WDBJ 7 morning news for 07/23/04

[B'burg-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
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Blacksburg Police are investigating an armed robbery that occured just after 10:30 last night at the Deli Mart on the 800 block of Glade Road. Police say two men in dark clothes and blue bandanas on their faces pulled pistols on the clerk. One of the assailants used a gun to hit the clerk over the head when she tried to dial 9-1-1. The two would be robbers ran away on foot without taking any money. The clerk was treated at the hospital and released.

[11Roanoke-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
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A fire at a Roanoke apartment building displaced seven residents.
The blaze broke out just before nine o-clock last night on Mountain Avenue.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Firefighters say all of the residents got out unharmed.
Crews quickly knocked down the flames, but they had already destroyed two of the four apartment units inside the building and caused some 40-thousand dollars in damage.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what started the blaze.
The Red Cross is providing housing for the seven residents of the building.
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[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
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Two American soldiers are dead and one is injured after a roadside bombing in Iraq.
A military spokesman says the explosion occurred in Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Meanwhile, the army has completed a major study of prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Investigators told Congress they found 94 confirmed or alleged cases of prisoner abuse by American soldiers-- far more than previously reported.
The acting army secretary blamed enlisted soldiers and low-ranking officers, insisting their actions were NOT sanctioned by army leaders.
But some senators cited evidence to the contrary.
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[Turkey-Train]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
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A packed express train derailed in Turkey, killing 36 people in one of that country's worst ever rail disasters.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pamukova, Turkey;]

Initially, authorities said between 128 and 139 people had died, but later revised that number.
79- others were injured in the wreck.
Officials suspect a mechanical problem, and some blame Turkey's under funded, out-dated rail system.
They do NOT, however, suspect foul play.
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[11Sexual-Assault]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
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Blacksburg Police say there's a predator on the loose.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Police say the man enters unlocked apartments and fondles female victims as they sleep in the northeast section of town. It's happened four times since July first at Terrace View and Oak Bridge apartments off of Progress street.
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[SOT:2:16:24:00 ]
[IN Q=It doesn't]
((BRUCE BRADBERY: IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HE'S AN AMATUER. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROGRESSION WILL BE. WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL CONTINUE AT THIS OR WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL PROGRESS AND MOVE ON TO DIFFERENT CRIMES, MORE VIOLENT ISSUES.))

[SUPER=01-Bruce Bradbery/Blacksburg Police Department;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=more violent issues.]
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[VO-NAT]
Police believe the suspect is a white male with a medium build. Police want everyone to lock their doors.
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[11Missing-Man]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
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[TAPE#=04-24 TC52:44]
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Botetourt County authorities will continue their search today for an 82 year old man who hasn't been seen in nearly two weeks.
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[VO-NAT]
Crews are looking for James Clayton Hall.
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
Hall hasn't been seen since he left by himself nearly two-weeks ago for a camping trip in the Kelly Hollow section of the Jefferson National Forest.
Members of Commonwealth Search and Rescue, as well as the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office have been searching the region on four-wheelers and with K-9 units. Hall is described as an experienced woodsman and avid hiker, but authorities are concerned because of the steep and rocky terrain that is shelter to a number of poisonous snakes.
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[VOBGolf-Course]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
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[TAPE#=04-21 TC 49:51]
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Farmland today, golf course tomorrow? It's a possiblity in Roanoke County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

A golf designer wants to build a 250 acre golf course on the old Saul Farm located on Pitzer Road in the Mountain Pleasant Community.
Nearly a hundred nearby residents turned out for a community meeting last night.
Many who did support the project.
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[SOT 7:43:34]
[IN Q=I think they]
((MIKE ALTIZER/ROANOKE CO. SUPERVISOR: I THINK THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF A GOLF COURSE AND THEY UNDERSTAND THERE WILL BE SOME HOMES WITH IT BUT I THINK THEY THINK THAT'S THE BETTER ALTERNATIVES THAN HAVE 250 HOMES))
[SUPER=01-Mike Altizer/Roanoke Co. Supervisor; :]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=have 250 homes]
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[VO-NAT]

That's because the area is currently zone residential.
But if it becomes a golf course, it would mean fewer than 70 homes would be built.
The Planning Commission will take the project up at its August 3rd meeting.
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[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
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In business news, Microsoft released its profit report after the closing bell yesterday.
Alexis Christoforous has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR MICROSOFT...
AFTER THE CLOSING BELL THE SOFTWARE GIANT REPORTED AN 81 PERCENT SURGE IN PROFITS ON STRONG SALES OF ITS OFFICE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS.. JUST TWO DAYS AGO MICROSOFT SAID IT PLANS TO RETURN MORE THAN 75 BILLION DOLLARS TO SHAREHOLDERS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.. IT PLANS TO DO THAT THROUGH A COMBINATION STOCK BUYBACKS AND A HIGHER DIVIDEND.
ALSO AFTER THE CLOSING BELL... AMAZON.COM POSTED ITS FOURTH STRAIGHT QUARTER PROFIT THANKS TO STRONG INTERNATIONAL SALES... BUT THE ONLINE RETAILER'S PROFITS WERE STILL A PENNY SHY OF WALL STREET'S ESTIMATES...
AND COCA COLA SAID PROFITS BUMBBLED UP 16 PERCENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER THANKS IN PART TO STRONG SALES OF ITS DIET DRINKS. OVERALL, SALES AT COCA COLA SAW THEIR SMALLEST GAIN IN OVER TWO YEARS.
ON WALL STREET... STOCKED ENDED A ROLLER COASTER DAY WITH JUST MODEST GAINS. THE DOW INCHED UP 4 POINTS THE NASDAQ ADDED 14.
A BIG BEER MERGER COULD GO FLAT... U-S BASED ADOLPH COORS AND CANADIAN BASED BREWER MOLSON AGREED TO MERGE IN A 3.4 BILLION DOLLAR STOCK SWAP. IF APPROVED, IT WOULD CREATE THE FIFTH BIGGEST BREWER IN THE COUNTRY.. BUT Some shareholders don't support the deal and Ian Molson, who is feuding with family members over the merger, may threaten a counter-bid.
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]

[11Henry-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
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Investigators say the man found dead in Henry County on Wednesday was involved in an attempted break-in.
The body of 42-year-old Jerry Wayne Weadon was found along Route 622.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co./Wednesday]

The car he and his alleged accomplices used was discovered a few miles away in Pittsylvania County where it had been deliberately torched.
Authorities say Weadon and two other men drove the car to a home in Dry Fork and tried to break in by shooting in the front door.
The homeowner returned fire and Weadon apparently was hit in the back as he fled the scene.
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[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

43-year-old Michael Robin Wilson of Eden, North Carolina is being held without bond on a charge of attempted breaking and entering.
Police are still looking for 44-year-old Timothy Willard Thornton, also of Eden.
They have not said whether the homeowner will face any charges in connection with Weadon's death.

[911-Report]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
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A day after the 9-11 commission released its report, members of the panel are launching a national campaign to get the American public on board with their recommendations.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

The commission is urging the creation of a cabinet- level national intelligence director, and is asking Congress to form a joint committee to oversee national security.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We are not just]
[SUPER=01-John Lehman/911 Commission;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=gathering and analysis.]
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[VO-NAT]

The commission also says airline passenger screenings must be addressed quickly-- with the government, not the airlines taking the lead.
While President Bush says he'll carefully study the report, some lawmakers have expressed doubt that Congress will have time to consider any sweeping reforms this year.
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[119-11-React]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
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The leader of Virginia's anti-terrorism effort says the report may actually hinder the country's current counter-terrorism work.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]

With the nation under an increased terror threat leading up to the Presidential elections in November, George Foresman says now is not the time to have a debate about the intelligence community.
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[SOT 1:05:24]
[IN Q=WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T]
((GEORGE FORESMAN: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T DRAW OUR ATTENTION AWAY MAKING SURE WE'RE PREPARING OUR COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTRACTION.))
[SUPER=01-George Foresman/Office of Commonwealth Preparedness]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTRACTION.]
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[VO-NAT]

Foresman also disagrees with the report's recommendation to create an intelligence czar.
And he says the report is well-written but not very useful.
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[Bush-Kerry]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=4]

President Bush heads to Detroit today to speak at the national urban league conference.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Glenview, IL;]

His appearance comes one week after he turned down an invitation to address the country's oldest civil rights organization- the N-double-A-C-P.
Yesterday, the urban league gave democratic challenger John Kerry an enthusiastic reception.
Today he and running mate John Edwards begin their drive to the democratic convention, with a rally in kerrys birthplace- Aurora, Colorado.
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(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM][Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=1]

In business news, Microsoft reported strong gains in sales and profits for the latest quarter, thanks to robust sales of P-C and server software. But company stock fell in after hours trading on diappointment over its outlook for its next quarter. Now here'a a look at your local stocks. [TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]