[7Baby-Switch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Baby Switch]


A settlement has been reached between the U-V-A Medical Center and the family of one of the little girls switched at birth.
Two million dollars will be paid to Rebecca Chittum of Buena Vista in stages until she turns 30.
The family of the other girl, Callie Johnson, rejected a settlement offer.
Published reports say the lawyer for Callie's mother made a counter-offer of 25 millions dollars.

[7E-Tech-Dancer]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=98-81 1:12:33]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


Charges involving a stripper and four Virginia Tech fraternity members have been dropped.
The men were accused of holding an exotic dancer against her will for refusing to perform a striptease.
The judge made the decision at the urging of the Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 1998]


Michelle Russell and her escort, David (chair-is-now-ski) Cheresnowsky, went to police last fall saying the students had held them against their will inside the (fi) Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Commonwealth's Attorney Skip Schwab says further investigation proved the two lied to police-- that they had NOT been physically restrained and that one of the students did NOT take money from Cheresnowsky's pocket.
Michael Campbell was charged with abduction even though he says he wasn't at the party.
(//////////SOT//////////)
[inq=The fact]

((FRED KELLERMAN/CAMPBELL'S ATTORNEY:THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS, HE WASN'T EVEN AT THE EVENT WHEN IT TOOK PLACE AND IT'S JUST A REAL SHAME HE HAD TO BE DRAGGED THROUGH ALL OF THIS.))
[SUPER=01-Fred Kellerman/Campbell's Attorney; :00]
[OUTQ=of this.]
[RUNS=06]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Abduction charges were dismissed against Seth Marshall, Mark (bren-see) Brensy and Ryan Worch.
Charges were also dropped against Nicholas (da-sar-no) Desarno who was accused of exposing himself and trying to remove Russell's lingerie.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


Police found out the two lied about the night in question after receiving information from a private investigator working on behalf of the students.

[7E-I-73]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-11 3:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The proposed western corridor of I-73 could hurt the area's environment.
A Roanoke County group also says it will send property values plummeting.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]


The I-73 Regional Impact Network held its second meeting last night at Cave Spring Junior High School.
It's concerned the proposed western corridor may pose a threat to endangered species in the area.
Officials with the group also maintain the corridor will decrease property values by up to 30 percent.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20.54.06 - 20.54.18]
[IN Q=It's important that people]

((ALAN : IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE IN ROANOKE COUNTY UNDERSTAND THAT THE HIGHWAY WILL BRING THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THEIR HOMES DOWN BY 25 TO 30 PERCENT AND THE CLOSER THEY ARE TO THE HIGHWAY THE WORSE IT WILL BE. ))
[SUPER=01-Alan Gleiner/Network Chairman]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=worse it will be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The western corridor would run from the Dixie Caverns exit along I-81, across Route 221 and across the Blue Ridge Parkway before reaching Route 220.
The network wants V-DOT to re-route the western corridor along Interstate 581.
(------------)


[7E-Pneumonia]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-7 22:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Two young adults have died in the Roanoke Valley, following a bout with the flu.
Doctors are warning people to get treatment after the two died recently from flu complications and pneumonia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; ]


Lewis-Gale Medical Center Doctor Doug Blevins says part of the reason young people are dying from the flu is because they wait too long to see a doctor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 11 55 56]
[IN Q=Someone will]

((DR. DOUG BLEVINS/INFECTIOUS DISEASE: SOMEONE WILL GET A VIRUS, THEY KNOW IT'S THE FLU AND THEY START GETTING BETTER, THEN THEY EXPLODE WITH A NEW FEVER A FEW DAYS OR A WEEK INTO THAT. THAT IS USUALLY THE COMPLICATING FACTOR.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Doug Blevins/Infectious Disease Specialist; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=complicating factor.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Doctor Blevins says the pneumonia vaccine is available and only needed every five or ten years.

[7WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]



Taking a look now at your Friday forecast..
A big change ahead in the forecast. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for our viewing area.
Temperatures will cool off into the upper-30s for highs, with periods of rain and snow.
The white stuff could accumulate up to three inches overnight. Look for lows tonight to be in the low-20s.
The extended forecast...
[CK/WX PRO=]

MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Rain & Snow/Winter WX Advisory/38-42/Periods of Snow/1 to 3 Inches Likely/22-26;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[7Birthdays]
Saturday Feb. 20

[SUPER=130-8/Amanda Overstreet/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-21/Patricia White/Sago]
[SUPER=130-11/Cory Fisher/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-6/Devin Castillo/Boones Mill]
[SUPER=130-7/Montana Porter/Draper]
[SUPER=130-7/Keeya Craighead/Penhook]
[SUPER=130-6/Ashley Carroll/Christiansburg]
[SUPER=130-14/Dustin Gravely/Pulaski]
[SUPER=130-93/Dr. William Hatcher/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-34/Keith Altizer/Christiansburg]
[SUPER=130-76/Irene Childers/Blue Ridge]
[SUPER=130-/Jim Jamison/Floyd]
[SUPER=130-1/Nicholas Penn/Martinsville]
[SUPER=130-5/Jeffrey Hairston/Roanoke]
[SUPER=130-/Valerie Overstreet/Snow Creek]


No Pictures
[SUPER=131-/J. C. Martin/Snow Creek]
[SUPER=131-/Allan Willie/Penhook]
[SUPER=131-/Howard & Geraldine Ferguson/Snow Creek]
[SUPER=131-11/Brittany Wimbush/Ridgeway]

[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]



[45E-Abortion-Bill]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-9 22:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A bill that would have required a 24 waiting peroid for abortions in Virginia was defeated by one vote in a Senate Committee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


The waiting period bill is the abortion limit that is widely considered "most likely to succeed" next in Virginia.
But the Senate Education and Health Committee was its final resting place this year.
Last night's committee arguments focused on how much counseling is given in Virginia clinics.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18:26:06 ]
[IN Q=What frightens]

((OLIVIA GANS/AMERICAN VICTIMS OF ABORTION: WHAT FRIGHTENS US IS THAT THERE'S THIS ASSUMPTION...EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW.))
[SOT 18:39:14]

((KAREN BYER/VIRGINIA ABORTION COUNSELOR: I THINK ANY WOMAN WHO COMES IN STRESSING THAT SHE'S EXPERIENCING GUILT OR DOUBT THAT SHE COULD NOT COPE WITH-- WE WOULD DEFINITELY CANCEL HER APPOINTMENT AND REFER HER TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES.))


[SUPER=01-Olivia Gans/American Vicitms of Abortion; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Karen Byer/Virginia Abortion Counselor; :17]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=appropriate services.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The bill's sponsor says he's pleased to keep winning over Democrats.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19:01:16]
[IN Q=I'm encouraged]

((DEL. BOB MCDONNELL/R-VIRGINIA BEACH: I'M ENCOURAGED THAT EVERY YEAR WE PICK UP AN ADDITIONAL VOTE. IT'S BEEN FIVE, SIX, THIS YEAR SEVEN. WE'RE ONE AWAY FROM VICTORY AND I'M COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE BILL BACK EVERY YEAR UNTIL IT PASSES.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Bob McDonnell/(R) Virginia Beach; :00 ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=it passes.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=None]


Earlier yesterday, the same Senate committee threw out a bill that would have required abortion clinics to upgrade to hospital standards.
That bill died on an 11 to 4 vote.


[45-5-Babysitters]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=599-2 15:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]


An April 27th date has been set for a preliminary hearing in the case of a Bedford County babysitter accused of voluntary manslaughter.
Sonja Hickson was arrested this week in connection with the death last year of 14-month-old Frances Vermillion who was in her care.
The case has many second-guessing the safety of in-home child care services.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


State law does NOT require anyone caring for five or fewer children in their home to be licensed.
Experts say licensed day care centers aren't necessarily safer, but they are more closely monitored by outside agencies.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:53:10//12:51:02]
[IN Q=If you're a]

((SUSAN HORSLEY/YMCA DAY CARE DIRECTOR: IF YOU'RE A LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY AND YOU'RE OPERATING A BUSINESS, YOU'RE NOT ONLY MONITORED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT YOU ARE BY THE FIRE MARSHAL, YOU ARE BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SO ALL THESE OUTSIDE AGENCIES COME IN TO CHECK TO JUST SEE IF YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE DOING.)) ((CAROL MASSIE/CHILD CARE RESOURCE CENTER: IT'S AN ADDED HELP. I ENCOURAGE PARENTS NOT RELY ON THAT. PROBLEMS CAN OCCUR IN A LICENSED PROGRAM AS WELL AS AN UNLICENSED, BUT YOU HAVE THAT ADDED ASSURANCE THAT THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE CHECKING FOR YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Susan Horsley/YMCA Daycare Director; :00]
[SUPER=01-Carol Massie/Child Care Resource Center; :16]
[RUNS=27]
[OUT Q=checking for you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Horsley and Massie agree that parents need to completely check out the daycare provider for themselves before placing their child.
(------------)



[45E-Bill-Cosby]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ame]
[TAPE#=net-A]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Tonight Elton John takes the stage in Roanoke.
This summer another big name performer will take the stage in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-The Cosby Show]


Funny man Bill Cosby will perform at the Salem Civic Center on June 11th.
The current star of CBS's "Cosby" and, in the 1980's "The Cosby Show", is touted as one of the most influential stars in America.
Tickets go on sale February 27th at the Salem Civic Center and all Ticket Master locations.
(------------)





[45WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Taking a look now at Friday's forecast...
A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect later today.
A mix of rain and snow will be starting later this morning, before changing over to all snow this afternoon.
Highs around 40.
Periods of snow will continue tonight, with one to three inches likely, low temperatures in the mid 20s.
The weekend outlook is mostly cloudy and rather chilly, with highs only in the 30s...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Rain & Snow/Winter WX Advisory/38-42/Periods of Snow/1 to 3 Inches Likely/22-26;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]



[8Baby-Switch]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Baby Switch]


The family of one of the girls switched at birth at the U-V-A Medical Center has reached a settlement with the hospital.
Two million dollars will be paid to Rebecca Chittum in stages until she turns 30.
The family of the other girl, Callie Johnson, rejected a settlement offer.
Published reports say the lawyer for Callie's mother made a counter-offer of 25 million dollars.

[8E-I-73]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-11 3:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A Roanoke County group is pushing V-DOT to find another route for I- 73's western corridor.
Members say they're concerned the proposed route will hurt the environment AND property values.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]


The I-73 Regional Impact Network held its second meeting last night at Cave Spring Junior High School.
It's concerned the proposed western corridor may pose a threat to endangered species in the area.
Officials with the group also maintain the corridor will decrease property values by up to 30 percent.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20.54.06 - 20.54.18]
[IN Q=It's important that people]

((ALAN : IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE IN ROANOKE COUNTY UNDERSTAND THAT THE HIGHWAY WILL BRING THE PROPERTY VALUES OF THEIR HOMES DOWN BY 25 TO 30 PERCENT AND THE CLOSER THEY ARE TO THE HIGHWAY THE WORSE IT WILL BE. ))
[SUPER=01-Alan Gleiner/Network Chairman]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=worse it will be.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The western corridor would run from the Dixie Caverns exit along I-81, across Route 221 and across the Blue Ridge Parkway before reaching Route 220.
The network wants V-DOT to re-route the western corridor along Interstate 581.
(------------)


[8E-Akers-Martin]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-78 1:17:05]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


At yesterday's preliminary hearing, witnesses testified that two Franklin county capital murder suspects admitted to killing a man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]


Timothy Martin is one of two men charged with robbing and killing Wesley Smith last December.
Investigators found a beer bottle with Martin's fingerprints near the victim's body.
They arrested Martin on a New York Indian reservation, driving the victim's car.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:22:27]
[IN Q=He said uh]

((HE SAID UH I KILLED A MAN AND I SAID FOR WHAT AND HE SAID FOR THE HELL OF IT FOR THE FUN OF IT.))
[SUPER=01-Matthew Rouark/Tribal Police;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=fun of it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Thomas Akers was also arrested in the victim's car.
His cellmate says Akers described the murder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:25:37]
[IN Q=HE JUST SAID]

((HE JUST SAID HE AND HIS COUSIN TOOK A GUY DOWN 40 WEST PUT HIM IN A FIELD SEEN THE LIGHTS STARTED CHOKING THE GUY, GOT HIM DOWN AND CHOKED HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Cabell Griffin/Cellmate;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=choked him]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A grand jury will decide in April whether there's enough evidence for a trial.
(------------)


[8E-Hunting-Death]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-5 18:22]
[GRAPHIC=Hunting Death]


NO jail time for the Franklin County man who accidentally shot and killed his brother while they were hunting last fall.
Verlon Hall pled guilty to reckless handling of a firearm, and received a suspended sentence.
His punishment includes a 500-dollar fine, giving up his rifle and losing his hunting privileges for five years.


(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./November]


Hall mistook his younger brother, Raymond, for a deer and shot him as he came out of the woods.
The prosecutor said he went with a misdemeanor, rather than a manslaughter charge, because Verlon had been through enough.
(------------)



[8S-Alfred-Martin]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=99-4 41:50]
[GRAPHIC=Alfred Martin]


Meanwhile, a LIGHTER jail sentence for the man who confessed to escaping from the Martinsville prison farm 25 years ago...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lavonia, MI/Last Year;]


Alfred Martin could be released as early as March third.
The Martinsville Sheriff originally calculated that Martin would have to serve more than 5-months behind bars.
But the case was turned over to the state Department of Corrections, which says he can be released much earlier because of good time credit.
Martin fled Virginia in 1974, after being convicted for selling marijuana.
(------------)


[8WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Before we finish the morning updates, here's one more look at the wintry forecast...
Rain and snow will develop later this morning, with a winter weather advisory in effect this afternoon.
Highs around 40.
Periods of snow will continue into tonight, with one to three inches of accumulation.
Lows in the mid 20s.
The extended outlook is mostly cloudy and cooler...
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]

[SUPER=#555; reset] [SUPER=314-Rain & Snow/Winter WX Advisory/38-42/Periods of Snow/1 to 3 Inches Likely/22-26;]
by SS