WDBJ 7 morning news for 10/04/04

[PKG-Campaign-2004]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush/Kerry]
[ENG#=1]

A Newsweek poll of registered voters shows a statistical tie between the two presidential candidates.
However, it does give the Kerry- Edwards camp a slight edge over the Bush/Cheney ticket after the first debate.
With just a month to go before Election Day, get ready for intense campaigning and debating.
Susan Roberts reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-Campaign Ad; :20]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Kerry/(D) Presidential Nominee; :47 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Susan Roberts/CBS News; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=Roberts, CBS News, Washington.]
(( ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL THIS WEEK.. EXPECT JOHN KERRY AND PRESIDENT BUSH TO KEEP WRESTING OVER THE LAST DEBATE.. AS THEY TRY AND SET THE STAGE FOR THEIR NEXT SHOWDOWN.

(Bush/Cheney Campaign Ad)
TODAY A FIERCE NEW AD CAMPAIGN DEBUTS FROM THE BUSH/CHENEY CAMP SUGGESTING SENATOR KERRY WOULD TURN HIS PRESIDENTIAL WAR MAKING AUTHORITY OVER TO FOREIGN POWERS.
BUSH AD: at the debate john kerry said America must pass a global test before we protect ourselves-

(Kerry/Edwards Campaign Ad)
THE DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING BACK WITH THEIR OWN T-V SPOT.
KERRY AD: this is what you really heard john kerry say- the president always has the right for pre-emptive strike.

(NAT- Kerry event)
ON THE STUMP IN OHIO KERRY SAID A NEW REPORT CASTS MORE DOUBT ON THE BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE WAR IN IRAQ.. BUT HE WENT TO THE STATE TO TALK ABOUT THE JOBS LOST ON THE PRESIDENTS WATCH.

KERRY SOT: this is a time where the administration avoids the truth..
not just in issues in how we won the war.. but look around the economy
PRESIDENT BUSH SWUNG THROUGH OHIO ON SATURDAY.. ALSO TALKING POCKETBOOK ISSUES.

BUSH SOT: There have been major obstacles in the path of economic
success yet we have overcome them - because the entrepreneurial spirit in America is strong.
BOTH CANDIDATES WILL PUSH THE ECONOMY AND OTHER DOMESTIC ISSUES IN THE LEAD UP TO FRIDAYS SECOND DEBATE- BUT FIRST, THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES MEET TUESDAY NIGHT- IN THAT CRUCIAL SWING STATE- OHIO.
STAND-UP CLOSE: TODAY PRESIDENT BUSH WILL SIGN A BILL EXTENDING HIS TAX CUTS IN A CAMPAIGN SWING THROUGH IOWA. ACTOR MICHEAL J FOX JOINS JOHN KERRY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING ON STEM CELL RESEARCH. SUSAN ROBERTS, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON. ))

[11Voter-Registration]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-24 TC-1:50:39]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]
[ENG#=2]

The clock is ticking for those who want to register to vote in this year's presidential election.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file; ]

The deadline for registering for the November second election is today at 5 p-m. State and local election officials say they expect Virginians to turn out in large numbers this year, especially in Northern Virginia. Final statewide registration figures will be available sometime next week.
(------------)

[Burrow]

[ANCHOR=KIm]
[NEWSCAST=Morning]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Burrow]

[ENG#=3]

Closing arguments are scheduled today in the second fraud trial for Richard Burrow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/Last Week;]
[TAPE#=04-30 TC-1:11:36]
The former director of the National D-Day Memorial is accused of lying to state officials, banks and the foundation's staff about the success of his efforts to raise money for the 25 million dollar memorial. Burrow's first trial ended in a hung jury in Lynchburg.
(------------)

[11Smoke-Valley]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-40 TC-9:57]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]

The smell of smoke caused some Roanoke Valley residents to be concerned last night, but authorities say it wasn't anything to be worried about.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
County Police say it came from a controlled burn of about an acre of brush on Huffman Lane near Mount Pleasant. The weather conditions then trapped the smoke, and spread it out over the valley. City and County police received numerous calls about the smoke, but want to make sure that everybody knows that there was NOT a problem.
(------------)

[St-Helens]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mt. St. Helens]
[ENG#=1]

Friday's event could have been just a tease--
Scientists say Mount Saint Helens is getting ready to blow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Mt. St. Helens, WA;]

Geologists say the mild tremors and the release of steam during the last couple of days mean the volcano is building toward a major eruption.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't think]
((WILLY SCOTT/GEOLOGIST:I DON'T THINK ANYONE NOW THINKS IT IS GOING TO STOP WITH STEAM EXPLOSIONS LIKE WE HAVE SEEN .))
[SUPER=01-Willy Scott/Geologist;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=we have seen.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials have cleared out hundreds of visitors.
But thousands more have flocked to nearby safe areas-- about seven and half miles away to catch a glimpse of the famous volcano.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's beyond the distance]
((PETER FRENZEN/ US FOREST SERVICE SCIENTIST: IT'S BEYOND THE DISTANCE THAT GEOLOGISTS TELL US THAT MOST BALLISTICS AND ROCKS THROWN OUT WILL GO.))
[SUPER=01-Peter Frenzen/U. S. Forest Service Scientist;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=thrown out will go.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Despite the warnings, scientists say they're still not sure when the eruption might occur.
(------------)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, Oracle has its sights set on Peoplesoft. Marcella Palmer has that story and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=in NY, I'm Marcella Palmer.]
((ONES TO WATCH THIS MONDAY MORNING AS WALL STREET GETS ROLLING.
WALL STREET COULD HAVE ITS EYE STEADILY ON THE TECH SECTOR TODAY. TWO HURDLES WERE MOVED FROM ORACLE'S 7.7 BILLION DOLLAR HOSTILE TAKE OVER BID FOR SOFTWARE COMPANY PEOPLESOFT FRIDAY. PEOPLESOFT FIRED ITS TOP EXECUTIVE AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OPENS THE DOOR TO ALLOW THE HOSTILE BID TO GO FORWARD. NOW THERE'S SPECULATION ORACLE COULD BE FORCED TO INCRASE ITS BID.
HEALTHY CONSUMER INCENTIVES TO ENTICE CUSTOMERS TO BUY-UP REMAINING GM, CHRYSLER AND FORD VEHICLES TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR NEW MODELS LED TO HIGHER SEPTEMBER U-S SALES RESULTS FOR DETROITS BIG THREE TO THE TUNE OF 17 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN OVERALL AUTO SALES.
U-S STOCKS TRADED HIGHER FRIDAY. THE DOW CLOSED THE DAY UP 112... THE NASDAQ UP AS WELL 45...
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEW YORK CRUDE-OIL REACHED A RECORD HIGH, CLOSING AT 50.12 A BARREL.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKET LOG ON TO OUR SITE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM. IN NEW YORK I'M MARCELLA PALMER.))

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

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberlh]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]
[ENG#=1]

Hospital and military officials say two car bombings in Baghdad have killed at least 10 people and wounded nearly 80 others.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]

Iraqi hospital officials say people are bringing in dead and wounded residents following two blasts in the capital.

One hit near the Green Zone, where U- S and Iraqi offices are located.
The other blast ripped through a central street in Baghdad.
At least eight people are reported killed.
Both areas hit today have been targeted before in suicide attacks.
(------------)

[11Willow-River]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC-1:30:06]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding Aftermath]
[ENG#=2]
Some Willow River residents have been allowed to return to their apartments.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
Second and third floor residents were able to move back into their apartments yesterday-- while first floor residents at Willow River were allowed to gather whatever was salvageable. Most of the cleanup on the bottom floor is removing the mud and waste that was washed into the dwellings by the high water.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The smell still is going]
((JONATHAN MORRIS:THE SMELL STILL IS GOING TO SOME OF THE SECOND FLOOR APARTMENTS... WHICH THAT'S NORMAL THOUGH.I LIVED HERE IN 2003 WHEN IT FLOODED. I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT LOST EVERYTHING.THE CLEANUP HAS BEEN A LOT BETTER THIS TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Morris/Willow River Resident]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=has been a lot better this time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Morris decided to move after he lost everything in 2003-- a decision that some residents have made after this year's flooding. Although, he does say the maintenance workers and apartment owners have been putting in some long hours to try to keep their residents happy. There has been no word as to when the first floor apartments will be open again-- a decision that couldn't come fast enough for the families having to make due at their temporary homes in the Salem Civic Center.
(------------)

[11Valley-View]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-30 TC-1:14:23]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Two brothers are in jail after allegedly getting rough with some Roanoke police officers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Authorities say 19-year-old Shannon Stevenson had warrants out for his arrest, and an off duty officer saw him at the Valley View Grande in Roanoke Saturday night. Stevenson was arrested while smoking a cigarette outside the theater. Police say Stevenson's 18-year-old brother Daniel Perry came out to see what was happening and then punched an officer in the face. Both are being held at the Roanoke City Jail.
(------------)

[11Miss-Virginia]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-33 TC-1:08:24]
[GRAPHIC=Miss Virginia]
[ENG#=4]

A visit from Miss Virginia was the icing on the cake for some folks in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Or better yet -- the icing on the SUNDAE. Yesterday, Miss Virginia Mariah Rice visited residents at the Park Oakgrove Retirement Community for their annual ice cream social. Rice says now that her work for the Miss America pageant is done -- her work in the COMMUNITY is just beginning.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:01]
[IN Q=i technically]
((I TECHNICALLY AM JUST KICKING OFF ALL OF MY COMMUNITY SERVICE EFFORTS, AS FAR AS PLANNING MY SCHOOL TOUR, AND THEN ALSO JUST MY COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED WITH HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND I'VE JUST GOT TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT, YOU'RE ONLY MISS VA ONCE.))
[SUPER=01-Mariah Rice/Miss Virginia;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=only miss virginia once]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Rice serenaded the residents with a few country classics before signing autographs. Visits from Miss Virginia is an annual tradition at the retirement community.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]

[11Kerry-Virginia]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2004]

John Kerry's presidential campaign is sending TWO-THIRDS of its Virginia staff to states the Democrat believes are more WINNABLE for him -- and critical to his chances of being elected. A campaign spokesman says about 20 Kerry staffers from offices around Virginia are leaving immediately, many of them for battleground states such as Wisconsin. A spokesman for the Republican Party of Virginia calls the move a "huge setback'' for the Virginia Democrats. A Mason-Dixon poll this month showed Kerry trailing President Bush by about SIX percentage points in the state.

[Biz-Brief]

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

In business news, U-S automakers have released their earnings reports. And Peoplesoft has fired its C-E-O. 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.]

((STOCKS STARTED THE FOURTH-QUARTER WITH A BANG FRIDAY.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS GAINED 112-POINTS.
AND THE NASDAQ ADDED 45.
BOTH POSTED STRONG GAINS FOR THE WEEK TOO.

G-M REPORTED ITS U-S SALES IN SEPTEMBER LEPT 20 PERCENT FROM THE SAME MONTH A YEAR AGO.
MEANWHILE, FORD'S SALES DROPPED SEVEN PERCENT, AND CHRYSLER POSTED A SALES GAIN OF NEARLY NINE PERCENT.

AMONG OVERSEAS AUTOMAKERS, HONDA SAID U-S SALES LAST MONTH ROSE TWO-POINT-FOUR PERCENT. TOYOTA POSTED AN INCREASE OF 10-POINT-THREE PERCENT, AND NISSAN SALES WENT UP 11 PERCENT.

PEOPLESOFT FIRED ITS CEO AND PRESIDENT, CRAIG CONWAY, SAYING THE BOARD HAD LOST FAITH IN HIS LEADERSHIP.
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN DAVID DUFFIELD HAS TAKEN OVER THE JOB.
THE COMPANY IS FIGHTING OFF A SEVEN-POINT-SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID FROM RIVAL SOFTWARE MAKER ORACLE.
PEOPLESOFT SHARES JUMPED NEARLY 3-DOLLARS ON SPECULATION THAT THE COMPANY MAY EASE ITS RESISTANCE TO A TAKEOVER.
A FEW HOURS AFTER PEOPLESOFT DISCLOSED THE OUSTER, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WON'T APPEAL A COURT DECISION REMOVING AN ANTITRUST HURDLE TO THE ORACLE OFFER.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN'S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX FELL TO 94-POINT-TWO IN SEPTEMBER, FROM AUGUST'S 95-POINT-NINE.

AND A REPORT FROM THE INSTITUTE OF SUPPLY MANAGEMENT SHOWED MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY SLOWED SLIGHTLY IN SEPTEMBER.

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

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

[11VMI]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-37 TC-17:27]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Virginia Military Institute is focusing on its future these days, but isn't forgetting about its past.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]

Work to correct drainage problems in front of Nichols Engineering Hall will result in an upgrade to the statue of "Virginia Mourning Her Dead."
V-M-I plans to also replace the weathered headstones for the six New Market cadets buried at the site.
The old markers will be taken to the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park.
V-M-I also says great care has been taken to make sure the work has not disturbed the remains of the six cadets.
(------------)

[11Feedback]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=FdBack]
[GRAPHIC=Feedback]
[ENG#=3]

The flawed report on the president's military service by CBS continues to bring comments from our viewers.
But the majority this time are defending Dan Rather.
Here's a sample of what they're saying in this week's Feedback, with assignment editor Joe McKean
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Animation Open]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=Animation Close]

((A viewer from Roanoke weighed in on the controversy with this comment: (Alvin Burnett): "Concerning the military records of Bush or Kerry, I am not using either one in my vote. I can see no way I would vote for Kerry because of his past military record. I also think that Dan Rather acted in good faith but poor judgment."
Among Rather's defenders was a viewer from Forest (B.W. Grim): "For Dan Rather, I am grateful for all the hard work. I have seen him on for countless hours and in harm's way just to deliver us his best. He is the best. If he loses his job he will be missed. We all make mistakes, don't we? Some idiots just can't forgive. Good luck, Dan."
Another Roanoke viewer (Rhonda B. Gober) wrote: "I want to let you know that I have not stopped watching Channel 7 since the news of Dan Rather's blunder. I love watching Channel 7 and feel that Dan Rather is human and that it was a mistake."
And a viewer from Boones Mill (Gail Bradford) commented: "I would just like to state to all the viewers out there that seem to be upset by the supposed bias on CBS, have you watched any other channels? NBC is now and has always been biased against the Democratic party...I like Dan Rather and enjoy watching WDBJ7 as well. I don't consider either biased. I will continue to watch both our local and national news on CBS."
This is all we're going to run at this point on the Guard memo issue. If you'd like to send us your thoughts on other matters, here's the mailing address...our fax number...and our email address.
Joe McKean, News-7.))
[Tape tosses to bump] [BUMP] [COMM]