running, and has been for nearly four years.
The institute is working on nearly a hundred research projects at its temporary office on Church Avenue in Roanoke.

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[11R2K-Broadband]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC1:51:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

Wireless broadband service has come to central Virginia, and air travelers there will be the first to experience it.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

A 'wire-cutting' ceremony yesterday marked the beginning of the Broadband Hot Spot program.
Now laptop users can access the Internet for free while waiting for their flights at the Lynchburg Regional Airport.
Economic Development officials hope to expand it to about fifty other locations including hotels, libraries and restaurants.
Airport officials say business travelers have come to expect this kind of service.
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[toss to bump] ((toss to bump))

[11Presbyterians]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=04-20 TC57:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

The country's largest Presbyterian denomination is keeping its ban on homosexual clergy (clur-gee.)
The Presbyterian Church's General Assembly is meeting in Richmond this week.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Since 1978, the church has prohibited practicing gays and lesbians from becoming ordained.
Yesterday, a committee refused to overturn the constitutional ban, but did suggest allowing individual churches to dismiss an interpretation of church law that prohibits gays from being ordained.
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[SOT 15:34:01]
[IN Q=PEOPLE ARE PRETTY PASSIONATE]
((GRADYE PARSONS/PRESBYTERIAN OFFICER: PEOPLE ARE PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. WE HAVE SOME FOLKS IT'S PROBABLY THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE A LOT OF FOLKS IT IS NOT THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN THEIR OWN CHURCH BUT IT IS SORTA DIVISIVE, BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO SETS OF TRUTH THAT PEOPLE ARE DEBATING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVE STRONG CONVICTIONS EITHER HAVE ONE OR THE OTHER.))
[SUPER=01-Gradye Parsons/Presbyterian Church Officer]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=EITHER HAVE ONE OR THE OTHER.]
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[VO-NAT]

The Presbyterian Church formed a special task force three years ago to study the gay clergy issue.
It is scheduled to issue a final report in 2006.
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[11Tech-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-18 TC1:03:32]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
[ENG#=1]
Virginia Tech officially joins the Atlantic Coast Conference tomorrow.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Local stores are already stocking up with new Tech/A-C-C apparel. They've got Tee-shirts, jerseys, polos and shorts ready for the taking. Store owners say people have been asking about the new gear for months.
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[SOT:6:01:01:00 ]
[IN Q=It should be]
((MIKE YOUNG: IT SHOULD BE GREAT ESPECIALLY THIS BEING THE INAUGURAL SEASON AND GETTING IT STARTED. IT SHOULD REALLY KICK OFF AND I THINK IT SHOULD GAIN SPEED AS WE GET THE RIGHT ITEMS IN HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Young/Walmart District Manager;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=items in here.]
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[VO-NAT]
Stores across the N-R-V and Roanoke will begin selling the new products tomorrow morning at 12:01. Tech officials say the school stands to make millions in royalties from the new ACC and Tech logo products. Most of that money goes toward Tech's scholarship program.
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