WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/09/96

08:25-01

7Fatal-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 95-111
GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire

In Henry County, a mother made a desparate attempt to save her three young children from their burning home.
But she could not save the life of her youngest child, a six month old baby.
Her two other children were seriously injured.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Yesterday;

The fire broke out yesterday in the Grassy Creek area of the county.
Fire officials say Keysha Thomas apparently died of smoke inhalation.
Her siblings, 18 month- old Deonte (Dee-On-Tay) Thomas and two- year old Latasha Thomas were flown to the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
The mother, Vivian Thomas, was at a neighbor's house when the fire broke out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:40:15
IN Q=When she got
((JEFF RAKES/HORSEPASTURE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.: WHEN SHE GOT BACK OVER TO THE HOUSE SHE WENT IN AND HANDED THE CHILDREN OUT THE WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE MEMBERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. ))
SUPER=01-Jeff Rakes/Horsepasture Vol. Fire Dept.;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=on the scene.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Vivian Thomas was treated for smoke inhalation.
Rakes says it appears the fire started in the kitchen.
(----------------)

7Amherst-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ssm
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Amherst Co./This Morning

A fire in the kitchen of a Madison Heights home sent a couple to the hospital earlier this morning.
Firefighters were called to this house on Arrowhead Lane just after four.
Fire investigators say a kerosene heater apparently malfunctioned.
The two residents were able to escape the blaze by jumping out of a bedroom window.
The husband sustained first and second degree burns...his wife, suffered smoke inhalation.
They were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital.
(----------------)

7Child-Abuse

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-8
GRAPHIC=Session 96

Richmond lawmakers debated a controversial child abuse bill yesterday.
The proposed legislation aims to make it easier for social workers to file complaints.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday;

The bill lowers the reason for complaints from "clear and convincing evidence" of child abuse to "a preponderence of evidence."
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:47:39
IN Q=Those scales
((SEN. BO TRUMBO/R-BOTETOURT CO.: THOSE SCALES THAT WE WEIGH OUR JUSTICE ON HAVE TO BE PUSHED MORE THAN JUST A SLIGHT TIP IN ONE DIRECTION. THIS IS AN ABUSE CASE. THEY CAN TAKE CHILDREN FROM YOU.)) ((SEN. JOE GARTLAN/D-FAIRFAX: YOU ARE NOT TRUSTING THE MATTER TO OVERZEALOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTING ON THEIR OWN.)) ((WE INTERVIEWED JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT JUDGES IN ALL THE MAJOR AREAS OF THE COMMONWEALTH. FAIRFAX, TIDEWATER, ROANOKE. UNIFORMLY, THESE JUDGES PRAISE ALMOST WITHOUT QUALIFICATION, THE WORK THAT CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS DO IN BRINGING THEIR CASES TO COURT.))
SUPER=@Trumbo;
SUPER=01-Sen. Joe Gartlan/(D) Fairfax; :13
RUNS=:37
OUT Q=cases to court.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Lieutenant Governor Don Beyer broke a tie to send the bill on to the House.
It includes an amendment guaranteeing parents quick court hearings to clear their names if they've been falsely accused.
(-------0---------)

7Blizzard-Aid

ANCHOR=Beth
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of snow -- 95-103
GRAPHIC=none

Federal help is on the way to help recover from the Blizzard of '96.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says all Virginia cities and counties are now eligible for federal disaster aid for snow removal costs from the big storm.
The declaration of eligibility yesterday allows the federal government to reimburse localities for the costs of equipment, contracts and personnel overtime required to clear emergency snow routes.
(-------------)

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mornin
WRITER=mel
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to the forecast.
A very nice Friday for those who are winter weary, today will be mostly sunny and breezing with highs in the mid 50's.
Tonight will be clear lows in the mid 30's.
Looking ahead to the weekend, check out Saturday, it will be mostly sunny with highs, yes in the low 60's.
Then temperatures drop again by the start of the work week.
Stayed tuned to this station for school cancellations and delays.

55Brzonkala

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#95-113
GRAPHIC=gilmore

A former Virginia Tech student who claims two Tech football players raped her on campus has sold her story to a Tabloid.
Meantime, Virginia's Attorney General is taking the rape allegations very seriously and has called in the State Police to investigate.
Ellen Qualls has more.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Civil attorney
SUPER=03-Richmond; :00
SUPER=@Gilmore; :08
SUPER=01-Eileen Wagner/Brzonkala's Attorney; :30
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape; 1:08
SUPER=@Ellen1; :1:17
RUNS=1:29
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.
(( Civil attorney Eileen Wagner says she merely requested the Attorney General's public statements on campus sexual assault.
sot 04:03:51
((ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM GILMORE: HER LETTER...INVESTIGATION.))
RUNS=:22

SOT 31:11
((EILEEN WAGNER/BRZONKALA'S ATTORNEY: ATTORNEY GENERAL GILMORE HAS AN EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD... AT THE CUTTING EDGE.))
RUNS=:13

But Wagner says the probe will actually complicate her civil cases against Tech for violating women's rights, and against the two accused players for the alleged rape itself.
sot 37:51
((BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES TOTALLY UNSOLICITED... MORALLY OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT))
RUNS=:13

Virginia Tech says it welcomes the State probe -- pointing out it's NOT about the university -- it's about this man-- Tony Morrison and his alleged accomplice James Crawford.
We'd love to let you hear what Christy Brzonkala herself thinks of this probe, but she's sold her story to a tabloid show and by contract can't talk to us before that story airs next week. Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

55Henry-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 95-111
GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire

A house fire in Henry County has taken the life of a baby and left two toddlers in serious condition.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Yesterday;

The fire broke at about 3-30 in the Grassy Creek area of the county.
Fire officials say Keysha Thomas apparently died of smoke inhalation.
Her siblings, 18 month- old Deonte (Dee-On-Tay) Thomas and two- year old Latasha Thomas were flown to the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
The mother, Vivian Thomas, was at a neighbor's house when she spotted the
fire. (/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:40:15
IN Q=When she got
((JEFF RAKES/HORSEPASTURE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.: WHEN SHE GOT BACK OVER TO THE HOUSE SHE WENT IN AND HANDED THE CHILDREN OUT THE WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE MEMBERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. ))
SUPER=01-Jeff Rakes/Horsepasture Vol. Fire Dept.;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=on the scene.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Vivian Thomas was treated for smoke inhalation.
Rakes says it appears the fire started in the kitchen.
(----------------)
wipe wipe wipe

55blaze

55weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mornin
WRITER=mel
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to the forecast.
A very nice Friday for those who are winter weary.
Today will be mostly sunny and breezing with highs in the mid 50's.
Tonight will be clear lows in the mid 30's.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 60's.
There's a chance for rain on Sunday. Despite the mild temperatures out there, the ground has not warmed up yet, and ice on roads appears to be a widespread problem this morning.
State Police are reporting numerous accidents.
And the schools in the Alleghany Highlands district are now CLOSED for today, due to icy driving conditions.
Stayed tuned to this station for school cancellations and delays.

8Fatal-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 95-111
GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire

A house fire in Henry County has killed a six- month- old girl.
Her brother and sister are in critical condition.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co./Yesterday;

The fire broke out yesterday in the Grassy Creek area of the county.
Fire officials say Keysha Thomas apparently died of smoke inhalation.
Her siblings, 18 month- old Deonte (Dee-On-Tay) Thomas and two- year old Latasha Thomas were flown to the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
The mother, Vivian Thomas, was at a neighbor's house when she saw the fire.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 8:40:15
IN Q=When she got
((JEFF RAKES/HORSEPASTURE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.: WHEN SHE GOT BACK OVER TO THE HOUSE SHE WENT IN AND HANDED THE CHILDREN OUT THE WINDOWS IN THE HOUSE TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE MEMBERS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. ))
SUPER=01-Jeff Rakes/Horsepasture Vol. Fire Dept.;
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=on the scene.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Vivian Thomas was treated for smoke inhalation.
Rakes says it appears the fire started in the kitchen.
(----------------)

8Amherst-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ssm
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Amherst Co./This Morning

Another fire, this one in Madison Heights on Arrowhead Lane, sent a couple to the hospital early this morning.
Fire investigators say a kerosene heater apparently malfunctioned.
The two residents were able to escape the blaze by jumping out of a bedroom window.
The husband sustained first and second degree burns...his wife, suffered smoke inhalation.
(----------------)

8Telecommunications

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-5
GRAPHIC=Telecommunications Law

The ink is barely dry on the overhaul of the telecommunications law, but one of its provisions already is being challenged.
The A-C-L-U and other groups are challenging one section of the law that outlaws the transmission of indecent and sexually explicit materials to minors over computer networks.
Len Bestoff has more on the new law that opens the way to new forms of communication through telephones, T-V sets and computers.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=President Clinton
SUPER=03-Washington DC/Yesterday; :00
SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :33
SUPER=01-Jim Pfleger/NRV Net; :38
SUPER=@Len1; :44
SUPER=01-Steven Shapiro/ACLU Legal Director; 1:04
SUPER=03-Roanoke; 1:15
RUNS=1:23
OUT Q=LB, News-7.
(( President Clinton has signed the most sweeping reform of the telecommunications industry in 62 years.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT THURS 4-5 FEED TOT 16:46:13
IN Q=This revolution
((BILL CLINTON: THIS REVOLUTION HAS BEEN HELD BACK BY OUTDATED LAWS DESIGNED FOR A TIME WHEN THERE WAS ONE PHONE COMPANY, THREE T-V NETWORKS, AND NO SUCH THING AS A PERSONAL COMPUTER.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=personal computer.

Among other things, it allows phone and cable companies to combine services, ends federal controls on many cable T-V rates, and has provisions against T-V Violence and the transmission of Adult Material on Computer Networks.
Internet providers say the law erases regulations that kept them from serving people in rural areas.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:24:24
IN Q=It means
((JIM PFLEGER/NRV NET: IT MEANS ALMOST IMMEDIATE ACCESS FOR THEM. IT WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE IN VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY EQUIPMENT COSTS OR HIGH TARIFF COSTS.))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=high tariff costs.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT standup
IN Q=But as
(( But as limitless as the possibilities may be with these reforms, they may not go into effect right away.
Because, as promised, a number of civil liberties groups are challenging the law's anti-smut provisions.))
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=anti-smut provisions.

The provisions are intended to keep indecent online material from minors.
But the American Civil Liberties Union says the term "indecent" casts too wide a net.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 16:48:11 from THURS 4-5 FEED
IN Q=If a
((STEVEN SHAPIRO/ACLU LEGAL DIRECTOR: IF A LAW GOES INTO AFFECT IT IS GOING TO PROHIBIT MINORS FROM RECEIVING A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION WE ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY ENTITLED TO RECEIVE AND THEN IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES IT MIGHT BE LIFESAVING FOR THEM TO RECEIVE.))
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=for them to receive.

The ACLU says minors need access to information on AIDS prevention and sexual abuse, for example.
Len Besthoff, News-7.))

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=mornin
WRITER=mel
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to the forecast.
A very nice Friday for those who are winter weary.
Today will be mostly sunny and breezing with highs in the mid 50's.
Tonight will be clear lows in the mid 30's.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 60's.
There's a chance fore rain and Sunday and slighter cooler temperatures, in the 50's.
And a slight cooling trend at the start of the work week.
Despite the mild temperatures out there, be careful on the roads this morning, State Police say cars are sliding on black ice. Jackson River Technical Center are closed today due to slick conditions. In fact schools in the Alleghany Highlands and Amherst County as well as the