WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/23/99

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The F-B-I has identified one of the bodies found last week in a burned out car in California.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And young T-V star takes his own life.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Mostly cloudy and cool this morning-- You may want to bring along those umbrellas today, as rain develops from our west a little later on.
Temperatures, meanwhile, are still running below normal.
The latest forecast, coming up.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[Missing-Tourists]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Investigators are trying to identify the second body found in a burned-out rental car last week in northern California.
The first body has been identified as 42-year old Carole Sund.
Sund, her daughter Julie and family friend Silvina Pelossa disappeared more than a month agao while visiting Yosemite National Park.
Investigators are still searching for the third victim.
Gloria Gomez reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[4:04:14]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Tuolumne Co., CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nick Rogers/Tuolumne County Sheriff's Dept.; :09]
[SUPER=01-Gloria Gomez/Reporting; 39]
[SUPER=01-Ron Deacon/Tuolumne County Resident; :51]
[SUPER=01-James Maddock/FBI; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=FOR CBS NEWS]

[Strickland]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

One of the stars of an N-B-C sitcom has committed suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBC]
[4:09:02]
Twenty eight year old David Strickland played Todd, a music critic on the T-V show "Suddenly Susan."
Strickland also had a small role in the recently released feature film "Forces of Nature" starring Sandra Bullock.
[SUPER=03-Las Vegas;]
[4:07:13]
Strickland's publicist says the actor was found dead yesterday in a Las Vegas motel room, hanging from a ceiling beam.
N-B-C says it's too soon to make any comments or decision regarding the impact of Strickland's death on the show.

(------------)

[E-Fire-Training]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-8 44:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Despite recent rains, the woods are tinder-dry.
Brush fires were reported in Franklin and Mongomery Counties.
In Roanoke County last night, firefighters were learning to work with one of their most powerful tools.
Eric Earnhart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was helicopter]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Thomsen/Va. Dept. of Foresty; :11 QUICK]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Thursday; :45]
[SUPER=01-Danny Carroll/Assistant Chief; :51]
[SUPER=02-John Reed/Summit Helicopters; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
((It was helicopter 101 for Fort Lewis firefighters in Roanoke County... and they learn how the fire-fighting chopper works, and what it needs when it arrives on scene.
[SOT 00:01:10]
[IN Q=he's going to have]
((CHRIS THOMSEN/VA. DEPT OF FORESTRY; HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LAND, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HOOK UP HIS BUCKET )) [RUNS 04]
[OUT Q=his bucket]

And he's going to need water... but not just any water.
[SOT 00:00:34]
[IN Q=he'd rather not fly]
(( HE'D RATHER NOT FLY ACROSS INTERSTATE, IF WE'VE GOT A FIRE ON THE NORTH SIDE, HE'D RATHER USE A WATER SOURCES ON THE NORTH SIDE )) [RUNS 06]
[OUT Q=on the north side]

Because pilots don't like flying over the interstate carrying 100 gallons of water, hoping to avoid the chance, however slight, of an accidental drop on high speed traffic.
The drops are impressive.... 800 pounds of water, pumped up by a foaming agent, fanning out in a wide, flame choking blanket.
This is, however, not a new experiene for these firefighters, they've already seen it, in action last week, when the Green Hill forest fire almost got away from them.
[SOT 00:11:36]
[IN Q=the helicopter]
(( DANNY CARROL/ASST. CHIEF; THE HELICOPTER REALLY SAVED OUR DAY THE OTHER DAY, WITH THE WINDS BLOWING LIKE THEY WERE, IT WAS REALLY PUSHING THE FIRE, WE HAD SOME HOMES IN THE AREA... TREMENDOUS HELP. )) [RUNS 11]
[OUT Q=tremendous help]

Pilot John Reed has equal admiration for the men facing the flames on the ground... and says he works hard to make those buckets count...
[SOT 00:20:53]
[IN Q=we're able to put]
((JOHN REED/SUMMIT HELICOPTERS; WE'RE ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF WATER UP IN THE HILLS IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY CAN'T GET THEIR TRUCKS TO REALLY QUICKLY, )) [RUNS 08]
[OUT Q=to really quickly.]

Fortunately during this demonstration, the only fire around is the sunset settling on the nearby hillside... but those flames could very easily be real tomorrow, or the next day.
In Roanoke County, Eric Earnhart, News 7.))

[E-Hunter-meeting]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-9 39:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Feeding bears on federal and state land in Virginia would be illegal if changes in the state's hunting code are approved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

There are several changes on the table.
About a hundred hunters had a chance to listen and voice their opinion at Northside High School last night.
Several were there to protest an existing rule that bans turkey hunting through most of November, including Thanksgiving.
They say a whole generation of young hunters is missing out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:29:43]
[IN Q=most kids are]
(( MOST KIDS ARE OFF DURING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS, THAT'S WHEN THEY CAN HUNT, AND WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY ISN'T THERE, THEY FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO, YOU AND I DID, AND I THINK THEY'D BE BETTER SERVED TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT DURING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS, AND HUNT A TURKEY OR A DEER THAN THEY WOULD TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Pauley/Hunter;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=something else]
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN WEBWATCH GRAPHIC]
All of the proposed regulation changes are listed on the department's website. You can find it by clickon on the News7 WebWatch page at WDBJ-7-dot-com.
(----------------------)

[1-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, the Hokies are searching for a new basketball coach.
Steve Mason has the story.
Good Morning Steve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=2:22]
[OUT Q=great Tuesday.]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(toss to Wx)

[One-Steve]

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

[Microwave]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=01-Penny Haynes/American Red Cross;]

(toss to stocks)
[STOCKS] [COMM] ((Archive: red cross))

[Academy-Counselor]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Wilderness Leadership Academy is back in the news again.
This time, a couselor at the school for troubled boys is charged with having sex with a 16-year old resident.
Authorities say 23-year old Sarah Ann Robinson was charged last week, two days after a sheriff's deputy noticed an academy vehicle with steamy windows parked on the side of a road.
She had been a counselor at the facility for about four months.

[E-Regional-Jail]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=MOrn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=98-81 1:48:39]
[GRAPHIC=Regional Jail]

After two years of construction, the New River Valley Regional jail in Dublin is nearly complete.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

Inmates from eight Southwest Virginia jurisdictions will be housed at the regional jail.
Superintendent Ralph Dobbins is extremely proud of the 25-million dollar jail he describes as state of the art.

Unlike most older jails, the new facility will provide inmates on site medical care and counseling.
There are also separate cells for inmates who're brought in drunk or on drugs.
It also has an isolation area for inmates that cause trouble.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT (12:21:32)]
[IN Q=It's going to ]
((RALPH DOBBINS/REGIONAL JAIL SUPERINTENDENT: IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE, I THINK, AN ALTERNATIVE, HOPEFULLY, OUR, THE BEST COMPLIMENT WE CAN GET FROM THIS JAIL IS AFTER SOMEONE LEAVES THEY SAY I DON'T WANT TO EVER GO BACK THERE, IF WE CAN GET THAT OUT OF THEIR MOUTH, I THINK WE'VE WON.))
[SUPER=01-Ralph Dobbins/Regional Jail Superintendent; ]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=we've won.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The regional jail is expected to open in mid-April and is capable of housing a total of 371- inmates, both male and female.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, researchers may have figured out why men snore more than women.
Maggie Cooper has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Maggie Cooper/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
(( A NEW TREATMENT IS OFFERING HOPE FOR COLON CANCER PATIENTS.
COLON CANCER IS ALMOST ALWAYS FATAL WHEN IT SPREADS TO THE LIVER.
USUALLY THE ONLY OPTION IS A LIVER TRANSPLANT, BUT MANY PATIENTS DIE BEFORE EVER RECEIVING AN ORGAN.
SO NOW DOCTORS ARE ADMINISTERING CHEMOTHERAPY DIRECTLY TO THE LIVER THROUGH A CATHETER.. WHICH THEY SAY CAN DOUBLE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF PATIENTS WAITING FOR TRANSPLANTS.//

VT=VO
((vo))
A NEW METHOD TO REMOVE UTERINE FIBROIDS IS PROVING TO BE EFFECTIVE-- AND IT DOESN'T INVOLVE SURGERY.
FIBROIDS ARE NON-CANCEROUS TUMORS THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE MENSTRUAL PROBLEMS--AND EVEN INFERTILITY.
TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS INCLUDE A COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE UTERUS.
BUT NOW RESEARCHERS ARE RECOMMENDING A MUCH LESS INVASIVE PROCEDURE THAT CUTS OFF BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE TUMORS.
STUDIES SHOWED THE TECHNIQUE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED FIBROIDS IN MORE THAN 85-PERCENT OF THE CASES.//

VT=VO
((vo))
AND THERE'S A SCIENTIFIC REASON FOR YOUR HUSBAND'S CONSTANT SNORING.
RESEARCHERS IN SCOTLAND SAY MEN ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO SNORE THAN WOMEN.. BECAUSE THE MALE NECK MUSCLE IS USUALLY BULKIER.
THIS EXTRA MASS COULD BE BLOCKING THE AIRWAYS AT NIGHT.//
THAT IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS. I'M MAGGIE COOPER, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))

(ad lib to weather)

[Two-Steve]

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

[Microwave]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]

(I'll call for #)
[SUPER=16- (540) 985-3550/American Red Cross;]

[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

U-S envoy Richard Holbrooke has resumed his talks in Belgrade with Slobodan Milosevic (sloh-BOH'-dahn mee-LOH'-shuh-vich) in a last ditch effort to get the Yugoslavian president to accept a peace plan for Kosovo.
But the U-S and its allies say they will have to resort to airstrikes.. if the Serbs continue their aggression against the ethnic Albanians.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
A body found in a burned-out rental car in California has been identified as that of Carole Sund.
She disappeared last month along with her teen-age daughter and a family friend.
Another body found in the trunk has yet to be identified.
The third person is still missing.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Danville based Dimon Incorporated is cutting its workforce by 25 percent because of the ongoing problems in the tobacco industry.
Dimon will close one of its North Carolina processing plants but No jobs are expected to be cut in Danville.
(----------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Tuesday, March 23rd.
[anchor=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-E-Fire-Training]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-8 44:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]

We've already seen several brush fires in the past few weeks.
In Roanoke County last night, firefighters were learning to work with one of their most powerful tools.
Eric Earnhart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was helicopter]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Thomsen/Va. Dept. of Foresty; :11 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Thursday; :45]
[SUPER=01-Danny Carroll/Assistant Chief; :51]
[SUPER=02-John Reed/Summit Helicopters; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
((It was helicopter 101 for Fort Lewis firefighters in Roanoke County... and they learn how the fire-fighting chopper works, and what it needs when it arrives on scene.
[SOT 00:01:10]
[IN Q=he's going to have]
((CHRIS THOMSEN/VA. DEPT OF FORESTRY; HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LAND, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HOOK UP HIS BUCKET )) [RUNS 04]
[OUT Q=his bucket]

And he's going to need water... but not just any water.
[SOT 00:00:34]
[IN Q=he'd rather not fly]
(( HE'D RATHER NOT FLY ACROSS INTERSTATE, IF WE'VE GOT A FIRE ON THE NORTH SIDE, HE'D RATHER USE A WATER SOURCES ON THE NORTH SIDE )) [RUNS 06]
[OUT Q=on the north side]

Because pilots don't like flying over the interstate carrying 100 gallons of water, hoping to avoid the chance, however slight, of an accidental drop on high speed traffic.
The drops are impressive.... 800 pounds of water, pumped up by a foaming agent, fanning out in a wide, flame choking blanket.
This is, however, not a new experiene for these firefighters, they've already seen it, in action last week, when the Green Hill forest fire almost got away from them.
[SOT 00:11:36]
[IN Q=the helicopter]
(( DANNY CARROL/ASST. CHIEF; THE HELICOPTER REALLY SAVED OUR DAY THE OTHER DAY, WITH THE WINDS BLOWING LIKE THEY WERE, IT WAS REALLY PUSHING THE FIRE, WE HAD SOME HOMES IN THE AREA... TREMENDOUS HELP. )) [RUNS 11]
[OUT Q=tremendous help]

Pilot John Reed has equal admiration for the men facing the flames on the ground... and says he works hard to make those buckets count...
[SOT 00:20:53]
[IN Q=we're able to put]
((JOHN REED/SUMMIT HELICOPTERS; WE'RE ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF WATER UP IN THE HILLS IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY CAN'T GET THEIR TRUCKS TO REALLY QUICKLY, )) [RUNS 08]
[OUT Q=to really quickly.]

Fortunately during this demonstration, the only fire around is the sunset settling on the nearby hillside... but those flames could very easily be real tomorrow, or the next day.
In Roanoke County, Eric Earnhart, News 7.))

[E-Dimon]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-2 1:00:10]
[GRAPHIC=Dimon Cutting Back]

Danville- based Dimon Incorporated says problems in the tobacco industry are forcing it to reduce its workforce by 25 percent.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape]

Dimon will close one of its North Carolina processing plants and reduce staff at another.
"No" Danville jobs will be affected.
But Dimon officials say the cuts reflect an overall downturn in the tobacco industry.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:59:20]
[IN Q=We're hopeful that]
((TODD HAYMORE/DIMON SPOKESMAN: WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL SEE THE BOTTOM VERY SOON. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS WHOLE UNCERTAINTY WILL SETTLE OUT, BUT UNTIL THAT TIME WE'RE GOING TO BE FACED WITH MORE UNCERTAINTY AND MORE CHALLENGES, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND AS WE TRY AND PLAN FOR 1999 AND BEYOND.))
[SUPER=01-Todd Haymore/Dimon Spokesman]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=1999 and beyond.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Haymore says reduced demand for American tobacco overseas and political pressure in the U-S are responsible for Dimon's consolidation.
(------------)

[E-Boucher]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-78 1:51:48]
[GRAPHIC=High-Tech Jobs]

Congressman Rick Boucher says the time is right to bring high tech jobs to Southwest Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

Boucher met with business leaders in the New River Valley yesterday.
He told them to go after the sort of jobs that have made Northern Virginia's economy boom.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:29:51]
[IN Q=northern]
((RICK BOUCHER: NORTHERN VIRGINIA TODAY HAS 20,000 UNFILLED JOBS IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY THERE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL AND IT HAS COMPLETELY OUTSTRIPPED THE ABILITY OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE TO MEET THAT GROWING NEED. WE WOULD LIKE TO ATTRACT MANY OF THOSE JOBS HERE TO SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=@Boucher;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=southwest virginia]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Those jobs are in the fields of computer programming, website production and data base management.
(------------)

[Kosovo]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

U-S envoy Richard Holbrooke is meeting again this morning with Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic (sloh-BOH'-dahn mee-LOH'-shuh-vich).
But any hope for peace is fading fast.
A four-hour long talk last night failed to produce agreement on a peace plan for Kosovo, bringing threatened NATO air strikes closer to reality.
Lisa Hughes reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[4:20:04]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Belgrade, Yugoslovia;:00]
[SUPER=01-Robin Cook/British Foreign Secretary; :51]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Kay Hutchison/(R) Texas; 1:07]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Joe Biden/(D) Delaware; 1:13]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hughes/Reporting; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, THE WHITE HOUSE]
(((LOCATOR: BELGRADE)
(NATS--holbrooke this afternoon)
It is a final effort that appears to have failed.... to prevent airstrikes in Kosovo. U-S envoy, Richard Holbrooke traveled to Belgrade to meet with Slobodan Milosovic ...but leaves without an agreement. : THE WHITE HOUSE Minutes after arriving at the White House from Camp David...the President issued HIS warning--calling again for the Yugoslav President to comply with a peace deal or face the consequence. 13:51;59 (IF PRESIDENT MILOSEVICH CONTINUES TO CHOOE AGGRESSIO OVER PEACE, NATO'S MILITARY PLANS MUST CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD) And NATO forces--the President says--will move to stop this...the continued build-up of Serb troops in Kosovo and the attack on ethnic Albanians. Milosevich agreed to pull his troops back last fall. Now he faces full scale bombing and missile strikes. Western allies insist there may be no other way to stop him. Super: Robin Cook/British Foreign Secretary
(HE CANNOT EXPECT US TO CONTINUE TALKING PEACE WITH HIM WHILE HE IS
MAKING WAR ON THE GROUND) But justifying war is still a difficult, if not impossible prospect for some members of Congress who say the President has not yet made his case for air strikes strongly enough. Super: Sen. Kay Bailey-Hutchison/(R) Texas (16:35 I WOULD SAY, BEFORE WE GO BOMBING SOVEREIGN NATIONS...) The debate is just beginning... Sen. Joe Biden/(D) Delaware WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE OF NOT ACTING? I WOULD AND WILL ARGUE THAT IT IS IMMENSE LISA HUGHES CBS NEWS WASHINGTON.))

[Kevorkian]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=Morn]
[GRAPHIC=Jack Kevorkian]

Dr. Jack Kevorkian's first degree murder trial continues today in Michigan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pontiac, MI;]
[4:05:32]
Acting as his own attorney Kevorkian likened himself to a compassionate executioner in his opening statement yesterday.
Kevorkian is charged in the September death of Thomas Youk (yowk), a Michigan man who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease.
[SUPER=04-60 Minutes;]

The death was videotaped and aired on C-B-S's ``60 Minutes.''
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((KEVORKIAN:WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT ONE CONCLUSION. WHAT I DID FOR THOMAS YOUK WAS NOT A CRIME.))
[SUPER=01-Jack Kevorkian/Defenadant;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=WAS NOT A CRIME.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Kevorkian asked jurors why he would have recorded Youk's death had he thought it was murder.
But the prosecution told jurors the issue before you is if Kevorkian has the right to kill or whether he's accountable to the law and guilty of murder.
(------------)

[Three-Steve]

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

[Microwave]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=01-Steve Karras/Veterinarian]

(I'll call for #)
[SUPER=16- (540) 985-3550/American Red Cross;]

[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
((Archive: red cross))

[E-Death-Penalty]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-82 1:34:21]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Death Penalty]

Five executions in April will set a modern one month record for Virginia.
A broad array of religious leaders in the state say it's time to stop what they call "state-sanctioned killing."
Ellen Qualls reports on their plea today to the Governor.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Catholic, Episcopal]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Rabbi Leivy Smolar/Congregation Or Ami; :09 ]
[SUPER=01-Fletcher Lowe/Virginia Interfaith Center; :29 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :34 ]
[SUPER=01-Gary Aronholt/Virginia Public Safety Secretary; :40 ]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/November 1987; :53 ]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News7.]
(( Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Jewish faith leaders have come together to express their collective moral outrage.
[sot 11:14:44 ]
((RABBI LEIVY SMOLAR/CONGREGATION OR AMI: WHY DO WE EXECUTE PEOPLE WHO WERE JUVENILES AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME? WHY DO WE EXECUTE MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUALS? WHY IS THERE A LACK OF ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE POOR WHO NEED LEGAL ADVICE?)) [runs :18]
[SOT 11:17:47]
((FLETCHER LOWE/VIRGINIA INTERFAITH CENTER: VIRGINIA MAY HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO IMPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY BUT IT LACKS THE MORAL RIGHT.)) [RUNS :08 ]
But the Gilmore administration says Virginians have chosen the death penalty through their elected representatives.

[SOT 15:42:29 ]
((GARY ARONHOLT/VIRGINIA PUBLIC SAFETY SECRETARY: THEY HAVE MADE THAT DETERMINATION THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS THE APPROPRIATE SANCTION TO BE IMPOSED ON...MOST VILE SORTS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE COMMITTED BY CERTAIN PEOPLE.)) [RUNS :13]
David Lee Fisher is scheduled to die by lethal injection Thursday for a 1985 hired murder scheme in Bedford County.

Ellen Qualls, News 7.))

[E-Black]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-4 1:12:38]
[GRAPHIC=Cross Burning Trial]

Prosecutors may proceed with their case against an imperial wizard of the ku klux klan accused of burning a cross in Carroll County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hillsville/November 13;]

Barry Black's attorneys had argued to have the case dismissed saying the charge violates their clients first amendment rights.
But Judge Duane Mink last week sided with prosecutors.
Commonwealth's attorney Greg Goad is pleased with the judge's decision saying, in his eyes, intimidation of others was never intended to be protected by the constitution.
(------------)

[3-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, the reign is over for Tennessee.
Steve Mason has details.
Good Morning Steve.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=2:09]
[OUT Q=great Tuesday.]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(weather toss)
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

After getting a crash course with brush fires earlier in the week, Roanoke Valley firefighters got a lesson in using air power against the flames.
Fort Lewis firefighters in Roanoke County learned how a fire-fighting chopper works, and what it needs when it arrives on scene.
For example, pilots don't like flying over the interstate carrying 100 gallons of water, hoping to avoid the chance, however slight, of an accidental drop on high speed traffic.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Danville- based Dimon Incorporated says problems in the tobacco industry are forcing it to reduce its workforce by 25 percent.
Dimon will close one of its North Carolina processing plants and reduce staff at another. "No" Danville jobs will be affected.
But Dimon officials say the cuts reflect an overall downturn in the tobacco industry.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Prosecutors may proceed with their case against an imperial wizard of the ku klux klan accused of burning a cross in Carroll County.
Barry Black's attorneys had argued to have the case dismissed saying the charge violates their clients first amendment rights.
But Judge Duane Mink last week sided with prosecutors.
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
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[2 shot=Mel/Kmc]
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
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[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye) [Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]