WDBJ 7 morning news for 11/19/04

[Hokies-Win]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tech/Maryland]
[ENG#=1]

A big win for Virginia Tech last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
The Hokies raced out to an early 24-to-3 lead and coasted past Maryland 55-to-6.
Thirty-one of the the Hokies' points resulted from Maryland turnovers.
Mike Stevens will have more highlights from Blacksburg coming up in just a few minutes.
(------------)

[PKGTech]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC 48:29]
[GRAPHIC=Tech/Maryland]
[ENG#=2]

Virginia Tech easily won the game last night, but it was one of the toughest games coach Frank Beamer ever coached..
Yesterday, his mother passed away at the age of 86.
As Justin McLeod tells us, the game saw plenty of sympathy, excitement and generosity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Greg Huffman/Virginia Tech Fan; :13]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Vlahos/Virginia Tech Fan; :18 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Jessica Watson/Contest Winner; :32 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Gus Vlahos/Virginia Tech Fan; :42]
[SUPER=01-Tonda Fugate/Virginia Tech Fan; :52 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=@justin1; :56]
[SUPER=01-Linda Gross/Marching Virginian; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Billy Hite/Virginia Tech Associate Head Coach; 1:27]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=JM, News 7, Blacksburg]
((((NAT SOUND OF THE GROUP SPELLING AT HOKIES AT 4:26))
It's always a party like atmosphere at a Virginia Tech home football game. ((QUICK NAT SOUND OF CHEERING))
But it's even better when it takes place when the sun goes down. (WIDE SHOT OF STADIUM AT BEGINNING OF TAPE)[SOT 5:0
3; 9:38]
[IN Q=Normally we are]
((GREG HUFFMAN/VIRGINIA TECH FAN: NORMALLY WE ARE PLAYING THIS 12 O'CLOCK GAMES THIS YEAR, NIGHT TIME IN LANE STADIUM IS REAL.)) ((DEBBIE VLAHOS/VIRGINIA TECH FAN: THE SOUND OF THE CROWD, THE ENTHUSIASM, IS SUPER.)) [Runs08]
[OUT Q=is super]

It's also super when you can go for free.
About forty fans won a contest sponsored by WDBJ. The station provided the ride, the food, and the tickets.
[SOT 13:34]
[IN Q=Without winning]
((JESSICA WATSON/CONTEST WINNER: WITHOUT WINNING I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE GAME BECAUSE TICKETS WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET.)) [Runs04]
[OUT Q=IMPOSSIBLE TO GET]

It's also impossible for some fans to believe Virginia Tech is in first place in the ACC.
[SOT 8:46]
[IN Q=No one had]
((GUS VLAHOS/VIRGINIA TECH FAN: NO ONE HAD ANY ASPIRATIONS THAT THEY COULD DO AS WELL AS THEY DID AND I THINK THEY'VE TAKEN IT TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=need to go]

Many hope it leads to an ACC title.
[SOT 6:55]
[IN Q=Right now]
((TONDA FUGATE/VIRGINIA TECH FAN: RIGHT NOW WE CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN PULL IT OFF IN THE END.))

[Runs04]
[OUT Q=IN THE END]
[SOT 20:11]
[IN Q=There was another]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: THERE WAS ANOTHER WINNER AT THIS GAME AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL, EVERY YEAR THE MARCHING VIRGINIANS HOLD A CAN DRIVE AT ONE OF THE GAMES. IT'S CALLED THE HOKIES FOR THE HUNGRY PROGRAM.)) [Runs10]
[OUT Q=FOR THE HUNGRY PROGRAM]
((QUICK NAT SOUND OF PICKUP TRUCKS DRIVING BY ON TAPE 2))
The goal was to collect more than sixty five thousand cans of food, one can from every fan.
[SOT 1:04]
[IN Q=They thought it]
((LINDA GROSS/MARCHING VIRGINIANS: THEY THOUGH IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO COLLECT FOR A LOCAL NEEDY ORGANIZATION AND THEY PICKED THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHRISTMAS STORE.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=christmas store]

Fans were obviously generous. They were also very sympathetic after hearing the news Frank Beamer's mother passed away Thursday morning.
[SOT 3:41]
[IN Q=The last thing]
((BILLY HITE/VT ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH: THE LAST THING SHE SAID TO HIM I WANT YOU TO COACH THAT GAME AND YOU TELL THE BOYS THAT SHE WANTS THEM TO WIN THOSE GAMES.)) [Runs07]
[OUT Q=WIN THOSE GAMES]

She got her wish. Virginia Tech won the game.
Justin McLeod, News 7, Blacksburg. ))

[11Giles-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Two people are missing after a suspicious fire in Giles County.
Deputies say a home on Spruce Run Road near Newport burned to the ground around 7 yesterday morning.
Investigators say there was evidence of a struggle at the scene.
They also found remains of an animal in the debris.
Officers say they don't know the whereabouts of the woman who lived there, or the man they believe is her boyfriend.
But both their cars were parked outside the house at the time of the fire.

[Iraq]

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

U- S troops searching for insurgent holdouts in Fallujah have found what may be a terror group's headquarters.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fallujah, Iraq;]

Marines discovered documents, old computers and a letter written by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Nearby buildings had ski masks and explosives material, indicating the area may have been a command center for Zarqawi's group.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The fighters]
((MAJ. DAVID JOHNSON/U.S. ARMY: THE FIGHTERS THERE WERE DETERMINED, WERE VERY SKILLED, YOU COULD TELL THEY WEREN'T JUST RUN OF THE MILL GUYS. ))
[SUPER=01-Maj. David Johnson/U. S. Army;]
[RUNS=:09] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=of the mill guys.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While troops continue their sweep through Fallujah, U-S and Iraqi forces are facing insurgent attacks across the Sunni triangle.
(------------)

[Bush-Summit]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bush]
[ENG#=4]

Today President Bush heads to Chile, to join Colin Powell at the summit of Pacific Rim countries.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Santiago, Chile;]

Protesters demonstrating against Bush and the A- PEC summit have already taken to the city's streets.
Tomorrow the President is scheduled to meet with the leaders of Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Russia.
Talks ahead of the weekend summit generated wide support for a global trade treaty and new counter-terrorism measures.
(------------)

[11Methadone-Clinic]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-40 TC 55:15]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

Opponents of a Roanoke methadone clinic say they have hired a lawyer and are now preparing to file suit against the company.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

C-R-C Health Corporation is planning to open the drug treatment facility in a building on Hershberger Road.
But an attorney representing opponents argues the clinic would be an unlawful use of the city's amended zoning ordinance.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:53:00]
[IN Q=They've pushed us in a corner]
((MARY PAXTON/NORTHWEST CONCERNED CITIZENS: THEY'VE PUSHED US IN A CORNER AND THEY THINK WE'LL JUST LAY DOWN AND PLAY DEAD, BUT WE WON'T. WE WILL FIGHT TO KEEP IT OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.))
[SUPER=01-Mary Paxton/Northwest Concerned Citizens;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=to keep it out of our neighborhood.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The group, Northwest Concerned Citizens, is also making an appeal for financial contributions to help pay the legal bills.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Despite the threat of a lawsuit, C-R-C Vice President Joe Pritchard says the company is still proceeding as planned.

[6-L'burg-Jobs]

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

In business news, New Jersey-based C-D-G Management says it will open a call center in a vacant building downtown Lynchburg that will employ about 200 people.
And a 3-million-dollar expansion by RiversEdge Furniture figures to more than double the company's current workforce of 22 employees.

[Marketwatch]

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

In other business news, Nike has a new C-E-O. And a former Viacom executive will lead Sirus Satelitte Radio.
Marcella Palmer has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=in New York, I'm MP.]
((NIKE NAMES A NEW C-E-O ... WILLIAM PEREZ STEPS IN AS PHIL KNIGHT STEPS OUT OF THE POSITION, AS HEAD OF THE ATHLETIC RETAIL GIANT HE CO-FOUNDED IN 1972. KNIGHT WILL KEEP HIS POSITION AS NIKE'S CHAIRMAN. PEREZ WILL JOIN THE NIKE TEAM LATE NEXT MONTH.
FORMER COO AND PRESIDENT OF VIACOM MEL KARMAZIN WILL NOW TAKE THE TOP JOB OVER AT SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO... HE FOLLOWS RADIO PERSONALITY HOWARD STERN TO SIRIUS.... STERN RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE WAS LEAVING VIACOM'S INFINITY RADIO TO JOIN SIRIUS. VIACOM IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR IN CBS MARKETWATCH.
THE BLUE CHIPS CLOSED THE TRADING DAY HIGHER THURSDAY... THE DOW ENDED THE DAY UP 22.... THE NASDAQ CLOSED UP 4... CRUDE OIL CLOSED THE DAY AT $46.22 A BARREL.
NEWS OF A SECOND POSSIBLE CASE OF MAD COW DISEASE IN THE U-S SENT SOME BEEF RELATED STOCKS LIKE MCDONALDS DIPPING LOWER THURSDAY. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS THAT TESTING FOR A POSSIBLE SECOND CASE OF MAD COW DISEASE IN THE U-S WAS INCONCLUSIVE.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKET LOG ON TO OUR SITE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM. IN NEWS YORK I'M MARCELLA PALMER.))

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

[Arafat]

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

The mystery over what led to Yasser Arafat's death could soon be resolved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Arafat's nephew is flying to Paris today to pick up the late Palestinian leader's medical files.
French officials say they'll also hand the records over to the Palestinian ambassador to the U- N.
Speculation is still swirling around causes of death.
AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, a blood disorder and even poisoning are mentioned as possibilities.
(------------)

[11Madison-bullet]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A bullet was found at James Madison Middle School in Roanoke this week, but no gun and no word of how the ammunition got there.
The 9- millimeter bullet was found in a boy's bathroom Tuesday.
School Resource officers have watched surveillance video from the bathroom and spoken to a few students.

[11Arnold-Burton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-34 TC1:55:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Some Roanoke County students got reved up in class yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT]
((RACE CAR))
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=NAT RACE CAR]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
12 students in the Motor Sports class at Arnold Burton Technology Center got to take a spin at the Motor Mile Speedway. They've spent the last year turning a donated 1999 Monte Carlo into their very own number 99 race car. The car topped out at about 65 miles an hour and managed a few laps before it had some engine troubles. Students say the process helped teach them more about the nation's fastest growing sport. Some of them even hope to turn the lesson into a future job in the industry.
(------------)

(Kim tosses to bump) [BUMP]

[COMM] [Biz-Brief]

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

In other business news, Disney has reported that its fourth quarter earnings rose to 516-million dollars. That's up 25 percent from a year ago. The company attributed the increase to ongoing strength in its television, theme park and consumer products businesses. John Lisk has the rest of today's news in the business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-John Lisk/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=I'm John Lisk.]
((STOCKS CAME OUT AHEAD THURSDAY.
THE DOW INDUSTRIALS ADDED NEARLY 23-POINTS. WHILE THE NASDAQ GAINED FOUR-AND-A-HALF.
MERCK AND FEDERAL REGULATORS CAME UNDER FIRE THURSDAY FOR THEIR HANDLING OF MERCK'S ARTHRITIS DRUG, VIOXX. AT A SENATE HEARING, FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHARLES GRASSLEY (PRO: GRASS-LY) ACCUSED THE F-D-A OF IGNORING WARNINGS FROM ITS OWN SCIENTISTS REGARDING VIOXX. AND MERCK CHAIRMAN AND CEO RAYMOND GILMARTIN INSISTED THE COMPANY PULLED VIOXX FROM THE MARKET AS SOON AS THE COMPANY HAD PROOF OF THE HEALTH RISKS.
ALSO, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THAT NEARLY A YEAR BEFORE MERCK PULLED THE DRUG, COMPANY OFFICIALS RECEIVED PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM A STUDY THAT APPARENTLY INDICATED THAT VIOXX POSED CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS. A MERCK SPOKESWOMAN TOLD THE PAPER THE STUDY WAS INCONCLUSIVE BECAUSE IT WAS BASED ON PATIENT RECORDS AND NOT ON AN ACTUAL CLINICAL TRIAL.
THE CONFERENCE BOARD REPORTS ITS INDEX OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS -- MEANT TO PREDICT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS -- FELL THREE-TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN OCTOBER. IT'S THE FIFTH STRAIGHT MONTHLY DECLINE. SEVEN OF THE 10 INDICATORS FELL.
WITH THE BUSINESS BRIEF... I'M JOHN LISK.))

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

[11Senate-Finance]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-39 TC1:07:52]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=2]
The Chairman of Virginia's Senate Finance Committee wants to use the upcoming General Assembly session to take care of "unfinished business."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville;]
Senator John Chichester told his colleagues, gathered for a retreat in Charlottesville, that the committee needs to "tidy up its affairs." He says programs approved last year, but not funded need to be top priority. The committee also heard from an economist who says Virginia must increase its productivity to compete in the global market. That's why Senator Roscoe Reynolds says he supports more funding for education.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:09]
[IN Q=You're not going]
((ROSCOE REYNOLDS: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET BUSINESS GROWTH WITHOUT WORKERS THAT HAVE HIGH SKILLS AND IT'S SO ESSENTIAL THAT WE DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES TO HELPING WORKERS RAISE THEIR LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE.))
[SUPER=@Reynolds]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=level of performance]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The committee also heard about options to improve transportation. Senator Chichester says transportation will eventually have to be taken off of "life support" and that he hopes progress can be made this year.
(------------)

[5-Arnold-Burton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=504-01 1;33:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[ENG#=3]

Some Roanoke County students got to "speed up" the learning process yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
12 students in the Motor Sports class at Arnold Burton Technology Center got to take a spin at the Motor Mile Speedway. They've spent the last year turning a donated 1999 Monte Carlo into their very own number 99 race car.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 9:17:39:00 ]
[IN Q=THE CAR ]
[SUPER=01-Jake Nute/2003 Arnold Burton Graduate;]
(( JAKE NUTE:THE CAR THAT WE HAD DONATED TO US WAS AN ACTUALLY AN ACTUAL STOCK CAR.. ONLY HAD ONE SEAT IN IT.. SO WE HAD TO PREFABRICATE THE ROLL CAGE SO IT WILL PROTECT THE PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER.))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=and the driver.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The car topped out at about 65 miles an hour and got a few laps in before it had some engine troubles. Students say the process helped teach them more about the nation's fastest growing sport. Some of them even hope to turn the lesson into a future job in the industry.
(------------)
(kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM]