WDBJ 7 morning news for 09/07/04

[Hurricane-Frances]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

Frances isn't finished yet--
Now a tropical depression, the storm is soaking parts of Georgia and Alabama.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Palm Beach Gardens, FL;]

Frances took a second swing at Florida yesterday, drenching parts of the panhandle.
The storm leveled trees and power lines with 65- mile- per- hour winds.
Meanwhile, a record number of Florida residents who evacuated the east coast returned home to see what Frances had left behind.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When I look around]
((RITA JOHNSON/STORM VICTIM: WHEN I LOOK AROUND 95 PERCENT IS GONE. IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. IM NOT JUST THINKING OF ME, IM THINKING OF EVERYONE ELSE TOO. ))
[SUPER=01-Rita Johnson/Storm Victim;]
[RUNS=:08] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=everyone else, too.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Frances is blamed for at least nine deaths in Florida and for knocking out power to about six million people.
Clean-up efforts are under way amid long lines for water, gasoline, and other basic supplies.
(------------)

[Monty-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Km]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
[ENG#=none]

An investigation has revealed that a two year old Montgomery County boy was accidently shot by his nine year old brother. The sheriff's office responded to the call in the Alleghany section of the county around 7:30 last night. When deputies arrived, they found the two year old boy with a single gunshot wound to the back. He was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital and died a short time later. Authorities have not released the names of the family or the victim.

[Clinton]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Clinton]
[ENG#=3]

Former President Clinton's quadruple heart bypass appears to have come in the nick of time.
Without the surgery, doctors say "something was going to happen" within a couple of weeks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]

Surgeons who performed the operation yesterday found the majority of his heart vessels were more than 90- percent blocked, putting him at a high risk for a heart attack.
But Clinton is expected to make a full recovery.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What the surgeons]
((DR. JEFFREY GOLD/CARDIOLOGIST: WHAT THE SURGEONS HAVE DONE FOR HIM IS THEY HAVE TURNED THE CLOCK BACK, THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED IT...AND HE WILL REDEVELOP OVER AGAIN IF HE DOESN'T WATCH HIS LIFESTYLE.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Jeffrey Gold/Cardiologist;]
[RUNS=:12] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=watch his lifestyle.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Doctors say it'll be weeks before he can return to a normal work schedule-- including campaigning for Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry.
(------------)

[11Nader-Ballot]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-25 TC1:47:40]
[GRAPHIC=Ralph Nader]
[ENG#=4]

We should know later today whether Ralph Nader will be on Virginia's Presidential ballot.
(------------)
[VO-NAT tape 04-26 @ 1:25:48]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/August 20]

More than two weeks ago, the State Board of Elections rejected Nader's petitions stating they were not properly sorted.
State Attorney General Jerry Kilgore ultimately overturned that decision and the petitions are now being reviewed. Kilgore says that Nader has to show that he has filed 10-thousand signatures by today.
Nader's campaign turned in more than 13-thousand petitions.
(------------)

[11Elections]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-36 TC11:44]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=1]

It may have rained on the parade, but the dreary weather didn't dampen the spirits of two of Virginia's most powerful politicians.
They were in Buena Vista yesterday, pushing Presidential candidates and their own expected campaigns for Governor.

Joy Sutton has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Buena Vista's yearly Labor]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista; 00]
[SUPER=@Kaine; 20]
[SUPER=@Kilgore; 39]
[SUPER=@markWarner; 1:35]
[SUPER=@Joy2; 1:50]
[RUNS=1:57]
[OUT Q=news 7, Buena Vista]
(( [nat sound of 15:37:39] [RUNS04]
Buena Vista's yearly Labor Day parade wouldn't be complete without all the fan fare and of course the politicians. The Governor's race may be more than a year away -- but potential candidates like Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine --know the time to start campaigning is now.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:43:05]
[IN Q=I'm not being coy about it]
((I'M NOT BEING COY ABOUT IT I'M DEFINITELY RUNNING AND I'VE BEEN OPEN ABOUT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEAR BUT THE NEXT 60 DAYS I HAVE ANOTHER THING A MIND )) [RUNS07]
[OUT Q=another thing on my mind]

And of course that's the presidential election. It also has Attorney General Jerry Kilgore tied up at the moment as the head of the Bush campaign in Virginia. But come November he'll be switching gears as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:53:25]
[IN Q=I don' think anyone will be suprised at my]
((I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL BE SURPRISED AT MY ANNOUNCEMENT COME NOVEMBER. BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT RACE WHEN WE FINISH THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=presidential race]
[nat sot of campaigners]
[runs05]
Democrats believe for the first time in 40 years they may have a chance at winning the state in the presidential election.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:44:12]
[IN Q=But now it's a close state]
((KAINE: BUT NOW IT'S A CLOSE STATE AND JOHN KERRY IS RUNNING VERY COMPETITIVE IT'S GOING TO BE BARE NICKELS FOR THE NEXT 60 DAYS 17 AND REALLY TOUGH BUT WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN VA )) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=democrate party in Virginia ]

But Republicans believe their National Convention last week tipped the scales in President Bush's favor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:49:186]
[IN Q=Virginia is no longer considers]
((KILGORE: VA IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED A BATTLE GROUND. I THINK COMING OUT OF THE CONVENTION EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE THE MOMENTUM 01 JOHN KERRY HAD THE CHANCE TO BUY MORE ADS IN VA HE CHOSE NOT TO. I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS HE IS NOT GOING TO CARRY VA)) [RUNS16]
[OUT Q=going to carry Virginia]

Governor Mark Warner has some advice for both candidates.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:49:18]
[IN Q=I hope both campaigns]
((I HOPE BOTH CAMPAIGNS GET BACK TO VISIONS WHERE THEY HOPE TAKE AMERICA AS OPPOSED TO THE TYPE OF NEGATIVE ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON ON BOTH SIDES 31 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES OWE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHERE THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE HEADED )) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=to deal with healht care]
So it will most likely be a battle to the finish -- with one election right around the corner --and another likely to start heating up in the next few months. Joy Sutton, News 7 Buena Vista.))

[11Warner]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-26 TC1:48:10]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=3]

Many politicians just want to take it "one election at a time."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Governor Warner is one of them.
Despite recently being called a future leader in the Democratic Party by Newsweek Magazine, the governor is reluctant to talk about his future plans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:58:47]
[IN Q=I got a third]
((GOV. MARK WARNER: I GOT A THIRD OF MY JOB LEFT. I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WHEN I AM THINKING ABOUT WHAT I AM DOING NEXT WHEN I HAVE A THIRD OF MY JOB IS STILL FRONT OF ME.))
[SUPER=@markwarner]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=in front of me]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The governor says his focus is on the upcoming session in the General Assembly.
He told us he may entertain questions about his future next August.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Investors get back to work today.
Marcella Palmer has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((INVESTORS RETURN FROM THE LONG LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WITH STOCKS KICKING OFF THE WEEK IN THE RED. THE DOW DOWN 30 POINTS AND THE TECH HEAVY NASDAQ TUMBLED NEARLY 29 POINTS LAST FRIDAY.
FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN ALAN GREENSPAN WILL TESTIFY ON THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE. GREENSPAN IS EXPECTED TO INDICATE THIS SOFT ECONOMIC PATCH IS TEMPORARY. THIS COULD SET THE STAGE FOR A QUARTER POINT FED HIKE THIS MONTH.
U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTOR RAYTHEON CORP. SAID IT WON A 440-MILLION DOLLAR U-S NAVY CONTRACT TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER A NEW ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSLE
IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK FOR STUDENTS COAST TO COAST... AND THAT HELPED GIVE TEEN RETAILERS A BOOST. SPECIALTY STORES CATERING TO TEENAGERS OUTPACED THE BROADER RETAIL INDUSTRY... WITH SAME STORE SALES CLIMBING 5.6 PERCENT IN AUGUST. AMONG THE BIG WINNERS - AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS POSTED NEARLY 24% JUMP IN SALES. PACIFIC SUN AND BEBE ALSO OUTPACED WALL STREET'S EXPECTATIONS.
SHARES OF K-MART ROSE 3 AND A HALF PERCENT AFTER THE RETAILER SAID IT AGREED TO SELL 45 STORES TO SEARS FOR MORE THAN 524-MILLION DOLLARS CASH.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKET LOG ONTO OUR SITE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM. I'M MARCELLA PALMER IN NEW YORK.))

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

[11Storm-Cleanup]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-32 TC31:28]
[GRAPHIC=TS Gaston]
[ENG#=1]

More tropical rain is on the way and Richmond area residents have yet to recover from Tropical Storm Gaston.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

But more help arrived from Washington yesterday.
A new disaster recovery center opened to help individuals and businesses get back on their feet.
Senator George Allen and federal disaster officials waded through the mud-covered floors of ruined businesses yesterday and urged the owners to take advantage of government programs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I was shocked]
((SEN. GEORGE ALLEN/(R) VIRGINIA; I WAS SHOCKED BY THE PICTURES, JUST LOOKING AT PLACES WHERE YOU HAVE WALKED, YOU KNOW, WITH MY FAMILY. AND TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS AND CARS JUST THROWN AROUND LIKE TOYS. IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.)) ((DAVID TUCKER/AMERICAN HEALTH CARE; IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE'RE GETTING THE ATTENTION THAT WE NEED AND THAT PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING ON NOT ONLY OUR BUSINESS THAT WAS DAMAGED, BUT ALSO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED BY THE FLOOD.))
[SUPER=@allen; :02 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-David Tucker/American Health Care; :14 ]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=disrupted by the flood.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Most of the businesses in the Shockoe Bottom area did NOT have flood insurance, and federal aid is vital to their recovery.
(------------)

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=3]

It's already been a violent day in Iraq.
Iraqi officials say more than 30 people have been killed in clashes between American troops and rebel fighters in Sadr City.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

Meanwhile, the U-S military says a roadside bombing near Baghdad late Monday left a U-S soldier dead and wounded another.
The attack will raise the official Pentagon U- S death toll to at least 989, since the start of the war in Iraq.
(------------)

[11County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC59:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]

Roanoke County is giving itself an "A" for effort this school year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Construction was ongoing this summer at four of the county's schools.
They include Mountain View, Herman Horn, Oak Grove, and Penn Forest.
Some of the projects are behind schedule, but that did not drastically alter the first day of school.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:01:53]
[IN Q=The kids walked in]
((LINDA WEBER/ROANOKE CO. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: THE KIDS WALKED IN. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY HINT OF ACCIDENT. CONSTRUCTION WAS OUT OF THE WAY. IT WAS SAFE AND I FELT ENORMOUSLY GOOD AND I WAS VERY VERY NERVOUS UP TO A WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL OPENED SO I AM VERY HAPPY.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Weber/Roanoke Co. School Superintendent; :]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=i am very happy]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The project includes adding new classrooms, renovating existing ones, and putting in new administrative offices.
The work is costing more than 20 million dollars and all of it should be completed by Christmas.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[11Big-Tom]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=04-23 TC1:45:19]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

He may have been a cast-away on Survivor- but "Big Tom" Buchanan was the top pick for grand Marshall in Buena Vista's labor day parade.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:39:09]
[IN Q=Hey how are ya'll]
((NAT SOT: HEY HOW ARE YALL, PANAMA WEATHER, PANAMA WEATHER))
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=panama weather, panama weather]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

After two appearances on Survivor -- this Rich Valley native says the future for him is back on the farm.
But in the meantime--he's enjoying the fame and the fans. But he says he hasn't let all of the attention get to his head.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT15:47:56]
[IN Q=I've really enjoyed the ride, the only]
(("BIG TOM" BUCHANAN/SURVIVOR CASTAWAY; I'VE REALLY ENJOYED THE RIDE. THE ONLY THING THAT'S CHANGED ABOUT ME IS MY BANK ACCOUNT reporter: is that higher or better? YEAH THAT'S A LOT BETTER))
[SUPER=01-"Big Tom" Buchanan/Survivor Castaway]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=that' a lot better.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

His checkbook may not be in the million dollar range -- but Big Tom says he's helped raise more three million dollars for charity.
(---------------)

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=3]

In business news, The nation's number one retailer stays strong despite Frances' fury. Stan Case has more in today's business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((THE MARKET WAS CLOSED FOR THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY.
WHEN TRADING RESUMES, INVESTORS WILL BE LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF HURRICANE FRANCES.
FRIDAY, THE DOW FELL THIRTY POINTS.
THE NASDAQ WAS DOWN 29.
-VO-
WAL-MART SAYS SEPTEMBER SALES AT U-S STORES WERE ON TRACK DESPITE THE IMPACT FROM HURRICANE FRANCES.
THE STORM DROVE SALES OF EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.
BUT, THE RETAIL GIANT EXPECTS THE HURRICANE WILL HURT SALES IN AREAS HARD-HIT BY THE STORM... BUT WILL REBOUND ONCE CLEAN-UP BEGINS.
-VO-
THE LATEST EMPLOYMENT REPORT SHOWS 144-THOUSAND NEW JOBS WERE CREATED IN AUGUST.
THAT'S THE STRONGEST READING SINCE MAY.
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT ALSO SAYS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED UNEXPECTEDLY, TO FIVE-POINT-FOUR PERCENT.
-VO-
AND TOYOTA'S HYBRID SEDAN IS HOT ON EBAY.
IT'S SELLING FOR WELL OVER ITS STICKER PRICE.
TOYOTA SAYS DEMAND IS SO HIGH...
THE STARTING PRICE FOR A NEW PRIUS ON THE AUCTION SITE WAS 27,465 DOLLARS -- A FULL FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ABOVE ITS LIST PRICE.
THE HYBRID GASOLINE-ELECTRIC CAR GETS UP TO 60-MILES A GALLON.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF, I'M STAN CASE.))

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

[11Grand-Bus]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-31 TC39:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

A piece of London's history is rolling the streets again -- this time in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Grand Home Furnishings' Valley View store debuted its new addition this Labor Day weekend -- a 1955 London double-decker bus. The bus ran the streets of London for about 30-years, before it was auctioned off to a man living in Wisconsin. When the bus went on sale again in 2001, the store managers immediately hopped on board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT28:50]
[IN Q=yeah we bought]
((ROBERT BENNETT/GRAND HOME FURNISHINGS: YEAH WE BOUGHT IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HAD IT TRANSPORTED FROM WISCONSIN TO VA, AND THEN FOUND A COMPANY IN TOWN TO TOTALLY RENOVATE THE DRIVE TRAIN AND TRANSMISSION AND RESTORE THE BUS.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Bennett/Grand Home Furnishings; :06]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=and restore the bus]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
About 350-people took advantage of the free rides this weekend through the mall's parking lot. The store says it plans to offer more rides in the future.
(------------)