WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/27/04

[Russia-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Russia Planes]
[ENG#=1]

Russian federal security officials say they've found traces of explosives in the wreckage of one of two planes that crashed on Tuesday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tula, Russia;]

The report comes hours after a group claimed responsibility for the near simultaneous crashes that killed 89 people.
They issued an online statement saying they carried out the attacks in response to Russian military action in Chechnya.
Until now, the Russian government has downplayed terrorism as the cause.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Habitually, the public]
((MASHA LIPMANN/CARNEGIE MOSCOW CENTER: HABITUALLY THE PUBLIC REGARDS THE AUTHORITIES AS PEOPLE WHO MISLEAD, WHO LIE, WHO DO NOT WANT TO HOLD RESPONSIBILITY, WHO DO NOT - CANNOT INSURE SECURITY OR WHATEVER THEIR OBLIGATION IS.))
[SUPER=01-Masha Lipmann/Carnegie Moscow Center;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=their obligation is.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Critics say if this WAS the work of terrorists, Russian leader Vladimir Putin will share the blame, as the man who pledged to make Russia safe.
(------------)

[Iraq]

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

In Iraq today, dozens of militants loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are complying with his order to surrender their weapons and leave the cities of Najaf and Kufa.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The putdown ]
((KASSEM DAOUD/IRAQI MINISTER OF STATE:THE PUTDOWN OF THE ARMS, AND THE EVACUTAION OF THE SHRINE AND THE CITIES OF NAJAF AND KUFA ... AND TO CONSOLIDATE THE PEACE IN THESE TWO CITIES.))
[SUPER=01-Kassem Daoud/Iraqi Minister of State;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=in these two cities.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Najaf, Iraq;]

That, as tens of thousands of peace marchers descended on Najaf's sacred shrine.
The break in the fighting came with the arrival of Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah al- Sistani.
But American forces remain in Najaf, awaiting word from Iraq's interim prime minister about when or if to start pulling out.
(------------)

[Drug-Robbery]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Danville police say one man was injured in a drug deal gone bad last night. Shortly after midnight, a 21 year old male was at a party at Cedar Terrace Apartments off Memorial Drive -- while there, he asked an acquaintance to get him a bag of marijuana. The acquaintance came back with seven others -- and then proceeded to beat the 21 year old with a stick and kicked him several times. His 150 dollar pair of Timberland boots were also stolen. Police are not releasing names at this time, but say they do have at least one suspect.

[1181-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-35 TC12:25]
[GRAPHIC=I-81]
[ENG#=3]

An accident involving construction equipment caused some major delays on Interstate-81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.]
Both northbound lanes of 81 were blocked for about two hours yesterday evening at mile marker 94 near Pulaski.
A truck lost a road sign when the trailer unhitched from the truck. An eyewitness says the sign went airborne and hit an oncoming tractor trailer, causing it to jackknife.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I was scared to death]
((ROBBIE HINER/EYE WITNESS:I WAS SCARED TO DEATH BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO STOP AND I'M IN A LITTLE CAR. THESE BIG EIGHTEEN WHEELERS, THEY CAN'T STOP ON A DIME YOU KNOW. IT'S JUST A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE GOT HURT.))
[SUPER=01-Robbie Hiner/Witness]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=miracle that no one got hurt.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
State police say the driver of the tractor trailer was taken to the Pulaski hospital complaining of lower back pain.

Troopers say the trailer's safety chain was hooked up, but it snapped when the trailer unhitched. Both lanes are now open.
(------------)

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[VOBTech-Rally]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-32 TC 21:23]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
[ENG#4]

There was plenty of Hokie pride in Blacksburg last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

Several hundred Virginia Tech students turned out for a pep rally sponsored by the Alumni Association.
It was a chance to introduce the freshmen to the Hokie experience and of course get them pumped for the first game of the season.
Virginia Tech plays the U-S-C Trojans tomorrow night at Fed Ex field in Landover, Maryland.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:00:14; 1:03:24]
[IN Q=I think that we're]
((KATE HERBERT: I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE FANS THERE WHICH MEANS WE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY LOUD AND I THINK WE WILL DO PRETTY WELL.)) ((BRIAN MASTALER: WE'VE NEVER BEEN TO A GAME EARLY IN THE SEASON BEING THE UNDERDOG. I KINDA LIKE OUR CHANCES BEING THE UNDERDOG, NEVER DONE IT BEFORE I THINK WE ARE GOING TO WIN THIS GAME.))
[SUPER=01-Kate Herbert/Virginia Tech Junior; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brian Mastaler/Virginia Tech Senior; :08]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=WIN THIS GAME]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Win or lose, fans are excited about the upcoming season especially now that Virginia Tech is part of the A-C-C.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:02:06; 1:09:32]
[IN Q=I think being]
((ELIZABETH HART: I THINK BEING IN THE ACC IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY EXCITING FOR THIS TOWN, NEW CHALLENGE FOR THE HOLIES, AND JUST BRAND NEW ASPIRATIONS FOR US.)) ((ALISE SVIHLA: IT ADDS A GREAT LOCATION FOR ALL THE FANS TO GO TO. WE CAN TRAVEL TO ALL THEGAMES THIS YEAR AND I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.))
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Hart/Virginia Tech Sophomore; :00]
[SUPER=01-Alise Svihla/Virginia Tech Senior; :10]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=I think that's wonderful]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Something that hasn't been wonderful is the Marcus Vick controversy.
Fans say it's time to put it behind them and play some football.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:07:28; 1:04:05; 1:05:55]
[IN Q=I think we have a couple]
((TY BROGAS: I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF KINKS TO WORK OUT BUT I THINK WE WILL FINISH STRONG AND FINISH TO A BOWL THIS YEAR.)) ((BRIAN MASTALER: I THINK OUR COACHING STAFF IS STRONG ENOUGH TO SEPARATE OFF THEFIELD AND ONE THE FIELD AND I THINK OUR TEAM IS GOING TO COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE READYTO PLAY FOOTBALL.)) ((JOHN TABB: I'M GLAD THEY TOOK THE ACTION THEY DID. WE DON'T KNOW PEOPLE LIKE THAT, PLAYING FOR US AND I KNOW THE STUDENT BODY FEELS THE SAME WAY.))
[SUPER=01-Ty Brogas/Virginia Tech Junior; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Tabb/Virginia Tech Graduate Student; :16]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=feels the same way]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Similar pep rallies will be held throughout the season.

[11Volvo-Sales]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-21 TC1:56:34]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo]
[ENG#=1]
Volvo's New River Valley Plant is getting the credit for a boom in business.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]
Truck deliveries are up 22-percent worldwide, 57-percent in North America. All of the trucks sold in North America are built at the Dublin plant. Company officials says they've created 400 new jobs at the facility and more are on the way. The president of the United Auto Workers Local 20-69 says workers are proud of the company's success and the new jobs, but are still disappointed about one thing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:1:52:44:00 ]
[IN Q=The salary]
((CHARLIE BARBETTINI: IN THE SALARY GROUP WE HAVEN'T GROWN IN PROPORTION TO THE RATE INCREASES LIKE WE HOPED WE WOULD WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COMPANY ON TRYING TO GET MORE JOBS UP FRONT FOR THE SALARY GROUP, WE FEEL LIKE BELONG TO THOSE PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Charlie Barbettini/UAW Local 2069 President]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=those people.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Union and Volvo are currently in negotiations about creating more salaried positions.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=2]

In business news, Krispy Kreme has reported more than a fifty percent drop in earnings. And, mortgage rates inched up 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=1:25]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm AC.]
((STOCKS WERE LITTLE CHANGED IN THE SLOWEST TRADING DAY SO FAR THIS YEAR.

THE DOW SLIPPED 8 POINTS

THE NASDAQ FELL BACK NEARLY 8 POINTS...

A FIFTH DAY OF DECLINES FOR CRUDE OIL FAILED TO LIFT THE MARKET.

A CEASE-FIRE IN NAJAF EASED CONCERN THAT OIL SHIPMENTS FROM IRAQ WILL BE DISRUPTED.

SHARES OF MERCK LOST GROUND... THE FDA FOUND The drugmaker's Vioxx painkiller increases the chance of heart attack and death from cardiac arrest more than RIVAL PFIZER'S Celebrex.

A ONE TIME WALL STREET DARLING REPORTED QUARTERLY EARNINGS THAT WERE FAR FROM SWEET.

KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS REPORTED A WHOPPING 56 PERCENT DROP IN EARNINGS AND LOWERED ITS SALES OUTLOOK FOR THE YEAR. KRISPY KREME SAID HIGHERS COSTS TOOK A BITE OUT OF PROFITS..

Mortgage rates inched up a notch this week as the housing boom showed signs of easing
The national average rate for a 30 year mortgage is 5.82 up from 5.81 percent a week earlier. Last year at this time the 30 30 YEAR rate stood at 6.28 percent.
The 15-year mortgage, a popular refinancing choice, moved up to 5.21 percent from 5.19 percent.

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]

[Kobe-Bryant]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Kobe Bryant]
[ENG#=1]

In Eagle, Colorado jury selection begins today in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault trial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

The N-B-A star is accused of raping an employee at a resort where he stayed last summer.
Bryant says he had consensual sex with his accuser.
On the eve of the trial, the prosecution is rying to get D-N-A evidence thrown out.
The judge said he should deny the challenge, but is giving prosecutors more time to make their case.
(------------)

[11Majeed]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-22 TC1:57:09]
[GRAPHIC=Sentencing]
[ENG#=2]
Muhammed Majeed will serve 38 years in prison for killing his landlord.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
The 24-year old Pakistani immigrant said he came to this country seven years ago seeking a better life. After 9-11 he says he personally felt the anger of Americans aimed at anyone from the Middle East.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./July 8, 2003]
Last summer he gunned down his landlord because Chris Hanes refused to return a 575-dollar security deposit. Majeed went to Hanes' home armed with a loaded gun and a full extra clip. Nevertheless, Majeed said he felt like HE was the victim... the victim of "angry American people."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT UB: 15:08:15]
[IN Q=I did not]
((MUHAMMED MAJEED/DEFENDANT; I DID NOT SHOOT HIM BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHOOT HIM. IT JUST HAPPENED.))
[SUPER=01-Muhammed Majeed/Defendant]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=it just happened.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Judge Robert Doherty settled on a sentence at the high end of the guideline range: 35 years in prison plus three years on a firearms charge.
(------------)

[6-Lake-Body]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC15:03]
[GRAPHIC=Drowning]
[ENG#=3]

A body found at Smith Mountain Lake this week has been identified as 49- year- old Judy Thurman.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 04-36 TC 05:15]
[SUPER=03-Smith Mountain Lake/June 20;]
Thurman's body was discovered by several boaters on Monday near the entrance to Betty's Creek.
That's the same area where Thurman drowned more than two months ago while boating with her fianc�.
(------------)

[11VA-Census]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-31 TC28:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

The percentage of Virginians living in poverty or without health insurance is growing.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

According to census figures, nine-point-three percent of Virginians were living in poverty over the last three years.
That's up from 8- point- 7 percent for the previous three years.
During the same period, 12 and a half percent of Virginians were uninsured. That's up from 12 percent.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]

The current figures are still lower than the national average.

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

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks fell slightly yesterday. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[6-Meningitis]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC1:16:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

A Franklin County mother is urging college students to get the meningitis vaccine.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Evelyn Brooks' daughter was a college student when she died from the disease five years ago.
Brooks says her daughter thought she had the flu, but her condition quickly worsened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT20:43]
[IN Q=Within 24 hours she was brain dead]
((EVELYN BROOKS/VICTIM'S MOTHER; WITHIN 24 HOURS SHE WAS BRAIN DEAD AND ON A VENTILATOR IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. WE HAD TO MAKE THE TRIP FROM VA TO MISSOURI AND REMOVE HER FROM LIFE SUPPORT))
[SUPER=01-Evelyn Brooks/Victim's Mother]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=her from life support]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Monday]
College students, especially those living in dormitories are at increased risk for meningitis. The disease is spread from close personal contact, such as kissing, sharing cigarettes, or drinking from the same glass as an infected person.
Virginia law requires all incoming freshman at public colleges and universities to be vaccinated.
Evelyn Brooks wants to see national legislation requiring it for all college students and children going to summer camp.
(++++++++++++)
[TAKE WDBJ WEBPAGE FS]
If you would like more information on the National Meningitis Association or the location of a provider who offers the vaccine, you can find a link on our web site at wdbj7.com. Click on Websites in the News.
(-------------------)

[11RC-Dorms]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC 1:30:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

Upperclassman at Roanoke College might not want to graduate after getting a taste of recently renovated dorm life.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :22]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
The Salem school has converted the old Minnick Education Center on the Elizabeth Campus into student apartments. Most of the units will house between two and four students. Each has a bathroom, full kitchen and common area. The college is also building a new three-dorm complex to be completed by Fall of next year. The school says the floorplan is more luxurious than most.
(///// SOT at :22 /////)
[SOT 8:20 - 8:40]
[IN Q= These use suites on each floor...]
((TERESA GEREAUX/ROANOKE COLLEGE: THESE USE SUITES ON EACH FLOOR, 156 SINGLE ROOMS FOR UPPERCLASS STUDENTS. TWELVE TO FOURTEEN ROOMS SHARE A LIVING AREA, STUDY AREA AND KITCHEN AREA ON EACH FLOOR.))
[SUPER=01-Teresa Gereaux/Roanoke College Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=kitchen area on each floor.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :13]
Upperclassmen will get first dibs and will be chosen through a lottery system. The last time Roanoke College built new residence halls was in 1968. The goal is to entice up to 75-percent of students to live on campus.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to Steve for Weekend Preview)

[6-Vista-Links]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:23:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Bent grass fairways, fast greens, and more bunkers than most players would like to see. The City of Buena Vista unveiled it's newest project yesterday, a links-style golf course. The public will get to take a swing at it today. Richard Lesko has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista; :00]
[SUPER=01-Scott Dadson/Buena Vista City Manager; :28]
[SUPER=01-Ed Armentrout/Vista Links General Manager; :48]
[SUPER=@richard1; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=Lesko, News 7, Buena Vista.]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 23:51]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND]
((ALRIGHT, NICE PUTT. FIRST BIRDIE AT BUENA VISTA.))
[RUNS= 8]
[OUT Q=at Buena Vista.]
In April of last year, this was just farmland. But 16 months, and nearly 7-million dollars later golf has arrived in Buena Vista. In a round just for V-I-P's, the rustic, links style municipal course saw its first drives, chips, and putts, and now it is ready for the public.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 15:49:06]
[IN Q=It's been a lot of...]
((SCOTT DADSON/BUENA VISTA CITY MANAGER; IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK TO GET HERE. A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME WHICH WE COMPRESSED TO BUILD A GOLF COURSE EVERYBODY HAS DONE THEIR PART AND GONE UP AND ABOVE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=to make this happen.]
The path has been bumpy at times. A permanent clubhouse is still a year away, and some thought golf had no place in Buena Vista.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 32:25]
[IN Q=Being city owned...]
((ED ARMENTROUT/VISTA LINKS GENERAL MANAGER; BEING CITY OWNED, YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT AREN'T TOTALLY ON YOUR SIDE TO START WITH, SOME NON-GOLFERS. AND YOU HAVE TO WIN THOSE FOLKS OVER. 'CAUSE WE ALL LIVE TOGETHER AND WE ALL HAVE TO GET ALONG, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=we're going to do that.]
With greens fees ranging from 10 to 27 dollars, the city hopes the course will fill a niche for inexpensive, but high quality play. Also, 60 acres are being sold for development, bringing 33 million dollars in construction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 18:34]
[IN Q=The development...]
((SCOTT DADSON/BUENA VISTA CITY MANAGER; THE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT IS DENSE, IT ALLOWS HIGH VALUE, BUT DOESN'T INHIBIT THE LINKS STYLE OF THE COURSE OR THE BEAUTY THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE VIEW. WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN SELLERS OF THE COURSE.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=main sellers of the course.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 30:04]
[IN Q=So now that they...]
((SO NOW THAT THEY'VE BUILT IT, WILL THE GOLFERS COME? CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE SEEN ENCOURAGING SIGNS, AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A PROSPEROUS FALL. RICHARD LESKO, NEWS 7, BUENA VISTA. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=News 7, Buena Vista.]))

[Tape tosses to bump] [COMM] [BUMP]