WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/04/04

[AM-Vick-Court]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=net R]
[GRAPHIC=Marcus Vick]
[ENG#=1]
It's now up to Marcus Vick. If he stays out of trouble, he'll be welcomed back at Tech this winter. But another run-in with the law could mean he's out of Blacksburg -- and into jail.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Kent Co.;]
Vick pleaded guilty yesterday to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession. His driver's license was suspended for 60 days for reckless driving, and as part of a plea agreement, he was placed in a first offender program on the marijuana charge. The judge then gave Vick a choice.
(///// SOT /////)
[NO SUPER]
[IN Q=Make no mistake.]
((Make no mistake about it. If you do not do what I told you to do in this order and you get into any other trouble, I'm going to put you in jail, no questions asked.))
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=put you in jail.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Vick did not make any comment leaving the courthouse, but he did issue a written statement saying "I have learned a great deal from the mistakes I have made ... I am truly sorry for disappointing so many people, and I look forward to the opportunity to regain their trust and respect."
(------------)

[11Marcus-Vick]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-26 1:03:6]
[GRAPHIC=Marcus Vick]
[ENG#=2]
A short time before Vick entered the courtroom, Virginia Tech announced it was suspending him from campus for the Fall semester, a suspension Vick says he fully accepts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
Some speculated it came because the football team takes the field today to begin practice, but university officials say it's because of findings from the school's judicial referal committee.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT from Weaver tape@10:50:18.20]
[IN Q=We've dealt with it...]
((JIM WEAVER, VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: WE'VE DEALT WITH IT IN SUCH A FASHION THAT WE THINK MARCUS UNDERSTANDS WHAT HIS ROLE IS, AS A RESULT OF SOME OF HIS ACTIONS IN RECENT MONTHS. WE FEEL HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THE SHIP BACK TO VIRGINIA TECH AND CLEAR HIS NAME AND HIS FAMILY'S NAME- WHICH IS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Virginia Tech Athletic Director]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=.... wants to do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The finding stems from Vick's conviction on three-misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Marcus Vick will have to successfully complete a formal drug education and counseling program before he can return to Tech.
(------------)

[Terror-Alert]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is defending the decision to tighten security in New York and Washington.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

That, despite the fact that the intelligence behind the latest terror warnings is as much as four years old.
Ridge is making no apologies for putting financial institutions in three U-S cities on high alert.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The government should ]
((TOM RIDGE/HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY:THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. ITS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, ITS ABOUT CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT, TELLING YOU WHEN THEY GET THE INFORMATION. ))
[SUPER=01-Tom Ridge/Homeland Security Secretary;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=they get the information.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The information is based on surveillance documents recovered from the computer of the al-Qaida operative arrested in Pakistan.
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Meanwhile, officials in the nation's capital are considering more traffic restrictions.
Police have already sealed off the area around the Capitol building in response to the threat.
(------------)

[Campaign-2004]

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

President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry are crossing paths as their campaign the country.
(------------)
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX;]

After wooing Catholic voters in Dallas, today the President will rally
supporters in Iowa and Minnesota-- two states he narrowly lost in the 2000 election.

John Kerry will hold and economic summit in Davenport-- the same city the President is visiting.
Afterwards, Kerry will head to Missouri for an evening rally.
(------------)

[11Triplett]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-20 1:49:28]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=1]

The Ninth District Congressional race has sparked a debate over debates.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Yesterday, in Roanoke County, Republican Kevin Triplett said one is not enough.
He renewed his call for a SERIES of joint appearances with Democratic incumbent Rick Boucher.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:36:25]
[IN Q=One debate]
((KEVIN TRIPLETT/(R) 9TH DISTRICT CANDIDATE: ONE DEBATE IN A DISTRICT THIS SIZE IS NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT ENOUGH AND IT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Kevin Triplett/(R) 9th District Candidate;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=to take to the people.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Boucher says he has a tradition of participating in one debate during each campaign, and plans to accept an invitation from WDBJ-7 for a televised debate in mid-October.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

In a telephone interview yesterday afternoon, Boucher said Congress probably won't recess until mid-October, and that a full slate of joint appearances in every county of the district is simply "unrealistic."

[VOBNight-Out]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-21 TC 1:02:44]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Roanoke Police are taking their reorganization plan straight to the people.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Last night, communities all across America including Roanoke celebrated National Night Out.
It's an event that highlights ways residents can help fight crime in their neighborhood.
At the one held in Old Southwest, officers told residents about its new geographic policing which will divide the city into four zones.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:32]
[IN Q=There will be officers]
((JAMES FAZIO/ROANOKE POLICE DEPT.: THERE WILL BE OFFICERS BASICALLY ASSIGNED TO THIS SPECIFIC AREA AND THEY WILL NOT WORK ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY, 99-PERCENT OF THE TIME OTHER THAN THIS SPECIFIC AREA SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA IN THE OLD SOUTHWEST ZONE OF THE CITY WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THE OFFICERS.))
[SUPER=01-James Fazio/Roanoke City Police Department;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=FAMILIAR WITH THE OFFICERS]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officers stress their biggest assets continue to be tips from the community.
In Old Southwest for example neighborhood complaints recently led to half dozen arrests for prostitution.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, The Dow snapped a five day winning streak. And, Prudential beat Wall Street estimates.
Jean Lee has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jean Lee/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((Insurance Giant Prudential and biotech companies will be among Wednesday's active stocks.

On Tuesday, Crude oil prices spiking above $44 for the first time ever, and a bigger-than-expected drop in consumer spending, shifted the markets into sell mode.

The Dow BROKE a 5-day winning streak, losing nearly 59 points,
While the Nasdaq tumbled 32.

Prudential (PRU) reported second quarter net income that zoomed past estimates. Over the Newark, NJ headquarter of the Number 2- insurer, was named as a potential Al Quaeda terror target.

Automakers talked about earnings and sales results Tuesday. Ford's monthly sales in the U-S dipped again in July, despite strength in the truck group. DaimlerChrysler posted a 6 percent year-over-year increase.

JetBlue shares are higher. The low-cost carrier is expanding its routes into the Caribbean. The airline says it's awaiting federal approval to fly to the Bahamas. The company plans to begin service in November, and have one flight a day to the vacation destination.

Biotech companies including Cephalon talked about their latest earnings results after Tuesday's close. Its 2nd quarter earnings matched Wall Street's estimates.

And Priceline.com lost more than 3-dollars. The online travel booker warned that its third-quarter earnings will come in below expectations.

For more on the day in business check into our website. It's cbs.mw.com.
I'm jl, cbs mw in ny.))

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

[Hurricane-Alex]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Alex]
[ENG#=1]

The first hurricane of the season left its mark on parts of North Carolina.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hatteras Island, NC;]

Damage assessment teams begin today work on Hatteras Island after Hurricane Alex brushed the coastline.
Alex knocked out power to thousands and flooded the island's link to the mainland, but no injuries were reported.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is just]
((MAX MAYFIELD, DIR, NAT'L HURRICANE CENTER: WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN VERY VERY FORTUNATE, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE DO INDEED HAVE A MAJOR HURRICANE STRIKE THE UNITED STATES. I THINK THE MESAGE IS THE SAME - WE NEED TO BE PREPARED.))
[SUPER=01-Max Mayfield/National Hurricane Center Director;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=need to be prepared.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Alex is now headed out to sea and crews have already restored power to some areas.
(------------)

[England]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

An al-Qaida linked group in Iraq says it'll release two Turkish hostages, now that their company has agreed to stop sending trucks to U-S troops.
The announcement was made today on al-Jazeera television.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ft. Bragg, NC;]

Meanwhile, military prosecutors are trying to show Army Private Lynndie England was a willing participant in these infamous photos of Iraqi prisoner abuse.
A hearing is underway at Fort Bragg to determine whether England should face a full court martial.
England's attorneys want to prove England was following orders from higher level officers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They'd look at the]
[SUPER=01-Lynndie England/Army Private;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=this is working]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

England faces up to 38 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
(------------)

[11Tate]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-17 1:36:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

The case of a Danville man charged with killing his girlfriend will now be forwarded to a grand jury.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Stanley Tate is charged with murdering Charmane Davis, who was found dead inside his Franklin County home in May.
[SUPER=04-May 24;]
Investigators believe Davis caught him with another woman. Yesterday, during a preliminary hearing, the "other woman," LaChrisa (Luh-Chris-suh) Robertson, testified that Tate shot Davis because he thought she was an intruder. Tate is already awaiting sentencing in Danville on drug charges.
(------------)

[11Irby]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=None]

A Lynchburg man is the prime suspect in the investigation into a series of burglaries over the past several weeks.

Eight churches and businesses in the Campbell Avenue area have been broken into. The items stolen include tools, microwave ovens, computers and a large t-v.
(+++++++)
[TAKE IRBY FS]
31-year-old Shawn Wesley Irby is in jail for parole violation and drug charges ... police say charges related to the burglaries are pending.
Anyone who may have received property from Irby is asked to call the Lynchburg police.
(------------)

(kim tosses to bump) [BUMP] [COMM]

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks fell yesterday. And oil prices have hit another record high. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]

((U.S. STOCK MARKETS TUMBLED TUESDAY.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS LOST 58-POINTS... SNAPPING A FIVE SESSION WIN STREAK.
THE NASDAQ DROPPED 32.

G-M REPORTS DOMESTIC AUTO SALES IN JULY FELL THREE-POINT-FOUR PERCENT, AND FORD SAYS ITS SALES FELL FOUR-POINT-ONE PERCENT IN THE MONTH, COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO.
EVEN SO, IT WAS THE BEST MONTH SO FAR THIS YEAR FOR G-M.
MEANWHILE, CHRYSLER POSTED A TWO-PERCENT SALES GAIN IN THE MONTH.
JAPANESE AUTOMAKERS CONTINUED TO GAIN MARKET SHARE.
NISSAN'S SALES SURGED 31-PERCENT -- GIVING THE COMPANY ITS BEST U-S SALES MONTH EVER -- AND TOYOTA REPORTED A SALES INCREASE OF 13-POINT-SEVEN PERCENT.

THE PRICE OF CRUDE OIL HIT ANOTHER RECORD HIGH, SETTING AT 44-DOLLARS-AND-15-CENTS A BARREL, UP 33-CENTS.
THE PEAK OCCURRED AFTER THE HEAD OF OPEC SAID THE CARTEL HAD NO EXTRA OIL TO IMMEDIATELY SUPPLY THE WORLD MARKET TO BRING DOWN PRICES.

THE GOVERNMENT REPORTS PERSONAL SPENDING DROPPED SEVEN-TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN JUNE, THE BIGGEST DECLINE SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001.
INCOMES ROSE TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENT, A SLOWDOWN FROM MAY'S GAIN OF SIX-TENTH OF A PERCENT.
BOTH READINGS CAME IN BELOW ESTIMATES.

WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF... I'M STAN CASE.))

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[2-Hurricane-Alex]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Alex]
[ENG#=1]

The hurricane's gone, now the big clean- up begins along the North Carolina coast.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hatteras Island, NC;]

Damage assessment teams begin today work on Hatteras Island after Hurricane Alex brushed the coastline.
Alex knocked out power to thousands and flooded the island's link to the mainland, but no injuries were reported.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is just]
((MAX MAYFIELD, DIR, NAT'L HURRICANE CENTER: WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN VERY VERY FORTUNATE, I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE DO INDEED HAVE A MAJOR HURRICANE STRIKE THE UNITED STATES. I THINK THE MESAGE IS THE SAME - WE NEED TO BE PREPARED.))
[SUPER=01-Max Mayfield/National Hurricane Center Director;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=need to be prepared.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Alex is now headed out to sea and crews have already restored power to some areas.
(------------)

[Early-Years]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=Early Years]
[GRAPHIC=Early Years]
[ENG#=3]
A missing child. It's a scenario that a parent doesn't want to think about. But having important information on-hand can help police in the event of an emergency.
(++++++++)
[Take FS Early Years]
Denise Belgrave explains in this week's Early Years segment.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's the worst news]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Cecille Mathews/DeKalb Co., GA Marshal's Department; :12]
[SUPER=01-Woody Easley/Assistant Manager; :32]
[SUPER=01-Byron Holmes/DeKalb Co., GA Police Department; :55]
[SUPER=01-Denise Belgrave/Reporting; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=to and from school.]
((IT'S THE WORST NEWS A PARENT CAN IMAGINE.... YOUR CHILD IS MISSING. AND OFTEN THE INFORMATION POLICE NEED ISN'T EASY TO REMEMBER. "Parents like everybody else will forget things when they are upset. If something happens to their children they're not ready to give out a long list of information." CAMPAIGNS ARE POPPING UP AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HELP. AND RETAILERs are MAKING IT AS EASY AS BUYING A GALLON OF MILK. IN THE SOUTH PUBLIX GROCERY STORES ARE PROVIDING KIDS WITH SAFETY I-D KITS. "The customers love it. They love to be able to get their kids to come in and get their picture..finger prints. This is the kind of information law enforcement needs." AND THIS GROCERY CHAIN ISN'T ALONE. WAL-MART HELPED DEVELOP A PROGRAM CALLED CODE ADAM THAT'S USED IN THOUSANDS OF RETAIL STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHEN A CHILD IS REPORTED MISSING...EMPLOYEES DROP WHAT THEY ARE DOING... TO LOOK FOR THe CHILD. SERGEANT BYRON HOLMES...SAYS PARENTS NEED TO DO THEIR PART AS WELL. "Knowing who your kids are around and who they may have been with last is very important because that's where we start our investigation." FINGER PRINTS ARE ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOOL. "If a vehicle is involved or a vehicle is recovered...it lets us know we are on the right path to finding that particular child we are looking for. So finger prints are imperative." POLICE ALSO SAY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT Things you can so is talk TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT WHERE THEY HANG OUT AND WHAT THEY DO. IT ALL COULD HELP POLICE PICK UP THE TRAIL OF A MISSING CHILD MUCH FASTER. ))
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]
That was Denise Belgrave reporting. [Kim tosses to bump] News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[BUMP] [TRIGGER]

[6-Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-28 27:17]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
[ENG#=2]
The fatal accident three weeks ago near Burnt Chimney did not happen the way witnesses said at the time.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./July 15]
State Police reconstructed the wreck and now say it was Paul Morra's vehicle that crossed the center line and struck Roy Ninninger's vehicle. Ninninger, a 52-year old Moneta resident, was killed. Morra survived the accident. Morra, an 18-year old from Salem, was headed toward the Westlake area, not going the opposite direction as was first reported.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
It'll be up to the Commonwealth's Attorney to decide whether charges should be filed.

[11Corpse-Plant]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=lfe]
[TAPE#=04-19 1:48:21]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

A rare flower at Virginia Tech could make its big stink today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/August 2002;]
The A-titanum (ty-TAN-um) flower is nicknamed the corpse plant, so you can imagine what it smells like. They bloom very rarely, but when they do, they create a dreadful odor. Nonetheless, it's always a big draw when they do, and the Tech greenhouse is open for visitors through Friday from ei(------------) ght until four.