WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/03/05

[11Sugar-Bowl]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-47 TC-57:41]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl]
[ENG#=1]
[+++++ANCHOR TAG+++++]
Both Virginia Tech and Auburn have gotten in their final preparations for tonight's 71st Sugar Bowl. Mike Stevens says Tech fans can only hope tonight ends up better than Sunday started for their head coach.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=203-New Orleans, LA; :00]
[SUPER=201-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :21]
[SUPER=201-Tommy Tuberville/Auburn Head Coach; 1:07]
[SUPER=219-Mike Stevens/mstevens*wdbj7.com; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports.]
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE SUGAR BOWL PROMO BOARD E8302] And don't forget, as you prepare for the kickoff we'll have a live preview of the Sugar Bowl from New Orleans. Join us for that tonight at 7 o'clock.
(+++++++)

[VO-Smartway]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
Officials say expect a packed bus if you plan on using the Smart way service today .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
A record number of riders are expected as Tech football fans head out for the Sugar Bowl. The service connects Roanoke and Blacksburg. The cost is three dollars.
(------------)

[Juveniles-Arrested]

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

Three kids are in a juvenile detention home after being charged with throwing rocks at moving cars this weekend. Danville police say the kids were throwing rocks from the Little Creek Road overpass onto the 29 Expressway. Each one faces four counts of throwing an object at a moving vehicle.
Four cars were hit, with total damage near 15-hundred dollars. No one was injured.

[11County-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
One man was killed in an accident in Roanoke County. Police say 34-year-old Jeffrey Hawley was driving on *Crowells* Gap Road when he lost control and went over a steep embankment. He was killed in the accident.
A juvenile passenger in the car was taken to a local hospital. Police say Hawley was NOT wearing his seat belt, but the passenger in the car was. No charges will be filed.

[Tsunami]

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

Relief workers say they're facing chaos as they try to deliver emergency aid to tsunami victims.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Secretary of State Colin Powell boarded the plane to South Asia with a clear mission-- to survey the damage and determine how American aid can best help those in need.
Navy helicopters are distributing supplies to crowds of refugees, begging for help.
The U-N says nearly two million people are in need of food.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A year and a half]
((CAPT. LARRY BURT/U.S. NAVY:A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS IN IRAQ DROPPING BOMBS AS PART OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND NOW I'M OVER HERE TRYING TO SAVE LIVES AND GIVE FOOD TO PEOPLE. ))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Larry Burt/U. S. Navy;]
[RUNS=:10] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=food to people.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Elephants are also being used in the recovery efforts-- clearing debris and opening routes for rescuers searching for victims.
(------------)

[11Roanoke-Relief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-46 TC-1:00:40]
[GRAPHIC=Tsunami]
[ENG#=4]

The relief effort continues to grow in South Asia as humanitarian agencies and governments across the world continue to pledge money.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Week; ]
The death toll and missing persons total continues to rise in the nations devastated by the tsunami. Relief has been pouring in from all over the world-- the U-S pledged 350 million and Japan plans to contribute up to 500 million.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Groups in our area are also doing what they can to help the victims overseas.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:02:36]
[IN Q=Here in the Roanoke area]
((AMY WHITTAKER:HERE IN THE ROANOKE AREA WE HAVE COLLECTED AROUND 40-THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST IN THREE DAYS. SO WE ARE REALLY PLEASED THAT WE CAN SEND THAT MONEY TO GET HELP.))
[SUPER=01-Amy Whittaker/Roanoke Valley Red Cross; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=that money to get help.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Whittaker says a lot of the relief agencies are requesting money donations instead of actual goods, and the Better Business Bureau offers tips for making sure your money gets in the right hands.
(XXXXXX)
[TAKE RELIEF BOARD FS] Do not send cash -- and make all checks payable to the name of the charitable organization -- not an individual. If you're donating online, look at the address in the browser window when you click the link to donate.
If it is hidden or not familiar to you, be cautious. And be aware of excessive pressure for an on-the-spot donation. Also, do not give your credit card number or other personal information to a telephone solicitor.
(XXXXXX)

[Marketwatch]

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

In business news, shares of Kintera closed higher on Friday. And the F-D-A is taking a closer look at the maker of Prozac.
Marcella Palmer has those stories and more in this morning's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcella Palmer/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((KINTERA SHARES SURGED FRIDAY, THE FINAL DAY OF TRADING IN 2004... AFTER AN INVESTMENT BANKING FIRM SAID THAT KINTERA, A NON-PROFIT PROVIDER ON ONLINE FUNDRAISING
TECHNOLOGY, MIGHT ENJOY LASTING BENEFITS FROM EFFORTS TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI DISASTER. KINTERA'S CLIENTS INCLUDE DOCTORS WITHOUT BOARDERS AND UNICEF WHICH RAISED MORE THAN 20-MILLION DOLLARS IN ON-LINE DONATIONS IN A MATTER OF DAYS.
PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY ELI LILLY SUPRESSED EVIDENCE THAT ANTIDEPRESSANT PROZAC MIGHT BE LINKED TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. CITING ALLEGATIONS PUBLISHED IN THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS THE FDA IS REVIEWING INTERNAL ELI LILLIY DOCUMENTS HANDED OVER BY THE U-K PUBLICATION. LILLY SAYS IT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF MISSING DOCUMENTS.
UNITED AIRLINES' FLIGHT ATTENDANTS UNION HAS VOTED TO AUTHORIZE STRIKES AT THE BANKRUPT CARRIER. THE AIRLINE SAYS SUCH ACTION IS PROHIBITED UNDER MEASURES LIKE BANKRUPTCY LAW.
MAJOR U-S INDICES CLOSED OUT A POSITIVE YEAR ON A LOW NOTE DURING FRIDAYS LIGHT DAY OF HOLIDAY TRADING.... THE DOW CLOSED THE DAY DOWN 17... THE NASDAQ CLOSED THE DAY DOWN 2... THE MAJOR U-S INDICES ADVANCED FOR A SECOND YEAR. A LATE YEAR GAIN HELPED OVER RIDE HIGHER CRUDE OIL PRICES AND AN ALMOST 8% DECLINE IN THE DOLLAR.
FOR MORE ON THE MARKETS LOG ON TO OUR SITE AT CBS DOT MARKETWATCH DOT COM. IN NEW YORK I'M MARCELLA PALMER.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[1-Gameday]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC-1:47:35]
[GRAPHIC=Sugar Bowl]
[ENG#=1]
[++++++ANCHOR-TAG+++++] Tonight's Sugar Bowl between the Hokies and Tigers kicks off shortly after 8 o'clock eastern at the Super Dome. Mike Stevens says that's as long as the players and coaches aren't too worn out from a week festivities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well, good morning...]
[SUPER=219-Mike Stevens/mstevens*wdbj7.com; :00]
[SUPER=201-Bryan Randall/ACC Player of the Year; :21]
[SUPER=201-Tommy Tuberville/Auburn Head Coach; :36]
[SUPER=203-New Orleans, LA; :42]
[RUNS=1:13]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports.]
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[TAKE SUGAR BOWL PROMO BOARD E8302] And don't forget, as you prepare for the kickoff we'll have a live preview of the Sugar Bowl from New Orleans. Join us for that tonight at 7 o'clock.
(+++++++)

[11Smartway-Update]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-45 TC-59:57]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]
A service connecting the Roanoke area to the New River Valley continues to make gains since it began in August -- and officials expect record numbers on Monday as Tech fans celebrate the Sugar Bowl. Jeremy Butterfield has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Smart Way bus]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Donna Chamberlin/Smart Way Public Relations; :09]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 29, 2004; :19]
[SUPER=01-Lois Baldwin/Passenger; :50]
[SUPER=01-Mark Petersen/Smart Way Driver; 1:07]
[SUPER=@jeremy1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=News 7, Roanoke.]

((Support for the Smart Way bus service, connecting Roanoke and Blacksburg, has grown by leaps and bounds.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:13:01]
[IN Q=Roanoke City, Roanoke County,]
((DONNA CHAMBERLIN:ROANOKE CITY, ROANOKE COUNTY, SALEM, CHRISTIANSBURG, BLACKSBURG, MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAVE ALL WORKED TOGETHER TO GET THIS GOING AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES ARE SUPPORTING IT.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=communities are supporting it.]
July 29 marked the inagural run of the Smart Way. Riders were impressed then and, judging by the numbers, continue to be impressed now.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:13:36]
[IN Q=Our first month in August]
((DONNA CHAMBERLIN:OUR FIRST MONTH IN AUGUST WAS AROUND 14-HUNDRED, LAST MONTH WE HIT 26-96 AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE AVERAGED OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE A DAY. IT HAS JUST BEEN BUILDING AS THE WORD SPREADS.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=as the word spreads]
Those numbers continue to grow as Blacksburg residents see the advantages of the three dollar fare for a ride to Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:21:20]
[IN Q=I couldn't get the Smart Way]
((LOIS BALDWIN:FACT ON THE WAY DOWN I COULDN'T GET THE SMART WAY AND SO I PAYED THE BLACKSBURG LIMO SIXTY SIX DOLLARS TO COME DOWN.))
[RUNS= :07]
[OUT Q=dollars to come down.]
On a normal day the bus will carry around one hundred passengers. But on big, Virginia Tech, sports days the fans push that number closer to four hundred.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:23:20]
[IN Q=Tech football games]
((MARK PETERSEN:WITH THE TECH FOOTBALL GAMES WE IN SOME CASES STANDING ROOM ONLY ON THE BUSES AND THAT'S GOOD TO SEE, AND WE ALSO SEE SOME RIDERS THAT ARE CATCHING THE VIRGINIA TECH BASKETBALL GAMES.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=tech basketball games.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:56:13]
[IN Q=On Monday Smart Way]
((JEREMY BUTTERFIELD:ON MONDAY SMART WAY OFFICIALS EXPECT TO HAVE ONE OF THE BUSIEST DAYS OF THE YEAR. RIDERS CAN EXPECT A PACKED BUS AS TECH FOOTBALL FANS HEAD OUT FOR THE SUGAR BOWL. JEREMY BUTTERFIELD, NEWS 7, ROANOKE.))
[RUNS=: 10]
[OUT Q=News 7, Roanoke.]))

[Biz-Brief]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=2]
In business news, Minnesota's Attorney General sues Capital One.
Stan Case has more on that plus Friday's closing numbers in the business brief.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Stan Case/Reporting; :]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=I'm Stan Case.]
((STOCKS CLOSED SLIGHTLY DOWN ON THE LAST TRADING DAY OF 2004.

THE DOW INDUSTRIALS FELL 17-POINTS, WHILE THE NASDAQ DROPPED NEARLY THREE.
FOR THE YEAR, THE DOW GAINED THREE PERCENT, AND THE NASDAQ ROSE EIGHT-AND-A-HALF PERCENT.

MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HATCH HAS SUED CAPITAL ONE.

HE'S ACCUSING THE CREDIT CARD ISSUER OF FALSELY ADVERTISING LOW RATES AND DEFRAUDING CONSUMERS.
HE SAYS CAPITOL ONE NEARLY QUADRUPLES THE RATE IT CHARGES SOME CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY PAY A BILL A DAY LATE OR DEFAULT IN SOME OTHER WAY, EVEN THOUGH IT ADVERTISES THE LOWER RATE AS "FIXED."
CAPITAL ONE SAYS IT HAS FULLY COMPLIED WITH THE LAW.

PFIZER SAID THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS APPROVED ITS NEW DRUG LYRICA.
(pro: lirrick-ah)

IT SAYS LYRICA IS THE FIRST F-D-A APPROVED TREATMENT FOR PAIN CAUSED BY NERVE DAMAGE FROM DIABETES OR SHINGLES.
THE COMPANY CALLED IT "AN IMPORTANT NEW THERAPY FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM THE TWO MOST COMMON NEUROPATHIC PAIN CONDITIONS."
BUT REGULATORS INDICATED THEY WOULD CLASSIFY LYRICA AS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE... A DESIGNATION THAT WILL LIMIT SALES.

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

[TAPE TOSS TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [Trigger]

[11Monty-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-53 TC-23:11]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]
It looks like Montgomery County car dealers didn't clear their lots this New Year's Eve.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/December 31;]
For several years, dealers like Shelor, moved their cars out of the county to avoid paying the Merchants Tax. Many business owners claimed the tax was too high. It's assessed each year on New Year's Day on a business' inventory. But this year the county cut the tax in half. David Hagan of *Shelor Motor Mile* told News 7 in July he would not move his cars. From the looks of his lot on New Years Eve, it appears the dealership's paid up.
(------------)
(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [COMM] [3-HEADLINES] [Kim at Desk]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Here's what's making news on this. Danville police say three juveniles face charges for throwing rocks at moving vehicles onto the 29 Expressway over the weekend.
(----------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Governor Jeb Bush are heading to South Asia for a fact finding mission that'll help focus America's tsunami relief efforts.
(----------------)
[ENG#=2]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SUPER=03-]

And, all the hype and build-up comes to an end tonight-- as Virginia Tech and Auburn face off in the Sugar Bowl.
That, as a bus service linking the Roanoke and New River Valleys gets a major test today from football fans.
(----------------)