WDBJ 7 morning news for 01/12/98

06:00-01

Abed

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

An alleged family crime ring is set to go on trial today in Roanoke's federal court.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
1/9/98, 97-83, Abed
SUPER=03-Roanoke/January 1996

Prosecutors contend two brothers, Abed Jamil of Arlington and Joseph Abed of Roanoke head the crime ring.
The brothers, four of their sons and two associates are charged with racketeering and operating a continuing criminal enterprise from 19-89 until their arrests last March.
They're accused of using arson to drive competing restaurants and convenience stores out of business and to defraud insurance companies.
(----------------)

NAT-WX

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=winter weather

The huge ice storm is gone, but the problems linger on.
New England and eastern Canada continue to chip away at the clean-up and hundreds of thousands remain without power.
In Canada, more than eleven thousand soldiers are taking part in "operation recuperation."
Progress has been especially slow in one small town.
Tom Kennedy Reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=04-CBC; :00
SUPER=03-Quebec; :12
SUPER=01-Tom Kennedy/Reporting; 1:06
RUNS=2:24
OUT Q=Richelieu

markets

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=stocks

A volatile start to the week in Asia's stock markets.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Hong Kong;

In Hong Kong, the stock market plunged to its lowest level in three years.
News of the collapse of a prominent investment bank and Friday's Wall Street losses fueled the panicky trading.
And in Tokyo, stocks closed down more than two percent.
(----------------)

Car-Tax

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=personal property tax

Virginia localities that collect personal property tax use various ways to assess the vehicles.
This is slowing Governor-elect Jim Gilmore's efforts to eliminate the tax.
To draft a bill that covers all cases, more than 50 people in Gilmore's transition team and the state government are working to untangle the tax web.
Gilmore said this weekend he's still committed to the tax relief, but the legislation probably won't be ready when the legislature opens.

One-Steve

ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spa
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

On Record
SUPER=15-Steve Pardon;
SUPER=13-Vaunda Leftwich/Wedding Planner;
SUPER=13-Patsy Bessolo/Bessolo's Wedding Design

Toss to break Stocks Comm

E-Horticulture

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=djo
TAPE#=97-83
GRAPHIC=none

Recently, temperatures have been about 30- degrees above normal for this time of year.
But David Johnson tells us it didn't last long enough to hurt ornamental plants or crops.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It may have
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :01
SUPER=01-Bob Lyons/Va. Tech Horticulture Professor; :08
SUPER=01-Doug Harris/Extension Agent; :19
SUPER=@David1; 1:31
RUNS=1:41
OUT Q=Montgomery County

((It may have felt like springtime last week, but the brief stint did not fool or harm plants and crops.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:26:39
((BOB LYONS/VA. TECH HORTICULTURE PROFESSOR; IT REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLY BAD IF THE WARMER WEATHER LASTED A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THE WEEK OR SO WE HAD DIDN'T DO THAT MUCH TO THE PLANTS IN TERMS OF THROWING THEM OFF SCHEDULE.))
RUNS=:10
BUTT/BUTT/BUTT
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:11:46
((DOUG HARRIS/EXTENSION AGENT; OUR SMALL GRAIN CROPS LIKE WHEAT AND BARLEY, WE'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE GROWTH ON THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR. WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 32 DEGREES, WHEAT WILL GROW AND DEVELOP. AND THAT'S HELPFUL TO US AT THIS STAGE AND THIS GROWTH.))
RUNS=:13

Crops won't be so lucky if the warm weather returns before winter ends.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:11:10
((HARRIS; IF WE HAD THIS TYPE OF WEATHER IN LATE FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WE'D BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CROPS HAVING SOME DAMAGE.))
RUNS=:06

Across the country, some plants have been fooled into thinking it's time to bloom, like the cherry blossoms in Washington state.
There may be similar signs locally in daffodils and grape hyacinths.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:27:48
((IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT TO PANIC ABOUT BECAUSE THESE PLANTS HAVE VERY PRECISE TIME CLOCKS INSIDE OF THEM. THEY'RE REGULATED VERY SPECIFICALLY BY INTERNAL SUBSTANCES. JUST A WEEK HERE AND THERE OF WARM WEATHER IS PUSH A LITTLE BIT OF THE PLANT, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA THROW IT COMPLETELY OFF BALANCE. ))
RUNS=:15

Apples and peaches are very dormant, so they were unaffected by the warm weather.
Crops may get off to a better start this year, due to some additional moisture.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-14:13:27
((WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN GLAD TO SEE THIS RAIN OVER THE LAST WEEK. LAST YEAR WAS SO DRY AND THE RAIN WE'VE HAD HAS BEEN REAL HELPFUL TO REPLENISH THE TOP SOIL MOISTURE LEVELS.))
RUNS=:11
(----------------)
VO-NAT
STAND-UP/14:26:48 ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; SO THE CONSENSUS AMONG EXPERTS IS THE BRIEF PERIOD OF WARM WEATHER DID NOT CAUSE ANY HARM AND IN SOME CASES MAY HAVE DONE SOME GOOD. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.))
RUNS=:11))

Soft-Spot

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sta
TAPE#Parenting
GRAPHIC=Parenting

Healthy growth in the first few years of life is critical for a baby, especially when it comes to brain development.
So, many parents may think it's time to worry if their baby's soft spot closes too early.
One local doctor says maybe not.
Stacey Martin has more in this week's edition of Parenting.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=In a child
SUPER=01-Dr. Larry Kleiner/Neurosurgeon; :00
SUPER=03-Roanoke; :11
SUPER=@Stacey1; :46
RUNS=1:01
OUT Q=SM, News 7.
((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17.19.08 - 17.19.18
IN Q=In a child
((DR. KLEINER: IN A CHILD THE BONES ARE FREE-FLOATING AND THERE'S SOFT TISSUE BETWEEN THE BONES OF THE SKULL AND IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GROWING BRAIN. AND, THE BRAIN NEEDS ITS SPACE TO EXPAND.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=space to expand.

But, what if that space between free-floating bones-- or the soft spot, closes too early?
Dr. Kleiner says the good news is that it doesn't necessarily mean there's brain damage, but it could lead to cranio-synotosis.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 17.19.25 - 17.19.39
IN Q=If there's a
((DR. KLEINER: IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH A CHILD WHOSE SUTURE LINES OR SOFT SPOT FUSES TOO EARLY THE BRAIN WILL CONTINUE TO GROW IN AN ABNORMAL DIRECTION BECAUSE IT STILL WANTS ITS VOLUMES THAT IT NEEDS. AND, HENCE YOU GET ABNORMALLY SHAPED SKULLS.))
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=abnormally shaped skulls.

Dr. Kleiner says parents can detect the condition simply by looking for abnormal growth of their child's head.
And, he says cranio-synotosis is easy to correct if detected before the child is about two months of age by using head bands to re-shape the head.
In older children, however, plastic surgery may be needed.
Stacey Martin News 7.))

Two-Steve

ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spa
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

On Record
SUPER=15-Steve Pardon;
(I'll call for graphic)
ESS#8700
(toss to Kimberly)
Double Boxes=SPA & KMC

NORTHERN-WX

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Winter weather

In Canada today, crews continue working around the clock trying to restore power to more than a million homes and businesses in the Montreal area.
The Canadian government has asked the U-S to help with the airlifting of personnel, equipment and supplies from WESTERN Canada.
Meantime, hundreds of thousands still don't have power in the northeastern U-S.
But help is on the way.
Phil Yacuboski reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Scranton, PA; :00
SUPER=03-Watertown, NY/Sunday; :16
SUPER=01-Vito Ruggerio/Rural Metro Ambulance; :23
SUPER=01-Peter Shirley/Rural Metro Ambulance; :42
SUPER=01-Phil Yacuboski/Reporting; :52
SUPER=01-James Kwader/Rural Metro Ambulance; 1:09
RUNS=1:28
OUT Q=Scranton, PA

asia-stocks

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=stocks

Hong Kong's stock market has plunged to its lowest level in three years.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Hong Kong;
4:10:50
The key blue chip Hang Seng dropped by nearly nine percent today.
Traders say panicky investors were reacting to the collapse of a prominent Hong Kong based investment bank and steep losses Friday on Wall Street.
Analysts fear the current economic crisis will be further compounded in Asia by fears interest rates will be raised to defend the economy.
(----------------)

Common-Sense

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sgo
TAPE#Common Sense
GRAPHIC=Common Sense

There are lots of ways for taxpayers to save money in 19-98.
Scott Goldberg has a few suggestions in this week's edition of Common Sense.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=@Scott1; :00
SUPER=01-Gary Duerk/Brown, Edwards & Co.; :11
RUNS=:54
OUT Q=I'm Scott Goldberg
(( If you're looking for ways to help relieve your tax burden in 19-98,
Gary Duerk of Brown, Edwards and Company says you might want to consider transferring some of your income to your children.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:16:45
"TAX" TAPE
IN Q=FOR EXAMPLE
((GARY DUERK/BROWN, EDWARDS & COMPANY: FOR EXAMPLE YOU CAN GIVE THEM SAVINGS BONDS AND THEY CAN EITHER CLAIM THE INTEREST ON THOSE EACH YEAR OR WAIT TILL THEY'RE REDEEMED. AND FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 14, THE FIRST 650 DOLLARS OF UNEARNED INCOME IS TAX FREE AND THE NEXT 650 DOLLARS IS TAXED AT 15 PERCENT. SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM SAFETY BONDS OR TREASURY BONDS OR AN INSURANCE POLICY, AND YOU'VE MOVED THAT OFF OF YOUR INCOME TAX RETURN.))
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=tax return

Something else to figure into your financial plans for this year:
Parents get a 500-dollar tax credit for each child in the family.
And there's a another tax break available to help pay for your children's first two years of college.
That's this week's Common Sense.
I'm Scott Goldberg.))

2-Car-Tax

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=personal property tax

Last week Governor-elect Jim Gilmore acknowledged it will take more money to rid Virginians of the dreaded car tax than he had estimated--
Now he says it'll take more TIME.
Cities and counties that collect the tax use a variety of ways to assess cars.
To draft a bill that covers all cases, more than 50 people in Gilmore's transition team and the state government are working to untangle the tax web.
Gilmore said this weekend he's still committed to the tax relief, but the bill probably won't be ready when the legislature opens.

S-Circuit-City

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=sta
TAPE#=97-82
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

A black employee for Circuit City is getting a promotion thanks to a judge.
The worker sued the company for racial discrimination.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond/December 1996;

It's the most recent decision in a case that began in 19-96 when two black workers sued the company.
The workers claimed Circuit City's promoting practices discriminated against blacks.
A federal jury sided with the two workers in that case.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold

Circuit City appealed that and other similar lawsuits and it's expected the cases will go to the Supreme Court.

Three-Steve

ANCHOR=Steve
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=spa
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

On Record
SUPER=15-Steve Pardon;
SUPER=13-Vaunda Leftwich/Wedding Planner;
SUPER=13-Jim Taetz/Flowers by Jane;

(toss to Melanie)
Double Boxes=SPA & MEL

2-Abed

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

A federal court in Roanoke is where the trial of an alleged crime family is set to begin today.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
1/9/98, 97-83, Abed
SUPER=03-Roanoke/January 1996

Prosecutors contend two brothers, Abed Jamil of Arlington and Joseph Abed of Roanoke head the crime ring.
The brothers, four of their sons and two associates are charged with racketeering and operating a continuing criminal enterprise from 19-89 until their arrests last March.
They're accused of using arson to drive competing restaurants and convenience stores out of business and to defraud insurance companies.
(----------------)

122-Ax

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#97-85
GRAPHIC=accident

Police say one person is in critical condition after being thrown from a car.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;

Authorities are still investigating the incident, but they say the driver lost control of the vehicle and crossed the southbound lane of route 1-22.
The car hit an embankment and flipped, ejecting the driver, who was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial.
(----------------)

Unseasonal-Wx

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=djo
TAPE#597-57
GRAPHIC=NONE

The spring- like weather last week had little affect on how plants and crops will grow this year.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;

Experts say the well above normal temperatures should not alter your planting schedule.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:26:57
IN Q=THE WARM WEATHER
((BOB LYONS/VA. TECH HORTICULTURAL PROFESSOR; THE WARM WEATHER HAS PROBABLY PUT PEOPLE'S HEADS IN THE MINDSET OF THINKING GARDENS MORE AND THINKING ABOUT SPRING AND THINKING ABOUT PLANTS AND EVEN GOING OUT TO THE GARDENS AND LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF LIFE AFTER THE WARM SPELL AND THEY'LL PROBABLY FIND SOME. BUT IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LONG TERM IMPACT, IT WON'T AND IT SHOULDN'T.))
SUPER=01-Bob Lyons/Va. Tech Horticulture Professor;
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=IT SHOULDN'T.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

And as far as seasonal flowers go, it would take a longer winter dry spell to harm them.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-12:30:28
IN Q=NOW THE
((LYONS; NOW THE PERINNIALS YOU MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SOME SWELLING PERHAPS AND MAYBE SOME BUD GROWTH. STILL IT WOULD TAKE A LONGER PERIOD OF WARMTH IN ORDER TO PUSH THEM INTO FLOWERING.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=INTO FLOWERING.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

Crops were not impacted by the short period of warm weather and benefitted from the early rain and snow. Last year began with a very dry season.
(----------------)

JONES

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Jones, Paula

There are reports today that Paula Jones has nearly tripled the amount she wants to settle a sexual harrassment lawsuit against President Clinton.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

C-B-S News has learned Jones wants more than two million dollars and is insisting on an apology from the President.
Her previous demand was 700-thousand dollars, along with the apology.
Attorneys for both sides in the case have refused to comment.
(----------------)

Tech-Sec

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=Gilmore

As the count down to inauguration day continues for Jim Gilmore he may be moving closer to fulfilling a campaign promise and appointing a technology secretary.
There are no details yet on what the post would entail and no candidate has been chosen.
Gilmore attended a technology fair yesterday, where he endorsed job-training and other programs to expand the high-tech work force.
Recent investments by high-tech companies are helping keep the state's jobless rate low.

4-Scores

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Morn
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=nba

In sports,
Seattle missed two shots in the final four seconds, allowing New York to hang on for a single point N-B-A victory over the Sonics.
For yesterday's scores, let's check the scoreboards.
(/////SOT/////)
WIPE TO MOTION
SUPER=#556
SUPER=X5022;
SUPER=0100-/Pittsburgh/21/j/Denver/24////San Francisco/10/j/Green Bay/23///;
SUPER=X5028;
SUPER=0096-j/Atlanta/107//Washington/102//Overtime//L.A.
Clippers/85/j/Detroit/113///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0096-j/Miami/96//Vancouver/90///j/Charlotte/98//L.A. Lakers/93///;
SUPER=x5009;
SUPER=0096-j/New York/92//Seattle/91///;
SUPER=X5027;
SUPER=0098-j/Connecticut#8/80//Boston
College/68////Marquette#20/51/j/Cincinnati/68///;
SUPER=X5031;
SUPER=0103-/Washington/0/j/Detroit/2///j/Philadelphia/5//Tampa Bay/2///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0103-/Dallas/1/j/Anaheim/2////Ottawa/5//Phoenix/5//Tie/;
SUPER=X5029;
SUPER=0104-/Roanoke/2/j/Richmond/3//Shootout/j/Johnstown/4//Wheeling/3///;
SUPER=X5009;
SUPER=0104-j/Pensacola/4//Raleigh/3///;
RUNS=1:03
(-------------) OUT Q=....last score."