WDBJ 7 morning news for 05/31/96

06:00-01

HEADLINES

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The war between Israel and Muslim guerrillas in Lebanon is heating up.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie 2 shot

The attacks come with the outcome of Wednesday's election for Israeli prime minister still unresolved, but absentee ballots may seal the election for challenger Benjamin Netanyahu. wx-head/live-head
(larry ad lib)
ANCHOR=Melanie 2 shot

News 7 Mornin' is next.

israel

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

Election officials in Israel are counting the final group of ballots in the Jewish state's cliffhanger election.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel;

The Central Elections Committee has begun the tally of 154-thousand absentee ballots from soldiers, overseas diplomats and people confined to hospitals.
Benjamin Netanyahu (net-an-YAH'-hoo) leads Prime Minister Shimon Peres by less than one percentage point.
Some analysts think there could be a slowdown in Middle East peacemaking if Netanyahu is elected, but Netanyahu says he's committed to the peace process and will honor all agreements.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((MR. NETANYAHU IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING PEACE WITH SECURITY. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=with security.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Experts say the absentee ballots should lean toward Netanyahu.
Election officials say they expect to finish counting the ballots before the Sabbath begins later today and announce the unofficial results.
(----------------)
WIPE/WIPE/WIPE

Bombing

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Southern Lebanon;

Meantime, Israeli war planes have been busy this morning.
They blasted a Hezbollah base in east Lebanon in retaliation for a two-bomb guerrilla ambush that killed four soldiers in south Lebanon yesterday.
There are no reports on casualties in today's pre-dawn attack.
(----------------)

Local-Israel

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-41
GRAPHIC=NONE

A Middle East expert at Virginia Tech says the Netanyahu victory could be a political setback for President Clinton.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg;

William Ochsenwald (OX-en-wahld) says the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement was Clinton's greatest foreign policy accomplishment.
But he believes Netanyahu's election will stall the process, and tarnish it's significance where Clinton is concerned.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 21:03:
IN Q=
((WILLIAM OCHSENWALD/VA TECH HISTORY PROFESSOR: HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DOWNPLAY THE WHOLE QUESTION OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR THE UPCOMING U.S. ELECTION. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SEEN AS BEING AS MUCH OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AS IT WOULD'BE BEEN IF LABOR HAD WON. ))
SUPER=01-William Ochsenwald/Va. Tech History Professor;
RUNS=:15
OUT Q=if Labor had won.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Ochsenwald says the President's best course of action will be to encourage the new Israeli government to continue the peace process.
(----------------)

Rutledge

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# edit of 96-44 -- festival
GRAPHIC=festival in the park

A federal judge says the Roanoke Festival in the Park trampled on the Bill of Rights when it ejected a candidate for passing out campaign literature.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

U-S District Judge James Turk yesterday issued a temporary restraining order to prevent Festival from barring Jay Rutledge the third.
Rutledge is collecting petition signatures to qualify as a Libertarian Party candidate for the sixth district seat in Congress.
Rutledge said when he began handing out campaign literature last weekend, festival officials told him to leave.
Festival director Wendi Schultz said the organization has a firm rule against handing out pamphlets.
(-------------)

1-Sports

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cro
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=none

Turning now to sports --
Hockey's rat race may continue in Florida next week now that the Panthers have forced a seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals.
Mike Stevens has the details.
Good morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=good morning
RUNS=1:36
OUT Q=little bit

One-Larry

ANCHOR=Larry
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ldo
TAPE#M96-5 Aaron Tippin
CHROMAKEY=Live/Microwave
GRAPHIC=none

SUPER=11-Roanoke;
SUPER=15-Larry Dowdy;

(Roll cue:) This morning, we check out Aaron Tippin's fan appeal.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Aaron Tippin has...
SUPER=24-Last Friday; :00
SUPER=13-Aaron Tippin/RCA Recording Artist; :39
RUNS=2:33
OUT Q=Nashville, TN 37212.
(-------------)
LIVE=Larry/Full
(Larry does short weather & toss to bump)

ACLU-Prayer

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-29
GRAPHIC=Education

Virginia high schools will re-define their relationship with school prayer over the next few weeks-- as graduation ceremonies are held around the state.
And the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has a timely warning.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

The state A-C-L-U says it will sue any high school that knowingly approves student- initiated prayer at a graduation ceremony.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 04:00:01
IN Q=They say
((KENT WILLIS/VA. ACLU: THEY SAY JOHNNY, OR MARY, YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES ON THE PROGRAM TO SAY ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO CENSOR WHAT YOU SAY IN ANY WAY AT ALL -- THEN IF THAT PERSON CHOOSES TO SAY A PRAYER, THEN THEY'RE FREE TO DO IT. IF THE SCHOOL SAYS YOUR SPEECH IS PART OF OUR CEREMONY AND WE CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATE THIS ENTIRE CEREMONY. WE WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ENDORSE YOUR MESSAGE. IF THE SCHOOL SAYS THAT THEN THE STUDENT CAN'T INCORPORATE A PRAYER.))
SUPER=01-Kent Willis/Va. ACLU;
RUNS=:27
OUT Q=incorporate a prayer.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=Education

Willis says the state Board of Education's recently released guidelines for religious activity in schools are misleading.
He says the guidelines imply it's okay to PLAN student prayer.
But a federal court in Alexandria clearly said that was UNconstitutional in a 1994 case in Loudoun County.

Goals-2000

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-34
GRAPHIC=Governor George Allen

The deadline to apply for federal Goals 2000 money has passed.
Virginia was the only state that rejected it.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

Governor Allen got news that New Hampshire became the 49th state to let schools apply for the federal education dollars.
He then blasted Lieutenant Governor Don Beyer for criticizing his latest proposal.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:17:17
IN Q=Then for
((THEN FOR I THINK PURELY PETTY POLITICAL REASONS THEY OPPOSE OUR PRINCIPLED STAND AND I THINK HARM OUR ABILITY TO GET A WAIVER.))
SUPER=@Allen;
RUNS=:09
OUT Q=a waiver.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=NONE

Beyer says he'll stand with Allen in federal negotiations when he thinks the Governor is right.
The U.S. Department of Education says Virginia could still get the money if it agrees to some conditions- such as allowing teachers to use the money for professional training, and reporting back on how the funds are spent.

Atkinson

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=allen, george

Meantime -- Governor Allen loses another member of his flock.
Allen's chief legal advisor says he's leaving.
Frank Atkinson announced yesterday that he'll go back to practicing law in September.
He says he wants to spend more time with his wife and two sons.
That's three losses this month for Allen.

Internet

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=Sta
TAPE#96-35
GRAPHIC=Computers

Students in the area will soon surf the internet for free.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Daleville;

R-and-B Communications is providing free internet access to schools in Roanoke and Botetourt counties and Roanoke city.
Students will get their own address on the Internet and will be able to create their own homepages.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12.53.29 - 12.53.42
IN Q=We feel that
((SAM HAMPTON/R&B COMMUNICATIONS; WE FEEL THAT THE INTERNET CAN BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS AND KIDS ACROSS THE ROANOKE VALLEY TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.))
SUPER=01-Sam Hampton/R&B Communications;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=further their education;
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The school computers will be equipped with Internet blockers to prevent students from accessing obscene material.
Students in Salem are already taking advantage of the free hook-up.
Access for Roanoke county and Roanoke city schools will begin in the fall.
(----------------)

2-scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=nba playoffs

In sports --
Karl Malone scored 32 points as Utah extended the N-B-A's Western Conference finals to a seventh game by ripping Seattle 118-to-83.
Let's check out the scoreboards.
(////////////////)
SUPER=#C-200;
SUPER=96-Utah/118/Seattle/=83;

SUPER=103-Florida/==4/Pittsburgh/==3;

SUPER=91-White Sox/==8/Detroit/==2//Cleveland/==2/Milwaukee/==0;
SUPER=91-Boston/=10/Seattle/==1;

SUPER=92-NY Mets/==1/San Francisco/==0//Philadelphia/==3/Los Angeles/==2;

SUPER=93-Lynchburg/==7/Frederick/==3//Frederick/==6/Lynchburg/==5;

Two-Larry

ANCHOR=Larry
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ldo
CHROMAKEY=Live/Microwave
GRAPHIC=none

SUPER=11-Roanoke;
SUPER=15-Larry Dowdy;

SS=(Festival in the Park boards-ESS#)
FESTIVAL IN THE PARK ACTIVITIES.... FRIDAY EVENTS 4th annual Softball Tournament Today-Sunday Moyer Sports Complex & other fields in Roanoke & Salem
U-Triple S-A Sanctioned Softball Tournament 9A-9P
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LUNCH IN THE PLAZA CENTURY PLAZA DOWNTOWN 11:30-2p
Luteman & Brown perform. Soft rock. Bring your lunch. Drinks available.
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VICTORY STADIUM...Gates open 6:30P Admission $3 festival button-$6 at the gate. 6:45 Radar Rose 8:00P Survivor 9:30P Guess Who
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SATURDAY Festival Classic 5K & 10K Run 8A to 9:15A. Race begins an dends on Jefferson STreet in front of the First American Bank Building.
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Wearable Art Show 10A-5P
Gallery quality wearable art...you can meet and interact with individuals who created it.
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Children's Activities & Stage Performances in Elmwood Park 10A-5P
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Antique Car Show-Elmwood Park 11A-5P
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WYYD LISTENER APPRECIATION CELEBRATION-VICTORY STADIUM Country Music Galore 2-7P Perfect Stranger, Great Plains, Mandy Barnett, Keith Gattis, & Marcus Hummen Festival Button or $6 at gate
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SUNDAY EVENTS Festival in the Park Activities begin at 11A
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10th annual Children's Parade 4P
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GRAND FINALE AT THE AMPHITHEATRE THE BOXTOPS 5:30-7P
(-------------)
LIVE=Larry/Full
(Toss to Melanie)

2HEADLINES

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=
WRITER=
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Israeli warplanes today attacked a Muslim guerrilla base in east Lebanon.
The five-plane raid came about 12 hours after the
Hezbollah militants killed four Israeli soldiers with two remote-controlled bombs.
(----------------)

The new attacks come with the outcome of Wednesday's election for Israeli prime minister still unresolved.
With absentee ballots still being counted challenger Benjamin Netanyahu holds a 51-40 percent lead over Shimon Peres.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And ValuJet Flight 592's cockpit voice recorder indicates the pilot questioned a brief, unidentified sound six minutes after the D-C-nine took off from Miami.
An outline of what the recorder picked up shows that a fire was reported less than 30 seconds later.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie

And that's what's making news on this Friday May 31st.
Stick around News 7 Mornin will be right back.

elections

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

Conservative opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu now appears all but certain to become Israel's next Prime Minister.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Tel Aviv, Israel;

Officials are still counting absentee ballots from Wednesday's election-- but Netanyahu's razor thin margin over incumbent Shimon Peres is expected to hold.
Netanyahu and his supporters have vowed not to halt the Mid-east peace process.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
((MR. NETANYAHU IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING PEACE WITH SECURITY. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=with security.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

But the mideast violence continues as two closely timed bomb blasts are triggered by Hezbollah Guerrillas in southern Lebanon, killing three soldiers and wounded several others.
Israeli jets launched a counter attack early this morning.
(----------------)

Local-Israel

flight-592

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE# from net b
GRAPHIC=plane crash investigation

Federal transportation officials continue to review the cockpit voice recordings of Valujet flight 5-92.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Yesterday the National Transportation Safety Board released an outline of the voice recorder.
Nearly six minutes into the flight the pilot questioned an unidentified sound.
Moments later she radioed the need to return to Miami.
About five seconds after that, voices are heard from the passenger cabin reporting fire.
The plane was on its way back to Miami when it crashed in the Everglades, killing all 110 people on board.
(----------------)

Train-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=train ax

Two teen-age boys were struck and killed by a train last night in Abingdon.
Police said one of the boys was 15 years old, and the other was 16.
The conductor told authorities the engineer blew the horn and put the brakes on.
A rescue worker said it appeared the teen-agers were trying to carry an air-conditioning unit across the tracks when they were struck by the eastbound cargo train.

Teen-Pregnancy

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE#96-38
GRAPHIC=teen pregnancy

A strategy to battle teen pregnancy was unveiled at a town meeting in Roanoke last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

After two years of planning, the City Manager's Task Force on Teen Pregnancy Prevention listed 26 recommendations.
They include giving teens better access to birth control, setting up neighborhood centers that provide family planning and job training, and offering better day care for teen mothers.
City officials hope to fund the program through private, state and federal grants.
Public feedback sessions are planned next month.
(-------------)

3-Sports

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mornin
WRITER=cro
TAPE#=sports cut in
GRAPHIC=none

In sports, Mike Stevens has highlights of local softball and baseball tournament play.
Good morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=howdy once
RUNS=2:12
OUT Q=weekend everybody

TWISTERS

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE# net
GRAPHIC=none

Before we take a look at weather in our area -- take a look at this.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Ft. Morgan, CO;

A series of tornadoes swept across northeastern Colorado last night.
The funnels damaged some structures on the plains including a huge abandoned dairy farm.
Its roof and walls were ripped off and shredded into debris that was scattered for several hundred yards.
Some nearby homes and cars were also damaged.
(----------------)
nw toss

Three-Larry

ANCHOR=Larry
NEWSCAST=Mornin'
WRITER=ldo
TAPE#M96-6 Eric Fitzpatrick
CHROMAKEY=Live/Microwave
GRAPHIC=none

(ROLL COLD OUT OF BIRTHDAYS)
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The thirty-eighth annual...
SUPER=12-Roanoke; :00
SUPER=13-Eric Fitzpatrick/Artist; :29
RUNS=2:44
OUT Q=look forward to it.
(-------------)
LIVE=Larry/Full
SUPER=11-Roanoke;
(Toss to bump)

Festival

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-44
GRAPHIC=Festival in the Park

A would-be candidate for Congress won the right to pass out literature at Roanoke's Festival in Park.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke

Jay Rutledge was told to leave the park last weekend, threatened with arrest by an off-duty, uniformed city police officer.
The Festival's attorney claims Rutledge and his political petition threaten to ruin the event.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 05:18:55
IN Q=Well, the petition
((WELL, THE PETITION IS TO QUALIFY ME TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN THE FALL ELECTION FOR THE RACE FOR A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AND I'LL BE REPRESENTATIVE THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY.))
SUPER=01-Jay Rutledge/Libertarian Candidate for Congress
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=the libertarian party.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The Judge said Festival can't take over a city park for two weeks and prohibit a person from exercising his first amendment rights.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:26:35
IN Q=The city doesn't
((THE CITY DOESN'T RUN THIS EVENT. FESTIVAL IN THE PARK RUNS IT. AND THE CONSTITUTION APPLIES TO THE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE NOT THE GOVERNMENT. SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT PLAYS INTO THIS AT ALL.))
SUPER=01-Mark Loftis/"Festival in the Park" Attorney;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=this at all
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The judge issued an injunction yesterday, ordering Festival officials to let Rutledge pass his petition around the park.

McSweeney

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-37
GRAPHIC=republicans

A divided Virginia Republican party descends on Salem this weekend.
SS=mcsweeney

That's when the man who encouraged the divide from the top, hands over the reins to a new leader.
Ellen Qualls looks back at the Pat McSweeney era.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Reporters know
SUPER=03-Richmond; :00
SUPER=01-Sue Wrenn/Va. Democratic Party; :04
SUPER=@Allen; :19
SUPER=01-Pat McSweeney/Va. GOP Chairman; :46
SUPER=01-Rayford Harris/Longtime Republican; 1:20
SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:44
RUNS=1:54
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.

(( Reporters know that if you want the dirt on someone, you ask his enemies.
sot 05:15:32
((SUE WRENN/VA. DEMOCRATIC PARTY: PAT MCSWEENEY IS A VERY BRIGHT PERSON. WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP. HE FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT THE THINGS HE BELIEVES IN.))
runs=:09

Okay, how does the titular head of his own party feel about McSweeney's impending departure?
sot 03:24:13
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: ISN'T IT NICE...PARTY OF VIRGINIA.))
runs=:06

Chesapeake Delegate Randy Forbes is George Allen's hand-picked successor to the man he blames for NOT supporting him enough, despite Allen's 1993 landslide.
McSweeney acknowledges the party chairman job is NOT about making friends.
sot 06:20
((PAT MCSWEENEY/VA. GOP CHAIRMAN: SOMEBODY'S GOT TO STAND UP FOR PARTIES. NOT JUST AS A VEHICLE TO ELECT SOMEONE. BUT PARTIES THAT REALLY STAND FOR SOMETHING.))
runs=:07

Toward that end, McSweeney's taken an active stand against John Warner for disloyalty.
And against the party being a mouthpiece for any one political office.
sot 05:16
((PAT MCSWEENEY: I THINK THE PUBLIC RESPONDS ... PARTICULAR AGENDA.))
runs=:06

But McSweeney's sent mixed messages about what that agenda is to African Americans-- appearing in Danville at a Southern Heritage rally.
sot 15:36
((RAYFORD HARRIS: A GREAT DEAL...SLAP IN THE FACE.))
runs=:08

Telling reporters that pursuing the black vote in the final days of the Ollie North campaign would NOT be "cost-effective."
sot 03;27:29
((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: OH GOSH... TO MAKE.))
runs=:06

But what McSweeney lacks in diplomacy, he makes up for in passion.
But as the Democrats say, the passions dividing Virginia Republicans will outlive Pat McSweeney's tenure.
Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))

Mock-Trial

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-32
GRAPHIC=republicans

And while republicans hope to serve up some good old fashioned politics, a group of Middle School Students in Franklin County served up
SS=legal scales
some good old fashioned justice.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;

Eighth graders from Benjamin Franklin Middle School played the witnesses, lawyers, judge and jury at a mock trial yesterday.
Students from Franklin County High School manned the cameras in the courtroom.
The defendant was accused of spiking a plate of mashed potatoes with asthma medicine, causing the death of another student.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=legal scales

The defendant had a bad reputation, and a motive, but members of the jury decided there was not enough evidence.
They found him not guilty.

4-scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=cro
TAPE# none
GRAPHIC=stanley cup

Turning now to sports and the battle for the Stanley Cup --
The Panthers have forced a seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals.
Let's check out the scoreboards.
(////////////////)
SUPER=#C-200;
SUPER=103-Florida/==4/Pittsburgh/==3;

SUPER=96-Utah/118/Seattle/=83;

SUPER=91-White Sox/==8/Detroit/==2//Cleveland/==2/Milwaukee/==0;
SUPER=91-Boston/=10/Seattle/==1;

SUPER=92-NY Mets/==1/San Francisco/==0//Philadelphia/==3/Los Angeles/==2;

SUPER=93-Lynchburg/==7/Frederick/==3//Frederick/==6/Lynchburg/==5;