[7GOVERNOR-SPEECH]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[WRITER=jda]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[TAPE=99-3]
[GRAPHIC=State of Comm.]
The 19-99 General Assembly is underway, and Governor Gilmore is talking about the tobacco settlement.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Last Night;]
[SPEECH FOOTAGE]
Gilmore delivered his State of the Commonwealth Address last night.
He proposed a phase-out that would cut the food tax in half over four years.
(////////SOT////////)
[SOT]
[ABOUT 5 1/2 MINUTES INTO SPEECH.]
[IN-Q=IT TAKES MORE FROM FAMILIES]
[SUPER=@GILMORE]
[RUNS= APPROX. :08]
[OUT-Q=THE FOOD TAX SIMPLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[VOLVO PLANT FOOTAGE]
Gilmore made two announcements that have special significance for western Virginia.
He proposed the Virginia investment partnership, which he says could bring 13-hundred new jobs to the Volvo truck plant in Pulaski County.
And he pledged to devote half of the proceeds from the tobacco settlement to programs aiding tobacco farmers and workers in Virginia.
(-------------)
[7E-WebCast]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-81 30:26]
[GRAPHIC=Internet]
For the first time, viewers around the world were able to watch the governor's speech live.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Viewers could log on to the Governor's website and watch the speech on-line.
There was even a combination video-chat room, where people from across the state could listen to the speech, and discuss the issues.
(------------)
[7E-Puckett]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-75 1:56:28]
[GRAPHIC=Va Capitol]
A new delegate from southwest Virginia took his place in the State Senate.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Phillip Puckett was sworn in yesterday after being elected in a special election in December.
Former Senator Jack Reasor showed up to help pass the torch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 39:27]
[IN Q=Let me ]
((SEN. PHILLIP PUCKETT/D-RUSSELL CO.: LET ME JUST SAY THAT IT IS A REAL HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK MY LORD FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THE VIRGINIA STATE SENATE.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Phillip Puckett/(D) Russell Co.;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=state senate.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
Puckett's election will NOT change the balance of power, because both he and Reasor are Democrats.
(--------------)
[7E-NAACP]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-4 1:05:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A national N-Double-A-C-P official says the organization has made a ruling on the leadership controversy in the Roanoke Chapter and the decision could be announced today.
National Field Secretary Mark Clack said Martin Jeffrey and Brenda Hale were notified last night.
Yesterday, the past president of the chapter accused Jeffrey of trying to run a scam.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The Reverend Charles Green implied this during a radio address yesterday on W-T-O-Y.
Green was referring to news that an additional complaint had been filed in connection with last November's election.
Jeffrey apparently lost to president-elect Hale by three votes.
An initial complaint was investigated and dismissed by the national branch of the civil rights group.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=01:58:28]
[IN Q=HE CAME UP]
((GREEN; HE CAME UP AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REVIEW THIS AGAIN WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Charles Green/Past President;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=DON'T BELIEVE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Green says if the decision is reversed, he will take the national group to task.
In a phone conversation, Hale said the group needs to put this in the past and go forward.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=02:09:55]
[IN Q=WE HAVE SO]
((HALE; WE HAVE SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE NEGATIVE....PEOPLE THAT NEED OUR HELP.))
[SUPER=02-Brenda Hale/President-Elect;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=NEED OUR HELP.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRPAHIC=none]
Brenda Hale told us she couldn't talk about the decision-- that a press release will be issued from the National Office today.
Martin Jeffrey could not be reached for comment.
[7Insurance]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=98-]
[GRAPHIC=Medical News]
Virginia doctors are trying to make it easier to deal with insurance companies.
They're submitting a plan to the 19-99 General Assembly to reform the industry's business practices.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The Medical Society of Virginia is proposing the Fair Business Standards Act.
It streamlines and simplifies all transactions between doctors and insurers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ub 08 52 43]
[IN Q=What we are ]
((DR. GEOFF HARTER/MEDICAL SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA: WHAT WE ARE ENCOUNTERING NOW IS HAVING TO TALK WITH PATIENTS AND SAY, WELL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAD SAID IT'S ALL RIGHT AND NOW THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR MIND AND THEY END UP BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNIFICANT BILLS, NOW THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY, BUT IT'S A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT IT REALLY DOES CONCERN US.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Geoff Harter/Medical Society of Virginia; ]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=does concern us.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]
M-S-V Delegates say the resolution would cover every health insurance company in the state.
[7E-Best-Buy]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Best Buy]
There's a new retailer coming to the Valley View area.
Best Buy plans to open a store near the Mall this summer.
It will sell stereo and TV equipment, computers and appliances.
One analyst said he expects Best Buy to compete for customers with Circuit City ... but there's enough of a demand for electronics in this market to support both stores.
Best Buy says it will hire 150 local workers.
[7WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a look now at your Thursday forecast..
Sporadic rain is likely throughout the day, with winds continuing out of the northeast. Highs should rise to around 50 degrees.
The rain will stick around overnight. Look for lows to drop to around 40 degrees.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Periods of Rain/Winds NE 10/45-50/More/Rain Likely/38-42;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 1/15/99
Friday:
[SUPER=130-9/Kimberlee Moore/Natural Bridge]
[SUPER=130-45/Carl Taylor/Dublin]
[SUPER=130-/Mildred Law/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-4/Zachary Lawson/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-/Katelyn Ashbrook/Callaway]
[SUPER=130-3/Justin Fuller/Chatham]
No Pictures:
[SUPER=131-44/Jean Crawford/Bedford]
[SUPER=131-/Creed Law/Snow Creek]
WDBJ OPERATIONS DEPT. EMPLOYEE...
[SUPER=131-/Allen Reed/Roanoke]
[SUPER=131-/Carolyn Martin-Pritchett/Blairs][cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]
[45E-Student-Gun]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-77 40:31]
[GRAPHIC=Weapons in School]
A decision should come today on whether a 13 year old Martinsville student will be suspended from school for a year for bringing a gun to school.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]
The boy already faces criminal charges for the incident that happened last week at the high school.
The student was participating in wrestling practice, when a bullet fell out of his pocket.
The coach then found a .45 caliber gun hidden in a closet.
The superintendent says schools do use hand-held metal detectors if they suspect a student has a gun.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 7:49-8:10]
[IN Q=We do not]
((IRA TROLLINGER: WE DO NOT HAVE KIDS WALK THROUGH METAL DETECTORS EVERY DAY AS THEY ENTER SCHOOL. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND CONCLUDED IF YOUNGSTERS WANTED TO GET WEAPONS ON THE SCHOOL PROPERTY THEY WOULD FIND A WAY GET AROUND THAT, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE THEM THE IDEA THAT THEY WERE ENTERING A PRISON TYPE ATMOSPHERE.))
[SUPER=01-Ira Trollinger/Martinsville Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=prison type atmosphere.]
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]
The boy told police the gun belonged to his mother.
A decision about suspension will be made by the school board.[45E-Coach-Charge]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-80 1:05:54]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
And Roanoke's Commonwealth's attorney is expected decide today whether to file criminal charges against Hampton Roads coach John Brophy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Sunday;]
Brophy was leaving the ice Sunday night, when he was videotaped shoving civic center event staff and a police officer.. but there is no audio on the tape the Express gave to police.
Commonwealth's Attorney Don Caldwell saw the tape for the first time last night, and says, without sound, it only tells part of the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:47:31]
[IN Q=from the camera]
((DON CALDWELL/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; FROM THE CAMERA YOU CAN TELL SOME WORDS ARE EXCHANGED IN THE AREA AS THE COACH IS EXITING THE RINK AND GOING INTO THE CORRIDOR TO LEAVE THE MAIN ARENA, SO BASICALLY I NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THE OFFICERS AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS SAID OVER THERE AND SEE WHAT IF ANY ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN))
[SUPER=01-Don Caldwell/Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=should be taken]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Caldwell commended the officers involved, saying they handled the situation in a very professional manner.
(------------)
[45Cressell]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=98-75 46:47]
[GRAPHIC=Cressell]
Tomorrow is sentencing day for Emmett Cressell Jr.
A Grayson County jury has already recommended a life sentence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Independence]
Cressell was convicted in November of first degree murder for burning and beheading Garnett Johnson.
Cressell's lawyer has said that he will ask the judge to overturn the conviction. If that doesn't work, they will appeal on the grounds that the trial should have been moved out of Grayson County.
Co-defendent Louis Ceperano pleaded guilty to the crime in May and is currently serving a life sentence.
(-------------)[45E-Body-Found]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The cause of death hasn't been determined, but for now police don't suspect foul play in a mysterious death in Bath County.
A man's body was found yesterday in the Millboro area.
Forest Service workers found 63-year-old Joseph Hugh White of Deerfield dead in his pick-up at about 1 o'clock.
The state medical examiner will determine the cause of death.[45E-Deck-Walls]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=vga]
[TAPE#=98-76 51:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke business has officially closed it's doors after a close out auction.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Last night over 100 people packed Deck the Walls for its final liquidation sale.
Auctioneers sold off the remaining artwork in the store that filed for bankruptcy last November.
One of the best steals of the night -- a piece valued at 9-hundred dollars went for just 50 bucks.
The store's owner HAD hoped Christmas sales would pull the store out of the slump, but mall officials evicted her right after bankruptcy was filed.
(------------)
[45WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Shifting gears now to weather--
Expect periods of rain today, with highs in the upper 40s.
More rain likely overnight, with lows cooling to near 40.
The extended outlook stays partly to mostly sunny through the weekend, with light snow possible for the higher elevations tomorrow.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Periods of Rain/Winds NE 10/45-50/More/Rain Likely/38-42;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]
[8GOVERNOR-SPEECH]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[WRITER=jda]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[TAPE=99-3]
[GRAPHIC=State of Comm.]
Governor Gilmore is making some promises to Virginia's tobacco farmers AND grocery shoppers.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/Last Night;]
[SPEECH FOOTAGE]
Gilmore delivered his State of the Commonwealth Address last night.
He proposed a phase-out that would cut the food tax in half over four years.
(////////SOT////////)
[SOT]
[ABOUT 5 1/2 MINUTES INTO SPEECH.]
[IN-Q=IT TAKES MORE FROM FAMILIES]
[SUPER=@GILMORE]
[RUNS= APPROX. :08]
[OUT-Q=THE FOOD TAX SIMPLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[VOLVO PLANT FOOTAGE]
Gilmore made two announcements that have special significance for western Virginia.
He proposed the Virginia investment partnership, which he says could bring 13-hundred new jobs to the Volvo truck plant in Pulaski County.
And he pledged to devote half of the proceeds from the tobacco settlement to programs aiding tobacco farmers and workers in Virginia.
(-------------)
[8E-WebCast]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=98-81 30:26]
[GRAPHIC=Internet]
The Governor's speech had an INTERNATIONAL audience, for the first time ever.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Viewers could log on to the Governor's website and watch the speech on-line.
There was even a combination video-chat room, where people from around the world could listen to the speech, and discuss the issues.
(------------)
[8E-Puckett]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-75 1:56:28]
[GRAPHIC=Va Capitol]
Also from the state capitol-- a new Southwest Virginia delegate began his term yesterday.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Phillip Puckett was sworn in after being elected in a special election in December.
Former Senator Jack Reasor showed up to help pass the torch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 39:27]
[IN Q=Let me ]
((SEN. PHILLIP PUCKETT/D-RUSSELL CO.: LET ME JUST SAY THAT IT IS A REAL HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK MY LORD FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THE VIRGINIA STATE SENATE.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Phillip Puckett/(D) Russell Co.;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=state senate.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
Puckett's election will NOT change the balance of power, because both he and Reasor are Democrats.
(--------------)
[8E-Brown]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#99-]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A former Virginia Tech football star was convicted yesterday on drunk driving charges.
23- year old Cornell Brown will lose his license for a year as a result of last fall's incident.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
In court yesterday, a Blacksburg police officer testified Brown appeared drunk the morning he was pulled over for speeding.
His blood alcohol content later registered point- one -oh.
But Brown's attorney says his client, who currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens, was NOT legally drunk that night, that years of playing football contributed to his appearing unsteady on his feet during a field sobriety test.
The judge apparently didn't agree but did indicate he plans to dismiss a second charge of driving on a suspended license.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]
Brown says he hasn't had a drink since the incident and that he's currently enrolled in a counseling program that's
part of the N-F-L.[8E-Best-Buy]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Best Buy]
Another store is on its way to the Valley View Mall area.
Best Buy plans to open a store there this summer.
It will sell stereo and TV equipment, computers and appliances.
One analyst said he expects Best Buy to compete for customers with Circuit City ... but there's enough of a demand for electronics in this market to support both stores.
Best Buy says it will hold a job fair some time in the next few months, to hire 150 workers.
[8E-Deck-Walls]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=vga]
[TAPE#=98-76 51:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Meantime, another store's CLOSING at Valley View brought out lots of shoppers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Over 100 people packed Deck the Walls for its final liquidation sale.
Auctioneers sold off the remaining artwork in the store that filed for bankruptcy last November.
One of the best steals of the night -- a piece valued at 9-hundred dollars went for just 50 bucks.
The store's owner HAD hoped Christmas sales would pull the store out of the slump, but mall officials evicted her right after bankruptcy was filed.
(------------)
[8WEATHER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Time again to check the Thursday forecast--
Periods of rain today, with high temperatures reaching the upper 40s.
Rain will likely continue overnight, with some light snow showers possible in the higher elevations.
Lows near 40.
The four day forecast warms up once we head into the weekend, with lots of sunshine.
Highs ranging from the upper 30s to the lower 50s, with lows in the 20s and 30s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[SUPER=314-Periods of Rain/Winds NE 10/45-50/More/Rain Likely/38-42;]
by SS