08:25-01

7Bedford-Fire

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-3
GRAPHIC=arson


Bedford County fire investigators believe they have an arsonist on their hands.
Since early yesterday morning, five separate structure fires have been deliberately set in the Boonsboro- Big Island area of the county.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night


The latest was last night, it destroyed a hay barn off Route 5-0-1.
Authorities say they do believe all five fires are related, and their investigation is making some progress.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:25:59
IN Q=We have
SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=have some physical evidence.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night;


Also last night, someone set fire to several storage areas at the Ramada Inn in Lynchburg.
A half dozen separate fires were discovered shortly after midnight, and kept fire crews busy for about two hours.
The fire destroyed several mattresses-- and smoke damaged a number of rooms at the motel.
No arrests have been made.
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7Fire


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# edit of 96-10
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Yesterday;


In Roanoke County, an appliance appears to be the cause of a house fire on Terry Drive yesterday afternoon.
Officials say the blaze was knocked down in a matter of minutes.
The fire was contained to the basement, but the rest of the house received smoke damage.
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7Griffis


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-16; edit 96-8
GRAPHIC=Griffis, Jerry


A court appearance today for a Franklin County man accused of killing his his five- month- old baby boy.
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VO-NAT


26-year-old Jerry Griffis was arrested in February after his son died at Community Hospital in Roanoke.
However, police later found out Griffis was also a fugitive from Florida.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=Griffis, Jerry


Griffis, a convicted child molester, fled a Gainesville court room six years ago before the jury returned a verdict.
He faces multiple life sentences for sexually abusing a five- year- old Florida youngster.

7Incomes


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


A University of Virginia study concludes that personal incomes in the state have remained the same while the gap between rich and poor has widened in recent years.
Based on the most recent available tax figures, the study found that gross income for married couples in 19-93 was forty-one-thousand, five-hundred dollars -- just three-tenths of a percent higher than the previous year.
The study says married couples in Virginia still have not exceeded the buying power they had in 19-86, before the last recession.


7Common-Sense


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-18
GRAPHIC=common sense


And speaking of personal income, is time to start thinking about filing your taxes. In this week's edition of Common Sense, Len Besthoff explores who you can claim as a dependent.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Our latest
SUPER=01-Gary Duerk/Brown, Edwards, & Company;
SUPER=@Len1; :42
RUNS=:57
OUT Q=back to the newsdesk.

((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:07:04
IN Q=Our latest stop

((Our latest stop on Income Tax Tour 96 takes us to Brown Edwards and Company in Roanoke. They say you can save a lot of money by claiming dependents on your income taxes by claiming dependents...today they talk about who you can claim.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=can claim.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:45:04
IN Q=Well of course

((GARY DUERK/BROWN, EDWARDS, & COMPANY: WELL OF COURSE FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT IS YOUR CHILDREN. YOU CAN CLAIM THOSE. AND YOU CAN ALSO CLAIM YOUR PARENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THE IRS LOOKS TO IS IF YOU PROVIDE MORE THAN 50-PERCENT OF THEIR SUPPORT. AND THAT INCLUDES HOUSING AND CLOTHING AND FOOD OBVIOUSLY. BUT IF THEY'RE RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT IN THERE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED A SUPPORT FROM YOU. AND SECONDLY THEY MUST BE A U-S CITIZEN OR A MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD. AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE GROSS INCOME UNDER 25-HUNDRED-DOLLARS. UNLESS THEY'RE AGE 19 OR IF THEY'RE OVER 19 AND A FULL-TIME STUDENT UP TO AGE 24, THEN THEY CAN EARN IN EXCESS OF 25-HUNDRED AND STILL BE CLAIMED AS YOUR DEPENDENT.))
RUNS=:41
OUT Q=as your dependent.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:08:22
IN Q=I'm Len Besthoff

((I'm Len Besthoff with this week's edition of Common Sense. Let's send it back to the newsdesk.))
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=back to the newsdesk.))



7Weather


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Turning now to the forecast -
More record-breaking cold temperatures this morning.
For today, it'll be sunny, with highs in the low 40s.
Clear skies and more cold temperatures tonight - lows 15 to 20 degrees.


55Arson


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#edit of bedford-fire 96-3
GRAPHIC=arson


Bedford County firefighters spent the weekend battling a string of suspicious structure fires.
Beginning early yesterday morning, five separate fires were deliberately set in the Boonsboro- Big Island area of the county.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night


The latest occurred last, it destroyed a hay barn off Route 5-0-1 last night.
Authorities say they do believe all five fires are related, and their investigation is making some progress.
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night;


Also last night, someone set fire to several storage areas at the Ramada Inn in Lynchburg.
The fire destroyed several mattresses - and some rooms suffered damage from smoke.
No arrests have been made.
(----------------)



55XGR


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE# 96-15
GRAPHIC=Session '96


An overnight session in the General Assembly resulted in a compromise agreement in a 35 billion dollar spending plan.
But the deal wasn't reached fast enough to avoid sending the 19-96 session into a second day of overtime.
Meantime, the governor's office failed to reach an agreement with Democrat Dick Cranwell on Juvenile justice reform.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Let us be
SUPER=01-Rev. George Williams/Deputy House Clerk; :03
SUPER=03-Richmond/Yesterday; :10
SUPER=@Allen; :17
SUPER=@Ellen2; :32
SUPER=@Cranwell; :41
SUPER=01-Sen. Stanley Walker/(D) Norfolk; 1:22
SUPER=01-Del. Earl Dickenson/(D) Louisa; 1:34 QUICK!
RUNS=1:44
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.


(( ((REV. GEORGE WILLIAMS/DEPUTY HOUSE CLERK: LET US BE IN PRAYER. MY LORD WHAT A WEEKEND. THE SESSION. THE END OF THE SESSION IS ALMOST IN SIGHT.))
The handful of lawmakers assigned to iron out the last details of a massive overhaul to the juvenile court system are the final holdouts. ((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: THERE ARE MACHINATIONS. THERE'S HOSTAGE TAKING THAT OCCURS IN THESE SESSIONS AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PRISONERS THAT WILL PROBABLY GET RELEASED AT THE LAST SECOND. YOU MIGHT RECALL LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T GET WELFARE REFORM RELEASED UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE.))
Like welfare reform, Democrats are trying to claim some of the bragging rights from Allen on juvenile justice reform.
But they react angrily to the suggestion they're trying to torpedo the bill. ((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/D-VINTON: come here a minute. LET ME TELL YOU THAT THAT IS THE FURTHEREST THING FROM THE TRUTH. WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE TAKE THIS -- WHAT I THINK IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT STEP -- ON JUVENILE JUSTICE, THAT WE ALSO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND THAT WE FUND THE PROGRAM ADEQUATELY SO THAT WE NOT ONLY PUNISH BUT THAT WE ALSO MAKE AN HONEST TO GOD ATTEMPT TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE.))
Norfolk Democrat Jerrauld Jones was the Democrats' point man on the reform effort -- and his side wants more rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention money than Allen's staff wants.
But the nine powerful politicians who've tailored the Governor's original budget over the last few days say they're proud of the end product. ((SEN. STANLEY WALKER/D-NORFOLK: WE AGREED WITH THE HOUSE ON THE TEACHER SALARIES. ... HIGHER EDUCATION.)) ((DEL. EARL DICKENSON/D-LOUISA: AT THE END WE'RE ALL HAPPY.))
On at least one issue, that remains to be seen.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

55Budget


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=session 96


The budget plan does have small pay raises for teachers, larger ones for other state workers, a two year tuition freeze at colleges, and 163- million dollars for college building projects.
It also has increased economic development money and puts off a decision on what to do with some state profits from Trigon's conversion to a for- profit company.

55Warner


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#file of 95-78
GRAPHIC=campaign 96


Democrat Mark Warner is expected to officially announce his plans to run for the Senate today.
Senator JOHN Warner has already announced his plan to seek re-election.
Mark Warner will be in Richmond this morning to make a formal announcement.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Last year, the millionaire from Alexandria stepped down as his party's chairman to concentrate on the race.
(----------------)



55Weather


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Turning now to the forecast -
More record-breaking cold temperatures this morning.
For today, it'll be sunny, with highs in the low 40s.
Tonight expect Clear skies and more cold temperatures tonight with lows in the mid teens to low 20's.

8Boonsboro-Fire


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-3
GRAPHIC=arson


Bedford County authoritis are looking for an arsonist this morning, following a string of suspicious structure fires.
Starting early yesterday morning, five separate fires were deliberately set in the Boonsboro- Big Island area of the county.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co./Last Night


The latest fire destroyed a hay barn off Route 5-0-1 last night.
Authorities say they do believe all five fires are related, and their investigation is making some progress.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 2:25:59
IN Q=We have
SUPER=01-Mike Brown/Bedford Co. Sheriff; :00
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=have some physical evidence.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Last Night;


Also last night, someone set fire to several storage areas at the Ramada Inn in Lynchburg.
A half dozen separate fires were discovered shortly after midnight, keeping fire crews busy there for about two hours.
The fire destroyed several mattresses and smoke damaged a number of rooms.
No arrests have been made.
(----------------)

wipe/wipe/wipe

8Fire


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# edit of 96-10
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Yesterday;


A house fire on Terry Drive in Roanoke County appears to have been caused by an appliance.
Officials say yesterday afternoon's blaze was knocked down in a matter of minutes.
The fire was contained to the basement, but the rest of the house received smoke damage.
(----------------)



8Stock-Market


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=jmo
TAPE# 96-17
GRAPHIC=Stock Market


Anxious Wall Street traders are braced for another wild ride today, after a slide on Friday that pushed the Dow Jones Indusrial average down 171 points.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY/Friday;


It was the third biggest point drop on record.
Bonds also suffered their worst day in 20 years.
But many analysts say they aren't expecting a drop like 19-87.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:15:14
IN Q=Even it we

((RICHARD FISCHER/A.G. EDWARDS & SONS: EVEN IF WE HAVE SOME FOLLOW THROUGH MONDAY THAT'S HOW THE MARKET MOVES AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE A CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN.))
SUPER=01-Richard Fischer/A.G. Edwards & Sons;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=great concern.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Since the Dow has been so high, Friday's percentage drop DOES NOT rank among the top 100 worst days for the market.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 4:15:00
IN Q=The market

((FISCHER: THE MARKET HAS GONE UP AT A FAIRLY RAPID CLIP FOR SOMETIME NOW AND RETRENCHMENT OR RETRACEMENT OF SOME OF THE UPWARD MOVE IS VERY NATURAL. ))
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=very natural
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold


The stock and bond markets plunged following a Labor Department report showing a strong employment situation in February.

8Budget


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=CUTIN
WRITER=equ
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=session 96


The General Assembly meets today in its second day of overtime.
Budget negotiators overnight agreed to a compromise 35- billion dollar spending plan.
The budget plan includes small pay raises for teachers, larger ones for other state workers, a two year tuition freeze at colleges, and 163- million dollars for college building projects.
Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the budget this afternoon.

8Dog-Show


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=11
WRITER=Dal
TAPE# 96-9
GRAPHIC=None


Man's best friend put on quite a show this weekend at the Salem Civic Center.
The Roanoke and James River Kennel Clubs drew spectators and contestants from across the country for a dog show.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;


Four-legged visitors from all over the country traveled to Salem for the show.
Even these contestants needed a shampoo and blow-dry before appearing in front of the judges.
But beauty is not a factor.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:39:33
IN Q=it also helps

((DEBBIE STRAW/JAMES RIVER KENNEL CLUB PRES.: IT ALSO HELPS ESTABLISH THE BETTERMENT OF EACH BREED. IF WE'RE OUT HERE SHOWING THESE DOGS THEN HOPEFULLY WE'RE PICKING THE BEST DOGS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BREED TO THOSE DOGS AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE BREED.))
SUPER=01-Debbie Straw/James River Kennel Club Pres.; :12 QUICK!!
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=IMPROVE THE BREED
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The two day event included obedience trials.
Winners of these shows earn points which go toward a championship title.
(----------------)


8Weather


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=nle
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Turning now to the forecast -
More record-breaking cold temperatures this morning in Roanoke and Lynchburg.
This afternoon will be sunny, with highs in the low to mid 40s.
Tonight expect Clear skies and more cold temperatures. Lows will be in the mid teens to low 20's.
by SS