WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/02/04

[Hurricane-Frances]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Frances]
[ENG#=1]

Florida residents are boarding up and stocking up, as they prepare for a big hit from Hurricane Frances.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Brevard Co., FL;]

Residents near Orlando reinforced their homes and businesses-- purchasing supplies from grocery and hardware stores.
Nearly a half-million residents and tourists are being warned to prepare to evacuate due to the storm's pending approach
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hurricanes don't]
((GOV. JEB BUSH/R- FLORIDA: HURRICANES DON'T...... WE NEED TO PLAN. )) ((NO NAME SUPER: IT'LL BE A LOT OF DEVASTATION, BUT PEOPLE HERE ARE STRONG, THEY'RE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE, AND THEY'LL BUILD IT BACK UP.))
[SUPER=01-Gov. Jeb Bush/(R) Florida;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=build it back up.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

If Hurricane Frances hits Florida's Atlantic coast, the damage will be the worst one- two weather punch to hit the state in more than a century.
(------------)

[Kobe-Bryant]

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

The attorney for the woman accusing basketball star Kobe Bryant of sexual assault says while the criminal case against him is over, their civil one is still on.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Eagle, CO;]

That, after prosecutors dropped their charges against Bryant yesterday after the alleged victim refused to testify against him.
Just days away from the opening gavel, her decision forced reluctant prosecutors to abandoned their case.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=However, the victim has informed]
[SUPER=01-Mark Hurlbert/Eagle Co., CO District Attorney;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=with this trial.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hurlbert says prosecutors could have convicted the N-B-A star if the jury could've heard from his accuser.
(------------)

[PKGDrug-Testing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC 19:29]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

The new school year rasies old questions about random drug testing in Roanoke County Schools.
Many are wondering what's taking so long to make a decision.
Justin McLeod has an answer.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Hutto/Hidden Valley High School Senior; :09]
[SUPER=01-Judd Carte/Hidden Valley High School Senior; :26]
[SUPER=01-Andrea Bidanset/Hidden Valley High School Senior; :31]
[SUPER=01-Linda Weber/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent; :52]
[SUPER=01-Jill Harris/Hidden Valley High School Senior; 1:13]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7]
((((NAT SOUND OF TACKLE AT 19:34:36))
Before hitting the field this fall, many students in Roanoke County thought they would have to first take a drug test.
[SOT 19:37:03; 19:39:36]
[IN Q=Everybody was making]
((CHRIS HUTTO/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: EVERYBODY WAS MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT BUT FOR SOME REASON THE SUMMER CAME ALONG AND NOBODY TALKED ABOUT IT ANYMORE.)) ((JILL HARRIS/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: I HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD ABOUT IT.)) [Runs08]
[OUT Q=WORD ABOUT IT]

Not since last March when four public forums were held throughout the county.
It was controversial then and still is seven months later.
[SOT 19:37:44; 19:40:15]
[IN Q=Yeah at every school]
((JUDD CARTE/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: YEAH AT EVERY SCHOOL YOU CAN HAVE A DRUG TEST. IF NO ONE HAS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT IT, IT SHOULDN'T BE A BIG DEAL.)) ((ANDREA BIDANSET/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: UNLESS YOU HAVE A REASON TO SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE IS DOING DRUGS YOU DON'T NEED TO DO A BLANKET TESTING OF EVERYONE AND IT'S KINDA OF WASTE OF MONEY.)) [Runs12]
[OUT Q=WASTE OF MONEY]

These same issues came up at the public forums.
How do you pay for it? Who do you test and what do you test for?
A coalition made up of community members must first answer these questions before the school board can take any action.
[SOT 19:54:08]
[IN Q=They are looking]
((LINDA WEBER/ROANOKE CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: THEY ARE LOOKING TO GET A FEEL FROM THE COMMUNITY BEING REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS BEFORE THEY GO FORWARD.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=they go forward]

But what's taking so long?
A final report is still months from being completed and the coalition acknowledges it needs to do a better job of educating the public. ((QUICK NAT SOUND OF TACKLING))
As Roanoke County continues to tackle with this issue (shot of tackling) many students are left to wonder what's the game plan.
[SOT 19:39:39; 19:41:10]
[IN Q=I think they]
((JILL HARRIS/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: I THINK THEY SHOULD GET BACK ON TOP OF IT PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND SHOULD HAPPEN.)) ((ANDREA BIDANSET/HIDDEN VALLEY H.S. SENIOR: THEY SHOULD MAKE A DECISION AND STICK WITH IT.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=AND STICK WITH IT]
[SOT ]
[IN Q=The Superintendent says]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL MOST LIKELY VOTE ON THIS ISSUE SOMETIME THIS SCHOOL YEAR. BUT BEFORE THE VOTE, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7.))))

[11Boones-Mill]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:37:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

An accident earlier this week in Boones Mill has prompted calls for safety improvements.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Boones Mill;]
Phil Randolph and his neighbor Brenda McManaway (Mack-man-uh-way) say they've been trying for years to get a traffic light installed at Route-220 and Bethlehem Road.
[SUPER=04-Monday;]
And Monday's crash crash involving several teenagers only renewed their efforts. Now, after years of petitioning, the two may finally get what they want.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3042]
[IN Q=it's carefully]
((LAURA BULLOCK/VDOT: IT'S CAREFULLY STUDIED, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF FUNDING OR A MATTER OF DRAWING UP CONSTRUCTION PLANS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AN APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR THE SITUATION NOW WE THINK THAT IT IS. ))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=think that it is]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But, V-Dot says it's not sure WHEN the signal will be installed. Officials say they still need to draw up plans and acquire a right of way before construction can begin.
(------------)

[Republican-Convention]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=1]

President Bush is in the Big Apple, just ahead of his speech tonight at the Republican National Convention.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

But last night, it was Vice President Dick Cheney's turn at the convention podium, as he officially accepted the nomination.
He praised President Bush, and offered a defense of the administration's record at home and abroad.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He has put this nation]
((DICK CHENEY/R- VICE PRESIDENT: HE HAS PUT THIS NATION WHERE AMERICA ALWAYS BELONGS- AGAINST THE TYRANTS OF THIS WORLD AND ON THE SIDE OF EVERY SHOULD ON THE EARTH WHO YEARNS FOR FREEDOM. ))
[SUPER=01-Dick Cheney/(R) Vice President;]
[RUNS=:09] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=yearns for freedom.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Cheneyalso attacked Democratic opponent John Kerry as someone who doesn't understand how the world has changed after 9- 11.
Meanwhile, security pulled one woman out of the hall who tried to interrupt the Vice President's speech.
But outside Madison Square Garden, police only made a handful of arrests.
(------------)

[11Vaughan-Closing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, more than 200 people will lose their jobs when Vaughan Furniture closes its plant in Patrick County.
The company made the announcement yesterday, citing increased competition from makers of imported bedroom furniture.
Employees will receive severance and employment counseling. They are also eligible for federal assistance with health insurance premiums.
When the Patrick County facility closes, the company will operate two plants and a distribution center in Galax.

[Marketwatch]

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

In other business news, American Eagle Outfitters stock rose yesterday. And, United Airlines considers cutting thousands of jobs.
Marcella Palmer has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm MP.]
((IN AFTER HOURS TRADING SHARES OF AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS ROSE AFTER THE COMPANY SAID IT EXPECTS HIGHER THRID QUARTER EARNINGS.
WEDNESDAY BLUE CHIPS CLOSED IN THE RED BUT THE NASDAQ HELD ON TO EARLY GAINS .. APPARENTLY THE DOW WAS HELD DOWN BY INSURANCE STOCKS WHICH WERE HAMMERED BY FEARS OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE BY HURRICANE FRANCIS. AS WELL AS WORD THAT CRUDE OIL FUTURES TOPPED 44 DOLLARS A BARREL. MARKING THEIR BIGGEST 1 DAY GAIN SINCE JUNE.
THE DOW CLOSED DOWN 5 THE NASDAQ UP 12....
AUGUST WAS A TOUGH MONTH FOR SOME AUTOMAKERS. US SALES DROPPED AT FORD AND G-M...WHILE AN UPTICK AT MERCEDES WASN'T ENOUGH TO BOOST DAIMLER CHRYSTLERS RESULTS. ... VOLKESWAGON, AUDI AND HONDA ARE DOWN AS WELL. BUT SALES ARE UP OVER AT NISSAN, BMW AND PORCHE.
RISING HOME PRICES AREN'T CHANGING DIRECTION. THE U.S. HOME PRICE JUMPED 9.4 PERCENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER... TOP GAINERS ON THE LIST...NEVADA, HAWAII, CALIFORNIA AND RHODE ISLAND. SMALLEST INCREASES, UTAH, TEXAS AND INDIANA.
THE FINANCIAL TIMES REPORTS UNITED AIRLINES WHICH IS STRUGGLING TO PULL OUT OF BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION.. MIGHT SLASH 6-THOUSAND MORE JOBS, THE AIRLINE IS DUE TO PRESENT A PLAN TO ITS BOARD LATER THIS MONTH.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKETS LOG ON TO CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM .. IN NEW YORK I'M MARCELLA PALMER.))
(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [COMM]

[11Storm-Cleanup]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC1:38:29]
[SS=Flooding]
[ENG#=1]

Eastern Virginia is hoping Hurricane Frances stays far away.
Yesterday, a seventh victim of Monday night's flash flooding was found south of Richmond.
And, Governor Warner has requested federal disaster assistance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

The floodwaters are gone, but state and local officials are still tallying the damage.
Gaston dumped more than a foot of rain on the Richmond area washing out roads and bridges.
A large sinkhole near Shockoe Bottom swallowed cars and threatened a nearby home.
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The storm also spawned a number of tornadoes. The National Weather Service has conducted storm damage surveys, and now confirms that ten tornadoes touched down from Richmond to the Tidewater area.

[11Fire-Update]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC54:37]
[SS=Fire Invest.]
[ENG#=2]

Investigators have found some answers in a fatal fraternity house fire that killed a student from Martinsville.
Officials now say the fire at the University of Mississippi may have been electrical.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Oxford, MS/Friday]

The fire swept through a fraternity house early Friday morning, killing three students, including sophomore, Howard Stone, from Martinsville.
A university spokesman says the fire had "multiple points of origin" corresponding with electrical outlets in a basement bedroom.
(------------)

[11Fraternity-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-26 TC1:40:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
According to the U-S Fire Administration there are about 150 fraternity and sorority house fires each year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Virginia Tech officials say they take the threat of fire seriously. The 17 fraternity and sorority houses on the campus are inspected once a year by the state Fire Marshall and twice more by university fire officials.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 3:17:00]
[IN Q=I think]
((EDWARD SPENCER/VA TECH STUDENT AFFAIRS: I THINK THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS WITH THE OFF CAMPUS GROUP BECAUSE THEY ARE TYPICALLY PRIVATE HOUSES THAT ARE OWNED BY HOUSE CORPORATIONS OR SOMETIMES RENTED FRATERNITY AND HOUSE CORPORATIONS. THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE REGULAR INSPECTIONS THAT OUR ON CAMPUS HOUSES ARE.))
[SUPER=01-Edward Spencer/Virginia Tech Student Affairs;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=houses are.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Less than half of Virginia Tech's sorority and fraternity houses are on campus. But some of those buildings are voluntarily signed up for inspections with the town of Blacksburg. Tech officials say they wish more houses would get fire code inspections.
(------------)

[6-L'burg-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-31 TC34:53]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
[ENG#=4]

The search continues for suspects in the murder of a Lynchburg man outside an apartment complex Tuesday night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Tuesday Night]

Police were called to the James Crossing apartments off Florida Avenue around 10:45.
That's where they found 30-year-old Clyde Arbrey Hilliard lying on the sidewalk outside 1512 Longview Road.
Hilliard had been shot at least once in the chest. He was later pronounced dead at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Investigators spent several hours talking with witnesses and residents at the scene and looking for evidence.
Initial reports said the suspects fled the area in a red Ford Mustang.
Anyone with information call call the Lynchburg police.
All tips are kept confidential.
(------------)

(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP]

[COMM][2-11Vaughan-Closing]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]

In business news, Vaughan Furniture is closing its plant in Patrick County.
The company made the announcement yesterday, citing increased competition from makers of imported bedroom furniture. More than 200 people will lose their jobs.
Employees will receive severance and employment counseling. They're also eligible for federal assistance with health insurance premiums.
When the Patrick County facility closes, the company will operate two plants and a distribution center in Galax.

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, Stocks closed higher for a second straight day. And Ford has reported a drop in sales. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((TECH SHARES BOOSTED THE NASDAQ FOR A SECOND SESSION, WHILE THE DOW DRIFTED.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS LOST FIVE-POINTS.
WHILE THE NASDAQ ADDED 12.

U-S LIGHT CRUDE OIL ENDED AN EIGHT-DAY STREAK OF LOSSES.
THE PRICE ROSE MORE THAN TWO DOLLARS, PEAKING AT 44-DOLLARS-AND-40-CENTS A BARREL.
THAT'S AFTER THE U-S ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION SAID IN A WEEKLY REPORT THAT CRUDE OIL STOCKS FELL TO THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE MARCH.
LIGHT CRUDE SETTLED UP A DOLLAR-88 AT 44-DOLLARS A BARREL.

FORD REPORTS ITS U-S SALES IN AUGUST WERE DOWN 13-PERCENT FROM LAST AUGUST.
MEANWHILE, GENERAL MOTORS SAID ITS SALES FOR THE MONTH WERE DOWN SEVEN PERCENT FROM THE MONTH A YEAR AGO.
AND THE CHRYSLER SIDE OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER REPORTED A SIX PERCENT DROP OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY IN THE U-S ROSE IN AUGUST FOR THE 15TH CONSECUTIVE MONTH, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE INSTITUTE FOR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT. BUT IT WAS A SLOWER RATE THAN IN JULY.
THE REPORT IS BASED ON ORDERS, PRICING AND OTHER DATA ON COMMONLY USED SUPPLY MATERIALS FOR MANUFACTURING -- SUCH AS ALUMINUM, STEEL, GASOLINE, CARDBOARD, LUMBER AND LATEX.

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

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [WOOD ROGERS SPONSOR BOARD 5185 ESSC] [WINNER ANNOUNCE NEXT!!!]

[6-Martin]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-32 TC28:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
A man faces up to 25 years in prison for defacing Mt Moriah Baptist Church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
When authorities first approached Christopher Frank Martin a few days after the incident, he denied involvement. Confronted with the possibility that there might have been surveillance cameras in the church, he confessed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:10:45]
[IN Q=But he stated]
((BUT HE STATED THAT HIS INVOLVEMENT WAS MINIMAL. HE STATED, WHEN CONFRONTED AS FAR AS WHAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE HE MAY HAVE DONE, HE SAID IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE RANGE OF 20% OR LESS.))
[SUPER=01-John McNeil/Prosecutor]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=20% or less.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Martin said it was Zachary Bryant who kicked the walls in, knocked out windows, damaged priceless antique fixtures.
[SUPER=04-January]
The prosecutor said the woman who turned them in heard BOTH men brag about the damage they did. Martin pled guilty yesterday. His lawyer offered no excuses but did say Martin has a drinking problem.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=None]
Federal authorities contend Bryant and Martin committed a "hate crime." They'll be sentenced next month on civil rights violations.

[6-Roanoke-Assault]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-27 TC1:24:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

One man is in custody after an alleged unprovoked attack on a woman outside of Macadoo's in Downtown Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities say 48 year old Reuben Charles Jones started beating a woman for no apparent reason shortly before midnight Tuesday night.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
The woman told authorities that Jones then dragged her into an alley and continued to beat her. After Macado's employees and customers heard screams, they ran outside and called police. Witnesses pointed out Jones as he was walking away. He was arrested, and is being held at the Roanoke City Jail Jones faces attempted murder and abduction charges. The victim was treated at the scene for her injuries.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[COMM] [BUMP]