[7Wx-Headline]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]
Good morning, I'm Susan Bahorich......
Might want to grab your umbrella as you head out this morning- showers move into the area and highs will be in the 50's.
Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have your full forecast in just a few minutes.
[7-11Apt-Fire]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-51 TC37:29]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
[ENG#=1]
Investigators find more than a half-dozen building code violations after a New Year's Day fire killed two people.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Saturday]
47-year-old Debra Hippensteel and 51-year-old Cleveland Haymaker were killed when fire raced through their apartment behind Gary's Restaurant in Roanoke.
Building inspectors found several violations-- everything from the illegal conversion of a structure to no heat.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@22:31:08.15]
[IN Q=This building is not...]
((LOUIS CROSS/BUILDING INSPECTOR: THIS BUILDING IS NOT ZONED FOR RENTAL PROPERTY- NOT ZONED FOR A DWELLING UNIT. IT'S ZONED C-3, ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL USE. IN THIS ZONING YOU COULD ONLY HAVE DWELLINGS 2ND FLOOR AND HIGHER.))
[SUPER=01-Louis Cross/Building Inspector;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=.. 2nd floor and higher.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The owner of Gary's has received a repair order.
He has to get an electrician in there by the 14th to certify the existing wiring is safe for the WHOLE building.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=susan]
[GRAPHICS=HOLD]
The owner has until February 4th to actually address the other repairs cited in the report.
[7-11Meth-Bust]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-50 TC48:08]
[GRAPHIC=Drug Bust]
[ENG#=2]
Police in Christiansburg bust what they believe is the first meth-lab of the year in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]
Around 7:30 yesterday morning several police agencies raided a mobile home on Star Light Drive in Christiansburg.
28-year-old April Dowdy, 37-year-old Elizabeth Schlang and her husband, 42-year-old Frederick Schlang are charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth.
According to a search warrant, police went through the trash Tuesday and found several items used to make the drug.
A farm supply store also helped turn the couple in.
(------------)
[7-11Drug-Study]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=04-55 TC41:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]
Prescription drug abuse is also a major problem in the Commonwealth -- especially in Southwest Virginia.
A new study shows the death rate from prescription drug overdoses rose dramatically over the last decade.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
According to the study, the number of drug fatalities grew from 66 in 1993 to 217 in 2003.
Prescription drugs were involved in 211 of those deaths.
Nearly 80 percent were accidental overdoses.
The study finds the majority of those deaths were caused by methadone- a synthetic narcotic developed as an alternative to morphine- and used for chronic pain.
(--------------)
[55-WXHeads]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]
Good morning, I'm Susan Bahorich......
Mostly Cloudy skies greeting you on this Thursday -with showers developing.
Highs in the 50's.
Meterologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have you full-forecast in just a moment.
[Graphic=Accident]
But first we have some traffic information to pass along.
Drivers on Bradshaw road in Roanoke County might want to find a way around the 52-hundred block.
That's where fire and E-M-S crews are trying to remove a driver from a car that crashed into a tree earlier.[55-11Veri
zon-Rate]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-46 TC1:07:47]
[GRAPHIC=Verizon Rate Hike]
[ENG#=1]
Verizon phone company says it's not satisfied -- even though the State Corporation Commission gave it permission to raise phone rates for Virginians.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/November 22;]
The decision allows Verizon to raise basic rates to account for inflation since 1994.
The company is only allowed to increase rates by 10- percent a year until it reaches the inflation- adjusted ceiling.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=susan]
[SS=HOLD]
The Commission WILL, however, allow the company to increase rates on Caller- ID and Call Waiting by as much as ten- percent a year with NO ceiling.
Company officials say they'll decide later this month whether to accept the modified plan.
[55-6EIC]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-49 TC45:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Millions of dollars in income tax credits are being passed up by thousands of families in the Commonwealth.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
"The Earned Income Tax Credit" is a federal program aimed at curbing poverty.
An estimated 97- thousand Virginians are eligible for credits up to 43- hundred dollars, but many don't take advantage of it.
Officials say even if you don't HAVE to file taxes because of your income bracket, you could still be eligible for the credit.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:52:05]
[IN Q=The statute of limitations]
((KEN THORSON/VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION: THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO BACK FOR AS MANY AS THREE YEARS SO IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, THIS FIRST TIME OF FILING FOR THE CURRENT YEAR PLUS THREE YEARS BACK, IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR A FAMILY.))
[SUPER=01-Ken Thorson/Virginia Department of Taxation;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=amount for a family]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Thorson says not only does the money help families, it also puts money back into local economies.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=susan]
[SS=None]
To find out if you qualify, he suggests contacting your local tax office or Social Services.
[55-6Bedford-School]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#04-54 TC26:05]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2004]
[ENG#=3]
Republicans in Bedford County are taking their problems with last year's District Five school board race to Governor Mark Warner.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./File Tape]
Keith Jones beat Laura Rodes by a single vote, but Rodes is contesting the result because a provisional ballot is not being counted.
The voter says she registered through the D-M-V two years ago but was never told her registration was invalid.
The county's G-O-P chairman sent a letter to Mark Warner yesterday asking for an investigation.
Rodes' lawsuit in the matter is scheduled for next week.
(------------)
[8Wx-Headline]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Cut-ins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin' Report]
Good morning, I'm Susan Bahorich.....
Cooler weather heads our way.
Today's highs will be in the 50s.
Meteorologist Leo Hirsbrunner will have more coming up.
[Graphic=Accident]
But first we have some traffic information to pass along.
Drivers on Bradshaw Road in Roanoke County might want to avoid the 52-hundred block near Ramey Lane.
That's where a driver crashed into a tree earlier.
Crews are still on the scene now.
No word on injuries.
[8-VOBRoute-220]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=05-01 TC 02:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
Those who want to voice their concerns about V-DOT's plans for Route 220 have one more night to be heard.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.]
V-Dot plans to make more than 3 million dollars worth of improvements on Route 220 from Roanoke to the North Carolina border.
Some of the work will include upgrading and eliminating crossovers along this 60 mile stretch of highway.
The work will begin this spring and the state says drivers should expect delays.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:48]
[IN Q=We are certainly]
((LAURA BULLOCK/V-DOT SPOKESPERSON: WE ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN WE EXPECT THE WORK TO TAKE PLACE, HOW WE THINK THEY WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE TRAFFIC SO THEY CAN MAKE OTHER PLANS IF THEY WANT TO. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT IN A NEW ROAD OR PUT IN IMPROVEMENTS IN KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR PATIENCE.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Department of Transportation;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=ask for patience]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
V-Dot is holding public meetings about the improvements this week.
The final one takes place tonight from five until seven at Clearbrook Elementary in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[8-11Term-Limits]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-43 TC1:25:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Virginia's traditon of limiting its governors to only *ONE* four-year term in office could come to an end thanks to the work of a group of legislators -- but one local lawmaker has some reservations about the plan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
A joint- subcommittee studying the issue yesterday voted to introduce a bill that would allow the governor to serve two consecutive terms.
If the bill makes it through the General Assembly, Virginia voters would then get to vote on whether to amend the Constitution.
Delegate Morgan Griffith voted against the resolution.
He'd like to see a package that includes a better balance of power.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:56:23]
[IN Q=When you go to two term]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/(R) SALEM: WHEN YOU GO TO TWO TERM- GOVERNORS YOU ARE CLEARLY GIVING THE GOVERNOR MORE POWER. WHEN YOU DO THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE POWER GIVEN FOR OVERSIGHT TO THE LEGISLATURE. THIS COMMISSION DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT SO I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THAT BUT ALSO THINK IT WILL BE PART OF THE ON- GOING DEBATE SO WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MORE YEARS FOR TWO- TERM GOVERNOR.))
[SUPER=@Griffith;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=for two- term governor]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Griffith says Virginia has enjoyed hundreds of years of success with a one- term governor.
(------------)
[8-11Victory-Stadium]
[ANCHOR=susan]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-56 TC14:30]
[GRAPHIC=Victory Stadium]
[ENG#=3]
The committee studying what to do with Victory Stadium has found a group to check the aging landmark's structural integrity.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]
An engineering company out of North Carolina will determine if the stadium is sound, and what it will cost to make repairs.
The firm hopes to sign a contract within the next week.
Work should begin shortly after that.
(------------)
by SS