WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 04/13/98

[THIRTY-WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

[NEWSCAT=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Afternoon Clouds/65-70/Cloudy/40% Chance of Rain/43-48;]
[SUPER=315-Sunny with/Increasing Clouds/65-70/Cloudy/60% Chance of Rain/40-45;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[7Shooting-L'burg]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

Another weekend shooting in Lynchburg has left one man in stable condition this morning at Lynchburg Regional Hospital.
According to Lynchburg police, Philip Eubanks was shot around twelve o'clock Saturday afternoon near the corner of Grace and Tyree Streets.
Authorities have charged Norman Goode with malicious wounding in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile another man who was shot in Lynchburg Saturday afternoon remains in critical condition.
Jesse Alvin Gray was shot in the chest on Pinehurst Street.
Police have not made an arrest in Gray's shooting.

[72-BANK-MERGER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One of the biggest bank players in Virginia will make banking history today.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[4:00:00]
The Wall Street Journal reports that NationsBank and BankAmerica will merge in a deal valued between 50 and 60 billion dollars.
The merged bank will have assets of $570 billion, creating the nation's biggest bank.
In a second merger, the New York Times reports Banc One Corporation will buy First Chicago N-B-D in a deal worth 30 billion to create the nation's fifth largest bank.
(----------------)

[7Common-Sense]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=common sense]
[GRAPHIC=common sense]

A local economist has a different spin on the Asian economic crisis.
Scott Goldberg has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@Scott1; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Orr/First Union Economist; :14]
[RUNS=:53]
[OUT Q=i'm SG]

If you follow financial news at all, you've heard about the Asian Crisis.
And you've probably heard predictions that tough times in will soon slow down the American economy.
First Union economist David Orr sees it another way.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12 09 10]
[DAVID ORR TAPE]
[IN Q=the impact]
((DAVID ORR/FIRST UNION ECONOMIST: THE IMPACT OF ASIA SO FAR HAS BEEN THAT GASOLINE PRICES HAVE DECLINED ABOUT 20 CENTS A GALLON AND MORTGAGE RATES HAVE COME DOWN ABOUT A PERCENTAGE POINT. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE US ECONOMY, IT'S ACTUALLY HAD AN AMAZING POSITIVE IMPACT. I MEAN WHEN YOU GO AROUND AND TALK TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, AND YOU TELL THEM GAS IS UNDER A BUCK A GALLON AND THE MORTGAGE RATE IS UNDER 7 PERCENT, THAT'S GOOD TIMES. THAT'S NOT BAD TIMES.)) [RUNS:26]
[OUT Q=not bad times]

Orr said a very small sector of the American economy might take a hit.
But for the most part, he said our economy is so strong, it's carrying the rest of the world on its shoulders.
That's this week's Common Sense.
I'm Scott Goldberg.

[7Mental-Health]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cut in]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Recent problems with Virginia's mental health system have prompted state officials to work toward restoring the confidence of the public.
One patient died in restraints at Central State Hospital in Petersburg in June 1996, and two died at Western State Hospital in Staunton in the past two years. The Justice Department has been looking into problems in Virginia's mental health system since 1990. State Health and Human Resources Secretary Claude Allen has vowed to give more independence to agencies responsible for protecting patient rights.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=lfi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Another nice day is in store for your Monday -- sunshine this morning and clouds this afternoon. High temperatures reaching the mid-sixties to 70 degrees today with a chance of rain later...
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Afternoon Clouds/65-70/Cloudy/40% Chance of Rain/43-48;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 4/14/98
Tuesday:

[SUPER=130-Ryan Orren/Radford]

[SUPER=130-5/Joseph Dannel/Thaxton]

Joseph's little brother:
[SUPER=130-1/Jessy Dannel/Thaxton]

[SUPER=130-5/Brandon Wilmoth/Vinton]

[SUPER=130-4/Louis Sands/Martinsville]

[SUPER=130-8/Brent Flemins/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-11/Josh Stovall/Vinton]

[SUPER=130-4/Steve Bousman/Glade Hill]

[SUPER=130-9/Blake Gallagher/Salem]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-50/Kookie Harrison/New Castle]

[SUPER=131-/Linda Lawson/Christiansburg]

[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[8Shooting-L'burg]

[8UN-World-Court]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=cut in]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=virginia death penalty]

An effort is underway to stop a Virginia execution set for tomorrow night.
The attorneys for Angel Breard say when he was arrested Virginia authorities failed to tell Breard that he had a right to contact Paraguayan embassy officials.
Justice Department lawyers are expected to provide answers today on a treaty question raised by the Supreme Court.

The United Nations' World Court also wants the execution delayed while it considers Breard's case.
Breard was convicted of the 1992 attempted rape and murder of an Arlington woman.

[8Late-Term-Abortion]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=abortion]

Governor Gilmore puts into law today a bill banning some late-term abortions.
But the American Civil Liberties Union says it will challenge the ban in court.
The A-C-L-U contends that the law is so vague it would require doctors to consult a lawyer when they attempt to perform abortions.
Nineteen states have similar laws -- but courts have blocked enforcement in ten states, and the laws in others are under attack.

[8Mental-Health]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cut in]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Virginia officials are on a mission to restore public confidence in the state's mental health system.
In June 19-96 a patient died in restraints at Central State Hospital in Petersburg.
Two others died at Western State Hospital in Staunton in the past two years.
The Justice Department has been looking into problems in Virginia's mental health system since 19-90.
State Health and Human Resources Secretary Claude Allen has vowed to give more independence to agencies responsible for protecting patient rights.

[8Traditional-Easter]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#98-30]
[GRAPHIC=easter]

Several people got their Easter holiday started yesterday morning at sunrise services at Natural Bridge.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Natural Bridge;]

More than 12-hundred attended the traditional service.
People came from near and far.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=06:21:43]
[IN Q=THIS MAKES OUR]
((J.T. BURNETTE/BEDFORD RESIDENT; THIS MAKES OUR THIRD TIME. WE CAME 37 YEARS AGO BEFORE WE GOT MARRIED. WE DECIDED TO COME BACK THIS MORNING. WE JUST ENJOY COMING. IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.))
[SUPER=01-J.T. Burnette/Bedford Resident;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=beautiful place.]

Yesterday's crowd was one of the largest in recent times.
The event usually lasts about an hour or so.
But Natural Bridge officials indicate it may be extended.
[SOT=08:55:14]
[IN Q=I THINK WE]
((PARKER; I THINK WE MAY TRY TO TURN THE EASTER SUNRISE SERVICES INTO AN ALL DAY EVENT. MAYBE DO AN EASTER EGG HUNT FOR THE KIDS AND SOME THINGS SURROUNDING THE BRUNCH.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Parker/Marketing Director;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=THE BRUNCH.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Parker didn't say when the additional events would take place.
The present tradition has beenm conducted for the past 52 years and includes spiritual music, prayer and a nationally-known guest speaker.
(----------------)

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Cut in]
[WRITER=lfi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Easter Monday starts off sunny, but clouds are moving in later this afternoon, bringing a chance of showers this afternoon. Temperatures remain mild with highs reaching 70 again today...
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=#555; reset] [SUPER=314-Sunny/Afternoon Clouds/65-70/Cloudy/40% Chance of Rain/43-48;]