WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/30/97

08:25-01

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7P-Leftwich

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=eea
TAPE#596-44
SS=leftwich

A Roanoke jury says Steven Leftwich is guilty of assaulting four police officers.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Leftwich claimed the officers ATTACKED HIM for no reason during a traffic stop, beating him senseless on the ground.
But police say Leftwich was trying to pull out an officer's gun from the holster.
The jury found Leftwich guilty on all four counts.
Afterward, Leftwich said he stands by his story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12:21:08 LEFTWICH POST TAPE
IN Q=I still know the
((STEVEN LEFTWICH/DEFENDANT; I STILL KNOW THE TRUTH, INNOCENT, I RESPECT THE JURY, THEY WERE UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE TO GO AGAINST THE WHOLE ROANOKE CITY, AND IT WAS HARD FOR THEM. BUT I RESPECT THEIR DECISION, AND GOD BLESS 'EM AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. 12:17:42 LEFTWICH POST TAPE ANN GARDNER/ASST. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; IT WAS AN ISSUE FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE, THEY HEARD THE EVIDENCE AND THEY MADE THEIR DECISION AND THAT IS THE REASON WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.))
SUPER=01-Steven Leftwich/Defendant;
SUPER=01-Ann Gardner/Asst. Commonwealth's Attorney;
RUNS=:28
OUT Q=feel good about it
(----------------)
VO-NAT

The jury reccommended a 30 day sentence on each assault charge.
Leftwich will be officially sentenced by the judge in April.
(----------------)

7E-Chase-Ax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=THa
TAPE#97-4
GRAPHIC=NONE
******ANCHOR TAG******
A four month old baby is clinging for life this morning following a police chase and crash in Halifax County.
Authorities say the child's father led police from North Carolina to Virginia, overturning his vehicle near Turbeville.
Teresa Hamilton has the details
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=My baby, my baby
SUPER=03-Halifax Co.; :05
SUPER=07-Carrie Slayton; :29
SUPER=@Teresa1; :47
RUNS=1:13
OUT Q=NEWS 7, Halifax County.
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=My baby
((MY BABY, MY BABY, I'M NOT TRYING TO RUN. ))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=to run.

It didn't take long for 19- year old Rashawn Crawford of Roxboro, North Carolina to realize his four month old son may not make it.
The child was injured when Crawford's car flipped on Route 58 in Halifax County.
Witnesses say the roof of the car apparently struck the infant-- who was strapped in a safety seat.
Carrie Slayton was one of the first to spot the accident.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We said
((CARRIE SLAYTON:WE SAID, OH, MY GOD, WE STOPPED RIGHT THERE IN THE MEDIAN, I JUST JUMPED OUT, I LEFT MY NEIGHBOR IN THE CAR, AND I RAN OVER HERE. ))
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=ran over here.

Slayton says the infant's head was bleeding when she pulled the four month old from the car.
A North Carolina Sheriff's deputy performed CPR before the rescue squad arrived. take su
Authorities may never know how fast Crawford was driving when he crashed, near Turbeville.
But Person County Sheriff's deputies, who chased Crawford for about 30- miles, say at times he appeared to be driving up to 100- miles per hour. end su
Authorities say Crawford was wanted for larceny of a motor vehicle as well as other felony charges.
They'd been searching for Crawford for about two months.
Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Halifax County.))
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none

Crawford's sister and another child were also in the car, but apparently were not seriously injured.

7E-Parental-Notification

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cutin
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-102
GRAPHIC=Abortion

A bill requiring that parents be notified if their underage daughter wants to have an abortion has been approved by a Senate committee.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

the committee approved the measure yesterday on a 10 to five vote.
The bill would require that parents be notified of their daughter's abortion, unless the girl can convince a judge that she faces abuse if her parents find out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:49:49
IN Q=It's important
((STEVE COLECCHI/VA. CATHOLIC DIOCESE: IT'S IMPORTANT TO OPPOSE ANY AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW TEENAGERS TO BYPASS PARENTAL APPROVAL BY GAINING A GRANDPARENT'S OR AN ADULT SIBLING'S PERMISSION FOR THE ABORTION.))
sot 14;59:33
((JULIE MCCLELLAN/VA. WOMEN ATTORNEYS ASSOC.: THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS A COMPLICATED AND INTRICATE SYSTEM FOR WHICH I ATTENDED SCHOOL... AND START MAKING MOTIONS LIKE A YOUNG PERRY MASON.))
SUPER=01-Steve Colecchi/Virginia Catholic Diocese; :00
SUPER=01-Julie McClellan/Va. Women Attorneys Association; :10
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=Perry Mason.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=Session 97

The full Senate and House are expected to sign the bill this year.

7weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning your attention to weather--
Today's forecast is calling for increasing clouds with temperatures in the upper 30s.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Increasing Clouds/Light Winds/35-39/Partly/Cloudy/25-29;
SUPER=#555; reset

7BIRTHDAYS!1/31/97

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-55th/James & Idella Lynch/Cascade;

SUPER=130-11/Hannah Eanes/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-1/Lauren Anderson/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-10/Amanda Peters/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-80/Ethel Clayton/Monterey;

SUPER=130-5/Sean Webb/Salem;

SUPER=130-30/Doris Carter/Floyd;

SUPER=130-13/Ryan Ginger/Natural Bridge;

SUPER=130-11/Justin Ross/Madison Heights;

SUPER=130-31/Edward Shelton/Rocky Mount;

SUPER=130-16/Eulalia Akers/Christiansburg;

SUPER=130-18/Sherri Robinette/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-8/Brooke Frye/Fries;

Saturday:

SUPER=130-4/Jamie Wood/Danville;

SUPER=130-1/Lexi Mahala/Salem;

SUPER=130-/Chuck Shepard/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-7/Jessica Lemons/Ridgeway;

SUPER=130-9/Samantha Cox/Shawsville;

No Pictures:

SUPER=130-50/Diane Baker/Salem;

(Anniversary)
SUPER=130-66th/Doug & Craim Huffman/Buena Vista;

SUPER=130-40th/Grady Fulcher/Martinsville;

SUPER=130-40th/Bruce Fulcher/Roanoke;

SUPER=130-/Ellen Hancock/Concord;

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55P-xGR

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#597-01
GRAPHIC=SESSION 97

A Parental notification for teenagers seeking abortions has been approved by a Senate Committee.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

The legislation has been proposed since 1979 but it has never become law.
Pro-Choice activists warn that the bill could force teens to seek abortions in other states.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT tape one 14:51:26
IN Q=A woman
((A WOMAN FROM BEDFORD... SIGNING A PETITION.))
SUPER=01-Karen Rashke/Virginia Planned Parenthood;
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=a petition.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Despite the opposition, the Senate Courts of Justice committee approved the notification bill on a ten to five vote.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:49:13 TAPE ONE
IN Q=The church
((THE CHURCH BELIEVES...THEIR CHILDREN.))
SUPER=01-Steve Colecchi/Virginia Catholic Diocese;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=their children.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=HOLD

The House of Delegates has passed parental notification in the past.
The full Senate appears likely to approve this bill.
And Governor Allen says he'll sign it.

55Rail-Merger

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut in
WRITER=lbe
TAPE#96-109
GRAPHIC=Rail Merger

N-S C-E-O says in just two days, the company will sit down and meet with Conrail and C-S-X.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;

At a news conference yesterday, Goode appeared confident the three sides will be able to hammer out their differences regarding the bidding war between N-S and C-S-X for Conrail.
SUPER=@File;

The two Virginia railroads want to acquire Conrail because of its stronghold in the northeast.
While Goode SAYS any reasonable proposal is on the table, you can tell where his allegiance lies.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 00:04:14
IN Q=If Norfolk Southern
((DAVID GOODE/NS CEO: IF NORFOLK SOUTHERN ACQUIRES CONRAIL THE MARKET SHARE IS RELATIVELY EQUAL TO THE MARKET SHARE OF THE OTHER MAJOR RAILROAD IN THE EAST. SO THAT'S A MUCH BETTER TRANSACTION TO START WITH.))
SUPER=01-David Goode/Norfolk Southern CEO;
RUNS=:12
OUT Q=start with.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Goode would NOT disclose where the three railroads will meet.
He discussed N-S's record- setting results for 1996.
Net income for the year was a record 770- million- dollars.
(-------------)

55weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

In today's weather forecast-- we'll see increasing clouds and light winds.
Highs in the upper 30s.
Tonight, look for partly cloudy skies with lows in the upper 20s.
Tomorrow promises warmer weather, with high temperatures around 50- degrees.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=314-Increasing Clouds/Light Winds/35-39/Partly/Cloudy/25-29;
SUPER=#555; reset

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8E-Chase-Ax

8E-Parental-Notification

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-102
GRAPHIC=Abortion

The supporters of parental notification got their wish when a state Senate committee passed a controversial bill yesterday.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

The committee approved it on a 10 to five vote.
The bill would require that parents be notified of their daughter's abortion, unless the girl can convince a judge that she faces abuse if her parents find out.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:49:49
IN Q=It's important
((STEVE COLECCHI/VA. CATHOLIC DIOCESE: IT'S IMPORTANT TO OPPOSE ANY AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW TEENAGERS TO BYPASS PARENTAL APPROVAL BY GAINING A GRANDPARENT'S OR AN ADULT SIBLING'S PERMISSION FOR THE ABORTION.))
sot 14;59:33
((JULIE MCCLELLAN/VA. WOMEN ATTORNEYS ASSOC.: THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS A COMPLICATED AND INTRICATE SYSTEM FOR WHICH I ATTENDED SCHOOL... AND START MAKING MOTIONS LIKE A YOUNG PERRY MASON.))
SUPER=01-Steve Colecchi/Virginia Catholic Diocese; :00
SUPER=01-Julie McClellan/Va. Women Attorneys Association; :10
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=Perry Mason.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=Session 97

The full Senate and House are expected to sign the bill this year.
Governor George Allen has already said he'd sign a TRUE parental notification bill, that did not require other relatives to be notified.

8E-Reed

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-101
GRAPHIC=legal scales

Eighteen- year- old Robert Reed will have to wait until May to find out how much time he'll spend behind bars for the death of another Roanoke man.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;

Reed was originally charged with murder, but yesterday had the charged had that charge reduced to manslaughter in a plea agreement.
SUPER=04-July 1996;

In July--, 20- year- old Michael Dent was stabbed to death at the Hurt Park Housing Complex.
According to police, Dent and Reed were arguing shortly before the killing took place.
(----------------)

8weather

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=

Turning now to weather--
A fairly cloudy day is in store for us, along with highs in the upper 30s.
Meanwhile, lows will drop into the 20s tonight, under partly cloudy skies.
And the Friday outlook is partly sunny and pleasant, with highs approaching 50.
SUPER=X5000; set dissolve
SUPER=#555; reset SUPER=314-Increasing Clouds/Light Winds/35-39/Partly/Cloudy/25-29;