Morning news AM cutins on WDBJ 7 01/12/96

08:25-01

7STORM-TWO

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=MORNIN
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#=95-104
GRAPHIC=Winter Storm

For the second time in less than a week another winter storm is bearing down on Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;

The storm has dumped several inches of snow on the region but isn't packing quite the punch of storm number one.
The snow came late, is expected to leave early, and wasn't mixed with any ice.
Original snow total predictions of up to a foot ended up being about half of that, and it's a dry snow.
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :16

But it's still made driving conditions treacherous this morning.
On secondary roads officials say chains and snow tires are required and they are rcommended for main roads.
(----------------)

7snowy-weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=Winter Storm

Patrick Evens has been out in the snow much of the morning.
And joins us to tell us when we can expect it to stop falling.
Patrick?
Doublebox=mel/pev
mel toss to patrick
(patrick ad lib)
SUPER=@Patrick1;
SUPER=05-Roanoke;
patrick toss to mel

7Markets

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cutin
WRITER=tal
TAPE#95-103
GRAPHIC=Winter Storm

If you were unable to make it to the grocery store yesterday, you'll have a hard time today -
Not just getting there, but finding what you need once you're there.
As Tracy Altizer reports, shelves are bare at most stores.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Here at Wades
SUPER=03-Blacksburg; 00
SUPER=01-Ricky Hodge/Merita Delivery Driver; :09
SUPER=01-Greg Wade/Wade's Supermarkets; :20
SUPER=01-Rachel Katz/Virginia Tech Student; :46
SUPER=@Tracy1; :52
RUNS=1:04
OUT Q=News 7 Blacksburg.
(( Here at Wade's in the Blacksburg Shopping Center, the Merita Bread delivery man had a hard time getting his loaves TO the shelves, much less ON them.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:43:22
((RICKY HODGE/MERITA DELIVERY DRIVER: YOU GET MOBBED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE RACK. YOU LOSE ABOUT HALF YOUR LOAD BEFORE YOU GET BACK THERE. ))
RUNS=:05

Deliveries of just about everything are way behind from the first snowstorm, leaving supermarkets frantic in their efforts to feed the masses.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:15:42
((GREG WADE/WADE'S SUPERMARKETS: THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE'RE PROBABLY TWO OR THREE TIMES OVER NORMAL PROJECTIONS, WHICH THROWS US INTO A BIND. AND THEN TO HAVE THE TRUCKS COMING IN LATE ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO KEEP UP.))
RUNS=:11

Essentials such as bread and milk are in especially hot demand, but those shelves are pretty well cleared out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:47:55
((QUESTION: ARE YOU FINDING WHAT YOU NEED? ABOUT HALF. ))
RUNS=:03

It's the same story all over.
Take it from this Virginia Tech student who just returned to Blacksburg from Northern Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 15:53:38
((RACHAEL KATZ/VIRGINIA TECH STUDENT: WE SHOPPED AT GIANT AT HOME AND THEY WERE OUT OF BREAD AND MEAT. WE'RE JUST HOPING FOR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. ))
RUNS=:05

Here at Wades it only took that load of bread about 15 minutes to disappear. A little while later 80 gallons of milk arrived. It was gone almost just as quickly. Tracy Altizer, News 7 Blacksburg.))

55winter-wx

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=
TAPE#edit
GRAPHIC=Winter Storm

Get the shovels and snow chains out.
"Yes Virginia," it's snowing again.
Several inches of snow has fallen since late last night, in the footsteps of last weekends big winter blast.
Doublebox=mel/beth

Let's check in with Beth Myer to find out if the latest snowfall lived up to expectations.
LIVE=beth/full
SUPER=@Beth1;
SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;
RUNS=1:00
(-------------)
LIVE=beth/full
SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;
(beth ad lib)
beth tosses to mel

55General-Assembly

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of 95-105 (xgr)
GRAPHIC=general assembly

There may be a chill in the air but in Richmond things are warming up a bit between Democrats and Republicans.
In the deadlocked Senate the two sides reached an unprecedented power-sharing agreement.
It puts the G-O-P on nearly equal ground.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday

Under an arrangement hammered out early this morning, Republicans- will:
-- get outright control of three of eleven committees in the Senate -- a first in Virginia,
-- chair a Democrat- majority committee,
-- and share the chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee, which gains two new members in the shuffle.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

Norfolk Senator Yvonne Miller also becomes the first woman to chair a Senate Committee in state history.
Democrats lost their stranglehold on the Senate for the first time this century when the November elections left the chamber with 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans.

55Allen

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=allen

Meantime, published reports this morning say Governor Allen has fired the director of the Virginia Employment Commission.
Today's "Richmond Times-Dispatch" reports Kenneth Bolles was fired because he opposed Allen's proposal to merge the V-E-C into a new Department of Business Assistance.
But a source close to the Administration says Bolles was fired because he was quote "a horrible manager."
SS=bell, brandon

Former Roanoke Senator Brandon Bell had applied for the ABC Commissioner position but was NOT appointed.

55Buster-Brown

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=layoffs

Buster Brown Apparel will close a Smyth County sewing plant this spring, laying off more than 200 employees.
The Tennessee-based children's clothing manufacturer says the decision to close the plant was based on poor back-to-school and Christmas sales.
Officials in Smyth County are talking with the Virginia Employment Commission and other agencies about retraining and job placement programs for employees at the facility.

55weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morning
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Taking another look at the weather.
Expect the snow to taper off by late this morning with accumulations of 4 to 7 inches.
HIghs will be near 30.
Tonight- gradual clearing mid 20's.
Looking ahead.
A warm trend, highs in the low to middle 40's by Sunday.

8Snow

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#95-114
GRAPHIC=sequel 96

Round two of the nasty winter weather in the region is making things difficult for travelers again today.
But a bit of good news.
The storm isn't as bad as predicted.
The snow came late, is expected to leave early, and it's the light, fluffy variety.
Len Besthoff was out tracking the snow in the New River Valley this morning and files this report.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=(opens with a quick bite)
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :06
SUPER=01-Carolyn Swecker/Pulaski Motorist; :18
SUPER=01-Jay Fredericks/Truck Driver; :34
SUPER=@Len1; :48
RUNS=1:07
OUT Q=besthoff, news 7

8snowy-weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=
TAPE#=NONE
GRAPHIC=Sequel '96

Patrick Evans is also out in the white stuff.
Patrick when can we expect it too let up?

Doublebox=mel/patrick
SUPER=@Patrick1;
SUPER=05-Roanoke;
(patrick ad lib)
patrick toss to mel

8General-Assembly

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of 95-105 (xgr)
GRAPHIC=general assembly

Turning now to state political news, a landmark agreement has been reached in the state senate.
Democrats and Republicans have reached an unprecedented power-sharing agreement.
It puts the G-O-P on nearly equal ground.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday;

Under an arrangement hammered out early this morning, Republicans will get outright control of three of eleven committees in the Senate -- a first in Virginia.
They'll also chair a Democrat- majority committee, and share the chairmanship of the powerful Finance Committee, which will gain two new members in the shuffle.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

Norfolk Senator Yvonne (EE-vonn) Miller also becomes the first woman to chair a Senate Committee in state history.
Democrats lost their stranglehold on the Senate for the first time this century when the November elections left the chamber with 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans.