WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 02/01/00

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Today on News 7 at Five, investigators search for the black boxes as they try to find out why a commercial airplane crashed off the coast of California.
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and the Reverend Jerry Falwell says he is waiting to hear a response to his lawsuit against the White House. [Weather-Head]
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A persistant northwest flow keeps snowshowers in the region tonight with lows in the teens. Details ahead.

[Medical-Head]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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In Medical News, researchers discover why people lose their balance when they've had too much to drink,
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[VO-NAT]
and there's bad news for a New Jersey woman expecting septuplets.
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[15:04:57]
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((THIS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH VICTIMS ALREADY FOUND.))
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[OUT Q=already found.]
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[VO-NAT]

Crash investigators pull several bodies from the water- at the site where Alaskan Air Flight 261- went down.
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[5-Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Investigators are now zeroing in on a pinging sound- that could lead them to the flight data recorders at the bottom of the ocean.
Meeghan Black is standing by live in Oxnard California with the latest on the search.
[Live= Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Meeghan Black/CBS News; ]
[SUPER=05-Oxnard, CA]
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[SOT]
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[SUPER=03-Off Oxnard, CA]
[SUPER=01-John Kelly/Alaska Airlines CEO;]
[SUPER=05-Oxnard, CA]
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((As the Coast Guard, Navy, and private boats searched in vain for survivors, officials detected "pinging" from the Pacific Ocea an floor, apparently from the aircraft's flight recorders. Investigators hope the data on the so-called "black boxes" will help them figure out what happened late Monday afternoon when the MD-83 jetliner enroute from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to San Francisico and Seattle hit the water off the southern California coast in a nose dive. NTSB presser Eighty three passengers and five crew members were aboard the plane when moments prior to the crash one of the pilots radioed that he was having trouble with the "stabilizer trim" and asked to be cleared for an emergency landing in Los Angeles. Then the plane fell 17,000 feet before being lost from radar screens. In San Franciso and Seattle, stunned relatives and friends were notified of the crash as they arrived to pick up their loved ones at the airports. NAT SOUND: Here's somebody's passport...
No survivors have been found, and the grim task of recovering bodies and debris continues. Erie remnants of human life were carefully plucked from the chilly water: a shoe, a bottle of skin cream, a day-planner. Woman: Sad very, sad. It's a tragedy this would happen. Small memorials were erected on the shoreline even as Alaska Air defended the safety record of its doomed airplane.
John Kelly, Chairman and CEO Alaska Airlines The aircraft was the subject of no investigation whatsoever. MEEGHAN BLACK/CBS NEWS ))

[5-Near-Misses]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[GRAPHIC=Air Safety]

One day after the Alaska Air crash- a warning about another airline problem- near misses on runways.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC]

One congressmen says not enough is being done to prevent airplane collisions.
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[SOT 13:11:33]
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((REP. FRANK WOLF/HOSUE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: THE FAA ANNOUNCED THERE WERE 327 RUNWAY INCURSIONS IN 1999. ACCORDING TO THE PUBLISHED REPORTS THE AGENCY SPOKESMAN REPLIED THEIS WAS A SUCCESS, BECAUSE RUNWAY PROBLEMS ROSE ONLY SLIGHTLY ABOVE PREVIOUS YEAR. WHAT THEY DIDN'T SAY IS THEIR GOAL WAS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RUNWAY INCURSIONS TO 270 FOR THE YEAR. THEY MISSED THE GOAL BY 21 PERCENT.))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Frank Wolf/House Appropriations Cmte;]
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[OUT Q=by 21 percent.]
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Then audio tape was played of two near misses- in one a controller advises a U-S airways plane to hold its position after realizing another plane is on the runway.
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((US AIR HOLD YOUR POSITION. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE UNITED IS. I'LL FIGURE IT OUT IN A MINUTE.)) [butt to 13:13:24] ((TOWER U.S. AIR 2998 ISN'T GOING YET BECAUSE A UNITED WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL HE IS. I'LL TAKE HIM BACK AND I'LL FLASH YOU WHEN HE'S READY.))
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[OUT Q=WHEN HE'S READY.]
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Congressmen Wolf is calling for a national summit of pilots, airlines and techinical experts to reduce runway problems.

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[ANCHOR=jean]
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[GRAPHIC=NS JOB CUTS]

Norfolk Southern is blaming its latest round of cutbacks on competition.
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[VO-NAT]
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Yesterday, the railroad announced it's eliminating 37 jobs in Roanoke.
The company is also offering a 45-thousand dollar buy-out package to its unionized clerical workers in Roanoke.

Norfolk Southern says it's continuing to lose business to tractor trailers and other railroads.
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[SOT]
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((WE ARE A TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS AND OUR BUSINESS IS BASED ON HOW MANY CARS WE HAVE ON THE SYSTEM AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE CARS SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE REST OF THE PICTURE.))
[SUPER=01-Susan Bland/NS Public Relations Mgr. ;:00]
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[VO-NAT]

This latest announcement comes on the heels of two other restructuring moves.
Last week-- Norfolk Southern offered early retirement packages to 12-hundred non-union employees.
Two days later... the company announced it would also lay off 550- UNION workers.
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[5-Monty-Jobs]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]

Area employment officials say they'll have no problem filling 12-hundred new jobs.
That's how many workers a major telecommunications company -- identified in published reports as EchoStar Communications -- says it needs to locate here.
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[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Yesterday]

Congressman Rick Boucher announced that Montgomery County could attract the company if it proves it has the workforce at a job expo next week.
[SUPER=03-Radford;]

In response, the Virginia Employment Commission is sending out flyers on the job expo to more than six-thousand people currently seeking jobs.
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[IN Q=With the upcoming]
((JERRY FRYE/RADFORD VEC DIRECTOR: WITH THE UPCOMING VOLVO LAYOFFS, I THINK WE CAN ABSORB THE JOBS THAT COME IN OR PROPOSED TO COME IN DEPENDING ON THE TURNOUT.))
[SUPER=01-Jerry Frye/Radford VEC Director;]
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[OUT Q=on the turnout.]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/File Tape]

Some of the 915 workers being laid off at Volvo this month received flyers about the new job possibilities today.

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Still to come on the newscast, we'll see what two week's of cancelled services are doing to local churches both spiritually and financially,
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and a Dallas man says he is not leaving his house for the next year to prove he can live off the internet. We'll see how he is doing after his first month a little later in the newscast.
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[5-Porter]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A murder in a Roanoke housing complex last summer ended with a guilty plea today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/September 10;]

18-year old Brandon Porter pled guilty to first degree murder in the fatal shooting of Victor Anderson.
Porter admitted shooting Anderson in the head last July at the Brightwood Manor Apartments.
He'll be sentenced later, after the standard background report.
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[5-County-Schools]

[ANCHOR=jean]
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[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=500-6 11:19]
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Improvements to Glenvar Middle School appear to be back on track. Today, the Roanoke County School Board approved changes in the project that should save more than 700- thousand dollars.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Concerns about the rising cost had prompted school board members to re-evaluate the project. This morning they voted to reduce the size of the cafeteria, a forum hall, and an auxilliary gymnasium.
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[IN Q=I believe]
((BUTCH CHURCH/CATAWBA SUPERVISOR: I BELIEVE IF WE CAN TRIM A FEW THINGS, GET INTO THE BALLPARK OF WHAT WE CALL WORKABLE. I THINK IT'S A WIN, WIN SITUATION. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.))
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[OUT Q=excited about what's going on.]
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[VO-NAT]

Catawba Supervisor Butch Church and Supervisors Chairman Joe McNamara have been involved in the discussions, so school board members are hopeful the Supervisors will support the seven point four million dollar plan.
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[5-Church-Money]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Some local churches face financial trouble because they cancelled service for snow the last two weekends. Without those two weeks worth of collections, some churches are short several thousand dollars. What's worse, this hits at the start of the new budget year, when the coffers are already empty.
[TWO-Shot=Jean Tina]

Tina Tenret is here to tell us how local churches cope.
[Anchor=Tina]
Jean, many pastors are hoping their congregations will make up the difference this Sunday.
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And they say some people will give extra. But they say others treat the worship service like a concert -- and pay only when they go.
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[SUPER=01-Robert Moore/Pastor;]
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Every Sunday, Bonsack Baptist Church needs to collect 16-thousand-dollars to stay afloat. But for the past TWO Sundays, the pastor's cancelled services due to snow. So this week, the congregation must cough up 40-thousand-dollars -- just to break even.
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[SOT 11:46:49]
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((CHURCHES DEPEND ON THE OFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE AND WHEN AN OFFERING IS MISSED, IT ALMOST NEVER IS COMPLETELY MADE UP.))
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Pastor Robert Moore says if the church falls short, programs like music or youth ministry could suffer. But the church is missing more than money.
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[SOT 16:37:55]
[IN Q=When the]
((WHEN THE WHOLE CHURCH IS NOT ABLE TO MEET, THEN RELATIONALLY, INTERACTING BETWEEN MEMBERS, A SENSE OF CONTINUITY, A SENSE OF WORSHIP, A SENSE OF FAMILY THAT IS CULTIVATED WEEK BY WEEK, IS LOST.))
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[OUT Q=IS LOST]
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Now the bigger churches, like the one we saw just now, could wind up missing a bigger CHUNK of cash. But the pastor says it's the small churches that will really hurt.
[TWO SHOT=Jean/Tina]
They need every penny just to keep the lights on.

[5-Falwell-Lawsuit]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Call it the Lynchburg version of "Filegate"... the Reverend Jerry Falwell says he's still waiting for a response to his lawsuit against the Clinton administration.
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[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Falwell is suing the White House and Justice Department to release any secret files being kept on him and other conservative religious leaders around the country.
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[SOT 17:56:59]
[IN Q=The only reason]
((REV. JERRY FALWELL/LIBERTY U. CHANCELLOR: THE ONLY REASON THAT SUCH A FILE WOULD BE KEPT WOULD BE MAYBE SOME CLANDESTINE EFFORT TO STYMIE RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION OR MAYBE TO SMEAR THE NAMES OR PERSONS WHO MIGHT OPPOSE HILLARY OR AL GORE IN NOVEMBER, OR WHATEVER, GOD ONLY KNOWS.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Jerry Falwell/Liberty U. Chancellor]
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[OUT Q=God only knows.]
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[VO-NAT]

Department of Justice officials acknowledge the existence of the database but its contents are not known.
The White House has 60 days to respond to Falwell's lawsuit.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Coming up next on the broadcast, Patrick Evans is checking in with a prarie dog before tomorrow morning's big Groundhog's Day prediction. Patrick we've been wondering where your get your forecasts...
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[5-Groundhog]

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Mill Mountain Zoo is gearing up for Groundhog Day, with many special activities scheduled, and not just for the rodents!
[Double Boxes=Jean/Patrick Microwave]

Patrick Evans has a preview of the festivities to come--Patrick, judging from the weather, I don't think winter is going to end early this year.
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[SUPER=01-David Job/Outreach Coordinator;]

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[health music under]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Coming up today in Sports, Radford University's Peanut Arrington proves he is a tough nut to crack.
But first on Health Check, the General Assembly wants to protect children from accidents in pick up trucks,
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and researchers discover just what about alcohol makes someone falling down drunk.
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[health bump]
[Comm Break#3]

[5-Pick-ups]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=500-11 3:44]
[GRAPHIC=Health check]

Topping tonight's Health check, members of the General Assembly are discussing ways to protect children on the state's roadways.
George Allen vetoed the safety measure twice as Governor.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Insur. Inst. for Highway Safety]

But a new bill that would make it illegal to carry children under age 16 in the back of a pickup truck could pass this year.
After all, there's a different governor.
And it's being sponsored by the Senate Floor Leader.
Tommy Norment says Drive Smart Virginia convinced him.
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[SOT 14:30:46]
[IN Q=They did]
((SEN. TOMMY NORMENT/R-JAMES CITY CO.: THEY DID A STATEWIDE POLL WHICH FOUND THAT ABOUT 88 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS FELT THAT IT WAS UNCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT UNRESTRAINED CHILDREN WOULD BE IN THE CARGO AREAS OF PICKUP TRUCKS. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT THERE WAS HARDLY ANY VARIANCES IN THE RESPONSES FROM THE PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA THAN THERE WERE IN THE MORE URBANIZED AREAS.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tommy Norment/(R) James City Co.;]
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[OUT Q=urbanized areas.]
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[VO-NAT]

Last year in Virginia, 23 children were injured in the backs of pickups.
42 were injured the year before.
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[5-Septuplets]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=500-4 13:49]
[GRAPHIC=Hold ]

There's sad news today about a New Jersey woman carrying septuplets.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lakewood, NJ/Last Week;]

Doctors terminated Ivette Zapata Smalls' pregnancy yesterday after the fetuses contracted a bacterial infection.
The infection endangered her life.
Zapata-Smalls was 20 weeks pregnant.
She is expected to make a full recovery and will probably be able to leave the hospital later in the week.
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[5-Tipsy]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=500-7 4:22:12]
[GRAPHIC=Alcohol]

Researchers have stumbled on the reason tipsy people fall down.
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[VO-NAT]
A new report suggests a few drinks can disrupt the reflex mechanism that helps the body maintain normal blood pressure while standing. The study found consuming two to three beers constricts blood vessels when moving from a sitting to standing position.
Researchers say diabetics, the elderly, or anyone on vessel-constricting medications, may be particularly susceptible to passing out or falling even after modest drinking.
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[S5-Lewis]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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The Tuesday afternoon ticker opens in court with some unpleasant and unsettling news
[GRAPHIC=RAVENS]
concerning Baltimore Ravens all-pro linebacker Ray Lewis.
The former University of Miami star has been charged with two counts of murder.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :00]
Lewis appeared in municipal court in Atlanta this morning, at which time a judge ordered that he remain in jail without bond until his prelimnary hearing on February 24th. Lewis' attorney says the player was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but did not commit the crimes. Two Georgia men were stabbed to death at a nightclub early yesterday morning.
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[S5-Peanut]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-58 5757TC]
[GRAPHIC=RADFORD HOOPS]

The Radford University men's basketball team hits the road for a three game road swing in the Big South starting tomorrow night at Elon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
The Highlanders are unbeaten in the Big South conference with a 6-and-0 record. And one of the big reasons for their inspired play has been the performance of Peanut Arrington. The freshman from Bedford has now won back to back Big South rookie of the week honors. He had a career high 21 against Liberty this past Saturday.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=WELL I FEEL...]
[SUPER=01-Peanut Arrington/Radford Freshman Guard; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jason Williams/Radford Forward; :10]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Charles/Radford Center; :23]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=...all year for us."]
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[VO-NAT con't]
Peanut says the toughest part about this freshman season has been playing on the road. So far he's averaging just under 10 points a game, and he's second on the team in assists with 41.
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[S5-UVa]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
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[wipe to pinnacle 7514] And don't forget folks to check in with Your Hometown Station tomorrow night as bring you ACC hoops right here on WDBJ. The red hot Virginia Cavaliers travel to Maryland to take on the Terrapins tomorrow night at eight.
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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TICKER]
Also, don't forget tonight the Roanoke Express is home at the Roundhouse skating against the New Orleans for the first time ever. The Brass comes into town with a solid record and 58 points on the season. Plus, coming up tonight at six, Steve Mason checks in with 76ers basketball fanatic Will Smith, yes the Will Smith. Have a good night everybody, Jean will be back in just a moment. [go to break]

[5-Kicker]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=tbr]
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[GRAPHIC=The Internet]

The Dallas man who is living his life on the internet has reached his first milestone.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dallas;]

Dot-Com-Guy has been live on the internet for one month.
He is trying to prove that he can live inside the walls for one year using just a computer to communicate with the outside world.
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[SOT 14:27:31 CBS]
[IN Q=The purpose]
[SUPER=01-Dot-Com-Guy/Lives Off the Internet;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=simplify your life.]
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[VO-NAT]

He has a number of companies sponsoring him through the year long experiment.
However Dot-com-guy, and yes that is his legal name, says living indoors on the computer all day has made it difficult to find a girlfriend.
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