[7-Delegates-Debate]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign '99]
The race for the Virginia House of Delegates could be a close one.
( ------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
House Incumbent Dick Cranwell and his challenger Al Bedrosian debated several issues at a forum last night.
But the biggest area these candidates disagree on is education.
Bedrosian wants to give parents the right to choose where their children attend school --- by using a tax credit or
school vouchers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:06:03]
[IN Q=The way]
((AL BEDROSIAN/(R) HOUSE OF DELEGATES CANDIDATE: THE WAY POLITICIANS LIKE TO DO IT IS HAVE 140 PEOPLE UP IN RICHMOND AND 3 STATEWIDE PEOPLE MAKE ALL THE CHOICES, DICTATE TO EVERYBODY HOW THEY'LL BE EDUCATED, THAT'S NOT FREEDOM))
[SUPER=01-Al Bedrosian/(R) House of Delegates Candidate;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=that's not freedom]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But Cranwell says school choice takes money from public schools -- at a time when schools in southwest Virginia are already under funded.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:03:13]
[IN Q=Anything that]
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/(D) VINTON: ANYTHING THAT WE DO THAT DAMAGES PUBLIC EDUCATION DAMAGES THE HEART AND SOUL OF AMERICA))
[SUPER=@Cranwell]
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=soul of America]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The candidates also disagree on other issues like abortion.
Bedrosian say he is strongly against abortion-- while Cranwell supports current Virginia law making abortion legal under certain circumstances.
And if the last election is an indication of how this race will turn out -- these two candidate will be running neck and neck all the way.
(------------)
[7-E-jones]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-30 1:34:59]
[GRAPHIC=campaign 99]
The race for State Senate is heating up after some controversial allegations.
State Senate Candidate Jim Jones was convicted of assault six years ago, and yesterday, he denounced those allegations-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg]
Jones appeared at a Christiansburg news conference with family, friends, and employees of his business, Lifeline Ambulance Service.
The allegations date back to March, 1993... the day a storm dumped three feet of snow in western Virginia.
At the ambulance office, and a Blacksburg townhouse, a former employee claimed that Jones made inappropriate comments and unwanted sexual advances.
He was convicted of misdemeanor assault and fined 250 dollars... but Jones says it never happened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=One side of the story]
((JIM JONES/STATE SENATE CANDIDATE: ONE SIDE OF THE STORY HAS BEEN LEFT FLOATING AROUND AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS FAIR TO TAKE JUST ONE SIDE OF THE STORY, BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY, TRYING TO GET THE OTHER SIDE OF IT OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Jones/(R) State Senate Candidate]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=get the other side of it out.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Jones told Republican leaders about the conviction before he was nominated and says he never tried to hide it from anyone.
Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent State Senator Madison Marye has released a statement, calling on Republican leaders to withdraw their support.
[7-E-School-Violence]
[ANCHOR=kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-29 1:12:51]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]
Police and school officials hope a new program will help kids fight crime at school.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
It's the Crime Line for calling in tips.
Students will remain anonymous.
And if their tips help police prevent a real crime ... students can earn as much as a hundred dollars.
Student's at Patrick Henry High welcome the idea-
(////sot ////)
[SOT 4:37:48////////4:33:27]
[bump sots]
[IN Q=i think most]
((JAMIE PAYNE/PH FRESHMAN: I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT IF THEY TELL, THE PERSON'S GOING TO COME AFTER THEM AND BEAT THEM UP/////////////JONATHAN KATZ/PH SOPHOMORE: IF THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING DOWN LIKE A DRUG BUST OR SHOOTINGS, BOMB SCARES -- THEY CAN CALL AND HELP THE SAFETY OF PH.))
[SUPER=01-Jamie Payne/P.H. Freshman;00]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Katz/P.H. Sophomore;07]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=safety of PH]
(------------)
[Take Pinnacle Page]
Crime Line is available for students in the Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and Botetourt County School Districts...
The number is 3-4-4 8-5-0-0.
(------------)
[7Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
And here's a look at today's weather...
A little warmer today, look for mostly sunny skys with highs in the low 80s.
Tonight, clear and cool with temperatures in the low to mid 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Mild/Winds SW 10-15/80-84/Mostly Clear/Winds W 5-10/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[45-E-Wasena-sex]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-34 53:58]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Prosecutors are dropping two of the remaining three charges in the Roanoke sex in the park cases.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:33:40]
[IN Q=Where some have]
((WHERE SOME HAVE SAID WE NEVER LEARN, WE HAVE REEVALUATED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DECIDED THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE IS NOT OF THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY THAT A JURY EXPECTS. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD ON THE REMAINING TWO.))
[SUPER=01-Donald Caldwell/Roanoke Commonwealth's Atty.]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=remaining two.]
(--------------)
[V/O-NAT (from 99-18)]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 27]
Roanoke school teacher Shane Wolfe is one of those who will not be tried.
His case resulted in a MIS-trial in July.
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[graphic=none]
Wolfe had taught fourth grade at Monterey Elementary until his arrest last November.
The superintendent hasn't made a formal decision, but the 23-year-old teacher will "probably" be offered another position in the city schools once the charges are dropped Tuesday.
[45-E-Falwell-Protests]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-37 50:25]
[GRAPHIC=Falwell]
It's a meeting designed to reduce anti-gay voilence, but instead the planned meeting the Reverend Jerry Falwell and gay pastor Mel White is stirring controversity.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Falwell and White have agreed to meet the weekend of October 23rd to discuss toning down their rhetoric on the gay issue.
A pro-gay group from Miami known as the Oral Majority has already received a permit to protest at that meeting.
Others may follow.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:46:10]
[IN Q=A lot of]
[SUPER=01-Major Jack Lewis/Lynchburg Police Dept.]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=applying for permits.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Lynchburg city law requires groups of five or more to get a permit before holding any kind of assembly or protest.
(------------)
[45-E-Education]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-32 1:09:32]
[GRAPHIC=Education]
It could be a teaching crisis, that how education experts at Virginia Commonwealth describe it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
At the middle school level, 300 new math and science teachers will be needed each year.
And right now, 49 percent of middle school science teachers do NOT meet the new certification requirements... and neither do 52 percent of middle school math teachers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:00:43]
[IN Q=It makes]
((KIRK SCHRODER/VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION: IT MAKES THE CASE FOR LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE LICENSER ROUTES TO ALLOW PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE-- CHEMISTS, BIOLOGISTS, OTHERS-- WHO WANT TO LOOK FOR A SECOND CAREER IN THE TEACHING FIELD WHO HAVE TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF KNOWLEDGE, TO TRY TO STREAMLINE GETTING THEM INTO THE TEACHING FIELD.))
[SUPER=01-Kirk Schroeder/Virginia Board of Education]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=teaching field.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The new V-C-U study also shows that 56 percent of middle school science teachers didn't even major or minor in the subject area they're teaching.
67 percent or a full two-thirds of middle school math teachers did NOT major or minor in math.
(------------)
[45-E-Poindexter]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=599-9 1:30:12]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign '99]
He wants to be Bedford County's next sheriff but before he runs he has to appear in court on a charge of writing bad checks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.;]
Elton Poindexter admits he wrote two bad checks for 20 dollars each to a convenience store.
But he says his overdraft account should have covered them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:58:02]
[IN Q=I don't see]
((ELTON POINDEXTER/CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF: I DON'T SEE WHERE I DONE SOMETHING WRONG. IF I WERE THE ONLY ONE DOING IT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE.))
[SUPER=01-Elton Poindexter/Candidate for Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=be something else]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Poindexter's trial is scheduled for October 13th.
(------------)
[45Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Taking a break from the news now to check weather...
Sunny and mild today with highs reaching the lower 80s.
Mostly clear overnight, with lows of 50 to 55.
The five day forecast is sunny and pleasant through the weekend and beyond.
Highs in the 80s...lows in the 40s and 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Mild/Winds SW 10-15/80-84/Mostly Clear/Winds W 5-10/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[8-Bedrosian-Cranwell]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-38 18:31]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 99]
For the second time, Al Bedrosian is challenging Dick Cranwell for his House of Delegates seat.
Last night, they debated the issue at a Candidates forum.
Joy Sutton has the details.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There was standing]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;00]
[SUPER=01-Al Bedrosian/ (R) House of Delegates Candidate;17]
[SUPER=@Cranwell;52]
[SUPER=07-Mills Hobbs;1:23]
[SUPER=@Joy1]
[RUNS=1:50]
[OUT Q=Sutton, News 7]
((There was standing room only as voters came out to hear from House Incumbent Dick Cranwell and his opponent Al Bedrosian.
The issues of school choice and public education were hot topics at the debate.
At one point Bedrosian said he was offended by some of Cranwell's comments.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:34:01]
[IN Q=Mr. Cranwell]
((AL BEDROSIAN/(R) HOUSE OF DELEGATES CANDIDATE:MR. CRANWELL STANDS UP HERE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION LIKE HE'S THE EXPERT ON EDUCATION. YOU ALL ARE THE EXPERTS ON EDUCATION. THE PARENTS OUT THERE. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S BEST TO DO FOR MY FOUR CHILDREN THAN ME. THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS NOT AN EXPERIMENT))
[RUNS16]
[OUT Q=an experiment]
Bedrosian says he wants to give parents the right to choose where their children attend school by use of a tax credit or voucher.
But Cranwell says this will only cost tax payers more-- and hurts public education.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:31:58]
[IN Q=You know who gets]
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/(D) VINTON:YOU KNOW WHO IS GOING TO GET STUCK WITH THE TAB TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. YOU... SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL ARE ALREADY UNDER FUNDED))
[RUNS16]
[OUT Q=already underfunded]
But this is not the only matter the candidates disagree on.
Bedrosian is a strong pro-life supporter -- while Cranwell supports the current abortion laws-- which make abortion legal under certain circumstances.
Several other issues came out during the forum including school safety, HMO's and the future of Interstate-73.
Some voters say this forum will help them make up their minds come election day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:48:13]
[IN Q=A lot of issues]
((MILLS HOBBS: A LOT OF ISSUES CAME OUT PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT. I THINK MOST OF THEM WERE EXPLAINED. ANYBODY WHO GOES AWAY UNEDUCATED TONIGHT... WEREN'T GOING TO ACCEPT ANYTHING.))
[RUNS16]
[OUT Q=accept anything]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Some voters think]
(( JOY SUTTON/REPORTER:SOME VOTERS THINK THIS COULD BE A CLOSE RACE FOR THE DELEGATE SEAT.
LAST ELECTION, CRANWELL DEFEATED BEDROSIAN BY A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS. JOY SUTTON, NEWS 7))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=N7]))
[8-E-Disaster-Relief]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-36]
[GRAPHIC=Floyd Relief]
Local residents are helping those hit hard by Hurricane Floyd.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
The Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Red Cross is accepting cash contributions.
Volunteers say money is the best way to provide rapid relief and enables the most flexible use of resources.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 14 47 05]
[IN Q=Here, in the]
((JENNIE SUE MURDOCK/DISASTER SERVICES VOLUNTEER: HERE IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY THERE IS A CAMPAIGN ON FOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. RED CROSS DOES NOT HAVE TRUCKS OR WAREHOUSES TO HANDLE DISPOSABLE GOODS.))
[SUPER=01-Jennie Sue Murdock/Disaster Services Volunteer; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=disposable goods.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Right now, the Roanoke Valley has seven volunteers responding to affected areas.
185 to 200 people are still in shelters in Franklin, Virginia.
Donors can designate where their contributions go.
Grab a pen or pencil if you'd like to make a donation or volunteer-- the number is 1-800-HELP-NOW or you can send a contribution to the Red Cross at 352 Church Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia 24016.
(--------------)
[8-SMITH]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Legal scales]
He wasn't convicted of a crime, but a Roanoke teenager has a 10 day jail sentence to serve.
In April, James Everette Smith made a false bomb threat at Northside High School, just one week after the Columbine shootings.
Yesterday, a Juvenile judge said he wanted Smith to feel the consequences of his action without having his life ruined.
Judge Philip Trompeter took the case under advisement, meaning the charge could be dismissed if Smith follows court instructions and stays out of trouble.
The courts will allow him to serve the sentence on weekends.
[8Weather]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Before we leave you this morning..here's one final look at the forecast.
Sunny and mild, with warm southwesterly winds and highs in the lower 80s.
Mostly clear overnight, with lows cooling into the low to mid 50s.
The extended forecast is mostly sunny...with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s and 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Mild/Winds SW 10-15/80-84/Mostly Clear/Winds W 5-10/50-55;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
by SS