Morning news AM cutins on WDBJ 7 10/03/95

00:00-01

7Merger

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#95-78
GRAPHIC=U-S Air

A major merger could be in the making for two major airlines.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

United Airlines is looking into acquiring U-S Air-- but has NOT made a definite proposal.
American Airlines is ALSO reportedly interested in buying the airline.
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Some officials in the travel industry say the news is surprising.
(/////SOT/////)
extra bite on field tape
SOT Ludovici tape 11:25:00
IN Q=Something financial
((MEL LUDOVICI/MARTIN TRAVEL: SOMETHING FINANCIAL WAS EXPECTED WITH REGARD TO U-S AIR. THE FACT THAT A UNITED OR AN AMERICAN HAS CHOSEN TO LOOK INTO PURCHASING THEM, THAT'S OF COURSE A SURPRISE. ))
SUPER=01-Mel Ludovici/Martin Travel;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=a surprise
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Officials say U-S Air is attractive to both carriers because it would provide a competitive edge on the east coast.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT courtney tape 9:03:41
((MARK COURTNEY/AIRPORT SPOKESMAN: IT WOULD CATAPULT THOSE TWO-- WHICHEVER ONE WOULD ACQUIRE U-S AIR--WOULD CATAPULT THEM INTO THE NUMBER ONE SLOT BY FAR IN TERMS OF OVERALL MARKET SHARE AND NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED. ))
SUPER=01-Mark Courtney/Airport Spokesman;
RUNS=:12
OUT= of passengers carried.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Courtney says he does not think passengers would notice much difference in service or ticket prices.
But travel industry officials predict a buy- out would make Roanoke prices cheaper.
Local U-S Air officials would NOT comment-- saying that the proposed buy- out is still in the negotiating stage.
(----------------)

7Airport-Security

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=rjo
TAPE#95-67
GRAPHIC=None

Meantime, Roanoke Regional Airport is among airports across the nation stepping up security following the weekend conviction of ten muslims in the New York terrorism trial.
Ron Jones has more on the heightened alert.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=This weekend a
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :11
SUPER=01-Mark Courtney/Roanoke Regional Airport; :20
SUPER=01-Shawn Brown/Philadelphia, PA; :46
SUPER=01-Markliff Fountaine/Elliott City, MD; 1:00
SUPER=@Ron2; 1:15
RUNS=1:25
OUT Q=Ron Jones, News 7, Roanoke.

((This weekend a jury found the Sheik and nine other muslim militants GUILTY of plotting to bomb U-S landmarks to change American policies concerning the Middle East.
In Roanoke the Regional Airport has responded to the verdict.
SOT 03:19:22
((MARK COURTNEY/ROANOKE REGIONAL AIRPORT: THERE IS GOING TO BE AS FAR AS ROANOKE REGIONAL AIRPORT IS CONCERNED A NUMBER OF NEW SECURITY PROCEDURES THAT WILL BE NOTICEABLE TO PASSENGERS. BUT NOT ANYTHING THAT REALLY SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE TO PASSENGER TRAFFIC.))
RUNS=:15

Officials will check I-D's and ask passengers questions concerning their luggage.
Security is also on alert for any suspicious, unattended bags, parcels, or vehicles.
However, some travellers don't mind.
SOT 03:24:05
((SHAWN BROWN/PHILADELPHIA, PA: IT'S NECESSARY. I'D RATHER GO THROUGH THAT THAN GO THROUGH ANY TYPE OF PROBLEMS DURING THE FLIGHT OR PRIOR OR AFTER JUST BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CRAZY PEOPLE OUT THERE.))
RUNS=:10

Some say it's business as usual.
SOT 03:53:41
((MARKLIFF FOUNTAINE/ELLIOTT CITY, MD: I REALLY HAVEN'T NOTICED TOO MUCH CHANGE IN SECURITY. ORIGINALLY I'M FROM NEW JERSEY. OF COURSE THEIR SECURITY IS A BIT MORE OBVIOUS THAN IT IS IN ROANOKE OR BWI FOR THAT MATTER. BUT I REALLY HAVEN'T NOTICED TOO MANY CHANGES. NOTHING EXTREMELY OBVIOUS OR EXTREMELY INTENSIFYING.))
RUNS=:15

Since the conviction of the muslim militants the Secretary of Transportation has advised airport officials across the country to continue their heightened security indefinitely.
Ron Jones, News seven, Roanoke.))

7Plane-Crash

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE#edit of 95-87 (shacklefords)
GRAPHIC=none

An erased letter ``A'' is getting the attention of investigators of the plane crash near West Point that killed ten sky divers, the pilot and a man on the ground.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Shacklefords/September 10;

The mystery of the erased letter was discovered on a 19-67 supplement to the plane's flight manual.
The supplement lists planes approved by the F-A-A for flying with the cabin door removed.
Beechcraft's Queen Air Model A-65 is approved.
The plane that crashed was a Beechcraft Queen Air Model 65 ... which is NOT approved for flying without the door.
That plane's cabin door was NOT in place when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff.
(-------------)

7weather

55Welfare-Reform

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#95-71
GRAPHIC=VIRGINIA WELFARE

Five Central Virginia localities have embarked on Welfare reform.
Governor George Allen stopped by Lynchburg yesterday to garner support in the business community, which he's counting on to help find jobs for many welfare recipients.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The jobs are
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Yesterday; :00
SUPER=01-Kay Coles James/Health and Human Resources Sec'y; :12
SUPER=@Allen; :42
SUPER=@ssm1; :55
RUNS=1:13
OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.

(( The jobs are out there for those who are being told to get off welfare and find work.
But business leaders say many of the applicants they've seen are under- skilled and poorly educated.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:02:27 (#2)
IN Q=It seems to
((KAY COLES JAMES/HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES SECRETARY: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND EDUCATION REFORM IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO BRING OUT REAL AND LASTING CHANGE.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=lasting change.

It may not have been the message Governor George Allen wanted to hear, but this forum of social workers and business leaders was designed to help work out the kinks of welfare reform.
The Lynchburg area is the second in Virginia to phase in the new changes that limit benefits and require some recipients to find jobs.
Allen says success will mean a change in attitude.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:48:34 (#2)
IN Q=So the work
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: SO THE WORK ETHIC IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THIS EFFORT NOW, AND IF THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET WELFARE BENEFITS. NOW THAT CERTAINLY MAY BE A DRASTIC CHANGE, BUT IT'S THE CHANGE THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA ELECTED ME TO MAKE.))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=me to make.
(/////SOT/////)
SU
IN Q=Allen and his
((Allen and his staff readily admit that changing the mindset of many welfare recipients is a monumental task. But they're confident that change will come once word gets out the someone has been penalized for not looking for work or refusing to accept a perfectly good job. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.))

55Motor-Voter

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#95-73
GRAPHIC=Allen, George

Governor Allen's argument against the Motor Voter law will be heard today in a Richmond courtroom.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

It would allow voter registration at the D-M-V and social services offices.
Yesterday, on the eve of the Governor's court battle to reject what he calls an unfunded federal mandate, Democrats swore to try again to enact the law in Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((LT. GOV. DON BEYER: EVERY YEAR I WOULD GO THROUGH MY AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP, ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE VOTE ON TUESDAY. AND EVERY YEAR I'M STUNNED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME WHO AREN'T REGISTERED. AND WHEN I ASK WHY NOT, USUALLY WITH SOME INDIGNATION, IT'S ALWAY'S YOU KNOW "WHEN HAVE YOU GIVEN ME THE DAY OFF OR THE HALF DAY OFF FROM WORK?"))
sot 04:11:49
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: HE'S JUST SIMPLY WALKING IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION THAT WANTS TO DICTATE TO US AND FORCE US TO REGISTER PEOPLE AT WELFARE OFFICES.))
SUPER=@Beyer; :00
SUPER=@Allen; :18
RUNS=:25
OUT Q=welfare offices.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=election 95

And just a reminder: next Tuesday, October tenth, is the last day to register for the fall elections.

55BURGLARY

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=MORN
WRITER=BMY
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=none

Possible computer theft may behind the apprehension of burglary suspect captured Sunday in an attorney's office in the the First Union building.
22- year- old Alexandro Feliciano of Roanoke is being held under a 10-thousand dollar bond.
An attorney confronted Feliciano and and discovered he had accessed a computer in the office.
Police say Feliciano tried to escape, but officers arrived before he was able to get out of the building.

55Gingrich

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=gingrich

House Speaker Newt Gingrich will make a stop in Lynchburg next week to attend a church conference at Liberty University.
University chancellor Jerry Falwell says Gingrich will speak October ninth at the Super Conference, a four-day meeting of thousands of ministers and church workers.

55weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cuttin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=ess

Turning now to weather,
Today will be cloudy with a 60 percent chance of rain by late afternoon.
More rain is expected tonight.
Lows will be in the mid 60s.
Looking ahead,
Tomorrow, will be cloudy with a 60 percent chance of showers.
Highs will be in the mid 70s.
And look for more rain on Thursday and Friday, and clouds on Saturday.
Highs will be in the 70s with lows in the 50s. ((Closed captioning is brought to you by WDBJ-7 and Carilion Health System.))
SUPER=#D-57

8Roanoke-Murder

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cuttin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=Murder

Roanoke Police are investigating a fatal shooting this morning.
Around one this morning, police responded to shooting call on Signal Hill Avenue, Northwest.
Police found a male dead from a gun shot wound.
No arrest has been made.
The identity of the man is being withheld until next of kin is notify.

8Totten

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tha
TAPE#95-70
GRAPHIC=NONE

South Boston police have questions about a junior high school guidance counselor accused of writing a check from another man's account.
At first police thought 38- year old James Arthur Totten wrote the check using a dead man's check book.
Now, police believe the owner of the account was murdered after the check was written.
Teresa Hamilton has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Police say
SUPER=03-South Boston; :00
SUPER=01-Jim Hall/South Boston Police Chief; :17
SUPER=@Teresa1; :46
RUNS=1:08
OUT Q=Hamilton, News 7.

((Police say the check was written for more than 320- dollars to Leggett in South Boston.
Shortly afterward, authorities say Totten returned the merchandise to a Leggett in Danville and kept the cash.
Authorities say pictures taken by a store surveillance camera are their strongest piece of evidence.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((JIM HALL/SOUTH BOSTON POLICE CHIEF: A LOT OF THINGS DO NOT SURPRISE ME IN MY YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS SOMEWHAT OF AN UNUSUAL CRIME, YES. ))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=CRIME, YES.

What police say makes this case even more unusual is that the man who actually owned the account was murdered about three months later.
Police do NOT know the connection the 38- year- old Totten has to Kevin Slade.
But authorities say he is NOT a suspect in Slade's murder.
Another man has been convicted of the crime. take su
Authorities say school officials are aware of the allegations. During the course of their investigation South Boston police came to Yanceyville and questioned Totten on school property. end su
Totten works as a guidance counselor at Dillard junior high.
The Superintendent of schools there did not return our calls-- nor did Totten's attorney. Teresa Hamilton, News 7.))

8Airline

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=bmy
TAPE#95-78
GRAPHIC=us air

Two major airlines are are interested in buying U-S Air.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

United Airlines is looking into acquiring U-S Air-- but hasn't made any definite proposals.
American Airlines is also reportedly interested in buying the airline.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I think that
((MARK COURTNEY/AIRPORT SPOKESMAN: I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY, A UNITED OR AMERICAN AIRLINE PURCHASING AN AIRLINE LIKE U-S AIR WOULD BE DOING SO IN ORDER TO GIVE THEMSELVES A COMPETITIVE AND STRATEGIC EDGE ON THE EAST COAST. ))
SUPER=01-Mark Courtney/Airport Spokesman;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=east coast
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;
Courtney says he doesn't think passengers would notice much difference in service or ticket prices.
But travel industry officials predict a buy- out would have a noticeably positive effect.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
((MEL LUDOVICI/MARTIN TRAVEL: IF IT TAKES PLACE, AND IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER IT WILL-- IF IT TAKES PLACE, ROANOKE TRAVELERS WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE BETTER, NOT THE WORST. ))
SUPER=01-Mel Ludovici/Martin Travel;
RUNS=:08
OUT=not the worst.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Local U-S Air officials would not commen saying that the proposed buy- out is still in the negotiating stage.
(----------------)

8Scam

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#95-69
GRAPHIC=NONE

A Roanoke woman warns others to watch out for scams. She lost several hundred dollars to one last week.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Peggy Stem was shopping in a Roanoke office supply store Friday, when two women told her they had found an envelope full of money near her car.
They offered to divide the windfall three ways if she would provide money to even out the shares.
Ultimately, Stem lost the money she withdrew from her bank account and a cellular phone that was taken from her car.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=If you think that somebody's going
((PEGGY STEM: IF YOU THINK THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING, AND DO THIS, DON'T TAKE IT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO INVEST YOUR MONEY, INVEST IT WITH REPUTABLE PEOPLE, DON'T DO WHAT I DID.))
SUPER=07-Peggy Stem;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=do what I did.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE

Roanoke police say senior citizens are a favorite target of scam operators.

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cuttin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=ess

Turning now to weather,
There's a 60 percent chance of rain today.
More rain is expected tonight.
Lows will be in the mid 60s. ((Closed captioning is brought to you by WDBJ-7 and Carilion Health System.)) SUPER=#D-57