WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/17/05

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

At least 16 people have died since last night, as pre- election violence flares up across Iraq.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baqouba, Iraq;]

Eight Iraqi National Guard soldiers were killed today in central Iraq, along with police and government workers.
Despite the daily attacks, there are no plans to postpone the vote.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If we delay]
((MOUWAFAK AL-RUBAIE/IRAQI NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR:IF WE DELAY THE ELECTIONS EVEN FOR ONE WEEK, I CAN TELL YOU IT MAY TRIGGER A CIVIL WAR IN THIS COUNTRY.))
[SUPER=01-Mouwafak al-Rubaie/Iraqi National Security Advisor;]
[RUNS=:07] (estimated bite runs time)
[OUT Q=in this country.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The January 30th election will be Iraq's first independent election in nearly 50 years.
For Iraqis living abroad, the effort to get them to the polls shifts into high gear today.
About 90- thousand Iraqis live in the U-S.
They'll be able to register to vote in five Americans cities beginning today.
(------------)

[Ziyang]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

Chinese dissidents are mourning the death of ousted Communist leader Zhao Ziyang (tzee-yahng).
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

He was one of few leaders to sympathize with the 19-89 Tiananmen Square protests.
Zhao died today in a Beijing hospital at the age of 85.
Chinese media are reporting he suffered from multiple respiratory and cardiovascular ailments.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have stepped up surveillance on activists, in an effort to prevent any possible commemorations.
(------------)

[11MLK-Hollins]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=0004-54 34:08]
[GRAPHIC=MLK]
[ENG#=3]

President Bush is joining in observances today marking the birthday of a man he calls a ``visionary American.''
Bush says Martin Luther King ``believed deeply in liberty and dignity for every person.'' Last night, students at Hollins University celebrated King's life.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
The university's Black Student Alliance hosted its annual M-L-K service last night on campus. Organizers say it's a chance for students and faculty to honor and reflect on the achievements of Doctor King -- through prayer, poetry and song.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:31:55]
[IN Q=it just]
((LANITA LYKES/HOLLINS UNIVERSITY BSA: IT JUST GIVES YOU THE FEELING THAT YOUR CULTURE IS BEING BROUGHT TO ATTENTION ON CAMPUS, AND IT'S JUST A TIME FOR YOU TO JUST COME AND REALIZE HE DID A LOT FOR US ))
[SUPER=01-LaNita Lykes/Hollins University Black Student Alliance;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=for us]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A little more than 20-people attended the service. It ended with participants sharing their own dreams for peace, and how they hope to achieve them.
(------------)

[11King-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-44 1:56:04]
[GRAPHIC=MLK]
[ENG#=4]

In downtown Roanoke, the First Street Bridge is one step closer to becoming a memorial dedicated to the civil rights leader.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]
Roanoke City Council chose the pedestrian bridge as the future site for the King memorial last year. Now the federal government is providing some of the money needed to do the work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:22:58]
[IN Q=Well we secured for]
((GOODLATTE:WELL WE SECURED FOR THE CITY OF ROANOKE 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE BRIDGE.))
[SUPER=@goodlatte; ]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=of the bridge.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Friday;]
Southern Christian Leadership Council members thanked Goodlatte at their banquet on Friday and said the congressman was a major factor in securing the funds.
(------------)

[11Check-Scam]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=04-49 51:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

A warning is going out about a phone scam... offering bogus ten-thousand dollar government grants.
Here's how it works.
The caller tells the person they qualify for the grant -- and then asks for bank account information for an application fee.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT 04]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The only problem- there is no grant. It's all a scam.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:33:31]
[IN Q=]
((JULIE WHEELER/BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU: NOW WE ALL KNOW REASONABLY STEPPING BACK FROM IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE FREE MONEY SITTING OUT THERE TO GIVE US.))
[SUPER=01-Julie Wheeler/SW Va Better Business Bureau]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=TO GIVE US.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The scam artists are trying to get bank information so they can take money out of your account or charge something to your credit cards.
Wheeler says never give your credit card information out over the phone.

[VOB-Golden-Globes]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

It was a great night to be a "desperate housewife," or a "million dollar baby."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beverly Hills, CA;]

The Golden Globes were handed out last night in Beverly Hills.
Best Comedic honors in T-V went to "Desperate Housewives,", with Teri Hatcher claiming the trophy for best actress.
Jamie Foxx's portrayal of the late Ray Charles garnered him the Best Actor award for a musical or comedy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When you look at]
[SUPER=01-Jamie Foxx/Best Actor, Musical or Comedy;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=wanted this movie]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Clint Eastwood won Best Director for the film, "Million Dollar Baby," while star Hilary Swank won for Best Actress in a Drama.
And "The Aviator" starring Leonardo DiCaprio captured the award for Best Dramatic Film.
DiCaprio won for best actor in a drama.
(------------)

[11Winter-Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-52 43:02]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
[ENG#=4]
We've gotten a little taste of winter weather.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Many areas saw snow come down yesterday afternoon or evening. There was little accumulation to speak of in much of the region, but the snow left a
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; (Night video)]
light blanket and slippery roads in many places. A wind chill advisory remains in effect this morning. Steve Pardon has more on that...
(------------)

(Weather toss) [Marketwatch]

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

In business news, U-S markets are closed for the Martin Luther King Junior Holiday.
Alexis Christoforous has Friday's closing numbers and a look at the week ahead in today's Marketwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Alexis Christoforous/Reporting; :00]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=in New York.]
((TRADERS ARE ENJOYING A LONG WEEKEND AS THE MARKETS ARE CLOSED FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY.
ON FRIDAY, STOCKS FINISHED A LACKLUSTER WEEK WITH A GAIN. THE DOW CLIMBED 52 POINTS AND WAS DOWN FRACTIONALLY ON THE WEEK, THE NASDAQ ROSE 17 POINTS IN THE LAST SESSION BUT WAS FLAT ON THE WEEK.
STOCKS TO WATCH WHEN THE OPENING BELL SOUNDS TUESDAY - ORACLE - IT'S LOWERING THE JOB AX NOW THAT IT'S 10 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR BUYOUT OF PEOPLESOFT IS COMPLETE. ORACLE WILL CUT 5-THOUSAND JOBS OR ABOUT 9 PERCENT OF ITS WORKFORCE, INCLUDING FORMER PEOPLESOFT WORKERS. More than 90 percent of PeopleSoft's product development and product support staff WILL KEEP THEIR JOBS. IN TOTAL, WHEN THE CUTS ARE COMPLETE ORACLE WILL HAVE ABOUT 50-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.
IN ADDITION TO EARNINGS REPORTS.. INVESTORS WILL RETURN TO A PACKED ECONOMIC CALENDAR THIS WEEK.. EXPECT REPORTS ON INFLAITON AT THE RETAIL LEVEL, HOUSING CONSTRUCTION , THE FED'S ASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND CONSUMER SENTIMENT FOR JANUARY.
AND REMEMBER YOU CAN TRACK YOUR STOCKS AT CBS.MW.COM IN NY I'M ALEXIS CHRISTOFOROUS.))

(tape tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS - ONE PAGE] [COMM]

[11Homestead-Ski]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-50 1:08:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
[**ANCHOR TAG**]
Some people are happy see the return of snow, and the colder temperatures that go with it. The Homestead Resort in Bath County had a lot of mud and grass on its ski slopes for much of this month, but not any more. Crews turned on the snow-making machines over the weekend, and as Jeremy Butterfield reports, that's good for skiers and for business.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's been a long]
[SUPER=03-Hot Springs; :00]
[SUPER=01-Blake Anderson/Snowboarder; :08]
[SUPER=01-Michael Valach/Homestead Director of Outdoor Activities; :29]
[SUPER=01-Tracie Fox/Skier; 1:07]
[SUPER=@jeremy1; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=News 7, Hot Springs.]
(( It's been a long wait for many Virginia skiers, like Washington and Lee student Blake Anderson.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:43:33]
[IN Q=I have been waiting for]
((BLAKE ANDERSON:I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE COLD TO KICK IN AND IT HASN'T SO. THIS WEEK IS A LITTLE BIT COLDER THAN IT HAS BEEN SO I THOUGHT WHY NOT GO CHECK IT OUT.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=go check it out.]
And for ski areas like The Homestead, it's about time. People here says it's normal to have a January thaw, but it usually only lasts for a couple of days.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:28:39]
[IN Q=Normally we have]
((MICHAEL VALACH:NORMALLY WE HAVE TRY TO ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH SNOW TO TRY AND GET THROUGH A TEN DAY WARM UP PERIOD. THIS LAST WARM UP PERIOD WAS ABOUT 21 DAYS OF WARM WEATHER.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=of warm weather.]
But over the weekend, the Homestead went from bare ground to a snow base of almost 20 inches.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:26:19]
[IN Q=We were just getting]
((MICHAEL VALACH:WE WERE JUST GETTING READY TO MAKE SNOW FRIDAY EVENING AND THEN WHEN THEY CAME UP YESTERDAY MORNING THEY WERE TOTALLY AMAZED AT THE TRANSFORMATION THAT HAD HAPPENED OVER NIGHT.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=happened over night.]
After what has turned out to be a challenging winter for ski resorts in Virginia, it looks like skiers like Tracie Fox and her family can once again enjoy the ups and downs of the slopes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:45:09]
[IN Q=We were so excited]
((TRACIE FOX:WE WERE SO EXCITED BECAUSE I CALLED ON FRIDAY AND THEY SAID THE MOUNTAIN WAS CLOSED AND I CALLED AGAIN ON SATURDAY MORNING AND SAID IS IT STILL CLOSED? THEY SAID ACTUALLY WE ARE OPENING AT NOON. SO WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE COULD BRING THE SKIS AND GET THE KIDS UP ON THE LIFT.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=up on the lift.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 09:52:45]
[IN Q=The Homestead staff]
((JEREMY BUTTERFIELD:THE HOMESTEAD STAFF SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AS MUCH SNOW AS POSSIBLE WHILE THE TEMPERATURES STAY LOW AND THEY HOPE IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE MOTHER NATURE KICKS IN AND DOES HER FAIR SHARE. JEREMY BUTTERFIELD, NEWS 7, HOT SPRINGS.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=News 7, Hot Springs.]
))

(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Wintergreen, Snowshoe, and Massanutten (Mass-uh-nuh-tehn) resorts are also taking advantage of the cold temperatures to open up or improve more of their slopes for skiing.

[11Glen-Lyn]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A traffic stop in Virginia has led police to several suspects for recent break-ins in neighboring parts of West Virginia. Police say those break-ins all occured in Monroe County, West Virginia, which is just across the state line from Giles County.
(+++++++)
[Take Glen Lyn Map FS] Glen Lyn police say they stopped a vehicle Saturday for equipment violations. That led them to several stolen weapons and other hunting items in the car, which in turn led to more suspects and more recovered items from recent West Virginia break-ins.
(------------)
(kim tosses to bump) [BUMP] [COMM]

[Oracle]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Business News]
[ENG#=none]

In business news, Traders return to work tomorrow. The markets are closed today for the Martin Luther King, Junior holiday. In other news, Oracle announced job cuts on Friday. The business software company that acquired its rival, Peoplesoft, last week said it plans to cut the combined workforce of the companies by about 5-thousand employees. Now let's take a look at your local stocks.
[Kim TOSSES TO STOCKS] [STOCKS] [COMM]

[11VA-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

Plenty of interest groups will line up in Richmond today .. looking for a share of Virginia's one billion dollar budget surplus. That's when the legislature's money committees will hold their fifth and final public hearing on the budget.

[11Putney]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-46 1:19:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
As this year's session enters its first full week, a long-time Bedford delegate says he's not sure he'll seek re-election later this year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Delegate Lacy Putney began his 44th legislative session this past week. A new portrait of him now hangs in the House chamber, recognizing his time as Speaker of the House.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:36]
[IN Q=His institutional memory is]
((DEL. HARVEY MORGAN/(R) GLOUCESTER: HIS INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY IS VALUABLE TO ALL OF US. HIS TEMPERAMENT IS SOMETHING WE COULD ALL IMMOLATE AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE HAD HIM FOR A SPEAKER FOR 15 MINUTES. LAUGHTER))
[SUPER=01-Del. Harvey Morgan/(R) Gloucester;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=for 15 minutes... LAUGHTER]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Putney says he'll consider his wife's health when deciding whether or not to seek another term. He says he'll also consider the seniority he offers Central Virginia as Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:31:26]
[IN Q=Those strong assignemnts]
((DEL. LACY PUTNEY/(I) BEDFORD: THOSE STRONG ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT COME TO OUR AREA FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND THAT'S A FACTOR THAT I'M GOING TO CONSIDER AS WELL.))
[SUPER=@Putney;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=going to consider as well]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Putney says he'll make a final decision toward the end of the session.
(------------)

[Healthy-Living]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Healthy Living]
[ENG#=2]

The obesity epidemic has led Roanoke public libraries to team up with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to bring nutritional information to area youth.
(+++++++++++)
[Take FS Healthy Living]
Joy Sutton explains in this week's Healthy Living.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Healthy Weights, Healthy Kids]
[SUPER=@Joy1; :00Quick]
[SUPER=01-Kathy Carter/Roanoke Public Libraries; :29]
[SUPER=01-Gloria Harris/Virginia Cooperative Extension;1:45]
[RUNS=3:15]
[OUT Q=with this week's Healthy Living.]
(+++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

The program is a six week session starting January 20th for youth ages 9 to 14.
[SUPER=04- Meets Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.]
It meets every Thursday from 3 to 4pm at the Williamson Road Library. Registration is required. There is a limit of 20 people for this free program.
[SUPER=16-(540) 853-2340/Healthy Weights-Healthy Kids]
For more information call 540-853-2340.

(Kim tosses to bump)
[BUMP] [WINNER]