WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 01/26/01

[7-School-Information]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=SChool Info]
We do have some school announcements... [TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FS]
(XXXXXXX)
The Carlisle school is closed today, and schools in Greenbrier and Tazewell counties are delayed two hours

(XXXXXXX)[7-County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST= AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Co. Schools]
There's a new early retirement plan for teachers in Roanoke Coutny. Last night, the school board approved the plan by a vote of 3 to 1 with one member absent. Kate Weidaw has the details and reaction from teachers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:00]
[SUPER=01-Kitty Boitnott/Education Association;:17]
[SUPER=01-Susanne Wiseman/Retired Teacher;:41]
[SUPER=@Kate1;:50]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=kw news 7.]
((Under the new early retirement plan current teachers will receive a 20 percent supplement and health benefits for five years. However the health benefits are capped at 25-hundred dollars. Retired teachers will receive the same benefits for seven years instead of five.

[SOT 3:22:44]
[INQ=]
((KITTY BOITNOTT/EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: WE'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING IN WRITING BUT IT'S OUR FEELING THAT GIVEN THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE AND ALL THE THINGS THEY STARTED OUT TALKING ABOUT DOING THEY'VE COME UP WITH A FAIRLY DECENT COMPROMISE.))

[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 15]

But some retired teachers who planned on receiving a 30 percent supplement under the old plan say the new plan may make money tight.

[SOT 3:20:49]
[INQ=]
((SUSANNE WISEMAN/RETIRED TEACHER: IT DOES PUT US IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN AFFORD TO STAY RETIRED OR COME BACK IN UNDER THE OPTION OF COMING BACK INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 13]

[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: THE EARLY RETIREMENT PLAN COULD BE REVAMPED AGAIN SINCE THE SCHOOL BOARD AGREED TO REEVALUATE THE PLAN EVERY YEAR. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]))

[7-XGR]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-51 TC1:17:12]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]

Governor Jim Gilmore's budget is taking criticism from both sides of the aisle.
When he's in Washington in his new job heading up the Republican party...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
, Democrats have a name for him. They call him "Governor Gone More."
And when he's in Richmond, Democrats call him Governor "Spill More."
At a mock funeral for fiscal responsibility, they said his mis-management has wasted more than 368 million dollars -- and his budget does too much borrowing from the past and the future.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Governor ]
[SOT 11:18:10]
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/D-VINTON: THE GOVERNOR HAS WASTED ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE CAR TAX.))
[SOT 11:12:07]
((DEL. AL POLLARD/D-LANCASTER CO.: PRESS REPORTS AND TALKING TO FOLKS IN THE LOCAL COURTHOUSES INDICATE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HELD BACK TAX REFUNDS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BOOKS BALANCE. IT'S WRONG, AND IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN VIRGINIA.))
[SOT 12:25:34]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: IF THEY HAVE A BETTER AND MORE SOUND AND RESPONSIBLE APPROACH, I'M CERTAINLY OPEN TO LOOKING AT IT. BUT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO GET THEIR TAX CUT, THEY OUGHT TO GET IT ON TIME.))
[SUPER=@Cranwell; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Al Pollard/(D) Lancaster Co.; :06]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :19]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=get it on time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fellow Republicans in the Senate continued their almost daily criticism of the Governor's budget, too.
Yesterday's topic was cuts to public safety.
(------------)

[45-Delayed-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=SChool Info]
We do have some school announcements... [TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FS]
(XXXXXXX)
The Carlisle school is closed today, and schools in Greenbrier and Tazewell counties are delayed two hours

(XXXXXXX)[45-Penn-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC1:51:47]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
Members of the family of murdered Roanoke landlord Jimmy Lee Penn have set up a new hotline they hope will find his killer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 1, 1998;]

Penn was shot and killed on October first, 1998 outside a rental home he owned on Patterson Avenue.
Despite a 10- thousand dollar reward, and a continuing police investigation, no arrests have been made.
Penn's relatives believe someone in the community has information on the crime, but may be afraid to come forward.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:59:00]
[IN Q=And I think by establishing]
((RENEA TAYLOR: AND I THINK BY ESTABLISHING THIS NEW NUMBER, PEOPLE WILL BE MORE WILLING TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S NOT DIRECTLY INTO THE POLICE STATION. AND THEY CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHO THEY ARE, OR WORRY ABOUT US KNOWING WHO THEY ARE OR THE ACTUAL MURDERERS FINDING OUT WHO THEY ARE.))
[SUPER=01-Renea Taylor/Jimmie L. Penn's Daughter;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=finding out who they are.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Anyone with information on the murder of Jimmie Lee Penn is encouraged to call 540- 265- 8300.
The toll-free number is 888- 265- 8300.
(------------)

[45-Montvale-Park]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-52 TC1:27:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Plans for an industrial park in Montvale has been scrapped after some Beford County residents said they didn't want it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/Monday]

650 people had signed petitions against the plan, and hundreds more turned out for a public meeting .
The planning commission voted Monday against the rezoning request.. and Wednesday, the Bedford County Industrial Development Authority withdrew the plans altogether.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:04:10]
[IN Q=We did not]
((SUE GILBERT/BEDFORD CO. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: WE DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND VERY LITTLE PRIVATELY IN SUPPORT OF IT. AND THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS IS, WHEN THE PEOPLE SPEAK, THE GOVERNMENT LISTENS AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Sue Gilbert/Bedford Co. Economic Devel.]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=attempted to do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gilbert says she hopes this will encourage residents to stay involved in their county government.
(------------)

[45-School-Phones]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A cellphone company has donated the latest technology to some local schools in case of an emergency.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Suncom donated twenty digital wireless phones to high schools in Lynchburg and Bedford County yesterday.
The phones will be used by school officials during an emergency, either on campus or off.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:37:58]
[IN Q=If they go]
((ALAN LEONARD/SUNCOM MARKETING MANAGER: IF THEY GO ON A FIELD TRIP, IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN INSIDE THE SCHOOL BUILDING ITSELF. LET'S JUST SAY FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE LAND LINES WEREN'T ABLE TO BE USED, OR THEY JUST WEREN'T CLOSE TO A PHONE, THEY'D BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE WIRELESS PHONES TO USE FOR EMERGENCIES.))
[SUPER=01-Alan Leonard/Suncom Marketing Manager]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=use for emergencies.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The phones are pre- programmed to dial 911, the local fire and police and the high school's main office number.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]

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

Shifting gears now to weather--
Turning mostly sunny today with a high of 40 to 45..

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Mostly/Sunny/40-45/Mostly/Cloudy/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-Delayed-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=SChool Info]
Before we get today's news here are a few school announcements.... [TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FS]
(XXXXXXX)
The Carlisle school is closed today, and schools in Greenbrier and Tazewell counties are delayed two hours

(XXXXXXX)[8-Abortion]

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

It's a promising piece of state legislation for abortion opponents-- A bill that would make women wait 24 hours after seeing a doctor is now heading to a friendlier commiteee.
The Senate Rules Committee pulled the bill out of the Education and Health committee it narrowly failed in last year... and moved it to the Courts of Justice Committee.

[8-Telemarketing]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-01 TC27:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]

While you might find telemarketers annoying...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/File Tape]

they provide more than 40-thousand jobs in Virginia.
Attorney General Mark Earley has authored a bill to limit the times they call and allow you to sue them.
A fellow Republican calls it a job destroyer.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT SENATE 01:25:43]
[IN Q=What we]
((SEN. RUSS POTTS/R-WINCHESTER: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS ONE OF THE WORST PIECES OF LEGISLATION EVER INTRODUCED ON THIS FLOOR.))
[SOT SENATE 01:22:54]
((SEN. LESLIE BYRNE/D-FALLS CHURCH: WE CAN'T BLOCK CALLS BY PUTTING OUR NAME ON A MASTER LIST... ALL WE CAN DO IS SUE. AND WE CAN SUE EACH AND EVERY TELEMARKETER. AND SO MAYBE WE SHOULD CALL THIS THE FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR LAWYERS ACT.))

[SUPER=01-Sen. Russ Potts/(R) Winchester; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Leslie Byrne/(D) Falls Church; :09]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=lawyers act.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Despite the criticism, the Senate passed the bill on a 31 to 9 vote.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14;35:45]
[IN Q=Legitimate telemarketers]
((ATTORNEY GEN. MARK EARLEY: LEGITIMATE TELEMARKETERS PRETTY MUCH OBEY THESE THINGS AS GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES NOW. BUT THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW CONSUMERS TO FIGHT BACK WHEN THEY'RE ABUSED))
[SUPER=@Earley;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=they're abused.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates.
(------------)

[8-Flu-School]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC01:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Earlier, we told you that the Carlisle School is closed today because so many students are teachers are sick.

School officials are trying to determine if it's due to a flu outbreak--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

The Carlisle School in Martinsville canceled classes yesterday as well.
School officials say they believe it was best to close until Monday because 30-percent of the students are out sick and so are 20-percent of the teachers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT3:38]
[IN Q=Whether its the flu we]
((COLIN FERGUSON/CARLISLE SCHOOL HEADMASTER; WHETHER IT'S THE FLU WE REALLY DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS A CHANCE TO RECOVER AND PREVENT SPREADING MORE OF THIS AMONG OUR STUDENTS))
[SUPER=01-Colin Ferguson/Carlisle School Headmaster]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=among our students]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Health officials say the flu has been widespread in the region for the past two weeks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT11:39]
[IN Q=Even though it's January]
((DR. ELIZABETH ROYCROFT/WEST PIEDMONT HEALTH DISTRICT; EVEN THOUGH IT'S JANUARY THERE ARE STILL BENEFITS TO BE HAD IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A FLU VACCINE))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Elizabeth Roycroft/West Piedmont Health District]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=flu vaccine]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

Health officials say the flu season could last until March. (----------------)