[7-Sales-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Taxes]


The idea of creating a regional sales tax to fund cultural organizations is floating around the area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


It would raise the current 4 and a half cent local sales tax by one cent in Roanoke and Botetourt counties, as well as the cities of Roanoke and Salem.
The idea was started by the Art Council's Blue Print 2000 and has other organizations wanting a piece of the pie.


The Science Museum of Western Virginia is one museum that relies on General Assembly funding that may not be there next year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:18:31]
[IN Q=All the educational]

((HARRY NICKENS/SCIENCE MUSEUM BOARD MEMBER: ALL THE EDUCATIONAL CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WILL BE IN THE GOVERNORS FUNDING FOR THEM AND WHAT MIGHT BE EXCLUDED.))
[SUPER=01-Harry Nickens/Science Museum Board Member]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=might be excluded]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


There is no word on when the idea would be presented to the General Assembly.
Ultimately the voters will decide if the tax should be implemented.
(------------)



[7-E-L'burg-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-48 13:39]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]


The Lynchburg school system has received some ideas about how to combat racial problems in the city's schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


An advisory group issued a series of recommendations to the Lynchburg city school board last night.
Members suggest hiring a full-time person to train school staff in diversity and sensitivity issues.
They'd also like to see the city step up its recruitment of minority teachers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:19:53]
[IN Q=They've looked at]

((JAMES MUNDY/COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: THEY'VE LOOKED AT PROBLEMS, THEY'VE COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THEY MIGHT BE RESOLVED. THEY VOICED, AS YOU HEARD TONIGHT, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO COME ON BOARD AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION SO THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.))
[SUPER=01-James Mundy/Committee Chairman]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=good about it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


School board members say they're glad the lines of communication have been opened between educators and parents.
(------------)



[7-E-City-Water]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-47 30:37]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions Lifted]


After five months, the city of Roanoke is easing water restrictions.
City officials are still calling for voluntary conservation, but they say the situation has improved to the point that mandatory restrictions are no longer necessary.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]


The water level at Carvins Cove is now 17 feet below the spillway. That's still slightly below normal for this time of year.
But with a new water sharing agreement with Roanoke County, and with plans to develop more wells, officials say the city is in a better position to deal with drought conditions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:18:45]
[IN Q=I just think]

((I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO RETURN SOMETHING TO THE CITIZENS TO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. WE'RE CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, SO CERTAINLY WE'LL MONITOR IT. AND IF WE NEED TO GO BACK ON MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS WE CAN, BUT WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.))
[SUPER=01-Diane Akers/Acting Assistant City Manager; ]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=see how we're doing.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]


Water supplied by other localities helped the city weather this crisis, but officials say residents and businesses in Roanoke conserved more than 350-million gallons during the five months that mandatory restrictions were in place.


[7Weather]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Here's a look at your Wednesday forecast.
Mostly sunny today and windy.
High temperatures in the 50s.
Tonight mostly cloudy, with snow flurries in the west.
Lows tonight in the low to mid 30s.
The extended forecast...(ad lib if necessary)


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[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Wind SW 10-20/52-60/Mostly Cloudy/Flurries in West/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]





[45-Bedford-Murder]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Bedford Co. Murder]


A man was fatally shot yesterday in Bedford county...the suspect is in police custody.
Authorities say 38-year old Leroy Edgar Peter Junior was shot during a confrontation at a friend's home around 2:30.
42-year old Larry Holmes was arrested at the scene and charged with second degree murder.
No other details have been released.

[45-Thaxton-Robbery]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Authorities in Bedford County are also on the lookout for two men suspected of robbing the Thaxton market last night.
One suspect stayed in a car while the other entered the store.
He's described as a black male wearing a maroon jacket with pin stripes, black warm up pants and tennis shoes.
The two were last seen on Route 460 in what's believed to be a black Honda Prelude.

[45-E-Arson-Dogs]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-46 40:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]


They each have four legs and a real nose for investigative work....
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chesterfield Co.]


They are the first two arson-sniffing dogs to graduate from the Virginia State Police academy this Friday.
Marko will be stationed in Bristol.
Flame will work out of Salem.
They're the only two arson dogs anyone owns south of Richmond.
And if you think their job's a breeze, listen up.
NOT all make the cut.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:22;58]
[IN Q=We had a lab]

((DAVID BROOKS: WE HAD A LAB... DIDN'T WANT TO ACTUALLY WORK.))
[SUPER=01-David Brooks/Virginia State Police K-9 Trainer;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=actually work.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The dogs can pick out any petroleum-based residue, NO matter how bad the fire damage.
That saves human investigators a lot of work on the scene, and later in the lab.
(------------)



[45-E-Tunnel]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-44]
[GRAPHIC=I-77 Anniversary]


The East River Mountain Tunnel had a hefty price tag of 39- million dollars when it was built in the early 1970s.
But now, the project would run 200- million.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Mercer Co., WV;]


This month marks the 25th anniversary of the tunnel that links the two Virginias on Interstate 77.
And, a lot has changed since 1974, mainly in terms of traffic growth.
Around 11- million vehicles are expected to pass through the tunnel this year and a crew is currently working to remove years of dirt and grime from the tunnel's tiles... which are supposed to be blue.
But the tunnel isn't purely about transportation.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I was ]

((CHARLIE FORE/TUNNEL SUPERINTENDENT: I WAS DAY DREAMING ON HOW TO GET IT FROM THE NORTH SIDE TO THE SOUTH END TO FURNISH THE TUNNEL AND I WASN'T DREAMING BIG ENOUGH.))
[SUPER=01-Charlie Fore/Tunnel Superintendent; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=big enough.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Charlie Fore lobbied to pump water from West Virginia to the tunnel after a vehicle caught fire inside the tunnel in 1993.
What Fore never expected is that the pipes would be big enough to also pump drinking water to residents in Bland County.
(----------)




[45Weather]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Turning to the forecast now...
Today promises lots of sunshine, with winds out of the southwest pushing temperatures to near 60 for the high.
Mostly cloudy overnight, with some flurries to our west.
Lows of 30 to 35.
The rest of the week looks cooler...with highs in the 40s...

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Wind SW 10-20/52-60/Mostly Cloudy/Flurries in West/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]





[8-E-City-Water]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-47 30:37]
[GRAPHIC=Water Restrictions Lifted]


City officials say Roanoke's water situation has improved to the point that mandatory water restrictions are no longer necessary.
But officials are still asking citizens to conserve voluntarily.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]


The water level at Carvins Cove is now 17 feet below the spillway. That's still slightly below normal for this time of year.
But with a new water sharing agreement with Roanoke County, and with plans to develop more wells, officials say the city is in a better position to deal with drought conditions.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:18:45]
[IN Q=I just think]

((I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO RETURN SOMETHING TO THE CITIZENS TO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. WE'RE CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, SO CERTAINLY WE'LL MONITOR IT. AND IF WE NEED TO GO BACK ON MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS WE CAN, BUT WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.))
[SUPER=01-Diane Akers/Acting Assistant City Manager; ]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=see how we're doing.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]


Water supplied by other localities helped the city weather this crisis, but officials say residents and businesses in Roanoke conserved more than 350-million gallons during the five months that mandatory restrictions were in place.


[8-E-Water-React]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-41 1:30:58]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Even though things are looking up for Roanoke's water supply, a major water user says it will never again depend on it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The Roanoke Country Club has dug its own wells ... put in its own pumping station ... and is now filling its own reservoir.
It's a one-million-dollar renovation.
And once it's finished, the club will be self-sufficient.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:11:09]
[IN Q=there comes a time]

((DAN WHEELER/ROANOKE COUNTRY CLUB: THERE COMES A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO OUT ON YOUR OWN. AND THE TIME FOR THE CLUB IS NOW. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO AND WE WON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE CITY FOR WATER.))
[SUPER=01-Dan Wheeler/Roanoke Country Club]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=FOR WATER]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The club was banned from using city water this summer and fall.
Now that it's not using city water at all, Roanoke is going to lose revenue.
The club's annual water bill WAS 42-thousand dollars.
That's money the city will no longer collect.
(------------)



[8-E-Toy-Safety]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=99-??]
[GRAPHIC=Toys]


The holidays are here and that means parents heading to the stores to buy toys.
The Safety Coalition is releasing its annual toy injury report to inform parents of any potential dangers children may face.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]


The Coalition has added a new prevention measure this year.
Roanoke coordinator Ellen Davis says parents should pay attention to the skill level of the child.
Even if the toy label recommends it's safe for children up to age four, the individual child may not be ready to play with it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 00:54:47]
[IN Q=Play becomes]

((ELLEN DAVIS/SAFE KIDS: PLAY BECOMES EVEN MORE VALUABLE WHEN A PARENT INTERACTS WITH A CHILD, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN A CHILD HAS A NEW TOY AND YOU DON'T KNOW THE BEHAVIOR OF THAT CHILD WITH THAT TOY, YOU NEED TO ESPECIALLY SUPERVISE IN THE FIRST FEW PLAY TIMES WITH THAT NEW TOY.))
[SUPER=01-Ellen Davis/Safe Kids Coalition; ]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=that new toy]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Davis says parents should check old toys regularly for damage and small parts that could come loose.
(------------)



[8Weather]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Let's take one more look at the mid- week forecast...
Mostly sunny today with unseasonably warm temperatures reaching the upper 50s.
Mostly cloudy overnight, with lows in the lower 30s...maybe a few flurries to our west.
As for the extended outlook...expect some sunshine and cooler weather for the next few days.


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[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Wind SW 10-20/52-60/Mostly Cloudy/Flurries in West/30-35;]
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[SUPER=600-January 9, 1998/54/28-64/Granular/15/125/18/25-30/Wet Packed/25/500;]
[SUPER=601-January 9, 1998/54/28-64/Granular/15/125/18/25-30/Wet Packed/25/500;]
[SUPER=602-January 9, 1998/54/28-64/Granular/15/125/18/25-30/Wet Packed/25/500;]

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by SS