WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/24/04

[Terrorism]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Mornin']
[ENG#=1]

At the Guantanamo Naval Air Base in Cuba, four detainees face the first trials before a U-S military commission since World War Two.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;]

Arraignments and pre- trial hearings begin today.
The four terror suspects will appear separately in front of a five- member panel that'll act as judge and jury.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They're presumed]
((LT. SUSAN MCGARVEY/U.S. NAVY COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON: THEYRE PRESUMED INNOCENT, THEY CAN CROSS EXAMINE EACH GOVERNMENT WITNESS AS WELL AS PUT UP THEIR OWN WITNESSES THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO OFFER EVIDENCE IN ADDITION TO WITNESSES. ))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Susan McGarvey/U. S. Navy Commission Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=their own witnesses.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But human rights groups are frustrated that the accused can't make a federal appeal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The concern here]
((JUMANA MUSA/AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE:THE CONCERN HERE IS THAT THE WHOLE PROCESS ITSELF IS ENTIRELY CLOSED WHERE IF THEY APPEAL THEY DON'T APPEAL TO AN APPEALS COURT OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM, THEY JUST APPEAL UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND WITHIN THE SAME SYSTEM. ))
[SUPER=01-Jumana Musa/Amnesty International Representative;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=the same system.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The first suspect to appear in court is a man accused of serving as Osama bin Laden's driver and bodyguard.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=2]

At least five people are dead in attacks targeting Iraq's education and environment ministers in Baghdad.
The leaders were NOT injured.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Najaf, Iraq;]
In Najaf, U-S troops are tightening their grip around the sacred Imam Ali shrine.
Militants loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are using the site as base of operations.
[SUPER=03-Mannheim, Germany;]

And in Germany, it's day two of pre- trial hearings for four soldiers charged in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.
The Pentagon is set to release findings of an internal investigation on the abuse of Iraqi detainees.

(------------)[AM-Howard]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=None]
A Marine from Covington who died in Iraq will be laid to rest today.
(+++++++++)
[Take Howard FS Event610]
26 year old Ryan Howard was killed when his helicopter crashed. His funeral will take place today at one o-clock at the Arritt Funeral Home in Covington. Burial will follow at the Palestine Cemetery.
(------------)

[6-Radford-Assaults]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-26 TC1:30:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

Radford University is warning students to be careful after two separate assaults.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
One of the assaults happened last Wednesday in a campus parking lot near Moffett Hall. A female had a purse stolen while walking home around 3:00 in the morning. The other attack was off-campus, but much more violent. It happened on Jefferson Street. A male was beaten and robbed while walking home early in the morning. A friend of the victim says he needs reconstructive surgery. City and University police are investigating both crimes and say they do not appear to be related.
(------------)

[11Boty-Vandalism]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC1:14:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
A vandalism spree in Botetourt County has three teenagers in trouble with the law.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./Sunday]
Joseph Daniel Luck and James Richard Looney, both 18 year olds from Montvale, and a 17-year-old boy from Bedford all face charges. Residents in the Blue Ridge area woke Saturday morning to find a church and more than 50-homes, mail boxes and street signs spray painted. Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle says the three face charges under Virginia's hate crime laws, since the lettering "KKK" was sprayed on both the home and vehicle of an African-American family. A second juvenile is also under investigation.
(------------)

[5-Warner-surplus]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=504-04 TC1:51:57]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=1]

It took three years, but Virginia is finally in the black.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Governor Mark Warner delivered the news yesterday to the General Assembly's money committees.
Warner said the surplus means an increase in each taxpayer's personal exemption will take effect one year earlier than scheduled.
The state ended the fiscal year with a nearly 324-million dollar surplus.
Some Republicans say the extra money shows that the recently passed tax increases were not necessary.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:21:55]
[IN Q=I FEEL MORE LIKE TOLD-YOU-SO]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: I FEEL MORE LIKE TOLD YOU SO. THE HOUSE PLAN THAT WE PASSED AT THE END OF THE SESSION HAD SOME INCREASES IN IT THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED ABOUT 600 MILLION DOLLARS. WITH THE SURPLUS WE WOULD BE RIGHT CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S MORE THAN I THINK WE NEEDED IN A SINGLE YEAR.))
[SUPER=@Griffith]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=WE NEEDED IN A SINGLE YEAR.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner was unapologetic about the need for one-point-four billion dollars in additional taxes.
(------------)

[Campaign-2004]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=2]

A new set of T-V ads on Senator John Kerry's war record will be released today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kerry supporters are calling for any ads criticizing the Democratic Presidential nominee's war record be blocked from the airwaves.
They're already up in arms over a series of critical ads sponsored by the group, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We can't let this]
((DEL SANDUSKY/KERRY BAND OF BROTHERS:WE CAN'T LET THIS GO ON. WE'VE GOT A RESPOND, WE'VE GOT TO ANSWER. THEY'RE ALL A PACK OF LIES.))
[SUPER=01-Del Sandusky/Served in Vietnam with Kerry;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=pack of lies.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Kerry campaign is launching a counterattack with new T-V ads.
Meanwhile, President Bush is denouncing ads that question Kerry'sw ar record, as well as all other attack ads by outside groups.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Oil prices have gone back down. And Weight Watchers is unveiling its new Turn Around program this week.
Alexis Christoforous has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((High-flying oil prices eased on Monday.. crude closed at a one week low of 46-05 a barrel .. that's as Iraq resumed exports from both its northern and southern outlets after lengthy disruption, despite fierce fighting in the holy city of Najaf.
on wall street.. a sales warning from Walmart overshadowed that drop in oil. the dow fell back 38 points the nasdaq eked out a gain of nearly 3/4 of a point.
NATION'S NUMBER ONE RETAILER LOWERED ITS SALES FORECAST FOR AUGUST.. WALMART BLAMES HURRICAN CHARLEY WHICH FORCED UP TO 75 STORES IN THE SOUTH TO BE CLOSED. WALMART ALSO SAYS BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTING.
Surveys show many people are bailing out of low-carb diets, and Weight Watchers hopes to catch some of them. At Weight Watchers meetings this week, the company is unveiling the first major changes in its weight-loss program in eight years. The new TurnAround program gives members the option of sticking with Weight Watchers' system that assigns points to foods, or going with a new plan that emphasizes filling, low-calorie foods. Low-carb dieting has had a slimming effect on Weight Watchers' business. The company recently reported a dip in quarterly profits.
find out more at cbs.mw.com in ny I'm Alexis Christoforous.))

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

[11First-Day]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-30 TC27:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
The summer is winding down for many students in the region. Roanoke County students have one more day to rest before they hit the books tomorrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Roanoke City kids headed back to the classroom yesterday. At Patrick Henry High School students not only had to contend with reading, writing and arithmetic - but also major construction. Already two-buildings have been torn down, with more to come. The first phase of the project will construct a new main building. That's expected to be completed in two years. Officials hope the rest of construction will be completed by 2007.
(------------)

[5-Franklin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=504-1 1:16:50]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

[ENG#=2]

A truck driver is in good condition after running his rig into a house.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :30]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Charles Timothy Argabright was westbound on Route 40 near Rocky Mount yesterday when his tractor trailer and load of crushed cars went off the road. The truck took out a telephone pole before careening into a vacant house and knocking it off its foundation. A witness says he thinks Argabright was trying to avoid hitting a pickup truck that pulled out in front of him. Argabright was taken to Rocky Mount and then flown by Lifeguard 10 to Roanoke. He's in good condition. No one else was injured.
(------------)

[VOBWerewolf-Movie]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

While residents along the Blue Ridge Parkway sleep, a film company is creating a tale about a werewolf.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]
Richmond based Stormcatcher Films is filming parts of it's newest horror "Wolfsbane" near the Peaks of Otter and Explore Park. It's a story about park rangers working to evacuate a mountain after discovering the werewolf. Meanwhile, a group of hikers run into the creature. Roanoke photographer Tommy Firebaugh is volunteering his time to document the film's production.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:41:54]
[IN Q=You never watch a]
((TOMMY FIREBAUGH/VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHER: YOU NEVER WATCH A MOVIE THE SAME WAY. YOU LISTEN FOR LITTLE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T SEE AND YOU REALLY DO SEE IT TOTALLY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE INVOLVED INSIDE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Tommy Firebaugh/Volunteer Photographer;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=when you're involved inside it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Production is set to be completed in October and the company is already working on a deal to distribute the movie nationwide on DVD.
(+++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE FS] If you're interested in working on the film as a production assistant call Stormcatcher Films at 804-338-3480 by Thursday.
(++++++++++)

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

[6-Pulley]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:19:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

More than 18 months after he was arrested and charged with his wife's murder, a former Pittsylvania County minister has yet to stand trial for the crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Yanceyville, NC/February 2003]

44-year-old Rick Pulley was charged in February of 2003 with killing his wife, Patty Jo. She disappeared in May of 1999.
Her body was discovered near Yanceyville, North Carolina three years later.
Pulley's two-week long murder trial was scheduled to start yesterday, but was continued at the request of the prosecution.
A judge will set a new date during a hearing next month.
(------------)

[6-Lake-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-36 TC05:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

A body was discovered at Smith Mountain Lake yesterday. The medical examiner's office is now trying to figure out the person's identity.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smith Mountain Lake/June 20;]
Game Wardens say the body was found in the same section of the lake where 49- year- old Judy Thurman drowned more than two months ago. Thurman was boating with her fianc� when she jumped into the lake after one of her dogs. The swim back to the boat became too difficult and Thurman went under. Divers searched for her body for days, but were unsuccessful.
(------------)

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Target said yesterday that its same store sales were running according to plan for August. The plan projects sales ranging from flat to two percent. However, the story is much different at WalMart. Stan Case has more on that in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((INVESTORS SHOWED LITTLE ENTHUSIASM FOR RECEDING OIL PRICES.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS LOST 37 -POINTS.
WHILE THE NASDAQ CLOSED NEARLY UNCHANGED.

CONTROVERSIAL NEW RULES FOR OVERTIME PAY WENT INTO EFFECT MONDAY.
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NEW RULES WILL STRENGTHEN OVERTIME RIGHTS FOR SIX-POINT-SEVEN MILLION U-S WORKERS -- INCLUDING ONE-POINT-THREE MILLION LOW-WAGE WORKERS WHO WERE DENIED OVERTIME UNDER THE OLD RULES.
BUT SOME LABOR GROUPS, INCLUDING THE AFL-CIO, SAY THE RULES WILL BAR SIX MILLION WORKERS FROM GETTING TIME-AND-A-HALF PAY.

AN INFLUENTIAL PROXY ADVISOR IS GIVING GOOGLE POOR GRADES IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
THE FINANCIAL TIMES REPORTS THAT INSTITUTIONAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES RANKS GOOGLE LOWER IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE THAN ANY COMPANY IN THE S&P 500, WHICH GOOGLE IS EXPECTED TO JOIN.
I-S-S, WHICH ADVISES SHAREHOLDERS HOW TO VOTE, FOUND 21 WEAKNESSES IN GOOGLE'S GOVERNANCE PRACTICES AND ASSIGNED IT A CORPORATE GOVERNANCE QUOTIENT OF POINT-TWO OUT OF 100.
GOOGLE MADE ITS INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING LAST WEEK.

WAL-MART CUT ITS AUGUST SALES FORECAST.
THE WORLD'S LARGEST RETAILER SAID IT NOW EXPECTS SALES FOR THE MONTH AT STORES OPEN AT LEAST A YEAR TO BE BETWEEN FLAT AND TWO PERCENT.
THE COMPANY CITED VARIOUS FACTORS, INCLUDING WEAK BACK-TO-SCHOOL TRENDS AND HURRICANE CHARLEY, WHICH FORCED IT TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE UP TO 75-STORES.

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

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

[5-Pocket-Bikes]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=504-02 1:43:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=1]

They're being called one of the summer's hottest new toys -- but the new mini-motorcycles known as Pocket Bikes are definitely NOT for children.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Even though the bikes are about a quarter the size of a regular motorcycle, in many places, like the city of Roanoke, you have to be at least 16-years-old to ride one. Owner of Xtreme Truck and 4-by-4, Sam Peters says he finds that most of the people who are buying them at his shop, are adults in their 20s or 30s anyway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1640]
[IN Q=oh yeah,]
((OH YEAH, A BIG MARKET FOR THEM IS THE ADULTS, I KNOW PROBABLY HALF MY SHELVES, 47I'VE SOLD PROBABLY EIGHT, AND I KNOW ABOUT 5 OR 6 TOLD ME THEY WERE BUYING IT FOR THEIR SELF 53))
[SUPER=01-Sam Peters/Xtreme Truck and 4x4 Center Owner;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=for their self]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Although the mini-bikes are a growing trend, many people are concerned that their size may be a safety issue.
(------------)

[11Franklin-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC45:33]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
[ENG#=1]
State police are trying to determine what caused a truck driver to crash through a house in Franklin County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Charles Timothy Argabright was westbound on Route 40 near Rocky Mount at about 1:30 yesterday when his tractor trailer and load of crushed cars went off the road at the intersection with Golden View Road. The truck took out a telephone pole before flipping and careening into a vacant house, knocking it off its foundation.
A witness says he thinks Argabright was trying to avoid hitting a pickup truck that pulled out in front of him.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT AT :25]
[IN Q=For some reason we don't know...]
((TIM HARRIS/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: FOR SOME REASON WE DON'T KNOW, MADE AN EVASIVE ACTION TO THE RIGHT, OVERTURNED AT LEAST ONE AND A HALF TIMES.))
[SUPER=01-Tim Harris/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=at least one and a half times.]
(------------)
[VO NAT :10] Argabright, who drives for C.D. Thomason out of Bedford, was taken to a hospital Rocky Mount and then flown to Roanoke. He's listed in good condition. (------------)